Issue 81.4

Acadia Univeristy’s Student Newspaper EST.1874 Fall Semester 2018 Issue 81.4

atheditorials The Athenaeum

Acadia University’s Student Newspaper

Issue 81.4 ASU Box 6002, Acadia University Wolfville, NS, Canada B4P 2R5 Editor-In-Chief: Colin Mitchell Email: eic@acadiau.ca SUB room 512

EIC Office Hours: Mon, Wed & Thur 3 - 6

Advertising/ Buisness Inquiries: athbuisness@acadiau.ca

Section Editors Art Ruvimbo Chipazi

Creative

Thomas Morgan

Features

Management Production Manager Jordan Mahaney

Photo Manager Aqila Walji

Christopher Vanderburgh

Business Manager

Oliver Jacob

Katie Spicer

Kyle ThompsonClement

Colin Mitchell

News

Opinions Science

William Darrah

Copy Editor

Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Mallory Kroll

Laura Porter-Munz

Sports

Sebastian Farkas

About Us. 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.

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 If there is content that we feel will not add to the philosophy, dialogue, or tone of our newspaper, it will not be published.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 thought-provoking material that challenges society and its norms, but any material deemed offensive or hateful will be met with extreme scrutiny. That being said, all of our staff members look forward to working together with writers to improve their quality of writing, and to make sure the Athenaeum remains professional and well-rounded.

The Athenaeum may accept submissions from any student or member of our campus, present and past, and is always looking for more writers and photographers. If you are looking for coverage of an event or story, would like to notify us of a complaint or correction, or would like to submit a letter to the editor, contact Colin Mitchell at eic@acadiau.ca There are open story meetings every Monday at 6pm in the Athenaeum office, room 512 in the SUB. Everyone is welcome, and we encourage you to join us!

The Athenaeum, since 1874.

Call it like you see it.

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Fall, 2018

Our Library is Overdue.

The Atheneaum Editorial Board Are you proud of our library?

Think about that question. When you walk in through the tired doors and onto the main level, what do you feel? Do you get the sense that you’re in the modern, scholarly centre of our university? Or do you feel like you’re in a 1970s airport lounge? The decades old stained carpets and cheap potted plants give you the impression of the latter.

A library is the most important building in a university. More than any residence, more than any administrative building, the library is the cultural and intellectual hub of an institution. It’s a repository of knowledge and a testament to our heritage. It’s a scholarly centre and a collaborative workspace. It’s a source of strength and culture for our university, meant to inspire generations worth of students.

Simply put, the Vaughan Memorial Library does not do that.

Built between 1960-1965 to replace the Emmerson Memorial Library (now Emmerson Hall), the library has seen a lot.

First it was a standalone building, with the top floors housing offices for the Faculty of Arts. Then the Beveridge Arts Centre was built next to it, leaving an awkward exposed portion in the middle. The space was filled in 1987 and the ramp leading to the glass box on the south end was demolished as the primary entrance, leaving the main reading room as a testament to bygone era.

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international financial crisis and skepticism about higher education has left Acadia in a tough spot. With our premier scholarly centre leaving prospective students, parents, and donors uninspired we stand little chance of overcoming our slump.

My Glasses

Let’s change that. Let’s inspire.

Why am I like this?

Is it because we know of the system you have established that makes you the center of attention? Is it because some people are still waiting for your apology?

What makes a person human? What Or is it because I’m still waiting for you to entitles them to certain treatment? What acknowledge me as a person? entitles them to the refusal of your acknowledgement? Look at me and tell me what you see.

Do you see your history? Are you ashamed Life on its own has value. I do not need to of it? Or are you scared of it? Are you be a king for you to see my value. I do not scared because the road to freedom and need to come from a country with recovery is not as easy as you first thought? resources for you to acknowledge my Can you stomach the value. I do not need to have the same skin transgressions that you committed, are tone as you to deserve your recognition. I committing and will commit simply do not need to think the same way as you, because you cannot see you in me? Or do to enjoy the same rights as you. you not see anything wrong in your past? In my past? In their past?

I should receive your recognition simply because you can see me for what I am: a Some people want blood for the blood they person, a complex human being, just like shed at your hands. Some people want you. Cut me and I will bleed the same way monetary compensation for the damage you you do. Hurt me, and I will cry just like brought. But at the root of it all, we want you. Hurt my loved one, and I will pursue you to see us for who we are: you the same way you would pursue me humans, people, individuals. had I done the same. It’s human nature to seek justice. I’m not perfect, but neither are We have value, just because we exist. you. I’m not a saint, but I want to do good. You can’t erase us, no matter how hard you I’m in pain, but I want to forgive. I’m not try. You can’t forget us, even when you much of a talker, but I want to listen to you. choose to turn a blind eye or give a cold The question is, shoulder. I am not part of your background, do you know this? nor am I part of my own. I am the centre of my story, an undeniable feature in yours. A A long time ago, you came, and saw value past written in pen, that you cannot erase. in my land. You saw value in my people as A future not yet set in stone but a presence a whole, but not as individuals. You came that will continue to remain. to use me as a means to your own end. I am all the people that have died at your I was never perfect, we were never per- hands, are dying at your hands and will die fect, but we were all people, with our own at your hands simply because you refuse to values and way of life. How dare you treat see them not as people, but as objects to be us as anything less. Some people believed used for your convenience. in your ideologies, some people believed in your prosperous and fruitful nature. Some I am the tears of many that cry at night people believed in the wealth you brought, because they don’t know what else to do. but some had questions that made you But I am also the flame of hope you will uncomfortable and unwilling to answer. never snuff out, no matter how hard you try.

I am also still an individual, I am me. Can’t Some people saw you as different. Some you see? saw you as dangerous, but you were still a person. You were a person, a part of a I care for my people as whole, I care for people that chose to use me and my people that person as an individual that you refuse as a means to an end. And in doing so, you to acknowledge. I care for my nation, just denied me the value of my life. as much as you care for yours. The only difference is that I see you as a person. I Let’s fast-forward to this “progressive” value you simply because you are alive. I period of time we live in. You are still the do not wish to take that away from you. So same, you are still doing to me, what you why do you think that I am not entitled to did before. And will you continue to do this the same? in the future?

Maybe the first question I should have The perceived differences between you asked is do you value yourself? and I are no longer just skin deep. You still deny me, us, they, the right to be human. Do you see your worth?

The right to be ourselves, to express our individuality. The right to give ourselves Do you see at all? our own definitions, but we’re too Or should I give you my glasses? concerned with what you see in us. I want to be free, but I find myself searching for that freedom in you. Why?

We must applaud the efforts underway by Acadia to address these challenges.

Consultations about the state of the library have already begun and the issue has been raised at high-level Senate meetings. The redevelopment of Huggins Science Hall and the construction of the Huestis Innovation Pavilion and the Stevens Centre has had tremendous impact on the campus.

Mount Allison has begun the process of reimagining their library, with ongoing town halls fleshing out good ideas. The importance of this issue is understood but action has been incremental.

Here’s what we propose.

It starts with tearing down the Vaughan Memorial Library. This is not a new nor heretical idea. In fact, it was proposed almost twenty years ago by Robert A.M. Stern Architects and the multinational team designing the Campus Master Plan. The library then did not fit with the heritage of our university nor did it inspire. It was described twenty years ago as “unattractive, deteriorated, [and] shoddy”.

Ruvimbo Z. Chipazi Arts Editor I’m taking a moment to remove these glasses I wear because currently I do not need them to see what I see, but I wonder if you do?

Library cost approximately $1 million in 1960, or $8 million in 2018. A project like this would be much larger- perhaps $30 or $50 million.

This is completely possible.

The Campaign for Acadia has moved through its quiet phases for the past several years, going public weeks ago. With a goal of $75 million, $35 million has already been raised and $10 million pledged. Many of these donations come from Acadia alumni.

A project like a new library is one that major donors will want to contribute and something students desperately want. After all, who doesn’t want their name on a modern centre of learning?

Acadia has historic connections with both the Carnegie and Rockefeller foundations.

If that was twenty years ago, then we’re It was Andrew Carnegie, the 20th century twenty years too late.

American steel magnate, who completely bankrolled the construction of Carnegie The proposal is to move the library to the Science Hall in 1906. It was John D. centre of campus: Fountain Commons. This Rockefeller Jr., whose personal net worth would put the library in a physical centre of totalled more than $316 billion, who prominence and keep it close to all matched donations for the construction of academic buildings and residences. The a third College Hall after it burned down in design of Fountain Commons would also 1920. His gift would total $5.3 million in keep it in line with Acadia’s heritage and 2018. convey a proud symbol of our ability to The library has had a good life. But that persevere. The rear of the building would Acadia could leverage these historic life has come to an end. be extended back exactly fifty metres, just connections to solicit donations and create before Dennis House, to create the a modern learning commons. Coupled with Chronic lack of space has been a necessary facilities. This would involve strong movements from the alumni and persistent issue. Not just students packing digging into the side of the hill to ensure student communities, the necessary funds into cramped study rooms and the main the new building was not intrusive to the could be raised in two to three years, with level around exam time, but for collections rest of the university. The Great Hall of another two dedicated to construction. and archives. The two levels below the Fountain Commons would function as the entrance serve too many functions with too Main Reading Room, creating the It’s high time that we opened our eyes and little space. The archives in particular have university experience we all deserve and realized everything is not fine. Our library suffered as collections mount and benefitting generations to come. is a disgrace to our institution and to our conditions deteriorate. Wolfville summers reputation. Acadia has been a beacon of are notorious for being too hot and the Funding such a project would be progress for 180 years: admitting students winters too cold. With climate change monumental. The Emmerson Memorial regardless of their religious affiliation, making both worse, the conditions of Library cost $35,000 back in 1913, or Depression-era ‘Bookmobiles’, and the priceless pieces in our archives will $800,000 in 2018. The Vaughan Memorial Acadia Advantage are all testaments to deteriorate to crisis-level. our ability to create. A new, appropriately sized and designed facility will address the Students suffer more than anybody from a Library’s functional, spatial and poor library. People are the centre of any technological inadequacies in a way that a library. Lack of space to study during exam renovated Vaughan Library cannot. time is one thing, but basic things like ventilation to keep us healthy and The library of our university should be productive is another. The top two levels of a centrepiece, serving as a core for the the library in particular suffer a complete campus community. It should be something lack of ventilation, making it both we’re proud of, not something we settle for. unpleasant and unhealthy to work. A combination of chronic underfunding, It took us twenty years to act. A new reduced enrollment, a well-timed library is long overdue.

