SINCE 1944
VOLUME 77 ISSUE 6
December 06 2021
Can’t stop the music: BU singers to perform first 2 concert since 2019 – Eva Rachert We recycle, we compost, we throw away 9 –Tanya O’Reilly
The unhappy marriage of anger and critical thinking –Anonymous Drama department’s stellar return to theatre with Speech and Debate – Leo Webster
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Student run since 1944 4 10
Women’s basketball jumps out to an impressive 7 start – David Rossitier Omicron and the holidays– Liz Beaumont 12
Fourth annual Take Back the Night protest soars
Jeremy Audet - Contributor TW: sexual assault On the rainy evening of Nov. 18, about 300 members of the Bishop’s community congregated at Optimist Field for the fourth annual Take Back the Night march. The first march at Bishop’s was organized by then-student Anika Malone in 2018 and since then, the movement has only expanded and the attendance to the annual protests has grown. While the cold November rain fell with a steady rattle on umbrellas and raincoats, Vicky Boldo, the Special Advisor Indigenous Student Support, kicked off the evening with an Indigenous song of strength and resilience. Camilla Rizzi, colead of the Indigenous Cultural Alliance, then delivered a passionate speech on the Indigenous perspective and reality in regards to sexual violence. The fact remains that, in Canada, Indigenous women are much more likely to be the victims of sexual and domestic violence than any other demographic in the country. “We deserve to feel safe on our campus. We are alone, most are very far from home and no one is representing Indigenous women in administration or faculty. There’s an urgent need for more Indigenous resources and representation. This needs to change.” She continued: “To all you Indigenous allies: I call upon you to understand how serious this is and to step
up in this fight against violence.” As an Indigenous woman from a remote community in northern Nunavut, Rizzi then turned the focus on herself and her peers: “With the high likelihood of something happening to me and my friends, who will be there to speak for and care for us? How is the school and community protecting us from becoming another statistic?” Next, the co-leads and junior coleads of the Sexual Culture Committee (SCC) joined their voices to share an impactful speech on sexual violence in our community, and how it affects nearly all of us. “Now more than ever, we need your help, we need each and every one of you to aid in this fight to make our community safer. Change is within our grasp and it has been because of you. We need speechwriters, social media gurus, we need fighters, peacemakers, educators, musicians, artists, and we need dreamers,” co-leads Scotia Sharpe and Amie Godward exclaimed, passing the microphone back and forth to much applause. “We need to hold our community accountable, and that means holding ourselves accountable,” junior co-lead Georgia LaPierre declared. “This means difficult conversations with friends and checking our f**king privilege, it means making space for those who need their voices heard,” Sharpe continued.
Layout design by Gabrielle Liu & Cassie MacDonell
Godward finished the speech saying, “this will not be swept under the rug. This is not a moment, this is a f**king movement. […] Now let’s take back the f**king night.” Chants for change began as students marched through the streets of Lennoxville: “One, two, three, four, we won’t take this anymore. Five, six, seven, eight, no more violence, no more hate.” “Take a stand, take back the night.” “No means no, it doesn’t mean maybe.” A few students voiced their opinions in the heat of the moment. Terrence Owen Baker, fourth-year student, said, “Bishop’s needs to answer for what’s been happening. It’s inspiring to see everyone here take on this initiative. It’s great to see students taking action when the school won’t.” Leontyne Haché, third-year, said, “It honestly gives me hope. With our school, it makes me feel happy that I can be supported by this whole community around me if anything were to happen to me. In the last few weeks, it’s the most change I’ve seen in my three years here at BU.” Jackson Parr-MacDonald, a friend of Malone and fifth-year student, was thrilled to see the progress the Bishop’s community has made since his friend started the Take Back the Night movement four years ago. “There wasn’t anything to this level back then. I was here when Anika started up the first TBTN, and I remember it was just
Photo courtesy of Gabrielle Liu fifteen of us walking around and yelling. It’s great to see the change, amazing to see the momentum. It gives me a lot of hope for the future. Anika must be so proud, and she should feel so proud. She’s done a tremendous thing here.” The march ended at the gazebo on campus where Elisa Philibert, a communications director for the SCC, read a poem she had written the evening before. The poem spoke about the weight of sexual assault on the shoulders of survivors, friends of survivors, and advocates for change and progress. “I can give them everything,” she shouted, “but it is nothing against safety, it is nothing if late at night they can’t walk around the town, it is nothing if late at night they can’t party in the bar. It is nothing if their no’s are turned to maybes. It is nothing if their complaints are ignored and broken.” Before bringing the march to a close, Sharpe offered some final words: “You have to keep the pressure on the administration, you have to keep having tough conversations with your friends, we have to keep moving forwards or else nothing is ever going to change. Every single person here can make a difference.” Boldo closed the march with an Indigenous song, encouraging the crowd to sing with her. The strength and pride of the community was almost tangible. Progress, it seemed, flowed from every voice.
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NEWS
THE CAMPUS DECEMBER 06 2021
Sarah Halberstadt, News Editor » thecampus.news@gmail.com
Bishop’s to reform sexual assault policy in December Sarah Halberstadt - News Editor
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n Dec. 17, the Bishop’s Board of Governors will review and vote to accept the proposed changes to the Bishop’s Policy for the Prevention of Sexual Violence. The Sexual Culture Committee (SCC) has been working on these recommendations since April. In February 2021, the SCC and the Student Representative Council (SRC) sent a sexual violence survey to Bishop’s students. The survey assessed the frequency of sexual assaults within the community and how successful the current Sexual Violence Policy is in terms of prevention measures and how it reprimands violators. The survey found that out of the 188 respondents, 64 students indicated that they had experienced sexual assault during their time at Bishop’s. Of the 12 students who indicated that they had made a report, half found the process “very dissatisfying” and of the three who had filed a formal
report, two indicated they were “very dissatisfied.” To identify areas for change, the SCC’s Policy Review Subcommittee graded Bishop’s current policy using scorecards designed by the Students for Consent Culture Canada (SFCC), finding that Bishop’s policy scored a 46 per cent. The average Canadian university is 60 per cent. Following these findings, the SCC created an End of Year Report that included a proposal to specify areas for revision and suggested amendments to the current Policy for the Prevention of Sexual Violence. In their original 26 page report, the SCC recommended emphasizing the importance of further transparency within the policy so that victims who would like to file a complaint have a clear understanding of the process and how they may be protected from victim-
blaming and their assailant. Their proposal included recommendations of adding an “explicit immunity clause for drugs and alcohol,” rape shield protections, and face-to-face protections for the survivor, which are all likely to pass in the Board’s decision. “There’s been really good discussions on those proposed changes and I think almost all of them will be incorporated,” said Dr. Stine Linden-Andersen, Dean of Student Affairs, who has been working on the proposal with the SCC for the past year. Though the SCC’s review of the policy was first proposed in April, it has been a long process of review and revision between different councils and committees to make sure the recommendations were feasible and legal before it could be presented to the Board of Governors. “I’m definitely feeling very optimistic,” said Georgia LaPierre, junior co-chair of
the SCC. “I’ve had conversations with members of the board and I mean, they haven’t seen it but because it’s passed through all these levels of the university and if it’s legal, there’s no reason that they shouldn’t approve it.” This winter semester will see further work by the SCC in making sure the new policy is effective within the Bishop’s community. “Now that the policy has changed, we’re going to have to look at the application of it because that’s where it really matters,” said LaPierre. “It doesn’t matter if in words it says one thing but then we’re not being survivorcentric in practice.” Though the Board of Governors’ approval is a big step forward in the SCC’s goals, more changes are soon to come through the continuous efforts of impassioned students, faculty, and staff to create a safer community at Bishop’s University.
