The Athenaeum, issue 79.1

Acadia’s Student Newspaper, since 1874 September 20th, 2016 Issue 79.1

EDITORIAL believe in us page 2

NEWS italian babes page 4

ARTS major key page 9

OPINIONS fuck o� brock page 10

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The Athenaeum Acadia University’s Student Newspaper Issue 79.1

ASU Box 6002, Acadia University Wolfville, NS, Canada B4P 2R5 Editor-In-Chief: Andrew Haskett Email: eic@acadiau.ca O�ce Hours: Tue & Thu 1:30-4:30 Advertising/Business Inquiries: tompkins.biz@acadiau.ca wile.biz@acadiau.ca Section Editors

Management

Arts & Culture: Sidharth Kondapuram Creative: Kelsey Crosby Distractions: Thane Mullen Features: Zoë Strutt News: Allison Smith Opinions: Emma Hughes Sports: Zachery Craig Science: Hope Latta

Production: Adam Langille Photography: Anjuli Ripley Business / Ads: Noah Tompkins Business / Ads: Colleen Wile Managing: Hannah Hutchinson Copy Editor Kody Crowell 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 If there is content that we feel will not add to the philosophy, dialogue, or tone of our newspaper, it will not be published.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 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 5pm 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.

On the Cover: This weeks cover was taken by Mahmoud Istanbouli

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A WARM WELCOME: Andrew Haskett Editor-in-Chief

The Athenaeum, as we know it, has spent the last 142 years as Acadia University’s primary outlet for constructive, creative, and informative student expression.

In that long, gasping expanse we, as a community, have experienced both heartbreak and profound joy alongside love, loss,

and incommunicable intellectual stimulation. We’ve conquered the stresses of the unknown and also the stresses of nail-biting seven to ten exam times, often times looking into the abyss of our mirrors with only tired eyes staring back at us.

But we do it with glee. We at Acadia University strive to be our best selves daily, because without that forward motion we would go against not only our-

selves but the wishes and desires of all of those who look to us for inspiration. And that is what the Athenaeum, as a whole, is composed of. It’s a composite of hard-working, fiercely intelligent people working towards a greater good, that good being the promotion of free speech, challenging ideas, and truly liberated expression.

With that, we’d love to have you.

Whether you’ve got a chip on your shoulder or your head in the clouds, we’d like to hear from you and your ideals. Whether it’s scathing political commentary,

I BELIEVE IN NOVA SCOTIA. YOU SHOULD TOO. Colin Mitchell Humans of Acadia

Several months ago, I met a guy. Initially, I didn’t think it was worth my time to talk to him, but at the insistence of a good friend I sat down and chatted with this guy about his work. For the past year he had dedicated much of his life to We are NS, a Facebook and Instagram page he had started to showcase what Nova Scotia was really about. When we talked he spoke with such passion and ferocity that he could have been there for hours. But it was one sentence that truly grabbed me.

He told me how “the landscape of Nova Scotia inspired creativity”.

That got me thinking.

As one of the founding provinces of Confederation, Nova Scotia has always played a smaller but important role in Canada. From a mighty shipbuilding and fishing economy to booming natural resources, Nova Scotia has had a front row seat to the changing demands of the global market.

The ups and downs of the global economy are as unpredictable as the weather, but their e�ects can be equally destructive. Atlantic Canada has been hit particularly hard by the latest series of slumps and outmigration is at an all-time high, depriving the province of $1.2 billion annually, but this is not a cause for despair.

This is a wakeup call.

Like Madonna or David Bowie, this province has the opportunity to reinvent itself in a big way.

Let me first profess that I am by no means an economics expert nor a native Nova Scotian.

The latter aside, I have fallen in love with this province. It’s impossible for me not to smile when I walk through Wolfville in the fall and see the beautiful colours, or hike Cape Split and feel the cool wind, or sip on a glass of Luckett wine as the sun sets in front of me.

I can’t get enough of this province because it exudes beauty.

Currently the province is between a rock and a hard place. Outmigration deprives the province of nearly 1300 people between the age of 20-29 every

year. Why? Most of you know the answer. They don’t see a reason to stay. According to an article in the Chronicle Herald “eliminating net migration over the past 10 years could have generated over half a billion dollars in additional provincial revenue”. Even recent university graduates could have contributed over a billion dollars to the provincial economy, had they chosen to stay.

The opportunities are here. There is more than ample room to expand our horizons and bring Nova Scotia to North American and global prominence. In today’s world we cannot content ourselves with being a small hideaway on the Atlantic. We have to assert ourselves and push to new heights with new ways of thinking.

I turn now to California.

The Golden State is considered the gem of the American economy, with a GDP the size of Spain.

Needless to say it’s a big state. The higher education institutions of the region, specifically Stanford University, pushed the state to the cusp of an economic boom in the mid 1970s. Frederick Terman, son of distinguished psychologist Lewis Terman, saw how at MIT the faculty actively researched and maintained contact with industry through constant interaction and putting students in corporations

through co-ops or internships.

He brought these ideas to Stanford while serving as Dean of the university from 1955-1965 and helped sow the seeds for the birth of Silicon Valley.

It was this contact between universities, corporations, and government that allowed for the prospering of Silicon Valley.

Each recognized the importance of one another in achieving its ultimate ends. Universities wanted more money to do things with, so they invested by putting students in corporations through co-ops and internships. Corporations wanted more workers and to churn more profits, so they brought in more and more students to solidify their workforce.

The government wanted to grow its economy and achieve a higher standard of living, so it invested more into universities to enroll students. The cycle comes full circle.

Nova Scotia is the province best suited for this to happen.

The release of the Ivany Report in 2014 provided the impetus for change. The province has 10 universities and NSCC, which has 13 campuses, all for a population of less than a million people.

That only reinforces how ripe for growth our province is.

We’re already going in the right

hopelessly romantic professions of love (requited or not), or just a good ol’ goddamn rant, we welcome you with open arms, ears, and minds.

We hope you enjoy this year’s first edition of the Athenaeum.

It has quickly become a labour of both our love and yours. And with that, I bid you adieu.

See ya around.

Sincerely, Andrew Donald Haskett Editor-in-Chief, the Athenaeum (and the rest of us too!) direction. Universities across the province are building o� their strengths. Acadia has the Centre for Rural Innovation, the Atlantic Wine Institute, the Tidal Energy Institute, and the Institute for Data Analytics, in addition to Launchbox, providing funds for student-entrepreneurs. Dalhousie is responsible for 98% of all industry sponsored research in the province, working with companies like BlueLight Analytics and Atlantic Motor Labs to strengthen its ties to marine biology and ocean science sectors. Cape Breton University has the Uhma Institute of Technology (UIT) Startup Immersion Program, which teaches students for six months regarding successful entrepreneurship in order to bolster the business climate of the island.

It’s clear that the time for change is upon us. Change isn’t always popular, nor fun or easy. But it is necessary. This province will continue to be a crucial part of Canada and an even more important player in an increasingly globalized world. We’re currently taking steps in the right direction, with grassroot startups making their debut across the province. East Coast Lifestyle serves as the paradigm in the quest for Nova Scotian entrepreneurs. We’ve proven that we can do it. All of the necessary tools for growth and expansion are in front of us and the roadmap is there.

I believe in Nova Scotia.

You should too.

Photo by: Colin Mitchell

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ACADIA SUMMER RECAP What You Missed While You Were Missing Acadia This Summer Allison Smith News Editor Though campus turns into a ghost town all summer, haunted by the few students with the tenacity to stick out another couple classes, Acadia still remains. Indeed, all sorts of exciting things have gone on over the last four months.

In case you haven’t been keeping up here is a quick recap of Acadia’s summer news:

earned this title.

• Environment and Climate Change Minister Catherine Mckenna praised Acadia’s environmental research. She visited the KCIC and the Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens in early August with Treasury Board President Scott Brison and Acadia President Ray Ivany. She praised the important research that undergrad

immigrants to the Valley this past year from countries such as Syria and Somalia, summer schools started instructing English in order to help our new neighbors get their bearings in their new home. There were thirty volunteers working with forty students, varying from children to adults. In • Acadia o�ered English addition to o�ering linguistic classes for new immigrants support, the classes prepared this summer. With an influx of children for the Canadian and masters students are undertaking at the school and highlighted the impact it will have on climate change and the changing biodiversity we are experiencing all over the world including in the Bay of Fundy and the Minas Basin.

Way to go Acadia researchers!

classroom environment they would be experiencing in September and o�ered a sense of community to newcomers in this tumultuous time.

This is just a highlight of some of the exciting things that happened in the hallowed halls of Acadia this summer. If you know of any exciting Acadia news, contact the Athenaeum to share the excitement!

• Seminary House was named one of Canada’s most beautiful residences by Hu�ington Post. Sixteen residences across Canada were featured in this ranking including our historic Seminary House.

As the oldest residence building in Canada it is hard to ignore its undeniable charm!

• The Rotary Club of Wolfville named Ray Ivany, our beloved president, a Paul Harris Fellow. This award is given to a person who embodies the principles of The Rotary Club. Paul Harris founded this club in 1905 as an organization of leaders around the world to promote humanitarian service, peace and good will and the recipients of this award embody these characteristics. As a tireless leader not only at Acadia but also across Nova Scotia (as seen in positions such as former president of NSCC, chairman of Nova Scotia Research and Innovation Trust, and much more), Ray Ivany certainly

VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! Come On

Allison Smith News Editor Get off your arse and vote.

Yes you. Wolfville is having a municipal election on October 15, 2016 and you should vote. You may be under the false pretense that this election does not pertain to you but I am here to assure you that as a resident of Wolfville and a student, this election has everything to do with you.

Once you have read this list of compelling evidence, you are welcome to continue to be an apathetic citizen if I fail to persuade you of the utmost importance of your vote.

Maybe you do not fall under the category of “people who refuse to vote.” Maybe you vote in your hometown. You are a step ahead of many of your classmates, but still you must vote here in Wolfville. You may love your hometown dearly but the fact remains that you live in Wolfville 8 out of the 12 months of the year. That, my friends, is a majority so mathematical logic suggests you are more affected by the municipal government here in the Valley than anywhere else.

no election, no democracy, and we would all live in a form of authoritarian regime that would make you wish you had voted.

It may be the case that you simply have no idea what the municipal government does. Fair enough, Grade 8 was a long time ago. Municipal government is charged with the responsibility of maintenance of all the services here in Wolfville. For example, the construction on Highland Street that is ongoing is the responsibility of the municipal government. That alone should be Perhaps you believe your enough incentive for you to vote won’t make a differ- cast your vote. ence. Well, if everyone was as cynical as you, no one Maybe you are a uniwould vote, there would be corn, and the inefficiency

Photo by: Kamryn Minors of Wolfville construction does not bother you. Well the election still pertains to you because you are a student living in a student town. This town cares about its students but it’s hard for this town to represent you if you don’t tell them what you want through your vote.

