Dear Readers, Issue 76.9 of the Athenaeum focuses primarily on female identities, bodies, sexuality, and the experiences and intersections they can all present. Many of the articles within present language, subjects, and lived-experiences that may be difficult or triggering for some readers, especially those who are survivors of sexual assault or are easily offended by honest and raw discussions of difficult topics. Furthermore, a student artist was commissioned for this issue, and contributed two paintings featuring nude, female bodies as an expression of the inspiration provided by the written content of this issue, and her own comment on the place of the female bodies in our society and community. Compounded, the content of this issue has proven controversial, and lost us our former printing company, a month of publishing, and the ability to print all the issues we had planned with the budget we had expected. While in some ways these controversies and difficulties served to illustrate the sentiments expressed by the artist and her paintings, and the editorial mission of our staff and writers, the Athenaeum has chosen to precede the original cover with this disclaimer as an extension of our original intention–to offer our readership a challenge. Rather than a forced imposition, we want to offer you as a choice and a challenge, an opportunity to open these pages filled with the bravest, most honest, and challenging work we have produced this year. We want to challenge you to consider which parts you are comfortable and uncomfortable with, and why. Finally, we want to ask for your help in ensuring that, no matter what your reaction to, or impression of, any of the content within these pages may be, that the discussion maintain focus on the message each of the brave women presents you. We need your help in fostering an environment in which our campus feels safe and comfortable expressing the most difficult parts of their experiences here, if we are to work towards a community that can alleviate or positively engage those difficulties. On behalf of the Athenaeum, we would like to thank everyone who contributed to the publication of this issue, as writers, photographers, editors, consultants, financers, and printers. Special thanks go out to the Acadia Students’ Union and the Acadia University Faculty Association Women’s Committee for their extra financial commitments to the publication of this issue. We would also like to acknowledge our appreciation for the overwhelming offers of encouragement and support from our campus and community, and media and readers across the continent. Sincerely, Iain Bauer, Editor-in-Chief Stephanie Gumuchian, Managing Editor
Acadia University’s student newspaper since 1874 March 4th, 2014 Issue 76.9
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Between the sheets with Grace Blyss:
HPV and Cervical Cancer Grace Blyss Sex Columnist Okay, so I have no idea how common this is. I do not know anyone else in this situation, although I am sure that there are lots of other women going through a similar situation, so here: I have recently been informed that I have pre-cancerous cells on my cervix. After my gynecologist initially told me, I just wanted to yell at him. I know not to shoot the messenger, but I was fucking mortified that he just threw “pre-cancerous” around like it was not a huge fucking deal. There is a very real possibility that I have cervical cancer, and this apathetic dickhead is totally monotone. But since he was not making it a big deal at all, I felt like a fucking moron for exerting every ounce of bodily control I had not to start sobbing. That is mainly what scares me now–that I do not know a fucking thing about what is going on inside my own body. Since I did not know anything, I went looking and asking around for information on HPV and cervical cancer. There are over 120
strands of HPV, and not all of the strands are transmitted sexually (great). Did you know that female condoms are better to use where you are fucking a stranger? Yep, because they are more of a barrier between bodies. There is no test for males when it comes to HPV, and a lot of males carry it. So if you have unprotected sex with an infected male, chances are you will get HPV. No worries though, 90% of women who have contracted HPV are entirely symptomless in 2 years (it is unsure whether the disease is just diminished down to undetectable amounts, or if it is actually entirely gone from the body, but still). So, here I am, one of the 10% of women whose bodies did not fight it off and I spent this Valentine’s Day in the Colospomamy building of the Halifax hospital, getting my cervix scrapped and prodded at. So while all you horny little fucks were having romantic dinners and planning great sexual activities, this very nice woman, Dr. Parish, was all up in my cunt, attacking my cervix with what I originally imagined to be a surgical carrot peeler, but turned out to be a regular surgical tool, not a kitchen aid. Romantic, right? There are certain perks to having your
cervix biopsied. I developed an entirely new appreciation for my cervix as it was shown on a huge TV for everyone in the room to see (hope you thought that was cool, Mom). The actual biopsy was not as painful as I thought, although having vinegar rubbed on your cervix stings just as much as you would think (vinegar is used to show where the pre-cancerous cells are, because
thelcbridge.com they turn white a few seconds after being wiped with vinegar). Check out this website below if you want some more information on HPV! http://www.cdc.gov/std/hpv/stdfact-hpv.htm Email: graceblyss@gmail.com
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editorial staff Tuesday, March 4, 2013 Issue 76.9 ASU Box 6002, Acadia University Wolfville, NS, Canada B4P 2R5 email: eic@acadiau.ca SUB room 512 EIC Office Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays 4:00-5:30 Managing Editor Hours: Tuesdays 5:30-7:30
Editor-in-Chief News Editor Creative Editor Opinions Editor Arts Editor Sports Editor Science Editor
Iain Bauer
eic@acadiau.ca
Jacob Verhagen
athnewseditor@acadiau.ca
Mira Chiasson
athcreativeeditor@acadiau.ca
Max Boulet
athopinionseditor@acadiau.ca
Deirdre Campbell
athartseditor@acadiau.ca
production staff Managing Editor Distribution Manager Production Manager Photo Editor Copy Editor
contributors
Stephanie Gumuchian
athmanagingeditor@acadiau.ca
Angus Bauer Rebecca Glenen Nathan Kaulback
athphotoeditor@acadiau.ca
Stephanie Bethune
Eliza McGuire
athsportseditor@acadiau.ca
Niraj Nitheanandan
athscienceeditor@acadiau.ca
Online Editor Ad Manager
Stephanie Brown Mark Pound
mark.pound@gmail.com
Grace Blyss, Ceileigh Mangalam, Enoka Baino, Grant Hawkins, Megan Stanton, Leah Davidson, Jessica Lowther, Laura Jeha, Jamison Hall, Jason Gauthier, Blake LeBlanc If you would like to contribute to the Athenaeum please contact Iain Bauer (eic@acadiau.ca) or Stephanie Gumuchian (athmanagingeditor@ acadiau.ca)
Cover Art: Anonymous
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A response to Grace Blyss Ceileigh Mangalam Contributor Dear Grace, I am so glad that you decided to take up the responsibility of writing the Athenaeum’s new sex column. Acadia has long needed a bias-free, inclusive space to discuss the varied sexualities that comprise our school’s student body. I was especially glad to see the alias you (or someone, hopefully with your consent) chose to ensure your anonymity: Grace Blyss. That name encompasses two very important aspects of open sex discussion: grace in the willingness to speak inclusively about taboo subjects, and an acknowledgment of bliss in sex, the goal that we all approach and achieve in different ways. Grace Blyss. Perfect. This auspicious beginning is why I was so disappointed with your introductory article, “Between the sheets with Grace Blyss.” You begin with a very pertinent question: “How does one begin to write a university newspaper sex article?” Your answer is far from satisfactory: “I do not have a sweet fucking clue.” Prior to the publication of your second installment, I hope you did some rudimentary research to rectify this problem, especially since the Athenaeum itself has not always been devoid of a sex column. Sex Geeks was a fairly developed column with one male and one female author. Key issues included virginity in a campus setting, STI awareness, and the role of respect in sexual relationships, among other topics. I recommend perusing it; it is very refreshing. I can only assume that you haven not done so already, judging from your assertion of ignorance above. Your statement, made perhaps in a moment of flippancy, sets the tone for the rest of your articles in more than one way. You warned your potential readers of your profanity: “if you are offended by the words slut, whore, cunt, [or] pussy [. . .] you are
going to be offended by my articles.” There are certainly places for these words in sex columns. However, the frequency with which you punctuate your articles with bitch, fuck, shit, and other such descriptors quickly renders them ineffective. In “Losing my virginity,” your hilarious description of your nose injury that “hurt like a fucking bitch” would have made more of an impression had you not already used four instances of profanity. Aside from the swearing, Grace, the tone of your writing is antagonizing. A sex column should be both open and accepting, and this is neither. I was surprised by your opening premise of “Losing my virginity.” You stated that
Erin Anderson “you need to tell people something personal or embarrassing about yourself so they know that they can trust that what you are saying is not going to be sugar-coated or ‘danced-around.’” This statement makes the whole point of telling your virginity story redundant. Your first article was sufficient (and then some) in implying to your potential readers that NOTHING would be written with a sugary gloss, at least not on purpose. Another concern emerges from this introductory statement. Your implicit definition of “sugar-coated” apparently means “prudish” to you. You attempt to portray the opposite by using profanity with a gratuitousness that would embarrass the Nixon administration,
