SINCE 1944
OCTOBER 28, 2020
Vol. 76, No. 3
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Student run since 1944
The Indigenous Cultural Alliance speak out | Page 2
An Indigenous student’s perspective | Page 5
Halloween despite COVID-19 | Page 7
Netflix and chilling Halloween haunts | Page 9
Close-up look at two student-athletes | Page 11
Pressure: our version of comfort | Page 12
Kwigw8mna under scrutiny
Divinity House on a sombre day. Photo courtesy of Theresa Graham
Design by Jess Lapenna & Hugh Godman
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NEWS
THE CAMPUS OCTOBER 28 2020
The Campus will be hiring a News Editor – $500/semester. Please express your interest to Editor-in-Chief, Hugh Godman, at thecampus.editor@gmail.com.
THE EDITORS 2020-2021 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF HUGH GODMAN
The Indigenous Cultural Alliance and allies speak out on Kwigw8mna Justine Trempe Junior Copy Editor
The project Kwigw8mna came under scrutiny when information came out that part of the $6.9 SENIOR COPY EDITOR million intended for its development, including $5.9 million invested by the Government of CASEY HEBERT thecampus.copyeditor@gmail.com Quebec, was to go towards other priorities than JUNIOR COPY EDITOR the needs of Indigenous students, as intended. The original agreement stated that the building JUSTINE TREMPE thecampus.jce@gmail.com should serve to ensure that “Indigenous students have the most adequate resources available in their LAYOUT EDITOR journey towards academic excellence.” Bishop’s JESS LAPENNA also included, in their list of priorities for the period thecampus.layout@gmail.com 2019–2024, their intention to “increase the number BUSINESS MANAGER of Indigenous students and the support for them, and enhance [their] commitment to reconciliation JUSTIN BRANT thecampus.business@gmail.com by creating opportunities to learn with and about Indigenous Peoples.” The original plans NEWS EDITOR for Kwigw8mna, however, gave under a quarter SARAH MOJSEJ thecampus.news@gmail.com of the floor’s area for the Indigenous gathering space, accommodating a group of around 20 to Model of the renovated Divinity House, planned to become Kwigw8mna. OPINIONS EDITOR 40 people (depending on the presence or removal Photo courtesy of Architem. SAFIA HAFID of furniture). It also included many faculty offices thecampus.opinions@gmail.com and a conference room unrelated to the Indigenous It means that in a building that will bear an Abenaki name meaning community, even though “funding was obtained for the sole purpose FEATURES EDITOR our house, it requires shared decision-making between university of creating an Indigenous Centre for Indigenous students on campus,” JEREMY AUDET administration and Indigenous students. So far, Bishop’s has not done criticizes Mr. Mario R.J. Corbin, a teacher in the Departments of thecampus.features@gmail.com that, but it’s not too late to change and start acting in ways that include Sociology and Education at Bishop’s. Indigenous students as decision-makers in the proposed gathering ARTS & The Indigenous Cultural Alliance (ICA) came up with a list of space and resource centre for Indigenous students.” CULTURE EDITOR demands when the terms of the official agreement were not respected. However, Bishop’s University, it seems, “is not ready, morally or The list, which the ICA shared with school officials and publicly BRIDGET BOUCHER otherwise, to welcome and embrace [Indigenous students] the way thecampus.ac@gmail.com on Facebook, includes, among other things, the expansion of the that they deserve to be,” writes Mr. Corbin in an email to school Indigenous student gathering space. “[The planned gathering space] officials. He also adds that Bishop’s “would do anything to maintain SPORTS EDITOR resembles what we have now and what we have now is not sufficient” the status quo that [it] has enjoyed since 1843.” DAVID ROSSITER explains Shawna Jerome, co-leader of the ICA. Nikki Baribeau, Chair thecampus.sports@gmail.com Following the criticism, the school decided to bring in Dr. Abel of the Indigenous Student Association of BU and co-Vice Chair of Bosum, Grand Chief of the Grand Council of the Crees (Eeyou – Bishop’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) task force, added that ECONOMICS & Istchee) and a member of Bishop’s Board of Governors, to help negotiate members sometimes “have to line up outside of the room when BUSINESS EDITOR compromises. While he has been, according to Baribeau, “very helpful [they] do activities.” The terms of the agreement also included culture ACCEPTING in his recommendations,” and they were able to find middle ground sharing, which is complicated by the lack of space: “We can’t even fit on some issues, school officials are not always responsive. Jerome APPLICATIONS ourselves in that space and we are expected to also include our [nonthecampus.editor@gmail.com explained that, during their first meeting, Principal Goldbloom was Indigenous] members,” says Baribeau. “gloating about every small thing Bishop’s is doing for Indigenous GRAPHICS Another demand is that the basement should provide Indigenous people,” told the ICA they couldn’t get everything they wanted students “a quiet study room, a larger storage room, and a resource KATE SCHWARTZ and called them “too critical.” Although an official announcement thecampus.graphics@gmail.com centre that includes: a printer, a computer, and Indigenous books,” released on Oct. 8 stated that the school is “committed to continuing a which were previously agreed upon but never materialized. “We’re respectful dialogue,” some reports are revealing implicit threats that, CONTRIBUTOR supposed to have a study space, we’re supposed to have that quiet if students persisted in contacting Goldbloom with their concerns RECRUITER space, we’re supposed to have a library… Why are we negotiating for regarding Kwigw8mna, Indigenous students could lose access to things that are already agreed upon?,” asks Baribeau. ALLIE TRINQUE the building. “It is my understanding that this is not the first time a thecampus.recruitment@gmail.com The allocation of office spaces to faculty unconnected to the member of management has threatened a student in this fashion Indigenous community and to the French Peer Support office was an SOCIAL MEDIA when conflicting views and ideas were at an impasse nor does it seem additional issue raised. Baribeau explains that they want the people it will be the last time,” says Mr. Corbin. COORDINATOR in the offices “to be active members in the Indigenous community At the end of a live feed that the ICA made on Oct. 16, Jerome FIONA DORAN and in the ICA. There are a lot of faculty offices on campus and that’s comments: “We gotta fight for everything… Just having a bunch why [they’re] asking to not have them in [their] space.” Baribeau, PHOTOGRAPHER of allies and everyone on our side, that will help tremendously.” however, expresses that they welcome “the idea of having clubs take According to them, the student community and the SRC have been THERESA GRAHAM over faculty offices in the name of culture sharing” and that she plans very supportive in the process, and the growing petition they have to give workshops and Cree classes to anyone who wants to learn the going had around 1000 signatures as of Oct. 22. THIS ISSUE’S CONTRIBUTORS language. Mr. Corbin also requested “that there be complete and full The main crucial demand of the ICA, however, is simply to have Sydney Wilson transparency regarding the continued and ongoing development of “their consent in every step of the decision-making process,” which Ionhiaroroks Mccomber Kwigw8mna… ensuring that all plans, decisions, meetings are made has not been the case, historically. Rhiannon Day available to the Bishop’s University and possibly even Sherbrooke Indeed, Jerome mentions that a problem of systemic racism is Enzo Evangelisti community via the Bishop’s University website” so that the students present at Bishop’s, stating, as an example, that “a lot of faculty want Cora Camire can keep an eye on the developments, though no official report of to say, ‘unceded,’” when mentioning that the university stands on Emily Whalley progress has yet come out of the negotiations. Abenaki lands, “but are getting shut down by the people up top.” Dr. Ashley Murphy Principal Goldbloom did not respond to The Campus’ request to Webster, of the History and Global Studies Department, explains that, Amanda Mumford comment. “acknowledging that the land is unceded comes with obligations… Samy Cauvet thecampus.editor@gmail.com
NEWS
SINCE 1944
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Reintroduced bill against conversion therapy will impact LGBTQ2SIA+ rights globally says UN expert. Fiona Doran Social Media Coordinator
Earlier this month, the Liberal party reintroduced a bill to ban conversion therapy in Canada. The proposed bill would also make it illegal for someone to profit from, advertise, or force a minor to participate in conversion therapy. While Canada’s main political leaders support the bill, the new Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole accused the government of introducing a divisive piece of legislation at the start of his position. He agrees that conversion therapy is wrong and that it should be banned. Other Conservative MPs vocally opposed the earlier version of the bill, which was originally introduced to the House of Commons in March but was put-off due to COVID-19. While the bill was introduced on Oct. 1, no voting date has yet been set. Conversion therapy is the practice of attempting to change an individual’s sexual orientation to heterosexuality using a variety of psychological, physical, and spiritual interventions. Conversion therapy has no reliable evidence proving its effectiveness in changing sexual orientation, and most medical institutions warn that conversion therapy is ineffective and potentially harmful to those who undergo it. Many medical, governmental, and scientific organizations across the United States and the United Kingdom have expressed
concern over the validity, effectiveness, and ethics of conversion therapy. This bill will impact LGBTQ2SIA+ rights for the better around the globe. Victor Madrigal-Borloz, a UN Independent Expert on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, told The Canadian Press that such bills are
Centre Block and the Peace Tower, Parliament Hill. Photo courtesy of Maurizio De Mattei
one of the most impactful ways to protect and advance LGBTQ2SIA+ rights. Madrigal-Borloz declined to specifically comment on MP Derek Sloan’s opinion but did mention that the politicization of LGBTQ2SIA+ issues for political gain is nothing new. He also clarified the different ways that conversion therapy can be stopped, including banning it at the practitioner level with psychologists, physicians, and individual agencies. Madrigal-Borloz’s role within the UN is to examine how violence and discrimination manifest themselves in the experiences of the LGBTQ2SIA+ community and to advise states on what they can do to end it. The bill at hand takes more of a blanket approach, which is the best compared to other approaches around the world and, according to Madrigal-Borloz, is a huge step towards achieving his goal of ending that violence. The discussion panel where Madrigal-Borloz assessed the implementation of international human rights laws is available for free viewing offered by Equitalks on their website and YouTube channel. The panel also included International Development Minister Karina Gould, who reiterated Canada’s $30 million commitment to supporting LGBTQ2SIA+ rights from 2019 to 2024.
