SINCE 1944
Vol. 76, No. 1
SEPTEMBER 16, 2020
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Student run since 1944
What’s Inside My First Week at Bishop’s: Tales From a First Year! Part 2| Page 3 (Financial) Survivor’s Guilt| Page 5 Josh Quirion Realeases Debut Novella| Page 6 Black Lives Matter at Bishop’s| Page 8 Laurent Duvernay-Tardif Opts Out of NFL Season to be on COVID-19 Frontline| Page 11 Felix Gendron the Student Landlord| Page 12 Cover Page Photo Credits to Theresa Graham Design by Jess Lapenna
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NEWS
THE CAMPUS SEPTEMBER 16, 2020
Sarah Mojsej, News Editor » thecampus.news@gmail.com
THE EDITORS 2020-2021 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF TRINITY MERRITHEW thecampus.editor@gmail.com
SENIOR COPY EDITOR CASEY HEBERT
thecampus.copyeditor@gmail.com
JUNIOR COPY EDITOR JUSTINE TREMPE
thecampus.jce@gmail.com
LAYOUT EDITOR JESS LAPENNA
thecampus.layout@gmail.com
BUSINESS MANAGER JUSTIN BRANT
thecampus.business@gmail.com
NEWS EDITOR SARAH MOJSEJ
thecampus.news@gmail.com
OPINIONS EDITOR SAFIA HAFID
thecampus.opinions@gmail.com
FEATURES EDITOR JEREMY AUDET
thecampus.features@gmail.com
ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR
BRIDGET BOUCHER thecampus.ac@gmail.com
SPORTS EDITOR DAVID ROSSITER
Canada’s Return to Classes in the Covid-19 Era As provinces finalize their return-to-school plans just in time for the upcoming school year, Canada is victim to a jump in new Coronavirus cases. The country saw a sizable increase following Labour Day weekend with 190 cases reported in Ontario on Monday and 185 cases on Tuesday. British Columbia tallies the highest infection rate to date with 429 additional cases confirmed, prompting the immediate closure of all nightclubs and banquet halls in the province. As numbers continue to increase, speculation of what will happen once classes resume is in full swing. Different provinces have adopted different variations of a back to school implementation, and worry is on the rise with this large portion of the population being re-integrated into social settings. Certain schools opened earlier than others, offering a glimpse into what may be in store for the rest of schools country-wide as September progresses. Schools in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, and Quebec opened their doors in late August and have all had students test positive for the virus. As of September 8th, the Quebec government has revealed that as many as 120 schools may be dealing with possible cases and 118 cases have been confirmed amongst students and teachers. Positive cases in schools have emerged in Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Ontario as well, prompting some to socially-isolate and revisit the preventive measures in place. Certain districts such as Toronto have delayed their start date to later in September in an attempt to address areas of concern including mask-wearing protocol and bussing. Provinces such as Ontario have opted for a mix of in-person and online classes in efforts to reduce student traffic and exposure. Other provinces with predominantly in-person schooling offer the possibility for online learning to children with pre-existing health conditions that make them more susceptible to the virus. Numerous health ministers have expressed the importance of students returning to school to support their social and academic development during their crucial early years. British Columbia’s Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry spoke to the importance of these next few weeks for the younger generation, warning about “long-term generational downsides.”
Sarah Mojsej News Editor
Teachers all over the country have voiced varying opinions when it comes to provinces’ respective return-to-school plans. Many have brought to light the complexity that is physical distancing during a school day. Transportation, the maximum number of student groups, masks, class transitions, and recess are all subject to protocols that vary between provinces and, as a result, are received differently by teaching professionals. The mask-wearing protocols provide an example of disparities from province to province. In Alberta, two masks will be given to every student and wearing a mask will be mandatory for students from Grades 4 to 12 in settings where social distancing cannot be maintained. In contrast, Quebec only requires students in Grade 5 and above to wear masks in buildings and not in the classroom. Provinces such as Saskatchewan and Manitoba have not implemented mandatory mask protocols for students or staff. Developments will have to be closely monitored in the coming weeks.
Photo Courtesy of Shutterstock
thecampus.sports@gmail.com
BUSINESS & ECONOMICS EDITOR HUGH GODMAN
thecampus.businesseditor@gmail.com
GRAPHICS KATE SCHWARTZ
thecampus.graphics@gmail.com
CONTRIBUTION RECRUITER ALLIE TRINQUE
thecampus.recruitment@gmail.com
SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATORS FIONA DORAN SARAH MARIA ONYANGO PHOTOGRAPHERS THERESA GRAHAM ANNABELLE MORGAN THIS ISSUE CONTRIBUTORS Duncan Alderdice Shelby Page Georgia Gokiert Keagan Mackay Hayden Boreham Jay Sharma Enzo Evangelisti Catherine Blais Caroline Homet Andi Jacobs Emily Whalley
Get out the Vote. But How Difficult is it Really to Vote in America? Andi Jacobs Contributor
The 2020 U.S. Presidential elections are right around the corner and there has been no shortage of media coverage regarding concerns of voter fraud. Though this is a valid concern, there is also another area that is worthy of the spotlight: voter suppression. Outlined in this article is a brief overview of voter suppression in the United States, the intent of which is to encourage American voters to cast a ballot in the upcoming election as a means of combating the growing threat to the United States’ political system. Voter ID laws vary by state and disproportionately affect BIPOCs’ ability to cast a vote at the ballot. Such laws may require voters to provide government-issued ID along with voter registration cards upon entrance to voting facilities. Those without a driver’s license or other forms of ID may be denied the opportunity to vote. Another form of voter suppression, which has gained more public attention due to the BLM Movement, is disenfranchisement. In other words, this is the loss of voting rights for people who have served prison sentences. This, once again, disproportionately affects BIPOC. Given the current COVID-19 pandemic and growing concerns of contamination in a country that has been particularly hard-hit by the virus, many Americans have opted to vote by mail or online. However, each state has its own regulations and requirements when it comes to absentee voting and voting in general. Depending on one’s state of residence, registering to vote by mail can either be relatively clear-cut or may seem nearly impossible. For example, in the state of South Carolina, registration for an absentee ballot is almost a four-step process. It includes mandatory dated measures of communication
and various verifications of identity. Required forms must be mailed via the post office and upon receipt of a response, must be followed up with an email confirmation. One has the right to identify their preferred method of voting, whether it be mail or online, but the request can be denied. Voting laws vary drastically from state to state, which begs the question: why do state governments have such influence when it comes to federal elections? There is a strong argument that this takes away from the transparency of voting processes and, in some cases, have even skewed state election results. Should the federal government have universal voting laws that prevent certain states from introducing and enforcing laws that perpetuate voter suppression?
Photo Courtesy of REUTERS/Jason Redmond
SINCE 1944
NEWS
My First Week at Bishop’s: Tales From A First Year! Part 1 Hi everyone, I’m Caroline. I’m from Montreal, but as of last Saturday, you can find me living in Abbott! As I was unpacking, I kept coming up with more things to organize right then and there so that my mom would stay with me longer, though she did eventually drive back home, prompting me to leave my new room. I went outside where I met really nice people during some socially distanced icebreakers organized by RAs on Abbott field. Thanks again for organizing that, guys! It gave me hope later that night when I was feeling alone with all the common areas locked, that the next day when O-week would officially begin, I’d meet tons of new friends outside. O-week has been, and still is, a blast! I feel so supported and included with all the singing, screaming, and cheering on teammates as they ingest the weirdest foods, some of which are not even intended for human consumption. Go, Mötley BrÜs! I’m so grateful to all the judges and leaders for all the effort they’ve put into creating a safe yet super dynamic and all-around fun O-week. I know you must feel like broken records from always repeating: “social distance,” “wear your mask,” “no dancing, these are footloose times,” and beating us apart with pool noodles, but thank you for doing so anyway. We can truly appreciate all the activities you’ve planned for us, knowing you’re also keeping us safe. I knew when I applied to Bishop’s that the community was tightly knit and full of kind, enthusiastic, and generous people, but part of me couldn’t quite believe it would be any of those things to the degree that it is. Walking down Electric Avenue at lunch every day, I have to stop myself from talking to people at every table because I know I won’t have time to do it all. Every table, however, gives me the feeling that I could do almost anything. My
“L
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Caroline Homet Contributor
professors have the same effect on me. I’ve had two in-person classes so far (shoutout to the English department). My professors’ dynamic reviews of their course outlines have given me most of the confidence I needed to overcome my nerves facing a new and seemingly titanic workload. I’ll listen to the wise words from the SRC’s Ice Cream Social panellists and throw myself into every diverse opportunity and proactively procrastinate my course work, starting with this article.
