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Welcome/Hello/How Are Ya? Andrew Haskett Editor in Chief
Good morning, good evening, and goodnight. My name is Andrew Haskett and I am the residing Editor-in-Chief of the Athenaeum, Acadia University’s student news publication. Throughout the proud 140 year history (whoa) of the Athenaeum some absolutely outstanding work has been crafted, and I fully intend to continue this trend. I am incredibly passionate about the Athenaeum, student journalism, people, and the world at large and I plan on involving all of my passions, and yours, into the pages and ar-
chives of the Athenaeum for future generations. The Athenaeum prides itself on it’s rich history and in it’s confident, transparent ethics. And, just like you, we are students. So stop on by our offices sometime, pitch a story, give us the scoop. We’d love to hear what you have to say. If you have a story, an idea, a piqued interest, or really anything to offer I implore you (yes you!) to get in touch with any member of our fine staff. We look forward to working with you in the 2015/2016 academicpublication year. Later days. Andrew Haskett Editor-in-Chief, the Athenaeum eic@acadiau.ca
The Athenaeum Acadia University’s Student News Paper Issue 79.1 ASU Box 6002, Acadia University Wolfville, NS, Canada B4P 2R5 Editor In Chief: Andrew Haskett email: eic@acadiau.ca SUB room 512 EIC Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 3 - 6 Advertising Enquiries: connell.finance@acadiau.ca Business Enquiries: 116765m@acadiau.ca
Editor In Chief Andrew Haskett Section Editors Art: Adam Langille Creative: Chad Durling Features: Hope Latta News: Hanna Hutchinson Opinions: Kody Crowell Science: Katie McCulloch Sports: Sam Gilli
Production Manager Robin Lawson Photo Manager Anjuli Ripley Copy Editor Tyler Nelson Online Manager Senewa Sena Advertising Manager Theresa Connell Business Manager Robyn McMillan Managing Editor Kendra Petrie
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 If there is content that we feel will not add to the philosophy, dialogue, or tone of our newspaper, it will not be published.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 Andrew Haskett 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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On the cover This week’s cover photo was created by Connor Cornick. We are pleased to feature original, and interactive, art work on our cover this week. We welcome you, dear readers, to take a moment and de-stress by leting your creativity flow and colouring in the cover. If you would like to suggest a cover for our next issue of The Atheaum, please email: 117727l@acadiau.ca Photo Credit: Anjuli Ripley
Deep Roots music festival Rebekah Hutten Contributor In less than two weeks, the 12th annual Deep Roots Music Festival will be taking place in downtown Wolfville. The Deep Roots Music Cooperative’ s mantra is to foster “an enduring community, celebrating and enriching our culture through music.” The festival features primarily folk and blues musicians, as well as dancers, visual artists, and children’s music. It runs from September 24th to 27th. As the former Summer Student Assistant Coordinator, I’ve been lucky enough to be a part of the preparation for this year’s festival. The most amazing thing about Deep Roots is the unwavering and passionate dedication of the Festival Committee and festival volunteers. The Festival Committee is made up entirely of volunteers, many of whom have full-time jobs and families. Yet, they have the energy and talent to organize the festival year after year. It takes months of preparation. To see their love of music manifest itself in the beautiful production of the Deep Roots Music Festival is completely inspirational. Last year I went to only the free events during the festival.
The experience of being surrounded by music for an entire day was incredibly fulfilling and memorable. Wolfville becomes filled with musicians and performers and artists who all really care about connecting with their audience and the community. The Farmer’s Market has outdoor music, a parade that takes place in the town around noon (featuring gorgeous giant puppets!), and Paddy’s hosts evening concerts. Even if you can’t make it to or afford the priced events, there’s still many events to take part in that are free. Additionally, the Deep Roots festival offers student
pricing on tickets and passes. The festival schedule has more details on performers, events, workshops, and pricing. Two exciting highlight concerts of this year’s festival feature maritime-based Old Man Luedecke and Matt Andersen on Sept 24th, and Canadian folk legend Sylvia Tyson on Sept 26th. For more details about the festival, or to volunteer, refer to their website or email deeprootsmusiccoop@gmail.ca.
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Stay Gold at the Axe Lounge Pony Girl Ottawa Band
WHO: Pony Girl: www.ponygirl.bandcamp.com Old Cabin: www.oldcabin.bandcamp.com Keith Stratton: www.keithstratton.bandcamp.com
DUANE!!!: www.duane111.bandcamp.com WHEN: Thursday, September 17th, doors at 8pm, show at 8:30 WHERE: The Axe Lounge in the SUB HOW MUCH: $7.00
Come out to the Axe for a fun night of hip music with two bands from afar and two from just down the road! Music genres range from indie folk, to classical-infused dream-pop, to drone music. It is sure to be a unique experience that you won’t want to miss. If you would rather sit down in a nice building, or happen to fall in love with singer from Pony Girl or Old Cabin at the Axe, don’t worry, there will be a more intimate afternoon acoustic concert on the Sunday following this show. It takes place at the Manning Memorial Chapel, on Sunday, September 20th at 2pm. Suggested donation is $10, and the accompanying act will be local heartthrob Pat Lepoidevin (www.patlep oid ev i n.b a n d c a m p. com).
Here’s a word from Pony Girl about their new album: We’re Pony Girl. Because of our six members’ various musical backgrounds, our music is somewhat difficult to pin down to one genre. To give you an idea, some of us have classical degrees, some have played in big band jazz ensembles, and others simply have the love for folk story-telling. All of this combined together creates something I’m proud to call quite unique. We’ve just finished the production of our sophomore record “Foreign Life” which comes out on November 7th. Our sound and approach to songwriting has definitely evolved since our previous record. We took from all our favorite styles and combined them in a digestible way. We were go-
ing for the “Radiohead effect,” where the songs are catchy enough to enjoy in the first listen, but have a second level to them that keeps them interesting in repeated listens. We’re starting an OntarioQuebec-Maritimes tour this Saturday, 12th of September. We will be playing almost exclusively material
from the new record and found in this article: http:// will incorporate its imag- exclaim.ca/music/article/ ery and visual themes on pony_girl-candy_video stage around us. I’m very excited to start the tour, it’s a passion for me to be both traveling and sharing my art with as many people as possible. Our tour dates as well as our newly released music video for our song “Candy” can be
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Oh wonder: Album review Sidharth Kondapuram Contributor
London based duo Oh Wonder released their self-titled debut album on September 4th. And in short: it is exquisite. From the stripped down tonal approach to the sound production, the lush allure of Josephine Vander Gucht’s voice, and the hazy dream-pop feel that accompanies most of its content. It’s the type of music you listen to as you hold someone and dance lazily as the night wanes into day. Oh Wonder adopts the mien of someone very idealistically and unequivocally in love - rhythmic poetry in motion whilst ruminating on the failures of romance. An apt example would be in the song Dazzle: “Golden grill of sadness/ smell like wasting youth/Always end up like this / Always gonna lose,” they talk about love as if it were a casino game - a deceit of youth, and it’s willful inability to accept the shortcomings of the fantasy that is love. It is this reality that the album tries to strike a chord with; idealism and
Photo Credit: Anjuli Ripley reality - the duality of romance. And it does so quite successfully. That is not to say that it is not bogged down by a strict adherence to this idea. The songs tend to stay rigidly formulaic within the domain of this duality, foregoing the exploration of facets that also accompany the tumultuous modern day relationship. Ironically: they try to create something highly eclectic while producing their music, and yet it is the same formulaic quasieclecticism that prohibits them from achieving something truly exceptional. The duo (Josephine
and Anthony) have the formula for a luscious synth-pop a lbum locked down, but they do not vary it. They derive too much of their music from their own music. The only variance we get is the change of the duality, from something ethereal to some thing discarded in the gutter. The discord between the way the band feels: they are either wholly in love or and an engaging in idealistic drudgery about love (in songs like Livewire, Shark, or Body Gold), or cynical iconoclasts swimming against the fervent tide of idealism that
they created. I do applaud them on the inventive method they used to release the album (and it may also act as a justification for the jagged flux of the songs), as they released a song every month for the preceding year as a build-up to this album. Out of the fifteen songs in this album, thirteen of them had been released over the preceding year. This could be the pivotal reason the album does not meld together into a beautiful flow. In summation, Oh Wonder’s debut is an apt musical description of love: marred with melancholia and lifted with glee. It is an eclectic work of art, although at times it tends to borrow heavily from itself and remain rigidly formulaic. But in the end, its peaks exalt this album, and this is enough to overcome the nadirs. I would highly recommend giving this album a listen. Rejoice in the idealism, and wallow in the cynicism. dio@gmail.com, If you wish to host a show, please email the programming coordinator, Kelly MacNeil at axeradioprogramming@gmail.com.