Lennsgiving: how the community came together to celebrate safely The Estrie region moved into an orange zone as of Oct. 1, 2020, to prevent the spread of COVID-19 following consecutive weeks of increasing confirmed cases. This meant a reduction in the number of people who were permitted at both indoor and outdoor gatherings. As the townships transitioned to orange alert, nearby cities of Montreal, Ottawa, and Toronto moved into red zones as confirmed cases continued to rise. Quebec and Ontario continued to be the most highly infected provinces. Principal Michael Goldbloom sent out an email to all students encouraging them to stay in Lennoxville over Thanksgiving in an effort to reduce the spread of the virus. As of yet, there have not been any confirmed cases in the Bishop’s community, and staying put for the holidays was a means to maintain that number. He reminded students of Bishop’s involvement in the 28-Day Challenge to break the COVID wave, an initiative being promoted by institutions in the Eastern Townships to promote coronavirus containment efforts. The SRC stepped up to the plate and planned “Lennsgiving,” a weekend full of sociallydistanced events to mark the occasion. These events included an outdoor fitness session, trivia nights and a trip to Forest Lumina with the BU Outdoors Club. Perhaps the most notable event of the weekend was the preparation of Thanksgiving dinner baskets for students, which was made possible by generous alumni donations. A total of 104 baskets were distributed to over 500 students. The SRC worked with Sodexo to create full meals for students and to arrange the safe distribution of the baskets to students. Alumni were so embracing of this idea that donations exceeded the number of baskets ordered. The remaining funds have been donated to the Bishop’s Community Cupboard that works to support Bishop’s and Champlain students that need assistance with the challenges of the current environment.
“L
Sarah Mojsej News Editor
The success of “Lennsgiving” is a testimony to the supportive community fostered within the Bishop’s bubble. Although current restrictions limit the number of individuals permitted at gatherings, the Bishop’s community still found a way to come together and ensure that celebration was possible for all. As Bishop’s is offering more in-person services than most schools in Canada, the weekend also demonstrated students’ willingness to preserve this privilege and assure the safety of the community going forward.
From left to right: Gwen Mulligan, Emma Heubchen, and Chris Brydon with Thanksgiving dinner baskets. Photo courtesy of Theresa Graham
and Acknowledgement. We acknowledge the Abenaki people and the Wabanaki Confederacy, the traditional stewards and protectors of the territories upon which we are learning. In performing land acknowledgement, we make what was invisible visible, and invite the land, the First Nations people, and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission into our conversations. This act of naming - of inviting something into language - is an underlying principle of advocacy and lies at the heart of higher education. The etymology of advocacy is ad (to add) + vocare (call or voice): the origin of the word’s meaning is to give voice to something or to call out in order to initiate dialogue. The “ad’ prefix makes explicit the importance of multiple voices - and by extension multiple perspectives. In this sense, advocacy compels us to acknowledge a diversity of thoughts and opinions as a starting point rather than as an ideal outcome. In institutions of higher learning, we have a responsibility to honour spaces for emerging and established voices to engage in productive, respectful, and sometimes even uncomfortable conversations where individuals are safe to speak truth to power, explore and challenge dominant ideologies, and call out injustices and inequalities in order to imagine new ways of existing.” Dr. Jessica Riddell
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OPINIONS
Canadians should be bilingual Recently, I was having problems with my car. When this happens, I usually call the repair shop in Ottawa where I live. However, since I will not be going home anytime soon, I contacted a repair shop here in Sherbrooke instead. While I took French throughout my education and can converse in that language, my knowledge of cars is already minimal in English and non-existent in French. Both the person on the phone and myself struggled to communicate with each other until he finally gave up and handed the phone to a colleague that spoke more English than he did. In my opinion, high schools around the country should have classes that teach conversational French. As my recent car troubles have indicated, this educational gap causes miscommunication and problems. After all, I am capable of conjugating verbs in several different tenses but do not know how to talk to the repair shop about my car or to doctors if I end up in the emergency room. In Ontario, taking French is only mandatory up to ninth grade; this gives students a good base, but most of them forget what they have learned by the time they go to
THE CAMPUS OCTOBER 28 2020
Safia Hafid, Opinions Editor » thecampus.opinions@gmail.com Sydney Wilson Contributor
university. I do think that at the very least, students should have to take at least one basic French class throughout their entire high school education. Each week, classes could focus on specific areas that will be relevant in day-to-day life. Conversation areas could include going to the doctor or the dentist or shopping at the grocery store, for example. Thus, students can have a general understanding of what people are saying to them in different situations and will also know how to respond or ask for help if necessary. As most of us are aware, knowing different languages is a good life skill for travelling to different countries, as well as an important area of expertise to add to your resume. Employers are often looking for employees who can interact with customers in different languages. I know this from my experience in working retail. When a Frenchspeaking customer would come in and could not speak in English, I was the only staff member who could help them. Therefore, even if you do not think you will use French very much in your daily life, it can be a very good skill to have. After all, you never know when you might need it.
