The Campus- November 13th '19

Vol. 75, No.4

NOVEMBER 13, 2019

Encouraging Students Since 1944

What’s Inside

10 Students. 8 Days. 1 Survivor.| Page 2 Heartbreaker in Huntsville for Gaiter’s Lacrosse| Page 4 A Love Letter to (All Kinds of) Mushrooms | Page 6

Lights, Camera, BUFF!| Page 8

Pink or Blue: Why Does It Matter? |Page 12 Cover Page Photo Credits to Theresa Graham Design by Swapandeep Sandhu

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NEWS

THE CAMPUS NOVEMBER 13, 2019

Sarah Mojsej, News Editor » thecampus.news@gmail.com

THE EDITORS 2019-2020 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF BRONWEN HOLDER thecampus.editor@gmail.com

SENIOR COPY EDITOR LOCH BAILLIE

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JUNIOR COPY EDITOR HUGH GODMAN

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LAYOUT EDITOR SWAPANDEEP SANDHU thecampus.layout@gmail.com

BUSINESS MANAGER JUSTIN BRANT

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NEWS EDITOR SARAH MOJSEJ

thecampus.news@gmail.com

OPINIONS EDITOR AARON HONE

Join Enactus for Bishop’s Global Entrepreneurship Week Patrick Thompson Contributor

Global Entrepreneurship Week is Fast Approaching and Enactus wants all future business owners to take part! The week targets all students who may have a promising business idea or who want to learn about local business owners in the community. The event is open to the entire student body.

The week will kick off with a Dragon’s Den Contest on Nov. 18 featuring a three-judge panel. The panel will consist of three business professors: Jennifer Harvey, Susan Reid and Reena Antanasiadis (who is also the Dean of the Williams School of Business). Two cash prizes will be awarded and the winning team will walk away with $250. The winning team will be the judge’s pick for the best business idea and best presented business plan. The event will take place from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. in McGreer 100. For more details and signup information, contact Clara Cardun at ccardun17@ubishops.ca.

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FEATURES EDITOR JESS LAPENNA

thecampus.features@gmail.com

ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

TRINITY ANN MERRITHEW

Next on the agenda is Local Business Night!

On Tuesday, Nov. 19, a variety of successful entrepreneurs will be sharing their stories and business expenditures. Bishop’s Archers Brewery will present, as well as Jeremy Oldland, the CEO of the clothing company

Hatley. CLO merchandise will be available for purchase. The event will take place in Adams Dining Hall from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

this exciting week contact Enactus!

The speaker series will continue on Wednesday, Nov. 29, when the CEO of Espace-inc, Chloé Legris, will present. Tomas Gauthier, CEO of TG Ventures, and Jamil Abiad, founder of Next Level Media, will also share their stories. Both Gauthier and Abaid are Bishop’s alumni and Abais played on the basketball team while completing his studies.

The presentations will be held from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. in The Gait.

Ebactus@ubishops.ca Facebook:@EnactusBishops Instagram: @enactusbishops

On Thursday, Nov. 21, the Dobson Lagasse Entrepreneurship Centre will host an open house from 12:00 to 2:30 p.m. The event will aim to raise student awareness about on campus resources. Mentors will be in attendance to share with students the services that are available to all aspiring entrepreneurs.

Global Entrepreneurship Week will wrap up by offering a time-slot where students can have professional headshots taken. Pictures will be taken in Hamilton 304 between 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. For more information about

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SPORTS EDITOR MATTEO NOBILE

thecampus.sports@gmail.com

GRAPHICS KATE SCHWARTZ

thecampus.graphics@gmail.com

CONTRIBUTOR RECRUITER

ALLIE TRINQUE

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SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATORS

10 Students. 8 Days. 1 Survivor.

Véronic St-Cyr SRC Director of Events

Survive The Gait is the first series in a year-long project by the SRC called SRCTV. Based on the CBS show Survivor and the University of Moncton’s “Survive Au Coude,” Survive The Gait will feature 10 students living in the Gait and participating in challenges in order to win immunity from being voted off. The winner will receive a $750 scholarship and a Jay Peak season pass. The challenges range from physical endurance to mental puzzle games and teamwork-based activities. Survivors are encouraged to create alliances and to play the social aspects of the game as much as possible. There will even be a diary room where contestants can privately inform the viewing audience of what is going on behind the scenes. The Gait will be open every evening during eliminations so that friends and family can watch and support their favourite survivors — and grab a drink while doing so. Students can also come visit the survivors in the bar for group projects and to socialize during the adventure. For those who cannot make it to The Gait, daily episodes and recaps of the show can be watched online throughout the week. These episodes will be available on the SRC YouTube channel and regular updates will be available on the SRC’s social media platforms.

FIONA DORAN SARAH MARIA ONYANGO PHOTOGRAPHERS THERESA GRAHAM STEPHEN LEVAC ANNABELLE MORGAN THIS ISSUE CONTRIBUTORS Annabelle McIntosh Bethany Hill Britni Malmay Catherine Blais Erika Scott Hannah McLean Hugh Seguin Jakob Laplante Josh Hoekstra Katie Quinn Rachel Bayer Sonia Patenaude Victoria de Morel

Photo courtesy of Véronic St-Cyr

SINCE 1944

NEWS

The History of Separatism in Canada and Its Renewed Relevance in Today’s Political Climate Fiona Doran Contributor

Following most federal elections, political groups are created to protest those who are elected. It is often felt that one’s vote did not make a significant difference in the results and a more powerful political presence is needed. Following Canada’s recent federal election, the talk of western separatism has re-entered debate following widespread anger of a Liberal minority government.

The term “separatism” is more commonly associated with Quebec and the Bloc Québécois movements that began in the 1960s. These parties also use the words “sovereignty,” “sovereignty-association,” and “independence” to describe their movement’s goal despite all of these words having different meanings.

On Nov. 15, 1976, the Parti Québécois (PQ) took power with 41 per cent of the popular vote and 71 seats. In 1980, the Quebec referendum campaign asked the people for a mandate to negotiate sovereignty-association with the rest of Canada. Though rejected, the PQ was re-elected in 1981 with the promise of another vote. To make sure the referendum was rejected, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau promised renewal of the Canadian Constitution. When the new Constitution Act of 1982 was introduced, Quebec was the only provincial government not to sign. Its legislation is still enforced, but the absence of Quebec’s consent became a political point that would fuel separatist ideas for years. Quebec claims the unique culture and French-speaking majority of the population could be threatened by assimilation with the rest of Canada. The best way to preserve the language, identity, and culture is through the creation of an independent political entity.

Some also cite the religious differences at play.

