Acadia University’s student newspaper since 1874 September 25th , 2014 Issue 79.2
“It is good to give life a second chance. sometimes it needs one. article on Page 9
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A student guide to collective bargaining Liam Murphy Vice-President Academic, ASU Acadia University and the Faculty Association (AUFA) are currently in negotiations for the 14th collective agreement. Some of you may be curious as to what this process means. Perhaps you are wondering what people mean when they refer to a CBA, or what kind of impact this will have on your studies. Well luckily your Student Union is here for you every step of the way! The Acadia Students’ Union is committed to serving the students it represents, and as such has prepared a sheet of commonly asked questions and answers about the CBA and negotiations. Any questions, concerns, or queries may be addressed in this document, and if we fail to answer your particular concern, we encourage you to reach out to the Executive Board of the Acadia Students’ Union for anything you might The Athenaeum Acadia University’s Student News Paper Issue 79.1 ASU Box 6002, Acadia University Wolfville, NS, Canada B4P 2R5 Editor In Chief: Stephanie Bethune email: eic@acadiau.ca SUB room 512 EIC Office Hours: Sunday 2:00-5:00 Advertising Enquiries: mark.pound@gmail.com Business Enquiries: 116765m@acadiau.ca Editor In Chief Stephanie Bethune Section Editors Art: Riley MacKinnon News: Alex Quesnel Opinions: Tess Pooran Sport: Laura Jeha Production Manager Megan Stanton Photo Manager Robin Lawson Copy Editor Trevor Braxton-Barto Online Manager Deirdre Campbell
Advertising Manager Mark Pound Business Manager Robyn McMillan Staff Writers Hailey Winder Sarah MacKinnon Will Cann Contributors Kira Awrey, Andrew Bethune Josh Budish, Keegan Francis Alyssa Gerhardt, Andrew Haskett Lauren Hooper, Liam Murphy Mercedes Peters, Jalen Sabean Jon Smith, Hailey Winder Cover Art: Chase McRobie
The Athenaeum is the official student newspaper of Acadia University and is published in print and online year-round at theath.ca. The opinions expressed herein do not represent the Acadia Students Union or the staff of the Athenaeum, they are held by the individuals who contribute to the Athenaeum as essential members of our completely student-run newspaper Articles submitted will be published at the discretion of the editorial board. If there is content that we feel will not add to the philosophy, dialogue, or tone of our newspaper, it will not be published. That being said, all of our staff members look forward to working together with writers to improve their quality of writing, and to make sure the Athenaeum remains professional and well-rounded. The Athenaeum may accept submissions from any student or member of our campus, present and past, and is always looking for more writers and photographers. If you are looking for coverage of an event or story, would like to notify us of a complaint or correction, or would like to submit a letter to the editor, contact Stephanie Bethune at eic@acadiau.ca There are open story meetings every Wednesday at 6pm in the Athenaeum office, room 512 in the SUB—all are welcome, and we encourage you to come!
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need help with. The appropriate contact information if you happen to have any additional questions will be provided below. So let’s get started… What is a CBA? CBA stands for Collective Bargaining Agreement (sometimes referred to as Collective Agreement), which is a contract between the University’s Administration and the Faculty. A CBA regulates the terms and conditions of employees (in this case the faculty) in their workplace, and their duties and the duties of their employer (the administration). The 13th Collective Agreement expired June 30th and negotiations for the new one began May 1st. Collective Bargaining is the process to which the two parties reach a Collective Agreement. Who are the parties involved? There are two parties involved in the negotiations: AUFA, which is the Acadia University Faculty Association, and the Board of Governors who represent the University Administration.
SPicy NEWs Hailey Winder and Lauren Hooper Contributors
IOS 8 This past week Apple released their newest software IOS 8. This software allows for new filters on your camera, auto-fill on your messaging and fun new home-screen colors… In classic Apple style, nothing much is new. Check out the app “fart code”. Pretty much sums up the value of this update.
Miley Cyrus In entertainment news, provocative pop starlet Miley Cyrus is stirring things up again on her bangers tour. Cyrus is being charged for twerking on the Mexican flag while per forming in Mexico City this past week. Controversy seems to follow this 21-year-old per former wherever she goes… Unfortunately this time she may face jail time for her risqué stunt. Not even a little surprised. That bitch loca. But we love it.
Scotland Scottish independence, the dream that is no longer. Scotland has made histor y this past week by a slim majority voting to keep the Scotland part of the United Kingdom. To be per fectly honest, we’re not really sure what that means… More interesting was the baffling news coverage of this event. According to initial CNN statistics, 52% of voters voted ‘no” and an astounding 58% voted ‘yes’… It is simple
The Acadia Students’ Union may be seen as a third party, but have no role in the negotiations. We will be the main vehicle of communication to the student body and have asked that both parties involved respect that. The ASU remains a non-partisan group whose number one priority is and always will be Acadia Students. What are the administration and faculty negotiating about? The administration and the faculty are negotiating to reach a new collective agreement, which outlines the terms and conditions of employees and employers. Will our negotiations lead to a strike/lockout? Our faculty and administration are currently in negotiations, and there is no reason to believe that they will be entering a strike or a lockout at this point. The Acadia Students’ Union will continue to gather the latest information and relay it to the students in order to inform them as to what is happening at our university.
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arithmetic, CNN. Really, get your shit together.
Adrian Peterson Hey sports fans! There has been another scandal! Can you imagine? Another violent outburst from a football superstar!? I do not believe it. Minnesota running back, Adrian Peterson is being charged with child abuse after allegedly whipping his son with a belt in May of this year. The child’s mother is petitioning for a protection order against Peterson. Peterson has made numerous public apologies and an official statement in which he acknowledges his mistake and asks for forgiveness from his family and fans. Oh Adrian, do not fret! People in your position have done a lot worse and still continued to have an amazing multi-million dollar career! A little slap on the wrist and maybe a few games suspension will absolutely expunge you from all guilt!
A Tribe Called Red Popular Canadian EDM group A Tribe Called Red has cancelled their per formance at the opening of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in protest against the way in which aboriginal issues are presented. Last week, the group released a statement to the CBC explaining that they are protesting the “misrepresentation and downplay of the genocide that was experienced by Indigenous people in Canada by refusing to call it genocide.” Is it not funny how it is much easier to throw that term on other events outside the Canadian border?
ath athnews continued from page 4 We encourage the two parties to continue in their negotiations without an interruption to our academics. If, however, we were to see a strike or a lockout this year, history has shown that it is usually around November or February, as was the case in 2007 and 2004 respectively. What’s the difference between a strike and a lockout? A strike is a labour action initiated by a union. During a strike, employees cease working and withdraw their services. Employees would normally only be allowed in the workplace if they chose not to go on strike. A lockout is a labour action initiated by an employer. A lockout involves closing a place of employment and suspending the work of employees so as to have employees agree to a collective agreement. Locked out employees would not be allowed in the workplace. I am a fourth year student. Will this affect my graduation? Thankfully there is no cause for panic. The administration and the faculty are still in initial negotiations, and so there is no strike or lockout to speak of as of yet. It is entirely possible that the two parties reach an agreement without entering a strike or lockout at all.
