September 10th, 2013
Issue 76.1
the Athenaeum
Acadia University’s student newspaper since 1874.
In This Issue... - “Acadia Fag” Investigation Completed ................ 2 - Interview With President Ray Ivany ..................... 5 - Wolfville Survivor Map .......................................... 6
ath letters & editorial
Letter from the editor
healthy environment to learn and develop writing and editing skills that will help you for years to come!
This year, we have decided to add in a Creative Arts section, where we hope to receive submissions from students who wish to display their photography, poems, short stories, and other forms of creative media. In addition to the creative section, we have news, arts, sports, science, and opinion sections that need your input!
We are thrilled to have an exceptionally full team this year, and are always seeking new members to join us in our endeavour to foster a creative and informed campus. If you are at all interested in writing or working for us please e-mail Iain Bauer (eic@acadiau. ca) or myself (athmanagingeditor@ acadiau.ca) as we would love to have you on our team and hear what you have to say. We do not discriminate based on talent or ability, merely on a willingness to provide a safe and
Premier Darell Dexter’s evaluation of the chants at Saint Mary’s are the exact type of cultural blindness and lack of accountability that seems to
permeate the responses to the campus rape culture and violence we are a part of. Dexter was quoted as saying “I also felt bad for [SMU students] as well, because I think if they had sat for a second and thought about it, they wouldn’t have engaged in that kind of behaviour.” In a province that has the highest rate of reported sexual assaults in the country, according to a 2009 general social survey conducted every five years, and university campuses that allow one in three female students to experience sexual harassment before graduation, Nova Scotia students have a larger responsibility than anyone to consider the implications of their words and actions. If we continue to attribute guilt only to those who play as leaders, then we enable the larger culture of violence by allowing
it to continue unscathed. If Dexter and the rest of our provincial and institutional leaders truly believe that our academic institutions are so inadequate their student ‘leaders’ can chant for rape without thinking about it for a second then they should seriously consider shutting every school in this province down, or else give them the funding necessary to confront the crisis that would represent. What is more likely, and what we hope for, is that they know students are not thoughtless barely cognizant sacks of flesh, but rather individuals coerced into chanting for something (we hope) they did not feel believe, through insecurity, group thought, and an appeal to tradition and authority. These are the ingredients for rape culture, and the leaders of
our country, province and institutions are responsible for them, but not as much as we are. We can, and should, ask why the chanting at SMU was not highly reported, why the few reports went unheard, and which campus leaders were responsible; but more importantly, there would be nothing to talk about if hundreds of students had trusted their critical thinking over a culture that endangers them. So as our campus leaves frosh week behind, we challenge you to take that second to think, and understand, that as violent and dangerous our culture can be, it is only the amalgamation of violent and dangerous behaviours of individuals and the insecurities and group think that enables them.
journalism while expressing ourselves, The Athenaeum is the official student and to provide an extra-curricular activity newspaper of Acadia University and to put on our résumés. is published in print and is online all The Athenaeum strives to add to year-round at theath.ca. The opinions a culture of intelligent and thoughexpressed herein do not represent the provoking dialogue, and though our Acadia Student Union or the staff of attempts may fall short, at least we tried. the Athenaeum, especially the bad ones. What have you done with your spare time? The Athenaeum is created by and for On that note, we accept submissions students, profs and all the Acadia family, from anyone and are always looking for including the residents of Wolfville. It more writers and photographers. If you is here as a forum for student opinions, are interested then make haste and contact a place for us to learn and practice Iain Bauer at eic@acadiau.ca.
If we do not like your work, we will not publish it. If you have any issues with that then feel free to contact us about it or start your own paper, then you can publish whatever you like. There are open story meetings every Sunday at 7:30pm in the Athenaeum office, room 512 in the SUB – all are welcome. If you are interested in advertising in our fine paper please contact our Ad Manager Mark Pound at mark.pound@ gmail.com.
Stephanie Gumuchian Managing Editor The Athenaeum is Acadia University’s completely student run newspaper. Every year, dozens of new and returning students get involved with the Athenaeum by offering their writing, editing, production, and photography skills. Both Iain Bauer and I are excited to further develop the Athenaeum as a forum for critical
Editorial Given the controversy over the “Acadia Fag” article published in last September’s Athenaeum, there are likely few other campuses or publications that can understand the confusion, outrage and disappointment many students must feel now at Saint Mary’s University. In the wake of such demonstrations of violence and stupidity, the initial reaction is to seek out those who deserve blame (and they are out there) and to label those who are bigots, so as to demonstrate that they are not us. If that is where the responses end though, if we only hold up the culpable representatives and institutions of those heinous things we pledge not to be, then we
engagement and as a medium for student thought throughout the 20132014 academic year. This year we hope to focus the content of the Athenaeum on issues and events that directly affect Acadia students and residents of the Wolfville community, and define the experience that is common between them. We want our readers to be engaged and informed of events happening on and off of campus. Most importantly, we want the Athenaeum to act as a medium where
students feel comfortable expressing their frustrations, excitements, many talents, desires, and opinions.
are as responsible for this culture as anyone of the SMU students chanting excitedly for rape. Which university or student is the focus of attention is irrelevant. Consequences absolutely must be felt, but to imagine that SMU’s frosh week was an isolated incident ignores the culture to which we all contribute that bred it. SMU is important because it exposes that part of university culture present on all campuses, and individual responses to SMU are only beneficial insofar as they demonstrate a need for cultural approaches.
General meetings for the Athenaeum are held on Sunday evenings at 7:30pm, all are welcome.
