The Bishop’s University Newspaper Vol. 71, No.2
fendinmidHtHHowling at the ecliped moon since 1944 SEPTEMBER 30, 2015
www.thebucampus.ca
Dale Wood Loves Beer
BU chemistry professor leads students in Canada’s only undergraduate university brewery PHILIP RICH News Editor
Dr. Dale Wood is an avid Philadelphia Flyers fan. This is evident from the moment you first walk into his office. A flag and license plate featuring the team’s name and logo hang in the window, and the walls are painted orange and white. He hopes to slowly turn the office into a shrine devoted to his beloved hockey team, much like he has to the room next door, which is dedicated to his other passions of chemistry and beer. This is the Bishop’s Arches Brewery. Wood has always loved beer, and confessed to having studied it ever since he received his Ph. D. in chemistry from the University of New Brunswick. However, it wasn’t until six years ago that he decided to pursue this love of beer in the classroom. Wood started teaching a chemistry course on beer brewing. The goal of this class was to introduce BU students who were not studying the natural sciences to this area of study, specifically chemistry. The course is offered in the spring semester and revolves around the history and science of brewing. It was a big hit with students, and this prompted Wood to consider just how much he could incorporate his passion Some of the selection that has been produced so far. for beer into the academic environment. Three years later Wood was on also been essential to the process, as brewery. Located in the parking lot of sabbatical, trying to “figure out what they learn how to brew many different the Sports Centre, the Beer Gardens [he] wanted to do in life.” It was then kinds of beer. will allow students, staff, and alumni to that he came up with the idea of taking As Wood was quick to point sample the Arches product, along with his brewing course to the next level. out, this is the benefit of what he calls craft beers from other Quebec microHe believed that establishing an aca- an “academic brewery.” The Arches breweries including The Golden Lion, demic brewery would provide both he brewery is “not about making money,” Siboire, and Trou de Diable. and the students a new opportunity to according to Wood, but is instead “priThe entrance fee of $20 ($15 for stulearn, as well as offer a lab component marily a learning experience.” Students dents) includes access to the event, a to the beer brewing course. The school are able to experiment with different 10 oz. Bishop’s Arches Brewery souwas on board with the idea, and the beers in an attempt to determine which venir beer mug, and one beer of your Arches Brewery was born. kinds are best suited for a university choice. Each additional refill is $3, with So far, the project has been a brewing operation, discovering which the money going to support the Arches great success. Wood says it has been ones they like and which ones don’t brewery. tough working what he considers two turn out. On Oct. 5, the Arches brewery beer full time jobs, but calls it an “absolute The BU brewing team does have four will be made available to the communblast.” He credits the school’s business or five successful recipes that are not as ity via the brewery only. Customers will office and his assistant Alexandra Watt, experimental. These are available for be able to buy a custom growler with who volunteers all of her time, for hav- big events such as the upcoming Beer beer for $15, and every subsequent reing been instrumental in the creation of Gardens on Oct. 3, which is considered fill from the brewery will be $10. the Arches Brewery. The students have to be the big launch for the Arches Clearly Wood is very proud of what
PHOTO COURTESY BISHOP’S ARCHES
he has accomplished thus far, but he will not stop there. He hopes to continue developing the brewery in the future and has many ideas on how to do so, including studying and utilizing local yeasts, a potential partnership with Molson, and opening a brewpub on campus. As for his personal goals, Wood is a man on a mission. “My goal is to taste every beer in the world,” he said excitedly, “I know it’s a lofty goal, but I’ll do my best.”
See you at Homecoming!
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NEWS The Campus Editors, 2015-2016
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF:
Nicole Gauvreau
THE CAMPUS SEPTEMBER 30, 2015
Philip Rich, News Editor » thecampus.news@gmail.com
All you need to know about the Green Party NICOLE GAUVREAU Editor-in-Chief
COPY EDITOR:
Kristy Bockus
LAYOUT AND ONLINE EDITORS:
Natasha Paikin & Ryan Millar
FEATURES EDITOR:
Asha-Maria Bost
ASSOCIATE AND NEWS EDITOR:
Philip Rich
ARTS EDITOR:
Katie Manners
OPINIONS EDITOR:
Haley Lewis
SPORTS EDITOR:
Dan Gilbert
The Campus is editorially and financially autonomous. It is published by the Campus Publication Board. The Campus is a member of the Canadian University Press (CUP), a national co-operative of over 70 college and university student newspapers. The Campus supports the CUP Statement of Principles. All material is copyright The Campus. Nothing may be reproduced without the written consent of the Editor-in-Chief. Complaints may be made directly to the Editor-in-Chief. If no resolution can be reached, complaints should be forwarded to the Publishing Board. The opinions of the writers published in The Campus do not necessarily represent the opinions of the staff of The Campus or the Campus Publishing Board. Likewise, the opinions expressed in the advertisements published in The Campus do not reflect the opinions of the staff or the Publishing Board. Submissions to The Campus will be considered if they are received prior to the deadline at midnight on the Friday previous to the publication date. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit all submissions for length, style, and/or inappropriate material. The editorial staff also reserves the right not to publish submissions, including assigned stories or solicited material. Letters to the editor can be submitted directly to the Editor-in-Chief by email, in person, or by mail. Letters must be accompanied by the author’s name and phone number for verification purposes, even in the case of anonymous letters. All submissions should be in text-only or Microsoft Word format.
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n Sept. 22, Green Party deputy Leader Daniel Green came to Bishop’s University to talk about the Green Party’s plans for legislature should they gain the seats required for party status in Parliament. Green also spoke of his own entrance into the field of politics after a career as an environmentalist. This aspect of his talk was, perhaps, the most pertinent to students, as he discussed his evolution from not understanding the value of political engagement to playing an active role when given the right stimulus. In regards to policy, the Green Party recognizes that it simply does not have enough candidates to form a government. Therefore, it plans to back either the Liberals or NDP seeing as both are relatively friendly towards the environment and renewable energy. Should the Conservative Party win enough seats to form another govern-
ment, the Greens intend to ask the Governor General to hold off on naming a government until talks towards a coalition government can be held, and hopefully, settled. The Green Party also plans to back a strong front at the upcoming Paris talks on the environment. This is will be some of the first steps towards Canada reasserts itself as a steward of the world, since it is no longer a leader in peacekeeping and has backed out of the Kyoto Protocol agreements. Green also spoke on the dangers of several proposed oil pipelines, some of which will run across Quebec. These pipelines will be able to be shut off in 12 minutes. However, in relation to the flow rate those 12 minutes could see as much oil spilled as the Lac Mégantic disaster two years ago. A spill of such volume would permeate the soil and sewer systems, and eventually people’s homes and businesses. Similar to Lac Mégantic, it could become necessary to declare wide areas unsafe for living, requiring demolition. Green sees oil and other carbon fuels as a greater threat than terrorism,
though only one is often talked about in the news. It is the very issue surrounding oil and the Lac Mégantic disaster that led Green to represent the Green Party, after having been asked for a number of years. When conducting water testing in the area of the disaster, Green says he felt he was not only sampling hazardous materials, but also “people’s remains.” It was then that he knew he must go down a different one of the three paths that exist for action in order to amend government policies. Green had been on a path that would lead him to further involvement in civil society. As the other paths were doing nothing or becoming involved in political society, he found the choice easy. Green encouraged youth to take a similar path, and leave behind political apathy. Voter participation for those 18 to 25 is under 40%; should those numbers rise, youth could change the track of the government and the world.
BU launches brand new website JEREMY ANDREWS Contributor
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n Wednesday, Sept. 23, Bishop’s University announced the launch of a newly designed website. At present Bishop’s has at least three distinct websites: the main ubishops.ca, gobishops.ca for prospective students, and gaiters.ca for all sports-related information. According to Mr. Dan Seneker, Director of Enrolment Management, who made the announcement, one of the goals of the new website is to create a “standardized brand image.” This means that we will likely see the content of gobishops.ca and gaiters.ca fully merged into ubishops.ca in the coming weeks and months. At the Wednesday launch, Ms Suzanne Lemieux Bédard presented the new website, along with several other colleagues from local marketing firm Lemieux Bédard. The team highlighted several new features, including the use of a “hamburger menu” for navigation, and
that the website will be “responsive” to both the device (i.e. will automatically adjust to fit PC, tablet, and smartphone screens) and the user (automatically adjusts arrangement of homepage content depending on the user group: student, prospective student, faculty/ staff, parent, etc.). The designers also noted that the revitalized site would make more extensive usage of social media. The design takes into account the results of a survey conducted earlier this year to which 300 people responded. During the website launch, Bishop’s also unveiled a new recruitment video. The video received a mainly positive response from the audience, but some criticized it for placing too much emphasis on sports and partying rather than academics. The video is available on the new Bishop’s homepage, as well as on the university’s YouTube channel.
The website was contracted through a public bidding process that received bids from all over Canada, and even international companies. Ultimately, the Sherbrooke based company was selected, as it offered the best value. Bédard remarked at the event that her company has had a long relationship with Bishop’s University, considering they first worked for BU in 1993 on their 150th anniversary campaign. The emblem in stained glass above the main exit from McGreer Hall was in fact designed by Lemieux Bédard to commemorate the occasion. Seneker warned that full migration to the new website will take place over several months. While most of the main pages are complete, the old website contained over 7,000 individual pages, and each one has to be checked for accuracy and broken links before it can be launched with the new design.