and by giving “personal or embarrassing” details about your sex life. In your article “Sex toys,” for example, you describe at length your experiences with Hank, whom you describe as “a great starter dildo.” I mistakenly assumed that you would begin to discuss other sex accessories. In an article titled “Sex toys,” I thought I would encounter handcuffs, lubricants, or possibly sex-based games available for purchase, to say nothing (as yet) of anal beads, BDSM (bondage and discipline, sadism and masochism) whips, or fireplay. Nope, apparently it is all about Hank, the sparkly-blue, silicon wonder-dildo who “curves upwards slightly for a rad sensation.” I realize that your space and experience are limited, but your position as a writer for the Athenaeum gives you at least a measure of credibility as a researcher. Please research. Your sex-toy article is a no man’s land of generalizations, stereotypes, pandering, and exclusion. Far from the sugar-coated pastry that you apparently abhor, this newspaper treat is burned black and smells like a mix of bad eggs and old condoms forgotten behind a baseboard heater. You begin with the statement “I believe whole-heartedly that everyone should have a goddamn dildo. Every single person.” This despite your equally vociferous conclusion “if you honestly do not like the idea [of entering a sex shop] at all, do not ever let anyone make you feel shitty for not wanting to go. They can go eat gum off the sidewalk.” Your attempt to stand up for the uncomfortable ones among us is admirable. However, this statement is entirely opposed to the tone of the rest of the article, which is very adamant that everyone should go, right now, and buy a dildo, or locate the “whole other G-spot up there.” Which brings me to my next point. Grace, that is a lie. Just as not everyone can experience pleasure through the use of a dildo, not everyone has a G-spot located up their rectums. Indeed, not every vagina-endowed person has a G-spot in the first place, by which I mean that not every woman-identified person Continued on pg. 5
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Continued from pg. 4 has a magical pleasure-button located where the internal structure of the clitoris approaches the anterior vaginal wall. Please remember that your sexual experiences, while valid, are not universally those of your readers. While they may be illuminating and indeed humorous, they exclude everyone except you and those whose sexualities are closest to yours. Grace, I have a last bone to pick with you. This is sensitive because it involves Andrew/Peter, the aliases you ascribed to your ex-boyfriend to whom you lost your virginity. More specifically, I wanted to discuss your description of his own view of his virginity. You sarcastically described Andrew’s sexual status from his point of view: “he still considered himself a virgin because [his previous girlfriend] broke his poor wittle heart.” I realize that your mocking tone may be the product of your less-than-fond memories of “this skinny, spiky-haired little shit,” but your animosity towards Andrew seems to include his view of his own relative virginity. Tone is tricky, Grace, and while I am not accusing you of disparaging Andrew’s masculinity for allowing his heart to be broken, or of disbelieving the existence of relative and emotional virginity, you come close. This is where tone and a hostile attitude can cross the line from bare honesty to boorishness. As you say later on, “however you feel about your virginity, your opinion is fucking rad,” so why does this seem to exclude Andrew? Grace, I want to discuss sex, and virginity, and BDSM, and masturbation, and foreplay, and tolerance, and rape, and more. This is an opportunity to be open about everything. But I do not want to discuss these topics with someone who is hostile and defensive. I found your virginity story wonderfully funny, but your focus on your own sexuality while making only brief concessions to other’s preferences (“and power to you, baby!”) is not the point of a sex column. We as your readers are prepared to discuss, to theorize, to extrapolate. We are willing to work with fiction: throw us some scenarios, fake or real, and they will likely contain realities about sex issues that need greater attention: it is not about you.
Acadia Pregnancy Support presents Boxes for Babies! We’ve placed colourful boxes around campus and in local Wolfville shops to collect donations of small baby items like jarred baby food, formula, baby cereal, bottles, etc. Please consider picking up one of these items on your next grocery trip. The donations will be available to students who request them, so if you are parenting or expecting a baby, email us for these free gifts at info@acadiapregnancysupport.com!
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The Queen Anonymous
It feels a little strange identifying myself as a queer woman. Truth be told I use that label because I do not know what else to call myself. I have always been interested in both men and women, but I definitely came reconcile it with my identity when I was thirteen years old, and in my first “real” relationship with my boyfriend at the time. While I was totally happy with a relationship with a guy, I knew it was dishonest to label myself as straight. My struggle with sexuality as a concept lasted for for a very long time—up until this past summer. I longed for a clear-cut answer of what I was, that would also be accepted by my family, friends, and society. I will not lie; I have been promiscuous in my quest to find comfort with who I am. I did not want to admit that I could no longer fit into the little straight box I had been told to fit into my whole life, so I began trying to enjoy sex with men. And quite a few at that. I mean, why not? Maybe just that guy was the wrong one for me, maybe another will turn up and be what I long for. Maybe there is just something wrong with me! Do not get me wrong, I really do love sex. All this was not driven solely by my churning questions and thoughts, but rather an extreme desire to get off compounded with the belief that I was coming closer to finding myself. Sex is important to me. But it is hard to love yourself sometimes when you cannot be true to yourself or to anyone else. I had been in small relationships with women when I was in high school. The first being with a girl named Nicole while we were both fifteen, and the second, with a girl named Kaylee in which I was sixteen and she was twenty-one. These relationships were very confusing for me. I hid them from my family and all but my closest friends. Though I was used to hiding relationships from my parents (I was not allowed to date in high school), this extra level
of deception was very hard on me. I decided that though I felt for these girls, I was better off dating guys, and tried to convince myself that I was straight. Anyone can see girls making out with other girls at the bar, or that girls accidentally or purposefully hook up with girls a lot here at Acadia, but for me, these experiences were much more than the stereotypical “I drank too much” experience. I loved being able to express my sexuality openly, even if it was masked by the drunken stupor of a girl in college. Still, I continued to try to sleep with guys because I still saw the alternative as an unfit lifestyle for me. I have always had a lot of close friends and been liked by a lot of people, and I did not want to damage my reputation even remotely. I could not imagine living life with a label that would instantly raise questions among other people before getting to know me. I did not want to live as a minority or as someone whose lifestyle would not be celebrated by all. But this summer I met a girl who was terribly wrong for me, and I learned to love her. She broke my heart, but it confirmed that I needed to get myself out there and allow myself to be
whoever I am, regardless of whether that is gay, straight, bisexual, pansexual, or whatever the hell else I am supposed to label myself as. To be honest, I would rather not label myself. I still find guys attractive, isolating me somewhat from lesbians, and I still find myself attracted to (and currently dating) women, which totally isolates me from heterosexual women. I also do not particularly enjoy the connotation and “confusion” behind bisexuality or the ambiguity/inclusiveness of pansexuality. While it is true I am in it for the person more than their parts, I still really enjoy the parts of men and women, and am not sure whether or not I am attracted to trans* men or women (I am open to it, respectful of it, and completely understanding of those individuals, but have not been interested in any trans* persons yet). I have now told my parents, most of my mom’s side of the family, my closest friends, and many people at school, but I am in no way fully out. Like Ellen Page up until a week ago, I am lying by omission. I am not declaring myself straight, but I am also not telling anyone how much I love vaginas, breasts, curves, and soft, shaved legs. This lying by omission has to
end sooner or later, but for now I still am not sure how to feel, or who to tell or not. I wish it was easier to be who I am at all times, but as a white, middle-class, cisgendered, woman, I definitely have been provided an advantage in this situation that I wish would be afforded to all women. I am now in a relationship with an amazing woman and I would like to mention that, though this is amazing and so happy for me, it is incredibly disheartening to see how many people (mostly guys in particular) are absolute pigs about this. I have been grabbed, sexually harassed, and been told I just have not found the right dick yet. We are offered threesomes oddee.com continually, and one time, after our refusal, were asked if the person can just watch us go at it. It is incredibly frustrating to me that the handful of people who are not close to me who know about my sexuality and my relationship with my girlfriend cannot seem to grasp the concept of “taken” or “not interested” just because I am with a girl and because they are a guy. While Acadia and Wolfville have proven to be open, accepting environments for the most part, I cannot believe some of the shit I have gone through as a queer female in terms of sexual harassment and exclusion. I hope that, in the future, we will tolerate less bullshit from intolerant assholes, and that it will not be acceptable to offer girls who are in relationships with other girls a “nice dick” that will “change their minds.” Being a part of the Acadia Pride group has definitely helped to keep me sane throughout this very difficult, confusing process, and I am very thankful to have the resources and support to be myself to those I choose to show my true self. Hopefully one day I will be able to tell everyone I know, including the rest of my family. For now, I will just continue to be myself and let people find out how they will.
