The Campus October 26, 2016 by The Campus Newspaper

The Bishopâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s University Newspaper Vol. 72, No. 5

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Halloween Special GRAPHIC BY KATIE MANNERS

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NEWS The Editors

2016 - 2017

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Katie Manners thecampus.editor@gmail.com

BUSINESS MANAGER Natasha Paikin thecampus.business@gmail.com

COPY EDITOR Nicole Gauvreau thecampus.copyeditor@gmail.com LAYOUT EDITOR Angélique Bielski thecampus.layout@gmail.com NEWS EDITOR Rachel Newcombe thecampus.news@gmail.com

ARTS AND CULTURE EDITOR Dominque Davidson thecampus.ac@gmail.com

FEATURES EDITOR Taryn Buskard thecampus.features@gmail.com

OPINIONS EDITOR Sam Lazanis thecampus.opinions@gmail.com SPORTS EDITOR Madeleine Hession thecampus.sports@gmail.com

This issue’s contributors Katharine Mussellam Paulina Garcia Diaz Lee Bronstein Daniel Lapperriere Asha-Maria Bost Janan Chan Hayley Winch Payton Bernett Jonathan Frydman Abdullah Siddiqi Laura Underhill Katherine McKenney Kyle Donnelly

THE CAMPUS OCTOBER 26, 2016

Rachel Newcombe, News Editor » thecampus.news@gmail.com

SRC passes club amendment to support safe spaces RACHEL NEWCOMBE News Editor

On Oct. 23, the Student’s Representative Council (SRC) held a General Assembly meeting to pass a constitutional amendment concerning Bishop’s University clubs and their membership policies. The amendment passed as follows: In order to allow for dynamic spaces of dialogue to help students to express themselves without fear of judgment or discrimination, culture, equity, religious & spiritual clubs may limit membership to people with shared values. These clubs are also given the right to limit events

and/or meetings to those of shared experience, as self-identified, for the purpose of mutual-support, healing, and/or sharing, providing that the club’s meetings and events are not always limited in this manner. The amendment was originally proposed at the semester’s first General Assembly meeting on Oct. 16 where one of the involved parties explained that this was a step towards creating safe spaces for students on campus. While the concern for respecting likeminded, value-based spaces was met, it is also stressed that clubs should have events and meetings open to as many people as possible, so long as everyone

The Bishop’s boomers make up largest ever incoming class RACHEL NEWCOMBE News Editor

The numbers are in, and it is true we have been seeing more students than usual. Bishop’s University experienced a 9.4 per cent bump in enrolment between Fall 2015 and Fall 2016, opening its doors to 919 incoming students. This number includes approximately 146 international students, an increase from last year’s 126. The school’s population has now swelled to 2,428 full time students. Comprised of approximately 53 per cent Quebecers, 32 per cent Canadians, and 15 per cent traveling to Bishop’s from different countries, the slow but steady rise in enrolment is a welcome sign. Dan Seneker, Director of Enrolment at Bishop’s, stated in a press release, “While we have seen an increase in enrolment over the past two years, I’m proud to say that it has been accomplished without jeopardizing our academic standards.” “Our minimum admission standards remain at an R- score of 23 or a 75 per cent for general entry to the university, with some programs requiring a higher average and/or supplemental materials. Admission to Bishop’s will increasingly become more selective and competitive,” Seneker concluded.

is respectful. This prompted a long debate about the pros and cons of the amendment’s wording, and the concern was expressed that those at the General Assembly meeting did not have enough professional input on said wording. Thus, the amendment was to be discussed and voted upon at the Oct. 23 meeting instead. Involved parties believed that it should be done right the first time. The first General Assembly meeting involved departmental updates, and status checks on various ongoing projects, which will come to fruition during the academic year.

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The Campus is editorially and financially autonomous. It is published by the Campus Publication Board. All material is copyright The Campus. Nothing may be reproduced without the written consent of the Editor-in-Chief. Complaints may be made directly to the Editor-in-Chief. If no resolution can be reached, complaints should be forwarded to the Publishing Board. The opinions of the writers published in The Campus do not necessarily represent the opinions of the staff of The Campus or the Campus Publishing Board. Likewise, the opinions expressed in the advertisements published in The Campus do not reflect the opinions of the staff or the Publishing Board.

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While bigger numbers are certainly a boost to the school’s moral, Bishop’s is still projecting a budget shortfall for the 2016-2017 fiscal year. Yet the university remains optimistic that the swelling of student ranks will help Bishop’s in it financial recovery and sustainability efforts.

PHOTO COURTESY BU SRC FACEBOOK PAGE

There is a lot more purple on campus this year, with the largest incoming class in Bishop’s history now calling Lennoxville home.

BE PART OF THE TEAM! Submit your articles, questions, photos, or ideas to the editorial team by NOVEMBER 4, 2016

Submissions to The Campus will be considered if they are received prior to the deadline at midnight on the Friday previous to the publication date. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit all submissions for length, style, and/or inappropriate material. The editorial staff also reserves the right not to publish submissions, including assigned stories or solicited material. Letters to the editor can be submitted directly to the Editor-in-Chief by email, in person, or by mail. Letters must be accompanied by the author’s name and phone number for verification purposes, even in the case of anonymous letters. All submissions should be in text-only or Microsoft Word format.