In the 1980s, another separatist movement began on the other side of the country. In Alberta, the Western Canada Concept Party was beginning to form its roots. The objectives of this party were to try to rectify Western Canadian injustices such as freight rates, tariff barriers, oil pricing, bilingualism, and western representation in the federal government, and, of course, to promote secession from Canada. The difference with this separatist group is that it failed to win much support, only electing one member in an Albertan provincial by-election. The Western Canada Party (WCP), founded in 2005, advocates for the creation of a new country called Western Canada. The new nation would consist of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, as well as the Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut. While that is the party’s end goal, the WCP is willing to work within the Canadian system to defend western values and interests. An interesting point made by Alberta in favour of separatism is the economic difference between Eastern

and Western Canada. Alberta tends to trade more in a north-south movement with the United States than east-west with Canada.

The root of all separatist movements in Canada is the belief of cultural and economic difference within the country. Outlined in the Clarity Act is the process for a province to achieve separation from the rest of Canada. First, a province-wide referendum must be administered. The size of majority support required by the referendum is not defined, which was done to make it difficult for a province to secede. Looking throughout history, it seems as though almost every province has, at some point, had a political movement or group attempt to rally support for a separation from the rest of Canada.

After these past elections, it is clear that separatism is not a thing of the past, and is very much still present. Western Canada has expressed recent outrage following the results of the Canadian Federal Election. Not a single Liberal seat was secured in Alberta, Saskatchewan or Manitoba. However, a Liberal majority government was elected because of Ontario and Quebec influence. This has left Western Canada feeling voiceless and has spiked the discussion of western separation. Since the election, numerous independence protests have taken place with support for the Western Canada Independence Party steadily escalating.

A photo of a “Republic of Western Canada” passport became viral online as the movement for Western Canada separatism spiked following the 2019 Canadian Federal Election.

Forceful Flooding Sweeps Through Lennoxville The borough of Lennoxville woke up on Friday, Nov. 1, to severe flooding following a heavy Halloween rainfall. By 10:00 a.m., Quebec Route 108 and rue College were closed to traffic. All academic activities at Bishop’s and Champlain were suspended for the remainder of the day. The university asked students to avoid coming to campus if possible. A shuttle was available for students to cross into Lennoxville, as flooding became so severe pedestrians were not able to travel on foot.

Over 150 homes were evacuated in the Sherbrooke region, with many of the evacuations taking place in Lennoxville and impacting Bishop’s students. First responders evacuated numerous students as water levels rose throughout the day.

Many students were forced to relocate for the night, and Bishop’s opened residences to

Sarah Mojsej News Editor

students in need. By Saturday, Nov. 2, the majority of water in Lennoxville had receded thanks to crews working tirelessly the day before. Unfortunately, while some students were permitted to return to their homes, some were still without power and their homes required additional clean-up efforts.

Impacted student Erica Morrow described the flooding as a reminder of “the sense of community” for which Bishop’s is renowned. She recounted how, “strangers were offering to help [her and her roommates] with transportation and housing.” Although this flooding may seem apocalyptic, Lennoxville is no stranger to floods. The borough has been flooding regularly for over forty years.

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SPORTS

THE CAMPUS NOVEMBER 13, 2019

Matteo Nobile, Sports Editor » thecampus.sports@gmail.com

Tennis Across the Waters: Stardom, Dissolution and the Bronze Scale James Hunt Contributor

Patriotic devotion to sports is a theme found throughout a majority of today’s modern cultures and societies. South America has football, Canada has hockey, and Southeast Asia has Sepak Takraw. Simply put, many publicized and heavily advertised sports with mass media attention are capable of withstanding the test of time.

Tennis is a sport that possesses all of the necessary elements to retain its fan base and withstand the “test of time.” However, what separates tennis from other popular sports is the constant replacement and needed replenishment of its fan base, thus bringing into question the dissolution of fans with the sport. While a debatable position, it is one worthy of evaluation.

As a fan from the late 2000s, I paid witness to some of the most legendary and iconic matches of the time, played by some of the most notable and well-known players of all time. The second generation of greats after Bjorn Borg, John McEnroe, and Steffi Graf, inducted a new golden era for the sport.

On the men’s side, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray brought new grit, technical abilities and a huge level of support from their countries, winning dozens of major

tournaments with Murray even taking Olympic gold.

Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic have gone further, soaring miles above the competition, both current and previous. Serena Williams has become the clear queen of tennis – the best of all time.

Given their diverse backgrounds, outstanding talent and competitive drive for achievement, it is no wonder that they brought a fresh interest and new fan base to the sport. But as they are being outcompeted by younger players, succumbing to injury or preoccupied by familial development, the fan base that grew up watching these legends are beginning to experience dissolution.

Such dissolution can be attributed to the following factors: players, presence and patriotism. The fan base was so powerful from 2005 onward because the players were unique. Each had a showcased celebration, classic shot, and engraved personality. In this way, fans felt that they could be in touch with their player of choice.

As they disappear, it becomes extremely difficult to associate with newer players because fan loyalty is hugely entrenched in one specific player.

Tennis, while an international sport, often has an extremely localized presence in different countries.

Europe’s tennis programs are often easier to find, of a higher calibre, and more properly advertised. Many of history’s greats are European as Americans only possess a fraction of the talent. By the same logic, the patriotic devotion of European fans is much stronger compared to American fans. In this way, dissolution can be said to be less frequent in Europe, but still unavoidable.

While local popularity is a huge factor, fans of NHL teams will likely remain devoted for life, as the representation of a certain location is all people need.

Because tennis is an individual sport, once a local or favoured player retires, tennis quickly loses an entire fan base. This is quickly replenished by a younger fan base, one that identifies with a rising star, somebody that is unlikely to pique the interest of an older fan base.

This is why tennis retains and loses followers so quickly, balancing a shifting fan base on a bronze scale, constantly tipping from one side to another. Tennis fans enjoy a period of sweet joy, but there will always be the bittersweet payoff of the loss of a favourite. It is this tenyear-long rush of adrenaline that motivates fans to rush to the TV to enjoy the grueling five-hour beat down of a grand-slam final.

Photo by Clive Brunskill / Getty Images

Heartbreaker in Huntsville for Gaiter’s Lacrosse Another season has come and gone for the Bishop’s Men’s Lacrosse team. They were not able to achieve the success they were hoping for, losing their playoff game 13-12 against the Nipissing University Lakers on Nov. 2.

The game was filled with excitement from start to finish as there was a last-minute relocation from North Bay to Huntsville due to weather conditions that left Nipissing’s field covered in an inch of ice. The Gaiters had a slow start to the game, trailing 3-2 after the first quarter but finding the back of the net five times in the second quarter, giving them a two-goal lead after the first 30 minutes of play. They added another two early on in the third quarter to bring them to the largest lead of the game at four goals. The Lakers found a spark on offence in the fourth quarter, getting back into the game and giving them a shot to score the tying goal and another for the winning goal in the last minute of play. It was a goal by Bo Peltier with 27 seconds left in the game that ended the

Gaiters’ chance at competing for the Baggataway Cup.