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advertising
The Athenaeum is open to advertising inquiries from all forms of advertisers. Advertisements placed in the Athenaeum do not in any way reflect the opinions of the Athenaeum staff or the Acadia Students Union. For more information or for a list of rates and sizes, please contact Mark Pound, the Athenaeum’s advertising manager, via email at mark.pound@gmail. com or eic@acadiau.ca. Advertisement information is also available at theath.ca
theathenaeum Tuesday, September 10, 2013 Issue 76.1 ASU Box 6002, Acadia University Wolfville, NS, Canada B4P 2R5 email: eic@acadiau.ca SUB room 512 EIC Office Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays 4:00-5:30 Managing Editor Hours: Tuesdays 5:30-7:30
editorial staff Editor-in-Chief News Editor Creative Editor Opinions Editor Arts Editor Sports Editor Science Editor
Iain Baueri
eic@acadiau.ca
production staff Managing Editor
athmanagingeditor@acadiau.ca
Jacob Verhagen
athnewseditor@acadiau.ca
Mira Chiasson
athcreativeeditor@acadiau. ca
Max Bouletr
athopinionseditor@ acadiau.ca
Deirdre Campbelle
athartseditor@acadiau.ca
Eliza McGuire
athsportseditor@acadiau.ca
Niraj Nitheanandan
Distribution Manager Production Manager Photo Editor Copy Editor Ad Manager
staff writers
photo credits
Joe Armstrong, Stephanie Brown, Peter LaMarre, Kelly MacNeil, Darcy Shea, Emily Kennedy, Hailey Winder, Jacob Dawe, Kendra Petrie, Sarah Mackinnon, Sarah Williams,
Frosh Concert Photo: Kelly Macneil Centerfold: Kendra Petrie Back Page: Mira Chiasson What the Science: acadiau.ca
Stephanie Gumuchian
Elise Sanderson
Mira Chiasson
athcreativeeditor@acadiau.ca
Nathan Kaulback
athphotoeditor@acadiau.ca
Stephanie Bethune Mark Pound
mark.pound@gmail.com
If you would like to contribute to the Athenaeum please contact Iain Bauer (eic@acadiau.ca) or Stephanie Gumuchian (athmanagingeditor@acadiau.ca)
athscienceeditor@acadiau.ca
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ath letters & editorial
Matthew Kohlenberg, September 1991 - July 2013 Joe armStronG staff writEr I have had the privilege of knowing Matt Kohlenberg for about 14 years. We first met through our parents, who had met through work and curling. In an effort to save money on babysitters, they would just bring us to the curling rink and leave us to entertain ourselves while they played. You can imagine how utterly dull it could be for two young boys to sit around and watch their parents curl, so it was only natural that we would play together. We were both nerdy kids, prone to make-believe and fantasy, and so our time at the curling rink consisted of fighting hoards of invisible foes inspired by Tolkien and Redwall, armed with swords and staves fashioned from curling brooms we would take from open lockers (much to the chagrin of their respective owners). Rows of lockers would become mountain ranges to climb, and benches would become castle walls to defend from the enemy. You can imagine that this make-believe combat could get rather heated, resulting in noise complaints from the upstairs bar and perhaps the occasional dented locker door. Our make-believe world of fantasy violence expanded to our houses and respective neighborhoods, spreading our unholy racket to all. Due to all the complaints about us screaming (mostly by our parents), rather than not yelling we created a kind of muffled, whispered scream. Not surprisingly, this ended being even more annoying for anyone within earshot. With my growing interest in film, it was only natural that we started to record our silly make-believe exploits, of which there are so many I couldn’t possibly describe them all. But the crown jewel of these, our magnum opus, was Psycho in the Outhouse. Based on a short film I had made when I was about eight years old, it was through Matt’s encouragement that we decided to remake it at the end of High School. Starring our graduating friends in such complex roles as “the mute asian”, “the dumb jock”, “the dumb bimbo”, and “the religious fanatic,” I ca not make the claim that this was a very politically correct, or culturally sensitive work. But damn, was it fun to make. For those who have seen it, few could ever forget Matt’s masterful depiction of my star character from the original, a character I had conceived of being aggressively stupid. Poor “Spinky the Landlord”, an innocent so lacking of higher thought that he accidentally releases the eponymous psycho from his twenty years of imprisonment
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in an outhouse, whom he had also imprisoned in the first place and who pranced around in the woods in a floral hat and rubber boots. Unfortunately for Spinky, he would be brutally murdered by the psycho, with geysers of blood a la Kill Bill spraying onto his face and into his gaping screaming mouth, his final words being “It tastes so bad, it tastes so bad.” So by this point in this article you might be thinking “What the hell is wrong with these people?” Yeah, we are kind of weird. But that is the thing about us. We had a sensibility that was a unique product our friendship, a kind of comradeship that some understood and others simply scratched their heads at. But despite Matt and I having similar interests, creative drives, and an inclination towards silliness, we also had our considerable differences. I have always been an introverted, shy individual, sometimes prone to pessimism, and I have had periods where I seriously struggled at school. Matt was the total opposite; he was extroverted, friendly and always looked out at the world with optimism and an infectious enthusiasm, fueling an exceptional student career. My first two years of High School were very difficult for me and it was my friendship with Matt that helped carry me through. It was through him that I met many wonderful people who count not only among friends of Matt, but also of myself, both at home in Calgary and in Wolfville. Matt helped me to be more sociable and to be genuine and authentic with who I was. It was thanks to Matt that I eventually chose to go to Acadia University where we were roommates in Seminary House. Though we eventually lived with different people off campus, we were just down the street from each other and I would see him just about everyday. Matt was never far away. So much joy in my life was a product of my friendship with him, that I cannot imagine how I could ever be the person I am today if I had never known him. Matt was my best friend for the last 14 years. For some of those years, he was one of the very few friends I had. Through all of the struggles I have had and all the uncertainty and anxiety I have felt, one constant that I could always count on was Matt’s friendship. But saying he was my best friend honestly sells him short, for he was really a brother to me. The brother that I never had. He was family to me and I love him dearly. I do not know what awaits us, if anything, after we
die and I so I can not find solace in the hope that somehow, someday, I will see Matt again. However what I can do is cherish the many memories I have of Matt; of cutting down imaginary foes in the woods, filming silly movies, traveling together in Europe, being roommates in our first year of university, and the other innumerable times we spent together over the past 14 years. I think of the many virtues that I admired in him, like his all encompassing passion, his boundless creativity, his inexhaustible positivity, his ability to always see the best in people, and his great empathy. I can honor his memory by nurturing those qualities within myself and so in
that way, I feel like Matt will always be with me and his unfortunately short time here made an impact that will last within me. I miss Matt terribly and it is still difficult to comprehend the reality of his permanent absence, that he is not a phone call or a Facebook message away. But I am so blessed and grateful that I could have had him in my life, even if it seemed that it ended too soon, because there are so few people out there that are so truly exceptional. He is my brother and I will honour him for the rest of my life.
Media Credit: facebook.com
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‘Acadia Fag’ follow up interview reactions of the University and your fellow students to be?
Iain Bauer Editor-in-Chief
Editor-in-Chief of the Athenaeum, Iain Bauer, spoke with the anonymous contributor under the pseudonym ‘Shane’ to discuss the controversial Athenaeum article entitled ‘Acadia Fag’ last year (available online at theath.ca). The article subsequently prompted a joint investigation by the ASU and university through the equity office into the allegations for which no supporting evidence was found. However, the author, a year later, still stands by her allegations. Do you still stand by all or some the allegations? If some, which ones? If all, how do you respond to the findings of the investigation, which Student Union executives and University administration seem to interpret as unfounded? If none, why did you write any of it, and what would you hope the
I stand by every single one of my allegations. Everything I said was true. It astounds me that not a single person stood up for me. I heard the chants. The guy who sold me the ticket called me a short haired fag. Other people in the venue called me fag. And, when I approached the safety and security employee and asked her for a drive to my car, I detailed all of the harassment that occurred and I told her why I didn’t feel safe walking to my car alone. I am beyond disappointed that so many people tried to cover up the truth of what occurred that night in order to save their own reputation, Acadia’s reputation, or their jobs. The whole thing disgusts me. I was also never given the opportunity to give character references myself, and, contrary to what I had been promised
by Meg Townsend, I have not, until you contacted me with the information, been personally made aware of, or kept abreast of, the investigation. I hope my fellow students are outraged at this blatant display of victim blaming. How did you react to the outrage last year and did you leave the experience feeling the recipient of support or further alienation? I left this experience feeling the recipient of an incredible amount of alienation. Since the evening of the event, I have been called a liar countless times, I have been repeatedly slandered publicly, I have been officially questioned as to whether I made the whole thing up, and I have been personally threatened. I received very little support from the Acadia administration and was left with the feeling that I was the one being judged and questioned. Do you think Acadia has a homophobic or intolerant culture? Have you experienced any other instances of this since last year’s frosh week? Do you think the ASU’s pledge to address the problem culturally with sensitivity training, sexual harassment training and policy review is effective and sincere?
