Acadia’s Student Newspaper since 1874 October 29th, 2015 Issue 78.3
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A Few Words for Ray Ivany Kody Crowell Opinions Editor
It isn’t often that an Opinions Editor sits down to pen a positive letter about a figure of influence. At the same time, I find it wholly fitting and necessary to express these words of support to the president of our university, Ray Ivany. Many of you may have met him in your first week here on the lawns behind University Hall, or have seen him speaking on stage at the Matriculation Ceremony – I know because I was one of those students. I remember the first thing I noticed about him: his firm handshake, his welcoming smile. He was polite and cordial – it never once seemed like he was forced to be there, The Athenaeum Acadia University’s Student News Paper Issue 78.2 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 Section Editors Art: Adam Langille Creative: Chad Durling Features: Hope Latta News: Hanna Hutchinson Opinions: Kody Crowell Science: Katie McCulloch
Sports: Sam Gillis Production Manager Robin Lawson Photo Manager Anjuli Ripley Copy Editor Tyler Nelson Online Manager Senewa Sena Advertising Manager Theresa Connell Business Manager
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 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 If there is content that we feel will not add to the philosophy, dialogue, or tone of our newspaper, it will not be published.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
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shaking the sweaty hands of hundreds of teen-aged undergraduates. It must have been awful. But in fact, he appeared to be enjoying himself. I was actually lucky to talk to him after that, during one of my labs in second year. My professor decided it would be a good idea to email the entire student body of Acadia urging them to come and listen to us describe our lacklustre final projects. A few professors from other science departments showed up, a few friends here and there, and then surprisingly, the president of Acadia University walked through the door.
He moved from station to station, finally coming to me, and after listening to my presentation with a keen interest as I fumbled along and minced my words and stuttered with incoherence, I talked to him briefly about my summer research, he shook my hand and then continued on his way. He visited every student in the room. And when he left, he raised his hand and said good-bye, and everyone else in the room stopped talking and turned and waved good-bye back, like a group of comrades bidding farewell to their commander-in-chief. I recount this tale because I find it odd that I remember it so well. Over my tenure here at Acadia, I have heard many stories of presidents past, from professors and archival librarians alike. And while they are not stories of disdian, they never quite speak of Ivany in the same regard, and it is my per-
Letter to the Editor: How to Beautify Acadia Anonymous Contributor To the Editor,
centives, we’re not brilliant.
P u b l i c a r t. Two words that are thrown around but never really thought about. You may be asking what relevance this has. You’re not wrong in doing so. After all, this article is titled “How to Beautify Acadia,” and don’t we already have an incredible campus? Of course we do. However I’m concerned with the future. I want to make my future at Acadia better. And I see that future through the addition of public art. Let me explain, our campus is stunning. There’s no denying it. Acadia is a brilliant school that succeeds at two of the big A’s: academics and athletics. But there’s a third A that’s missing: arts. What of the arts? Sure, we have dancers that show up at the Festival Theatre every so often, and speakers that discuss creative engagement, and they are incredible. But let’s look solely at our institution and what we create. In terms of artistic programs and in-
What I propose is simple: an annual investment in public art. In Quebec, the provincial government mandates that 1% of every school’s budget must be dedicated towards public art. If we were to adopt a similar doctrine here at Acadia, I see a campus in a beautiful town flourishing with creative spirit. And let’s be honest, can anybody think of a more clichéd hipster town in all of Canada than Wolfville? Every day I walk past a concrete wall and a metal fence holding a hill up. Both are bland, boring and useless at the moment, but let’s look at it from an artistic perspective. What could be done here? Potentially a graffiti mural on the blank concrete, or lovelocks chained to the fence. Think of the outside of Huggins 10. Why not a giant mural depicting the achievements that science has brought here in Canada? Or among the numerous grass patches: why not statues designed by students,
ception that many people hold some sort of agreed-upon respect for Ivany. In fact, why shouldn’t we? It was our president who helped transform the face of community colleges in Nova Scotia, it was our president who urged Nova Scotians to take control of their future, and it was our president who was named 2015 Person of the Year by the Halifax Chamber of Commerce. I believe that it is something to be proud about when the president of our school takes an active role in the public wellbeing of the province. I hope that we will continue to see his good work for years to come. It is this editor’s opinion that as Nova Scotians – as Canadians, we deserve no less. So on behalf of the Athenaeum staff and the entire student body of Acadia University: I wish for the speedy recovery and continued health of our president, Ray Ivany. alumni or local artists? Or outside the biology building and behind Patterson: why not a fountain? Not only would it create beautiful spaces to congregate, but it would draw people from near and far who want to see these pieces. Think of glorious summer and fall days where there’s a beautiful breeze and all you want to do is stay outside. How great would it be if you could lie in a hammock and just relax in the sun? Or on a swing suspended under one of the majestic trees in the Harriet Irving gardens. Those are cheap and easy options to engage with the environment around us in a sustainable and enjoyable way. The real kicker would be the BAC. I’m not alone in saying it’s not a pretty building. The outside is fine. The inside is a grotesque example of utilitarian 1970’s pragmatism in architecture. Picture this: covering the walls there could be paintings, photographs, poems spanning floor to ceiling. Paintings and photos that make you stop and stare in wonder, and poems that really make you not only stop and read, but question and feel. Wouldn’t that make for a better place to take a walk through? Better yet, wouldn’t that make you continued on page 3
atharts continued from page 2 want to go to the BAC for another reason other than class? This would allow artists, students, alumni or those in the community at large to contribute to the character of the university and make it their own. It may seem like a dumb idea to some. Why throw money at things that look pretty when it could be spent on other things? Simple. By enhancing the character of our university through public art, it would attract a whole swath of people, from professors to prospective students, who might not have otherwise considered Acadia. This would ultimately result in money flowing back into the university as people enrolled in the school, stayed in the hotels, ate at the restaurants, came for lectures, etc. After all, Acadia has suffered the worst of Nova Scotia schools in terms of enrolment, down nearly 2% this year alone. To reinvigorate interest in Maritime schools like Acadia, we need to look to options that are hiding in plain sight. Art is the easiest answer. You’re beginning to get it. It’s not just about looking pretty. It’s about enhancing the character of an institution, beautifying it and providing an outlet for creative expression. An outlet that isn’t limited to the privileged few, but an outlet that can include the community at large. I know there will undoubtedly be people who wholeheartedly disagree with me. Yes, public art may not be the answer to all of our problems. But I’m thinking about where I live. I’m thinking about Acadia, and I love Acadia. I want to make this campus beautiful, and I think public art installations will do just that. We’ll engage students, alumni and members of the community to make our campus even more beautiful. We’ll attract students, professors and guests who may not have thought that Wolfville was where they wanted to be. The rate of return will be substantial in the long run. Before we know it, Acadia will be known nationally (if not internationally) for its academics, athletics, and arts.
