The Athenaeum 76.10

Acadia University’s student newspaper since 1874.

April 2nd, 2014 Issue 76.10

the Athenaeum

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Letter from the Editor With April on the horizon and the end of term looming, now is a time for introspection and reflection of the last year, but more importantly it is a time to think of the future. For the Athenaeum, this means many things, for the next year will not only bring in new staff to replace those moving on, but new status as well. Starting in the fall, the Athenaeum and Axe Radio will be merging to form the Acadia Media Partnership, with the goal of becoming separate and autonomous from the Acadia Students Union. The Athenaeum can celebrate growth and maturity as a unit dedicated to bringing the campus thought provoking articles

become a hub not just of media, but of arts culture for the Ath, to give people an area not just for work to get done, but for people to freely express their ideas is the goal of this switch. Axe Radio and the Athenaeum hope that by joining together we will develop and foster a sense of community between our organizations that will allow better, more open and more frequent communication across campus.

Pooling our resources will mean more contact with the community, more relevance on campus, more support, and the option for collaborative events. This step forward

and issues. It is with pride that the staff that have made this year such a great one can look back and see bold writing tackling important issues.

The Athenaeum is the voice of the students and serves as a reminder that in a time when the youth of Canada are being taken advantage of, there are still arenas where they may speak to be heard and, as such, be taken seriously. The consequences of action are the consequences of inaction inverted. By uniting with our media kin, our organizations can work together and share resources as well as ideas in one forum. To see the two rooms

will incite change for the better to make the future of our organizations more stable. While our goal of separating from the ASU may be risky, it is necessary to grow beyond our current state. Adaption to the terms of the future and staying relevant in a world that is changing fast is a challenge that the Athenaeum faces in the current climate of media sharing, but it is being embraced by the staff as an opportunity to become something more, something greater that can break the status quo.

So heading into this final stretch of the academic year, hopefully change is on the brain, and the will to strive for something better alive.

the athenaeum

modusoperandi The Athenaeum is the official student newspaper of Acadia University and is published in print and online yearround at theath.ca. The opinions expressed herein do not represent the Acadia Student 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.

The Athenaeum is created by and for students, professors and the entire Acadia University community, including the residents of the town of Wolfville.

The Athenaeum is here as a medium of expression for student opinions

the athenaeum April 2, 2014 Issue 76.10 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

advertising and as a forum for critical thought and engagement on campus.

The Athenaeum strives to add to a culture of intelligent and thoughtprovoking dialogue, and to reach this point we require our student population to be engaged and critical of both the educations they are receiving and the environments and institutions they take part in.

T h e A t h e n a e u m m ay a c c e p t submissions from any student or member of our campus, present and past, and is always looking for more writers and photographers. If you are interested then feel free to contact Iain

Bauer at eic@acadiau.ca or Stephanie Gumuchian at athmanagingeditor@ acadiau.ca 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.

There are open story meetings every Sunday at 7:30pm in the Athenaeum

editorial staff

production staff

Editor-in-Chief News Editor Creative Editor Opinions Editor Arts Editor Sports Editor Science Editor

Iain Bauer

Managing Editor

eic@acadiau.ca

Jacob Verhagen

Distribution Manager

Mira Chiasson

Production Manager

office, room 512 in the SUB–all are welcome, and we encourage you to come!

If you are interested in advertising in the Athenaeum please contact our Ad Manager Mark Pound at mark. pound@gmail.com. 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 Iain Bauer at eic@acadiau.ca or Stephanie Gumuchian at athmanagingeditor@acadiau.ca. With business inquiries please contact our Business Manager Enoka Baino at 106198b@acadiau.ca.

contributors

Stephanie Gumuchian

athmanagingeditor@acadiau.ca

Angus Bauer

athnewseditor@acadiau.ca athcreativeeditor@acadiau.ca

Max Boulet

athopinionseditor@acadiau.ca

Deirdre Campbell

athartseditor@acadiau.ca

Eliza McGuire

athsportseditor@acadiau.ca

Niraj Nitheanandan

athscienceeditor@acadiau.ca

Photo Editor Copy Editor Online Editor Ad Manager

The Athenaeum is open to advertising inquiries from all forms of advertisers.

Advertisements placed in the Athenaeum do not in any way reflect the opinions of the Athenaeum staff or the Acadia Students Union.

For more information or for a list of rates and sizes, please contact Mark Pound, the Athenaeum’s advertising manager, via email at mark.pound@gmail. com or eic@acadiau.ca. Advertisement information is also available at theath.ca

Rebecca Glenen Nathan Kaulback

athphotoeditor@acadiau.ca

Stephanie Bethune Stephanie Brown Mark Pound

mark.pound@gmail.com

Grace Blyss, Sarah Mackinnon, Sarah Williams, Kelsi Barr, Laura Jeha, Stephanie Brown, Tess Pooran, Kristina Zenke, Alex Polley, Ellyanne Spinney, Margot Hynes, Karoline Kant, Will Cann, Hailey Winder, Megan Stanton If you would like to contribute to the Athenaeum please contact Iain Bauer (eic@acadiau.ca) or Stephanie Gumuchian (athmanagingeditor@ acadiau.ca)

photo credits Cover: Megan Stanton,

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Cooking smart Laura Jeha Staff Writer

“In the span of a few years I went from being an engineer, going to culinary school, working for a year, and then owning a restaurant six months later.” These are the words of David Smart, owner of Wolfville’s Front and Central restaurant. Many students begin university with a distinct plan in mind, an idea of the job we will have, where we will be living, and the kind of person we will be once we graduate. However, many of us who have shifted from our strategic plans find ourselves on a completely different path than where we started.

Chef David Smart is a prime example.

Smart developed his passion for food through cooking weekly dinners for friends and eventually decided to pursue it by going to culinary school.

“My friends told me ‘why not?’” He says they explained, “Whenever you talk about food you sit forward and you’re all excited, when you talk about engineering you are.. not quite as excited.” This is clear now—Smart is leaning forward and animated when

sharing his story, and his excitement is pretty infectious.

Another shift in plans came when Smart returned to his home province of Nova Scotia intending to travel and work as a chef around the world.

Instead, he ended up working at the Tempest restaurant in Wolfville, and when the owner offered him the opportunity to take over the restaurant, Smart took the leap. “I

had the maturity, I had the resources, I had the drive… so it was a good fit” he says of his decision.

The last couple years, it seems, have been a whirlwind for Smart. In his words, “Everything sort of just fell into place.” I am sure Smart has gotten this question many times, but I had to ask, how did he go from being an engineer to a chef and restaurant owner in such a short

David Smart time? Chefs often work for years to gain experience and build their skill set. But Smart sees his years as an engineer as an advantage. Dave uses a simple analogy to explain himself: “I had a toolbox that said ‘Dave Smart Engineer Project Manager’ and I took it off and replaced it with one that said ‘Restraunteur/Chef ’. The tools are exactly the same, they’re just used in a different context.” Perhaps going

to university, albeit valuable, is more about the skills you learn and develop there, and less about your degree.

How you decide to apply what you learn is up to you.

At Front and Central Smart’s science background is reflected in the unique and ever-changing menu. Smart refers to his dishes as “formulas” that he changes the ingredients to, being sure to reflect what is in season. Part of the formula is Smart’s sense of fun; he sees his restaurant as a local hangout that everyone can enjoy. “I want to get rid of the ‘fine dining’ ilk around the restaurant,” he says, “I see it as a comfortable place that you can just pop in, you’ve got your jeans on and your hoodie, and you’re just as comfortable there as the person who came in after their business meeting and they have their shirt and tie on.”

So should we forget our study and career plans, the goals and dreams which got us to university in the first place? Smart’s journey from being an engineer to a restaurant-owner in a vibrant university town teaches us the answer is yes and no. Realize that the skills you learn will be useful tools for you in the future, if you keep your passion Front and Central.

