The Campus February 10th Issue

RYAN MILLAR

The Bishop’s University Newspaper

being incorrigible since 1944

Vol. 71, No.4 No.9

FEBRUARY 10, 2016

www.thebucampus.ca

Winterfest – what’s the point?

PHOTO COURTESY RYAN MILLAR

Is it a Bishop’s tradition, or just another excuse to drink alcohol?

HAYLEY WINCH Staff Writer

W

interfest is a school-sanctioned event that is long-awaited by many students, who wind up spending the weekend out of sorts and out of doors.

Rail Jam is one of the main events of the weekend and has the highest draw for students, as people come to support their friends’ efforts on the rail or simply show up in 80s style snowsuits to get drunk.

This is one of the events that actually gives students the chance to showcase their skills regarding skiing and snowboarding – and it only lasts a few hours.

Students crowd into the quad annually to celebrate Rail Jam. Winterfest tickets are sold with the promise of two free alcoholic drinks to enjoy, while participating in this event.

Alcohol is used as an enticing advertisement for Winterfest. Each day holds a new opportunity to get drunk (it’s not the official motto, but it very well could be), and the promotion of alcohol is what seems to drive attendance for all Winterfest events.

It is a well-known fact that many students view Winterfest as an opportunity to continuously drink; Rail Jam is a catalyst for the excuse to day drink. Bishop’s students are proud of their activities,

SRC ignores Westminster PAGE 3

which only supports the drinking culture that has been cultivated over the years.

Walking through the quad on the day following Rail Jam is remotely depressing after such a large and public event.

Any snow related obstacles have been removed, the advertising tents are gone, and all the students have retreated to their beds to sleep off their hangovers.

Garbage bins are filled with beer cases and cans with the smell of alcohol still lingering in the air. All this sums up to the remains of a successful Bishop’s event.

My question is what is the point of Winterfest? Is it to celebrate the season,

or to celebrate winter-based sports?

Does Winterfest strive to encourage students to showcase their potential?

Or is it simply another excuse to put off the real work that needs to be done and down beer after beer?

Winterfest does not actually seem to be about winter. It seems to be more about how much drinking Bishop’s students can do in a short period of time – and we all know that our reputation is already quite substantial.

Do chains and Melina Querel vs. whips excite you? the world PAGE 5

PAGE 11

2

NEWS The Campus Editors, 2015-2016

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF:

Nicole Gauvreau

COPY EDITOR:

Kristy Bockus

LAYOUT AND ONLINE EDITORS:

Ryan Millar & Natasha Paikin

FEATURES EDITOR:

Asha-Maria Bost

NEWS EDITOR:

Philip Rich

ARTS AND ASSOCIATE EDITOR:

Katie Manners

OPINIONS EDITOR:

Haley Lewis

SPORTS EDITOR:

Dan Gilbert

The Campus is editorially and financially autonomous. It is published by the Campus Publication Board.

The Campus is a member of the Canadian University Press (CUP), a national co-operative of over 70 college and university student newspapers. The Campus supports the CUP Statement of Principles.

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.

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.

THE CAMPUS FEBRUARY 10, 2016

Philip Rich, News Editor » thecampus.news@gmail.com

You are not alone

Alegria is Bishop’s new body image and eating disorder support group ASHA-MARIA BOST Features Editor

E

very day we are bombarded by messages telling us what to eat and how to look. The pressure to fit into these moulds can greatly affect a person’s mental health.

Eating Disorders can affect anyone, and can manifest themselves in different ways, from binge eating to the severe caloric restriction often seen in anorexia. Eating disorders revolve around a dysfunctional relationship with food, as well as an unhealthy focus on weight and appearance.

Alegria, Bishop’s University’s new body image and eating disorders support group, was created by a team of

dedicated students, faculty members, and professional counsellors who wanted to create new resources and support systems for students suffering from body image issues and/or eating disorders.

The goal of Alegria is to help students investigate their relationships with food, fostering physical, mental, and emotional healing. This is achieved through a deeper sense of self-awareness and an understanding of the body beyond the distorted societal views that have shaped the realities of so many women.

Alegria is primarily peer-run with counsellors attending each meeting for support and help with guiding discussion and/or teachings, especially

SRC ignores Westminster

in terms of the development of positive coping strategies. Students may also learn about, and move towards, changing the mindset that perpetuates their negative relationship with food.

The sessions are in a group format, meaning participants can give support to each other through an open interaction that allows them to investigate their own personal beliefs. Speaking in any session is not mandatory, and no one will be pressured into sharing anything they do not want to share.

The sessions are open to all Bishop’s University and Champlain College students and are held every Monday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the International Student Centre, located in the Student Union Building.

GA Meeting held during election campaign SCOTT POTTER Student Politics Writer

On Jan. 24, the SRC General Assembly (GA) meeting opened with a constitutional challenge by student John Dillman, who, at the time, had not yet dropped out of the race for SRC President. Dillman noted that there was nothing in the SRC constitution to authorize holding a meeting during the campaigning period before the SRC Executive elections.

SRC President Matthew Robinson replied that holding this meeting was consistent with previous SRC practices.

Dillman stated that the SRC constitution provides for the application of the Elections Act Canada to any situations in SRC elections for which no rule or precedent governs; Elections Act Canada, in turn, points to Westminster conventions for anything on which it does not speak. No Westminster parliament had ever, Dillman explained, rather than dissolving, continued to meet during an election.

Robinson replied that rather than being a strict Westminster parliament, the

SRC GA “operates under a loose version of Robert’s Rules.” As Dillman pressed him on the issue, Robinson eventually ruled that the GA was “ignoring precedent” in Westminster bodies and would continue the meeting.

As usual, financials were of top priority at the meeting. Vice President (VP) Academic Chelsea McLellan noted that the SRC Environmental Levy, its own line in students’ fees, has now amassed $22000 waiting for applications from students who have great ideas about how to save the planet on Bishop’s campus.

McLellan later asked for funds to send members of the Teaching and Learning Committee, including the new VP Academic, to a conference in Toronto this spring. This money was to come from the Personal Development Fund, a pool of $5000 set aside in September, which was well-advertised as an open call for applications from students for use in professional development. Although advice from professors would be given, the funds would be distributed to applicants at the sole discretion of Student Senators.

Natural Sciences Senator Ananya Srivastava suggested that, since the Bishop’s Academic Calendar is rather disorganized, the Head Peer Advisor ought to be sent to the conference as well. It was not mentioned whether the conference included a section on interpreting academic calendars.

VP Social Eamonn Doyne brought forth the new Engineering Club to be approved. When it was explained that club members hoped to learn about such things as metalworking, Education Senator Kirsten Dobler objected to the club being formed, worried that injured club members might sue the SRC. It was announced that the club would meet off-campus, and stipulated that they would all be obliged to sign waivers.

Business Senator Jean-Philippe Allen, joining the meeting via internet from a Quebec Student Union (QSU) meeting in Québec, reported on the meetings there and convinced the SRC to invite the QSU to rent rooms at Bishop’s when the union held their next meeting scheduled at the end of February.

Join The Campus online!

All issues can now also be found on thebucampus.ca! @thebucampus

The Campus

NEWS

THEBUCAMPUS.CA

Eco Week 2016

What’s new, back, and to come NICOLE GAUVREAU Editor-in-Chief

L

ast week the BU Environmental Club (BUEC) brought back its annual Eco Week, complete with the annual succulent and cactus sale (which sold out early Tuesday afternoon), annual free hot chocolate in the library (if you brought your own mug), and the return of the soap sales courtesy of Sugar Daddy Scrubs.

This year, however, brought something entirely new: the Eco Week Bazaar, which included mostly student-run

businesses, with the exception of Dan B Honey of Bury, QC, and club fundraisers.

BUEC President Stephanie Lam said the inspiration for the market came from her Toronto origins, where she loves going to flea and farmer’s markets, given the atmosphere and commitment to local vendors. The Bazaar was an attempt to recreate that at a smaller scale, while promoting clubs and student businesses.

While some of the businesses that were present sell their products in stores and on-line, the bazaar offered

the chance to eliminate the middleman so that vendors had the opportunity to pocket the full profits of their sales, while also giving customers the chance to learn about local businesses.

Setting up the bazaar took a great deal of planning. Lam started contacting student businesses in the fall, followed by a more recent call for club fundraisers.

The bazaar was the first of its kind on campus, and Lam fears it may be difficult, if not impossible, to pull it off in the future – commercial enterprises generally have to pay $100 per day to be present in the Student Union Building (SUB).

BUEC will continue to host Eco Week in the future and to raise awareness for the environment, all while pushing for

3

a sustainable campus such as working towards policy changes on campus and creating a student-run compost initiative.

Lam encourages everyone to take an active role in fostering a healthy, reciprocal relationship with the environment.

There are many small changes that a student can try, which make a big difference. Lam recommends individuals buy used items, reuse items that can no longer be used for their original purpose (such as making old clothes into cleaning rags), share when able (this includes food; after all, everyone loves a potluck), and support the local businesses that continue to be a fundamental part of our communities.

Empty promises or catalysts for change?

A look into the promises of the SRC Executive elects SCOTT POTTER Staff Writer

W

hen the polls closed on the SRC Executive elections Feb. 3, 44% of students had cast their ballots. This percentage of voters was higher than in any previous SRC election. Nevertheless, it is still far below the average of many elections to almost any national legislature anywhere in the world.

Chief Returning Officer Dominique Davidson was hired a day before nominations opened, and received a budget of $100. We owe her our congratulations and thanks.

The victors were three women, all of whom will take office May 1. Chelsea McLellan was elected SRC President, while Morgan Gagnon was elected as VP Aca-

demic and Heather Barlow was voted in as VP Student Life. All three made it clear that they want to leave a lasting impression on the SRC. SRC President-Elect Chelsea McLellan hopes to restructure and evaluate the SRC – addressing the structure and representation such as external affairs and lobbying, equity, and social justice; this can be achieved by continuing the work of the Internal Review Committee and adding an Equity and Social Justice subcommittee. Hopefully, with the support of the student body, a Strategic Plan for the SRC can be implemented.

McLellan also hopes to begin publishing an annual budget report paired with a glossary of key financial terms to support students while they review the SRC’s budget. She would also like to

introduce a VP External position to the SRC. VP Academic-Elect Morgan Gagnon wants to introduce a compulsory course on Canadian Indigenous issue, is committed to fighting on behalf of students for open access to textbooks, strives for syllabi that are standardized, clear and definitive, which indicate the pace that a course will progress and will also include mental health resources. Finally, Gagnon also hopes to relieve the plethora of emails that students receive by encouraging more information to be included in The Dish, while having themed lists (beyond academic departments) in which students can opt in or out of.