Can’t stop the music: BU singers to perform first concert since 2019 Eva Rachert - Contributor
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he BU Singers Ensemble will be back on stage Dec. 9 for the first time since 2019 for their annual Christmas concert held in Bandeen
Founded in 1968 by Howard Brown, the BU Singers Ensemble performs one concert at the end of each semester. To compensate for a year of lost time, the Christmas concert will consist of 45 minutes of jazz, classical, and pop pieces, including a song written by BU music professor Dr. Andrew McDonald. The choir is performing a more ambitious setlist than is typical, melding different genres instead of focusing on one. In past years, the choir has performed A Tribute to Bob Dylan as a pop show, travelled to Halifax and Montreal, and worked with the Sherbrooke and Drummondville Symphony Orchestras for their classical shows. Before the pandemic, the BU Singers were workshopping a medley of different Broadway tunes. “I hope we still get to perform that one,” said choir director Fannie Gaudette, recalling how COVID-19 has impacted the choir. Last year, knowing that classes would likely be digital, the choir was indefinitely suspended. This year, the possibility of performing returned, but was greatly constrained. For the first time, the choir held auditions to limit the number of performers. Currently, the choir is composed of 20 BU students, while an average year would have the choir staffed with 60 to 80 students,
faculty, and Sherbrooke community members. Due to distancing requirements, however, that number had to be reduced. While typically the choir is inclusive of all those who want to sing, distancing requirements meant that students could not stand near each other to perform. The auditions ensured that students who joined could read music and keep in tune without having other voices around them to match with. “Trying to harmonize while standing apart is challenging,” Gaudette acknowledged. “As such, I needed students who could learn quickly and read music well. Luckily, I had lots of great people auditioning.” Tickets are on sale now for the two performances on Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 for students and $15 for community members. They can be purchased on the Centennial Theatre website, or in person at the Centennial Theatre Box Office, from 1 to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. A vaccine passport is required for admission. Students who are not able to attend the show in-person can also see the choir televised across Quebec. “It’s gonna be a great show,” Ms. Gaudette concluded. “We’ve never done this with the choir, but with a small group I decided to go with a more ambitious, demanding set … it’s going to be very special to get back on stage in front of an audience; I think the students are in need of that. We were very happy that we could have choir this semester.”
Image courtesy of BU Singers Ensemble
NEWS
SINCE 1944
3
Sarah Halberstadt, News Editor » thecampus.news@gmail.com
SCC’s LaPierre Reflects on Giving Tuesday and committee plans Jeremy Audet - Contributor
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ith the successful Take Back The Night march wrapped up, the Sexual Culture Committee (SCC) looks forward to the rest of the year with hopeful eyes. Their ideas are plenty, and their resources are continuing to multiply. Recently, the Bishop’s Alumni Association announced that the SCC would be the recipient of this year’s Giving Tuesday. In an interview, junior co-lead of the SCC Georgia LaPierre spoke about the Nov. 18 march and the SCC’s plans moving forward. “If students stay this passionate and invested in the work then we can change a lot, but it needs to be the whole community. The only way we can move forward and change our culture is if all students enact that change. Because we’re the community, we’re the culture, we’re the ones that need to change it,” she said. “Joining the SCC is a great first step at enacting that change. That’s an opportunity to bring your ideas to us and to get them done, or if you just want to help us complete projects and our mandate to change the culture and keep students safe, the SCC is a way to do that.” When asked about the significance behind the messages left on the bridge, LaPierre said they “created a sense of urgency in the general student body, and students started really caring this year more than others because they realized just how real and current this issue is. A lot of the time we know this is happening but we don’t talk about it, and the messages on the bridge made us talk about it.” On Nov. 30, for Giving Tuesday, the Bishop’s Alumni Association chose to donate raised funds to the SCC. As of writing, the total funds amassed were $45,539. “We’ve discussed increasing drink security at the Gait using colour changing cups or nightcaps which cover your drinks, or the creation of a center for
Bishop’s Toast Radio returns to Spotify Catherine Fullerton - Contributor
sexual violence response and prevention,” says LaPierre in response to the donation. “It depends on what our committee realizes students need right now and what subcommittees we’re going to establish next semester.” Another step forward is the upcoming Dec. 17 Board of Governors meeting, where the Board is set to approve of suggested changes to the Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Policy as brought up by the SCC earlier this year. “I’m very confident they’re going to pass our reviews,” says LaPierre. “There’s no reason the Board should not accept our propositions.” Recently, the Senate passed the SCC’s proposal that the It Takes All Of Us training on Moodle be made mandatory for all students. Bishop’s University has also responded with urgency to the messages on the bridge and the student body’s demands for answers. Dr. Linden-Andersen, Dean of Student Affairs, held two town halls in November where difficult questions were raised. An external investigation was launched, and students who have information regarding the messages written on the bridge can contact Me Danielle Gauthier, a senior member of the Quebec Bar, confidentially via email. The Joint Health and Safety Committee is now overseeing the completion of the installation of additional campus lighting; the university held a training session on Bystander Intervention on Nov. 26; the Board of Governors has recently created an ad hoc committee to review the policies and practices in place at Bishop’s on the matter of sexual violence; and a third town hall is scheduled for Dec. 8, in Cleghorn at 11:30 a.m. Students who want to get involved and seek progress are invited to join the SCC and follow them on Instagram (@busexualculturecommittee) to learn about their projects.
Two main events led by the SCC were the Take Back the Night Forum on Oct. 20 (left) and the Take Back the Night protest Nov. 18 (right). Photos courtesy of Gabreille Liu
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Photo courtesy of Sarah Halberstadt
fter a year of suspension due to COVID-19, Toast Radio, Bishop’s radio station, is making a gradual return to the studio. Eclectia Radio, a station associated with Toast Radio, has been the most recent program to bring back its podcasts. These podcasts, hosted and written by Tomas Peck, discuss and illustrate the diverse genres of music from countries all over the world. Each episode is unique as Peck jumps from one genre to the next, giving viewers as much range as possible in a short period of time. Peck gives quick insights about his thoughts on the songs and how he believes they connect to each other (or how they don’t!) Each episode covers a wide range of songs so that all viewers listening will find one they love. Though Peck oversees and decides the music he is playing for each episode, he will take requests from friends, family, and anyone else who may have good input. Currently, there are four episodes out, with each episode ranging from one hour to an hour and a half long. The episodes do not follow a strict schedule and usually are released on Spotify every one to two weeks. If you do not have Spotify Premium, there is no need to worry! Eclectia Radio releases episodes on Spotify that are easily accessible with a free Spotify account, though listeners will only be able to hear 30 seconds of a song. There are other collaborators involved in Toast Radio who will each have their own podcast in which they will discuss different topics, though those have not been released as of now. Toast Radio is also in the process of hiring a new manager who will help this club excel and explore new creative outlets. By listening to Toast Radio, viewers will be able to enrich their knowledge through all types of media, from Bishop’s community members who are playing music or discussing topics they’re passionate about. It is also a chance to learn about genres of music from a different perspective as well as gain many new Spotify artists for your playlists. If you are interested in signing up, send an email to toastradio@ubisops.ca and make sure to include your name, phone number, and topic idea in the email. For information about Toast Radio, you can check out their web page on BUSRC.com as well as Toast Radio’s account on Spotify.