There is a whole committee in this town dedicated to enhancing the relationship between the town and Acadia. The Acadia Town and Gown committee is made up of Council members, Acadia student representatives, and the mayor itself in order to address issues of common concern between these two bodies. There are also by laws that directly affect you as student residents of Wolfville, for example, The Prevention of Excessive Noise Bylaw is a common one that you may

or may not encounter on a weekly basis.

What goes on in the municipal government affects you as a citizen of democracy, a resident of Wolfville, and a student of Acadia. So now that I have convinced you to vote you need to ensure that you are 18 years old, a citizen of Canada (sorry International Students) and you’ve been a resident of Nova Scotia for 6 months (sorry out of province first years)! The Town of Wolfville is making it so easy for you to vote by offering an advanced polling location at the Acadia Student Union Building on October 6 from 8 am until 12 pm. Who do I vote for, you ask? Stay tuned for the next article of the Athenaeum for a list of candidates for Councillor.

September 20th, 2016

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MISOGYNIST JUDGE TO BE A JUDGE NO MORE? Better Late Than Never Biranna O’Malley Contributor Hot topics in today’s society, perhaps the hottest topics, are feminism and rape culture.

Traces of these subjects can be found almost anywhere we look.

From controversy over frosh week chants, to alleged double standards in the Trump vs. Clinton election, to potentially overly-lenient sentencing in sexual assault cases. It can be stated with certainty that debates revolving around the above subjects seem to be taking over our population.

Evidently, each debate or discussion must be viewed on a case-by-case basis. Whether you believe rape culture is a prevalent problem, you don’t believe it exists, or you lie somewhere in between, there are always two sides to an argument. For this reason, I will refrain from classifying this current event as a “victory” for feminism, although that’s how it is being viewed by many.

Controversial Judge Robin Camp of the Federal Court may be removed from the bench after his mistreatment of a sexual assault case in 2014. For those unfamiliar with the story, Camp made headlines when he asked the 19-year-old alleged rape victim why she “couldn’t just keep [her] knees together” during the sexual assault trial. He went even further to ask “Why didn’t you just sink your bottom down into the basin so he couldn’t penetrate you?” (as the alleged rape occurred over a bathroom sink).

Camp was a provincial court judge at the time, but was promoted to the Federal Court in June of 2015.

He also referred to the complainant as “the accused” several times during the 2014 trial, a mistake he made again during the 2016 Canadian Judicial Council inquiry. The inquiry ran from Sept. 6 to 14, and we are now awaiting a recommendation from the Council’s three Superior Court judges and two

senior lawyers.

The complainant testified during the inquiry that Justice Camp “made me hate myself,” also adding that “he made me feel like I should have done something… That I was some kind of slut.” A new trial as been ordered for the sexual assault case in light of Camp’s apparent bias in acquitting the accused, Alexander Wagar.

According to Karen Busby, a law professor at the University of Manitoba, inquiries like this one are “fairly rare.”

The Canadian Judicial Council was founded in 1971, with the mandate to “promote e�ciency, uniformity, and accountability, and to improve the quality of judicial service in the superior courts of Canada.” This includes reviewing all complaints and allegations against federal court judges.

Busby said that although upwards of 200 complaints are made to the Council each year, only 11 public inquiries have been held since it’s formation, and only two of those inquiries have resulted in judges being

recommended for removal. In both cases, the judges resigned from the bench before Parliament was asked to decide their fates.

Camp has not heard a case since November of 2015, and since that time has undergone gender-sensitivity training, which he arranged and paid for himself. This training involved working with a Superior Court judge, an expert in the law of sexual assault, and a psychologist. He feels that as a result of his training, he is now “better equipped to judge cases with the empathy, wisdom, and sensitivity to social context to which all judges aspire.”

Having been educated in South Africa and focusing his experience as a lawyer in Canada on bankruptcy and trust law as well as oil and gas litigation, Camp’s knowledge of Canadian criminal law was minimal prior to becoming a provincial judge in 2012. One of his mentors, Justice Deborah McCawley, feels that Camp is not a misogynist. Testifying at the inquiry, she stated that he was unfamiliar with the history of Canadian sex assault

laws and did not understand how rape myths are detrimental to complainants.

Camp’s lawyer, Frank Addario, told the inquiry in his closing submission that Camp should be allowed to remain on the bench because his misconduct was limited to one case, and that it was “the result of a knowledge deficit and a failure of education, not animus or bad character.”

Addario further stated that “[Camp’s] counselling has given him insight into the impropriety of these statements and the connotation they carry in the light of the discriminatory history of sexual assault law.” Will this judge be a judge no more?

Evidently, each debate or discussion must be viewed on a case-by-case basis. Whether you believe rape culture is a prevalent problem, you don’t believe it exists, or you lie somewhere in between there are always two sides to an argument. For this reason, I will refrain from classifying this current event as a “victory” for feminism, although that’s how it is being viewed by many.

ITALY CRACKS DOWN ON VEGAN PARENTS Sarah Bachar Contributor

An undeniable food trend that has had a massive global impact in the last decade is veganism: the e�orts by individuals to avoid the consumption of any meat, dairy, or egg products. Changing the face of food as we have come to know it in our standard North American diet, veganism is also on the rise in many other areas of the world. Italy is no exception. With an estimated 2.9% of the Italian population now identifying as either vegan (diet consisting of no meat, egg, or dairy products) or vegetarian (a diet consisting of no meat), this latest food trend has gotten the Italian government concerned for the health of future generations.

In response to a string of hospitalizations involving vegan children in Italy, the centre-right political party, Forza Italia, is proposing a legislation making raising children on a vegan diet a crime. What has been coined as the Savino Law, after Forza Italia MP Elvira Savino, would give a one-year prison sentence to all parents raising their children as vegans, with more severe sentences to those with children under the age of 3. Savino claims not to have anything against vegans

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or veganism, “as long as it is a free choice by adults,” and she therefore seeks to “stigmatize the reckless and dangerous eating behavior imposed by parents” on their children through this new legislation.

The growing controversy over the vegan diet in Italy follows the numerous highpublicity cases in Italy of vegan malnutrition and nutrient deficiency in young children, including an 11 year old who was recently hospitalized— this being the fourth reported incident of this nature in the past 18 months.

While a vegan diet may be suitable for adults, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition argues that there is a high risk of nutrient deficiency in veganism for children, with micronutrients such as vitamins B-12, D, calcium, omega-3, and fatty acids especially crucial to early development and growth. However, according to Claire Williamson, member of the British Nutrition Foundation, “the risks of inadvertently malnourishing a child aren’t restricted to veganism.” She argues that a common mistake made by parents lies in the assumption that what is healthy for an adult is also healthy for children, who have unique nutritional needs for their growth and health.

The Academy of Nu-

trition and Dietetics advocates As of August, 2016, this parliamentary committees befor vegan diets for infants and bill has been presented in the fore it is able to be put forward toddlers, though strongly urges lower house Chamber of Depu- for further debate in chamber. special attention to be paid by ties, and awaits discussion by parents to vitamins present in a standard diet that are more difficult to obtain in a vegan diet.

A major concern of the vegan diet, according to the Academy is getting too little protein and too few calories— both of which are fundamental to support growth in early childhood.

If the nutrients needed to support growth are not replaced, veganism can be harmful, if not fatal to children— as seen in the cases highlighted by Forza Italia.

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, however, cites many health benefits associated with living a meatand animal product-free lifestyle — including lower levels of saturated fat and cholesterol, and more dietary fiber. Veganism is attributed to thinner individuals who have lower serum cholesterol, and lower blood pressure— factors such as these reducing greatly the risk of heart disease. Whether or not veganism is suitable for children, though, is a concern that rests entirely in the hands of the parents, who are urged to consult paediatricians and early-childhood development experts if choosing to pursue a vegan lifestyle for their chilPhoto by: Emily Day dren.

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10 Back to School Tips That Every University Student Should Live By Rachel Watts Contributor Whether you are a first year student or returnee, it is always nice to have a few pieces of advice to help you settle back into school. This fall you will find yourself in new class routines, maybe a new living space or an entirely new friendship circle.

Each and one of these are exciting stages of life, so take advantage! Keep in mind that it is also important to create and maintain a balance of social life, school work, and mental rest. I have taken the liberty of compiling 10 of my best suggestions for University students in order to guide you through this semester.

1. Make connections from day one The moment you step on campus your university experience begins. It is important to make connections with not only students and faculty members, but also members of the community. Having a circle of friends and professional individuals is critical to your success as a university student. It is time to get out there, meet one on one with your professors and let your inner social butterfly shine through!

2. Establish healthy habits what you eat is just as important as when you eat it!

We all know that the most important meal of the day is breakfast, right? However, lunch and dinner are also crucial in order to maintain energy

levels and keep focus during long classes and study sessions at the library. It is recommended that you eat three substantial meals a day (or six small ones) in order to keep your metabolism moving. Having snacks in between these meals also gives you a boost of energy throughout your day. I’d also recommend the breakfast wraps at The Rolled Oat or the Salmon Crepe at The Naked Crepe.

3. Establish a sleeping routine A good night’s sleep not only helps you feel better psychologically, it a�ects your quality of life! Studies suggest that those who get less than five hours of sleep per night have shorter life expectancies, so being a night owl may get you an A on that test, but may not pay o� in the long run. Having a good night’s sleep may help to curb inflammation (which is linked to heart disease, stroke, diabetes and arthritis), heighten creativity, improve your grades, and a whole other plethora of benefits. Sleep lovers rejoice as getting yourself into a consistent sleeping pattern early in the semester WILL benefit you in December!

4. Avoid procrastination Netflix. Is. Evil….delete that account right now until Christmas break! Coming from an avid procrastinator, I highly encourage you break the habit sooner rather than later.

I recommend making lists and keeping a calendar of all assignments, papers, meetings,

and tests within a month’s time frame in order to keep yourself on top of everything. Furthermore, every morning I think of three small goals I would like to accomplish that day, and by the end of the night I feel super successful!

5. Make academic goals and know what type of learner you are The four types of learners include visual, auditory, reading/writing, and kinaesthetic. Each learning type responds di�erently to teaching styles. Whatever type of learner you are, try to incorporate little ways that will make your studying easier, such as high lighting definitions and concepts di�erent colours, drawing pictures, recording yourself on your phone, or even writing a song! It is better to determine what type of learner you are early in the semester in order to determine the most e�ective type of studying to maximize the retention of information.