“Students suffer more than anybody from a poor library”

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R o a d Tr i p W i t h My C a t Chuhan Xiao Contributor At the end of this past summer, I went on a 10-day road trip around Nova Scotia with my boyfriend and our cat. We visited Sydney in Cape Breton, Antigonish, and Lunenburg. How did we end up going on a road trip? Well, we wanted to travel but we also didn’t want to leave our cat at home alone, so a road trip seemed perfect for us.

It’s flexible, convenient, and cost-effective.

We thought it would be cool to have a road trip around Nova Scotia, the place we’ve called home for four years now but haven’t had the chance to really look around.

Little tip for you: if you are planning on going on a road trip, packing light is key.

Being the overly cautious person that I am, I made a long list of things that were needed for the road trip. Food, blankets, emergency kits, clothes, makeup, and souvenirs. Lunenburg has the power to miscellaneous things got stuffed into two calm you, whether it’s eating lobster from or three duffle bags, which in turn were a balcony overlooking the ocean in the rain stuffed into our car with our cat’s carrier or wandering into a gallery and getting and his litter box. This made it difficult to invited by the owner to have tea (true find things for one, but also forced us to stories). We even extended our stay because make at least two trips to get all the things my boyfriend wanted to go out on a we needed into our hotel room. deep-sea fishing trip – I was the only person on the boat that got seasick and threw up, I thought that bringing our cat was going but it made for a very memorable trip). I to be the biggest challenge on the trip. am so happy that I discovered Lunenburg, a hidden gem in Nova Scotia. I will definitely For one, I thought it would be hard to find go back again and again, and even bring my pet-friendly hotels, but actually it wasn’t as family there when they come visit. difficult as I had imagined. The three hotels that we stayed at were all pet-friendly and This road trip has made me realize that it is very accommodating to our needs. I was possible to bring our cat with us when we also worried our cat wouldn’t adjust to the travel – it’s unusual, but it is possible. sudden change of environment.

Surprisingly, he did very well. He seemed This has opened up a lot more opportunities to adapt to different hotels very quickly, for future travels. More importantly, it grew usually he would be completely fine with my appreciation for Nova Scotia. I count the new environment by the next day. When myself very lucky to have the opportunity we went out, we left him in the hotel room to live and study in such a safe and with the “Do Not Disturb” sign on. beautiful place. That out of all the places in However, we occasionally took him out to the world I ended up in Nova Scotia makes parks and beaches (he had his leash on). He me feel truly feel blessed. was very curious about the outside world, and it seems he enjoyed the trip as much as we did!

We spent the most time in Lunenburg, which has become my favorite place in Nova Scotia. I was first drawn to Lunenburg by its views. I saw an online picture of the colorful harbor and thought: “Okay, maybe that’s only one part of the town, the ‘pretty’ part that photographers usually capture, but will the rest of the town really be that beautiful?” I was blown away by how developed Lunenburg is as a travel destination. The town is truly beautiful, with colourful houses, sea creature signs, delicious seafood restaurants that make you want to go back for more (I had the best seafood stew in Lunenburg), and gift shops that will fulfill your every need for

“It’s unusual, but its possible.”

Fall 2018

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Reflections on Race and Privilege

He had started that job 3 weeks prior to this incident, and for the entire time of his employment was subjected to race-based bullying by the same co-worker who shot him.

It has been widely reported in the media that he was called a nickname by the crew that rhymes with the “n-word”. His co-workers refused to Stacey (Jeffery) Dlamini try to pronounce his real name, or even use the Contributor shortened version that he commonly goes by, I am a person of many privileges. I was born and with a big smile and mischievous twinkly eyes which is “N.H.” The same co-worker stapled his and a mop. Over the next 6 years we added two jacket to the stairwell, and the other guys on the raised in Nova Scotia to loving parents who crew laughed about it. My son alleges that the more biological children to the mix and our provided me with all of my needs and some of shooter threw nails at him while he was my wants. Most people in my circle looked like family was complete. working, hit the steel toe of his boot with a me. Growing up, we never needed to consider hammer, and numerous times threated to issues of class or race, and I never experienced Our first days as a family were challenging puncture his hand with the staple gun. But ones. In addition to the challenges of having 3 what it felt like to be judged because of some different home languages in our household, poor perhaps the most overt example of racism prior attribute that I could not control. I am white. to being shot was when this same co-worker educational foundations for both adopted That is a fact. By extension this means I made a joke (and I use that term loosely) about experienced my world as somebody who fit into children, grief and childhood trauma, we were living in South Africa as a mixed family. South every white person deserving to own a black it; who knew that I belonged and had a place.

Africa, that beautiful, conflicted nation that has person. utterly captured my heart. We experienced the And yet in spite of (or perhaps because of?)

Did he tell us this was going on? No. Did he my upbringing I have cared deeply about equal beauty of South Africans as they embraced us, and the ugliness of racism as others rejected us. report it to his boss? No. He told himself treatment for people of all races, ethnicities, perhaps it was some kind of initiation; that if he We knew that racism could be both overt and sexual orientations and belief systems. I read kept his head down and kept working, it would widely the works of champions of social justice covert, and we had felt its sting. But we were determined to overcome it with our love and our pass. The guy would get tired of bullying him. such as “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” by Or he’d find a new victim. He thought that if story.

Martin Luther King Jr. and “I Write What I he caused trouble for a more senior person on Like” by South African anti-apartheid activist the crew, then as a new employee he could lose We did not leave South Africa for the reasons Steve Biko. I intentionally sought out his job. He thought that because his boss had that people usually leave. We didn’t run away relationships with people who were different from the crime, or the corruption, though these laughed about his jacket being stapled to the from me. are of concern to us. We were not seeking better stairwell, because he had witnessed at least some of the bullying behaviour and laughed about it, economic opportunities in a developed nation.

As a first-year student at Acadia, I saw a table that his boss would not act in his interest. So, he We came to Canada simply to be closer to my in the cafeteria occupied by students from the said nothing. He just waited for it to pass. But Canadian parents. And we wanted to give Caribbean. They looked like they were having it didn’t pass. This decision nearly cost him his fun; you could hear their laughter ripple across Nhlanhla the chance to hold a high school life. diploma, something that was not a possibility meal hall. How I wanted to be part of them!

After watching them for 3 days, I decided during lunch to pick up my tray and plunk myself down at the middle of their table. It was either going to go well, or very badly. Crossing a line, even the ones unspoken of, can be risky. It can feel uncomfortable. Even scary. My gamble paid off, and I established friendships with people I met at that table which extend to this day, more than 20 years later. At that table I learned to get comfortable talking about race. I learned to listen. I learned to relate, to connect. I learned to be comfortable being the only one in the group who looked like me.

for him in South Africa.

We knew that racism existed in every society. I have friends who are African Nova Scotians and I was aware of the challenges still faced by these communities in our province. Some thought we were making a mistake by not moving into a historically African-Nova Scotian community.

However, we had found the perfect house in Pictou, NS, and wanted to live where we chose.

We were under no illusions, but we did expect that after the civil rights gains of the past 60 years, after the courageous battles fought by people of colour here in Nova Scotia and across the country, that racism would be hiding underground. We expected it to be concealed.

We did not expect it to impact our family as it did.

When I talk about privilege, I’m now aware of the privileges I enjoy because of my race, my class, my nationality. However, it is living cross-culturally for more than 20 years and sharing my most intimate life experiences with people from across the African diaspora, that has On September 19th at approximately 3:30 pm, our now 21-year-old son Nhlanhla was shot been my greatest privilege. in the back with a high velocity nail gun by a co-worker on the construction site where he After graduating from Acadia University, I moved to South Africa. Within two years of my worked here in Pictou County. The 3.5 inch nail graduation, I married my soulmate, a young man punctured his lung. After he was shot, when he of Zulu origin. We danced down the aisle to the was lying on the ground screaming, the same co-worker pulled the nail from his back, creating voices of his elders singing a song that told of the exploits of his ancestors. Their pride in their a slow leak from his lungs to the cavity next to his chest wall. His boss then drove him home history, their culture, was palpable. Two years after that, we started our family. We adopted two to the rural community where he now lives. By children in the same week. Bijou was originally the time he received medical attention, 1.5 hours had passed. With each breath, the cavity next from the Democratic Republic of Congo, and was 15 years of age when she came to live with to his chest wall was filling up with air, and his lung was proportionally collapsing. The doctor us. She was not related to us by blood, but we said by the time the chest tube was inserted to loved her as if she were. Nhlanhla was my release the air, his lung was 25% collapsed. He husband’s youngest brother. He was 7 years of would be in hospital for 4 days. age when we adopted him, after the passing of their mother. He was obsessed with housework and spoke no English. He was this little boy

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The blatant, in-your-face kind of racism my son endured is something we did not expect. The fact that we could have lost him in this violent act has rocked us to our core. To think that there are people in our communities who hate to such an extent that they can injure or even kill someone you love, here in Nova Scotia in 2018, is a painful realization and one that surprises us. What has been almost as surprising and painful is the total lack of empathy that we have received from my son’s former employer.

However, what has warmed our hearts and carried us is the outpouring of love and support that we have received from people in our community, our province, across the country and because of the nature of our family, from around the world. We know that this act is not reflective of who we are as Nova Scotians and Canadians.

To people who look like me, to other white Nova Scotians and Canadians who are intent on stamping out racism and all forms of discrimination in our schools, our work places, or churches and communities, I humbly offer the following advice.

Listen. Be a safe person for people of colour, and indeed all those experiencing marginalization and oppression, to talk to. In the context of relationships, learn about their lives.

When they say they are experiencing discrimination, hear them. I mean, really hear them. Too many times as white people we don’t even let a person finish telling their story before we get defensive. “Oh no, that person was just being a jerk. It’s not necessarily racism.” And my favourite: “Why does everything have to be about race?” Black people have been black for their whole lives. They know their own experiences, and they are not telling you their story because they are holding you personally responsible for the actions of all white people.

They might be looking for someone to help carry the burden, to show some empathy. Be that person.

