in this issue “Post-grad seems like the perfect time to seize opportunities you may not be able to pursue until later in life.”
Opinions, p. 6
“You see it show up pretty suddenly, in synch with social changes happening in the rest of the world.” Arts & Culture, p. 11
RSEQ Finals
McGill: 77
Bishop’s: 74
“All they [the fans] could do was watch as the Redmen had their way with a battered Gaiters team.” Sports, p. 14
www.thebucampus.ca
THE CAMPUS
Vol. 68 No. 12
March 13, 2013
Kissing the Blarney Stone Since 1942
photo courtesy the fine arts club
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News
The Campus, March 13, 2013
Meagan Roulet, Editor • thecampus.news@gmail.com Editor-in-Chief: Adam T. Young Associate Editor: Meagan Roulet News Editor: Meagan Roulet Opinions Editor: Lauren Humphreys Features Editor: Caleigh Cross A & C Editor: Maghen Eisan Sports Editor: Brian MacIver Photo Editor: Cecilia Bracmort Layout Editor: Chelsea Conway Copy Editor: Taylor Poelman Online Editor: Laura Yaternick
Liberal leadership up for grabs Registered supporters exceeds expectation in Liberal leadership campaign
The Campus Box 2131, SUB #107 Bishop’s University Lennoxville, Quebec J1M 1Z7 thecampus.editor@gmail.com phone: (819) 822-9600 ext. 2688
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 Saturday 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-inChief 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.
Candidates stand beside one another during the Liberal leadership debate.
by Meagan Roulet News Editor
I
n recent months; the liberal leadership campaign has appeared to be running smoothly. However, as the election date approaches, many campaign speed bumps have become apparent. The election for the next Liberal leader will take place on April 14th. The liberal party has generated a registration of almost 300, 000 voters across the 308 ridings in Canada. Although the Liberal party has not yet released the exact number of registered voters, the party claimed that the numbers “exceeded expectations”. While the overall voter registration has surpassed expectations, many provinces remain under-represented. Almost half of the 300, 000 registered Liberal party supporters are located in Ontario (125, 000). In addition to the Maritime Provinces being very supportive of the Liberal party, British Columbia hosts another 40,000 registered individuals, leaving the provinces of
Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Quebec. The candidates for the Liberal leadership are David Bertschi, Martin Cauchon, Deborah Coyne, Marc Garneau, Martha Hall Findlay, Karen McCrimmon, Joyce Murray, and Justin Trudeau. While many of the candidates are qualified for the position, Trudeau remains the frontrunner in the race. Although some remain far less interested than those in the Ontario and B.C provinces, all 308 ridings carry equal weight in the selection of the next Liberal leader. Less popular candidates plan to seek support and gain momentum by generating interest in smaller ridings that may have less solidified support. The difference in registered voters in ridings is substantial. The most popular riding remains that of Newton-North Delta in B.C with 5, 306 registered voters. In contrast, the Quebec riding of Abitibi-Baie-James-NunavikEeyou has a mere 82 registered voters. The Liberal Leadership website
outlines the complicated election process: “The leader will be elected through preferential ballot, based on a points system that gives every riding in the country an equal voice. A preferential ballot means that voters only vote once. Voters will indicate all the candidates they support, in order of preference, on a single ballot.” In order to ensure that every riding has an equal voice in the election, a points system has been established: “Every riding gets 100 points. There are 30, 800 points up for grabs across all 308 ridings. The magic number in order for a candidate to win, is 15 401 points. Each candidate gets the number of points that reflects their percentage of the vote in each individual riding. If a candidate reaches 15, 401 points, he/ she is elected the new leader of the Liberal Party of Canada.” In the event that no candidate reaches the necessary number of points “the candidate with the least points, nationally, is dropped from the ballot. Then all the votes are counted again, in each riding, according to the
photo courtesy the windsor star
photo courtesy the jewish tribune
Front-runner for the Liberal leadership position, MP Justin Trudeau.
preferential ballots. If a voter’s first choice was dropped of the ballot, their second choice is then used. The process continues until someone reaches the magic number: 15, 401 points.”
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The war on pasta Italian restaurant receives fine for using the word “pasta” on menu by Sofie Hojabri Contributor
T
he OQLF, otherwise known as the Office Quebecoise de la Langue Francaise, has been making efforts to crack down on its language laws that fall under Bill 101. Buonanotte, a renowned Italian restaurant in Montreal, has recently been under scrutiny from the language police for using words such as ‘calamari’, ‘pasta’ and ‘polpette’ on their menu. Owner Massimo Lecas states that while “[his] menu is completely in French” excluding his
dish names, he still received a letter following an OQLF investigation stating that he must replace these words with their Frenchequivalent. Since this event, a number of businesses in Montreal have made their disputes with the OQLF public. Many businesses have had to spend thousands of dollars in order to comply with the increasingly strict language laws: having to replace menus, signs, and even cups for having incorrect font sizes or spelling. This ‘pastagate’ controversy quickly went viral across social media, creating uproar in both English and French communities in Montreal. In these online communities, Italian Quebecers jokingly stated, “they would never relinquish their right to eat pasta”. Ironically, the OQLF does not have an English website, making it difficult for Anglophones to understand whether or not they are complying to the language
laws. While the OQLF admits that they were overzealous in their pursuit of the word pasta, it appears the damage has already been done. Quebec was made a laughing stock as the ‘pastagate’ story made international news. Diane De Courcy, the minister responsible for Quebec’s language charter, claims that, in light of recent criticism, the government will be more vigilant in how they handle language-law complaints. Since the Parti Québécois has been elected into parliament, one of Pauline Marois’ main priorities has been to reinforce Bill 101’s language charter. The OQLF has received a 6% budget increase from the Marois government, bringing their expenditure near to $25 million. Further plans to enforce the French language include a hearing that will be held in March on Bill 14 - a legislation that will “reinforce French as the language of work, educa-
photo courtesy the west island gazette
A restaurant in Pointe-Claire, Quebec names their pasta salad after Pauline Marois.
tion, and government”. This new legislation, if passed, will give the OQLF much more authority and Anglophone Quebecers much less access. Since the event, the organization has reviewed the situation
and said that the use of the word pasta is acceptable as it can be deemed as a cultural exception. These recent events have caused many citizens of Montreal to question these nit-picky language laws.
New scholarship benefits students with ADD/ADHD Scholarship will be made available to students in Ontario, Alberta and Quebec By Jesse Mellott The Fulcrum (University of Ottawa)
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TTAWA (CUP) — Students with ADD/ADHD will now have the chance to receive financial assistance as well as time-management mentoring while attending post-secondary institutions. Shire Canada, a biopharmaceutical company that focuses particularly on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
(ADHD), is creating a scholarship program for Canadian adults who suffer from the disorder. The scholarship will be introduced in September 2013 and will include financial support for tuition as well as one year of ADHD coaching. According to Heidi Bernhardt, former executive director of the Canadian ADHD Resource Alliance, the ADHD Scholarship Program will help provide critical help to those who have the disorder. “I think our biggest challenge with ADHD in the post-secondary [community] is that there is still a lot of stigma [when it comes to] understanding this disorder,” Bernhardt said. She explained that when people living with ADHD get to the post-secondary level, the executive functioning impairment that is a part of the disorder hits them
physician and must be seeking treatment for the disorder. The coaching provided with the scholarship will provide students with a skill set to help them succeed in post-secondary and beyond. Bernhardt feels these conditions are the most important parts of the program, as symptoms in adults are less obvious than in children. “They don’t grow out of it in most cases; the symptoms just portray differently, but it doesn’t mean that they’re not as impaired with their ADHD in adulthood,” she said. The ADHD Scholarship Program will be made available to students in Alberta, Ontario and Quebec, with spots for five scholarship winners. A minimum of one student per province will be selected. Students can apply until March 27, and winners will be announced June 17.
L’air du temps
On the cover of this issue...
L
ast year’s Gait Art Show, presented by the Fine Arts Club, saw great success exhibiting the work of dedicated Bishop’s students. This year’s show will be taking place Thursday, March 14, 2013 from 4p.m. to 8p.m in the Gait. Free wine and cheese will be served while quantities last.
in a big way and makes things like planning, organizational skills, and time management difficult. Some also have to deal with the fact that they’re away from their support system — usually family. Sarah Patterson, coordinator for the academic support unit at the University of Ottawa’s Access Service, agrees with Bernhardt’s characterization of ADHD and sees the benefits of the proposed scholarship. “It seems to be a unique structure for a scholarship in that it is allotting money towards offsetting the cost of tuition — which is pretty typical for a scholarship. But they have also specified that it’s for coaching as well, and academic coaching is something that a lot of students can benefit from, specifically students with an attention deficit [disorder],” Patterson said. In order to be considered for the scholarship, students must be diagnosed by a
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Windsor MP continues to stir up abortion debate Jeff Watson hopes polling on his website will help open the abortion debate in Parliament By Jon Liedtke The Lance (University of Windsor)
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INDSOR (CUP) — Jeff Watson, MP for the Windsor-area riding of Essex, is attempting to engage in a digital dialogue with his constituents over an abortion debate that the federal government has already put to bed. When Stephen Harper emphatically announced in the House of Commons last spring that his government would not reopen the abortion debate, many Canadians thought that Tory MPs would cease. On his website, Watson asked his constituents if they agreed with the following: “Recently, as Parliament debated M-312 to establish a committee to re-examine Canada’s 400-year-old law defining a human being, the founder and executive director of the Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada called fully taxpayer-funded abortion, at any time, for any reason— including for sex-selection or as birth control— a basic woman’s right.” The results at time of publication, signified that 37 per cent support fully taxpayer-funded abortion, at any time in the pregnancy, for any reason at all; 50 per cent support a complete ban on abortion; six per cent support creative policy options and supports that help women with unexpected pregnancies keep the baby; five per cent support some legal restrictions on access to abortion, for example restricting
photo courtesy jeffwatsonmp.ca
Jeff Watson, the Windsor MP, re-opens an already concluded dialogue on abortion.