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Halifax Pop Explosion: A Brief Recount Adam Langille Arts Editor St. Matthew’s Church, where three fantastic folksters presented heartfelt stories through layers of reverb reverberating in the reverberant ceiling of the awe-admitting architecture of past protestants. First, the endearingly entrancing Nap Eyes took the stage and evoked an esoteric pulsing pallet. Next, The Weather Station brought heavy rain to our emotional forecast and poured woeful tales with washy words. Finally, Andy Shauf put our lives back together with his own ambiguities, accepting arbitrary apathies and advancing altogether.
performers on their instruments. The singer used effects on her voice expressively, but was perfectly on with the music for the entire show, and even riffed on some songs to show off the capacity of her range. The drummer blended perfectly with the electronic sounds happening on stage. He was pointedly precise when needed, added barrels of energy for the climaxes of songs, and ripped out sophisticatedly impressive solos.
Purity Ring presented an over-thetop stage show with numerous theatrical elements. Strings of lights Braids. The most dynamic, talent- dangled from above the stage ened, and interesting band in Canada compassing the sides with dazzling at the moment. Their performance was phenomenal - the highlight of the festival. I saw Braids Friday night as the headliner at Reflections Cabaret, and then again Saturday night opening for Purity Ring at the Halifax Forum. Saturday night at the Forum was likely the peak event of the festival, and despite Purity Ring being the headliner with elaborate stage lights and theatrics, Braids still stole the show.
patterns automated to the music, perfectly accompanying singer Megan James’ exaggerated theatrics. In the center of the stage, the DJ of the band, Corin Roddick played a giant controller shaped like mounted gemstones. Near the end of the concert, the front-girl revealed another light fixture that she manipulated (in-time with the music) with mirrored gloves. It’s clear that Purity Ring’s show was focused on the setting of the stage, and not on the musical performance. It was hard to tell how much of the music was being truly performed - there was an air of inauthenticity. Regardless, the intense textural beats accompanying Megan’s cutely soaring voice and over-stimulating light shows was a bombastic way to end the festival. This is just a smidge of the grand weekend that was the Halifax Pop Explosion. Stay tuned for some new music from all of these artists, and more.
The three piece from Calgary brought a warm, giving energy to the stage and displayed brilliant musicianship in their incorporation of live drums, guitars and vocals with masterfully manipulated electronics and effects. Each member had a massive role in controlling the world of sound - drummer Austin Tufts played a small synthesizer on the side, singer Raphaelle Standell-Preston controlled effect on her own voice with a controller on a stand while also playing guitar, and electronics extraordinaire Taylor Smith played some guitar and used multiple controllers to bring in and manipulate different elements of the music. Some electronic artists notoriously do next to nothing on stage aside from hitting play this is not the case with Braids. In addition to their brilliant electroacoustic blend, they are masterful
Photo Credit: Keith Stratton
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5 mins Into Netflix And Chill And He Gives You His Mixtape Kelly MacNeil Contributor The summer came and passed, akin to a crop burning. Did you pay too much attention to Drake and Meek Mill? Probably. Catch up with this list of music that is good. Moving forward, listen to Hotline Bling and the newest track by Partner from Sackville, NS (on You’ve Changed Records).
Mauno - Rough Master Here comes Mauno bopping along, bonny and blessed. A wee bit of sound, growing undeniable, emitting from a babby (like a baby, but possessing many more of the better qualities of an infant) carriage, snaps to a point and crashes only to be rebuilt into a tower of babel. The mastery in craft is not lost on those who build for joy, not for monotony. And like a phoenix rising from the ashes, they make a Rough Master and people really like it so they make more and that is cool too. Top Track - Champs
Tasseomancy - Palm Wine Revisited Holding candles and praying to the god that holds in its hands a lipid pool of purple lust. Induces a trance, flipping back white hoods to reveal a face swirling with suggestions born of the hallucinations of night. More synth than person they waltz suggestively, Tasseomancy, born tasseomancers, cast forward to the future calling on the soon-to-be-consumed jugs of wine to be now consumed. Shoulders sway, hips gyrate, standing in a circle as the drums are hit close to home. The Palm Wine Revisited, the trance forever. Top Tracks - Apophenia, Braid. Wind is Coming
Klarka Weinwurm - Huddle Two lovers grasp hands for the first time and feel the bliss of conjoinment. Klarka Weinwurm holds the voice, conjoining with the guitar, becomes an embrace of love. There is some heat here, some nervous sweat, and a lot of joy. Get a little bit closer for warmth, a little Huddle if you will. Sway and hum to a tune in your head. Think about where you are going and where you have been. Be at peace and grasp with the intention of love. Top Track - Deathrow Tull
i hate sex - Circle Thinking Through static, erected by our own sense of comfort, i hate sex screams. We get lost in a mire, bogged down by feelings, doubts, and sadness trying to swim to a surface. But up is not the only way out and Circle Thinking proves that. Swinging through we hit stone walls that turn to dust at our touch, say some things that we should have said a long time ago, and feel some static replaced by contentment. Top Tracks - One by Metallica, I Fucking Hate Sports
Harley Alexander & The Universal Lovers - Gold Shirt A little breeze tickles your fancy, rustling through the laundry hanging on the line. The air manifests, a swaying, swinging breeze person. The boogie is here to stay, never go away, never let these nights end. A love song to Halifax sung by Harley Alexander, supported by The Universal Lovers, and do they ever make love. Hips, lips, and tips, all over the Gold Shirt. It dances with the wind all night long, laying to rest in a bed of clouds. Top Tracks - Trust, Runnin Thangz
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Crosss - Lo A court jester, poison in the ear of the king, whispers in riffs as heavy as the weight of duty. Crosss holds scepters and passes judgement in a voice long and droning, stiffened by history and cemented in melody. The weight of Lo is immense like a nail forced through a barren mountain, driven by a hammer of godly might. It fails to tug at the heart strings but instead ties weights and spreads the most catastrophically serene aural defilement. Top Track - Interlocutor
Scott Nicks - String of Dreams Like a crooner in an undersea lounge, Scott Nicks warbles and floats between the safety of air and the dangers of drowning. It is damp, and Nicks bobs and weaves, both a navigator and instigator. String of Dreams is a remnant of sleep, it is peering outside of a window at the rise of the sun and remembering it all. All the joy, bliss, and confusion. A perfect marriage of pop-rock sensibilities and melodies with the vast space of psychedelia. Top Track - Mumble
Harley & Me (HPX Redux) Andrew Haskett Editor-in-Chief Harley Alexander is a man’s best This time he donned his sassy friend. He is toilet trained, he tall toque and belted out some fetches and reads the paper, he tunes all by himself (with a little gives off a pleasant odour and help from his friends, of course). sometimes he cracks out a mel- Here’s what I think of the man. ody without wearing his shoes. A stressful drunk is a produc- One thing can be said about the tive drunk, and while I tossed dozen or so fellows that occupy back pint after pint of amber ale these three conjoined but surely last Saturday night I realized one individual bands is that they live, thing: nothing is as sweet as the breath, and play as sort-of musical fruits of thy own labor. A year stir-fr y. They (used to, at least) all after Harley Alexander played at live in the same household, they Acadia Universities’ Axe Lounge all possess their own unique flair I had the wicked pleasure of see- on life, and they mix-and-match ing my Harr y Potter-esque friend with each other musically like a at Halifax’s own Octopi computer Lego play set. Brian Askew, Harshop. Oftentimes, Harley is ac- ley Alexander, Samuel Hill all companied by his friendly-friends work together but also separately Robert Loveless (aka Loveland), in the space of their own bands, the Ever ywhere’s, and the lovely and each artist has their own Brian Askew, and this is the line- repertoire of skills to offer. This up that graced us last November. ranges from drums, bass, vocals,
bongos, maracas, lead guitars,
mango-eh-mango with the guy
songbirds, amped triangles, what-
leaves you feeling warm and re-
ever pleases you.