In the meantime, visitors may find that some links bring them to a page with the old look. Seneker also noted that the change does not have any impact on MyBU and Moodle, but that he was aware of complaints about MyBU, and the university is actively considering possible alternatives. The present system, called PowerCampus, was purchased in 2012 as an update to the former proprietary version of MyBU. At the time, this was a huge improvement over the old course registration system. All members of the university are asked to report any broken links or other errors they may encounter. To report a problem, log on to http://octopus.ubishops. ca/ using your MyBU credentials, click on “new request,” set the “type” as “BU Website Problem,” select the most appropriate option in the “Issue” box, and describe the issue under “Details.”
THEBUCAMPUS.CA
On-Campus Elections see new faces join SRC
NEWS
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SCOTT POTTER Contributor
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olls closed for the SRC on-campus elections at 4 p.m. on Sept. 23. Three students ran for one Student Events Coordinator (SEC) position and two students ran for two Student Affairs Representative (SAR) positions; all five were girls in their first year at Bishop’s University. Alex Myrie and Christy Honegger each won a SAR position. The winner of the SEC position was Hailey Clarke, with Rachel McNamara and Amanda Hewitt receiving the second and third position for most votes, respectively. SEC Clarke is a first year political studies student from a small mining town in Northern Ontario. She is already involved in the Bishop’s community as the VP communications for Jam for Justice, an organiza-
tion that raises money and supports local music. Back home she volunteered annually with the local festival committee and organized her school’s graduation trip to Cuba. These past three weeks have turned Clarke into a “proud Gaiter,” and she hopes to work together with the other SRC members to “put on events for everyone to get involved and to show our purple pride.” Christy Honegger, an elementary education student, comes from Lachute, a town in Quebec’s Laurentides region. She is “very eager to meet people on the SRC and everyone else involved.” SAR Honegger believes that “being involved in the Bishop’s community is important,” and if there is anything she can do to improve life at Bishop’s, she is “ready to help!” According to Honegger, the best potential improvements for Bishop’s residents are better quality WiFi
connections and more bonding events. She feels her time at John Abbott College taught her about time management, but she still is disquieted by the idea of balancing SAR duties, academics, competitive dancing, clubs, and a social life. The peppy enthusiasm that Honegger brings to the SRC team bubbles through all her communications; indeed, she ends an email to this writer with “GO GAITERS!” Alex Myrie, born in New Haven, Conn., grew up in Pickering, Ont. She describes herself as a “very dedicated person” and hopes, as an SAR, to advocate for the “rights and interests” of all Bishop’s students, both on and off campus.
Student Recruitmen Meets Blood Donation The #Bleedpurple Campaign KATHARINE MCKENNEY Contributor
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n the next year, approximately 4.5 million people across North America will require a blood transfusion. That means that roughly one person needs blood every two seconds. Unfortunately, the demand far outweighs the supply, and there is often a shortage of willing blood donors. In fact, just last year, Canada’s blood supply hit a six-year low, prompting a donor appeal across the country from Canadian Blood Services. Now, Bishop’s has partnered with Canadian Blood Services and HémaQuébec in the #BleedPurple campaign,
which combines student recruitment with social awareness and community philanthropy. Bishop’s is hoping to attract community-minded individuals to become the next generation of Gaiters, and help foster a strong sense of global citizenship. How do I participate?
The next blood drive for the #BleedPurple Campaign will be held Monday, Nov. 16 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the John H. Price Sports & Recreation Centre. This blood drive was organized by our very own Student’s Representative Council and Héma-Québec!
ing over 110 lbs may donate. You may be prohibited from donating blood if you’ve recently received a piercing or tattoo, have injected drugs, or participate in ‘high-risk’ sexual behavior. The full list of guidelines and requirements for donating blood can be found on the Canadian Blood Services website (www. blood.ca). How do I donate?
Anyone in good health and weigh-
Appointments can be booked in advance by contacting your local blood donation clinic. The number for appointments with Héma-Québec is 1-800-343-SANG (7264). Don’t forget to dress in purple, post a photo, and tag @ HemaQuebec, @ItsInYouToGive, and @ UBishops!
with the Montreal Biosphere on this topic. Bishop’s is one of 25 schools in the region that have students or faculty participating in extensive research into various aquatic species and their habitats in the St. Lawrence River region. One particular aquatic community drawing attention from the Bishop’s Biology department and Richardson’s research is the salamander population of the Johnville Bog. For those of you who haven’t had the opportunity to visit the bog, it is located just 10 minutes from campus and accessible through a network of walking and biking trails at the Parc Ecoforestier de Johnville. Two species of salamanders use the bog as a breeding habitat, despite its acid levels. How or why this is possible, as well as the health and survival of the young bred
in the bog is the central focus of the research being conducted there. While research is the main focus of Richardson’s time at Bishop’s, he is also the supervisor for numerous honour students and a popular teacher. His classes provide an in depth journey into everything from basic biology to extensive research projects and preparation for graduate programs. His lectures are informative and educational, as well as entertaining, and are very popular among biology students. This semester you will find Richardson teaching Freshwater Biology and Vertebrate Zoology. Although these third year classes are reserved for Biology majors, the department offers intro biology classes for humanities students. There is also the Biology Club that is
Who can donate?
PHOTO COURTESY BISHOP’S UNIVERSITY VIEWBOOK, HEMA-QUEBEC, AND CANADIAN BLOOD SERVICE
The Communications Office Rocks!
Hopefully all you seasoned blood donors have your appointments booked already. If you’ve ever considered donating, now is the time to act. Canada needs almost 85 000 new blood donors this year – and just remember, it’s in you to give!
Professor Profiles: Dr. Michael Richardson GUENEVERE MACDONALD Writer
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f you have been paying attention on campus lately you may have noticed a group of rather happy students parading about in waders and Wellies carting large nets over their shoulders on their way back from exploring the St. Francis River. Some students have mistaken them for the Bishop’s fishing club (not sure we have one of those), while others have mistaken them for environmental students, but they are neither. These are biology students under the supervision of Dr. Michael Richardson, our resident fish expert in the Biology Department. While Richardson might not profess himself to be a fish expert, his knowledge and experience in the field is extensive. A graduate of McGill University, Richardson has been conducting joint research
always eager to discuss research projects with students of all majors who want to learn more about the Bishop’s program. If you have a chance, take a trip up the road to Johnville or down to the St. Francis River to see the habitats for yourself. You may surprise yourself next year and find yourself sporting some Wellies while tagging along with Richardson for a fun and informative fishing adventure.
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NEWS
BU Bowling Club set to hit the lanes
THE CAMPUS SEPTEMBER 30, 2015
TINA GOLAB Contributor
Note: As a new feature this year, The Campus will be spotlighting a different Bishop’s club ever y issue with the hopes of introducing students to the various school clubs. If interested, students are encouraged to contact those in charge of the club with the information provided at the end of each ar ticle.
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f you happen to be at the Salon de Quilles et Billard Sher-Mont on a Friday night around 11 p.m., you may notice a large group of students on half a
#didyouknow JAMES ANDREWS Contributor
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very now and then, we are given insight into the lives of the professors and faculty who make the learning experience at Bishops so unique. Throughout the last 5 years as a student, I’ve gotten to know some truly fascinating facts and stories that staff members have shared with me. These stories can really help minimize the traditional barriers of the staff-student relationship.
dozen lanes having a hard time trying to knock down as many pins as possible. This is the Bishop’s Bowling Club. The club started last year, driven by a group of friends who loved to bowl. Students are given the opportunity to go play every 3rd Friday from 11 p.m. to about 2 a.m. with fellow members. The alley features unlimited bowling during this time, so for a fee of roughly $12 you can play at least 3 full games (depending on how quickly they go). The cost varies based on how many people play that
particular week; however, there are over 100 members in the club so the cost is always fair. Food and drinks are available at the alley and after 11 p.m. the lights go down and it turns into a party atmosphere with fun lights and music. The final outing of the year is a tournament where teams have the chance to win prizes for best spirit, best costume, and obviously best bowlers. This is the club’s big fundraiser for the year, along with a bake sale to help with various club costs. This year the Bowling
Club is hoping to offer customized purple BU bowling shirts for those who are members and more prizes for the tournament. Carpooling is available to and from the alley with other members of the club. For further information or to sign up for the Bishop’s Bowling Club visit the Facebook page or contact tfavot12@ ubishops.ca
William School of Business News
It was with this minimized barrier that I found it easier to go up to the professors and ask for more help, or talk about areas of business that we had in common. My goal was to get all new and returning students to build this type of rapport with their advisors and professors. There seemed like no better way to do this than the #didyouknow campaign. The goal was for all Williams School of Business students to learn fun facts about their professors and support staff, so that they could begin to see pro-
fessors as more than just someone who teaches and gives academic advice, but more as the person beyond the chair. Throughout the last couple of weeks, what I’ve found to be most exciting is the staff members’ willingness to share what their passions and hobbies are. On the odd occasion, I have found myself at moments of laughter or utter confusion, especially when talking to professors from the accounting department. Perhaps, you could say their balance sheets do not equal out? All kidding aside, BUCS has given
Your Ad could be Here! Email:
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me this opportunity to help first-years build a relationship with their professors. I hope when they look back over their educational journey through Bishops, they can look back on the excellent experiences of learning not just from their professors, but from their friends. The campaign plans to run for the remainder of the month with weekly postings. We’ve got a lot more interesting posts to come, so make sure you stay tuned to BUCS on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
OPINION
THEBUCAMPUS.CA
Housing in Lennoxville
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Haley Lewis, Opinion Editor » thecampus.opinion@gmail.com
With an open mind it’s not as hard as you think NICOLE GAUVREAU Editor-in-Chief
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ne often hears complaints of how difficult it is to find off-campus housing in Lennoxville, yet at this very moment there are at least four vacant apartments in Little Forks. There are surely many more if one goes up College Street or along Queen Street towards Sherbrooke. The complaint should clearly be that it is difficult to find an apartment for the number of people one wants to live with and in the area in which one wants to live. This is a complaint I can understand, and have voiced myself. When looking for an apartment, I found it quite difficult to find a 4½ in an area my friend, and hopefully, future roommate, was
In another case the landlord did not show up at our appointed meeting time to show me the apartment. It was at that point that I acknowledged I would likely have to live with people I didn’t know. It was at this point that a wealth of opportunities was open to me: many people were in the same position of needing a roommate; luckily, I found PHOTO COURTESY EQUIPEBERUBE.COM one quickly. Had I not found a roommate, willing to live in. When she decided to there were still options open: heading live with other friends in a 5½, I began up to Oxford Crescent or beyond, though my search for a 2½ or 3½. the down side is that not only is it a long I saw a few of these apartments, but in walk to campus and places like Provigo, some cases the landlord wanted a letter fewer apartments come equipped with of reference from a previous landlord. I appliances. was moving off campus for the first time. However, living further away comes
with unanticipated perks: a long walk keeps you in better shape; you save money on rent (and if you opt not to get a bus pass or parking pass you save more still); the long walk reduces the amount of shopping to only the necessities; the buildings and areas tend to be quieter, making studying and sleeping just a bit easier for the overstressed student. When one is willing to look further and isn’t put off be living with strangers, the opportunities for housing in Lennoxville don’t look so scarce after all. I have provided, visit the Elections Canada website: elections.ca After reading this I am sure you will be able to find a way to vote in the next federal election.