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Dear (Diva Cup) Diary... Stephanie Bethune Copy Editor My twenty-first birthday started with menstruation and discouragement. I have always had a heavy flow, and without knowing whether my period was going to resemble Niagara falls or a light stream, I was faced with spilling over a tampon that was too small, or ripping out a jumbo one that was too dry. With a regular tampon, and a pad to mediate the danger, I was feeling the first day blues—and the monthly expense—hard, and all I wanted was to never have a period again. Before my birthday I had began reading about menstrual cups online, and the accounts from the women using them. There, I read about the ways in which marketing and industry interests had turned a monthly cycle into a filth that needed $20 a month ‘feminine hygiene’ products. The community and women I was reading about had found a way to engage their menstruation, and their bodies, in a way that did not require you be a skinny, white, gymnast, squirting Windex out of your cooch as you cartwheel in a tracksuit to feel clean and acceptable. There were no constantly evolving technologies, with new skirted tampons or scented pads, inventing and solving problems each year in corporate financial interest. At twenty-one I was ready to take charge of how my body works, and to be unashamed, in control, and ok with my vagina. I opened my birthday gift to myself—a brand new Diva Cup—in a stall in the firstfloor bathrooms in the BAC, and was struck by how big it was. Coupled with the thick, hardly bendable silicone, I stared the monstrosity down in and decided it was not going to happen right then. I stuck a tampon in instead, slipped the cup in my bag, and continued to class. For the rest of the day I proudly announced to everyone that I would be using the new cup, and expected that—once I got a look at the instructions—I would be smoothly sliding it up
to a grateful, waiting cavern. Like all my vagina had ever been missing was a diva cup to happily capture my uterine lining in perfect grace. When I got home I set-up in the bathroom with high expectations, whispering “fuck yea birthday girl,” while sitting on the toilet, instructions unfolded on my thighs, hands washed to surgical perfection, and tried to convince my vagina muscles to relax despite a promise to wedge a new foreign object between them. This is harder than you would expect, because while it is your body, it is a part of your body women are rarely encouraged to engage or get to know, and it is very much a learned skill. The first approach the instructions suggested was to fold the cup in half twice, and pinching it closed with your fingers, insert it into your vagina. Unfortunately the thought did not inspire arousal or relaxation, and the width of the cup and my fingers were too much for a dry and tense vagina. Even when I did finally get it in, it did not feel right, and while the instructions
Wikimedia said you should next grab the base and turn the cup, I could not even grab it without hurting myself. In frustration, I pulled it out. Actually, I yanked a thick silicone cone with a large ridge, suctioned to the walls of my vagina, till it squelched with a shocking suction noise and horrible pain. All this, in a wash of menstrual blood. I was in pain, but I was disheartened too. I felt like I was not living up to the strong, independent, woman, who was unafraid of her body that I yearned to be. I was convinced that it was societal constructs holding me back, and not my hymen. I would not describe first experience with a menstrual cup as a one where I was kind to myself, and I was not physically prepared to deal with my period directly. Women are not encouraged or supposed to take real autonomy over what they place in their vaginas, and I had to learn to approach it with the same gentle consideration I would ask of anyone else.
The next attempt was with a new fold style, and I still experienced pain and an inability to turn the base, but tried to push through. I had missplaced my cervix though, and instead of sectioning neatly to my vaginal walls, the Diva Cup sat to one side while the cervix shed lining off to the other side, necessitating the reintroduction of a pad. After a few days, I was able to seal it off, which was exciting, but quickly disheartening when the removal resembled bloody fireworks that forced me to sterilize my arms up to my elbows, as well as the entire bathroom. Despite the difficulties, I was still excited because this was inspiring conversations with women around me who also used menstrual cups, about what worked, experiences, and ways in which our periods and bodies worked. It was like talking about periods for the first time again, with a new openness, and I was able to share my difficulties, fears, and results that kept me happy with the concept, if not the inevitable pain. By my next period I had taken to calling my cup “Satan’s Sombrero” and took a break, turning to tampons. Still, I felt disappointed and refused to give up. All the accounts I had read from the menstrual cup-loving women online were so into the product, and so happy with their periods and bodies, and I wanted to be apart of their open, honest conversation, but not in this way in which I was unhappy and out of touch with my body. By my next period I tried to take everything slower, this time bringing music into the bathroom (St. Lucia) and a new understanding of my body. The nub I had thought was maybe cancer or whatever, I now knew was my cervix, which needed to be above the suction of the cup, without touching it. A friend had suggested I stick a finger up after insertion and feel around the ridge to make sure the suction of the cup was working properly. This time I accepted that it might not, but after a few tries, it worked, not even a spot of leakage. When it filled and I was able to pull it out without spilling much at all, it felt so cool Continued on pg. 8
arts Continued from pg. 7 to see a cup of blood that seemed like an accomplishment rather than the dirty secret of a used tampon. I felt celebratory and instead of garbage that I needed a paper bag to hide, it was a clear silicone cup full of my menstrual blood that I could wash, and put back in, feeling empowered. After this, putting the cup back in got easier and easier as my muscles could relax with me, and I had trimmed off the bottom stem which made it much more comfortable.