Do no harm. This one is simple. Don’t be that person who tells racist jokes, who mimics the accents of non-native English speakers, who puts out into the world discriminatory statements against one or another group of people. Let no such words cross your lips.

Do not tolerate discrimination of any kind in your circle. I remember hearing a story about Maya Angelou hosting a dinner party for some of her closest friends. At this party, someone made a derogatory remark about members of the LGBTQ+ community. She overheard the remark, stopped her conversation, commanded the attention of her guests and politely asked that person to leave her home. We have to stop allowing people in our lives, our family members, colleagues, and friends to say and do things that discriminate against others. It will be awkward. It will be uncomfortable. You might not be able to ask Grandma or Uncle Frank to leave your home, but you can firmly assert that such sentiments are not welcome in your home or in your presence.

I wonder how the story might have turned out had someone on Nhlanhla’s crew said to the Accused, “Hey, why don’t you leave the kid alone?” What if they’d come up to Nhlanhla and said, “You know man, you don’t have to accept this kind of treatment. Let’s do something about it together.” What if someone had shown him Still, there are lessons to be learned. And since I some compassion or solidarity? Or even in the can only speak for myself, here is what I aftermath, some empathy? It would feel personally am taking away from this different for us. experience. To my children, and to all young people of colour, I will say this. Please stop It is in our power to undertake small but putting your heads down and getting on with it. important actions that can stamp out racism and Nobody deserves the kind of treatment my son discrimination. And for this reason, we have received. It will not get better on its own. It will hope. I leave you with a quote from Martin only get better if we make it better together. And Luther King Jr., who said, “Power without love to make it better, we as parents and allies, we is reckless and abusive, and love without power as your community need to know what you’re is sentimental and anaemic. Power at its best is going through. Find someone safe to talk to, and love implementing the demands of justice, and talk. Get advice if you need to. Plan your next justice at its best is power correcting everything move if you can. But don’t keep silent. You do that stands against love.” not have to give racist individuals a probation period within which to abuse you before you react and respond. You are worth more than this.

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What’s Sub, Doc? 10 need-to-know Translations to Survive at Acadia University

fill a gap in your program

Rebecca Sheridan Contributor Arriving as an exchange student at Acadia was a bit like landing in a place with an entirely new language. Gone was the knowledge I thought I had gained from the campus maps; directions were given in code, places and classrooms hidden in strange, unfamiliar acronyms. With this guide, however, you too will be able to become a fluent member of this community:

KCIC Are you noticing a theme yet? Another acronym here at Acadia is the KCIC. Alternatively, if you’re looking for a mouthful, feel free to call it the K.C. Irving Environmental Science Centre.

Athabasca University has over 850 courses to choose from to meet your needs and courses start every month. AU has over 6,600 transfer agreements around the world (including with this institution).

The SUB

The Library

There’s a submarine on campus? Nope, just the SUB, or the Student’s Union Normally the staple in any academic Building. Situated near the BAC, this institution, the library is a place where you building houses many of the services might find a student, head buried in a book provided by the ASU – including, but not or Facebook, and quite probably stressing limited to, the Peer Support Centre, the out around exam time. Here in Wolfville, Women’s Centre, Safety & Security, and however, The Library can mean even more.

Cajun’s Clothing.

For one, the Vaughan Memorial Library, situated in the BAC, and for two, the ASU Library Pub, where there’s more booze than there are books.

The Acadia Student’s Union, or the ASU, is a student governed organisation dedicated The BAC to supporting the students at Acadia. The ASU can be found in the SUB. Is that a body part? Nope. The BAC is an acronym standing for the Beveridge Arts Centre. At the BAC, other than a variety of classes, you will also find the library, an art gallery, and a café.

Rojo

Axemen and Axewomen

Here at Acadia, rojo doesn’t mean red.

In fact, Rojo is a nickname for one of the residences on campus. Rojo, or Roy Jodrey is just the first accommodation on this list to go by two names.

Finally, you might have heard or seen these phrases plastered around the athletics complex, and even leaking onto the campus itself. These are the male and female mascots of Acadia.

Tully Like Rojo, Tully is another Acadia residence. Whilst the official name is Whitman House, this residence is known on campus as being the only all-female residence at Acadia today.

Barrax The final residence to be mentioned on this list, Barrax, is the alternative name for ‘War Memorial House’. The official name honours the Acadia students and alumni who served and died in the Second World War.

Cheaton Not a typo for adultery, the term Cheaton refers to two residences – Chipman House and Eaton House - and their shared rivalry. Now you need not be confused when the Cheaton Cup starts popping up in conversation.

[ Tip: if there is another term you hear around campus that you are unsure of, just ask! we’ve all been there. ] Fall 2018

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Transitory Bearings

Rejection

Ashley Wells Contributor

The manic mental laugh slithers in now The phrase spoken in hushed tones across town

I know it means nothing right here and now.

I’m a criminal, I know I need to stop and do the right thing, But when your arms wrap around me, I know I can’t.

But, regardless of that I’m fooling myself

It is an endless cycle.

I’m stuck on rinse and repeat.

To think on this phrase, some would call it pathetic or a healthy introspection

I’m not yours anymore, so why do you make me feel like I still am?

“No thanks”

We go with the flow Take on our interruptions Emotion first, all reasons second.

There are no guidelines Mad in love with the surprise Mushing together these separate lives.

That typically would never cross in their time.

I don’t care what the answer is I wonder what I could’ve done better!

Monkey On My Back Dan Simpkin Contributor I am not sure when, why or how

I’ll stay lost in yours

Even though I promise I could fill a one

But it all feels real now

So as you point me to your thighs

million page book

This girl is so indescribably mysterious

I’ll make you squeal

And easily have you be all it talked about

And to describe it through fallacy,

Just to remind myself every day

she’s got me delirious

That holy fuck this is how love feels

I knew I loved you when your eyes disAnd you can see this girl is beauty be it on

Of your flawless perfect body

her face or written in her scars

I’m sure they will all just call me crazy

She’s got me wrapped up like yarn and I’m

And they’ll all think I’m a joke

tied to her fingers

as you’re kissing on their thighs

But you can’t help but smile at all the

As it has been a couple days but the smell

cigarettes

of sex still lingers

And you don’t believe in perfection

that we don’t even smoke

Or lost in someone’s laughs,

But you’ll adore this affection That goes with proving you’re my very own perfect And I don’t have any clue how, But I will eventually teach you to learn it

And despite you never seeing through my eyes

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Fall 2018

water color painting by Jordan Mahaney

But I’m suddenly getting in the way, suddenly messing up.

You tell me it’s okay, tell me I was just caught up in the moment, But I know that it isn’t because, I know I’d do it again.

I try to resist, try not to make waves,

Weathering the Storm Thomas Morgan Creative Editor

tracted me from the stars And this all goes with the study

someone’s eyes

I try to push you away, try to tell you stop, But you keep pushing, keep prodding my heart.

Searching for someone else to share a life

All these fine lines.

All these fine lines.

Crossed and not defined All the fine lines

Of saying that you really can get lost in

Rylie Moscato Contributor

Every time I walk on the lonely path

Lines are blurred From errors occurred By the universe’s strategic Mind that keeps us combined.

There is a cliché

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Paramour

Jeremy Ayotte Contributor

There are greens in the blues, browns in the frowns of everyone around and thats okay

I will take this chance to remind you that

athcreative

It’s weird to miss our future

With all the stories we’ve shared

Because I loved to watch it start

And all the lessons I’ve took

And some won’t see the picture

I like to think of you as a million pages on

But to me we’re making art

an unwritten book The hardest part is accepting I will never figure you out

And since you’ve been gone I have learned to smile when I look back Because even though you aren’t there There’s still this monkey on my back

There have been too many nights Where I can remember thinking how nice it would be To draw my last breath To have my heart slowly fade to a quiet slumber To sit in the rain, look up, and drown in something other than this sadness But what a fool I was, Because I can stand here and tell you that Once those clouds pass, that sun blazes above, And the puddles begin to get smaller, The children come out to play.

The flowers seem to bloom even brighter.

You’ll look down at your shadow, and fall in love With the image of it’s movement on the ground.

And you’ll feel this need to look up at the sky Yelling at whoever – whatever – is up there; “I’m happy to be alive, And you won’t be seeing me any time soon.”

Collage by Aqila Walji

Fall 2018

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athfeatures The next issue I’ll discuss is basic. Stop treating student employees like they’re there for no other purpose than to get coffee. Being treated as “less than” is one thing that I’ve heard often. To employers: a student is not a threat to your position.

Christopher Vanderburgh They are not just there to run errands. Most Features Editor importantly, they deserve the same amount of respect that you would give to anyone I have one simple question: why does it in your workplace. A good example of this seem that companies and their managers can be found in the article titled “What treat students and recent graduates like I Learned as a UN Intern,” where Colin they have nothing to offer?

Mitchell speaks of his experience this summer at the United Nations. He says, Perhaps I’ve been out of the job market for “the consistent lack of respect and too long. I’ve been self employed in the professional courtesy afforded to interns landscaping industry for five years, with and young professionals is noticeable.” plans to continue with this in the future.

With this type of treatment present even at Because of my lack of involvement in the the UN, it is clear that this is not just a standard job market, I’ve had the problem, but is wholly inappropriate. opportunity to silently observe friends and colleagues work through being employed In my personal experience, with work or in a variety of fields. I’ve also worked with with my own business, I’ve experienced seasonal contractors who look at students similar treatment. Respect should be the as basic labourers who know nothing or add baseline, regardless of title. If this isn’t little value. Not all employers are the same standard operating procedure at your place and many do a very good job of managing of work, some drastic changes in corporate young people, but I would say that there culture should be in order. Young are some significant problems that need professionals should not under any discussing. circumstances have to tolerate outright disrespect. Managing students is not hard.

All of the problems discussed in this article Regular performance evaluations and are a retelling of experiences heard through interviews with management that they do speaking with dozens of young not directly report to can be a useful way of professionals. Not all the problems are ensuring that progress is adequate. There is present in every workplace, nor are any of a very fine line between successful them mutually exclusive, but they are worth goal-oriented management and wasteful a serious look. They are important because micromanaging, and they are causing employers to miss out on incredibly valuable assets.