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OPINIONS
THE CAMPUS DECEMBER 06 2021
Safia Hafid, Opinions Editor » thecampus.opinions@gmail.com
The unhappy marriage of anger and critical thinking Anonymous - Contributor
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nger is thrilling—it makes you feel alive, like you are part of something bigger. That you have a moral compass, and principles that you are willing to defend with your entire power. Anger, especially targeted toward injustice, feels satisfying. Believe me, I get angry. A lot. Yet emotion and rational thinking have never had a happy marriage. Often, you are unwillingly carried by that knee-jerk reaction, and become determined that whatever contradicts that initial high of anger and self-validation simply cannot be right. The truth becomes whatever you want it to be, regardless of facts or nuance. Truth for its own sake no longer matters when you are purely angry. There are many names for it: tunnel vision, confirmation bias, selective hearing, an echo chamber. Symptoms of unharnessed anger often lead, unfortunately, to the polarization of ideas and extreme narratives free of ambiguity and alternative possibilities. In the most extreme cases, it leads to the election of a racist, sexist clown as president. In minor cases, it leads to rumours flying around like the popular “every repost and we will (whatever)” posts on Instagram. Somewhere in the middle corresponds to what has been happening at Bishop’s over the past three weeks. I have always been an advocate for better measures of equality, diversity, and inclusion, sexual violence prevention, and fair representation at Bishop’s, but these monumental issues need to be approached with what is known as critical thinking. That thing you are being taught to use at university. There is a severe lack of
critical thinking being effectively used in our communities today (see again the 2016 election), but we as a community of academics and university-level students cannot afford to not use ours. Take, for example, some recent Bishop’s events. It has been tremendously uplifting to see the ubiquitous and passionate support for bettering sexual Students protesting the termination of Dr. Darius Stonebanks. Photo courtesy of Emily Crunican violence prevention and reaction at sexual violence policies at Bishop’s for at facts, such as how a tenured professor cannot be fired unless they have broken Bishop’s from the larger community. Many years now. There may be flaws in our system, the law or other institutional policies. Do of us have been working on this issue for years, alongside many before us for the and in Dr. Linden-Andersen’s approach the rest of the thinking, before you donate years prior. While major progress has at times, yet the problem at hand is much to pay the professor’s legal fees and skip been made in the past decade, much of it larger and nuanced than any one of us can classes to protest. So, take off that conspiracy hat and do spearheaded by students and the Dean of possibly grasp. Unfortunately, there are Student Affairs, there still needs to be more innumerable bureaucratic, political, and your own research, ask your own questions, radical and immediate change from both the financial hurdles that make it impossible examine the truth, and make up your own entire community and, most importantly, to accomplish anything overnight. Support mind. If you do not have enough facts or the administration. Thanks to all of you, we from the community is empowering and knowledge at your disposal—fine! There is are making tremendous leaps in our fight profoundly valued, but it quickly becomes no need to take a stance on everything. background noise without educated support. Stop swallowing social media posts against sexual violence. Take the recent controversial like God dropped a nugget of eternal truth However, it has been frustrating to witness the amount of inaccurate, termination of a tenured professor as into your special mind via an Instagram uninformed, and biased accusations thrown another example. One side claims that story. Stop jumping on justice bandwagons around like rumours in a high school Dr. Stonebanks was terminated due to his for the sake of giving your life a temporary bathroom. A petition calling for the Board important work in advocating for BIPOC meaning, only to drop off the bandwagon of Governors to reassess the university’s communities on campus, while the other as soon as it demands a little bit of work sexual violence policies completely ignores side hints at harassment being the main or critical thinking. Stop getting in the way the fact that there has been an ongoing policy reason for this termination. Without having of those who have been fighting for justice review since 2019. Students asking for a access to the confidential documents and for years only because you have recently survey to be sent out must not have been investigation that contain the truth of the become involved and are spontaneously checking their emails when, in the Winter matter, there is no way for us—the greater passionate on the topic. Finally, please— 2021 semester, a student-wide survey public—to know. Why, then, adopt a side please—stop denigrating other students on sexual violence and the university’s and attack the other with fervent rage? who may disagree with your stances and response measures were sent (with less Could it not be true that this professor was protests. Anger is good, and creates change— than 200 responses). Students calling for both a great advocate for equality, diversity, Dr. Linden-Andersen’s termination are and inclusion, and simultaneously an so be angry. However, while anger makes your voices loud, it is rational anger that ignorant of the fact that she has been one of intimidator? All we can do to seek answers is look makes your voices heard. the key advocates and actors in reforming
Tensions rise among BU campus Connor Kay - Staff Writer
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TW: sexual assault ensions are on the rise between students and faculty at Bishop’s University. The Fall 2021 semester on campus has devolved into turmoil regarding the ongoing issue with sexual assault, as well as the recent contract termination of Dr. Darius Stonebanks. Students now take to the curb and line the campus instead of attending their classes, out of anger and devotion, protesting against the university’s actions. Though the ongoing protests have brought the university’s questionable decision to the forefront, it has been expressed by an anonymous employee that students in the education program should continue to attend classes; education, after all, remains a priority. The right to protest is supported, but should not be prioritized over a student’s education. Concerning the issue of sexual
assault on and off campus, as well as the way it has been handled at Bishop’s, the university has noted that they have begun taking action. Some new measures include additional lighting on campus, active bystander training, and the Senate passing a motion that requires students to receive annual training in order to prevent sexual violence. A third town hall meeting is scheduled on Dec. 8 at 11:30 a.m. in Cleghorn in order to continue progressing with student demands. Amidst this tension, students are discussing how these events could affect Bishop’s University when it comes to its ratings. According to previous ratings, Maclean’s University rankings include Bishop’s in first place for student satisfaction (2021), faculty awards, experiential learning, as well as second place in mental health services. Given the circumstances, it is likely the university will receive a drop in its rankings in the
new year as students express frustration and disappointment towards the administration. Not only could the university potentially suffer from a drop in ratings, but it could also have a notable effect on the number of students who choose to enroll at Bishop’s in the future. Seeing as the semester is winding down, taking its toll not only on the administration but students as well, it should be noted that pressure and stress are something students endure during the final weeks of school and the exam period. Despite these tumultuous times among the community, it is important that the student body and the university administration understand the mutual stress factors each is going through—not only schoolwork, but potential stress in personal lives as well—and support each other wholeheartedly. At the end of the day, we are all only human.