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I felt like a successful, strong, beautiful, feminist, and not only was I using the cup properly, but I could not even feel it. The mark of success in a good menstrual product. Loving life, I put on a nice pair of underwear with only a small panty liner and confidence. If the cup is something you want to try, do not let fear hold you back, but also do not try to turn your period into something you are not comfortable with. It was difficult, frustrating, a lot of work, and like all menstrual products, difficult to reconcile with the understanding
that not all products work the same way on the same cartwheeling gymnasts. It is also difficult to remove in campus bathrooms without worrying what your stall neighbors think of the squelching sounds. If it is something you want to try, you will learn about your period in entirely new ways. You can see exactly how many ounces you menstruate, the changes in blood color and viscosity throughout your cycle, and the ways in which vaginal fluids change with it rather than getting absorbed into a tampon with the blood.
Addiction Anonymous I am a recovering addict. My addiction? Not alcohol, not drugs, not video games, cigarettes, food or online shopping. I am addicted to pornography. I could not really tell you when this started, I could not even tell you why I started watching pornography… Maybe curiosity? Let’s go with that. I have always been a curious woman and I am not ashamed of my sexuality by any means—I am sure many, if not most of you reading this have consumed some sort of pornographic material. However, I have started to wonder if, to the contrary, my consumption of porn has started to consume me. I cannot deny the fact that, logistically, I have learned quite a bit from pornography; fun new positions, locations, and ahem new types of sex. During my raunchy reconnaissance, I dabbled in most of the genres, trying to figure out what it was that got me off; most genres were quite interesting actually. It was through porn that I was introduced to the S&M sex—I was hooked. My sex-life before this venture was, to say the least, pretty vanilla, so at first I was a little uncomfortable with my interest in this specific genre, but I grew accustomed to the nature of the scenes on my laptop screen, and I started to really enjoy it. I started to seek out partners who would be
Nathan Kaulback willing and eager to participate in the sort of activities that had been depicted on my screen, the ones that had become so engrained into my mind. I experimented with multiple partners who had varying degrees of comfort with my masochistic sexual desires. It was never an emotional experience; it was always about playing out those S&M scenes where I was the object, emotionless and vacant. Essentially, it was just as hollow of an experience as watching
videos online—I was masturbating using another person’s body. In a recent discussion with a close friend, I let some of the more graphic details of my most recent sex-capade slip. My friend was shocked and confused—her sexuality apparently differs quite a bit from mine. Obviously there is no such thing as a universalized sexuality— everyone is an individual, and everyone’s sexuality is unique, but I started to reflect on
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Furthermore, as your cervix is your landmark, you feel how it moves and changes throughout your period, because it is a different thing every time you go up there. When you are able to insert it comfortably, there is no longer any tampon string or diaper-like pad feeling, and I can feel like I am barely even on my period. You can also feel the awesome omnipotence of emptying a cup of your blood into the shower and whispering, “this is me” as you watch blood wash everywhere around you. Like a serial killer, but in a good way.
my sex-life and I uncovered a few things that I found a little disturbing about the way I had been treating myself, and for that matter—the way I had been letting others treat me. It is not really a black and white issue. I have become a more sexually confident woman; I have explored my interests and embraced my sexuality. But after a while, pornography began to seriously debilitate my ability to maintain a relationship in that I have found myself attracting quite mean and sadistic partners. And for a long time, I was okay with that, after all, the men in the porno’s never had to invest in any kind of relationship with the women they fucked on camera. Why should I expect anything more? Mean sex had become, for me, the only kind of sex. The last real boyfriend I had broke it off with me because he was not comfortable with my sexuality. He felt that he was not part of our sex-life; he felt that I was a different person—a distant person—when we were in bed together. It was devastating. My addiction to porn had caused a rift between love and sex, so substantial, that I was unable to experience both at the same time. I am providing my experience to showcase the ways in which porn can influence an individual. I own my sexuality. I am not ashamed of who I am or what I do in the bedroom. But, as with any recovering addict, I must admit to and accept my problem. I am addicted to porn and it is crippling my ability to be intimate with others. But I am getting better. Sincerely, xxx
arts
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Six shades of sex music Grant hawkins Contributor
Music can be incorporated into almost every one of our day to day interactions. Even our most intimate interactions can, and are, sound tracked. Music is a great tool for sexual encounters; it can be used to enhance the mood, to coordinate movements, to loosen you and your partner up, to accelerate the action, or to simply provide something to drown out the bodily noises from roommates or neighbours. Whether you are looking to lighten the mood a bit, have some fun, or be intimate there is music to do the horizontal dance to. This leads us to the big question. What is good sex music? Luckily for you I have an answer. Well, more of a series of suggestions. The beautiful and scary thing about sex is that it is different for everyone. The following lists of songs are more of a list of possibilities and you and your partner are free to explore to find what best suits your relationship. You may find the perfect music here or you may just realize what does not work, allowing you to explore further options. Either way, sex is good, music is good, together they are good. So let’s do it.
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Beast of Burden The Rolling Stones
Very few songs are immediately sexy from note one. Many songs need a little bit of foreplay to get things going. This song captures the essence of Mick Jagger’s hips circa 1969 in its first note. It is only intensified by hearing Mick practically beg to have sex. Which can be pretty intense considering he never had to beg for sex. This song is great if you are not someone who is partial to modern music and prefer the classics.
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Spread Outkast
Maybe you are a passionate person who does not have ten minutes to spend getting into it with that last song. This is a song that is unabashedly about getting it on. And not only getting it on, but getting it on right now. This song does not waste time and I will not either, go listen now.
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Your Hand in Mine Explosions in the Sky
If you are familiar with this song or band you might be a bit confused right now. Let me explain. This song (or really any song off of The Earth is Not a Cold Dead Place) are often long, slow building instrumentals that often lead to a massive climax, steadily and powerfully, before descending back into a state of calm bliss. You can put on the entire record and have massive swells in intensity and action. This might also interest you if you are slightly thrown off by hearing the extra voice of a singer in your intimate moments.
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Rocket Beyoncé
Most Beyonce songs are incredibly sexy. Her new self-titled record is no different. This song is a very modern version of what we saw with Beast of Burden. Immediately sexy, from someone sexy, and is slow and sultry. This is a powerful tune from a powerful woman. Embrace that power, use it to your advantage. You will not regret it.
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212 Azealia Banks
This song is much in the vein of the last one, in that it is a lot of fun and provides room for some dancing and laughter to lighten the mood. Lyrically however, this song has a lot of ferocity. It is openly sexual and will help you open sexually too.
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Erin Anderson
A Love Supreme (part 1) John Coltrane
Many do not know the seductive powers of jazz. A Love Supreme is viewed to be one one of the greatest jazz albums of all time, and even though I only put one of four parts in the title the whole album is worth a listen while playing along with various skin instruments. This is an intense album, full of an intensity that is ready to burst at any moment but manages to be refined for it is entire length. I will leave it here to give you some time to try these out. Keep in mind this is just a dipping of the toes in the world of sex music. If this does not float your boat do not fret (pun intended), there are many options out there to explore and you and your partner can try these out or try out your favorite tunes. There are no bad sex songs. Just some that are better than others.
