January 25, 2017

PHOTO COURTESY MARGUERITE PAUL AND JD DEICHMANN

The Bishop’s University Newspaper Vol. 72, No. 8

The Bishop’s University NewspaperEnjoying FlosffWaking the Canadian up the Townships winters since since1944 1944 JANUARY 25, 2017

website coming soon

HOT EVENTS ALL WINTER QUEUC p. 2 Get involved p. 7 Theatre Activ p. 8

Recording studio p. 9 Basketball p. 10-11

...and so much more!

2

NEWS

THE CAMPUS JANUARY 25. 2017

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

The Editors English department introduces 2016 - 2017 student-led mentoring services EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Katie Manners thecampus.editor@gmail.com

BUSINESS MANAGER Natasha Paikin thecampus.business@gmail.com

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

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

FEATURES EDITOR Taryn Buskard thecampus.features@gmail.com

GABRIELLE LESAGE Contributor

B

ishop’s gives a lot to their students: awesome professors, great classes, and countless opportunities for growth and development. As such,English department student leaders asked themselves: how we can give back to the Bishop’s community that has provided us with so much?

This semester introduces a new outstanding program created by students, for students, calledMorris House Mentoring. This service, now available to the students of the English department, gives students the opportunity to reach out to their peers for aid and support with their academic endeavours. It more so provides mentoring students

with the opportunity to challenge themselves by discovering strengths and interests in the realm of editing and counseling.

Our student leaders are requesting the aid of interested peers to participate in the tutoring program. Need more convincing?

Here are 5 reasons you should become a tutor: 1. Working with peers: Be a part of a group of people who are passionate about what they do and are dedicated to their school and studies. It is also a chance to make new friends!

2. Self-development: Help others while helping yourself! Being a mentor is a rewarding experience that you can take with you in and out of the

OPINIONS EDITOR Sam Lazanis thecampus.opinions@gmail.com

QUEUC: Undergrad conference returns to BU

F

This issue’s contributors

QUEUC happens the weekend of March 10 and welcomes “ducks” from all over Canada and the US.

or the ninth year in a row, the Quebec Universities English Undergraduate Conference will be held at Bishop’s. From Mar. 10-11, the conference will welcome top humanities students from across Canada and the US to present papers, play games, listen to talks, and eat food. Sometimes they even learn something!

QUEUC began as an opportunity for undergraduates to share their papers beyond the classroom; today, it has grown to become a chance to connect with peers from different universities and toexperience professional academia.

One thing that hasn’t changed is QUEUC’s core mission: givea voice

FOLLOW US ONLINE thebucampus.ca /thecampus

Interested in joining? All you have to do is write a small paragraph stating why you would like to be a tutor, a list of ENG courses you have taken, and an essay submitted for a class of which you are especially proud!

Send it all to our email: morrishousementoring@gmail.com.

TABITHA HARTROPP Contributor

SPORTS EDITOR Madeleine Hession thecampus.sports@gmail.com

Laura Underhill Katharine McKenney Matthew Mulkern Payton Bernett Kyle Donnelly Gabrielle Lesage Camille Bouskéla Tabitha Hartropp Karl and Fred Samantha Burns

classroom.

3. Giving back: Want to give back to Bishop’s but do not know how? Morris House Mentoring is the perfect thing to do!

4. Be a part of something new: Since this is a new initiative, you have the chance to shape its progress. Bring your ideas!

5. LEAP credits: Who doesn’t love LEAP credits?

@thebucampus

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

All material is copyright The Campus. Nothing may be reproduced without the written consent of the Editor-in-Chief. Complaints may be made directly to the Editor-in-Chief. If no resolution can be reached, complaints should be forwarded to the Publishing Board.

The opinions of the writers published in The Campus do not necessarily represent the opinions of the staff of The Campus or the Campus Publishing Board. Likewise, the opinions expressed in the advertisements published in The Campus do not reflect the opinions of the staff or the Publishing Board.

/thebucampus

to undergraduates. Most conferences are only open if you happen to have a Masters or a PhD. QUEUC is exclusive in other ways: only undergraduates may apply! By recognizing the potential power in our young voices, QUEUC becomes a space for honest, open, and critical discussion.

Interested in participating?

Well, unfortunately, submissions to QUEUC closed Jan. 13—the vetting committee is already reading over 200 submissions in time for the deadline. However, nonpresenters are always more than welcome! Register at QUEUC.com to lend an ear to this once-a-year opportunity.

One Day Pass: $25 Two Day Pass: $40

BE PART OF THE TEAM! Submit your articles, questions, photos, or ideas to the editorial team by FEBRUARY 2, 2017

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.

NEWS

SINCE 1944

3

Bishop’s breaks barriers, sends first delegation to Jeux de la Science Politique KATHARINE MCKENNEY Contributor

B

ishop’s University’s politics & international studies department made quite a splash at the Jeux de la Science Politique (Political Science Games), an event held the weekend of Jan. 14 in Montréal and hosted by the Université de Montréal.

The Games is a fundamentally academic competition with various events in the political science genre, such as case studies, negotiations, quizzes, and debates, in which delegations compete for points.

The delegation was the first of its kind to participate from Bishop’s, and was the first officially bilingual delegation at the traditionally francophone Games. A total of thirteen students were part of the delegation.

Bishop’s competed strictly in the academic and social categories, although the delegation organizers are considering participating in the sports category next year, in order to become more competitive and participate more fully in the Games.

Notably, Bishop’s ranked fourth out of seven in the social category, and sixth academically, with University of Ottawa ranking first and McGill University ranking seventh.

Bishop’s also received accolades for the Best Position Paper in the Negotiations category, the best individ-

ual ranking in Debates, and an award for Distinguished Head of Delegation.

Although the Jeux de la Science Politique has been in French since its inception, roughly half of the Bishop’s delegation competed as unilingual Anglophones, a first for the Games.

The organization is hoping to expand participation to more universities in Eastern Canada, including English ones, while maintaining the integrity of French participation.

Delegation leader and organizer, Camie Lamarche, and delegation whip and organizer, Olivier Bertrand, are in their fourth year with the department. Although both Bertrand and Lamarche are graduating this coming April, they remain optimistic about Bishop’s future participation in the Games.

“It was a welcome challenge. Both before and during the competition, both organizationally and academically. It was meant as a way to integrate Bishop’s within the political science student community of Quebec. It was important for me personally that Bishop’s take its seat at the table,” says Bertrand, who served as the whip for the delegation. “It was a nice way to build a lasting foundation before I graduate.”