full access to abortion during the first trimester of pregnancy. No one supported abortion for any reason that wasn’t taxpayer-funded. For the first four months of the poll, the number of respondents stagnated at around 300, but over the past week it has rapidly risen to over 9,000. According to Watson, the flood of responses is because of an “organized campaign” by both constituent groups. “When I put the poll up, I was hoping there would be a sincere effort to maybe gauge a more wider range of possible responses in reaction to what I think is the very extreme position held by the Abortion
Rights Coalition of Canada,” said Watson, who didn’t expect to get the two main interest groups “sparring to drive numbers.” Watson believes the abortion debate to be ongoing and in need of a serious conversation on a national level. “I think it’s high time for a good dialogue on the topic,” said Constance Thomson, who is against any abortions. The cofounder of Soul Presence, a local pro-life organization and support group, added, “The problem with abortion is that those who are for life haven’t been able to voice their opinions, especially in the media.” Thomson applauded Watson’s poll and hopes to have “an honest dialogue about
the facts so that we can be a healthy community.” “Those that self-identify as pro-choice, they have a much narrower [acceptance for abortion and] they are pro-restriction or pro-limitation in one fashion or another, either in who should fund it and when, by reason to have an abortion, or by some point in the pregnancy when they can access it,” said Watson. When asked whether or not there was a difference between being pro-choice and pro-abortion, Watson firmly answered “No. It’s a distinction without a difference for those that hold the most liberal view of abortion … they are very pro-abortion for any reason, fully taxpayer-funded, at any point in the pregnancy and that’s how they would define the right to choose.” Watson added, “Those who are unabashedly the most liberal and pro-abortion like to hide the moniker of pro-choice because it sounds less insensitive to mainstream Canadians, you can quote me on that.” Sarah Morris, a self-described as feminist, activist and co-founder of Riot Girrrl Tuesdays events, said, “Unless you are in someone’s shoes, actually knowing why someone is getting an abortion is totally a personal issue [and] if you make abortion unavailable, [it] doesn’t mean that it won’t happen … women will get unsafe abortions.” “[Abortion] is a difficult decision and it’s not something that many people take lightly … I think laying out options, for women, is really important. Letting them know that abortion is an option or having the baby or giving the baby up for adoption,” said Morris, who also believes that proper sex education and birth control is a way to reduce the number of abortions from occurring. “If we’re educating women and giving them the reproductive healthcare that they need, then abortion [rates will] go down,” she said.
Happy Birthday SRC! The Bishop’s student government celebrates its 120th anniversary by Meagan Roulet News Editor
T
he Bishop’s University Student Representative Council (SRC) will be celebrating its 120th anniversary next week. This impressive milestone is reinforced by the fact that the SRC remains one of the nations oldest student governments. The SRC plans on using this commem-
orative week to improve students’ understanding of the SRC’s operations. The beginning half of the week will be focused on reaching out to the student body. During these days, SRC members will be located throughout campus, available to answer any questions that students may have. On Friday at 8:00 p.m. the SRC has invited American comedian, Jarrod Harris, to perform at The Gait. Harris has ap-
peared on Just for Laughs, George Lopez Tonight, as well as, Comedy Central’s Live at Gothem. Tickets are currently on sale at Doolittle’s for $10/person. One of the week’s most exciting events will be the return of a number of past SRC Presidents. The SRC executive team will meet with the past Presidents to discuss the current state of Bishop’s University, and receive feedback, as well as, sugges-
tions from the former leaders of student government. On Saturday March 23rd, fifteen students will be selected to partake in an open-discussion over lunch with the returning alumni. In order to be selected for this event, students must e-mail current SRC President, Adam Peabody, to have their name entered into a draw.
Opinions
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lauren humphreys, Editor • thecampus.opinions@gmail.com
Foggy Future No, I do not know what I am going to do with my undergrad – but thanks for asking By Danielle White Opinions Writer
B
eing a fourth year student, each time I go home for a visit, or during my weekly phone call from my family making sure I’m alive and made it through another weekend at Bishop’s, the conversation always, without fail, leads to my most loathed question: “So…what are you doing after you graduate?” First of all, my family has been asking me this question since the first day of first year, and every time I give them some bullshit answer like “You knowwww…I’ll figure it out as I go…”; or “I have a few ideas, but I haven’t quite decided yet”. Although the excuse, “I’ll figure it out as I go”, was somewhat credible for the first three years, now that graduation is two months away it’s really not meeting my parents’ expectations. The truth of the matter is, I have literally no idea what I want to do, and I would like to avoid this question for as long as possible. Realistically I should go ahead and tell my parents I’m going to crash their empty
The future can be a scary place.
nest for a few months, hopefully come up with some sort of “plan” I can tell them, toy with the idea of applying to grad school, realize I hate real life already and I don’t want to do more homework, then choose to travel so I can avoid being an adult with (real) responsibilities for a little while longer.
photo courtesy innovation.ca
Some people are lucky enough to go to university with a concrete plan: undergrad, law school, become lawyer, etc. However, this is not the case for me, and I’m assuming it isn’t the case for many other students. There’s never been a point in my life when I knew exactly what I wanted to do for a living. Some days it would be a pro-
fessional Disney Princess, while other days I wanted to be a veterinarian. Luckily, for all Bishop’s students including myself, we have the opportunity to get an education from a small school and are encouraged to find the things in life we really love and also the things we really hate. Yet, even with a small school advantage, I still haven’t been able to pinpoint where I see myself after June 1. Even though I frequently find myself a little concerned about my lack of a plan in my post-Bishop’s life, I like knowing that for the first time I won’t have an immediate plan of action and I like the sense of fear that that thought gives me. Post-grad seems like the perfect time to seize opportunities you may not be able to pursue until later in life, and unfortunately for my parents, this is the direction I seem to be headed. At the risk of sounding cliché, life is too short to always have a plan, and whether or not my parents like my post-grad philosophy, they will have to learn to accept that “I’ll figure it out”.
To Gait or not to Gait? That is the question By Lois Boateng Contributor
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hat to do? This is the million dollar question you and your friends ponder on a typical Saturday night in Lennoxville. The Lion is hosting a fundraiser event; Just-N-Time (a.k.a Mullies) is having another one of its “cheap drink” nights; off-campus is buzzing with house parties while someone above your dorm is having a residence party (that will end by 1 a.m.). Surely enough, after the residence party you and your friends decide to go offcampus to one of the above-mentioned hotspots. As you walk through the Student Union Building (SUB) lobby, you hear loud music. You then realize that at night the BU student lounge turns into a night
club called the Gait. Unfortunately, not a lot of partying has been happening at the Gait recently. In the last two years, the Gait has failed to live up to its glory days as it suffers from dwindling attendance. The few big nights such as Halloween and the fashion show afterparty still draw crowds, yet conversely, on many occasions, the Gait closes early due to the lacklustre turnout. What can explain the lack of interest to party at the Gait? Some suggest that the BU party atmosphere has declined; the incoming students are seemingly more academically focused – as demonstrated through higher admission standards – and perhaps are not the festive type. Nevertheless, I do not believe that this argument fully explains the Gait’s poor attendance. These same students party at the Lion, Just-in-Time and at house parties. Even highly regarded universities such as McGill and Queens have a vibrant party scene. All work and no play makes for a
very boring and stressful student life. From the general discussion around school, one recurrent theme is the unqualified deejays at the Gait. Simply knowing how to use Virtual DJ and throwing in a few sound effects does not make you a deejay or even close to being a good one. These deejays have no “musical ears” and play music off their iTunes with no rhyme or reason. They switch from techno to hip-hop to dubstep to reggae with absolutely no flow or proper blending and all in a matter of ten minutes Moreover, they repeat songs in the same night and play the whole 5-minute long song – a major don’t in the deejay world! Another recurrent theme is the poor advertising for the Gait. In my first year, the “hype” generated through themed events, posters and a good deejay propelled students to go to the Gait every week. Now, most people do not know what is going on at the Gait. In my function as a Student Safety
member, I have seen many students pass through the SUB lobby with a curious look on their face that screams: “what is going on in there?” Thus, from my observations, I have concluded two things. Firstly, given the diversity of the student population, the deejay of the night needs to be versatile and have good musical ears to blend different genres of music in a cohesive manner. The deejay must also regularly update his or her musical playlist. Secondly, having a public relations team that will create hype through multiple sources of communication is much desired. The mandate of this team would also include revamping the Gait’s image from the last resort of “I-go-to-the-Gait-onlywhen-already-completely-inebriated”, to the first choice of fun and good music. To those responsible for the Gait who might be puzzled by some of the reasons behind its plight, in the wise words of Biggie Smalls: “if don’t know…now you know.”
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Opinions
The Campus, March 13, 2013
So I like Stephen King, get over it! Accepting the fact that I connect more strongly with fantasy than Herman Melville By Taylor Poelman Copy Editor
O
nce upon a time, my doctor asked me who I like to read. I responded with Stephen King, Anne Rice, Robert Jordan and, obviously, J.K. Rowling. He scoffed and told me to read “real books”. I have faced similar situations in various English classes – teachers and professors encouraging me to read from the greats of literature beyond course work. Lecturing constantly that “this is the good stuff!” Allowing me to reiterate the wisdom I have gained from the work of these great individuals via long-winded papers about the themes of death, sex, love, time, and the ephemerality of it all. Well la-dee-da if all that well-respected prose and verse doesn’t get a bit tiresome after a while!