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DONALD LECTURE SERIES

Dowd and Hulse discuss media and the American election Party is not happy that their candidate is best known for his orange skin, his architectural structures, and now for groping women. According to Dowd, he 2016-2017 Donald Lecture Serthe Billy Bush/Trump tape was the, ies began with a bang on Oct. 20, “straw that broke the camel’s with American columnist for back.” the New York Times, Maureen “It’s the final accumulation Dowd, and current Times of all that’s gone on in this Washington correspondent campaign,” Hulse added. Yet Carl Hulse. The two engaged the Republicans are stuck with in a conversation-style talk him. “They’re dumbfounded about the upcoming Amerthis could happen to them,” ican election, to a full house at Hulse explained, adding that Centennial Theatre. the political party has gone in Dowd, author of the 2016 the exact opposite direction it non-fiction compilation “The needed to go to secure a more Year of Voting Dangerously”, stable voter’s base. “They’re broached the subject of the scared.” election with a few lightTrump is not the only one hearted jokes. “Please don’t to be scared of. Down admitbuild a wall to keep out the ted that people who dislike crazy Americans,” she said, Clinton because of her politreferencing the well-known ical past with situations like Donald Trump wall plan, and the Iraq War are not wrong. the notion that many AmerDowd explained in her own icans may find their maple words the phenomenon pride if Trump gains the that changed Clinton from presidency. what she called an idealistic She further went on to comyoung woman to presidential ment that Canada and the hopeful. United States have switched She explained that over time, places. “We used to have a suClinton built up what she called periority complex,” she said. an emotional wall, creating a Now there is a social media tough exterior, but a feeling campaign started by CanBISHOP’S UNIVERSITY STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES COUNCIL FACEBOOK PAGE of mistrust between her and adians where they encourage the public, which can cause Americans that their country Carl Hulse (left) and Maureen Dowd gave the audience both an American and a journalist point of view on the upcoming election. frenzy. Yet she explained that is still great. no one was looking at Clinton America’s new inferiority complex comes from almost two years of An audiotape involving him describing even telling a story about asking him and wondering whether she was tough presidential campaigning from Repub- his sexual assault of women to reporter what would happen if a clinical narcis- enough to pull the trigger if it ever came lican nominee Donald Trump, the busi- Billy Bush is just the most recent scandal sist like him had a narcissist explosion down to it. “The question is where is she ness mogul, and the Democratic nom- to hit the news, which has spent several when he saw all the photos of himself in aiming the gun,” Dowd said. There is no doubt that there is some inee Hilary Clinton, former first lady, months reporting on his past racist com- the White House. She added that he ignored this particular question. animosity towards Washington, and senator, and Secretary of State. With ments, and frequent lying. On the other side of the field, Clinton Hulse brought the subject back Dowd said that Americans “are angry for scandals and accusations flying from both camps, Dowd admitted that out has been continuously linked with her to a more serious note. “I think it legitimate reasons.” “We’re no longer the country that can of the nine campaigns she has covered leaked email scandal, and a bout of law would be total chaos,” he said, callin her career, this has been the wildest breaking that the Federal Bureau of In- ing the White House under Trump’s kick anybody’s butt,” she said, referring vestigation has decided not to prosecute leadership a federally funded adult to the terrible events of 9/11 during the one. George Bush administration as the time With a very attentive crowd agreeing her for. Dowd described the situation daycare. Both journalists have met with Trump, when America lost a big part of its idenand laughing along with them, Hulse simply. “America is stressed out,” she said, and both agreed that as a presidential tity. and Dowd discussed the things everyHulse and Dowd, provided a unique one wanted to hear; namely, that Trump eliciting laughter and agreement from candidate, his campaign is nowhere near as big or as efficient as it needs insight into the both the upcoming electo be in a presidential race. “He tion, and how the media is a big part of has no campaign,” Hulse ex- it. Dowd added, amid rousing applause 168E Queen, Lennoxville claimed. at the end of their talk, that whatever This may end up being a happened in November, Canadians Your Local Bookstore good thing. According to Dowd should keep up the encouraging words New Books • Old Books • Special Orders and Hulse, the Republican to Americans. Cards, puppets, CDs, gift certificates RACHEL NEWCOMBE News Editor

is actually the way he is so often portrayed across media platforms. Anyone who follows American politics has seen his views, and while he has his supporters, he is a highly controversial figure.

the Bishop’s students, staff, and Townshippers in attendance. Dowd, who has been interviewing Trump since the late 1980’s, told several anecdotes about dealing with Trump,

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OPINIONS OPINION

American Elections

THE CAMPUS OCTOBER 26, 2016

Samuel Lazanis, Opinions Editor » thecampus.opinions@gmail.com

The poverty of comedy

Reflecting on the opening of the 2016-2017 Donald Lecture Series

LEE BRONSTEIN Contributor

The evening started in a bathroom stall. Upon taking a piss, I thought to myself, “Will this be another pandering to the status quo?” It seems all too often people forget that many of the problems stemming from the political system are not just surface problems, but underlying and most of all institutional. Will they think within the boundaries of our current problems? Will they still think within the logic of the state and capitalist enterprises? Will they present the candidates as two major opposing forces, or address the realities of the illusion of choice in the political process? I laughed at myself. Of course they wouldn’t! They are mass media journalists, the only way they could have got there was due to pandering to the masses and the ruling class! Turns out I couldn’t have been more right. As I sat in the front row seat, I smelled the atmosphere of bourgeois entitlement. The armchairs sat pompously centre stage, up high on a pedestal waiting for the “experts” to arrive. Champagne glasses rested ponderously on a fancy wooden table containing nothing but water. Behind me stood several people, texting or

engaging in idle talk, apolitical in every sense of the word. The greetings were made, everyone applauded, Carl Hulse and Maureen Dowd both walked to their ruling class chairs. The jokes started flying fast, and the crowd ate up every word, the words which had little to no substance. The words that critiqued not their policies, but critiqued their character through ad hominem attacks that has little to do with politics. Dowd at one point stated that this election enmeshed the political, social, and entertainment outlets. The irony was that they didn’t even realize their stand-up comedy show was actually a part of the entertainment aspect, crystallizing and reaffirming her statement. I watched the earth burn in front of me as important issues of today were reduced to Trump-bashing with such classics in comedy history such as “...now to move on to a more serious issue: Trump.” What miserable world we live in when journalists don’t even address the important issues that we will face sooner rather then later. Even when something of substance was addressed, arguably the only thing of substance during that talk, it was brushed aside. When asked about the charges against Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, Hulse

shrugged it off as if it were a non-issue. The reality is that Trump was engaged in questionable taxation schemes surrounding the Trump Foundation, which may not be legal as Hulse suggested. Hillary Clinton has already shown her poor character by inciting riots during rallies of Bernie Sanders. And although she should already have been imprisoned for high crimes against the state, according to FBI Director Comey, to paraphrase, Clinton should not be charged as it would be “inappropriate”. To add to this list, let us add a charge of war crimes for her support for child soldiers in South Sudan. With impending war (if Hillary is elected due to her warmongering, which would really just help the interests of the military industrial complex), ecological and economic disasters, it is but little surprise that I believe humanity will soon crumble under the ashes of the leviathan that is the American empire. Kierkegaard states that a knight of faith is one who sacrifices something and teleologically suspends the ethical expecting that sacrifice to be given back within their lifetime. This is the definition of the current election, for you must believe in the absurd when electing either Trump or Clinton and expect the world to change for the better.