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Hire Students

First and foremost, the student employee is generally not provided with tasks that meet their ability. It appears that student employees are given tasks that management deems they can reasonably handle. This is usually an excellent management strategy, as it is incredibly frustrating to be set up for failure. However, it’s important to remember that most students can handle more than one might think. We handle complextasks all the time at school, so why wouldn’t we be able to handle the complex tasks at a place of business?

Another frustrating phenomena that comes with being employed during or shortly after your studies is that companies don’t put students in leadership roles. This is a huge mistake. Those of us who list “leadership” as a skill on our CVs are very serious about it. We wouldn’t list it as a skill if we weren’t able to do it. Assigning a student a leadership role or making them the head of a team is something I would recommend to any business. You can guarantee that if someone has completed a degree, they have worked as a member of a group or managed a multi-faceted project.

Give students and post-grad employees a team and see how they do. If their work isn’t up to standard, let them know. In many cases, there is a lot to lose with these types of projects; as long as they understand that, they won’t let you down.

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“The things that employers should take away from this article are simple: Stop offering students unpaid internships disguised as “valuable work experience.” If you employ unpaid interns, you’re ripping them off.”

athfeatures Figure it out Frosh Christopher Vanderburgh Features Editor

understanding that line is essential to making use of young talent. There is a reason that I am so passionate about young professionals and it comes from running my own business.

As the owner of a small landscaping business, I have only had positive experiences with students. When my two friends and I started the business, we made a commitment to remaining entirely student owned and operated. What I have found while employing and working with students is simply incredible. I’ve been able to learn what makes them tick and how they best succeed. Based on everything I’ve seen, there are some things that are constant.

the cost of their labour. In a similar vein to my first point, pay your students what you know they’re worth. Speaking from experience, offering students a bonus is a huge motivator, but nothing beats paying them a few dollars more than the industry standard for their position. You’ll have an employee that knows they’re valued because they’ll see it in their wallet.

Consider money that you spend on a student or recent graduate as an investment.

If businesses invest in training students, they will quickly see a substantial return on that investment as the capabilities of their student employees expand.

Give students roles that see them leading in some capacity. Students are young and they Students will work nine-to-five and they’ll know things that senior employees also work five-to-nine with no complaints. probably don’t. I imagine companies could A first-year business major created a save at least some money by letting the two-page formula that my business still young guns call a couple shots. uses to calculate estimates. A sociology major designed the company logo which Most importantly, foster a work is used on everything from our website to environment of mutual respect. Every time our business cards. My student employees I hire a student, I tell them: “You don’t have excelled in a variety of tasks resulting work for me, you work with me.” This in thousands of dollars in sales for my attitude has taken me far. I hold them to a company. I have even put students in certain standard of quality, and they hold leadership positions that involved me to that same standard. This results in supervising sites with several employees work that the entire company can be proud completing work on a provincial contract. of. It makes students more comfortable with coming to me with problems, and with I rely on employees’ ability to learn solutions. quickly. Hiring students has worked out for me because students have spent huge Obviously there are some standard amounts of time learning quickly. boundaries – they still report to me and I Whatever degree a student is pursuing, still manage them. However, when you you can be sure that they have an intricate show your student employees that they are understanding of how they learn best, and valued, that they are capable of leading, it regularly shows. It is an understatement and that their opinions are considered in to say that students have been integral to decision making, they will represent a huge the success of my business. return on investment for your company.

The things that employers should take away from this article are simple: Stop offering students unpaid internships disguised as “valuable work experience.”

If you employ unpaid interns, you’re ripping them off. I would advise business owners against taking advantage of students in this way primarily because it’s wrong and also because unpaid internships are illegal. There are significant subsidies and tax credits for those that wish to hire students that can help recover

To conclude, for me, students are not a suggestion but a prescription for success. If students can generate thousands of dollars in revenue for a small business like mine, think about what they could do for a business like yours. I’m not suggesting anything unreasonable, and neither is any other student. Move forward in your employment practices with that in mind.

I would like to begin this article by welcoming all of our incoming students to Acadia and Wolfville. Whether or not you’re planning on being here for four years (or more), your life as you know it will not be the same by the time you leave us. After spending nearly five years at this institution, I’ve rounded up some tips to share so that you incoming students can avoid some major gaffes while you’re here.

I could say that this article is going to set you up for academic success or an unforgettable university experience, but it won’t. The beauty of Acadia is that from your first class to your very last exam, it’s your job to make university what you want it to be. But, whoever you are and wherever you’re from, there are some things that are helpful to know as you embark on this journey. I won’t say one point is more important than another, but as always, we should start with why you’re here: your education.

Depending on the requirements of your degree, some of these suggestions will be more difficult to implement than others.

In general, try to avoid classes beginning at 8:30 in the morning or ending at 10 at night. It seems that the rates of absences increase in these time slots. In other words, you probably won’t go, and if you do it will be an irregular occurrence. Your schedule will be occasionally hectic, especially if you have back to back lectures in different buildings. If I could recommend a classroom to avoid it would be Huggins 10 in the fall semester. It has a famous oven-like quality in early September, something those of you in introductory psychology have likely already experienced. Other than that, you’re safe to take a class in whatever time slot you like best. If you get particularly lucky, you may even wind up with a schedule that gives you a few days off.

Another important aspect of your time here will be assigned readings, which can come in a number of formats, but none costlier than your textbooks. Much of this will again depend on your program, but you can be sure that you’ll spend a minimum of three hundred dollars on textbooks per semester if you buy them all from the bookstore. However, there are ways to avoid spending so much on books. It often helps to ask your professor if you’ll be using the assigned textbooks a lot. If the answer is anything but “yes,” it’s probably safe to say you can simply borrow it from someone else in your class or take it out at the library if it’s available. Buying used textbooks is a great way to save money as well – you can save anywhere from twenty to seventy percent if you buy them from a

buy and sell group on Facebook and buying them on Amazon is sometimes cheaper as well. In select cases there may even be a free online PDF – you’ll have to search hard for free versions, but when you consider that some textbooks can cost hundreds it is definitely worth your precious time to find as many free versions as you can.

When it comes to classes, you should also maintain a good relationship with your professors. They will dictate both your grade and your experience in their classroom, so ask upper year students which professors they recommend and which they avoid. I can tell you that after four years here you’ll know each one of your professors and their quirks. Speak with your professors during their office hours as often as you think is reasonable: seeing my professors in their offices has saved me hours of work and has usually resulted in improved grades. Acadia is particularly unique for the access that our students have to professors and you would be wise to use it often.

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“University is what could be categorized as a “challenge by choice” environment.”

one! There are also a number of excellent volunteer groups, for example S.M.I.L.E., which does incredible work for our After you finish all your course work, you community, or the Acadia Food Cupboard which opened just last year. Whatever it is will have to write one or more exam per that you like to do, you should seek out a semester, and the recipe for success on club that you like. Two personal these finals is very simple. Start studying favourites of mine are the Acadia Model two weeks before your first exam, sleep, eat, study, write, repeat. Your health during United Nations Association and the Acadia exam season should be your first priority. I Rugby Football Club. Both are very good would love studying if it weren’t so tedious examples of clubs and communities that and time consuming, but it has to be done. can open interesting doors for you.

The Ath has published articles in the recent past detailing how best to study and where This article would be distinctly lacking if the best study spots on campus are, but my I didn’t mention the social aspect of your advice would be to find out what works for time here. Weekends are always fun at you. Study in the library, study in Just Us! Acadia. Go out with your friends, whether it’s to a house party or the Vil – all work cafe, study in the KCIC, study wherever you find yourself most comfortable. Study and no play makes Jack a dull boy. I should also remind you to “keep it social,” but that when it’s convenient, and study often. mantra is unlikely to save you from violent alcohol induced illness or the “Irish flu” Everything I can tell you about your classes, exams, professors and everything that is likely to follow. I would say that I’ve been successful at moderating my intake else about academics will never save you from the mandatory eight-thirty lecture or but like any student there have been the three-hundred-dollar biology textbook, mornings when I’ve worn sunglasses in but it might make life a little easier. If you class. The best practice for these moments is black coffee and Tylenol. Have can manage to show up to class on time, take half-decent notes, and perform well on responsible fun and enjoy the nightlife. your finals, you’re most of the way there.

Regardless of how closely you follow the But, with all that Acadia has to offer, it would be the greatest mistake of your life above suggestions, there are two things that to come here to spend four years with your will take you far here. First, jump into all university has to offer with both feet. By nose in the books. that I mean you should do things all the University is what could be categorized as way. Get as involved as you can. Run for a “challenge by choice” environment. This a position on the Acadia Student’s Union, means that you as an incoming student are write for the Ath, start a club, go to as many sports events as you can, go out with in a very unique position. If you want to take it easy over four years and do the bare friends, talk with your professors about minimum, more power to you – but I can’t things that aren’t class related. I can’t guarantee you that you’ll succeed in imagine that’s the case. There are endless everything you do here, but I can guarantee opportunities to challenge and enrich you that if you jump into life you’ll never yourself through Acadia’s many clubs, be unhappy, and you’ll certainly never be societies, and other extracurricular bored. happenings. If you like writing, there is a club for that; if you like debate, there is a club for that. There is a club for everything, My last piece of advice is that you should and an exhaustive list of Acadia’s clubs can do your best to be kind to one another. Take ten seconds out of your day and ask that be found here, but if you can’t find a club that you think fits with your interests, start person from your class how they’re doing.

Hold the door for your professors, they’re people too. Do a favour for someone without expecting anything in return.

The challenge that you’ve undertaken by coming to university is significant, and the journey that you’ll be on over the next four years will be difficult. You will have moments when you wonder why you came here, you will have times when you’ve gone without sleep, you will miss deadlines or get grades that aren’t as high as you wanted them to be but if you walk into this place with kindness, you can’t lose. You can be sure that a small act of kindness will make somebody’s day.

To conclude, congratulations on choosing this extraordinary place. You do belong here. You will get your degree. You will figure it out.

“jump into all university has to offer with both feet.”