For further information about JDSP, or future participation, please contact bu.jdsp@gmail.com.

PHOTO COURTESY KATHARINE MCKENNEY

The Bishop’s delegation took the Games by storm, and introduced a bilingual aspect to the previously all-French event.

BU/Champlain refugee project to host referendum during SRC election ANGÉLIQUE BIELSKI Layout Editor

T

he students of Bishop’s University will be asked to make one more decision when they cast their vote at the Student Representative Council (SRC) elections. The Refugee Sponsorship project is asking students to vote in favour of the augmentation of the student contribution to the program, a choice they will be able to make on the same ballot on Feb. 6 and 7.

The proposition is that a contribution of $5 per student, per semester will be made, going directly to the project.

Up until now, the contribution is $2.60 per semester. To be approved, the referendum needs the support of 10% of the student body, an objective that the organization deems achievable considering that the voting rate at SRC elections is around 40%.

The student body contribution would go from roughly $12,000 to $24,000. Kyanu Soulet, an executive

coordinator on the project, estimated that this augmentation would provide more financial stability to the organization.

The amount raised would serve to offer more services to the current and past sponsored students and even sponsor a greater number of students every few years.

Around $18,000 is required to sponsor one student for one year. Bishop’s offers the full sponsorship for one year, Champlain for two. Ahmad Hamdan, a sponsored student from Syria, testified that, “the first year is the most important year. [The sponsorship] helps us landing on our feet. After, we try to become more independent by finding student loans or a job.”

The Refugee Sponsorship project completes its budget with various fundraising activities like their annual garage sale throughout the year, as well as private donations. However, they expect the annual garage sale to be smaller this spring due to the university needing the

storage space they usually offer for the fundraising.

The augmentation of the student contribution wouldcompensate for it, and any other future uncertainties.

The generous donations of the last years have allowed as many as four students to be sponsored in 2016/2017, three from Syria and another one from Burundi. “As sad as that sounds, because [the Syrian conflict] was heavily mediated, people wanted to make a difference and the project was seen as an avenue to help. We got a lot of donations,” explained Soulet.

The bigger number of sponsored students, however, “puts a strain on the group financially,” and without an augmentation of the student-supplied funds, the number of refugees welcome will have to stay low.

Hamdan enrolled at Bishop’s University last January, and today, he encouraged the students to see that the help given to students here have repercussion where they come from. “When you

sponsor someone, you are not sponsoring just one. I am here. I am getting an education and, in the future, I will be able to help my community back home.”

“It’s about us helping a community by bringing someone here and giving them a chance at feeling safe and building a future,” said Soulet. “This project is a small scale, real way to make a difference. You don’t need millions of dollars.

Only by being enrolled in school, you can help.”

The Refugee Sponsorship program will campaign actively beside the SRC candidates in the week preceding the election days. Volunteers will be in the SUB all day on Feb. 1 to answer the students’ questions and bring awareness of the impact of the program on those who directly benefit, as well as the rest of the world.

For more information or if you wish to get involved with the Refugee Sponsorship project, contact Rev. Heather Thomson by email at hthomson@ubishops.ca or in her office in the SUB: DON213.

4

NEWS

THE CAMPUS JANUARY 25. 2017

Lack of diversity a campus-wide concern RACHEL NEWCOMBE News Editor

A

new year means a fresh attempt to address diversity concerns for The Bishop’s University Students Representative Council (SRC). The SRChas been fielding anonymous comments on the social media platform Yik Yak about the lack of diversity within their administration.SRC president Chelsea McLellan spoke to The Campus about the comments that were made, and her hopes to effect change.

“There are a lot of comments on diversity in the SRC,” McLellan said. These comments, according to the information compiled by the SRC, peak around exam periods, and all say a very similar thing; there is no diversity when it comes to the governing body.

While the anonymity of the commentary calls into question the legitimacy of the sources, McLellan acknowledges the concern is coming from a real place.

“The fact that there’s comment…merits consideration.”

McLellan did not deny that it was a problem. “It’s an issue we recognize,” she admitted, adding that when it came to the executive team, “there’s a huge lack of gender diversity and cultural diversity.” This is in part from the people who choose to be a part of the organization.

The SRC positions are filled in two ways. Either people apply for the job, or they are elected by the student

population.

McLellan said that the SRC did not control election outcomes, and that the people who apply to the jobs are few and far between.

While the executive team therefore tends to seem severely lacking in diversity, the General Assembly is a different story. The GA is comprised of students from across the population spectrum. “They’re all very diverse,” McLellan said, citing that members had different beliefs and interests.

McLellan acknowledged that since a large percentage of the Bishop’s population did not see the collected GA in many circumstances, the executive team becomes the face of the SRC, and subsequently, spearheads the discussion on diversity. “Diversity has been a question that has been brought up [at GA],” McLellan said.

“It’s hard to have a perfect system,” she added, explaining that the ever-present issue has been a priority for the SRC, and they have begun taking steps to encourage cultural diversity.

These steps included hiring a director of human resources, who created a standardised, unbiased hiring process, an anti-oppression workshop that members underwent in the summer of 2016, and an equity committee comprised of different club and group members on campus.

McLellan said that their goal for this SRC and the SRCs to come was “to incorporate diverse values.” She hopes to encourage anyone with an interest in the SRC to come forward and ask questions. This is the pur-

PHOTO COURTESY GOOGLE

Many of the comments made about the SRC’s lack of diversity were made on Yik Yak, the anonymous commentary platform.

pose of the public consulting hours put in place this year. “We want students to come and talk to us,” she said.

With the year’s end already on the horizon, McLellan is not relaxing her efforts to facilitate dialogue on a more diverse SRC. “It matters that we try,” she explained, adding that she was confident that this would continue to be a priority for future SRC administrations.

Williams School of Business introduces graduate certificate in management KATHARINE MCKENNEY Contributor

L

ast year the Bishop’s University Williams School of Business announced the launch of a new graduate certificate in management, a program designed for non-business graduates to acquire invaluable skills to launch their career post-graduation. The program is designed to give them the skills needed to finish the program with a solid business foundation.

Running from May to mid-August, the 15-credit program is run on a full-time basis. In addition to providing students with new skills, the program is exceptional for its amalgamation of practicality and the Bishop’s model of liberal education: small class sizes, hands-on learning, and field visits.

For graduating students the program could not come at a better time—hiring is more active in September, so graduates completing their certificates in August are perfectly placed to hit the ground running in the workforce.

The WSB is thrilled to be a part of such a novel project, the first of its kind at Bishop’s. The courses are geared specifically towards making the most of your degree: curating interpersonal skills and honing communication for networking, for example.