Kelly Macneil
homophobic incidents on Acadia’s campus that were handled in ways that led me to understand that the aggressor was more protected than the victim. I believe the heart of the problem is an attempt to protect Acadia’s name at the sake of individual bullying. I personally experienced many other instances of homophobia during my year at Acadia, especially at the fitness center where I was regularly called homophobic names. I stopped reporting the victimization I experienced on a nearly weekly basis on campus because I did not feel heard or respected by the equity department on campus due to my treatment surrounding the frosh week incident. I had not been made aware of the ASU’s pledge, but considering that they are publicly stating that the incident I experienced was false, I do not believe their pledge to be sincere. Do you still go to Acadia? How would you describe the Acadia Experience? No. Acadia was hands down one of the worst years of my life. I experienced profound depression as a result of my time at Acadia and in Wolfville. With the recent frosh week media coverage over the rape chants at Saint
In my year at Acadia, I was made aware of a startling number of other
Mary’s University do you see parallels to the allegations made in your piece last year? Do you think that this sort of bigotry and violence is engrained in these sorts of university events, and is there a solution? I absolutely see parallels between the recent SMU chants and the incident at Acadia last year. Watching the SMU videos made me feel extremely saddened and empathetic toward any person that those chants did and will emotionally harm, or be triggering for. It reminds me of how alone and attacked I have felt since the incident I experienced at Acadia. I am disgusted and saddened that this sort of thing happens anywhere, let alone a university campus. Obviously, there needs to be more education around bullying and harassment, and universities need to take action when incidents do happen. I wonder if a student had come forward about the SMU chants but didn’t have video proof if she or he would have been taken seriously, or if it would have been brushed off. Anything else you’d like to add or say to the student body. Please stand up for your fellow students if you see that they are being bullied or harassed. Very little feels worse than being a victim of harassment and instead of receiving support, receiving further bullying and alienation from your peers.
“Acadia Fag” article investigation completed Iain Bauer Editor-in-Chief
After an eight month long investig ation, which Acadia Student Union President Matthew Rios promised “challenged our understanding of what Acadia culture was,” the joint investigation by the ASU and University Administration concluded their investigation early this summer concerning the allegations made in the infamous essay titled “Acadia Fag” published online last September in The Athenaeum.
alleged harassment by a student selling her a ticket while calling after her “Yo Fag! I got you a ticket, Fag! Hey short-haired Fag, I got you a ticket!” The author was published under the pseudonym ‘Shane’ and identified herself as a freshman new to Acadia and Wolfville, as well as a “dyke.” At the time of publication Safety and Security was conducting an internal investigation concerning events that night.
The article in question received national coverage and outrage over allegations made in a personal essay by a student who claimed to be the subject of harassment at last year’s frosh concert. In the essay she describes witnessing a large group chant “fucking faggots” for at least 15 minutes without any intervention by ASU or security staff. The author also
Following the allegations the ASU and University Administration requested a joint investig ation be lead by Acadia Equity Officer and for mer RCMP Officer Meg Townsend. Townsend decided that the investigation would focus on the three major allegations made in the article, which include the homophobic chants, the harassment by the ticket scalper,
and the lack of intervention by ASU and Security staff. Despite hundreds of students in attendance at the event, with Security and Residence Life staff present, no witnesses were found to validate the claims made in the article. Safety and Security staff did witness some chanting on the evening in question, however heard no language they perceived as homophobic or initially inappropriate, though it was later stopped. Many students admitted to hearing or taking part in loud chants in the line-up, both in the investigation and in comments to the article posted online, but all denied hearing any homophobic language. Accounts of the chants were inconsistent, and some alleged that the chants were sexist in nature with slogans (which were championed later in the year by a now-deleted twitter account claiming to represent the Dennis House Residence) like “Little dicks” and “Tits out.” Nevertheless, no one admitted to hearing any chants lasting longer than several minutes or those
with homophobic language. The investigation also located the student who sold ‘Shane’ her ticket, who admitted to scalping the ticket, but promised not to have used the homophobic language described in the essay. Character witnesses also defended the student, arguing they had never witnessed any homophobia from the student. Townsend’s investigation also discovered Safety and Security’s shuttle service picked ‘Shane’ up that evening to drive her home from the event. The shuttle drivers told the investigation that she made no complaints or allegations on her ride home. Rios and Acadia University VicePresident Administration and Finance and CFO Darrell Youden viewed the investigation as a success in both its findings and as “a process set in place to approach these sort of scenarios.” Rios expressed that he had “extreme faith in our processes.” Youden went on to point out that
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the length of the investigation was indicative of how seriously the two administrations were committed to uncovering whether a “larger culture had seen this” which both agreed would have been disappointing. Rios further argued, “this should re-affirm that this University doesn’t back from investigation, and that is something other institutions should look to.” Since last year’s frosh events, Safety and Security, Axe Lounge and Residence Life Staff have all received new training in approaching sexual harassment. Additionally campus harassment policies were put under review and re-written while the Student Union pledged to also engage in a cultural approach to the issue. Rios reported that expectations have been raised and set, and the outgoing outrage and support concerning the essay confirmed his expectations of the campus. Rios also “challenges our community to remember that these sorts of allegations have a direct impact on careers and affect individuals.”
