The Athenaeum, issue 78.7

Acadia’s Student Newspaper, since 1874 February 11th, 2016 Issue 78.7

EDITORIAL farewell to ivany page 2

NEWS wgst cuts page 3

ARTS breezy, yeezy page 13

WELLNESS keep it kinky page 15

atheditorials The Athenaeum Acadia University’s Student Newspaper Issue 78.7 ASU Box 6002, Acadia University Wolfville, NS, Canada B4P 2R5 Editor-In-Chief: Andrew D. Haskett Email: eic@acadiau.ca SUB room 512 EIC Office Hours: Tuesdays & Thursdays 1:30-4:30 Advertising Inquiries: connell.finance@ acadiau.ca Business Inquiries: 116765m@acadiau.ca Section Editors Art: Adam Langille Creative: Rebekah Hutten Distractions: Thane Mullen Features: Hope Latta News: Hannah Hutchinson Opinions: Kody Crowell Science: Katie McCulloch Sports: Sam Gillis

Online:

Senewa Sena Management Production Manager Robin Lawson

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All the best, and good luck with the rest: A Message from the Athenaeum to ray ivany Andrew Haskett Editor-in-Chief

retirement. Ivany’s second term in office was expected to run until 2019.

On February 5th, 2016 Ray Ivany, the president and vice-chancellor of Acadia University, announced to students, faculty, and staff of the university that he would be stepping down as the head of our fair institution. Ivany, who has served as the president of Acadia University since 2009, will end his tenure early as a result of personal health issues, particularly citing his recent heart attack in October of 2015 as a deciding factor in his early

Suzanne Gray, current ASU President, had this to say in a released statement, “His impact has been immense and he has worked tirelessly on behalf of our institution. I consider myself very fortunate to have worked with him in my capacity, and I know I speak on behalf of everyone in our organization. His leadership and vision is exemplary and we are fortunate to have had such an inspirational leader.”

Suzanne’s statements ring true with many of us, as Ray has served the students, the faculty, and the university itself with great care and compassion.

He is a product of Nova Scotia and has worked tirelessly for the good of the school, the province, and the people who inhabit both. We wish you the best, Ray, and we’re sure you’ll do an impeccable job in your remaining months. We also wish you luck in your future endeavours, and we wish you the same in your much deserved retirement.

Photo Manager Anjuli Ripley Advertising Manager Theresa Connell Business Manager Robyn McMillan Copy Editor Tyler Nelson Editor-in-Chief Andrew Haskett

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.

We pride ourselves in publishing and participating in a diverse community, and we are more than eager to work with anyone, regardless of age, economic situation, race, creed, sexual orientation, or any other defining or diversive human trait. In the spirit of great debate we will argue with you and your opinions to the ends of the earth if we deem it necessary.

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.

We’re always looking for controversial and rowdy material that challenges society and its norms, but any material deemed offensive or hateful will be met with extreme scrutiny. 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 D. Haskett at eic@acadiau.ca There are open story meetings every Wednesday at 6pm in the Athenaeum office, room 512 in the SUB. Everyone is welcome, and we encourage you to join us!

The Athenaeum, since 1874.

Call it like you see it.

T his issue’s cover art wa s created by A nt hony Chu, who do es not sle ep.

2 February 11th, 2016

Call For Performers!

SEXpression Session: The Elephant in the Room Acadia Women’s Center Acadia Organization

to explore topics in the culturally taboo category of SEX and sex-related issues.

We are looking for the following submissions: -Monologues - Poetry - Songs - Short stories - Other cool stuff that you want to do.

Call For Performers! SEXpression Session: The Elephant in the Room The Acadia Women’s Centre is calling for performers to partake in our SEXpression Session during Sex Fest 2016.

This showcase of short pieces will take place on February 23th from 7:009:00pm. The event theme is the El- If you have original material but don’t ephant in the Room, as we are looking

want to read it, send it in and we can give it to someone willing to perform.

If you want to perform but don’t have time to come up with material, contact us because we have a selection of monologues available.

If you are interested please send your submissions to womens.centre@acadiau.ca no later than Friday, February 12th .

We look forward to hearing from you!

Acadia Talks: The American Election The quick facts you should know about the candidates Luke Ehler Acadia Talks

What is shaping up to become a historic election is unfolding just south of our border, and the outcome could mean big changes for the US as well as for us Canadians. But who are the candidates running and what changes are they proposing? Who do you think is the best choice?

Democratic Party Candidates

Hillary Clinton: Former Secretary of State •Build on Obamacare, equal pay for women, require outside groups to publicly disclose significant political spending, close corporate loopholes and raise taxes on the wealthiest, generate enough renewable energy to power every home in America within 10 years, have 500 million solar panels installed across the country by 2020, invest $350 billion to ensure no student has to borrow to pay for tuition, books, or fees to attend a four-year public college in their state, enable Americans with existing student loan debt to refinance at current rates •Clinton has received donations of all sizes.

Bernie Sanders: Vermont Senator, Selfdescribed Democratic Socialist •Switch the US to Universal Health Care, Raise the minimum wage from $7.25 to

$15/hour, make public colleges and universities tuition-free, break up the 6 largest financial institutions to avoid another economic crash, allocate $1 trillion to create a Federal Jobs Program that will aim to repair crumbling infrastructure and employ 13 million Americans, avoid getting involved in other war/foreign policy blunder like the Iraq War, transition the energy sector from fossil fuels to 80% renewable energy by 2050, expand social security, opposing trade deals like the TPP, public funding of elections, address racial injustice and end the Federal prohibition on marijuana • Sanders is funding his campaign through public funding. He has received over 3 million donations averaging $27.

Republican Party Candidates (*Only those polling above 10%)

Donald Trump: Businessman, TV personality •Temporary ban on Muslims entering the US, build a wall between the US and Mexico, return “all criminal aliens” to their home countries (estimated 5 million of people), 15% business flat tax, no income tax below $25,000/year, avid defender of second amendment rights (guns), lower the corporate tax rate, cut the head off ISIS and blow up their oil fields.

•Trump is self-funding his campaign

Ted Cruz – Junior Texas Senator, Tea Party Member •Defend religious liberty, “bomb the shit out of ISIS,” believes in traditional marriage (between one man and one woman), investigate planned parenthood, immediately repeal Obama’s Iran Nuclear Deal, collapse personal income tax into a single low rate of 10%, expand fossil fuel production, shrink government by eliminating the IRS, Department of Education, the Department of Energy, the Department of Commerce, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development Marco Rubio: Florida Senator •Stop the federal government from pushing Common Core on states and give states and localities control over education, Repeal Obamacare, stop taxpayer funding of abortions, Immediately Approve the Keystone XL Pipeline, cut taxes for business of all sizes, 15% income tax for individuals up to $75,000/year, 25% for up to $150,000, and 35% for over $150,000.

Acadia Talks meets every second Tuesday in the KCIC seminar room from 6-8 pm where they engage in open, round-table discussion about important global issues.

For more information contact Luke at 113844e@acadiau.ca

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WGST Program Cuts “Not a Minor Issue” Mount Allison university to Cut Women and Gender studies Program funding Hannah Hutchinson News Editor The Women’s and Gender Studies (WGST) program at Mount Allison University is in jeopardy due to alleged budgetar y reasons. The absence of a budget would do away with the WGST program, a prospect that has many students outraged, voicing the misogyny and gender-bias that such cuts indicate on the part of administration.

On Monday Februar y 1st, students currently enrolled in the program received an email from the acting head of the program, Lisa Dawn Hamilton, stating that the university will be cutting funding to the WGST program in the 2016-2017 year, as communicated to her by the Dean of Arts. Quoting the email from Dr. Hamilton: “I am writing tonight with disappointing news. The Dean of Arts informed me today that due to decisions made in the budget process the university has cut the budget for the WGST program next year”.

The convoluted response from university administration did little to ease the concerns of students. An email

from the Dean of Arts stated “The University has not announced any intention to cut this or any program…

Mount Allison has not initiated any type of formal review of this program or any other.” Such a response is vastly different from that communicated in the email sent out Monday evening.

Such statements do little to address the issue at hand, instead only mentioning that the university has not announced it plans, but does not refute the possibility of the aforementioned cuts.

The student response to the issue was immediate and extensive. Tuesday morning, a change.org petition was created, hoping to “Stop Mount Allison University from cutting the funding to Women’s and Gender Studies.”

The petition has garnered signatures from over 6000 supporters. Students organized silent protests before the Board of Regents meeting, as well as letter writing sessions. They refuse to go down without a fight and continue to organize against the proposed cuts.