Heather Barlow, the VP Student LifeElect intends to create a Retention Officer position to see why students are

Professor Profiles: Dr. Jessica Riddell

leaving after their first year in the hopes of finding ways to help these students complete their degrees at Bishop’s. In addition to this, Barlow seeks to start a bystander intervention program to combat sexual violence by requiring all incoming students to read a brief document about sexual assault, followed by the completion of a short awareness quiz. She also plans to hire an Equity Representative/Commissioner to train SRC and staff, plan events, and conduct research.

Whether or not the elects can or will keep their promises, or look into implementing those of the five students on the ballots who were not elected remains to be seen.

Shining a spotlight on Bishop’s dedicated teachers GUENEVERE MACDONALD Staff Writer

I

f you came to Bishop’s in the past two years, you` have likely heard the name Riddell mentioned over and over again.

For many students outside the English department (and many within), the name is synonymous with just a touch of mystery and intrigue. Everyone knows that Riddell won the William and Nancy Turner Teaching award in 2012, and was recently honoured with the prestigious 3M National Teaching Fellowship in 2015.

However, many students have never met Riddell or even taken a class with her. If you check the timetable for the last few semesters, you will not even see her name listed for classes in the English department, which lends to an already evolving air of mystery for the “legendary Doctor.”

Rest assured the stories are true; Riddell does actually exist. She is still at Bishop’s and has been keeping busy behind-the-scenes in recent months.

For those of you who have never had the opportunity to meet Riddell or attend one of her amazing lectures, there are some things you might want to know.

Riddell was the founding organizer of Bishop’s Quebec Universities English Undergraduate Conference (QUEUC), hosted by the English department every year. The event not only brings together students from various regional universities, but is a showcase that highlights up-and-coming exceptional talent in English and Humanities from across Quebec, and from within the Bishop’s community.

Riddell could have stopped there – since QUEUC continues to be met with great success – but, much like the stories imply, she is a bit of a go-getter. Riddell has also founded STEP (Students Seeking to Excel Program), Graduating Gaiters (a program for incoming athletes), and is a columnist for BU Affairs magazine. Riddell also started the Ted Talk series at Bishop’s and was a driving force behind the U4 Conference. As if all of these impressive initiatives were

not enough, she also has her own YouTube channel, which highlights various informative lectures on everything you need to know to succeed at Bishop’s.

Riddell brings extensive research and knowledge on late medieval and early modern literature to the university. Her current research project is focused solely on Queen Elizabeth I and her court.

So then the question remains: where is Riddell? Why is her name whispered in awe around campus? Why do English majors swoon slightly at the mere thought of reaching her level of success?

Well the answer to both questions is quite simple. Riddell, like many of our outstanding professors, has worked hard to achieve her level of expertise and experience. She has also put forth an amazing amount of time and dedication to her student’s success.

However, like all successful professionals there are two sides to Riddell.

While she has spent many years building her professional portfolio, the last three years have been focused on taking some time to build her personal portfolio as

well. Riddell has welcomed two new members to her family, most recently in 2015.

This new addition to her ever growing CV has some students believing her to have attained a level of superhuman capabilities. It has only fuelled the stories of her achievements, ultimately, adding to the increased number of students suspiciously eyeing phone booths near campus as if anticipating her sudden appearance. While there is a level of superhuman strength (and patience) required for balancing a career and home life, Riddell is just one of the many dedicated female professors setting an example for young women here at Bishop’s.

Riddell’s absence for the last few semesters has had many students questioning whether she will return to Bishop’s. Fear not fellow Gaiters, Riddell is always active behind-the-scenes whenever she is able, and will, hopefully, be returning to Bishop’s classrooms and lecture halls in the near future.

4

NEWS

BU well-represented at U4 TEDx talks

THE CAMPUS FEBRUARY 10, 2016

Robinson, Murray, Thomson among speakers for fourth edition of event JEREMY ANDREWS Staff Writer

On Feb. 6, Bishop's University hosted its fourth annual U4 Up for Debate weekend. The afternoon portion of this event featured a series of speeches wherein various individuals from the four member universities (Bishop's, Mount Allison, Acadia and St. Francis-Xavier) gave talks related to the event's theme.

In the first year, 2013, the talks were done as part of Technology, Entertainment, Design Extended (TEDx), a program that allows independent organizations such as educational institutions to hold speaking events using the TED Talks branding, and subsequently have those talks uploaded to the TED website. For the second and third editions of Up for Debate, in 2014 and 2015, the university chose not to hold the event as part of TEDx, and instead called it the "U4 Symposium".

For the current 2016 edition of the event, Bishop's decided to once again partner with TEDx. There is no fee to use the TEDx branding, but it does come with certain requirements such as keeping speeches to 18 minutes or less, and filming all speeches for distribution on TED's website and YouTube channel.

The event, officially known as as "TEDxBishopsU", took place in Bandeen Hall, and carried the theme of "Liberal Education Prepares U4 [you for] Global Citizenship". After some opening remarks by the organizer, Dr. Jessica Riddell, the stage was handed over to the first speaker, Mr. Matthew Robinson, a fourth-year International Politics and Sociology student at Bishop's, and 201516 President of the Students' Representative Council (SRC).

Robinson, in his speech entitled "From the Collegial to the Global: A Liberal Undergraduate Experience", challenged the idea that students need to wait until after university to experience the "real world", and rather have an opportunity to engage in the world outside their campus even while studying.

On his part, he noted that he has had three key experiences that have allowed

him to become a global citizen and be prepared to work at the United Nations: his experience as an SRC executive and having to represent the students and find compromises; his experience at National Model United Nations in New York City where he gained an appreciation for the value of the work done at the UN; and his experience taking a summer course on global governance in Geneva, during which time he had the chance to conduct research in the League of Nations archives, and meet various staff at the UN Geneva headquarters.

The second speaker was Dr. Alice Cohen, an assistant professor in Environmental & Sustainability Studies at Acadia University. Dr. Cohen discussed a method of teaching she has employed with her students at Acadia that she believes has enriched their education and has prepared them to be global citizens.

Her program consists of three key tenets: get outside the classroom, outside the discipline, outside the university, and inside the student. To get outside the classroom, Dr. Cohen gave the example of bringing the students on a weekend camping trip to allow them to get to know each other and learn about their environment. For getting outside the discipline, she suggests giving students the opportunity to take what they have learned in their own discipline, and discover how that knowledge may be applied to other disciplines.

When it comes to getting outside the university, this primarily means getting involved in the community, such as writing articles for community papers, and getting involved with local government.

Finally, getting inside the student means to help students develop a self-awareness and the ability to find their inner leadership that will allow them to succeed in their goals.

The third speaker, Ms. Emma-Lynn Wallace, a Community Development and Environmental Sustainability Studies student from Acadia, gave a speech entitled "The Role of Community Engagement in Renewable Energy Development". Her speech primarily focused on a case study in the town of Scots Bay,

This Day in History:

Nova Scotia, and the process of a company building a new tidal barrage. She spoke about the importance of keeping a community engaged in development projects. Ms. Wallace suggested that some of the steps include effective community engagement, ensuring residents are kept informed of plans, acting with integrity and transparency, and communicating information to residents in a way that avoids technical jargon and fosters understanding.

The fourth speaker, Dr. Michele Murray, is the Dean of Arts & Science and a religious studies professor at Bishop's University. Her speech focused on a number of experiences she has had, particularly in Israel and Syria, that have allowed her to learn lessons about the importance of religious studies. She used the metaphor that everyone is born with blinders on and needs to learn to understand the complexity of the world we live in.

She proposed that in order for anyone to truly understand the geopolitical state of the world we live in today, history and politics are important, but religion provides a particular understanding of the social relations of human beings, without which our perception of reality is incomplete.

The fifth speaker, Reverend John C. Perkin, chaplain and religious studies professor at Mount Allison University, discussed a number of important features of undergraduate liberal arts universities.

Throughout his talk, he referred back to a book by John Henry Newman called "The Idea of a University", published in 1852, that for him enumerates perfectly many of the principles that are still relevant today. He recalled the day that the Berlin Wall fell, and how the world has become smaller ever since; and that as a result, universities have had to ask themselves whether or not they need to update their mission statement.

Rev. Perkin stated that he believes that the fundamental purpose of the liberal arts university has not changed and does not need to change: to prepare good citizens to think critically and to liberate students' minds. He went on to discuss

1863 - The fire extinguisher was patented by Alanson Crane.

2009 - Amazon announced the Kindle 2.

Fun with Words:

PULCHRITUDE MEANING: ATTRACTIVENESS

the Internet and cellphones, and how so much of our information is fragmented or distorted due to the fact that by using social media, we often only see those stories that our friends have posted; and that it will be more important than ever for students to make an effort to stay informed.

Finally, he discussed the issue of fundamentalism, and how there is a need on all sides to come to terms with extreme ideas, and that the best solution is to engage in acts of kindness, that can spread out to the world in a sort of butterfly effect.

The sixth and final speaker of the afternoon was Reverend Heather Thomson, the chaplain for Bishop's University and Champlain Regional College. In her speech, entitled "Refugee Student Sponsorship: The Ripple Effect", she recounted her experiences with the Bishop's/Champlain Refugee-student Sponsorship Project. Rev. Thomson was one of the founding members of the project in 1992 when she, along with colleagues and students, decided to work with the World University Service of Canada to privately sponsor individuals living in refugee camps who wished to come to Canada as students.

She discussed some of the challenges that have arisen, such as the difficulty of not always being able to reunite sponsored students with their family members, and the importance of treating refugee-students with respect and dignity, ensuring that they always know that they have the autonomy to make their own choices, and don't owe anything back to the project.

She expressed that although she yearns for a day when such a sponsorship project would no longer be necessary, it has been an incredibly rewarding experience to help so many refugees over the years. Six weeks ago the project welcomed its 40th student to campus.

All of the speeches from the event will eventually be available for viewing online by searching for the keyword "TEDxBishopsU".

ARTS

ARTS

THEBUCAMPUS.CA

The artisans of Eco Week 2016

5

Katie Manners, Arts & Associate Editor » thecampus.ac@gmail.com

Meet your student-run businesses NICOLE GAUVREAU Editor-in-Chief

F

or the first time, Eco Week, hosted by the BU Environmental Club, featured a four-day bazaar, at which many student artisans had the opportunity to sell their unique products.