freshed. As he busted out his modus operandi of spacey groove-
There is little emptiness or vanity
rock Harley made it a priority that
in Harley’s music, with it at times
his audience had fun, something
even poking fun at recent politics,
that has become somewhat of a
popular culture, mortality, outer
commodity in our factor y-print-
space, and the mundane. An ex-
ed Cheese Wiz and Dewitos fla-
ample of this being his bravely ro-
voured society.
botic song “Digital Citizens” with the line “the mayor smokes crack,
In all of the times I have had the
Stephen huffs the glue”, echoing
pleasure of seeing Harley Alexan-
our infamous and lampooned yet
der per form live I have been mo-
strangely loved Torontonian ex-
tivated by his attitude towards life
major Rob Ford. Stephen Harper
and the energy he brings to his
gets a less than honorable men-
music. Universal Love, his debut
tion because huffing glue is re-
album, is as warm and accepting
served for idiots. Good thing we
as he is, along with the keen lyr-
voted in a handsome man this
ics, bass rifts, and funky-fun times
time around.
that have become essential to his playlists. Gold Shirt, his newest
It takes a house to make a home
ditty, is another diamond among
and it takes soul to make a band.
the rough of our dirty-socks,
Home is where the heart is, the
dirty-laundr y society. What’s up,
heart is in the soul, yeah whatever
haters?
feelin’ good. Soul, in this case, is Harley’s specialty. He possess the
Give this man some coffee money
beautiful ability to make a crowd
http:// harleyalexander.bandcamp.
feel like a family, and speaking
com/
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“Old Cabin at The Axe Lounge in September 2015” Photo by: Robin Lawson
“a beautifully sculpted apple at Wheelock dining hall” Photo by: Kamryn Minors
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Thane’s Spooky Brain Boggler
What’s that thing? Anonymous Contributor It’s all about listening to that voice
Jean Paul
Because the more you know the less you have a choice
It’s the palpable part of one’s soul
To believe something is true when it doesn’t make sense to you
It’s sensory and embodied in touch, taste sight, and sound
Is an action with no satisfaction
It’s the embodied body of one’s innermost being
That will deplete the things you can do
It’s fragile and delicate yet malleable and diverse
So destroy all that you know
It’s the element that separates and unites
And begin to think anew
It defines me as different than you but
And bare your soul on note and pen
It is the single force that creates connectivity
And write a piece with no means to an end
It bares the soul
And wander amuck in every direction
So what is it?
Until something bright can catch your attention
Simone
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athnews The Delectable Details of the Devour Festival
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Anonymous Contributor This November 4-8th marks the the managing director of the fes6th Annual Devour Food Film Fest. tival and first began work with the I met with Michael Howell and Lia festival in 2013, her extensive backRinaldo, the directors of the festiground in film and cinema provides val, to learn more about the event, her with much experience in film. In its origins, and what it has to offer 2013, the pair developed the festiour community. val into its second edition, Devour.
What is the Devour Festival?
Devour is a five-day annual food film festival, located here in Wolfville from November 4-8th. The event features 75 films related to food and drink, as well as 78 diverse events surrounding cuisine: creation, critiquing, and of course consumption. The basic guiding premise of the events is to show a film, and to follow the film with food inspired by the cinematic piece. Notable chefs and filmmakers alike travel from across the world to celebrate and indulge in all Devour has to offer.
Who created the festival?
Chef Michael Howell is the executive director of the Devour festival. It was his long time support and involvement in the Slow Food movement that lead to the onset of the first edition festival in 2009, then called the Slow Motion Food Film Festival. Lia Rinaldo is
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Why a Film and Food Festival in Wolfville?
The festival originally grew out of the Slow Food movement, following the same basic premise of good, clean, and fair food for all. Howell, who owned and operated former local restaurant The Tempest, indicated that the festival served also to increase economic activity in the Annapolis Valley during the shoulder season, and to attract diverse crowd through the use of food-oriented films. This year is the festival’s 6th, and is projected to attract 8,000 to 10,000 attendees. What events are recommended for stu-
dents?
The festival boasts numerous budget and schedule friendly events: -For $20.00, a student film pass is available, which gives access to all films shown at the festival. Several films, such as The Great Chicken Wing Hunt and Cheese Please will have complimentary samples of
food included with admission. -The always popular food truck rally on Thursday evening consists of 8 vendors, each who will offer one dish costing only $5.00. The single dish option will ensure shorter wait time, whilst still guaranteeing quality taste. -On Friday night, a $5.00 admission fee give entrance to a tasting of of 10 chef-prepared chowders at the Chowder Smackdown, with Food Network star judge Bob Blumer. -On Friday night, $25.00 will get you admission and four drinks at the Cocktail Pop-Up Party, a great place to mixology-and-mingle and
enjoy some live music. -Saturday night for $25.00, there is a Nova Scotia kitchen party, featuring Maritime inspired food, drinks, and music. -All 5 days there are different food and drink-centered bus tours available as a part of Devour the Bounty. These include the Crafty Beer Bus, the Bubbles Bus, and Acadian Express, and the All you Need is Cheese Express. For the full list of events, and other information on the Devour Festival, visit DevourFest.com
athfeatures Silence and Noise
an objective perspective, music has become physically non-existent in the way that instruments are no longer sending the sound directly to the listener.
Erica Marrison Contributor There is a sense of thrill that comes from hearing a song for the very first time. The unexpectedness of the melody to follow can spark feelings such as joy and spontaneity. Combine this with live instruments played by passionate musicians and the sheer awe of an audience – and you’ll find that you feel very alive. The awareness that you are listening to something that is filled with so much desire, and perhaps the pride in discovering that up-andcoming band which so few know of, toys with an element of satisfaction. Today however, these emotions evoked through music come not only from live instruments and vocals, but through laptops, tablets, phones, and also headphones. This modern way of listening to music transmits the sound directly from the device to your ears. From
The positive energy delivered by live music, although uniquely special as it is suppressed by new age technology. With this suggestion you may think, “Yeah, technology is taking over the world.” I am also not surprised by this notion, but rather, I ponder the idea that this increase in technology has in fact led to a major loss. Through the use of iTunes, YouTube, SoundCloud, Spotify, and much more, we, as modern people, are becoming distant from the original works of art.
First year forecast: The Hill
sues that exist in a transportation dependent society.