6. Exercise frequently Wolfville is a beautiful place, and the University offers so many di�erent exercise classes, from Zumba to yoga to TRX strength building. If you’re into biking, walking, or running, then the dykes are a great place to get out and enjoy a sunset workout. There are intramural programs for many sports such as volley ball and soccer. Walking to and from classes is beneficial because it allows you time to reflect and plan your day ahead. The

University hill may seem hard Taking part in a volnow, but believe: in two years unteer organization is a huge time you won’t even realize it is part of the university experithere (it gets easier)! ence. There are tons of clubs and events all over campus that 7. Watch alcohol intake would love your help! OrganiGetting back to school zations such as Girls Night Out, is unquestionably one of the Big Brothers Big Sisters, and best times of the year. You get S.M.I.L.E are all geared towards to see old friends and catch up getting youth involved in social and also make new ones. Ev- interaction and physical activeryone is so happy and excited ity. Taking part in volunteer to see one another, just keep in opportunities will benefit you mind that you have an entire intrinsically, benefit your budyear to see all of these lovely dy through friendship, and look individuals. It is important to great on a resume! watch your alcohol intake as too much can negatively af- 10. Schedule in “me time” fect your body, subsequently Taking breaks for a�ecting your energy levels, yourself is just as important grades, etc. as your school work, volunteer commitments, and socializa8. Ask for help tion. It is worth it to schedule in Asking for help is not ‘me time’ during your week to only important for your growth help yourself relax and reflect as an individual, but also for on all of your work so far and to your success as a student. It plan for the future ahead. Yoga takes a very strong person to and meditation help your body admit they need help, and for relax and your mind to settle. some strange reason our so- Acadia Community Yoga ofciety labels those who seek fers classes to students; their help as ‘weak.’ You are not a schedule is on the Facebook weak person when you ask for page! help, you just need assistance in completing a task, which in As students, we know part strengthens your relation- how hectic life can get when ships with your peers and pro- school work, social life, and fessors. Your friends see that volunteer commitments are you are an approachable indi- pieced together. Above all, pervidual that they can confide in sonal health is crucial to gainwhen they need help, and your ing success at university. It is professors take it as you being a important to take care of yourhard working individual that is self first, and then worry about dedicated to their class. A dou- the rest. With these tips, a little ble bonus! bit of elbow grease, and time management skills, you should 9. Take part in a volunteer or- have a great year filled with ganization tons of fun and great grades!

Photo by: Colin Mitchell

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WARS OF OUR PAST:

Walt Whitman, Carthage, and Troubling Cartography Jenna Colclough Contributor

This past summer has been particularly exciting for me, as on May 21st I travelled to London with my boss, Wendy Robicheau, to continue researching the staff and students at Acadia who had participated in the First World War. After a year of researching, consulting Library and Archives Canada, and creating charts and files to visualize where our students ended up, we set out to Europe to find them.

The journey lasted just over three weeks and took us through England, France and Belgium. In total, we visited the graves of 43 men and 1 woman who had all been buried an ocean away from home in a war that would be succeeded by grief, memorials, and remembrance, all to repeat the process in 1939. We visited as many sites as we could, leaving red and blue rib-bons at their graves on behalf of Acadia.

As a Classics student, I have always viewed the past from a comfortable distance, with a breathing space between fascinating lives and deeds, and the people who performed them.

This sense of distance has not yet touched those victims of the First World War. Memorials and refer-ences are abundant, calling attention to past hostilities now erased from the landscape by time. Our hotel in Belgium even included a museum of allied uniforms, and a propaganda poster en-couraging British men to enlist. (Nothing says ‘vacation’ like English propaganda!)

In my attempt to process the devastation a century later, one particular poem came to mind: O me! O life! By Walt Whitman O me! O life! of the questions of these recurring, // Of the endless trains of the faithless, of cities fill’d with the foolish, // Of myself forever reproaching myself, (for who more foolish than I, and who more faithless?) // Of eyes that vainly crave the light, of the objects mean, of the struggle ever renew’d, // Of the poor results of all, of the plodding and sordid crowds I see around me, // Of the empty and useless years of the rest, with the rest me intertwined, // The question, O me! so sad, recurring—What good amid these, O me, O life? //

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Answer: That you are here—that life exists and identity, That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.

‘What good amid these’ seems a fitting place to begin to understand the Western Front.

On our tour days, we encountered many fascinating and unexpected remains of the war. At Vimy, where the majority of the land is still cordoned off due to remaining explosives, the land undulates in a most unnatural way, demonstrating the unnatural effect mankind once had on the landscape. At Mount Sorrel, the land is covered with thick grass and bush, much like the land surrounding Vimy. This return to life seems almost unfair, as given the amount of stones and memorials dispersed throughout the Western Front, one might expect the land to be salted and dying like Carthage.

Surprisingly, the scene is almost peaceful, as if it is betraying the past somehow with a return to green.

It is the abundance of nearby tombstones that further draws out Whitman’s question, ‘what good amid these?’ The stones themselves cover an immense amount of ground in a single plot, yet they appear so frequently on maps that they seem inescapable.

This sense of being sur-rounded by the past was, for us, most felt in Belgium. The city of Ypres was reduced to ruin in the First World War, and yet their current structures and massive bell tower appear ancient due to an extensive rebuilding project taken up after the war. The result is an old and brilliant city, which is not so old as it seems, surrounded by war graves and the Menin Gate. So in a sense, it is impossible to wake up in Ypres and complete the day without being somehow reminded of the toll the past has taken.

While we here in Canada set aside Remembrance Day to annually commemorate those victim to war, the Menin Gate has held a ceremony every night to honour those who died in the Ypres Salient before 16th August 1917 and who have no known grave. Every night traffic is stopped, a crowd gathers, and wreaths are lain. The simple act of locals knowing to avoid the Gate from 7:30pm every night demonstrates a sense of consciousness.

There is a designated space and event to commemorate great loss, while the city of Ypres continues to operate around it.

We decided to lay a wreath at the Menin Gate, to acknowledge the Acadia students pre-sent on the

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wall who had fought with the 85th Battalion. We lined up in preparation for the cer-emony with business associates, singers, and families all carrying wreaths for their own unique purpose, including one woman whose grandmother had served as an ambulance driver.

While the ceremony itself was beautiful, the meaning behind it was not. There were still millions dead and scars on every corner. There is a sense of loss to be found in this atmosphere of remembrance— the mass tragedy incurred by the war raises more questions than it answers, and there is a prevailing sense that the cleanly carved walls of the Menin Gate should not have become such a grim catalogue. That the impossible numbers represented in graves and memorials to the war are a testament to society’s failure rather than the bravery of ‘great individuals.’ The prevailing question seems to remain: What was it all for? In this atmosphere of despair, the answer to Whitman’s question steps forward.

That you are here—that life exists and identity, That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.

So what verse do these memorials contribute? More importantly, what verse did these individuals contribute 100 years ago?

The terms ‘heroic’ or ‘great’ do little to individualize or demonstrate their humanity. The pedestal on which we place these people and these deaths fails to communicate the innocence, the optimism, the life which was lost. As a whole, we tend to as-sign an optimistic verse to these deaths, labelling them all as ‘great’ or ‘brave’ individuals and then fail to look deeper.

History is too often the verse assigned to another party, and in this case, assigned by the living to the voiceless dead. 100 years ago many verses came together to give the world a new age, but more literally, to give their verses unto death.

So let us pursue variety in trying to understand the people behind the millions. In the pursuit of such a troubled past, to gen-eralize seems an insult.

On that note, I leave you with this thought, a quote from the gravestone of Nursing Sister M. E. Wilson of Australia, in Boulogne, France. The space she now occupies is dominated by a very simple quote; “Behold, I come quickly.” Her chosen verse appears a testament to her own strength.

Although we will never be able to hear everyone’s verse, including Ms. Wilson’s, we can still behold their force.

Below is the list of individuals, along with their rank and honours, whom we had the chance to visit overseas. Allow me to introduce you to a portion of Acadia’s force: Adruenna A. Tupper, Nursing Sister, R.R.C. Charles William Fitch, Spr. Phillip Sydney Beals, Pte. Eric Reginald Dennis, Capt.

John Hibbert Feindel, Lieut.

Rupert Melvin Kinnie, Bomb.

Vernon Copeland Elderkin, Pte. Frederick Laurier Emmerson, Pte. Henry Burton DeWolfe, Pte. Neil Archibald MacLean, L/Cpl. George Everette MacGregor, L/Cpl. Frederick Lewis Sleep, Pte. Austin Cyrus Webster, Pte. John Lyman Wood, Pte. Colin MacLeod Boyd Wright, M.C., Pte. Karl Douglas Woodman, Pte. Harold Gordon Cox, Pte. George William Lee Blackadar, Gnr. Vere Karsdale Mason, 2 Lieut.

Emmerson Waldo Gates, Pte. Norman Cahill Christie, Lieut.

Stanley Livingstone Jones, Mjr. Henry Hoyt Pineo, Capt.

William Henry Ellis, L/Cpl. Charles Preston Ilsley, Spr. William Arthur Murray Elderkin, Pte. Albert Laurie Harlow, Pte. Robert Clarence Borden, Cpl. Colin MacLeod, D.C.M., Pte. George Bishop Peck, M.C., Brit. War Medal, Vic. Medal, Pte. Leonard Carl Eaton, Capt.

Percy Erle Benjamin, Sgt. Harold Estey Benjamin, Pte. Leon Hall Curry, Capt.

Charles Edward Freeman, Pte. Louis Bernard Sha�ner, Pte. Guy Leslie McPhee, L/Cpl. Sydney Webster Richardson, Pte. Harold Cli�ord Harnish, Pte. Sidney Welton Thurber, M.C., Lieut.

Philip William Manning, L/Cpl. Sylvanus Morton Locke, Pte. Frank Earle Porter, L/Cpl. Frederick Charles Manning, Lieut.

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DEATH OF A SALESMAN and cast but the hard-hitting

matter and challenges Musical in Wolfville subject to cast, crew, and audience are

still present. The Collective Mike Butler Community Contributor was looking to present a piece

Attention Students!! You have the opportunity to take in one of the most incredible pieces of theatre ever created and I encourage you to take the time to read this article and mark your calendars!

The Wolfville Theatre Collective is at it again! After an outstanding, well-received and well-attended run of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? last April, the Collective has put their heads and talents together and chosen Arthur Miller’s Pulitzer-Prize winning drama, Death of a Salesman as their sophomore production.

The Annapolis Valley is overflowing with live theatre groups with many volunteer participants who love to perform plays and entertain audiences. In general, the productions selected lean more towards the comedic and farcical as opposed to the heavier dramatic works. It was this need for challenging theatre (both for the actors and the audience) that fuelled the creation of the Wolfville Theatre Collective.

Death of a Salesman, in comparison to Virginia Woolf, is much grander in both scale

of theatre that was compelling, character-driven, widely-known (but not seen), poignant and timeless and Death of a Salesman (even almost 70 years after it’s first production) holds all of these elements and more.

The cast of Death of Salesman is stacked with unbelievable talent including Acadia Professor Paul Abela as Willy Loman, one of the most recognized characters in theatre history. Rounding out the Loman family are Mike Butler as Bi�, Simon Pawlowski as Happy and Thea Burton as Linda.

Joining the “Lomans” are a batch of talented, local actors and actresses with years of experience and a thirst for performing in quality productions. Come see Jamie Loughead, Alan Slipp, Alan Tupper, Hillary Webb, Emily Lutz, Robert Seale, Leone Stanway, and Alex Trimper as they bring forth some of the richest stage characters you’ll ever see.