The issues raised with the potential cut has led to gross student dissatisfaction, as well as many concerns with the lack of transparency between ad-

ministration and students in regards to budgetar y decision-making and allocation of student funds. A statement on a student-led forum speaks to this frustration: “Rather than directly addressing the funding decision and its consequences for the university, they have misled and misdirected, resorting to the corrupt techniques of doublespeak to disguise the truth of the situation and to evade responsibility for it.”

An update on Friday indicated that the administration has committed two stipends totalling $12,000, which is enough to hire a part time staff member to teach two courses for one year.

This may be enough to allow current WGST minors to finish their degree.

However, the future of the program is still unclear, as the program is not sustainable with such minimal funding.

The Acadia #kNOwMORE campaign released a statement voicing the importance of WGST studies and showing their solidarity for Mount Allison students:

“For too long women have been systematically excluded from

society. Women and Gender Studies programs were established to address this exclusion by critically analyzing gender historically, politically, economically, and sociologically. WGST students, alumni, staff, and faculty past and present have been involved in research, activism, and policy work that has been pivotal to the gender equality movement. Cutting the funding to their Women and Gender Studies Program is an entirely misogynistic act, which will further silence and oppress an already marginalized group. Although we are not Mount Allison students we stand by them and their WGST department in solidarity.”

To show your solidarity and support for Mount Allison, please consider signing the change.org petition by visiting: https://www.change.org/p/cbc-newsctv-news-fox-news-robert-campbellmount-allison-university-stop-mount-allison-university-from-cutting-the-funding-to-women-s-and-gender-studies If you wish to further discuss this important issue, please join the conversation at Commit Sociology Friday February 12th at 12 PM, location TBA.

Liberal Education Nailing the U4 Games Bishops University Hosts Annual u4 Games Sam Gillis Sports Editor/Master Debater Bishops University had a lot to prove hosting three maritime Universities but carried their weight by showing some exemplar y east- coast hospitality. This weekend Lennoxville hosted the fourth annual up for debate tour nament and a business case comp etition, and what an exp erience it was. There were t welve student s who represented Acadia in this comp etition promoting higher lear ning. Four newly found members of the debate society, carr ying the self-proclaimed title, The Master Debaters; and eight student s showing off their knowledge from the F.C . Manning School of Business. There we’re also eleven student s from St. FX, t welve hometown student s from Bishops and a lonely four from Mount Alison. Eight business student s from the Mounties dropp ed out because one of the members was crossed by a black cat on Saturday mor ning so they were to spooked to attend. Fairly soft.

The focus of the weekend was global citizenship, this was translated through a case featuring a situation in which a café, with high need for social cor porate responsibility was going through a transitional p eriod.

The debates outlined many different social issues p ertaining asp ect s of global citizenship such as; effectiveness of p eacekeeping missions, correlation bet ween good citizens and global citizens, stance on voluntourism. There was also t wo lovely receptions and dinners hosted at Bishops student bar, which I may add is a sup er cool spot. An op en, inclusive design which the A xe renovation crew should definitely check out.

On top of all that fun was a ver y infor mative TEDx talk on different asp ect s of higher education.

To our convenience the fourteenhour bus heading to Souther n Quebec left Wolville at 12:45 on Friday mor ning, just in time to avoid the dreaded light s on moment at the Vil. Bet ween the three schools, we probably had fourty humans get on the bus and over half a day later,

fourty cramp ed up zombies entered the Bishops Student Union Building.

The Friday night consisted of the less entertaining Dinner and then a scramble to get all the last minute preparations finished for tomorrows comp etitions. The fun started early on Saturday as the teams split up at around 8:00am. After that it was all business, our business student s got their eight-page case and had an hour and a half to prepare their proposed solution. After their presentations, t wo final teams were picked to re-present in front of a different panel of judges. One of the Acadia teams did our business school some justice by making it into the final round but after a close call we’re recognized as the r unner ups of the comp etition. Congratulations, Liam Nesbitt, Corey Cadeau, Macaskill Oland and Ted Higa. The debates we’re happ ening simultaneously in various rooms in Bishops less- cool version of the KCIC. The Master Debaters fought valiantly but just missed out on the final round.

Two Bishops teams made it to the final, and went to e to to e arguing

over the legalization of marijuana.

In a sp ectator’s p ersp ective it was kind of disappointing due to the lack of heckling but one of the more rewarding stoned exp eriences of my life.

After all of the comp etitions we’re ex hausted we had another wonderful dinner at The Gait and was able to watch a hilarious debate featuring Acadia’s own professor David Duke.

The comedic debate featured our professor taking a stance against electing Tr ump as President. As you may know, you can’t stump the tr ump, as the pro-tr ump side won.

This kicked off the evening as all teams got together at one of the Student Billet s hosted a party for all the schools involved. At this soiree the Master Debaters took their mor ning losses positively and came into the beer pong games with a winner’s mindset. Utter domination. Overall it was a fantastic exp erience, with tons of out- of- class lear ning, and some memorable times. You lear n so much more out side your comfort zone than you’d exp ect.

February 11th, 2016

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They’ve Got the Lawyers, They Need the Access Robyn McMillan Business Manager

Women in the province of Prince Edward Island have been fighting for their reproductive rights for years. It is the only Canadian province that does not offer surgical abortions. Women’s groups have tried a number of unsuccessful political channels, but most recently realized that nothing short of a court ordered solution will cause the government to change its position on the issue.

Kelly McMillan of Nijhawan McMillan Barristers litigation boutique in Halifax shares the ins and outs of the Abortion Access Now PEI challenge against the PEI government. McMillan, along with partner Nasha Nijhawan, are the lead counsel representing the Women’s group.

Currently, island women must travel to Moncton, New Brunswick to receive the procedure. A recent change from the previous policy of having to travel to Halifax for treatment after having received a referral from a physician. Although the procedure itself is covered by the province, the cost of travel and accommodations are the responsibility of the women.

Some of the issues that the government is ignoring with these arrangements are these:

the access of young women or women in abusive relationships or lower income situations.

4) Women’s access had up until recently been conditional upon the “approval” of their doctor by requiring a referral by a physician. Visit thesovereignuterus.wordpress.com if you wish to read stories of island women sharing their experiences, which range from being denied health care post procedure to stories of doctors requesting sums of money in exchange for a referral.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Let’s keep in mind that this is a simple 10 minute procedure that is able to be performed by any primary care physician. It is not classified as a complex or specialized procedure in the provincial health plan that would have justification to be regionalized and require travel off island.

Essentially the same procedure is being offered to women with incomplete miscarriage who must access a D&C.

Doctors have come forward with a cost effective business plan in hopes to offer the service to island women but were halted by the former Minister of Health, Doug Currie, as their proposals are not consistent with the provinces policy to not offer abortions. This policy was written in 1988.

1) Travel across the Maritimes is pricey, So what is Abortion Access Now PEI doespecially considering that hefty $46 toll ing about it? Along with the Nijhawan & to cross the Confederation Bridge.

McMillan they have challenged the government on the following: 2) Women are unable to drive after having completed the procedure and most 1) Administered Law – The former Minprocedures are performed in the morn- ister of Health, Doug Currie, was acting ings, requiring women to stay over night outside the scope of his authority. He out of province. was upholding the anti-abortion policy when his duty was to uphold the PEI 3) Many women will have to arrange a Health Care system. He failed to uphold support person to accompany them, his duty under the statue to administer booking time off from work and even health care in accordance with the govchildcare services. This is imposing on

Photo by: Claire Byrne ernment health plan which outlined services that will be provided in island hospitals, including gynecological surgery.

2) The Charter Arguments – The group is arguing that the government is violating women’s rights to equal access of health care services as they are singling out a medical procedures only required by women. The courts have recognized that pregnancy discrimination is sex discrimination; therefore, singling out a procedure that is only required by pregnant women with differential treatment can result in discrimination. They are also addressing that this policy infringes on women’s rights to choose and their autonomy over important decisions about their body and family life.

The current abortion policy perpetuates the stigma associated with the procedure. The Prince Edward Island government is sending a strong signal to island women that they do not approve of their freedom of choice. They are reinforcing the historical disadvantage that women

have faced trying to exercise control over reproduction. Overall, once a government decides it’s going to offer a health care system, it must do so in a manner that does not discriminate. They must provide services equally.