The Evangeline Court Music Collective: Adam Langille & Adam V. Clarke Chancellor & Advisor of ECMC
If you are interested in being a part of creative things involving contemporary classical music and ways of connecting music to other mediums of art, this collective is something you should be a part of. If you are excited to see new music concerts, attend coffee-house style events with string quartets, and in general support upcoming artists on campus, watch out for posters and updates online! Join the Facebook group (named: Evangeline Court Musician’s Collective) for the dates of meetings and events - we will be scheduling our introductory meeting within the
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next couple weeks. Typically, the collective meets every two weeks to share ideas, new works, and discuss ideas for events. This provides an opportunity for creators to gain insight and constructive criticism on the things they’re working on, and allows other members to get an idea of what their peers are focusing on. Additionally, through group discussion we decide what kind of events to put on - we are open to ANY new idea. We would like to put on different events than what is already happening around town, so that we can discover new ways of sharing and experiencing art with the public. (Continued on page 5.)
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Photo Credit: Becca Davidson
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The athenaeum cookbook Among activities we could put on for this year: - A concert in the woods (weather permitting) - A concert featuring the world premiere of “Uncharted Worlds” our first collaborative work for String Quintet - An open recital/social for performers, composers, fans, and friends to relax, share ideas, and consume coffee and cookies - A collaborative event with visual and/ or literary arts What makes the ECMC different than a regular musical ensemble is the open-ended nature of ideas, and the focus on reaching out to other art istic disciplines. The group is intentionally separate from the academia of the Schoo l of Music so that the projects and events are shaped by the individuals in the collective, and the nature of the art itself. The School of Music tends to stay within its own four walls, and break ing from this allows us to branch out and meet artists of other fields in this area. This gives members an opportunity to hear another perspective on art as a whole, and to create something lar ger than themselves with the help of others in the community. Our Mission Statement: The Evangeline Court Music Collec tive (ECMC) supports the coming together and communication between music creators and performers collaborating outside of an academic setting in order to promote interd isciplinary artistic innovation. ECMC supports musicians interested in new music (based around contemporary classical), those invested in expanding their compositional, performance, and collaborative abilities in a welcoming and open-minded environment. We strive to interact often with the broader artistic community, regardless of medium. Our Goals: To bring together musicians outside of our acade mic environment, but in an organized setting with set aims, meetings, and projects. Run by the students, for the students.
Kale Greenfield Contributor
As the school year kicks off, we all fall back into the wonderful triangle of student cooking: Cheap, tasty, and nutritious; pick two. Fortunately, we at the Athenaeum have you covered. Over the course of the year, we’ll be sharing some of our favorite ready-to-cut-out recipes that are delicious, easy to make, nutritious, and cheap. Vegetarian Lentil Dahl Lentils have been a staple crop in many cultures for thousands of years. They are classified as a pulse - a category of “grain legumes” that are grown specifically for the dried seed, unlike peas or green beans. Tolerant to drought and disease, and relatively quick to grow, there are records of lentils being grown in in India and Turkey for almost 13,000 years. They persist to the modern day, being an integral part of modern crop rotation cycles - as a pulse, they renitrogenate soil before or after a grain crop has grown in the same field. Though it isn’t commonly known, Canada is the largest producer of lentils in the world - out producing
the next three lentil-producing countries (India, Turkey and Australia). Lentils have remained a staple for so long with good reason. A half cup of lentils provides the average person with all of their fibre and half of their protein for the day. Not to mention, lentils are incredibly high in mineral micronutrients like phosphorus, zinc, and iron, in addition to many B-vitamins. Despite their high nutritional value, lentils have not been subject to modern health food crazes that have promoted other, more exotic grains and pulses into fashion. Between this lack of temporary popularity and their domestic nature in Canada, lentils remain a very affordable staple in almost every grocery store. Vegetarian Lentil Dahl Prep Time/Cook Time: 15m/60m Essential Ingredients: 400g (1 and 2/3 cups) red lentils 2 tsp turmeric 4tbsp unsalted butter 2 tsp cumin seeds
1 small onion, finely chopped 3- 4 cloves garlic, finely sliced 1-2 fresh green chilis, finely sliced (remove seeds if yo u want to keep the heat down) Additional Ingredients (if you have them) 1 tsp garam masala 1 tsp coriander 1 thumb-sized piece of fresh ginger, finely grated 2-3 cooking tomatoes, chopped Preparing the Lentils 1. Place the lentils in a pan and cover with enough water that it covers them by an inch. Bring to the boil and then reduce to a simmer. 2. Stir in the turmeric and about half the butter. Cover and leave on low heat. Aromatic Spice Mixture 3. In a small frying pan, dryfry the cumin seeds (medium heat) until toasted. This should only take a couple of minutes. When done, set them aside. 4. Melt the other half of the butter in the same frying pan that previously had the cumin seeds and gently fry the chopped garlic, onion, and chilis ( as well as the grated ginger and tomatoes, if you’re using them). Once the garlic is golden, mix in the toasted cumin seeds (and the garam masala / ground coriander, if on hand). 5. Once mixed, remove from the heat until the lentils are completely softened. Putting it Together 6. When the lentils are done, they should have the consist ency of porridge. Add more water as necessary (they get thicker surprisingly fast).