Fall 2018

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A Students’ Guide to the Legalization of Marijuana “The ultimate goals of the federal government are to keep cannabis out of the hands of A key campaign promise of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Party of youth, keep profits out Canada in the 2015 Federal Election, the government delivered on legalization with of the pockets of theenactment of the Cannabis Act earlier this year. The Cannabis Act outlines the criminals, and protect strict regulations that have been put in place across Canada and allows provincial and public health and safety territorial governments to enact further restrictions. The ultimate goals of the by allowing adults federal government are to keep cannabis access to legal out of the hands of youth, keep profits out of the pockets of criminals, and protect cannabis.” public health and safety by allowing adults access to legal cannabis.

Subject to provincial or territorial regulations, adults over the age of 18 years On Acadia University’s campus, the Board of age (19 years of age in Nova Scotia) can of Governors has adopted newly updated Substance Use and Share the Air policies now legally do the following: that outline the restrictions that apply to all members of the Acadia community.  Possess up to 30 grams of legal Students who contravene these policies cannabis in public; may be punished under applicable  Share up to 30 grams of legal cannabis municipal, provincial or federal laws and/or the Non-Academic Judicial Process. with other adults; The Substance Use Policy prohibits the production, growth, sale, purchase and use  Buy dried or fresh cannabis and cannabis oil from a provincially-licensed of cannabis (including edibles and oils) in all academic, service, public assembly and retailer; residence buildings on campus. The Acadia  Grow, from licensed seed or seedlings, University Substance Use Amnesty / Good up to 4 cannabis plants per residence for Samaritan Protocol has also been established to protect students who seek personal use; emergency medical treatment for an  Make cannabis products, such as food individual in need. It seeks to minimize the potential for disciplinary consequences in and drinks, at home. such cases.

The Share the Air Policy extends the existing restrictions around the smoking of tobacco and e-cigarettes to cannabis.

The prohibition on such consumption on campus grounds and in personal vehicles parked on campus grounds has been broadened to include cannabis, joining the likes of e-cigarettes, waterpipes, and other combustibles including tobacco and vape (“juice”).

More information on the rules and regulations surrounding cannabis on campus can be found on the Acadia Health Services website and by contacting the Department of Residence Life.

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Greed and Business: A Film Study Sulman Qureshi Contributor

Oliver Jacob News Editor On October 17th , 2018, Canada became the second country in the world to fully legalize the possession and consumption of recreational cannabis, commonly known as marijuana or weed.

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“Greed, for a lack of a better word, is good.”

A Win on All Fronts Kyle Thompson-Clement Opinions Editor Maxime Bernier’s departure from the Conservative Party of Canada comes as no great surprise. Many Conservatives are worried this means a weaker party overall.

I’ve heard numbers as large as ten percent of the Conservative Party base will support Bernier over their own party. However, I believe Bernier’s departure is a win for all parties in Canada, including his own.

Here’s why it’s a win for everyone.

Liberals: Unsurprisingly, the Liberals win the most. The Conservative Party--with the exception of Jack Layton’s NDP-- is the only party capable of really challenging the Liberals in the upcoming election. Bernier’s departure must have certainly raised a few glasses as it almost guarantees Trudeau will see another term as Prime Minister.

However, the Liberals must be aware that Bernier took a large majority of the far right vote. For the Liberals, this likely means that the Conservatives will shift slightly towards the centre. This could be an issue since that’s the type of voter the Liberals are trying to secure.

means that the Liberal government now needs to defend from two major fronts.

Conservatives: The Conservatives likely suffered the biggest blow with Bernier’s departure however it’s not all bad. Shear, whose leadership was questioned by some Mad Max supporters, now is the king of his own castle. In other words, he no longer has to worry about division within the party and the constant undermining of his authority as party leader. While this certainly will hurt when looking for votes it means that the party can focus on issues party members are passionate about. The result? A more united party overall, and policy that focuses more specifically on conservative issues.

Bernier supporters: Free market enthusiasts can be rest assured that they now have a political party who wishes to pursue the glories of the open and freemarket. Additionally, parties seeking to secure an election will have to in some way address the economic values of Bernier’s supporters.

NDP: Leader Jagmeet Singh can rest easy Its a win for everybody. knowing he now only has to content with one major party to get elected as the NDP’s first Prime Minister. Additionally, this now

Those famous words spoken by Gordon Gekko, a successful corporate raider and stock trader in the 1987 movie Wall Street, make up one of the most famous quotes in film history and are remembered by business students and businesspeople to this day. However, most do not fully grasp the meaning of this film. The movie is about Bud Fox, a junior stockbroker who idolizes Gordon Gekko and wants to be as successful as him one day. Bud gains Gekko’ trust by providing him with insider information on Bluestar Airlines, a company for which his father works. Gekko then takes him under his wing, showing him the inner workings of Wall Street and how to cheat it. In the end, both Bud and Gordon are caught by the authorities and arrested for financial crimes. Many viewers of this film remember the scenes in which Gekko and Bud are making money and are the kings of the world, but are quick to forget what they did to get there.

prestige that becoming cold-blooded and ruthless afforded Gekko, but most people forget the part of the movie where the consequences included severe punishments like jail time, massive fines, and thousands of people losing their jobs over greedy wrist. The consequences of greed in this and selfish actions. movie are not thoroughly portrayed to the audience.

The 2011 film Margin Call shows a Wall Street investment bank right before the start Finally, the 2013 film The Wolf of Wall of the 2007-2008 Financial Crisis. In this Street depicts an ambitious Wall Street film, a risk analyst, Peter Sullivan, comes to stockbroker who created his own brokerage the realization that mortgage-backed securi- firm, Stratton Oakmont, and grew it into a ties (which caused the crisis) have become respectable firm on Wall Street. Jordan extraordinarily volatile, to the point where Belfort, the founder of Stratton Oakmont, they are deemed toxic assets. These toxic was a stockbroker at L.F. Rothschild until assets have the potential to bankrupt the Black Monday in 1987, when the stock company, which leaves management scram- market crashed, and the firm closed its bling to deal with this incredibly urgent doors. During his tenure at Rothschild he issue. Instead of warning the market and became accustomed to the stockbroker informing the government about mortgage- culture of excessive drug use and sex. He backed securities, the firm began his career at a very small brokerage decides to hold a fire sale that involves firm where he was introduced to penny dumping these assets onto their clients, stocks. The difference between penny thereby removing them from their own stocks and regular stocks is that penny books. The executive board congratulates stocks are not traded on the public stock Sullivan for finding these assets in their exchange and the broker makes 50% holdings and decides to promote him to a commission on the shares he sells, whereas senior position. Depicted in the movie is publicly traded stocks only give the broker the brilliance of a hard-working risk analyst a 1% commission. Jordan had the who caught on to specific assets that would brilliant idea of opening his own firm where cause harm to the company, and the result he would primarily push “garbage stocks of his hard work leading to a promotion. to garbage men.” This is an important part What we also see are massive layoffs of this film, as Jordan was pushing these within the firm, including that of Peter’s “garbage” stock to vulnerable, lower-class friend Seth. Peter was one of the few people that hoped to make some extra people able to keep his job with his money in order to support their families company. This part of the film seems to or pay off mortgages. Later on, Jordan demonstrate that caring about the develops a “pump-and-dump”-like scheme, well-being of others over financial gain which involved pitching people from the leads to being fired. What this movie fails upper-class well-known, publicly-traded to really drive home is the consequence of stocks in order to gain their trust, and then greedy actions. It presents the plan to dump starting to sell them the penny stocks toxic assets on unknowing clients only as without revealing what exactly they were. brilliant because it allows for the bank to He knew this is illegal but claimed, “I’ll get rid of these assets and generate some spend their money better anyway.” revenue in the process.

The movie promotes the lavish lifestyle of Gordon Gekko by showing him using the latest technology (at the time) and being able to buy anything he pleases. It depicts Bud Fox also becoming a wealthy man and having a luxurious lifestyle. It shows the fancy clothes, the expensive cars, the five-star houses, unlimited wealth, trophy wives, etc. But, as the movie continues, we get to know the true nature of Gordon Gekko’s character. Gekko completes a successful takeover of Bluestar Airlines, but instead of trying to improve the company, he explores the option that would benefit him the most: to dissolve the company and sell off all their assets, leaving thousands of people unemployed. This allowed Gekko to access the cash in the company’s pension plan. This is a powerful statement on Gekko’s character, as he has no compassion for the employees he has laid off – he is only thinking about the money he The dark nature of these actions and their will earn. impact on the clients are again not explored in the movie. We all know that some banks Here is the point when most viewers fail to failed and closed down (such as the Lehmrealize the evil and twisted nature of Goran Brothers), and others were bailed out by don Gekko. Instead, the notion that the government (such as JP Morgan) and being cruel to people is a part of business are functioning better than ever today. And, and must be done in order to make you while bailouts were given to those comricher is accepted. Bud is eventually caught panies using taxpayer dollars, the clients by the Securities and Exchange who were sold toxic assets did not receive Commission (SEC) and agrees to wear a bailouts of their own. Instead, their tax wire in order to entrap Gekko by asking dollars were used to refinance the investhim about his insider trading history. The ment banks that sold these assets to them. final scene shows Bud walking up to a The movie also did not address the fact that courtroom and ultimately being imprisoned. most of the senior executives did not get It is implied that Gekko also goes to jail. punished or go to jail because of the actions Everybody remembers the lifestyle and they took, but instead received a slap on the

Monaco when the bank was forced to forfeit millions of illegal dollars because the person in charge of Jordan’s account passed away. His greed ultimately led to the arrest of most of his employees, jail time, and financial losses for his clients.

His clients were in possession of worthless stocks that were never going to make them money, but they were swindled into paying thousands of dollars for them. Jordan’s wife asks for a divorce and his family life crumbles.

When speaking with many fellow business students, many glorify the life of Jordan Belfort and the prestige he had because he became a millionaire. Many also forget or ignore the impacts of his actions on the people he affected.

What all three films have in common is the exploration of the minds and inner workings of top Wall Street executives.

They show that most of these executives lacked any form of moral compass and made decisions based on money rather than ethics. As a business student watching these films, an image was created in my mind that in order to be successful in the game, I must become cold-hearted and greedy. I hear many of my peers saying they want to be like Belfort or Gekko, minus the part where they get caught and go to jail, but what many of my peers fail to understand is that there is never a happy ending once you are becoming greedy and fuel that greed by any means necessary.