arts
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Two lessons my vagina taught me Megan Stanton Contributor My vagina and I have been pals for over 20 years now, but it is only very recently that I have come to appreciate all that it does for me. In celebration of all the lovely vaginas out there I would like to share with you some lessons that my vagina has taught me, in the hopes that someday you will come to love your vagina the way I love mine. Lesson 1: Take Your Time For me this lesson has been a hard sell. Movies, television, and porn had misinformed me about sex. In these scenes the actors are so quick to get to it. One-minute they are kissing and then bam! Off to the races. There is little to no foreplay, and it is all over very quickly. I felt inadequate when I could not get going right away. I felt shameful when I was n o t
wet enough, or we had to stop because it hurt. I continually felt abnormal for not having an insta-lubed vagina. I was tired of feeling so bad about sex, and to be honest it put me off intimacy in general for a while. It was only after another failed round of what was supposed to be a heated and passionate moment when I realized a change needed to be made. I did some research and found out I was not alone, and that the real problem was not enough prep or foreplay. I discussed my findings with my boyfriend and he wholeheartedly agreed to my suggestions. Instead of jumping right to it we started slower and built up to the main event. And pretty soon the foreplay became a main event. Now sex makes me feel amazing! I get more than wet enough and I hardly ever have to stop. Not to mention the amount of orgasms I have during sex has increased tremendously. I also found that the trick to that insane heat of the moment, have
to have you this very second sex, is a good lube. There is no shame in it, and the result is amazing. I feel like I should have listened to my vagina earlier. If I had I could have been feeling this amazing for years! Lesson 2: Think Before You Act I am kind of a pro when it comes to making bad decisions about my genitals; most of these bad decisions having to do with hair removal. This is not the prettiest of subjects, but, hell, if it stops one other person from making the mistakes I have, I am perfectly fine with the embarrassment. These rookie mistakes range from itchy shaving bumps to not having the guts to pull off the at home wax strips. While these events were not fun, none of them prepared me for my biggest regret when it comes to my pubes. The day I gave myself chemical burns all around my vagina was a sad day. My mistake was thinking that using a hair removal cream for legs
was the same as one for intimate areas. I was wrong, and I immediately knew it. It burned and stung and I only made it through 5 of the allotted 12 minutes the cream needed to work. I cried taking it off and thought I might puke in the shower. What I was left with was big red angry burn patches down the sides of my labia. It took the hair off, but that is beside the point. I was unable to wear pants or leggings for a few weeks. No sex for about a month. Honestly they were the worst weeks of my life. I have since learned to treat my lady parts with tender love and care. I have also learned that all ideas should be thought through. And thinking before you act can save you a lot of pain and hassle down the road. I hope that you, dear reader, can learn from my mistakes. That your genitals are the only set you have, so treat them kindly. Listen to what you body is telling you and do not do things that could potentially harm you. Ladies, and lady lovers, the vagina is a beautiful thing, and it deserves your respect. Ladies, and lady lovers, the vagina is a beautiful thing, and it deserves your respect.
creative too much tannat making faces at Artigas holding hands and running through a bar or two sharing a brown bag bottle with parrots and a pair of bums that can’t keep quiet
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thirsty in montevideo
thirsty in montevideo jamison hall
we talk for an hour my spanish is lacking her lips get the point across
jamison hall
someone brings out a guitar too drunk to sing in key but he plays with passion we dance until the nightlife comes out she laughs when I step in dog shit even harder when the mutt takes a liking to me I figure I’ve found a kindred spirit I give her a look that says let’s get out of here so she takes me to a place that smells like home dishsoap dates dirty laundry anticipation
we
barely
make
it
up
the
stairs
she’s gone the next morning no note just old coffee and a tear in the sheet and a shoe that still smells like dog shit
Kelsi Barr
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The minority report Enoka Baino Contributor
For black history month/ African heritage month, I want to educate. I am sick and tired of black history month being a talent show of black singers, dancers, and entertainers so instead of complaining, here is an exert from my thesis. I do not know if any of you have noticed but there are not very many African Nova Scotians at Acadia, so for my honours thesis, I explored this very topic. Below is an exert from the thesis, enjoy. AN= African Nova Scotian ANS= African Nova Scotian Students AC= African Canadian The g oal of this thesis was to examine the barriers affecting AfricanNova Scotians in their pursuit of post secondary education. Specifically, the thesis examined internal and external factors, which influenced Acadia ANS to attend Acadia University by asking the ANS participants questions regarding their secondary experience, barriers and influences, which lead them to attending Acadia. The literature review provided a rationale for the current study, highlighting a range of individual and social factors that significantly influenced the decision of AC students to pursue post secondary education, which include the classroom experience of ACs, parental and community influences, and athletics. To provide theoretical contexts to the thesis, my research drew on the writings of Paul Willis who argued that esteem is essential to do more than end up working a working class job, and bell
hooks and Patricia Hill-Collins, who believe that Blacks need to have enough esteem to overcome the negative stereotypes and beliefs associated with being Black in a predominantly White society. These theories provide context to understanding the challenges African Nova Scotians confront in their decisions to attend university and the challenges and success they experience at university. By examining ANS route to university, a range of issues emerged from my research. Parental influence appears to be a constant factor in the lives of the ANS participants regardless of sex or parental marital status. Even Cam, whose parents did not attend university, shared he had an uncle who graduated from University who urged him to consider the benefits of post-secondary education. Not only was having a parental figure who attended university a significant factor in students’ lives for someone to turn to and confide in, but the parental figures were also needed to encourage esteem and motivation to embolden the participants ability to pursue post secondary, which positively effected their work ethic and mentality. My knee jerk solution to getting more ANS into university is more parental support, but the reality is that ANS who do not have parents who are university educated will not be encouraged to go to University. The communities from where the ANS participants come are generally disadvantaged, have a history of racial oppression and as a result, as hooks and Hill-Collins would argue, reinforce the negative Black stereotypes of not pursuing postsecondary education. The participants in the study said it was a parental figure that showed them they did not have to succumb to the societal standards. For those without parental support,
the community needs to step in and become the parent. There are over twenty African Nova Scotian community organizations stepping in, including the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia (BCC), the Valley African Nova Scotian Development Association (VANSDA) the Black Educators Association (BEA), and the Nova Scotia Brotherhood Initiative (NSBI) just to name a few. These programs are set in place to aid ANS with any barriers they face in and out of school. Unfortunately, due to lack of funding, these organizations are limited in their reach and effectiveness. For example, Camp Kujichagulia (pronounced koo-gee-cha-goo-LEEah), a summer camp for AN high school students held at Acadia University was shut down in 2012 after running since 1997. The primary purpose of the camp was to motivate Nova Scotian students of African descent to attend university and college through positive exposure to and participation in campus life. The reason for this programme closure was lack of funding. There is no easy or quick solutions to helping AN community organizations
acadia.ca and ANS, but one solution, perhaps utopian in today’s economic times, is for municipal, provincial and federal governments to commit to programmes that will support ANS children at the community levels. However, the problem is more structural as poverty rates are proportionately higher among African Nova-Scotians compared to other groups: 57% of single parent African Nova Scotian women lived below the low income cut off in 2005, compared to 13.8% of the total Nova Scotia population (MacEwen and Saulnier 2010). Unfortunately due to the cancellation of the long form Canadian census, data collection from the 2006 census nor the 2010 census will not feature African Nova-Scotian specific data, which will present a challenge for organizations like VANSDA, and The BEA to provide statistical data as justification to initiate necessary social change for the AN community. Along with a parental figure, athletics was a major reason for ANS attending Acadia, as three our of the four participants were athletes and stated their Continued on pg. 11