Graphic courtesy of the Bishop’s University website
OPINIONS
SINCE 1944
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Safia Hafid, Opinions Editor » thecampus.opinions@gmail.com
Spotlight on Bishop’s environmental policy Renée Rosteius - Contributor
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s a student majoring in Environmental Studies and minoring in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems (SAFS), it is second nature for me to consider how I, and the institutions that I am a part of, can become more eco-responsible. A few weeks ago, I was having a conversation with a friend about what environmental initiatives Bishop’s currently has in place. In fact, the compost bins were the only thing that came to mind. I recognized this lack of knowledge as a problem, and felt there must be more initiatives I was simply unaware of, so I decided to learn about the various environmental policies in place at Bishop’s. I organized a meeting with Laurence Williams, the school’s Sustainable Development Advisor. Here, I must admit that I went into this meeting with my expectation being that I would write an article about the insufficient number of environmental initiatives at Bishop’s University. I quickly realized that my presumption was wrong only a few minutes into our conversation. Williams highlighted how Section 6.3 of Bishop’s 2019-2024 Strategic Framework Plan is centered around furthering the progress on the campus farm to support SAFS students, and how Section 6.7 focuses on developing an ambitious sustainable development policy. Said policy was approved by the Board of Governors in
February of 2020, but this announcement was overshadowed by the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. She also mentioned that she regularly meets with students interested in starting their own environmental initiative on campus, and offers support to the Environmental Club, the Sustainable Development Action Group, and the SRC Environmental Representative. As well, Williams often runs workshops and kiosks, while also working on reducing the amount of waste on campus – and this is only scratching the surface of her work. As Sustainable Development Advisor, she is also tasked with continuously analyzing which areas of the university can minimize and reduce their environmental impact. Notably, I was concerned over the amount of single-use plastic used to serve food in the new Sodexo restaurant, The Purple Pod. Given that the school’s current environmental policy was established after Sodexo had been designated as the food provider for Bishop’s, the current environmental guidelines are less strict for the company. As a student concerned about climate change, this information was disappointing to me. However, Williams noted that Sodexo is in the process of becoming more ecoresponsible, through actions such as using only free-trade certified coffee once their regular supply runs out. Williams added, “There’s a study run by ITHQ (Institut de tourisme et d’hôtellerie du Québec) … about
[the] Bishop’s food system, and they’ll make detailed research about where Sodexo’s food comes from, and where the ingredients are from … it will come out hopefully sometime in 2022.” To me, an efficient way of initiating change is calling on people and companies to improve, instead of simply calling out their shortfalls. Fortunately, the ITHQ inquiry Bishop’s is participating in seems to be a step in that direction. In recent years, the university has taken great strides to become more environmentally responsible. However, is the environmental policy at our university perfect? No, of course not; there is much room in which to improve. When reflecting upon my meeting with Laurence Williams, I realized that there is little attention given to environmental initiatives within our community. Surprisingly, much of what I learnt during my discussion about environmental policy here at Bishop’s was
Graphic courtesy of Leea Rebeca Ruta brand new to me – even as an Environmental Studies student. I believe that one of the most effective ways to foster a culture of positive change is to have people talking about an issue. However, since I knew so little about these initiatives, it made me wonder: are Bishop’s students equipped with enough knowledge to have these conversations? It is difficult to contribute to environmental initiatives and effectively advocate for climate action when the general student population does not know what Bishop’s already has in place. As for the next steps, I know that Bishop’s is planning to draw more attention to the existing environmental policy in the new year. I might add that promoting sustainable initiatives and eco-responsibility as some of the university’s core missions could potentially not only increase pursuit of environmental action within the student body, but also help Bishop’s gain a positive reputation as a “green school.”
The problem with Bishop’s survivor-centred approach Justine Trempe - Contributor
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TW: rape, sexual assault hroughout everything that has happened since the appearance of the message on the bridge, the Dean of Student Affairs, Stine Linden-Andersen, has maintained that Bishop’s University follows a survivor-centred approach. While it is incredibly important to respect the survivor’s wishes and their confidentiality, both for their own safety and to help their healing journey, this method overlooks an important aspect. The slow process, and sometimes the lack of action, following the survivor’s wishes may often put others at risk. Many students, especially women, have shared their discomfort at the lack of information released regarding past cases and their possible perpetrators. “I know myself and many other students, especially women, are scared to go to class or even be on campus right now while knowing that these rapists could be walking the halls or sitting next to us in class,” expressed Jaidan Stockill during the first town hall meeting on Nov. 9. It is a feeling that has since been
repeated by many students, including myself. The school has since promised new measures like the implementation of new lights on campus, drug test kits at The Gait, and better sexual assault policies. That being said, I do not believe that the school’s response should stop there. I do not think it should only be a response either. Having a response procedure implies that a situation is happening and will repeat itself. Instead, the solutions should be temporary fixes while we change the root of the issue: rape culture. In a nutshell, these measures should not feel satisfactory, as they only normalize the inevitability of the rape threat. We had the chance of hearing Dr. Erin Wunker speak in the Morris House reading series this past Nov. 26. The scholar wrote in her 2016 book Notes from a Feminist Killjoy: “The effects of rape culture may well have you thinking but being able to test my drink is a great idea! rather than thinking marketing and selling a drug-testing kit to women rather than eradicating a culture of date-rape drugs is kind of crazy.” (Wunker
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In short, something like implementing drug-testing kits is very much a response to the issue, instead of a proactive, preventative way of approaching a problem. Similarly, by placing ALL of the focus on the survivor, instead of punishing the perpetrator, the school is accepting that they may do it again – thus perpetuating a toxic cycle. What does it take for an assaulter to face consequences, after a litany of traumatized women, afraid to be the one to take action, having to relive their assault, and holding the weight and responsibility of someone’s future? An anonymous former employee admitted in an article published by La Tribune that, when she left Bishop’s an undisclosed number of years ago, there were over a dozen open cases of sexual assault being practically ignored and pushed aside by the administration. That is a dangerously high number for the size of this school. Dr. Linden-Andersen said this during the Nov. 24 town hall meeting regarding statistics: “And it’s not that I have anything to hide with these numbers. It would probably
be in the university’s best interest to release them, but my job is to protect the survivors. And when we have very small numbers, it might be able to identify the survivors because the people know each other … And that could harm the survivor.” However, the person who wrote on the bridge still remains anonymous, and the recently added ribbons there also represent the not-insignificant number of confessions shared online. As feminist theorist Sara Ahmed expressed in her book Complaint!: we should mind the gap. “To make a complaint is often to find a gap, a gap between what is supposed to happen, in accordance with policy and procedure, and what does happen.” (Ahmed 30) We have the right to know the statistics, to know what has been done in the past. Keeping numbers confidential and avoiding full transparency only creates distrust within the community. Furthermore, the goal should not be to treat survivors right – that should be a given – but to limit the number of possible victims. We want information and prevention, not reaction.
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SPORTS
THE CAMPUS DECEMBER 06 2021
David Rossiter, Sports Editor » thecampus.news@gmail.com
Women’s basketball jumps out to an impressive start David Rossiter - Sports Editor
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maiquen Siciliano is a superstar on the court. With the returning MVP on their side, the Gaiters approached the start of their first RSEQ season in two years with confidence. In the first four games of the season, the Gaiters managed to win all but one. Siciliano, who has starred for the Gaiters since 2018, comes from the basketball-loving nation of Argentina. This season she is joined by a fellow Argentinian: rookie forward Victoria Gauna. So far, through Bishop’s first four games, this duo has formed a one-two punch that is drowning opposing teams in offence. The two stars are averaging exactly 18.3 points per game each. This has helped Bishop’s average 72.8 points per game, while their opponents have scored 61.5 ppg. In the Nov. 11 regular-season opener versus Laval, the Mitchell Gym at Bishop’s was jam-packed. The crowd, anxious to see some great Gaiter basketball after much too long, was not disappointed. After a slow quarter, Bishop’s strung together some defensive stops and offensive buckets, including a pair of three-point shots. Leading 31-29 going into the second half, the Gaiters used their momentum and continued on to a 67-61 victory. Amaiquen Sicilano led the way points-wise, as she scored 26. However, junior forward Jael Kabunda was just as impactful during this contest. Kabunda’s
19 points along with her 16 rebounds combined for the only double double by any player. Next up was a close game with powerhouse Concordia. Unfortunately this game wouldn’t fall the Gaiters’ way. Concordia finished with 71 points topping Bishop’s 60. Don’t worry, though! The final two games for this semester would prove to be way more fun than this one. On Nov. 20, on enemy territory, the purple and silver decimated the poor McGill Martlets. After an even first quarter that ended tied 14 all, the Gaiters turned on their high gear. Shooting well, the Gaiters went 48 per cent from the field. Gauna led the team with 28 points and a dozen rebounds, once again earning her the honour of notching the evening’s only double double. In the final game of the semester, the Gaiters faced the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) Citadins. Once again, a slightly slow start had the women trailing at halftime. The second half, however, was full of scoring. Bishop’s dominated the third quarter, outshooting UQAM by 16 points in the 15-minute frame. Siciliano led her team with 22 points. The playmaker also dished out an incredible 12 assists for her first double double of the season. The Gaiters now go into the long holiday break with a solid record of 3-1. The team next plays on Thursday, Jan. 13, at home against Concordia, with a rematch two days later.