Rachel Watts Contributor We all remember our first encounter with the University hill. The soreness that those initial walks presented was obvious. This fatigue inducing exercise is one that the majority of the Acadia student body experiences, especially in the first couple of months of school. Did you know that hiking up that hill every day actually has benefits for your body? The American College of Sports Medicine has stated that 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise, five times a week, leads to major health changes. Walking up hills is vertical movement, which helps to develop your body faster than horizontal movement. By walking up the hill you are toning lower body muscles such as the glutes and hamstrings, which are involved in knee flexion and hip extension. When walking on flat ground you are causing a minimal amount of stress on these muscles, as opposed to walking upwards in which those muscles would be contracted actively. This added benefit of going to Acadia helps to shed light on other is-
The artist, regardless of genre, creates their piece of music with a strong intent. Their passion, while conveyed through their music, can be further understood through their actions, movements, and their artistic expression. It is this knowledge that makes me question technology’s affect on music. Based on this perception, it could be argued
Our society has evolved to become very technologically advanced, which is a great thing for health care, education, scientific research, and the economy. As a result of this relatively new concept, there has not yet been much research to support that health hazards are posed by a technologically dependent culture. There is now an overdependence on transportation to complete common tasks within a shorter amount of time. While this may seem helpful initially, this over emphasis of time management and under emphasis of physical activity is harmful for the health of many North American individuals. The added benefit of walking up the hill every day has led to the development of muscles that would not exist in people that used transportation available at other Universities. Many people live with weak lower back muscles which causes them to hunch over and suffer from bad posture. Looking down at a cellphone can only contribute further to this millennial problem.
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that the loss of a live and direct connection to music devalues the art. Of course, I recognize the power of live music, as it is natural and unrehearsed. Nonetheless, I also find the idea of listening to music alone through the use of a medium like headphones very appealing. While headphones and other technologies may only provide a single person with musical pleasure, I feel that they offer an entirely new and interesting sensation. Having music come anonymously and directly to one’s mind evokes a strong sense of intimacy. I cannot express the On CAMPUS at ........The K.C. Irving Centre Cafe.......stop by for a hand crafted Binky's D O N U T amount of people I know that feel closest to music when they are listening to it privately. Listening to a composition in solitude allows freedom from judgement, deep contemplation, and a more of a personal connection. This privacy may just be the thing that allows a song before class or in-between! to become “your” song. From this “Why eat CAKE when you can have a Binky's D O N U T” power of intimacy, one is able to fb: Binkys Donuts binkyroese@gmail.com recognize that while headphones may be silencing the noise of music, the art itself remains loud.
Photo Credit: Becca Davison with a considerable health advantage? Why do we, as a society, feel the need to be glued to our devices? I think we should all take the pledge to take the time to walk up
the hill each day for the next week to enjoy the multitude of health benefits that it provides us with. As the familiar expression declares, “every day at Acadia is leg day.”
Walking a large distance every day can also work to minimize stress and to aid in better sleep. A minimized amount of stress directly correlates to better concentration and the ability to have a clearer focus on one’s future goals. Why cut out something that may physically and mentally benefit you? Why do people feel the drive to use transportation when the hill provides us
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Origins of Halloween Anonymous Contributor Halloween is a fun time of year for from the Celtic practice of wearing many people. It is often a chilly sea- masks to avoid being identified by son that leads changes in weather a ghost. and exciting social events. According to The History Channel, Hal- There are many different Hallowloween is thought to have originat- een superstitions that exist today. ed from the ancient Celtic festival Some, such as the fear of black cats, of Samhain. This festival had peo- relate directly to older customs. It ple dress up in costumes to scare was often believed that witches ghosts. It marked the end of sum- would turn themselves into cats in mer and the beginning of colder order to avoid being caught. It is inweather. The Celts believed that teresting to note that many of the that night was special – they felt older superstitions that haven’t bethe walls between the dead and the come more prominent have related living became unstable. They also to telling the future and help with believed that the ghosts of the dead making decisions. One such belief: would return on Samhain to cause 18th-century cooks were known to trouble by damaging crops. They lit hide rings in their mashed potatoes, bonfires to keep the otherworldly hoping that the person they were beings away. November first was meant to marry would find it. Andeclared honorary All Saints’ Day other belief was that if a woman ate by Pope Gregory III, incorporating something sugary made from walsome of the traditions established nuts and nutmeg before she went by Samhain. The night before this to bed, she would dream about the day was known as All Hallows’ Eve, person she was supposed to marry. and later became known as Hal- The celebration of Halloween was loween. The concept of going door- very limited because of religious to-door dates back to the All Souls’ systems that were prominent in coDay, in which poor citizens would lonial New England. As the beliefs beg for food and families would of European groups began to comdistribute food in order to encour- bine with those of Native Ameriage them. This practice replaced the cans, the celebration of Halloween tradition of leaving food outside a began to include public events to residential house to please wonder- celebrate harvest. These events ing spirits – an effort to stop them were common in Southern areas of from entering the house. The prac- North America, and only reached tice of wearing costumes originates the Northern parts during the sec-
The Acadia Student Success Project: Helping Students Make the Most of Their First Year Adria Markovich M.Sc.(Psychology) student and Sonya Major (Psychology Professor and Department Head) When students start their university education, they expect to do at least as well as they had in high school and to graduate with a degree in four years. Unfortunately, some students find the transition to university so challenging that they end up not graduating or taking a lot longer than they had intended. A large-scale research project under-
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way at Acadia is aimed at ultimately increasing students’ academic success by looking at ways that university students can be supported in their education. Academic performance clearly predicts whether students will remain at university. As such, it is important to identify early on which
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ond half of the nineteenth century. The late 1800s presented a desire to shift Halloween from an event that celebrated ghosts, pranks, and witchcraft, to an event that encouraged community development and friendly communication. By the beginning of the twentieth century, grotesque and scary depictions had been taken out of the celebration, and were replaced with games, food, and festival costumes. Halloween had lost many of its original religious meanings before the end of the nineteenth century.
tions were swarmed by widespread vandalism, despite efforts by local schools and organizational boards to halt the festival trouble. By the 1950s, this problem had been resolved, and Halloween had become an event for young children. There were high numbers of young people during the baby boom of the 50s, resulting in celebratory parties shifting from town halls to individual homes. Despite the differences in the practice of Halloween throughout the centuries, the concepts all rely on the same abnormal and prominent spirits. This presence has been recognized by the Celts as well as people worldwide.