Since childhood, I’ve always been a big fan of the more fantastical genres. If it’s got any combination of magic, knights, time-travel, space, powerful kingdoms or terrible empires, I’m into it! It wasn’t S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders driving my imagination and passion for reading wild in the eighth grade; it was George R.R. Martin’s A Clash of Kings. Though Holden Caulfield is an interesting dude and all, I kind of think J.D. Salinger seemed like an ass. There’s really no way of telling whether or not I’d appreciate Stephen King’s company more, but the gunslinger Roland seems more my type… It’s not that canonized literature isn’t to be appreciated. It’s so faithfully revered because it is, indeed, “the good stuff ”. But perhaps its distinctly classroom connotations are what have driven me towards alternative sources of reading material outside of academics. The beauty of fantasy is the escapist element, after all! Instead of contemplating the sorrows of life and the injustice of ill-fated romance through a short but elaborately complex novella, I am drawn instead to keep turning the pages illustrating quests of epic proportions and wars that lay waste to entire nations. Maybe the distance between
my own world and that of the fantastical heroes and heroines I read about is another attractive feature; I’m placed in a world that doesn’t exist, where boundaries are relaxed, as opposed to one that makes truthful and sometimes harsh observations of human reality. Perhaps the length has something to do with it as well. Harry is given seven whole volumes to tell his story; Holden only gets a small snippet of one! Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time series now numbers 14 books, several of which have been published and carried on by author Brandon Sanderson following Jordan’s death. Sad about a plot ending? Hard to be, when you’ve got at least 10 more to read in the set! Though I can’t say my beloved fantasy novels always live up to the diction of Hemingway or Dickens, I must admit I usually find them more emotionally and imaginatively stimulating. Just as many feelings can be inspired by the death of Hedwig as that of Curley’s wife. The point of all this is: it’s OK to read some of what stiff scholars might refer to as “lesser literature”. There’s no shame in revelling in the repeating mythic structures of many fantastically fictitious plots such the
classical reiterations of good vs. evil, and love conquering all. Clearly these themes get readers going, otherwise why would people like me read and re-read so many similarly orchestrated stories? I just can’t get enough of a commoner who learns to wield a great sword and sets off into the world to fight dragons and seduce queens. So whatever, doctors and professors, I’ll read what I want! And I’ll enjoy it a hell of a lot more than Plato, that’s for sure!
A frequent flyer rant By Bethan Chalke Contributor
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ne of my favourite pastimes is people watching: strangers seem to do the most interesting things when they think no one is watching. I am fortunate enough to spend a lot of my time in airports, one of the best places to observe bizarre behaviour. Mob mentality is a very curious phenomenon you can find in abundance in airports. Something I do not understand is the urge to get on the plane. When the gate operator calls for pre-boarding, everyone stands up and crowds the gate. Once pre-boarding is over, nearly everyone queues up at the gate in a line that goes nearly all the way back to security. These people have bought tickets; they have a reserved spot on the plane, so why the desire to get on as soon as possible? I understand that the overhead compartments are a coveted commodity, but planes are designed to have nearly one spot overhead for each person. Unless 95% of the passengers have more than one carry-on that they need to store overhead, this behaviour does not make any sense. Not to mention I am at a loss to understand why people want to be on a plane for longer than necessary, especially in the face of a packed nine-hour flight.
Now, I love seeing random acts of kindness, but (somewhat depressingly) I find that appalling behaviour is more common. This past week I flew home to Vancouver for reading week and, while waiting at my gate, the flight before mine was cancelled due to bad weather conditions in the destination city, Halifax. A very nice young woman, not much older than I, informed the passengers in a sympathetic and apologetic manner. She handled the situation very well. Despite her tact, a disturbing number of disgruntled passengers started to yell abuse at this poor woman. They yelled things like, “This is bullshit!” and “This is ridiculous, what terrible service!” At this I, unable to restrain myself, said (I admit, with an annoyed tone) to the abusive passengers, “It’s not her fault.” Needless to say, they shot me looks that clearly said, “F*ck off.” There I was, a student, behaving more maturely than these middle-aged and elderly people. The poor gate operator had to reiterate the process of picking up their baggage, receiving their accommodation voucher, and rescheduling their flight several times because the angry passengers were too busy screaming abuse to listen. I heard one of the passengers on the phone with a friend saying, “It’s just ridiculous, they cancelled both flights to Halifax. This is terrible service!”
I managed to restrain myself tapping the woman on the shoulder and saying, “Do you not think there’s a reason then?” Evidently this woman (and some of the other passengers) were unable to comprehend that WestJet actually was not trying to ruin their vacation, that they lose a lot of money by canceling flights, and that it was really for the safety of their passengers. Another aspect of human behaviour that I do not understand is what some women wear to the airport (Jenna Marbles did a very funny rant about this, if you find yourself with some time to kill, I recommend checking it out). Going off what she says, I witnessed a woman getting on to my plane in a white shirt, leather jacket, skintight white pants, and the most ridiculous heeled boots I think I’ve ever seen. Not to mention her makeup was fully done, she had hair extensions in, and was wearing gaudy hoop earrings that would have made J-Lo envious. Now, unless she was going to an Ed Hardy cocktail party straight from the airport upon arrival at 5 p.m. (unlikely), there was no reason for her to be dressed like that. Realistically, even if she were going to a tacky party, those white pants are still unnecessary. I cannot imagine having to sit on a plane for five hours in her outfit. She must be really dedicated to her no doubt “fabulous” lifestyle. I blame Jersey Shore.
This is why I love airports. While aggravated passengers and awfully dressed “fashionistas” drive me nuts, I find airports wonderful. When people think no one is watching, they behave just as themselves. You are able to see the best and the worst of humanity. While this may seem hyperbolic, the airport microcosm allows for people to make the decision to be kind, helpful, and generous, or rude, inconsiderate and irritable. I have seen both: a man chasing after another passenger because they had dropped their passport and another, seeing the person drop their ID, and keep on walking. The next time you are in an airport, bus station, train station, or simply in a crowd of people, I urge you to look for these people and, on the one hand, enjoy the moments of kindness you see. On the other hand, if you witness acts of rudeness, I hope you have enough nerve to call the culprit on it. If we hold each other more accountable, perhaps these inconsiderate people will realize their mistakes, reform, and begin to treat others as they would like to be treated: a lesson we all learn as children but sadly forget as we grow up and face the pressures of adulthood. Perhaps if we are more kind to one another, the world and it’s airports will begin to seem a more wonderful, optimistic place!
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Harry Potter
Harry Potter: the modern epic Lauren Humphreys Opinions Editor
I
n my first year of university, I made the monstrous mistake of reading the Twilight series; once I started, I just couldn’t stop. I just had to find out – can this book possibly get any worse? By the end of the fourth installment (Breaking Dawn!!!) the series had in fact gotten worse. I spent a solid 8 hours of my life (that I can never reclaim) reading about the dramatic dangerous disasters, series of slightly-scary suitors, and badass baseball games between tumultuously tempered supernaturals that comprised the life and times of Bella Swan. 8 hours I could have spent re-reading about the brief romance between Hermione Granger and brooding dreamboat, Viktor Krum. If there is one thing I hate more than Kristen Stewart (Bella in the Twilight films), it’s when I hear someone attempt to argue that Twilight is better than Harry Potter. It doesn’t matter if you think wizards are lame; if you are harbouring a secret vampire fetish – Harry Potter will always trump the Cullen clan. Twilight may be an easy read with the appearance of an intricate plot, but at best it barely skims the surface of the pool of
literature. As for Harry Potter, it would take me an entire honours thesis to accurately articulate exactly why the series is so good. Instead, I will attempt to provide a brief synopsis: It can be argued that the Harry Potter books are a modern epic, aligned with Homer’s Odyssey. Like the ancient poets, Rowling structures her larger story arch throughout a series of seven books. Consistent with the conventions of epic poetry, the Potter series begins in the middle of a larger story (the night Voldemort kills Harry’s parents), features a hero on a quest (Harry attempting to vanquish Voldemort), and includes the incorporation of mythological themes (Firenze the centaur, werewolves, hags and ghouls, etc.) Instead of weak and pathetic characters like Bella and Edward, Rowling populated her wizarding world with a cast of multidimensional people who experience triumphs and joys alike with deep emotions a reader can relate to. As previously stated, the story of Harry Potter and his friends follows a narrative that is well-constructed, elaborately detailed, and meticulously planned. Did you know the first chapter of Rowling’s sixth installment Harry Potter and the HalfBlood Prince titled ‘The Other Minister’
photo courtesy warner bros.
was originally written for the first installment, the Philosopher’s Stone? Or that Draco has to fix the vanishing cabinet in Half-Blood Prince because Nearly Headless Nick convinces Peeves to break it in Chamber of Secrets? Yeah. I must admit this article is written in vain, because Rowling’s literary legacy can speak for itself. Withstanding the hellfire from Christians declaring Potter as a satanic promotion of witchcraft, Rowling has created an unforgettable cast of characters, received critical acclaim, and gone
on to sell millions of copies worldwide. Conversely, all Stephanie Meyer has achieved is creating a female role-model who can only seem to define herself through her boyfriend (I mean, Meyer literally leaves pages of the book blank when Edward isn’t around). As literary great Stephen King so accurately states: “Harry Potter is about confronting fears, finding inner strength and doing what is right in the face of adversity. Twilight is about how important it is to have a boyfriend”.
twilight
Twilight’s not so bad By Caleigh Cross Features Editor
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don’t hate Twilight. Calm down. I don’t want a boyfriend who watches me sleep and has a barely controllable urge to kill me. I just don’t hate Twilight. While the relationship between Edward and Bella isn’t healthy in the long term and in the real world probably wouldn’t last longer than a Mentos, what we have to take into consideration is Stephanie Meyer’s target audience: preteens and young teenaged girls. Nobody knows how relationships work at that age. All we know is that having one seems like the thing to do, and everybody wants to feel wanted, especially during those confusing adolescent years when it can seem like the whole world’s against you. At that point, someone like Edward, whose every thought is of you and your safety, can seem perfect.
photo courtesy summit entertainment
Bella is often criticised for her lack of personality and drabness. She’s clumsy, awkward, shy, and insecure; just like everybody else at times. Bella’s unremarkable
nature, however, makes her the perfect blank screen on which the reader can project herself. It’s easy to put yourself in Bella’s shoes because she’s an empty can-
vas, a proxy for you to step into and move through her world. Forks, Washington is an insecure adolescent’s paradise. Everyone loves Bella and wants to be either her friend or her boyfriend. Her parents aren’t together and don’t seem to make her much of a priority, but that’s okay, because the Cullens are there to accept her and give her a place to feel welcome and wanted. While lasting insecurity isn’t healthy, it’s perfectly normal to want to find acceptance, love, and popularity while within the ages of Meyer’s target audience. Twilight is a healthy, normal fantasy for teenagers trying to establish themselves outside their parents and their families. Bella explores an alternative lifestyle. Drinking blood is a little more extreme than dying your hair pink, but it’s all part of growing up. Cut Twilight some slack.