Photo Credit: Robin Lawson
7. Mix in your aromatic spice mixture, then serve on its own, topped with some more coriander, or on rice.
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first year forecast: the awkwardness of public bathrooms Anonymous Contrbutor
The perils of public bathrooms are numerous. Germs, lack of privacy and a general consensus that these communal places aren’t intended for communication with others. This sort of mindset is what makes the transition from a private home restroom to a communal and neighbourly lavatory one of the most difficult transitions that first year students encounter. This lack of privacy isgrounded in social boundaries that have been derived for hundreds and thousands of years. It is common for many first year university students to feel that using their residence bathroom causes stress. This social enigma tends to decrease as time passes, but is as prevalent as ever during the months of September and October. Such a problem is intriguing, as it asks us to question the role of public bathrooms in Western society. Privacy ideals that are taught to youth today are the reason for reluctance. Many individuals don’t feel comfortable knowing that someone else may gain knowledge of what they are doing. The commonplace opinion is that there is no need to give fellow students or strangers a sense of what takes place behind the scenes. This idea is developed through social changes that have caused people to become more aware of how they are presenting their “lavatory self.” The Ancient Romans used to bath themselves in a public bathing area. They also used to use communal toilets without walls to create privacy. To the Romans, the opportunity to use the public bathing area was considered mandatory for socialization. It was also seen as a way to make new acquaintances. Bathing was so important in Roman
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society that there were sometimes libraries, gardens, and exercise areas surrounding the area. Bathing was also seen as therapeutic because it would allow people to cleanse themselves of anything that covered them. During the 16th century, Europe started to make major changes to their lavatory structures. During the Black Plague, people started to change their opinion of bathing and cleanliness, however it would take many more years to realize the full extent of the relationship between hygiene and illness. King Henry VIII shut down public bathing houses in England once and for all in 1546. After people began to realize that bathing had a very direct relationship with sickness, the importance of having a place to clean oneself became more prominent. In the 19th century, people who were part of the working class often shared an outside bathroom with others. Decades later, having a toilet inside of your house became the norm. The need for bathrooms to be farther away from living areas was due to the lack of plumbing technology and drain systems. Early toilets did not have an easy way to transfer waste from one place to another without damaging the areas in between. During the 20th century, bathrooms were used as a place to do one’s hair and makeup (partially due to Hollywood movies and an increase in people who were in the middle class). People became more proud of showing off their bathroom, as they had been with their kitchen. Escapism was first introduced in relation to bathrooms. Bathrooms represented privacy and retreat during this time period, and would be a place
that people could go to be alone with their thoughts (in a powder room, for example). With regards to Acadia students, the more you get to know your neighbours, the easier using public restrooms will get. There are historical and societal reasons why public restrooms cause stress amongst people of this century, but that doesn’t mean that this sort of stressor will persist with time. After taking a general sample of public opinions, the following is a compilation of remedies for beating
the stress: Turn the tap on. Go even if you’re scared. Discuss this with a friend you are close with. A huge percentage of first year students find that this is a stressful and tedious new problem. If you’re open about the concept with your friends, you’ll feel less stressed and more empowered. Most importantly, the transition from high school a nd living at home, to living on campus, is a tough one. The things that really change our perception of bathrooms have more to do with what people say than why it’s wrong.
Photo Credit: Andrew Haskett
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workspace can help to ease tension. It is always a good idea to make the downloads folder of your laptop as neat as possible. This section will often become crowded with PowerPoints and class notes provided by professors. It should also be noted that a lot of people use their computer or laptop screen for Post-It notes that give them a list of things to do. This could lead to the same feeling of clutter if not managed properly. Part 3: Space Some students find that it’s easier to study in a public place. Some find that it’s easier to study in their room. Take the first couple of weeks to try out new things and see what you like best. It may take a while to find the perfect workspace, but it is worth it. The following are a couple of environmental combinations to brainstorm and experiment with: Photo Credit: Becca Davidson
Managing your werkspace Hope Latta Features Editor
Your first year at university can be a challenging time to start over in a new place. New places mean new areas to study and also new ways of cooperating with the environment that surrounds you. The following are a few tips that can help with studying in a new space. Part 1: Paper It’s important to come up with a good system for filing papers at the beginning of the semester. Having a clear space for paper to be stored will help with the tranquility of your room (especially if it’s hidden). Some students find that having lots of paper on the ir desk can be a stressful reminder of everything that they haven’t done. The resi-
dence rooms at Acadia, for the most part, have a limited amount of desk space (including the wardrobe and dresser). This space is meant to be used for everything from toiletries, extra food, books, hair and makeup items, plants, and other odd things. Therefore, table space must be cherished. Consider finding a place to store papers that is tucked away and not immediately noticeable. It will make a world of difference. Part 2: Electronic Documents Decide what sort of naming system you would like to apply to all of your work, and start using it right away. A consistent system will prove to be useful down the road. The physical apearance of a paper free
Listen to the Kids Trevor Braxton-Barto Staff Writer
Listen to the kids In all of our bids For Freedom and Knowledge For Adventure and Sins For in time we’ll find our dime And become the next kings Listen to the kids And let us go see What we want to become In the Age of the Free Listen to the kids If you wanted to know Where the world’s going And what it is to bestow Listen to the kids We’ll figure it out Against all this pressure And shadowing doubt Listen to the kids I’m sure you will find Us able enthusiasts With good health and good minds Listen to the kids We’re smarter than we seem Our empathic inspirations Are more than just Dreams
o Public A: Public S (a public area where people surround Inspired by the first line of Kanye West’s 2015 VMA speech you) o Public A: Public NS (a public area where no one can see you)
Sonnet ii Trevor Braxton-Barto Staff Writer
o Private A: Private NS (a pri- He tried to break free but he’s not still around vate area where no one can He tried to get up but his will had been drowned see you) Tried to sit tall but he slouched on the wall
Examples of good places to check out around campus: Tried to walk but settled to crawl o The K.C. Irving Center
He could feel his body; every weighing pound
o The Vaughn Memorial Li- Strong like a magnet stuck to the ground brary (check out the study rooms as well as the quiet He could feel his pride taking a fall room - ask for help if you don’t know where those places are) Torn down into nothing hearing the call o Clark Commons
Of a crowd so proud he knew not to stay
o Residence Lounges
The speed was fierce and the power was fright But he knew himself and his only sin
o The SUB (the main floor is great, as well as the Mi When the fist came around for a powerful slay chener lounge) o Wheelock Dining Hall
He dug deep inside and discovered his fight And he had no other option, but to win
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Thane’s Brain Boggler Thane Mullen Contrbutor
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“the morning after” Dave Wright Contributor
The man awoke at dawn from the profound slumber which could be born only of complete satisfaction. He stared up at the stucco ceiling for a moment to get his bearings, then turned his head slightly to the right. She was facing away from him, but he could see the tangle of long, blonde hair. He smiled. He silently slipped from the bed, barely disturbing the light cotton sheet as it lay across the pale curve of her shoulder. It was a large sleigh bed, conspicuously out of place in what was otherwise a modestly furnished apartment. He suspected it had been the gift of a family member, perhaps an aunt or grandmother. Otherwise, the apartment perfectly met the dichotomy of whimsical and serious which was effortlessly achieved by a young grad student. He walked over to a shelf on the bedroom wall: a teddy bear; a picture with friends, possibly rock climbing; a picture of Freud smoking a cigar. From here he walked to the window. The curtains were soft,a light cream with a pastel flower print. He gently pulled them tighter to shut out the morning sun which was already beginning to fall across her face, except where his dark form cast a shadow. He revelled in the early morning and preferred the solitude of his own mind. Coffee would be good, but it could wait a while. Aimlessly, he wandered over to her desk - a small, pale Ikea item in keeping with the general tone of the place, far more so than the elegant bed. There was a laptop open on the surface, together with scattered papers and an open textbook, its pages decorated with yellow and pink highlighter. He lifted the edge of the book to see its title. Abnormal Psychology. His gaze lingered on some of the highlighted passages. He smiled again. The innocent striving to understand the monsters of the world. He peered into the main room of the apartment; again, it was sparsely furnished, yet cheerful and pleasant. The modest kitchen included a full-sized refrigerator, covered with photos, mementos, and other evidence of a life enjoyed. Rather than a couch there were a futon and a couple of mismatched chairs, all in subtle, spring-like tones and all working well together, in spite of their basic differences. There was a small television in the corner, but it was clearly not the focus of the room. Magazines on the coffee table pointed once again to the complex nature of the appment’s resident. Scholarly reading was mixed with sports and fashion. She was clearly intelligent; he could attest that she was athletic, and yet, at heart, she was a young woman in search of her identity. He made his way to the small washroom, neat and tidy except for the cornucopia of chemicals and products on the counter by the sink. He thought of her sparkling blue eyes, the slightly crooked yet radiant smile, the soft skin. She didn’t need all of these beauty products, he decided. She would be stunning even without them. He felt truly enriched to have met her, a fortuitous chance encounter he would treasure. He looked into the mirror and stretched, then smiled widely once more. It had been too long since he had allowed himself such complete release. A night of passion and magic, after which the dawn had come all too soon.“I wonder what her name was,” he pondered, absently, as he began to wash the blood from his hands.