By the 1920s and 30s, Halloween was a community filled event with parades and town oriented celebrations. Early Halloween celebra-
Photo Credit: Mamoud Istanbouli students would benefit from extra academic support and to identify which types of academic support are effective and helpful for students. Too often, support is offered to students only after they have begun to struggle academically. The Student Success Project is focused on identifying students who may face academic difficulties before problems emerge. One seemingly obvious factor that affects academic success, but that has received very little study, is students’ experiences with learning to read when they were in elementary school. Reading skills have a large impact on the ability to understand and complete coursework. Increasing numbers of students entering university have experienced consid-
erable difficulty learning to read, and may find the type of reading in university even more challenging. Students may be able to overcome their reading difficulties by using effective learning, studying, and reading strategies. Support services (such as academic advising, tutoring, and writing support) may also help students so that they are more likely to complete their university degrees. The Partnership for Student Success was formed between multiple academic and student services organizations based on a common goal of fostering success in undergraduate students. Led by Dr. Hélène Deacon from Dalhousie University, this Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council-funded partner-
athfeatures ship unites researchers and professionals at Acadia, Dalhousie, Mount Saint Vincent, and the University of Alberta. The goal of the Partnership is to support under-identified and under-serviced postsecondary students. Through the Partnership for Student Success, Acadia has launched the Student Success Project. This project is geared toward assessing whether students who had difficulty learning to read are having academic difficulties in university. Also of interest is whether encouraging students to take advantage of available university services can help them overcome these challenges. The study’s overall goal is the early identification of students who are at risk for academic difficulties, as well as the provision of remedial support through effective strategy use. The Student Success Project at Acadia is aimed at promoting academic
success in first-year undergraduates by assessing the link between historical reading challenges, learning/ studying/reading strategies, helpseeking behaviour, and academic performance. The study that is being conducted this year by Dr. Sonya Major and Adria Markovich, is a replication of a prior study that was completed two years ago at Acadia. Two years ago, Dr. Major’s research team found that students who reported a history of reading difficulties had on average lower GPAs than students with no history of reading difficulties. Furthermore, stronger readers endorsed the use of more learning, studying, and reading strategies than did the students with a history of reading difficulties. Perhaps not surprisingly, for both groups of students, the use of learning and study skills was associated with higher first-year GPA. Of these skills, time management was found to be especially impor-
corrie nation Meig Campbell Contributor Consider the following situations. rating. Tracey Barlow murdering her boyfriend with a blunt object. A scan- Coronation Street was created by dalous affair between a married Tony Warren, a young man at the Deidre and local shop owner Dev. time, who wanted to create a show Kirsty abusing her husband Ty- about working class folk who lived rone. The mysterious death of fac- on a cobbled street much like the tory owner Frank. The kidnapping one he grew up on. Warren’s seof Gail Platt’s family by psychopath ries proposal was rejected by many husband Richard. The tram crash of who thought it sounded “too dull” 2010. Mentioned above are just a and wouldn’t get enough viewers. small number of storylines shown Granada television studios eventuon one of the world’s oldest televi- ally accepted Warren’s scripts and Coronation Street debuted on Britsion series. ish TV on December 9th, 1960. At Coronation Street, or Corrie, has first, Coronation Street was a strugbeen a popular TV show for over gling soap with hardly any viewers, 50 years and is beloved by many all but within 6 months of the premier over the world. It’s particularly pop- it would become the most watched ular in both the UK and Canada. I British Programme. have only been watching Corrie for seven years, and when I mention 11 years later, in 1971, CBC got the this to anyone around my age their rights to start airing Coronation typical response is “It’s so boring.” Street in Canada. Initially a success, This is a response that would be Coronation Street became one of true if you only watched one epi- the most popular programs on CBC. sode. Allow me to touch on the his- Two reasons for this British soap’s tory of Corrie, why it’s so popular success with Canadians: its depicin Canada, and why it’s so exhila- tion of a working class community
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tant for students with a history of reading difficulties. The study also assessed the role of help-seeking from parents, peers, professors, and TAs. Interestingly, Dr. Major’s lab found that for students with a history of reading difficulties, seeking help from peers was associated with more motivation, less anxiety, and higher GPA. For the students who had not experienced reading challenges, seeking help from professors was associated with more self-testing, while seeking help from parents was associated with less use of test strategies, less motivation, and lower GPA. The results from this first study at Acadia uncovered such promising findings that Dr. Major’s lab is replicating the study to gain information on this year’s incoming class of undergraduate students. This past September, all first-year undergraduates at Acadia were in-
and its light-hearted humor. Other reasons why it has such a large fan base is because of the cast’s realistic looks, which you don’t see often in American soap operas. The Coronation Street cast is a combination of various age groups and very homely people. In 2007, I was an obnoxious middle schooler who thought I was above Coronation Street and its dull storylines. New Years Eve of that year I decided my News Year’s resolution would be to give Corrie a chance, and it was a life-altering decision. To explain how this glorious show isn’t dull or uneventful I will quickly highlight some of the more recent storylines, which basically sum up why I and so many others love it so much. Three years ago, local pub owner Stella Price broke up with her cheating boyfriend Karl Munro and started dating a man 15 years her junior. Karl began stalking Stella, at one point secretly setting her young boyfriend’s truck on fire. He then continued his arsonist’s revenge by setting Stella’s pub on fire, saving her from the flames to win her back. Someone caught Karl starting the fire, so he murdered them, setting everything right with him and
vited to complete an online survey in exchange for $15 Axe Cash. An overwhelming 43% - almost half - of the incoming class responded to the survey, sharing their experiences with reading, learning, and studying, and gave permission for the team to track their academic record while at Acadia. Dr. Major’s lab would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to everyone who took the time to complete the survey. With such a high rate of student participation, the team has been able to collect valuable information that provides insight into the link between reading challenges, strategy use, help-seeking behaviour, and academic performance. Ultimately, this information can be used to guide future support services in order to give students the best chance of completing their university degrees and succeeding academically.
Stella. A few months later, the two were married. On their wedding day, Karl started unraveling and held Stella hostage in the pub. He later turned himself in to the police. This is a lesson to us all on how to get a grip and keep quiet on the killer way you reunite with your ex. Earlier this year, the ever homely four time divorcee/widow Gail Platt was robbed by one Michael Rodwell. Michael stole Gail’s stereo that fateful day, and he eventually stole her heart as well. They married in the summer of 2015. Sadly, this marriage has already ended after Gail lied about Michael’s son’s death. She told simple Michael that a random guy was his son (which he believed for almost a year). They are not a couple that one commonly sees on TV as both Gail and Michael are two middle aged, unattractive people. Storylines such as these are why Coronation Street is such a success, and why it’s the longest running soap opera. Corrie is closing in on its 60th anniversary, and it keeps on giving. I can only hope it will remain on TV for another 60.
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Feel the Power of the Wanderlust Genny Rowell Contributor To underclassmen - as if you’ve been asking for one, I present you with a recommendation: if you came to Acadia with no real sense of purpose and are reaching the point of disillusionment with academia that makes you wonder how you could possibly suffer through an entire 4+ years here, you should start planning to study abroad in your third year. Think of it as the gap year your soul deserves, only you might write a couple of essays and take a few tests during it and spend slightly less money on alcohol than you would were you to just take the type of gap year where you drag a backpack between party hostels and seize the day all over the place. Seriously, though, start planning. Take advantage of your current position, in which going to a new place is feasible and relatively inexpensive. You’re a student. No one back home will give you shit about running off and adventuring for a bit. I just spent a year in Freiburg, Germany (mandatory for German majors) and have had very little time to catch my breath in the two months I’ve been back. I do not at all feel like someone who should be giving advice on the matter of going abroad. My experience was worthwhile – invigorating, exciting, romantic, all sorts of positive adjectives. At many times it was also incredibly confusing, isolating, and depressing, so if you are looking to eliminate those things from your life I would not look to Germany for help. A year-long quasi-holiday there will likely not cure your existential angst, as hard as it is to believe. Nor will going anywhere else, of course - the grass-is-greener argument should not be the reason that you leave Acadia.