We all like a little oral Grace Blyss Sex Columnist During times of stress (like the end of semester, wink wink), orgasms are a great way to help relax and re-center yourself. But we do not need to talk about how great masturbation is again so soon. Instead, I want to address a question that I was asked a few weeks ago, and that I think that I have finally managed to produce an informative answer to; “How do I give oral sex?”

To the asker, I do not know if you are interested in sucking dick or eating pussy (or both, the more the merrier), but here is what I believe to be a solid oral sex session for either genitals.

Sucking dick was honestly one of the most intimidating sexual experiences to me before it happened.

There is something intimate about oral sex that vaginal sex does not have.

That probably sounds contradictory coming from a girl who has been sexually active much longer than she has been driving. When there is a hard penis raging inches away from your face, of course you are going to be a bit nervous and intimidated. Can I fit all that in my mouth? What if I do it wrong? How do you even do it right? What if I puke on him? What if his cum tastes really bad? What if he doesn’t cum! Do not worry! Just tell your partner it is

your first time. Chances are, this will be exciting news to them. Especially when it is your first time, but even if it is not, make sure your partner is willing to take things slowly with you (or set a pace you are both cool with), and a lot of patience and communication. Not having a penis myself, this perspective is completely based upon previous sexual history. I feel like the best advice I could ever offer someone who was about to suck a dick for the first time would be these three things: • Be eager and willing to listen and learn, but take your time!

• Ask your partner what they like!

Trust me, they are going to tell you exactly what to do. This also lessens the worry that you will not know what to do with it once it is in your mouth.

• And for the love of god, do not try and deep-throat right away—work your way up to it. A penis can be a lot, and you have a gag reflex back there!

And future dick suckers, there are going to be times when your jaw is going to get tired and need a break.

So what, give it a fucking break. “Go big or go home” does not apply here. The most important thing to remember is that it is totally okay to stop at any moment. This applies not only to sucking dick, but everything in between, from holding hands to munchin’ cunts. It is not the end of the world if you need a break. If you do not want to completely stop the

sexual energy, remember the testicles are down there too, and they love attention! Be sure to ask your partner if they are cool with this before diving right in. Not only is it a good habit to develop for all partners in all sexual situations, but nut sacs can become very sensitive and these balls might just be too far gone for you to play with.

So always ask before touching.

Now from both the perspective of someone who has both eaten pussy and been eaten out, eating pussy is great and everyone should try it! Although, again, I totally get it. New things are always a little worrisome. If you do not know where to start off, kissing inner thighs is good place to begin. This way you can see what you are about to get yourself into, without diving in headfirst. Eating pussy is an art, but not a lame form of art like watercolour.

Watercolour is hard, and chances are I will never be good at water colouring, but anyone can be good at eating pussy.

All you have to do is listen to your partner.

Okay, so, let’s pretend you are starring straight into a delicious cunt buffet of one vagina. Using your thumbs, push back the labia majora (that is the outer skin surrounding the vagina) so you expose all the goodies.

You see that pink little nub there?

That is the clitoris. That little bad boy is the brains and brawns behind the operation. But the clit is sensitive as

fuck, so please be respectful. If you are poundin’ on a clit and she asks you to stop, fucking stop. Looking closer at the clit, you will notice that there is a little “hood” of skin over it. This is cleverly called the “clitoral hood,” and if you gently stretch the skin of the hood away from the clitoris to expose the clitoris itself, you are in for a mighty fine finish, my friend. The two flaps of skin (or engorged, raging female boner swollen lips) coming down either side of the actual vagina are the labia minora.

Also, pussy eaters—let’s not forget about the rest of your face! You have a chin, lips, teeth (very gently and

Wikimedia only when asked), tongue, and some fingers! Make good use of those extra body parts! But be attentive to your partner and their bodily reaction. If you have been swigging back and forth across that clit and you can feel shaking thighs, please do not stop. Of course, you can stop at anytime! And although your partner may take a little coaxing to bring them back to almost orgasmsing again, taking a second to touch base is always a good idea.

Go forth and cunnilings! The genitalia of the world are at your disposal (as long as you get the “okay, go!” from the genitalia’s owner).

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Life after Acadia: Kevin’s story Stephanie Brown Staff Writer Acadia is a second home for the majority of us who are not from the valley, but the statement “home away from home” rings truest for the international students who attend this university. Adjusting to university life can be a struggle and is unlike anything that most students have been accustomed to, so the addition of experiencing these changes in a different culture is understandably challenging. The undergraduate experience is extremely different from the perspective of a local student to a student from abroad, and those differences are important to highlight.

Acadia is fortunate to house many international students from across the globe, likely varying in culture or customs than found in Atlantic Canada. To see a glimpse into what this Acadia university experience is like from a particular international student’s point of view, I spoke with Kevin Turnquest, a fourth year business major from Freeport, Bahamas.

People may wonder how international students heard of such a small school in a small town in Atlantic Canada, but Kevin did not have to look far, his decision was mainly influenced by friends who had attended Acadia and praised it highly. He applied to

many schools but Acadia was the first to accept him, sealing the deal.

Travelling abroad for school is not an experience unique to Acadia as Kevin attended high school in Italy for a year with a Rotary exchange program.

When asked what his first impression of Acadia was, Kevin expressed his opinion that everyone was very friendly but he was disappointed by the lack of Greek life on campus. He had always looked forward to Greek life and anticipated joining a fraternity in college so it was a let down to not have access to that. That aside, Kevin arrived at Acadia with a broken leg and appreciated that people were more than willing to help him out when needed. He noted that he did not expect Wolfville to be as small

Kevin Turnquest as it is, poking fun at the one street named “Main Street,” but that did not damper his opinion about the town or the university.

Kevin’s academic plan was to major in business with accounting and a biology minor then continuing on to medical school while working as an accountant. Like many of his peers, his plans soon changed and the summer after second year he realized that medical school was not the route he wanted to pursue. The idea of going to school for that much longer was no longer an appealing one and after doing a cost/benefit analysis of medical school, he came to the conclusion that asking his parents to help financially while they also put his sister through college was not fair and

the plan was no longer ideal.

As Kevin struggled with planning his future and started feeling frustrated with the small town atmosphere, he started thinking that Acadia might not be the place for him. He applied to other schools and doubted if he should continue on with his studies at this university. As he had worked in airports for many summers, the idea came upon Kevin to pursue aviation after his degree and become a pilot.

His father is involved with aviation so after speaking to him and his business partner about the importance of a backup plan when becoming a pilot, he decided to carry on with accounting and then train to become a pilot. Upon realizing that medical school was biting off more than he could chew and deciding to focus solely on accounting without the bio minor, Kevin became excited about Acadia again and looked forward to returning. I asked him what his future looks like and he said that he would like to stay in Canada postgraduation but in a bigger city like Toronto, and be a pilot as well as an accountant. He explained that being an accountant will help him provide for a family and he could do taxes in his spare time, whereas being a pilot he will still have to work for somebody.

When asked what the best thing he will take from Acadia is, Kevin answered that the experiences had with the people he met will be something he will never forget. He has made

lifelong friends at Acadia and they were influential in his decision to stay.

He noted that he is quite sure him and some friends will be godparents to each other’s children one day. His first year did not start very socially as he felt awkward about his broken leg but once friendships started to bond the experience completely changed.

When asked about the biggest struggle at Acadia, Kevin explained that it is the workload. He went on to say that “it comes in waves, sometimes there is not much work to do, and then there are times when it feels like the world is caving in on you.” I asked him how he deals with that and he replied that he does it piece by piece, doing things the best he can when he can. When asked “Knowing what you know now, would you do anything differently?”

Kevin said that he would have still come to Acadia but probably have taken Kinesiology as it is more hands on.

Kevin’s advice for international students is to not bite off more than you can chew. He explained that the transition of going to a different country can be difficult but once you start to make friends and socialize it becomes a lot easier. His advice for people who are thinking of changing their major or who are unsure of what they want to do is to see their advisor and find out what you really want to do, and how you can do it.

Paul’s story Stephanie Brown Staff Writer When I realized that I was only going to have one more “Life After Acadia” article as the year is coming to a close, I thought a lot about who I should feature. I wanted to pick someone significant who had a message that may help some people in their journey.

