A Pandemic Escape Hatch

English Movies at La Maison du Cinéma Bridget Boucher Arts & Culture Editor

Four new movies are playing in English this week at La Maison du Cinéma in Sherbrooke.

AFTER WE COLLIDED Directed by Roger Kumble and starring Josephine Langford, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, and Louise Lombard. In this story based on Anna Todd’s 2014 fanfiction-turned-novels that became a viral sensation, careful viewers may notice love interest Hardin Scott’s uncanny resemblance to a certain Harry Styles of One Direction fame. In this sequel, the main character Tessa finds herself struggling with her complicated relationship with Hardin; she faces a dilemma that could change their lives forever. Playing Friday through Tuesday and Thursday at 12:30, 3:35, and 7:00, Wednesday at 12:30 and 3:35, and Sunday at 12:30 and 7:00. Rated 13+.

DAVE NOT COMING BACK Directed by Jonah Malak, this is the original English version with French subtitles. In October 2004, two cave divers and long-time friends Don and Dave dive in Boesmansgat, a mythical cave in South Africa. Dave is breaking a world record for depth. It will take them fifteen minutes to reach the bottom, but twelve hours to surface. Once he touches the bottom, against all odds, Dave finds a body, and the two friends decide to come back and retrieve it. Little do they know that Dave would not be coming back. Dave Not Coming Back is a story of loss and mourning where ego, altruism, hubris, self-control, risk taking, and spirituality all go hand in hand. Playing every day at 4:00 and 8:00. Rated G.

WOMAN Directed by Yann Arthus-Bertrand and Anastasia Mikova, this is the original English version with French subtitles. Woman is a worldwide project giving voice to two thousand women in fifty different countries. Playing every day at 1:00 and 6:45. Rated G.

TENET Directed by Christopher Nolan and starring John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, and Elizabeth Debicki. Armed with only one word, tenet, and fighting for the survival of the entire world, a protagonist journeys through a twilight world of international espionage on a mission that will unfold into something beyond the reality of time. Playing every day at 12:40, 4:00, and 7:35. Rated 13+.

“Escape to the cinema” Photo Courtesy of La Maison du Cinéma The Pandemic Escape Hatch You’ve Been Looking For Emily Whalley Contributor

Fall is here; the days are shorter, the leaves are crunching underfoot, and it’s finally sweater weather again! But it seems 2020 decided that we needed a second wave of COVID to spice up our midterms this year. If you’re anything like me, you’ve been searching for something new to take your mind off of everything going on, so in between rewatching Friends and Grey’s Anatomy, maybe try picking up one of these great reads.

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han

My Rating: 5 Stars

I’m sure you’ve all seen or at least heard about this story thanks to everyone’s (and mine) favourite Netflix teen romcom. If you even remotely enjoyed the movie you will absolutely LOVE this book. This contemporary young adult romance novel is all of the adorable escapism you’re looking for and even more. Our leading lady, the romance novel lover Lara Jean (LJ) Covey, is a junior in high school who’s never had a boyfriend before. When five secret (and very private) love letters she once wrote mysteriously get sent out to their intended recipients, Lara Jean has a big problem, because the most recent letter was to her sister’s ex-boyfriend (and I don’t need to tell you that writing a love letter to your sister’s boyfriend is a big no-no). Into this madness walks captain of the lacrosse team Peter Kavinsky (one of the other letter recipients) who has recently been broken up with and is trying to find a way to make his ex jealous. The two make a pact to pretend to date to keep Lara Jean’s sister from finding out about everything, and we all know (and love) how fake dating scenarios end.

My favourite part of this book has to be how much we get to see Lara Jean and her family. LJ’s older sister and favourite person Margo just left to attend university in Scotland, leaving a hole in the family that Lara Jean is doing her very best to fill. Little sister Kitty is the sassy mirror that Lara Jean can’t avoid, and her dad, Dr. Covey, is just doing his best to juggle being a widower and a single dad to 3 very opinionated teenage daughters. If COVID’s got you far away from your family this Thanksgiving, this book will give you all of the cute family content you’ve been looking for.

Pumpkin Heads by Rainbow Rowell and Faith Erin Hicks

My Rating: 4 Stars

Sad you’re going to miss out on the pumpkin patch this year? Have no fear because this cozy, autumnal young adult graphic novel is here. Every fall, Josiah (Josie) and Deja work together at “The World’s Best Pumpkin Patch,” but they’re high school seniors now, and with college coming up this is their last year at the best job in the world. They decide to turn their last ever shift together into a great adventure as they embark on two very important quests: to find Josie’s crush (one of their other co-workers) so he can ask her out, and to taste every snack the Autumn Jamboree has to offer.