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An interview with Senator James S. Cowan Alex Quesnel Contributor With scandals and calls for reform dominating the media today, one might be tempted to conclude that the Senate is a failed institution. Opposition Leader James S. Cowan, however, begs to differ. Nearly a decade of experience has rendered Cowan immune to this negativity. Cowan believes the upper chamber ought to be a meaningful part of Canadian politics. Cowan is fulfilled with his role and eager to press forward. He is particularly excited about his new initiative allowing Canadians to send in questions to be debated on the Senate floor. No longer bound by his Liberal Party’s caucus, he finds himself able to tackle issues that would otherwise be off limits. “It’s liberating,” he says about the development. “We’re enjoying it.” How has Trudeau’s recent decision to expel Senators from the Liberal Party caucus affected your role in the upper chamber? In 2014, we were liberated or cut loose—depending on the way you look at it! Since that time we have functioned independently of the national Liberal caucus. We still have many friends there, but we have no more formal connection to the caucus. Without this connection, we had to establish our own procedures. We had an election, and I was elected unanimously by my colleagues to remain as Leader. We’ve tried to do a number of things differently, take advantage of our independence. We don’t have to vote the same way as our colleagues in the House of Commons, because we’re not part of that group anymore. So that gives us some independence and some freedom that we didn’t have before. In the past our caucus meetings had to be held behind closed doors. Now we’ve opened them up to the public. We’re even inviting Canadians to send in their questions to be asked on the floor of the Senate. I understand you were also involved with the Landmark East School here in Wolfville.
If, however, classes were to be suspended, it is terribly uncommon for that to result in the cancelation of a semester. In 2004 and 2007, Acadia saw two strikes which lasted 18 days and 22 days respectively. Neither of those strikes resulted in the cancelation of an entire semester, and students were able to graduate on time. Where should I go to receive updates? We believe that the people that hold the best interest of students are students themselves. It is for this reason that the Acadia Students’ Union has taken it upon itself to be the one and only vehicle for Acadia students to receive information and updates in regards to the strike and its progress.
Yes, it is a school for children with learning disabilities. In the late 1970s, I learned of some individuals who had to send their children to Boston because there were no residential facilities in the area that would provide them with education. People know a lot more now about learning disabilities than they did thirty years ago! At the time, my colleagues and I believed we should do something about this. It seemed logical that the Valley, with the connection to Acadia, was a good place [to establish the school]. We bought the old Paramount Hotel in Wolfville, and borrowed a teacher from the original Landmark School in Boston to start. Today I am an Honorary Director of Landmark East. The school has been very successful and it has done great work. Many of our students have gone on to graduate from university. You have been active in the field of mental health awareness. Why is this such an important issue? Which directions should be taken to help raise awareness about mental illness?
We ask all students to please disregard any attempt from other parties (the administration or the faculty) to provide information or updates about the strike, and to please check with the Acadia Students’ Union the validity of any information obtained elsewhere by contacting the Vice President Academic, Liam Patrick Murphy, at 902-585-2127 or by email at liam.murphy@ acadiau.ca.
When I came to the Senate, I was interested in the legal aspects of mental health and justice. Look at the high statistics of the number of people in our prison system with mental health issues. What are we doing about that? The people in these prisons are not getting the kind of treatment that they need. I felt that we needed to focus on where criminal justice and mental health meet, so I introduced a bill to the Senate to combat this issue and establish a Canadian Commission on Mental Health and Justice.
If another party attempts to communicate to you or your fellow students with regard to the negotiations, please report such events to the Vice President Academic of the ASU. It is important that the ASU knows what information is being passed along and in what fashion, so we may address it and correct it when necessary.
The Supreme Court of Canada gave a very clear and concise decision in the spring, and it said what I’ve said from the very beginning. The primary job of the Senate is to do careful review of legislation, and to do the kinds of studies that we’ve talked about. Members of the House of Commons don’t have the time to do long-term studies. So there is a role for the Senate. I believe in the Senate. We need to have a bicameral parliament in Canada. If people want to make Senators elected and set term limits, then the federal government is going to have to go to the provinces. If you’re going to change the fundamental structure of the government, then you need to talk and you need to negotiate. By following the decision of the Supreme Court, I do think Senate reform is attainable.
For further information, please feel free to contact the Vice President Academic of the Acadia Students’ Union via email, phone, or by visiting in person during scheduled office hours, which are posted online at http://www.theasu.ca/#!vice-president-academic/ c155m
Do you believe the Senate is in need of reform? If so, how might this be achieved?
Senator Cowan is encouraging Acadia University students to submit questions to the Senate. The link to submit questions, and the text and audio of the previous queries and replies, can be found at this address: http://liberalsenateforum.ca/your-question-period/
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Building a stronger, safer Acadia community: MHS co-president talks Mental Health Week Acadia’s Mental Health Society (MHS) has been busy gearing up for the start of another successful year with the launch of Mental Health Week. From Sept. 29 to Oct. 3, the Society will be holding a number of events and running awareness campaigns across the campus and the community to encourage students to get serious about their mental health. “We want to do a variety of things… the most important task is to teach you [students] to deal with your mental health… the whole idea is to have a week full of events that cover a whole bunch of our initiatives,” says MHS copresident Alexis O’Connell. The first initiative, she says, is attacking stigma. Though Mental Health Week will be full of events that look at the stereotypes attached to mental illness, one that the society is most excited about is a poster campaign that will run the course of the week.
Mercedes Peters Staff Writer
Though the films that the society will be airing are yet to be announced, a movie night is to be expected at some point during the week, too. In keeping with the need for fun, this will be a great way to sit down, relax, and forget the stressors of the day for a while. Finally, the MHS is planning for a peer share campfire, which will most likely be held on Friday, Oct. 3. Here, students can bring instruments and their stories and meet up with students and members of the society to socialize and relax for an evening. First and foremost, the MHS wants to see students take charge of their mental wellbeing, and they hope that this week will kickstart a plan for a healthier, happier Acadia. O’Connell says “We want to make sure that we take stigma down…We also want to make sure that we aren’t only giving students information, but showing them the community that they can take advantage of [to improve their mental health].” For updates on the official schedule, keep an eye on the MHS Facebook page at: https:// www.facebook.com/groups/ 529586493798714/ and the ASU website here: http://www. theasu.ca/#!mental-health-society/c16gl
Each poster will feature a silhouette of a student face, mes- date sages about their issues with mental health, and quotes about how they thrive every day.
FINE ART
SEPT. 24 - 26
“[The posters will] show that even though you have your struggles, you can still be strong,” O’Connell says, “It’s replace ally putting a student face to mental health.” Each photo will feature a piece of advice from the students as well. Members of the Mental Health Society will do posters of their own, and volunteers who are interested can make one up as well. Though the MHS is still in the detail planning stages, they have a good handle on the things they want to feature. Aside from increasing awareness, O’Connell stressed the idea of a variety of activities, “We just want to have fun things for people to do,” she says. Mental Health Week will not disappoint. To kick things off on Monday, members of the MHS will be attending the Weaving of the Threads of Community Suicide Prevention conference in Berwick. O’Connell spoke highly of the event, saying, “We’ll be able to kind of bond with people [through the conference]… and learn about what [others are] doing with suicide prevention. We have this awesome community around us… the more united we are, the more resources students have.” In keeping with the theme of building a safe community, later in the week, an Open Mic night will be held. This gives students an opportunity to tell their stories about dealing with mental illness. The event saw great success last year, and the Society hopes to continue the momentum. Aside from fighting stigma and creating a safe space, the MHS is putting a great deal of focus on physical health as well. O’Connell spoke excitedly of two events: a “Run with Rick” jog on the dykes, and a tour of Wolfville’s trail system. “People don’t realize that there’s this wonderful, tranquil place to collect your thoughts,” says Alexis, “and burn calories and get those endorphins going, as well. It’s a package deal.” Students will be able to blow off some steam and learn about the benefits of treating the body well as a mental wellness tool.