My father, Paul Brown, came to mind, as a man from a very small fishing village on the North Mountain he graduated from Acadia in 1980 as the top of his business class, took his MBA at Dalhousie, and now works for the government. My mother also went to Acadia, and they are the main reason that I decided to go here. My dad has always been my role model and he has given me advice every step of the way, one particularly great piece of advice was to start writing for the Ath, as he had a music column in his years here. Here is some of my father’s story; I hope you are able to find some inspiration in it.

What made you want to go to Acadia?

It was the only university I really wanted to attend, as several relatives had gone there, including my grandmother. Also, coming from Annapolis County and listening to valley radio a lot, I was used to hearing all about the Acadia sports teams.

What did you take from your time at Acadia other than your degree?

What were your initial career goals when you started your degree?

Initially I wanted to be a journalist as I had been student reporter in High School and was writing for three different Valley newspapers.

Therefore I started pursing a BA in English.

Stephanie Brown

H ow d i d t h o s e g o a l s ch a n g e throughout your time at Acadia?

What were your biggest struggles in University? Biggest triumphs?

In the late 1970’s, much like today, there was a lot of bad financial indicators worldwide and in Canada.

The pressure was on take a degree which would give you a job upon graduation and an arts degree in that environment seemed like a risk, so I switched into the business school.

Relying totally on student loans was a bit scary, knowing my parents could not help me at all. I suppose the easy answer to “biggest triumph” would be to say being on Dean’s list every year and graduating as university medalist from the Manning School of Business in 1980.

Well, I married the person I dated at Acadia and she and I went on to become your parents, does that count? And connecting with Navigators Ministry was also a huge life changing event.

Upon graduating what were your plans? Did things happen the way you thought they would?

After graduating with my MBA [from Dalhousie], I had no immediate job offers, so I worked for the municipality for the summer, painting and doing repairs at county schoolhouses. Even though I had 2 degrees, I didn’t consider this work “beneath”

me; it was honest work and I worked hard to upgrade the appearance of the schools. However I did continue my job search. I worked so hard for the county that I literally worked myself out of a job, because by early August the work was all done, so I was laid off. I went about 6 weeks before I finally got a permanent job offer with the federal government, and that didn’t start until November. So I went about 3 months with no steady work, but I remained optimistic and kept searching.

I always imagined I’d either be working in the business world or as an entrepreneur. However, the economic times were really tough in 1980 with 20+% interest rates, so not a lot of hiring was going on. I ended up accepting a job with the Federal government and moved to Ottawa to start a 33+ year government career, something I would never have imagined doing.

How did you get into the job you are in now? >> Contin. on page 5

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>> Contin. from page 4

MBA program. I had the marks I just didn’t do my homework in advance to I was working for another Federal find out about the program until it was government department in Halifax too late. I have often regretted that. when I received notice that my current department was looking for a director What decisions in your education and/ to fill a vacancy in their Halifax office. or career are you the most proud of ?

I went for the interview and got hired.

My proudest moment was probably Looking back, is there anything you deciding to pursue my professional wish you had done differently? Any accounting designation after starting regrets? my full time job with the Federal government. It took me another 5 Yes, when taking my MBA at years after graduation with my MBA Dalhousie following my BBA at Acadia to finish the accounting course work I should have taken the combined Law- on a part time basis, but I graduating in

1986 as the top accounting graduate in the province of Ontario and that was unexpected. Having my accounting designation has always given me an advantage in being a good manager of financial resources.

What advice would you give someone graduating from Acadia who may not be sure what path they want to take in life?

Planning is good, but don’t plan so much that you close your mind to possibilities. Get to know yourself.

Trust your instincts, but don’t make

superficial judgements. Be wary of others telling you what you should do or what would be “perfect” for you, no matter how well intended they are.

Be confident. Become a good listener.

Find out how others perceive you and if you don’t want to be defined that way, make changes. Keep your career research current. If your Plan A doesn’t work out, consider options since Plan B may lead you down many glorious and unforeseen paths. Few career paths follow a straight line; most take twists and turns. Accept that no work is wasted work as long as it isn’t illegal or immoral. You can take something

7 Stories stands tall Stephanie Brown Staff Writer 7 Stories opens in darkness. After what seems like a few minutes of the audience staring into the darkness, listening to the music, a single light turns on, revealing a man in a suit standing on the outside of an apartment building. He does not speak, but does not have to as the audience understands that he is about to jump, or is at least thinking about jumping.

His silent contemplation is suddenly interrupted as the rest of the lights go on, illuminating the outside of the apartment building, and one of the seven windows opens. The man on the ledge as well as the audience is introduced to Charlotte and Rodney.

Charlotte and Rodney were spectacular characters that left big shoes for the actors to fill but the expectations were certainly met as the audience gasped in shock and roared laughing, hanging on to their every word and move. The passion between the couple which bordered both on love and hate left the audience wondering if they were going to kill each other or make love to each other (as it turns out, it was both).

Charlotte and Rodney interact with the man on the ledge, and although he does not know them or anyone else on this apartment floor, he is given a glimpse into their incredibly intriguing lives.

The characters that opened their windows on the 7th story of the apartment, letting the man on the ledge and the audience into their stories and airing out a lot of dirty laundry were all just as dynamic as the one before them. After Charlotte and Rodney we met a young girl at a raging party, a very paranoid psychiatrist (but do not tell him that) who in my opinion stole the show with his quirky behaviour, a man named Mike who was pretending to be Marshall so he could marry into a rich family, a very flamboyantly dressed woman and her very opinionated and artistic stylist who was potentially her partner, an overtly Christian girl who had some backwards ideas on trying to make people believe in God, the young partier’s outgoing friend who

knew about everything that was “in” or out,” the host of the party that they were at who did not seem to genuinely enjoy parties at all, and a nurse who was not the type you would peg for a nurse at all and the elderly woman that she was caring for. These characters were very unique and many had such extremely different lifestyles that if you thought about it for too long you would question where in the world this apartment was and how there was such an eclectic group of people on one floor. The great part about this play was that you did not question

their apartment or the few feet of ledge that they could manoeuver around as they interacted with the man on the ledge. The inside of their apartments were just a black backdrop but that was all that was needed.

Given their personalities and stories, it was easy to imagine what the inside of each apartment might look like. A raging party with everyone on their cell phones, an incredibly chic apartment with interesting but not useful décor, an almost barren apartment filled with prescription bottles and pieces of paper with writing on them, etc.

The simplicity of the set was extremely effective as it did not take away from the characters themselves.

The ending was quite ambiguous and what really happened to the man on the ledge was left up to the audience to decide for themselves, as with the advice from the elderly lady he decides to fly off the ledge instead of jump down to his death, and he flies to an adjacent apartment building. He faces Acadia Theatre Company the audience and four that, because each character was so women stood up and lit up their faces believable and riveting that you were with flashlights and they questioned just looking forward to the next time the meaning of him flying, which that their windows opened so you could have been the audience being could catch another glimpse of their represented as observers who had lives. many unanswered questions. Those Their personalities shone bright questions were not answered but it did which was evident in the fact that the not take away from the effectiveness audience only saw many of them from of the play. All in all, 7 Stories was the waist up as they leaned out of their a very well done hilarious play with windows except for a few exceptions larger-than-life characters that left who joined the man on the ledge, you on the edge of your seat in but we still got a very clear sense of anticipation of what window would character. The only movement they open next and what stories would be were granted was either staying in exposed.

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of value of any job. Always be open to learn. If you’re unhappy with a particular job, stay financially nimble, don’t commit to large debt. Don’t let life pass you by while you keep waiting for a better job or career; always take time to stop and smell the roses. The satisfaction you’ll realize in your career and in life is by enjoying the journey, not just waiting until you reach the destination. Be a good citizen and make a positive contribution to your community. And when you look in the mirror, make sure you like the person staring back at you.