This Scooby-Doo-esque expedition takes them on a grand tour of all of the best parts of fall: corn mazes, s’mores, hayrides, kettle corn, pumpkin picking, caramel apples, bonfires, pumpkin pie, scarecrows, apple pie… I think you get the picture. It’s got friendship, a hint of The inside of Pumpkin Heads by Rainbow Rowell romance, and the fall aesthetic you’re and Faith Erin Hicks craving thanks to the enchanting Photo Courtesy of Emily Whalley illustrations. So light your fall scented candles, put on a flannel, grab your pumpkin-spice-flavoured everything, and curl up with this quick read while

David Rossiter, Sports Editor » thecampus.sports@gmail.com

RSEQ Cancels Fall Sports Seasons

David Rossiter Sports Editor

On Sept. 14, 2020, the Réseau du Sport Étudiant du Québec (RSEQ) announced that because of the COVID-19 pandemic, members of their university sector would cancel all sanctioned sports competition until at least Dec. 31, 2020. This decision means that there will be no league play or competition in any RSEQ university sport whatsoever this semester. The Bishop’s Gaiters have multiple teams that will be affected by this decision. With this announcement, the men’s and women’s rugby and golf teams, as well as the women’s soccer team have officially lost their regular season. These sports join lacrosse and football as Bishop’s varsity teams that have had their season cancelled. While there will be no official league competition, Gaiters athletes are still hard at work practicing. They can thank the university for working hard to put return-to-play protocols into place safely. Some teams may even compete against other universities this semester. The RSEQ explained as part of their announcement that soccer and golf teams would be allowed to compete in exhibition matches. However, RSEQ member schools are forbidden from having any inter-school competition in football or rugby due to the physical nature of these sports. RSEQ’s decision was based on a variety of health and safety concerns. A major factor was the Quebec government’s regional alert system rating individual regions in the province on how severe the situation currently is. Regions are ranked on a scale from green, to yellow, to orange, to red. As the universities competing in the RSEQ competitions are from 7 different regions across the province (in a few sports this even includes teams from out of province, specifically Ottawa), some may be in red alert while others remain in yellow or orange. This would restrict travel between regions for teams to compete against one another. A potential consequence of this unfortunate scenario would be mass cancellations or postponements of certain school games, which would likely completely derail the season. This announcement leaves the men’s and women’s basketball teams, as well as women’s hockey, as the only varsity gaiter teams holding out hope for any league play this school year. While basketball and hockey usually begin their regular season in October, they do play all the way through the end of the winter semester. This means that depending on the RSEQ’s decision come the winter semester, basketball and hockey may be able to compete beginning in January 2021. The RSEQ’s university sector is expected to deliver its official decision regarding the winter semester on Oct. 15, 2020. Hopefully, some positive news can follow this tough year through Gaiters teams officially competing in the new year. In the meantime, our administrators and staff will continue their amazing job of keeping the Bishop’s community safe, as they continue to provide a rich and full student experience.

Jack Shaw makes a play in an RSEQ rugby match Photo Courtesy of the Gaiters website

Later, Gaiter?

Lindsay Moore Contributor

In my interview with Jessica Dodig, a fourth-year Business student, I wanted to gain insight into what a Bishop’s soccer season looks like during COVID-19, how it feels to have your fourth season as a Gaiter be interrupted by the pandemic, and how the women’s soccer team has coped. As a former player myself, I know how important values and discipline are to the head coach Paul Ballard. Structure and discipline are fundamental to the team. Dodig explained that they were still able to instill these values by going through adversity together and having “family meetings” in which the team talked about how they had been feeling. They discussed challenges they were individually facing during the pandemic and found ways to persevere together. I further explored the obstacles the team may be facing. Dodig explained to me how the players from Quebec were able to play during the summer so, upon returning to school, the skill level was different. Making that transition was harder for some. For university soccer in Quebec, the season has been up in the air, as the possibility of playing against other teams is unsure. Getting up and pushing yourself is not easy when there are no playoffs or games to push you. In these times, self-motivation becomes increasingly difficult. Dodig expressed that learning self-motivation and discipline hasn’t been easy, but it is something that she has worked hard at and takes as a silver lining. The added stress from the pandemic, being exposed to more people, and adjusting to online classes has taken a toll on her. Therefore, having her teammates to lean on has become key. Soccer is something that still brings joy and fun, even when the world around feels chaotic. Finally, we discussed her potential senior night as she is entering her last year of her undergrad. I fondly remember my own: under the lights, the crowd, my family, surrounded by my teammates who were, by this point, family. A final goodbye to the years of dedication, the years of waking up every morning at 5:30, juggling school, practice, meetings, video sessions and long bus rides. I will never forget how hard it was saying goodbye to that chapter of my life. Dodig talked about seeing all her other teammates graduating and having that moment and, from her first year, envisioning that moment for herself. A moment where you have the final champagne toast and your team reminisces on the good and hard times that you’ve had throughout the years. Senior night closes a chapter to a special time in your life and Dodig expressed that there was a feeling of being “unfinished” and that the door felt slightly opened still. With a fifth year of eligibility left, she intends to fully finish her soccer career as a varsity athlete. While it is still uncertain, Jessica Dodig is excited about what her future holds.