A returning artisan from last year’s Eco Week was Patrick Grogan and his product titled Sugar Daddy Scrubs; now featuring a sunflower oil option. Grogan started the business 18 months ago after a friend said you could use coconut oil for everything. Not believing the friend, Grogan looked up coconut oil’s uses. After coming across coconut oil’s use in sugar scrubs and realising that he had the ingredients needed to make one, Sugar Daddy Scrubs was born.

All of Grogan’s essential oils are 100% organic, and so are some of his scrubs.

Some scrubs are all-white sugar scrubs, or blends of white and brown sugar (a gentler scrub) or white and raw sugar

(more exfoliating).

Grogan is always looking to experiment with new scents (and new punny names), but to try out any of these products, you’ll need to contact him personally.

New to Eco Week, but still in the personal care category, was Leah Mehta and Malcolm Sharpe’s Feel Sharpe, which was started when the pair realised that expensive beard oils and moustache waxes would be very easy to make on their own and in a variety of scents.

Since the founding, the pair has expanded to sell makeup removers and bath salts, all while staying committed to the BU community—the labels were designed by a friend, their photographer is fellow student Junru Bian, and all models are students.

Feel Sharpe can be found online at feelsharpe.ca and products can be purchased on Etsy.

Eco Week also featured two jewellery designers from the Bishop’s community:

Melina Querel vs. the world

Jasmine Rondeau’s Stonelandia Jewellery and Tyler Ferguson’s Monoxide Style.

Rondeau began her business in December; as an arts administration student, such a creative venture is right up her alley.

All Rondeau’s simple designs use new materials, particularly gem stones, for which she provides a meaning. While Rondeau acknowledges that she is far from the first to make gemstone bracelets and necklaces, she holds a commitment to affordability (her prices are roughly half of what one might pay elsewhere), unique design (she has not made the same thing twice), and after sale services.

Stonelandia Jewellery can be found on Etsy.

Ferguson, on the other hand, uses a mixture of new and vintage materials to create her funky designs, and her goal is reworking vintage to have a modern twist. She is also venturing into purely

new designs so that custom designs as well as duplicates can be made possible.

Ferguson is entirely self-taught; she adds new designs and techniques as she learns and perfects them. The designs can be previewed via her studio collection (available to see by appointment only), on her website (monoxidestyle. com), and in store displays (Bronzage Salon in Lennoxville and the Toronto Designers’ Market and Contrast Living in Toronto). Perhaps, the best thing about Monoxide Style is that BU students get a discount and receive free shipping.

Eco Week showcased these and many more student businesses and creative ventures (including Stéphanie Levesque’s Eco-ForSter furniture and Nick Melka’s MIEL MTL). There is no doubt what all these businesses share a common theme of dedication to the community and a desire to continue these university-founded businesses long after graduation.

estalled position within galleries. The artists aimed to blur the lines between artistic materials and the final artistic product.

Querel and Dore asked the im-

Querel defined the artist, art, and art teachers. She read a false artist statement that met all the pomp requirements of a gallery but failed to say anything about her work. She then repeated

Upper-year student presents art installation SAM BURNS Contributorr

A

rtist Melina Querel has decided to “fuck with space.”

Querel, a drama and fine arts major has taken up a ten-week-long art

project, located in the sitting area on the second floor of the Molson building, where one can interact with a series of labels that will redefine them as art teachers, artist, and art objects.

First, Querel aimed to define art and posed the question: why have space and advertising become so important to the contemporary art scene?

The project, which began Jan. 25, utilizes performance and installation in an attempt to engage the audience beyond the formal, passive nature of viewing art, which is instilled by artistic institutions. Querel explained that she hopes to explore the relationship between space and art, looking at how space can be used to elevate, add value, and bar participation and access to high art.

Last week, Querel teamed up with Colombe Dore to examine museum culture and remove art from its ped-

Melina Querel challenges artistic conventions in ongoing exhibit.

portant question of whether or not art boils down to the presentation of an object. As they observed art in various forms, it certainly seemed that way – dirty towels and scraps of paper tacked to a wall in a very formal manner, giving this once-trash (one item is an actual trash bin) a sense of grandeur.

In her performance feature,

this step for Professor Darren Millington who was granted the esteemed title of art teacher. Through this work, Querel once again manipulated what is generally considered “art.” She has taken the status of “creator” and “teacher” from her subject and turned them into an object of art.

There will be new installations

PHOTO COURTESY SAM BURNS

6

ARTS

THE CAMPUS FEBRUARY 10, 2016

Age of Minority

A collection of plays in review KRISTY BOCKUS Copy Editor

W

hat do you get when you combine a closeted militant, YouTube star rihannaboi95, and a sprint across the Death Strip? Three solo plays written by acclaimed Canadian multidisciplinary artist Jordan Tannahill.

Tannahill, age 27, is quite the hot commodity in Canadian theatre. In 2014, he won the Governor General’s Award in Drama for his collection of plays titled Age of Minority: Three Solo Plays.

First published in October 2013, Age of Minority: Three Solo Plays depicts the stories of young individuals who are pushed to the margins of society due to their sexual or political identities. Each of the plays is based on a true story.

The plays, written with young audiences in mind, are defined as Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA). This is evident in both the style and context of

the play, demonstrating the real struggles that youth face in their coming of age journeys.

However, it is not just youth who are picking up this collection of plays and responding to live performances, but people of all ages. No matter the age, the stories of these characters resonate with readers and theatre-goers. There is a rawness to them that leaves the character exposed in his or her vulnerability, all the while maintaining a sense of integrity despite persecution and moments of overwhelming fear.

The first play featured in the collection is Get Yourself Home Skyler James. It is a story about a young American girl, who enlists in the army right out of high school—with her girlfriend.

This play is set before the repeal of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Policy. James’ secret is discovered, forcing her to make difficult decisions with no right answers.

Second in the line-up is rihannaboi95. This play is particularly interesting in the manner of which it is per-

Come Fly with Phi!

formed. As stated at the beginning of the script, “rihannaboi95 is meant to be performed as a YouTube confessional video (a direct-address monologue to a webcam)”. It was first live-streamed over the Internet from April 23 to 28, 2013 to audiences across the globe. The confessional provides the audience with a unique opportunity to listen, as a young boy named Sunny speaks about his passion for dance and the repercussions he faces from his family and community because of his YouTube videos.

Finally, Peter Fechter: 59 Minutes brings the collection to a close with a gut-wrenching story of eighteen-yearold Fechter’s last 59 minutes. His final minutes are spent in what was known as the Berlin Wall's Death Strip. This is where the play begins, with Fechter bleeding from gunshot wounds inflicted by border guards; his minutes literally tick away.

Age of Minority: Three Solo Plays is unlike any other TYA collection, refreshing in its honesty. Tannahill out-

does himself in these pieces, and brings not only the characters to life but the issues each of them face. This collection of plays definitely falls into the category of “must-read” and is recommended for ages 15+.

Tannahill will be at Bishop’s on Thursday, Feb. 11 as the next guest in the Morris House Reading Series (MHRS).

Be sure to stop by Bishop’s University’s Bookstore at 4:30 p.m. to hear Tannahill discuss his work. The reading is free to attend and a short reception will follow.

Tannahill’s books will be available for purchase, so make sure to grab a copy and get it signed.

For more information regarding MHRS please visit the Facebook page, Morris House Reading Series, or send an email to mhrs@ubishops.ca.

Alpha Phi hosts 4th annual Red Dress Gala KRISTY BOCKUS Copy Editor

O

n Friday, Feb. 12, at 7 p.m. Bishop’s only women’s fraternity, Alpha Phi, will be hosting its annual Red Dress Gala in support of the Alpha Phi Foundation’s work for women’s cardiac care.

Bishop’s Alpha Phi has been a part of the university since 1989. Since then, hundreds of women have joined the sisterhood, which shares values of service, leadership, and scholarship.

Sisters of Bishop’s Alpha Phi have worked tirelessly planning for this event. Red Dress Gala Committee Chair Sylvia Duarte said that the “planning for the event started nearly a year ago.”

Since then, she has worked closely with five other women to make sure the event is one to remember.

When asked about what made her take on the role and responsibilities involved in organizing the Gala, Duarte said, “The Alpha Phi Foundation is close to my heart; my mother had some heart problems throughout the past couple of years. Luckily, it has not been serious.

However, I know that is not the case for many. The reality is that many people lose a loved one to heart disease, so I want to do my part in insuring we learn as much about cardiac care as possible.

If that means helping raise funds to support research and educational programs for women, then I will always be up to the task. It truly does make a difference.”

The Red Dress Gala is an Alpha Phi tradition with similar events held by various chapters across the globe. What better way to celebrate this global phil-

anthropic event among sisters then to mirror that in this year’s Gala’s theme: Come Fly with Phi! Attendees will get a taste of England, Australia, Mexico, India, Greece, Rome, Brazil, and Egypt. Students will animate games stationed at booths associated with specific countries that will also feature special goodies. Several booths will be hosted by partnering clubs that have volunteered to be a part of this unforgettable night. These clubs include the EngLit Club, Modern Languages Club, and the Classics Society.

A highlight of the night will be Kendra Brock, who is the manager of the on-campus health clinic (located in the Plex). Brock will be presenting a talk on cardiac care; a topic that we all carry close to our hearts.

The evening also features live musical performances by J.D. Kent and Julian Dawson.

Tickets for the gala will be on sale in the Student Union Building (SUB) from Feb. 9 to 11. Tickets are priced at $10 each.

For more information please RSVP to the Facebook event page titled Come Fly With Phi! or contact Bishop’s Alpha Phi at bualphaphi@gmail.com.

You can also find them on Instagram and Twitter @bualphaphi.

Come fly with Phi this Friday!

PHOTO COURTESY BISHOP’S ALPHA PHI

THEBUCAMPUS.CA

TheatreActiv takes centre stage

ARTS

7

Bishop’s drama department presents student festival KATIE MANNERS Ar ts and Associate Editor

T

his year, bitter babes and goofy guys stole the spotlight during TheatreActiv’s six nights of student-run drama.

The festival ran from Jan. 26 to 31 in Turner Studio Theatre, and boasted ten previously published plays that were otherwise coordinated, directed, stage managed, and performed by students.

Each play was performed twice over the six days, as dictated by a three-day cycle.

TheatreActiv began not with a bang, but a whimper.

The Dumbwaiter was the festival’s opening act, and the script’s Britishisms translated poorly to the predominantly North American audience—there is something unsettling about an uncouth “blimey!” uttered through a flat Canadian accent. The Dumbwaiter’s ambiguous ending was perhaps the most intriguing moment of the play that was otherwise peppered with awkward silences (a telling mode that appeared throughout the festival).