But a production like this needs a captain to run the crew and the Wolfville Theatre Collective is proud to have Acadia Professor Michael Dennis take hold of this brilliant material

and be the Director for this production. After an incredible acting stint in Virginia Woolf?, Mike chose to direct this production and incorporate his love of the work, the era and the characters into our souls.

Again, I encourage all of you to take the time to experience this play, a monumentally a�ecting portrait of an American dreamer that is also an epitaph for the American dream.

Death of a Salesman is being presented at the Al Whittle Theatre on Main Street, Wolfville October 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th. The doors open at

6:30pm and the show begins promptly at 7:00pm. Tickets are on sale at the door or in advance at The Box of Delights Bookshop on Main Street, $10.00 for students and $15.00

for Adults.

There is a special PAY WHAT YOU CAN PREVIEW SHOW on October 4th, first come-first seated!!! See you there!!

HUMANS OF ACADIA “He joined 4H one year and we were both in photography. I went up and talked to him, and somehow we got each other’s numbers. I think it was a year until I texted him.”

“I don’t remember any of this.”

Photo by: Colin Mitchell

September 20th, 2016

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Grey Walls

Fall

Kelsey Crosby

Sid Kondapuram

Anonymous

Sunshine is one of those things Everyone will praise, But it’s also the first thing Everyone will bitch about when it’s shining in their eyes.

For me though, I can’t squint Or bitch about being blinded for twelve hours a day I spend all day hanging high atop my branch.

My red skin glistening in the rays As I think about what life would be like on the ground Or what life might even be like in an oven.

It would probably be a hell of a lot worse Than being blinded by sun, So I figure I better keep quiet and sway in the gentle breeze.

I’ve got some tough skin, but it can be lonely up here.

So even though I’m not really sure How much better or worse Life might get for me once I’ve either Fallen Or been taken To be transformed into desserts,

It takes feet to land But a person to fall.

2 hands to hold on, None to let go.

You want a person to catch you So you don’t have to care, But in the end You do.

Because it’s alright to be scared.

But if the person’s not there You hit the ground hard.

And while mud runs with blood You think; how could I give up so much?

You believe it wasn’t your fault But you made the choice To jump without looking.

And in the end, Someone always gets hurt.

I hope someone will think I’m worth the climb And reach high enough up this tree to pluck me from my perch.

Indiscernible grey walls envelop a faceless monolith somewhere in Viman Nagar.

Planes trace the clouds above, keeping the night from beating the sky into black.

Outside, there are pups with broken hind legs, feeding on guttural excrete of the land that found god.

Outside, there are children in tattered clothes, and their hair flutters languidly in the land that found god.

They all worship D-3 Viman Nagar— yes they do.

And in return all self-identity, and all self-determination is robbed by D-3 Viman Nagar.

I’m lost in the annals of this cancerous growth.

I’m lost in D-3 Viman Nagar, somewhere in the land that found god.

Waking Up Keisha Lent

I do not want to be so hollow, with a gaping hole between my lungs; I want to be the sun.

I want to be the depths of the ocean, with the light of the sky shimmering through a rippling surface, or the leaves, hanging on to the trees for dear life when Summer is as good as over, and eventually knowing it’s my time to Fall, come October.

I want to be the entire month of January, wrapped warm and snug in a blanket of snow, and new beginnings.

I want to grow back from the rain on a Sunday, like the daisies on the side of the highway, and in fields, to run barefoot like the 7-year-old that lives in my heart.

I want the wind to take me away, like a good-bye kiss blown into a pocket, and kept safe.

I want to feel freedom in every breath I take, and be the fire that burns my doubts and my sadness into ashes.

I want to climb over the fear that I have built into mountains, and shoot like a bullet through misery.

I want the Universe to pour itself inside of me However, it seems, I am nothing more than a tiny stream reaching for the sea.

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Issue 79.1

Comic by: E Burning Talent at Acadia Kelsey Crosby

As we say goodbye to the warm, inviting evenings of summer and hello to the biting, chilly evenings of fall, our lives change a little bit to adjust to the upcoming season. A favourite way by many of us to combat the brisk winds of Autumn and to celebrate the season of rosie cheeks is enjoying the comforting glow of a bonfire. Just picture this scene: the bright glow illuminating the darkness around you, the crackle of burning wood, the warmth reaching toward your hands, the smell of the smoke, even the less than pleasant sting the smoke leaves in your eyes. Now, for Acadia’s Theatre Society, that pretty picture in your mind will have to su�ce because unfortunately, King’s County placed a fire ban over the area the very day their performances by the fire were supposed to take place. However, a little fire ban did not deter these beautifully talented artists, and with imaginated embers burning in everyone’s hearts rather than a firepit, the show still went on.

Despite the fact that this was an event put on by the Acadia Theatre Society, the invitation was happily extended to anyone regardless of their disciplines. Performance talent, as has been proven by the acts of every participant, does not run only through the walls of the Arts program. Even a furry, four-legged friend was enticed by beautiful words of song, spoken word, legend, stand-up comedy, and the musical melodies of guitars, ukuleles, and a didgeridoo. There is so much talent alive within the borders of our campus, and it is important to recognize the courage it takes to expose yourself in front of your peers. There is no better way to recognize it than to attend their performances.

Something a lot of people don’t really realize is that by watching someone share their art with you, you can see their passion and you can feel goosebumps when a certain song, poem, or story really resonates with you. You feel it in a way unlike the feeling of just reading the words on the paper. There is something about witnessing a performance that portrays a special kind of allure to the art. Most people would not expect this, so it might be worth it to see if you surprise yourself.

With crisp air rushing through the nose and a golden sunset fading into a dark, peaceful night, the words came to an end and it was time for the event to draw to a close. A final performance was addressed to first year students, and it can not be expressed enough how true that spoken word poem rings. Get out and experience the uniqueness this small town has to o�er. You will not get another chance like the chance you’re given every day at Acadia University to do something you might not normally do. You might even discover a new love or a new niche, but there is only one way to find out.

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PRODUCTION NOTES: DJ Khaled’s “Major Key” Brad Jobe Contributor

“Major Key” is DJ Khaled’s ninth studio album and the first DJ Khaled album that I haven’t rolled my eyes and turned o� within the initial period of listening.tThere’s a lot of interesting things happening in this album…. No, really. This album’s production is on point: The loudness of the percussion rivals Dr. Dre’s “2001, The Chronic”, the auto-tune isn’t abused, and the album actually has theme rather than just a slew of club bangers, which is 500% more than I would ever expect from the living meme himself.

The third track on the album, “Nas Album Done” features Nas (duh), with Khaled, and Cool & Dre on production. If you’re a fan of Lauryn Hill (you should be), then you’ll love this track. The pitchedup sample of “Fu-gee-la” isn’t abused at all, surprisingly. Hill’s voice mixed with the 808 bass and stuttering hi-hats works so well

that I’m inclined to feel that I traveled to another dimension where The Fugees were a Chicago drill group. The DJ Khaled ad-lib alert starts in the intro of the track (“Classic shit”, “timeless”, “iconic”), but once you realize that Khaled is talking about the much-respected Nas and not himself for once, you realize these adlibs aren’t the most corny thing in the world. In fact, they actually compliment the instrumental, along with Nas’ Other key tracks include: Jermaine’s Interlude, Work for lyrical murder.

It, Don’t Ever Play Yourself.

Another highlight is “Holy Key”, featuring Big Sean, DJ Khaled has heavy involveKendrick, and Betty Wright. ment on almost every track The instrumental begins on this album, compared to with the main horn sample his last album where he was under enough DAW e�ects only involved on a handful to make it sound like an ex- of tracks. This album surely cerpt from a post-rock album. surpasses his previous efThis quickly transitions into forts, but does this mean that the main base of the beat. Khaled actually has some stuThe cymbal crashes from the dio chops? Eh, maybe. I can original sample are adopted at the very least say that the to keep the high intensity of next Khaled album will have the track moving. The beat me listening, even if it is only repeats every 2 bars - you for the memes. would think that it becomes

THE ART OF FAILURE: Your failures sticks Winning @ Losing medium. with you far beyond your

Jarod Campbell Contributor

The art of failure is not like most other mediums. Those who have talent for it find it accidentally. They decide to write for the Ath and end up face-planting their keyboard, and yet still try to hand all those pages with the letter “u” to their editor.

They buy rust buckets without knowing they need car insurance or registration for the hunk of junk they just drove home. They are wholly inebriated before an early morning meeting with their advisor. Rightfully you ask: “why is this art?”

The point of art is to enrich the human experience—to feel something that someone else created. I don’t believe that failures are entirely at the fault of people experiencing them. I conclude that failure is a kind of reverse performance art. As it happens, you are opened to new ideas, experiences, and emotions. The power that failure has to elicit these feelings is beyond any other

monotonous rather quickly. It doesn’t. The horn/synth line is catchy enough to warrant repeated listens, and the track remains extremely dense with a busy sample, sliding 808’s, and panned choir voices. The hook of this track is the type you don’t want to sing along with, because your voice will never match the powerful pipes of 70’s soul star Betty Wright. This was done well enough to make me think that this wasn’t just recorded in a booth. Surprisingly, DJ Khaled’s voice is also in here, and actually works as an aid to this unforgettable track.

emotional attachments: to your favorite music, show, movie, or any other medium of art. Failures are turning points. They usher in growth and catalyze change. Therfore, failures must be art.

Today we live in a postmodern world. Postmodernism is built around the key idea that no idea, no media, no art is inherently more valuable than any other. It’s the ultimate equalizer for the human condition. Once you see your life as an art, you can easily make the claim under postmodernism that the time you totally botched the multiple choice section has the same inherent value as the entirety of results that appear when you Google image search for “funny images”. Subjective value rules in a postmodern society. This article doesn’t have value because its published, it has value because you’ve read it, connected with it, you gave it value. That is all it has.

as the audience. Which is what you really are. You have some control, but you’re the one calling in requests, you aren’t the disc jockey.

This shouldn’t be a reason to let off the effort you put in, because goddamn it you want to hear ‘Everybody’ by the Backstreet Boys and you can goddamn request it! If it happens, you didn’t make it happen. If it doesn’t, you didn’t fail to make it happen. Your part is limited to the request; the result is far from your hands. All you can do is grab life by the collar and yell into the abyss: “This is what I want, you bastard!”

So the next time you nearly trip on those stairs that are the wrong size for you to comfortably take two at a time, or the next time you hit “reply-all” or think you fucked up beyond all repair, take a second, lean back in your chair, and probably fall off it (because it’s just one of those days), and think about this article. Think about how you aren’t even sure if it makes sense, or about what kind of idiot doesn’t know about car insurance. Then As you begin to see your think to yourself: “Well shit, failures as an art your life at least I’m not THAT bad.” changes. You see yourself less as the director and more

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AESTHETIC:

III) ABC: Always Be Cleaning Let us assume that you have created the perfect aesthetic for your home.