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FANTASY
STUDENT CENTREMAIN LEVEL
WILDLIFE
GIANT-SIZED POSTERS
hours
MUSIC
9-8 last day
FRAMES & HANGERS
9-5
PHOTOGRAPHY 1000S OF POSTERS
THE
POSTER SALE
FILM
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Grad Student Profiles : LAuren and Josh
Photo Credit: Josh Budish
Joshua Samuel Budish Age: 26 Hometown: Toronto. Undergraduate Degree: BA Honours, History from the University of Guelph.
Photo Credit: Lauren Hooper
Lauren Hooper Age: 22 Hometown: Calgary
Program: Masters of Recreation Management and Community Development.
Program: Masters of Political Theory.
Length of program: 2 years
Length of program: 12 months
Current research question/area: The role of community coaches in sport for development.
Current research question/area: I am studying critical theory. Deleuze and Foucault are the main men in my life.
Supervisors: Dr. John Colton and Dr. Alan Warner.
Supervisor: Dr. Whitehall.
Morning glory or night owl: Could be either, depends on my work load.
Morning glory or night owl: Both—sleep is very optional.
Inspiration hits you where: In the shower.
Inspiration hits you where: Reading outside, finding that perfect space of quiet and green is the sweet spot.
Why Acadia: The unique approach to sport for development, allowing sport focused and development focused research to coalesce as well as my spike in productivity in smaller towns.
Why Acadia: The valley has got me.
Fave spot in the valley: Cape Split (but I still need to see more!). What is grad school like so far: Busy. Very busy. How you deal with stress: A glass of Scotch in the evenings and going to the gym.
Fav spot in the valley: Gaspereau Graveyard. On a clear night, the trees create a perfect halo around the stars. What is grad school like so far: Similar to undergrad, yet with a distinct air of pretension.
I wish I knew how to: Play the piano.
How do you deal with stress: I enjoy the occasional glass of red wine and maybe a whiskey on the rocks or two while discussing theory with my pals.
Next trip: Northern Territories, Iceland, or East Africa.
I wish I knew how to: Paint, I wish I had artistic capabilities.
Best advice you have ever received: Surround yourself with people that you love.
Next trip: France, I want to learn the language so I can gain a greater appreciation of translation in theoretical texts.
If you could eat lunch with anyone, who would it be and what would you order: Dave Grohl, Bangers, and Mash.
Best advice you have ever received: Work hard and do you, the rest will figure itself out.
Hopes for your research impact on the world: To impact the way that community coaches understand their impact on their athletes and the communities in which they work. The more they understand of their potential influence the more positive we can make it for the millions of kids who interact with local coaches in every sport.
If you could eat lunch with anyone, who would it be and what would you order: My Grandpa, we would go fishing, catch a Tyee salmon and cook it up ocean side. Hopes for your research impact on the world: Create waves.
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Music:
at Acadia, it is that I am a lot more brave and ambitious than I thought I was. Yes, these classes will make me a nervous wreck, but I am trying to think past the actual performances. I am trying to think of the moments after which I can say “I did it.”
helping and hindering Riley MacKinnon Arts Editor Music has always been a great help for me. Whether the situation needed calming, reinforcing positivity and courage, or distracting, music has been the tool I have used. I always found it amazing that something could help someone as deeply as music does. That being said, music has brought its fair share of negativity for myself as well. I am in my fourth year at Acadia, and music is my major. I suffer from performance anxiety. What is worse though, is that this anxiety only pertains to performing music live. How awful is it that? I struggle sharing my favourite thing with others. I can get up in front of a class and do a presentation no problem. I have delivered speeches with ease. Speaking to people, while not the easiest thing for me, never held me back in terms of school, work, or life in general. Put me up on a stage with my guitar though, and I am a nervous wreck. I always found it slightly embarrassing to discuss my anxiety pertaining to music. I am always surrounded by peers who perform daily. For some, performing is what they want to do for the rest of their life. You would think being three years in to a music degree
I try to perform when I can. It may not be as much as some people, but it is enough for me. I chose to study music because music means everything to me. I use it for every aspect of my life. If I am studying, I have music that helps me focus. If I am sad, I have music that will cheer me up. If I am happy, I have music that will make me even happier. Photo Credit: Chase McRobie that I could get up and perform for people. But no, the thought makes my head ache. I think it is important to keep discussion open about performance anxiety, especially in a university atmosphere where we are learning to grow as students and performers. I would be nervous to say to my lesson teacher, “Hey, I cannot perform today. I have performance anxiety.” But it should not be that way. From a few conversations, I have learned that performance anxiety is extremely common. It just is not talked about, at least not in my classes. I have always been a nervous person, and managed to cope thus far. I try to challenge myself, because I know my introversion and shyness could limit me if I do not step out and try new things. This year, my final year, I chose to challenge myself. I am currently registered for Introduction
to Composition and Introduction to Songwriting. Both are extremely daunting subjects to me as I have never done much of either before and there is a sharing component for them. Both are also very exciting for me. It is an art I have dabbled in, but never really took seriously. In Composition, I have a student perform my pieces. I can deal with that. I will still be nervous when it comes time for the recital, but it will not be that difficult. Songwriting, on the other hand, is making me very anxious. In Songwriting, we, the writers, get to perform the pieces. I honestly do not know what is making me more nervous: sharing my own creative work, or being the one to perform that creative work. Either way, it is a challenge I look forward to conquering. If there is one thing I have learned over the last few years
One of the things I love most about music is how easy it is to share it. I get upset with myself when I allow my performance anxiety from prohibiting me to share it. I guess the point I am trying to get across is that even the things you love most might not come easy to you. The things you love most might upset you as much as they make you happy. I work hard in school but I still come across roadblocks. Performance anxiety may not seem as severe as some of the other topics discussed in this issue, but it is still something I wanted to bring up. It may not be a medical diagnosis, but it is an issue that affects myself and many others. And it is an issue I face frequently within my degree. It is getting easier though, and I am hoping in time to not worry about sharing music with others. After all, there is no other reason for me to be in this degree if I cannot share what I learn and love with my peers.
Pat Maloney Andrew D. Haskett Contributor Wednesday. Also known as hump day; the middle of the week. A joyous day when families gather around the television to watch Maury and students start drinking in preparation for further opportunities to drink. As far as Wednesdays go, the one that just passed was pretty sweet. The show of the week took place at The Axe Lounge with Pat Maloney playing to a mostly attentive and certainly floored-drunk crowd. Pat caught the ears of all patrons in the room with some banging acoustic numbers that bled with an undeniably East Coast sound. A little bit of Joel Plaskett was heard in Pat’s vocals, and there is no shame in that.
Photo Credit: Andrew D. Haskett
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Armed with his guitar and a double mic setup, Pat laid down a solid performance that gave way to thoughts of loves lost and drunken stupors. An excellent up-and-coming musician and an all-around great fella, Pat may show his face around these parts a little more often. His use of reverb and voice effects on his microphone arrangement was an innovative and interesting addition to a stomping acoustic show.