Following The Dumbwaiter was the festival’s only French language play: Les Lanternes Oubliées. After the success of last semester’s L’Entrevue, performed at the New Plays festival, TheatreActiv coordinators agreed to stage another French play at the traditionally English festival. Unlike L’Entrevue, which was made accessible to Anglophones through recognizable and comedic caricature, Les Lanternes Oubliées was more of a conceptual commentary on social justice that threw in the occasional English word amongst the dominate French script.

Volunteer chic

Though an Anglophone could deduce the play’s message from reading the program alone (many of the characters are referred to as “HOMELESS” in some capacity), the monologues lost much of their immediacy when the seemingly emotional message was only understood by a small population. This misunderstanding was partially rectified as the dramatic performance moved into musical territories; however, the haunting voices, although beautifully performed, became tiring after poor staging led the cast to wander aimlessly across the stage for far too long.

Next were, perhaps, the festival’s most disturbing performances in I Dream Before I Take the Stand. The play was a chilling tale of sexual abuse that avoiding directly addressing the topic, and was thus a commentary on society’s silence towards the issue. Dominique Davidson, who played the sexual abuse survivor, was heartbreaking alongside her confronter, Blake Drohan. Drohan’s villainous character, who was otherwise threatening, was betrayed only in the nervous shake of his hands as his fingers traced Davidson’s exposed legs.

The first night of the festival ended with Sure Thing, an obviously needed pick-me-up after I Dream Before I Take the Stand. The comedy of Sure Thing was snappy and well timed, with Jono Townsend speaking a mile a minute and racing back and forth across the stage— much to the audience’s pleasure.

TheatreActiv’s second night began with a premiere performance of Bathsheba, a tale of religion and romance and the unsolicited offspring that sometimes appear when you combine the two.

Sarah Parker spent most of her time as

the protagonist teary-eyed and quiet in demeanour, but proved moving in an explosive monologue that made her character’s fear and hate seem like her own.

The clear winner for TheatreActiv’s “Best Physical Comedy” went to The Pitch. Connor Richter spent his time on stage as an eccentric film director who stalked about with the air of a velociraptor. Richter’s over-the-top physical comedy was complimented by the snivelling Anthony Laflemme whose posh demeanour turned their on-stage interactions into a kind of bizarre dance between the kimono-clad and the tailor-suited.

The night ended with Bittergirl, a tale of sisterhood, solidarity, and guzzling wine that would seem parodic if only it weren’t so true. Taylor O’Dea, Alex Stobo, and Laura Alessandrini acted as the bitter girls in question, with Gordon Barnett posing as each of their onceloves. The performances were wrought with emotion that hit close to home for anyone who’s dealt with getting over an ex. At one point, the on-stage tension grew so strong that Barnett extended his posed reality into the audience with a swift kick to a prop suitcase that went flying beyond the stage’s confines.

The final night of TheatreActiv opened with the dark comedy Damage Control.

Bradley McDermid acted out a Richard Nixon level scandal (think Watergate, but with less security breaches and more sexual assault), and had the accent to match. Damage Control was well cast, with McDermid acting as obtrusive father figure for his younger assistant, Jack Quail—who finally knows how to properly tie a tie.

trol and cheekily boasted only one cast member who was “destitute, alone, and without a friend” – except that he’s not.

After discovering that his desert island is not as deserted as he thought it was, the protagonist was greeted by a cast of caricatures, who built a tiny raft (with the title “HMS Punchline” scratched across its surface in even smaller letters) in order to escape the island. The character most deserving to ride the HMS Punchline was played by Casey Fulton, who portrayed an old pirate that could barely contain his own laughter when delivering his own punch lines.

To close the festival, TheatreActiv presented The Two of Us, a well-coordinated play with only two actors that played a multitude of characters with the help of costume and voice changes. Patrick Grogan and Tabitha Hartropp buzzed across the stage, slamming doors and emerging as someone new—crossing the lines of gender, sobriety, and demeanours along the way. At one point, Grogan almost slipped up by calling out the name of the character he was currently playing, as opposed to the one who was supposedly “behind the door” (that he would eventually be playing), but the near-slip was only fuel for the outrageous comedy of errors unfolding on-stage. In the end, the two stuck the choreographed landing and ended the festival on a positive note.

The drama department’s next production will be William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night to be presented from March 10 to 14.

All By Myself followed Damage Con-

BU Fashion Show proceeds go to NuHab centre KATIE MANNERS Ar ts and Associate Editor

F

ashion experts confirm: this year, volunteering is in.

The Bishop’s University “Ignite” Charity Fashion Show is a popular studentrun and attended event that has been held annually for ten years. Proceeds from the show are donated to a different charity each year, but recent organizers have decided to emphasize a local, community impact.

This year, all proceeds will be donated to the NuHab centre for mental health and addiction, but on top of monetary donations, BU Fashion Show models also donated their time.

In the past, BU Fashion Show models simply strutted their stuff on the cat-

walk, but these models have since been rebranded as “volunteers” who also spent time with the charity’s clients.

BU Fashion Show volunteers visited the NuHab centre to cook and serve meals for the clients, and to get a hands-on experience with the people who would be benefiting from the fashion show’s ticket sales—one day, the volunteers even took the clients to play laser tag.

“We got to meet the people that the money was going towards,” said coordinator Lauren Straw. “They were so, so appreciative to hang out with the students and see who’s been working on the show.”

Straw is one of approximately 20 committee members who have been organizing this year’s BU Fashion Show.

She recalled first attending the fashion show four years ago, and realizing that, although the show was still donating money to a charity, none of the volunteers ever interacted directly with the charity in question.

Now, the BU Fashion Show supports local charities and selects volunteers not on their physical appearance or ability to walk in heels, but by their desire to get involved in local charitable affairs.

On Feb. 13, the BU Fashion Show will host two versions of the show, with a “family-friendly” community show at 1 p.m. and a student show at 8 p.m. The community show is catered towards the volunteers’ families, designers, and representatives from the clothing lines featured in the show, and community mem-

bers that include clients and employees of the NuHab centre.

The student show is sold out, but community show tickets will be available for purchase on the day of the show at Centennial Theatre.

Q: Which painting is never happy?

A: The Moaning Lisa

8

FEATURES

THE CAMPUS FEBRUARY 10, 2016 Asha-Maria Bost, Features Editor » thecampus.features@gmail.com

CASA, Black History Month and Black Lives Matter A conversation with Judith Ntambwe, President of CASA ASHA-MARIA BOST Features Editor

T

here are some misconceptions that Judith Ntambwe would like to clear up about Bishop’s University’s Caribbean African Association (CASA).

Judith highlights that CASA is a club open to everyone and aims to expose the elements of different cultures to the university. All club ideas and events are organized and brainstormed collectively.

CASA’s culture show, One World, Different Faces, is the biggest event for the club of the academic year. The event features dancing, songs, and fashion from around the world. This event showcases the cultural diversity and talent of the student body.

For Ntambwe Black History Month is a time of celebration. Ntambwe also stressed that Black History Month is about “not only the sad things about Black History” but rather a celebration of the lives and positive lived experience of Black people.

According to Ntambwe, Black History Month is a time for “understanding your roots” and reflecting on the issues of today looking through the lens of the events of the past.

As Canadians we often don’t learn about the history of Black Canadians in classrooms, and Black History Month is a time for all Canadians to learn about that history.

Although Canadian laws and cultural practices have seemingly evolved to become more inclusive of multiple cultures, Ntambwe emphasized that “we do live in a racist world”.

CASA Executive Members from left Ashley White, Dara Sadek, Judith Ntambwe, Genevieve Onyeka

Movements like Black Lives Matter are trying to combat anti-black racism from an intersectional perspective and elevate the voices of those marginalized by various civil rights movements such as Black women, Black queer and trans people, and Black undocumented people.

Ntambwe stressed that the Black Lives Matter movement is not about “emphasizing on race”. According to the Black Lives Matter website, the Black Lives

Matter movement is about fighting against the very real systemic racism and state sponsored violence (manifested in poverty, prison population, denigration of Black womanhood, murder and fetishization of queer and trans youth) and police brutality that make our communities unsafe for Black people.

As Canadians, Ntambwe stressed that we should take the time to understand the perspective of the people involved in the Black Lives Matter Movement and

PHOTO COURTESY RESIDENCE EVENTS COMMITTEE

see things differently. We have a responsibility to learn about the Black Lives Matter movement and the lived experiences of Black Canadians.

For more information about CASA’s events join the Facebook page Bishop’s University Caribbean African Student Association.

Isaiah Nkunda Nsanzimana’s Journey to Canada At the Up 4 Debate Human Rights Panel Isaiah shared his refugee story ASHA-MARIA BOST Features Editor

I

t can be hard to visualize the struggles of people around the world and how they live their lives; I had the privilege of hearing Isaiah Nkunda Nsanzimana speak at the Up 4 Debate Human Rights Panel.

Isaiah was born in Rwanda and was six years old when the Rwandan genocide began in 1994. His family had to be split up, and he fled with his brother to a refugee camp in Burundi.

He hasn’t seen his parents since.

Life in the refugee camps was difficult.

Since the camp was close to Rwanda, militants would sometimes take the children and men in the night and bring them back to Rwanda. For safety, Isaiah and his brother left the camp and walked for three weeks to Tanzania.

The refugee camp in Tanzania did have a school, however they had no school books and they could not have class if it rained. After a while, the UNHCR (UN Refugee Agency) declared that it as safe to return to Rwanda, but Isaiah and his brother did not want to take any chances and fled to the forest.

Isaiah lived in the forest until his brother had earned enough money to travel to a refugee camp in Malawi. It is there in Malawi that Isaiah started to “focus on education” and thinking about the future. For Isaiah the future meant the chance to move to Canada through the World University Service of Canada’s refugee sponsorship program.

Isaiah emphasized that he was lucky to come to Canada as many of his friends where unable to come because they

were older than the twenty-four years of age limit.

When arriving in Canada, the culture shock was not too difficult for Isaiah because of the support of the Lennoxville community. In particular Reverend Heather Thomson and the other members of the Bishop’s University and Champlain Regional College Refugee Sponsorship Project, helped Isaiah settle into the community and provided Isaiah with a sense of support and belonging.

Isaiah is now a proud Canadian citizen, working towards a Business degree.

Isaiah recently found his mother through a friend he met in the Malawi refugee camp. He hopes and has faith that one day he will see his mother again.

In hearing Isaiah’s story, the audience at the Human Rights Panel found a

glimpse into what life is like first hand for people living in war torn countries.

We also learned that projects such as the Refugee Sponsorship Project can make tangible differences in people’s lives.