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The Campus, March 13, 2013
caleigh cross, Editor • thecampus.features@gmail.com
Booking it to Belize Hiding from winter in paradise By Caleigh Cross Features Editor
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obody smiles in February. Cop to it. The only time I ever smiled in February was when I saw someone snowshoe right into their own car. February is mostly just slush. Things start to get a little better in March, when hope starts to break through the grey and give us spring, but the last leg of winter is just there as a test of human patience. So it’s usually around this time of year that I make like a bird and migrate south. My family has a condo in San Pedro, Belize, and it’s the perfect place to hide and wait out the slush. Belize is a third world country with a population of roughly 357,000. Located next to Mexico, the mainland is beautiful and lush, exploding with jungles and humidity. San Pedro is on a little island called Ambergris Caye, which is off the coast of mainland Belize, about a twenty-minute flight in a propeller plane. Belize fun fact number one: Ambergris is a wax-like substance found in the intestine of a sperm whale. It’s used in the manufacturing of perfume. It’s an adventure town and about the only place on the Caye, unless you count the jungle. Belize fun fact number two: Madonna’s song “La Isla Bonita” was written about
photo courtesy the author
A sunny day in San Pedro, Belize.
San Pedro, and it’s easy to see why. It rains once a day for about a half an hour, but apart from that, the sky is this perfect, deep Prussian blue. It looks like china, like a cloud would break it. The sunlight is effusive by the equator. You can actually feel it soaking into your skin. (For a pale blonde, that’s not necessarily a plus.) There are blossoms everywhere. The air
is heavy and laden with the scent of pinks and hibiscus. It’s slow, heady, prelapsarian. The Atlantic ocean is as warm as a bath and the blue-green of something prehistoric and ancestral. It’s easy to feel like you might be just about to bloom with the rest of the flowers. San Pedro is ultimately an adventurer’s town, though. About the only sport you
recipe column
can’t take up there is cross-country skiing. There’s a jet-ski rental on the dock about thirty feet from our apartment. Those things can get up to 80 km an hour! Nothing beats cresting the shining waves over the barrier reef on a jet-Sski with a full tank, knowing you could take it around the island twice and be home for dinner. If you cut the engine and drift, you’ll see manta rays the size of tables rippling lazily around the coral. If under the water is more your speed, you can try SNUBA diving. It’s like scuba diving, but rather than carrying the air tanks on your back, they float on top of the water in a raft, and you breathe through a hose. You don’t need a scuba certification, either! It’s amazing to see all the colours of the reef and the tropical marine life. I chased a sea turtle the first time I went down! Next time I go, I want to try cave tubing. It’s a slow journey through the damp caves of the Belizean jungle in an inner tube, and it sounds glorious. Belize fun fact number three: It’s a Commonwealth Realm, just like us. A picture of the beautiful, younger Queen Elizabeth II adorns their currency. It’s a friendly, welcoming, and fun place to lose yourself for a while, especially in the dusk of pre-spring weather. I can’t wait to go back!
by caleigh cross, features editor
Slow Cooker Pot Roast
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low cookers are great in a lot of ways. You can cook anything in them and they make the house smell amazing. Nothing beats a good hearty pot roast, served with some mashed potatoes, especially because it makes its own gravy.
Here is the easiest recipe for pot roast ever: 2 cans condensed cream of mushroom soup 1 package dry onion soup mix 5 1/2 lb pot roast 1 1/4 cups water In the slow cooker, mix everything but the pot roast, and then put the meat in and slather it in the mixture. Cook for 3-4 hours on high or 8-9 hours on low. Enjoy!
Features
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You will survive Breaking up: the process of realizing the world isn’t going to end By Caleigh Cross Features Editor
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reakups suck. Whether it ended in fire or ice, the end of your relationship will hit you hard and leave you reeling. The person you would have turned to for support, for laughter, for a hug, is gone, and they left a hole the size of France. What do you do? How do you get through the day? How do you get better and move on, when even the thought of moving on makes you want to crawl in bed and stay there? Don’t worry: there’s hope. You will feel better. You will go through the stages of grief and then, one day, you will feel better. The first stage is shock. Logically, you know what happened. You were there, you got your stuff back, you said a numb goodbye. Maybe you even felt relieved immediately after it was over. Your heart hasn’t caught up yet, unfortunately, and it’ll hit you like a tidal wave when you have a quiet
moment. All you can do when the tsunami comes is learn to surf. Ride it out. Have a lot of tissues on hand and do whatever you feel like doing. Watch movies. Read. Cry some more. Eat chocolate. Repeat. The second stage involves a lot of panic. Your world has been rearranged, and if there’s one thing the human brain really hates, it’s change. You’re not used to living without your ex, and you might not even remember how. Right now, you’re an addict, and all you want is a hit. Unfortunately, your drug has only one dealer, and now you’re cut off. This is the part where you don’t text him. Don’t text her. Not to ask how he’s doing (you don’t want to know.) Not to ask if she’s moved on. (Maybe.) Especially not to ask him to come back. (You don’t want that. Trust me.) You know it’s over. Your brain, however, doesn’t want to believe it, and you will freak out trying to restore order, trying to get your old life back. This is all mind tricks. Try putting up some Post-It notes with all the things he did that you hated. If she was always late,
you put that right by your cell phone. If he hated your family, stick it on the mirror. If you don’t give in, soon your brain will be back on your side. The third stage is where a lot of the healing starts. Don’t do anything to numb the pain (especially nothing illegal). You’re going to want to be alone with your loss. You’re going to want to take long walks and listen to sad music, and you should. This is the time to give yourself whatever you need. You will start coming to terms with your feelings. If you find yourself needing to talk, try writing in a journal or talking to a friend. This will feel like two steps forward and one step back, by the way. You’re going to cry. A lot. During this part, you need to remember one thing: he didn’t love you. Or if she did, it wasn’t enough not to leave you when things got tough. You deserve better than that, don’t you? The last stage is acceptance. I have bad news and good news. The bad news is, you’re still going to miss them. Sorry. You’ll remember how he wanted to take you to a
restaurant that you pass on the highway, or you’ll remember an inside joke or the way it felt to know you had someone to come home to, someone who had your back. The good news, though, is that to miss someone like that is a beautiful thing, if you can see past the pain. Isn’t it a blessing that you loved someone as deeply as you did? Wasn’t that beautiful? All that pain you felt before it condensed to maudlin sweetness; you’ll be proud of yourself for being strong enough to get through it. Love yourself. Love your friends. There’s love everywhere. Winston Churchill once said, “If you’re going through hell, keep going.” No matter what you’re facing, pain doesn’t last forever. You can do this. Tomorrow, the sun will come up, as it has done for longer than you’ve been around to see it, and you will learn to pin your hopes and your happiness on the simple constancy of everyday life. Spoiler alert: Everything turns out OK in the end.
Advertisement: The Campus Hiring
The Campus is now hiring for the 2013-2014 school year! An Editor position is a great opportunity to get involved in the journalism, communication, and social outlets that make up the university. Editors work together to decide on the coverage of news and stories throughout the year, and network with other journalists across Canada through our cooperative, the Canadian University Press. Interested in becoming involved? The following are the positions up for grabs. An honorarium of $500 is awarded for all positions. News Editor
• Plans and prepares the news section for each issue • Provides coverage of news events of relevance to the Bishops’s community • Recruits and supports news writers and contributors • Edits all stories within their respective section • Assists the Photo & Graphics Editor to find visuals for their section • Represents the Campus at events, media releases, interviews, etc.
Opinions Editor
• Works to provide a variety of voices and viewpoints in the Opinions section • Provides careful reading of works to help prevent libel or slanderous writing • Recruits and provides support to opinions writers and contributors • Edits all stories within their respective section • Assists the Photo & Graphics Editor to find visuals for their section • Coordinates with the EIC the publication of letters to the editor
Features Editor
• Helps to decide the feature middlespread of each section and provides insight • Researches and looks for a variety of articles to cover for their section • Recruits and provides support for fea-
tures writers and contributors • Edits all stories within their respective section • Assists the Photo & Graphics Editor to find visuals for their section
Arts & Culture Editor
• Provides diverse coverage of arts and culture events of interest to the Bishop’s community • Recruits and provides support for arts writers and contributors • Edits all stories within their respective section • Assists the Photo & Graphics Editor to find visuals for their section • Represents the Campus at events, media releases, interviews, etc
Sports Editor
• Works to guarantee coverage of sporting events and news of interest to readers • Networks with the university’s athletic department to stay abreast of games and teams • Recruits and provides support to sports writers and contributors • Edits all stories within their respective section • Assists the Photo & Graphics Editor to find visuals for their section
Photo & Graphics Editor
• Recruits and supports photographers, artists, and illustrators
• Edits photos and graphics for use in print and online • Assists other editors to find visuals for their section • Represents the Campus at events, media releases, interviews, etc.