arts Continued from pg. 10 respective sports were a main reason for them wanting to attend a postsecondary institution. Athletics gave the participants not only motivation to attend, but also financial assistance while in University. While some may say Athletics have taken a back seat to Academics, the three respondents emphasized that academics have always taken precedence over athletics, and those athletes who were “one year wonders,” their priorities were the opposite—sports over academics. Here, the onus falls on coaches and teachers to stress that although athletics might get you into university, in the end, for most ANS, their future career opportunities are an outcome of academics, and not athletics. Acadia as well as the rest of Canadian postsecondary institutions need to be more empathetic and proactive towards the systematic and social barriers affecting ANS in their pursuit of post secondary education. Currently in Atlantic Canada, Dalhousie University is the only University to implement a transitional year program. Institutions like Dalhousie and the University of Toronto have been proactive and have taken a step forward by implementing transitional year programs. The creation of an affordable program at Acadia would benefit the university by sending a positive message to the African NovaScotian community that their education is a priority and would benefit ANS by giving them an opportunity to leave the Halifax area, where many African Nova Scotians reside, giving them a chance to experience life outside of their community and having the same opportunity as others to go to a school of their choice regardless of their affluence. Acadia’s adopting of the core curriculum that the Dalhousie transitional year program follows would include Black and Native Studies, and strategies for university Learning, English and Mathematics. Black and Native studies would allow for ANS
www.theath.ca to learn about their history in an Academic setting which according to the respondents seldom takes place in secondary school. “Nothing. We learned about a Canadian history, but not African-Nova Scotian history. They talk about world wars but nothing like in the 60s or 70s, stuff that would influence us… It was mostly my mom and my parents telling me stuff but she’s not even from here right, but she knows from the community and from her friends” -Nicki “Ya, well there was one class, but you didn’t have to take it (elective) was called ACS class (African Canadian studies) it was like a grade ten class so like you could take that class or just normal Canadian history… I took that class African Canadian studies we watched a lot of stuff like history videos. But other than that I never really got to learn about African Canadian History. I learned more from my parents than from the schooling. Just having like late night conversations in the living room and stuff like that. I probably learn more than in school in a class.” -Jim Strategies for university learning of English and mathematics would provide the necessary foundation ANS need to succeed in university and help reduce the number of “one year wonders.” With the support of parental role models, community groups, and secondary school educators working together to build esteem of young ANS, and Universities implementing transitional year programs, the enrollment of ANS at Acadia and Universities around Atlantic Canada would increase. Failing to implement more TYP programmes and reducing/eliminating community support funding for ANS will only result in less and less ANS attending university as well as reinforce what Black communities not just in Nova Scotia but throughout Canada believe— governmental agencies do not care about Black people. African Nova Scotians have a long and rich history in Nova Scotia and are very
much responsible for what Nova Scotia is today. The Halifax Citadel was built on the blood, sweat, and tears of African Nova Scotian Maroons in the 1800s and even an all Black ice hockey league known as the Coloured Hockey League was founded in Nova Scotia 23 years prior to the formation of the National H o c k e y Leagues. For Canada to truly be grateful for African Nova Scotians contribution to Nova Scotian society and Canadian society, Canada must focus less on the celebration of Blacks (i.e. mass funding for Black history month entertainment) and focus on the African Nova Scotian education. Canada has an opportunity to inspire a new generation of Black thinkers and leaders who can push Canada forward as a world leader in equal opportunity rights, but without the foundation of a quality university education, African Nova
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Scotians’ university attendance and opportunities that stem from education will stagnate. And if you do not know, now you know... Acadia.
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The fluffy Ivany report Jason Gauthier Contributor Ray Ivany, Acadia’s President, recently led a commission investigating Nova Scotia’s new economy. The commission held 35 meetings in 20 different communities. The final report, “Now or Never: An Urgent Call to Action,” is a needlessly long document that says nothing any sane person did not already know. Obviously: • Nova Scotia is in serious trouble because of its demographics and economy. • We need to stop having a negative attitude toward successful people. • We need more entrepreneurs. • Nova Scotia’s regulations could be better. • Our tax code is too complex. • Our roads are inadequate. • Racism and xenophobia are bad. • It would be nice if Nova Scotia was attractive to outsiders. What I would like a report to actually give me are concrete steps I can take to fix those problems. As an example, no one needs a report saying that Nova Scotia is overregulated. What we need is a report that tells us which regulations to axe. The Ivany report ends precisely where the difficult questions begin. The report pre-emptively defends itself against these criticisms by saying that it is the beginning of a conversation. It calls for “a new politics” based on a “shared vision” that puts partisanship aside. Although always presented with self-righteous magnanimity, this particularly condescending cliché has been echoed by leaders for as long as anyone can remember. When was the last time you heard someone champion “a status quo politics” based on ‘squabbling?’ Discord is not the intention of any form of politics; it just so happens that complex issues will inevitably be disagreeable. In its effort to create a “shared vision,”
the report ignores important issues that are controversial. A report on Nova Scotia’s economy that says nothing about our ban on fracking is mystifying. North Dakota’s economic boom is actually occurring due to fracking and horizontal drilling. I would think that a report on Nova Scotia’s failing economy might want to say something of substance about this ban. Other excluded topics include: unions, P-12 education standards, public sector pensions, welfare dependency, the squalor in native reserves, drug use, and the state of family values. Discussing Nova Scotia’s failures without addressing these issues would be like discussing why a man is single without mentioning that he lives in his mother’s basement, is unemployed, plays video games for most of the day, and has a BMI of 35.
The report ends with 19 goals for Nova Scotia. As an example, goal 9 addresses youth unemployment: “Nova Scotia’s youth unemployment rate (currently 19.5%) will be at or better than the national rate in that year (currently 14.0%).” Lovely, but how exactly will this be accomplished? Stating that youth unemployment is a problem is easy; persuading people to adopt an effective and palatable solution is difficult. What this commission needs is a healthy dose of cynicism. Instead of seeing the world in terms of “problems” and “solutions,” it needs to recognize the reality that people face tradeoffs. You can make something better by making something else a little bit worse, or you can make something a lot better by making something else a lot worse. A report that says educators
theccronicleherald.ca need to sacrifice children’s self-esteems at least in the short-term by more actively addressing their weak spelling and grammar skills is a useful document because it actually acknowledges a trade-off. A report that concludes self-esteem and literacy are important is not. If you want another analogy to the Ivany report, imagine walking into a class on the ArabIsraeli conflict and loudly exclaiming, “Those guys really need to get along better!” Like that statement, the Ivany report is absolutely correct. However, in terms of actually contributing something of substance to Nova Scotia, it just fails. The report fails to address important issues, it lacks in detail, and it operates under the delusional premise that difficult problems will offer solutions on which everyone can agree.
survivors
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Editor’s Note: The articles on these pages contain depictions of abuse and assualt that may trigger powerful reactions in readers, especially those affected by similair experiences. Please read with consideration and discretion.
On rape culture Leah Davidson Contributor Just over a year ago, someone I considered a friend, someone I thought cared about me, raped me. My Story It took me nearly four months to tell anyone what had happened, not so much out of the fear of how I would be treated, but out of denial. To accept and admit to being raped, or sexually assaulted in general, is really admitting to yourself that someone out there believes that you are no more than an object and what you have to say does not matter. In their mind, you, as a person, have no value. Once I accepted what really happened, then came the fear of how I would be perceived. But the biggest fear was ultimately, that more and more people had the same idea as my attacker: that I, as a person, did not matter. It was that fear which led me to stay silent. In my mind, the idea that others shared the same opinion as my attacker was reinforced when I heard comments like “Can you blame him, look at what she was wearing, she was asking for it,” or “You should not have drank so much, you could have prevented it.” I was personally told the latter comment. It became very easy to start blaming myself for what happened and I started to believe that my attacker was right. Once that idea was planted in my head, it still is extremely difficult to ignore. I understand why many assault victims do not come forward, how others become selfdestructive and turn to alcohol and drugs to escape, and some, like Rehtaeh Parsons, choose to end their own life.