Give yourself a break Tess Pooran Contributor University students often ignore self-care; we stay up all night writing papers (or watching Netflix), stress about grades and grad school, what other people think of us, and all those little things that cloud our minds on a daily basis. Self-care can come in many forms, from taking a day to do nothing or some yoga and meditation to a dinner with friends.

University is incredibly stressful, especially at this time of year. The focus on getting a high GPA, getting into a good grad school or just passing your classes can be too much to handle. Taking even a few moments a day to step back and focus on yourself, rather than outside stresses can be life-saving. One in five Canadian adults will suffer from some kind of mental health disorder in their lifetime and self-care can be an important part of coping with mental or emotional stress.

It is easy to make excuses to not self-care or to feel like we do not deserve to be kind to ourselves. It is ok feel sad, frustrated or angry, and in those moments we have to let ourselves feel and then deal with those emotions in a positive, constructive way. As a wise friend told me recently, “[Self-care is] about acknowledging that I’m allowed to experience negative emotions without acting upon urges or getting caught in a cycle of self-hatred— teaching myself that it isn’t wrong of me to be nice to myself at those times.” Being nice to ourselves can be really hard to do, but each time you feel self-destructive or like you do not deserve care or kindness, think: would you treat your best friend or little sister like that? Would you talk to your brother they way you talk to yourself ? Or tell a friend they do not deserve a break? You would tell your loved ones to be kind to themselves; you are kind to them, so turn that kindness towards yourself, practice self-care and instead of beating yourself up, give yourself a little love.

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Badge of greed Sarah Williams Staff Writer Predictably roaming throughout the streets of Wolfville, frequenting pubs and the classes alike, can be seen a new tribe of carnivorous canines. No, they are not as vivacious as they once were, in their natural habitat. Instead, they lie limp, cozied up on the shoulders of those who sport the oh-so-fashionable Canada Goose Parka. And, from October to March (at least) they are ubiquitous across Canadian campuses and cities. A deep seated hunger, having been transmuted perhaps, from beast to person, has beset those who transcribe to this paradox of a fashion statement. The parkas in question are, admittedly, handsome. The problem is that the ethics behind these garments are, without a doubt, dubious.

Be forewarned: Canada Goose has tried to sugar coat their misdeeds with all the publicity befitting their costly products. From their seemingly official “fur policy” statements to You Tube videos, this company is clearly trying hard to muddle any ethical quandaries associated with their garment. To begin with, their website

states, “Canada Goose is deeply committed to the preservation of our global environment and the humane treatment of animals.” Immediately, this statement raises a red flag. We are all adults and capable of handling the truth hidden beneath Canada Goose’s vague language. Yet, this company chooses to brand themselves as environmentally conscious and purports to treat animals ethically.

This is a blatant lie, as they are willfully withholding the whole truth from their consumers. Instead, they offer up a fashion statement with an absurd cost, both environmentally and financially.

Upon inspection, it would appear that, in fact, their adherence to the guidelines set out by the Fur Council of Canada has little substance. This is based on the simple truth that The Fur Council of Canada has no legal authority in this country. Contrary to the authoritarian tone of their title, The Fur Council of Canada is little more than the marketing body for the fur industry. Essentially, they can say whatever people want to hear in order to sell more goods. Despite this fairly accessible piece of information, the Canada Goose Company asserts that the fur industry is a sustainable one.

Yet, traps are not selective. This means

that many endangered species, and pets, get caught in them.

For example, in 2011 a trapper in Manitoba caught one of the only four cougars spotted in that province since 1973. What is more “trash animals”, what are not considered of financial benefit, make up to 67% of the annual fur trade catch.

This alone renders the Canada Goose Company’s claim to environmental preservation void. Still worse, the type of traps that are used in Canada are reminiscent to instruments of medieval torture . The leg hold trap used here has already been banned in many countries (such as those of the European Union), as well as individual states south of the border. The fact that many animals die torturous deaths trying to escape these traps is obviously inhumane, and another strike against the Canada Goose claim to stewardship.

Perhaps what is most offensive about this company - and the stranglehold they seem to have on young adults who just want to stay warm - is their unabashed use of Canadian icons. Their brand extolls

visions of hardy persons in the great white north, whose primary concern is function above fashion. Certainly, there is a place for fur. Its use is not necessarily abhorrent. But where most of Canada’s population straddles the U.S. border, and more than half of us are urbanites, the Canada Goose Company’s vision of an iconic Canada is little more than a selling tactic.

Considering the Canada Goose Parka has been touted as the “uniform”

Erin Anderson and the people affected by them since the advent of the Indian Act in the 19th-century, and before. Finally, I would like to provide an alternative to the chlorine-based water systems the government currently wishes to install, despite a shared belief among some groups of aboriginals that putting a chemical into water taints the purity of a gift from their Creator.

Personally, I find this issue to be

important not only because it is a right that is guaranteed by the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Section 25 (1) but because of the individuals it affects nation-wide. Universities, media, and indeed the federal government have all decided that something needs to be done in order to ensure the First Nations people and Inuit have continued access to clean water, and yet nearly half of the 324 reserves in British Columbia alone have water systems that the government have deemed “high risk” due to contamination or poor infrastructure, including untrained maintenance workers. (See Katie Hyslop’s January 13 article in the Tyee) What needs to be addressed is not that the government refuses to supply the First Nations communities with water treatment facilities, but instead that the government has yet to speak to these communities about treatment methods other than applying a one-size fits solution using chlorine. As was stated above, adding a chemical to the water is unthinkable for many First Nations people. Thankfully, a compromise has been found by UBC undergraduate students using ultraviolet (UV) radiation to kill bacteria. I have since requested from the Federal Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern

Erin Anderson for young 16-24 year olds across the country, it would seem that as a nation we have devoured this brand for all its worth. This is despite the fact that, for most of us, the risk of frostbite is not a daily concern when walking to class. In the end, there is something disheartening about the exchange of animal’s lives to support the vanity of the upper middle-class. Canada Goose Parkas are, put simply, a badge of greed.

TAP water Alex Polley Contributor Imagine life with little to no education, over-crowded housing, and no access to clean water. Before you continue reading this article, ask yourself: Where do such conditions exist? Sadly, this is the state of many of Canada’s First Nation and Inuit reserves. Few reserves have adequate education or housing, while access to clean water in many parts of this country is nearly non-existent. I am a student in the Education program, currently working on a project to help raise awareness about socio-economic disparities amongst first nations across Canada, which has been called by Dr. Laura Thompson the Take Action Plan (TAP). This project is currently being done by ten students in order for us to research issues in First Nations communities in a manner that allows us to actively construct our own knowledge, make it meaningful to ourselves, and learn about multiple perspectives within a story.

My portion of this plan pertains to access to clean water on all reserves something that the federal government committed itself to nearly three years ago through the Safe Drinking Water

for First Nations Act, dragging its feet on ever since. I am also trying to create conversation about treatment of First Nations as a whole. Instead of treating the nearly 1.4 million people as a single group, we must instead treat individual groups of indigenous people differently depending on their culture and beliefs: they are not all the same. Sadly, this is how our government has faced aboriginal issues

Development, as well as his provincial and territorial counterparts that more research be done in using UV radiation to clean water. Although my impact may be small, I hope to achieve a small success by making government leaders aware of a possible alternative to water treatment on reserves that costs less and may be better embraced by First Nations and Inuit. Indeed, Lytton First Nation in British Columbia has already begun the application process for such a system, as was outlined in a BC-based periodical called the Tyee in January of this past year.

I hope through my efforts that the federal government will have no choice but to install up-to-date water treatment facilities on reserves that are accepted by First Nations on an individual level, so that we can finally set a precedent where the one-sizefits solution is not applied. However, I also encourage the reader to speak to their MP (if you are an Acadia student, your MP is most likely Scott Brison) or to take action in their own ways in order to ensure an equitable society for all within Canada: not one where everyone is treated the same, but rather one where everyone is given opportunities according to their own needs in order to thrive.