The certificate seeks to add hiring

potential to an already valuable degree, an aspect of the program which will no doubt appeal to the many students drawn to Bishop’s for its liberal education model. The program complements a non-business degree perfectly; it allows focus on an undergraduate degree, and then after, “focus on business”, says Francine Turmel, the Dean of the Business School and one of the minds behind the certificate program.

“Companies don’t just hire business graduates; other competencies are just

as necessary.” Turmel went on to add that a lot of graduates do not understand the value of their degree; grads often undergo a period of exploration that leaves them with the impression that their degree was a waste of time.

Turmel vehemently disagrees with this sentiment – the certificate program was designed to help non-business graduates find their place in the business world, whether that’s in marketing, logistics, or tech.

Many of the students who have re-

PHOTO COURTESY MATHIEU GAGNON

Students who enrol will have four months to learn all the things they need to supplement their undergraduate degrees.

ceived the graduate certificate in management found work in fields they had never considered before. One example is a sociology graduate in a recruitment position. Their sociology background allowed them to understand the nuances of interviews; the certificate program filled the missing link between their degree and a rewarding career.

The post-undergraduate existential crisis is a familiar feeling for Turmel.

Many undergrads, not knowing what the next step is, rush into a master’s degree. “Not knowing what to do is a very bad reason to do a master’s degree,” she laughed.

The certificate in management is not intended to supplement a master’s degree, or even a master’s in business administration (MBA); rather, the goal is to bridge the gap between graduation from Bishop’s and employment.

For more information about the graduate certificate in management, attend the info-session on Feb. 1 at 1:30 p.m. in Nicolls 312, or visit the WSB webpage, found at www.ubishops.ca/academicprograms.

More News on page 12

OPINIONS OPINIONS

SINCE 1944

2017

5

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

Fascism and socialism in the U.S. and Europe KARL AND FRED Contributors

T

he biggest disaster of the year has happened just last week, but has already scarred our dear readers. On Jan. 20, Donald J. Trump was sworn in as the 45th president of the United States. We are faced with a spray-tanned sociopath holding the most powerful position in the “free world”. One might quake but there is hope, maybe this open sociopath is a closet socialist.

Trump’s party is repealing the Affordable Care Act and, against all odds, Trump’s replacement is going to insure that everyone has healthcare (though whether this means everyone will have healthcare or everyone will have the option of healthcare is unclear). He stands with the people. In his own words “nobody is going to be dying on the street”. Maybe, Trump is suggesting universal health care for America, and cloaked under bureaucratic nonsense, the Republican Party will be tricked into signing this bill with democrats.

Trump is famed on his varied and diverse opinions on China. They are mostly negative. Beyond this nationalist sabre rattling, perhaps, it is his love for humanity that drives this harsh rhetoric.

Trump’s isolationist attitude might actually just be veiled anti-imperialism. Perhaps Trump has been personally hurt and horrified by the slave-like conditions of factory workers overseas (most of his brand of products are after all made in China). Out of the kindness of his heart, he will cease the neocolonization of Asia by American imperialism.

Nuclear policy and Trump go hand in hand like two peas in a pod. Trump has gone on record saying that he would improve and expand America’s nuclear arsenal and would be supportive of Japan, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia having nuclear weapons.

To many, this policy may seem foolhardy, reckless, and unnecessarily risks a cataclysmic end for humanity. This though is only the view of political amateurs; Trump’s brilliant strategy of holding the world hostage with an enormously deadly weapons stockpile should extend Pax Americana for at least another four years. His nuclear policy means that America no longer needs to send forces to all seven countries it is currently bombing. Now it can be at war with a reasonable two or three countries. This is not isolationism; it is more like parenting at arms length, only globally.

It also extends to his economic policy where Trump has taken staunch stance against globalism and multinational trade agreements. He has vowed to scrap the Trans-Pacific Partnership shortly after his inauguration and will renegotiate NAFTA, if he doesn’t outright scrap it as well. NAFTA led to one million job losses for American workers over twelve years (though it is important to Canada’s economy as it replaced CUFTA). When it was proposed, an increase of hundreds of thousands of jobs was promised.

The currently proposed programs feature backroom courts where companies can sue over government policy that would threaten corporate profit.

Although it may seem reasonable to protect profits at any cost, it may also be nearly as reasonable to

oppose wage slavery in South East Asia and opening up Europe’s water, health, and education services to American corporations.

British Trade Minister Lord Livingston has stated that the NHS will be “on the table”, meaning that Britain’s health services will be vulnerable to privatization through American pharmaceutical companies and Wall Street investors.

In Europe similar problems exist, stemming for the 1992 Maastricht Treaty, which introduced the euro. It was only one of many ideas in the wake of the Second World War that pushed for greater unity and cooperation in an effort to avoid further tragedy. A noble ideal of solidarity that has been coopted by elites and their economic concerns: the EU colludes with banking interests against the people it was created to serve. These reckless policies have only led to inequality and lower quality of life for some of those within the economic zone.

Economic instability and greater wealth inequality has led to more extreme politics and the rise of Europe’s far right. Currently, the left is in shambles and the moderates are marred by the right-wing nature of “centrist” ideology. At this point in time we are seeing the resurgence of fascism in Europe. The system and elected officials have certainly failed, neoliberal policies have not brought the wealth promised, at least not for those unlucky enough to be excluded from the 1%. Since the 2008 economic crash, there has been a policy of socialism for the rich and austerity for the rest; citizens are tired of empty promises and the few groups offering a solution are these extreme parties.

This has reached such an extent that Oxfam recently reported that eight individuals possess half the world’s wealth; 11 million people fell below the poverty line with the 2008-economic crash.

The problems with society are due to outside influences interfering with what is already good—a simple answer to the disturbingly complex reality of the new world.

The authoritarians of the 20th century offered similarly simple answers to the plagues of society.

The past was glorified as a golden age where all was right until foreign bodies started breaking it apart.

We may have a new scapegoat but we are frighteningly close to the same situation.

We are taught history to prevent previous mistakes yet now when we are faced with the crucible, we tremble and are offered little solutions. Satirizing Trump did not keep him out of office; a clever think piece will not stop the next genocidal tyrant.

Real work needs to be done to oppose the xenophobia, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, and anti-Semitism, which have begun to rear their ugly heads. Movements need to be created, citizens need to stand together and say “no” to policies that will drag us back into barbarism.