I hope from the bottom of my heart the Isaiah is reunited with his mother.

For more information about the Bishop’s University and Champlain Regional College Refugee Sponsorship Project please visit their website at http:// www.refugeeproject.ubishops.ca/ourhistory.html.

FEATURES

THEBUCAMPUS.CA

Pioneers of Canadian Black History

9

Celebrating the accomplishments of important Black Canadians AQIL HENRY-COTNAM Contributor

F

ebruary 2016 marks the 20th anniversary of the Government of Canada officially recognizing and celebrating Black History Month. This is quite surprising for a country known to celebrate its multiculturalism.

As described by the government’s department of Citizenship and Immigration, the month aims to “highlight key milestones and courageous accomplishments of those who helped shape Canada’s Black History”.

Interestingly, the Honourable Jean Augustine, Canada’s first black woman elected to Parliament, introduced the motion that called for official recognition of Black History Month. This was in December 1995, and thus the first Black History Month was celebrated in February 1996.

Twenty years later, many Canadians remain unaware of the prominent figures of Black Canadian History and their accomplishments.

How many of you know of the Honourable Lincoln Alexander? He was born and raised in Toronto, attending McMaster University and later studying at Osgoode Hall Law School. He was a veteran of the Second World War; serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force, and in the 1960s pursued a career in politics.

In 1968 Lincoln Alexander made history, by becoming the first black Member of Parliament. In 1985 he was appointed Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, the first black person or visible minority to hold such a position. In 2014, the Government of Canada marked January 21, Alexander’s birthday, Lincoln Alexander Day. Another unsung hero of Canadian Black History is Rosemary Brown. Brown immigrated to Canada from Jamaica in 1950 in order to attend McGill University.

By 1972 she was elected to the British Columbia legislature, becoming the first black woman to be elected to provincial legislature.

From 1993-1996 Rosemary Brown served as the Chief Commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission, she was a member of the Canadian Security Intelligence Review Committee from 1993-1998, and was named an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1996.

All of these are only a select few of her many astounding accomplishments and pioneering work in Black Canadian History.

As Canadians, we should all know everything about hockey, including the “Jackie Robinson of ice hockey” -

Willie O’Ree, the first black player in the NHL. O’Ree was born and raised in Fredericton, New Brunswick and was called upon by the Boston Bruins to play against the Montreal Canadiens, to replace an injured player on January 18, 1958.

All of these figures have made an impact on Canadian culture in some way, shape, or form. Yet these are not the historical figures we commonly associate with Black History Month.

Perhaps it is the American-centric way that we view Black History, and our tendency to focus on American slavery, the American Civil Rights Movements that contributes to our lack of knowledge of Canadian pioneers of Black History.

That is not to say that these moments of American history are not applicable or useful to understanding our own history, but we need to make an effort to recognize and honour the successes of black Canadians more often and not just every February.

PHOTO COURTESY THECANADIANENCYCLOPEDIA.CA

Rosemary Brown was also a feminist and public advocate

The Honourable Lincoln Alexander

PHOTO COURTESY SHERYL NADLER

PHOTO COURTESY THECANADIANENCYCLOPEDIA.CA

Willie O’Ree did not have the longest career in the NHL but still broke down the colour barrier

The Legacy of Slavery in Quebec

The little known history of slavery in St. Armand, Quebec ASHA-MARIA BOST Features Editor

C

anada played an important role in the 1815-1860 Underground Railroad, a network of homes and routes that brought Black people escaping slavery in the southern United States, to relative safety and freedom in Canada.

What most Canadians do not realize however, is that for about two-hundred years slavery was legal in Lower Canada (Ontario) and New France (Quebec) before it was officially abolished in all British colonies

in 1833. The number of slaves in New France was not as numerous as in the United States, slaves in New France were used mostly as domestic servants. The owning of slaves was seen as an important symbol of status in a town.

Two-thirds of the slaves in New France were Indigenous, and the remaining third were Black. In St. Armand, Que., part of the Eastern Townships, there is a burial ground for the slaves who lived in this part of Quebec in the 18th century.

The burial ground, known as Nigger Rock, is the only known

burial ground for Black people who were born and died in slavery in Canada. There is no official historic museum or commemoration at the site, but since 2012 the Benoit family, the owners of the land, has allowed people to visit the site with advanced notice.

The push for recognition of Nigger Rock started in 1996 when Hank Avery, a Black American and teacher, learned of the history of the Black people in St. Armand and called for an archaeological dig to investigate Nigger Rock and see if there are remnants of their

homes, churches or workplaces also in the area.

The slaves in St. Armand worked cleared land, collected potash, and performed other backbreaking work for the slave owner and Loyalist Phillip Luke.

An estimated thirty people were buried in unmarked graves at Nigger Rock.

Although the push for recognition was successful in opening the area to public visit, Dominic Soulie, a St. Armand Phillipsburg resident, would like to make a committee that is committed to recognizing and informing the public about the

history of Nigger Rock. Perhaps there will be plaques or a museum on the site to commemorate the history of Nigger Rock.

By recognizing Nigger Rock officially, we make understanding the area part of our public history, and commit to remembering the role Canada and Quebec played in slavery.

Additionally, official recognition would help the public learn about the considerable role that Black people played in shaping the Eastern Townships.

10

OPINION

Want some sugar, Sugar?

THE CAMPUS FEBRUARY 10, 2016

Haley Lewis, Opinion Editor » thecampus.opinions@gmail.com

An in-depth look at what it means to be a sugar baby, and whether or not it is worth it ALEX WONG Contributor

W

hen we think of sugar daddies, we think of old rich men tossing monthly allowances to college girls in exchange for companionship and sex.

This begs the question of whether or not the preconceived notions of society are correct.

Are sugar daddy relationships only about sex? Or can they be seen as a sort of mentorship with an older adult, who helps you find your way? Is the focus on building a relationship, or is the sole purpose to get paid?

Surprisingly, not all sugar daddy relationships are focused on sex. A common theme in the sugar daddy community is “NO P4P”. This is to recognize that many sugar daddies are not looking to “Pay for Play”; they are looking for girls they can take on trips, go on dates with, and show the world to.

If sex is to become a part of it, a veteran sugar daddy would never barter with his sugar baby. He would never say, “Sweetie, if you do this, I’ll toss in a little extra this month.” It is not meant to be prostitution.

Typically, if a relationship is thriving, the only thing the sugar daddy is paying for is tickets to the hottest Broadway show or dinner at the most high-end restaurant in down. As high-society clients, class and extravagancies are expected.

If becoming a sugar baby is something that interests and you enjoy leisurely chats about politics, tasting fine wines, traveling, going to museums, and high class entertainment then such a relationship will serve you well. Many sugar daddies are looking for companions, not prostitutes.

There are even some sugar daddies that enjoy a mentorship role. They understand that young people in their 20s are struggling through college or in their career decisions. Some sugar daddies want to help.

For some, the lure of being a sugar daddy is the idea that you can turn someone’s life around – help them get better jobs, teach them to network, and sometimes help with those pesky student loans.

They often find enjoyment in showing their sugar babies culture-rich experiences such as museums, plays, and everything else that people tend to miss

Sugar daddies - sex or high society?

out on during their twenties.

So, a lot of it seems to be relationshipbased. Being a sugar baby is not prostitution, it is about seeking arrangements that benefit both sides.

Sure, money is usually the initial draw (a ‘practical’ arrangement can be anywhere from $1000 a month to a more substantial payoff of $10000), but there are always other reasons.

Relationships can be formed pretty quickly. Some sugar daddies will ask you to work exclusively with them, while others are strictly no strings attached.

PHOTO COURTESY MTLBLOG.COM\

Overall, sugar relationships are focused on negotiation – finding arrangements that work for both partners’ lifestyles, budgets, and living up to each other’s expectations.

Morally, I cannot say it is wrong at all.

As long as everything is laid out from the beginning, parameters are discussed, and communication is open, it is very hard to go wrong with this lifestyle. So, why not seek some sugar?

Too fat too thin, is there a middle ground?

When body positivity leads to negativity ALEX WONG Contributor

I

n the media, there has been a large push towards being positive about your body – no matter what size it is.

Singers sing about the sexiness of larger sizes; yet, these same larger sizes often possess health risks that are either ignored or claimed to be normal.

Meanwhile, this body positive message does not seem to make it to the opposite end of the scale – “Fuck them skinny bitches in the club,” as Nicki Minaj so intelligently phrased in Anaconda.

Is it possible to find a balance between these two extremes?

If several body positive activists are to be believed, there is no balance to be struck at either end of the scales. The message that is describes leads to the belief that, regardless of your size, there are apparently no health risks.

Overweight? That’s fine! There are not any concerns, right? No raised risk for sleep apnea, coronary heart disease, obesity hypoventilation syndrome, and a plethora of cancers from colon to breast, gallbladder to endometrial. Get your head out of your ass, of course there is.

Now, most of these ‘fat activists’ are found on Tumblr and Instagram, so these people may be the minority. How-

ever, people who push back against the knowledge of doctors and try to claim that they are at the peak of health are only encouraging people to follow in their footsteps.

Even if those listed health risks are wrong, there is still a likely reduction in quality of life – you no longer fit in roller coaster seats, staircases can become a challenge, clothes shopping is impossible, and did I mention that you have to buy two plane tickets?

‘Fat activists’ aside let's stop for a minute and look at the other end of the scale. Anorexia, a mental illness defined by an overwhelming need to maintain a body weight that is lower than normal, is a health risk that poses just as many serious health risks as binge eating.

Now, let’s move from anorexia to the range of more or less healthy skinny people; individuals who understand that weight maintenance/weight loss is about moderation, and let’s not forget the lucky people who have naturally high metabolisms. These are the people who are being yelled at for possessing “thin privilege” and continuously hear phrases such as, “Real men like curves, only dogs like bones.”

Too fat too thin, is there a middle ground?

Beauty standards are changing to include those of larger sizes, but it’s leaving out everyone under a certain size.

One of the most absurd examples is the idea that Marilyn Monroe was plus size.

The truth is that she was actually around the same size as today’s models, but since she was relatively short, she looks larger. In today's day and age, Monroe would be a size four while Instagram model Kim Kardashian is a size ten.

It is true that genetics play a huge role in body shape and that weight gain/loss can occur due to extraneous health conditions, which can make weight loss/

PHOTO COURTESY HUFFINGTONPOST.COM

gain even more difficult.

However, the most important thing to remember is that if you are trying to lose weight, calories in have to equal calories out. As long as you eat below the amount of calories needed to maintain your weight, you will lose it.