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7

Sorry Kristina Zenke Contributor First, let me tell you that I am really sorry. Really, really sorry. I am sorry for standing in your way when you bump into me, for you letting your cup of coffee fall down, and for you accidentally stepping on my belongings. Most of all, I am ‘sorry’ when I just do not know what else to say.

As an international student, one of my first impressions of Canada was that Canadians are seemingly always sorry.

Once, while getting my groceries at Pete’s, I had inadvertently blocked an aisle with my shopping cart. Behind my back, four Canadians silently formed a line. I am not sure how long they waited without making any noise before I turned around and noticed them. Feeling uncomfortable for having stood in their way, I quickly stepped aside. When they passed by, every single one apologized to me.

It was at this moment that I realized my culture probably has a very different (or less sophisticated) understanding of the word ‘sorry’ than Canadians do.

In Germany, where I am from, I would say that we only apologize when we did something wrong or inconvenienced another person. As Germans, we also apologize for our past. But do not expect a ‘sorry’ if you bump into a German—you will probably get an indignant glance or a “Watch yourself!” instead.

So, what does ‘sorry’ actually mean to a Canadian? Does it have a lot of context-dependent meanings, like an empathetic ‘sorry’ when something bad happens to another person, or a guilty ‘sorry’ when you hurt a person?

Most of all, is it an honest ‘sorry’, or just filler?

Do not get me wrong—I have nothing against the word. It is more so that the usage sometimes leaves me feeling bewildered. For example, I once witnessed a Canadian almost bumping into another, saying “I’m so sorry!” to which the other replied, “No, I am sorry.” Why Canadians apologize

I’m sorry

I’m sorry

I’m sorry

to their wrongdoers is something I find hard to understand. It sometimes seems as though Canadians actually compete to be the most sorry.

But just as Canadians are something of a ‘sorry’ bunch (pun intended), they also seem to be extremely grateful.

Opening the door for someone, the response I often receive is “Thank you so much!” Even minor favors seem to merit an “I really really appreciate this.”

German culture is a rather sober one. In my hometown, people express their fondness for something by saying it is “not too bad,” leaving lots of room for augmentations in enthusiasm. Thus, witnessing outbursts of sorriness and gratitude, I am left wondering about the meanings of these words. Do they not lose their impact when they are used in excess?

I mean, when you are already “very sorry” for spilling my beer or “really really grateful” for my psychology notes, how would you convey your sentiments about something serious?

How many ‘reallys’ would I need to use if I appreciated the fact that you saved my dog’s life?

I’m sorry

I’m sorry

I’m sorry

I’m sorry

I’m sorry

I’m sorry

I’m sorry

Then, of course, there is that inescapable question: “Hi! How’s it going?” During my first days in Canada, I made the mistake of answering honestly. I definitely overstepped ‘good,’ which I have learned to be the socially appropriate response no matter my actual feelings.

I have been greeted with this question countless times, most often with people already having their backs to me by the time they get to the “How is it going?” part. And I have seen it numerous times on campus as well.

Two people walk towards each other, smile, and almost simultaneously ask, “How is it going?” while already having passed one another.

Perhaps I’ve misunderstood and “How’s it going?” is synonymous with “Hello.” But still, what is the point in asking a question if you do not want to know the answer, or in the case of ‘good,’ when you already know the answer? Furthermore, why are honest answers frowned upon? Most often I have been met with uncomfortable faces when my response is “I’m having a bad day” or “It’s not going

I’m sorry

I’m sorry

I’m sorry

I’m sorry

I’m sorry

I’m sorry

I’m sorry

so well.” Why ask if you cannot cope with the truth? This empty empathy is something I still struggle with understanding, and I think many other international students feel the same.

In Germany, people would be offended by this sort of behaviour.

Though excessive use of the words ‘sorry’ and ‘thanks’ is seemingly the textbook definition of politeness, it often leaves international students feeling rude and confused. It can also make it difficult for international students to distinguish between people who are genuinely interested in them and those who simply feel obliged to engage in small talk.

O f co ur se, th i s i s b ut o n e perspective on the matter. People from other countries may not experience these aspects of Canadian culture the same way I do, and I only have German culture as point of reference.

Interestingly, living in Canada has taught me a lot about German culture as well. Either way, I really really appreciate your taking the time to read about my opinion. And if I have offended anybody: sorry.

I’m sorry

I’m sorry

I’m sorry

I’m sorry

I’m sorry

I’M SORRY I didn’t do laundry, didn’t do dishes, didn’t

clean up, forgot the book, forgot a pencil, forgot to call you, missed class, am late, am bad at small talk, am not outgoing, am not creative, am so intense, am so sensitive, am so sorry

Ellyanne Spinney Brandon Annapurna

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dirty wedding in the danforth sarah williams

The train pulsated on its way to the dirty wedding in the Danforth. Muriel’s eyes shone, as she looked to the turquoise water. Her eyes, of the same colour, spoke to the passing landscape, as she pushed her face to the window.

This was the roaring twenties. She was twenty-two. The country and its youth were embarking on the adventure of this century, together. They had endured the Great War. Together, they would marry themselves to all the fine, pleasurable things. Breathing a collective sigh, the twentieth century would grow with their every step.

Surely, Muriel thought, things could only get better.

He was her bear, with his brown eyes and brown hair. When the spring thaw

the mask

came, Muriel saw her bear in a new light. She saw his love for her grow, as he awoke from a deep sleep. And, in his tactless, lumbering way, Clarence had asked Muriel to marry him.

Clarence was a farm labourer, when he could find work. His family was not well off. They belonged to the Dutch Loyalist community—people for whom the land had subsumed all their dreams of glory. Despite this, they were, mostly, hard-working people. They stopped to rest on Sundays. But Clarence was different.

His family lived three doors down from the Bethel Methodist Church, but still, he hadn’t stepped foot in a place of prayer for nearly seven years.

Muriel paused, watching the sun

by Sarah Williams Wrapped in something I bought from the store Partly plastic, Sequins and velour This gown Was made up in some far away town “Made in China” Is the only symptom of its origin.

dirty wedding in the danthforth

peep out from behind a cloud, and dance in a puddle in the disappearing farmland. Clarence sighed as he slept next to her.

He was so unlike other people in Bethel. Seemingly nonplussed with fears of future strains, Clarence spent most of his time skating along back roads in his Model T Ford. His flask was never far from sight. True to form, he was a child of the new century, unafraid and ready to imbibe.

Despite her father’s disapproval, Muriel was ready to make this stick; to forge something out of nothing. And so, emboldened by the youthful energy of the times, the young lovers had decided to elope.

With the fresh chill of an early April day rising to meet them, they strode out of Union Station and headed for the Danforth United where they would be married.

Muriel breathed in the past as she stepped into the church to make her promise. Afterwards, at the delicatessen, she wondered what had been going through Clarence’s mind as he stood across from her at the altar, his eyes focused on her with their unique, placid energy. As she pondered, staring down at her smoked meat sandwich, with its red folds vivid in the afternoon light, snow began to fall outside. April 3, 1928.

8

Kelsi Barr

*******

It was ten years later, to the day.

Snow began to fall, as Muriel lay in her hospital bed. The depression was nearly over, though they say it was a mindset all along. Shafts of ice, remnants of the long winter, clung to the water’s edge. Muriel gazed at the nurses who tenderly washed the crimson blood off her baby. She had done it—forged something out of nothing. And the sun beckoned to her, peeping out of the grey dawn once more. They say Clarence was out driving when she died. He’d gotten a hold of a still during the depression and made a hobby out of his passion.

sarah williams

the mask

Tightly wound round my body My face Popping out of this harlequinesque dress On Friday night, In all its sterile splendour.

Wrapped up in an image Witheld.

The woman and nature dichotomy Dissolved Or doled out only to hippies and strange creatures Kelsi Barr

creative

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ACADIA

9

Graduation Ring Order by April 1st to assure Delivery by Graduation

Available at

cajun’s and

Herbin Jewellers

Margot Hynes

453 Main St. Wolfville 542-5705 info@herbinjewellers.com herbinjewellers.com

Hot Child in the country Laura Jeha Planning on sticking around Wolfville after finals commence?