Photo Courtesy of Theresa Graham
My First Week at Bishop’s: Tales From a First Year! Part 2 I chose to attend Bishop’s University because of its reputation for academic excellence, alumni success, and opportunities for the future. However, I also chose Bishop’s because of its close-knit community. Both of my parents are alumni and they rave about their years spent here in these halls (and bars) soaking up knowledge and, I’m sure, the odd party experience as well. They praise the school for its academics, but mostly for the friendships and lifelong bonds formed here on the Massawippi shore. Honestly, I always thought they were just being nostalgic for “the good old days” because, really, that’s what parents do. When I arrived on campus, I was so nervous. What if I couldn’t make friends? What if I couldn’t take the stress of university? What if I wasn’t cut out for this? Within moments, all of that anxiety was gone. I met my bog mate and made my very first friend. We went to Dewies and realized that the new food wasn’t that scary at all. It was actually spectacular! We went on a walk and found that it only takes 6.5 minutes to get from the Sportsplex to the arches. Anything under a 7-minute walk cannot be considered that big and scary! I spent the weekend getting familiar with the campus and then, on Sunday morning, the first truly scary thing happened: out of nowhere, a huge parade of people with colourful shirts, crazy hair, and glittery faces, rampaged across campus while banging on pots and pans. I remember thinking to myself “What the heck have I gotten myself into?” Luckily, we soon met our O-Week leaders with the rest of our groups and it all made sense. They took us to all kinds of fun and crazy activities that bonded our group closer together. I watched some of my new friends get duct-taped to chairs and complete other exciting challenges. I ended up having my hair dyed both pink and green… in one night! O-Week was unlike anything I have ever experienced before, and I am so grateful to have participated and become a part of the Bishop’s University family. I moved in last Friday feeling scared and alone, not knowing anyone on campus, but now I believe that I have found a home here at Bishop’s that will help me to flourish over these next four years. I now understand what my parents were talking about all these years. The Bishop’s community is one for life and we will keep these memories forever.
Georgia Gokiert Contributor
Photo Courtesy of Theresa Graham
and Acknowledgement. We acknowledge the Abenaki people and the Wabanaki Confederacy, the traditional stewards and protectors of the territories upon which we are learning. In performing land acknowledgement, we make what was invisible visible, and invite the land, the First Nations people, and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission into our conversations. This act of naming - of inviting something into language - is an underlying principle of advocacy and lies at the heart of higher education. The etymology of advocacy is ad (to add) + vocare (call or voice): the origin of the word’s meaning is to give voice to something or to call out in order to initiate dialogue. The “ad’ prefix makes explicit the importance of multiple voices - and by extension multiple perspectives. In this sense, advocacy compels us to acknowledge a diversity of thoughts and opinions as a starting point rather than as an ideal outcome. In institutions of higher learning, we have a responsibility to honour spaces for emerging and established voices to engage in productive, respectful, and sometimes even uncomfortable conversations where individuals are safe to speak truth to power, explore and challenge dominant ideologies, and call out injustices and inequalities in order to imagine new ways of existing.” Dr. Jessica Riddell
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THE CAMPUS SEPTEMBER 16, 2020
OPINIONS
Safia Hafid, Opinions Editor » thecampus.opinions@gmail.com
The Privilege of Human Connection As a university student, I have a lot of opinions on classes, especially regarding inperson versus virtual or remote learning. The problem, of course, is that arguing for inperson classes currently intersects with the question of safety. I do believe that given the necessary measures and precautions, in-person classes are feasible in this pandemic. I also believe that following courses in an actual classroom with a professor standing right in front of you immensely benefits learning. For most people, in fact, it provides a better environment, more stimulation, and a higher level of understanding. I am, of course, not discrediting those who learn better online, those who prefer virtual learning, or those who would prefer to be homeschooled. To me, the point of in-person classes – especially this semester – is giving students the choice rather than imposing either method onto them. I recognize the privilege that I have through my freedom to consider going to university and taking at least some of my classes in person. I am fortunate that Bishop’s University has opened its campus while taking safety measures and regulations seriously. I am fortunate that I have no underlying chronic illnesses or health conditions that would prevent me from risking a potentially dangerous situation by going to class. I am fortunate that there are no financial barriers for me at the moment. Therefore, because of my personal situation, and the decisions made by the university, I am back on campus and looking forward to having two classes in person. I will have the benefits of a professor without the barrier of a screen while being able to sit in a classroom with other students. I count myself lucky to have this experience. Between classes, and by being on campus, there is no shortage of human connection, namely between friends, professors, other students in residence… Otherwise, there would have been a void, a lack, a feeling of being robbed of something fundamental that is often taken for granted. Yes, there are risks in going to school during a global pandemic. Yes, the strict measures that COVID-19 has brought about are often frustrating to returning and new students alike. The Bishop’s experience has been altered in many ways. It is hard to social distance from friends and to forgo hugs, handshakes, and high-fives. It is sad to know that certain people are not coming back this fall for a variety of valid reasons. Most importantly, it is a bit terrifying being here and wondering if the university will
Safia Hafid Opinion Editor
be shut down once more. I was here last year when events were cancelled, all in-class activities were suspended, and the students were sent home. It happened in the span of a few days: an ongoing nightmare where COVID-19 cases kept on climbing and everything was shut down. The risk of having cases on campus and the possibility of a school closure are everpresent, always lurking in the back of everyone’s mind. However, what will happen will happen. I plan on cherishing every moment of this privilege. No one knows the future or what the next day brings. All we can do is make the best of our situation, wherever we may be. For students, it is about completing our studies in a format that works best for us at the moment. For now, I face neither endless online classes, nor the prospect of being cut off from friends. I can eat at Dewies, interact with residents in my role as an RA, participate in clubs, go to the Library Learning Commons, and use the facilities in the Sportsplex. No matter how much has changed since last year, the most important factors have remained. At the moment, I am benefiting from the privilege of human connection in a semester where most universities in Canada have gone completely virtual. This is not an experience I take for granted.
Photo Courtesy of www.pinterest.ca
Prelude: Quebec and the West - Not so Different After All I remember the first time I came to Quebec; the cashier at a café I visited in Montreal asked me where I was from. I said Saskatchewan, and she asked, “What is that?” For those who do not know, it is a Canadian province. Some say Saskatchewan is shaped like a rectangle, but really, it is more like a skirt, gradually flaring out from the hips right down to the ankles. My home province boasts more exciting things than its shape, too. It is the birthplace of the NDP, Medicare, and Elon Musk’s mother (who could guess why she left?). On many other occasions, I have been asked questions by other Québécois such as “Where exactly is it?” or “Sasas-ki-watch-ee…? How do you say that?” Given that we only have ten provinces and three territories, it should not be this hard to gain recognition of Saskatchewan! To be fair, Westerners are not exactly scholars about the province of Quebec either, though they do tend to know the basics like its existence, and where to find it. From my perspective, being from Saskabush and living in Calgary for many years, it seems like Westerners tend to know more about Quebec than Quebecois know about the West. But who can really blame them? Quebecois have a lot on their mind (apples to pick, cheese to make, wine to pour...). They have no time to worry about the West, and especially not poor ol’ Saskatchewan. Yet, misconceptions seep from every corner of this vast land. Before coming to Quebec, I heard old wives’ tales of how pompously cruel the Québécois were. They would scowl at those who cannot speak their native tongue and
would pay no mind to the outsiders who do not conform. I have found these to be untrue. Since I have arrived, Québécois people have continued to amaze me with their kindness and hospitality. For example, when I try speaking French, they always sniff out my strong accent. Their hearts and ears weep when they hear an adult speak like an infant, so they eventually switch to English. While this does not make for an ideal learning environment, my ego can only take so much shame, and their assistance is consequently much appreciated. If a Quebecker were to head West, on the other hand, people would rarely be able to switch with such ease from English to French. I admire how bilingual people are in Quebec. I wish the two national languages were as widely spoken in the West as they are here. Even though there are French Immersion programs scattered across the prairies and French is a mandatory class in most elementary schools, there is little necessity to speak it in the West as a result of the different historical waves of immigration. Early in the 1900s, many Eastern Europeans settled in the prairies. They brought their own customs and languages that have heavily impacted Western culture in a way that you do not see here. These differences are not usually noted by Québécois; it seems like a lot of people in this province see Canada through a very rigid historical lens, one that is governed heavily by Anglophone and Francophone relations. On the other hand, Westerners focus on other factors when considering their historical place in Canadian history.