Just remember not to let the pursuit of weight loss/grain control your entire life. Your body is the only one you get, so you want to make sure to treat it as best you can – and that means living a balanced life.

OPINION

THEBUCAMPUS.CA

Do chains and whips excite you?

11

BDSM with a side of community, sanity, and growth L.A.C Contributor

B

DSM stands for Bondage and Discipline, Domination and Submission, Sadism and Masochism, and it is the best thing that has ever happened to me.

By becoming a part of the scene – which is not too bad here in Sherbrooke – I have discovered a community.

By seeking relationships with a kinky side, I’ve become better at communicating, am more self-aware, and have reduced my stress levels. This acceptance of myself has led me to become someone entirely new.

My journey began when I first went to a “munch.” A munch is a vanilla (nonkinky) safe place to meet people. You meet up at a restaurant to talk and get to know one another. It is open, warm, and welcoming; there are even some English speakers.

At these events, there are a broad range of people. If you are nervous, it is okay! A munch is a great place to relax and get to know people. If you are not nervous, you can go to the play parties at the dungeon that follow.

A play party is not an orgy. It is an event where people go to use stations (such as crosses, spanking benches, bondage chairs, rope hooks) and toys that they usually do not have access to.

Play parties also allow the attendees to carve out semi-private scenes in a public space.

BDSM No one is permitted to touch you without your enthusiastic consent, and your stressful, which is why BDSM is a huge safety is ensured by dungeon monitors help. There is nothing like being able to whose job is to make sure play is safe, relax and just be in the moment. sane, and consensual.

As a submissive, you can reach a level If you are not sure how to play, ask one of subspace; you get a runner’s high in of the attendees to be your mentor or at- which your mind is flooded with endortend one of the teaching events. If you phins and everything feels perfect. want some toys, some dungeons even On the side of the dominant, the abilhost flea markets. ity to cause pain/pleasure or the simple As someone who used to help set up feeling of being needed is its own rethose flea markets, events can get pretty ward.

PHOTO COURTESY BDSMCAFE.COM

There are many different ways to play and an entire dictionary’s worth of terms and names. BDSM does not need to involve pain, sex, or any of the tropes people typically associate it with. It is not all whips and chains, you know, even though those do excite me!

Being able to grow and learn about myself, through the context of BDSM, has been amazing. I explored my submissive side, became a pet, and now I am getting

used to being a switch – someone who can be both dominant and submissive.

This demonstrates my desire to be in control, but also that I like to give it up.

Of course, safety is the main priority.

Informed consent is essential; experimentation is encouraged, and communication is necessary.

Yes, mistakes can happen – as a submissive, I was once lightly burned and received a pinched nerve from being tied up. However, mistakes can happen with absolutely everything you do. In a case of severe injury, that is what waivers are for.

To attend dungeon events, you need to sign a waiver stating that you will not share the exact details of the dungeon (especially, the names of attendees), and require you to list an emergency contact.

This emergency contact has a box next to their name and, if you check it, it means they know about the lifestyle you are a part of. If you do not check it, they will lie for you, while making sure you are safe.

There are so many things that can be said for BDSM. It is often hailed as one of the most nurturing and loving forms of relationships. Studies have shown that people in the BDSM lifestyle have lower anxiety, stress, better communication, closer relationships, increased fidelity, and in general, better mental health.

So, the idea of kinky people being sluts is simply not true. Ultimately, the worldwide BDSM community is a welcoming bunch, and we protect our own.

No one will share your name outside of the group, nor will anyone judge you, and you will become a part of a large network of people who will become some of your closest friends.

In fact, just yesterday, two of my BDSM friends stopped by and brought me a homemade cake. There are benefits to being kinky, and cake is only one of them.

Upcoming Events

CASA’S Black History Month Events BLACK HISTORY TRIVIA NIGHT @ THE GAIT FEB. 16 FROM 7-11 P.M. The trivia will touch on impor tant moments and people in Black Histor y There will also be a lip syncing battle GAIT NIGHT FEB. 20 11 P.M. TO 3 A.M. A celebration of different music from around the world BAKE SALE FEB. 23 IN THE SUB Selling, by donation, different sweets and treats from different countries RACE AND GENDER DISCUSSION DATE TBA Discussion about race and gender in the media Will show various media representations and analyze those representations Discussion open for input from attendees This event is organized in conjunction with the Gender Equity Centre

12

OPINION

THE CAMPUS FEBRUARY 10, 2016

Pulling teeth: easier than getting students involved Lack of involvement from Bishop’s students continues to raise concerns KATHARINE MUSSELLAM Staff Writer

W

hile Bishop’s may be known for having lots of students who like to party and get excited, there is a serious apathy problem hidden behind that thin coat of veneer. This is true for both students supposedly involved in clubs/ events and outside participants.

Behind every filled-to-capacity Donald Lecture and sold-out Drama Department show are events with low turnout and enthusiasm burnout.

Take for example EngLit; an English Literature based club, which hosts such events as the Murder Mystery each semester. EngLit has also been holding movie screenings, but the turnout has remained quite low with some screenings catering to an audience of two.

During meetings, people are enthusiastic about the movie choices that the club members decide on together.

However, when the day of the screening comes around, no one shows up regardless of how much advanced notice is given.

Another example of apathy in the student body is our less-than-impressive listener base for Toast Radio.

Back in 2014, a Kickstarter campaign was created to raise money to get the station started. While the achieved goal of $650 (via 13 supporters) may not have been monumental for a Kickstarter, it certainly showed that there was interest in making Toast Radio a reality.

Let’s Talk

A year after its launch, Toast Radio is faltering. Many students who were DJs last year did not return; there was barely enough interest to even have the station for three weeks in November. This included most shows getting a two-hour time slot and having only enough volunteers to run programming Thursday through Sunday.

While the two-hour shows have not continued this semester, Toast Radio still only has a volunteer base that is able to operate Thursday through Sunday – that is if anyone is even listening.

Meanwhile, Bishop’s Toast Radio Facebook page has approximately 500 likes.

Where is this audience when the DJs and talk shows are actually broadcasted?

It’d be ignorant to talk about student body apathy without talking about the SRC elections. Clearly, there are people who do care, as observed through the passionate candidate campaigns and the students who actively follow such election material, all of whom raise important questions that concern Bishop’s students. However, there is still a stark disinterest from students when it comes to their own representative council.

This year, voting in the SRC Executive elections increased by 8%, bringing the total amount of voters to 44% of Bishop’s student population – still less than half.

This is despite how easy voting has been made over the subsequent years.

Students do not even have to be on campus anymore to visit a polling station,

An apathy problem? At Bishop’s?

they can literally vote from the comfort of their own homes on any electronic device. The entire process takes less than five minutes, especially if the voter already has clear idea of who he or she is voting for.

Moving on from the SRC, there is another aspect of the university that continues to lack student involvement. The giant elephant in the room; I’m talking about Centennial Theatre, specifically its seasonal programs. These shows are easy to attend and boast high quality entertainment that is not typically accessible to undergraduate students. The shows are advertised to students on a regular basis, reminding us that there are discounts specifically for students; there are even contests to participate in

PHOTO COURTESY CENTENNIALTHEATRE.COM

for free tickets!

For the most part, the audiences of these shows are people who have come from outside of the sphere of the university, and even outside of Lennoxville.

The audiences are of a decent size, but I’ve yet to see anything remotely resembling a full house.

Where are the enthusiastic Bishop’s students that everyone claims to know?

Where are the students who were infuriated when the seasonal programs of Centennial were nearly cut last year and fought to ensure its continuation? Have these students suddenly disappeared all at once? I dare you to prove me wrong.

The importance of Mental Health Awareness lasting longer than a week HAYLEY WINCH Staff Writer

M

ental health is a hot topic of discussion among today’s generation, which has encouraged steps towards the dissolution of past stigmas that once ridiculed the subject. #BellLetsTalk, a recent initiative, is an annual campaign that seeks to further these efforts.

But, the question that remains is what can one day really do?

On Jan. 28, Bell Media pledged to make a mass donation towards the support of Mental Health Awareness in relation to the active participation of individuals via phone calls and texting (for clients with Bell as their service providers), and sharing images on social media such as Facebook and tweets on Twitter.

After 24 hours, the 2016 #BellLetsTalk campaign succeed in generating a donation from Bell Media of $6,295,764.75 to Mental Health Awareness. It is an amazing feat that all participants can feel proud of.

This day coincided with the fourth annual Mental Health Awareness Week at

So let’s talk

Bishop’s University. It is my hope that many students participated – with equal enthusiasm – in the events provided for them, and listened to the talks that provided opportunities to better understand struggles associated with mental health.

However, why do we only acknowledge the importance of this discussion during one day, or one week? Why do we

PHOTO COURTESY BELL MOBILITY

limit ourselves to such a small window when the real goal is to foster long-term discussions that will generate change?

Mental health should not be a taboo subject among friends and family. Instead, people who struggle with mental illness should be able to speak openly and honestly, knowing that have support every single day, and not just during one advertised day.

I am not discrediting the support and information provided by Bell and their donations to the awareness campaign.

But why stop there?

It is wonderful, and encouraging, to know that major corporations support the efforts made to further understand and treat mental health problems. I support the #BellLetsTalk initiative, but I also believe that the open dialogue and active participation it encourages should invoke a lasting mentality towards mental health.

I understand that financial issues may arise for companies when such a large-scale campaign lasts more than a day, but the main focus should be on the conversation that is generated and how these discussions can dissolve stigma.

Mental illness might not affect you directly, but I can guarantee that it affects someone you know. Mental health is not something we need to think about only for a day, but is a part of our lifelong journeys and crucial to our general wellbeing; it needs to be treated with the integrity that it deserves.

THEBUCAMPUS.CA

How to get your money’s worth

OPINION

13

Bishop’s students begin quest to find affordable living spaces MARIAN NEESER-CARAZO Contributor

T

his is the time of year when landlords are beginning to advertise apartment rentals for upper year students looking to move off campus.

Applying for on-campus housing is always an option in Lennoxville, but there is also a large portion of local young families trying to supplement their income by renting out rooms to university students.

The costs of living on-campus at Bishop’s is relatively low compared to other universities but, on average, still remains too high for many students.

Bishop’s offers annual fees ranging from $3936 to $5200.