Whether in Europe, the States, or here in Canada, we must not let these hate groups grow, we must protect and speak for all those vulnerable to oppression and violence. There are a string of elections across Europe this year, the situation is urgent. We need to form a humane communal response to the choice between the failure of the elitist neoliberal order and the barbarous patriotism of fascism.

PHOTO COURTESY JESSICA GOODSELL

The Prime Minister answered questions from the Townshippers in the town hall the night before his visit to Bishop’s University (pictured above).

The Language Divide

CAMILLE BOUSKÉLA Contributor

T

his past week Justin Trudeau paid a visit to the Eastern Townships for a town hall meeting in Sherbrooke, as part of his cross-Canada tour. The Townships are wellknown for a significant English speaking population— one of the largest outside of Montreal. Regardless, Prime Minister Trudeau answered all questions at the town hall meeting in French, even the six that were asked in English.

His reasoning behind this was that we are in Quebec and Quebec is a French-speaking province. Before answering the first question asked in English, Trudeau said, in French, “Thank you for using our country’s two official languages, but since we’re in Quebec, I’ll respond in French.” This decision drew the ire of some of those present at the event, especially a woman who was asking about the lack of mental health services in English.

I do not stand with Trudeau’s reasoning behind wanting to only answer in French. I am a Townshipper and I am proud of this. I am proud of living in a place where I can use both English and French; whichever language is appropriate for a given situation.

However, not everyone in the Townships is bilingual.

I have many friends and people I know who only speak English or feel more comfortable in that language. It is not because they never wanted to learn French, but the Townships is a place where one can live only using English; and there is nothing wrong with this. Yes, Anglophones are a minority but that does not mean that our own Prime Minister should deny them the right to be spoken to in the language in which they are the most comfortable.

I think that these actions were a complete disregard for the realities of Anglophones living in the Townships; it is also a lack of respect. We have the right as citizens of Canada to be answered in the language of our choice.

I will never deny that Quebec is a French province by majority (and law). However, there is a minority English population, and their issues and concerns have the right to be heard. Especially when you are asking about a lack of services in the domain of mental health in your dominant language.

It is a serious issue that goes beyond the boundaries of language or culture. One would expect the Prime Minister to take such an issue seriously. Trudeau did not seem to take the issue seriously by refusing to answer in English, a question that deals with the reality of Anglophones.

I understand why some people took this as a slap in the face. If the situation was reversed and Trudeau would have answered all questions in English; there would be an uproar from the Francophone population and with reason.

As Prime Minister of a bilingual country, Trudeau must be sensitive to the realities of all its citizens and issues surrounding language. It is his duty and there are no excuses.

6

FEATURES , r a FEATURES

THE CAMPUS JANUARY 25. 2017

e Y w e ! u N YKeep o your New Year’s resolutions... w e N TARYN BUSKARD Features Editor

W

e’re almost a month into 2017, the time when people start to abandon their resolutions, as life gets busy.

Long-term goal setting does have many benefits, however. Perhaps you didn’t make a resolution, but that doesn’t mean you can’t come late to the game.

Creating a long-term objective outside of your existing obliga-

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

tions is a personal way of driving your life forward.

Resolutions should not be made to please other people or to alter who you are as a person, but there is nothing wrong with wanting to go to the gym, eat healthier, and take better care of your body.

Shaming yourself every time you miss a work out or eat something unhealthy is not an effective way to encourage yourself to keep going. People who live healthier lives in the long term develop lifestyles that suit them. This means it’s okay to rest when you are injured, and to occasionally eat something you really love.

The language of effective resolutions is also one that can help you stay with them.

Instead of using concrete numbers, aspire to do things more often or to improve at something. If you want to spend more time with your family, this may be more effective than committing to Sunday dinner every week. Readjusting your expectations as your life changes or taking a break from your resolutions is reasonable.

You may make a resolution to save money, or travel more. These goals don’t always have immediate payoffs. It’s okay to research your goals, and plan them in advance. When it comes to money there are sometimes hidden costs in the long run.

When it comes to travel, you can always go next year.

There are also prerogative-based resolutions. Wanting to communicate better, be more outgoing, listen better, and the like, are only accomplished when you have space to practice.

Struggling with your goals is understandable. Remember that any long-term change may go against your developed habit. It is good to keep in mind that resolutions, while made at the beginning of the year, are things that can persist in the long term.

Remember to adjust m ov i n g forward, and to make goals that suit you, and your life.

Effective goals are something you can work towards, so it is okay to be trying your best.

Love yourself...

PAYTON BERNETT Contributor

G

rowing up in a consumerist society involves seeing countless advertisements through various forms of media.

Most ads digitally distort models to depict unrealistic standards of beauty that are often unachievable naturally.

Because of this mental manipulation being presented to humans, people often end up hating their bodies if they do not fit such standards (especially younger people who are extremely susceptible to media).Such internalized self-hatred may lead to low self-esteem, discontentment with one’s body, and sometimes the development of an eating disorder.

This was certainly my experience growing up in Montreal.

Once I began puberty, I suddenly gained a lot of weight and have had a curvy body type ever since. Because I was so exposed to media, which almost exclusively portrays thin women and

muscular men, I grew to believe that having any body fat was a failure, which led to the development of disordered eating and obsessive rumination about my body.

Fast forward five years since my official diagnosis of EDNOS (eating disorder not otherwise specified), I have mostly tackled my various cognitive distortions surrounding food, however, learning to love my body is still a constant struggle.

Now that I have learned how to treat my body in a healthier way, I am able to recognize that being overweight is not necessarily healthy. This is especially the case if heart disease, high cholesterol, diabetes, etc., run in one’s family. At the same time, there is now a huge movement of plus size body positivity, which is amazing!

How does one balance accepting their body as it is with wanting to live a healthier life?This question often enters my mind as I look in the mirror. I see my size as a reflection of unhealthy patterns

that I have learned growing up and am currently unlearning.

What I want to see is a beautiful human being who deserves to be happy in their own skin.Upon pondering this thought, I realized that I was still objectifying my own body by boiling the state of my health down to my weight. Why not love my body so much that I want to make it healthier, regardless of its current size?

It was in this moment that I realized that I would never truly be healthy if I continued to see my body in terms of my weight, rather than in terms of its amazing capabilities. By accepting my current body as is, I have been able to commit to making it healthier in a loving way.

How did I figure out how to accept my body, when it has been something that I felt uncomfortable with for a decade?I realized that the human body exists to explore, create, and protect those we love. Bodies do not exist solely to fulfill physical desire. This is what the adver-

tising industry implies every time they place their products across half-naked persons.