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An interview with the president Jacob Verhagen News Editor On September the 6th 2013, News Editor Jacob Verhagen sat down with Acadia university president Ray Ivany to discuss a range of issues regarding the upcoming year. Thank you for speaking with me today. First of all, for our younger students, what exactly is your role at this institution? What does a normal day as the Acadia President look like? I’m pretty much full schedule from the morning, well until the evening, with a mix of internal issues regarding the operation of the university to make Acadia a better place for faculty staff, students, and the community. The president becomes the institution’s representative with government agencies, alumni groups or other external bodies. It’s important to make sure Acadia is well understood and well supported by a number of its external stakeholders. So it kind of has a foot in both places. Since you brought up community, a large amount of commentary around Acadia revolves around the ‘Acadia Experience’. Could you define what that means to you, and to me, and to the rest of the University? We all talk about the Acadia magic. I think it’s a combination of two factors: one is that the academic standard here is high, it has been that way for a long time; we have an extraordinary faculty. There aren’t many universities left in Canada where the primary focus of very accomplished scholars (i.e. our faculty) is undergraduates. The second factor is that this institution still looks more holistically towards developing young men and women to their full potential. Whatever potential you have inside of you, we’re really good at getting it out. You challenge students with a hard academic setting and support them with a broader community, magic happens, so that would be my description of the Acadia experience. So at a broader level, and perhaps more of a philosophical level, what do you think the role of the University in society ought to be? I ’ve b een a ccused of being a traditionalist before in that regard, but I think the university is fundamentally about the generation of new knowledge. That’s what research is about and that’s why our faculty is there. Then to take that capacity and combine it with this intense focus on teaching. Acadia,
I think, has held on to that balance point between research and teaching that captures the fundamental essence of the university. I’d like to give credit to a former president of Harvard, Derek Bok. A university can either be a mirror that reflects society or a beacon for something better. This is what I believe every University ought to aspire to. That’s what this institution aspires to. In the last 60 years we have become far too narrow in viewing these institutions as simply the deliverer of programs and employment. So then at a micro level what do you see the value of a university education being to the individual student? I think the popular notion of that, in the media or otherwise, is that you go to university for some particular program so you can go to grad school or some particular employment opportunity. However, I do think it’s bigger and deeper than that. If you think about the amount of learning you’ll have to undertake in life and the complexities in either your job, or various other experiences, you’ll need a strong foundation to build off of. Think of it as a pyramid, you have to keep building up, but you need a solid broad and deep base: that’s the undergraduate. I’ve met with every incoming student this weekend and told them that for a significant amount of time, 4 years for most, we are going to challenge and support them in a way where they can challenge the world and assumptions, and understand themselves more.
paid for by the government, because everyone’s education is subsidized by the government, it was significantly more than it is today. The larger policy question is that a university education is partially supported by the government and by the individual student, but how much of the cost of higher education should be borne by the individual and how much should be borne by the state? That’s the debate I wish was raging in Canada, but unfortunately it’s not. There are a number of events throughout the year that show off the Acadia spirit, such as frosh week to some degree or Cheaton Cup that also tend to have a reputation for rowdiness both on campus and in the town, would you care to comment on this? We’ve been working for the past number of years very closely with the Student Union and I think every one of our events has gotten better, safer, that are more within the appropriate balance. Students need to find balance, if you’re doing anything in excess you’re probably headed down the wrong track. As you know we’ve been increasing the number of dry events to try and give students as many options as possible during welcome week. You can work hard in class and you can have a rich and enjoyable experience here, but you don’t need to go over the top here in order to have a fun time. There’s not one event that’s not moving year after year to the kind of balance I just spoke of.
ath news Do you see this kind of excess behaviour as being part of university culture or being problematically inherent to it? We’re not going to bury our heads in the sand. Historically high risk behaviours, particularly related to alcohol, have been part of university, broadly. The U.S. schools we are partners with have tallied that there are around 1800 alcohol related deaths per year in and around campus activities. If this was ever accepted or tolerated it simply can’t be anymore. You can’t be a successful student if we can’t keep you safe and healthy. We are a national leader in alcohol policy and we’re proud of this because we know that statistically we are going to have these challenges. I stood in front of a thousand students last weekend and said very clearly that if the real reason you’re here is to party, I want you to leave. That’s not who we are, and that’s not how you’re going to succeed. Individuals make choices but there are consequences to those choices. A hugely discussed issue in a lot of Canadian Universities has been regarding student mental health. What will Acadia be doing to address this issue this year? There are a couple things underway, and I really need to acknowledge here the leadership shown by Matthew Rios and the rest of the Acadia Student Union; they’ve made this a top priority. We’ve been working with them closely. I’ll be candid with you; this is an area we need to do more in, even though we’ve
increased our activity we need to do more. This is why we’re working with the Acadia Students Union, because we’re trying to respond in a way that is shaped to the student’s reality. On this particular topic there is certainly going to be more to come. As president of the university what do you think will be the biggest challenges this coming year? Funding is always an issue, and a whole range of priorities around education. My priority is not to make Acadia a different institution but to dig deeper roots into the educational state that we currently occupy. We need to make Acadia sustainable, financially, educationally, culturally sustainable on a sustainable framework. Acadia has become very rare in the Canadian university market, the number of schools like us are very very few. Last year we formed the U4 with Mount Allison, St. Francis Xavier and Bishops, we need to find ways to communicate that Canada still has universities that are smaller high quality undergrad institutions. Well thank you very much, you have spoiled me as an interviewer since we have discussed everything from the broad philosophical question of the role of the university to some very heavy topics, the last question I have is kind of a non-sequester, what is the last song you listened to before doing this interview? Hahaha, The Royals by LORDE. But I’m also a huge Joel Plaskett fan.