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Life feels mostly the same in a lot of the places you are able to go. Being away has given me a better sense of what I’m doing back at Acadia, though coming back is admittedly not easy. I’m finding it hard not to throw myself a pity party over my lack of self-discipline, feelings of social detachment, how I haven’t done academic work in the English language in over a year, and the price of beer. I feel doubly pathetic because I know everyone who’s ever been in my position has felt the same way and that we’re all just incredibly spoiled. Still, I now understand more about what I do and don’t love about Wolfville, and I find it to be extremely valuable perspective.
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I made the choice to go on exchange using the logic that doing challenging, intimidating things is always a good idea. Using this same logic, you can justify all sorts of fun stuff: taking public speaking courses if you’re bad at public speaking, trying to cut your own hair while drunk, etc. Depending on the degree of masochism you combine with this attitude, the outcome of your time abroad will differ greatly. Overall, it will likely be equally awesome and miserable. Such is life. There are no guarantees of anything, obviously, and that’s really why you should try to go. If you’re looking to avoid burnout and you can afford to do so, go abroad! Pay Acadia your tuition fees and spend the rest of your money stimulating foreign economies, mostly in bars and on train tickets. Go see big fancy new sights that get your endorphins going and look good on Instagram. Go develop a taste for new things and wonder if you are at all entitled to your enjoyment of them. Go hit on
people who you find infinitely attractive just because they are foreign. Go collect experiences, as we are all wont to do, and then come back and process them in private, because talking about them too much makes you sound pretentious. Cynicism is great! I bet you sure feel encouraged! But in all seriousness, you should get out there for a while. You’ll grow immensely during the time you spend away from Acadia. You’ll also grow immensely if you decide to stay at Acadia, but you won’t meet as many new people, see as many new things, become as comfortable with “foreignness,” or acquire the mental strength that is required to live away from home. It’s misguided to think that studying abroad will be a vacation (though realistically you’ll find every excuse to spoil yourself and you can totally get away with it), and it’s also wrong to think that you aren’t strong, intelligent, or brave enough to go. Once you get through your maudlin homecoming stage, it will all be worth it.
Photo Credit: Kamryn Minors
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why i love meal hall Anonymous In response to “Why I Hate Meal Hall” from Issue 78.2 When I walk into meal hall every morning, I am always welcomed by a kind woman sitting behind the desk, who swipes my student card as well as the cards of hundreds of other students. She greets me each and every morning with a smile. I always make sure to ask how she is, and I mean it every single time. I sometimes wonder how many people even say hello to her each day, and if any take the time to say “thank you” to her. Two small words can brighten someone’s day, no matter how insignificant these words may seem. As I enter the kitchen, I see the hardworking staff cooking, preparing, cleaning, and serving breakfast. I see the day’s offerings, and
I wander around to see anything that I may like to eat. To my delight, meal hall has My Pantry, a kitchen stocked with vegetables, proteins, and grains. I enjoy cooking a warm meal in the morning, along with a friendly chat with whomever is mixing up the daily smoothie next to me. My Pantry is well-stocked with a variety of fresh ingredients every day. Sometimes, I do not always enjoy the daily special during lunch or dinner. I never have to fear though, as the meal hall staff provide many alternative options. The salad bar is brimming with carrot sticks, vibrant celery, sliced radishes and cucumber, and much more. Before coming to university, I ate more vegetables
Tidal Series: Pro-testing, not Protesting Dr. Anna Redden Director of the Acadia Centre for Estuarine Research I am a Nova Scotian - a proud graduate of Acadia University (BScHon, MSc) and a professor in Acadia’s Biology Department since 2005. My perspective on the harvesting of Bay of Fundy tidal energy using stand-alone turbines (not housed within a barrage as in the Annapolis River) has been developing since 2006. At that time, the province of Nova Scotia was actively seeking opportunities to further reduce the burning of fossil fuels, considering the potential of the Bay of Fundy’s world class tidal energy resource to contribute to the mix of local sources of renewable energy. As in Scotland, the province began to investigate this potential by initiating the establishment of an instream (barrage free), tidal turbine test centre. The selected test area is located in the northern region of the Minas Passage, near the town of Parrsboro. This test facility, known as the Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy (FORCE), is a not-forprofit organization largely funded by the federal and provincial governments and is Canada’s leading test centre for tidal energy research and development. Its purpose is to
test the performance of large, commercially-ready, stand-alone devices that are cabled to the shore and connected to the province’s electrical grid. The first cable-connected turbine is expected to be installed in late 2015. FORCE’s objectives include assessments of the environmental effects on, and of, installed turbines. Success or failure will inform decisions on the possible role (if any) of tidal energy in Nova Scotia’s energy future. To fulfill the government’s interest in representation from the environmental science community, I was invited by the province to be an independent director on the Board of FORCE when it was first established in 2009. I also conduct research that is related to the activities of FORCE. Development of any marine industry poses potential risk to the environment and tidal energy is certainly no exception. Two strategic environmental assessments and a series of workshops and public information events have focused on the potential consequences of tidal energy development in the Bay of
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than the average high school student. Now that I live at Acadia University, I find that I am eating more vegetables than ever before. On the days that I decide to enjoy a salad, there are many options to top my greens besides dressing. A couple olives or a small handful of shredded cheese and/or beans make the perfect salad topping, and adds a lot of flavour without drenching my meal in fat or sugar. Pizza, fries, burgers, and perogies are not the only foods dished up for lunch each day. Soups, whole grain breads, vegetarian meals, low-fat dairy, and fresh fruit are available. As a matter of fact, I’m a particular fan of meal hall’s chicken and turkey chili! If you find that there’s a certain dish that you enjoy, let the kitchen staff know! I’m sure that they would love to hear that students enjoy their hard work. If you ever have any concerns about the nutrition of the food being served, don’t hesitate to ask! You’re paying Fundy. Not surprisingly, the highest priority ecological components of concern are migratory fish and marine mammals. But how does one assess risk of turbine interaction with marine life in a very high flow, macro-tidal environment? I can tell you that it very challenging and that it requires a lot of funding, a lot of collaboration, and innovative, technological approaches. Monitoring the effects requires several years of baseline data on the environmental conditions and ecology of the site prior to the installation of turbines. Some of the environmental questions raised have been: How is the FORCE test area and Minas Passage being used by migratory fish species of concern, including lobsters and marine mammals? When are they present? At what depth do swimming animals transit through the passage? For the past 6 years, Acadia students (Honours, MSc), faculty and colleagues elsewhere have been trying to answer these questions with the aid of modern, acoustic technologies. Some of these technologies have been used to track the movements of fish (Striped Bass, Atlantic Sturgeon, Atlantic Salmon, and American Eel) that were implanted with transmitters (emitting identifiable ping sequences). We have also used hydrophones to detect and record the seasonal presence and activity of harbour porpoises in the Minas Passage. Their presence is heard when they vocalize for the purposes of communication, navigation and feeding. Porpoises emit a se-
meal hall to feed you throughout the year; that’s a lot of food! More food than most people in the world even have access to. Meal hall staff are kind, honest people who would love to hear positive/constructive suggestions from students. Politeness and a smile can go a long way. The staff are willing to listen to your concerns, and they’d be happy to answer any questions that you may have. Have a great idea for meal hall? Say something! Maybe your dream could become reality (if the costs are feasible). It’s possible to submit any recipes you would like to see made. I also appreciate being able to have a hot meal for supper. With classes, clubs, other people, assignments, and finances facing me every day, a comforting bowl of chicken and rice soup can be a delicious and comforting way to relax. Good food, good friends, and good choices available leave one thing off of my list of worries. ries of high frequency echolocation clicks; bats use a similar echolocation system. Perhaps the most difficult question we are asking, and which requires a turbine to be installed, is this: Can fish and marine mammals detect and avoid large infrastructure when moving through the passage at high speed? The answer to this question is likely to vary among species, and with both size of animal and season. Although critical, little is known about this topic largely because there have been very few stand-alone tidal turbine installations around the globe. The efficiency of some of the acoustic technologies used to detect animals is also reduced in naturally “noisy” high flow tidal environments. Regardless, attempts are being made to collect environmental effects data. The next turbine installed at FORCE will be fitted with both imaging and listening sensors to detect animals and their behaviour in close proximity to the device. I believe that we cannot learn much (if anything) about the impacts of in-stream tidal turbines in the Bay of Fundy if we do not install and test one or more turbine technologies at FORCE. This test centre presents an exciting learning opportunity for Nova Scotia, and for Acadia faculty and students, and what we are learning with this test facility has implications for tidal energy developments worldwide.