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FDA Approves Female “Viagra”: Pleasure or profit? Hanna Hutchinson News Editor
A new drug is set to hit the U.S. markets on October 17th. Commonly referred to as “female Viagra,” Addyi, generic name flibanserin, is the first FDA-approved drug to target female sexual dysfunction. However, this label is misleading; Addyi is vastly different than the male sexual enhancement drugs currently on the market. Additionally, the heavy marketing campaigns backed by drug companies have many sex physicians wondering whether the push for approval was in the interest of pleasure or profit. The FDA approved Addyi for premenopausal women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder, a condition classified by lack of sexual appetite that causes
emotional distress. There is much debate over whether women who are experiencing low sexual libido require medical intervention. In many instances sex therapy and sex education may be a more appropriate remedy. Previous efforts aimed at treating female sexual dificulties focused on biological functions such as blood flow and hormones the way Viagra works, however they were proven unsuccessful. Addyi is different, in that it alters the brain chemistry of the patient, affecting mood, appetite, and overall functions to “boost” sexual desire in women. Addyi is not a “take as needed” medication. It requires prolonged daily usage over 4-8 weeks in order to see benefits. Owned by Sprout
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pharmaceutical, the drug has previously been rejected twice by the FDA due to mediocre results and substantial side effects. Addyi will require stringent safety warnings concerning the risk of combining the drug with alcohol as well as certain other prescription medicines, which can cause dangerously low blood pressure and fainting. Additional side effects include nausea, drowsiness, and dizziness. Trials have shown that prolonged use may result in an increase in the number of satisfying sexual events. However, women in these trials reported on average only one extra sexually gratifying experience each month. Lacklustre results such as these suggest that Addyi may not be the re volutionary remedy some women seek, and further, may not be worth the side effects . Controversy around the pill exists not only due to risks sta ted above, but also because of the immense pressure on the FDA from pharmaceutical companies. Said companies took to the public to demand the FDA “even the score,” citing the discrepancies that exist between male and female sexual enhancement drugs to be a women’s rights issue. This campaign did gain support, despite its speculations of being put forth with drug companies’ interests in mind. So will Addyi “even the score”? Opinions are mixed between physicians and sex clinicians alike. The question remains to be not whether women deserve equal opportunity to desire and enjoy sex but instead whether Addyi issuitable. It may be a while before we can see Addyi on Canadian shelves. If we do, this is a decision that will likely be influenced by the success rates in the United States’ “test run.”
Welcome Back from the ASU Suzanne Gray Vice President Communications
Welcome and welcome back! I hope you have settled in and are ready for a great year ahead. Welcome Week 2015 was a huge success; thank you to everyone who helped us raise over $11,000 for Axes in Action! This is the second year that our charity day has directed our philanthropic efforts towards two local initiatives, S.M.I.L.E. and l’Arche Homefires. We couldn’t have done it without the support of the students and the community. Upcoming events: o The ASU By-election debate is being held on Monday, September 21st at 5:30pm in the main level SUB. Voting will take place on Thursday, September 24th and Friday, September 25th – be sure to vote! o Imaginus will be holding a poster sale in the main level SUB from September 23rdto 25th; the perfect chance to decorate your apartment or room! o Mental Health Week will be held from September 28th to October 2nd. Check out your weekly e-mail for the schedule to be released! o A reminder to anyone travelling during the Fall Study Break -make sure you return in time for Homecoming (October 16 th to 18th). Let’s show our Acadia Pride! Stay connected throughout the year by following our social media accounts: o Twitter and Instagram (@acadiastudents) - Facebook (www.facebook.com/acadiastudents) o Snapchat (acadiastudents) o Or visit our new redesigned website at www.theasu.ca !
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Welcome, Acadia Welcome to all our new and returning students! I would like to take a few moments to provide some important information on academic and personal supports available to you. Acadia is built on a foundation of community, where we all respect diversity, foster inclusion, and are aware of how our actions affect others. The University offers resources and programs designed to support success, so you can make the most of your university experience. ACADEMIC SUCCESS Here are some tips to help you achieve success in your studies. Get to know the Academic Calendar The Calendar includes academic policies and procedures, information on programs, course selection and important dates. http://www.acadiau.ca/registrar/Current%20Calendar/calendar_final.pdf Meet with your Academic Advisor by the end of September Every student has an Academic Advisor assigned to them. Academic Advisors can assist you with things such as choosing programs, courses, changing majors or minors, and they can help you ensure that you have all the courses you need to graduate. Set up a meeting with your Advisor soon! If you are unsure who your Academic Advisor is, please contact your department. http://academicadvising.acadiau.ca/ Register with Accessible Learning Services if you require individualized supports. http://accessiblelearning.acadiau.ca/ Learn more about the academic supports available to you First Year Student Advisor http://studentservices.acadiau.ca/8185.html International Student Advisor http://international.acadiau.ca/student-advising.html Aboriginal Student Advisor http://studentservices.acadiau.ca/First_Nations.html Department Specific Support & Tutoring Services http://tutoring.acadiau. ca/ MASH (Math & Stats Help) http://mathhelp.acadiau.ca/ The Writing Centre http://tutoring.acadiau.ca/ Academic Advisors and Librarians http://academicadvising.acadiau.ca/ academic-advisors.html Go to Class, Meet your Professors Going to class - it’s one of the best ways to stay on top of your studies. Talk to your professors frequently, as they will be one of your greatest resources while you are at university. Identify their office hours early and use the office hours to discuss assignments, upcoming midterms, exams, your field of study and any other academic questions. PERSONAL SUCCESS Your personal success is based on several important foundations including your physical, social, mental, spiritual, and emotional wellness. Acadia’s resources and services are specifically geared to meet your needs and reflect the student voice. We have access to a wide array of campus, community and peer resources all designed to support your wellness and your needs. Acadia Student Resource Centre Located in the old SUB, the Student Resource Centre offers counselling, academic, and accessibility supports that meet the diverse needs of the Acadia student population. We provide a client - centered, professional and confidential environment that values the whole student experience. Within our counselling and psychotherapy services, we work with students to develop and improve overall wellbeing as it relates to emotional, psychological, spiritual, and social health. Some of the issues that we work with include depression, anxiety, relationship, and stress. We also offer services related to career exploration and decision making. http://counsel.acadiau.ca/ Acadia Student Health Services The Student Health Clinic is located on the main level of Dennis House (separate west side-door entrance) and offers several health-related services. These include things such as health and wellness education and counselling, medical treatment of all health concerns, confidential testing for STI’s, emergency contraception, referrals to specialists, counsellors and other health provides, and much more. http://counsel.acadiau.ca/student-health-services.html The Chapel and Chaplaincy Acadia’s chapel is a place for you to reflect regardless of your re-