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Performing Arts Series 2014-2015 Brew Review Riley MacKinnon Arts Editor
Jon Smith Contributor
Acadia University is fortunate to offer a series of concerts each year. The Performing Arts Series brings in a wide variety of performers from across the world, all with a unique sound that enlightens the audience. Whether it be Baroque music played on period instruments or traditional music from the countries of Africa, the series has not disappointed in its variety and entertainment. The 2014-2015 season is sure to please. There are eight concerts in total, including the annual Tom Regan concert that showcases the talent of Acadia University’s students and staff. A holiday special will be held in December (noted below with *). The series opened on September 20, with Duo Turgeon. The talented duo performed a great program of duo piano and single piano pieces. The pieces were so intricately performed, sometimes on two pianos, sometimes on one piano. For more information on the duo, please visit their website http://www.duoturgeon.com/. The rest of the series is as follows: Thursday, October 18 2014, 7:30pm – Festival Theatre Building Zodiac Trio: Kliment Krylovskiy, Clarinet; Vanessa Mollard, Violin; Riko Higuma, Piano
Saturday, February 28 2015, 7:30pm – Convocation Hall Symphony Nova Scotia Bernhard Gueller, conductor Featuring Terence Tam, violin & Lorraine Min, piano Saturday, March 21 2015, 7:30pm – Festival Theatre Building
Saturday, November 8 2014, 7:30pm –Festival Theatre Building
Christine Tassan et les Imposteures
Elmer Iseler Singers
Sunday, April 12 2015, 7:30pm – Festival Theatre Building
Saturday, November 29 2014, 7:30pm – Festival Theatre Building Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra Jeanne Lamon, Music Director The Galileo Project: Music of the Spheres Sunday, December 14 2014, 7:30pm – Convocation Hall Measha’s Christmas with Measha Brueggergrosman Saturday, January 24 2015, 7:30pm – Festival Theatre Building Tom Regan Concert
Ballet Jörgen Canada Formation Tickets can be purchased through the Acadia University box office, online at www.boxoffice.acadiau.ca, or by telephone at 902-542-5500 or 1-800542-TICK (8425). Ticket prices vary, from $26-$40 for adults, and $20-$30 for students. You can contact the series organizers by: Email: pas@acadiau.ca Phone: (902)-585-1282
deep roots 2014 Andrew D. Haskett Contributor Every year as the leaves change their faces and the wind develops a chilly sigh, one thing becomes certain in the mind of all living things: winter is coming and it is time to bundle up. Oh how we loathe the coming snow, but what is that? There is a cure - a remedy perhaps? Oh yes there is. In a few weeks’ time, the summery vocals of folk and blues will fill the otherwise bustling streets of Wolfville, and that can mean only one thing... The annual Valley Deep Roots Fest has come and with it is the merriness and the nostalgia that only a folk song can give. Spanning the weekend of the 26th to 28th of September, numerous artists and craftsmen will rock
Beer: Rare Bird Full Steam Stout Serving type: Bottle, 660mL This beer pours with a thick, two finger, off-white head, with a colour blacker than the night sky. This beer could probably blot out the sun. Personally, I like not being able to see through my beer; it really gives it a sense of mystery and mild sketchiness that beer should have. I cannot really comment too much on the smell, since I am sick and nothing smells like anything anymore. However, I will pretend that the smell is pleasing and filled with coffee/chocolate notes, and leave it at that. The mouthfeel has plenty of carbonation, and sits very thick on my tongue. I can get a lot of heavily roasted black coffee and mild chocolate notes in the taste. The maltiness is off the friggin chain. The whole flavour is very down-to-earth and woody. It feels like the kind of beer your grandfather built with his bare hands in the middle of the woods 35 years ago; sturdy, timeless, and filled with fancy alcohol. This is a good time to note that this beer is 7% alcohol, and it is not ashamed of the fact. The extra booze factor is fairly present in the beer, and may be overwhelming to some. The most prominent feature of this beer is it is similarity to coffee. Considering that it is brewed with Full Steam Coffee, this comes as no surprise. If you missed your coffee this morning but still need to get drunk, this beer is like getting two birds stoned at once. The aftertaste is quite bitter, which is uncharacteristic of a stout, but really brings home the coffee theme. Full Steam Stout is probably one of the most heavily-bodied beers you can find at our local NSLC, so if you want a beer that will put hair on your chest and rip it off, this is for you. If you are tired of thinking Busch Ice is “pretty good for the price,” then pick up one or two of these big boys. However, if you mostly like lagers, you probably will not enjoy this stuff. It is also locally brewed in Guysborough, NS, so please support local craft beer whenever you can. The only real barrier is that it is fairly expensive, at 7 bucks for a bottle, but it is worth the price. Stout fans rejoice. Summary: Like Tim Horton’s mixed with Guinness. pubs all over the valley and Wolfville. So grab a girl, grab a boy, and don’t you dare forget your dancing shoes for it will be one hell of a weekend. Hope to see you there! Tickets are available for purchase from Box of Delights Bookshop in Wolfville, Home Hardware in Windsor, and Wilsons Pharmasave in Kentville. Online purchases can be made via ticketpro.ca, and any Ticketpro outlet. Prices range from $15-$35 for individual events, and there is a Festival Pass for the price of $95. A student discount is available. Children under 6 can attend for free. Please visit deeproots.ca to find the full schedule of events. Mainstage shows are taking place at the Festival Theatre Building in Wolfville, while other events are taking place at various locations around the valley.
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Dear Students Anonymous I would like to introduce you to your neighbours. We are an interesting, diverse mix of people from all walks of life who choose to make Wolfville our home. We love the community where we live, the music, farm-fresh produce, valley summers, scenery, opportunities, and yes, we love you, Acadia students. Photo Credit: Chase McRobie Welcome back to another year of learning and group and asked them to be quiet. I actually growing. said could you please shut up. This person said “what the f*** do you expect, you live in a uniAs I write this it is 1:00 am on Sunday morn- versity town!� ing and for the fourth night in a row I am awake, my heart beating too fast, my stomach Yes, it is a university town. One that needs to in knots. I cannot sleep because on my street find some harmony between students and perthere have been 200+ people walking by this manent residents....this harmony seems to be evening. Many of you are quiet and respect- slipping away over the years. Does that student ful. Many others feel the urge to scream as mean that it would be better if we (the nonthey walk by. This wakes us up....me, my hus- student population) did not exist? Does she band and sometimes our two children. To say want students to be in a town all by themselves that it is frustrating is an understatement. It with no grocery store, bank, bars, restaurants? has been like a jungle the last four nights and No professors either? No neighbours to pull we feel like we are going out of our minds. you out of a snowbank if your car gets stuck? I know this is not true, and I know there are Tonight I reached a low level and ran out into many of you who are respectful, work and volthe street to confront a screaming young unteer in our town, and participate positively in woman who woke me up. It was about the our community. fifth time I was woken up in an hour and I was losing my patience. I ran behind the Please remember we are here. Please be quiet
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when you are walking our streets at night and reasonable when you have social gatherings. Some of us live in the outskirts of town. Some of us live in the downtown core. We are young, old and in between. As a matter of fact, we are YOU in ten, twenty, or even fifty years. When you have a job, maybe some kids, and a home, or when you are the age of your grandparents, will you want to be woken up in the night repeatedly by drunk people? Should you not have the right to live in a town or other location of your choice, a university town even? Should you not have the right to raise your kids near their own elementary school without them stepping on broken glass? It is OK to go out and have fun. I myself am an Acadia grad and realize that socializing is a wonderful part of the Acadia experience. It is not OK to have fun at the expense of others. We want to have a great relationship with you, Acadia students. We want you to succeed and have a positive university experience. Please remember we are here!