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Into the Trench Kody Crowell Opinions Editor This article contains mature, explicit themes detailing Lt.-General Roméo Dallaire’s experiences in Rwanda during the conflict in that country. “All humans are human, and not one of us is more human than the other.” These words were spoken by Lt.Gen. Roméo Dallaire, at his talk on October 21st at Horton High School. I am forced to look up from my half-scribbled notes and stare at the stage in dumfounded enthrallment. The now retired general is neatly dressed – he wears no crass colours, and keeps his hands in his pockets as he paces along the edge of the stage. The topic of the talk is the use of child soldiers in warfare. He recounts stories of Rwanda and his time there, and he mentions the moment he realized that the eyes of the orphaned child he was staring into, even after witnessing so much bloodshed, were the same eyes of his own child back in Canada, safe with his family. “We are all humans,” he says again – but what is it that makes us inflict such horror onto other humans? And what is it that makes us ignorant and reluctant to aid others in those situations? One of the tales that the general recounts is the story of a UN patrol travelling the country-side, eventually encountering a small village in Rwanda whose population had been massacred. In the town, there existed a massive rape site. A trench in the mud, full of women and children who had been corralled, raped, mutilated, and left for dead. The commander of the platoon was unsure if he should send his soldiers into the trench to comfort the dying women who remain alive, laying in the mud bleeding, or if he should continue without stopping. To jump in would mean to risk contracting HIV and wasting the limited food and water resources they had. But he didn’t even have
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time to decide. The soldiers had already unstrapped their packs and were entering the pit. It is part of the changing nature of warfare. A new era, where civilians are the prize, the targets, and the weapons. Where militants have resorted to using human beings as a means of attack, specifically children. A crime against humanity according to the UN that is being broken by several active groups in the world today – the Boko Haram, the LRA, and of course, ISIS. There is not one conflict on this planet that
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search of freedom and democracy. They are instead greeted with cold, if not outright hostile treatment. Donald Trump has pledged that if elected, he will send all Syrian immigrants back, claiming that we have to look out for ourselves first and foremost. Who does he mean by ourselves? Americans? Christians? European-descended folk? The truth was eloquently stated by John Green in a recent video of his. “Ourselves” includes all of humanity, sharing this one small planet together. The only alternative concept of “ourselves” is an artificial construct we have created. Biology has shown that there is no genetic difference between people of different races. We are all the same species. The general did not give any answers during his talk. He presented the crisis, and he urged for a more preventative approach to stopping the use of children in war, but no solid plan or concrete implementation was given. But maybe that wasn’t the point of the talk. We will not be able to directly impact the choices made in another country across the globe. Of course, we
“A new era, where civilians are the prize, the targets, and the “‘We are all weapons.” humans’ he says again, but what is it that makes us inflict such horror onto other humans?’
is not currently using child soldiers. It’s a brutal but effective tactic – if a soldier on the battlefield had a six year-old boy charging towards him in his crosshairs and pulled the trigger, how could he go home after his mission and hug his own kids? The kids are expendable. You can send them out on the mine fields to trigger IEDs. Moreover, children are generally easy to manipulate. The step from a simple political movement to a fully indoctrinated youth militia is a small one. However, the cost is too great - “We are mortgaging our future,” Dallaire says. He is right. But the issues we are talking about seem so far away, so distant, that it appears almost futile to do anything about it. So say the politi- can join non-governmental voluncians. teer organizations, or write to our Members of Parliament, but again, Just look at the refugee crisis in Eu- I believe that the point of the talk rope, where thousands of displaced was to urge the audience to inform individuals are fleeing from their themselves on these issues. Our oppressive, brutish government in
“They acted out of compassion - the purest and most human traits, admirable when found in anyone.” connections with the world extends so far today, that an excuse for ignorance no longer stands. As for the platoon that was patrolling the village in Rwanda that found the rape site: Only three out of twenty-six commanders would have made the command to help the dying women, according to Dallaire. These soldiers jumped in on their own accord – not because they were ordered to, but because they understood the horrors that had occurred, and they were not afraid to confront them. They acted out of compassion – the purest and most human traits, admirable when found in anyone. And as it was revealed, those soldiers were Canadian. They grew up in cities like you, and went to school just like you. They learned the same things you did. They worried about their unsteady futures, about their unsteady pasts. They did everything you are doing now. And when the time came, they were ready to act, and face the consequences, because they were aware of them otherwise. So I urge you: read up on Sudan, read up on Etritea. Read up on Syria and Turkey, on Armenia and Palestine. It will be depressing and sad, and you’ll never be able to solve all of the world’s problems. But maybe one day, when faced with an unspeakable horror, it will be you who selflessly jumps into the trench.
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Recently in SCIENCE! Katie McCulloch Science Editor
New compound removes Aliens?! mercury from the envi- Scientists working to discover ronment planets orbiting distant stars, A newly synthesized compound, sulphur-limonene polysulphide, containing a substance found in orange peels, has been shown to remove dangerous, bioaccumulating mercury from the ocean, even changing colour as it does so. The red polymer is produced from industrial waste – using sulphur waste from the petroleum industry and limonene from the citrus fruit industry. This is a fantastic discovery, as high mercury concentrations are responsible for birth defects and numerous other serious health problems in humans and other animals.
searching for evidence of habitable planets and extraterrestrial life, may have found something fairly significant. “Swarms of megastructures” have been observed to be orbiting star KIC 8462852, between the constellations Lira and Cygnus. The masses orbiting the star wouldn’t be peculiar if the star were young, but as a middleaged star, a disk of debris should have agglomerated into a planet, or been swallowed by the star. A concrete explanation is lacking, but some hypothesize that it could be evidence of an alien civilization using solar panels to harvest energy from their star.