Students have a variety of options from double rooms in Mackinnon to the apartmentstyle dorms of Patterson. Norton and Pollock are the least expen- Where to live and how to get the most for your money sive when it comes to rent, while tunities, but the obligatory cafeteria fees Patterson is the most expensive. The quickly make the comparatively reasonnewly renovated Abbott rooms come in able rent rather expensive. Dewhurst right behind Patterson at $5080. dining hall offers a wide variety of food Patterson is exempt from the obliga- for students who might not have any extory Dewhurst fees, which are almost perience cooking, and so it is a reasonequal to the cost of rent – and no one able option for first-year students; however eats enough to justify the high ever, cooking is a basic life skill that must costs. However, taking into considera- be developed at some point. tion that the average Paterson student A quick search on Kijiji shows three spends $30 per week on groceries, puts pages’ worth of ads for room rentals, spending well over $6000 for one aca- apartments, and roommates with prices demic year. that range from $275 to $600 per month Dorms offer great socialization oppor- (often with utilities included).

What’s old is new

iod, which saves students two or four months of rent – an excellent option for students on a tight budget.

Areas like Little Forks offer student housing for people who do not mind the rowdy party atmosphere, while College Street boasts many quiet rental options further up the hill.

Although living off-campus requires a bit more creativity and independence, it allows students to learn how to budget and care for themselves in a way that will benefit their future.

Even though living on campus at Bishop’s is affordable compared to living on campus at other universities, the annual (8 months) cost of $3936 is not worth what you are getting. You get a PHOTO COURTESY ROYALLEPAGE.COM small room with a small bed (or two twin beds that you A prudent student could find a nice have to share with an initial stranger) pre-furnished room for $350 within a and are required to pay even more for a 15-minute walk from campus. If they cafeteria-based diet, which make this afhave a car, a quick drive to Maxi or Super fordable situation a little less than ideal.

C can save them a lot of money on groAll the while, you can rent a spacious ceries. If a grocery shopping trip into three-bedroom apartment in Little Sherbrooke is not possible, careful and Forks for 12 months at, roughly, the economical shopping at Provigo can still same price. suffice. It isn’t a stretch to say that total There is a plethora of living options in living expenses can be kept well under and around Lennoxville, you just have $600 for a month. to decide what’s right for you and your Some people who advertise on the wallet.

Bishop’s page or Kijiji are willing to lease the rooms for an eight or ten month per-

Revival of Your Favorite Shows TINA GOLAB Staff Writer

T

he revival of Gilmore Girls will create a Fuller House with Girl Meets World; so make sure to bring your Friends back to watch.

That’s right, all your favorite shows are making a comeback. But the question is should these shows remain buried in the past?

These shows were hits when they ran between the 90s and early 2000s. Is it worth it to create spin-offs and continuations of these shows for today’s generation?

In some cases yes, in others cases no.

Firstly, Friends creator Marta Kaufmann has confirmed there will not be a revival of the show. However, there will be a 2-hour special commemorating director James Burrow for his direction of his 1000th episode, 15 of which were Friends episodes.

In regards to Friends, perhaps it is for the best that there is not an actual revival of the show. It ran for a solid ten years and is still a popular show today – some would even consider it a classic of sitcom. No one messes with classics, right?

Nearly ten years have passed since the show’s end-

ing, resulting in a change of dynamics between characters that might disappoint fans and fall short of the reputation that the show has already earned.

The same cannot be said for Gilmore Girls, which looks quite promising. The show’s creators Amy Sherman-Palladino and Dan Palladino are working to get as many of the old actors back as possible. They plan to continue from season 7, giving the TV series the proper conclusion it deserves.

Sherman-Palladino stated that she was bouncing ideas off friends who had watched the show to make sure the newest season would not negate events that had happened in previous seasons.

Overall, it seems that the creators of Gilmore Girls are putting in the time and effort to make sure the newest (and last season) picks up where they left off and maintains the show’s original style. It will be exciting to see how it all comes together.

Fuller House, the spinoff of the 1987 series Full House, however, is disappointing. The show will follow widowed mother D. J. Tanner Fuller who attempts to raise her three sons with the help of her sister and best friend and her best friend’s daughter.

This plot follows the same events that happened in

Full House, where widower Danny Tanner enlists the help of his brother-in-law and best friend to raise his three daughters.

Rather than create a continuation of the show, the producers have simply gone back to square one to make the same show with a different name.

Girl Meets World is the middle ground between Gilmore Girls and Fuller House. Already on its third season, critics argue that there is limited variation between Girl Meets World and the original show it stems from, Boy Meets World.

However, because it is tastefully done, it provides good moral lessons to today’s youth while bringing a touch of nostalgia to parents who grew up with the original series.

All in all, the revival of Gilmore Girls and Girl Meets World has been done with the proper amount of care to ensure fans will continue loving the series.

14

SPORTS

THE CAMPUS FEBRUARY 10, 2016

Dan Gilbert, Sports Editor » thecampus.sports@gmail.com

Embracing the Triple: how the 3-point shot revolutionized basketball The Warriors have proven to be champions and trendsetters DAN GILBERT Spor ts Editor

T

o say that the Golden State Warriors claimed their 2015 championship title in unconventional fashion would be an understatement.

When people watched the NBA Finals unfold this past June, most were in awe of what they were witnessing. After realizing what kind of damage they could do by using ball movement and floor spacing to their advantage, the Warriors deployed a line-up that played to their utmost strengths. The formidable lineup was one that consisted of reliable outside shooters and versatile defenders across the board. As such, the team had no true need for a center, explaining why the tallest Warrior on the floor most of the time was 6-foot-7 forward Draymond Green.

PHOTO COURTESY FANDUEL.COM The 2015 playoffs were an indicator of In order from left to right, Stephen Curry, Draymond Green,and Klay Thompson have already formed a shift in how the game of basketball is one of the greatest trios in NBA history. being played, with “small-ball” now becoming the emphasis for most coaches line-ups to add an edge to their offensive a big deal, in fact, it was an anomaly, as looking to contend for a title - unless arsenal. evidenced by the Lakers averaging less your name is Gregg Popovich.

ESPN’s Tom Haberstroh states that than one made three-pointer per game The three-point shot has been em- the NBA average for three-point shots during that period. braced as a huge part of team offense per game is 22.5, which is a sizable jump Today, the team that makes the lowrather than an option to relieve pressure from the league average of 16 in the est number of three-point shots is averoff big men in the paint. Gradually, this 1995-’96 season, and three in the 1979- aging five per game. As for the team that has become a permanent shift in how ’80 season. Back then, Magic Johnson’s converts the highest amount, that would the game is played. Ever since the NBA Lakers were on top of the world, and be the Golden State Warriors, who are introduced the three-point shot in 1979, long-range shooting wasn’t touted as currently averaging a record 13 made teams have continually tinkered their

per game, which has translated to the best start to a season by any franchise in NBA history and a winning total that remains on pace to eclipse a lauded Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls team that won 72 of a possible 82 regular season games in 1995-’96, and ultimately captured a world championship.

The message has become clear. Teams and their scouting departments no longer seek out talent that can only bring interior abilities to the table. As shocking as it may sound, the era of the ‘dominant big man’ has become an afterthought.

Players with the finesse and marksmanlike accuracy of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and J.J. Redick are now in high demand as the league cements itself as guard-oriented.

The increased usage of the threepointer has transcended the NBA, and a reflection of this shift is visible in other areas, including the CIS. The 2015 Warriors proved that a team brimming with three-point specialists can win championships. As a result, their playing style has turned contagious. It’s a reminder of how drastically things have changed, and how adopting the three-point shot is crucial for success in today’s game.

Improving the NFL’s Pro Bowl

How to provide more excitement to a dwindling event GERRIT COULTER Contributor

The Pro Bowl, which features the best players from the NFL, has gone through many changes since being introduced in the 1938 season as the “Pro All-Star Game.” Back then, the league champions faced off against a squad full of all-stars.

That iteration lasted for 5 years before it was removed due to transportation restrictions implemented during World War II. When brought back in 1950, it was decided that two teams of all-stars, one from each conference, would go head-tohead in the Pro Bowl. More recently, the game has been modified into a “fantasy draft” format where captains select the two teams from the elected pool of Pro Bowlers. Despite the long, great history behind the National Football League’s Pro Bowl, most would agree that a change in format is in order.

These days, only a small percentage of NFL fans actually tune in to watch the Pro Bowl, and even fewer still actually enjoy the on-field play. However, many fans still like to vote for their favourite players in the Pro Bowl voting, and it is considered an honour for everyone who is selected as a Pro Bowler by the fans, the coaches, and other players. Thus, it may just be better to do away with the game entirely.

The players don’t try, and it ends up looking like a less-intense version of touch football. It is important, however, to keep the prestige of awarding athletes for their stellar performance, so the AllStar and the All-Pro selection processes should remain. There are a few professional leagues that currently hold allstar voting, yet do not host an actual game; one of such leagues is the CFL. Now, hold all of your collective horses, I am not suggesting in any way that the Canadian Football League is a bet-

ter than the NFL, so try not to lose your minds. All I’m saying is that there are no complaints about the lack of a CFL all-star game, because the fans do not desire such a thing. It is reasonable to assume that fans of American football would feel similarly.

If the NFL does eventually decided to do away with the Pro Bowl, they would probably want to fill the gap in the calendar with something else. The perfect event to fill such a gap would be a game between the two worst teams in the league, which would see them compete for the #1 overall pick in the upcoming draft. In other words, it would be a game with actual stakes and importance, which the Pro Bowl currently lacks.

The game would require the teams who finished with the league’s two worst records to engage in another matchup, weeks after the regular season’s conclusion. The prospect of lengthening such a miserable season would be incentive

enough for players not to give up, or take it easy down the stretch as they would look to avoid the extra workload. I believe the #1 Selection Bowl (name still a work in process) would draw a lot of viewers. However, the implementation of such a game would pose certain challenges.

There seems to be a general distaste for the Pro Bowl at the moment, from both fans and the media. Other than a select few, nobody really cares about the game in its current form. If the league was able to create an event with some buzz on the weekend leading up to the Super Bowl, viewers would most likely feel much more satisfied during the long wait before the big game. Bottom line: The Pro Bowl is in need of a major transformation if the NFL wants to keep fans engaged, and it needs to happen as soon as possible.

SPORTS

THEBUCAMPUS.CA

15

The Great Gene debate

Debunking the myth that genes play a bigger role than the environment in runners

RYAN MCANUFF Contributor

The 1968 Olympic Games were the first of many where African countries dominated. To date, Kenyans and Ethiopians hold over 90% of the world records in medium and long distance running races and find themselves among the top 10 spots of the world’s best runners.

Out of the all the known genes that make up a person’s DNA, only two have been studied significantly with respect to athletic performance. The first gene is the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), in which the insertion polymorphism (I allele) codes for lower levels of circulating and tissue ACE than the deletion polymorphism D allele.