The Maritime Provinces Higher Education commission has recently released a report that tuition fees are rising faster than the inflation rate in Nova Scotia. How do you think this is affecting students and has the university taken any steps to halt this trend? I’m deeply concerned about that issue. Look at Acadia; I don’t know if you know the story of our founding but when it was first created, it was found on a principle of opportunity to remove barriers. So I see things like income levels, student debt, and financial barriers generally as one of the most pressing of policy questions that most western countries are grappling with. What we’ve done, in my time, is we have increased the amount of money we have in our scholarship and bursaries. We’ve advocated to governments around. We need to find ways to cut costs and improve the way we operate the institution so that we’re able to keep costs at a minimum. In the past 25 years in Canada the proportion of your education that was
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Media Credit: acadiau.ca
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Music of the summer Kelly MacNeil Staff Writer Move over Yeezus, here are the real coaxes us to take a bite with his brilliant summer jams. personality and dashing good looks. It is the best pie. A recipe that draws The Wayo: This summer Halifax’s The upon the same stream as the most Wayo titillated us with the smoothest talented street performers, ragtimers, jams and we begged for more. They and wandering hobos. (owensteel. offered us a single, Sun Soaked/ bandcamp.com) Walikin, we closed our eyes, nodded slowly, shook our hips, and smiled. Billie Dre & The Poor Boys: Do DOOM meets the jazz stylings of you like moustaches? These boys are Joni Mitchell meets more soul than a the moustached rock and roll kings of sock with a hole. A full length album Halifax. Billie Dre & The Poor Boys is coming out in the fall. (thewayo. have taken the essence of a drunken bandcamp.com) night spent rocking and eating greasy food and made it into an album, aptly Owen Steel: Time Machine Blues titled Garlic Fingers. Have a cool is the best album to come out this party, play this album, enjoy others’ summer. Period. Owen Steel, backed admiration. (billiedre.bandcamp.com) by The Sad Turns, bakes the tastiest cake of jazz, blues, and folk. He then The Everywheres: Sit back. Put up
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your feet. Just chill. The Everywheres are a fuzzy garage rock band from Halifax and they know how to chill, hard. Their latest self-titled release, The Everywheres, is, if you will, a “diamond in the fuzz.” Out on Father/Daughter Records, the record takes nothing but gives you everything. (theeverywheres.bandcamp.com) Pat LePoidevin: An Acadia University guy and all around great person Pat LePoidevin unveils yet another album of timeless stories of people and places. American Fiction includes author/ guitarist Lewis Smith, who wrote a story for each song on the album and adds his tasty chops and licks behind LePoidevin’s looped strummings. Pat LePoidevin will transport your mind to another place with other people doing what people do best, living and dying. (patlepoidevin.com)
patlepoidevin.bandcamp.com The Graboids: Dressed in a green luchador mask the Grapplin’ Graboid belts out the punkiest punk songs on their latest release Back to Perfection. Songs about your mom’s new boyfriend and trying too hard to be The Ramones. The Graboids are straight out of a comic book. Their stage antics could be said to overshadow their punk finesse but who really cares? It’s fun. It’s punk. All else is secondary. (thegraboids.bandcamp.com)
Heaven For Real: God creates twins, names them Grundy, gives them a gift, and they show us heaven, for real. Wanton is a collection of four songs on cassette that gives a little peek into what the ever after is like. A light jangling on guitar, floating bass lines, a steady torrent of drums, as assertive as a gentle breeze. It just won’t go away, but do we really want it to? This tape is a must. (heavenforreal.bandcamp.com) Sonqualmie: The owls are not what they seem. And Audrey Horne dances across the room in the most hypnotic manner. Snoqualmie is the incarnate of David Lynch’s Twin Peaks. The music pulses on Skyland Mtn. It hisses and pops. Analog has never sounded so good. It comes in swells and leaves you feeling calm but elevated. It is a deep cleansing massage for your ears. (Snoqualmie.bandcamp.com)
TUESDAY DO THE MATH SAVE MONEY
We know just how stressful school can be. To give you a hand, we’re offering students a 10% discount every Tuesday!
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*Student Discount available at the following Atlantic Superstore® and Dominion (Newfoundland and Labrador) locations only: Riverview, Cole Harbour, Young Street, Braemar Drive, Quinpool Road, Bayers Lake, Lower Sackville, Portland Street, Bedford, Joseph Howe Drive, Barrington Street, Truro, New Glasgow, New Minas, Kingston, Tantallon, Antigonish, Bridgewater, Charlottetown, West Royalty, Summerside, Moncton Main Street, Trinity Drive, Fredericton, Saint John, Oromocto, Nashwaaksis, Millidgeville, Yarmouth, Sydney River, Glace Bay, North Sydney, Blackmarsh (NL), Stephenville (NL), Pearlgate (NL), Long Pond (NL), Cabot Square (NL), Grand Falls (NL) and Memorial (NL). Offered on Tuesdays at the given locations only. Students will receive 10% off their order when they present a valid student picture ID prior to the time of purchase. (Excludes alcohol, tobacco, prescriptions, products with codeine, gift cards, dry cleaning, gas bar, lottery, postal services or products from any 3rd party business within our stores). Offer subject to change at anytime. Cannot be combined with any other offer including Loblaw colleague discount. Discount can only be redeemed by the individual named on the ID. ® / ™ Trademarks of Loblaws Inc. © 2013
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ath arts
How to use professor office hours illustrious hours is to provide students with an opportunity to receive one-onone time with their professor for any questions or concerns they may have.
Darcy Shea asu vp academic
With three years of experience as a student under her belt, ASU VP Academic Darcy Shea plans to maneuver students through the school year, exploring various parts of academic life at Acadia. This week’s article focuses on using a professor’s office hours.
Office hours also provide the benefit of hearing your professors explain something differently than they would in the classroom. When professors teach a classroom full of students, they use methods best suited for teaching a group. When a student goes to see a professor outside of class time, the professor can adjust There is nothing more mystifying, as the way they teach the material to fit a first year student, than a professor’s the student’s needs. This time also can office hours. When I read my first be less intimidating for students to ask syllabus in first year microeconomics, their professors questions because they I glanced over the office hours listed are not in a full classroom of students. without a second thought. Over the past three years at Acadia, I’ve learned More than one of my professors that office hours are not something that has spent part of their first class of the should be overlooked. semester talking about their preferred emailing procedure. In most cases, Professors must hold three office professors just want to be respected hours for the classes they teach during and treated with such respect. Students the school week. The point of these should always read the syllabus to see
if their question is answered there before emailing a professor. Using professional language when emailing, and addressing them by their title (Dr. or Professor) is preferred. A lot of my professors request that students put their class number in the subject line so the professors can assist the student more efficiently. Above all else, I’ve learned that professors prefer that students come to talk to them in person with most concerns or questions.
If students have a concern about an assignment or test, they should bring their assignment or graded test with them. Before a student goes to see their professor, they should review the test or assignment to understand what they need to ask of the professor. If the office hours are busy, the student can ask to make an appointment outside of office hours when the professor is more available.
Ultimately I’ve lear ned that professors are not as scary as they seem during the first week of school. They are welcoming and encouraging to new and returning students. Professors want students to succeed with their school work and can help along the way. So do not be afraid to go to their office once or twice during the year to say hello and ask a question or two!
So what do you need to prepare when going to talk to teachers? First and foremost, you should come with specific questions. As a student, you’re taking up a professor’s time, and it is easier for them to answer a question when it is specific. Think about the class material and readings. What about them do you not understand? What concepts or basic ideas are confusing? Take care to actually do the week’s readings so the topic of questions can be narrowed down. Nathan Kaulback
Nature spots for lazy days Peter LaMarre Staff Writer Ah September! The school year is upon us and students with bright and eager eyes are ready for the onslaught of a new semester. Although there are lots of activities, adventures, and general debauchery to be found in town, there are quite a few awesome nature spots in the local area. Several beaches, three pools, miles of coastline, and Cape Split are all worth seeing. Cape Split is particularly good at inspiring delight and terror (especially if you like shortcuts). These places are generally easy to get to but are not always located on a map, or even the Internet. Here are directions to two swimming spots that are a reasonable distance away: The Reservoir: This is probably the easiest place to go swimming in Wolfville. It is about a 20-minute walk from Main Street, which does not sound so bad if you have not yet realized that the entire town is situated on a hill. There are two places to swim, some sand, and easy access to the trail system that is spread throughout town. As far as places that I would recommend going, this one is probably the safest.
road comes to an end. If you come to a bridge, you missed Pleasant Street. If you pass by a convenience store, the meaning of left has confused you. At the end of Pleasant Street there is a place to park and a path into the trail system that will take you to the reservoir.