and in better condition. This comes with some downsides, as students then face a 20-minute walk to and from campus everyday if they don’t own a car. Being closer to campus may not necessarily be better if trying to stay away from the party scene, which areas such as Little Forks and Reed Street are notorious for. However, location is not the only thing you need to worry about. Once you have settled on what you are willing to pay for rent, you need to check what’s included in it. Do you have a washer and dryer? Are Internet and hydro included? Is the furniture part of the apartment or do you need to buy your own? Don’t forget to factor in the groceries you will have to
know and may come to dislike. It becomes a game of chance that may or may not work in your favor. These things need to be figured out rather quickly, because the housing market in Lennoxville is hot. Some places require you to sign a lease earlier than you would have imagined, like OctoberNovember if you want to live in the new Conley buildings. If you have a preference for which Little Forks building you want, start looking in January-February. Finding an apartment, while exciting, can be a long and frustrating process. What you want or expect from an apartment does not always match up with reality. So take your time, do your homework, and don’t give up. Happy househunting!
The issues that come with finding housing in Lennoxville TINA GOLAB Contributor
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he task of finding housing in Lennoxville can be a difficult process. Some of the biggest concerns are: What can you afford? How many roommates do you want/need to have? Will the rent be divided up equally between the residents or will it be based off individual rooms in the apartment? The apartments in highest demand often go quickly and are located close to campus, but they also tend to be the most expensive. These apartments typically range between $400 and $600 a month, per roommate for twelve months. This is compared to the eight months students pay in residence. The apartments further away from campus, either on the outskirts of Lennoxville or up the hill, tend to be cheaper
buy, too, as that also affects a monthly budget. Special consideration also needs to be taken towards the restrictions in place for the apartment building. Do you have to keep the noise level to a minimum? Are pets allowed? Is there a parking space available? Are the appliances included? This is crucial to avoid finding the perfect apartment, only to realize it is out of your price range or does not include necessary amenities. Paterson is another option for housing and makes a good stepping-stone between dorm-life and your first apartment. However, if you don’t have three other roommates to live with, you could end up living with people you don’t
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OPINION
An early start with no breaks in between
THE CAMPUS SEPTEMBER 30, 2015
TINA GOLAB Contributor
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his past year, Bishop’s University held a debate discussing whether or not a reading week should be inserted into the fall semester. To compensate for the week that would be lost during the winter break, an agreement was made that the fall semester would begin the week before Labor Day rather than the week of. Yet here we are, starting a week before Labor Day and there is still no reading week, and I’m happy. Yes, starting early means one less week of summer vacation but it also means spending a bit more time at home during the winter break, which already goes by fast enough as it is. It also means not having to worry about professors seeing an opportunity to add more work onto an already overwhelming pile of readings and assign-
PHOTO COURTESY EQUIPEBERUBE.COM
ments due to the fact that we have a week of “free time.” My experience with the winter reading week, or spring break, is a love/hate
one, as it gives me a chance to catch up on readings that I may have fallen and allows me to recover from midterms. Yet I find myself in over my head, year
While living on campus, students are not required to leave campus for any pressing concerns. Food, common amenities, and even clothing are all available somewhere on campus. This further promotes the Bishop’s Bubble, because students become wrapped up in the things happening on and around campus. They see no reason to leave its grounds. Activities planned by residence and the Student Representative Council occur weekly in order to encourage mass participation. Students are offered several opportunities to join in the fun and become an integral part of the Bishop’s community. Life here becomes all about class, clubs, and social events. One can get seriously stuck in the routine and comfort of the Bishop’s Bubble, which makes it even more difficult to leave. Nevertheless, the Bishop’s community welcomes all individuals with open arms and extends hospitality to all who come here. A small school offers a close sense of community because class sizes are small. This allows students to get to know their professors on a first name basis, as well as all of the students in their classes.
Some students depend upon this strong sense of community to alleviate the pressure and stress associated with leaving home and living alone for the first time. The Bubble surrounds everyone at
after year. There are mid-terms before and/or after the break, in addition to assignments that will be due almost immediately on return to campus. Professors assume that since we students are not attending classes; we automatically have all this free time. I worry that if the fall reading week had been inserted into this semester, we would be facing the same dilemma that arises during the winter semester. This is not to say that I do not enjoy my time at Bishop’s, but I am much happier starting the fall semester earlier without the reading week. I can look forward to going home sooner and spending a little bit more time seeing family and friends.
Life inside the Bishop’s Bubble HAYLEY WINCH Contributor
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“University Bubble” is a term meant to describe the feelings associated with the unique life experiences that stem from living on a university campus. What is the attraction of a smaller school? Is it the professors who know your name, the ten-minute walk that will take you from one end of campus to the other, or the profound sense of pride that shines through every student, faculty member, and person in the community? Bishop’s University offers a unique experience for those wishing to embrace the Bishop’s Bubble. The community rallies together on many occasions to experience memories as a collective. Sports teams, as well as Residence Life Staff, develop several activities and events that support Bishop’s and produce a strong sense of community. Not only on campus, but several establishments throughout Lennoxville, show off their Gaiter pride through welcome signs in windows or selling tickets for upcoming football games. There is no clear way to escape the Bubble without completely leaving Lennoxville, and that rarely happens. Many students simply cannot afford the expenses related to going anywhere outside of town.
Knock, knock. Who’s there? Canoe. Canoe who? Canoe help me with my homework? Wnat more jokes in the Campus? Email: thecampus.layout@gmail.com
Bishop’s University, and when someone does actually leave, for summer especially, they find themselves missing it. The Bishop’s Bubble pulls you in and creates a home away from home.
OPINION
THEBUCAMPUS.CA
Fossil fuels: the clock is ticking
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KATHARINE MUSSELLAM Contributor
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t was recently reported by The Guardian that burning all the world’s fossil fuels would melt the entire Antarctic ice sheet. If nations of the world were to contribute less to climate change, to a maximum rise of two degrees Celsius - the current target - we would have enough time to react before things get worse. One must wonder whether or not this will happen with the path we are currently on. Stephen Harper’s government has not had a very good track record with regards to making an effort to protect the environment. While the topic of the environment has come up during the campaign, most of the focus has been on the economy. When the topic is addressed however, it is reasonably clear where the parties stand. If the three candidates of the Windsor, Ont. riding’s responses are any indication, Canadians’ upcoming Prime Minister will affect the progress, or lack thereof, in the coming years. In response to a young Canadian’s
question, the NDP candidate responded that the party would remove fossil fuel subsidies that support oil companies and corporations. The Liberal candidate promised they are committed to “diversifying and looking at things like green technology.” The Conservative candidate’s re-
sponse was more evasive: “climate change, it’s an international issue…We want to be focused on jobs and the economy.” One must look beyond just the federal election to see everything that is being done with regards to climate change and the environment.