Sid Kondapuram Your primary goal should Arts Editor be to sacrifice any shred of dignity you have (even after One of the terms you famil- hollowing out your refrigiarize yourself with when erator to make a bathtub) you begin to decorate your and spend the rest of your own house is ‘aesthetic’. miserable life cleaning the I have yet to make out a space! Aesthetic demands coherent idea of what it complete subservience to means for a living space the state (or the idea of a to have aesthetic. Scour‘clean’ house) ing Pinterest until my eyes glazed over left me even At this point, there may be more aimless in imbibing an idea developing in your the Nirvana-esque harmony head of what “aesthetic” is. that only living in such an Well, you should completely environment could provide; erase it from your memory. however, I do think that I As Pinterest explains it: have a weak grasp of the aesthetic is supposed to be guiding principles that can evanescent and nondescript. make your living space aes- An aesthetic mind should be thetically pleasing. filled with blurs of pallets,

And Where to Find It

I) Throw everything out!

Including yourself If there’s anything minimalism has taught me, it’s an irrational urge to get rid of any clutter that passes my vision. There is an interesting dichotomy between the things you should get rid of in your home and the things you shouldn’t: you should keep objects that are visually unappealing and inconvenient to move in order to achieve a look that is in direct contrast to what a ‘cultured’ or ‘normal’ person is accustomed. What do those louts know about comfort anyway? An ardent minimalist refuses to take the opinion of any plebeian that refuses to sleep on a bed made from pallets and crushed milk packages.

An uncluttered space is an uncluttered mind. Believe me: you’ll never miss the color wheel once you decide to permanently switch to a monochrome color palette.

II) Be practical! (unless being practical is unaesthetic) There are many changes that can be made around your home to increase practicality and functionality. Take your refrigerator for example: it’s big, it’s bulky, and the thing manages to take up an obscene amount of space in a room that could be used for other activities. Is this really a price worth paying to keep your Cheetos cold? Of course not! Rip its doors off, and put it in your bathroom. Boom! Instant second bathtub!

string lights, vinyl players, and potted plants whizzing rhythmically to the tune of a pothead banging Djembes in a Swedish Post-Punk Fusion band. If you know and understand that orange and blue are opposites in the color wheel, you’re a lost cause. You might as well settle into a life of culture and comfort in conforming peasantry.

But at the end of the day, decorate your house the way you want to. Don’t go scouring Pinterest or Instagram for inspiration. Don’t spend your time creating someone else’s vision. Live in your own one.

Credit: Creative Commons

September 20th, 2016

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VP WHO?

Getting to Know Your VP Academic Brianna Jarvin VP Academic

It seems another year has come and gone, and students still ask, “What is the VP Academic?” Besides a little attention on YikYak, the position frequently goes under the radar. This means that not only are we rarely held accountable by the student body, but also we are not being used as the critical resource we actually are!

The VP Academic is one of five executive positions on the Acadia Students’ Union.

No, it does not sound as sexy as President or VP Programming, but we ac-

tually do a few pretty cool things for our campus. The job is divided into two major parts - internal and external. As the title ‘VP Academic’ alludes to, the internal work is academic affairs. This includes a variety of different roles, such as sitting on Acadia University’s Senate, chairing Student Representative Council’s Academic Affairs Committee, researching academic policies and communicating the student voice to administration.

Additionally, a major part of this job is acting as an ombudsperson for students.

You may wonder what exactly that means. Well, have you ever had a conflict with a professor about unfair

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grading or felt mistreated in the classroom? Did you know you have the right to appeal a grade, an exam and your dismissal? The VP Academic can work with you to help resolve the issue on your own or by speaking on your behalf (sort of like an “Academic Lawyer”). Instead of settling for just giving a terrible course review, come talk to me and let’s work it out!

I usually lose interest when I talk about my external role, so bear with me a little longer. The ASU is a member of two advocacy organizations. We pay thousands of dollars to these organizations. Don’t worry, they do some pretty amazing work for the price tag.

We are part of both a provincial and federal organization. The bulk of the work these organizations do is identifying issues that

BROCK ALLEN TURNER And the Case That Sparked a Global Discussion Emma Hughes Opinions Editor For those of you who have been living under a rock for the last 10 months, allow me to give you a brief recap of what has been happening in the news. On January 17th 2015, an unidentified woman attended a party with her younger sister at Stanford University. Her evening began as any other twenty-something woman’s would prior to a night out with friends: decide what to wear, decide what to drink, figure out a “game plan” for the evening. Not many women think about the fact that, while under the influence of alcohol (or other), they could be taken advantage of. At least, I did not think that way before Brock Allen Turner’s name graced our papers and computer screens.

Over the course of the evening, the woman, now 23, had claimed to consume alcohol at a faster pace than usual, paying no regard to her tolerance or how this would have affected her cognitive abilities. The fact that the victim consumed too much alcohol in one evening while out with her sister

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does not in any way, shape, or form, justify the events that took place later in the evening.

In a heartbreaking statement delivered to Turner by the victim, she had recounted being at the party one-minute, and then waking up in a hospital bed the next. In short, the victim had been found by two international students behind a dumpster, unconscious, while Brock Allen Turner forced himself upon her. Turner attempted to run, but was caught by the witnesses and later taken into custody by law enforcements. The following is a direct quote from the victim: “The night after it happened, he said he didn’t know my name, said he wouldn’t be able to identify my face in a lineup, didn’t mention any dialogue between us, no words, only dancing and kissing. Dancing is a cute term; was it snapping fingers and twirling dancing, or just bodies grinding up against each other in a crowded room? I wonder if kissing was just faces sloppily pressed up against each other? When the detective asked if he had planned on taking me back to his dorm, he said no. When the detective asked

how we ended up behind the dumpster, he said he didn’t know. He admitted to kissing other girls at that party, one of whom was my own sister who pushed him away.

He admitted to wanting to hook up with someone. I was the wounded antelope of the herd, completely alone and vulnerable, physically unable to fend for myself, and he chose me. Sometimes I think, if I hadn’t gone, then this never would’ve happened.

But then I realized, it would have happened, just to somebody else. You were about to enter four years of access to drunk girls and parties, and if this is the foot you started off on, then it is right you did not continue. The night after it happened, he said he thought I liked it because I rubbed his back. A back rub.

Never mentioned me voicing consent, never mentioned us even speaking, a back rub.

One more time, in public news, I learned that my ass and vagina were completely exposed outside, my breasts had been groped, fingers had been jabbed inside me along with pine needles and debris, my bare skin and head had been rubbing against the ground behind a dumpster, while an erect freshman was humping my half naked, unconscious body. But I don’t remember, so how do I prove I didn’t like it.”

post-secondary institutions face, developing a plethora of solution, and advocating to government for change.

This includes things such as the size of student loans or grants you can get, and what co-op opportunities are available. Are you an Arts student that just laughed at co-op opportunities? That is exactly why these organizations are so crucial.

They identify the barriers in our post-secondary education and work with government to improve them.

In regards to my role, the VP Academic is the primary delegate for these advocacy organizations and the President is the secondary delegate. Our federal organization, the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA), meets four times a year with 20 other schools across the country. This year, CASA will be meeting

In the following months, a trial would be held to determine whether or not Turner was guilty of the allegations he had been accused of. Turner was indicted on January 28th 2015, with five charges: two counts of rape, two counts of felony sexual assault, and one count of attempted rape. After careful review of DNA, prosecutors dropped the two rape charges, and on March 30th 2016, Turner was charged with three remaining counts of sexual assault and attempted rape. Superior Court Judge Aaron Persky felt as though a mere 6 months in a county jail, followed by 3 years of probation, would be a suitable punishment for Turner. After he sexually assaulted and attempted to rape an unconscious woman behind a dumpster.

Dan Turner, Brock’s father, urged Judge Persky to consider his son’s future as a varsity swimmer, and how his “20 minutes of action” would affect his prospective swimming career as an Olympic athlete.

Persky, a former Stanford athlete, must have resonated with this sentiment.

It is misogynistic behaviors such as that which have created a particular rederich in popular culture today.

We live in a world where women are accus-

right here on our campus in March for its final meeting - feel free to come check it out! Our provincial organization, Students Nova Scotia (SNS), meets much more frequently and the ASU is one of six members that advocate on your behalf to the provincial government.

Keep an eye out for a possible Provincial Election this year!

Well, there you have it, your Vice President Academic.

Although I am not in the spotlight like the VPs that plan your welcome week or send out the all student email, I promise I’m working hard in the shadows trying to ensure you get the best education possible. If you ever have any questions about what I do or what I can do for you do not hesitate to contact me!

tomed to feeling slighted by their male counterparts in the workforce, where the length of a skirt or the cut of the neckline of a shirt is the determinant of a woman’s character. We live in a world where women are shamed for having more than one sexual partner at a time, a world where men are paid higher wages than women who perform the exact same job. Many people have focused on the flaws of this trial being the color of Brock Allen Turner’s skin, along with the size of his bank account. I think Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, a feminist advocate and recipient of MacArthur Fellowship, has encompassed a more than fitting solution to the problems of our highly gender-divided society: “I would like to ask that we begin to dream about and plan for a different world.

A fairer world. A world of happier men and happier women who are truer to themselves. And this is how we start: we must raise our daughters differently. We must also raise our sons differently”. It is crucial that we make changes in the conversations that we are having with our sons and daughters. We must engage in some form of collective action in order to remove economic, racial, and gendered biases that present themselves in cases such as Brock Allen Turners. Most importantly, we must not remain silent.

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A CHRONIC OPTIMIST: On Taking Chances Nolan Turnbull Contributor What do you believe in? Whether you are conscious of it or not, people use di�erent coping methods to help them through periods of conflict, challenge, or uncertainty. You may believe in luck, you may believe in a god, you may believe in destiny. Whatever it is that you do believe in, that is what counts.

However, what you need to learn to believe in more than anything is yourself and the ideology of “taking chances”.

When I talk about the ideology of taking chances I am not just talking about following your heart. I am talking about taking a risk on a goal that you always wanted to achieve, but thought them to be not possible. I know I have been deemed “Mr. Positive” and the like, and that I spit out optimistic quotes like Eminem spits out rhymes (4.28 words a second), but take it from someone who has been there - the cross road filled with uncertainty in times both high and low. I wouldn’t be this happy guy if it had not been for taking a few risks, falling a few times, and springing back up. You see, this ideology that taking chances leads to success… is cliché. That’s the thing though, many great lessons about life have already been shared whether it be through an over used quote, a typical “work hard and succeed” story, or through an old wise tale.

That’s what is so fabulous, life lessons are all around us, and we just need to open our eyes at the right time to see them.

This ideology is simple. You just need to believe.

You may not think that you deserve an opportunity, or you may question its timing.