• Looks at interesting ways to present new stories and content • Has a flair for visual aesthetics, structure, and design
Copy Editor
• Communicates through social media outlets (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) to promote the newspaper’s presence online • Oversees the production of online content such as web stories, audio and video podcasts, graphic web elements • Collaborates with the Online Editor to ensure all web content is properly upoloaded and functional • Sufficient knowledge of and/or experience with video editing software (ie. Adobe Premier Pro) is an asset • Skilled in audio and visual production
• Edits all copy for content, style, grammar, and length • Works in a timely manner to guarantee copy meets printing deadlines • Consults with the EIC for assistance with questionable or difficult copy
Online Editor
• Works at developing reader interest and involvement with The Campus website • Edits website contributions and moderates comments • Uses knowledge of Wordpess and Photoshop to upload all articles to the web • Looks at ways to link stories with multimedia available on the web • Works with the Photo & Graphics Editor to guarantee visuals for the website
Layout Editor
• Works with staff to plan and execute the layout of all sections • Uses skills of InDesign and Photoshop to creatively layout the newspaper • Assists the EIC in editing articles, headlines, and photos to fit to page
New to 2013 Multimedia Editor
Applicants are encouraged to apply for more than one position. For more information or if you have any questions, shoot us an email and we’ll be happy to help. Applications including a cover letter, CV, and two writing samples can be submitted to thecampus.editor@ gmail.com, or to P.O. box 2131 at the porter’s office. The deadline for applications is Friday, March 22 at 5p.m.
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&Culture
The Campus, March 13, 2013
Arts
Maghen eisan, editor • thecampus.ac@gmail.com
Bistro KapZak’s maple master By Shannon Neeley Arts Writer
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ocated downtown Sherbrooke on Wellington Street, Bistro KapZak is a culinary oasis that has quickly become a local favourite. Most recently the restaurant has piqued many maple fans’ curiosity with its inclusion on the popular Route de l’érable. Owner and chef, Jason Kacprzak, is delighted to be one of only two Eastern Townships restaurants featured on this year’s Route de l’érable. Being part of this cross-Quebec culinary maple tour is a great nod to this native townshipper’s love of all things maple, and an excellent way for Kacprzak to show off his inventive culinary skills. In an email interview with Kacprzak it becomes clear that cooking is not only a profession, but his true passion: “Since I was young I have always eaten and witnessed ample use of maple syrup being incorporated in our meals. It was natural that I wanted to include it in our menu. Maple syrup is such a versatile ingredient that allows us to explore sweetening recipes without always adding sugar”. The mouthwatering maple-themed dishes created by Kacprzak are unique spins on some fundamental foodie favourties. He explained that “for the moment we offer a main course of porc Osso Bucco braised in maple syrup and coffee served on a mash of parsnip and garlic tops, a sous vide smoked salmon filet marinated in maple syrup and dill, and for dessert we offer a bourbon and
photo courtesy centrevillesherbrooke.ca
Bistro KapZak, located on Wellington Street in Sherbrooke.
maple syrup pecan pie”. And for those who are inclined to test the diverse selection of spirits and beverages at the bistro, Kacprzak points out that for cocktails, they are offering an intriguing “Maple Manhattan” (bourbon, maple syrup, bitters and vermouth). Kacprzak has already seen an influx in patronage thanks to the massive exposure gained from being part of La Route de l’érable, but things are only getting started at Bistro KapZak. With the sugaring season about to kick off Kacprzak is prepar-
ing to take things to a sweet new level, informing us that “when the maple syrup time kicks into full gear we will be offering a full maple syrup table d’hôte”. While the gastronomic delights at Bistro KapZak are a complex mélange of exhilarating taste experiences, Kacprzak gives a refreshingly simple take on the reason behind the appeal and rapid success of the bistro. He says it’s “heritage. I wanted to portray my family heritage from both my father and mother’s side. Being a PolishQuebec person is what I wanted to show.
The plates and the decoration were selected to reflect this”. Graduating from Bishop’s University with a degree in physics before ultimately deciding that his heart belonged in the chaos of the kitchen, Kacprzak carries a strong sense of community and tradition with him and is grateful for his time at Bishop’s. “Since we opened we have had a lot of support from Bishop’s. Many of my old professors come to eat on a regular basis as well as a lot of the other employees. We try to return the favour, we currently have two Bishop’s students working here and our band, Blue Sienna, goes to Bishop’s”. Kacprzak is very environmentally conscious and his drive to give back and nourish his community plays a significant part in his choice to use local ingredients in his dishes. “Using local produce has always been important to me. We have such an amazing quality food produced in this area it just doesn’t seem right to buy from anywhere else. Creating a strong bond between the producers and the restaurants is great way to help the community grow and flourish”. Thanks to Kacprzak’s community-oriented entrepreneurship you won’t have to feel guilty about satiating your sweet tooth while dining at Bistro KapZak. Just watch out for those maple manhattans! To find out more information about the restaurant check out: www.bistrokapzak.com and www.laroutedelerable.ca.
Greg Morton wraps-up Mad Cap Mondays By Maghen Eisan Arts & Culture Editor
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s another school year comes to an end, so does Mad Cap Mondays; this four-part Canadian series of stand-up comedians wraps-up on Monday, March 25 at 7:30p.m. at Centennial Theater. The series plans to end on a high note, with the always-entertaining performances of Greg Morton. Morton (a Star Wars fanatic) explained how as a child he had only two choices in schoolyard conflicts: learn the ways of the Force, or use his wit to diffuse the situation. It was Morton’s witticisms that not only lead him away from conflict, but to win first prize in the “So You Think You’re Funny?” contest, which kick-started his career in stand-up comedy. Morton has been on hit comedy shows such as “The Bob and Tom Show” and “Just
for Laughs”, and has also been featured on the television station, Comedy Central. Morton’s distinct comedic tone has been used to direct and voice over twenty Saturday morning cartoons such as “Hello Kitty”, “Super Mario Bros. 3”, and “The Police Academy,” just to name a few. Whether it’s natural disasters, education, or the Pope, he pokes fun at what’s bothering him. Morton is a master at impersonating the voices of celebrities and fictional characters, and has created two of his trademark routines from it – he has condensed the Star Wars saga and the Lord of the Rings, both in less than two minutes!
photo courtesy
Greg Morton performs at Centennial Theatre on March 25, the last of this year’s Mad Cap Monday comedy shows.
From the stage to online, Morton has taken the world by storm. His “Obama Man”, sung to the tune of “Candy Man” has racked up over 4 million hits on YouTube. If those achievements aren’t enough to win you over, Morton is also a skilled cartoonist and has worked as an illustrator for animated shows and films such as “Scooby Doo and Scrappy Doo” and “Heavy Metal”. However, thankfully for us, he decided to put down the pencil
and pick up the microphone. Morton guarantees that his performances will make you laugh ‘till you cry. It’s a real honour that Morton has agreed to travel to Lennoxville, to participate in this series, so make sure that you come out and watch him. Tickets can be purchased at the Centennial box office or you can call (819)-822-9692. Tickets are $24 for the general audience, $20 for senior citizens, and $16 for students. For a sneak-peek, search Morton’s Obama Man performance on The Bob and Tom Show on YouTube.
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Wanted: the Bishop’s experience DodoLab artists investigate our traditions and rituals By Alexis Chouan Contributor The question is: “what is the Bishop’s experience?” Well, that’s exactly what art collective, DodoLab is trying to answer! Andrew Hunter and Lisa Hirmer are the two minds behind DodoLab, a project that uses creative tools to engage people with their communities. Hunter explains that the duo is fascinated with how groups adapt to challenges during times of change. Working with the Foreman Art Gallery’s Community Art Lab, DodoLab has completed the second of three visits to the Bishop’s campus over this academic year, with a scheduled return in April, where
a response to the traditions and rituals of Bishop’s University will be presented. Speaking with students, faculty, and Lennoxville community members about the Bishop’s experience, DodoLab found that one narrative kept popping up: the school’s party culture. We are considered the purple-clad, tailgating, Raise-A-Toast-singing, beerchugging, Gaiter-loving partygoers. And the consensus soon turned conspicuous. “There had to be something more,” Hunter said, questioning how much this social dimension exists and how much it is a story that we tell ourselves, about ourselves. DodoLab explored further to crack the Bishop’s culture question, and discovered that the Bishop’s experience is multifaceted. Frosh week tends to present the whole culture at equal value as a monolithic entity that you can either take or leave. However, most people end up finding their place in the community, either in one of the school’s many subcultures consisting of student clubs, athletics, student govern-
photo courtesy dodolab.ca
ment, residence, and community involvement etc. The social scene remains the common denominator in all of our different experiences, but it is also not the whole of any one identity. Looking through archives, Hunter and Hirmer traced the start of this explosive party culture back to the early ‘80s. “You see it show up pretty suddenly, in synch with social changes happening in the rest of the world,” Hunter stated. DodoLab intends to use the artists’ work to connect Bishop’s back to its community past, by bringing photos, writings, and ephemera out of the archives. Did you know that before Divinity College was closed in the 1970’s, an elite group of students who named themselves “The Divines” held exclusive sherry parties as the height of the Bishop’s social scene? Or that during the 1940’s, froshies were given traditional purple and white
The Morris House Reading Series presents: Douglas Gibson
University of Ottawa
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The DodoLab art collective has been gathering inspiration from Bishop’s culture, part of a projet that will be in residency at the Foreman Art Gallery starting in April.
beanies? Or that Bishop’s students used to wear gowns to class? DodoLab’s work is not only about looking back, but also about embracing our university’s growth and future. The duo wants us to look forward and adapt our identity without losing it. Just like how the dodo’s island was invaded by human predators, which caused the birds’ extension, our infamous “bubble” is facing pressures from the outside. DodoLab invites you to take a break from exams in April and come contribute to the reflection and discussion of who we are and who we will be at Bishop’s University, with a series of collaborative art events, such as a revival sherry party!