For example, in Alberta, coal is slowly being phased out. At September’s Canadian Coal Conference, it was acknowledged that there is more supply of coal than there is demand. It has also been reported that in 2014, Canada invested $11 billion in renewable energy. This was mostly on a provincial level, as the federal government has been focused more on exporting fossil fuels. While it is important for provinces to do their part, more needs to be done federally for Canada to become invested in clean energy and to promote these initiatives on a global level. Canada ranks behind China, the United States, Japan, Britain, and Germany in clean energy investment. The continuing use of coal in developing countries and Britain’s recent curbing of clean energy subsidies are just two examples of why we cannot rely on other countries and must put in our own efforts. Canada cannot count itself out of the global effort to reduce emissions.
cannot bus anywhere late at night, early on weekends or anywhere else other than Université de Sherbrooke and the Station du Depot without a transfer. During my first year at Bishop’s, I was living in Sherbrooke. Sadly, thanks to Sherbrooke’s subpar bus system, I had to leave many of my night classes early to make sure I would not have to taxi back to my apartment. A recent study from statistics Canada studied the number of workers commuting to work via public transportation. While similar cities such as Québec City (11.3%), Halifax (12.5%) and Winnipeg (13.4%) all had numbers higher
than 10%. Sherbrooke lags behind at a staggering 4.2%. Personally, not wanting to limit myself to our great borough of Lennoxville, I wanted to explore the city of Sherbrooke. The only way I decided this was feasible was to purchase a car, and with it, some peace of mind. Not all Bishop’s students, who live and spend most of their time solely in Lennoxville, can afford such an option. This only reinforces the concept of the Bishop’s bubble and continues to support hiked local rent fees. The above statements highlight another important point of considera-
tion in regards to the improvement of Sherbrooke’s public transit system - the economy. A study done by the University of Waterloo in 2010 demonstrated that a largescale national investment into public transit of $71 billion in capital costs would return fully $239 billion over 30 years or an annual return rate of 12.5%. We all know that Sherbrooke’s downtown is having a hard time staying a float with constant spaces up for rent and new stores constantly rotating in and out. I believe that investing in our public transit system would help Sherbrooke’s local economy to blossom.
PHOTO COURTESY CBC.CA
Sherbrooke’s public transit system, and why it simply is not cutting it JEAN-PHILLIPE ALLEN Business Manager
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oday marks the one-year anniversary since the city of Sherbrooke forced me to buy a car. Is the city selling cars? No, but the city funded Public Transit System, “La Société de transports de Sherbrooke,” does not provide a sufficient enough service to remain car free. This is especially true for people living in Lennoxville. Back in 2004, the STS signed a deal with the Université de Sherbrooke in order to provide nearly free transit passes to any current student. 11 years later, Bishop’s is still left out. A Bishop’s student pays approximately $60 per month for a bus pass. Within these parameters however, students
PHOTO COURTESY BARRACLOU.COM
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OPINION
Five ways to master your mornings
THE CAMPUS SEPTEMBER 30, 2015
NATALIE KINNAIRD Contributor
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ith September coming to an end, I’m sure by now you have all settled back into that familiar school routine. However, for many of you, this is your first year at university and you are still trying to figure out what works and what does not. There is a bit of a learning curve as you discover how to balance academics, extra-curricular, a social life, and all the adult responsibilities that come with living away from home. Let’s start at the beginning then. Studies show that if you are a morning person, you will be more proactive. It’s all about getting your day off to the best possible start! Just because your first lecture on Monday isn’t until 10am, that does not mean you should wake up in a panic at 9:45, throw on whatever clothes you have laying around the floor, and run to class! In Cal Newton’s How to Win at College, Newton offers 75 tips from former students on how to succeed at school. Here are five favourites to help you make the most out of your mornings! Tip #1 Hydrate before you caffeinate. For a lot of us, when that alarm goes off each morning, the only motivation to get out of bed is a fresh cup of coffee. Before you reach for that coffee though, grab a glass of water first! You have just been asleep for eight hours, which means you have not been hydrating. It’s a good idea to keep a bottle of water in reach, making it an easy first step of the day. While a cup of coffee a day certainly
PHOTO COURTESY BOSTINNO.STREETWISE.CO
will not dehydrate you, try to save it for mid-morning and pair it with some warm lemon water to kick-start your digestive system. Tip #2 Make your bed. As soon as you are up, spend five minutes making your bed and tidying the rest of your room. Every single morning. That way, the clothes piled up on your floor and the mess on your shelves will not take an hour one day – time that you don’t have – to deal with. In his book, Newton says that a clean
room leads to a focused mind. If you are struggling to step through the maze of stuff just to get to your desk, I can guarantee you will be frustrated by the time you sit down. If your space is organized, you will feel in control and become more productive and efficient as you work through the rest of the day. Tip #3 Eat your protein. Breakfast is the fuel to start your day. While a bagel is easy and fills you up right away, it’s a simple carb that will eventually make you crash. You need protein! Eggs are
awesome but a bit of an effort. As an alternative, try some plain Greek yogurt mixed with berries or a protein smoothie made with frozen fruit! Tip #4 Don’t make a daily to-do list. But do make a list of five or six major goals for the day. A to-do list of everything you need to get done in a day can be quite overwhelming, not to mention time consuming. Newton suggests that you use the kind of agenda with times listed down the side to block things off, but we all know, the days of a university student never go according to plan. So make a list of your day’s major priorities and make sure you put them in order of importance. Don’t tackle the assignment that is due in five days from now, just because it is easier than the one due tomorrow! Tip #5 Get your heart pumping. Monday to Friday, exercise should not be an option. Get into a routine and go every morning. A good sweat will improve your physical and mental well-being. It will also give you something to be proud of before any of your roommates are even out of their pajamas. I suggest you create a schedule for yourself to follow, that way, you will not waste your time when you’re at the gym or even worse, convince yourself not to go at all. I can guarantee that if you use these five tips you will immediately feel better and will finally master your mornings!
The many, many things you can do in and around Lennoxville HAILEY LEWIS Opinions Editor
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s a once fresh faced student in Lennoxville and new to the Eastern Townships, I to thought there was nothing to do here except go to class and party. To my surprise, the townships are full of exciting activities! I hope these suggestions give you some ideas to make your experience here at Bishop’s that much better, because the Eastern Townships have so much to offer. Take a walk in and around Lennoxville. Have you ever realized how beautiful our little town is? Get to know it, as it will be yours for the next 3-5 years. Lennoxville is filled with beautiful little paths. If you’re up for exploring, a walk along the Massawippi is always a good option. Take a hike. As you may have already figured out, there are great places to hike in the area such as Mont Pinnacle, Orford, and the Coaticook Gorge. You will not regret making the trek, as the views
from each location are breathtaking. Any kind of picking, whether that be apple picking or pumpkin picking there is an abundance of places you can go to do a number of these activities. The closest pumpkin picking patch is situated minutes from Bishop’s on your way to Coaticook at Marché de la ferme Beaulieu; it also houses a cute farmers market and artisanal gift shop. Go for a bike ride. We live in probably one of the best locations to take a bike ride! Don’t have a bike? No need to worry. Patterson now allows you to rent bikes, but if that’s not for you, Estrie Aide always has a few for sale! There are many routes you can take as well from the Trans Canada Trail that follows the Massiwippi all the way to North Hatley to the trail on the other side of the Riviere St-Francis all the way into Sherbrooke. Concerts, concerts, concerts. Now it may be hard to believe, but Sherbrooke’s music scenes is decent. Wellington Street, in the heart of downtown Sherbrooke, houses a little theatre called
PHOTO COURTESY DECOUVERTENATURE.QC.CA
Granada, coming up this year they have a broad range of bands like Coeur de Pirate, Xavier Rudd and the United Nations, Chilly Gonzales and Vance Joy! Shop, on the topic of Wellington Street it offers a great number of restaurants like Café Bla Bla and Le Snack – of this world poutine – and shops like Boutique Kitsch and Nephtys Tattoo –Sherbrooke’s favourite tattoo parlour – and that’s just to name a few. Catch a movie, with places available
like Maison du Cinema that offer in theatre movies at a cheap price you cannot go wrong. Bonus, it’s located just next to the Station du Depot and their popcorn is delicious. Explore, get to know what this great little borough has to offer. The Eastern Townships are beautiful and provide an excess of activities to do. So do not waste your time like I did, get out there and have fun.
FEATURES
THEBUCAMPUS.CA
Resources for Informed Voting
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Asha-Maria Bost, Features Editor » thecampus.features@gmail.com
Features of the 2015 Federal Election
Advice from professors, resources and Quebec’s history of political organizing ASHA-MARIA BOST Features Editor
1. Read newspapers from a variety of perspectives: student newspapers, community newspapers, municipal newspapers, national newspapers. 2.
Look up platform documents on party websites. a) Green party: http://www.greenparty.ca/en/platform b)
NDP: http://www.ndp.ca/plan (fully policy yet to be released)
3. Know the candidates in your riding. This elections Canada website will tell you who your candidates are based on your postal code. http://www.elections.ca/content2.aspx?section=can&document=index&lang=e
c)
Liberal: https://www.liberal.ca/backgrounders/
5. See where you stand with the different parties on each issue with the vote compass application run by the CBC: http://www.votecompass.com/
At the bottom of the CBC page is the party’s economic plan: http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-election-2015-ndp-fiscalplan-1.3230097 d)
Conservatives: http://www.conservative.ca/
Party’s governing documents: http://www.conservative.ca/our-party/governing-documents/ e)