The Gaiters’ scoring mostly came from their seniors. Captain Joel Wright had three goals, Xavier Perron had two goals and two assists, and Matthew Patterson had two goals. Tanner Poole lead the way for the Lakers with three goals and five assists. He had help from Sam Rooney with three goals and three assists, Will Craig with two goals and two assists, and Scott Dominey with three goals.

Photo by Getty Images

Matteo Nobile Sports Editor

presence of offensive midfielder Gabriel Chamberlain and will miss the leadership of Taylor Kauffeldt who was sidelined this season as he recovered from his ACL reconstruction surgery from early September.

It was an exciting season for the Men’s Lacrosse team and we look forward to seeing them back in action next fall.

Looking forward to next season, the Gaiters defence will look to improve as a group. The entire group will remain together as they don’t lose anyone on that side of the field from this past season. The offence will have holes to fill come next fall. They lose three of their top four players based on points. Perron had 22 goals and 10 assists, Patterson with 19 goals and nine assists, and Wright with 12 goals and seven assists. They also lose the strong Photo courtesy of Clare Webb

SPORTS

SINCE 1944

Magic, the Deep State, and the Decline of Canadian NHL Teams A Canadian NHL team has not won the Stanley Cup Championship since 1993, when the Montreal Canadiens beat the LA Kings. That is a national drought of 26 years.

Aside from being a national embarrassment, this drought is also statistically implausible.

Rather than accept this implausibility or waste my time looking at the stats and doing the necessary math to support it, I have theorized a sinister conspiracy.

I theorize that the American deep state is secretly controlling the NHL via Commissioner Gary Bettman who guaranteed that all Canadian NHL arenas were built on ancient Indigenous graveyards, cursing all of our NHL teams to constantly lose, thereby depriving Canadian cities of the Stanley Cup, and forcing us to watch the CFL in order to be proud of our hometowns. Once we have absolutely no hope for our plainly cursed and pathetically broken NHL teams, the deep state will then send in NBA and MLB teams who may occasionally be permitted to win, which will gradually Americanize us, which will lay the groundwork for the invasion.

You think that this theory is insane, yet I say to you: Toronto has already fallen.

I mean what else but magic and/or the deep state could explain Gary Bettman’s “success” as an NHL Commissioner, which has somehow led to a massive increase in profits, despite a massive drop in fan enjoyment and the state of the sport in general?

Further evidence of Bettman’s loyalties to the American deep state is the fact that he took NHL players out of the Olympics when it became clear to them that Team Canada was unbeatable and would always take home the gold, which consistently provided a massive boost both to national pride and the love of the game.

The league’s reasoning for banning their players from the Olympics was out of concern for the players’ health.

This is undermined when contrasted with its long-held stance that it can’t be liable for the widespread long-term brain damage and/or mental problems caused by head trauma suffered by its players, because, with enough dubiously prescribed painkillers, most of them just walk it off anyway. This position held by the league manages to be the most indefensible part of my story on how the deep state is using magic to stop Canadian hockey teams from winning the Stanley Cup. The state of the game has gotten so bad that our nation’s once-proud NHL teams are no longer playing to win.

Don’t believe me? Look to the nation’s capital and the Ottawa Senators, with 10 former players who are now top scorers on other teams. You may call those trades a strategic blunder, but they are in line with the team’s business model, which is not trying to win the cup, but merely to make it into the playoffs. That way, they are able to capitalize on postseason profits without having to sign

John Summerby Contributor

and retain the expensive top talent needed to bring home the Stanley Cup. Although it pains me to admit this, the NHL’s motives in this regard may not stem from the orders of a probably non-existent deep state or the definitely real power of curses from spirits who dwell on ancient native burial grounds and may just stem from simple human greed.

But I hope not, because magic curses being both real and breakable is currently a far more probable solution to the sport’s woes than any internal change from the NHL.

Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

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FEATURES

6 FEATURES

THE CAMPUS NOVEMBER 13, 2019

Jess Lapenna, Features Editor » thecampus.features@gmail.com

A Love Letter to (All Kinds of) Mushrooms I’m going to be completely honest with you all: I have not taken a single science class since high school (which is coming up on five years ago for me). I have only the vaguest understanding of the mycological world. I am not an expert on this topic – or really on anything, but that’s besides the point. The point is that mushrooms are really cool and you should care about them a lot more than you currently do, even if you care about them a fair amount already. I think mushrooms are really cool and I care about them so much.

First things first: have you ever been for a walk and noticed some weird fungus you just had to stop to look at it? I do that nearly every day. They look so neat! I’m talking single little bulbs and big ol’ clusters. Round ones on the ground and whatever those super flat ones are that grow on trees. The variety of colours, sizes, and shapes just make me so proud of nature. I know this is an abnormal fascination, especially because I do not follow that fascination with any knowledge (I cannot for the life of me identify any wild mushrooms), but that won’t stop me from enjoying them.

Next, they’re a great addition to a bunch of meals. If you aren’t cooking with mushrooms, you should start. They’re low in calories and high in vitamins. For people who follow a meatless diet, mushrooms add some great umami flavours and some sought-after texture. Don’t limit yourself to button mushrooms, though; they’re the white bread of the mushroom world. Sure, they have their place, but there is a whole lot more out there for you to discover.

Based on the title of this article, I’m sure many of you assumed I’d be talking about the drug kind of mushrooms. Well, you know what? Here it goes: as far as psychedelics go, shrooms are ridiculously safe. There has been no evidence linking their use to really any issues at all. In fact, there’s been increased medical research into using them for various mental and behavioural disorders (I’m talking depression, addiction, anxiety, eating disorders, and so on). However, I’m not advocating for any of you to make magic mushrooms your drug of choice. I’m not fooling myself, though; I know a ton of university-aged students really like getting high. If that’s what you’re all about, I’d suggest (as with anything else in your life) going the natural route. Please do the proper research into what you are buying and how to use safely, and please do not use alone.

On a completely different note, the coolest thing by far about mushrooms is that they are, based on my admittedly very limited understanding of the subject, the internet of the plant world. To be fair, it isn’t exactly a network of mushrooms; it’s an underground network of a different kinds of fungus called mycelium. Through mycelia, trees have been shown to transfer nutrients among each other to assure mutual survival (plant

Catherine Blais Environmental Club Co-Lead

e-transfers!). When one plant is diseased, it can communicate with neighbouring plants who then start defending themselves before the disease even reaches them. On top of this communicative defence, the presence of mycelium alone boosts plants’ immune systems and makes them more resilient. Plants can also send chemicals through the mycelial network to harm rivals. The presence of this fungus provides us with a much deeper understanding of the personality of the plant world. There are complicated and purposeful relationships that I don’t think humans will ever actually understand. This is the most environmentally relevant part of this article, which was meant to be the whole point of my writing. I just got carried away with my “they’re really great” introduction and made that into most of the article. Sorry, editors. I hope that some reader out there will be interested enough to go do their own research on the topic.