Change and politics in children’s media Often, it can become disheartening to see injustices around us, both in the real world and in fiction; what can I do to change things, to make them better? The truth is, affecting real, institutional change is a hard, long process that can be halted by setbacks and regression. It takes group efforts, and in many cases, the entire political structure has to change. While speculative fiction provides a lens to analyze and comment on the systems and injustices found in our world, it can also serve to inspire hope and provide a template for change. As I was writing my article for the last issue about The Clone Wars’ social commentary on American politics, I remembered a conversation I had with my brother over the summer. I mentioned that, looking back now and reading them from an adult’s perspective, I found the conclusion of Harry Potter, in terms of the political elements, a bit lacking. What I meant to say was that the myriad of social issues explored throughout the books is never resolved at the end: once Voldemort dies, true political and social change can take place, but The Deathly Hallows only implies that there will be reform. There is little positive change to the inequalities and corrupt systems that have been criticized for seven books, such as what is faced by the House Elves and werewolves. Yes, the readers know that Kingsley Shacklebolt as a temporary Minister for Magic is a good first step and that Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley, and Hermione Granger are not likely to turn a blind eye to continuing social ills. However, as I said to my brother, there could have been more emphasis on how things would change for the better. On the other hand, one children’s animated series that does have more of a resolution when it comes to such issues is Avatar: The Last Airbender. Whereas defeating Voldemort was the first step in making the fictional world a better and more equal place in Harry Potter, defeating Fire Lord Ozai in Avatar is framed more as the final step in the show’s journey. While there is still much to be done after Ozai is ousted, the viewers are left with a sense that concrete change for the better has and will continue to happen. Throughout the show, the protagonists – Katara, Aang, and Sokka – are seen actively grappling with and, in multiple cases, altering situations and systems for the better. Those instances range far and wide, including when
The sign marking the main entrance of Bishop’s University is written in both French and English. Photo courtesy of Safia Hafid
Safia Hafid Opinions Editor
Katara learns that the Northern Water Tribe’s patriarchal system only allows her to train as a healer, and not in the fighting arts. Within the few episodes spent with the Northern Water Tribe, that sexism is addressed, and Katara finally manages to convince the head waterbending teacher to train her as well. While he initially teaches Katara only because of a personal connection to her grandmother, he comes to respect her as a fighter in her own right. Once he returns later in the show, Master Pakku has matured enough to both finally have a chance with the woman who left him because of his adherence to that patriarchal system and to ensure that the women of the Northern Water Tribe will now have more freedom. Another such instance of change is when the protagonists come across earthbenders imprisoned by the imperialistic and war-mongering Fire Nation and decide to intervene. They orchestrate a prison break along with the help of the earthbenders themselves, allowing those captured benders to escape, and then join the war effort against the Fire Nation. In season 3, when the protagonists must live undercover in the Fire Nation, the creators were not shy in stating that imperialism hurts everyone, even those of the conquering nation. The conflict in that episode – a weaponsmanufacturing factory polluting the air and water around a poor village, leading to increased poverty and sickness – is reminiscent of Britain during the Industrial Revolution. The Enclosure Act, the factories, and the “progress” only served to exploit the majority of the population, pollute the air and rivers, and impoverish people even more. When faced with that situation in the show, the protagonists help the villagers by destroying the factory and driving out the Fire Nation soldiers. They cannot always help, however, nor do they always win. Despite this, some actual progress to right these wrongs is often made. Moreover, it is made quite clear that these unjust situations are all symptoms of the war, which has been waging on for one hundred years at the start of the show’s narrative. The ending is thus satisfying because we know without a shadow of a doubt that most of these problems will be fixed, one way or another. By having the exiled prince of the Fire Nation go through a redemption arc and exposing him to the horrors of warfare, imperialism, greed, and corruption before he takes the position of Fire Lord, there is a clear sense
of atoning for past deeds and creating a better future. Ozai’s defeat has ended the war, and the newly-crowned Fire Lord Zuko is someone whom the viewers know will actively work to make better policies and actually help the vulnerable. Even more significant are the other protagonists, especially Aang – his role as Avatar is to bring balance to the world and ensure that the different societies all coexist in peace. They will actively make the world a better place, though it is heart-wrenching that children are put into that position because of power-hungry adults. When fiction, especially fantasy and science-fiction, uses its narratives as a social commentary on our own society, it is always more impactful if an actual change is seen, or at least promised after the end of the story. The fact remains that in the matter of actually addressing the inequalities explored by the narrative, media like Avatar: The Last Airbender is much more satisfying. Stories such as this give hope to the viewers and readers while offering or reiterating protentional solutions to problems we currently face. It also provides commentary on the nature of progress toward equality or the resolution of important environmental issues. While individuals play their part, it is hard to affect change if you are just one voice, hence the emphasis and success of social movements. Finally, in certain cases, the current power structures must be removed or significantly altered, otherwise, lasting change cannot happen. Though sometimes reform may lead to worse governments and worse conditions, it is not always the case. Also, it is important to always keep fighting, whether through democratic institutional reform or extra-institutional social movements. In conclusion, I believe media that both educates and gives hope to the viewers is crucial, especially in times of uncertainty and turmoil.
The Last Airbender Logo Picture property of Nickelodeon
SINCE 1944
Red, white, and feeling blue
OPINIONS
Rhiannon Day Contributor
As everyone has realized, this school year is quite different from any we have experienced in the past. However, some aspects remained exactly the same. In early August: the same pile of clothes, bedding, jackets and hats, waiting to be packed. My backpack, lying untouched from the semester before. The occasional textbook, littering my living room, as it had the year before. The same back-and-forth trek to the car, now bulging with moving boxes. The same difficult goodbyes, the same hugs, and that same wave out of the driver’s side window as I drove away from my hometown. Then again, with the pandemic, everything is different. Instead of my mother in the passenger seat, there was a folder containing my passport, my quarantine plan, my lease, and the proof of in-person classes I planned to take. Everything I could gather to prove that I, an international student, deserved to cross the border to come back into Canada and to the school that I love. Rather than the swell of excitement that I used to experience when I saw the border, all I could feel this year was anxiety. The speech I had practiced, explaining my situation, ran continuously through my head. Jumbled-up words: dorm, quarantine, apartment, inperson, masks, coronavirus; all of those played in the back of my mind as I pulled up to the border-crossing station. After an hour of explanation on my part, and deliberation on their end, I was through. But that was not the end of it. I still had to quarantine myself, alone in a new apartment located in a foreign country, in the midst of a pandemic. Moreover, there was the burgeoning fear regarding the reaction I would receive as an American in Canada, what with the border closed and a growing reactionism against foreign travel. My point, then, is that this year presents unprecedented challenges for everyone. This virus and its consequences have touched every person’s life across the world. Yet the experiences that international students have faced this year in countries that are not our own are like none other. The support system of our small community has faltered along
with the Canadian Border Agency and the Canadian government. Their lack is keenly felt. As an 18-year-old student coming to a country that is known for its kindness and welcoming arms, I was excited to arrive at the border last fall. This year, that same excitement was not felt. The political, social, and educational challenges that come with being from a currently controversial country during this uncertain time period have caused the warm, welcoming society to keep those of us without a maple leaf on our birth certificates at arm’s length.