Faculty of Arts
Editor, publisher, and author of Stories about Storytellers By Jeff Parent Contributor
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he Morris House Reading Series brings both established and up-and-coming authors to Bishop’s University to present their work, answer questions, and meet with the audience during the informal reception that follows. The series is currently being supported by the Quebec Writers’ Federation, Bishop’s University Academic Enrichment Fund, Bishop’s University Bookstore, Canada Council for the Arts, and Bishop’s University Speakers Committee. The Morris House Reading Series is pleased to announce that it will host editor and publisher Douglas Gibson, author of Stories about Storytellers (ECW 2011). Gibson will be on hand to talk about his book and share his experiences in the publishing industry. The event is free and will take place at the Centennial Theatre lobby at Bishop’s University on Thursday, March 28 at 4:30 p.m., and will be followed by an informal reception. Douglas Gibson has an impressive track record in the publishing industry. He first worked in publishing as a trainee editor with Doubleday Canada and then served as its managing editor from 1969 until 1974. Macmillan hired him thereafter as Editorial Director of the Trade Division, which brought him in touch with many legends including Morley Callaghan, W.O. Mitchell and Hugh
photo courtesy
Doug Gibson will visit Bishop’s on March 28 as part of the Morris House Reading Series.
MacLennan. He also attracted writers like Jack Hodgins, Mavis Gallant and Alice Munro. In March 1986, Avie Bennett lured him to McClelland and Stewart, eventually becoming its president and publisher in 2000. His recent publication, Stories about Storytellers speaks to these exciting experiences in publishing. The Morris House Reading Series is approaching its tenth year of hosting both established and up-and-coming authors at Bishop’s University. Prestigious Canadian writers such as Alistair MacLeod, Jeffrey Moore, Ann Michaels and Donna Morrissey have been a part of this event. This year’s line-up also includes Katrina Best, Frances Itani, Carmine Starnino, Anne Fortier, Michele Plomber and Jeramy Dodds. Further information about past readings or updates about our events can be viewed at the English Department website. For more information about this event, please contact Linda Morra at (819) 822-9600 (ext. 2872) or by email at lmorra@ubishops.ca
Master of Arts in World Literatures and Cultures A new interdisciplinary and bilingual one-year program
12 Arts & Culture
The Campus, March 13, 2013
A theatrical head’s up! By Mel MacCoubrey Contributor It’s a busy time of year for Bishop’s students. We’re finishing up those last assignments, and the looming exam anxiety has started to make its way into our thoughts and nightmares. But if you’re one of those students looking for a high-quality distraction, allow me to let you all in on a little secret: there are several upcoming shows that we’d love you to come and see! The Drama Department has been working hard. Not only are the production classes putting on two grand-scale performances (more on those in the next issue) but many of our peers have set aside their busy schedules for the greater good. Next week, a handful of dedicated stu-
dents are performing the Laramie Project at the Gait. Students both inside and outside of the drama community have been working hard to bring awareness of gaybashing hate crimes to the stage. If you haven’t had the privilege of seeing the show before, let me help you out. The Laramie Project, written by Moisés Kaufman, follows an acting troupe to Laramie, Wyoming, and plans to research the death of Matthew Shepard, a boy who was tortured and murdered for being gay. The play is compiled of several interviews with members of the cast and the townspeople. “It has been very difficult organizing 24 individual schedules into work schedules,” said Jess Hawkins, the project’s director. “[But] the rehearsal process has been wonderful so far.”
The play, Hawkins decided, will be staged in the round, using lamps, boxes, ropes, and flashlights to create their set. “It is definitely a project I want people to think about,” stated Hawkins. The Laramie Project will be performed on March 19 and 21 at 7:30 p.m. at the Gait. So go out and show your support! From there, the theatrical muse carries us into April when another dedicated group of students will be putting on and performing A Memory, Monologue, Rant and a Prayer (MMRP) in support of V-Day – a global initiative to end violence against women and girls. MMRP follows a series of monologues written by several different authors, poets, and playwrights, increasing the awareness of violence against women.
Directors Christo Graham and Rosemary Moore have been meeting with the group and working hard to bring awareness to viewers in addition to celebrating nonviolence. They are hoping to bring some fresh and radical ideas to the issue, which is of utmost importance. MMRP will be performed on April 4; the time and location will be announced as soon as it has been confirmed. Keep your eyes peeled for this event and stay tuned for the final issue of The Campus to get the insider information on this month’s drama productions: Sticks and Stones and William Shakespeare’s Pericles.
Bishop’s Research Week
From book launches to Bishop’s Idol, we’ve got it all! By Shannon Neeley Arts Writer
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rom March 18-22 some of Bishop’s University’s brightest minds will be putting their work on display as part of the 8th annual Research Week. With an impressive line-up of events planned, including book launches, debates, wine and cheeses, and the much buzzed about “Bishop’s Idol” (featuring cash prizes, free food, and an open bar!), Research Week is going to be packed with exciting events. Dr. Jessica Riddell took some time to fill us in on some of Research Week’s hottest events, the importance of research in the academic world, and why she ends up crying every year at convocation! What types of events are planed for Research Week this year? “Well, we have a packed schedule throughout the week! On Wednesday, March 20, from 7-9 p.m. the Gait will be hosting Bishop’s second debate of the year. The topic is “To Fund or not to Fund: Debating the Value of Research in Society.” Dr. Peros and Dr. Mckeen-Edwards will square off against one another along with the help of their student teammates. On Thursday, March 21, from 4:30-6 p.m. we will host a
wine and cheese, hand out awards, launch books, and have a wonderful time. All of the events are open to everyone!” Are you ever impressed/pleasantly surprised by the caliber of work Bishop’s students produce? “I am always impressed by the high quality of research that our students and our faculty produce. Even though we are a small, primarily undergraduate university whose core mission is to provide exemplary teaching to our students, research remains an important priority and – in fact – crucial to exemplary teaching. Our faculty is consistently bringing their research into the classroom, where our students benefit immensely from the level of exposure to research that you can’t get at larger universities until you are a graduate student.” A lot of hard work goes into these projects, from both the students and their faculty advisers. As a faculty member, is it rewarding to see the development of your students from tentative first years to focused honours students? “It is one of the most fulfilling aspects of my academic career. Our students walk into class on the first day of their first year full of excitement mixed with trepidation about how they will fare in this new en-
vironment; then we get to see them bloom over the three or four years they are here into incredibly articulate, poised, confident individuals. That’s probably why I cry at every convocation ceremony! I am so proud!” Research Week is now in its 8th year, why do you think it’s so important for Bishop’s to have events like this? “I think it is very important that we showcase the research that happens at Bishop’s. Sometimes students – and the community more generally – aren’t aware that faculty and staff are actively researching year-round. One third of our energy and time as academics is expected to be directed towards research, so when everyone goes home in the summer, faculty gear up with their research, and are just as busy (sometimes busier!) in those four months that during the rest of the year. Research Week celebrates knowledge acquisition and knowledge sharing, which is a central function of a university.” Bishop’s Research Idol competition is a new addition to Research Week. Who came up with this idea and what exactly can we expect to go down? “On Tuesday, March 19 we’re hosting our first ever “Bishop’s Idol” at the Gait
from 6-8 p.m. This is based on American Idol but instead of singing, students are asked to present their research in 5 minutes or less! We’ll have our very own BU versions of Ryan Seacrest, Randy Jackson, and Simon Cowell! It is going to be really fun and challenging (plus there will be cash prizes, door prizes, free food, and an open bar!)” This is a busy time of year for everyone, but what would you say to entice people to check out Research Week events? “We are always busy, and sometimes we forget how lucky we are to have such amazing events to attend. These opportunities – whether it is a Donald lecture or a visiting film director or an amazing workshop – allow us to share ideas and grow as individuals and together as a community. Research Week is one of my favourite weeks at Bishop’s because you get to see what happens when the doors of the labs and classrooms are thrown open and the brilliance of our faculty and students is revealed. I hope everyone attends at least a few events March from 18-22: there is truly something for everyone!”
Calling all artists! The Campus is on a search for this year’s cartographer(s)! Every Spring issue (published in May), The Campus features a two-page, full color spread of a Lennoxville map drawn by Bishop’s students. All mediums, artistic styles and flashes of creativity are welcome! Interested in being a part of the tradition? Send an email to the Editor for more information: thecampus.editor@gmail.com
Arts & Culture 13
www.thebucampus.ca Movie review
Beans, beans the magical fruit Another fairy tale retold in a visually appealing fashion, if nothing else By Taylor Poelman Copy Editor
J
ack and the Beanstalk: yeah, we’ve heard that one before. But not yet in the form of an action-packed adventure film complete with epic visual effects! Jack the Giant Slayer is just that – a revamped fairy tale told via the power of cool graphics and shots of vast and impressive landscapes. These features, when teamed up with a classic hero/princess dynamic and a few established actors, comprise this new rendition of the story about powerful magic beans. To get you in the mood, the film begins with a characteristic story-telling scene. Telling of how the world of giants and the Kingdom of Cloister were once connected by a massive green root connection of sorts grown via bean composed of dark magic, the story gets audiences up to speed on what to expect in the film’s predictable plot. It also sets the premise of the fairy tale as it exists in this movie, which may differ from the recollections viewers carry
Fresh Art
photo courtesy the boston herald
Jack (Nicholas Hoult, left), a young farmhand fights for his kingdom and the love of Princess Isabelle (Eleanor Tomlinson, right) in Jack the Giant Slayer.
in their minds. But no matter, a story is a story and this one is nevertheless exciting despite a typical script and easily-recognizable caricatures. A seemingly unassuming farm boy, Jack (Nicholas Hoult – or Beast from X-Men: First Class) easily fits into the archetype of the unproven but eager hero. Following the accidental planting of a mysterious bean he was advised not to get wet, Jack must climb the overwhelmingly massive beanstalk to the land of human-eating giants, who live on a floating continent between Heaven and Earth. This, of course, must be done to rescue the princess, Isabelle (Eleanor
Tomlinson). Obviously, there has to be someone attempting to spoil the happy ending. Enter Roderick (Stanley Tucci), corrupt advisor to the king and prime suitor for the unwilling Isabelle. In addition, there has to be a comical-yet-tough character to partner up beside the hero; this is Elmont (Ewan McGregor), a respected warrior with several witty lines. And we can’t forget the biggest villain of them all – the giant General Fallon (Bill Nighy), who is masterfully horrifying with his second head (voiced by John Kassir). Directed by Bryan Singer, Jack the Giant
by Cecilia Bracmort, Graphics Editor
Slayer was supposedly aimed at families for its major audience, however has been greeted with mostly adult viewers over the age of 25. This perhaps has contributed to the film’s slow box office response and limited hype. Released in theaters March 1, the movie is currently playing on most screens as is even in English at La Maison Du Cinema! It doesn’t even matter if some details remembered from childhood storybooks are skewed, embellished, deleted, or added, because this movie is a mix of the traditional “Jack and the Beanstalk” and “Jack the Giant Killer” fairy tales. Even though it might not be the exact version viewers were raised on, that’s no reason to pass this movie off as another fairy tale flop. The truth is, new movies are going to continue the evolution of the fairy tales we learn as youngsters, and that’s ok. After all, regardless of cliché: variety is the spice of life! While it may not be the most compelling storyline to ever hit the silver screen, and it may carry a characteristic degree of corniness (as do all movies of this type, in general), Jack the Giant Slayer is an exciting and adventurous new spin on the familiar story of old. Though it has been criticized for relying too heavily on intense special effects, it is also arguable that these feats of imagery are what make this film so great! There’s no point in having giants if they aren’t hideously disgusting, or a beanstalk that doesn’t appear to be so large it exits the Earth’s atmosphere!