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ligious beliefs. We have a full-time chaplain who facilitates all the events held there. As well, the chaplain works closely with the Student Resource Centre in the provision of counselling services. http://chapel.acadiau.ca/chaplain.html Fitness, Recreation and Intramurals One of the best ways for you to succeed is to stay healthy and fit. Meeting people and making friends through recreational activities helps provide balance and build a social network beyond the classroom. Fitness http://fitness.acadiau.ca/welcome.3237.html Intramurals http://intramurals.acadiau.ca/ Hiking and Walking Wolfville: http://www.wolfville.ca/experiencingwolfville/things-to-do/hiking Providing a Safe and Supportive Environment Our aim is to create a campus that is safe and supportive - an environment that is free from physical and sexual violence, discrimination, harassment and bullying, and harms caused by alcohol and other drugs. There are a variety of programs and services to help reduce and eliminate these harms, support survivors of these harms, as well as ways to hold those responsible accountable for their actions. http://counsel.acadiau.ca/Sexual_Assault.html http://ssmart.acadiau.ca/Sexual_Assault.html http://womenstudies.acadiau.ca/Resources_at_Acadia.html http://security.acadiau.ca/ http://equity.acadiau.ca/harassment-discrimination-policy.html htt p://residencelife.acadiau.ca/tl_files/sites/ Residence/ Residence%20 Life%20Handbook%202015-2016.pdf YOU HAVE RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES Together, Acadia’s faculty, staff, and students have created a very strong living and learning community; most students live on campus or within a one kilometre radius. In any community, including Acadia University and the Town of Wolfville, citizens and members have rights, responsibilities, and expectations for behaviour that combine to create a positive experience for everyone. We aim to provide a supportive and respectful residence community. As members of that community, students are responsible for developing community living expectations, actively contributing to a culture of self-governance, and building ownership. The Residence Life Handbook describes behavioural guidelines and policies relating to a number of topics such as noise, alcohol use, harassment, and much more. Protocols are in place for dealing with behaviours that are not acceptable in a residence community up to and including suspension or dismissal from residence. htt p://residencelife.acadiau.ca/tl_files/sites/ Residence/ Residence%20 Life%20Handbook%202015-2016.pdf On-campus, every student is responsible to, and supported by, the Non-Academic Judicial Process: You can expect to be treated fairly and provided with information on how to navigate any behavioural requirements. You will always be provided with information on the process and how to appeal decisions you may not agree with. I also invite you to ask questions of your Acadia Students’ Union representatives and seek their support and guidance on any questions you may have: http://theasu.ca/; http://studentservices.acadiau.ca/non-academic-judicial.html If you are an Acadia student living off campus, you are considered a citizen of the Town of Wolfville. By-law and policy information for citizens is available at: http://wolfville.ca/living-in-wolfville/bylawsandpolicies. There are many ways you can be a good neighbour - by getting involved in your neighbourhood, observing the general standards of appearance in the neighbourhood and making an effort to keep trash, old furniture, and other waste items properly stored and sorted. If you host a social gathering, remember that you are responsible for the safety of your guests and are liable for any damage to a dwelling and to neighbours’ property. Also, please be sensitive to your neighbours’ noise tolerances. I also want to encourage you to contact me directly if you have any questions or if you want to learn more about any of the information provided in this communication. Welcome, everyone - and have a great year! Sincerely, James Sanford Executive Director, Student Services Acadia University james.sanford@acadiau.ca
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De-Mystifying the Role of the VP Academic Fallis Thompson Vice President Academic
Photo Credit: Mahmoud Moayed Istanbouli
A Look Into the Graduate Job Market Harrison Brus Contributor
As I begin my final year at Acadia, I can’t help but feel a mixed bag of emotions. I’m excited to be reunited with my friends knowing this last school year will produce memories that will last a lifetime. However I am left wondering what happens when I graduate from university and begin the next chapter: working life. The truth is our generation has been given the short end of the stick. What a university degree meant to our parents’ generation doesn’t hold the same weight today. Years ago, a bachelor’s degree gave graduates direct access to jobs. This isn’t the case in the current labor market, as the prospect of post-graduate employment has become increasing complicated. According to Statistics Canada, the youth unemployment rate (youth being defined as those aged 15 to 24) currently sits at 13.1 percent – nearly double the national average. The difficulties faced by Canadian graduates are undeniable. Far too many students around Canada graduate from university feeling ready to enter the workforce, only to discov-
er the working world isn’t quite ready for them. According to new research, six out of ten Canadian university graduates are overqualified for their jobs because of a shortage in high-skilled vacancies; this is one of the highest rates among first world countries. A recent study that was commissioned by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) concluded “over-qualification has reached saturation point, meaning money invested in education is being wasted and young people are being crippled by debt.” The effect is widespread and it is also having serious consequences for Canada’s already woeful productivity performance. According to Peter Cheese, chief executive of the CIPD, “simply increasing the qualification level of individuals going into a job does not typically result in the skill required to do the job being enhanced – in many cases that skills premium, if it exists at all, is simply wasted.” This trend has produced an influx of college and university graduates attending college for more practical, hands-on training. In fact, the number of university graduates attending Ontario colleges has increased 40 per cent in recent years, according to Ontario
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Colleges. Furthermore, under Prime Minister Steven Harper’s leadership the Canadian government has been seemingly uninterested in making the investments necessary to facilitate changes. Even in this upcoming election it seems to be an issue swept under the rug. To his credit, NDP leader Thomas Mulcair has made some encouraging promises to allocate up to $200 million over four years towards efforts with the private sector and non-government organizations to generate up to 40,000 jobs, paid internships and co-op placements for young people. According to the NDP leader, the plan will “break the vicious cycle that exists: no experience, no job; no job, no experience. […] The job prospects for young people are not very good and that has to change.” The current situation is unsustainable given government estimates that 45% of university graduates will not earn enough to repay their student loans. Indeed, these are desperate times and we need to begin demanding better value out of the Canadian secondary education system. This ought to include raising the profile of alternatives to a degree such as apprenticeships, and how employers invest in further training.
It’s that time of year again where the ASU Executive is introducing themselves to students and many are left wondering to themselves: “What is the VP Academic? What could they possibly do?” During the summer at the ASU, the executive joked that my role could perhaps become known such as “VP Who?” and “VP Vacay” but decided the term VP Academic does in fact fit my duties well. My job can be divided into two parts: internal and external. Internally, as you may have guessed, I do academic affairs. This includes being one of seven student representatives on Senate (the body that governs academics at the university) and chairing the Academic Affairs committee within the Student Representative Council. On a day to day basis I do a lot of research on various academic policies and how they can be improved, as well as handle complaints that students may have in regards to their classes or their professors. I work very closely with the Registrar and the VP Academic of the university to ensure that the student voice is heard at the administrative level. Externally, my job is a little bit different than what you may expect. The ASU is a part of two lobbying organizations, one federal and one provincial. These organizations focus on issues that post-secondary students face and advocate to the government on their behalf. The federal organization is known as the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA). There are 22 other schools across the country that are also members of this organization and most schools usually send two delegates to the four meetings we have throughout the year. Have you seen or heard of the Get Out the Vote campaign on campus? This campaign is being headed by CASA and they are providing us with a lot of the resources we need to run it. That also means that this campaign is running nationwide! The provincial organization we are a part of is Students Nova Scotia (SNS). Like CASA, they focus on issues that post-secondary students face but they also run campaigns on their member campuses. The two campaigns we are focusing on this year are “Mend the Gap” and “More Than Yes”. If you would like to learn more about them, I strongly recommend visiting their website. I am very involved with SNS this year as I am also the chair and have worked hard with the rest of the board to develop an annual plan that will be available within the next few weeks. To some, my job may seem extremely boring. To me, it is a way to make very valuable connections for when I enter the workforce. Additionally, I have learned how to effectively advocate getting your voice heard in large organizations, such as the government. By looking at the bigger picture, many people will hopefully be able to realize that I do play an important role on the executive team, and how what I do helps the entire student body.