Use this opportunity to do all the activities

and exploring you were too busy for during the school year.

t a e B eat H The

NIGHT LIFE Aylesford Beach Take a trip to the beach, Aylesford Lake Beach in King’s County offers walking trails, a canteen and one very key component: washrooms.

Medford Beach Travel to Medford and take a walk during low tide, you will be walking on the ocean floor!

You can check the tide times on the Valley Tourism website.

Apple Blossom Festival This annual four day festival brings a lot of students back to Wolfville for the weekend. The party starts early so prepare for some day drinking.

Luckett Vineyards

Do not feel like swimming? Go tubing on Gaspereau River. All you have to do is rent an inner tube and laze in the sun as the current carries you down the river.

Luckett Vineyards opens May 1st, and is one of the wineries that is closer to Wolfville. You can choose five wines to sample for a studentfriendly cost of $7 and there is also a restaurant, so you can grab a meal to complement your wine. While you are there take in the stunning view, and snap a photo inside the red phone box.

Mud sliding

Patios

Another option for escaping the summer heat is wallowing in some mud, go mud sliding in the Minas Basin, but make sure to wear old clothing!

Hit up a patio to quench your thirst. Walk down Main Street and take your pick. The Library Pub, Paddy’s, and Joe’s all have lively summer patios.

If you are looking for something that is close by check out the reservoir off Pleasant Street, or Lumsden’s Dam on Black River Road.

DA Y

S P I TR Eats

Upper Clements This theme park has been around for a while, and is one of the few in Nova Scotia. There are various rides, both on land and on water, zip lining, and even a zoo. The roller coaster may not go upside down, but the fact that it is made completely of wood is enough to provide a thrill!

While in Annapolis Royal, check out the botanical gardens. The plants are grouped into sections that are meant to represent different periods in the area’s history Balancing Rock Hiking Trail.

Many of you are probably aware of the Cape Split hiking trail, but for those of you that like to venture off the beaten path, try hiking the Balancing Rock Trail in Digby. With paths through the woods and along the coast you get the best of both worlds, and a chance to check out the teetering Basalt sea stack.

Hall’s Harbour For fresh-off-the-boat lobster, take a trip to the Hall’s Harbour lobster pound, about a 35 minute drive from Wolfville. They are open May through October.

U-picks Take advantage of the Valley’s summer bounty, and go pick some fruit. Head to Blueberry Acres in Sheffield Mills to fill your boots with high bush blueberries, or Bob Ansem’s U-pick near Kentville for strawberries.

Another option is Willowbank Farm in Port Williams, where you can pick your own raspberries. The picturesque farm, complete with red barn, pigs, and horses is worth the trip.

Tin Pan Take a walk along the Dykes to Port Williams and reward yourself with a delicious breakfast at the Tin Pan Bistro on Main Street. This hidden gem is a favorite among locals. Make sure to bring cash!

Ice cream Treat yourself to a taste of Italy and check out the Fox Hill Cheese stand at the Wolfville Farmer’s Market for some gourmet gelato.

If you are more of a traditionalist head down to Hennigar’s for a classic cone, where they offer up very generous scoops.

Artwork by Megan Stanton

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12

Big year ahead for Indigenous Student Society Jacob Verhagen New Editor Acadia’s Indigenous student society, ISSA, has set some large goals for the coming Academic year 2014-2015.

These include creating a student run scholarship and activities on campus for the upcoming Frosh week, including a pow wow. The society is looking to increase its visibility on campus and create allies amongst both indigenous and non-indigenous students alike.

ISSA president Mercedes Peters is spearheading the scholarship for an indigenous student that will be made for students by students. Currently there has not been feedback from Acadia, but many external organizations have expressed interest. The scholarship is mostly to encourage support for indigenous students who put effort into their education, and participate in the broader campus community. Peters said, “The scholarship is important,

though Acadia expresses interest in commitment to aiding Indigenous students on campus, there isn’t much

issacadia.wordpress.com being done from an administrative the school. This scholarship will not level. Indigenous students are leaving only aid Aboriginal students, but will

create mentorship opportunities and a chance to show them that they will have a family at Acadia who genuinely cares whether or not they enroll.”

As well, there are plans to host a pow wow for Frosh students to participate in. The activity is to familiarize students with aspects of indigenous culture to which they would be otherwise not be exposed.

These sorts of activities are to create inter-communal dialogue with portions of the community. ISSA President Benjamin McDonald claimed, “I believe that it will bring the already tight knit Acadia campus even closer and it will show Indigenous students that they are not alone, it will also appeal to the non-Indigenous students by showing them at we as ISSA are not only for Indigenous students.”

ISSA meets weekly and is comprised of both indigenous and non-indigenous students, it is a welcoming community that anyone interested may join.

Relay for Life: Remember Karoline Kant Contributor The luminary ceremony is a crucial moment in the Relay for Life event. It is a ceremony of hope and remembrance, to honor survivors and remember those who have lost the battle with cancer. It is a time to grieve for those we have lost and to reflect on our own or loved ones

cancer experience, and to find hope in tomorrow as a cancer-free world.

The ceremony is characterized by light.

Candles are lit during the ceremony to spark the flame of hope. With hope we will support loved ones. With hope we will not stop fighting. And with hope we will find a cure.

Many candles are lit in honor or in memory of a loved one. Luminary bags will be individualized by the name

of the one that you wish to honor.

Together we will then hear another’s experience to which we will then take a moment of silence to reflect and remember you and your loved ones.

Finally everyone will join together and complete a lap to honor, remember and reflect on the lives affected by cancer. Join us this Friday in the Acadia Athletic Complex for a night of fun, celebration, and remembrance.

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13

Fall Break and withdrawal extensions next year Jacob Verhagen New Editor

Acadia University has approved a Fall reading week. The new reading week will occur between ­­­October 27th-31st. The break was heavily advocated for at the student senate to help cope with current issues regarding student mental health at Acadia. The fall reading break is meant to allow students time to not only to catch up on their schoolwork, but also for students to take some time to distress.

As well, Acadia has approved a longer period for students to drop courses without having a withdrawal indicated on their final course transcript. The later withdrawal date means that students have an extended period for which they may decide to drop a class. While still being better than an ‘F’ on a transcript, the ‘W’ on a transcript is often seen as a reason to stay in a course as having a many ‘W’s is seen as a dampener on future career or academic prospects. This will

allow students more time flexibility in deciding whether they wish to stay in a course.

Not all are in support of the move.

Some professors have indicated that they worry that students may opt out of

courses if they feel that the workload is to daunting, rather than trudging through. Many of the rewarding aspects of an education come from going through what seems like the impossible, to reaping the rewards later.

Allowing more flexibility in how long a student has before they can drop a course means that students may drop at the first sign of danger. This will cheat them out of the experience of overcoming adversity at the end of the

Nathan Kaulback school year.

Both measures are meant to reduce stress in student life, allowing students the ability to produce better work and to allow them to enjoy their time at university.

Undercover journalist: the Acadia pregnancy club Eliza McGuire Sports Editor I feel the need to preface this article with some strong premises before a debate breaks out over whether abortions are morally permissible, or if the acceptance of them will result in your soul roasting over a fiery pit in that special corner of Hell reserved for those who have committed crimes against children. Whichever camp you belong to (or perhaps you sit on the fence in some sort of Switzerlandesque neutrality) I quite simply do not care: that argument can be saved for some school-room debate. I am not some radical pro-choice feminist, nor am I a bible thumper preaching the sins of abortion. I am looking at a national law that permits abortions, and Acadia University’s mandate regarding ratified clubs that may neither be pro-life nor pro-choice in nature.

The Pregnancy Support Club has had some pretty heavy accusations levied towards it and, if true, would warrant the termination of the club.

A source warned that the club was a disguised pro-life group that had snuck by the Acadia Student’s Union and on to campus, and it is the legitimacy of this claim that I sought to determine with a little investigation.