Anyway, here’s to all the mushrooms (and all the mushroom lovers) out there: you are precious and I appreciate you! If fungus still isn’t your thing, that’s fine; just be respectful of it. Don’t whack them with a stick or kick them over. If you’re not going to love them, at least don’t harm them because mushrooms are unbelievably valuable to maintaining a healthy ecosystem. They are complex life forms that are just doing their best. In the end, that’s all any of us are trying to do. I strive for my best to be anywhere near as good as a mushroom’s best.

Photo courtesy of Catherine Blais

FEATURES

SINCE 1944

Take Back the Night: Marching for Change “No more violence! No more silence!”

“Hey hey ho ho! Gender violence has to go!

“We demand the right to take back the night!”

These chants were just some of the mottos called out in unison on the night of Oct. 24, as approximately 200 students marched their way through Lennoxville, demanding for change.

The crowd gathered for the second annual student-organized event Take Back the Night to march in protest against the prevalence of sexual assault and the resounding silence that surrounds and hinders the issue.

Gathered in the Quad, the protesters heard a moving speech from Anika Malone, the head coordinator of the event.

In the middle of a powerful round of applause, Malone urged the crowd to look at the two trees wrapped in lights that she stood between and to take the resilience of these trees as a reminder of the strength that everyone contains within them. She emphasized that strength augments by coming together. “We too are strongest together,” she exclaimed before concluding: “with the incredibly powerful force that we are, let’s go to the Gait!”

It was a moment of empowerment and great pride.

Empowering survivors of sexual assault and gender-based violence was the main objective of the night, which Malone considers a shocking success. Her shock stems from the sizeable number of students who

Jeremy Audet Contributor

decided to change their Thursday night routine to come join the march – proof that “people want to see a change,” says Malone.

“Rape, harassment, and all forms of sexual assault,” she says, “strip the recipient of their power, and therefore, the ability to have a night where everyone feels powerful is a step towards improvement.”

In light of its success, Take Back the Night raises several questions regarding sexual assault at Bishop’s.

Several students’ concerns were brought up at a public forum held in early October when it became clear that the prevailing impression amongst students is that the university is simply not doing enough. Those present vocalized criticism regarding the prevention and reaction services put into place, from the sloppy bystander intervention training given during Orientation Week (which, although the university labels as mandatory, leads to no serious academic consequence if missed), to the inability of present services to properly assess complaints and assist survivors.

In fact, other than the bystander intervention training and an entertaining talk given by Mike Domitrz called “Can I Kiss You?”, no other instructive measures are organized by the university to deal with these issues. Both are given in the first days of the semester for incoming students only, and neither the training nor the conference directly address the only real cause of sexual assault: perpetrators. Some students, including Malone, want to see an increased awareness of what sexual assault consists of and how to

recognize when and how it is occurring.

It is true that the university has a sexual assault policy in place and a decent amount of services already established (Safe Haven, Safegaiter, Safewalk, and the Sexual Assault Response Coordinator), but it is also true that there is a disconnect between the school and its student body. Having all these services in place, the school creates an illusion of safety, but the reality is that sexual assault continues to take place at Bishop’s University.

With the Sexual Assault Policy up for review in January (the following review will be in 2025), the timing is right for students to voice their discontent and hold the university accountable, because one sexual assault case will always be one too many.

Photo Courtesy of Stephen Levac

Antoine Airoldi: Bishop’s Alumnus, Business Owner and Writer Antoine Airoldi is a Bishop’s alumnus who, after graduating in June 2017, moved on to write the book Insights from Professionals. In this book, he interviews 10 professionals about their different fields and personal lives. He also became the CEO of his own ghostwriting agency, which produces sales pages, marketing audits, e-books, and even full length books for six-to-seven-figure entrepreneurs. When he isn’t writing, Airoldi can often be found speaking onstage encouraging others to share their stories.

During his time at Bishop’s, Airoldi studied English with a concentration in Media and Cultural Studies. Airoldi often visited the Writing Centre, spoke with professors and had his peers edit his work because, according to him, he “wasn’t the smartest student.” Something he naturally excelled in, however, was thinking about longterm growth and investing in exactly that. He still believes that any form of mentorship can be worth so much more than a basic secondary education. Luckily enough, our campus provides students with a long list of resources (including peer mentors) that are easily accessible no matter one’s field of study.

At Bishop’s, Airoldi quickly learned that he could monetize his writing and that he could build a career with his skills. During our interview, he expressed that “writing is the number one skill that will never go away” and that more corporations and entrepreneurs need to improve their writing in order to gain more clients and to make more of a global impact.

When Airoldi graduated, he was made aware that many of his classmates weren’t sure of their future plans. In an attempt to ease the transition, Airoldi decided to begin speaking with experts who were ahead of him and his classmates, searching for answers for himself and his peers. This process opened Airoldi’s eyes as a writer and entrepreneur as he met with a number of people who encouraged him. He learned that building one’s portfolio and showing off that hard work can be beneficial in the long run and emphasized that your degree will never promise you a job or clients.

Airoldi began applying the advice he was given to his daily life because, after being

Reann Fournier Contributor

fired from two nine to five jobs, he knew that he had to take responsibility. This is what inspired him to build a career from his writing while simultaneously helping others. Raised by two driven entrepreneur parents, Airoldi was able to draw on their experiences when launching his own career and company. His writing earned him a one-time contract at The Sherbrooke Record, and from there, he launched a long-lasting career and a successful business.

In an effort to give back to the place Airoldi learned so much from, he is looking to hold a writing workshop in Lennoxville. He not only wants to pass on his knowledge to current and future Bishop’s students, but hopes that his challenges and knowledge will be beneficial to the careers and future plans of others.

Photo courtesy of Francis St-Pierre

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ARTS&CULTURE

THE CAMPUS NOVEMBER 13, 2019

Trinity Ann Merrithew, Arts & Culture Editor » thecampus.ac@gmail.com

Lights, Camera, BUFF!

Loch Baillie Senior Copy Editor

Calling all filmmakers, actors, and movie watchers: the Bishop’s University Film Festival is approaching! If you have ever wanted to make your own short film, the BUFF committee is currently looking for students interested in contributing to its annual screening gala on March 27, 2020. During this event, student-made films will be shown, food will be served, and awards will be given as BU celebrates some of its most talented artists. Though we are months away from the gala, the BUFF committee has already released its entry form and rules for this year’s competition. Here’s a quick breakdown of what you should know: Students intending to submit a film to the competition must register with Dr. Steven Woodward, by Jan. 22, 2020.