Shelby Page Contributor
In upcoming segments, I will discuss the historical, geopolitical and cultural differences and similarities between Quebec and the West. To do this, I will use well-researched sources, questionable anecdotal evidence, and appalling logical fallacies. I will litter these pages with inner monologues about the two regions’ political rivalry, resource endowments, and drawing similarities between the WEXIT movement and the Quebec referendums. Until next time.
Photo Courtesy of www.infoplease.com
SINCE 1944
Death of the Author The relationship between the author and the story they write has often been debated when discussing interpretation, or when the writer, as a public figure, becomes controversial. As an avid reader myself, I have struggled at times with separating what an author says from what they have written in their stories. As a child, the author is to you merely a name on the cover of your favourite book. Their existence is synonymous with the characters you love and relate to. Sometimes, they work as a guidebook; chances are they have written several stories you will love just as much. For a long time, the author is not actually a distinct person with opinions and the power to impact you with what they say. At least, that is how it was for me. Then, I grew up. In the world of social media, it is hard to avoid the author’s accounts and their posts, especially when they are famous. This author is now a person, and as such has the power to directly influence your perception of them, of their work, and even of yourself. As an aspiring writer, those authors whose stories you cherish become role models, and you start thinking “I want to be this person when I grow up.” The problem begins when you realize that is no longer true. You learn that the author you had once idolized is bigoted, and you begin to question some of their actions. Tarnished heroes are a hazard of living and growing; of that fact, I believe, we are all well aware. How, then, can you justify recommending a piece of writing with content that has marked your life in indelible ways when its writer does not consider certain people’s existence as valid?
OPINIONS
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Safia Hafid Opinions Editor
You try to find a middle ground, I suppose. The death of the author, strictly speaking, is more about the interpretation of a piece of work; it proposes that once a writer has published a story, they no longer have control over how people interpret its messages or view the text. What I express here is rather the separation of the author: the effort of appreciating a work without commending or absolving certain behaviours. This, of course, is not a particularly new dilemma. Can you praise a movie to the high heavens when its director turns out to be abusive on set? Are you allowed to appreciate an actor’s performance despite their politics? In this particular case, is it even possible to love Harry Potter and its messages of friendship, love, overcoming hardships, and fighting discrimination, when its author is divisive and transphobic? In my view, the main solution is to acknowledge the situation and encourage discussion. Censorship is not the answer. John Stuart Mill believed that nothing should be forbidden or censored; if the opinions said or written were wrong, they would be disproven through argumentation. There are so many stories that still deserve to be read despite any of the controversy surrounding them. Is it, however, necessary to add a disclaimer when discussing or reading said stories, as they do with older media, – ‘This content may have outdated views on…’ – when it comes to the author? Yes, I believe so. I will continue to enjoy Harry Potter, and many other stories and movies and shows whose content creators I no longer support. Nevertheless, I will not be blind to the
(Financial) Survivor’s Guilt
situation. There will be disclaimers and denunciations of the author. I will not pretend to misunderstand why others might be offended by the work. I will promote the story’s message while acknowledging its imperfections. In my mind, there is now a separation wherein Harry Potter is a beloved childhood favourite with which J.K. Rowling has no association.
Photo Courtesy of www.amazon.ca
Catherine Blais Contributor
No one needs to be told how difficult the past few months have been. We have all lived it and seen the play-by-play across social media. Monumental catastrophes are so prevalent in 2020 that listing them all has become a meme. What else can we do in the face of this nightmare if not try to find humour? Despite our shared troubles, this particular period has undeniably been easier on some rather than others. I count myself among the privileged. Sure, it’s been difficult to only see beloved friends from two metres away. I felt a distinct lack of live music during my summer. My cousin and her three preschoolaged children moved to Turkey without me getting to hug them goodbye. My mental health took a serious turn for the worse in April, which nearly jeopardized my finals last semester (thank goodness for small classes and teachers who know me as someone who would only ask for an extension if I really need it!). For the most part, however, I spent my summer the way I had expected to. My employer from last summer asked if I wanted to work with them again, though I worked from home instead of going into the office. That change gave me the opportunity to take an afternoon nap every day and then stay up until 2 a.m. catching up on my assignments. I kept paying for a Sherbrooke apartment that I wasn’t living in. I regressed to my 17-year-old self while staying with my parents. I ordered pizza and watched Shrek with my partner. In spite of all the global change, my day-to-day life was normal. I feel guilty about that – my normalcy. Perhaps you do too. In a world of parents or caregivers getting laid off, difficulties finding summer jobs to fund the semester, and school fee increases, it is an absolute relief to find myself back in the safety of the purple bubble. Do not misunderstand me – I am not accusing anyone of coasting, or saying that you must be rolling in cash if you are attending university. I recognize that many people have made a lot of sacrifices to enroll in classes this semester. I do not count my absolute luck as the norm. Except, somehow, you are still here. I bought art from independent artists this summer. I donated to numerous Go-FundMe’s. I shopped locally. I sought to purchase from Indigenous, Black, LGBTQ2IA+, disabled and immigrant artisans. I tried to extend my good fortune even more than I usually do because I know that feeling guilty is not going to help anyone. Do you know what will help people? The fact that I am getting a degree in economics.
Hopefully, ten or twenty years down the line, I will help write some official policy that ensures we will never become a cashless society, as I saw suggested many times during the pandemic. Cashless societies hurt the most vulnerable: people experiencing homelessness, individuals trying to secretly save up to get out of an abusive relationship, undocumented immigrants, addicts who do not want a paper trail for their use, waiters who survive on tips before the next paycheque, and more. While I am not currently donating my tuition cost to any movement or shelter that could undoubtedly use my support, I refuse to let myself believe in the mythical unproductive aspect of higher education. I know that it is a lie. I am being productive here. As are you. Being a student is more valuable in the long term than anything else I could be doing right now. The world needs educated youth to make it a better place. I intend to do just that.
Photo Courtesy of in.finance.yahoo.com
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FEATURES A Welcome Message From the SRC
With the start of a new semester at the most BUtiful place on Earth, I, on behalf of the SRC team, wanted to take the time to update you all on what we have been up to this summer. As you can imagine, the SRC (Students’ Representative Council) has faced some unique challenges with the current COVID-19 pandemic. Our mission has always been and will continue to be to “assess, advocate and act on behalf of students’ interests in order to foster an exceptional university experience.” How does one go about doing that during a global pandemic? We quickly had to find ways in which we could continue to support students this Fall and ensure that they have the best university experience possible. This included planning Orientation Week, focusing on the quality of education, exceptional student life experience, external advocacy, opening The Gait, and prioritizing communication and engagement with the student body. Though we worked hard to achieve all of these, we know there is still a lot of work to be done. Nevertheless, I thought I would highlight a few of the SRC Executives’ recent accomplishments. Amelia Krallis, your Director of Events, alongside her incredible head judges, Ana Santos, Marie-Pier Allard, Quinn Ruby, Granton Patrick, Stephanie Edwards and Rachel Wilson, have planned and executed one of the few (and best) Orientation Weeks in Quebec and Canada, thanks to the help of so many volunteer judges and leaders. (Editor’s note: as of writing, O-Week is on its fourth day and running as smoothly, if not smoother, than previous years and the organizers and first-years seem to be having a great time.)