Clinton unites

Trump continues to divide but not conquer after recent remarks

DANIEL LAPERRIERE Contributor

here has been a wave of recent news headlines regarding the American presidential election about women, and oddly enough, it hasn’t been about the first female candidate for president by one of the major parties. Donald Trump continues to be bombarded by questions and criticisms about his boasting of sexual harassment, and recent victims who have come forward to accuse the billionaire real estate mogul. Responding to this, Clinton’s strategy is two-fold: hanging back and letting Trump squirm his way through an awkward defense of his words and actions, and providing an opportunity for women to come forward and show that women’s rights and respect is a concern even for the most powerful office of the free world. While some Republican voters and Trump’s political supporters are choosing to disregard these actions, believing that the office of the presidency requires strong leadership and a tough attitude; Clinton’s campaign has made it clear that the to hold

the presidential title means respect for all people. She has dictated America’s image as an inclusive one, that doesn’t demean women based on their looks and judges whole nationalities of people based on a few incidences. Clinton has done a good job keeping her messages hopeful and optimistic, and looks to unite the mixed population of the United States to try to remedy the divides that are seemingly becoming deeper and more apparent, like African Americans against law enforcement, Islamaphobia, and gender discrimination. While Trump is looking to capitalize on this fear and hatred towards others, Clinton believes that we are “Stronger Together” and that these petty differences that cause so much hate and suffering are the past that Donald Trump is trying to bring back as his great America. The future looks different to Clinton, and during the past two debates, she has shown that she is the candidate for the people. While she may have skeletons in her closet regarding The Clinton Foundation and her private email server, it has not translated into a loss of popularity as much as Trump’s skeletons

have done to him. As of Oct. 17, RealClearPolitics has taken multiple polls and as an average has Clinton leading Trump by 6.9%. Regardless of Trump’s base, it seems that many Americans have been looking for an excuse to demonize him and prove that Clinton is the candidate for them. She has run a traditional, conventional campaign, hasn’t gone for any radical, revolutionary promises, and has simply tried to be liked by the most people possible, which turns out has become an effective strategy against Trump. By being the anti-establishment candidate, saying the things he thinks others are too scared to say, Trump has essentially made himself an impossibility for many Americans; while people who were on the fence against Clinton were swayed by her support for those who are the targets of discrimination, racism, and sexism. Clinton seems like the safe choice for president, who can make sure that at home and abroad, America’s future will not be subjected to the same prejudices and stereotypes that were present in the worst times of the 20th century.

OPINIONS

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Life after capitalism

Star Wars, America, and the New Galactic Order

MITCHELL WIDEMAN Contributor

recent article from Jacobin Magazine makes an evocative claim about Star Wars: there was never an Empire; there was never a rebellion; there was only the Force, and it’s evil. Its source is a comparison with ancient Greek philosopher Anaximander’s aperion (In Greek, roughly meaning infinite): Whence things have their origin, Thence also their destruction happens, According to necessity; For they give to each other dike [justice, jointure] and recompense for their adikia [injustice, disjointure] In conformity with the ordinance of time

Anaximander’s metaphysical point was that things recompense their injustice through total annihilation; differences are overcome by the indifferent powers of the universe (or by those who “deal in absolutes” with “ultimate power”). The comparison with the Force is striking: it is not an underlying hidden harmony of the opposing forces of “dark” and “light”. Not only is there no “light side of the Force” but its presence is the only legitimate justification for the existence of an elite rogue council of militant aristocrats decked out in peasantry robes, whose role as protectors is conflated to justify an irrational system of domination. The Force is the ontological-mystical propaganda tool exploited to wage eternal war between an “evil” Empire and a “rebel” alliance who are both on the same side of the “jointure;” the only way to bring balance is to smash it. We are now wedged deep within a similar galactic predicament: moving from an era of “truthiness” under Bush, to the dominance of “hopey-changey stuff” with Obama, an ultimatum now looms: do we want “law and order” or a neo-liberal disaster? Both Clinton and Trump, despite all their differences, are the same coin; political tyrannies propped up by the grave injustice of our time: capitalism. The only justice for its injustice? Smash the system. In his compelling book After Capitalism, Marxist Critical Theorist David Schweickart calls the project of finding a new alternative to capitalism “successor-system theory”. His own successor-system, economic democracy, “abolishes private ownership of the means of production and wage labour, but retains the market”. Its basic features are threefold, starting with: Worker self-management where each productive enterprise is controlled democratically by its workers. Followed by a conservation of the market where these enterprises interact with one another and with consumers in a market governed by supply and demand largely free of government price controls. Finally, it involves social control of investment where funds for new investments are generated by a nationally controlled capital assets tax, instead of private wealth, which is then redistributed to the economy through a network of public investments. But how do we get there? Easy: the government issues a decree legally erasing all enterprise obligations to pay out to private individuals and institutions, declare legal ownership of the work place by its workers, announce a flat rate tax on all firms’ capital assets, nationalize the banks, and business resumes as usual: “producers keep producing; consumers keep consuming. Life goes on— after capitalism.

What’s the buzz all about?

Have bees become endangered for the first time?

KATHARINE MUSSELLAM Contributor

t was recently reported that bees have been added to the list of endangered species, but this is a common oversimplification of the news. This specific endangerment lies in the U.S. The story that recently broke is about how seven species of bees have dramatically decreased in numbers in Hawaii. It would be America-centric to say that this is the first time ever that bees have been put on an endangered species list. In fact, they have been endangered in Canada for years. On its website, Wildlife Preservation Canada still refers to the rusty-patched bumblebee as a newly listed endangered species in Canada, but reading further one sees that only three individuals have been found in the last 10 years. Another species of bee, the gypsy cuckoo bumblebee, is listed as endangered in Canada as a 2014 report states. This information does make the situation seem even more alarming, but this is important to know in order to understand the greater state of bees. We must recognize that these situations in different places can be seen as a whole.

This understanding is important if the proper action is to be taken. Focusing on just Hawaii or just the U.S. does not help the greater problem that is indicated by looking at a bigger picture instead of just this one story. If we assume that it is only in the U.S. that bee species are endangered, then we are given the impression that our problems do not exist or are not as important and that therefore there is nothing we can do, but in reality we need to solve our problems as well. We must continue to protect bees, which are important for pollinating crops, before it is too late. If every bee species in the world, or even just North America, were an endangered species, then we would be in a dire situation indeed, or even if we had as many endangered bee species in Canada as were added to the U.S. list. To help the bees from being in a greater danger of extinction, we can plant more native flowers that bloom throughout the spring and summer, stop using harmful pesticides, and just stop killing bees in general. Bees are important to ensure our survival and the survival of the planet, and we cannot afford to lose any more.