ath athopinions A Short Introduction to Opinions Kody Crowell Opinions Editor
I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it. Those words were penned by the English writer Evelyn Beatrice Hall in her book The Friends of Voltaire (the quote is frequently miscredited to Voltaire himself), and is often seen in angry tweets or Facebook statuses with regard to the degrading state of free speech in North America today. Hall chose these words because she believed that they best summarized the essence of Voltaire and what he viewed to be one of the most important fundamental rights of humankind – the right to speak freely. This strong, unwavering belief is one of the most lasting influences of the Enlightenment that exists today. This quote was chosen by myself for the particular reason of demonstrating to the student body of Acadia that the Opinions section of the Athenaeum will always be a safe haven for dissenting opinions and discussion. If you would like to write your opinion on something, whether it be a weird class exercise, a broken door in the BAC, a terrible craft beer you tried or the abundance of potholes that exist in the Valley, do it! It is this editor’s opinion that you should be able to write whatever you want. However, since we do require money to run, we aren’t going to publish everything. So I propose these two conditions to keep in mind when writing opinions: 1. Be honest and truthful. Acadia has a library. Acadia has access to the internet. You have an ocean of free knowledge sitting at your fingertips. Educate yourself before writing an opinion. If you don’t, at least be honest and admit your ignorance. 2. Don’t be mean to other people for no reason. This is a place for students and faculty to contribute to meaningful discussions on and off campus, not to throw around insults without provocation. Besides, mean people suck. So please, don’t be afraid to express yourself. If you have an opinion, send it in! We will happily read your submission. We might tell you that your writing is shit, but we’ll still read it.
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The Sweetness of Not Doing Much Rebekah Hutten Contributor I just lost my new job at Il Dolce Far Niente Espresso Bar in Wolfville. I was fired for: 1. inquiring into where the manager bought her produce and meat, and 2. for studying at Just Us Café in Wolfville prior to working at Il Dolce. Let me elaborate. I recently asked the manager of Il Dolce if her products were local. She responded that she buys both local and non-local, depending on price, distance, and other valid reasons. The manager interpreted my question as an attack on the quality of her products. When firing me, she said that our principles are too different and that she doesn’t feel I can sell her product well. She said that I “challenged her” with this question. This does not make sense to me. Of course I care about eating and supporting local. However, I was not asking to pass judgment on her or disagree with her business model. I was asking to be better informed about the business so I could respond to customer inquiries. Secondly, the manager’s “biggest problem” with me is that I study at Just Us! Café on Main Street, Wolfville. She told me on my final shift that she doesn’t like her employees to go to Just Us! or T.A.N. cafés. In her words, she said “I can’t do anything to stop you from going there.” She then asked me why I go to Just Us! I responded by telling her that I like the atmosphere,
that a lot of my friends and peers go there, and that they have free wi-fi (Il Dolce doesn’t offer wifi). She said that it’s a free country and I can do whatever I want, but it looks bad on her business if her employees go to other local cafés. To repeat, this does not make sense to me. In fact, it’s pretty unreasonable. I understand holding similar principles as your place of work, but I have gone to Il Dolce many times before being offered a job there; it’s a lovely café with a peaceful environment and delicious food and drink. Their logo is “the sweetness of doing nothing.” That’s a great logo! I totally agree with that. I totally love what they serve. The quality and service is good. I loved my shifts working there. It’s a smart business model that offers a different experience than other local establishments. Just Us! is also a lovely café. So is T.A.N.. So is the Rolled Oat. So is Front Street. So is Slow Dough Bakery. Wolfville has a lot of great businesses that offer different experiences and atmospheres. I feel lucky to live in a small town that has such a variety of options to choose from! Except I am apparently not so lucky to have supported these businesses, because that’s how I lost my job. I had a total of two shifts at Il Dolce. I was offered the position on August 26th. My first shift was September 8. My second shift was September 9. I was
Brew Review: Steamworks Signature Pale Ale Jon Smith Beer Aficionado Sometimes in life, we all encounter sadness. For me, it was about two hours before writing this article when my bottle of Boxing Rock Vicar’s Cross broke open the bottom of its NSLC paper bag and smashed to pieces on the sidewalk, its hoppy-hipster goodness leaking all over the place. I was planning on writing a review of it for this issue; I wanted to start this year strong by reviewing a local Nova Scotian beer. Instead, to spite the flimsy craftsmanship of the local liquor corporation, I will be reviewing a beer from Vancouver, British Columbia, way over on the other side of the country. Screw you, Maritimes. This review is dedi-
cated to your weak, recycled paper bags. The Steamworks Pale Ale comes from Steamworks, a brewpub in tourist-central Gastown, a historic site in downtown Vancouver. I had the pleasure of going there when I was visiting BC this summer, and I admit I only mentioned that because it makes me seem more welltraveled than I actually am. I’m a huge fan of pale ales, so this beer has a special place in both my heart and my gut. The pale ale is like the IPA’s hot but approachable sister - I can see the resemblance, but I really only want to put my lips on one of them.T his beer pours with a disappointing half-finger, off-white head that dissipates quickly. The scent has some light malt and a bit of citrus. Nothing too interesting, but not quite offensive either. The mouthfeel is also fairly in-
fired on September 11. I turned down another job offer to accept this job. I bought $120 worth of clothing for the uniform (one pair of pants, two shirts, and a pair of shoes). I worked 8.5 hours; not even enough hours to pay back what I spent on the work uniform clothing. As many other students can sympathize, I have a very small budget. Losing this job is a blow to me financially. Unfortunately, under Nova Scotia Labour Laws, the manager of Il Dolce did not do anything wrong either. I was not discriminated against. Because it was such a short period of employment, she was not required to give me notice or reason. Except she did give me reasons, and the reasons she gave were completely unfair. Even though her actions are legally right, I believe that what she did was unethical. To fire me for going to another café is explicitly manipulative and unquestionably wrong. I was fired for exercising my right to choose where I spend my time and money, and I wasn’t spending my time or money on something unethical. I am asking the readers of this article to reconsider whether or not they want to support Il Dolce Far Niente Espresso Bar. Not because the produce isn’t 100% local. But because they fire their employees for asking simple questions and for exercising their right to study wherever the fuck they want.
nocuous, with that small hint of citrus sticking its head through. As is expected from a pale ale, this beer has a medium-light body and is pretty easy on the tongue. The aftertaste is mostly all citrus with some grassy undertones crashing the party. Overall, the taste is quite sweet and creates an excellent balance with the hops. The tickle of bitterness near the end exists just to remind you that you are definitely a hipster for drinking this beer and nothing will change that. To conclude, this beer is an overall pleasant and beautiful experience, much like Sara Bareilles’ second album. As it is not too extreme, it might be a decent place to start if you’re looking to get into craft beers. It probably pairs well with a burger or, like, pasta? I actually have no idea. The best thing to pair with a beer is the next beer. Summary: Busted bag, busted dreams. Good beer though.