THE CAMPUS SEPTEMBER 16, 2020
Jeremy Audet, Features Editor » thecampus.features@gmail.com Enzo Evangelisti President, SRC
Hannah Wallace, your Director of Communications and Marketing, has worked hard to rebrand the SRC with a new logo as well as revamping our social media tools to better connect with the student body! Natalie Nyguen was also recently hired to oversee The Gait account and other SRC social accounts. Bernard Duchesne, your Director of Finance, has worked tirelessly on making projections for our annual budget in addition to finding different ways in which we can support extracurriculars. This includes printing apparel for them at a significantly lower cost than anywhere else! Izzy Audet, your VP Student Life, has passionately been finding ways to make the SRC more inclusive. She organized the first-ever anti-racism seminar at our orientation week with the support of Sufia Langevin, Alicia Moore-Iseroff, Shawna Jerome, Filder Achan, Wilton Burgos, Natalia Muñoz Gómez and Sabrina Kone. Cedrik Moore, your VP External, has been working hard with external groups like the Quebec Student Union and the Lennoxville Borough to explore different ways in which we can provide students spaces where they can legally smoke cannabis. Georges-Philippe Gadoury-Sansfaçon, your VP Academic, alongside Anne-Frédérique Naud, the Academic Affairs Manager, has also hired and begun training the Peer Academic Mentors all while working closely with the Student Senators to represent your needs at the Senate. This will be an interesting year, to say the least, but the SRC is committed to doing what we can to not only support students through the pandemic environment
Josh Quirion Releases Debut Novella Bishop’s University alumnus Josh Quirion released his debut collection Towners & Other Stories (Shoreline Press, 2020) in Ayer’s Cliff on Saturday, Sept. 5. The release occurred in two distinct parts. During the day, a socially-distanced, driveby style event took place; copies of the book could be purchased and signed without leaving the car. Those who chose to step outside their vehicles had the opportunity to meet and converse with the author himself and listen to him read excerpts aloud. Quirion’s booming voice spoke with great confidence and charisma, commanding each word to manifest itself vividly in the minds of those listening. Captivating his audience, the young author demonstrated the clever and unique style of his prose. Despite the polar shifts in weather, vacillating between sun and rain, Quirion was more than satisfied with how the daytime portion of the release had played out. The second part of the celebration featured a younger age demographic, a wide variety of hors-d’oeuvres, and a moderate-to-high level of alcohol consumption. Quirion’s friends from the surrounding areas came to celebrate his literary achievement in the Auberge of Ayer’s Cliff. The guest list included current Bishop’s University students who had played rugby alongside him, members of the Montreal-based Yolk Literary Journal, of which he is the Editor, and his family and partner. Quirion was touched by everyone’s attendance. He expressed his gratitude before reading from his book one last time to mark the end of the night: “I really appreciate that you guys came, it actually means something to me.” Quirion, a recent graduate of Concordia’s Master of Arts program in English, spent over a year waking up before the sun to write this book. Through his meticulous approach to writing, Quirion crafts a story in which no word is wasted. This passion for precision flows prominently in Quirion’s book, though it felt especially palpable on the evening of the debut. The Auberge fell silent while admiring Quirion as he regaled the dining room with his short story “Young Creative,” in which a female amateur filmmaker ponders the importance of often-pornographic titles. Those who attended the event left feeling intrigued by what else the book had to offer. While Saturday, Sept. 5 was a success, it was just one round of the much bigger fight that the life of a writer presents. Good luck JQ.
but also advocate for students in all aspects of their university experience. This includes a club restructuring to better support all extracurricular groups, finding ways to improve The Gait with some special menu items, hosting fun, engaging and safe events, improving overall transparency, and advocating for a reading week in the Fall for 2021. All in all, even a global pandemic has not slowed us down! The SRC is here for you, no matter what. If you have any suggestions, ideas or comments please feel free to reach out to us through social media, our website (busrc. com), or in person. Your SRC President, Enzo
SRC logo by Karine Sirois
Duncan Alderdice Contributor
Copies of Towner & Other Stories will be available for purchase online soon.
Photo Courtesy of Events Facebook Page
SINCE 1944
FEATURES
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The Convocation Addresses of Principal Goldbloom, Valedictorian Maxim Jacques, and Chancellor Fournier Hugh Godman Business & Economics Editor
On Sunday, Aug. 30, after a 24-hour delay due to technical difficulties, Bishop’s the devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic.” He highlighted the importance of being University conferred 577 undergraduate and 137 graduate degrees to the class adequately equipped when facing such challenges: “Preparation is of the utmost of 2020 in its first-ever virtual convocation ceremony. The addresses of Principal importance to face what is coming. And here, at BU, we have been fortunate enough to Goldbloom, valedictorian Maxim Jacques, and newly elected Chancellor Daniel be provided with the tools to succeed down the road.” Fournier respectively covered the state of inclusivity at the university, the convocating He closed with a call to action: “Right now, our world is in a critical state. Why go back to cohort’s ability to thrive in crises, and the value of a liberal normal when we can take this opportunity to do things education. differently? We have the tools and the ambition to From behind the podium, Goldbloom drew attention do it. So, let’s show everyone our determination, and to a few of the achievements that were witnessed over let’s be the change.” the academic year. Specifically, he referred to the The convocation ceremony also highlighted the $22,000 raised in February by the student-run Fashion change of Chancellors from Brian Levitt, who had Show for a conservation organization that protects served in the role for the past seven years, to Daniel the Appalachian Corridor, the four Williams School of Fournier, now the 20th person to hold the title. Business students who won the Network of International According to the introduction given by Yolande Business Schools case competition in Germany, and the James, Chair of the Bishop’s Council, Fournier miraculous “last-shot victory” of the men’s basketball graduated from Princeton University and later team to claim the RSEQ provincial championship. attended the University of Oxford on a Rhodes On a graver note, Goldbloom shared his critical take on scholarship, where he studied jurisprudence and the state of inclusivity at Bishop’s, admitting that, “There took a term off to play professional football for the are undoubtedly barriers to inclusion and opportunity Ottawa Rough Riders. Subsequently, he navigated at this university that must be removed.” He continued an “outstanding career in the real estate industry,” that, to improve matters, the university has “created a during which he served as the president of Ivanhoé joint board and senate task force on equity, diversity, Cambridge. Although Fournier never attended and inclusion… [whose] mandate will be to make Bishop’s, he is the father of three Bishop’s graduates, recommendations for actions in several areas, including and so he does believe to have “lived the Bishop’s Dr. Jack Eby congratulating the class of 2020. the curriculum, hiring, promotion, retention, training, Photo Courtesy of Bishop’s University 192nd Convocation (Virtual experience vicariously.” and governance.” The task force has been charged with Before officially declaring this first phase of the Event) YouTube video producing a report by the end of November of this year, convocation ceremony to be concluded—the second and the principal’s expectation is that “the report will phase is planned to occur on-campus on June 4, contain specific proposals that can be translated into concrete action.” That said, he 2021—Fournier spoke directly to the class of 2020 about the value of a liberal education. recognized that “the task force and the actions that will arise from it are first steps… We “What is so special about the liberal arts education you received at Bishop’s are the have a long way to go if we are going to be the truly inclusive and diverse institution we abilities you have developed to work collaboratively and cooperatively, to empathize, aspire to be.” to communicate effectively, to reason, to listen, to be resilient, to be innovative, and Valedictorian Maxim Jacques, a B.B.A. graduate and one of the aforementioned ultimately to lead and help build communities. It is no surprise to mention, and I champions of the Network of International Business Schools case competition, [Fournier] also have to mention this, that you have also refined a considerable ability to claimed that the class of 2020 has been shaped by crises “like the significance of climate enjoy yourselves, and to use your most important asset, time, wisely.” change, like the stark reminder that we must fight systemic racism, and, of course, like