The Aftermath In my case, the stress has led to an anxiety disorder called Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). My body now reacts to a perceived threat the same way it would if I were in a lifethreatening situation, meaning that I am in a constant state of fear. I am not the only one. The most common cause of PTSD in women is sexual assault. The prevalence rate of lifetime PTSD in Canada, in other words the percent of people who experience PTSD symptoms over an extended period of their life, is estimated to be 9.2%. That number jumps to nearly 50% in cases of sexual assault triggered PTSD, which means there is a good chance I will have to deal with this fear for the rest of my life. Sexual assault is not only a physical assault but also, more importantly, an assault on the mind, making it much more difficult to address. Not only do victims have to deal with the stigma of the assault itself but many also have deal with the stigma of having the mental illness that often follows. This stigma prevents many victims from talking about what would make us feel better and what might end our fear. But I am exhausted and no longer want to be guarded and scared all the time. As I continue in my recovery process in moving from being a victim to a survivor, I am gaining the strength to share my story and provide a much-needed perspective into the issue. I am writing this article for many reasons: to mark the anniversary of my attack, in response to several articles that I felt excluded key ideas in their coverage, and to start a conversation, especially near Let’s Talk Day on January 28th, Bell’s national campaign to curve the stigma against depression and other mental illnesses.
The Problem and How to fix it In my opinion, most of the discussion surrounding issues related to sexual assault, including rape culture and how it should be eliminated, is focused on the treatment of survivors, i.e., “Stop blaming the victim.” This only deals with the aftermath. What we should be discussing is how to prevent assaults from happening in the first place. The conversation needs to move away from the treatment of survivors and on to methods for eliminating the culture that creates perpetrators. The discussion will require looking into much deeper issues like the power dynamics between genders, and having a deeper understanding of masculinity. I understand that sexual assault can and does occur in same sex relationships and women can/do assault men, but overwhelmingly assaults are committed by men and happen to
Anjuli Ripley women. I am frustrated with these “Boys will be boys” and “They are young and can not really be blamed” attitudes. These are societal copouts and ways of skirting passed the issue. We live in a society where men are still considered superior and in order to keep that superiority and all its benefits, men must both figuratively and literally attack others to maintain their value. Before anyone goes and starts to call me a “man-hating feminist,” I want to make myself clear. I do not hate men. I feel sorry for men. They are not immune to the societal pressures put on their gender. What I hate is our society’s interpretation of what it means to be a man. It is that interpretation which leads to the continuation of violence against women. Sincerely, Leah Davidson, a recovering survivor.
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Hope for survivors Jessica Lowther Contributor Rape, incest, and abuse. Terms like these seem to have little effect on a society that has become immune or numb. Hearing them regularly, we are too easily desensitized. Almost every single day I hear people joking with the word ‘rape,’ not realizing that this one word can trigger memories of horrible violences lived by someone in that room. Or maybe the awareness is there, but not the empathy or consideration to make a change and temper the repercussions of their words. Rape is not a joke, and is most definitely nothing to discuss without utmost consideration. I am a survivor of severe sexual, physical, and emotional abuse from my stepfather since I was a young girl of 12. But that is not where my story ends. The good news is that, as of December of 2011, I became free from him and he is currently serving six and a half years in prison. Consequently, sexual abuse is an issue I am deeply concerned and impassioned with, and my deepest desire is to reach out and help those who have gone through or are going through a similar situation, while raising awareness about this issue. This is why I am writing this article. Because I care. Because this needs to stop. Because I never knew that it was ok to talk about
it or tell anyone, and I was terrified. I never thought there could be an end to the pain, and suffering in silence scarred me deep inside. My stepfather told me his actions were normal in families. He said that I had to “suck it up” and never tell anyone about what he did to me. He told me it was my fault. He told me I was a bad person and would never amount to anything. I did not know it at the time, but I have since come to the realization that he psychologically manipulated me and lied to me so many times that I could not see the truth clearly. There were so many questions I had. My innocence was stripped away and my teenage years were taken away and replaced with tears. I lived this way for over 6 years of my life, in survival mode without anyone noticing. Then I met someone who looked deeper than anyone else ever had, past my smile and into my pain, and gave me someone to trust and talk to. That is key. If you are reading this and are suffering in silence, know that you are not alone—that what happened to you is NOT your fault. Know that you have a voice to speak up, and there is restoration for you. I promise you that there is hope. I know because I am now engaged to the one who rescued me from the abuse—the love of my life. And while I still struggle often with nightmares, bad memories, and angry reckless episodes—and there have been many times over the past few years I felt like giving up—we are
going through the process of rebuilding my life and adapting to ‘normal.’ Something I have realized in this process is that there is so much help and support available after going through a traumatic experience. Therapists, doctors, and even the police have all been so helpful. At first I felt ashamed to be going to therapy but I began to see the many benefits of it and now realize that it is a sign of strength to take care of your mental well-being. You may never forget what happened to you, but talking about it to a professional and learning to process it, is a huge step in moving forward. The rate of continued occurrences of sexual assault, horrifies and pains me. That people get hurt because of the selfish desires, depravity,
know I was suffering at the time. All I saw was sensationalized pieces in the media—low weights, calories, size zero—I did not see those signs in myself, no one else did either. Eating Disorders come in all shapes and sizes, just like sufferers. One thing that is true across all EDs is that they are extremely dangerous. I did not know this when I first starting cutting out food groups and counting each calorie eaten and burned. Dieting seemed normal; I saw ads on TV, heard adults talking about it and read articles in magazines and
newspapers. I started out dieting here and there and it got stronger and stronger. I heard of anorexia, but I thought it only affected college age girls, I was not even a teenager yet. I learned through years of my own research, and the last year and a half of treatment and recovery that eating disorders do not discriminate. EDs affect men, women, children, people of all races and sexualities, classes and cultures. However, it does not matter who you are—you deserve to seek help. I often think how different my life would
Eating disorder awareness Tess Pooran Contributor
Eating disorder (ED) awareness is something that is very near and dear to my heart. I first developed a pattern of restrictive eating when I was around 11 years old. I had never heard of eating disorders, I first remember reading a story in a magazine when I was around 13 about a teenage girl who struggled with anorexia. I thought, “I could never do that,” little did I
Kelsi Barr and lack of self-control of others, infuriates. If I had anyone reach out to me and tell me it was safe to talk about everything, or if I read an article like this one, I really do believe it could have saved me from much pain in my life. But no one had the courage to stand up and ask the difficult questions that I now know they were thinking then when I needed it. I do not want to stay silent about this issue any longer, let us stand up for what is right and help those who need it. A little love really does go a long way. Sincerely, Jessica Lowther P.S. Please do not hesitate to contact me (123240l@ acadiau.ca) if you need someone to talk to.
be if someone had spoken to me about eating disorders, honestly, and told me all the dangers. It may have made no real difference, but it could have saved me and my loved ones a decade of pain and sadness. I want to dedicate my life to raising awareness about eating disorders—we all know someone who suffers and we all have the ability to help. Education is the most powerful tool. Knowing what to say and what not to say can save a life. Silence kills, so let’s raise our voices up and fight.
Personal Credits Notice
If you received a Common Experience Payment, you could get $3,000 in Personal Credits for educational programs and services. The Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement. The healing continues. Since 2007, almost 80,000 former students have received a Common Experience Payment (“CEP”) as part of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement. CEP recipients are now eligible to receive non-cash Personal Credits of up to $3,000, for either themselves or certain family members, for educational programs and services.
as defined in the terms and conditions. Personal Credits of multiple CEP recipients can be combined to support a group learning activity. How can I get Personal Credits? Each CEP recipient will be mailed an Acknowledgement Form. If you do not receive an Acknowledgement Form by the end of January 2014, please call 1-866-343-1858. Completed Acknowledgement Forms should be returned as soon as possible and must be postmarked no later than October 31, 2014.