So far, many islanders have voiced their support on this issue. In fact, posters displaying the beloved Anne of Green Gables have begun to appear across the province. The posters, created by @ iamkarats, are addressed to the Premier in support of island women and are requesting access now. Hopefully this message is received before the court rulings for this case on April 4th.

Have an opinion or want the government to concede? Voice it to Prince Edward Island’s Premier, Wade MacLauchlan.

The office telephone number is: 902-3684400.

A huge thank you to my cousin, Kelly McMillan, for sharing her knowledge and translating legal jargon for my understanding.

Brew REview

Boxing Rock’s Bottle blonde

time sucking the NS brewery scene’s dick. The beer today is a blonde rye ale, Bottle Blonde, which was coincidentally “Jon Smith wrote another beer review? my nickname during my infamous Slim Screw that, he probably just wrote about Shady phase in 2006. another Boxing Rock beer like the bleeding heart bluenoser he is” -every- This beer pours a cloudy, unfiltered gold with little to no head. The nose is fairly body, probably malty, with a hint of light citrus pokOriginality is key, and I think keys are ing through. Mouthfeel is a little sour, old fashioned, so here’s another Box- with some strong carbonation throwing ing Rock review. I only have so much my mouth for a wild tangy spin. The time left living in Nova Scotia, and I taste took a little while to warm up to figure it makes sense to just spend that me, but when it finally did I was pretty

Jon Smith Typical Bluenoser

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February 11th, 2016

satisfied with how everything was going, like a spiteful yet respectful stepson. The whole experience is permeated by a strong bitter grapefruit taste above all else. There’s a lingering grassy taste from the hoppiness, but it all falls into the citrus theme. The beer is oddly summery for a release in mid-February, and it’s making my mind all wobbly.

In my opinion, Boxing Rock is really driving the normally lackluster Nova Scotian beer selection. I’ve found that most breweries in the province (besides

the Garrison/Propeller giants) stick to producing in the basement of some bar in downtown Halifax, and don’t have much in the way of distribution across the province. In contrast, you can find Boxing Rock at most liquor stores in the province, and they were only born around 2013. Consistently good quality beer (albeit sometimes a bit too hoppy) makes for a solid addition to the East Coast roster.

Conclusion: She’s right fuggin mint, b’y.

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Tidal Energy and The Community Dr. John Colton Acadia University Briefly describe your background it pertains to the tidal energy research.

I’m a professor in the Community Development and the Environmental and Sustainability Studies programs.

Exploring community assets, capacities and how these collectively support a sustainable society has been the focus of much of my research.

Community and stakeholder engagement, and to a lesser extent, socioeconomic costs and benefits of tidal energy development have framed my recent research activities.

How will the implementation of tidal energy development in the Bay of Fundy impact communities and their local resources?

The significance of this question cannot be understated. While Nova Scotians overall have expressed support for renewable energy development and the renewable energy targets established by the province, the over whelming sentiment expressed is that renewable energy should not come at the cost of significant impacts to communities and natural resources. Opinions expressed about tidal energy development have been no different. We know this rather conclusively because of the extent of community and stakeholder engagement with respect to tidal energy development. The Nova Scotia Offshore Energy Research Association (OERA) has funded a series of projects that have included extensive community and stakeholder consultation. These were the Strategic Environmental Assessments developed for the Bay of Fundy and the Cape Breton regions. Questions guiding these assessments included; can new ocean renewable technologies help Nova Scotia meet the renewable energy targets without adversely affecting the environment and other resources, and how could the new tidal energy technologies and development best contribute to community and regional economic development? Other key research reports based on extensive community and stakeholder consultation were the Southwest Nova Tidal Resource Assessment (2013) and the Mi’kmaq Ecological Studies (2009).

some notable exceptions) were processes based on tr ust, relationship building, and transparency. With respect to engagement with First Nations, it was important to recognize that while project proponents and researchers might communicate and engage First Nation communities and organizations, the duty of consultation falls to the Crown. The Proponents’ Guide: The Role of Proponents in Crown Consultation with the Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia, was developed by the Province of Nova Scotia to guide consultation with First Nations. Although a range of issues were identified by communities and other stakeholders, what emerged early in these processes was a collective consensus that tidal energy development should proceed cautiously and with a measured approach reflecting, in some respects, the tenets of the precautionar y principle. This is the approach that the Province of Nova Scotia has adopted.

I have been fortunate to play a role in several of these community consultation processes and others as well to support the development (with my co-authors) of the Community and Business Toolkit for Tidal Energy and the Tidal Energy Community Engagement Handbook. My task in working to create these documents was to engage local community members in order to better understand their perspectives on tidal energy development. Some meetings occurred community open house style while others were informal conversations at local lobster ponds, across kitchen tables, or in parking lots of the village store. What I learned was that community members were less interested in how tidal energy might enable the province to reach its renewable energy targets, reduce GHG’s, and/or support regional and provincial supply- chain development. What concerns most community stakeholders are impacts to fish and marine mammals, the creation of local jobs, the reduction in the costs of energy, and disr uption in their local way of life. More importantly, community members often expressed a desire to be consulted earlier in the development process and wanted to believe their opinions might make a difference in planning and development of tidal energy. Community and other stakeholders potentially impacted by tidal energy developOpen houses, public presentations, ment have been encouraged that the town hall type meetings, w ritten government appears to have listened submissions, one- on- one interviews, to many of their concerns. and stakeholder round-table sessions characterized the different types and What is your hope for the future of levels of engagement and consulta- tidal energy development in the Bay tion. Guiding these processes (with of Fundy?

I am optimistic that we can sustainably develop tidal energy in the Bay of Fundy. This can occur at both a community and utility scale. In addition to working to understand what is required technologically, environmentally, and financially; significant efforts have been made to understand community perspectives on this development. A notable exception to this occurred with Halcyon’s tidal barrage proposal for the Scot’s Bay region. There was little if any prior community consultation prior to sharing their concept plan for this development. The fallout was significant with an over whelming rejection of this plan by the community and other stakeholders. While the concept is not necessarily dead in the water, there has been ver y little communication from the company since their initial public meetings.

for our small r ural coastal communities. Total economic impact of a 5 Megawatt tidal energy facility in Digby, for example, is estimated to be $46 million. Of course there are many assumptions that underlie this estimate but this provides a glimpse of the economic possibilities from this type of development in our r ural communities. But while critically important, economic development is not enough. With it must come opportunities to enhance and build upon community assets and capacities in the region thereby strengthening social capital. Tidal energy development that occurs with this dual-focus in mind – to strengthen our communities both economically and socially and with respect to the environment – will have addressed many of the concerns articulated in community and stakeholder engagement sessions.

On a final note, my optimism for tidal energy development or other renewable energy development for that matter is also based on the fact that this type of development can provide unique opportunities

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It’s Only in Some to Give Alex Whitney Contribtor

This past week I tried to donate blood when the Canadian Blood Services (CBS) set up their clinic at Fountain Commons. I registered, passed the iron level test (which in the past I have failed, so I was happy about this) and waited to answer the questionnaire with the nurse. Prior to attending, my understanding was that as a gay man donating blood, I was permitted if I knew I wasn’t infected with a disease, namely HIV/AIDS. I was shocked when I was told I could not donate because I’ve had sexual interaction with a man within the last five years. FIVE YEARS. I have been tested for HIV/AIDS to make sure I could donate, and yet I’m still

oppressed by this ban.

I asked my nurse “You test the blood anyway, so what’s the difference between my blood and a woman or man who doesn’t know the sexual histor y of their partners?” The answer: “We don’t, however we cannot be entirely sure and must follow protocol.”

After going on the CBS website and reading about their policy on MSM relationships (men who have sex with men), I was still left without a valid reason as to why gay men cannot donate. They state there is a “nine-day period shortly after infection when an individual may transmit HIV but the virus is not detected by our tests.”

So why must I abstain for sex for five years if the detection period is less

than two weeks?

To shed some light on this abhorrent policy, observe this scenario: Mar y, a heterosexual donates her blood, not knowing she’s HIV+. Jack, a homosexual who’s been tested to make sure he’s HIV free isn’t given the chance to donate. The detection test picks up Mar y’s infection, and her blood is removed from the bank. Meanwhile, Jack’s could have been used to help the person Mar y couldn’t.

The CBS’s statistics of a gay male providing a positive HIV sample of blood are outdated, which gives the impression that they’re discriminating against actively sexual gay men. Heterosexual individuals are allowed to be sexually active with as many people as they want, not knowing those

people’s sexual histories and yet they can donate as they please. CBS would rather reject my healthy blood than accept it and run it through the same test that all blood gets.