“How Old You Need to be to Change the World?” On Sept. 4, Dan Seneker, Director of Student Recruitment & Retention, hosted a virtual talk with Dr. Heather Lawford of the Psychology department and two of her Research Assistants. The event was part of a series of videos Bishop’s University has organized on social media throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the goal of which is to inform the university’s dispersed community about various academic subjects and organizations present on campus. During this tenth episode of the series, Dr. Lawford focused on the subject of generativity and its presence in youth engagement. Dr. Erik Erikson was the first to use the term “generativity” in 1968, when he developed his eight-stage model of life span personality development. According to his model, “generativity” is a construct predominantly present in midlife (around 40-65 years old), representing the growing concern to leave a legacy for the next generations. It is considered “one of the most important crises that we face” and a “big predictor of adult well-being, relationship well-being, career success, [and] parenting,” among other things. Although it is a sentiment usually observed in older generations, it can appear sooner in life. Dr. Lawford, through her work at the CandY Lab (Community and Youth Lab), has tackled the often-overlooked study of adolescent and young adult generativity and how it affects them. She questions “how old you need to be to change
the world” or, at least, to have the desire to change it. With the backdrop of strong social movements it is easy to remark the desire younger generations, like Millennials and Generation Z, have to change the world. With easy access to a platform on social media, the youth of North America has never had more power to amplify their voices. Although each generation has marked history in its own way, Gen Z is taking an interest in social issues sooner than most generations before it, and Millennials are recognized as one of the most informed generations to date. This notable behaviour is fuelled by generativity stemming from a desire to do better and improve the world for future generations. Through her research, Dr. Lawford also noticed a correlation between generativity in young adults and “prosocial tendencies,” “higher self-esteem,” “lower levels of depressive symptoms,” “more initiative,” “empathy,” and a sense of “achieved identity.” In short, it leaves people with a sense of fulfillment in life. However, Dr. Lawford adds that there is a “dark side of generativity,” citing mass shooter Alexandre Bissonnette as an example. Bissonnette attacked a Quebec Mosque in 2017 to, as he put it, “save people,” yet who he was saving remains unclear. Although he may have been self-disillusioned into believing he was helping others, his actions only propagated hatred and prejudice. Dr. Lawford warns against the dangerous consequences of
Justine Trempe Junior Copy Editor
“when people use violence to carry forward a legacy.” The CandY Lab uses the results of their research for knowledge mobilization, thus “turning research into action.” The team can then intervene to promote the good side of generativity. They can also notice and study any changes in the way generativity presents itself. Everyone can get involved in the process of research, either by participating in surveys and studies or by becoming a Research Assistant. Dr. Lawford and her assistants recommend getting in touch with professors in the faculty to learn about opportunities. The full episode is available on the Bishop’s University Instagram page, along with previous episodes.
Photo Courtesy of BUSRC Facebook page
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ARTS & CULTURE
THE CAMPUS SEPTEMBER 16, 2020
Bridget Boucher, Arts & Culture Editor » thecampus.ac@gmail.com
Black Lives Matter at Bishop’s
Bridget Boucher Arts & Culture Editor
Former SRC Vice President of External Affairs Naomie Mazzola called the SRC’s efforts toward the Black Lives Matter movement “lacking” in an interview at Electric Avenue (formerly “Club Day”) on Monday. “In the past, we’ve had a lot of backlash and a lot of obstacles to jump over pertaining to different activities that we wanted to organize that had to do with celebrating Black lives and who we are as people,” Mazzola said. “Hopefully this year we can have more support, especially from the SRC.” When asked to comment on the SRC’s alleged obstinance toward incorporating support for the movement on campus, Mazzola said that she “quit [the SRC] because of the backlash.” However, she recognizes that the SRC has improved marginally: “I know that this year the people that are in the SRC, the president, actually did reach out a few times to talk about Black Lives Matter, so that’s really appreciated.” The Campus reached out for comment from current SRC President Enzo Evangelisti, who said, “The difference between this year and past years is that we’re really open to collaborating and recognizing that there are students out there who have the ability to create change, and sometimes that’s not the SRC. So it’s about empowering those people the best way we can.” This is Evangelisti’s first year on the SRC Executive Team. He recognizes that this year, the team is made of only white students. “We don’t experience these issues [of racial injustice] personally, so the best thing we can do is be allies and supporters [to those who do]. We’re open to reaching out and finding ways for the SRC to not be an obstacle, but a tool and a resource,” he said. The recent video created by the Bishop’s Varsity Athletes to show support for the Black Lives Matter movement was brought up but received little praise from Mazzola. “I think it’s good, it’s a start, but there are lots of other things that need to be addressed,” she said. “For example, tokenization, not just of Black people but of Black athletes. That’s something that should be addressed, not just in student life but administration, how they’re shaping our education. Everyone who is learning, everyone who comes to university is our future, right? So
if you’re teaching them in the same old ways as before, you’re not really changing anything.” Mazzola has witnessed said backlash first-hand in an academic setting: “In the past, I’ve had teachers say things that were racist, and when I addressed it to higher-ups I was told: ‘The teacher’s old, who cares?’” Mazzola advocates for more mandatory cultural sensitivity training for teachers and professors, saying, “They’re not just teaching certain people, they’re teaching all of us.” When presented with the idea that as a liberal arts college, the Bishop’s community may be more resistant to believing that racism exists on campus, Mazzola agreed, saying, “[We should incorporate] open-panel discussions with actual Black students and not just one token Black student. . . and not just listening but making change.” If you are interested in discussing this matter further, the BU Caribbean-African Students Association meets weekly and welcomes all.
Photo Courtesy of Theresa Graham
SRC Student Associations Challenged by COVID-19
Bridget Boucher Arts & Culture Editor
The SRC Student Associations appeared to be hindered during their club day on Sept. 7 by the new COVID-19 restrictions that have been put in place by the university. Tables were only allowed two recruiters at a time, and interested students could only approach in pairs. Everyone present had to wear a mask. The crowd of new students milling about appeared significantly smaller than in past years and the campus was quieter than ever. Many of the clubs mentioned struggling to recruit new members, organize meetings, and plan the events that act as crucial fundraisers for them. Clubs such as the Mae Sot Education Project, which travels to Thailand every year to teach in migrant schools, have been forced to rethink their core purpose entirely. “The big part of [the club] is obviously going to Thailand, [...] but this year we’ve been doing Zoom classes with the students instead,” said recruiting member Anne-Constance Blanchette. “We weren’t able to do any fundraising, [...] and it’s taken a toll on our financial situation.” Other clubs have had to change their approach during the pandemic as well. “We are hoping that with COVID, people will be seeking more small group activities,” said Nicola Kish of Encounter Student Ministries, whose events and expectations have been reshaped according to the current circumstances. “We’re really trying to focus on unity this year,” added recruiting member Charlotte Armstrong. The WUSC Student Refugee Project has also faced significant hurdles during the pandemic. “Usually we sponsor two students every year,” said recruiting member Ahmad Hamdan. “Unfortunately this year due to COVID-19 we can’t sponsor anyone. [...] We hope to be able to welcome someone in the winter.” While waiting for the green light to sponsor a new student, they have been working on raising awareness for immigration issues and the rights of refugees. Naomie Mazzola of the Caribbean-African Student Association (CASA) mentioned that they were obligated to create new support systems in light of the pandemic: “A lot of our students were stuck here in Canada and couldn’t go back home, and we had to create a support system with everybody to make sure no one was feeling lonely.” The annual CASA culture show set to take place in the Winter 2020 semester was cancelled, which was incredibly disappointing for the students who had worked hard and fundraised all year. “We like to host a lot of meetings so we can educate each other and share opinions,” said recruiting member Jean-Pierre Ngom, “and because of COVID we can’t be all in the same room. It’s a big part of our club.” The future for the clubs is very uncertain, with the possibility of a second wave as well as a lack of knowledge on how meetings, fundraisers, and travel should work during the pandemic. Hopefully, they will find a way to thrive under the new normal.