By understanding my body as a means to experiences, rather than simply a depiction of my current state of health, I realized that it doesn’t matter where I am currently at in my journey towards flourishing health (be it mental, physical, or spiritual).

Each day I treat my body well and respect it for its vital importance in my life, I grow to love myself more. This, in turn, allows me to feel more dedicated to working towards good health, while still appreciating my body in its current state.

We, as a culture, need to learn to view our bodies as a process to enjoy life, rather than as a walking advertisement of our own self-worth. It is only through this revelation that we can accept our bodies as they are, while still committing to treating them correctly and compassionately.

FEATURES

SINCE 1944

7

And get involved before you graduate!

TARYN BUSKARD Features Editor

T

hroughout my education, I’ve often heard winter semester referred to as the “boring” semester.

In the last couple of years, frosh and Halloweekend have gained heavy media attention. While these events define Bishop’s from the outside looking in, there are a plethora of events that define the Bishop’s experience when you go here.

While Bishop’s is known for a prolific social scene, the school offers many academic opportunities as well. This is perhaps your last chance to benefit from many of them.

The Campus If you are completing a journalism minor, this can be a great time to beef up your resume. The newspaper is always looking for writers and profits with fresh perspectives.

QUEUC Bishop’s also hosts the largest, and one of the only, undergraduate conferences called QUEUC. Though the submission deadline has passed, the registration deadline has not.The Quebec Universities Undergraduates Conference fosters academic discourse and gives young scholars access to other committed academics.

The Codex & The Mitre Winter semester is also the time at which The Codex and The Mitre are published. The Mitre submission deadline has also passed, but the issues will be sold at the end of the semester. As the school’s oldest project, The Mitre is a place where poets and creative writers can communicate their ideas to a wider audience. The Codex in turn focuses on academic papers. If you are proud of an academic paper, but are not an English student, this can allow you to have your work recognized.

The Donald Lecture Series Bishop’s also hosts the Donald Lecture Series. While the term “lecture” can seem daunting, they are worth attending. Many of these speakers are iconic, innovative, and leaders in their field.

The Foreman Art Gallery The Forman Art Gallery also hosts several events throughout the semester.

This includes speakers, the g r a d art show, and several multi-media exhibits.

These are for the most part open to students and the community, so long as the gallery is

open and there is a curator.

Centennial Theatre Centennial Theatre also hosts several paid productions throughout the semester. If your incentive in your final semester is to support your fellow students there are two main events: BU Fashion Show The student fashion show is Bishop’s largest student-led fundraiser. Many companies donate clothes, and the show is open to the community during the day and to the students during the evening.

While this is one of Bishop’s pricier events, it is also one of the most anticipated. With the small community, it is almost impossible not to know someone who is participating. It is also nice to know that you’re supporting a good cause.

BU Singers Choir Show Centennial also hosts the student choir show at the end of the year. The event incorporates a live band, numerous students, and faculty to create a harmonious and action-packed spectacle. This may be your final opportunity to attend the student shows in Turner Studio. This includes Theatre Activ. These plays are open to all students and are also student directed.

BU drama department There are also two major productions during the semester that are directed by teachers and performed by students.

The plays run multiple nights and cost around $10. Both are worth the price of admission and are a great opportunity to see your friends perform. For many involved, this is often their last Bishop’s production as well.

Departmental parties If you have yet to attend your department parties, this is also one of Bishop’s most unique aspects.

Though many of the wine and cheeses happen during first semester, most depart-

ments host an event during the winter.

Bishop’s is known for the ability to meet and be close to your teachers. With graduation approaching, this can be a profitable action for your future. Knowing your teachers, while useful to your education, may also open doors in your future.

Having addressed the many events offered at an institutional level, there is no denying that the social environment of Bishop’s leads to some great on campus events and interesting off campus opportunities.

Jay Peak skiing Through a pairing with Jay Peak, Bishop’s offers some amazing student deals for the use of the facilities. If you are not a snow bunny, you can take advantage of the resort’s waterpark. Often the school charters a bus during Winterfest. Tickets are reasonably priced and the trip can be a lot of fun so long as you’re organized and have a passport in hand.

Eastern Township skiing If you do not have easy access to your passport, Quebec is also a great place to ski. There are several well-known hills in the Townships that are within an hour of the school. Unfortunately, you do have to figure out your own ride. Luckily by fourth year, you probably know someone who’s already going.

Winterfest Winterfest is one of Bishop’s most anticipated second semester events

(other than St. Patrick’s Day). While the idea of standing outside in the cold for several hours may sound boring, Bishop’s makes the most of the winter months.

The SRC and the coordinators get to work setting up the quad for a trick competition and a ball hockey tournament. They sell merch, as do some local lifestyle brands. This is one of the major events of the year. The school charters a bus to Jay Peak. The Gait hires a DJ and the ski-lodge themed happy hour always brings out some colorfully dressed Gaiters.

St. Patrick’s Day Finally, if you have yet to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day: this may be your year.

The holiday falls on a Friday this year; this means that you will probably have a chance to enjoy the festivities without your courses getting in the way.

While getting out there can be a great way to take advantage of the Bishop’s experience, often what is so unique about Bishop’s are the people around you. For many, this may be a time to spend more time with their friends. With graduation approaching, it’s important to make the most of the time you have left at BU.

GRAPHICS BY SAM BURNS

8

ARTS&CULTURE ARTS

THE CAMPUS JANUARY 25. 2017

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

PHOTO COURTESY FANNIE GAUDETTE

The announcement came during the Christmas concert in Centennial Theatre on Dec. 2, 2016.

University choir receives $100,000 donation to just keep singing RACHEL NEWCOMBE News Editor

T

he Bishop’s University Singers Choir will certainly have something to sing about for the next three years. The group received a $100,000 donation from Quebecor, which will provide financial support to both the choir and its

musicians.

Director of the Singers, Fannie Gaudette, commented on the generous donation: “This gift is a huge boost for our choir and our musicians.It will go a long way to sustain our activities and improve the overall financial health of the choir. We are very gratefulto Que-

becor for this fantastic investment in our choir.”

Quebecor is a communications company with firm ties to community spirit, and actively supports many organizations in a variety of fields. President and CEO Pierre Dion said that the company was, “proud to support

the Bishop’s University Singers Choir, which brings people from all backgrounds together in a shared passion for music.”

The announcement came at the end of the university’s first term during a holiday concert, giving the Singers Choir even more festive cheer.

Bishop’s University’s drama department presents…

THEATRE ACTIV

TheatreActiv is a long-standing Bishop’s University tradition, running longer than 30 consecutive years. The festival presents 13 short plays, directed, performed, and produced by students.