You may not want to want to take a risk because the unknown is “The Unknown” and nothing else. That’s the power of it… you do not know what may result from it! You do deserve an opportunity, because bricks do not get laid by ordinary people.

Bricks get laid by hard working people, skilled people, and people who believe that they can do something. The brilliant Will Smith once said: “You don’t set out to build a wall. You don’t say ‘I’m going to build the biggest, baddest, greatest wall that’s ever been built’. You don’t start there. You say, ‘I’m going to lay this brick as perfectly as a brick can be laid’. You do that every single day. And soon you have a wall”. You start with laying the brick that is the brick – a.k.a the unknown.

You may question an opportune timing. Well the truth is… there is no better time than now. Shannon Alder once said that “timing is only lack of enough emotions”. We often become worked up with emotions when new opportunities present themselves. You don’t want to jump the gun for fear of shooting yourself in the back.

You also don’t want to wait only to find out that the buck didn’t feel like getting shot either. That’s where Kamad Kojouri got it right. “Clocks were invented to warn us. Tick (time is passing). Tock (time has passed)”. The problem is knowing when to take the shot. Many people have pondered the concept of time, and Bernard Clive

has an answer to the question “when is the right time”? He said that “if you keep waiting for the ideal time, chances are that it will never be”.

Now comes the scary part: The Unknown. So you said “YOLO” and took the shot.

YOLO is a phrase my generation screams (often followed by bad choices). As much as the phrase makes me cringe there is some substance to the pill that is teenage recklessness. “You only live once”. Perhaps Drake was onto something when he developed this motto (likely following his latest heart break).

The YOLO motto serves as a euphemism for the harsh lesson that is you may only have one shot at your dreams. So why not take it? We are not all provided with the same opportunities. I understand that. I accept that we interpret crossroads differently. However, I also know that we all share something in common. Every morning when we wake up, we share a fresh canvas that can be filled as we please. The great Je� Blashill once said: “Every day when you wake up? You either take a couple steps towards being great, or a couple steps away from being great. Every single day. You wake up and take steps towards greatness or you don’t.

Period”. That is all there is to it. You wake up with an opportunity, whatever it be. You can view the opportunity as a cup filled with foggy mists of the unknown, or you could see it as the bright tube of paint that finds itself delicately smoothed out over the canvas that is your masterpiece. YOLO. There is a saying that when one door closes, another

opens. Aldous Huxley was another person who thought that doors were a great way to inspire troubled folks. He stated that: “there are things known and there are things unknown, and in between are the doors of perception”. How you perceive opportunities is key. Before you paint your masterpiece you must first paint a self portrait. The thing is this portrait will only be finished when you are no longer able to fill its canvas with your story, and at this point you will realize that your masterpiece is your self portrait. Your story is forever evolving… just as you are inside and out. One thing that you must paint in this self portrait is not something that can be seen.

It must be felt within. A skill, a gut feeling, an instinct perhaps.

Perception. You need the ability to perceive situations in order to get the whole picture to succeed in situations. The best way to get the whole picture?

Take a look at the moment, and perceive it as the only moment that is for certain. Paint your self portrait, and add onto it as you grow. There may be other opportunities, but they may not be found on your canvas.

We all have voices in our head. They narrate our lives through highs and lows. In times of jubilance and in times of woe they guide us. This narration or internal dialogue can be positive or negative and can represent a tug of war game between the prudent little angel, and the jaunty carefree mini devil that both rest on your shoulders. In his autobiography “10% Happier”, Dan Harris talks about the voice in his head. He reminds us that: “[the voice in our heads are] fixated on the past, and the future, to the detriment of here and now

… the voice is an asshole … it can be a malevolent puppeteer”. So if you find your mind casting doubtful shouts, playing devils advocate as a safety net that we call the excuses refusing to dine the uncertain… shout back at your internal voice and scream “TAKE A CHANCE”! Believe.

Whatever it is you believe in, I want you to believe in YOU. Take a chance on yourself. Whether it be your happiness, pursuing a goal, or even winning the heart of that classy guy or girl who captured your attention at the ‘Vil. If you want something you’ve never had before you will need to do something you’ve never done before to get it. Perhaps that starts with taking a chance. Like the fellows from the rap industry, the guys behind “Prison Break” have some words of wisdom to offer (even if they aren’t spoken faster than anyone can possibly apprehend). Michael Scofield explained that “preparation will only take you so far. After that you have got to take a few leaps of faith”. When will you jump?

I’ve quoted many minds in this article, but the message I want to leave you with is one from my own mind… one not to di�erent than your own. A mind that is a meal, a soup of anxiety with a side of distant desires, and a dash of hope just to tease my taste buds.

This dash of hope helps me believe. I want you to remember to take a chance because I believe that if you do, results will come. Whatever it may be that you believe in - whether it be faith, luck, or destiny - believe in yourself. Take a chance. You never know what you may be capable of.

POLARS BEARS, SEALS, AND ISOLATION: A Summer Spent in Northern Manitoba Bryanna Sherbo Contributor

Churchill is a small, quaint town in Northern Manitoba.

It has a very diverse habitat where three ecosystems interact: boreal, marine, and tundra. Churchill is a town that is extremely isolated, making the shipment of supplies di�cult. Surplus such as groceries, produce, and every day necessities are shipped in via train or airplane as there is no road access. As a result, the cost of living is extremely high.

Churchill is referred to as the polar bear capital of the world, with a population of around 900 to 1,000 bears. Many peo-

ple do research in Churchill at well-known facility, the Churchill Northern Research Center (CNSC).

This summer, I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to go to Churchill in May to research the behaviour and distribution of ringed and harbour seals. When the weather would co-operate, we would spend most of our days in the field doing research. We would stand along the coast watching their behaviour through high magnifying scopes, documenting how vigilant they were being, how often they looked around in search of polar bears or dove into the water through breathing holes as a defence mechanism. To re-

ing of the research season. At the beginning of our stay, my team of four along with the volunteers and sta�, were the only people living at the center. There were roughly ten of us. Going for walks around the center was forbidden due to high populations of polar bears in the surrounding area. At times, the isolation could be extremely lonesome. To keep busy, I often wrote in my journal or read a book. I spent a lot of time in my head reflecting on life, often overthinking many things without anyone to share the depth of thoughts. Some days were harder than others; it is rather easy to think negatively The center is a busy place in about many things when you the summer, with researchare this isolated. Maintainers constantly coming and ing mental health and keepgoing. May marked the opensearch harbour seals, we went to the Churchill river weir just outside of the town to watch their behaviour as they lay hauled out on rocks. This was the most e�ective way of documenting their vigilance and swimming patterns. Days in the field were often very cold, especially while standing along the coastline. I generally wore a minimum of seven layers of clothing and still froze.

The research portion was very interesting; however, living up north gave o� a huge feeling of isolation, as there was no cell phone service and inadequate Internet access.

ing your mind occupied is very important while living in isolation. As more researchers arrived, it became less lonely.

I met some very interesting people during my stay, from a treeline scientist to bird and frog researchers, as well as a group of high school students from Minnesota.

Overall, I would highly recommend Arctic research. This experience allowed for me to learn more than I ever thought possible, and opened my mind to new mechanisms of critical thinking. Living in isolation isn’t for everyone, but it is something everyone should try. It forced me to think in di�erent ways and learn a lot about myself. I’m extremely thankful for this opportunity.

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THE SCIENC E O F B E E R Jeremy Ingham Contributor

It’s safe to assume that many of us enjoy drinking beer.

However, what we may not know is that beer and science go hand in hand. Humans have been brewing beer for millennia, shaping society as we know today. Believe it or not, many scientific advancements were discovered whilst brewing beer. Another surprising fact is that beer was unknowingly keeping people alive and saving them from disease.

The Tiny Friends and Enemies of Beer As you may or may not already know, yeast ferment the sugars in grains to give us the alcoholic component of beer. But how was beer made in ancient and medieval times if microorganisms were not known about until the 1800’s?

In short, the answer is wild yeast. Most historians and scientists agree that beer was discovered by accident. It is hypothesized that grains left in pots would fill with rain water and begin to germinate producing fermentable sugars. Luckily, wild yeast then makes a home in the unfermented beer and converts the sugars into carbon dioxide and alcohol. A brave man or woman decided to consume this new liquid and obviously enjoyed it. Waiting for wild yeast to develop took a lot more time. Medieval brewers unknowingly cultured their yeast by taking the krausen (yeast suspension) and added it to future beers. Today, much of what we know about microbiology is related

closely to beer. In 1857 Louis Pasteur discovered that yeast was responsible for fermentation. Perhaps Louis Pasteur is best known for inventing pasteurization, the process that keeps milk from spoiling.

But what you may not know is that Pasteur was originally studying why beer and wine spoiled. Pasteur discovered that tiny microorganisms lived in the beer; yeast and bacteria. Additionally he showed that it was the bacteria converting ethanol into acetic acid (vinegar) which caused the beer to spoil. Pasteur suggested that heating the beer after it was fermented to kill o� any bacteria and eventually this process was adopted to help preserve milk. But more importantly from this experiment Pasteur devised germ theory, the theory that disease was caused by pathogens and not from supernatural forces and “bad air”. He concluded that if bacteria could cause disease in beer perhaps it could also cause disease in humans.

Beer as Medicine?

Many people would say that the first antibiotic used was in 1928, with the advent of penicillin. However, recent discoveries show that ancient Egyptians consumed beer that contained a natural antibiotic known as tetracycline. In 1980 traces of tetracycline were found in the bones of ancient Egyptians.

Scientists were dumbfounded by this discovery as the antibiotic was not discovered until 1948. It was determined by researchers that grains used to make the Egyptian beer

contained the soil bacterium Streptomyces, which naturally produces tetracycline. Furthermore, evidence showed that Egyptians knew about their beer’s healing properties because tetracycline was even found in the remains of children. Likely given to the child to cure them of his or her illness. In the middle ages clean drinking water was often hard to come by. Often time’s drinking water would give people diseases such as cholera. In order to prevent people from getting sick they often turned to beer for their water needs. During the brewing process the unfermented beer is boiled, killing o� any bacteria living in the water. Additionally hops added for flavour contain alpha and beta acids. We now know today that these acids can inhibit the growth of certain gram-negative bacteria. This information was not known at the time, but people knew that if they drank beer using contaminated water that they would not get sick. We know today that drinking too much beer can make you sick and that chronic drinking can cause liver damage. But who would have thought that at some point in history drinking beer was like drinking medicine or clean water? It is important to note that beer at the time was sometimes as low as 2-3% ABV (Alcohol By Volume) so it could safely be consumed in larger amounts.

So let us take a minute to appreciate beer and raise a glass for all its contributions.

Cheers!

Photo by: Anthony Chu

12 Issue 79.1

The Habit Cycle

HABIT FORMATION T. B. Joudrey Contributor

“A man who can’t bear to share his habits is a man who needs to quit them.”