Documents about various issues: http://www.blocquebecois.org/documents/
4. Attend/watch debates by the candidates in your riding and/or watch national debates.
6. Review procedures for registering to vote and voting: http://www.elections.ca/content2.aspx?section=vote&document=index&lang =e
Bloc Québécois (French Only): http://www.blocquebecois.org/
Have something that want to be covered in the Features section? Email thecampus.features@gmail.com
What Makes the 2015 Election Unique? An Interview with politics professor Dr. Michael McGregor ASHA-MARIA BOST Features Editor
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had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Michael McGregor about this election and what makes it different from other elections. For starters, the election is twice as long as the normal 36 day long period. McGregor believes this lengthy campaign period was chosen so that the Conservatives can spend more on advertising during the campaign. This affects the Conservatives more than other parties, as they have the most money raised to spend on their campaign. The other parties have had less time to adjust their budget and campaign strategy to accommodate for the longer campaign. This also affects third party advertisers such as unions, since the amount of advertising they are allowed to do during campaigns is normally very restrict-
ed. With an even longer campaign, their advertisements will be aired much earlier before the election. Moreover, this election is interesting because of how tight the race is between the three major parties. According to McGregor, it is practically unheard of to have all of the three major parties as strong contenders during an election. According to CBC news, the Conservative Party, NDP, Liberal Party and Bloc Québécois are all trying to gain seats in Quebec. This means Quebec could once again shape the results of the election for the rest of the country. In the 2011 election, the influence of Quebec voters helped push the NDP into becoming the official opposition. Economic policy is another issue that
is often important to voters. However, McGregor pointed out that it is difficult to know if the changes to the Canadian economy happen because of the government policies or changes within various economic sectors, as Canada’s economy is not solely under government influence. An issue that is still important but may not receive frequent discussion are the mandatory minimum sentencing laws that some courts say can be cruel and unusual punishment. As it stands, judges are unable to change sentencing based on any exceptional circumstances of the case. Other issues that students might find pertinent are security, jobs, university tuition, degree inflation, and immigration. As with most elections, people might
find it difficult to decide whether to vote for the party or the candidate. There really isn’t one concrete answer, as MP’s represent Canadians in the House of Commons, while the party in majority can considerably influence policy decisions. Being informed about the candidates and the parties can take away some of the confusion. The most important thing to remember for students and all eligible voters is to get out and vote! McGregor emphasized that students have much different priorities than older Canadians, so it is crucial to ensure the youth have a voice in shaping the country. Without voting, or other forms of political action, political leaders would never feel the need to address the issues that matter most to Canadians.
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FEATURES
THE CAMPUS SEPTEMBER 30, 2015
Quebec 2012 Student Revolt
Discussing the impact left by this demonstration of political organizing ASHA-MARIA BOST Features Editor
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n 2012, 250, 000 Students lined the streets of Montreal, clogging roadways, wearing red squares, and protesting the estimated $300 yearly fee increase of university tuition. The protests lasted longer than 100 days. Dr. Leo Standing, professor in the Psychology department, held a talk on Friday, Sept. 25 that outlined the various psychological, social, and historical reasons for the collection of protests that brought the functioning of the Quebec government to a halt. This protest was an example of how small groups within a larger population can cause significant changes to the governmental system. The Quebec government planned on increasing tuition fees by roughly $300 per year over the next five years (2012-2018), in order to account for the cost of inflation. Standing highlighted what he sees as the lack of a rational argument for the protests. Quebec students attending Quebec universities have the lowest tuition fees for students in Canada, and Quebec students “are better off financially” than students in the rest of Canada. Standing emphasized the fact that it costs the government $29,000 to send a person to university for a year, which is a lot compared to the $2200 portion that
PHOTO COURTESY: PAUL CHIASSON/CP.
2012 Student Protests: Quebec students on the streets of Montreal during the 2012 protests.
students pay. Standing highlighted the strong emotionality of the protests, with links to Quebec’s Catholic history and the apparent ties to the French revolution. Quebec was founded on the ideals and
morals of the Catholic religion, and the church had control of many social programs and areas of government. According to Standing, the “university (institution) is the equivalent of the cathedral in the past” in terms of its influence. Standing explained that when the government stepped in for the church, after the decline of religion in Quebec, it provided various social programs that benefitted the people of Quebec in order to fulfill the role of the church. When protestors took to the streets they brought along many references to Quebec’s Catholic history, like the red imagery which could be seen as reminiscent of certain Catholic iconography with regards to the Virgin Mother Mary and fertility. Additionally, there are direct refer-
ences to the French revolution, like a protestor dressed as Liberty Leading the People, an iconic figure depicted in one of Eugene Delacroix’s paintings of the French Revolution. Students wanted to protect Quebec’s nationalistic history and the idea of the family of Quebec, as referenced by the red square. Some students were even openly nude on the streets. Standing uses this as demonstration of a strong emotional reaction, as nudity does not relate to the issues of the student revolt. Standing thinks of the movement as idealistic much like the French Revolution. The idealism of the French Revolution came down to a halt with the Reign of Terror, shattering the ideal described by the revolution. The protests seemed to have a similar effect on university education in Quebec, while the students succeeded in getting the government to freeze tuition fees, many Quebec universities are in serious debt crises, and as a result, are hiring more adjunct professors and increasing class sizes. These protests are still relevant today and remain unresolved. Students in Quebec continued to protest at the beginning of the year against school fees as well as other budget cuts, which included vandalizing parts of UQAM.
PHOTO COURTESY ROGERIO BARBOSA/AFP/GETTYIMAGES
2012 protests: Photo demonstrating the large number of students participating in the protests.
Dr. Gagné on the state of Canadian Politics ASHA-MARIA BOST Features Editor
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spoke with Dr. Gilbert Gagné, a politics professor at Bishop’s, about his views as a concerned citizen with regards to the upcoming federal election and the state of Canadian politics in general. Gagné is disheartened with the state of Canadian politics, especially because of the treatment of Quebec in federal politics. Quebec has never signed the constitution, which perhaps demonstrates a lack of concern from the federal government in accommodating the needs of Quebec. Gagné notes the lack of support from the federal government for the Quebec language laws aimed at protecting the French language in Quebec. The majority of people who live in Quebec are Francophones, living in a minority within the rest of North
America. According to the Canadian Press, Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard states the requirement from companies to have signs or a descriptive word in French is not to get companies to change their trademarks, but to simply recognize that the majority of people in Quebec are French speakers. Gagné emphasized the example of Switzerland, a country composed of sovereign states called Cantons who each have their own official language/languages, as a potential model to investigate. The Cantons are able to decide which language to use in their provincial government based on the majority of people within each canton or subdivision. He is also worried about the lack of con-
cern given to free speech within the federal government. There is a need for respect (i.e. no racist, sexist, homophobic comments) when addressing perspectives, but Canadians need to hear multiple perspectives on foreign policies. For example, some Canadians criticize the Israeli government’s treatment of Palestinians living within Israel and support the UN General Assembly’s goal of creating a two state situation, of Israel and Palestine. Some also advocate for boycotts, divestments, and sanctions (BDS) against Israel. Canada’s official position as described by the Government of Canada website, supports Israel’s right to defend themselves against terrorism, as well as supports the
“the creation of a sovereign, independent, viable, democratic Palestinian state.” However, the Harper government intends to use hate crime legislation against people and groups who support BDS of Israel, as it is seen by the government as anti-Semitic. This is simply not true, as people should be allowed to criticize/boycott a government’s policies without it being construed as hatred against a religious group. Members of the NDP and Liberal parties have also been criticized or removed from support for the support of Palestine and/or BDS against Israel. Perhaps, time will show changes to Canadian politics that will protect free speech and show more respect for Quebec’s needs.
ARTS
THEBUCAMPUS.CA
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Katie Manners, Arts Editor » thecampus.ac@gmail.com
Rock at large
Sherb Rock 2015: Festival in review ANGÉLIQUE BIELSKI Contributor
cited to perform in front of fans, friends and family. “Now with this album, it’s a real start.” “Veronica Winter has a lot of talent. I’m happy to otorious rock bands and local musicians give her the chance to be part of a big event,” adds share the stage for the fifth edition of SherLevesque. “Sherbrooke has a great music scene. We brock. Dany Levesque, founder and organizer, have great venues. Big names also come here, but runs the six-night festival that presents the resometimes it’s hard because we don’t have the same gion’s best acts alongside bands like Blind Witpopulation as Montreal, for example.” ness, GrimSkunk, and SUBB. Sherbrooke won’t have to envy the metropole durLevesque had been involved in the Sherbrooke ing Sherbrock when hardcore metal band Blind Witmusic scene for a couple of years when he startness performs at the Granada Theatre on Sept. 17 as ed Sherbrock. part of their farewell tour. The next day, one of the “I wanted to regroup the concerts I was orworld’s best Metallica tributes, Alcoholica, comes to ganizing. September is the best time because PHOTO COURTESY ANGÉLIQUE BIELSKI town. everybody comes back to school. It’s a moment GrimSkunk takes to the Granada stage “I believe that every show is going to be excellent for parties, but also a moment for the music and different. We have a lot of special shows and scene to reunite again”, he explained, a few hours be- project Wooden Fellow, followed by the duo Moonlight, comebacks”, Levesque said in reference to Grimfore launching the 2015 edition of the festival. and the explosive alt-rock band Northern Aces. It was Skunk and Guerilla, who will be closing the festival Sherbrock is scheduled on two consecutive week- a special concert for folk artist Veronica Winter, the on Sept. 19. ends, running from Sept. 10 to Sept. 19. headliner, as she released her first album, Small Bird. Last Thursday, the festival began with a 100% Sher“I’ve been making music professionally and working brookois line up. Manuel Bureau opened with his solo on this project for about three years now,” she said, ex-
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Morris House Reading Series opens with critically acclaimed author Heather O’Neill HAYLEY WINCH Contributor
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his school year marks the twelfth year of the Morris House Reading Series (MHRS), a program that brings both established and up-and-coming Canadian authors to the students and community surrounding Bishop’s University. The MHRS coordinator, Dr. Linda Morra, accompanied by Tomlinson Internship recipient, Kristy Bockus, work together to bring pertinent authors to Bishop’s University to share their knowledge and experience with an audience of open minds and eager ears. On Sept. 17, members of the Bishop’s and wider communities assembled in the Centennial lobby to welcome author Heather O’Neill. Approximately one
hundred students, faculty, and community members were in attendance at the event. These numbers make Heather O’Neill the most attended MHRS event since the series began. As a Montréal author, O’Neill drew a fan base of Québec natives, along with those who have studied her work. At the event, the author read “Dolls”, one of the published short stories from her collective work Daydreams of Angels. Students followed along with O’Neill using their own copies of the book, as some were enrolled in The Canadian Novel course where Daydreams of Angels is part of the curriculum. O’Neill spoke softly and concisely, and while she performed, the audience was nearly si-
What’s next at Centennial? Centennial season starts in style NICOLE GAUVREAU Editor-in-Chief
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he 2015-2016 Centennial Professional Season officially started two weeks ago on Sept. 16. While the audience was not large, and unfortunately largely student free, it was clear everyone in attendance was ready to support Centennial Theatre and the artists who grace its stage. Before the launch properly started, attendees had the opportunity to enter a raffle for tickets to shows, drink some wine, chat with fellow attendees, watch
a video preview of Louise Lecavalier’s “So Blue,” and listen to the handpan stylings of Robert Daigneault. Once the doors opened, the audience entered the theatre and found seats. Soon after, Centennial’s director, Luce Couture, began his presentation of “Moving Forward,” the title of the 20152016 season. This involved a Power Point presentation showing a picture of each act and the series (Dance, World, Jazz, or Music) to which it belongs. Some slides were accompanied by video previews, though some were accompanied by the best preview of all: a
lent; the only noise heard was the shuffle of feet and the occasional laugh. After the reading, a question and answer period was held followed by a reception complete with refreshments. O’Neill’s personality shone through, as she answered the eager questions of audience members. She shared intimate anecdotes about her life and adventures, all of which were taken in by the students, faculty, and community members who gathered to meet the author. During the reception, O’Neill was gracious enough to autograph purchased copies of her novels. Many attendees were excited about the opportunity to chat quickly with the author while attaining a souvenir and a memorable ex-
short live performance by the artists. These live performances came from jazz singer Sonia Johnson with bassist (both double bass and bass guitar) Rémi-Jean Leblanc and the lively jazz pianists John Roney and Matt Herskowitz, of Pianos Caméléons. Throughout the night ticket stubs were drawn, and the winners invited to choose tickets to a show later in the season. Overall, the night was enjoyable and everyone in attendance surely found at least one show they want to attend.