Gaspereau Avenue. Turn right on White Rock Road (by Gaspereau vineyards, which is 5 or 10 minutes outside of town). Continue on White Rock Road until you find a small building on the left called “White Rock Community Centre” (another 5 or 10 minutes, and it is easy to miss). There is a visible path to the left of this
property, directly next to the barrier to the parking lot. Follow the path until you see water. A clearing with a rope swing is to your right, and the cliffs are to your left. Editor’s note: Always stay safe when exploring the great outdoors. Make sure you let someone know where you
are going and when you expect to be back, and always stick to the trails. We suggest abiding by posted warnings. This province has a really interesting coastline and there is a lot to explore. I recommend getting out there while the weather is warm and your course load seems deceptively easy!
White Rock: This is definitely worth the trip. Besides being isolated and relatively unknown, there are cliffs and kilometres of woods to explore. You are also quite likely to see bald eagles, as there is a salmon ladder close by. There is a “NO Boating, swimming, or fishing” sign, however I have seen people doing all of these, often at the same time. For certain liability reasons I should probably point out that I would never recommend that you ignore posted warnings. It is about a 10 min drive, and then another 5 or 10 minute walk through the woods. It is also a manageable bike ride. Please be aware that you are swimming a few hundred meters away from a dam. There is a very strong undertow directly next to this structure. Common sense would imply that if you swim close this particular dam, you would end up underneath it. Also note that there is a mild current at points.
Directions: Walk up Highland Avenue until you get to Pleasant Street. Take a left on Pleasant Street until the Dir ections: Go straight up
wikimediacmmons
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ath opinions
My take on the Acadia experience Hailey Winder Staff Writer The idea of the Acadia Experience has always been one that I have struggled with. Is there one main take-away lesson that everyone learns? Are there some checklist-type criteria that an individual must complete in order to fully experience Acadia? Fundamentally, what is it exactly that I am meant to get out of Acadia, aside from my degree? Initially, I was very skeptical of the idea that there is one unanimous and all encompassing experience that is specific to Acadia. I argued that there is no way equate one individual’s time at Acadia to another’s, as every individual will encounter unique obstacles, situations, and people that will influence how they develop and change during their time here at Acadia. In this regard, the ambiguous nature of the term ‘Acadia
experience’ holds some truth: for some people, their Acadia experience will be characterized by joining a new club, taking a dance class full of strangers, losing their virginity, coming out as LGBT or even taking their first (legal) drink of alcohol. It is absolutely true that any combination of factors may shape our personal experience of Acadia, but I felt as if there was still some considerable aspect that I was ignoring in my mission to define the Acadia experience. As I walk around campus this time of year, I see fresh-faced frosh running around smiling, talking and laughing loudly—not unlike myself in my first year. At this point we are all starting to settle back into academia and enjoying what is left of this summer weather before all the leaves turn and fall arrives. Autumn does not only bring with it the vibrant colors that showcase the beauty of this campus, but it also brings with it a great sense of community in events
such as Shinerama and homecoming. While one could deduce that it comes down to the size of the campus, it has become apparent to me that there is something larger and less tangible than simply the community I feel with the student population that is defining my experience. This Acadia experience that we see advertised across the country can be demonstrated in almost every aspect of Acadia: a professor’s willingness to help, the number of student-led clubs across campus, and the excitement that students express about coming back to school at the end of summer. There is no way to describe the Acadia experience, but there is one inalienable characteristic that brings everyone together and unites us Acadians—a sense of being at home.
University from an old person’s perspective Emily Kennedy Staff Writer My first day at Acadia was probably quite similar to that experienced by the masses of students flooding onto campus ready to start a new year, except for one difference: the majority of them were 18, I was 26. I was nervous, and as I looked at the students around me I quickly began feeling old. Let us quickly clear one thing up, I enjoy a little self-deprecating humour, generally about my age or the face that I will most likely be a crazy (cat-less) cat lady, but 26 is not by a long shot and neither is the now fast approaching 30. However, as the students around me were chatting with their new friends from Welcome Week, I, the “mature student”, sat alone wondering what I was getting myself into.
I had been working a series of retail management jobs, lastly as a Relocation Consultant for a moving company. I was used to sometimes working 16hour days without breaks. I was used to interacting with countless faces day after day. But the real challenge of university was finding a balance in my new routine. I had not been required to think at an intellectual level for years, and sitting amongst a roomful of bright, young individuals was extremely intimidating. I felt stupid, and like I did not belong. Then I would return home from a day of class to a house filled with 20-year old girls, who I shared nothing in common with, and I felt just
as much like I did not fit the mould. I remember thinking after the first week that I had made a big mistake, and I even called my former boss to see if I could get my job back. He told me to stick it out for a month, and then we could discuss the possibility of me returning to the office. What I didn’t realize up until this point was that forming friendships is an essential part of the learning process in university. After speaking with a few students from my program, it became clear that they were struggling too. Although our challenges were different, I was able to ease their
uncertainties, while in return they could ease mine. If I had not listened to my old boss, I would have given up. Had that happened, I would not have formed the friendships I now happily have, nor would I have reached a level of intellectual challenge I had been lacking for some time. At no point do either of these factors take my age or maturity into account. We are all students of this university. We are all seeking a better future for ourselves. And while I have to work my old brain a little harder than those younger than I, I have never felt like I have belonged anywhere other than here.
I will be honest, I came to Acadia with a poor attitude. I had been working pretty much since high school, and after a 6 year “one-year off,” I needed a positive change in my life. I had no intention of making friends. My plan was to get through the three years I needed and get a job that had actual meaning. Thankfully this did not last long, as I made friends soon after classes started, which would come in handy during the weeks and months to follow. You see, while I was used to working hard, early, and coffee-filled mornings, I was not used to this kind of work.