Approaching the Canadian border can be an especially nerve-wracking experience in this day and age. Credit: Photo courtesy of Paulo O*
An Indigenous student’s perspective on Kwigw8mna Reconciliation is a term that has been thrown around a lot since the Truth and Reconciliation Commission released their report in 2015. Many institutions have taken it upon themselves to heed the call and begin the process of reconciling. Bishop’s University is one of them. However, Bishop’s has recently proved that we still have a long way to go before any kind of reconciliation can actually be reached. The plans for Kwigw8mna were made public last year, with many finding out about the project through the press releases shared by various media sources. Bishop’s boasted about its $5.9 million-dollar governmentfunded project that would turn Divinity House into a new “home” for Indigenous students, thus creating a gathering space and resource centre for both the Bishop’s and Champlain Indigenous population. Sounds great, right? Yet this promise feels hollow and empty when the reality of the situation comes to light. Much of the funding for the building, which was advertised as being for Indigenous students and resources, is instead being used for faculty offices. The actual gathering space for Indigenous students would only accommodate about 40 people, provided all of the furniture is removed. This is very much an issue, seeing as Bishop’s most recent incoming class had around 20 Indigenous students, and the school is actively trying to expand its Indigenous student population. Clearly, the allowed space does not take into account the rising
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numbers of First Nations students. It has felt like a slap in the face to many members of the Indigenous Cultural Alliance – the association serving as a home away from home for BU’s Indigenous population. Members of the ICA who were on the committee were
Divinity House is the planned edifice for Kwigw8mna. Photo courtesy of Theresa Graham
blindsided by the proposed final plans for Kwigw8mna. When speaking up about grievances with the building, it was clear that Indigenous students’ input and demands for more space and resources were not being taken into
Ionhiaroroks Mccomber Contributor
account. We were told that the only changes that we had power over at this point were the indoor design and the outdoor space. It is immensely disheartening to hear that Indigenous voices are not being heard in regards to a building that is supposed to be for Indigenous students. Immediately, it felt like Bishop’s was tokenizing its Indigenous population to further its image of a diverse institution. The Kwigw8mna project cannot be completed in good faith without proper consultation with the Indigenous Cultural Alliance. In fact, the ICA should have more than two seats at the table when it comes to consultations regarding the building that is supposed to be for us. The demands stated by the ICA in regards to Kwigw8mna would ensure that the building serves its purpose: to create a home for Indigenous students while establishing an environment that fosters learning and the sharing of our cultures. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission states: “Without truth, justice, and healing there can be no genuine reconciliation” (TRC Canada Final Report, 2015). It is time for Bishop’s University to listen to the voices of their Indigenous students who are calling for action. It is only when our voices are heard that we can say we are truly on the path to reconciliation.
*Photo by Paulo O, used under CC BY 2.0, flickr.com/photos/brownpau/31516045787/in/photolist-Q1XYpM-7eYjMQ-pxKgZL-pxKgRE-QdvjmH-piipYZ-RFcm92-2czYXrV-5ufUz7-bJsg2aZauUQ4-Z3jxD3-2jgcV4N-aj55wb-9EbQY5-gNj4hJ-ax8e5N-6NeX5f-6NaKJe-5crTQK-6HWeBx-j753kt-Q28nuM-dDhYPL-oJih29-318UHN-27aw5iD-h1xiV-Eci6vy-2h2JDEz-2gn2nDb314jzM-eMt773-DmnNqZ-ehHEiE-zNfGL-4MfiMf-MLoWUG-4s3HFJ-aqojkz-vqjWHK-2cFo3FW-oN9ozk-2aGNK2p-MFHedn-beYUBg-McDbCM-DjdwK2-SULnk7-hjKBQa, US/Canada border crossing, Calais, ME
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FEATURES
An update from your SRC Hello Gaiters! The Students’ Representative Council team has officially reached the halfway point in its mandate and, although we never would have imagined having to deal with a global pandemic, we continue to do our best in serving the needs of the student body! On behalf of the entire SRC, I want to share with you just a few of the amazing things we have accomplished in the past couple of weeks. Through collaboration with student services and Sodexo and with support from alumni, the SRC was able to give students a Thanksgiving in Lennoxville that they will remember forever. We handed out 104 food baskets for groups of 4-6 people for free! The team has also been working hard on our club restructuring, which we now call BUSRC Extra to ensure we are providing much-needed support and resources to all extracurricular groups. This has also come with a change in our annual budget, recently approved at our Board of Student Representatives meeting on October 18th. We have increased SRC extracurricular group funding from $24 000 to $40 000. We hope this will better meet the needs of our various groups who are the heart of our student life at Bishop’s.
THE CAMPUS OCTOBER 28 2020
Jeremy Audet, Features Editor » thecampus.features@gmail.com Enzo Evangelisti Contributor
The SRC has also been working closely with The Gait staff in hopes of making your Gait experience better than ever. As a result, The Gait now officially offers food! This is a huge win for students and one that builds off the work of many past SRC teams. Students can now come and enjoy chicken wings or chips with guacamole and salsa along with the drink of their choice, alcoholic or not! The Student Success Centres’ Peer Academic Mentors have also been hard at work, preparing workshops to help you succeed! Keep an eye out for their events and follow them on Instagram @busrc_ssc for more information and to meet the incredible team! We are also in the process of transitioning Toast Radio to an official SRC operation. This will allow us to help Toast Radio expand and continue to offer students an additional source of media on campus! Last but certainly not least, we have also created and sent out a survey checking in and assessing your needs for the upcoming semester. This survey will better allow us to gauge where we put our efforts to ensure we are helping you succeed through this very difficult time. Most importantly, we know that midterm seasons are heavy, and this new way of doing school is a new
Empower Me, empowering you A few years ago, the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) introduced Bishop’s to a program well-known to universities worldwide. Empower Me is a free, confidential service that offers university students access to mental health and wellness services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year. It goes without saying that University life can be challenging and stressful. A study by Ontario’s Universities revealed that 46 per cent of post-secondary students felt “too depressed to fully function” in 2016, while 65 per cent of post-secondary students reported “overwhelming anxiety” that same year. Those statistics may seem staggeringly high, but it rings true that at some point during their academic career, about half of university students tackle mental anguish such as anxiety, stress, depression, or substance abuse. Empower Me offers students worldwide the possibility to confront and work towards resolving any mental health issue that arises. The program puts you in touch with whichever professional is most suited to your need, and in the event of a crisis necessitating immediate action, the program has a crisis counsellor available at all times. Other professionals at your disposal include psychologists, psychiatrists, nutritionists, social workers, etc. Although there have been some reported issues with the program in the past, Erin Mallory, the General Manager of the SRC, revealed that the program is using a new provider this year. This new provider offers much faster service, many more available countries and languages, and a triage person who makes sure you are put in touch with the proper professional. Mallory seems confident that past issues, such as lengthy wait time and availability, will not resurface this year. The SRC has incorporated Empower Me within its Dental Health Plan, extending the program’s availability to International Students who study at Bishop’s. Additionally, Mallory believes the program to be “a nice complement to the services on campus.” Although the University is unable to offer 24-hour in-person services for such issues, the SRC has made sure that through Empower Me, easy and quick access to mental health and wellness professionals is always just a dial away. The process is simple and effective. When you reach out to Empower Me over the phone, your situation, preferred language, and country are assessed by a triage person
experience for many of us. The SRC team wants you to know that we are here to support you, and we are doing our best. Keep your head held high because you’ve got this, and if you don’t, give us a shout and we’ll help you out! On behalf of the SRC, Enzo
The SRC distributed meal packs for Thanksgiving. Photo courtesy of Theresa Graham
Jeremy Audet Features Editor
who then transfers you to the professional most suitable for your needs. The wait time with the new provider is an average of a short 35 seconds, and, although the professional will ask you a few questions regarding which university you are from, your demographic, and your situation, full confidentiality is always guaranteed. There is no maximum amount of counselling sessions, and if you feel uncomfortable with the professional assigned, you can always request an easy transfer. Wanting to learn more about the student’s experience when using Empower Me, I used the program myself. On a random weeknight, I dialled the number and, when prompted by the triage person, gave my information and said that I was experiencing high levels of anxiety regarding schoolwork, partying, relationships, and the ongoing pandemic. I generalized my issue in order to mirror how I believe most students have been feeling during this odd and heavy semester. I chatted briefly with a professional, who will remain anonymous, and they promised I would get a call from them soon to book a phone appointment since my crisis did not require immediate attention. Only 24 hours later, I got a callback, and we booked an appointment for later that week. The process was simple, and during the meeting, the professional was very helpful in assessing my needs, understanding the issues I was tackling, and listening to me as I explained my unique situation. The session was short, but I immediately felt better afterwards, and a sense of relief came with knowing that assistance of the sort is always available, just a phone call away. According to Empower Me’s info-pamphlets, 50 per cent of students who experience mental health issues do not reach out for assistance through professionals. It is vital for your academic, social, and personal success that you identify, understand and address the mental health issues that you may likely come across during your lifetime. University can often be a stressful time, and the services available, such as Empower Me, are always there to assist you in any way possible. Keeping their phone number close is ideal, for you never know when an issue will arise, and during a crisis, thinking about the services is not always easy. When questioning whether or not to call them next time you undergo any issue, ask yourself: what do I have to lose?