It’s extremely disheartening to walk into the clinic, go through all the paper work and waiting, only for them to shamefully turn you around because of a factor that shouldn’t affect tr ying to save someone’s life, and additionally making you feel scummy and contaminated. I didn’t chose to be gay, but I did chose to tr y and make a difference.

“It’s in you to give.” I call bullshit.

Apparently it’s not in ME.

All Art Made Equal: Television Can Be Good Too Kody Crowell Opinions Editor

Is all art equal?

Consider the proposition: certain forms of art are superior to other forms of art. Consider Shakespeare, or Dickens, or James Joyce, whose crafts have all been wellproven against the tests of time. Then consider the current glamorized reality shows such as Keeping Up with the Kardashians. Can we objectively state that one is better than the other? The truth of this argument is not obvious. Most people would say that one is clearly better than the other, and certainly worth more.

The argument is then generalised: “read a book instead, all television rots your brain”, or “art ain’t like it used to be”.

They will apply this same logic to music or painting.

It’s a bothersome argument. I’ll admit that as a science major, the technical domain of art is a bit mysterious to me, but it is still possible to appreciate the emotion and effort that the artist pours into their work. And if one type of art really is to be called inferior, then let us first establish a criterion for determining what art is. For now, we will go with the simple definition: art is a craft requiring human imagination and creativity. We can refine this to be a craft with the purpose of conveying a specific emotional, intellectual or ideological stimulation. It doesn’t need to be, though. The meaning can be interpreted by the audience. If we follow this definition, then inferior art is one that fails to meet this criteria, lacking in imagination and creativity.

a “lesser” art media than books and novels. That somehow, reading a book is a more noble pursuit of artistic inspiration than watching TV. I’ll admit that reading a book is a more engaging activity for your brain than television is. Of that there is no doubt. But when did the purpose of art become solely engaging your brain?

There are television shows with more depth, soul and thought put into them than some novels I’ve read. Is watching an artistic masterpiece or a potently realistic political-social commentary on TV less of an act of engaging your brain than reading Fifty Shades of Grey? These questions are left for the reader to answer. This editor will only give his opinion: hold no judgement towards art based solely on its medium of delivery. Receive it with an open mind, in any form it comes to you. Only then can you truly appreciate the message it brings.

February 11th, 2016

3. Hannibal: Recently ended. And it ended perfectly. I’m often not a fan of shows that act as prequels or sequels to major blockbuster films. Smallville, Gotham, and all that glitter never appealed to me. But Hannibal is more than that. It’s a moving canvas. It really does go for that “every frame a painting” label. The show plays on jokes and references from the movie in a smart way, albeit with grace and subtlety. And Mads Mikkelson’s performance as the cannibalistic psychiatrist will forever change how you think about cannibalistic psychiatrists.

4. Fargo: You’re lucky, because this one is still on TV, airing on FX. It’s hard for me

to verbalise exactly what makes this show so special. Like Hannibal, it also acts as a direct continuation of the Coen Brothers’ iconic movie. One thing that makes this show so special is its perfect balance between dark, twisted humour; dark, twisted violence and dark, twisted nihilism. I think it secretly acts as a philosophy course in the guise of a Minnesotan crime thriller.

5. Rick and Morty: This is an animated one, and recent too. Coming from Adult Swim, you know that the show’s humour takes many forms. In some ways, it is similar to shows like Family Guy, where immature humour hides the deep, subtle humour underneath. It also has the humour that is so powerful that after laughing you have to step back and seriously evaluate some things about your life.

Here are some of my favourite television shows, in no strict order: 1. Deadwood: A master class in drama and language. It’s like Shakespeare set in the wild west. The characters are so incredibly vibrant that you wish you sort of led a life like they do. You won’t really understand it until you watch it twice, but you will quickly realise that the characters you root for are more or less all terrible people. It’s HBO too, so that gives it some brownie points.

2. The Wire: A lot of TV aficianados will cite this as the greatest show ever. It’s hard to disagree. It is often touted for its stark realism, however, it tends to escape this later in the series. However, the characters themselves maintain this quality How can we measure this? The com- until the very end, making them and their mon argmuent made is that television is struggles very relatable. So relatable, in

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fact, that for a few months after finishing the show you will constantly find yourself comparing you situation to a similar one undertaken by character X in season Y.

Photo by: Kody Crowell

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Test your Science Knowledge...For Science An Interactive Science Quiz Thane Mullen Distractions Editor As part of a self- directed lear ning project in the Education program, I have designed a quiz to test how much general science k nowledge our readers have. The test is eight minutes long (but may take less), it is mobile-friendly, and should b e done on your own. W hile I realize the temptation to Google any answer you don’t k now is ver y real, please refrain; the result s will b e much more meaningful if each resp onse just represent s one p erson’s k nowledge.

Check back in the science section of the next issue for a discussion of the result s.

About the Quiz Format: * You can skip questions and come back to them later. * Do not t r y the quiz more than once. * Answers will b e p osted on the website. * Please t r y the quiz individually. * Click on the question you want to answer, then typ e in your resp onse. If you are correct, the quiz will move on to the next question and the answer will app ear in the ‘Answer’ blank. If you are incorrect, nothing will happ en. So if you get no resp onse from the quiz, that means you either have the w rong answer, or the right answer sp elled w rong.

Science Outreach

A reflection from the 42nd annual Atlantic Geoscience Society colloquium Katie McCulloch Science Editor

The weekend of February 5th and 6th was the 42nd annual Atlantic Geoscience Society colloquium and annual meeting at the Holiday Inn in Truro. Sponsored by the Fundy Geological Museum, the Canada Geological Survey, the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources, and Acadia University, among others, this conference of undergraduate, graduate and professional posters and presentations was a resounding success. Sessions were organized into categories, many of which are specialized and industry-specific, but one which is likely familiar to lots of students in the sciences and otherwise: Education and Outreach.

What is science outreach? It’s likely something you’ve experienced many times in your school life. Typically some organization teaches you something about their field in some interesting or engaging way.

The Discovery Centre in Halifax is an example of a science outreach organization, and if you’re from Nova Scotia, you might have had a field trip there, or to the Natural History Museum. The Fundy Geological Museum (Parrsboro) and Science East (Fredericton) were both on hand giving talks about the successes and challenges of scientific outreach to communities in

and around Atlantic Canada.

When you engage in scientific discussions and explanations, especially with kids, you can foster an interest in and understanding of how things really function. It can teach you to observe, analyze, and ask questions about the world around you, and helps cultivate a sceptical and educated world view. The point of science outreach isn’t to funnel everyone into STEM degrees, in fact, nearly the opposite. No one should feel obligated to study science, or feel bad about pursuing artistic or business interests. One of the biggest goals is to teach people from entirely different backgrounds about the world around them, and give them a working understanding of basic scientific principles.

Social media has been all atwitter recently, with rapper B.o.B and Neil deGrasse Tyson trading raps about whether or not the earth is flat. To some people, this is a valid argument, but for many it’s absurd. Whether or not B.o.B ever decides to change his opinion on the matter is not of concern to any of us, really. People in the public eye may say and believe whatever they wish. This is not, in essence, a problem. The problem lies when people use misinformation when policy-making, or fence these ideas on others, who don’t know that they can question what they’re told.

Science outreach is more than just enticing wide-eyed, curious children with shiny rocks and bubbling beakers. Outreach extends to communities, citizens

of all ages and walks of life, and even to scientists from varying fields. It makes for enriching educational experiences and encourages everyone to engage in scientific

Saying ‘what kind of an idiot doesn’t know about the Yellowstone supervolcano’ is so much more boring than telling someone about the Yellowstone supervolcano for the first time. Photo by: xkcd https://xkcd.com/1053/

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“I n s id e O u t” by Kay la We s t haver- Cov i n

“Sh o r t E a r e d O w l” by A s h er K r o ez en L és Bu t ch er e s

by Sid ha r t h Ko n d a p u ra m We basked in the glow that the seasons cast.

And when the shade finally came.

The darkness congealing between our entwined palms found the freedom it clamored for.

It kept prying till we came apart, and then slipped by.

As I sit here on this cold January night: I promise to find the darkness that congealed between our entwined palms, and to keep it pressed where it belongs.

When the shade does come again, it will find us clasping tighter.

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A K i s s, a K i s s

by R i ver S o ng “A kiss is a lovely trick, designed by nature, to stop words when speech becomes superfluous.”

- Ingrid Bergmen A kiss, a kiss how sweet if you miss.