PHOTO COURTESY MORRIS HOUSE READING SERIES
Heather O’Neill reads from Daydreams of Angels
perience. Heather O’Neill’s novels (along with a few signed copies) are available in the campus bookstore for purchase.
PHOTO COURTESY CENTENNIAL THEATRE
We look forward to an excellent Centennial season.
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THE CAMPUS SEPTEMBER 30, 2015
Sherbrooke goes geek Animara Con 2015
YANN ODIN & KATIE MANNERS Contributor & Ar ts and Culture Editor
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ttending Animara Con is like entering a parallel universe. For one weekend, the seemingly average person can step outside of everyday society and into a space where the culture resembles that of a Japanese dreamscape. Cosplayers boast foam weaponry and skimpy armour, gamers crowd around retro consoles, and wide-eyed strangers geek out together. Animara Con embodies the most import part of anime convention culture: community. From Sept. 19 to 20 Animara Con, an anime convention, was held at the Delta Hotel in Sherbrooke. The small convention had only been held once before, but still attracted a sizeable crowd in its second year. Far from the popular idea of the stigmatized “cave dweller” or asocial otaku, Animara Con attracted a wide variety of welcoming people united by their
love of geek culture. There were few con-goers who were not wearing at least some kind of pop culture accessory. Some even went as far as to wear homemade costumes based off of video game and anime characters. Even for a small convention, cosplayers permeated the hallways and workshop rooms. Japanese culture is at the core of most anime conventions, but the geek community has a tendency to embrace the totality of pop culture. Conscious of this, Animara Con offered informational panels on anime and manga, but also on video games, Star Trek, armour making, and more. Two rooms were also broadcasting continuous anime over the weekend with French and English subtitles. Another room was dedicated to modern
Lights, Drama, Action!
and retro video game consoles, where con-goers could compete against one another. The most populated space, however, was the dealer’s room where local artisans and companies sold their geekinspired wares. The peak of the event was the Masquerade, where contestants had about one minute to show off their homemade costumes in a friendly, but serious competition. Sometimes aided by con staff dressed as ninjas, cosplayers competed in categories, such as “Best Demonic Presence,” that were judged by a few selected prominent cosplayers. Animara Can has already announced its dates for next year, Sept. 17 to 18, 2016. The support of the attendees marked a successful second year for the con, and the community looks forward to another round of geeking out together.
PHOTO COURTESY ERIK PAREDES PHOTOGRAPHY
Animara Con Masquerade judges
New Plays 2015 KATIE MANNERS Ar ts and Culture Editor
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hat do 65 students, three pregnant bellies, an alien abduction, a dash of social commentary, and one strip tease to “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” have in common? All these elements appeared onstage during the 2015 New Plays festival. New Plays ran from Sept. 22 to Sept. 27, and featured ten original plays written, directed, and starring Bishop’s students. Auditions were open to all students, and the festival was presented as an opportunity for nonDrama majors and first year students to get involved in the Drama department. Although there were only 17 days between auditions and opening night, all performances ran without a hitch. New Plays ran over a period of six days, with each play performed twice. The plays were a mix of comedy and drama, with up to four plays performed each night. The coordinators wanted audience members to leave the theatre with a smile on their face, so comedies closed every night, and dramas opened. The festival opened on Night A with The Lesson, which tackled the real-life political tale of Raif Badawi, a Saudi Arabian blogger who sought refuge in Sherbrooke, but was later arrested in his home country for blogging about social change. The play featured a blend of cultures, the most juxtaposed being Saudi Arabian and Québécois, and investigated cultural differences that evaporate in times of dire need. The emotional pacing of The Lesson was followed by New Plays’ first ever all-French play: the comedic L’Entrevue. Presenting a French play at a traditionally English festival was a gamble for coordinators Emilie Deschênes and Emma McGreeghan, but it paid off. Many francophone students and community members were drawn to the first night of the festival for a chance to enjoy a comedic performance in their native language, though anglophones peppered the audience as well. It became
apparent as the audience burst into laughter again and again that one did not need to understand French in order to enjoy the show. L’Entrevue relied on gags and caricatures that were universally comedic in order to avoid alienating its anglophone audience. This kind of consideration was a success and thus, L’Entrevue received the first standing ovation of the festival. On Night B, the theatre was packed. The night began with Little Ones, a dramatic tale of motherhood – which was a theme that appeared throughout the festival. Upper year Drama student Jack Quail drove forward the emotional storyline with an honest performance. His experience stood out amongst the dramatic performances of the festival, as some actors struggled to convince the audience of their role. Next was Sapphire, a short comedy set in a Las Vegas strip club where dancing like a squirrel “works every time.” The stage was set with a tall metal pole, and the actors strutted about in heels, serving faux-liquor shots to faux-drunks. The night continued with Fortune’s Favour, another drama, that dealt with secret-keeping and mystic revelation. The play explored the issues of abortion and murder, which were topics that seemed almost too dark for the actors to convincingly react to. However, with almost all of the plays this year, the actors started off shaky but gained confidence as the performance continued. Night B closed with the sci-fi comedy Encounters, a tale of alien abduction and teenage romance – with aliens. Encounters was one of the best cast plays of the festival, with a solid set that did not involve awkward changes, and a playfully eerie light design. The happygo-lucky human family created a hilarious contrast for once-chill-teen-now-evil-alien actor Tom Belovski. His Bulgarian accent made his “out of town” character believable and then hilarious upon revealing his intergalactic origins. Encounters earned the second standing ovation of New Plays 2015. The final four plays of the festival were performed on Night C, which opened with Who I Am. This play focused on the struggles of being transgender and
getting back into the dating world after transitioning from male to female. The play was well intended, although there were several ill-placed gags that seemed to undermine transpeople instead of normalize them. The biggest upset, however, was the poor casting of the adult and child/teen Arabella characters, as skin tones and hair colour did not match, and yet the audience was meant to believe that they were the same person of different ages. Gold Star was the next play of the night, and opened with an under-the-sheets lesbian sex scene. The intimate sounds and suggestive bedroom set titillated the audience. However, the play did not attempt to fetishize female intimacy, and instead, normalized it. One of the most moving performances of the festival belongs to the next play: Nothing is Enough. The play was an abstract drama from the perspective of a girl suffering and eventually recovering from anorexia. The main character, played by Brittany Barber, was shadowed by two forces: one supportive and one manipulative. These forces were represented by actors dressed in plain clothing on a minimalist stage. The choice to forgo elaborate sets and props forced the audience to engage with the narrative and get sucked into the horrors of the mentally ill mind. Nothing is Enough was the first drama of the festival to receive a standing ovation. Night C of New Plays 2015 closed on a drug-addled, gut-busting note with the final play of the festival, Tripping. This play featured men who look like praying mantises, men who sleep with their best friend’s mom, and men who are convinced that they can secure and defend an apartment with a fly swatter. It also featured a couple of dudes flying high on acid. This goofy, gagfilled performance won over the audience. As Tripping earned the final standing ovation, it proved that comedies were the crowd favourites. The curtain closed on New Plays 2015 this past Sunday; however, the Drama department will continue performing. The next production is Beauty and the Beast, to be performed by Drama students. The play will run from Oct. 21 to 25 in Turner Studio Theatre.