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suicide Andrew Bethune Contributor, 129092@acadiau.ca If you are reading this and you are thinking about suicide, I have one thing to say: please do not do it. While I know your choices are your own, and I have no idea what you have got in your head, what you have been through, or even who you are, if you are thinking about suicide then that means we have got something in common. I do not like to admit it, especially in something like a newspaper, but I have had many depressive episodes through my life. Existential crises where I did not know what to do, or where my life was going, or even if it was meant to continue. I have been sad, and I have been depressed. Depression, by the way, is not sadness. There is a distinct difference, as I will try to illustrate. When I was 23 (I am 27 now), I was on the tail end of a degree at another university. I had no idea what waited for me at the end, no job prospects, no income, no girlfriend, no pets, no skills that I knew of, and few friends. Over time, I became a wretch with no motivation to do anything. I stopped going to class and stayed home all the time. I do not know if there was any cause for depression, but I certainly sank into it. I lived in my father’s house, where I stayed in bed 22 hours a day, watching episodes of The Simpsons, listening to music, and drifting in and out of sleep. I would get out of bed once a day to cook a giant meal. Sounds nice, right? Well, during depression nothing feels nice. That was simply comfortable. I did not have many possessions, so I felt like a ghost haunting my father’s house. I occasionally went out drinking, to keep up appearances. I still made jokes, still smiled at people, and if anyone asked “are you OK?” I would say “yup” dismissively. This is the point I want to make about my particular depression: it was not sadness. Deep sadness could be called depression, but that is not what I am talking about. My depression was a distinct lack of feeling. It is called a “flat affect” in psychology. I experienced little change of emotion, and felt almost no energy in my body at all. Where normally there is a voice talking inside my head, there was nothing. After a while, life got damn boring. I kept this schedule for 3 months. By then, I just wanted my lack of feeling to end. It feels very inappropriate to be alive in a body, but to have a mind that is dead. Almost a disrespect toward nature. I had
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had thoughts of suicide before, but now they became more meaningful. I could not conceive of anything else that might fix the situation, and change the blankness in my head. Maybe it would be better to kill my body so it matched the state of my mind? Ironically, the lack of energy which prevented me from getting out in the world also prevented me from going through with it. I am shaken at times when I think back. It was not even a conscious decision when I came right down to the moment. I could not feel anything; I had no idea whether I would ever feel happiness again, or even sadness or another emotion. I did not really remember what they were like. In that moment, it was 50/50. I had no reason to pick one option over another; I just did, on a whim. Once I did, I picked up mo-
“momentum i picked up and
found reasons to keep going. mentum and found reasons to keep going. But, that first decision was not made with any thought. I may just have easily went the other way; after all, the thought of really doing something that would change the way I felt, or did not feel, was the only thing that even came close to motivating me. And I knew one option would change things much faster than the other. This is why I am addressing suicide-thinkers. If you are severely depressed, or just Really Fucking Tired, or even deeply, painfully sad, and feel overwhelmed or out of control, please do not do it. Nobody is going to force you one way or the other; I simply ask this as a favor, even though we do not know each other. It is good to give Life a second chance. Sometimes it needs one. I am confident I made the right choice in that Moment. I now have a job, a girlfriend, a dog, some skills, and friends who I love (now that I can love again). I love making jokes and trying to brighten up life, because I KNOW how dark and meaningless it seems when you look at
the negative side. But, I think of it sort of like photography. The negative film may be the more “real” picture, but is the positive(as I would call the treated pictures) more fun, more worth keeping and displaying? Does the positive not give the negative meaning? While it may be true that at the end of Time humanity may as well have never existed, that does not motivate me towards a more efficient, earlier death. It motivates me to embellish the lives of those around me, whenever possible. Life may be meaningless at the deepest levels, but all that means is we must tread shallower waters. Not the shallowest, though. We must think of ourselves as plump elders at a nude beach: we do not have the strength to fight the undertow of the deepest, darkest waters. Nor do we want to stand only up to our ankles, with all our imperfect, mealy flesh exposed for everyone to look at. Ideally, we want to be perhaps shoulder-deep in the water of life, drawn back and forth by the tide, always with at least a toe on the ground. At that point we are as attractive as those of even the youngest, comeliest flesh, and as smart as those with the biggest heads. And we have witnessed enough life and death to enjoy still waters and a nice day.
ACADIA
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I Think I’d Kill Myself
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into the dark depths of depression that I thought I had forgotten.
It is time we take a step forward in the phrases around mental health. You would never say “I am so sick it is like I have cancer.” It would just Kira Awrey not be acceptable, because you do not have cancer and everyone knows Contributor somebody who has cancer. I can almost guarantee that everyone knows someone with mental illness, whether you realize it or not. So the next Rarely a day goes by without me hearing a student around campus uttering time you go to threaten your life over a test grade or a boring class rememphrases such as “I just want to die”, “I would rather kill myself”, or “I’m ber that someone around you could be fighting to stay alive. Hearing their going to kill myself if I am here for one more minute.” More often than not these students are referring to school work or difficult situations they are facing. When I hear these phrases, for which I too am guilty of using, I cringe. Why do these utterances shake me to my core? Because when I was 18 years old I tried to take my own life. Just two weeks after my high school graduation and a mere month and a half before I began my Acadia journey.
“Mental Illness Is not a joke.
I have noticed a recent increase in the social awareness of the harmful effects of racially charged or sexually offensive words and phrases, however I also have noticed a lack of similar awareness for terms and expressions that are harmful to those suffering from mental illness. Have you ever used the phrases “I am so depressed” or “My OCD is acting up”? I do not wish to discredit those individuals who say these phrases because they suffer from mental illness, but often this is not the case. Turning a mental illness into a colloquialism creates a hostile environment for those of us who actually struggle with mental illness. When I hear a phrase such as “I am so depressed” I am faced with a choice between two interpretations. Either this individual is reaching out to me and needs my help, or this is a person who doesn’t take mental illness seriously. On more than one occasion I have spun into a depressive state because people have described my music as depressing, and jokingly asked if I was depressed. Hearing someone say they would rather kill themselves than do some medial task has the same effect on me. I was in remission from Major Depressive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and Panic Disorder for almost two years. During that time I became ignorant of the struggle I faced. I failed to consider how powerful my words were to others, and how deep of an impact small words had on my mental state. Unfortunately, I only realized my ignorance when I fell back
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it is a disease and battle. state of mind used as a joke or colloquial term may put them further into their darkness, making their battle lonely and difficult. Mental illness is not a joke. It is a disease and a battle, and many people fight hard every day just to survive. We as a campus need to move this conversation forward. We need to talk about the effects of mental illness. We need to look out for our friends. We are at the most common age when mental illness manifests itself. Others around you may be dealing with mental illness for the first time, and may be without the aid of family in close proximity. So support them, offer them resources, lie with them while they cry, write them a card, take them on walk, bake them goodies, but first and fore most talk to them, be what they need you to be, give what you can give and ensure that they receive the right help. This campus has been working hard to make a change in the mental health community. We have made great strides and set up a plethora of resources available for those struggling with mental illness and those helping friends through it. It is time that we change the attitude on campus, because when someone says they are going to kill themselves we need to take it seriously, not brush it off as stress induced hyperbole.