Empower Me #: 1-833-628-5589 (Canada and U.S.) For international helpline numbers, visit the website: www.studentcare.ca
Empower Me’s User Chart, 2020
FEATURES
SINCE 1944
Halloween despite COVID-19
Casey Hebert Copy Editor
COVID-19 seems to have stolen away all of our holidays since March, and Halloween is no exception. With the Eastern Townships on orange alert, many are having to renounce their holiday traditions this year, whether that be trick-or-treating with family or partying with friends. Despite the changes to Halloween, there are still many options to make the night memorable, however you choose to celebrate. Compiled here is a list of COVID-safe activities for you and your bubble.
some movies? Buy yourselves a pack of Halloween candy, throw on a costume, and settle in for a movie marathon. Whether you prefer Burtonian films, horror movies, or family friendly Halloween classics, you’ll be sure to find something you enjoy to get you in the Halloween spirit! BAKE SPOOKY SNACKS Just because trick-or-treating is off the table doesn’t mean you can’t indulge your sweet tooth! From marshmallow ghosts to witch’s fingers to pumpkin flavoured anything, there is no shortage of Halloween recipes to channel your holiday excitement into. Take the day to bake yourself some holiday-appropriate snacks, which you can then eat while you watch scary movies.
TAROT CARD READINGS Do you or anyone in your bubble own a deck of tarot cards? What better night to get your cards read than Halloween? Dip your toe into the witchy pool this Saturday by seeing what the cards have in store for you. Brew a cauldron of spiced cider, arrange your crystals on the desk, and bring some magic into your Halloween!
MURDER MYSTERY NIGHT So you can’t dress up to go trick-or-treating, but there’s nothing keeping you from dressing up for a themed murder mystery night! With dozens of ready-made scenarios online or guides for coming up with your own murder mystery, this promises to be a great night among a small group of friends. If the dress-up and murder factors aren’t Halloween enough for you, you can pick a theme that better encompasses what the holiday means to you.
CARVE PUMPKINS What better way to show your Halloween spirit than by carving pumpkins? This activity can be done with friends, family, or all by yourself. With pumpkins for sale right at Provigo, this activity couldn’t be easier for students in Lennoxville. Hollow out your pumpkin (you can bake the seeds!), pick your design (there are thousands online if you don’t have any ideas), and carve away! DRESS UP AND WATCH SPOOKY MOVIES There is a score of fantastic Halloween movies available, so why not grab your roommates or your pets and watch
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Graphic by Kate Schwartz
BU Outdoors: revamped and ready
Despite the restrictions surrounding Halloween, there are still plenty of ways to celebrate! So put on your favourite costume, eat some of your favourite candy, and enjoy your night! Happy Halloween, everyone.
Cora Camire Contributor
Editor’s note: I asked the Outdoors Club, who have begun the semester with a fresh crop of club leaders and a new set of values, to write out their goals for the upcoming year. This is what new leader Cora Camire had to say: The Bishop’s Outdoors Club aims to boost student wellness by creating an inclusive space for students to get outdoors. Our goal is to promote a community that upholds inclusivity and empowerment through our many trips and events. One of our main objectives besides inclusivity is reducing our impact as a club and teaching land-based values. When planning our events, we make it a priority to limit our footprint. We also encourage students to reflect and discuss the ways in which we can do our part in respecting the beautiful land that we all so deeply enjoy. It is so rewarding to be able to provide a space for students to experience the outdoors together, especially in a time when human interaction is so limited. So far, we have really been able to see the value that our club has added to the Bishop’s community, and seeing that fuels our motivation and drive to make this club the best it can be. This year we have amped up the club by bringing on a new crew of six trip leaders as well as an Executive Team featuring marketers, financial supervisors, and our head ladies. The new structure will not only bring consistency and lots of new energy to the club this year but also create a system on which the club can thrive for the years to come. Our goal this year is to be able to offer 2-3 trips or events every week that students of all levels and experience are encouraged to take part in. The best part of the BUO Club is that zero commitment is necessary! All students need to do is sign up for our email list, and they can pick and choose events that fit in with their schedule. This year, we are branding ourselves as a service rather than a club to promote and emphasize inclusivity and openness to all levels of commitment. So far this year, we have had many amazing trips, including a hike up Mount Ham, a bike ride to North Hatley, a few Slack-tastic Saturdays, Foresta Lumina, and two weekends ago, we took the crew out to the bog and searched for salamanders and frogs! We look forward to continuing to provide a safe, inclusive outdoor space for the students of Bishop’s this year.
A club member looking over Lyster Lake, October 2020. Photo courtesy of Cora Camire
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ARTS & CULTURE
THE CAMPUS OCTOBER 28 2020
Bridget Boucher, Arts & Culture Editor » thecampus.ac@gmail.com
The rise of TikTok in quarantine
Bridget Boucher Arts & Culture Editor
Renegade. Doja Cat. Whipped iced coffee. E-girls. Approximately one year ago, these words didn’t mean much to anyone outside of the small database of users on the thennew media app TikTok. Flash forward to March 2020, though, and TikTok’s popularity has exploded with the implementation of the COVID-19 quarantine and its host of social distancing rules and recommendations. With more users having to stay indoors and limit their social circles, TikTok has been a way to find community and scratch that social itch. Many TikTok videos offer new dance routines, recipes, and other challenges in a similar vein to Vine and YouTube. These have offered users a way to keep entertained (have you tried learning any of those dances? It can take hours). In the first month of quarantine, TikTok’s global downloads had reached 84.8 million according to the European Journal of Cultural Studies. The app has climbed to levels of uber-popularity, especially among Generation Z, those born from around the late 90s to the mid-2000s, although the lines are blurry. But if you’re an older social media user, don’t fret — TikTok has seen growing popularity among Millennials, Gen Xers, and even Boomers. TikTok’s seemingly randomized algorithm is part of its charm. The app curates your feed based on things like geographic location, personal interests, and even what it thinks your sexuality is (ever found yourself stranded on straight TikTok?). These categories can foster an increased sense of community, especially among LGBTQ+ users. In a similar vein to Tumblr in the early 2010s, LGBTQ+ teens, and all teens who might be lacking a community for that matter, can find others like them without ever having to leave the
house. Many users have made friends through the app, especially since the algorithm often prioritizes videos made by users in the same geographic location. In quarantine, one can’t have too much of a support system. So, in summary: should you download TikTok as a way to keep entertained during what’s looking like a long, long winter ahead of us? I think so. Give it a chance — you might learn a new skill or even find some new friends.
TikTok is the new social media craze. Photo courtesy of Solen Feyissa*
Emily Whalley & Ashley Murphy Contributor
Design by Kate Schwartz, concept by Kate Schwartz and Hugh Godman
Poem created using an article by Joshua Hoekstra, Contributor *Solen Feyissa, used under CC BY-SA 2.0, flickr.com/photos/solen-feyissa/50179272367/in/photolist-2jsaTsp-2jsaQgK-2js6MFD-DgbDYb-uhF52A-u3xbFE-u3qPLN-u3voTk-ujESeS-ujHcqJuhQ8D7-u3ynaq-u3yruL-tofjec-TnD4KW-2jUPtVN-2jUK4dW-2jUK4qQ-2jVCEaR-uhSfkE-bieYr2-uk7BtF-todbZB-2j9vz7F-to6C48-to9ELh-toeC5e-u3tKBi-tnXXGy-u3sti7-u3z9uc-2jjJXGz2jjP6YF-2jjP6YL-2iAfk16-u3JGNx-toaarJ-sgKkKP-rjN6A3-rjN3fL-rXt8Uk-rZkVEp-sgKoLt-rZdYPf-sgNe4F-2iAWfAs-2jjP6ZH-2jpz4pX-2iAFvUE-2jrcwCr, TikTok
ARTS & CULTURE
SINCE 1944
Netflix and chilling Halloween haunts Emily Whalley Contributor
Happy Halloween Gaiters! This year’s Halloweekend might be lacking in packed parties and the hour-long wait to get into The Gait, but let’s not forget that this is our first Halloween with Disney+. So let’s take advantage of this in these unprecedented times and celebrate this historic event by staying home, staying safe and watching a movie with the roomies. My roommates and I have done quite a bit of research in this field, so here are our favourite Halloween movies and TV shows on streaming platforms right now.