I had great plans—I was going to pretend to be 10 weeks pregnant and ask the club members at their booth

in the SUB where I could obtain an abortion, and gauge their reactions.

My first attempt at contact was foiled (they were absent from their booth) but was not a total loss as I did manage to grab some pamphlets and booklets about the options of those who are (probably unexpectedly) expecting.

Facebook.com While some were so Christian I felt I had to say ‘Amen’ after finishing, they were actually quite informative.

While I did not agree with all of the information inside— “It’s a mystery how two microscopic cells can unite and become one human being!” (No, I am fairly certain we figured that

one out one, maybe two years ago, thanks)—I still found them incredibly useful, and once putting myself in the position of an undergrad who discovered that they had done goofed and wound up preggers, I could see how these resources could ease a decision. However, the booklet put together by the group, just stapled together printer paper, held the most valuable information; where in the valley to go for help.

This booklet covers pretty much ever ything from post-abor tion counseling, temporary housing and shelters, childcare and support and so much more. If anyone decided to become a parent, anything from financial assistance to food banks was included in here. There is even a section of breastfeeding. Adoption is thoroughly covered as well, from local counseling services to agencies. There was one gross oversight, however— nowhere was the location of an actual abortion clinic mentioned. Apparently, there is only one in the Valley, so giving the club the benefit of the doubt, it is totally possible that this was just missed, or perhaps one of the pregnancy centers was meant to denote that it offered abortions and not just counseling on the matter. The bottom line, however, is that it was left out, and as a viable option abortion needs equal attention comparably with parenting and adoption. With assistance for adoption and parenting lain out so clearly, the option of abortion cannot

be merely mentioned in a footnote.

Based on an obviously (though technically unaffiliated) pro-life website run by the same Mandy Blanchard that runs the Acadia Pregnancy Club, I went fearing the worst to see the group again, and ask my question about the location of the abortion clinic. I was certain that they would try and talk me out of it, and tell me that I had other options— no need to rush!—but I honestly never got my story out. Once I asked for the location of an abortion clinic, I was steered in the direction of someone who could tell me (the fabrication I had so painstakingly worked the kinks out of rendered useless). While somewhat anti-climactic, I was relieved at the result, for when I pointed out that there was no location of a clinic offered, the girls at the booth were quick to assure me that this was merely an oversight. This group does wonderful things for people who need help, and assuming the club keeps their promise of outlining the contact information of the clinic to get an abortion when they reprint their guide, I hope the group will be left in peace to flourish.

They provide an excellent resource to people who need the help and are not sure where to turn; this help is free and comes without judgment, and such a thing is priceless. Personally, I am hoping their next step will be to have a stern talk with Acadia about the possibility of a daycare for students who are also parents, but perhaps I am getting ahead of myself.

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14

CIS struggles: Axemen exit with 0-2 record Sarah Mackinnon Staff Writer The Acadia Axemen had their season and National Championship hopes ended Friday night in a heartbreaking manner. The team struggled to get into a groove, taking too many penalties in their games versus the University of Windsor and the University of Saskatchewan. Regardless, the team had a phenomenal season and captured their first AUS Championship since 2006.

The CIS ranked #2 Axemen squared off in their first game of the University Cup against the CIS ranked #3 University of Windsor Thursday night. Acadia started off strong scoring right away at 1:19 in the first period. Mike Cazzola gave Acadia the quick lead with a wrist shot, the assist going to Liam Heelis, who had received the CIS player of the year Wednesday night. The game remained tight with Windsor testing out Evan Mosher, who had been named to the CIS second team All-Canadian. Windsor finally got on the board towards the end of the first at 16:52 to tie the game at one. Once again, it did not take Acadia long to get on the board in the second period with Liam Heelis scoring his first of the game at 1:43.

The assists came from beautiful passes

by Mike Cazzola and Brett Thompson, and as the announcer described ‘these three make magic together.’ Acadia kept testing the Windsor goaltender, but he played a strong game to keep

his team in it. On the power play eleven minutes later, Windsor tied it up once again to make the third period the deciding twenty minutes.

This time it was Windsor who came out strong, as they were on another power play, scoring a minute into the period. Acadia nearly tied it back up with a shot from Joe Gaynor that unfortunately hit the post. The Windsor power play goal ended up being the game-winning goal, but the team added an insurance goal three minutes later. Mosher had 24 saves in the 4-2 loss. Acadia’s game was full of penalties, spending ten out of the

twenty minutes in the second period in the box due to five minor penalties.

The team was not out of contention for the CIS title yet however, they just had to now take a longer route and face off against the host the next night.

Heelis was named the player of the game for Acadia.

Friday night, the Axemen squared off ag ainst the University of Saskatchewan in a do-or-die game. For the second night in a row Acadia came out strong, capitalizing on the power play 3:40 into the first period. Heelis got his second of the tournament, with the assists going to Thompson

Acadia Athletics and Chris Owens. Saskatchewan responded two minutes later, however, tying the game at one. At 9:50 of the first period Saskatchewan capitalized on a power play to give themselves a one-goal lead heading into the second.

The second period saw a lone goal coming from the Axemen to tie the game at two with Leo Jenner getting on the board. Heelis and Thompson registered the assists. The third period was once again the deciding frame.

Saskatchewan ended the Axemen’s tournament with a breakaway goal at the end of third period at 17:58.

The Axemen pulled Mosher with 40

seconds left but were unable to score leaving the game at 3-2. Mosher had 27 saves in the loss, and as Len Hawley described “proved why he was the best goaltender in the AUS this year.’

The Huskies were playing in front of a home crowd and for the first time since they were eliminated in the first round of playoffs. Thompson received the player of the game honors for the Axemen.

The Axemen have had an extremely successful season and have been a pleasure to write on. Their consistency and growth as a team has been phenomenal. Coach Darren Burns is as extremely happy with his team’s success and season as well: “I was extremely proud of what the guys accomplished this year. It was one of the tightest groups of guys I have ever coached. The AUS hockey conference is probably the toughest conference to win in CIS sport. We now need to focus on building on the success and culture of this years team to help us improve for next season.” The team will now move to the off-season and work on bringing recruits into the program.

The Axemen have quite a number of fourth year players, that could be graduating if they do not come back for a fifth year to complete their eligibility.

These players include Leo Jenner, Chris Owens, Cullen Morin, Dustin Ekelman, and Joe Gaynor. It is a fair assumption to make that not all of these players will be leaving the program, however if any leave it will be a great loss. Regardless, next season the Axemen will only be more experienced and stronger as an entire unit.

So long, farewell, auf weidersehen, goodbye Hailey Winder staff writer

As another school year comes to an end, graduating students are beginning to prepare for the last-leg of their undergraduate careers here at Acadia.

It is a bittersweet time for reflection back on the time spent here as well as looking forward to what lies in store ahead of us. Many of us will look back fondly at the times we spent together with friends, heading to the football games late into the fall, packing into the arena to watch our hockey players, or screaming our lungs out cheering for the rugby team. The varsity athletes that will be crossing the stage this spring to receive their diplomas will be missed and remembered by their teammates, coaches and fans.

This year’s swim team made waves in the AUS and CIS championships,

considering their relatively small size. Graduating this spring from the Acadia swim team will be team captain Jane Pomeroy who led the team to both of these tournaments as well as Ben Corkum who will be returning to Acadia this coming fall to continue his education. Pomeroy plans on spending the next year traveling: “I’ve got a bit of wanderlust after being in a small town for four years.” Though her time at Acadia is coming to a close soon, she does admit that she has made some great memories here: “It was a really great atmosphere this year,” Pomeroy confided, “swimming at Acadia has been an incredible experience, its been a lot of work these past four years, but definitely worth it,”—something I am sure many athletes would agree with.

After a season that saw the varsity cross-country team place fifth in the AUS Indoor Track and Field Championship in Moncton, the team will be losing three key members.

Graduating from the cross-country team this year will be Jessica Fowlie, Karlina Kant and Jordan Smith.