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Photo Credit: Chase McRobie
Real talk:
Living with obsessive compulsive disorder Mercedes Peters Staff Writer W hen I was younger, I either romanticized mental illness—imagining a brooding depressed man with fantastic creativity in a world that misunderstood him—or I called bullshit. Those an x ious p eople were totally attention starved. And then I b ecame a one in f ive statistic. During my f irst year of university, after sp ending three months convinced that I was going insane, my doctor mentioned something ab out obsessive thinking and launched me into a three year st r uggle with something I thought I k new all ab out. My stereotyp es of mental illness were shattered. The funny thing ab out Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is that I cannot describ e it. The b est way I k now how is to say that it manages to convince you that the sk y is black on a sunny day—at least until you check six times to b e sure. And the even funnier thing is that OCD is only hard to explain if you have it. Ever yone seems to k now what it is—and they always “have a touch of it”—but OCD is more than just b eing anal ab out your b edroom. Look at it this way: on a nor mal day, I could b e walking to class, and suddenly
think: “You do not love your sister enough, and she is going to die today, so you b etter let her k now.” Logic says that the thought is irrational and she k nows I love her dearly and she will b e ver y much alive and well at the end of the day. Initially, I will tell myself that, but give it a few seconds of “well, what if she act ually do es die? “ and in a flurr y of an x iety, I will tear through my bag, looking for my phone to send her a text or something. After ward, I feel defeated. It is an empty cycle, and I fall for it all the time. I think ab out something dist ressing, then I get an xious, then I p er for m what is called a rit ual. Now, cont rar y to p opular b elief, rit uals are not always the same thing over and over again. The actions of OCD sufferers are solely to stop the an x iety that our int r usive thought s cause. There is not always instant relief, though. Sometimes we have to do it three, four, f ive times, just to b e certain that the thought s will not come t r ue. It is ex hausting, and I am depressed a lot. So the over whelming fear will pass, and then, when my sister replies with an “I k now, I love you too,” I am tempted to call her to ask if she is lying. I also wanted to use a different sit uation for this article, b ecause I did not want her to read it and think that I did not love her or that I wanted her dead. Thankfully, a few years of dealing with this has made compulsions easier to b eat. It do es not mean that I will not t r y and keep it from her, though. That is the nat ure of my disorder; sometimes I win, sometimes it wins. But I cannot give up yet. I talk to an aw ful lot of p eople ab out their
st r uggles with mental illness and many of them say the same thing: nob ody is around to help. I b elieved that too, until I discovered that the only reason I felt I was alone was b ecause I had not used my voice. W hen I f inally cried out, the steady r ush of aid was humbling. For once, I realized that I was not craz y. I w rite this with hop e. I am an active f ighter. I am still undergoing t reatment s and I am still seeing multiple doctors b ecause sometimes those t reatment s do not work and I still have bad days. But I have come to lear n that just b ecause I have a mental illness do es not mean that I am worthless. I am st rong, even when I cannot get out of b ed. I am loved, even when I do not b elieve it, and I am luck y, b ecause not only do I have an ar my of family and friends to keep me going, but I have discovered that I live on a campus that is com mitted to creating a safe place for p eople like me; I could not have asked for a b etter battleground. To b e honest, I am nowhere near a brea kthrough; there is still a long way to go b efore I feel b etter, and it is often a daily st r uggle. But as most curses often come with blessings attached, through all of this, I have discovered an endurance inside myself I did not think p ossible. More than anything, I am grateful for f inding that.
360 Main St. Suite 22 Wolfville, NS B4P 1C4
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Take Flight Anonymous
Stay positive but more importantly have fun
it’s just not an option so give it your all.
wake up early, stay fit, get it done, accept who you are be a star, never stray too far from where you are where you came from, where you’re going
Your heart may be scattered all over the country from west coast to east but you find it in the moment that you silence the beast, and listen to the humming of the crickets in the storm,
don’t keep listing all your owing
and you turn off your cellphone and you quit accepting the norm,
it’s forgiven there’s no question
because you’re part of a generation, a movement, a town,
there’s no promise there’s no cure
that’s trying to keep going, that’s not slowing down,
don’t compare with him with her
so don’t hide in the dark
just be happy be real
don’t go it alone,
just try to eat a fucking meal
I swear you won’t make it,
be a warrior share your story
I’ve tried it once on my own,
stand up tall and blast your glory because in Canada you’re expected to be smart, you’re expected to be pretty, you’re expected to be thin,
all that happened was loneliness of the worst kind and sort, where I slept 12 hours a night just to keep the day short,
you’re excepted to wear cool clothes, play an instrument, have some muscles, and fit in, but the pressure isn’t negative unless you make it, just be you and if you don’t know who that is just fake it, because eventually your path will keep being told, until you’re a little bit taller, a little bit wiser, and bold, because the people that you loved never forgot the way you kissed,
because isolation isn’t living and fear isn’t fun, so go get out of the house, go swimming, go run, go spend time with a stranger, there’s nothing to fear, you’re worse off by yourself with only your thoughts to hear.
the way you gave everything you had to give would always be missed, At least lift the blinds and let in the birds and the light, if you just decided to give up, give in, and be small, 12 September 25th, 2014
you were brought here to soar, to dance, so take flight.
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a Balancing Act Laura Jeha Sports Editor The transition from high school to university can be a tough one, athlete or not, but what if you have a team schedule that r uns ten plus hours a week on top of your school work? I was interested in how student athletes were able to achieve and maintain a solid school/sport balance, so I asked fourth-year players Zack Garcia and Sean Stoqua how they managed, and what advice they had for first-time student athletes. Time Management First and foremost, get your schedule organized. Both boys suggested starting by taking a look at your course syllabus. Zach tells me as soon as he gets the syllabus for his courses, he takes note of all important dates and deadlines. “I have a calendar and I w rite down when there is a test, any sort of paper due..have ever ything planned out, don’t think you will remember it all because..you won’t.” Zach even keeps a daily schedule to help him stay organized. “Sometimes, if it’s going to be a busy day I will w rite out my day..l almost have ever ything planned to the hour, just so you can stay on top of it,” he says. When you do have a free moment to spare, use it wisely. Sean has spoken to high school students in the past on how to make a smooth transition bet ween high school and university. One of the biggest things he finds new university students str uggle with is “ how to manage those time periods bet ween classes, using that time effectively.” He also suggests mapping out your day in half hour to hour chunks, and “at the end of the day reviewing what you got done, and if you didn’t get it done actually w rite down the reasons why you didn’t get it done, soon enough you will realize you don’t have many good reasons.” Your coaches do not want to hear your excuses, and neither do your professors. Another tip that Zach tells me took him a few years to figure out was that if you take scheduling into your own hands, you can leave yourself with a little extra downtime. “If you can, tr y and get classes that are an hour and a half or something, and usually that will leave you a day off,” he says. Sean tells me that most of his classes are in the morning, which leaves him the afternoon off to study. Take Care of Yourself To keep your body and your mind operating like a well- oiled machine it is important to take yourself. First off make sure you are eating well. This seems like a given, but can be tough when your schedule gets hectic. “During the season if you’re not eating properly your weight is going to drop, strength will drop, and you’ll get tired and sick, and it snowballs from there,” says Zack. Many first years have a meal plan, which makes getting enough food easier. “If you are off campus what I recommend is planning your meals
Photo Credit: Anjuli Ripley out,” say Zack, “when I cook, I cook for there is a resource-use it,” says Zack. leftovers, I don’t just cook for a meal I cook for the next three days.” Hang in There Another cr ucial factor is sleep, something most university students do not get enough of. Both Zack and Sean agree that pulling all-nighters is a rookie mistake. “It’s better to wake up early than go to bed late, put it that way,” Zack tells me. When it comes to being on a team you “don’t have time to get sick,” he tells me. A few late night nights can really affect your health and your per formance on the field.