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On Voting Kody Crowell Opinions Editor
It is no secret to anyone that voter turnout in Canada has been on a downward trend. According to Elections Canada, the turnout for the last federal election in 2011 was 61.4% - the third lowest in our country’s history. The turnout among students and younger people in particular is lower than any other age group (this is not to say that other factors such as economic and social status are not equally responsible). National estimates cite a shocking 38.8% for voters between the ages of 18-24. That number sucks. According to a poll conducted by Statistics Canada, the most common reason given for the people in this age group was that they were not interested in voting. Others stated that they were too busy with school or their work, and others were away or travelling. Interestingly enough, for senior citizens, the most common reason for not voting was due to illness or disability. And yet just over 75% of people in the age group 65-74 voted. Is it safe to assume that seniors respect democracy more than students do? I believe there is another reason that plays a big role. This election will be the first time that many university students are eligible to vote federally. It can be an intimidating process. Several questions will arise, doubts will start to form. When voting day rolls around, the effort to go to a polling station won’t be made. After that, continued apathy towards voting seems almost permanent. How can this be avoided? Firstly, if you are feeling this way, know that you are not alone. Secondly, there is an abundance of available resources online and on-campus that help students with their first vote. One such resource is the Get Out the Vote! Campaign (if you would like to learn more about them, I highly encourage you to check out their website). The campaign is headed by Fallis Thompson, VP Academic for the Acadia Students’ Union. You can pledge to vote from their website. Of course, having the right to vote also means hav-
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Sexual Assault: ing the right not to vote. It is not a responsibility or a civic duty. It is a privilege. If you don’t like the choices, then why bother choosing? Feel free to spoil your ballot. And I don’t agree with the argument that says that “those who didn’t vote don’t have the right to complain.” I retain my right to complain about everything. That being said, I strongly believe that students should vote. I believe that students should exercise their civic right and fulfill their role in democracy. Why? I suppose the answer is a bit of a cliché. Whether it comes down to something more immediate like education or something more long-term like fossil fuel consumption, there is no doubt that the decisions made today will affect our futures tomorrow. And who is it that inherits that future? We do! Moreover, students have a huge capacity to manipulate the social agenda to their will. Consider the student movement in Quebec in 2012. Premier Jean Charest proposed a tuition raise of almost 75%. As a result, a quarter million people took to the streets in protest. While this is definitely an extreme case, I also believe it demonstrates just how underestimated the student population is when it comes to its ability to partake in civic engagement. “I feel like some students don’t realize the large impact they can have in this election,” Thompson says. “Actions speak louder than words and voting is the perfect example of that.” There are a hundred reasons you can come up with not to vote, whether it be apathy or ignorance. But when it comes down to it, what will really be stopping you from casting a ballot? I hope you will think about it and ask yourself if the obstacle is something you can overcome. Don’t let first time intimidation stop you. Make yourself heard. Shape your future the way you want it to be shaped. Vote in the federal election on October 19th, 2015.
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A Response Andrew Haskett Editor in Chief
In the definition of the law, assault is any action which has intent to apprehend and/or harm an individual unlawfully. Sexual assault, by this definition, is any action which has intent to apprehend and/or harm an individual in an unwarranted and unwanted sexual manner. On September 4th an Acadia University student named Phillip Shawn Herman, a Bermudan national and Musical Education student, was charged with sexual assault following an incident two days prior. The incident took place on the grounds of Acadia University’s campus and was responded to by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police at 1 o’clock in the morning, September 2nd. As a result of his charge and impending court date, Shawn Herman has been ordered to refrain from contacting the victim, and has been ordered to “keep the peace”, i.e. to refrain from further illegal activities. This is good, and this is just. The fact that this incident was reported and responded to promptly reflects greatly on the condition of our justice and legal system, and how quickly those who are tasked with defending us do so. It also shows the great bravery shown by the young women who did report and results of campaigns like the “Know/No More campaign” on our campus raising awareness and promoting education of gender inequity and sexual health and safety. What is unfortunate, however, is that the resources available to all of us are currently in the dark. Resource centers, hotlines, university faculty groups (such as the Acadia Student Resource Center, the Women’s, Pride, and Peer Resource Centers, etc.), and much, much more are all available at the tips of our fingers and are at times scarcely used. At the end of this article will be a list of valuable
local and national resources. According to Statistics Canada 91% of sexual assaults are not reported to authorities, or are not reported in a timely manner. This leaves an overwhelming gap in the midst of the assault cases that are reported. This is a somber statistic, but it is a wrenchingly true one. Fear of further incidents, fear of social stigma, and a general lack of knowledge of the resources available all contribute to this rate of unreported assault. As part of an investigative piece done by CBC’s News series investigative statistics show that reports for sexual assaults on university campuses are startlingly low. On a nationwide scale Ryerson University holds the highest amount of reported sexual assault cases, with 57 cases reported over a five year period. When the statistics are adjusted to population Acadia University holds the highest, with 22 reported cases over the four and a half year span of the study. Although the reporting of these incidents is crucial in addressing them, the issue at hand is still the existence of the acts of assault and those who commit them. Last March the Know/ No More campaign was launched by members of the Acadia University community as a means of raising awareness for the ordeals faced by those affected by sexual assault and discrimination. The base contingency plan of the campaign was to help eradicate the stigma that presents itself to those affected by these attacks and to raise awareness of a number of social justices. Although the Know More campaign focuses on more than just sexual assault and its victims, it is a great campaign that makes sense of the injustices of sexual assault. Although I have no sociological credentials and I am not overtly knowledgeable in the laws and procedures of crime and punishment, I be-
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Opening letter from the Science Editor lieve that any act of attrition such as sexual assault is unacceptable in a society that is as stable and as just as ours. With ample time I hope the victim of this incident is able to get the help that they need, and that the perpetrator is tried before the courts in a true and confident way. As mentioned before, below is a non-exhaustive list of free, reliable, and confidential resources that can be contacted at any time. Look after each other, dear readers. The future is bright. Andrew Haskett Editor-in-Chief The Athenaeum *Below is a list of dependable and professional resources that are available to anybody who needs them, free of charge. • Acadia University Peer, Pride, and Women’s Centres – 2nd floor of the Acadia SUB building, 2nd door down from the front entrance stairwell. • Acadia University Student Resource Center (online) <http:// couns el.acadiau.ca/Sexual_Assault.html> • Residence Life - P: (902) 585-1417 | F: (902) 585-1093 | E: residencelife@acadiau.ca • RCMP Detachments: 1-800-803-7267 • Kids Help Phone, please call 1-800-668-6868, or visit KidsHelpPhone.ca <http://org.kidshelpphone.ca/en/ contact/>. • To apply for an Emergency Protection Order, please call 1-866-816-6555 • Nova Scotia Victim Service :Kentville Telephone: (902) 679-6201 Fax: (902) 679-6192 Crisis Line: (800) 565-1805 w w w.gov.ns.ca/just/victim_services/default.asp htt p://w w w.gov.ns.ca/ just/v ictim_Services/default.asp • Contact us: Red Door Society We can be reached at (902) 679-1411 or info@thereddoor.ca. You can drop-in or call/email to make an appoinment. Remember, your personal information will be kept confidential!
Katie McCulloch Science Editor
Welcome and welcome back to new and returning Acadia students! It is my sincere hope that everyone is settling comfortably into Wolfville and enjoying our beautiful campus before the snow sets in. As classes have gotten up and running, so too have many clubs and organizations, one of them being The Athenaeum student newspaper. Here, the Science Section is your go-to place for information on exciting new discoveries in science, what your professors have been up to with their research, and events of scientific interest on campus. This year, we will be running a series of articles on tidal energy in the Bay of Fundy. An incredible amount of planning and technological development is going into harnessing the immense power of the world’s highest tides. Sea trials are just beginning to get underway. Several professors
here at Acadia are involved in this arduous project, each with varying viewpoints and opinions on the topic. Our task will be to showcase Acadia’s involvement and talk about the possible risks and rewards of this undertaking. The impact of tidal energy cannot be estimated by a single person, no matter how skilled they are in their respective discipline. As such, a single person could not have designed and executed such a project. Many people, from economists to policy specialists to scientists have had to work together to get tidal energy this far. Environmental scientists, biologists, engineers, computer scientists, mathematicians, chemists and physicists have each played a crucial role in its development. Interdisciplinary work is what is most often encountered in real-world projects such as this. At Acadia, the departments within the Faculty of Science consist of Biology, Chemistry,
Computer Science, Engineering, Earth and Environmental Science, Mathematics and Statistics, Nutrition and Dietetics, Physics, and Psychology. Science is an incredibly broad umbrella term that covers rigorous study of all physical and natural phenomena, observable or otherwise. An interest in any area of the sciences can cross departmental boundaries, which is a wonderful thing. Don’t be afraid to dabble in things outside of your area of study; you may be surprised at how many of the sciences interrelate. In reading articles here and talking to your peers, you may be exposed to interesting things that you don’t know much about. I wholeheartedly encourage you to pursue those interests - ask friends, ask professors, get on your computer and research it! Extracurricular discussions contribute so much to your education, and can be enjoyable to boot.