Photo Courtesy of Theresa Graham
ARTS & CULTURE
SINCE 1944
Reading in Colour: Four Great Books That Aren’t About Straight White Guys Emily Whalley Contributor
If you’re looking for something new to keep you entertained this pandemic season, why not pick up a book and read one of these bam-slammin’ booty-jammin’ books? Here is a short list of some of my favourite five-star books featuring diverse points of view, because it’s 2020 and it’s time to stop exclusively reading books by old white men, about white men, doing white man stuff. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz My rating: 5/5 Written by poet Benjamin Alire Sáenz, this young adult novel is an incredible coming-of-age story about self-discovery. It follows Aristotle and his best friend Dante, two Mexican-American teenagers growing up in El Paso, Texas, in 1987. Throughout the story, Aristotle struggles with the weight of family secrets, his relationships with his peers, his sexuality, and what it means to be MexicanAmerican. I highly recommend the audiobook as it is read by the one and only Lin-Manuel Miranda, of Hamilton fame. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid My rating: 5/5 This adult historical fiction novel follows ageing film star Evelyn Hugo as she recounts her scandalous life story to Monique Grant, a young journalist who has been tasked with writing Evelyn’s memoir. This is an incredibly engaging story about the glamour, mystery, and heartbreak of old Hollywood. This book features a Latina main character and is an incredible representation of the LGBT+ community. If you enjoyed the Netflix series Hollywood, you will definitely like this book. The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon My rating: 5/5 This young adult novel takes place during Natasha Kingsley’s day in New York City before she and her family are deported to Jamaica, a country she has no memory of. Twelve hours before being deported, she meets Daniel, a KoreanAmerican high school student struggling with his parents’ expectations for him. The book moves between the perspectives of Daniel, Natasha, and an omniscient narrator, who gives us insight into the minds of the people that they meet on their quest to try and keep Natasha and her family in the country. This is a beautiful and heartbreaking love story that takes an in-depth look at the way we interact with the people in our lives and how intertwined we all are. It’s Not What it Looks Like by Molly Burke My rating: 5/5 Molly Burke, a twenty-five-year-old Canadian YouTuber, motivational speaker, and fashionista, has been legally blind since childhood, and totally blind since age fourteen. This short autobiographical audiobook is a look into Molly’s life with her guide dog, Gallop, as they travel the world educating people about mental illness, bullying, and the misconceptions and accessibility issues facing the blind community. Read by Molly herself, this audiobook is insightful, thoughtprovoking, and thoroughly entertaining.
Diversifying page-turners Photo Courtesy of Emily Whalley
Blast From the Past: Pre-Quarantine Throwbacks (Bishop’s Bangers 1/?) You know the amazing feeling when a Britney song finally comes on at the Gait? This full playlist is the embodiment of that euphoric experience. Fitting in with this year’s O-Week theme of “Blast from the Past,” this playlist has been specially curated to rock anyone’s jive. It has a little bit for everyone because one crucial aspect of the perfect playlist is variety. (That, and enough songs to last through the after-party.) If there’s even a single person who doesn’t hear one song they vibe to, then the playlist is simply not diverse enough (or you’re hanging out with the wrong people). This playlist is a combination of the best (in this author’s opinion) songs to party to from the ’80s to the early ‘10s. Is this list missing a song or five? Add it to the playlist! It’s collaborative, meaning that everyone can add songs as they wish. You can find this playlist easily on Spotify by searching for “Pre-Quarantine Bishop Bangers.” Here is a small sample of songs included on this killer playlist. Enjoy! Anonymous Contributor
“… Baby One More Time” Britney Spears “September” Earth, Wind, & Fire (obviously) “Hypnotize” The Notorious B.I.G. “Good Time” Owl City, Carly Rae Jepsen “Hotel Room Service” Pitbull “Wannabe” Spice Girls “Kiss Me Through The Phone” Soulja Boy, Sammie “Crank That (Soulja Boy” Soulja Boy “What’s My Age Again?” blink-182 (because what throwback playlist is complete without some blink?) “Africa” TOTO “Shake It” Metro Station “Girls, Girls, Girls” Motley Crue “Stacey’s Mom” Fountains of Wayne “DONTTRUSTME” 3OH!3 “We Didn’t Start The Fire” Billy Joel “Come On Eileen” Dexys Midnight Runners “Ice Ice Baby” Vanilla Ice “Fergalicious” Fergie, will.i.am “Bye Bye Bye” *NSYNC “Red Solo Cup” Toby Keith “Caribou Lou” Tech N9ne “Everytime We Touch” Cascada “All Star” Smash Mouth “Yeah!” Usher “Sk8er Boi” Avril Lavigne (including our angsty canadian queen is a MUST) “Take On Me” a-ha “FM$” New Boyz “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” Will Smith “Thunderstruck” AC/DC (a certain game comes to mind…) “Dynamite” Taio Cruz “Headband” B.o.B, 2 Chainz “Straight Outta Compton” N.W.A. “Hollaback Girl” Gwen Stefani “1985” Bowling For Soup “This Is How We Do It” Montell Jordan “Gives You Hell” All American Rejects “American Idiot” Green Day “Hey Ya!” OutKast “SexyBack” Justin Timberlake “Mambo No. 5” Lou Bega “Hips Don’t Lie” Shakira “TikTok” Ke$ha “Baby Got Back” Sir Mix-A-Lot “Y.M.C.A.” Village People “SuperBass” Nicki Minaj
Getting Groovy Photo Courtesy of Emily Whalley
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THE CAMPUS SEPTEMBER 16, 2020
SPORTS
David Rossiter, Sports Editor » thecampus.sports@gmail.com
Gaiter’s Athletics Will Look Different this Fall (Note: This article was put into print before Sept. 14, 2020. There may be new updates or developments in this story at the time of reading.) Uncertainty will be the overriding theme of the 2020/2021 academic year in all aspects, including the athletic season. The COVID-19 pandemic, which has shaken our everyday lives and pastimes, is not going away anytime soon. One thing is for certain: the Bishop’s Gaiters will look different this year from the past. Bishop’s University students are fortunate enough to return to school, where the administration has been working hard to keep as much of what we love as possible. Thankfully, in-person classes are a go as well as a return to play for the Bishop’s Gaiters athletic teams. However, not all schools and leagues are on the same page during this unprecedented season. This means that many athletes are uncertain whether they will compete with other schools or practice amongst themselves. Since we are a Quebec school, most of our varsity athletes compete in the Réseau du Sport Étudiant du Québec (RSEQ). On Aug. 31, 2020, the RSEQ announced that, following instruction from Premier Legault, they would work to establish a potential resumption of activities including a fall season for university sports. The premier set Sept. 14, 2020, as the date for extracurriculars and school sports to return. In their press release, the RSEQ emphasized that return to play would be done with health and safety being the main focus. They stated that the Sept. 14 deadline would get them to work on how they will administer a safe sports season. Athletes who play in this conference are hopeful that they will be able to compete against other universities even if the season is somehow modified. Our RSEQ teams are waiting for Sept. 14, 2020 to see what their season will look like. Here at Bishop’s, Men’s and Women’s rugby and basketball, women’s soccer and hockey, and men’s golf belong to the RSEQ league. Our football team has competed in the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) conference for the past two seasons, but
David Rossiter Sports Editor
was a member of the RSEQ before that. The AUS has cancelled their fall sports season this year. Another varsity squad that does not compete in the RSEQ is the Bishop’s lacrosse team. The lacrosse team competes in Canadian University Field Lacrosse Association (CUFLA), a league composed almost entirely of Ontarian teams, with McGill being the only other school based outside of Ontario. CUFLA has already announced that there will be no fall season. Our lacrosse team will continue to practice in the fall with hopes of playing a few exhibitions or inter-squad games. CUFLA suggested the possibility of a short season or tournament in the spring to have some university lacrosse this year. While public officials, school administrators, and athletic departments continue to navigate this tumultuous season, our coaches and athletes will do everything they can to be prepared for competition. Here’s hoping our Bishop’s University Gaiters will be back in action on Coulter field this year, representing the purple and silver!