Night A: Friday, Jan. 27 & Monday, Jan. 30 Night B: Saturday, Jan. 28& Tuesday, Jan. 31 Night C: Sunday, Jan. 29& Wednesday, Feb. 1

Tickets are $8 per night, $6 for students, or $15 for all three nights.

Tickets are available at the Centennial box office or on location the night of performances.

Shows start at 8 p.m.

The Campus is looking for photographers Do you often photograph events on campus or in the community?

Write to the editor

thecampus.layout@gmail.com

ARTS

SINCE 1944

9

BU introduces sound design course, opens recording studio DOMINIQUE DAVIDSON Ar ts & Culture Editor

W

ith Bishop’s University’s very own recording studio ready for practical use, the music department has launched a new opportunity for sound engineering courses as of the winter 2017 semester.

This began as a student-initiated project after Eric Saucke-Lacelle was granted with $2500 from the Build a Better Purple Foundation to launch a recording studio. While the department had basic recording equipment, having a stationary studio would be far more practical and available to the students and community.

Last fall, project funds were running thin, and unless exterior sources were found, the project would have halted for the time being. But with growing interest from varying departments, such as drama for sound design during performances, audio recordings for music, and multimedia design deriving from the arts, Dean of Arts and Science Michelle Murray intervened to realize the project’s potential.

“The materials are provided through Bishops University’s IT group,” stated Saucke-Lacelle, “and the only thing preventing us from recording is a single cable to connect the [recording equipment] to the computer. But,

Eric Saucke-Lacelle initiated the project with a $2500 grant from the Build a Better Purple Foundation.

otherwise, the studio is wonderfully arranged.” Located in the basement of Bandeen, students have the opportunity to professionally record, or be recorded.

“The recording studio will provide students with the opportunity to learn how to properly produce sound and permit creative control over your own music,”he continued, “or else have an

understanding of theoretical elements of recording.”

The music department is now offering a limited seating course on the Introduction to Sound Design, taught by Yotam Baum, a veteran in sound engineering. The course focus is on the theoretical and practical elements of design, requiring students to understand terminology and eventu-

PHOTO COURTESY DOMINIQUE DAVIDSON

ally have the ability to create recordings themselves.

“The hope is to eventually see the course develop as the technical designing courses in the drama department,” said Saucke-Lacelle, referencing a multilevel introduction to set, sound, lighting, and costume design; the music department would focus strictly on sound engineering.

Black Cat Books 168E Queen, Lennoxville Your Local Bookstore

New Books • Old Books • Special Orders

Cards, puppets, CDs, gift certificates Serving the community since 1998

819-346-1786 • www.blackcatbook.net

10

SPORTS SPORTS

THE CAMPUS JANUARY 25. 2017

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

End of an era as Gaiters football leaves the RSEQ to join AUS MATTHEW MULKERN Contributor

A

fter over a century of competing in football leagues with teams based in Quebec as a part of theRéseau du sport étudiant du Quebec (RSEQ), the Bishop’s University football program will now compete in the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) conference beginning in the 2017 season.

Bishop’s joins Acadia, Mount Allison, St. Francis Xavier and Saint Mary’s Universities as participants in AUS football.

All other RSEQ sports the Gaiters participate in, such as basketball, golf, rugby and women’s soccer were unaffected by the change.

The announcement made on Dec. 15, 2016, the deadline to declare a change in conferences, sparked mixed reaction on social media with some saying the Gaiters are giving up by changing leagues.

However, Bishop’s University Sports Information & Sponsorship Coordinator, Marty Rourke, does not see it that way. “I understand that the initial reaction was shock, but if you take a step back and take a look, there is a lot to be excited about. There is an air of optimism that hasn’t been there.”

Not only will Bishop’s be joining the other three Maple League (former U4 League) schools, but BU will also join Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, Nova Scotia; the only team Bishop’s has defeated on the gridiron in the past two seasons.

During the Gaiters 16-season run in the RSEQ, they had only four playoff appearances and three winning seasons, concluding with three straight one-win campaigns. In a statement, Benoit Doloreux, Director of University Programs of the RSEQ stated, “We are sorry to see the Bishop’s Gaiters football team leave the RSEQ conference, but we understand and respect their decision.”

Bishop’s had sent an expression of interest to join the AUS in September 2016. Afterwards, the AUS conference formed a taskforce and after months of discussions, the Gaiters finally received approval from AUS on Dec. 12, three days before the announcement was made on Dec. 15.

Contrary to other reports, this was the first time Bishop’s formally asked to be a part of AUS football. Rourke said that despite Bishop’s not having an athletic director, it was a collective decision to move to AUS stating that “the community was involved, and the decision to join was a collaborative

process, including Principal Goldbloom.”

Jackie Bailey, Dean of Student Affairs and acting athletic director at Bishop’s stated in a press release that “joining AUS for football will allow [Bishop’s] to align with universities of similar size, resources, and values as they pertain to varsity sport.” Bailey also noted that the university administration is “committed to creating a context of excellence for our football program.” Citing the same press release, Phil Currie, Executive Director of AUS welcomed Bishop’s by stating that the “respective football schools are very excited to have the Bishop’s Gaiters football program compete in the AUS conference.”

The AUS plans to have an eight-game schedule over 10 weeks, comprised of each team playing each other in a home-and-home series with two bye weeks. The annual interlock games between the AUS and RSEQ, in place since 2002, will end.

The two bye weeks do allow the potential for the Mayor’s Cup game between Université de Sherbrooke and Bishop’s, though at this time there are no plans to continue the annual match-up between the two schools or between Bishop’s and any other universities in the RSEQ. One rivalry that will resume on an annual basis is the Bigg Bowl. The Bigg Bowl was donated in 2002 by the family of H. R. Bigg and is awarded to the winner of the football game between the Gaiters and the X-Men of St. Francis Xavier University.

What the AUS playoff structure will look like now that the league has five teams has yet to be determined. Previously, the AUS football playoff format was structured as a semi-stepladder system with the number two and number three seeds facing off against each other in the first round to see who would play the number one seed in the championship game.

The playoff format in the RSEQ was single elimination comprising of semifinal games of the number one versus number four seed and the number two versus number three seed with the winners playing for the league championship and the bottom two teams missing the playoffs altogether.

From an enrolment perspective, Bishop’s with a total full-time student enrolment of 2,428 students in fall 2016, was at a clear disadvantage in the RSEQ. The next two smallest institutions in terms of enrolment were McGill University and its massive endowment with 28,000 undergraduates and football powerhouse Université

Laval with 29,000 undergraduates (UdeS has approximately 30,000, UdeM has 35,000 and Concordia has 36,000 undergraduates).