Drink of the week: Shamrocker Ingredients:
1 Ounce of Tequila 1 Ounce Melo Liqueur 1/2 Ounce triple sec Splash of Orange Juice
Directions:
1. Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. 2. Shake well. 3. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. 4. Garnish with an orange slice.
“Conscience” 2012 by Alexia Matte Etching Chine collé
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! from The Campus
14 Sports
The Campus, March 13, 2013
brian maciver, editor • thecampus.sports@gmail.com
Gaiters win big at RSEQ awards Andrews named to second team All-Canadian roster; Gabrielle Chamberland named second team RSEQ all-star By Brian MacIver Sports Editor
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he Réseau Sport Étudiant du Québec (RSEQ) released their all-star teams and major award winners at the end of February, and the Gaiters were very well rewarded for their stellar year. Both Jeremy Leonard-Smith and Mike Andrews were both RSEQ first team allstars; rookie Guard Jonathan Bermillo was named to the All-Rookie team; captain Tim Hunter was the league’s nominee for the CIS Ken Shields award (for performance, leadership, academics, and community involvement); and Head Coach Rod Gilpin was the RSEQ Coach of the Year. This latest Coach of the Year award brings Gilpin’s total to six, although this is his first as the head coach of the men’s basketball team. His previous five all came with Bishop’s over the course of his career as the women’s basketball coach (19941995, 1997-1998, and three straight from 2002-2005). In addition to being named a first team all-star, “Big Mike” also won the Defensive Player of the Year and the Most Valuable Player awards, and rightfully so. Andrews was second in the league in scoring, averaging 15.3 points per game and lead the league in shooting percentage, shoot-
photo courtesy natalia apic
“Big Mike” Andrews (center) dominant in the RSEQ this year, earning league MVP and a nomination to be a Second Team All-Canadian.
ing 53.8% from the field. Not only was the Oakville, Ontario native a strong offensive force, he was also dominant on the defensive side of the ball. The Gaiters’ center averaged 6.4 rebounds per game and was second in the CIS in blocks with 2.0 per game. To top it all off, Andrews was also
named to the second team All-Canadian roster, an award that he received this past weekend at the CIS men’s basketball National Championship at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa, Ontario. “Mike has continuously improved,” said Gaiters head coach Rod Gilpin. “He has developed into a guy who is hard to stop
one-on-one in the post. He anchors our defense by protecting the rim with his shot blocking ability. He has made great strides since he arrived at Bishop’s but has only scratched the surface of his potential.” Leonard-Smith, for his part, ranked in the top 10 in 9 different statistical categories, including 3-point percentage (35.3%), rebounding (5.3 rebounds per game), and scoring (12 points per game). This is his first all-star selection. Bermillo, from Montreal, Quebec, had a very strong rookie campaign for the Gaiters. He saw action in all 16 games, and started six of those when the Gaiters were hit with the injury bug, filling in nicely when needed. The point guard saw his role grow at the end of the year as he averaged 21 minutes of play. Despite their tough year, the women’s basketball team also received some attention during the RSEQ awards as Gaiter guard, Gabrielle Chamberland, was named to the league second team all-star roster. The third year business major from Sherbrooke, Quebec, had a solid year despite the Lady Gaiters going 0-16. The soon-to-be Bishop’s graduate averaged 13.1 points per game (6th in the league) while averaging close to 31 minutes of action per game.
Heartbreak City for Gaiters in RSEQ Men’s Basketball Final By Geoff Coventry Sports Writer
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ith an RSEQ title on the line and a chance for their first chance at a CIS title since 1998, Coach Gilpin and his men travelled to Montreal to take out the first place McGill Redmen on March 2. Before the game, Gilpin tweeted: “Love that we head into league final today a definite underdog w/ little respect. Back in our comfort zone where we are most dangerous!!” With last week’s epic win in a packed house over Concordia for a berth to the final, the stars would seemingly align for the Gaiters. Alas, the final score was not the one they had hoped for. A strong alumni and student body contingent from Montreal came out in full force to rock the purple and silver in front
of an underwhelming McGill Redmen crowd. “GO Gaiters!” chants and songs drowned out most of the McGill fans’ own attempts at loud cheers. The only time Gaiter fans were silent was from that shocker of a 4th quarter when, in the dying minutes of the game, all they could do was watch as the Redmen had their way with a battered Gaiters team, ultimately defeating Bishop’s 77-74. Strong performances from Gaiters 2nd team All-Canadian, Mike Andrews (22 points, 7 rebounds), and senior captain Tim Hunter (17 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals), would not prove to be enough as the Redmen surmounted the almost unbeatable deficit in the last minutes. The Gaiters led in field goal % (40.9), 3-point % (47.4), turnovers (11), points from turnovers (18), bench points (31) and held the largest lead at a staggering 15
points during the course of the game. The team’s demise would however occur in team rebounding, foul trouble, and the free throw line. The Gaiters were out-rebounded 35-27, had 3 players in the starting lineup with 4 fouls or more with the lone foul out (being Scott Ring), and shot a dismal 55% (11-20) compared to the Redmen 86.7% (26-30) from the charity stripe. This would be the swan song of Tim Hunter’s career as a Gaiter. We would have loved to see him finish his career on top with a berth to nationals, but alas, it was just not meant to be. After the game, Tim hit the social media boards on Facebook and Twitter, and reposted pictures of alumni wishing them good luck and also expressing his gratitude to Coach Gilpin and his team. The response on Twitter was overwhelmingly positive as fans, players and
even Coach Gilpin himself also responded with tweets and posts. Many Gaiters fans were either at the game or watching from home. With Tim Hunter being the lone graduate of this team, it is tough to think the Gaiters won’t be strong favorites to repeat as a RSEQ finalist or perhaps even being the pre-season favourite to win the RSEQ. Coach Gilpin will now focus his attention to recruiting 2 or 3 new players in the hopes of filling the void that Tim Hunter has left. With his departure, a new team captain and leader will have to step up and be the glue that keeps this strong team together. Anyone of the starters - especially Scott Ring, Jeremy Leonard-Smith and Mike Andrews - will have to elevate their game to a new level of play combined with leadership.
Sports 15
www.thebucampus.ca
When is it too much? A look at last week’s incidents in hockey By Brian MacIver Sports Editor
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was able to avoid having to watch the video of the hockey player from the Division II Swiss League left paralyzed after being checked head-first into the boards for three days. I did not want to see a man lose the ability to walk for the rest of his life. I eventually forced myself to watch it, and reacted just as the rest of the world did: I winced. There is no question that it was a dirty play. The aggressor made no effort to play the puck, there was no way he could win the race, so when his opponent tried to shield him off, turning his back to him in the process, he checked him into the boards. Most of you are probably thinking: “But how do you police things like that?” And I agree, you can’t. Dirty plays like that will always happen in hockey. The best thing the hockey community can do is severely punish offenders in order to send a message to others.
photo courtesy alex/la liberte
The harsh reality of sports: Swiss hockey player Ronny Keller has been left paralyzed after landing head first into the boards on a hit from behind by Stefan Schnyder.