The intended messages of these films are to be driven and have ambition, but not to let greed into your head, or it could lead to rash decisions with the aim of earning more money. Living your life without a The Wolf of Wall Street showed Jordan moral compass results in the collapse of all Belfort’s multi-million-dollar house, his custom-made yacht (with a helicopter pad), your life’s work – from Jordan Belfort’s brokerage firm, Stratton Oakmont, in The his white Ferrari, and his ability to spend Wolf of Wall Street to the entire American money recklessly without any real economy, as seen in Margin Call. consequence. Jordan’s greed leads him down a dark path of illegal actions that are eventually noticed and investigated by the So, what’s the message of this article?

Well, greed, for a lack of a better word, is SEC and the FBI. Jordan advises his employees to be greedy in order to be the best bad. and to solve their problems by being rich.

He says, “There’s no nobility in poverty. I’ve been a poor man, and I’ve been a rich man. And I choose rich every fucking time.” His greed almost led him to die on his yacht: at one point in the movie, he had to rush to Switzerland from

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People over Policy Jonah van Driesum Contributor

At its core, public policy is supposed to the serve greater good, and no political party or ideology has a monopoly on good or bad ideas. Many politicians are elected and strive to do the best they can, while others seek only to better themselves.

Every aspect of politics has positives and negatives, but two key elements, the policies and the politicians, define the outcome. I have often debated with myself and others about which is more important, than on what their exact ideology is, is the the policies being advocated or those doing incumbent President of the United States, Donald Trump. Despite evidence of the actual advocating. corruption and his lack of a moral Despite the conflict in my head, I can feel compass, Trump ultimately won the election because conservative voters in the the truth in my gut that those we elect to United States decided to vote based on the represent us are more important than the policies they believed he would implement policies themselves. While policy is over his apparent fitness (or lack thereof) important, and the goals set in a piece legislation are not something to be ignored, for office. The consequences of this choice based on stated policy versus apparent the overall principles largely do not integrity of the candidate are that the world change. What is important are the details is under threat from Trump’s erratic of individual pieces of policy and legislation, that are often decided through behaviour and many crisis or potential crisis are going unsolved. Furthermore, negotiation and compromise between burdened by the corruption and politicians. Politicians who serve the constituents and their principles, or at least incompetence and corruption he has failed to pass a significant portion of the try to make the best decision in a situation with only bad options, will serve legislation he promised his voters, whether it is health care reform, a massive jobs their constituents and nations well, even program, the construction of the border if every choice they make is not the right wall, or the backfiring of his trade war. one. On the other hand, politicians only looking towards the next election, while likely not destroying the country will still The flip side of this is seen in Trump’s predecessor, President Barack Obama. weaken it, and leave a widening partisan Obama was elected because of who he was and moral gap in the governance of our and the change his evident integrity, society. intelligence, and optimism represented.

I am someone who, generally speaking, leans from a moderate to a progressive viewpoint on politics. I would far rather have an honest, honourable, moral conservative or socialist in office than someone who holds my exact views but is morally and politically corrupt. It is as simple as knowing that, while the politician who does not share my values is less likely to pursue or implement policies that favour my political leanings, a politician with integrity beyond the parameters of party policy can be trusted to uphold democratic norms and maintain the public interest above all else.

Meanwhile, I may love the policies that the immoral candidate stands for but I can neither trust that politician, once in office, to implement those policies or to maintain the basic democratic principles which make up the foundation of citizens’ faith in the integrity of government.

“I would far rather have an honest,

honourable, moral conservative or

socialist in office

than someone who

holds my exact views but is morally and

politically corrupt.”

A perfect example of why it is more important to vote based on who is running

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Because of his positive character qualities, he was able to provide competent management for the world’s most powerful economy during the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. He was able to make changes to healthcare, foreign policy, and the economy, even when, for most of his time in office, the opposition controlled the legislative branch of the United States and actively worked to thwart many of his measures.

Politicians and policy are both essential factors to consider when casting your ballot. However, despite the importance of policy, it is far more important to consider the quality of the people for whom we cast our votes above every detail of the policies they support.

The Case for Residential Colleges Colin Mitchell Editor in Chief

Our university has always been a residential one. If you come to Acadia you live in residence. That was part of the deal at least for the first year or two.

Living in residence is one of the quintessential tenets of the university experience, along with embarrassing dances during Welcome Week, late night pizza runs, and raucous end of class celebrations. The way residence has been done hasn’t changed at Acadia for a while, simply because it’s been done well.

the same time, with Seminary described as “without a rival of its kind in the Lower Provinces, perhaps in the Dominions” by Albert Coldwell, Wolfville town clerk and university professor. When Acadia College became Acadia University in 1891 the fledgling university was building its residential capacity. The Academy Residence, now Horton Hall, Whitman Hall (Tully) and Willett House all opened in 1915 to help ease the strain of new students.

Little building occurred until the end of the Second World War, when War Memorial House (Barrax) was opened.

A building spree began at Acadia in the 1960s, injected by generous funds from the provincial government. Chipman House, Dennis House, Eaton House, Chase Court, Crowell Tower, and Cutten House were all opened within a 25-year period. Christofor Hall and Roy Jodrey Hall were recent additions, opening in 2002 and 2003 respectively.

Challenges have since emerged with the system. Some describe their residences as overwhelming, others as isolating. There is a chronic lack of student supports on campus, causing appointments at the student clinic and mental health centre to be booked months in advance. Some residences have even been declared uninhabitable: Raymond House was evacuated early in the 2017-18 academic year due to exposed wiring and living hazards. Students who move off campus report a disconnect with their on-campus counterparts.

Numerous residences suffer from underequipped facilities and a persistent lack of funding to address key issues.

athopinions

www.theath.ca

University’s mission, goals and objectives while tending to the specific needs of the students who live within the college. Each college has a distinct physical space, its own administrative structure and a social rhythm.”

Despite Acadia’s small size, he noted that “the residential college system will allow us to bring our hands-on approach to an even more manageable level”. The first envisioned college on campus was ‘West College’, composed of Eaton House, Christofor House, Roy Jodrey Hall, and Chipman House.

Coupled with the creation of Clark Commons, the goal was to provide a hub for fitness, recreation, and social activities within the wider university. It was supposed to open in 2003.

The proposed development of a residential college system under the Residence Advantage Program would have seen the construction of six new residences and five new commons buildings across campus from 20032008 in line with the Campus Master Plan. Ideally 75-80% of all Acadia students would stay on campus for all four years, working their way up through different styles of residences.

In creating such a system, the goal was to become North America’s premier residential university modelled after the finest universities in the United Kingdom and the United States.

Our university has since evolved.

President Gail Dinter-Gotlieb halted any changes to the proposed residential college system and since then the project has stalled.

I propose we pick it back up.

The process would start with the cre-

The residential college system gives us an answer.

The move to a residential college system was one envisioned in the early 2000s by then-President Kelvin Ogilvie. The Campus Master Plan envisioned a grand total of 5-6 colleges at Acadia, each one composed several halls for a grand total of 400 students per college. Colleges are not buildings – they are societies. The goal of each was to create a decentralized Beginning as a primarily residential self-sustaining community within the university, Acadia almost always housed undergraduates on its campus. university that has the resources to take care of its students. With a central Some of the first students lived in the Horton Academy Boarding House, then administration that is at times strapped a separate entity from Acadia College. for cash, the time is now to take Situated right behind University Hall’s matters into our own hands and work for our own wellbeing. predecessor, which burned down in 1877, it was only supposed to be a This is not to say that the system does temporary measure supplemented by not work. Rather, this is to say that the completion of Acadia’s boarding house. This building suffered a similar the system can be improved. Ask our fate and burned down in 1887. By then Director of Student Services, James Sanford.

Chipman Hall existed, built near Horton Academy to support the influx In a Spring 2003 edition of the Acadia of students.

Bulletin, he wrote about the exciting next step in Acadia’s future. He noted The Acadia Ladies’ Seminary was opened in 1879 with the intent to house that “the college system is intended to create small communities – ‘colleges’ – the growing number of female within the broader university students. Both Seminary and the new College Hall were built approximately community. The college promotes the

“Some residences have even been declared uninhabitable: Raymond House was evacuated early in the 2017-18 academic year due to exposed wiring and living hazards.”

ation of 5-6 college organizations. Each would be led by a Head, who would be a faculty member that oversees the administrative functions of the college and report to the administration. An advisor would work within the residence and be responsible for student welfare, ensuring that students are simply doing well. Naming the colleges would be easy: Ogilvie, Burnham, Ivany, DeWolfe, Perkin, and Oliver are only a few of many names to choose from.

could live in on-campus apartments undisturbed by nosy RAs. Because a college is less a building than a society, each student would move from first-year residence to a second-year residence, to upper-year private apartments with friends of their choosing, while staying on campus.

community spanning across the entire university grounds and beyond, in addition to giving them privileges to use each college’s respective facilities.

Colleges would represent a microcosm of the university, composed of students of all ages, from all regions and all programs to ensure genuine diversity.

Each college would be unique, tailored to its history, culture, and traditions.

Endowments would be set up for each college, with students paying a small College Fee at the beginning of the Next would be creating the physical year. Within ten years, each college space. After all, the same architects would have a flourishing endowment who redesigned Yale’s newest that would be able to sustain its residential colleges also designed the students through scholarships, KCIC. West College already has all the continued infrastructure improvements, facilities they need. It would be up to and social supports. Existing residences the administration, donors, and students would come together to build their own to decide how the remaining college communities. Tully and colleges looked. The construction of Seminary? Cutten and Tower? Chase new residences in the fields between Court and Raymond? The possibilities Chase Court and Crowell Tower are endless. provide the opportunity for brand new colleges to be constructed and bring Developing an academic culture would more students on campus through be crucial. Every student at Acadia, apartment style living or suites. regardless of whether they were on- or off-campus or first- or fourth-year, Each college would have a variety of would be made a member of a college. living arrangements, so older students This would give all students a

I believe that a college system represents the future of Acadia. Even if it doesn’t take the form envisioned 15 years ago, a gradual shift that encompasses greater academic involvement with residences, establishment of endowments, and resources available to each community would be beneficial to the university as a whole. If Acadia still desires to be North America’s premier residential university then we must dare to dream and do something different.

If we want to be great, let’s stop saying it and start doing it.

Fall 2018 13

athscience Biology Teaching Gong Show: A Recap Natalie Weder Contributor

www.theath.ca mussels) can get them from their father too.