SPORTS
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Dan Gilbert, Sports Editor » thecampus.sports@gmail.com
Woes Continue for Women’s Soccer Team MIKE STANLEY Writer
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he past week has had its ups and downs for the Bishop’s University women’s soccer team. The Gaiters played two games, both of them away, both in Montreal. Neither result is what the girls would have hoped for. The first game, a 1-1 draw against the Concordia Stingers, was able to provide a few positives. The outcome can be credited to one of the best performances of the season by Bishop’s, not only defensively but on the offensive side as well. It was a surprising finish for a team missing its starting goalkeeper, Rebecca Bensimon, due to a concussion. Aquila Henry-Cotnam, who usually plays striker for the team, got the nod as her replacement.
The game was a defensive affair that went back and forth and didn’t see any scoring action until the 80th minute, when the tenacious work of Tiffany Smith finally paid off and she buried one to give the Gaiters a lead that seemed like it would hold, but didn’t. The purple weren’t able to close the deal, allowing Concordia to answer with less than three minutes left. It was a heartbreaker that prevented the Gaiters from earning their first win of the season. After a bittersweet result against Concordia, the ladies travelled to CEPSUM stadium where they had a chance to bounce back against the Montreal Carabins, who currently rank fourth in the nation.
The Gaiters started the game with strong defensive pressure against their fast paced opponent. The defensive performance was facilitated by the return of Bensimon, who faced a barrage of shots. The game appeared as though it was set for a deadlock until halftime. However, Montreal found a way to solve Bensimon off a deflection that came from a free kick in the waning minutes of the first half. The second half saw Bishop’s adjust their spacing in hopes of producing more offense, but the substitution of Tiffany Smith (ankle) took away the speed and intensity they needed to battle a powerhouse Montreal side. A stout defense that applied immense pressure
against BU’s midfielders and forwards hindered the purple’s ability to get open and create plays. The plan to spread the middle of the field in the second half proved futile as the Gaiters were exploited several times in the area, allowing the Carabins to take full advantage and ultimately score six more goals to give the game a lopsided final score of 7-0 for the home team. Despite a rough start to the season, the team continues to remain optimistic with plenty of games left on the calendar, but the spark must come soon. Their next game is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 2 at 4 p.m. on Coulter Field against McGill University.
Football follow-up: Gaiters humbled by Laval
Men’s Rugby Team Victorious in Home Opener
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DAN GILBERT Spor ts Editor
he Laval Rouge et Or came into the contest hungry and left satisfied after a dominant display over the Bishop’s Gaiters this past Saturday. The result was a decisive 44-2 blowout victory for the nation’s second ranked team. After unwillingly having to relinquish their number one ranking despite recently defeating the Vert et Or, No. 2-ranked Laval returned to Sherbrooke for the second consecutive week. Only this time, Coulter Field was their destination. Early on, the Gaiters showed a glimpse of what they could do on defence and held tight with the Rouge et Or. A Laval single caused by a botched play on special teams marked the only scoring in the opening quarter. With the wind at their backs in the second quarter, Laval then added to their lead with a 16-yard touchdown from Christopher Amoah. With 10:51 remaining in the second quarter, Bishop’s cornerback Ryan Hector nabbed his third interception of the season and returned it 38 yards inside Laval’s ten yard line. Hector, who finished with 4.5 tackles on the day and is now tied for the league lead in interceptions, gave his team hope and a bit of momentum. Unfortunately, the offense wasn’t able to capitalize on the ensuing series, and a missed field goal only led to one point on the board for Bishop’s. A punt return touchdown with just under four minutes left then allowed Laval to silence whatever remaining
momentum the Gaiters had, and the Rouge et Or entered halftime with a 16-1 lead. The second half was owned by Laval and its high-octane offense even while their starting quarterback was on the sideline. After the merciless deed was done, the final digits on the scoreboard read 44-2 in favour of Laval. Throughout the game, very little seemed to go right for Bishop’s. However, if there was one positive to take away, it would be the play of true freshman Mathieu Demers, who replaced Travis Eman under center and showed promise for the purple and silver. Going up against a juggernaut in his CIS debut was a daunting task, but the rookie from Quebec City held his own, completing 14 of 25 pass attempts for 120 yards. The numbers don’t jump off the page, but Demers’ poise and composure in the pocket did. “I was more excited than nervous,” said the business student after the game, “It’s just another football game when you step on the field.” Being on the receiving end of a 44-2 thrashing may not have been the debut Demers dreamed of, but his performance against the eight-time Vanier Cup Champion Laval Rouge et Or, including the intangibles, didn’t disappoint the bench boss. “I thought Mathieu did the little things well,” said Gaiters head coach Kevin Mackey. “He made all the right reads and is a natural leader. We need to be patient; this team will be together
MICHAEL STANLEY Contributor
n Sunday, Sept. 20, the Bishop’s university men’s rugby team took to the pitch for their home opener. Looking to build off of their 2014 success at Coulter Field, the Gaiters were ready to face their cross-town rival, the Sherbrooke Vert et Or. Coming off a loss against Concordia to open the season, Bishop’s used their home crowd to fuel a win, beating Sherbrooke 19-17. It was a challenge for the Gaiters as the Vert et Or used their sized and pushed hard in mauls to score three tries. When asked about the team’s performance, RSEQ coach of the year and Gaiters head coach Charles Goode replied: “After re-watching the game tape, on the whole we played our systems really well. However, we need to remember that compared to all other teams, we are very young and have smaller tight five forwards. We need to play in the wider channels, like we did in the second half, and kick for territory more. We are stronger this year than I thought, if we can stay lucky with injuries, we will be solid. We need to beat ETS this weekend convincingly and then regroup for the difficult homecoming game against Montreal.” Flanker Shayne Crawford stood out on defense, making his presence felt
and staying engaged on almost every play. His performance extended itself in the offensive zone, where he pushed through tackles and broke the line a few times; helping set up tries by the Gaiters. The tries came courtesy of Lee Hudson, Nicolas Charlton, and Mike Izzard. The game’s homestretch became a battle of tactical kicking. When the ball was cleared by the purple stripes, it was chased down by Scotford Best and Robert McGovern, both of whom showed off incredible speed and managed to keep the pressure in Sherbrooke’s end. “Team captains Charlton and Hudson continue to lead by example with points.” said coach Goode, adding that “there has also been solid play by Brock Spencer and the Crawford brothers. Mike Izzard and Gerald Lafond have proved to be an excellent centre pairing, while Rob McGovern’s pace outside has been the difference time and time again.” The next home game is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 2 at 8 p.m. and eill kick off what promises to be an exciting homecoming weekend at Bishop’s. The team will have to prepare for its biggest test of the season, as they await the undefeated Montreal Carabins.
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SPORTS
THE CAMPUS SEPTEMBER 30, 2015
EPL: Month in Review DAN GILBERT Spor ts Editor
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rief recap The days of August and September are always special for European football fanatics. This marks the return of a new season in the English Premier League, a league widely regarded as the best across the globe. Opening month was a fairly wild one compared to others in years past as people witnessed table-topping Manchester City annihilate the competition, and Chelsea slump all the way down to seventeenth place. Manchester United and Arsenal overcame shaky starts to reach second and third, respectively. Perhaps, the major reason why this has been a wild month, however, is due to the resurgence from perennial bottom feeding to middle of the pack teams such as Crystal Palace, Everton, Leicester, and Swansea, all of whom are knocking on the door and nipping at United and the Gunners’ heels. Additionally, fabled clubs such as Liverpool and Tottenham have been uninspiring despite most squads being very competitive this month.
Steven Naismith of Everton recently achieved a hat-trick against Chelsea. 21-year-old Callum Wilson has been turn- i n g heads at Bournemouth scoring five goals of his own in six games.
Best team As impressive as Leicester City has looked, the nod has to go to the Sky Blues over in Man City, who currently boast the league’s top seed and have only allowed two goals in the season. Winger Raheem Sterling has brought tremendous energy and vigor to an already lethal attack that previously sported David Silva and Sergio Aguero. Also adding to the team’s depth is Kevin De Bruyne, a Belgian midfielder who recently contributed to a tightly contested win over Crystal Palace. City’s defence has looked far more formidable this season compared to last. This is primarily due to Vincent Kompany and Yaya Toure returning to form, as well as the excellence of defensive midfielder Fernandinho. City has looked extremely sharp on both ends of the pitch; they boast the second-best possession and passing completion percentages in the league. They also have the most tackles and interceptions per game.
Top performers To the surprise of many, midfielder Andre Ayew and striker Bafetimbi Gomis of Swansea have combined to score seven goals out of the gate. They stunned Manchester United in the Swans’ 2-1 victory and now rank among the top four scorers in the league. Playmaker David Silva has been the biggest difference maker among a star studded group in Manchester Deadline day madness City. Manchester United made a statement when they Algerian winger Riyad Mahrez has been a remark- went out and secured Anthony Martial for their future. able story for Leicester, leading the pack with five goals. The amount of £36 million marks the highest transfer
PHOTO COURTESY SOLNOTICIAS.COM
fee ever paid for a teenager. Having already scored a pair of goals with Henry-esque finishes, he seems to be worth the investment. City brought in De Bruyne to bolster the league’s best midfield for £57 million. Everton spurned Chelsea’s advances for John Stones. Chelsea made no significant moves, a decision that many believe is the cause for the team’s nosedive. Best Goal Samir Nasri vs. Everton. Sporting fans all over the world live for such moments of grace. At the right edge of the box, Samir Nasri passed to Yaya Toure and then glided between two Everton defenders towards the goal. With little movement, Toure proceeded to loop the ball off the inside foot over both defenders. Nasri then collected the ball and chipped it past the keeper in one seamless bound.