Stephen King, The Dark Tower Personally, I am a creature of habit, as are most people to some degree or another. This is generally considered to be a good thing by our culture, as it implies reliability, if not anal retentiveness. What does this mean, however, if your most common habit is to procrastinate? I can attest to this (as I am furiously typing this article far too near the deadline), and so am writing this article to not only potentially help a few of my fellow students perhaps pick up a few good habits, but also to help acquire some of my own (Mostly the latter).

Above is the ‘habit cycle’ as shown in Charles Duhiggs book ‘The Power of Habit’.

Duhiggs states that habits are formed as a result of a three part process:Cue - Routine - Reward. Firstly is the ‘Cue’ stage in which some external stimulus prompts the routine in question. Secondly, there is the is the actual habit itself, or the ‘Routine’. And thirdly, and most importantly, is the ‘Reward’ which is why those immediately gratifying ‘bad’ habits stick so easily, yet and habits where the benefits are not immediately apparent do not stick as readily.

So what can one do with this information? Firstly, let’s look into forming new, positive habits. One would obviously begin by determining the habit to be adopted. Next comes the need to need to determine the Cue and Reward portions, which can be a touch more tricky. The Cue could be anything from a reminder set on a cell phone, to a physical sensation such as fatigue or stress. Then one should determine an appropriate reward, in some cases the activity itself can be viewed as the

reward, but in others outside motivation may be necessary.

An example could be as follows: Cue: Waking up Routine: Reviewing materials for the day Reward: Co�ee

course

As you can see the Cue is simple and regular, the routine is attainable and the reward is reasonable and something the person was going to do anyway. The following is a bad example: Cue: Whenever I feel like it Routine: Run 1km Reward: McDonalds In this example the cue is unclear, if existent at all, and the reward itself negates the positive e�ects of the routine being adopted.

However, eliminating an old habit is far harder than not forming the habit in the first place. Habits are formed in the brain as a way of, in overly simplified terms, freeing up space in your head so you can occupy yourself with other more novel things. Therefore one should not seek to eliminate old habits, but to modify them into positive ones. So you could look at a (completely hypothetical, of course) negative habit loop like this: Cue: Notice an assignment is due soon Routine: Look at the assignment after ‘a couple’ of episodes of garbage television Reward: Watching television until 3 in the morning And adjust it to something like this: Cue: Notice an assignment is due soon Routine: Do the assignment Reward: Watch slightly less garbage television All this being said, this process is far easier said than done, that I can personally attest to.

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SEX TRAFFICKING AND DATA MINING Hope Latta Science Editor

Harvard Computer Science graduate Chris White has recently applied data mining tools to make huge leaps in eradicating sex tra�cking. In September 2010, Dr. White travelled to Afghanistan to bust an online financial system and confront al-Qaida. While at Harvard, White had studied the intersection between big data, statistics and machine learning.

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency A mentor introduced Dr. White to DARPA, the Pentagon’s scientific development agency.

DARPA stands for the “Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency”. This agency focuses on making huge investments to technology that advances U.S. security. The very first project DARPA completed was the launch of Sputnik in 1957, with the goal being to increase the national security of the United States. Most of their workers are part of the government, but they also employ students who are new to the field. They created not only advanced military

technology, such as precision weapons and stealth utilities, but also created a lot of the technology that civilians use today. Such technology includes the Internet, voice recognition, and the Global Positioning System, also known as the GPS. They also created night vision, Agent Orange, and weather satellites. DARPA currently employs about 220 government o�cials, and nearly 100 managers. It currently has 250 research programs. DARPA aims to help the US stay at the top of the technological game, and releases huge advancements in tech every five to ten years for the rest of the world to enjoy.

The Birth of Memex Attending a DARPA conference taught White about the world and the wars that are taking place. He learned top-level information on the brutality of the tactics used for killing, terrorizing, and defensive mechanisms. This was White’s first introduction to the idea that big data could be used to combat dark problems. While working for DARPA, White learned that the U.S. had too much information on things that were hap-

pening in Afghanistan, and that they had a problem with sorting through all of the data they had collected. This problem lead to the development of tools that could help with sorting through huge amounts of information.

After leaving DARPA, White decided to take on making these tools easier to use. He called his project Memex, combining the words Memory and Index.

The project took three years and around $50 million dollars. The search-engine tool box contained units coded by both industry and university professionals. The purpose of the project was to mine through data that couldn’t be easily reached on a platform such as Google, Firefox, or Safari. This tool would become helpful in making associations between di�erent ideas and facts, therefore making huge amounts of data visual. The tool would start by going into the dark side of the web.

The Onion Router There are a lot of things that regular internet users don’t know. Only about 5-20% of the internet is open to the public.

For example, there are pieces of

data that are protected by passwords via social media. However, the lesser known area of the internet isn’t an untraveled place. Most of this lesser known area is accessed through something called The Onion Router (or the “TOR”). TOR is a free software that allows people to communicate with each other in an anonymous way. It is capable of concealing a location and keeps people from being discovered through tra�c analysis. The software is intended to help protect people’s privacy, and also to encourage confidential communication. It was originally developed by DARPA to protect U.S. intelligence communications. However, it has also become popular for people who wish to hide their activity from the government. There are about 2.5 million daily visitors, including ISIS planners and hacktivists. Sex tra�cking is unique, as buyers must be able to find their products. This is the exact reason why human tra�ckers don’t use regular search engines.

Memex Applications Memex is able to search the Onion Router and present hidden

sites in a simple list. This sort of accomplishment created huge waves in the possibilities of data mining. Usually, detectives and private investigators would normally spend two weeks working twelve hour shifts every day to search through the same amount of data that Memex is able to search through in moments. These detectives would need to search page by page on Google and write down new information to search (such as an email address), thus losing other pages that came up on the same search page. A tool called Datawake in Memex represents search results as a series of circles. It organizes information in a way that is easy to follow, and allows detectives to look at all of the results all at once without neglecting certain areas first.

Old cases lead to new cases, the pattern continues. With these revolutionary changes in the ability to mine huge amounts of data, detectives are making huge breakthroughs on crime stopping technology.

have a plethora of features that make them unique and special.

Fossils come in varying degrees of articulation, di�ering colours, and many preservation types. All of these factors determine a fossils “quality”.

While the general public may be more concerned about the aesthetic of a fossil; a paleontologist would be more concerned about features that determine scientific value. In other words, bigger isn’t always better.

2) Rocks are not boring. No seriously. For one, they can be absolutely stunning and come in many varieties. Just ask anyone from Manitoba about a Gypsum Rose. Rocks can also tell you a lot of information about the area they are found in. They can indicate what the region looked like in the past, and indicate distributions previous inhabitants of our planet. Rock formations also frequently are named with physical descriptions, regional names, or other geographical details.

3) Take every opportunity. You never know what may arise out of you saying “what the heck”.

My field of study is Kinesiology, and I am set on pursuing a career in healthcare. However, that does not mean that you won’t get great experiences by trying things outside your comfort zone. I grew up loving di-

nosaurs, but I would have never considered myself even worthy of the title “amateur paleontologist”. Thanks to two summers of training, studying, and gaining experience in the field I have not only broadened my horizons, developed perspective on what it takes to be a paleontologist, but also rekindled my love of the field. Additionally, while working at the museum I had many opportunities that I would have not had otherwise, whether it be with the media, outreach projects, research projects, or working with fossils themselves. Working in a field outside your own can help you improve people skills, critical thinking skills, and adaptability skills. As the CFDC’s Field and Collections Manager, Victoria Markstrom, advised in an interview “never underestimate the contributions you can make as an amateur”.

4) It’s okay to get dirty. Often my experience at the museum was those who were the dirtiest had the most fun… and often luck finding fossils. The museum field sta� even had coined a noun to label the person who got the dirtiest out in the field.

Sometimes in life we have to make a fool of ourselves to get results. If you’re doing what you love and having fun you might as well maximize the experience (even if it means stultifying yourself).

5) Patience is a virtue. In paleontology it is instrumental

that you get your hands dusty, keep your eyes peeled, and as always… dig deeper. The deeper you dig, often the better the find. It goes without saying that if you don’t work hard you likely won’t find success. Tedious tasks can be super gratifying, even when progress isn’t immediately evident. This not only is true for fossils, but also with journalism, work, and relationships. On this note, in recent interview; the CFDC’s Executive Director, Peter Cantelon, stressed the importance of commitment. He explained that a big lesson he learned was “[to] not take for granted [the average persons] undervaluing of heritage”. Peter went onto explain that “[it is integral] to communicate the value of heritage artifacts both inside and outside of the museum”. In other words, Peter’s duties follow him home. He has a passion for his work, and investment in practice is key. The more you give to the people around you, or the task at hand; the better the result will be.

Life is quite the adventure. As much as some of us like to plan ahead, we never know what is coming. This is why I encourage you to get out of your comfort zone. You may learn a few lessons in the process, and who knows… you may be lucky enough to find a gem.

DIGGING UP DINO BONES: Five Lessons From the Earth Nolan Turnbull Contributor

One of my favourite things about coming home from summer break is hearing what shenanigans everyone got up to.

Whether it be through work, travel, volunteering, or other adventures, everyone always has awesome stories to share.

I was fortunate enough to have what was, in my opinion, the coolest summer job in the world: I dug up dinosaur fossils!

Okay, technically they were “marine reptile fossils”. At a basic level, marine reptiles di�erentiate from dinosaurs through marine reptile’s presence of flippers. I have to say that or my inner paleontologist would feed me to a mosasaur. What is a mosasaur you ask? The mosasaur was a 50 foot marine reptile that dominated oceans during the Cretaceous period. This is the same period of time many of your favourite dinosaurs were roaming around. The mosasaur was also known as the “T-Rex of the Sea”, and was the ruling ocean predator during its time. In fact, the mosasaur was so skilled at eating other things (sounds lovely, I know), that it made many sharks look like harmless minnows. Some types

of mosasaurs even ate each other! I was fortunate enough to work at the home of the largest publicly displayed mosasaur in the world: the Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre.

The Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre (CFDC) is located in my humble little town of Morden, Manitoba. It is hard to imagine these giant beasts swimming over what is now flat, temperamental prairie filled with corn fields and harmless deer. However, the CFDC houses Canada’s largest collection of marine reptile fossils including: mosasaurs, plesiosaurs, fish, sharks, squids, birds, and more. It is also home to the world’s only publicly displayed mammoth blood! I started working there the summer of 2015, and this summer I served as the Senior Field Technician.

Part of my job involved giving tours, prospecting and excavation of fossils, fossil preparation, exhibit design, research, and much more. The first summer I was there I learned a ton about Manitoba’s paleontology and geology. However, I also learned lots of little life lessons. Here are five life lessons I learned while digging up fossils: 1) Beauty on the outside doesn’t always correlate with inner beauty. Just like people, fossils

September 20th, 2016 13

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N O N - VA R S I T Y B L U E S Anonymous

Standing in the men’s locker room in the Acadia Athletic Complex, I found myself squeezed in between two fully nude men striking Captain Morgan poses without a shred of shame. I was wondering exactly what they were doing

at the gym at such an hour. I know I wouldn’t be coming to work out at 11:30 at night if I were in my 70’s. Well, honestly I didn’t really find too much joy in doing it now in my 20’s.