Trudeau lights the way New carbon tax initiative will shake up the provinces and reduce emissions

DANIEL LAPERRIERE Contributor

ustin Trudeau’s announcement regarding a national carbon pollution tax has come with mixed response, and that largely depends on which province you live in. Quebec and British Colombia have already established their own carbon reducing initiatives and welcome the other provinces to catch up with their programs, while Saskatchewan and Manitoba believe this deal will not work for Canadians and will seriously hurt their provinces. Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall has been vocal in his opposition of the imposed carbon tax, saying that it will, “siphon over $2.5 billion from Saskatchewan’s economy”. Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister is skeptical a federal-wide carbon tax will work in the long run: “One-size-fits-all isn’t going to work in this country”. What will the effects of the tax be on the different Canadian markets? Will it lead to a shift in energy production and consumption in a country that has long been dependent on fossil fuels? One key consequence of the carbon tax will be that it will continue to de-value the Canadian oil market. The extraction, production, and consumption of natural gas and fossil fuels will all lead to an increase of carbon pollution, which will cost businesses and households money going directly to the tax. Indirectly, this will also economically harm those dependent on fossil fuels because it will make Canadian oil a less valuable commodity as these increased pollution costs will lead to higher production and transportation costs. This means higher prices of gas and coal, less in-

centive for foreign investment in Canada’s oil market, and more of a difficulty in exporting Canadian oil to the US and others. This will cause a decrease in the price per barrel of Canadian oil just so it can remain competitive internationally. Canadian farmers, particularly those in “prairie provinces” that have not yet had to deal with a carbon tax or cap-and-trade system, will be hit hard by this program as they depend heavily on gas to run machinery, and are generally high polluters, particularly cattle farms. Typically, the Canadian dollar decreases when our price per barrel does, and this will make it more expensive for these farmers to import the food and grain for their cattle, which can further destabilize the already fragile agriculture sector. The idea of the carbon tax is that the flow of money going from businesses to provincial governments would be re-invested into environmental initiatives to further our capabilities of green energy. Carbon emissions are causing a global issue of climate change, with Canada ranking as the 9th worst country for emissions, according to ucsusa.org, we have to do much better and have a more active role in providing effective, nation-wide green energy infrastructure. These two reasons should be enough to convince provinces to get on board with this program. While the reasons stated above outlines the carbon tax as negative, I believe these are necessary setbacks to change the status-quo of economics over environment, and individual provinces should work as quickly as possible and use these taxes efficiently to wean Canada off our dependence on fossil fuels and into a more environmentally sustainable future.

FEATURES FEATURES

THE CAMPUS OCTOBER 26, 2016

Taryn Buskard, Features Editor » thecampus.features@gmail.com

Educate yourself this

Halloween

Gender identity and the curse of the dollar store wig TARYN BUSKARD Features Editor

ver the past few years, the discussion of political correctness surrounding Halloween costumes has come to the centre of attention. Cultural appropriation is a distinct problem that is consistently propagated through both media and purchasing power. The sexualization of young girls is of great concern as are many of the warnings issued to college age women if they wear sexy costumes. While these are all valiant issues, there is one vogue question that seemingly has yet to be dismantled: wearing gender as a costume. Gender identity and gender expression are two issues that persons of trans experience are confronted by daily. Non-passing persons of trans experience are often reminded of their failure to exist within their binary. Even passing trans persons have histories, and are regarded with the same social dismissal that many assign to those who are non-passing.

Gender expression for a person of trans identity is distinctly not a costume. Their ability to dress in a way that affirms their fundamental identity is a means by which they establish their space in society. For many persons of trans experience, to perform the identity of their assigned gender is disorienting. The issue with the costuming of gender, however, is not the same as the issue with costuming race. The issues for racial costuming are the application of black face, tribal painting, and the general lack of cultural respect and understanding. The issues with the use of gender as a costume are the means by which they further assert these cultural norms of gender. When men dress as women, they often do so as a joke. They wear bad wigs, ridiculous clothing, and poorly applied make-up, and then proceed to mock the motions and behaviours that are affiliated with women. This trend is equally problematic amongst women. Not only are these portrayals offensive to cis gen-

Halloween origins

dered persons, but subsequently to a community that does not adopt these mannerisms to be amusing (and they don’t get to remove this image at the end of the night). That being said, there is no issue in using Halloween as an excuse to confront the gender binary. Using a character of the opposite gender—and embodying that character—can be complimentary and empowering. Halloween is one of the biggest nights of the year amongst the LGBT+ community. Drag queens and kings alike embody different personas. LGBT+ clubs host amazing events. It is not at all uncommon to see members of the community bending gender norms for the purpose of costumes. The issue is not in performing characters but in performing gender and specifically gender archetypes. This habit undermines the validity of the trans community and is inherently not a costume.

and the thinning of the veil PAYTON BERNETT Contributor

Halloween marks quite an important date for Bishop’s students. For many, midterms are finally coming to an end. For others, old friends are driving up to visit for the party-filled Halloweekend. But what many don’t realize is that by celebrating Halloween on Oct. 31, they are actually participating in an adaptation of the pagan celebration known as Samhain (pronounced Sow-wyn). Samhain is a celebration for the particular time of year during which the veil between this world and the spirit world is at its thinnest point. Because of this thinning of the veil, some pagans reach out to contact ancestors that have since crossed over. This can involve honouring them, and sometimes leaving offerings of food and drink outside, as it is believed that the spirits are more likely to experience the offerings at this time of year. During celebrations of Samhain, some people dress up in honour of the spirits that are now more apparent than during any other time of year. Some also dress up as if to hide from the darker spirits that may rear their faces (or lack there-of) during this liminal period.

Many of these traditions can be seen in how we celebrate what is now known as Halloween. People display beautiful harvest baskets full of squash and pumpkins. Children dress up as spooky and scary creatures such as ghosts, witches, and demons. Ouija boards are brought out to make contact with the dead. Scary decorations that depict death are scattered across lawns. Some pagans of the 21st century still celebrate Samhain, holding special rituals of different sorts. If you would like to participate in the more spiritual side of what has come to evolve into Halloween, a few simple options are available to you. You can celebrate the end of the harvest season by hosting a big dinner full of lovely food. Additionally, you may want to honour your ancestors through a personal meditation or by displaying something in your home that reminds you of them. You may also leave an offering of food or drink out for the spirits. You may light a candle for the dead. There are many ways to celebrate Samhain (many of which can be found through a quick Internet search).

GRAPHIC COURTESY SAM BURNS

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Community

and keeping pumpkins intact TARYN BUSKARD Features Editor

Halloween is a great opportunity to attend amazing events and meet interesting new people, but it can also become problematic when students come to forget the community. During orientation week, and other large party-centric events, the party environment is not so inherently problematic. However, Halloween is a holiday that is in many ways oriented towards children. For this reason, it is essential that the students—as members of the Lennoxville community—be mindful of their environment. This begins first through districting. While much of the main strip is student housing, many of the surrounding neighborhoods are not. If you plan on hosting large events, consider staying away from weeknights and the actual night of Halloween. It’s best to avoid having the cops show up after a misconduct or noise complaint from an angry parent or community member. Furthermore, if you live in a residential area, be kind to the trick-ortreaters. Their parents are usually with them, and they just want to have a good time. Harassing them and scaring them takes a lot of fun out of the night. If you want to participate, wear a costume, put up some decorations and hand out some candy. Subsequently, be mindful of your behaviour. While it is unlikely that people will be partying on Oct. 31 (as it’s a Monday), leaving broken glass and discarded cans in the streets for children to stumble upon later does not send a good message about the university. Halloween is also a poor excuse to commit vandalism. Pulling a prank on your best friend is funny. Broken windows, graffiti, and the aftermath of a burning pumpkin can have serious repercussions for homeowners. Halloween should be creepy and scary, but foremost it should be fun. Halloweekend is a great time; it’s fun to wear costumes and go out. Join in the celebration. But inevitably keep in mind that Halloween is about the kids, and we are members of the community.