Undergraduate student populations at the AUS football universities range from a low of 2,234 at Mount Allison University to a high of 6,003 at Saint Mary’s University. Bishop’s annual football budget of $350,000 is also more in line with the scale of the other AUS schools’ football budgets.

In order for the student athletes to better recover from matches, the Gaiters will fly to and from away games on the same day, and though the cost should be less than the $50,000 spent to travel to Saint Mary’s in the 2015 season, the travel budget will be higher in AUS compared to the costs in the RSEQ. Rourke insists that it is the best decision going forward for the well-being of the student athletes stating that the “80 student athletes contribute a significant portion of tuition compared to other sports and, that culture of football is important to university life.”

Rourke suspects the level playing field will contribute to more on-field excitement for fans to make up for the loss of games against traditional rivals.

“Bishop’s sold out the game versus Saint Mary’s University in arguably what was the most exciting game in the RSEQ this year. Being competitive will make the games more entertaining to fans and help engage the local community, which will draw more people to Coulter Field. We want to recreate the atmosphere of that game every week here.”

The move to AUS will further enhance the rivalry with the Maple League of Universities at various levels and give Bishop’s more opportunity to cross-market events.

The move to AUS also ends the era of Gaiter athletics with RSEQ partner TVA Sports. However, the AUS has a streaming deal with Bell Alliant, which means all Bishop’s football games will be available online, something that was not available before. There is even a chance that some Gaiter games will be shown on Bell Alliant television.

Bishop’s University is still on the hunt for a permanent athletic director. The Gaiters and new head coach, Chérif Nicolas from the Cégep de Vieux Montréal Spartiates, are also searching for an offensive coordinator after losing Brent Bailey to UdeS earlier this month.

While change is never easy, it is hoped that this change brings the Gaiters back to gridiron glory.

PHOTO COURTESY GAITERS.CA

Gaiter’s high intensity play and strong contributing players brought them a big win over Laval.

BU win against Laval heightens hopes for playoff position LAURA UNDERHILL Spor tswriter

T

he Gaiters men’s basketball team played part two of a double header against Laval on Jan. 14 in Mitchell Gym—and it was a real crowd pleaser. Bishop’s took the court by storm and kept a strong and significant lead throughout the game, allowing them to attain the win.

Starting strong, the Gaiters snagged a quick 12-2 lead over Laval with an astonishing six points attributed to veteran David Belanger.

The Gaiters came out to win, and with their “never trail” policy, they made it known. At the end of the first quarter, Bishop’s boasted a 23-9 lead and raced through the rest of the half to come up with a score of 48-28. The second half proved to be just as solid as the first, finishing off the game with a 15 point lead of 84-69.

An exciting game for Gaiters fans to attend, the game was played strategically and skilfully with double digit contributions from five Bishop’s players.

Belanger lead Bishop’s scoring with 15 points, Nick Harvey followed closely with 14 points, Castor Thadal and Owen Martel with 12 each, and Abdul Kamane with 10.

SPORTS 11

SINCE 1944

Gaiters battle Rouge et Or in women’s basketball home-and-home sweep, lose 65-49 KYLE DONNELLY Alumnus Contributor

T

he Gaiters women’s basketball team dropped the seventh of its last eight games with a 65-49 loss as the Laval Rouge et Or home-and-home sweep on Jan. 14. The game was a challenge from the start as the Gaiters (6-7) kicked off their first back-to-back game of the season after a Friday night defeat (77-55) in Quebec City.

Laval arrived seeking to run the Gaiters out of their own gym early in the game. The same issues that plagued the Gaiters on Friday night in Quebec City were evident again, although signs of fatigue from the previous night’s game manifested adding to the Gaiters’ uphill battle.

The Rouge et Or sought out 20142015 All-Rookie Team player Jane Gagné (Saguenay, Que.) early with a 21-12 first quarter lead, including 20 total field goal attempts, 11 from three point range.

Bishop’s, meanwhile, was 5-16 from the floor in the first frame.

Gagné finished the game as the leading scorer with 18 points along with nine rebounds in just 23 minutes of floor time. She scored seven of the team’s 16 points, as Laval was able to extend their lead to 37-27 at the break. Their advantage came thanks to attempting nine more field goals than Bishop’s, due in large part to four Gaiters turnovers versus just one by Laval.

Bishop’s cut the lead to six with 2:16 left before Laval closed the stanza on a 4-0 run to regain momentum.

After the teams re-emerged from the locker room, Laval’s full-range skillset began to show. All twelve Rouge et Or women saw floor time in the first half,

and nine found the score-sheet, compared to Gaiters who dressed just eight for the rematch.

Gagné chalked up nine more points on 4-4 shooting in the frame as she earned some much needed late game rest while the Rouge et Or took control of game.

They outscored Bishop’s 14-7 and grabbed a 51-34 lead heading into the fourth quarter. The final quarter presented the Gaiters with some optimism, as they managed to slug out a 15-14 tally despite both teams largely relying on their benches. Ashley Milhomme(Repentigny, Que.) chalked up a “double-double” with 13 points and 11 rebounds in 32 minutes of court time to lead the way for the Gaiters.

While the Gaiters’ struggles can largely be attributed to their daunting 15-14 stat lines in second chance points, 19-4 in bench points, and 13-4 in points off turnovers, the 32-14 Laval advantage in points in the paint tells a story of Laval’s punishing physicality and league-leading numbers across the offensive board.

“Laval is super talented, they are deep and well coached,” said Gaiters head coach Craig Norman. “They play with a purpose and they play fast. It was a good lesson for us. I was happy with the way we competed tonight and didn’t quit.”

Bishop’s point guard Edith Noblecilla(Guayaquil, Ecuador), in her ever-expanding role, played all 40 minutes. Despite a more modest stat line compared to her torrid start to the year, she still managed eight points, grabbed eight rebounds and added six assists against the imposing Laval front-court while co-captain and leading scorer, Mara Marchizotti(Buenos Aires, Argentina), tallied 13 points on 6-8 shooting.

Last year’s Second Team All-Star, Gabrielle Girard (Quebec, Que.), and Claudia Emond (Saguenay, Que.) rounded out the Laval players with double figures scoring 11 and 10 respectively. The game ended with every Rouge et Or player playing at least seven minutes and 11 of them scor-

ing at least two points.