Do the benefits of being a varsity athlete out weigh the costs? Both boys tell me, without a flicker of hesitation, “absolutely.” Zack describes playing on a team as a “privilege” and that new players should “cherish ever y moment,” as you never know when your jour ney could get cut short by injur y. As a first year player you will have to, as Zach put it, “take your shots,” but he says it has made him a better player today. He also says you need to keep in mind that “ you are a quality athlete, you are here for When it comes to partying you can have a reason,” and “don’t ever lose sight of the fun, but not too much fun. By getting fact that you’re good.” trashed at the bar you are not “doing yourself any favours,” Zack tells me. Sean says many student-athletes fall into “Realize it takes a toll on your body,” the “illusion of being over whelmed,” and says Sean, “the time after the game is that players buckling under the pressure when it is most important to rehydrate and quitting the team happens “quite ofand rest.” Sean also acknowledges that ten..probably more than it should.” If there can sometimes be peer pressure to anyone knows about hectic, it is Sean, he go out, “people tr y and buy you drinks.. plays for both the football and basketball it requires a certain toughness to say varsity teams. He tells me that playing on no.” If you are the kind of person who a varsity team is a “great experience where suffers from t wo day hangovers, it might you lear n to deal with success and failure.” be best to save the partying for the off- These experiences can translate into your season. academics as well, and even help you land a job after graduation. Sean points out that, Look to Senior Teammates “being part of a business is a lot like being apart of a team,” where you are “tr ying to Acadia boasts the title of Canada’s #1 ac- achieve a common goal and you have to ademic achiever per- capita, with 33.5% play a certain role within that team.” He of its student athletes as Academic All- sums it up by saying “success boils down Canadians. Clearly your fellow team- to three things: your behavior and your mates have been doing something right, habits, and your mental state.” With the so look to them for support. “Ask them right habits and mindset, it is possible to questions, observe them a little bit… excel on, and off the playing field. they’ve been around, they’ve seen what works what doesn’t work,” says Sean. Join the Student Athlete Mental Health IniThe school also offers plenty of academ- tiative Huddle @ http://samhihuddle.wordic assistance, like the w riting centre, “If press.com
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feeling of more energy will accompany regular exercise. The feeling of being lethargic will dissipate and your overall productivity will increase, just like the blood in your veins, your thoughts will flow with greater and greater fluidity. Meditation often has a bad rep for being something that only Zen Masters, hippies, and buddha enthusiasts practice. Meditation is the practice of mindfully taking controlled breathes while acknowledging and disregarding all irrelevant thoughts. Most people meditate in some form on a regular basis without knowing they are meditating. Sleep is a potent form of meditation in which mostly everyone participates in every night.
Photo Credit: Chase McRobie
A fit body and a fit mind Keegan Francis Contributor Within the avenue of University life, all students are familiar with stress in one form or another. For a fourth year student, stress may not be an issue because you forced yourself to learn time management skills. First year students may not be familiar with the size and caliber of the work load in the “real world”. Think of stress like a weight. How much stress weight can you carry? When your metaphorical backpack becomes too heavy, it just feels like you are towing a freight train behind you everywhere you go. It feels like your shoes are filled with cement. There are several tried and true practices to combat this ever-increasing amount of weight that falls upon your shoulders. A backpack full of books by itself is not very heavy, we all have no problem carrying a backpack for a minute. After carrying the backpack for an hour straight, your arm may start to get tired. After a day, even more tired. Stress functions in the same way, you need to put down the metaphorical
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backpack and rejuvenate your brain before picking up the books again. Yoga is a scientifically proven method for reducing stress, increasing overall health and shaping you into an all around rad person. Yoga has been practiced in all corners of the globe in some shape or form for thousands of years. Yoga is primarily used to decrease stress and invoke mental serenity through mindfulness and movement of our physical bodies. One great thing about yoga is that it is simple for anyone to pick up in their own bedroom. You do not have to be a varsity athlete or have an overly flexible body to do yoga. There are many different forms and difficulties of yoga that pertain to everyone’s body type and time schedule. Everyone can reap the benefits of yoga for as little as 15 minutes a day.
Meditation will help with the perception of stressful events in your daily life. Sometimes, framing the stressful situation in a different way will allow you to overcome the stress. For example; at first glance, a dark room may scare you, but when you turn the light on, you will realize that there was nothing in the room to be scared of in the first place. A quote that has helped conquer my fear of darkness as well as aided in my perception of stressful times is one of Rod Sterling’s: “There is nothing in the dark that isn’t there when the lights are on.” To me it speaks to the degree in which the human mind likes to fabricate fear and anxiety out of thin air. One large misconception about meditation is that you must sit alone in a room on the floor and close your eyes. This is not the way it has to be. We are all very different human beings with different needs, interests and preferences. I find walking in nature very therapeutic and meditative. Walking meditation is a popular form of meditation because of the stillness and tranquility inherently found within the outdoors. Fresh air and stimulation of your auditory senses are also beneficial aspects to meditation. Listening to your favorite music while you de-stress is a powerful way to engage your mind. My advice, do not fret the small stuff, do not even fret the large stuff. Take your time to change your perception from a negative one to a positive one. Choosing to pull a positive out of every situation will enrich your life with clarity and love. Perception is reality.
I would like to challenge you, the reader, to a week of traditional meditation. Find a quiet area you feel comfortable in, close your eyes and focus on your breath. As thoughts enter you mind, acknowledge them, then set them aside and return to focusing on your breath. Do this for 5 minutes a day and you will almost with certainty feel a difference in your mood, energy and stress level. If you feel like 5 minutes is not enough or sitting still for 5 minutes is difficult for you, pick something that works for you. Walking, running, doing a puzzle, making crafts, knitting, cooking and the list goes on. The point is to take time out of your busy day to do something for yourself. Your marks will not mean a thing to you Movement is an important factor in no matter how high they are unless you have a positive attitude and de-stressing because movement in- lifestyle to interpret them in a positive and stress free light. creases blood flow throughout your body. This results in oxygen making Acadia offers free yoga classes daily, no experience is required, it to all cells in your body, an overall check it out on Facebook by searching “Acadia Yoga Society”.