Entering the competition is free!

Entries are limited to a maximum length of six minutes.

Films must be submitted on a USB key to Dr. Steven Woodward by March 18, 2020.

One of the winning filmmakers will have the opportunity to show their work and/or compete in Le Festival Cinéma du Monde de Sherbrooke (April 2020) and in the student competition of the Festival Nouveau Cinéma in Montreal (Oct. 2020).

Good luck and we look forward to seeing your films!

For a complete list of BUFF’s rules and guidelines, please obtain an entry form by either visiting ubishops.ca/BUFF or by clicking the link in BUFF’s Instagram bio (@bufilmfestival).

Questions about the competition should be directed to Dr. Woodward (swoodwar@ubishops.ca).

Bishop’s University Celebrates Eastern Townships’ Anthology of New Writing Dr. Linda Morra Contributor

SHERBROOKE — Contributors to Waterlines, an anthology of new writing by writers in the Eastern Townships, will read from their work at Bishop’s University in Cleghorn Hall (McGreer) at 4:30 p.m. Nov. 13, 2019.

Waterlines: New Writing from the Eastern Townships of Quebec, an anthology which features the work of 70 authors from the townships, will be celebrated at Bishop’s University on Nov. 13, 2019. The event will feature four of the 70 local authors: Marjorie Bruhmuller, author of The Bell You Hardly Hear; Steven Luxton, author of In the Vision of Birds and The Dying Meteorologist; Angela Leuck, the Artist in Residence on Quebec’s Lower North Shore in 2018; and Jeff Parent, a former student of Bishop’s University, during which period he was a two-time winner of the F.R. Scott Creative Writing Prize.

This event is the third of this year’s Morris House Reading Series, now in its sixteenth year. The readings will begin at 4:30 p.m. and will be followed by a question period, an informal reception with a book signing, and a meet-and-greet with the authors. The event is free and open to all.

About Morris House Reading Series: The Morris House Reading Series brings both established and up-and-coming Canadian authors to read at Bishop’s University. Guest writers present their work, answer questions, and meet with the audience during the informal reception that follows.

For more information, visit our website.

A&C

SINCE 1944

Joker: When Pop Culture Seriously Addresses Mental Health A few weeks after its arrival in theatres, Todd Philips’s Joker (2019) won the title of Highest-grossing R-rated film of all time. This audacious adaptation on DC Comic’s beloved and well-known villain breaks from the exhausted conventional characterization and takes an unexpected turn. Forget the irreverent smiles and lighthearted jokes of a merrily mad anti-hero because Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker is, ironically, extremely serious.

The film provides a visceral portrayal of struggles directly related to mental illness — the violence of which earned the film its R rating. Now, what is so fabulous about Joker’s commercial success? Perhaps, it is that there are few better vehicles than a pop culture icon with a massive fan base to bring awareness to a topic as underrepresented as mental health.

The truth is that since his introduction in the first issue of Batman in April 1940, the Joker’s popularity has continued to grow and still, to this day, has yet to stop growing. Despite bearing the apparent characteristics of a psychopath, the antagonist charmed audiences using intelligence and humour, making him one of the most appreciated bad guys in popular culture. Who would not recognize his legendary overstretched smile or, even more famous, his strident, insane laugh?

With tons of moviegoers, comic readers, gamers and cosplayers adoring him, it only seemed natural that DC Comics would grant him his own stand-alone film.

The twist, as I mentioned earlier, is that Todd Philips’s rendering of the character is certainly not corresponding to a superhero story. Labelled as a psychological thriller, the film dives deep into the Joker’s backstory; he is a poor, marginalized and depressed man who suffers from a condition called “pathological laughter” (which causes his violent laughing outbursts in inappropriate situations).

The film’s exceedingly dark tone allows spectators the opportunity to look away from the ugliness of the troubled man’s situation by explicitly showing his struggle with abuse, harassment, anxiety and dark thoughts.

The film sheds light on areas society unfortunately tends to try to hide or repress.

As a result of inhumane treatment, we feel compassion and empathize with the Joker in scenes of him being judged on a city bus, dismissed by his psychologist, and beaten in an alleyway.

Quite surprisingly, it is also the very first time that the Joker receives a name: Arthur Fleck. This simple change humanizes his character, who was previously only known by his idiomatic stage name. Many painful moments of irony also highlight the difficulty of keeping up with social expectations. The fact that Arthur works as a party clown who must always smile and sing illustrates how, as he says himself, “The worst part about having a mental illness is people expect you to behave as if you don’t.”

In its entirety, Joker (2019) allows the audience to experience the horrors of living in the margins of society and incites us to show more consideration and compassion to those who struggle with mental health.

With a memorable soundtrack (including titles such as the classic “That’s Life”

by Frank Sinatra), an outstanding performance by Phoenix and many strikingly disturbing scenes not to be easily forgotten, Joker is more than just an origin story; it is the proof that a pop-culture villain can team up with great cinema techniques to spread awareness on mental health.

Sherbrooke’s Historic Winter Prison’s Impending New Purpose High up on the Sherbrooke hill overlooking the Magog River, one can find a majestic and yet eerie looking edifice known as the Winter Prison. Built in 1865, the prison is the city’s oldest stone structure and third oldest public building. Although virtually abandoned since its inmates were last transferred out three decades ago, efforts are now being made to finally restore it for public use.

As a crucial part of the Canadian (and Quebecois) judicial system’s history, the Winter prison has more than a few stories to tell. It was at this exact location where six instances of capital punishment by hanging took place between 1880 and 1931 and where daring attempts were made to escape its walls (one of which was succeeded in 1930 by an inmate named Guillenette which led to his permanent escape from justice).

Winter Prison is known for having some of the most deplorable living conditions for prisoners in Quebec. Particularly in its early days, utilities were very old-fashioned. Between 1872 and 1899, prisoners had to use chamber pots instead of toilets. Additionally, in its first 42 years of service, the prison did not have access to running water, thus requiring it to be heated on a wood stove.

The prison holds several shockingly tiny single cells of two by eight feet, only large enough to fit a narrow bed. The inhumanity of these cells was one of the reasons cited for the prison’s abandonment in 1989.

With the hopes of restoring the community-valued tourist destination, Mr. Michel Harnois, Executive Director of the Sherbrooke Historical Society (SHS), strongly advocates for public investment into Winter Prison.

Harnois draws attention to the unique physical features that characterize the prison, its Palladian architecture, the main building’s attachment to the governor’s house and its location across from both the former judge’s house and the

BU Drama Presents: Slave Island Originally written by Pierre Carlet de Chamblain de Marivaux, then translated to New English by Justin A. Blum, and now directed by Gabrielle Houle, Slave Island is a one-act play that questions social order and mocks human vices.