The ACE gene can either be II, ID, or DD, where D is dominant. The I allele has been shown to be associated with endurance performance such as the 10000m run, whereas the D allele has been associated with performance in power, such as sprinting or weightlifting.

It has been hypothesized that Kenyans and Ethiopians would show a surplus of the I allele because of their domination in the long distance events, but this is not what is seen. There is no significant difference found between Kenyans versus the respective general populations.

The other gene that has been shown to influence athletic performance is alphaactinin-3 (ACTN3); it is polymorphic as

well. The possibilities are RR, RX, and XX, where R is dominant. The R gene results in the expression of alpha-actinin-3, which is found in type-II muscle and results in an athlete with more power.

The X allele would be more beneficial for an endurance athlete. Once again, researchers believed that the Eastern Africans would have a higher frequency of the X allele, but this was not found to be true; there was no significant difference. After it was discovered that these two genes were not the single determining factor in why Kenya and Ethiopia produces the world’s best endurance runners, the study goes on to focus on several other factors, particularly, environmental.

A person’s VO2 max is the maximum rate of oxygen that they can consume during incremental exercise. It was hypothesized that the VO2 max of Kenyans and Ethiopians would be much higher due to the findings that 86% of Kenyan national team runners reported running to school every day growing up and the distance was between 5 and 20 kilometers. Running is the primary mode of transport in Kenya over driving or even walking. Despite this, the VO2 max was not significantly different between Kenyans, Germans, and Scandinavians. Hemoglobin in the blood and total blood volume was studied and found to be slightly higher – but not significantly different – in Kenyans compared to Germans. It is an area of interest, as

Kenya runners take full advantage of their climate to become the cream of the crop.

few studies have looked into this area of research.

The somatotypes of both Kenyans and Scandinavians were also studied, and it was concluded that Kenyan runners are more metabolically economical due to their longer legs and lighter calves from their ectomorph somatotype. Although the muscle-fiber types were not found to be significantly different, it was found that Kenyan runners had a significantly higher activity for the enzyme HADH, an enzyme that is involved in the production of energy from lipids. This is a possible explanation as to why the Kenyans may be better runners over long distance, but not in the shorter distances such as the 1500m and the 3000m steeplechase; the lipid-metabolizing energy system would not be used much in these latter circumstances.

Kenya and Ethiopia are both approximately 2000 to 2500m above sea level.

This may also explain why the countries produce such elite runners. Training at high altitudes with less oxygen can increase the amount of red blood cells and hemoglobin and alter muscle metabolism. Those training in this environment can train as hard as other people around the world, but it is more strenuous on the body due to a lack of oxygen.

Another environmental factor that has been attributed to the success of African runners is the motivation to achieve economic success. Almost 50% of the population lives below the poverty line in

Kenya and Ethiopia, so if you become an Olympic runner you are socially and economically ahead of most of your country.

In a recent study, 33% of Kenyan runners identified financial security as the primary reason why they run, whereas 14% do it for ‘Olympic glory.’

After looking at genetic, physiological, psychological, and environmental components, it is concluded that there is no single factor that makes a world-class endurance runner.

The success of an endurance runner is likely due to, in part, consistent aerobic moderate-volume, high-intensity training from a young age at high altitudes, an ectomorphic somatotype for optimal metabolism and biomechanical economy, and a high motivation to achieve economic success for themselves, their family, and their country.

Yes, one may benefit from having specific genes or a specific body type, however, one’s environment is more important to the achievement of success in endurance running. Successful runners surround themselves with other great runners, train at high altitudes, and adopt a near perfect work ethic.

Although they may seem logical, many hypotheses have been refuted and more studies should be conducted in order to determine additional reasons as to why the best endurance runners come from Eastern Africa.

PHOTO COURTESY JOCKDOC.COM

16

SPORTS

THE CAMPUS FEBRUARY 10, 2016

Things to know about the 2016 Olympics Rio takes center stage come August DAN GILBERT Spor ts Editor

T

hat’s right. It’s that time of year again. If you’re a sports enthusiast, you’ve probably had this one marked on your calendar for a while. In light of the Olympic Games being right around the corner, we thought we would keep our readers in the loop and share some interesting facts about the upcoming international event that has everybody talking. Without further ado, here it goes: Rio 2016 Yes, it’s all taking place in Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro, and believe it or not, this will mark the first time in history that the Summer Olympics will be hosted by a city in South America, leaving Africa as the only continent that has yet to have the honour of hosting the famed competition. As it stands, Europe has seen the most Games with 16 since the inauguration of the modern Olympics in 1896. North America is next in line with 6, and not too far behind is Asia with 3, followed by Australia with 2.

Rio will be making use of 32 sites that are located in four separate regions of the city. But don’t worry, similar sports have all been grouped together, meaning logistics shouldn’t be affected. The events are being meticulously spread across the 17-day competition to ensure that everything is run as smoothly as possible.

So how many people are going to be involved in this global phenomenon?

PHOTO COURTESY THESTAR.COM

Michael Phelps will look to cement his legacy in Rio by accumulating more medals in individual events than any other athlete in Olympic history.

Well, Rio expects to have approximately 45000 volunteers, 8000 employees and an additional 85000 outsourced staff members including security and catering. To put that into perspective, that’s nearly 140 000 individuals contributing towards an event that’s just a little over two weeks in length, or precisely 8117 people per day!

The Athletes Over 200 countries (206 to be exact) will be sending athletes to compete in Rio. How many athletes does that add up to? If all goes to plan, fans should be able to witness 10500 sportsmen and women representing their countries in their respective disciplines.

To date, the United States of America have produced more Olympians than any other country at the Summer Games – a grand total of 7602! By the looks of it, “divide-and-conquer” is a strategy that

seems to have paid off for the country, as the USA have managed to claim more medals than any other competing country. The Americans now have a grand total of 2425 medals to their name, broken down that’s: • 990 Gold • 764 Silver • 671 Bronze Who are the most popular athletes you might be able to catch in Rio? Here’s a list of the top 10 most Tweeted about competitors who took part in the previous Olympics: 1.

Usain Bolt 2.

Michael Phelps 3.

Tom Daley 4.

Ryan Lochte 5.

Gabby Douglas 6.

Andy Murray 7.

Kobe Bryant 8.

Yohan Blake

9.

Lee Chong Wei 10. LeBron James The aforementioned athletes have all received upwards of 1 million tweets, with renowned Jamaican sensation Usain Bolt receiving over 74000 tweets per minute for both his 100m and 200m sprints. Talk about a whole lot of Twitter chatter.

The Events Of the 10500 participants expected to be active, only 306 will be able to claim a gold medal across 42 different sporting disciplines. Speaking of disciplines, the sport of golf will be returning to the fold for the first time in 112 years, and rugby will also resurrect itself from obscurity after being dormant for 92 years.

What’s the hottest ticket going at Rio 2016? Volleyball! That’s right, even though soccer remains Brazil’s pastime, volleyball’s popularity in the area is undoubtedly on the rise, and a sea of roaring Brazilians will be able to prove that during the competition.

Conclusion So, after all that, it’s safe to say that Rio 2016 is going to be an action-packed and fun-filled event that sports fanatics around the globe are sure to enjoy and, hopefully, remember for years to come.

If you haven’t booked your ticket to see the spectacle live in person, now may be the time to consider doing so before it’s too late. The Summer Games only come once every four years. Don’t miss out on what could be a once-in-a-lifetime experience!

Madani returns to alma mater, speaks to students Veteran in the reporting field cautions those looking to follow his footsteps DAN GILBERT Spor t Editor

T

hey say home is where the heart is.

For a period of time, Bishop’s University actually was home for Sportsnet’s Arash Madani, who had a chance to revisit his roots when he spoke to journalism students at his alma mater two weeks ago.

After serving as a broadcaster for his school’s varsity basketball teams and starting out as a writer for The Record, Madani knew where his true passion lay and decided he wanted to make a career out of it.

It was only through years of hard work and dedication that he was able to turn his dream into a reality. Madani now stands for a Canadian national sports television network and has an opportunity to travel the globe, covering the latest news that unfolds in the fascinating world of sports.

However, the corporate side of the business is less than fascinating if you’re looking to break into sports journalism, and that’s not including the struggles to stay afloat once employed.

In the wake of a series of cuts within a unique journalism industry that has kept every reporter vigilant, the most important message that he wanted to get across is that the game has changed, in fact, it’s evolving at an unprecedented rate.

Long before Madani wrote his first column and became infatuated with sports, the amount of ways in which people could obtain information and stay up-todate with news was limited at best.

Back in the day, if you were lucky, you had a morning newspaper, the lunch time radio, and the 6 o’clock evening news to keep you in the loop.

Today, thanks to social media in particular, anything you need is right there in front of you, be it on your tablet, smartphone, or laptop.

The luxury of having instant access explains why today’s athletic trainers are among the last to find out about developments in their own organization.

That’s the reality of the world we now live in.

In light of his contemporaries losing their jobs or on the verge of being shown the door (Rogers Media announced

Monday it plans to cut 200 jobs across its television, radio, and publishing divisions), Madani has successfully managed to avoid peril, doing everything in his power to stay alive in a competitive sector of the workforce that has ostensibly shrunk thinner by the day.

“Depending on what my bosses ask of me, I can be a talk show anchor, a feature television reporter, a sideline reporter, a writer, and a podcaster,” the versatile 35-year-old reminded his audience about what it takes to be effective and secure in your career, adding: “Those are the things you have to do in order to stay employed. That’s the reality of a business that is continuously evolving. You have to be better than the competition.

Be as best prepared as you can possibly be.”

Lay-offs can be difficult for anyone to swallow, but they come with the territory. When the owners of a company such as media giant Rogers realize that their profits are down, somebody’s going to get the short end of the stick.

At that point, the higher-ups need to go back to the drawing board and figure out how they can monetize what they’re

providing during a time when everyone gets content for free.

Fortunately, sporting fanatics still want to watch games and get results.

They also crave the inside scoop, but by the same token, they won’t hesitate to turn on you if you leak something that eventually proves to be inaccurate.

That’s why Madani stressed the importance of getting every little detail correct, even at the expense of being late. “Being 99 per cent right is essentially being 100 per cent wrong, and if you are wrong, then your credibility is shot.”

On a more positive note, Madani looked back at the time he spent at Bishop’s and saw it as a foundational stepping stone to get to where he wanted to be. After all, it was there that he learned the proper way to talk to and interact with those around him.

The parting words he had for the attentive bunch that sat before him were simple: “Be yourself, and be the last man standing;” quite fitting given the circumstances that have defined his industry in recent memory.