9. Dr. Dave Shutler’s team studies the birds and the bees (and the coyotes). A lot of field work is involved, as his lab observes the parental investment and predation of birds, the diseases of bees, and the ecology of coyotes.

10. Dr. Brian Wilson researches neuroendocrinology, and supervises projects on physiological properties of strokes, while studying the hormone relaxin and its ability to reduce resulting tissue damage. Another project looks at the endocannibinoid system, through which THC affects the brain, a research area that is certain to grow with the recent legalization marijuana.

and teaches BIOL 2013 (Cell & Molecular Biology), BIOL 3613 (Principles of Genetics), BIOL 3623 (Molecular Genetics & Genomics) and well as the Natural History Field Course on Bon Portage Island, which is an immersive field course offered during the summer.

11. Plant biologist Dr. Rodger Evans studies floral evolutionary characteristics, as well as 5. If beetles and moths fascinate you, plant relationships. One of his current lab Dr. Kirk Hiller’s research will too! Dr. Hillier’s projects involves examining the influence of lab investigates olfactory neuroscience in moths on plant development. insects, such as the evolution of pheromone communication between moths. Other projects As demonstrated by the gong show, Acadia’s revolve around conservation and agriculture, biology department is home to many significant including the development of sustainable research projects. The research outlined here is chemicals for pest management. Dr. Hillier 1. Dr. Todd Smith started off the show by only a portion of all that is being conducted at introducing his research on parasites. His work currently teaches BIOL 3883 (Chemical the school, so students are likely to find a topic is currently focused on studying the relationship Ecology) and BIOL 4443 (Comparative Animal they’ll want to get involved with!

Physiology) between malaria parasites and their hosts. His lab investigates the co-evolution of parasites that target mosquitoes, frogs, and snakes, with a 6. Those interested in a career in immunology or medicine will want to know about Dr. Melanie specific interest in host immune responses. Dr. Coombs’ research. Dr. Coombs is currently Smith is currently teaching BIOL 2053 working to demonstrate that some natural (Microbial Biodiversity), BIOL 3123 products may actually kill metastatic cancer (Parasitology) and BIOL 3583 (Eukaryotic cells. Her lab is currently investigating PZMicrobiology).

DHA, a compound that has been shown to kill breast cancer cells, and looking whether it 2. Next up was Dr. Glenys Gibson, whose also has the ability to kill other cancers, such research revolves around evolutionary as colon cancer. Dr. Coombs currently teaches development. Her lab is focused on marine invertebrates and the influence of environmental BIOL 2053 (Microbial Biodiversity), BIOL factors on their development. Her work includes 3553 (Immunology), BIOL 3573 (Applied and analyzing the effects of microplastics on tissue Environmental Microbiology), and BIOL 4353 (Pathogenic Microbiology). growth – research that is undeniably pertinent, as we observe an increase in the amount of 7. Marine biology is the domain of Dr. Trevor plastic present in the natural environment. Dr. Kelsey Crouse Avery’s lab, with focus on animal residency and Gibson is currently teaching BIOL 3153 Contributor biodiversity. Research in his lab involves finding (Principles of Development), BIOL 3163 and tagging fish, frogs, and squid; then (Comparative Embryology), and BIOL 3423 examining their population dynamics and (Histology 1).

For my co-op work term this summer I demographics. The human dimension is also worked under biology professor Dr. Trevor 3. If you’re a biology student at Acadia, you’re explored in his lab, as his team often conducts Avery, helping his honours and graduate social surveys and collaborates with the likely already familiar with Dr. Allison Walkstudents with their theses and taking part in er’s passion for fungi. She and Acadia’s Fungal community. Dr. Avery teaches BIOL 2563 (Marine Biology), BIOL 4113 (Fish Biology & public outreach events for the Striped Bass Dream Team are currently looking at marine Research Team. My week would generally Fisheries Science), and BIOL 4253 (Applied fungi, with many projects on the go, including start with field days in a boat with a local the restoration of native species in salt marshes, Statistical Modeling). Dr. Avery is also a fan fisherman on both sides of the Windsor of statistics and teaches a course for the Math the role of endophytes Causeway Tidal Barrier, which is bordered department: MATH 2223/2243 (Statistics for (organisms that live between plant cells) in by the Avon River on one side, and Pisiquid Life Sciences). algae and seagrass, and the potential uses of Lake on the other. The Barrier is a gate that is fungi, such as the suppression of pathogens. Dr. manually operated, and as such it opens and Several professors are on sabbatical and were Walker is currently teaching BIOL 1123 closes on schedule with the tides until June. unable to attend the show, but their Honours (Organisms & Their Environment II), After the month of June, the gate remains BIOL 3663 (Introductory Mycology) and BIOL students stepped up and gave the 3-minute closed unless flooding is expected in Pisiquid presentations in their place: 2043 (Biodiversity of Plants and Algae).

Acadia’s Biology Research Gong Show recently took place on October 23rd, where professors gave short PowerPoint presentations outlining their current research projects. Research gong shows are a great way for students to learn about the research being conducted within their department, and opportunities to get involved in. If the presenter goes over the 3-minute time limit, they are interrupted with the ring of a gong (or the hammering of wooden spoons against a frying pan). Biology and non-biology students alike may be interested in the wide variety of research projects underway at Acadia:

We’re Going to Need a Bigger Boat: My Summer Co-Op

4. We’re all too familiar with stress, but Dr. Russell Easy’s research delves deeper into stress and how it affects animals. His lab uses technology like Polymerase Chain Reaction to investigate DNA and proteins, with the goal of identifying biomarkers of stress. The Easy lab looks at a variety of animals, including fish, deer, frogs, and sea stars. Dr. Easy is also the coordinator of the Biology Honours program,

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8. Evolutionary biologist Dr. Don Stewart uses DNA sequencing to explore the molecular evolution of organisms. His team studies the genetics and habitats of animals such as black bears, while also investigating the interesting phenomenon of doubly uniparental inheritance: most animals inherit their mitochondrial genes only from their mother, but some bivalves (like

Lake, but fish movement is possible due to tennis ball-sized holes in the gate.

Some believe that the gate does not allow for fish movement, which would prevent fish from reaching food sources and spawning grounds. As a result, one of the projects I assisted with was focused on American Eel and White Perch

movement across the barrier after June (when the gates remained closed). While in the field we also tagged Striped Bass, a large fish native to the Avon River. We caught them using gill and smelt nets and tagged them using a Dart tag, a long and yellow piece of plastic with a hook on the end to secure into the fish. If the bass was large enough to catch (over 50cm), we kept it for dissections. Our largest catch was over a metre in length.

The dissections we conducted in the lab were part of a graduate student’s project. His focus is on mercury accumulation, reproductive organ development throughout the year, and diet in Striped Bass. We collected tissue and liver samples for the mercury analysis and either preserved the Bass stomachs in alcohol or conducted a traditional stomach content analysis (cutting the stomach open and searching for physical evidence – and yes, it was gross).

Apart from those organs we collected scale samples and otoliths (calcium carbonate structures that allow the fish to remain upright while swimming) for ageing the fish.

Some of the bass that were dissected were donated from local fishermen, and as a lab we were often invited out with the fishermen to fish with them. This was hugely beneficial because we collected valuable tips and learned where the hot spots were for bass fishing. Though I’m not one to brag, I can officially say that I caught my first fish this summer: a 95cm bass.

As a part of the Striped Bass Research Team I also attended fishing derbies over the summer.

One of them was the Miramichi Striper Cupthe most competitive event I’ve ever seen.

Over 200 teams registered this year and approximately 600 bass were caught, with the grand prize being a new boat worth several thousand dollars. Despite the intense competition, the competitors really cared about keeping the fish alive. There were only 9 fatalities throughout the event, which I believe was an all-time low. The community once had a diminishing population of bass, so the fact that over 600 bass were caught and so few fish lost their lives was a huge deal.

I came into the summer knowing little to nothing about the Windsor Causeway and the history behind it. I knew even less about the variety of fish species that are found in Nova Scotia. Though my co-op term is up and school is back in session, the importance of the work I did still resonates with me. I hope future work terms are just as much fun as I had this summer, but as a little blue fish once said, “just keep swimming”.

athsports&wellness Play Like a Girl: Gender Inequality in Acadia’s Varsity Athletics

compared to male hockey players who are asked about their pre-game routine. This can also be seen in the comparison of the financial compensation female athletes earn, compared to their professional male counterparts.

Gender bias in sport is a known issue. What I wanted to discover is whether or not this unfortunate bias has been established within the foundation of Acadia Athletics. In my study, I conducted interviews with female athletes, as well as administrative staff members. To gain a larger understanding of Acadia Athletics as a whole, I sent a survey out to all athletes, with 73 total participants. Fortunately, I had one athletic representative from each varsity team partake in the survey. I eventually concluded that Acadia Athletics had succumbed to the greater gender bias in sport in relation to double standards, Sarah Ross financial support, and media coverage.

Contributor The gender bias and double standards were displayed mostly in the treatment and privileges given to male athletes over female athletes.

When I look at an athlete, all I see is an Many female participants emphasized their individual who strives for greatness. Someone frustration with feeling of lesser value who pushes their body to perform exceptional compared to their male counterparts, whether tasks, and ultimately accomplishes a triumphant it was through having less than optimal field goal. As a young kid, I assumed that was times, having fewer Acadia bus travel benefits, generally the same perspective everyone had. or having less respect regarding their team’s Over time and through various experiences, overall equipment management. The majority it was hard to accept that not all athletes are of female participants in the survey felt this was treated the same way. It was difficult to process a significant issue, while the majority of male that gender is the divide that dictates societal participants didn’t note this as an issue. perceptions of athletic greatness.

www.theath.ca administrative team is working to make the athletic scholarship range equal for male and female athletes. As well, there is an event every two years at Acadia called “Women in Sport,” which aims to raise awareness for female representation and equality in sport.

Acadia is an institution that strives for greatness and has the potential to be at the forefront of innovation towards gender equality in sport. Although there are certain issues of gender inequality within Acadia Athletics, I am a firm believer that with foundational changes, more can be accomplished towards propelling gender equality in sport forward. I believe taking larger strides towards gender equality in sport can have a lasting impact so that future generations of girls can successfully play any sport without having anything standing in their way.