Culture

FEATURES

and how not to wear it ASHA-MARIA BOST Contributor

alloweekend is a time-honoured Bishop’s tradition, where many Bishop’s students get dressed up in costumes and party the night away. However, the Halloween season can be a challenging time for some students who are forced to see people “dressed up” as degrading, stereotyped representations of their culture(s). Last year the Indigenous Cultural Alliance, in partnership with many past and current Bishop’s students, launched a campaign to raise awareness about the issue of cultural appropriation. Their campaign demonstrates how Bishop’s students are affected by these degrading costumes and put a human face to the effect of such insensitivity. What would fall under the category of a degrading or stereotypical costume? Any costume that uses

cultural elements out of context and/or reinforces harmful stereotypes about groups of people.

These types of costumes fall under the umbrella of cultural appropriation. Cultural appropriation occurs when we take traditional clothing and artefacts from a different culture and use them in a different context that is different from their original purpose. Cultural appropriation involves a power imbalance in which people from the dominant culture are using cultural elements from a marginalized culture for their own enjoyment. People from these marginalized cultures often do not have the same freedom to wear their own cultural garments. For example, in the not so distant past, Canadian residential school system forced Indigenous people to give up their cultural heritage and identity, by forcing them into the dominant Canadian culture. They could not speak their languages, engage in cultural practices and/or wear their traditional clothing. This resulted in generations of Indigenous people having limited connections to their cultures. Yet you can still buy culturally inaccurate and insensitive “sexy Native American” costumes in stores. In short, the only times it may be appropriate to wear garments from another culture, are when you are visiting the country and you are expected to follow their cultural practices and traditions, or when you are invited by members of a culture to wear these garments in the appropriate context (so, not on Halloween). The following is a short guide to help you when evaluating your costumes (adapted from an article published last year by Haley Lewis): 1. Don’t darken your skin tone to appear like someone from another ethnicity (even if you are trying to portray a fictional character. Blackface is never okay) 2. Don’t wear clothing that stereotypes or misrepresents a group of people for laughs (for example, dressing up as an “illegal alien”, “Rasta” guy, transgender people, “sexy Native American”, or a terrorist) 3. Don’t wear sacred cultural clothing or artefacts that are only to be used in certain traditional ceremonies (for example, headdresses that are only to be worn by some members of some Indigenous cultures) I encourage everyone to take the time to research the costumes you are deciding to wear and to understand the origins of your costumes and ensure you are being respectful of all students. If you are in doubt of whether y o u r costume could be considered culturally appropriative, you probably shouldn’t wear it.

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ARTS&CULTURE ARTS

THE CAMPUS OCTOBER 26, 2016

Dominque Davidson, Arts and Culture Editor » thecampus.ac@gmail.com

PHOTO COURTESY TRAILERADDICT.COM

Film Review

Michelle Huot is the founder of the Bishop’s University Poetry Collective.

PHOTO COURTESY MICHELLE HUOT

JANAN CHAN Contributor

Artist Profile

MICHELLE HUOT DOMINIQUE DAVIDSON Ar ts&Culture Editor

n the past two years, Michelle Huot’s career in poetry has skyrocketed. The founder of the Bishops University Poetry Collective, Huot has introduced the art of spoken work to BU—in just one month the club has gained over 100 members consisting of the Bishops, Champlain and Sherbrooke community. “When I was young I would do anything to get out of a poetry class. I never had any appreciation for traditional poetry such as Shakespeare, and the content of courses was very limited, we were never taught things like spoken word,” Huot said. There we very few opportunities for individual poetry experiences and they often had age restrictions. “About two years ago, these events started opening up to the younger community.” “I thought I was going to a heavy metal night, my friends and I had taken the last bus [into town] and walked in—and it was spoken word instead. We weren’t about to pay for a cab to go home without at least spending a little time there. I sat down, and what I witnessed, I never thought that could be poetry.” The form of true poetry has always been debated, while many people would argue that without a proper structure and organization, it cannot be called

Affleck forgets he’s not Batman in The Accountant

poetry, but Huot is a strong advocate for the art form. “One of the most memorable performances for me was during that first night, there was a performer that spoke about his diagnosis with Borderline Personality Disorder, a diagnosis I had been struggling with for two years and rejecting,” Huot said. “When you’re conveying through speech you can get so many more emotions out than if it was written down. He was able to convey some sad and emotional moments with humour.” After the performance, Michelle approached the main speaker: “I wanted to know how I could get involved, and she told me there was a workshop the next day. So the next morning I got up, and went to this workshop. I had never done poetry in my life.” But, she was quickly inspired by the intimacy and immediate connection gained through poetry. “When they asked us to create something, I had no idea where to start, so I actually pulled up some old essays. I’d take pieces and turn them into poetry. The BU Poetry Collective is a branch based on a collective from Queen’s University. According to Huot, “the Collective allows people to experience the poetic art form without jumping in head first. It’s the first opportunity at this school to create poetry without publishing it on paper. It’s a safe space and people are welcomed and encouraged to attend.”

he Accountant is a movie dreamt up with a Benedict Cumberbatch/Christian Bale cross over in mind, but instead settles for Ben Affleck’s dull and deflated acting. The Accountant is a movie to rent, or more accurately, “legally” download and watch under heavy sedation. Though it has some godawful slower moments, when there is action, it is fast, and fight scenes exhibit that Marvel-esque punch. Affleck plays a highly gifted mathematician who handles criminal money, and when he gets into the thick of it, has to utilize his military training and arsenal of guns in order to save Anna Kendrick. Affleck has (what the film defines as) autism that gives him a certain obsessive compulsion and an inability to properly socialize.

Despite this interesting touch, and the casting of the one and only J.K. Simmons, the film tends to fall flat. Director Gavin O’Connor leaves no room for character development or really any moments to become emotionally invested. The score is nothing phenomenal; the editing is too quick; and the pacing painfully fluctuates. All that being said, if you’re looking for a mediocre 128 minutes guns-andexplosions, last-taste-of-summerpopcorn, (not so)quickie-flick, The Accountant is for you. However, if you do not want to subject yourself to two hours of Ben Affleck “acting” but like the themes explored by this film, I recommend John Wick (2014) or Drive (2011) for neurotically disciplined characters killing people, and The Imitation Game (2014) or A Beautiful Mind (2001) for gifted mathematicians in drama/action.

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THEBUCAMPUS.CA

ARTS

Bishop’s University drama department presents ...