(top) Photo courtesy of Emery Gbodossou (bottom) Photo courtesy of Bishop’s Sports Information
SPORTS
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David Rossiter, Sports Editor » thecampus.news@gmail.com
Men’s basketball opens season victorious over Laval David Rossiter - Sports Editor
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ome November, Thursday night in Lennoxville is basketball time. On Nov. 11, the Gaiters women’s team already had the home crowd whipped into a frenzy when it came time for the men’s team to warm up. The sold-out crowd was finally treated to the raising of 2019–2020’s RSEQ championship banner. The atmosphere was there – all that was missing was another Gaiters win. Scoring was spread around in this match; four Gaiters hit double digits in points. Senior guard Ibrahim Nbom had the most with 19, while junior Carl Jacob had the game’s only doubledouble (14pts, 10reb). Close through all four quarters, neither team held more than a four-point lead through all of regulation. At the buzzer, a 70-70 tie meant overtime was needed. Senior Matthis Gueret scored the final bucket on a tip in. The Laval team had one last possession to tie the game and possibly extend it to another overtime. The Gaiters defence held strong and the first win of the season was in the books! 76-73 for the good guys. In the few weeks since their win, the Gaiters have had three games. Unfortunately, they have not gone as well as the first one. First up was Concordia, a consistently tough matchup in basketball. The Stingers came out flat despite playing at home and the Gaiters kept it close. Halftime saw Bishop lead Concordia 35-29.
The second half was all maroon, however. The Gaiters scored only 11 points combined in the third and fourth quarters, compared to Concordia’s 43. Three-point shooting was certainly a factor in the result. Both teams attempted over 25 long shots but Bishop’s only converted on 19 per cent of those while Concordia’s sharpshooters nailed over a third. The final score was 72 to 46. The other two games fared much better. Bishop’s seemingly made adjustments and began to score more. A very tight loss against McGill went 74-72 in favour of the Redbirds. Next, in the last game of the semester, the Gaiters hosted Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM). After the women won their UQAM matchup, the men were ready to repeat the Nov. 11 sweep versus Laval. However, the Citadins had other ideas. A huge 28-point third quarter extended UQAM’s lead and by then, it was too late. The final score was 8 for the Citadins and 69 for Bishop’s. Senior and three-point specialist Connor Kelly led the Gaiters in the loss with 17 points. Bishop’s now enters the holiday break. Bishop’s next plays in an exhibition game with the University of Toronto Varsity Blues on Jan. 4. The Gaiters return to regular season the week after, with two home games against the Concordia Stingers (Jan. 13 and 15).
Photo courtesy of Emery Gbodossou
Photo courtesy of Bishop’s Sports Information
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FEATURES
THE CAMPUS DECEMBER 06 2021
Manu Bissonnette, Features Editor » thecampus.features@gmail.com
A return to the theatre, but not like we’re used to Casey Hebert - Contributor
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he Drama Department was hit particularly hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2020, COVID-19 forced the production of The Miracle Worker to a halt on opening night, disappointing the many students who had worked tirelessly on it for months and never got to perform. Over the next year, all shows were cancelled. Though the Drama Department adapted to the online form, recording performances and considering how the virtual can feed into a performance, they were unable to host any festivals or performances that make up a traditional Drama degree at Bishop’s. Students were thus eager to get back into the theatre, both on- and off-stage. With the pandemic generally improving in Quebec and restrictions loosening, the Drama Department was able to put on its first show since the start of the pandemic, Stephen Karam’s Speech and Debate. The return of live theatre on campus was long anticipated by students and patrons of the Drama Department,
who showed up en masse to support the show. Indeed, most show nights were sold out. Though there was a performance to attend, it was still drastically different from what we are used to. Hosted in Turner Studio Theatre, the number of seats in the blackbox theatre were reduced significantly to account for COVID-19 social distancing regulations. Additionally, audience members had to keep their masks on for the duration of the show. There was no intermission as to reduce intermingling in a confined space, and there was no sale of drinks or baked goods in the lobby. Another noted difference was the size of the cast. The play had only six speaking roles, of which only three were major characters. The crew, however, maintained a more traditional size. Though small casts are not uncommon for Drama Department productions, students this year were somewhat disappointed; many have not been able to take to the stage since January 2020, so they were eager to act again. With
only one performance this semester instead of the typical three, such a small cast did not allow as many students to be involved as would have liked to. For all of the students who made the cast, this was their first time working on a major production at Bishop’s. Although most of them had already been involved on or off stage in the student-run festivals, none had ever participated in a major Bishop’s production. This was Tyler Casat’s first time on the Bishop’s stage, while Emmanuel Dagenais, Jordana Heiss, Sophie Kaplan, Suzie Klemmer, and Caleb Labrenz had all taken to the stage in pre-pandemic festivals. In terms of the crew, this was Stage Manager Ray Lasorsa, Assistant Stage Manager Morgan Doke, Dresser Schuÿler Edgar Holmes, and Sound Technician Georgia Gokiert’s
Photo courtesy of Justin Chiao first time working on a BU production, while Assistant Director Jordan Greene had already participated in BU performances, though generally as an actor, and Assistant Technician Katie Dodd had worked backstage on 2019/2020 productions. Though the highly anticipated return of drama was different from what people may have hoped, all were happy to be back in the theatre. The success of Speech and Debate bodes well for next semester’s performances, which we will luckily get to see more of with the return of the TheatreActiv festival and a Winter musical on the schedule. For a more detailed account and review of the performance, please see Leo Webster’s article.