What are Personal Credits? Personal Credits may be used for a wide range of educational programs and services, including those provided by universities, colleges, trade or training schools, Indigenous Institutions How do I redeem my Personal Credits? Once approved, you will of Higher Learning, or which relate to literacy or trades, as well as be sent a personalized Redemption Form for each individual using programs and services related to Aboriginal identities, histories, cultures Personal Credits at each educational entity or languages. or group. Once the Form is received, provide CEP recipients have the option of it to the educational entity or group listed. How much are Personal Credits? sharing their Personal Credits with The educational entity or group must then Adequate funds are available for each CEP certain family members, such as: complete and mail back the Redemption Form recipient to receive up to $3,000 in Personal • Spouses • Children postmarked no later than December 1, 2014. Credits, depending on your approved • Grandchildren • Siblings educational expenses. What happens to unused Personal Credits? Which educational entities and groups are included? A list of The value of unused Personal Credits will be transferred to the National Indian Brotherhood Trust Fund and Inuvialuit Education approved educational entities and groups has been jointly developed by Canada, the Assembly of First Nations and Inuit representatives. Foundation for educational programs. If an educational entity or group is not on the list, please consult the For more information, including how Personal Credits can be website for more information. redeemed by certain family members of CEP recipients that Will I receive a cheque? No. Cheques will be issued directly to the educational entity or group providing the service.
are deceased, visit www.residentialschoolsettlement.ca or call 1-866-343-1858.
Who can use Personal Credits? CEP recipients can use the full amount themselves or give part or all of their Personal Credits to certain family members such as a spouse, child, grandchild or sibling,
The IRS Crisis Line (1-866-925-4419) provides immediate and culturally appropriate counselling support to former students who are experiencing distress.
1-866-343-1858 • www.residentialschoolsettlement.ca
“We’re headed toward understanding the whole planet as a world of islands…” David Quammen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Master of Arts in Island Studies The University of Prince Edward Island has long been home to world-leading authorities on the distinctive features of islands and is the first university in Canada to offer an interdisciplinary graduate program in international, comparative, island studies. The Master of Arts in Island Studies at UPEI engages students, faculty, and worldwide partners in the study and creation of knowledge regarding the characteristics of small islands.
Join us today! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
For more information: Coordinator Dr. Jim Randall Call (902) 620-5013 Email mais@upei.ca Visit upei.ca/mais
453 Main St. Wolfville 542-5705 info@herbinjewellers.com herbinjewellers.com
people . excellence . impact
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An inquiry in per diems Eliza McGuire Sports Editor When I heard about the difference in per diem (the amount of money that athletes get each day for food while away at competitions) between the men’s and women’s basketball teams, I needed to chain up my inner feminist and gag her, because she was screaming about inequality and sexism. If there is going to be a good and proper answer to the issue, it cannot just be because as another female I feel affronted, especially because something about the difference struck me as natural. The logical part of my brain is able to recognize that male
athletes will eat more than female athletes. My new question was this: does the fact that the men eat more justify an unequal amount of subsidizing costs, or is this a case of equality for equality’s sake? In undertaking the pursuit of an answer I made my way to the only real point of reference I have, which is from my four years on the Varsity swim team. With swimming, the men and women’s teams get the same amount for our per diem. However, the women’s team does tend to spend less of it than the men, which upon first inspection would lead one to say that the women do not need as much as the men—but that is just the first glance. Thinking a little deeper on the topic, the women’s team just takes a bit more time to make sure they spend less by
putting together meals in pairs or triads instead of alone, and do not just go with the quick, easy and more expensive frozen microwavable dinners (at least not for every meal). The men’s team is fine spending all of their per diem, and a bit extra at times, where many on the women’s team would prefer to find a way, any way, to not exceed that self-imposed limit. So again, should the men’s team get more money than the women’s team in per diem? No, I do not think they should. Equality for equality’s sake might not always be good enough on its own, but the fight to have the same rights for women as for men has been a long fought one, and if something like an equal per diem can help that fight, then I am all for it (as per the demands of my inner feminist). That the
women’s team might be more strict with the amount that they are given is not a sufficient reason to give them less to work with. If a school that was founded on freedom (albeit religious) for all wants to stay true to those roots, perhaps they need to look a little deeper at their base operations. But I am just one voice, with one experience. Perhaps I am off the mark, and then men’s teams should get more money when they go away than the women’s teams, for try as I might to be impartial, I have been blinded by the rage that here is yet again another example of the glass ceiling, and that once again, men are getting more money than women to do the same job. I welcome your rebuke.
nerve endings, thus making sensations feel more intense. The most well know compound that induces this is capsaicin, which is found in chili peppers. Add some hot peppers to your dish and you will be heating things up in more ways than one! Other foods that have been shown to have this stimulating effect are garlic, red wine, and coffee. The third aphrodisiac power foods have is their effect on our brain. For example, chocolate contains a chemical called phenylethylamine that causes the neurotransmitters norepinephrine and dopamine to be released. These hormones increase feelings of joy and pleasure; similar to those you feel during sex. Because of this chocolate act as a mood elevator, and has actually been shown to mimic the feeling of being in love. Another factor to consider is smell. A study conducted by the Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago found the smells that caused the greatest amount of penile flow among males were that of cinnamon buns, pumpkin pie, and lavender. The equivalent for women were the scents of black liquorice candy and cucumber. As if you needed another reason to make cinnamon buns!
Myths aside, feeling sexy is really about your state of mind. Sometimes the belief that a food
is an aphrodisiac is enough to get your blood pumping,
A meal to put you in the mood Laura Jeha Contributor
Everyone has heard about the foods that are rumoured to enhance sex drive; oysters, chocolate, red wine, but is there any truth behind these myths? Let us start off by explaining how foods can enhance your sexual arousal. When thinking of aphrodisiacs, oysters are probably the first things that come to mind. This is due to the high levels of the mineral zinc they contain. Zinc plays a large role in reproductive capacity by assisting in testosterone function, the hormone that is responsible for regulating sex drive in both men and women. Zinc also contributes to libido by curbing the production of the hormone prolactin, which can cause sexual dysfunction. However; oysters can be expensive and hard prepare, the next best alternative is lean red meat, which also contains high levels of zinc. The next group of foods all work to increase blood flow. Greater blood flow stimulates
Recipe TRIPLE CHOCOLATE ESPRESSO BROWNIES
INGREDIENTS:
INSTRUCTIONS:
5 ounces semisweet chocolate or bittersweet chocolate, chopped 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped ½ cup unsalted butter (1 stick), cut into quarters 3 tablespoons cocoa powder 1 1/2 tablespoons instant espresso powder 3 large eggs 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon table salt 1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease the bottom and sides of an 8-inch square baking pan and line with parchment paper. Leave some overhang so that brownies can be lifted easily out of the pan. In a heatproof bowl set over a pan of almost-simmering water, melt chocolate and butter, stirring occasionally until mixture is smooth. Whisk in cocoa and espresso until smooth. Set aside to cool slightly.
The mood-boosting capacity of chocolate coupled with the stamina enhancing ability of caffeine is a match made in arousal heaven.
In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, sugar, vanilla, and salt until combined. Whisk warm chocolate mixture into egg mixture; then fold in flour with wooden spoon until just combined. Pour mixture into prepared pan, and spread to form an even layer. Bake until slightly puffed and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a small amount of sticky crumbs clinging to it, 35 to 40 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack before removing brownies from the pan and cutting into squares.