Coma Unplugged DOMINIQUE DAVIDSON Ar ts&Culture Editor

or the first time at Bishop’s University, the drama department has prepared a multilingual production. Coma Unplugged is a Quebecois comedic drama by Pierre-Michel Tremblay, and translated by Micheline Chevrier. The production will be performed in Turner Studio Theatre from Oct. 26 to 30. French performances will be held on Oct. 26, 28, 29; and English performances on Oct. 27 and 30. The story takes place inside the mind of a columnist, Daniel, who is left comatose after an accident. As Daniel is teetering between life and death, he meets four impactful people that allow him to examine the cynicism inherent to his era. Directed by George Rideout, the play consists of five drama students currently enrolled in the production course: Amélie Auger, Julian Dawson, Anne-Sophie Demers, Pierre-Luc Pépin, and Viviane Seutin. Certainly the most ambitious production to date, the event will take place over five days and alternates between French and English performances. They

are essentially putting on two separate productions, but only in the span of one month—the same amount of time as any other single production at Bishop’s. “It’s been a really unique and gratifying experience to be a part of this pilot project,” said Dawson, an actor. He hopes that in years to come, French productions will continue to be a part of the drama department. “To have a piece of our culture being presented—an original Quebecois text—is incredible.” “Between the two languages [Pepin, actor] has as many lines as Hamlet—he never leaves the stage,” said director Rideout. While the small size of the cast faces challenges on its own, it also presents the actors with a unique opportunity. “We’re provided with individual criticism in every rehearsal, which is not something that is possible in a large cast of thirty, for example,” actor Seutin commented. The most spectacular aesthetics of the play is perhaps the set, inspired by surrealist artist René Magritte. Drawing images from his paintings such as “Portrait of Stephy Langul”, “The Lover and Empire”, and “The Society of the Spectacle”,

Coma Unplugged is on at Turner Studio Theatre Oct. 26 - 30.

the dreamlike set is a work of art on its own. Costumes have been designed by the Costume Design Tomlinson Intern, Natalie Demmon. The vibrant colours and intricate creations beautifully compliment the set and are so intimate to every character. Seutin plays the principle character’s inner self, capturing a traditional Tuareg warrior—the costume captures the authenticity of this nomadic style. While the character was written for a male

PHOTO COURTESY DOMINIQUE DAVIDSON

actor, Seutin will be taking it on as a powerful woman. “Its so wonderful to see how confident she becomes when she puts on the costume,” said designer Demmon. “When she enters the scene, she walks down the stairs and she looks so incredible and inspiring.” Both the playwright and the translator will be attending the production on Oct. 29, which will be followed by a Q&A in Turner Lobby. Tickets are already being sold at the Centennial Theatre box office.

PHOTOS COURTESY WIKIART.ORG

The set was inspired by surrealist artist René Magritte.

Musique Chez Nous Concert Review

Pianist Tristan Longval-Gagné PAULINA GARCÍA DÍAZ Contributor

n Oct. 14, Bandeen Hall was filled with enthusiasm as eager audience members awaited the performance of pianist Tristan LongvalGagné, for Musique Chez Nous. Winner of the Premier d’Europe in 2010, Longval-Gagné attended Juilliard to study music. He has also toured Quebec and Europe with his program titled “Scriabin: Between Romanticism and Modernism”. Longval-Gagné opened the night with a sonata by Joseph Haydn that demonstrated LongvalGagné’s breathtaking skill. His fingers ran up and down scales with impressive dexterity, and his hands jumped across the keyboard with perfect precision. The sheer power of that first note, which filled the entire hall, marked the beginning of a night of

phenomenal piano music. Following were Alkan’s “Le Festin d’Ésope” and Ravel’s “À la manière de…Borodine/Chabrier.” These pieces were more emotional, and showed Longval-Gagné’s character and passion—the pieces were striking as each song’s finale was met with a crash of keys. He finished the first half with pieces from Hamelin that had romantic harmonies strong enough to emotionally transport the audience back in time. The second half of the show proved to be a crowd-pleaser, as Longval-Gagné played from Satie’s “Sonatine bureaucratique” and Rzewski’s “Winnsboro Cotton Mill Blues.” The finale inspired an instant standing ovation. Musique Chez Nous runs Fridays at 8 p.m. in Bandeen Hall. A program schedule is available on ubishops.ca. Student entrance is free.

SPORTS SPORTS

THE CAMPUS OCTOBER 26, 2016

Maddie Hession, Sports Editor » thecampus.sports@gmail.com

BU ultimate Frisbee team shows ultimate spirit MADDIE HESSION Spor ts Editor

he Bishop’s ultimate Frisbee team, Lennoxvegas Ultimate, set out to Montreal last weekend to compete in the 2016 Canadian University Ultimate Championships. The tournament was a two-day event held at le Cégep MarieVictorin. With 21 teams from all across the country, the boys faced some stiff competition. The student-run team is made up of 26 dedicated young men who gather together three times a week to train, practice, and “lay out” everything they have on the field. “Its a team for all skill levels,” said team member Sinclair Kemp-Griffin. The team encountered their first competition of the year over the Homecoming weekend when they braved the ultimate Frisbee alumni players. The incredible thing about this team is that they made it all the way to the Canadian University Ultimate Championships with no formal coach, no school representation, and no university funding. While all the other teams at the tournament had matching jerseys, water bottles, and team disks, Lennoxvegas Ul-

timate had team spirit. With hand made team shirts, the guys lit up the vicinity with cheers and encouragement; they even stormed the field every time they got a point. Although they were not necessarily the best team on the field, they were having the most fun. “All the other teams were very professional and had a very win-oriented mind set,” said Kemp-Griffin. “They were passionate.” “It’s a self-rep sport meaning there are no referees. The other teams called us out when we made mistakes but we didn’t call out any of them because we just wanted to have fun,” said team member Graham Hill. The only team at the tournament without a cent of funding, the boys faced the Waterloo Warriors and the University de Montreal Carabins on the first day and the Ottawa Gees Gees, the York Lions, and the Regina Panthers on the second day. By the end of a busy weekend, the team left without any wins. “I thought we would do a little better, I thought our athleticism would take us a little further,” said Kemp-Griffin. “The other teams started of by not liking us very much, but by the end there

PHOTO COURTESY MADDIE HESSION

Lennoxvegas Ultimate won over the tournament with their enthusiasm and school spirit.

was friendly competition and camaraderie,” said Hill. “Everyone remembered who we were because we were so rowdy.” Spreading the Bishop’s spirit across the field, the boys lightened the heart

A hat-trick is good, Matthews is better

BU LACROSSE RESULTS

BU lacrosse cleans up Ottawa with two wins over the Ottawa Gee Gees and the Carleton Ravens on Oct. 15 weekend.