Erin Anderson
Opinion Prompt “Acadia fag” Max Boulet Opinions Editor Upon its publication last September, the article entitled “Acadia fag” quickly became a source of controversy on Acadia’s campus. It received coverage from national news outlets and remains the most viewed and most commented story on theath.ca. After an eight month investigation, no evidence was found to support the allegations made in the personal essay. Did Acadia’s reputation suffer unfairly and unnecessarily because of this article? Has the Acadia community benefitted from the increased awareness that came as a result of this article? Does the author’s apparent fabrication of details make their argument any less valid? What’s your opinion? The Ath wants to hear from you! Submit your responses to ath. opinions@acadiau.ca The original “Acadia fag” article as well as the results of the investigation may be found at theath.ca
bcu.ac
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ath sports
Starting the season: Doing it right Eliza McGuire Sports Editor The Acadia Axemen hosted the Mount Allison Mounties Friday, September 6th for their first game of the season. Walking into the stadium at Raymond Field was an uplifting experience; it was wonderful to see
such a large crowd out to support the team in their first match. Despite the fact that it was the first Friday night of the academic year, many students arrived decked out in Acadia colours, sporting faces covered in blue and red
Eric Cederberg
paint. Hopefully this is the start of a trend, and the crowds will stay just as large—and as vocal. A crowd that is so obviously behind their team can really make a difference. Why else would they call it “home field advantage” if not for the extra strength gained from the spectators there bolstering the team to victory, and helping players find another reason to dig a little bit deeper when games are close and outcomes uncertain? Such was the case this game, when a winning score was a good thing, but hearing all the little voices cheering for their heroes, no doubt well past their bedtimes, was a great thing. While the Axemen controlled the ball far more than the Mounties in the first half, the Axemen came out of the first forty-five minutes with only a 1-nil lead off of a beautifully executed set played and finished by Zachary Shaffelberg. The second half started with a chance for the Axemen off of a free kick some thirty yards out that the Mount Allison keeper managed to track down through the melee of bodies in front of the net and nab out of the air. Another free kick under five
minutes later also proved dangerous. The Axemen clearly hammered out the details of a number of plays during their training camp, and it proved to be a distinguishing factor between the two teams. Nine minutes into the second half the Axemen took advantage of a lapse in the Mounties’ defence, doubling their lead off the boot of Cochrane Noseworthy-Smith. However, the fight was not yet out of the Mounties, who pulled within minutes with a corner kick that found the head of Bradley Joseph—and then the back of our net. What was truly impressive was the amount of self-control the Axemen showed at the hand of the gamesmanship being employed by the Mounties. While they were not without lapse—a shove after the whistle escalated into a yellow card against the home team—as a team they kept to their own game and were better for it. Pressure mounted on the guests as time ticked away and they struggled to get out of their own zone, with no great chances emerging from their few forays into Axemen territory. However,
The Axemen host Cape Breton on Sunday, no doubt hoping to keep their record unblemished. Keep an eye out for the Axemen September 21st and 22nd when they host Dalhousie and UNB respectively, at 3:15.
and believes whole-heartedly that this is more than doable for his team. He points out that the team is past the rebuilding stage and that many of the older players are accepting more of a leadership role. Training camp was different this year, in the sense that it was more organized in how it was going to unfold, and what the key messages and focus would be. There was not as much of a tryout this year either, instead more of a preparation
phase. This enabled the team to be just that much more ready for the season.
Aiming high means training right Sarah MacKinnon Staff Writer Training camp for the athletes at Acadia University is a kind of mystery for the average student. We all know that the athletes arrive early, but what for? What is necessary in order to prepare for a successful season? The Acadia Women’s Soccer team, whose athletes are collected from across the country, gathered on August 23rd—a full twelve days before classes started. Coach Amit Batra made it clear, however, that training camp is merely a gathering and check-in of where the girls’ progress is. In a very short period of time the team has to come together and see where everyone is at, and where everyone will fit. A system has to be created and evaluations must be done, as some players might not make the squad. That being said, the real work began seven months ago; when the girls began regularly training vigorously, practicing, and playing as often as they could while keeping up with their school work. Coach Batra explains that during the summer months all of his athletes are expected to do workouts provided by him three times a week, and play in a league of sorts which varies from Canada Games, to senior-
women’s soccer, or even a league that is run in a professional manner (but not an actual professional league as that is illegal for an Atlantic University Sports (AUS) athlete). Let it be clear that training camp is not a mere two-week event where these athletes become reconnected with their love of soccer. Training camp begins after their season ends and continues until the following season begins. What does this two-week period before school begins entail? A lot of hard work, undoubtedly. From a first-hand perspective I witnessed the seemingly Spartan-like fitness testing during which every athlete on the squad upheld impressive results during track runs, shuttle sprints, and agility cones, with all of their times being recorded. They practiced twice a day with high intensity and each athlete exhibited to their coach and teammates the improvements they have made over the summer, and how much they have learned since last season. For the incoming six rookies they began proving themselves to the team, eager to begin their AUS careers. When they are not on the field the athletes are taking ice baths, taping themselves,
resting for their next practice, or meeting with their team and coaches. Goals for the season (individually and team-wide) are discussed and created, and a certain theme is expressed with this squad. Every single member has a ‘team-first’ attitude this year. Coach Batra elaborates on what this means for the team. “Successful teams rely on each other and put aside their individual needs. When players need support, or when players on the field have success, the whole team is rallying around them. If players are not contributing on the field they are contributing in practice and making the team better. That is one of our mottos—how are you going to get better every single day? As good of a day you had today, are you going to be better tomorrow? This in turn does address your individual needs because by playing and competing at your highest level in practice you will have an opportunity when that time comes to be ready to play. When you can pull that team together you can have a lot of success because there is just so much support and positivity that drives the team forward”. The Acadia Axewomen placed tenth in the AUS both in the 2012 and the 2011 seasons. This year Coach Batra hopes to leap to the top three
with less than ten minutes remaining in regular time, Noseworthy-Smith made a spectacular drive down the wing, and then proceeded to dangle the ball around three Mount Allison players to deliver himself right in front of the goal—as if the ball were as much a part of him as an arm or a leg—to set up a teammate, only to have the shot miss the far post by inches. Not letting up on the pressure they had built over the half, the Axemen drew another yellow card from a frustrated Mounties player. With another opportunity for a set play, the Axemen fed the ball into the box in front of the net. It was madness in front of the net, but the goal that sealed the deal came with only five minutes remaining in the game, from John Attenborough. The Mounties would receive only one more chance to pull within one sixty seconds later, but the Axemen keeper was bailed out by his wingman, the crossbar, and the score remained 3-1, giving the Axemen their first win of the season.
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At Acadia University all students have the ability to see every athletic event that they desire for free. So when the Acadia Women’s Soccer team next hosts, come cheer on the Axewomen in their quest to come top three, September 21st and 22nd at 1:00! Watch their hard work from the last seven months pay off.
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Science of urine Niraj Nitheanandan Science Editor Researchers at the University of Alberta announced today that they have determined the chemical composition of human urine. The study, which took more than seven years and involved a team of nearly 20 researchers, has revealed that more than 3,000 chemicals or “metabolites” can be detected in urine. The results are expected to have significant implications for medical, nutritional, drug, and environmental testing. “Urine is an incredibly complex biofluid. We had no idea there could be so many different compounds going into our toilets,” noted David Wishart, the senior scientist on the project. Wishart’s research team used state-of-the-art analytical chemistry t e ch n i q u e s i n c l u d i n g nu c l e a r magnetic resonance spectroscopy, gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, and liquid chromatog raphy to systematically identify and quantify hundreds of compounds from a wide range of human urine samples. To h e l p s u p p l e m e n t t h e i r experimental results, they also
used computer-based data mining techniques to scour more than 100 years of published scientific literature about human urine. This chemical inventory, which includes chemical names, synonyms, descriptions, structures, concentrations and disease associations for thousands of urinary metabolites, is housed in a freely available database called the Urine Metabolome Database, or UMDB. The UMDB is a worldwide reference resource to facilitate clinical, drug and environmental urinalysis. The UMDB is maintained by The Metabolomics Innovation Centre, Canada’s national metabolomics core facility. The chemical composition of urine is of particular interest to physicians, nutritionists and environmental scientists because it reveals key information not only about a person’s health, but also about what they have eaten, what they are drinking, what drugs they are taking and what pollutants they may have been exposed to in their environment. Analysis of urine for medical purposes dates back more than 3,000 years. In fact, up until the late 1800s, urine
What the science?! Niraj Nitheanandan Science Editor A university education is not complete without the study of science. It has now been over 400 years since Galileo first turned a telescope to the sky and since Johannes Kepler published the Laws of Planetary
Motion. It has been 150 years since the publication of “On the Origin of Species.” And according to some accounts it has been nearly 40 years since the birth of the Internet.