Netflix and chills: the perfect Halloween movie playlist. Photo courtesy of Netflix
Disney+
Hocus Pocus Frankenweenie Haunted Mansion Twitches Twitches Too Halloweentown Halloweentown 2: Kalabar’s Revenge Halloweentown High Return to Halloweentown (I know, they changed the Marnie, but it’s still a classic) The Nightmare Before Christmas The Simpsons Treehouse of Horrors collection Maleficent Maleficent: Mistress of Evil Netflix
Hotel Transylvania Coraline Scooby Doo Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed Silence of the Lambs (to be watched with a nice chianti.) The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Monster House Mean Girls (In girl world this is definitely a Halloween classic, DUH.) Scream Queens Scary Movie Scary Movie 2 Scary Movie 3.5 Scary Movie 4 Scary Movie 5 Devil All the Time Unsolved Mysteries American Horror Story Scream (the TV show) Matilda The Call Jaws Extremely Wicked Shockingly Evil and Vile (who doesn’t love a little Zefron?) Bird Box E.T. Ghostbusters Stranger Things The Santa Clarita Diet IZombie Amazon Prime
The Woman in Black (In this house, we stan Daniel Radcliffe.) Midsommar I See You Halloween Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark The Grudge The Purge Bye Bye Man Child’s Play Friday the 13th Addams Family Addams Family Values
Edward vs Jacob party playlist
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Ashley Murphy Contributor
All right Gaiters, I’m back with another playlist for y’all. This one’s theme: Halloween Bangers. I hand-selected these tunes with specific spooky vibes in mind, choosing songs based on several factors: title, costume ability (Iconic Britney Spears ‘stume I’m looking at you) and overall vibes (as always). I tried to include a variety of songs that weren’t just the classic “Monster Mash” and “Spooky Scary Skeletons” to add some flavour because, as fantastic as they are, no party is complete without some old school Kendrick. Here’s a shortlist of some of the songs in the playlist, but don’t worry if your favourite Halloween banger isn’t to be found, you can feel free to add it yourself! “Cannibal” Ke$ha “Monster” Kanye West “Psycho Killer” Talking Heads “Barbie Tingz” Nicki Minaj “Jekyll and Hyde” Five Finger Death Punch “Calling All The Monsters” China Anne McClain “Goosebumps” Travis Scott “Criminal” Britney Spears “Thriller” Michael Jackson “Another One Bites The Dust” Queen “I’m Not Crazy” Hopsin “Time Warp” Glee Cast “What’s My Age Again” blink-182 “Arsonist’s Lullaby” Hozier “Can’t Be Tamed” Miley Cyrus “What’s New, Scooby Doo?” Octopus Montage (Editor’s Note: this song is originally by Simple Plan) “Stranger Things” Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein “Lip Gloss” Lil Mama “Magic” Yung Gravy “Highway to Hell” AC/DC “Mad Hatter” Melanie Martinez “Black Magic” The Amazons “Killing in the Name” Rage Against the Machine “Psycho Pass” Xavier Wulf “Hokus Pokus” Insane Clown Posse “Alien Boy” Oliver Tree “Dangerous Woman” Ariana Grande “Freaks and Geeks” Childish Gambino “Enter Sandman” Metallica “Midnight City” M83 “This Is Halloween” The Citizens of Halloween “Back to Black” Amy Winehouse “Elm Street” Jimmy Wopo A jack-o’-lantern photographed at “King Kunta” Kendrick Lamar Abbott residence, A block 4. “Fire Woman” The Cult Photo courtesy of Hugh Godman “Fluorescent Adolescent” Arctic Monkeys “Heathens” Twenty One Pilots “New Age Chip Skylark” Ski Mask The Slump God “Fergalicious” Fergie, will.i.am “Heads Will Roll” Yeah Yeah Yeahs “Ghostbusters” Ray Parker Jr. “Maneater” Daryl Hall & John Oates “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” Blue Oyster Cult “Straightjacket” Quinn XCII “For Your Entertainment” Adam Lambert “Feed My Frankenstein” Alice Cooper “California Gurls” Katy Perry “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” The Charlie Daniels Band “Pumped Up Kicks” Foster The People “Afraid” The Neighbourhood “Uma Thurman” Fall Out Boy “Chill Bill” Rob $tone, Spooks, J. Davi$ “Sabotage” Beastie Boys “Gucci Coffin” Josh A, Iamjakehill “Freaks” Timmy Trumpet, Savage “Spooky Scary Skeletons” Andrew Gold
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SPORTS
THE CAMPUS OCTOBER 28 2020
David Rossiter, Sports Editor » thecampus.sports@gmail.com
Men’s hockey team remains optimistic despite COVID-19 setbacks
David Rossiter Sports Editor
Meet the Bishop’s men’s hockey team. Officially a club sport here at Bishop’s, men’s obstacles faced by any club team, morale seems to be quite high within the men’s hockey does not play in an official league, nor do they enjoy privileges from the athletic hockey team. As they enter tryouts, team leaders are very excited about the level of talent department such as a permanent locker room and funding. available this year. Andrew Phillips is a third-year forward from Ottawa, ON. He is a captain and leader on Keyan Hogan is a second-year defenceman from Ottawa. He says the men’s hockey the team. Andrew goes above and beyond with his commitment to the team, playing the team consists of lots of skilled former junior and high school players. He is confident that role of a coach, manager, and treasurer at the same time. He shared his thoughts on the this year is better than usual in terms of elite players: “There is lots of talent trying out, challenges of playing on and running a club sports there are several guys from various junior A and B team here at Bishop’s. teams and even a former QMJHL player this year.” “We still have tryouts, practices, uniforms, games The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and tournaments like you would when playing (QMJHL) is the top level of junior hockey. The on any competitive or varsity sports team. The other major junior leagues (WHL, OHL) join the main difference, though, is that we are entirely Quebec league to form the Canadian Hockey student-led. So we are responsible for all of our own League. Every year dozens of major junior players scheduling and planning of practice, tryouts, and are drafted to the NHL. games.” Lots of those who do not make the cut play out At this point in time, the men’s hockey team the rest of their junior career and then look to play has not and does not compete in any type of varsity hockey in Canada. If you look at the roster league. Their season is composed of tournaments, of any established university hockey program in exhibition games against other universities, and, of Canada, ex-major junior players feature heavily. course, practices. So acquiring and appealing to such talent is most This year the guys were excited to test their skills in certainly a good sign for the Bishop’s hockey high-level matchups throughout the northeastern team, a team that wants to improve and perhaps United States. As Andrew explains, that most likely approach varsity level in the future. Keyan agreed: will not happen anymore. “We’re 100 per cent trending in the right direction.” “Throughout the summer we were emailing The inevitable delay and cancellation of The team converging prior to puck drop. various universities and tournaments in Quebec, American trips and tournaments is certainly a Photo courtesy of Claire Desmarais Ontario, and our American neighbours like Boston disappointment and a setback. However, the team and Vermont to try to organize games. Had COVID is still holding out hope for competition. Andrew not happened, we were planning on doing various trips both west and south, but we have says the possibility of exhibition games against Canadian schools, one in particular, is had to delay or cancel most of those.” something that he and his teammates are looking forward to: “We have a tradition of Tryouts for the team are slated to start in late October. Getting ice time at all during the playing McMaster university every year. They typically come to play two games against pandemic has been a hurdle. Andrew has had to work hard with assistant captain Keyan us at our rink and join us at the Gait after our Saturday night game. We won the last two Hogan and coach Mark Cripps to ensure they could play hockey while abiding by all years against them, and are hoping we can continue the tradition later this year and safety regulations: “So far it has been more work to schedule and get things started than I continue our winning streak.” was expecting. This is partly due to the COVID restrictions and regulations. We have had This prospective game, the exciting level of talent, and simply the chance to kick it with extra meets with plex staff and had to write extra COVID regulation compliance forms to the boys again are all things motivating the Bishop’s men’s hockey team as we approach be able to run a team in the first place,” Andrew said. tryout time. For more information and the latest updates from within the Bishop’s Gaiters Despite the unfortunate circumstances surrounding this year as well as the natural men’s hockey club, visit instagram.com/bumenshockey.