A light comedy in a utopian setting, the show makes use of the beloved characters of the Commedia dell’Arte. First performed in 1725 by the famed Italian Comedy in Paris, it was later called a “little jewel” by Beaumarchais, the author of the Figaro Plays and a contemporary of Marivaux.

Tickets will be sold at the Centennial Box Office prior to the event and at the door. Admission costs $10 for students and $15 for adults. The show will run from Nov. 13 through 17 at 7:30 p.m. Be sure not to miss out!

Cécilia Alain Contributor

Anonymous

Sherbrooke Courthouse. Moreover, the 18-foot-high stone wall surrounding the prison’s courtyard has remained intact and is the last of its kind to exist in Canada.

What could a future visit to a restored Winter Prison look like? The experience that Mr. Harnois envisions would incorporate, “guided and non-guided tour[s]” with the latter being, “interactive and even immersive.” His hope is that through “the use of technology, the visitor would [experience] what it was [like] to live in the building as a prisoner or [to work] as a guard.”

Visitors could, “discover and learn about the evolution of the society of Sherbrooke and the surrounding [area] since 1870.” Furthermore, rooms in the prison could even be used to host educational events, a function the prison will soon fulfill with plans already in place for courses to be taught within the walls of the prison. A philosophy teacher will discuss incarceration, crime in society, and justice, and a Sherbrooke University professor will give a public lecture on the history of jails.

Before the building can be reopened for regular public visits, however, there is still work to be done. The Winter Prison requires significant renovations to accommodate large numbers of visitors. In total, the estimated cost to restore the prison is $6.5 million. In order to demonstrate public support for the prison’s transformation, the SHS has created an online petition linked to its website. It has now surpassed the group’s goal of 2500 signatures, and currently sits at over 2800.

Though nothing is certain, the fulfillment of SHS’s vision to transform the Winter Prison into a place “to discover, to learn [and] to feel the emotion of what it was to be a prisoner” seems closer than ever.

Bishop’s University Drama Department Contributor

OPINIONS

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THE CAMPUS NOVEMBER 13, 2019

Aaron Hone Opinions Editor » thecampus.opinions@gmail.com

Argumentation Over Memorization Last week, I finished my final midterm: another barrage of multiple-choice questions that I hastily completed. I find that exams focused around the regurgitation of answers are becoming more prevalent the more I progress in my university career. This system is faulty because instead of articulating theories and understanding arguments, it’s a multiple-choice system focused on memorization, asking individuals to copy paste from memory onto a page. This form of learning is simplistic and fails to prepare students for their futures. Education and psychology students know it is simplistic; so why do it? I would argue that we use this testing method because it gives the aesthetics of objectivity. Students cannot get mad at objective measures, so schools take the textbook and dilute it down to bullet points, making all knowledge a variety of uncontroversial points to be memorized.

An education based on memorization is insufficient and ripe for abuse. It is easy for individuals to game the system when individuals only need to remember key details and what the professors find important.

In addition, multiple-choice questions are easy to answer if you understand how test taking works. There are many online instructions that can aid you to narrow your choices to a 50/50 guess. Small essays that ask for the repetition of the aspects of a theory are no better. This kind of learning views us as no better than robots and focuses on students who can photographically memorize textbooks and perfectly follow directions. Instead, I find the students who critically understand and apply information more important.

I will say, however, that learning by memorization is important for first years to understand the underlying terms and such. But we should be learning to think, argue, and understand in later year, instead, we focus on memorization. The objective method of memorization is supposed to protect us from the non-objective inclinations of the professor. The debate of argument and the subjectivity that is reality in true society.

However, all this does is protect us from what is critical thinking and improvement.

In an attempt to appear objective and not leave questions of understanding to professors, we have left knowledge as a regurgitation of facts and figures with strict directions. Memorization only appears objective as it is the point at which all individuals agree and in which you are either right or wrong. This is insufficient. Instead of this system, schools should teach so as to understand where individuals do not agree and have students show an understanding of their knowledge, or have students build with new knowledge We should teach individuals to form arguments and examine them. We should change our system to reflect how knowledge is focused in the form of debates, emphasizing that we shall never completely understand a topic. This could help with the grade inflation — I have professors that refuse to give A’s, so why not lower the failing grade to 20 per cent, which would allow students to learn and have more room for improvement? We could focus on longer papers and greater explanations of understanding. This would allow for critical thinking and discussion in our understanding

Finding Balance as an Intuitive In Art and Experience, John Dewey takes a look at what aesthetics are and how they originate in the world. He begins his pragmatic tale by laying out the human experience as something based in the sensory and, consequently, reliant upon the environment.

From some absence or lack in the external world come needs. If the environment was always enough for us to live and survive, always providing, we would never have a need for anything. There is thus a constant disharmony, which is followed by a back swing when we modify our living slightly, putting in effort to satisfy the need and return to a state of equilibrium.

This continues until another “lack” manifests itself, in a constant interplay of tension and regaining of balance. It is similar in the way of experience. When something produces tension in our lived experience, this results in emotional unrest and produces a need for resolution. We work at it and try to find a space in which the unrest settles down. When we do, a shift occurs, and we feel a regained sense of balance; we have grown or evolved. Yet this only continues until another tension is introduced — as such, the human experience is that of a continual state of flux, change, and rebalancing. This is what it means to live, and the change that one brings in to reach balance is that which produces growth; Dewey calls this the aesthetic experience. When an aesthetic experience is funnelled through a creative medium by a person, this is art, and it can be one of the deeper ways of connecting to one’s struggle.

To look to the ancient past momentarily, specifi-

Hugo Seguin Contributor

of the material.

Memorization fails us as it does not teach us to think critically, view outside forms of knowledge or create new associations. That sort of thinking is removed completely and is left for the highest levels of academia or for the workforce. The most useful skill for life is not in our education right now. This view of people as automata instead of humans needs to change.

This is only a 400-word rant. This theory is complex and should be viewed in greater detail; however, this is one step in the right direction.

Arielle Beaupre Contributor

cally in the time of tribal living, those with unusual qualities and abilities of intuition and connectedness were made into the shamans, healers or ‘truthsayers’ of their people. Nowadays, the world has modernized and taken on a much faster pace, and the modernization and development of individualism have made it so that people no longer grow up having a predetermined space and community to thrive and be included in. It is required of them to find a mould into which they fit, just the same as everyone else, and to develop social circles from the ground up. Yet, what is not understood is that there are those who do not fit easily, specifically the intuitive, introverted types (to refer to Jungian Personality Theory). These types find it exceedingly difficult to just follow the rules and fit the constraints, for doing so would mean a squashing of what makes them so unique — their creative imagination and openness. As a result, they may experience considerable difficulty selecting career paths, particularly since most careers in the modern world involve specialization; the intuitive tend to work best when they have free rein, creative looseness and allowance for contact with the mystic within — their genius. This means that they continually feel a need to struggle against the rigid, rooted structures and the dominant mentalities in society. At the same time, they know that in order to be a part of society they are required to fit themselves into these structures. A deep sense of solitude or dissociation can be pervasive, seeping into their everyday livelihood, stemming from feeling like someone looking in on people who are just hap-

pily living out their lives in the structure, able to follow it. Doing something that is passingly difficult for the intuitive with ease.