ath science analysis using colour, taste, and smell (called uroscopy) was one of the primary methods early physicians used to diagnose disease. Even today, millions of chemically based urine tests are performed every day to identify newborn metabolic disorders, diagnose diabetes, monitor kidney function, confirm bladder infections and detect illicit drug use.
said Wishart. “Expanding the list of known chemicals in urine by a factor of 30 and improving the technology so that we can detect hundreds of urine chemicals at a time could be a real game-changer for medical testing.” Wishart says this study is particularly significant because it will allow a whole new generation of fast, cheap and painless medical tests to be performed
disease, ulcerative colitis, pneumonia, and organ transplant rejection are already being developed or are about to enter the marketplace, thanks in part to this work. The word metabolome (which is derived from the words “metabolism” and “genome”) is defined as the complete collection of metabolites or chemicals found in a particular organism or tissue. The human urine study is part of a series of studies by researchers at the University of Alberta aimed at systematically characterizing the entire human metabolome. In 2008 the same U of A team described the chemical composition of human cerebrospinal fluid and in 2011 they determined the chemical composition of human blood. “This is certainly not the final word on the chemical composition of urine,” Wishart said. “As new techniques are developed and as more sensitive instruments are produced, I am sure that hundreds more urinary compounds will be identified. In fact, new compounds are being added to the UMDB almost every day.
Nathan Kaulback “Most medical textbooks only list 50 to 100 chemicals in urine, and most common clinical urine tests only measure six to seven compounds,”
using urine instead of blood or tissue biopsies. In particular, he notes that new urine-based diagnostic tests for colon cancer, prostate cancer, celiac
Canada needs scientists—the job market has probably never been better. A degree in science from Acadia can launch you into an exciting and meaningful career in any number of areas. At Acadia, all students have the opportunity to study some aspect of the sciences. Students in the Arts and Humanities or Professional Studies have options of intriguing courses like Human Biology, Chemistry and
our World, Computer Concepts & Applications, Human Activity and the Environment, Natural Disasters, Oceanography, and Astronomy. But for students working toward a science degree, the choices will seem endless. You can do work in areas you studied at high school—Biology, Mathematics, Chemistry or Physics; or you might venture into areas where courses at high school are rare – Psychology, Geology, Environmental Science, or Computer Science; yet others might head for the professional programs in Nutrition and Dietetics or Engineering. You may be looking beyond a degree to a career path in the health sciences, in the professions, in teaching, or many other areas—a Bachelor of Science degree can sound awfully good for any of those choices. Acadia’s labs and facilities are excellent, and students have access to top-notch professors, top quality equipment, and a first rate education. The Faculty of Pure and Applied Science at Acadia has a rich variety of research programs in all of the disciplines offered. Research is tightly integrated with Acadia’s academic programs at both the undergraduate
“While the human genome project certainly continues to capture most of the world’s attention, I believe that these studies on the human metabolome are already having a far more significant and immediate impact on human health.”
and the graduate level. It is also home to 4 Canada research chairs that are in key areas of research at the University—the Environment, M a t e r i a l s S c i e n c e, M o d e l i n g , Information Technology and Society, Health and Wellness, and Education, Culture and Community. The science faculty offers graduate programs in Applied Geomatics, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Geology, Mathematics & Statistics, and Psychology, making it easier for students to continue research in subjects they are passionate about. Acadia’s small class sizes and amazing professor-student interaction makes an undergraduate fun and exciting. It brings out the passion and drive inside students, offering an education like no other. Acadia is nationally and internationally recognized as a center of research excellence. The faculty’s commitment to instill a love of learning and to generate new knowledge provides Acadia’s students with unique partnerships with faculty, both to do research and to communicate and connect that research to the community.
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ath creative
The Ath’s new creative section! Mira Dietz Chiasson Creative Editor “Creativity is contagious, pass it on” – Albert Einstein Calling all artists, creative writers, poets and photographers—unleash your creative spirits!
Fine Thing Fine Things Have an air about them, Like radio waves, splicing through the interstices. Fine things demand attention. Jagged, woolen, lustrous Even moth-eaten and bizarre They stake a claim in Eternity Being by necessity, more tangible than you They are a burden heavy as the sky. Only to be defiled In some yet unknown incident:
It is my pleasure to introduce the Athenaeum’s newest section, a place to express yourself however you please, be it in verse or in prose, through short stories, with a paintbrush and a canvas, pencils and a sketchbook, through photography or cartoons. The creative section will aim to showcase artistic and creative talent from the Acadia community, and is
accepting submissions from anyone who would like to share their work, or is simply looking for a creative outlet.
Fine Things Become Tragic Often In the end.
Crystal beads of sweat beating down her face will say, “Fine thing, eh?”
They are breakable like our bodies But society being as it is, These objects are sometimes worth more than Those beings Whose souls coerce and collide Across continents of billboards and magazine ads, Their Dolce, Adidas, Estee Lauder, and Nike Air
So you see, fine things leave an indelible mark, Having carved out a crevice in this culture And, a place in our hearts. We let ourselves take a back seat to Tossing a brassy, hard, cold penny In some fountain.
Creativity, whether it be artistic or scientific, can be a great force for change in the world, or simply a great form of entertainment. After all, without creative minds to reflect upon the meaning of life, or think
up new unheard of solutions, or new ways of thinking about things, the world would be a quite boring place. Acadia has much hidden talent in terms of creative expression—here is your chance to show us what you have got! Your submissions can be funny, satirical, reflective, poetic, obscure... In the words of Pablo Picasso, “the chief enemy of creativity is good sense”, so let your imagination run wild.
Creative writing and poems should not be longer than 750 words. Cartoons or artwork will be accepted as a scanned version sent electronically or a hard copy. Photography, photo essays and writing can be sent via e-mail. For submissions or inquiries please contact Mira Dietz Chiasson, creative section editor, at athcreativeeditor@ acadiau.ca
To make a wish, And hope for redemption.
As if it were an insult, When angry and to prove a point My - By Sarah Williams Mother,
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