A peck on the cheek ends up on the lips.

A kiss, a kiss to clear away tears.

A peck on each salty cheek.

A kiss, a kiss stops words real quick.

A peck might be as wet as a smooch.

Q u i et

by Sa ra h i like to think that maybe at night when it is very quiet, your mind also grows quiet, and you are able to thank yourself for what you have done today. and maybe your last fleeting thought before sleep envelops you, is a glimpse of me, and how we are always breathing the same air.

A kiss, a kiss making your love speechless.

A peck just might not be enough.

A kiss, a kiss leaving you both breathless.

A peck filled with loves embrace.

S o m et h i ng

by R i ver S o ng There is something light as air that comes from heavy darkness.

Like a wish upon a star, in an endless dark abyss.

It’s crystal clear like water and filled with unseen elements.

It’s more precious than anything, yet doesn’t cost a dime.

They say the truth will set us free or are they only dreaming.

There is something to be said for every single dream.

The ones that give you freedom or those that leave you screaming.

A dream is something special, that you can choose to share.

Every story has a start, but every chapter has an end.

It is the in-between that matters. Since all we have is now.

There is always something left behind or unsaid.

Words you crave to hear or the ones you wish you didn’t know.

Listen to lies that make you happy. Ignore the truths that hurt too much.

Bluffing never got me far so I’ll let you know this time.

I think it’s time to tell and stop this make believing

fo r Bi l l y

by I n d ia Ye s h e Ga i l ey Longing for kindred fascination of wild, of inscrutable universes that trickle through ears eyes nose mouth skin Invisible light particles transmitting the reality of heartmind diorama Pleasant thought, limbic vibration.

Gentle, warm. also for Billy Beneath the tangled umbrella we sit in a rococo salad seasoned by the time of wind Sharing sounds, magic from air to cerebrum limbic paper to arms lungs hands swaying in the wall-less cauldron with friends.

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#FlowersOfChange Amber Amour redefines women’s body hair through social media Rebekah Hutten Creative Editor A small but revolutionary movement is spreading on Instagram. #FlowersOfChange is a photo series that was started by Amber Amour, an activist and artist who, prior to Flowers of Change, began the artistic campaign Stop Rape, Educate. The #FlowersOfChange series was born in conjunction with #StopRapeEducate and has been gaining ground on social media among women who feel comfortable posting photos of themselves that show their body hair. They are explaining their choice to refrain from shaving and how their body hair “speaks” to them and to the world.

Amour, in various Instagram posts where her body hair shows, describes her choice to shave or not to shave has absolutely nothing to do with anyone else’s perception of her body. She describes the choice as a form of selflove. “No one can take this sunshine away from me,” she wrote under one of these posts (instagram.com/ambertheactivist).

Equating flowers with women’s body hair breaks down the perception that body hair is a symbol of masculinity.

There is a common societal perception that men with more body hair are more masculine, and men with less or very little body hair are effeminate; women with body hair are perceived as masculine, butch, hippies, etc. Labels are inherently associated with the amount of body hair one has naturally or by choice.

This is not to say that all women who shave are complicit in their own oppression in the context of patriarchal heteronormativity. Both women and men choose to remove their body hair for various reasons, including comfort, sport, athletic affiliation, personal or partner preference, aesthetic, and so on. Unfortunately, labels such as the examples given above are often implicitly associated with appearance.

To gain deeper insight into #FlowersOfChange, I reached out to Amber Amour with a few questions about the photo series.

RH: What inspired you to start the series #FlowersOfChange?

AA: It’s an interesting story, actually. I started #FlowersOfChange after being sexually assaulted in Cape Town. When the story went viral, I got victim-blaming comments from men and women around the world. One girl commented on my picture saying something like, “You put yourself in that situation [to be sexually assaulted]. You should have known better. Life is not all flowers and armpit hair!” Despite her rudeness, that comment made me laugh and I found the concept of “flowers and armpit hair” terribly cute. I decided to kick-off the campaign by taking photos flaunting my body hair while posing next to flowers. I later renamed the movement Flowers of Change because if we all change what we think about body hair, we can change the world by revolutionizing the love we have for our bodies.

RH: What societal implications/effects are present for women who choose not to shave?

AA: Women who let [their hair] grow should be prepared to face staring and funny looks from strangers and rude comments from peers. It’s not all bad, though. Eventually that will roll off.

Whoever decides to rock their body hair should do it for herself despite what anyone says. Women who let their body hair grow should know that not everyone is going to understand.

Don’t let their ignorance dictate what you do or how you feel.

RH: What is the response like on Instagram?

AA: The response is mixed. For one, I noticed that my photos showing my body hair got more likes than any of my other pictures, which was a sign that people were paying attention to it, at least. Some of the comments can be harsh but I’ve learned to ignore them because I feel so grounded with myself and so complete with my body hair that nothing anyone can say would make me feel ashamed of it. You can’t make me feel bad about something I’m incredibly proud of.

RH: In what ways does #FlowersOfChange relate to your campaign, #StopRapeEducate?

AA: They relate to each other in the way that both movements allow women to grow, to love, and to express

Photo by: Kayla Westhaver-Covin themselves freely without fear. When women feel supported, loved, and healed from within, the whole world prospers.

RH: Do you feel social media is the most effective platform to inspire social change, or is social media part of a broader movement?

AA: Social media is a part of a broader movement. It’s just one aspect of things. We can preach all day behind our screens but if action is never taken, the world never changes. We should use social media to speak our minds and educate people just as much we should take steps toward building the world we dream of outside of the virtual world.

Showing Affection All Year ‘Round Kelsey Crosby Contributor

Valentine’s Day is something many people have looked forward to ever since elementary school. Scooby-Doo cards dropped into your paper bag, decorating to your heart’s content... that one time of year always gave me a certain pleasure. I don’t know about anyone else, but if size ever mattered to me more than now it was when I got a big Valentine’s Day card from my crush! These days though, it can be hard to demonstrate the same kind of affection as giving a big Scooby-Doo card. However, difficulty does not excuse delivery. Here are some ways you can show affection to your partner, even if it isn’t February 14th.

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Handwritten Notes Despite the simplicity, there is something special about finding a handwritten love note from your partner.

It doesn’t have to be a mushy, pukeinducing heart melter; a simple “Have a great day today, thinking of you,” or “I love you,” is enough to evoke a smile. It conveys way more significance than either a text message or a Facebook post.

Old School Dates When was the last time you were asked (or asked someone) out on a date the old fashioned way? I don’t mean a text saying “Hey, wanna hang out later?”

I mean the real deal. Ask in person, “Can I take you out on a date this week?” It may seem nit-picky, but semantic and romantic don’t just conveniently rhyme: they go hand in hand.

Questions, Questions, Questions Never stop getting to know each other.

One of the best ways to learn about one another is through asking questions. There is no such thing as knowing every single thing about a person; new things happen every day. Never make assumptions when it concerns your significant other, unless of course you’re assuming your partner wants a back massage or a foot rub, in which case the answer will almost always be yes.

be just as sweet as something from a store. Meal hall will also provide some decent baked goods that will look nice in a pretty box. No one has to know you didn’t bake!

Put Aside Time for One Another Outside of Valentine’s Day Sometimes people get wrapped up in the idea of Valentine’s Day and strive for that day on the calendar to be absolutely perfect. What should always be kept in mind is that it doesn’t so much matter what you do as a couple so long It’s the Thought that Counts as you do it together. Time spent enAs fellow students are able to under- joying each other is never time wasted, stand the feeling of being poor, gifts and even though February 14th is the can be a touchy subject. But gifts do not time slot allotted to show your love and have to cost money – DIY is especially appreciation for someone, a partnercute! Something as simple as a flower ship should always count for more than picked from the side of the road can one day out of the year.

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Hot Chocolate: A History A Delicious lesson in origins Rachel Watts Contributor Have you ever sat down at a coffee shop with your favourite cup of hot chocolate, sipped on it and wondered, “who was the intelligent individual who created this ingenious concept of chocolate mixed with milk and sugar?” Well, keep reading to find your answer.

“Chocolat chaud,” “cioccolata calda,” or “hot chocolate” has a very lengthy history dating back about 4000 years to Mesoamerica. The Olmec cultivated the cacao plant, nibs of which were ground into paste with water in order to make a chocolate drink. To achieve the rich, creamy consistency, the paste was transferred back and forth between jugs. Due to the natural taste of cocoa, the chocolate drink was bitter unless honey was added. Cacao has natural benefits that boost energy, enhance mood, and create long lasting sustenance. The chocolate drink was even rumoured to be an aphrodisiac, so these qualities led people to believe that the drink possessed mystic qualities, and thus it was saved for important and secured ceremonies. Cacao beans were even used as a form of currency, so drinking a cup of chocolate would be about the same as eating a one hundred dollar bill.