The SCC wants to bleed purple again Grace McArthur - Associate Editor
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TW: sexual assault
n the morning of Nov. 3, 2021, the new Bishop’s University SRC Vice-President of Student Life (VPSL) received an urgent text message with a photo attached. Rushing down to see the now infamous bridge accusations on College Street sent a surge of emotion through Amie Godward. A third-year psychology student from England, Amie had only recently taken the VPSL position, while keeping up with her school work and acting as the senior co-chair of an association that would soon be known by the whole community. That somber day, the BU Sexual Culture Committee (SCC) already had a meeting planned to discuss their annual Take Back the Night (TBTN) march. Instead, she tells The Campus that they took the time to reflect and to be with each other, understanding that victims all over the Lennoxville area would need support during this time of crisis. On Nov. 4, the SCC led a silent vigil across from the bridge in Optimist Field. They handed out candles to be lit and placed along the concrete barriers where the bold message was plastered. Flashing back to 2018, Anika Malone, another prominent member of the Bishop’s bubble, introduced her peers to an international movement called Take Back The Night. This annual march celebrates the courage of survivors of sexual assault and rape, and brings attention to the dangers that women face every time the sun fades to night. At BU, this event has become a beast of a tradition, where hundreds of people have come out to reclaim their voices. It is a space to get angry and for people to speak up against violence, according
to Anika. In 2019, Amie met Anika and another member of the TBTN team, the other current senior co-chair of the SCC, Scotia Sharpe. Amie recalls a discussion she had with the team, talking about how they “should form a committee … because this work isn’t being done.” Conversations were already in progress with the administration about student safety and rape culture, and throughout 2020, partnering with other students, including former VP Student Life Isabelle Audet, a survey was developed to be sent out in the Winter 2021 semester. It addressed a variety of issues concerning sexual violence, including how students felt about the school’s reporting process, and whether they were satisfied with the result. At the same time, the SCC was officially named a committee with the Students Representative Council (SRC). With three subcommittees in the Winter 2021 semester, Anika on prevention and response, Amie on sexual education, and Scotia on policy review, membership grew and people became interested in the work being done. Every year before TBTN, the current team leads a forum to discuss issues that students face on a regular basis. During the 2020/2021 school year, there were three forums. The first was their annual Take Back the Night forum, followed by two forums that addressed specific concerns on campus. One focused on sexual assault within the LGBTQIA+ community and was done in coordination with SPECTRUM and the BU Pride Alliance. The second, a positive masculinity forum, opened the discussion to rape culture and the societal flaws that perpetuate it. Amie says that, “We realized that the crux of the problem was the role that men played.” In that first year, the SCC reached huge milestones. Scotia’s subcommittee successfully re-worked the entire Bishop’s University Policy for the Prevention of Sexual Violence, which is going
to the Board of Governors for a vote this coming December. Anika’s subcommittee developed a pamphlet for first year students that clearly outlines the process of making a disclosure and clarifies their available options and resources. Copies of this book are still available to students in every relevant student services and counselling office. Her subcommittee also pushed for the online reporting system, REES, to be implemented at Bishop’s. This would streamline how students access official disclosure resources, and would hopefully make the process less intimidating for victims. Furthermore, the notorious Orientation Week now features Consent judges who specialize in creating a safe space for incoming students to learn about consent and to feel empowered by the ability to ask first. It has been nearly a month since students were forced to address a declining level of safety on the Bishop’s University campus. After two town hall discussions led by the Dean of Student Affairs, Dr. Stine Linden-Andersen, it is difficult to say whether there has been positive movement forward or an institutional standstill. One thing is certain – student-led initiaitves like the Sexual Culture Committee have been at the forefront of innovation and problem-solving. Just this fall, the committee won the prestigious Forces Avenir prize in “Society, Communication, Education.” These prizes represent outstanding leadership in Quebec universities, and this is the first time a BU student or organization has ever been honoured to receive it. Moving forward, senior co-chairs Amie and Scotia, alongside this
Graphic courtesy of Leea Rebeca Ruta year’s junior co-chairs Meaghan Connelly and Georgia LaPierre, are going to continue the fight for a safer community and help every student feel like they can #bleedpurple. The committee will also be receiving the donations earned at this year’s Giving Tuesday, which is an alumni event to support specific initiatives on the campus. Some long-term goals of the SCC are to have a permanent space established to house the sexual aggression response coordinator, and which would feature peer support workers trained in receiving disclosures from students. A site like this would increase confidence in the system, provide a safe space for victims, and help with the educational aspect of preventing sexual violence. Amie, Scotia, Georgia, Meaghan, and the committed members of the SCC have been at the front lines between administration and student interests since Nov. 3 of this year. They have since taken a temporary step back from their responsibilities and notably deserve a large cup of hot cocoa as they recover from the emotional turmoil of the past month.
FEATURES
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Manu Bissonnette, Features Editor » thecampus.features@gmail.com
The Social Change Hub returns Leea Rebeca Ruta - Graphics Editor
Leea Rebeca Ruta and Emily Demeers present “Ocean Pollution and Solutions”. Photo courtesy of Emily Crunican
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his semester, the Social Change Hub has had its first in-person events since the pandemic started. Co-founded by Bruce Gilbert, the Chair of Philosophy and Liberal Arts, the Social Change Hub organizes talks, workshops, and other events on themes of social justice. The Hub kicked off on Nov. 10, guest starring Laurence Williams, the newest Sustainability Advisor at BU, to present the different ways the university attempts more ecological approaches. For example, BU uses geothermal heating, which
many students were not aware of. A couple of years ago, the university also banned the sale of plastic water bottles on campus. During the event, students were asked to contribute their wishes and ideas about what they would like to see Bishop’s do in terms of sustainability. Some students have voiced their concerns over the fact that Dewhurst Dining Hall has no garbage cans, only a compost bin, which students throw their non-compostable garbage into. Others have expressed their desire for the campus to be “beautified” by
planting more trees, flowers, and having more green spaces that students can hang out at. Other students wish to see the university buy more local produce and get rid of the Tim Hortons altogether. Subsequently, on Nov. 17, Professor Maïka Sondarjee from the University of Ottawa gave a lecture on international solidarity from a feminist and anti-racist perspective. She talked about how we need to decolonize our minds and modes of thinking. One highlight is that she criticized the western movement for cutting trade with the Global South in favor of local products. While that may be good for the environment to some extent, in the long run this will destroy entire economies, causing another wave of imperialism over the Global South. Then, on Nov. 23, Dr. Dan Marque, University of Laval and former Bishop’s professor, spoke on Brazil’s Landless Workers Movement on Cooperation and Ecology. Professor Gilbert has also been doing research for several years on the Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra (MST). MST is a mass social movement formed by rural workers fighting for land reform and against injustice and social inequality in rural areas. These rural workers occupy lands and turn them into agro-ecology cooperatives. The MST thus “simultaneously addresses the environmental crisis, widespread poverty and social and political marginalization,” as described by Bishop’s University in a general
email sent to the student body. Bishop’s offers a spring course in Brazil for students from across Canada who want to learn more about the movement, which will hopefully be reinstated in May of 2023. On Nov. 24, two Liberal Arts students, Emily Demers and Leea Rebeca Ruta, presented a panel in the LLC Agora entitled “Ocean Pollution and Solutions.” A few dozen students filled the Agora stairs, while other visitors of the library often stopped in their tracks to listen to the presentation, curious about the subject. While the topic of ocean pollution is very broad, the two presenters focused on two main themes: plastic and noise pollution. The following topics were discussed in detail: the Great Garbage Patch, tires in the ocean, noise from commercial shipping, sonar and seismic activity, and nuclear testing. Finally, on Dec. 1, Alix Ruhlman, a social justice and climate change activist from Quebec, held a workshop on “Degrowth” to raise public awareness and encourage civic participation in the fight against climate change. Degrowth aims to reduce energy and matter consumption and increase equity, democracy, intellectual autonomy, and solidarity. Students were asked to form small groups and discuss a number of challenges and possible solutions. Social Change Hub events occur every semester and students are encouraged to participate.