Photo Courtesy of rseq.ca
Day Three of SRC Club Week Highlights Sports Orientation Week kicked off on Sept. 6, 2020, with the fun annual activities organized by returning students for the incoming freshman. One of these student-run rituals is the SRC club fair. Every year in September, returning members from various clubs set up booths to advertise their clubs, recruit new members and answer any questions these new recruits might have. This year, the SRC decided to showcase the clubs by dividing the event up into four separate days due to the COVID-19 pandemic regulations. After student associations, academic societies, and social clubs, sports teams got their turn to showcase their clubs. Not all sports clubs are shaped from the same mould. Some, like the Outdoors Club or the Ski & Snow Club, offer members the chance to drop in when they can and participate in activities at their own pace. Other teams, like the Men’s Hockey Club and the BU Dance Team are more competitive. In a regular nonCOVID year, these clubs would compete against teams from other universities, occasionally travelling to compete in tournaments. The best way to find the right fit for you is by asking questions to the nice people representing their clubs at the fair. Olivia, a leader in the Badminton Club, helped shed some information on what they do. She says the Badminton Club is a fun, welcoming club any Bishop’s student can drop in to try out. Not only is it completely free, but the school also provides racquets for anyone who needs one. When asked about her favourite aspect of the club, Olivia said: “I enjoy meeting people I wouldn’t have met through classes. I also love playing against opponents who are better than me, because that’s how I improve my game.” Similar to badminton, the brand new Tennis Club founded by Ari and Coraline is for anyone who wants to enjoy themselves while being active. To keep things fun and balanced, they have beginners play one day a week and more advanced players on a different day. I asked Ari why someone should join her club and she replied with a laugh: “Tennis is a very COVID friendly sport!” She also added that while staying active is important, doing so while outside is even better. A very popular club at Bishop’s is the Outdoors Club. Annika, one of the club’s executives, was very excited to share what the outdoors club does. She explained that the club’s main goal is to “get as many Bishop’s students out and about in nature as possible.” The club organizes hikes, expeditions and more around the Eastern Townships throughout the year. They try to have one big trip a year with hiking and camping involved. Olivia said her favourite thing about the outdoors club is “getting to introduce international students to the beauty we have here in Quebec and the Eastern Township region.” Strolling through the tent full of clubs was impressive. Whether you prefer team sports or individual sports or whether you are a competitive or recreational player, there is a club for you at Bishop’s University. The SRC club fair demonstrates the diversity and student involvement that make Bishop’s such an attractive school choice.
David Rossiter Sports Editor
O-week sports! Photo Courtesy of Annabelle Morgan
SPORTS
SINCE 1944
Bishop’s Golf Star Ben Chasse Shines in Off Sea While our Bishop’s Gaiters athletes compete from fall to spring, they all make sure to spend time honing their craft in the summer off-season. Many summer sports leagues were cancelled this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Luckily for Ben Chasse, golf happens to be a sport where it is relatively easy to administer competitions with social distancing policies. Chasse played golf throughout the summer and won the Nova Scotia Men’s Amateur Championship, a huge accomplishment. The 2020 Nova Scotia Men’s Amateur Championship was held at Ken-Wo golf club in the Annapolis Valley region of Nova Scotia. The tournament was held over three days with one 18-hole round played each day. Chasse shot 67-70-68 on the 70 par course, for a three day total of -5. When asked about what went right during this performance Chasse replied: “I was really just doing the basics really well and eliminating mistakes as much as possible. Wasn’t anything too flashy just an overall strong performance from start to finish.” Chasse is the reigning MVP of the Bishop’s men’s golf team. He is also one of the top university-
aged golfers in the country. This is proven by his placement and low scoring rounds in tournaments over the last two years, but also by some special recognition he received earlier this off-season. The FISU (Fédération Internationale du Sport Universitaire) organizes international competitions for elite university student-athletes from over 150 countries around the globe. This year the golf championship was set for June 17 through June 19 in Taiwan. Unfortunately due to COVID-19, the event was cancelled, but team Canada announced their squad anyways. Ben Chasse was one of only three athletes selected to represent the entire nation, once again proving he is one of the very best university golfers around. When asked how it felt to be named to Team Canada and if he had expected the recognition, Chasse said: “It’s something I’ve been striving for, for a few years now. I thought after my performance at Nationals last year I had a decent chance, but it was definitely a bit of a reality check once it was official. Pretty unfortunate that I wasn’t able to go, but it’s just all the more reason to keep pressing and make it happen next year.”
2020 Gaiter Lacrosse Grad Selected in NLL Draft In 2019, Taylor Kauffeldt, a recent alumnus from the class of 2020, made Gaiters fans everywhere proud when he was drafted 55th overall in the NLL draft as a defenseman for the Buffalo Bandits. While at Bishop’s, Kauffeldt was a standout long-pole defenceman for the Gaiter’s lacrosse team and was always one of the top-performing defencemen in all of CUFLA. In his time here at Bishop’s, Kauffeldt earned himself a variety of accolades, including being named an All-Canadian in 2017 and defensive MVP for Bishop’s University. The Aurora, Ontario native also served as a captain for the Gaiter’s lacrosse team for many years. Kauffeldt suffered a knee injury before the 2019-2020 lacrosse season that sidelined him for many months and prevented him from playing a single game his senior year. It is a great testament to his skill and work ethic that he was still drafted in the fourth round of the NLL draft. The NLL provides the highest level of competition for box lacrosse, which is played indoors as opposed to the outdoor league that can be seen here at
Bishop’s. The Buffalo Bandits, the team in which Taylor Kauffeldt was drafted, finished the 2019 season as the number one team in the NLL with 14 wins and four losses. Unfortunately for the Bandits, they lost in the finals in a best of three series against the Calgary Roughnecks and were unable to claim the National Lacrosse League Cup. In the coming years, Kauffeldt hopes to join the roster of the Bandits and get the chance to play alongside stars such as Josh Byrne, Dhane Smith, and Chris Cloutier. Playing in the NLL means being able to play against the best box lacrosse players in the world. Despite his unfortunate knee injury Kauffeldt is still looking to make an impact on the team and has recently signed a two-year contract with the Buffalo Bandits. With this recent signing, there is a good chance that we, as Gaiters fans, could see recent graduate Taylor Kauffeldt wearing a Bandit’s jersey and playing professional lacrosse. Although he might no longer be wearing the traditional purple and white jersey that we see here at
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David Rossiter Sports Editor
Golf fans can look forward to seeing Ben Chasse chase that goal this year. While there is no competition that is immune to change, there are multiple tournaments for the fall season that are tentatively slated to occur. Make sure to check Gaiters.ca for the most up to date information.
Ben Chasse with the 2020 NS men’s amateur trophy Photo Courtesy of Gaiters.ca
Hayden Boreham Contributor
Bishop’s, he will be making every Gaiters fan proud. Everyone should keep their eyes on Kauffeldt as he makes the jump from college lacrosse player here at Bishop’s to professional lacrosse player in Buffalo.
Photo Courtesy of twitter.com/NLLBandits
Laurent Duvernay-Tardif Opts Out of NFL Season to be On Covid-19 Frontline Keagan Mackay Contributor
We all understand what kind of change this world has seen in the past six months through various societal changes and turning points. Experiencing the good, the bad, and the ugly that has come with these changes has rightfully shown people’s true colours, as well as where they stand in regards to what they care about most. A prime example of that is with the reigning Super Bowl champions Kansas City Chiefs’ offensive guard: Laurent Duvernay-Tardif. Duvernay-Tardif currently plays for the Chiefs as one of their starting guards. However, before the NFL, he was a student at McGill University. He got his medical degree and played football for the university at the same time. After being drafted in the 6th round by the Chiefs, his football career became his top priority, which led their team to a Super Bowl championship this past season. It also made him the first player with a medical degree to win. But when the season ended in early February 2020, the world completely changed its mindset. So did Duvernay-Tardif. At the beginning of this NFL season, they gave the players the option to opt-out of the season if they did not feel it was safe or right for them to play. DuvernayTardif saw this as a fork in the road with what he had
going on in his life. He could either go on and potentially win another Super Bowl with his team, but also put himself at risk of contracting and spreading the virus, or he could stay on the frontlines of the medical field to help give back to the community that raised him up. As it did for a lot of people worldwide, this pandemic brought his priorities and his convictions to the front. On July 24, Duvernay-Tardif released a statement through the Chiefs and on Twitter explaining why he was opting out of the season. He explained he wanted to stay where he was and fight the virus where it mattered most: on the frontlines of the medical field. Though he is still completing his residency to become a full-fledged doctor, he still realizes his potential and how integral he can be in helping his colleagues in a medical setting. One quote from his statement on Twitter really shows his integrity: “I cannot allow myself to potentially transmit the virus in our communities simply to play the sport that I love. If I am to take risks, I will do it caring for the patients.” He understands the impact of this virus more than most because he lives through it when he goes to work every day. With this decision, he is protecting those around him. He feels that if he is going to be putting himself at risk, he might as well do it valiantly and pri-
oritize others before himself. From a football fan’s perspective, this can really come across as a let-down because you know how integral he is to the team. But as a citizen living in the middle of a global pandemic, it gives you hope. It shows that people still prioritize the less fortunate over fame and fortune, and that there is still some good despite all the negative situations that have been thrown our way lately. That is how it is during this pandemic: find the shreds of positivity and hope in this sea of negativity and melancholy. That’s what keeps us going during these times of uncertainty.