The Olmec passed this delicacy onto the Maya civilization, who then passed it on to the Aztecs. During the reign of the Aztec, chocolate was saved for the King and those who returned from

military service.

During the revolutionary war, officers were given chocolate for breakfast, and soldiers were rationed cacao beans to use as energy boosters when fighting at the front lines. War medics would administer hot chocolate to the sick, wounded, or even tired soldiers in order to expedite recovery. The revolutionary invention of cocoa powder made it much easier for soldiers to carry chocolate and prepare it while at their stations. During World War I, 25,000 volunteers were sent to military bases from Egypt and France, among them the “Red Triangle Men” who set up comfort huts and canteens close to the battlefields. After a long day on the front lines soldiers would go there for food, cigarettes, and a cup of hot cocoa.

musk deer… I think I’ll stick to the milk and sugar.

explorers died due to malnourishment and scurvy.

I’m sure the term “coffee house” is one that is all too familiar in our society, but back in those days there were chocolate houses as well. These cafes housed individuals of the upper class population who sat around drinking hot chocolate, gambling and talking about political issues in their present day society.

Did you know that there is actually a huge difference between hot cocoa and hot chocolate? Hot cocoa is made directly from cocoa powder and lacks the creaminess, but is more concentrated and has more of a chocolaty taste. This is because there is less natural cocoa butter in cocoa than there is in shaved chocolate. Hot chocolate is made from shavings of solid chocolate and incorporates milk, cream, and sugar. The French have claimed rights to this very rich and creamy style, and depending on the type of chocolate used the result can be lavishly thick. Shall I say magnifique?

During the early 20th century, expeditions to the far North and South were common as many were eager to be the first to arrive at the poles. Hot chocolate provided warmth, nutrients, and energy boosts for the weary explorers, though it was not enough as many

In the 17th century, chocolate was brought to Spain by conquistadors, after which it spread across Europe like wildfire. Liquid chocolate was considered a luxury drink for the elites, and was actually more expensive than coffee – take that Starbucks’ venti soy hazelnut vanilla cinnamon white mocha with extra white mocha and caramel plus 13 espresso shots. During this era, hot chocolate had a turning point in which different cultures created their own version of te drink by adding different spices and dairy products. Many people began adding milk and sugar, cinnamon, black pepper and even some unusual ingredients such as musk secreted by the glands of the Himalayan

Photo by: Jordan Mahaney

Memory is Cheap the way we remember our lives has changed Hope Latta Opinions Editor The way that people remember has changed dramatically over the last 100 years. With the rise of digital technology, photographs are now more important than ever. In the early 1900s, people used to hold memories in poetry, painting, or in other kept items.

Transitioning into the early 21st century, there are now many more ways that memories can be kept. Using photographs, videos, and live blogs, many are now experiencing a very different problem: the quantification of memory. Since there are many ways in which people make and keep memories, does the advent of technology mean that the sentimentality of each picture has now been reduced? Throughout history, having greater quantities of something has led to depreciation of its value.

Furthermore, memory in the world of computer science has become less ex-

pensive over time and is expected to continue to do so (according to Moore’s Law). With this newfound accessibility to photography, has memory become more quantified in an emotional way?

Having so many pictures has caused us to measure the amount of time we spend on our phones in a different way.

Has there been a psychological shift that causes us to view the value of an experience by our photos of it? How has the digital age affected us emotionally? We are now able to reduce our experiences down to extremely quantified things. Where does this trend take us? The association between memory and media is the basis for a lot of justification in the tech world. Media is allowing us to not only capture our own memories, but also to view the memories of others. Perhaps this change is a parallel of previous changes that have happened throughout history. When the printing press was first designed,

humanity made a switch from spoken stories to written ones. This lead to a smarter working force, as people were better able to share their ideas with each other. The same can be said of picture and video oriented media use.

This transition is allowing people to post information for anybody to see. It

changes the way that people tell stories.

Through this change, people are also changing the way that they remember things. Perhaps there are things that people miss, such as small cracks in the road, which would have been noticed by somebody who wasn’t anticipating what that they would like to remember.

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Art is…

The 25th Annual Acadia Art Exhibition

community is built by fostering a sense of safety to share ideas, and as a result you come to better understand the peoCards that read “Art is…” line the en- ple within your community. trance of the Acadia University Art Gallery, with answers scrawled in colourful 250 visitors attended the opening of the markers. The answers on these cards gallery, which clearly indicates that the range from bold statements like “my exhibit invokes a strong sense of comlife” to carefully drawn images, all cre- munity. People of many ages and backated with the hope of defining exactly grounds attended the opening and were what “art” means. The beauty of art is able to meet the artists to discuss their that it means something entirely differ- works. The sense of community disent to each person. Whether it be an ex- played at the opening continues to be pression of emotion, a pursuit of techni- seen, as community members from evcal aesthetic perfection, or a statement ery walk take time to visit the gallery on society, art is an outlet and a passion and provide their own answers to what shared by many. The question of what art “art is.” truly is has no definite answer, and perhaps this is what makes art so intriguing The sense of community created by the and captivating. exhibition is striking and beautiful. It not

Lindsay Bilodeau Contributor

only shows the strength of the local community, but also art’s power of bringing people together. Art allows people to connect to each other on a deeper level, in a way they may not have without the medium. The beauty of the Acadia Art Exhibition is that it provides a space for the community to connect through these works and to each other. Museums and galleries are important centres for connection to not only objects and works of art, but to the broader world and to others. The Acadia University Art Gallery is For the past 25 years the gallery has certainly an example of such a centre. opened itself to submissions from Acadia students, alumni, faculty, and com- To participate and provide your response munity members. The wide range of art on what “Art is…” visit the Acadia Unidisplayed allows visitors to view not only versity Art Gallery in the Beveridge Arts the talents of those living around them, Centre (10 Highland Ave.), open Tuesday but also allows artists to express their to Sunday 12:00-4:00pm. thoughts in a public forum. A strong The 25th Annual Acadia Art Exhibition, which runs until February 26, 2016 offers a quiet answer to what “art is” through its stunning collection of art pieces. The exhibition, composed of sculptures, paintings, mixed media works, and more, becomes a work of art in itself: a collective statement of inclusion and belonging. As a response to what “art is,” the gallery offers the answer “community” through the diversity of the works on display.

Photo s by: Be cca Dav is on

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So Help Me God / Swish / Waves / Untitled The West Side Story Sid Kondapuram Music Columnist There often comes an awakening during the damned humdr ummer y of human existence that jolt s us out of this precondition (at least for a little while). For me it will be when Kanye West’s new album — tentatively titled “Waves” — drops. I’ve w ritten an article in the past in defense of Kanye West, and I would like to add another notch to the proverbial bedpost. West has been teasing this album for a few months now, dropping non CDQ clips, live p er formances, and even music videos of songs that had a slight possibility of being in the album. I was enthralled by t wo in particular: “Real Friends” and “No More Parties In L.A.” Real Friends There’s something ver y Kaf kaesque about this song. Perhaps it’s about the inability to escap e the vicissitudes of fame and it s ability to engulf ever yone around you, tur ning them into adversaries. The song is eerily reminiscent of the painting “A Bigger Splash” by David Hockney. It’s a looking glass into Kanye’s past. Seemingly static, yet tinted with murky undertones. However,

the song still manages to be “present.” There’s a vivid phantasm that Kanye manages to constr uct with the beat. One of a late- capitalist nouveau riche L.A love stor y; parties littered with dr ugs, humidity enveloping ever y inch of a body lying by the pool, and a drive down the city as the tires skid weightlessly. All these — I feel — are tenuously held together by a transient string. This song is the string.

tur ns out to be one of Kanye West’s best works or sub-par overtly iconoclastic preachy trite. I say this only because Kanye is at a point in his life he’s never been before: he’s happy. In the waning paradisal years of his life, he has managed to find the woman of his dreams and has had t wo children that he (probably) loves as much as he loves himself. It’s the

archetypal success stor y, and at this point the curtains drop and the credit s roll. Although I would like to say with temerity that this album will be another phenomenal description of the intricacies of fame and capitalism — I have to waiver on the slight possibility that contentment may have led to complacency.