We recycle, we compost, we throw away Tanya O’Reilly - Contributor
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ne of the best ways to fight climate change is to manage waste correctly, since landfills are becoming increasingly larger and more impactful. Managing waste adequately can help ease the tension on our landfills and its damage on the environment, since compost goes back into the earth and recycled materials can be repurposed. Hence, Bishop’s is implementing and advertising for better management of campus garbage. For example, compost and recycling bins have been added next to the garbage with stickers to properly sort trash. The Sustainable Development Team decided to investigate to see what types of mistakes the student body makes daily with regards to waste. Students volunteered to go through two recycling bags, five garbage bags, and one compost bag from four different buildings: the Library Learning Commons (LLC), the Marjorie Donald Building (the SUB), the Johnson Building, and the SportsPlex. The weight of each bag was registered before and after the bag had been properly sorted for each category (recycling, garbage, and compost). The left table illustrates the results of this investigation. Student volunteers were “pretty shocked by how poorly the Bishop’s community understands how to properly dispose of their waste,” according to Bishop Carasquero. It was discovered that the highest number of mistakes came from the SportsPlex, Johnson Building, and the LLC, possibly
due to the lack of compost bins available in these locations. The responsibility for this lack is held by the university, but the food service company, Sodexo, can also be held accountable for not providing these options at all of their locations. Hence, a strong start here would be to implement compost bins in these buildings at all locations where recycling and garbage bins already exist, or else people will choose to throw their compost in the bin that is most convenient, not the most accurate. Likewise, increasing the visibility of these additional compost bins would help remind the community to compost. However, the highest number of mistakes occurred in the garbage bins. Several recyclable and compostable items were found in these bins, especially in the SUB where a compost bin is available. The graph to the right shows that 34 per cent of the waste
Photo courtesy of Emily Crunican sample was mistakenly put in the trash. A few recommendations would be to have advertising on campus about the new composting option for the community and to have workshops
about how to sort waste properly. Overall, 58 per cent of refuse was properly sorted – not great, but a good start! This analysis was therefore a great first step in understanding how the Bishop’s community could do better. A project volunteer, Ariane Horrall, still had a good perspective on the situation, regardless of the outcome: “I really enjoyed the activity. It was really eye-opening to see how much waste was not properly sorted. I think it will be a great opportunity to educate the BU community so we can all contribute to a more sustainable campus.” Bishop’s will have another trash sorting day in March to see if the campus has made any progress. There are now stickers on each garbage bin to help the Bishop’s community sort its
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ARTS & CULTURE
THE CAMPUS DECEMBER 06 2021
Quinn Ruby, Arts & Culture Editor » thecampus.ac@gmail.com
Drama department’s stellar return to theatre with Speech & Debate Leo Webster- Junior Copy Editor
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he Bishop’s University Drama Department recently presented their first in-person show since the COVID-19 lockdown, Stephen Karam’s Speech & Debate. The play is about three teenagers who use their Speech & Debate club to speak up about topics such as homophobia, sexual assault, and abortion, issues that are considered taboo by their conservative high school. The three co-leads were played by Tyler Casat, Emmanuel Dagenais, and Sophie Kaplan. The show also featured Jordana Hiess, Suzie Klemmer, and Caleb Labrenz. The director, Wade Lynch, is an experienced actor, writer, and director, and the former Associate Artistic Director of the Charlottetown festival. The action of the play revolves around three high school students, Howie (Dagenais), a gay transfer student, Solomon (Casat), an outgoing young reporter who represses his sexuality to appease his conservative family, and Diwata (Kaplan), an enthusiastic actress who is also a sexual assault survivor. The
other two characters are a high school teacher (Klemmer) and a reporter (Hiess) who don’t seem to understand or care what these teens are going through. The students come together through the Speech & Debate club, a venue that allows for sharing stories in a creative way. All the actors were outstanding in their performances, dealing with difficult subject matter in a way that was sensitive and realistic. The three leads played a range of emotions that brought authenticity to the teenage characters. The play is comedic and has some hilarious scenes, but often shifts from humor to tragedy within a few lines. The actors handled these changing emotions in a genuine way that kept the audience engaged. A unique feature of this play was the focus on audiovisual props, many of which were designed by the cast and crew of the show. The stage was designed to look like a computer screen, with the keyboard on the floor and the backdrop being a large projector screen that changed with the scenes and was used to
feature online chats and drawings relevant to the story. There was also an emphasis on soundtrack and choreography, although the play is not technically a musical. Sophie Kaplan, a third-year drama student who played Diwata, said about her experience, “The first read-through of the show was honestly terrifying for me because I realized how many difficult topics we needed to bring up through our characters in a natural and respectful way. We were really lucky to have a much longer rehearsal period than is standard, which meant that our amazing director Wade Lynch was able to lead us through some really important discussions regarding how the topics mentioned in the play would still be relevant today.” In regard to playing a character who had been sexually assaulted and then chose to have an abortion, Kaplan said, “I partly used other experiences from my life to get to the same emotionally vulnerable spot Diwata would’ve been in.” She added, “Of course near the end
Photo courtesy of Leo Webster
of our rehearsal process, all the allegations on the bridge were coming out, and the topic of sexual assault was much more sensitive than it had been before … However, Stephen Karam’s writing is done in such a beautiful way that it never felt disrespectful, and our audience seemed to have a fantastic reaction to it. I felt as if this show came at just the right time, and I was honored to be able to share Diwata’s story alongside some fantastic other actors who made the process unbelievably enjoyable and seamless.” Speech & Debate was an excellent return to live theatre for the drama department. The subject matter of the play was appropriate for both the online world of lockdown, and the topics of sexual misconduct and hypocrisy of authority figures that have recently come to light at Bishop’s.
Christmas is green at the Fannie Gaudette Art Lab Alex Shuell - Contributor SPOTLIGHT:
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any students who have taken Fannie Gaudette’s class might know her as a music teacher and the Director of the Bishop’s University Singers Choir, but they may not know about her own personal music project. Since 2019, Gaudette has written nearly 40 songs with the help of her collaborative lyricist Normand Achim, of which her first single “La faiblesse” was released on Friday, Nov. 12. From the extensive collection, she’s narrowed it down to her favourite 11 songs that make up her debut album “L’invention humaine” coming out on Feb. 16, 2022. As part of the Internal Practicum of the Arts Administration program, I received the opportunity to help Gaudette gear up for the music releases and was lucky enough to attend her latest recording session in late October held at Masterkut Studio in the Mile End neighbourhood of Montreal. Gaudette describes her music as meeting at the crossroads of classical and pop music, drawing her influences and borrowing motifs from Rachmaninoff and Ravel as well as Daniel Bélanger and Joni Mitchell. Gaudette also notes, “‘L’invention humaine’ offers something new and refreshing in the current landscape of francophone music.” When asked about how she describes her creative process, Gaudette said: “A lot of songwriters start with beats and loops, but for me it begins with the lyrics. What I find is unique in a song are the lyrics, and their meaning helps me build my songs.” Thanks to the significant funding she received from the Canada Council for the Arts and the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, collaboration with top-notch Québecois musicians and producers was made possible. Throughout the recording process, Gaudette has had the amazing opportunity to work with the accomplished producer Jean Massicotte (produced for Patrick Watson, Jean Leloup), as well as coproducer Yotam Baum (produced for STORRY). “What I love the most is playing with my fantastic musicians,” Gaudette adds. On the recordings, superb musicianship from Philippe Dunnigan (violin), Ligia Paquin (viola), Christine Giguère (cello), Mathieu Désy (double bass), and François Lalonde (percussion) can be heard. Gaudette says, “The string arrangements are a major element as well as percussion, especially the use of vibraphone.” The grants have also been instrumental in covering the expenses for video productions and booking upcoming performances such as Gaudette’s next show on Bishop’s campus at Centennial Theatre on Saturday, Feb. 19. With new music coming out, performances booked, and enthusiastic responses from her listeners, things are looking up for the rising artist.