Laval heads into the bye week with a firm hold on the top spot in the RSEQ and their U Sports No. 2 ranking. They sit at 17-2 overall, 7-1 in conference play while Bishop’s drops to 6-7 overall and 1-5 in the RSEQ.

PHOTO COURTESY MARTY ROURKE, SPORTS INFORMATION COORDINATOR

Ashley Millhomme drives to create a better look at the basket in Saturday night’s action vs. Laval.

Study shows: women’s athletic performance improved with Isagenix supplements MADDIE HESSION Spor ts Editor

I

sagenix is one of the fastest growing health and wellness companies around the globe. They are committed to helping people reach their peak health through the scientific research of their nutritional products.

The company’s most recent study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Nutrients, provides even further validation of the benefit of the products’ nutritional value upon improving physical performance.

The study found that Isagenix prod-

ucts, combined with exercise training, improve physical performance. It was the first study to exhibit that physically active women who incorporated Isagenix products with their physical exercise improved their muscular endurance, cardiovascular health, and physical strength.

This most recent published paper is the first of two. As this study focuses how Isagenix products impact and improve the performance of women, another study with the focus of men is still to come.

“In previous studies we learned that Isagenix products served as a funda-

mental nutritional system for weight management, but we were interested in seeing the effects of the products on physical exercise and performance,” says Suk Cho, Ph.D., Isagenix Senior Adviser and Scientific Advisory Board Chair.

The study researched 30 randomly selected women and divided them into two separate groups. Both groups engaged in multilevel exercise training protocol for 12 weeks. One group followed an Isagenix program consisting of whey-based products while the other group followed a normal, healthy meal plan with food purchased from a general supermarket.

After the 12 weeks, both groups showed physical improvements across several areas of their health and fitness although it was the Isagenix group of women who showcased major advancement in their upper body muscular endurance, cardiovascular health, explosive strength, and many more.

The researchers’ conclusions give compulsory evidence that consuming Isagenix whey-based products increases dietary protein intake to double the recommended daily allowance. This greatly increases the training threshold along with additional cardiovascular benefits.

12

NEWS

THE CAMPUS JANUARY 25. 2017

Prime Minister Trudeau gets his Gaiter on RACHEL NEWCOMBE News Editor

S

PHOTOS COURTESY JESSICA GOODSELL

The Prime Minister paid a surprise visit to Bishop’s University students on Jan. 18.

tudents were given a rare opportunity to talk to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Jan. 18 when he stopped into the on-campus Tim Horton’s to grab some java and some conversation with Canadian students.

Trudeau went to tables, chatting with students about their interests and their concerns.This was followed by a media availability session, where he answered questions.

“It’s an incredible place to be here in Lennoxville, and back at Bishop’s to talk with young people, to exchange on the issues that are important to them,” Trudeau said to the assembled press, framed by several Bishop’s students.

Bishop’s was a surprise stop on Trudeau’s listening tour across Canada; most students did not know Trudeau was coming until he was already there.

In a letter sent out the day after Trudeau’s visit, Bishop’s principal Michael Goldbloom addressed the lack of notice that was given. “We would have liked to make an announcement to the community but were obliged to respect the instructions of the RCMP and the Prime Minister’s Office.”

The school used social media to

spread the news, and while there was disappointment that more of the community was not advised of the visit, several students did get to speak with Trudeau.

Student Representative Council (SRC) president Chelsea McLellan said that the conversations she overheard at the Prime Minister’s coffee talk were very thoughtful and informative.

“One conversation he had with students was actually about how important young Canadians are to his vision, which was why he made the decision to create a Youth Council—because he values that voice significantly. Whether what he says translates into actions is a different story. He was a teacher himself and he articulated how important university and education is. He even gave students university advice—telling them that it’s not just about your diploma, but about your opportunities, networks, and experience,” she said.

McLellan added that the Prime Minister’s surprise arrival sparked intense excitement in the crowd of students already there. “When he walked into the building it was almost as if a rock star had visited our school.

People were screaming and asking for photos.”

Trudeau obliged the crowd with handshakes and photos, getting into the purple spirit.

#WomensMarchDC Women’s March on Washington overwhelms NICOLE GAUVREAU Copy Editor

1

0 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 21 brought the official start of the Women’s March on Washington. Crowds had been gathering for significantly longer, with groups from various regions meeting one to two hours before and individuals starting to crowd the area designated for the pre-march rally at 8 a.m.

By 1 p.m., 15 minutes before the march was set to start, the crowd had swelled to fill over four kilometres of road and sidewalk space. This represented far more than the estimated 200,000 attendees for whom there was a permit. Estimates on the actual number range from 500,000 to 1.2 million This meant that there were not enough screens, sound systems, or toilets for the crowd.

The march’s organizers had promised diversity, and this was certainly

true of the speakers at the rally (most of whom were visible minorities or represented LGBTQ+ groups). The crowd, however, was far harder to describe as diverse.

Most of those coming from farther than the Maryland and Virginia suburbs were overwhelmingly white, though there was a wide variety of ages, from small children accompanying their parents to retirees.

This posed concerns to some in the crowds, such as a group of young Muslims who were afraid that the largely white, non-Muslim crowd would be annoyed with them and other Muslim groups in the crowd because of the number of Muslim speakers and their tendency to treat the crowd as if they were all ignorant of the harassment and discrimination Muslims have faced in increasing amounts since September 2001.

Some older women in the crowd were annoyed that the majority of speakers did not represent them. The oldest speakers were 1960s and ‘70s feminist leader Gloria Steinem (age 82), who lambasted President Donald Trump and spoke of the need for unity, and Madonna (age 58), who came to the stage last to perform version of her songs that had been re-written to directly take stabs at Trump (and say that she had been considering blowing up the White House).

The amount of speakers that represented women over 60 equally matched the number of speakers that represented girls under 10, with one young speaker; immigration activist Sophie Cruz (age 6).

The star-studded speaker and entertainer’s list (including Alicia Keys, Ashley Judd, Michael Moore, Janelle Monéa, America Ferrara, and Scarlett Johans-

son) did miss one highly present demographic: residents of Washington, D.C. Nearly every celebrity speaker encouraged people to phone, write, or tweet to their congressional and senatorial representatives; D.C., like Puerto Rico, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa, has only one non-voting member of congress.

Another group not represented by speakers at the march were anti-abortion feminists, a group of whom turned out (one week before the annual March for Life) to make themselves seen and heard.

Overall, everyone at the Women’s March on Washington expressed that they were there to represent equal rights, for their own identity. The women and men who came from the likes of Canada, Ireland, and Spain said they were there to stand in solidarity with those who did not vote for Trump.