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Exercise for happiness: ways to stay active and happy Alyssa Gerhardt Contributor As we progress through the first few weeks of the new school year, it is not too late to think about your active lifestyle before the r ush of assignments, midterms and major projects. Not only is exercise beneficial for your physical health, but extremely beneficial for your mental health. Living the life of a student is never easy and the stress only builds as the semester progresses; implementing an active living routine now may save you a lot of angst in the long r un. The United Kingdom’s Mental Health Foundation lists the benefits of physical activity on your mental well- being, which includes: less tension, stress and mental fatigue; a natural energy boost; improved sleep; a sense of achievement; focus in life and motivation; less anger or fr ustration; a healthy appetite; better social life and; having fun. All of these things can help with our academic success as well.
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Living the life of a student is never easy and the stress only builds as the semester progresses.
Committing to an active living plan does not have to be strenuous or time- consuming. It is simply being aware of your need for balance and making time for recreational activities. This could mean taking a half hour ever y morning to go for a walk, or take the after noon to go for a hike with friends. Ever y individual has different interests in regards to exercise, so find what you enjoy and make it a part of your daily routine. Do not consider time exercising as time wasted; during times of physical activity you may find yourself reflecting on a class reading or coming up with a creative idea for your term paper. Later, when you return to your work you may find yourself reenergized and accomplish more than if had you forced yourself to stay at your desk. Luckily, as Acadia students, our campus and community has a lot to offer in terms of physical and recreational activity. With fall only beginning, it is still possible to take advantage of outdoor activities. Hiking Cape Split or Blomidon Provincial Park with friends is a great way to spend the day while seeing some of Nova Scotia’s most beautiful scener y. Closer to home, Wolfville’s Woodland Trails make for a peaceful walk and chance to appreciate the North American wildlife around us. Also, Acadia Campus provides students with sports intramurals, including ultimate Frisbee, soccer, basketball etc. Intramurals are an outlet for physical activity and team interaction. Acadia also has a variety of clubs that are based on physical activity and meeting new people, for example, the Acadia Slackline Club and Acadia Yoga and Meditation Society. The important thing to remember when thinking about ways to be physically active and happy is, do what makes you comfortable. If you are not currently physically active, begin with what makes you comfortable and go from there. With many societal pressures regarding body image, it is easy to view exercise as another daily stress. You do not have to force yourself to do an extensive workout ever yday to be physically active. Exercise for the right reasons, to benefit your physical and mental health, and not just because you’re concerned about your weight and the way others perceive your physical appearance. Once exercising becomes a part of your daily routine, it will be easier to maintain a healthy balance and stay positive during the stressful times of student life.
Photo Credit: Evan Phinney
Looking Outside the lines Jalen Sabean Contributor
Far too often in sports we fail to see through an individual’s athletic stardom and take a hard look at the person behind the talent. We live in a society that thrives on entertainment, making it very easy to become fixated on the game-winning shootout goal, or buzzer beater three. As fans we celebrate in these accomplishments, sometimes with envy, and we do not give it additional thought. But are we selling our athletes short? It is easy to celebrate a sports team or an individual athletic accomplishment, but there are other events that we do not recognize the way they deserve. Although they may be best known for their on field or on court presence, all athletes are also members of their community, and how they choose to handle those responsibilities can have a profound impact on the other members of the community. Whether it is s a younger athlete looking for a role model, or an adult resident with a certain expectation of the contribution an athlete should be making to his or her community, there are standards outside the game that they also must live up to. Right here in Wolfville, our Acadia Axemen and Axewomen have a considerable presence and maximize their positive impact on the community. While we know this to be true, there are still no awards handed out or banner raised in honor of this impact. Our athletes are used to seeing that when they make an athletic accomplishment. This is not a matter of the athletics being more important since the objective of being a good citizen is not to receive something in return. For those who picked up the September 11th issue and read Laura Jeha’s article “Healing Through Sport”, we saw the perfect example of our athletes getting to put all their talents on display, athletic or not. Current and former Axemen basketball players came together for two days, taking part in the Alex McLaughlin Memorial Basketball Tournament, not to prove that they were the best at their craft, but to use it as a way to give back to Communities Addressing Suicide Together, CAST. But this is just one recent example, and while we see these kinds of acts every day, it is not often we take the time to document and appreciate them. It is time we did. Over the next eight months, I will be looking to dedicate my articles to Acadia athletes making a positive change in the community. Whether it is participation in S.M.I.L.E., volunteering at a community organization such as L’arche Homefires, working in collaboration with the Annapolis Valley School Board, or simply inspiring youth to succeed in everything they do, these athletes deserve the recognition, and this is just the start to ensure that happens. If you know of an Acadia athlete or athletic team that deserves recognition for a positive change they have made in the community, you can direct all information to jalen.sabean@acadiau.ca for consideration. To get real-time updates on what your Axemen and Axewomen are currently doing in the community follow @AxesForChange on Twitter and add to the conversation by tagging us in any related tweets or photos.
September 25th, 2014
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acadia mental health resources Asking someone if they are thinking of suicide does not increase the likelihood that they will follow through with suicide. Do not be afraid to ask. Resources Available On Campus:
Student Resource Centre (counselling@acadiau.ca) 1246 Acadia Students’ Union Building (Old SUB, 427)
In an emergency, dial 911 from a campus phone. Provide details about the emergency and indicate where help is needed. Women’s Centre (womens.centre@acadiau.ca) 2140 Acadia Students’ Union Building (505 Upper Level) Resources Available on Campus (If you are off campus, dial 585 then the extension) Resources Available in the Community: Acadia Pride (pride@acadiau.ca) 2165 Acadia Students’ Union Building (Upper Level, ‘B’)
The Avalon Sexual Assault Centre (info@avaloncentre.ca) 7-902422- 4240
Acadia Students’ Union Building (Old SUB, 422)
Chr ysalisHouse (chr ysalis@ns.sympatico.ca)7-679-1922/7-1-800264-8682 Provides services for women who have been abused or sexually assaulted.
Chaplaincy Services (tim.mcfarland@acadiau.ca) 1203 Manning Memorial Chapel
Community Health Clinic 7-542-2266 Wolfville (formerly EKM, includes Mental Health Services)
Disability Access (disability.access@acadiau.ca) 1127/1823 Acadia Students’ Union Building (Old SUB, 427)
Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission 7-1-877-269-7699/7-902424- 4111
International Student Advisor (international@acadiau.ca) 1690/1780 Wong International Centre (Highland Avenue)
S.O.A.R. (Survivors of Abuse Recovering) 7-902-679-7337 (info@survivorsofabuserecovering.ca)
Acadia University Equity Office (equity@acadiau.ca) 1298
Non-Academic Judicial System (steve.hassapis@acadiau.ca) 1825 Acadia Students’ Union Building (Old SUB, 627A)
Valley Regional Hospital (150 Exhibition Street, Kentville) 7-6787381
Department of Safety and Security (security@acadiau.ca) 1103 Acadia Students’ Union Building (Upper Level, ‘D’ stair well)
Victor y over Violence 7-902-678-2323 (leave message) An emergency shelter that provides a safe place to stay for youth (ages 13-30) between 10:30 p.m. – 7:00 a.m.
Student Health Services (studenthealth@acadiau.ca) 1238 Dennis House
Wolfville RCMP 7-542-3817
Student Law yer (cindy.macdonald@acadiau.ca) 2167 Acadia Students’ Union Building (SUB 610) Contact: ASU Executive Assistant
Emergency: Police, Fire, Ambulance 911
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