If one looks at the experience of the introvertedintuitive through the lens of Dewey’s work, the openness and intuitive understanding which characterizes them and makes them deeply involved in their own and in others’ tensions would be the reason behind their drive to create and the actual works of art which come of them. It can also be said that these types are trying and often finding themselves able to release and overcome the tensions they feel through mediums of artistic expression. In so doing, they are reaching deep within themselves while remaining thoroughly rooted in the earth of the outside world and pulling from this an aesthetic expression which is their growth embodied. This expression, which may be called art, can then provide a source for others to draw upon to understand themselves and the world they live in, and to subsequently enter more deeply balanced and rooted living.

Dissociation and solitude need not be spaces to trap oneself in, neither must energies remain stuck on past failures and anxiety towards the future. If at all possible, approaching a medium of expression in the present moment may allow for understanding of the tensions felt, bringing back the balance which is sought. For, indeed, lingering does good to none and all are meant to grow and be alive.

OPINIONS

SINCE 1944

Minority Report: Canada Has Another Hung Parliament, but a Parliament Nevertheless Owen Teolis Contributor

Minority governments are good. This is a controversial claim, apparently. “But Owen,” people say, “minority governments can’t get anything done and don’t last long.” When others confront me with these truths, I agree. Of course, hung parliaments are vexed by otiosity and transience, but my argument does not pertain to parliamentary mechanics or lifespan. Rather, minority governments are a brief opportunity for compromise and cooperation.

We live in an adversarial society which demonizes these two virtues. Compromise is a sign of sacrifice and cooperation is a sign of feeblemindedness. In other words, compromise and cooperation are a concession; one must inevitably surrender a value or idea. At what point in history this became a bad thing, I cannot quite figure out. Our world has become Balkanized across so many lines: ideological, cultural, even interpersonal. And yet, we eschew any effort to find middle ground, any attempt to conciliate the pernicious schisms that afflict so many countries and governments.

Canada is also divided and has just wrapped up eight years of a majority government. Few are the unbroken stints of one-party domination of parliament in our

No Nature

country’s history since the First World War, after the soidisant Great Party Era. When we list some of the great prime ministers of Canada’s past, we see that they too were not always guiding the tiller with a fifty-per-centplus-one majority in the House: Pierre Elliott Trudeau led a minority government; William Lyon Mackenzie King, our prime minister of 21 years, led two; Lester B. Pearson, the man, I contend, who did more than any other prime minister, establishing universal healthcare, the Order of Canada, student loans, and the Canadian Pension Plan, among other achievements all within five years of minority rule. These accomplished leaders were not lamed by the prospect of a minority government. They knew that if Canadian politics were to continue unhindered by bickering and bullheadedness, they needed to work as an elected team. Majority governments do not make good leaders; good leading makes good leaders.

Canada’s past demonstrates that a hung parliament does not mean that politics in Canada must come to a halt. It means that leaders in the House of Commons — all leaders in the House of Commons — need to approach governing with a different tactic, a tactic I often worry has been lost on some of today’s world leaders. This is a time for

parliamentarians to realize that compromise and cooperation are not vices, but attributes of a government that shows its citizens a willingness to concede some minor subpoints on policy so that greed and gridlock do not overcome political life. The best work occurs in the middle of the spectrum, a territory I dare say many Canadians call their ideological home.

This interregnum will not last long and other elections on the horizon will send another majority to the House in a few years. The pattern will repeat, too: four years of unchecked legislative power that will infuriate dissenters and ingratiate supporters. For now, leaders and MPs have a responsibility: show Canada and the rest of the world that, even in our divided times, we can bridge the political split, we can strike deals and we can achieve cooperation.

A minority government is not an excuse to be idle and blame the opposition, but rather a time for leaders to work together and to do what we elect them to do: lead.

they are arguing for is biologically unnatural (in reference to some social character, group, or action) it’s that the person is unwilling (perhaps unable) to critically reflect on their stance and belief, acknowledging that their position in reference to some human identity, act or character is really an opinion — “I don’t like that.” At least the overt sexist and racist acknowledges that the position they hold is due to preference.

The person who uses the appeal to nature hides their opinion or bias behind what they rationalize to back up their position (picking and choosing evidence, ignoring the contradictions) or even worse, blindly committing to what the mass of society they belong to holds to be true. As if society has never been wrong or is in contradiction to what we now hold to be “true.” I can already imagine the rebuttals: “I am a person of social science, women are this, men are that, hormones, evolutionary psychology, population demographics, utility preferences, blah blah blah.” Just a few years ago, transgenderism was included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Go back in time slightly further and homosexuality was a few pages behind it.

At one point, women were argued to be “naturally” incompatible with education. Further, how could we forget those wonderful high-minded scientists who created phrenology — a now-defunct scientific field which theorized that black people are inferior to whites based on cranial size. Continually redefining and reconstituting what it means to be human within the context of society seems to be the only natural thing about us.

A human (human action, group identity, etc.) thing by its very existing is natural. It has naturally

arisen in whatever context it emerged from. And so has the subsequent action they have committed or do commit, not that their action or identity cannot be judged, but the appeal to the natural order if included in that judgment is illogical and harmful.

Who wouldn’t say that serial killers or pedophiles should be punished, held accountable, and forced to take responsibility for their actions? But they exist; they are just as natural as you and me — they are human beings. Existence precedes whatever it is we have to say about it.

The real focus of my argument is the consequence of the appeal to authority in the natural ordering of things. Usually those who are deemed unnatural are othered away, meaning that in their existence being unnatural and fundamentally outside of our own privileged natural existence they fail to be granted the same social or political privileges. Why is it that young black men get longer and harsher sentences than white men for committing the same crimes?

It is a political statement that secrets away the humanity of those peoples. To label some human thing natural or not (us or other) in its actuality is really a call to action. A political call of dehumanization: that this inhuman in human guise is codified and legislated about, controlled and manipulated... dealt with. Whereas the natural can go on business as usual, free to do as they please. While some things should be condemned, when we forget that the person(s) in reference is human we deal with them as non-humans, the consequences of which I hope are evidenced enough throughout time to be self-explanatory. What would it mean in our societies if we followed through on the belief that all people are natural, that there are no unnatural people,

Joshua Hoekstra Contributor

What I am writing today is a response to a form of argument and thought that I have come into contact with repeatedly over the past semester. Interning for an on campus prison abolition group (Centre for Justice), I’ve both listed to and studied lines of thinking that hide away the humanity of those who are considered to be unnatural – that justify dealing with people instead of cultivating people, a kind of thinking that believes some people are not full humans. Who would rather lock people away than try to help cultivate people that would not harm others?