LAURA UNDERHILL Contributor

ot every rookie has the ability to come into the NHL with a bang. No rookie has yet to enter the NHL with as big a bang as Auston Matthews. The Leaf’s centerman debuted his talent in Canada’s capital and blew the hockey world away. Matthews, the 2016 first overall draft pick, grew up watching the Coyotes in Arizona with his dad and uncle. Initially, Matthews found talent and passion in baseball, however after a few years of being captivated by the Zamboni and admiring the speed of the game, Matthews found minor hockey. His skill developed quickly. By the age of fifteen, Matthews had been drafted to the national level and at the age of seventeen he had been awarded the prestigious Bob Johnson Award for excellence in international competition. Due to his ineligibility for the 2015 NHL draft, Matthews spent the 2015-2016 season playing in the Swiss National League A. During his one season in Switzerland, Matthews managed to place second in the league in points-per-game average and a Swiss Cup win. Later that year, Matthews was drafted first overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs and signed a three year entry-level contract. Matthews,

of the tournament and brought the fun back into a game that took a hostile turn. Although this ultimate Frisbee club is not officially recognized by the university, these 26 members are the definition of what it means to be a team.

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PHOTO COURTESY TIPOFTHETOWER.COM

Austin Matthews makes his debut in Ottawa.

known for his smooth skating and technical puck skills, showcased what he is really capable of in his debut NHL game against the Ottawa Senators with four goals paired with some truly slick pocket picking. Currently, Matthew’s short NHL career boasts him five points in the three games he’s played. From the desert to Switzerland, and now to Canada, Matthews has been showcasing his skill for the world to see. With a resume like his, it’s hard not to be excited to see what is in store for all-star rookie Auston Matthews.

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FINAL

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FINAL

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SPORTS 11

THEBUCAMPUS.CA

Gaiters show heart in rookie-laden loss to Carabins KYLE DONNELLY Contributor

PHOTO COURTESY GAITERS.CA

Gaiters come up short of Redmen rivals.

Gaiter’s fall to Redmen under Coulter Field lights JONATHAN FRYDMAN Contributor

ishop’s Gaiters faced off against the McGill Redmen on Friday, Oct. 14. The game was played on Coulter Field where a full stadium of Bishop’s fans were energized to see the Gaiter’s play their Montreal rivals once again this season. The game started off with McGill’s rookie quarterback scoring two touchdown passes. With eight minutes left in the first quarter, the Gaiters successfully fought to keep the Redmen from scoring again. With the second quarter underway, the Redmen started off quickly with a 16-yard field goal after a two-minute long drive, which only resulted in 37 yards. However, McGill responded defensively with a safe-

ty. They scored one last time before the second quarter’s clock ran out. The second half started with a shift in momentum as Mathieu Demars led a drive that ended with an 11-yard touchdown pass by Alexandre Bouffard. The Gaiters did an amazing job defensively for the rest of the quarter, which was highlighted by a very impressive 104-yard fumble return by Parisian player, Arnaud Dandin. This put Bishop’s within nine points of McGill at 14-23. Within the first couple minutes of the third quarter, the Redmen pushed the game further out of the Gaiters’ reach with a two-yard touchdown run by Fred Maquette. Later, the Redmen scored yet another touchdown to bring the

final score to 14-37, with 146 total yards for Bishop’s and 575 for McGill. Some of the positive takeaways from the game were the solid individual performances by Bishop’s players. Quarterback, Mathieu Demers, stood out with 79 yards, and a touchdown completed by Jaeden Marwick. On the receiving end, Bouffard played well catching the ball four times for a total of 33 yards. Defensively, Ben Pouliot and Arnaud Dandin had outstanding performances. Pouliot had eight tackles and a blocked kick. Dandin had three tackles and a 104-yard fumble return. This weekend, on Sunday Oct. 29, Bishop’s will take on the Concordia Stingers on Coulter Field.

he Gaiters men’s rugby team knew what they were in for last Saturday night on Coulter Field. Coach Charles Goode, in his postgame interview outlined his team’s situation: “We knew we shot ourselves in the foot. We slipped up last week against Sherbrooke and didn’t get the bonus point versus ETS. Otherwise that would’ve set up this game for first place. It didn’t.” This week’s ensuing encounter with the Montreal Carabins, as Goode explained, would feature 15 rookies. This game in a sense went a long way in giving Goode some optimism for the future. After a pre-game ceremony honouring nine graduating seniors, including captain Lee Hudson, the young Gaiter side took some time to adapt to the strong Carabins attack. The hometown elements were doing Bishop’s some favours, however. A missed Montreal conversion six minutes into the game after the Gaiters allowed a quick conversion, perhaps injected the team with some confidence.

Bishop’s Patrick Giroux scored a try in the 23rd minute to give the Gaiters some momentum before the two teams traded tries going into the half, with Lawton converting a penalty into three points to cut the lead to 12-8. Another slow start to the second half for the Gaiters allowed the Carabins to jump on top 18-8 just two minutes into the half. Bishop’s first half scoring duo of Giroux and Lawton showed poise in turning things around again for BU with another try and conversion in the 56th minute to make it an 18-16 game. 10 minutes later, the season-long strength of the Carabins was manifested in a try to increase the Montreal lead to 24-16. Some late veteran experience came to the forefront with a Shayne Crawford try followed by another Lawton conversion. An exciting finish put the Gaiters within striking distance of Carabin territory after a kickoff, but the Carabins forced a turnover to preserve the two-point win and to keep their undefeated season intact. With quarterfinal qualification on the line, the Gaiters host the 1-6 Concordia Stingers next Sunday at 1 p.m.

The Great One returns, as Gretzy teams up with Oilers ABDULLAH SIDDIQI Contributor

he great Wayne Gretzky has been made partner and vice president of the Edmonton Oilers. Gretzky, whose Hockey career started in 1978, was well known for his tenyear career with the Oilers, including four Stanley Cup wins. He is a prominent force in the Hockey Hall of Fame, and holds the record for leading goal scorer in the NHL. Nicknamed “the Great One”, Gretzky has returned home and is “thrilled” to be named partner and vice-chairman of the Oilers Entertainment Group. “I skate to where the puck is going to be, not to where it has been,” Gretzky said at the recent unveiling of his statue at Rogers Place in Edmonton. No one knows what it is like to be the face of a “big little city” the way Gretzky does.

Canadians rejoice at the return of icon Wayne Gretzky.

He knows the Oilers inside and out as he spent nine years alongside them. The Oilers were hockey’s dominant team in

PHOTO COURTESY CBC.CA

the 1980s when Gretzky was on the ice, but they have since fallen on hard times. They have missed the playoffs for 10

consecutive seasons. Since Gretzky has won four Stanley cups with Edmonton Oilers, it would be a huge turnaround for them if he could lead them all the way yet again. “What Wayne means to the Oilers, the NHL, none of us can deny,” said the club’s owner, Daryl Katz. “We always felt the Oilers were his home, and without question to all of us, this is where Wayne should be.” This is a day that has been a long time coming. Gretzky said he will not play a role in making personnel decisions and will not serve in any capacity on the ice. He will travel with the team at times but for now he will continue to live in California. Wayne Gretzky will always be a fan favourite no matter where he resides. All in all, Canadians, especially Oilers fans, are happy to have the Great One return home.