An inside look: women’s volleyball
An appealing feature of the Bishop’s athletic community is the variety of sports teams available for Gaiters to enjoy. It should be advertised that there are more sports teams than just the varsity sports programs commonly known to most. One such example is the women’s club volleyball team. While some sports clubs here at Bishop’s (think badminton and BU snow) are more recreation and drop-in based, teams like men’s hockey and women’s volleyball are competitive teams made up of former high-level players. They compete against other universities in exhibition play and have regular practices. Being a non-varsity sports team has advantages yet also comes with difficulties for our volleyball women. Securing practice time and raising funds are the two most challenging aspects, according to senior player and executive Rachel Wilson. Rachel has been a member of the women’s volleyball team for four years now and is one of their leaders on and off the court. She says that regular practice is a must for any sports team, but it has not been easy to coordinate: “There has always been a little push back from the sportsplex from allowing us to use their facilities, being that we aren’t varsity and we don’t pay for access.” Not being a varsity team isn’t always a bad thing, depending on your commitment level. University varsity sports programs involve many hours of training a week as well as long road trips, and film/classroom sessions. This requires a level of commitment that is simply
David Rossiter Sports Editor
not realistic for many students who are already trying to balance their school, work, and social circles. A club sports team provides a nice middle ground where students can play the sport they love without essentially devoting their day-to-day life to it. Money is something that is necessary for any sports team, regardless of the level. Equipment and clothing costs, gym and court bookings, travel, and more are all things that need to be paid for. Varsity teams receive funding from team fees as well as from the athletics department. In comparison, the volleyball team relies primarily on its own fundraisers with some help coming from grants from the SRC. Rachel is the fundraising executive for the team. She is responsible for coordinating the fundraisers that are crucial for her team to purchase equipment and attire. Rachel shared some examples of how the volleyball team planned to raise money: “Each year we aim for about 2-3 fundraisers a semester (bake sale, coat check, etc.) as well as an annual Christmas Basket Raffle, which brings in a good amount of money from the community alongside family and friends from back home.” The Bishop’s volleyball team does not compete in a league. Their competitive team practices multiple times a week and tries to schedule exhibition matches against local clubs or CEGEPs whenever possible. In nonpandemic years, one of the main focuses of their practice was the preparation for tournament play in Ottawa and Montreal.
Something that differentiates the Bishop’s volleyball team from other sports programs is that they offer practice time and workshops for players who are looking for a simple, recreational, drop-in experience. This is an amazing way for Bishop’s students to play volleyball without committing to a season-long experience. The Bishop’s women’s volleyball club is one of many exciting athletic clubs we have here. Their competitive team is driven, almost entirely self-sufficient, and talented. Hopefully, they get the chance to compete in some exhibition matches in this unprecedented, chaotic school year. For more information find them on Instagram: @bu_womensvball.
Bishop’s University women’s volleyball team during a game. Photo courtesy of Tim Paczynski. Source: @tpacfilms Twitter page
SPORTS
SINCE 1944
Up close and personal with Gaiter student-athletes Introducing a new recurring segment: we think this is a great way to learn more about our Bishop’s Gaiters student-athletes and who they are as people. Each issue will feature two student-athletes from our many amazing sports teams. Enjoy! Mitchell Broussard Lacrosse Age: 21 Program: Business Hometown: Bedford, Nova Scotia Position: Midfield
David Rossiter Sports Editor
Katie Shea Rugby Age: 20 Program: Health sciences Hometown: Saint John, New Brunswick Position: Outside back/Kicker What is your favourite moment from your rugby career? Winning our first game in 10 years last year. We beat McGill and I remember having so much pressure on me as the kicker. Good times. What is your go-to study spot? Top study spot in Lennoxville is easily the Sportsplex
Favourite hangover breakfast in Lennoxville? McDonald’s hotcakes What is your greatest fear? Wasps
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Mitchell Broussard during practice. Photo courtesy of David Rossiter
Do you bleed purple? Of course, I bleed purple. Come on.
On a scale from one to 10, how good are you at doing backflips? I’d give my backflips an 8/10. Interestingly enough they seem to improve with the number of drinks I have. Maybe it’s just the confidence that improves. What do you say to people who refer to New Brunswick as “No Funswick?” I just tell them to meet more people from there and that would change their opinion.
Cats or dogs? Dogs 100 per cent
What is your greatest fear? Open water that I can’t see the bottom of. Not knowing what’s under me is absolutely terrifying.
On a scale from one to 10, how good are you at yard work? I am about a 6 at yard work for free, but a solid 8 when getting paid.
Do you bleed purple? That’s an easy question. Yes, and I always will.
Acrylic or watercolour paint? Watercolour. Next question.
Country music. Yay or nay? Big yay for me. However, I can only listen to it in certain moods and for a certain amount of time.
Why are you the way that you are? Cause that’s how mama raised me. What is your all-time favourite moment from your lacrosse career? Winning bronze for team Nova Scotia at the Canadian box lacrosse national championships
Favourite rom-com and why? Friends With Benefits. It never gets old.
Favourite sport to play other than lacrosse? Pick-up basketball Katie Shea during practice. Photo courtesy of David Rossiter
Favourite rom-com?
Wedding Crashers
Winter sports in jeopardy The Réseau du Sport Étudiant du Québec (RSEQ) convened on Thursday, Oct. 15, amid rising COVID-19 case numbers in the province. Other provincial and national sport governing bodies across Canada did the same. The university sector of the RSEQ – other sectors are for the grade school and CEGEP levels – announced that regular sports programming and competition is suspended until at least Jan. 15. Meanwhile, U SPORTS, a national university athletic governing body, announced that national championships will not happen this school year. This news delivered a tough blow to Gaiter athletes of fall and winter sports alike. While the regular-season play had already been officially ruled out for fall sports, the immediate suspension of sports programming dashed the hopes of informal exhibition play for our fall sports teams. At Bishop’s University, our varsity winter sports teams include men’s and women’s basketball and women’s hockey. The U SPORTS and RSEQ announcements have the optimism of these teams dwindling. The RSEQ has not officially cancelled their seasons, but the suspension of all activities does not bode well for happy news. The fact that there is now officially no shot at a U
David Rossiter Sports Editor
SPORTS national championship is a further sign that this pandemic will likely make the 2020/2021 school year a wash for athletics. Our men’s basketball team placed eighth in last year’s U SPORTS national championship after winning the RSEQ title in a dramatic fashion. Returning players are disappointed that they won’t get another shot at a national championship this year, but that doesn’t put an end to their hard work. Connor Kelly is a third-year guard with a passion for shooting threes. When asked for his thoughts on the matter, he perfectly encapsulated the general mood of his team: “Although understandable because of the state of Canada at the moment, it was still disappointing to hear the news about U SPORTS cancelling national championships in the winter term. After getting a taste of the national championship tournament last year, I know myself and my teammates were hoping to get a chance to defend our RSEQ title and try to earn a berth back there. Our team is thankful, however, for the opportunity to use our sporting facility to continue getting better and prepare for the 2021/2022 season.” This winter was supposed to be the first for our women’s hockey team as a member of the RSEQ. The
current suspension of games and cancellation of national championships is a letdown, but not a death sentence. Depending on the progression of the pandemic and a myriad of other factors, on Jan. 15, the RSEQ could announce a modified regular season or at least the opportunity for schools to play exhibition games against one another. This is the best case scenario that is on the minds of our basketball and hockey players. No doubt that they will use this shred of hope as motivation while they continue to push themselves and improve over the next few months. While it’s been a grim school year for athletics so far, our coaches, staff and athletes have worked hard to keep things as normal as possible. It is obviously quite a disappointment to not compete as usual, but the general mindset of Gaiter athletes tends to be that they are at least allowed to practice. Let’s all hope for the possibility of seeing our Bishop’s Gaiters compete in the new year.