No More Parties In L.A. The song start s off sounding like a mix of Gosp el music and Funk. Not all of it is eschewed as Kendrick Lamar steps up to the microphone (although a darker, funk driven beat is favored). Lamar spit s an extraordinar y verse as p er usual, but sur prisingly Kanye manages to out shine him. Ly rically, Kanye delves into the polarity bet ween poverty and wealth, ex hibiting a more lucid flow than the Kanye we’re used to. As those of you who’ve taken the time to listen to his past work probably know, he’s pretty mediocre in ter ms of ly ricism and technical ability. But in this song, he holds up a veneer of impressive technical prowess.

Photo by: Rachel Sparling

Time will tell whether this album

On Jeff Torbert Arts Faculty Feature

ergy was vibrant and constructive - he consistently wears excellent sweaters Jeff Torbert is a Halifax based guitar- and an award-winning smile. guru and instant-harmony-provider who has performed at a variety of As a professor, his positivity radiates venues, from bars and churches to into the classroom and helps students the grand stage of the Rebecca Cohn cope with the overwhelming nature of with Rich Aucoin and Symphony Nova a career in music. In his courses he Scotia. To supplement the “20 bucks pushes students to engage with their for gas” provided at these shows, he ears and to develop personal relationshares his knowledge and experience ships with the sounds around them. with the music students of Dalhousie He is known for starting his classes and Acadia University. He primarily with a therapeutic “active listening” teaches guitar lessons, but also leads activity where students are asked to courses focused on the virtue of ac- be silent and open their ears to stretch tively engaging in listening and play- their sphere of listening. He encouring music. As part of the curriculum ages expansion of the perimeters of shift that the Acadia School of Music what you can hear, pushing you to lisis enacting for next year, he has cre- ten beyond the room to the rest of the ated an interdisciplinary course on building and outside. An additional improvising and the creative process. challenge is to hear the various sounds with an open mind and to separate My personal experience with Torbert them from any previous associations has been overwhelmingly positive. I that you have.

Adam Langille Arts Editor

have had him as a professor for Musicianship Lab (now “Playing and Hearing Music”), as well as the opportunity to play with him in ORO Orkestra last semester. In both contexts, his en-

We often forget to consider that our professors are also working professionals. The members of the music faculty at Acadia have a plethora of

projects outside of the School of Music. As mentioned previously, Jeff performs frequently around Halifax, but he also writes and records his own experimental jazz/pop infused music.

In 2009, Jeff released “This Weather Honest,” an album nominated for multiple awards including Best Jazz Recording in the 2010 ECMAs. The musical setting is a jazz sextet, but Torbert provides a fresh angle using pop and groove influences. He takes it one step further in his 2011 album “Urban Poultry and Other Hopes,” (also nominated for Best Jazz recording in 2013) where the music is tied together more conceptually creating an overarching theme. Currently, Jeff is writing a whole new set of material to play when he travels to Europe this spring to tour with his co-experimenters.

Fun Faculty Feature Facts: Jeff Torbert loves Björk and has a passion for root vegetables, especially beets. He makes his own sunset-coloured juice and special salad dressings.

Quickly Quilled Quote: “Even outside of music, we’re all improvising all the time within this societal structure called life – whenever we talk, walk, think. Might as well appreciate it! And after that, why not strengthen it?” - Jeff Torbert Students Saying Some Stuff: “Jeff is a fantastic person and teacher. He’s enthusiastic and passionate about what he does and it’s obvious that he wants every one of his students to reach for their fullest potential both musically and personally.” - Mia Clow “One thing I’ve always liked about Jeff is his ability to give new perspective to things. Jeff can offer a lot of different approaches to both musical and non-musical situations.” - Tevon Tynes Coworker Comment: “Jeff Torbert is a treasure - a calm, capable, and kind colleague. He asks a lot of his students and they benefit from the challenge. Acadia is lucky to have him.” - Nic D’Amato

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Appl e S c ru f f s :

The Best of the Beatles’ solo years Keith Stratton Contributor

The Beatles seem to be as popular as ever. While I am not about to call any part of their catalogue underrated, I believe that under the weight of the group’s output, the solo releases of Lennon, McCartney, Harrison and Starr tend to be overlooked. After the 1960s were over, each of these musicians continued to explore new sonic avenues on their own, free of the others’ judgement. This resulted in a wild variety of music, from the fantastic to the terrible. In the early 1970s, all four Beatles had carte blanche to release whatever kind of records they felt like. So they did. Here are the best ones.

5. Imagine by John Lennon, 1971 The title track is so overplayed, it’s easy to go into this album expecting a lot of socially conscious balladeering. However it’s one of Lennon’s most comfortably diverse solo records, and the production is phenomenal. Producer Phil Spector adds some surprisingly delicate touches to make each song sparkle in its own unique way. The soft songs (“How?”, “Oh My Love”, and the title track) are lush and intimate, while the rock tunes (“It’s So Hard”, “How Do You Sleep?”) hit hard with the help of brass and strings. Every song on this album is charming and unique. “Oh Yoko!” is a bouncy pop tune that feels almost pastoral with its quaint acoustic guitars and piano. “Gimme Some Truth”, an off-kilter political rant, explodes with classic satirical Lennon fury. Some killer guitar work here, and the best vocal performance on the album. And then there’s my two favourite tracks on the album: “I Don’t Wanna Be A Soldier” and “Jealous Guy”. “I Don’t Wanna...” absolutely drips with reverb, with piano and drums bouncing around what sounds like a cathedral. The unpredictable syncopation of Lennon’s voice adds a lot to this ferocious groove. To me this track sounds like Spiritualized or even Primal Scream, predicting a 90s alternative sound by a few decades. “Jealous Guy” is one of my favourite Lennon songs of all time, and from the opening notes, the airy piano and strings take me to another place.

The lyrics are confessional without getting too preachy, and are just as universally resonant as the title track. If you want to hear Lennon exercise his songwriting abilities in a variety of styles, check this album out.

If you like this, try: Nilsson Schmilsson

by Harry Nilsson, 1971; Goon by Tobias Jesso Jr., 2015.

4. Ram by Paul and Linda McCartney, 1971 Paul took the Beatles’ breakup very hard, but he had the excitement of a new wife

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and family to fall back on. His debut album McCartney was more of a sequence of loose ideas, probably recorded just to prove to himself that he could defy his own perfectionism. With Ram, the feel is still very loose and domestic, but Abbey Road-esque ambitions start to sneak into play, particularly on the closing track “The Back Seat of My Car” and the mini-opus hit “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey”. Similar to Imagine, this album boasts excellence in multiple styles.

Mischievously silly rock tunes with nonsensical lyrics (“3 Legs”, “Monkberry Moon Delight”, “Smile Away”, “Eat at Home”) capture McCartney’s musicianship at its most relaxed and intuitive.

Then there are more carefully constructed tracks which propel you through musical worlds and atmospheres (all of them whimsical of course). “Heart of the Country” and “Too Many People” are pop standouts, as well as the lush “Dear Boy” and haunting “Ram On”, which bookends the album as a cohesive whole. This album faced harsh criticism in its day for its domestic whimsy (primarily Beatles fans being intolerant of Linda’s presence), but Ram has been thankfully reconsidered in the last decade. Many modern critics hail it as a forerunner of indie rock, and I couldn’t agree more. While many Beatles records take the listener away on a fantasy voyage, Ram celebrates the beauty of staying at home with your loved ones and not giving a damn.

If you like this, try: Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

by Wilco, 2002; The Soft Bulletin by The Flaming Lips, 1999.

3. All Things Must Pass by George Harrison, 1970 George Harrison was a late bloomer as a singer-songwriter. Also there’s the fact that he was still very young when the Beatles took off and he had LennonMcCartney to contend with. By the time of Abbey Road’s release in 1969, he was fully emerging as his own artist, and had outgrown the Beatles’ dynamic. All Things Must Pass is the culmination of years of Harrison material spilling out in one go – and it’s all good. This album dives into genres such as country and gospel, and has a lot of highly religious lyrics – all characteristics that I don’t usually go for, but in this context they work perfectly. This album is well known for producer Phil Spector’s ‘wallof-sound’, but the tracks on here are actually very diverse. Firstly we have the radio hits, “My Sweet Lord” and “What is Life”. “My Sweet Lord” is such a simple idea, but its careful pacing and colourful production make it uplifting and exciting. Then we have what I like to call the “big church songs”: “Isn’t It a Pity”, “Beware of Darkness”, “Hear Me Lord”, and the title track. These tunes are all incredibly dense with instruments, laid-

back, and anthemic – traits that could easily render a song too bombastic or pretentious. Yet in this case they all sounds beautiful and sincere – these are excellent songs at their core. My personal favourites on All Things Must Pass are actually the smaller, quirkier tunes that I find really fun and hooky. The album opener “I’d Have You Anytime” is so cool and mysterious with changing time signatures and unusual chords, but manages to sound very accessible, thanks to that trademark slide guitar. “Run of the Mill” and “Apple Scruffs” are little chugging acoustic tunes that totally steal my heart away. “Wah-Wah” is an absolute monster of a song (and quite a feat of engineering) that you have to hear to believe. This album is long and heavy, but is paced beautifully that it’s impossible to get tired listening. All Things Must Pass stands huge and mysterious like an ancient temple, holding sounds and feelings that many artists are still chasing.