NEWS

THE CAMPUS OCTOBER 26, 2016

Awaiting the Lion’s last roar as Golden Lion Pub listed ‘for sale’

HAYLEY WINCH Contributor

The Golden Lion has been a beloved tavern and historical microbrewery to both students and residents of the Lennoxville area. It offers such treats as Acoustic Tuesdays, Wing Night Wednesdays, and refreshing brews on the weekends. Now it has been put up for sale through Sotheby’s International Realty, with a price tag of $1,595,000. Brothers Stanley, Steven, and Kevin Groves currently own the Lion, as it is affectionately known. The “For Sale” state of the local favourite has prompted sadness and concern in regards to what limitations the new owners will put into effect, if any. The Lion was originally founded in 1973 by three Bishop’s University professors: George Groves, Robert Barnett, and David Seale. In an interview with The Sherbrooke Times on Oct. 12, Stanley Groves confirmed that only the pub is for sale. The decision does not spring from worries over the pub’s success; it is continuing

to be a booming business, alongside the microbrewery. Groves stated that the microbrewery, founded in 1986, will remain in the hands of the Groves brothers, with expansion plans in the works. These expansion plans will aid in supplying an increasing demand for Lion brews. A larger space and new equipment will help satisfy that thirst. “It is currently difficult to manage how much beer will be produced,” he said, indicating that the type of consumption also caused some problems. Often the pub would run out of beer, like the Lion’s Pride variety, but there would still be bottles on the shelves in stores. Two locations would help balance that discrepancy. There is currently no location for the future second brewery, though Groves would prefer to stay within the Eastern Townships. While no one has taken over the reins of The Lion as of yet, the Groves brothers hope that the new owners will continue to purchase and serve Lion beer in the future.

PHOTO COURTESY GOOGLE MAPS

The Golden Lion Pub has been a Gaiter staple since it first opened, with students celebrating everything from hockey wins to holidays in the cozy bar.

Mae Sot Education Project gives voluntourism a well-needed critique KATHERINE MCKENNEY Contributor

ounded in 2003, the Mae Sot Education Project (MSEP) is a campusbased volunteer project intended to assist Burmese (now Myanmar) refugee and migrant children located in Mae Sot, a city along the Thai-Burmese border. While MSEP provides essential support for the unstable civil society of Myanmar, as well as promotes international cooperation between Canadian, Thai, and Burmese citizens, it also has to deal with what many call “voluntourism”. Voluntourism is not merely a buzzword used to describe an enjoyable humanitarian trip abroad. The essence of voluntourism and those who participate in such projects are, in fact, complicit in behaviours that are ineffective at best and destructive or harmful to their host community at worst. And it certainly presents an “interesting challenge”, according to Mary Purkey, coordinator of MSEP and member of the project committee. As coordinator, Purkey has seen firsthand the apparent goodwill of voluntourists and the difficulties they can cause when working in Mae Sot, Thailand. On rare occasions, these types of volunteers have had to come home early. However, most of the time, they become helpful, garnering experience and becoming volunteers MSEP can be proud of. Purkey was adamant that the project is a dynamic system that responds directly to people on the ground.

The project was borne out of founder Purkey’s long-time work with the campus Refugee-Student Sponsorship Committee and her advocacy work with Amnesty International, a chapter of which she headed on the Bishop’s and Champlain campuses. Although the chapter is now defunct, MSEP represents the spirit and ideals embodied by both the refugee sponsorship project and Amnesty. MSEP sends small teams of student volunteers from Champlain and Bishop’s to Mae Sot, Thailand for six month periods to assist in teaching English to Burmese migrant children. MSEP also provides significant financial assistance to the schools along the border, as well as human resources provided by the volunteers. On the Canadian side, MSEP seeks to encourage international commitment and cooperation in the Eastern Townships community, as well as on the Bishop’s and Champlain campuses. With twelve years of experience, MSEP has become an expert on taking cues from the Burmese communities they partner with. “These people are very intelligent”, says Ms. Purkey. “They know their own needs.” Volunteers in MSEP must meet certain criteria besides good intentions. The structure of the project involves an extensive preparation period of about three months, where volunteers undergo a basic Thai class, Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) prep, and fundraising efforts. Volunteers who have returned from these trips are asked to

engage with the community to discuss their experiences through newsletters, blogs, and speaking to local schools and groups. MSEP prides itself on its extensive preparation process, which is more thorough than that offered by many non-profit humanitarian aid programs. The high commitment required of the volunteers helps to weed out the “voluntourist” types. The volunteers have a great track record in Mae Sot. Several notable volunteers have gone on to work with non-governmental organizations on the border of Thailand and Myanmar. Another returned volunteer, Will Bryson, a third year International Studies and Business student, has spearheaded Amnesty International’s Palm Campaign, which he initiated on campus last year, to help bring awareness to the political situation in Myanmar. Bryson represents one of the few volunteers who stayed in Mae Sot beyond the mandated duration of the project—he remained on the ground for ten months, the duration of the school year. The project had a lasting impact and is something that remains very much present in his daily life; Bryson is now a member of the Project Committee for MSEP, handling recruitment and finances, respectively. Like Purkey, Bryson had much to say on the topic of voluntourism. As he is responsible for conducting interviews, Bryson mentioned that a large part of

his job is judging the capacity for success of potential volunteers in Mae Sot. Although the project is mutually beneficial for students as well as for the schools in Mae Sot, Bryson said the idea of neglecting your school for travel is, “unfathomable” for many volunteers. Volunteers usually end up very invested in their schools, and some, like Bryson, do choose to stay longer. Despite his lengthy stay in Mae Sot, Bryson said life in the Townships has accepted him back quite well. With a new six month term on the horizon, new volunteers are needed. MSEP utilizes a selection committee to ensure the volunteers applying are of a distinct calibre and are well-suited for life in Mae Sot. Applicants must be students or recent graduates of Bishop’s University or Champlain, and must be between 18-26 years of age. Additionally, volunteers must meet a list of criteria to demonstrate their ability to adapt, work, and thrive with children in a different culture. However, participants in all programs are encouraged to apply—not just those in an education program. In addition to meeting the above criteria, Mae Sot volunteers must fill out an application with several written components. Applications can be found at the Bishop’s Writing Centre or on the project’s website. For more information, please visit www.maesot.ubishops.ca, or contact marypurkey@crc-lennox.qc.ca. Applications are due Nov. 1.