What to Look For in the Habs 2015-16 NHL Season MACLEOD ROY Contributor
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sk any hockey fan what has made the Montreal Canadiens such a consistent sight in the NHL playoffs for the past 8 years, and you will probably get the same universal answer: Carey Price; it’s fairly easy to understand why. Price dominated almost every category available to an NHL goaltender in a historic season that saw him set a franchise record with 44 wins, and take home the Ted Lindsay Award, Hart Trophy, Vezina Trophy, and Jennings Trophy- a feat that no other goaltender has accomplished since the league’s inception in 1917. Falling short of a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals a year before, experts and fans alike were quick to label offensive woes as the main reason for the team’s inability to reach the next level. Seeking to solve the problem, the organization made some interesting moves in the offseason. With few marquee names available in free agency, the question remains whether or not the moves made will be enough to get them over the hump. Several players on the roster are coming off of their best season in years while others like Subban, Pacioretty, Galchenyuk and Gallagher set career highs in terms of point production. Ultimately, Montreal will need continued improvement from its young players like Galchenyuk and Gallagher
in order to progress, as they cannot win on Price’s ability alone. With Pacioretty named as the team’s 29th captain; the Montreal Canadiens look to begin a new era. Still, improvement from within may not be enough for the team to solidify its place among the elite. This means the team’s hopes will be pinned on two potentially huge signings made during the offseason. Perhaps, the most important move made was the resigning of free agent defensemen Jeff Petry. Having acquired Petry in a trade with the Edmonton Oilers last March, the Canadiens had hoped the Michigan native could help provide an extra punch to an already formidable defensive corps. Quickly, Petry proved to be a viable piece on the blue line, and at times, even appeared to be Montreal’s most effective defensemen throughout the playoffs. Signing Petry to a reasonable six year deal was arguably the most important move made by the front office heading into this season. His presence on the blue line for an entire year could serve as a huge boost for the team if he continues to play at a high level. Although Petry’s signing was imperative, perhaps no acquisition was more intriguing than that of Russian winger, Alexander Semin. A year removed from what was statistically the worst season of a productive NHL career, the Habs signed the 31-year-old to a one
year deal worth $1.1 million. The general consensus is that his signing represents a low risk, high reward scenario. Semin has been an enigma since his departure from Washington, and his work ethic often comes into question, but he still possesses plenty of skill. That’s an asset the Canadiens hope to capitalize on. Prior to last season, Semin had registered totals of 22 goals and 42 points in a 65 game season with the Carolina Hurricanes. At his current age, it wouldn’t be far-fetched to believe that he might have something positive to offer if given the opportunity. One key aspect that some may overlook is the environment that he’ll be a part of; Semin is joining several other
Russians in the line-up, notably Andrei Markov, Alexei Emelin, and Alex Galchenyuk, all of whom are expected to help him with his transition. In training camp, as well as the preseason, Semin has been placed on a line featuring Galchenyuk and Lars Eller, who has moved to the wing in order to accommodate Galchenyuk’s switch to center. To the delight of Montreal and its fans, the line has shown a fair amount of chemistry early on. If Semin can recapture even a fraction of his former success, he could potentially be the difference maker for an offensively challenged Canadiens team that will need all the scoring it can get to take the next big step in the postseason.
PHOTO COURTESY NHL.COM
Carey Price enjoying his hardware on a night that he sweeps the competition at the NHL awards
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J.J. Watt: The Best Player in the NFL Today?
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GERRIT COULTER Contributor
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.J. Watt, defensive end for the Houston Texans, is coming off of one of the greatest seasons in NFL history. Last year, he recorded 20.5 sacks, 29 tackles for a loss, 78 total tackles, 11 pass knockdowns, 1 interception (returned for a touchdown), 4 forced fumbles, 5 fumble recoveries (1 returned for a touchdown), and 3 receptions for 3 receiving touchdowns. For the uninitiated, that might be the most spectacular year for a defensive lineman in NFL history. It can be fairly easy to toss those words around to any player that displays greatness on the football field, but to put it into perspective, here’s why Watt is worth all the praise. Watt’s 20.5 sacks were good enough to earn 2nd in the NFL (Justin Houston of Kansas City had 22). J.J.’s detractors might point to this stat as a reason not to view him as the best Defensive Lineman in the game, because he didn’t lead the NFL in sacks. However, when you look at his dominance in every other category and consider everything else he does, you’ll understand why coming 2nd in sacks isn’t something to scoff at. His 29 tackles for a loss (arguably as important as sacks) led the entire NFL; the next closest player had 23. His 78 tackles also led all defensive linemen in the league. J.J.’s 11 pass knockdowns once again led all defensive lineman, and he’s gotten so good at it that his finger wag after a pass knockdown has become a signature celebration in Houston. J.J. Watt also had one interception in the season, which he took back 80 yards for a touchdown. That’s something you’ll rarely see from any d-lineman, past or present. Watt was tied for the second most forced fumbles in the NFL with his four, and stood alone as the league leader in fumble recoveries with five, one of which he brought back for a touchdown. It’s worth noting that he does all of this while constantly being the main focus of every scouting report. The use of double and triple teams on the part of opposing blockers is common any time he touches the field. Leading his position and/or the league in so many categories is probably enough to make J.J. Watt the best player in the NFL on its own, but what adds to the aura of this once-in-a-generation athlete is the fact that
PHOTO COURTESY TOUCHDOWNACTU.COM
he possesses tremendous versatility. He also poses as a threat on the offensive side of the ball. J.J. had three receptions for three touchdowns in 2014, and none of them came easy. Watt’s five total touchdowns in 2014 were the most ever scored by a defensive lineman in a single season, putting the exclamation point on a truly historic pro football campaign. Now, a new season is upon us, and Watt is shining again. In Houston’s season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs, he tallied two sacks and nine tackles (six of which were for a loss). In week two versus the Carolina Panthers, J.J. chipped in with another sack, five more tackles (one for a loss), and two pass deflections. Therefore, his 14 tackles this year have him in a tie for 1st among defensive linemen, and his seven tackles for a loss lead the NFL. J.J. Watt’s sack against the Panthers was the 60th of his career, and it allowed him to become the second fastest player to reach that mark behind Hall of Famer Reggie White,
A Guide to the College Football Polls RYAN MCANUFF Contributor
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round this time, the couch is the most popular spot that you’ll find the vast majority of football fans on during any given weekend. Saturday is the day of NCAA football and Sunday belongs to the NFL. Last year, the NCAA playoff championship game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Oregon Ducks brought in 33.4 million viewers in the U.S. alone. Although football is a much more popular sport in the United States than anywhere else, a lot of other countries enjoy it too. At the highest level, Division I (D-I) football consists of 128 college teams to pick from. Even though most programs are located east, a D-I team can be
found in nearly every state. The teams are organized into conferences such as the SEC, Pac-12 and the Big 10. When teams make up their schedule for the year, they usually have 8 or 9 games with teams in their conference and then fill the other 3 or 4 games with anyone that’s left. Each season, teams usually have what’s called a “cupcake game,” which is typically against an opponent that they’ll have no problem beating. College teams are not ranked with “points” after each win or loss like they are in hockey, but rather via two polls known as the Associated Press (AP) Poll and the Coaches Poll. These polls work the same way, but involve different people that are responsible for evaluation. The polls do not necessarily reflect who has the most wins or the
least losses, but who has played with the most consistency over the course of the campaign. Additionally, quality of competition also tops the evaluation criteria. The AP Poll includes 65 sportswriters and broadcasters from across the nation. Each voter provides his or her own top 25 ranking, which is then combined with the other voters to construct the official national ranking. A team is allotted 25 points for a first place ranking, 24 points for a second, 23 points for a third and so on, down to 1 point for the 25th and final rank. The team awarded with the greatest number of points from all 65 voters is ranked first then the remaining 24 teams follow. After each week of football, the voters publish a new
who many consider to be the greatest of all time. It was also his seventh consecutive game with a sack, dating back to last year. Indeed, it’s a phenomenal start to what could be another extraordinary season. Despite being a model of consistency, J.J.’s impressive all-around play still hasn’t changed the general consensus as to who the best player in the game is. That could be because Houston failed to appear in the playoffs last year. Most fans and aficionados would still give the edge to Aaron Rodgers or Tom Brady. That’s not bad company to be a part of though. After all, Rodgers was voted the league’s most valuable player last year, and Tom Brady did tie Joe Montana for most Super Bowl MVP’s after leading his team to a record fourth championship. Perhaps, it would take a deep playoff run for the conversation to change, but that’s a debate for another time. For now, Watt promises to dazzle and build on what is already a stand out resume.
set of rankings. The Coaches’ Poll operates in similar fashion, with the exception being that voters are head coaches from the group of D-I schools. There are 64 voters and they are chosen at random from a collection of coaches that have indicated their willingness to participate. Last year marked a major change in the way teams are selected for the National Championship game. For the first time ever, the top four seeded teams were selected to play a round of semi-final games. The winners of these games then met on the big stage to compete for the championship. The new rule deviates from the original system that saw the top two seeds pitted directly against each other for the grand prize. The system has
been praised, because it allows underrated teams to prove that they belong, and that’s exactly what Ohio State did last year when they won it all as the fourth ranked team in the pack. This year, the roles are reversed as the Buckeyes enter the season as the top dog. That’s a title they can be pleased with for now, but the true champion will only be crowned in January, and nobody should be written off until then. That’s the beauty of college football. Anything can happen when teams put everything on the line. If you’re excited already, remember, this is just the beginning.
THE CAMPUS SEPTEMBER 30, 2015
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