Photo Courtesy of Chiefs.com
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THE CAMPUS SEPTEMBER 16, 2020
BUSINESS & ECONOMICS
Hugh Godman, Business & Economics Editor » thecampus.businesseditor@gmail.com
Financial Illiteracy: the Trojan Horse that May Lead to an Economic Ragnarök Jay Sharma Contributor
The COVID-19 pandemic has shone a light on a lot of weaknesses that the Western world must face going forward. For example, countries’ ill-preparedness to combat deadly outbreaks, the delicacy of a globally integrated supply chain, institutional racism and an overall sense of disenfranchisement felt by minority groups. However, a not-soobvious weakness that is arguably a foundational aspect of all the aforementioned issues Western nations face is a complete and potentially devastating lack of financial literacy. According to Investopedia.com, “Financial literacy is the ability to understand and effectively apply various financial skills, including personal financial management, budgeting, and investing.” An individual’s financial literacy is a determining factor in whether or not they will achieve their life goals. William Canning is a recent Bishop’s graduate that majored in accounting and minored in IT, and I have personally known him for many years before our BU adventure. I asked him how his ability to manage his finances helped him with stress and worry. He shared the following: “The awareness that a multitude of financial tools and resources were at my disposal was the most securing thing as a student. The second most securing thing was having the knowledge and abilities to utilize those same financial tools and resources. Learning about concepts such as budget management, taxes, banking, investing, and insurance has allowed me to continuously and efficiently monitor my money to plan for my future needs. All in all, being financially literate has provided me with the confidence to independently manage my money and attain financial stability.” I also asked him how important he thinks it is for the general population to be financially literate, to which he replied: “Once you understand that every purchase is a vote towards an idea, mission, or value, you recognize that it is your responsibility to ensure you are investing in the ideas, missions, and values that you believe in. The importance of financial literacy lies in the fact that it can enable you to build wealth around the values you believe in, contributing to the world of tomorrow.” Bishops University Finance Society President and SEED Portfolio Manager Max Laurin shared this statement on the matter: “Financial literacy is an integral asset to managing one’s life. Seventy-eight per cent of Canadians believe that they are financially literate; however, in a 2017 survey where six out of 10 Canadians participated, only 43 per cent passed a basic financial literacy test. I fear that future generations with no knowledge of the credit system, tax incentive plans, or financial markets will indebt themselves at a young age and not have the tools to properly grow their savings needed to retire. This concern is highlighted in the same survey, as only 31 per cent of millennials passed the aforementioned test. Additionally, they were the most likely of all age groups to rate their knowledge as ‘Excellent,’ yet failed more than all other generations that participated.”
Felix Gendron The Student Landlord Last year, Félix Gendron, a 22-year-old BU student, independently acquired a duplex for $230,000. Now, king of his castle, he lives there rent-free with several of his buddies. According to The Wall Street Journal’s podcast, “When it comes to homeownership, the rates for young people are near the lowest levels in about three decades that these records have been kept.” So, how did Félix beat the odds? By creating “margin.” That is a margin between income and spending. In CEGEP, he secured a position at a local accounting firm. By the time he started full-time studies at Bishop’s, in 2018, he was working 30 hours a week at this firm. Evidently, he was earning a sizable income relative to most university students. But income is only a part of the “margin” equation. Félix also had to keep his consumption in check. In this matter, one could say he had a “home-field advantage,” as his parents reside in the area and he was able to live with them until he acquired his house. Notwithstanding this advantage, saving up $11,500 for a down payment is an impressive feat. Once he secured the necessary funds for a down payment, it was time for Félix to select the property. He wanted a place that would not require any major work within the next five to 10 years —the amount of time he foresees himself continuing his studies while he works on his second bachelor’s degree beginning this semester.
Canada’s household debt-to-disposable-income ratio supports the claim that Canadians lack financial literacy. An Ipsos survey conducted by Canadian accounting firm MNP shows that more than half of Canadians are a $200 expense away from not being able to pay their bills. Pre-COVID-19, the nation’s household debt-to-disposableincome ratio was 175.6 per cent, with “household disposable income” referring to a household’s income after taxes are deducted. As of June 7, 2020, this debt ratio had risen by over a percentage point to 176.9 per cent, and, in fact, it has been on an upward trend since the ’90s (see graph). Now, what are the implications of a rising debt-to-disposable-income ratio? If we see defaults on a mass scale, we could see consequences even worse than what came to pass in the 2007–2008 financial crisis. People could lose their homes, jobs, and even their lives. Based on a study presented in the book Corporate Flight, a percentage-point increase in the United-States’ unemployment rate is associated with the deaths of 37,000 Americans. Note that this study was conducted in 1981, and the different realities of today could cause the outcome of unemployment to be less severe, but this information nevertheless presents a scary possibility for Canada and the Western world. Despite the daunting statistics, there is still hope. With good educational reform and motivation from individuals with a strong financial sense, we, as a society, can turn things around and make the world a better, more financially literate place. It will not happen overnight, but by targeting our youth and reinforcing their education surrounding personal financial management, budgeting, and investing, we can create a strong foundation for future generations to build upon.
Canada’s household debt-to-disposable-income ratio over the past 30 years Graph Courtesy of Pete Evans of the CBC. Source: Statistics Canada. Hugh Godman Business & Economics Editor
He found a duplex located between Bishop’s, downtown Sherbrooke, and Fleurimont and deemed that the place was selling for a fair price, given that he acquired it at 3.6% below the municipal valuation. Expenses, including home maintenance, electricity and Wi-Fi for the downstairs unit, municipal taxes, home insurance, and interest on the mortgage, averaged out on a monthly basis, amount to $1,453.33. Rental income from Félix’s three friends and the couple living in the upstairs unit amounts to $1,610 per month. So, the accounting profit from the property is $156.67 per month. That said, Félix also makes payments to service the principal on his mortgage, which is not an expense. Paying off the principal of his loan with the bank reduces this liability and creates home equity—the difference between what is owed on a home and what the home is worth. This payment does not alter Félix’s net worth, he is simply transforming cash into home equity. Currently, Félix is paying off about $452.89 of the principal per month, and with the $760 of interest being paid monthly, the total mortgage payment amounts to $1,212.89 per month. Note that as the principal on the mortgage decreases over time, a greater proportion of Félix’s mortgage payments will go toward paying off the principal because there will be less interest to pay. This effectively decreases the expenses associated with the property and increases its profitability. So, after the $156.67 profit generated by the property is deducted from the principal payment on the mortgage,
Félix puts an additional $296.22 toward the mortgage every month. This is less than what Félix would be paying in rent if he were renting a place instead of owning one. Yet now, Félix owns an asset that can generate income and has the potential to offer capital gains—a positive difference between the selling price and the purchase price. Although this arrangement appears to have worked out for Félix, it has involved a degree of sacrifice, for instance, a lower level of involvement in BU extracurriculars. He does not necessarily recommend homeownership to other students. It is important to be cognizant that there are other investment opportunities than buying a house, including ones that require less upfront investment and less time commitment than being a landlord. But, regardless of the investment, the first step tends to be the same: create a margin between your income and your spending.
Félix standing in front of the duplex he owns Photo Courtesy of Elliot Croteau