But what about the Ottawa Senators player, Dave Dziurzynski, who was knocked out by the Maple Leafs 6’5”, 230 lbs., Frazer McLaren, 26 seconds into the freaking game! It’s hard to argue that a fight that early
into the game is anything but a demonstration of “‘roid rage”. Honestly, what purpose did that fight serve? Was McLaren defending a teammate that had just gotten leveled? No! The game had just started! Was the fight retri-
bution for a past affront against the Leafs? No! Dziurzynski was playing in only his 10th NHL game, a game in which he officially logged three seconds of ice time (although I doubt he remembers any of those three seconds). Was fight done in order to pump up the troops? How can you justify that a team needed to be pumped up in the first 26 seconds of a game? I’ll tell you how: you can’t! Now don’t get me wrong: I love a good hockey fight. It definitely has its place in the game, and I honestly do not want to see the enforcer disappear in the NHL – lest the likes of Matt Cooke, Daniel Carcillo, or Jordan Tootoo take over the league. But fights like this – staged fights – serve no purpose. Moreover, according to Ottawa Senators forward, Zack Smith, “If anything, a fight like that deflates both teams”. Even McLaren didn’t seem happy with his work, looking as if he had just seen a corpse while on his way to the penalty box. Assertive behavior and play are an integral part of the game, but there is a line between being assertive and aggressive. Some players have even made entire careers out of toeing that line. But when will it be enough? If a player being paralyzed isn’t enough to stir the hockey world, I am not looking forward to what will…
Athletes struggle with social media By Marcus Lam-Peters Sports Writer
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t is no secret that social media has changed the way we interact in the world. Any one person who has an account with at least one social media site has the ability to easily create a global network. We are now able to maintain open dialogues in real time with multiple people at once. We can share our favourite music, connect with a potential employer, or view pictures of our friend’s beach crush while they’re still tanning on their towel. The number of uses is large but to me, the most fascinating development has been the way we interact with public figures – especially athletes. Today, we have more access to our favourite sports icons than ever before. But this article isn’t about glorifying the opportunity to be retweeted by Kevin Durant; it’s about discussing some of the issues that affect athletes who use these sites. The athlete is very different from most public figures. Musicians or actors, for instance, produce work which is compared and criticized; politicians try to gain favour through promises and actions. The ideas they present are critical to their overall reception by the public. Athletes, on the other hand, function mainly off of competition and performance. However, they are still affected by the same issues. An athlete does not only represent just himself, but also the organ-
ization he is affiliated with in addition to the city the team competes out of. Who a person is as an individual can be quite different from the ideal that they are expected to represent as an athlete. While it may not be fair, athletes’ opinions and actions can get them in trouble under certain circumstances. In the social media world communication is a two way street, so on top of being selective of how they are seen and heard, professional sports players must also be wary of malicious feedback and comments from individuals they have usually never met. Athletes have chosen to deactivate their accounts and recently a rising Canadian tennis star, Rebecca Marino, decided to step away from the game entirely because of what she described as cyber bullying. These are only passive reactions; defensive athletes can find themselves worse off if they are not careful. The higher the level of competition, the more confident and egotistical athletes tend to be. Because of the attention they receive, any response has the potential to get blown out of proportion or validly criticized because of a harmful quote. The lack of regulation online makes it very easy for people to target and/or harass an athlete and makes it difficult to effectively combat offenders. The recent news of a star college football player (Manti Te’o) who was the victim of an alleged hoax involving a fake Twitter account and a girlfriend who never existed has intrigued and confused most
who have heard about it. The details of that incident are not important for our purposes, but what is relevant are the realities that it brought to our attention. Athletes seem to be dangerously unaware of the public scrutiny and attacks they may face online; what makes this scary is that it affects professional athletes just as it does student athletes. Some post-secondary institutions have become very aware of the risks to themselves and their athletes. They are attempting to take preventive steps through information seminars; some are going so far as to monitor their athlete’s accounts for anything that may become an issue or banning social networking sites all together. Banning sites is pretty extreme, but helping athletes make informed decisions should help curb this trend. Today many employers check the various profiles of potential employees online, looking for anything unsavoury. Athlete’s profiles (professional and collegiate) can be ransacked for the same reason, only they attract the attention of fans,
groupies, coaches, analysts and the media in general. Athlete’s opinions on politics, sexuality, or just current events often become trending topics (for better or worse) just off of the strength of the voice it’s coming from. The bottom line is social media can be a great experience for athletes. They have the ability to connect with fans, publicly address topics which interest them promote their brand, etc. But it seems like every week there is a new blunder of some athlete who was misled, posted something deemed inappropriate, or was the victim of bullying. Student athletes are not free from worry. As more and more incidents involving athletes and social media arise, it is important that they be educated on the dangers they may face as well as giving them applicable solutions to help them combat potential threats and enjoy the online platforms which have given us unparalleled access to our sports heroes past, present and future. photo courtesy picturepush.com
Chad Ochocinco became more famous for his activity on Twitter than his play of the field.
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The Campus, March 13, 2013
Sherbrooke Pheonix’s first season a success A look back at this year’s local QJMHL team By Vincent Ménard Contributor
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fter several years without a QMJHL team, Sherbrooke – once a junior hockey crazy town – was awarded with an expansion team for the 2012-13 season. The team was dubbed the “Phoenix” after a fan contest was created by the team’s upper management. And like the mythical creature, they rose from the ashes and have been greeted with success. The project to bring junior hockey back to town started years ago and was mainly carried by former NHL goalie Jocelyn Thibault, a Sherbrooke QMJHL alumni. Sherbrooke could have had a team last year, as the Lewiston MAINEiacs were in financial difficulty and looking for new owners, but the return was delayed until
this year in order to have enough time to complete the important upgrades that were done at the Palais Des Sports in order to meet league requirements. Some of the work done includes the installation of a jumbotron at center ice as well as the construction of luxury boxes. Ironically, Lewiston got their team after Sherbrooke’s previous team relocated there. The MAINEiacs eventually folded and the QMJHL had one less team in its ranks for one season. Sherbrooke thus had to build their squad from scratch. The first steps were an expansion draft and the actual QMJHL draft were they held the first pick overall. They used that pick to select Daniel Audette, son of retired NHL player Donald Audette. The beginning of the season was difficult, to say the least. It took the team quite a while before they recorded a single win. However, the team was showing improvement as the games went along. They were even able to upset some much better opponents. One of the most positive moments of the calendar happened during the holidays. Four of Sherbrooke’s players were called
up to represent Quebec at the U-17 World Hockey Challenge. Daniel Audette, Vincent Deslauriers, Jonathan Deschamps and Carl Neill did well on a team that had the best result out of all Canadian teams in the tournament. Highlights of the competition include an impressive win against a heavily favored Ontario squad (featuring future NHLers Connor McDavid and Aaron Ekblad) as well as thrilling games versus Sweden and the US in the semifinal and Bronze medal games. Quebec finished in fourth place. It is a beautiful coincidence that the return of junior hockey happened during a terrific year for young Quebec hockey players. Several scouts, including the official NHL scouting service, consider the class of 2013 to be the most talented bunch since the 1998 NHL draft, a year that saw Vincent Lecavalier, Simon Gagne, Alex Tanguay and Mike Ribeiro selected early by NHL executives. This influx of talent, rarely seen in the history of the league, meant that almost every Phoenix opponent brought to Sherbrooke had potential future NHL stars that could be evaluated by wannabe scouts (just
like me). Even if they did not expect their favorite team to fight for first place, fans had a reason to buy tickets. And they did buy a lot of tickets – the Phoenix broke the record for highest attendance for a first year team with a total of over 108,000 people who went out to support the home team during their 34 regular season home games. According to me, it is quite easy to identify the player of the year: 20 year old goalie, Jacob Gervais-Chouinard, is the reason that this expansion team was able to make it to the playoffs. He was so good that I really hope some pro team will give him a call next year as this was his final year of eligibility in junior hockey. The performances of Alexandre Comtois (captain) as well as Michael McNamee are also worth mentioning. The next step for the Pheonix is the playoffs. The team is officially qualified. The only thing left is to see who they are going to play. The potential opponents are Halifax, Rimouski or Baie-Comeau. Playoff tickets will be on sale Thursday March 21 at 5 p.m.
Let the madness begin A look at some of the best bracket options out there By Kofi Oduro Sports Writer
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arch signifies a lot of things: the beginning of spring, the end of the school year, an hour being lost, etc. In the sports world, the NBA and NHL is in full swing and nearing playoff time, and the boys of summer are warming up their bats and throwing arms. This is also known as the calmer side of March, because as most of us know, March Madness also begins, where during the next few weekends (including some weekdays) students and workers young and old scramble to see if their brackets are destroyed after a few games. Some choose to only do one bracket to predict where and if the 68 teams will fall, while others have plethora of brackets filled in and ready for battle. But how do you choose the best website to create your bracket? Here is a quick list of a few that could be interesting. Traditional Bracket Sites
You can never go wrong with the usual ESPN, CBSSports, Sports Illustrated and NCAA.com. The NCAA should be the best one, since it is the league that holds the March Madness tournament, but with Turner Sports now owning the rights to
the website, no new players can enter the brackets. So unless you have already participated on their website, you won’t be granted access! Sports Illustrated and ESPN - powerhouses in the sport world - maintain their legitimacy by holding cash entry leagues as well. In the Sports Illustrated pool, it is possible to win a trip that is estimated value at $4,400, while at the ESPN streak for cash format the grand prize can be $10,000 with free entry for both sites. The risk/reward is very much in the participant’s favour, but the competition is high. Then again, with all other sport events, miracles happen. CBSSports was saved for last because it has an advantage over all others: as the official broadcaster of the tournament, it has the luxury of sucking you in by not only competing on their site but also watching live games being streamed on it. CBSSports also has a round-by-round format, so in case one of your rounds got trashed, you still get the chance of winning per round. Non-traditional Outlets
Owned and operated by Playboy, pbbbracket.com encourages the playmates to play along as well! With a single leaderboard, it’s a no-excuse type of set-up, as you can not only see the scores of your main competitors, but those of some celebrities playing along as well. The benefits of playing with this site are the prizes, which include an autographed Larry Bird jersey. This will be a great addition to anyone’s trophy case and ultimate bragging rights. The social media giant Facebook also has
a great format for brackets, with some play for cash leagues but also a setup for people to play in public as well as invite-only leagues. All the leagues you’re part of are shown, and rankings are displayed on your individual bracket. With the amount of people that use Facebook, this leaderboard is quite big. Plus, with their setup, it is possible to see how you fare against those in your city and/or region. And the beauty of
Facebook is that some of the other brackets have apps through the Facebook site! Last year, an estimated 75 million people participated in these March Madness events. Knowledge is somewhat needed to have a logical bracket, but in the end, do whatever you want! Look up a few statistics on what is probable, but at the end of the day if you just guess, you still have a chance to win.
Provigo Athlete of the Week Tim Hunter, Men’s Basketball In his last games as a Gaiter, men’s basketball captain Tim Hunter has earned Provigo’s Athlete of the Week honours. The Baie, D’Urf, Quebec native played two of his best games as a Gaiter. In the RSEQ semi-finals against the Concordia Stingers, Hunter scored 13 points, added three rebounds, three blocks, and a pair of assists and steals in 36 minutes of playing time. In the RSEQ final, Hunter showed that he was determined not to let that game be his last, nailing five threepointers in the first half alone. His efforts were not enough, however, as the Gaiters fell 77-74 to the McGill Redmen. The team captain also
photo courtesy bishop’s athletics
nabbed three rebounds, two steals, and an assist over his 37 minutes of playing time. To top his great year off, Hunter also earned his second consecutive nomination as the RSEQ’s Ken Shields Award nominee.