I call this form of argumentation the appeal to authority in the natural ordering of things. Essentially, it is an argument used in reference to the political and social realms. It deals with people (how we think of them, what we do with them, where do they get to exist). It is most often used to criticize some human action or identity through the comparison of it to some other human grouping or identifiable characteristic. Usually following this is the highlighting of it as a minority group (whether in population or political power), with a contrast to the majority, thus being labelled “unnatural” or other. Thus, stripping people of the social protections and privileges that go along with being natural — a member of the in-group.

This argument, the appeal to authority in the natural order of things, is a convincing argument for those of weak dispositions and minds that are unable to place authority for their view in themselves and challenge the inherited ideas of their times.

Those who would just as easily be slave owners if born in nineteenth-century Mississippi or Nazis in twentieth-century Germany. It’s not that whatever

OPINIONS

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Pink or Blue: Why Does It Matter?

With so many people online every day, and people sharing videos and photos of everything and anything, it was inevitable that some trends would form. Some of them are great: #TrashTag, which encourages people to pick up garbage in polluted areas, and the #MeToo movement, which encourages people to speak up about their sexual harassment and assault experiences. These trends inspire positive action and have a purpose.

Other trends, however, should be banned. One that I’m having trouble with is the gender reveal trend – a trend where parents-to-be invite friends and family to a party at which they reveal the gender of their baby extravagantly.

One of the first problems with this trend is that it has become a competition of originality more than a celebration. It began with cakes with blue or pink filling, then it was pink

or blue balloons. Some didn’t see the point of balloons, so they ordered confetti cannons. These days, such parties can include sports, cars, and fireworks. Gender reveals have become shows, some at which people even place bets.

Competition aside, why does it matter if the parents-to-be will have a boy or a girl? What are they celebrating exactly? The fact that their daughter-to-be has more rights than their grandmothers had in 1932 but still not as many as men? The fact that they won’t have to spend up to $200 or more on tampons and pads every year?

I understand wanting to know the gender of your child before giving birth. Some want to know for medical reasons, like hereditary genderspecific conditions. I understand wanting to know in order to prepare the nursery (although, if you go with pink or blue, I’ll give a great big sigh),

THE CAMPUS NOVEMBER 13, 2019

Noemi Blom Contributor

buy clothes, or think of names. If you want to know, I respect that, but why celebrate the answer? Is your child going to be anything less of an amazing human being because of what they have (or don’t have) between their legs?

As a non-gender-related argument, I must bring up the environmental consequences. Confetti everywhere (I doubt it all gets picked up), balloons being released into the sky, and fireworks are just a few examples. Although some methods are worse than others, they are all polluting in some way. And let’s not forget to mention all the decorations and disposable plates and cutlery that are just ‘so much easier’ to deal with at big gatherings. All these are wastes of money and are thrown away at the end of the day.

If you do really want to celebrate your child’s gender, I won’t stop you, but please do it in a safe way.

Pineapple Doesn’t Belong on a Pizza What is an opinion? According to Webster’s Dictionary, it is a “belief stronger than impression and less strong than positive knowledge.”

First off, an opinion is a piece of information that contains no proof behind it, and it could be proven wrong.

What is a fact, then? It is “a piece of information presented as having objective reality.” In that case, a fact is a piece of information that has proof and can’t be changed.

Having an opinion is essential to our daily lives. We could express a strong opinion about pineapple on pizza or about a race, religion, sexuality or nationality. This opinion creates a domino effect into the lives of the individuals around us or the number of sales of Hawaiian pizzas.

Opinions are downright reckless when they are passed around, especially when they hold no truth behind them, especially when saying people that eat pineapple on pizza are crazy. Opinions create ideas and

distorted images that effect visible minorities and Hawaiian pizza in the most corrupt ways possible. Facts, on the other hand, clear up wrong ideas.

Facts create a world of truth, clarity and unity in the world of pizza lovers. Facts help put down false ideas and fight the injustice in this world.

So why not ditch those opinions and stick to facts?

Somebody asked me if Canada is racist. According to Global News, more than three quarters of Canadian respondents to the Ipsos poll said they were not racist, but many acknowledged possessing racist thoughts.

According to my life in 2018, my very first manager told me she wasn’t racist but, according to food regulations, I had to remove my hijab and exclusively speak French in the workplace because “this is Quebec.” She never presented me with concrete proof of this regulation, and my first day at work was the first day I recognized that as an individual born and raised

Although most injuries that occur at these events are caused by silly things, one has resulted in death: a family in Iowa recently made a homemade explosive and, well, things went wrong.

Many gender reveal videos are posted online and it’s saddening to see the disappointment written on some of the parents’ faces. These children are inevitably going to see these videos, and it might emotionally scar them to see that their gender, something they had no control over, mattered so much to their parents.

All this to say: I won’t be holding a gender reveal party when I am with child. Celebrating gender means giving in to stereotypes and societal pressures to conform. This is celebrating them, and this is the beginning of the oppression your child will have to face as soon as they take their first breath.

Fatima Pugganwala Contributor

in Canada, Canada did not want me. Canada wanted what everyone looked like. That’s not me. I’m just like a half-Hawaiian and half without pineapple pizza, but people can’t stand the thought of there being any amount of pineapple on the pizza.

That person that asked if Canada was racist is gifted to be given the privileged life of being a Caucasian woman and (in her opinion) she believes Canada is not racist. I am delighted she maintains a positive opinion about the country I was born and raised in as a visible minority who has experienced racism, discrimination and feelings of isolation from our society.

It’s like the pepperoni pizza that never had to change to fit in, it’s the Hawaiian pizza everyone’s got a problem with — it’s the fruit, you know?

So, listen. Why don’t we just try a slice of that Hawaiian pizza to get down to the truth about the combination and if we don’t like it then just

respect that others savour it, no need to try to get it off the menu.

Let’s stop this large movement of hate and start trying to respect the differences in each other and start learning the truth about our surrounding communities. If you don’t like a community, try to get down to the reason why; then learn to respect that community itself.

Don’t make finding facts and truth hard because it makes it harder for that community to feel included.

When you deem the easy things hard in life, it is going to be hard. In conclusion, we all maintain our preferences but, at the end of the day, we all have a heart, and a pizza always has a crust. Cheers. https://globalnews.ca/ news/5262461/canadian-racismipsos-poll/

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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 acknowledgment, 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