other study, published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, showed that the insulin response after consuming hydrolysate gluten was no higher than the other tested proteins (Claessens et. al., 2009). The consumption of bread does induce a higher level of insulin, but there is no concrete proof that the insulin response is due to gluten content. Instead, the starches in wheat are the most likely suspect. Additionally, healthy grains such as rye and barley are low on the glycemic index, but still contain gluten. Rather than going glutenfree, a better choice for the health of the average person would be to avoid wheat, with particular evasion of processed wheat due to its starch content. Amylopectin, one of the two building blocks of starch, is thought to be a concern because of
the modifications and choice breeding that occurred during the Green Revolution of the 1960’s. Many crops at the time were manipulated to increase production in harsher conditions and smaller areas. This created what is referred to as dwarf wheat, which is less nutrient dense then its ancestors (Farmer, 1978). A positive outcome of this health fad is an increasing interest in alternative grains and legumes as substitutes for white bread and pasta. Both quinoa and legumes are common alternatives. Unfortunately, many people following the glutenfree diet forgo these healthier and protein-rich options for gluten-free versions of their habitual food choices.
Gluten-Free? Jessica Haberl Contributor
Contrary to popular belief, gluten-free diets are not necessarily a healthier diet. Those who are not gluten sensitive or who have not been diagnosed with Celiac disease should be careful when making dietetic choices. A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition concluded that adverse effects of gluten in celiac patients can be resolved with a gluten-free diet, but there are no health benefits of avoiding gluten as a healthy individual (Murray et. al., 2004). The theory of a gluten-free diet being healthy is based in the fact that bread is very high on the glycemic index - meaning it causes a high insulin response due to an increase in blood glucose (Jenkins et. al., 1981). An-
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ath athsports (Continued from page 15) As those who have attempted to bake gluten-free can attest, recipes using glutenfree flours are generally not as appetizing as their wheatbased counterparts; both in flavor and texture. For a more pleasing product, manufacturing companies often manipulate their recipes by calling for higher concentrations of sugars and fats. A study published in the journal of Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics has shown a correlation between glutenfree diets and higher sugar / lower fiber and mineral intake in women (Wild et. al., 2010). If done properly, a gluten-free diet and some experimentation can expand meal variety and improve overall health. However, in making this dietetic decision without proper meal planning or background knowledge, one could compromise their health by missing vital nutrients thereby eating more poorly than they might expect.
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Let’s Talk About Sex Anya K’Nees Sex Columnist
“How’s your sex life?” Now that we’ve gotten my sense of humor out of the way, let’s talk about sex. Sex, sexuality, and sexualization permeate our culture, and yet sex is a taboo subject. Throughout the next year I hope to work closely with The Athenaeum to break through this stigma, and cultivate a discussion in regards to sex and sexuality, both on campus and beyond. The topics I choose to cover will be meant to enlighten, educate, and arouse (your curiosity, that is). If any of the topics I cover offend you, rest assured that was not my intent, as I endeavor to write this column in an unbiased manner. If you have any topics you would like to see covered, or questions you want answered, please feel free to direct them to The Athenaeum. Sexually, I have an interest BDSM, and so I will try my best throughout the course of these articles to discuss this subculture, as I know it to be often underrepresented. However,
I will write my articles in a manner appealing to both kinksters and those not affiliated with that scene. A quick disclaimer that everything I discuss is assumed to be occurring between consenting adults, who understand the repercussions of their actions over both the short and long term. And now for something completely different. Orgasms! The main reason you are reading this column. Orgasms, whether achieved solo or through partner-related activities, have a host of health benefits. We all know orgasms lead to an increased release of oxytocin (the “love hormone”) and dopamine (the “feel-good hormone”), increased relaxation, increased blood circulation (great for keeping your brain sharp and study ready), lower blood pressure, reduced cortisol (the “stress hormone”), and a longer life. However, did you know that regular orgasms could help protect you from colds, maintain your mental health, and make you look younger? Post-orgasm, Immuno-
globulin A antibody production is increased, leading to a 20% boost in your immune system. Hormones released during orgasm can also help lower feelings of depression and anxiety, while increased DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone) can lead to the tissue repairs necessary for a more youthful appearance. Post-orgasm endorphin release can also increase your pain tolerance by up to 70%, helping to relive migraines and other bodily pain. For women, orgasms can alleviate menstrual cramps, increase fertility, promote healthy estrogen levels, and regulate the menstrual cycle. Men benefit from increased testosterone, improved sperm mobility (leading to increased fertility), a decreased risk of prostate cancer, lower chances of erectile dysfunction, and the increased ability to manage premature ejaculation. Who knew something so fun could be so good for you? So, how’s your sex life? Orgasmic!
Why You Should Sign Up for Intramural Sports! Sam Gillis Sports Editor Have you signed up for fall semester intramural sports yet? If not, you’ve got only a few days left. Outdoor soccer, ultimate frisbee, volleyball, and basketball each have registration deadlines on Monday, September 14th. Hockey registration falls slightly later, with a deadline on Friday, September 25th. Indoor soccer will begin early second semester for any that have missed the first round of activities. Intramural sports provide a fantastic opportunity to transition your athletic interests into a fun and competitive league. Whether you are dusting off your old cleats or looking to shoot your first free throw, Aca-
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dia’s intramural program is one you should look into. The co-ed league is open to students of any skill level who would desire to stay physically active, with a more dynamic approach compared to the traditional “gymbecause-I-feel-I-need-to” option. I’m sure you’ve all heard the age-old “healthy body-healthy mind” expression. I doubt there are many better options to exercise that old adage quite as well as putting your name in for this semester’s sports. Not only do these nightly events give students the chance to sweat out some stress that university life inevitably brings, it is also an ideal atmosphere to meet new people. As Greek Philosopher Plato once said, “You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.” The games
naturally create a great setting for students of all residences and provide a platform for off campus students to make connections on a personal level. In the past, various residences have put together intramural teams (provided there was enough interest). Residence teams tend to be tough competitors come playoff time because of the spirit that comes with wearing your house’s colours. I’d also like to encourage individuals to sign up. When submitting your registration form just write “looking for a team” and the organizers will do their best to find a team for you. Though intramural sports are commonly considered to be relaxed, don’t let yourself be caught off guard. The competitive nature that comes into play during these games might sur-
prise you. The events are filled with sportsmanship, high spirits and quite a bit of talent. You will sometimes find yourself up against out-of-season varsity players, or looking to keep up with that track athlete who beat you in days past. This gives students who have played competitive sports in their high school careers a chance to continue doing what they love, and allows newcomers to enjoy and challenge themselves against those that have participated at the university level. So whether you’re looking for a new hobby to fall in love with, trying to meet new people with a few similar interests, or just looking to show off your skills on the court, or field, intramural sport at Acadia will be sure to provide.