Communication and Consent Anya K’Nees Sex Columnist One need only look at the covers of magazines in checkout lines to be bombarded with promises of learning that one trick to the best sex ever. Open any of these magazines and you quickly find out that it all boils down to communication. Open and honest communication about what you want prior to, during, and after sex can help make things more enjoyable for both you and your partner. Magazines have got it right: sexual satisfaction is directly linked with sexual communication. However, sexual communication need not always be verbal. Nonverbal communication, composed of facial expressions, gaze, eye contact, interpersonal distance, touch, body movements and displays of emotion, can actually be a better predictor of sexual satisfaction. However, both verbal
and nonverbal communication can decrease sexual communication apprehension and increase sexual self-esteem. Both forms of communication should be ongoing during sex. Just because your partner indicated prior interest in an act does not necessarily mean it is something they currently wish to take part in. Always make sure to ask them what their wishes for the current moment are, and, if they do not wish to partake in certain activities at the time, respect that. This brings us to our next headline topic: consent. Consent is defined by the Government of Canada’s Department of Justice as “the voluntary agreement… to engage in the sexual activity in question. Conduct short of a voluntary agreement to engage in sexual activity does not constitute consent
Photo Credit: Mamoud Istanbouli
Liquor Comet Think you went through a lot of alcohol on homecoming? Think again! Comet Lovejoy, at it s p ea k activity level, was releasing as much as 50 0 b ottles of wine worth of ethyl alcohol into space p er second, as it made it s approach toward the sun. Along with this, scientist s found 20
as a matter of law.” By this definition, consent has not legally been given if the person engaging in sex was unable to consent, consent was given by someone other than the person engaging in sex, the accused used a position of power or authority to induce consent, or if there was a vocal or behavioral display of non-consent prior to, or anytime during, the activity. This last statement may be one of the more important and lesser-understood issues around consent. If at any point during sex a participant voices a lack of continued consent, immediately stop what you are doing and check in with them. If you are unsure of your partner’s continued consent you must ask them. Remember, alcohol and drugs have the power to control decisionmaking, meaning that even if your partner appears to be in agreement with the sexual activity, legally consent may not have been given. If you want a standardized approach to verifying continued consent you may wish to employ the Stoplight System. This is a threetiered system whereby red means “stop what you are doing immedi-
other organic comp ounds in the gas released by the comet, including the simple sugar glycolaldehyde. This is a fascinating discover y particularly b ecause the pansp er mia hyp othesis suggest s that comet impact s could have supplied an ancient earth with organic comp ounds, cont ributing to the origin of life as we k now it.
ately,” yellow means “slow down and decrease the intensity, check in with me, but don’t stop completely,” and green means “continue, or increase the intensity.” At any point in the act you or your partner(s) may ask what colour participants are feeling, or participants can provide a colour unprompted. If any participant thinks things have “gone into the red” they stop immediately. If you are engaging in an act that will render one participant temporarily voiceless (gagging for example) establish a hand motion, or have an item that can be dropped, to signal the wish of that participant to stop. Consent, or dissent, to engage in sexual acts is frequently misunderstood or ignored. We can help change this by clearly communicating our sexual intentions prior to engaging in sex, verifying the enthusiasm of our partners, checking in with our partners during sex, and never penalizing anyone for not wanting to have sex with us, or for wanting to stop part way through. Open and honest communication coupled with consent can make for your best sex ever!
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Sidelined Story: A Tale of a Boy with a Bum Knee Sam Gillis Sports Editor “As the injury happened I wasn’t aware that anyone else had noticed I had fallen, so I was thinking I had to get off the field, get a sub and stretch it out. I thought it wasn’t an injury. Turns out I was in shock and not paying attention to where I was and everyone who was huddled around me.” Tearing your anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, has got to be every athletes worst nightmare. The thought alone makes me cringe. The injury has a painfully long recovery time, lasting 6-9 months after surgery has finished. This includes the months of natural recovery to pass after the injury before the surgery is even plausible. Think of all that time spent, in these ever so blissful years as a student, and having nearly a quarter of your experience stuck without a working knee. Yes, as I’m sure you are imagining, the fun activities have become slightly limited. That means; no jumping on your new bed, no runs home from the Vil as you dodge rain drops, no running down to the class that slipped your mind, and no more sports! About eight months ago, then second-year-student John Attenborough was playing a semi-final game for Valley United Soccer Club, when he heard that unforgettable “pop” come from his right knee. Johnny, a crucial member of the Acadia Men’s Soccer Team and also CIS Academic All-Canadian had his varsity sport career thrown off the rails after that unforgiving change of direction. The talented right back, who had just been through his break-through season, was the team’s anticipated starting defender for this year’s season. His injury was detrimental for the team, but even more so for him as a member of the team. Fortunately, John was able to take time out of his evening to share his experience after he was sidelined. After getting all the bad jokes out of his system, he spoke on what he missed most about being on the
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field. “I miss being regularly active in a way that I enjoy,” he began, following with a slew of complaints about the difficulty of finding other enjoyable activities. He has recently discovered an interest in ping pong, which allows him to finally compete again. The absence of activity was not the only thing that John expressed about missing being on the team. “More than anything, I miss the general comradery of being on the team; dayin, day-out, practicing together and playing together. His chin was held lower when he reminisced on his last season with the Axemen. He is
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proud that he has continued to stay involved in the team, and chuckles at his dedicated attendance towards every Sunday fun-day. Johnny still goes to every game that he’s able to with a smile on his face, feeling just as part of the team as he did last year. In attempts to find some more positives in the situation, we looked into the extra time that the lack of soccer gave him. In the intensive, two month season things tend to become very time constrained for all athletes. Although it wasn’t all positive when he answered if academics had gotten any easier with the free time. “No, definitely not” he sharply responded, “I found that soccer kept me regimented, which was good because it gave me certain allotted times where I had to study.” He was also surprised in the fact that he hadn’t seen many changes in his social life during these times either, despite his free-
dom from responsibility on weekends. The tone was a tad more pleasant as I asked John how his recovery was going. I am pleased to report that it is going well, as he continues to meet the correct points that he should be in terms of his recovery. He has a set protocol in which he is trying to follow, one that will allow John to be back on the field for the Axemen’s 2016 season. “The first six weeks after surgery were the worst ever, but things have been getting exponentially better since,” John said with a joyful face. In conclusion, I asked if he had any advice to offer other sidelined players to make the most out of their unfortunate situation. His best advice was to keep involved with your team, try and stay healthy as you’ll eventually want to go back. I asked him if he wished to go back right now. His reply? “You’re an asshole.”
Photo Credit: Mahmoud Istanbouli