Unfortunately for me, I didn’t have too much choice. I had already paid my chunk of my intramural basketball team’s

$300 fee and didn’t plan on having that money go to waste, even if it meant having to drag myself to the Athletic Complex for an 11:30 game when I had class in nine hours.

As sweat dripped down my leg from the older gentlemen beside me’s privates, I began to get frustrat-

ed. Here I am, an avid student with strong academic ability and commitment in an academic institution, getting the short end of the stick, playing my 11:30, $300 basketball game, getting changed in the public changing room. Meanwhile, as I walk out of the changing room I am passed by a group of varsity athletes sauntering down the hallway from their team’s personal changing room after their

prime practice time, enjoying their sizeable scholarships, free clothes, and free tutors.

The discrepancy in treatment between varsity athletes and regular students is a perfect reflection of many of the most serious problem we have in the world. Physical attributes are being valued above intelligence, volunteerism, and academic commitment.

As a university, Acadia is an academic institution.

The primary focus of Acadia should be to educate its students, create critical thinkers, and prepare them for their futures in the “real world”. If that was the case, then why does the C student with farfetched dreams of playing in the CFL receive a scholarship twice the size of mine and eat up god knows what percentage of my tuition fees with the extensive privileges he or she gets to enjoy every day?

Money. Acadia isn’t acting like an academic institution by continuing with these practices. As long as varsity sports continue to eat up the tuition of hard working students and community members, Acadia will remain nothing more than a business; taking from the many to benefit the few.

Photo by: Colin Mitchell

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14 Issue 79.1

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BIG PLANS FOR AXE RADIO Memes Killed the Video Star Luke Ehler Axe Radio

This year students at Acadia University are pursuing an initiative to revitalize AxeRadio, the student-run radio station that broadcasts online from the SUB. Over the last few years AxeRadio has seen a decline in both viewership and student participation due to a variety of factors. This has left AxeRadio largely forgotten from everyday student-life.

Hence why some who are reading this article may be thinking “I didn’t even know we had a student radio station!”. Well that’s all about to change.

The major challenge AxeRadio has faced recently is competing with the numerous other mediums that students listen to in their spare time (iTunes, Youtube, 8tracks, Spotify, etc.). That is why this year AxeRadio hopes to produce a consistent broadcast of unique, quality content students won’t be able to find elsewhere in order to increase viewership. The first step in achieving this task is dramatically growing our team to create a dependable source of diverse radio programs. So whether you want to play music, promote local news and events, perform comedy, discuss sports, interview students, faculty or guest speakers, or have discussion on social, political, or environmental issues.

If it’s something you’re passionate about then chances are other students are too! The possibilities are truly endless since you create the show you think students will want to hear!

Not only does AxeRadio want to

have more reliable content, but also hopes to make it easier for students to access this content and to have a say in how to improve shows or the station. That is why we are looking to redesign our website as well as create a mobile app to allow anyone with a smartphone the ability to tune in on the go. We will also be ramping up our presence on campus and in the community by broadcasting to on campus locations, hosting cool events, presenting concerts, covering music festivals, conducting spontaneous interviews/quizzes with students on campus (with prizes), boosting our social media presence and finally, getting AxeRadio apparel.

Another part of this AxeRadio expansion initiative includes participating in a collaborative podcast program with Mount Allison, St. Francis Xavier, and Bishop’s University. Collectively, Acadia and these 3 institutions belong to the Maple League (or U4 League). These institutions o�er similar experiences focused on undergraduate education and a highly personal and supportive learning environment. The idea behind the podcast program is that each institution and their independent radio stations would have access to a collective archive of podcasts made by Maple League students for use at their discretion as content.

Meaning students at Bishop’s and the Bishop’s student radio station for example, would have direct-access to podcasts made

by Acadia students and vice-versa. This sharing of content could be used to kindle collaborative projects (Ex. a debate series) be-

‘Real’ Problems: Rio 2016 Zachary Craig Sports Editor When Brazil was awarded the Summer Olympics in 2009, there was little reason for cynicism. The South American nation was growing at an annualized rate of 5%, and The Economist called Brazil a “vast and bountiful land”. Winning the 2016 Olympics and 2014 World Cup contributed to the hubris felt by many Brazilians, and numerous economists were convinced that Brazil would become one of the world’s largest and fastest growing economies.

The turning point was the 2014 oil crisis. Global oil pric-

es dropped substantially and plunged Brazil into a dark abyss. Compounded with the Petrobras scandal that forced former President Dilma Rousse� out of o�ce and cost the country nearly $5.3 billion, the Brazilian public was weary of the cost of the Olympics. Although nowhere near Vladimir Putin’s $50 billion spectacle in Sochi, the cost of the Rio Olympics was nearly $12 billion. This kind of spending at a time when Brazilian police couldn’t a�ord gas for their cars or ink for their printers was sure to raise tension within those most a�ected by the economic crisis.

One looking to understand Brazil’s economy would have to examine their history. After military dictatorships in the 1980s, Brazil was able to stabi-

tween institutions.

The end goal for AxeRadio this year is to create a vibrant and self-sustaining student radio station that provides the oppor-

lize inflation and control public spending by the 1990s. Numerous state industries were privatized and foreign investment was heavily encouraged, which signaled Brazil’s entrance to global markets. By December 2009, the Brazilian Real had gained 50% to the American Dollar, which made imports substantially cheaper and boosted living standards.

This growth and prosperity was not meant to last. The price of many exports fell due to falling demand, crippling Brazil. Petrobras lost 60% of its value between September 2014 and February 2015, and by 2016 Brazil’s GDP shrank 3.5%. This sparked a protracted recession at the worst possible time. Unemployment soared and President Rousse�’s approval ratings went as low as 10%. The situation became so bad in the state of Rio that the acting governor had to declare

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tunity for students to develop their passion and share them with others. So whether you’d like to help us redesign our website, assist with promotion and outreach at events and festivals, design posters or apparel, or

a state of financial emergency and ask for $900 million in federal funding. Coupled with the outbreak of the Zika virus in northern Brazil, there were many questions regarding the stability of Brazil and their ability to host the Olympics.

Apart from minor hiccups, the Olympics appeared to have gone smoothly and were viewed in a generally positive light. The question now becomes what happens after.

Nearly 77,000 residents were forcibly evicted from favelas near Olympic venues. Although the Rio Olympics were supposed to be a model for sustainability, they have demonstrated that they were the polar opposite. Horrendous congestion, filthy water, and the building of a golf course on a nature preserve demonstrated the lack of planning and rushed nature of the games.

Nevertheless, there is reason

host your own radio show with friends; come join the amazing AxeRadio team and get involved on the ground floor of something big!

To listen to AxeRadio visit axeradio.ca and click listen live!

to be hopeful. Venues like the handball arena will be taken apart and used to build four schools across the city. The aquatics centre will become two community swimming pools, and the land on which the Barra Olympic Park sits will be handed over for private development and public parks.

These games haven’t come without costs. Public faith in government is currently at an all-time low. Brazil’s recovery won’t be an easy one, especially considering trade only accounts for 24% of Brazil’s GDP, the lowest ratio of any major economy in the Western Hemisphere. Protectionist policies and “local content” rules will make solutions more di�cult, but Brazil has weathered the worst of the storm.

Recovery will not be easy nor straightforward, but there’s only way to go. It’s up.

September 20th, 2016 15

athdistractions

www.theath.ca

Salary Cap Football League Thane Mullen Distractions

Join Acadia’s free-to-play NFL fantasy football game! From the players listed, select 1 quarterback, 2 running backs, 3 wide receivers, 1 tight end, and 1 kicker while making sure to stay within your $100 budget.

Scoring begins with Week 4 games (starting September 29th) and runs until the end of the regular season.

Prizes to be announced. Check theath.ca for updates on the standings and prize structure.

To enter, e-mail your selections to 086542m@acadiau.ca before noon on Thursday, September 29th from your Acadia e-mail account. Non-students can enter, but are not eligible for prizes.

16 Issue 79.1

Tie-Breaker: In the event of a tie, the team with the most total touchdowns wins. If two or more teams are tied in total points and total touchdowns, ties will be broken based on the order that entries were received (in favor of those submitted first.)

Scoring System Stat Each 25 passing yards Passing touchdown Interception thrown Each 10 rushing yards Rushing touchdowns Each 10 receiving yards Receiving touchdown Return touchdown Fumble lost Field goal (under 40 yards) Field goal (40-49 yards) Field goal (50+ yards) Extra point after TD

Points 1 4 -1 1 6 1 6 6 -2 3 4 5 1

Quarterback

(Choose 1)

Cam Newton Andrew Luck Aaron Rodgers Russell Wilson Drew Brees Ben Roethlisberger Andy Dalton Matthew Sta�ord Blake Bortles Eli Manning Carson Palmer Kirk Cousins Tyrod Taylor Ryan Fitzpatrick Derek Carr Tom Brady Wide Receiver

$37 $19 $17 $16 $14 $13 $12 $11 $8 $7 $7 $2 $1 $1 $0 $0

(Choose 3)

Antonio Brown AJ Green Julio Jones Odell Beckham Jr. DeAndre Hopkins Alshon Je�rey Dez Bryant Allen Robinson Brandon Marshall Mike Evans Jarvis Landry TY Hilton Jordy Nelson Jordan Matthews Brandin Cooks Jeremy Maclin Amani Cooper Sammy Watkins Randall Cobb Eric Decker Larry Fitzgerald Doug Baldwin Travis Benjamin Kelvin Benjamin

$57 $38 $36 $31 $28 $24 $22 $19 $16 $14 $14 $11 $10 $9 $8 $8 $7 $5 $4 $4 $3 $2 $1 $0

Running Back

(Choose 2)

David Johnson Adrian Peterson Todd Gurley Lamar Miller CJ Anderson Ezekiel Elliott Mark Ingram LeSean McCoy Doug Martin Le’Veon Bell Devonta Freeman Jamaal Charles Matt Forte Arian Foster Eddie Lacy Carlos Hyde Tight End

(Choose 1)

Rob Gronkowski Jordan Reed Greg Olson Travis Kelce Jason Witten Delanie Walker Coby Fleener Julius Thomas Antonio Gates Dwayne Allen Gary Barnidge Zach Miller Kicker

$31 $25 $23 $20 $19 $16 $10 $9 $8 $7 $6 $5 $4 $2 $1 $0

$35 $23 $22 $17 $12 $11 $6 $5 $3 $3 $1 $0

(Choose 1)

Stephen Gostkowski Chris Boswell Justin Tucker Chandler Catanzaro Graham Gano Dan Bailey Steven Hauschka Nick Novak Matt Prater Mason Crosby

$9 $7 $7 $5 $4 $4 $3 $2 $1 $0