One of its most amazing features is that it is constantly working, even when we aren’t aware of it. The ‘Dream Board’ permeates our subconscious: having your goals, thoughts, and dreams displayed allows them to become part of you. Simply seeing those words and consistently having them placed in the forefront of your mind Sebastian Farkas enables your subconscious to hold those Sports&Wellness Editor ideas so they are always there and become a part of you. The more you see those thoughts, the more you see those goals, the Everyone has dreams. From the earliest of closer you get to achieving them. Whether ages we are asked, “what would you like to Media coverage was another significant factor you are consciously working towards them do when you grow up?” The answers you As a fifth-year varsity volleyball player at supporting the notion of athletic gender bias at or not, those ideas are with you all the time.

Acadia, I had the opportunity to write a thesis.

Acadia. Many female athletes reflected on past commonly hear from children are, “I wanna be a cop,” or, “I wanna be an astronaut.”

I decided very early on that I wanted to experiences where their team had seen little or This concept of having those thoughts, While these answers may seem trivial in write a thesis on gender inequality in sport at even zero recognition on the school’s social goals, and dreams front and center all the the moment, what if they didn’t have to Acadia. My first interaction with gender bias in media platforms. Even in the visual time is captured by the term “positive sport came when I was in the fourth grade, when representation of online promotion, some female be? What if there was a way to achieve affirmations”. These positive affirmations these dreams? What if they were no longer I was directly excluded from playing soccer with teams noted not feeling the same support that describe a person’s ideal situation. They dreams, but reality? I worked with someone my friends at recess because some little boy other male teams received based on how they are so powerful because they reprogram the this summer who told me about her ‘Dream walked up to me and said, “because you are a were promoted. mind to think in a manner that is conducive Board’. Now I know what you’re thinking, girl.” to achieving this ideal state. The longer you is it not just a board with your goals on it; Finally, financial support was also an issue ingrain those positive ideas, and the longer displayed in some elaborate, yet visible After learning about this athletic bias from recognized in this study. Although there are you surround yourself with those uplifting fashion? NO! It is far more than just your academics, the media, or even from first hand certain systems in place aimed at helping raise and inspirational messages, the greater the experiences, I knew this was an area I wanted to funds for women in sport, many female athletes goals splattered on a piece of Bristol board. chance you achieve your dreams.

It is a real and genuine representation of expose. As Acadia was a huge part of my life, I recognized the additional work they had to put where you want to take your life, and the knew that if there were issues of inequality in to raise money for their own sports team, The ‘Dream Board’ provides the path you will pave to get there. present, I wanted to unveil them and raise unlike the male teams, whether this was in opportunity to shape the life that YOU awareness for all athletes at the school. My relation to funds for new equipment, locker want. At the end of the day, if you are not People say all the time that they have goals ultimate goal was to present an opportunity for rooms, or money for travel. happy, and not living the life you desire, or mention that they would like to do this Acadia Athletics to represent something more how can you expect to enjoy anything that and that. But that’s often as far as they than championship level teams: equality and Ultimately, the presence of gender life has to offer? This is a pivotal part of go. They have no plan to achieve their respect. inequality was found within Acadia Varsity our development as individuals; identifying desires; only thoughts that come and go Athletics. However, my study did show signs our preferences, understanding the things as often as the sun rises and falls, with no For my thesis, I wanted to look into the history of growth towards equitable treatment with we want from life, and then pursuing them real hope of being achieved. We say we of sport and recognize where issues of athletes. For example, in the weight room, with rigorous persistence. inequality grew. I found that throughout history, everyone is pushed to become their best athletic pursue these things because we don’t want others, or maybe even ourselves, to think men and women were fundamentally self regardless of societal standards of Once you reach those goals and feel the that we have no purpose in life. We all want differentiated based on their sex, that through masculinity or femininity. Financially, our jubilation, you want that feeling back: the to think that we have the ability to achieve scientific classifications, men and women were feeling of achievement is incomparable. great things and become everything we inherently different. This created the illusion The ‘Dream Board’ not only allows you aspire to be. However, there is a distinct that men were more physically capable than to accomplish things you never thought difference between thinking and acting. women of accomplishing tasks, and any woman possible; it perpetuates a continuous Individuals do not judge each other based with a dominant personality or superior skill was cycle for self-improvement. The quest to on our intents or thoughts; we judge each cast aside. Even being a woman with an interest achieve never fades, it becomes part of who other based on actions we can see and feel. in sport shook the very foundation of societally you are: a person who is in constant pursuit expected femininity, ultimately leading to the of excellence, and of fulfilling the sincerest This is the essence of the ‘Dream Board’ impression of overall inferiority. Although these form of complete happiness – for many, the – it allows for our thoughts and goals to views represent a very old frame of thought, the ultimate goal. become mobilized because we can see underlying bias has translated into current day them, and they become real. We have to platforms that impact people’s remember that the mind is very powerful. interpretations of athleticism. This can be seen in the media when female tennis players are asked to twirl and show off their uniform,

The Dream Board

“My first interaction with gender bias in sport came when I was in the fourth grade”

Fall 2018 15

athnews $75 Million Campaign for Acadia Launches

www.ath.ca off in the future, but even here now in the Huestis Innovation Pavilion, it creates an amazing opportunity to have an early home run and support things like co-op opportunities, scholarships, and infrastructure renewal around the campus.”

Indigenous peoples had lived on these lands for thousands of years before colonial settlers first arrived in the 14th and 15th centuries. They established successful communities and governing structures that allowed their peoples to flourish in The Campaign is led by Nancy McCain pre-contact North America. However, over (’82) of McCain frozen foods fame, who is the successive centuries, both French and married to the current Minister of Finance British administrations had enacted Bill Morneau. The Campaign Cabinet policies and laws that disadvantaged and steering the direction of the Campaign, is often harmed Indigenous peoples and their Colin Mitchell composed of numerous prominent traditional ways of life.

Editor in Chief individuals including former Conservative Attorney General Peter Mackay (’87), The creation of residential schools in the Canadian Tire CEO Stephen Wetmore late 19th century served as the culmination Acadia’s $75 million fundraising (’75), former Chancellor Libby Burnham of the discriminatory practices against campaign, titled the ‘Campaign for (’60), and Nova Scotia Power CEO Karen Indigenous peoples. Indeed in 1920, Acadia’, has launched.

Hutt (’89).

Duncan Campbell Scott, Deputy Superintendent General of the Department Acadia University has been working on “The Campaign for Acadia will be critical of Indian Affairs, stated “I want to get rid the campaign for several years in the ‘quiet to Acadia’s mission to provide a of the Indian problem … Our objective is to phase’, soliciting donations and pledges personalized and rigorous liberal continue until there is not an Indian that has from around the world. Today marks the education,” said McCain. “I’m proud to be not been absorbed into the body politic, and beginning of the public phase of the joined by a team of dedicated alumni who there is no Indian question, and no Indian campaign. are part of our Campaign Cabinet. I know Department”. This form of outward racism that by working together we’ll reach our continued throughout the 20th century until The Campaign looks to raise $75 million to ambitious goal of $75 million.” the last residential school (Saskatchewan’s support four streams: Transform, Inspire, Gordon Indian Residential School) was Discover, and Build.

The Campaign will formally begin with closed in 1996. Residential schools were numerous events across the world, places of immense sadness and despair as The Transform stream aims to raise $30 including launch events in Calgary, children were frequently abused, million to strengthen student experiences London, Halifax, Ottawa, and Hong Kong. physically, emotionally, and sexually by by increasing access to scholarships and their superiors. They were also prohibited bursaries, expanding co-op programs and from speaking their language, celebrating other experiential learning opportunities, their traditional customs and returning to promoting student mental health and their home communities and parents. well-being, leading the process of indigeneity on campus, and creating a competitive edge with support for Athletic Excellence Awards.

The Inspire stream looks to raise $12.5 million to promote exceptional teaching and engagement by creating new endowed professorships and chairs, expanding opportunities across disciplines for scholars-, executives-, and artists-in-residence, creating supports to attract post-doctoral scholars, and facilitating life-long learning.

Mi’kma’ki, Indigenous Peoples and Our Collective History

The Discover stream intends to raise $12.5 million to support innovative teaching and research by expanding financial support Oliver Jacob for graduate research programs, enhancing News Editor summer research awards, creating a digital scholarship centre, establishing an agriculture and beverage research institute, “Acadia University is located in Mi’kma’ki, and bolstering the K.C. Irving the ancestral territory of the Mi’kmaq Environmental Trust to support research. nation.”

The Build stream proposes to raise $20 million to solidify Acadia’s physical and financial infrastructure by adapting buildings to improve accessibility, protecting library archives and modernizing study spaces, renewing key campus buildings, expanding the Athletics Complex facilities, reimagining the Students’ Union Building, and boosting the value of Acadia’s endowment.

“The major beneficiaries of the Campaign are going to be the students,” President Ricketts said. “Many of the students here now may feel like this is something far

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This oft-quoted statement has become the norm on course syllabi and department emails, but its significance is often glossed over and not fully understood by many members of the Acadia community.

It is known as a territorial acknowledgement and it is given in recognition that the land upon which we study and gather is part of the traditional lands of the Mi’kmaq peoples. It is an important cultural protocol for many Indigenous peoples, nations and cultures and it serves to demonstrate our respect for the traditional custodians of these lands.

The extensive history of oppression through residential schools, among other things, is a dark stain on the Canadian consciousness.

However, it has resulted in renewed movements to educate the Canadian populace on these dark corners of our history and to unite in a spirit of truth and reconciliation as we seek to move forward as a country. This positive message gives us hope that Canadians can come together to recognize our past failures and chart a better way forward.

Each year, October is designated as Mi’kmaq History Month, and it provides an opportunity for the Acadia community to learn more about our collective history and the important contributions that Indigenous individuals and communities have made to our country. Groups including the Indigenous Students’ Society of Acadia (ISSA) and several academic departments often hold events that aim to teach and celebrate Indigenous culture and perspectives.

This year, former Chief Adviser to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Tim O’Loan visited Acadia’s campus to speak about the history of residential schools and the path toward reconciliation, and John Hannam, City Clerk of the City of Thunder Bay (Ontario), visited the local area to screen the “Walk a Mile” film project and lead community members through a discussion on the film.