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ECONOMICS & BUSINESS
THE CAMPUS OCTOBER 28 2020
The Campus will be hiring an Economics & Business Editor – $450/semester. Please express your interest to Editor-in-Chief, Hugh Godman, at thecampus.editor@gmail.com.
Pressure: our version of comfort Bishop’s has so many phenomenal opportunities to get involved that it is nearly impossible to not jump at them. There is so much enjoyment and satisfaction that can only be experienced through extracurricular involvement, but there is also a lot of pressure that coincides with it. When I attended the BUCS Business Mixer that took place on Oct. 8, I talked to several students from a variety of years. Some of the conversations centred around a recent case competition and how crazy it was to be in the comfort of your home for the event, while still barely getting the chance to sleep. As with any case competition, you can gain great knowledge and connections, but you are also quickly faced with the challenge of learning how to present while sleep deprived. With that being said, case competitions aren’t the only thing that cause periods of discomfort and stress. A lot of the other conversations I had showcased the realities of being involved in extracurriculars while carrying a full course load. There are times when there is no balancing the two, but you do it anyway. You are part of a team, you have made commitments, and when that project is finished, you work hard to catch up with other life and school responsibilities. This catch-up feels stressful, but there’s also a great sense of reward when you get to check off more than just academic work. It gives you the itch to do more and see how much further you can push yourself. Following these conversations, I found a bit of comfort in the realization that a lot of other business students were experiencing the same internal and external pressure to
Amanda Mumford Contributor
be involved that I was. It was kind of strange because I was looking at everyone walking around in their fancy business clothes and talking about what they are doing, but I was realizing that there was a lot more going on in their worlds too than just a “perfect” business student life. There were still dishes to clean at home, dirty clothes that needed to be washed, unread texts and snaps, missed FaceTime calls, meals that needed to be cooked, bills that needed to be paid, and groceries that needed to be bought. We were all unknowingly riding the same wave that throws us back and forth between wanting to feel the excitement of being involved and reflecting on what a reasonable load to take on is. In one of the first networking events I went to, I remember hearing someone say: “It’s not what you know, rather who you know and what you’ve done.” That phrase alone has resonated with me and so many of my peers. We’re all working towards building a resume that stands out, and most of us will push ourselves to the point of exhaustion. The possibilities to do and be more are endless. It feels like I could always be doing more to increase my chances of getting a job. A resume feels like the most important thing to a business student. We will say yes to every opportunity if it means we can gain a few lines on our resumes. But it’s not just a few extra lines. Those lines feel like the difference between getting the job and not, when in reality, they’re what holds you back from letting go on a Friday night. The hard thing to realize on those many Friday nights spent hunched over a desk is that we’re working towards
something more important than a few lines. We’re establishing a drive that can’t be written on a resume but will be noticeable in the way we present ourselves. At the end of our degree, we’ll be confident in our work ethic because we did not settle for comfort. We pushed ourselves harder than we thought possible because that was our version of comfort. That cannot be taught in a textbook. Drive and passion are only learned and developed through experience. It cannot be taken away because those sleepless nights, frantic emails, and messy desks will always be a reminder of just how far we’ve come.
From left to right, Amanda Mumford, Genevieve Demontagne, Maya Lauzon, Melina Krallis, and Simon Martel interact at the BUCS Business Mixer of Oct. 8. Photo courtesy of Fiona Doran
Amidst midterm exams’ panic, the 2020 U.S. election’s results may prove to be a bigger concern Samy Cauvet Contributor
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, difficulties with the reopening of the economy, and Canada’s proximity to the United States, the results of this upcoming U.S. presidential election will have an impact on our careers and finances more than any other has in the past. While many Canadians might believe that U.S. politics are a foreign concern, we actually struggle with many of the same issues and are influenced by trends in U.S. politics. As the semester progresses, it is normal to feel overwhelmed with midterm exams and, therefore, not have time to follow the U.S. political debate. However, now more than ever is the time to get curious and really learn what this election’s results mean for your future, even though you will not be going to the polls on Nov. 3. Many students rely on summer jobs and internship positions to save enough money to keep up with their student loans and university fees. Unfortunately for most, having a job over the summer was out of the question due to COVID-19. Until now, Canada has exercised prudence and caution. The federal government closed Canada’s borders with the U.S. at the end of March 2020 to limit the spread of the virus. Due to the United States’ disastrous mishandling of the pandemic which has resulted in the loss of over 220,000 human lives, the border has yet to be reopened. COVID-19 disrupted the global economy, but it also triggered an investing revolution. In an article published in Global News titled “Dividend stocks have stumbled amid COVID-19: What does that mean for investors?,” Wealthsimple, one of Canada’s top trading platforms, says it has experienced a 24 per cent growth since the pandemic took hold in North America in mid-March. The majority of these new account holders are young Canadian first-time investors. Now, the question for all those young investors is
how the U.S. presidential election could impact their investment and saving accounts. When looking at the historical data on the relationship between the U.S. stock market and U.S. elections, the immediate short-term effects of the election’s results on stock market returns are very slim. Something that is important to consider is that all of us have our own political biases, which affect our view of the world. Therefore, these opposing views should be reflected in stock prices, meaning that a win for either party will not be universally viewed as a good or a bad thing (see Bonaparte, Page and Kumar’s “Political Climate, Optimism, and Investment Decisions” online). This is important to keep in mind before worrying that asset prices are going to collapse following an election result. The market aggregates the expectations of all participants, not just those aligned with a given political view, meaning we would not expect any major stock market events to stem directly from the election’s results. However, stock market volatility may increase because of the results. The election’s uncertain effect on the economy implies an equally ambiguous impact on inflation and interest rates. Some steepening of the yield curve could occur if investors become nervous about the budget deficit. This great uncertainty will likely provide a boost to precious metals as investors might turn to gold as a way to store their capital until markets become more certain. Canada’s relationship with its largest trading partner has never been perfect, but the result of November’s U.S. presidential election may bring new challenges. If Biden gets elected, his policies on the environment, public services and infrastructure could make shares like renewables, industrials, and materials rise while tempering investments in fossil fuel industries. In the case
of the re-election of Donald Trump, tensions could rapidly escalate out of control. In fact, Trump will likely continue to use tariffs in trade disputes with Canada, threatening, for example, more than 525,000 Canadian workers in the auto industry. While contributing to the hardship of new graduates searching for their first job in Canada, he may also increase immigration restrictions affecting H1-B work visas, for example, which would be disastrous for graduating students planning to enter the U.S. job market. However, protectionist sentiments are not exclusive to Donald Trump’s electoral base. Even if Biden wins the presidency, trade tensions will persist between the two countries. The key takeaway for long-term investors is that the overall government election outcome may end up mattering more than one candidate’s success.
Absentee ballots that many BU students may be using to vote. Photo courtesy of Casey Hebert