If you like this, try: Fleet Foxes by Fleet Foxes, 2008; Music from Big Pink by The Band, 1968; Blood on the Tracks by Bob Dylan, 1975.

2. Band on the Run by Paul McCartney and Wings, 1973 Band on the Run is Paul McCartney’s attempt at creating a Beatles album all by himself. And does he ever come close.

This album has everything you can find on Sgt. Pepper or Abbey Road – adventure, humour, edginess, accessibility, unpredictability, high concepts, and an epic climax. Personally I like to think of this as Abbey Road part 2, except without the other Beatles of course. I feel like McCartney uses so much of that album’s formula to create what he sees as the ‘perfect album’. And by his standards, it is perfect. If you like any of his music, you’ll like all of this album.

The title track and “Jet” are twin pinnacles of 70s pop glory, simply put. The former is a mini-suite that becomes as natural of a singalong as anything McCartney wrote for the Beatles, while the latter is driving glam rocker with a hint of reggae. “Bluebird” and “Mamunia” are acoustic pieces with unbelievable McCartney melodies. “Let Me Roll It”, “Mrs. Vandebilt, “No Words” and “Helen Wheels” are a collection of rockers one step up from those on Ram, still a lot of fun but much more refined and fleshed out. My favourites on the album are the two last tracks, “Picasso’s Last Words” and “1985”. In “Picasso”, McCartney takes his time with an elegant song and then throws in little reprises of previous tunes – which would have sounded corny if they all weren’t such great songs. Finally with “1985” he delivers perhaps the most remarkable song, and vocal performance, of his career. The climax of this piece is genu-

inely terrifying, with a clarinet and synthesizer swooping around in front of a rock band and orchestra. Apart from his work with the Beatles, Band on the Run is McCartney’s defining statement as an artist.

Also – his vocal work on this album is mind-blowing. Check it out.

If you like this, try: What’s Going On

by Marvin Gaye, 1971; Sheet Music by 10CC, 1974.

1. John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band by John Lennon, 1970 Unlike McCartney’s attempts at recreating the Beatles’ sound on his own, Lennon’s first several solo records set out to defy his ex-band’s legacy. This album’s production is as stripped down as possible, with only a few close friends playing as his band: Klaus Voormann (who had designed the Revolver cover) and Ringo Starr. Lennon had been undergoing primal scream therapy at the time, and was on a quest of self-analysis and introspection. Because of this, all of the songs concern his life and the problems therein. The tracks on this album can be mostly put into one of two categories: soft-edged and thoughtful (“Hold On”, “Working Class Hero”, “Love”, “Look At Me”, “God”, “My Mummy’s Dead”) or hard-edged and aggressive (“Mother”, “I Found Out”, “Remember”, “Well Well Well”). Only the track “Isolation” bridges these two sides in one track. My interpretation of these two categories is that they represent the dual nature of Lennon’s personality as he explores the full range of his emotions. As you’d expect, all of this makes for a very intense and jarring listening experience – but also captivating and incredibly human.

The album’s pacing works as a chronological tale of Lennon’s life as well, with him singing about his parents in the opening “Mother” and then culminating in his maturing and denouncing everything around him but himself in the epic “God”. The album then comes full circle with the brief closer “My Mummy’s Dead”, reinforcing just who is the most important figure in Lennon’s life and art. Few pop/rock albums have provided this dramatic of a personal study as John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band. On a lighter note, the music is great. My favourites are two of the smallest tunes, “Hold On” and “Look At Me”, both of which feel as though Lennon had just stepped into a room and casually started picking away at a guitar. For anyone who is interested in his music, this album is essential listening.

If you like this, try: After the Gold Rush

by Neil Young, 1970; Nevermind by Nirvana, 1991; In the Aeroplane over the Sea by Neutral Milk Hotel, 1998.

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BDSM: Part II Keeping it Kinky Anya K’nees Sex Columnist So you think that kink is for you. In this follow up article to last submission’s “BDSM Basics” we will discuss how to add a little kink to your bedroom. Although the kink scene may appeal to you, it may not seem as erotic to your partner. Discuss their comfort zones and limits with them prior to engaging in any new activity. Always remember to keep all activities safe, sane, and consensual, and engage in appropriate aftercare for all parties.

One of the most common BDSM activities is bondage. Bondage can be as simple or complex as you want it to be.

Scarves, stockings, ties, and belts can be used as effective and inexpensive restraints. Prior to tying up you sub, slide the binding across the body to create a range of sensations. This will heighten expectations for what is to come. For bondage beginners, assume a simple position lying down with your arms tied above your head. As your comfort level increases, you can experiment with more involved positions. No matter your experience, always tie restraints so you can fit two fingers between the bondage and skin. If the sub ever expresses discomfort at the fit of their bindings,

make sure to loosen and fix them accordingly. Overly tight restraints can cut off blood flow, leading to numbness and nerve damage. Bondage positions that place strain on joints create risks for muscle or ligament damage. Tight bindings can also lead to blood clots, and once restraints are removed clots can travel throughout the vascular system, sometimes ending up in the lungs, brain, or heart. If you are participating in extended bondage sessions, are prone to clots, or are using hormonal birth control, make sure you move around from time to time to prevent clot formation. Always keep in mind that any form of bondage, no matter how simple, puts the sub at risk of physical harm. Always keep scissors handy, and if using handcuffs keep the keys within easy reach.

Never tie your sub and leave the room.

If sensation play intrigues you, try running feathers, ice cubes, and other objects across your partner’s body. For added fun, blindfold them so they can’t identify the object. Try using cold or warm items to heighten sensations. Wax play is one method of increasing warmth; however, buy appropriate waxes as average candle wax can cause burns. Make sure to burn candles safely and be aware of the flammability of clothes used in any scene involving flames. Always test

the wax prior to administering larger doses, and consider that the higher wax is held from the body, the cooler it will be when it lands. On the alternate side of the spectrum there is ice. Ice-trays shaped like a variety of toys can be purchased, and for the DIYer ice dildos are easy and cheap to make (fill a condom with water and freeze it).

BDSM can be physically and emotionally freeing, but like all actions it can have great consequences. Always be open to discussion around a scene, and if you are uncomfortable with an action don’t perform it. Kink is first and foremost about communication. Actively maintaining a dialog ensures continued mental and physical health for all participants. Kinky relationships, like any relationship, are built on mutual trust and respect. Although you may think BDSM is a veritable minefield of catastrophes waiting to happen, many of the risks and hazards are the same sorts of things you have to learn when getting involved in any physical sport. The mental risks are the same things you learn about when getting involved with another person.

If the idea of incorporating BDSM into your bedroom excites you, you are not alone. The Kinsey Institute estimates

that approximately 30% of the population derives “pleasant thrills” from engaging in BDSM related activities.

Although it can be scary admitting to a partner that your tastes are not vanilla, you don’t need to jump into whips and chains right away. If you and your partner decide to incorporate kink into your relationship, take it slow. Start with simple activities and as your comfort grows increase the intensity. Keep in mind that no one can read minds, top or bottom, and that it doesn’t kill the mood to check in with your partner. It is also not solely the Top’s responsibility to spot problems, although they may have to be extra vigilant. Every participant in a scene shares responsibility for one another’s safety. Although popular culture often depicts BDSM relationships with an all-controlling Top, the truth is that being submissive is about asserting control. The sub knows and communicates their limits, and the dom listens to their sub. Doms may orchestrate a scene, but only within parameters set by their sub.

Sex is ultimately about satisfaction and fun. However, always remember that consent and communication are a must, and that each individual is unique. Experiment with your kinky side, have fun, and whatever your preferences, keep it safe, sane, and consensual.

WRITE FOR US.

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