With a tough 13-game season behind them, the Acadia men’s soccer team will say goodbye to four crucial members of their squad including their captain Zach Shaffelburg, midfielder Erik Merchant and two of their goalkeepers Eric Ross and Eric McGarry.

After a successful season that saw the Axewomen soccer team take home 7 wins and 4 losses, we will see graduating athletes Alana Fairfax and Carrie Wood cross the stage as they receive their diplomas this spring.

Though the two will be receiving their degrees they will be continuing on at Acadia working toward their secondary degrees.

This year’s women’s volleyball team will see both Kristen Bolduc and Meg Rector graduate from Acadia. Head Coach Michelle Wood comments that it was a great privilege to work with these women as they are “two

of the top physically talented athletes [she] has had the pleasure of working with.” Bolduc will be graduating from the Education program here at Acadia and moving on to teach in the United Kingdom this fall while Rector will continue her studies at the Canadian College of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine here in Nova Scotia.

After a tough eight-game season, the Acadia football team will be losing 15 strong players this spring.

Among those graduating are three All-Canadian athletes Brett Backman, Taylor Renaud and Cameron Wade.

The Axemen will be taking a significant hit to their defensive line with the loss of Chris Cull, Alex Graham, Drayden Guy, Tristan Hercules, Zack Skibin and Evan Williams. All-purpose players like Evan Brown, Andrew Healy, Scott Kelly and Zack Clarke will also be missing from the roster this coming fall as well as James Young and John Michael Breen. This said—the

contributions and dedication shown by these graduating athletes will likely not be lost on their younger teammates who will carry the team forward into this coming fall.

The Axemen hockey team, after eight long years, brought the AUS championship back to Wolfville after an impressive season that saw 21 wins and only 7 losses throughout their regular season play with a total of 118 goals and 201 assists. This strong team just finished battling it out for the CIS championships in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, with two heartbreaking losses to open the tournament. Among those graduating this coming spring are defensemen Chris Owens, Cullen Morin and Leo Jenner with Jenner and Owens contributing and combined total of 13 goals for the Axemen this season. On the offense, KC Brown, Dustin Ekelman and Joe Gaynor will be leaving the team with 3, 6, and 5 >> Contin. on page 15

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>> Contin. from page 14 goals a piece. Finally Evan Mosher, who has had an absolutely incredible season making 544 saves and logging nearly 1400 minutes of playing time, will be graduating from Acadia along with the others who will all without a doubt be sorely missed by their teammates, coaches and fans.

Women’s basketball had a tough season that began with three of the four senior players injured near the start of the season. “It was hard because it was at the beginning of the season,” says Chika Chiekwe one of the four graduating seniors, “we knew that we were done before we even started.” However, with the guidance and experience of the Chiekwe, captain Abbey Duinker, Kristy Moore and Rita Sibo the team pulled through the season and made it into a learning year for the younger players. Sibo plans to spend the next year traveling and eventually get her SPA and become a professional accountant and Chiekwe plans on pursing business law. Chiekwe and her teammates did not write this season off though: “despite everything we went through, everyone stuck together, encouraged each other like we were a family. In fact that’s what we are. We are all sisters”.

The men’s basketball squad, after

Sears, AUS All-Star and former AUS tournament MVP, will be graduating this spring from Acadia’s Recreation Management Program. Ashe, who transferred from Carleton w h e r e h e wo n a National Championship is a two-time winner of the AUS AllStar award and will be graduating this spring with a degree in Environmental Science. Klassen, a n AU S M V P and Defensive Player, two-time All-Canadian athletes, for mer AUS Rookie of the Year, and fourtime AUS All-Star has been invited to the Senior Men’s N a t i o n a l Te a m Cap for the next Olympic Games.

a largely successful season, will be saying goodbye to four key members of the team: Owen Klassen, Anthony

Sears, Anthony Ashe and Lauchlan Gale, who did their part in leading the team through their 20-game season.

Taylor Brown Without a doubt, this years Cinderella story at Acadia came from the Axewomen’s rugby team. This

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team had a stellar 8-game regular season that saw 7 wins including five games with no points scored against.

With an incredible 581 points for, the Axewomen fought hard throughout the season with numerous injuries— including a significant season ending injury to captain and graduating athlete Emilie Chiasson. Other graduating athletes include Emma DeLory, Allison Jordan, Heather Boersma, Nicole Kelly and Amber Davidson. Notably this season, Head Coach Matt Durant received the CIS Coach of the Year award for his unsurpassed commitment and dedication to the women’s rugby program here at Acadia. “We had a great season,” said Durant, “I expect we will again be a stronger team next year, and I think we will be a contender of the National stage for some time to come!”

The time, effort and dedication that these athletes have put into their respective sports have not been lost on their fans, family and friends who have supported them throughout their time here at Acadia. Though it will be hard to say goodbye to such great athletes these Axewomen and Axemen will leave Acadia with great memories and lifelong friendships that they will carry with them in all their future endeavours.

A conclusion on concussions Will Cann Contributor My first concussion came around the beginning of September in 2009.

It came from a helmet-on-helmet hit during the first full contact football practice of the year. I got up and was pretty dizzy, but I continued on with the rest of practice, not because I was trying to be tough, but because I did not know any better. I had no idea what the symptoms were, and I never really considered the dizziness a warning sign.

Once I got home I determined that I was probably concussed. I had a pretty substantial headache and felt like I was in a fog. I went to the doctor the next day to see what I would be looking at in terms of recovery, and to make sure that it was in fact a concussion.

I stopped playing football for about a month and a half, and only began to play again once the symptoms had subsided. In the period following my first concussion, my school marks dropped by around twenty or thirty percent, I had regular headaches, and struggled to concentrate. The next concussion came in my second game back. I partially blacked out and remember lying on the ground having trouble breathing. The play that gave

me my second concussion was the last time I ever played an organized game of tackle football.

After my second concussion in about six weeks, I stopped playing for the rest of the season, on the orders of my doctor and my family. The following September, I came back to football. My third concussion came during the first full contact practice.

That was the last time I ever put on football gear.

I have lost track of how many more I have had since my third, but I believe it is somewhere between four and seven, putting my total between seven and ten. All of them occurred in a two and a half year span.

Thankfully, the fallout from my concussions has not been terribly severe. I still have random bouts of vertigo, but their frequency has declined. After I had my first, it seemed like the topic of concussions in football blew up and every sports show was talking about them. While I was watching a pre-game show one day, I saw a segment about a football player for the University of Pennsylvania who had committed suicide. His suicide was linked to something called Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).

The Encyclopedia Britannica entry for CTE describes it as a “disease typically associated with repetitive trauma to

the head…[which] can be diagnosed definitively only by postmortem autopsy.” Needless to say, seeing this segment was an eye opener for me, given my recent concussion. Since seeing that segment, I have learned of a number of professional athletes whose deaths have been linked to CTE.

Taylor Brown Hockey players Derek Boogaard, Bob Probert, football players Junior Seau, and Dave Duerson to name a few on a long list.

As more and more is discovered about the nature of concussions, sports leagues have been trying to adapt.

Hockey and football have both had rule

changes, designed to reduce contact that is targeted at the head. These rules can only do so much. There are still going to be hits where players get up and have trouble walking on their own, that is, if they can even get up. The bigger issue, in my opinion, is athletes who continue playing when concussed.

The problem with concussions is that they are not like any other injury as there are no visible symptoms. It is not a question of being “tough,” but rather of realizing the effects these impacts can have on health years down the road.

Unfortunately, today’s sports culture, while moving away from this, still seems to view concussions as injuries that can be played through if you are “tough” enough. They are not. As I have said, they can have some pretty serious long-term effects. There are retired NFL players who leave their house to go to the store, only to realize on the drive there that they forget where they are going.

It seems like the more we learn about them, the bigger and more important the topic of concussions in sports becomes. Everything I have written here has been learned after my first one. Concussions are not like any other injury, the damage they do cannot be repaired with surgery or medication, and their effects can last a lifetime.

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