Manu Bissonnette - Features Editor
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o ho ho Gaiters, Christmas is right around the corner! I don’t know about you, but my holiday spirit is in full mode. I can already smell the gingerbread cookies and hear Mariah Carey sing her heart out. You know what they say, Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year – but not for Mother Earth. Household waste increases by more than 25 per cent during the holidays, and within six months only 1 per cent of what the average person buys during Christmas time is still in use. Yikes! Christmas should not be so damaging to our environment. Keep reading to find out how you can make your Christmas greener this year! The easiest way to avoid buying a thousand things is to look around your own house. What have you kept from last year? Decorations don’t have an expiry date; you can still use last year’s Christmas lights and wreath. In the case of gifts, reusing your own belongings is somewhat trickier – but not impossible! Instead of the traditional gift exchange, you can do a White Elephant gift exchange with second-hand gifts. Everyone brings one thing that they already have and participants in turn either open one of the gifts or steal one from another player. Lots of fun and no waste! However, there may be things that you don’t have at home. If you need something, why not make it yourself? You can use second-hand materials from your own house or a thrift store to create decorations and gifts. No need to be a creative genius – the Internet is full of ideas and tutorials to help you make your ideas come to life. In the upcoming weeks, the Art Lab is hosting two workshops to help you make your own Christmas gear. On Dec. 8, they will be making ornaments from salt dough, which is 100 per cent natural and compostable. On Dec. 15, in collaboration with the Environmental Club,
Photo courtesy of Noémie Fortin they will provide materials and expertise to help you make your own Christmas card from artisanal recycled paper made by Marie-Pierre Ranger, a Bishop’s student. These workshops are a perfect opportunity to take a break from schoolwork and set your imagination free. To reserve your spot, send an email to artlab@ubishops.ca. If DIYs are not for you, you can resort to buying Christmas gear in a responsible manner. The golden rule: less is more. Focus on the essential; it will benefit the environment as well as your wallet. For your Christmas feast, reduce the amount of meat as much as possible. The vegan and vegetarian options are numerous, and they don’t disappoint. With regards to gifts, prioritize local companies and sustainably sourced items. The province of Quebec is home to an increasingly high number of local companies that benefit from every single purchase. Even better, offer an experience, like tickets to a concert or an activity, as a gift. Chances are the lucky recipient will invite you to come along! Christmas is a time of joy and gratitude. It should not be so harmful to the environment – and it does not have to be! There are a billion ways to reduce your carbon footprint this Christmas. The Art Lab workshops are a great way to get started. All you have to do is try!
ARTS & CULTURE
SINCE 1944
Album cover courtesy of Amy Rutherford
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Quinn Ruby, Arts & Culture Editor » thecampus.ac@gmail.com
NaNoWriMo writing challenge Emma Riddle - Contributor
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aNoWriMo, short for National Novel Writing Month, is a challenge to write 50,000 words of a fiction novel within the month of November. It is a simple and well-defined goal, but one that takes significant sacrifice to achieve. As of 2017, there were over 300,000 participants on the official website, including myself. I did my first NaNoWriMo in 2015. I don’t remember much of that first attempt, other than how rushed the plot was. But what matters is that I wrote something. It’s easy to get caught up in perfectionism, which can lead to not trying in the first place. The time restriction forcing you to worry about fixing it later is what gave me the courage to create. Even a terrible first draft is better than no first draft at all. As long as you get the 50,000 words, NaNoWriMo considers you a
winner. I “won” NaNoWriMo every year in high school, from 2016 to 2019. 2017 and 2019 were both drafts of the same story, based on a short play I wrote in 2016. I did not have the energy to attempt NaNoWriMo in 2020. I don’t think the reason why even needs to be stated. This year, I was unsure whether I should try NaNoWriMo or not, and I only decided the day before that I would at least give it a shot. For the first time, my motivation was not focused around having a draft done. This time around, it’s more about proving myself. I’ve beaten myself up all year for not doing NaNoWriMo while I had all the time in the world (at least, all the time in November), and for breaking my five year streak. I wanted to prove I hadn’t lost my spark, and
Love is the Thread
that even if I had to let it gather dust for a while, I still wanted to finish my high school project. With no special preparation or plan beyond my notes for previous drafts, I jumped back into the ring, determined to win NaNoWriMo again. This is my sixth attempt, my third November writing that same book again, and the first time I’ve tried it since high school. Doing NaNoWriMo in university is a completely different experience. Before, I could get my homework done quickly and spend most of study hall on the computer, typing away a large chunk of the day’s word count before I even got home. But now, I have a lot more homework to do, and that homework is more complicated, and on top of that I have clubs to attend and trips to the store to make.
Almost all of my free time this November has been spent writing, planning what to write, or recovering from writing. I haven’t had time to draw or crochet or play the ukulele like I normally do. It’s hard to understand why anyone would put themselves through this, but I, and many others, come back every November with new hopes of getting our dream novels done. As of the time of writing this, I am already at 40,000 words and three days ahead of schedule. I am exhausted, but I keep going. People tell me I’m insane when I tell them what I’m doing. Maybe they’re right. It certainly isn’t fun. But I keep coming back, so it all seems worth it, even after all the late nights spent finding just the right words to describe what my old high school “friends” are up to nowadays.
Leea Rebeca Ruta - Graphics Editor
Safia Hafid- Opinions Editor Love is the thread That holds all together. Weaving heart and blood, Love and loss A tapestry of vibrant colour The pillar that supports the whole. Spin the delicate pattern To bind or to divide, Tighten the seams and the stitches Together till after death do us part. Love is the thread That holds all together. When the world becomes shadowed, When darkness reigns and hope is lost, A patchwork of mending The pillar that supports the whole.
THE CAMPUS STAFF 2021-2022 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
NEWS EDITOR Sarah Halberstadt
ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS EDITOR Elizabeth Beaumont
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Cassie MacDonell Rhiannon Day
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Leo Webster
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Leea Rebeca Ruta
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STAFF WRITER Connor Kay
This issue’s contributors: Jeremy Audet Eva Rachert Catherine Fullerton Anonymous Renée Rosteius Justine Trempe Casey Hebert Tanya O’Reilly Alex Shuell Emma Riddle
12
ECONOMICS & BUSINESS
THE CAMPUS DECEMBER 06 2021
Elizabeth Beaumont, Business and Economics Editor » thecampus.news@gmail.com
Omicron and the holidays Liz Beaumont - Economics & Business Editor
Image via Flickr; Public domain
‘
Tis the season for the final push to finish projects while preparing for the approaching finals season. As if this isn’t enough stress for students, the holiday season is approaching and the unexpected emergence of the new COVID-19 variant “Omicron” adds on to the stress of students. At the moment, the only confirmed cases have been from Ontario. Yet it may be rational to assume for it to potentially be a matter of time for the variant to reach Quebec if residents are not cautious. The Canadian government, as of Nov. 30, has a list of 10 countries prohibited from crossing the Canadian border. Botswana, Egypt, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, and Zimbabwe are currently the countries restricted from crossing the Canadian border. The Canadian government has done this as a protective measure, especially with the holidays approaching
and the current lack of knowledge regarding the variant’s severity. Travel is as intertwined with the holidays as is purchasing holiday gifts. Families commonly travel to see family members in faraway locations or perhaps for recreational travel. Not much is known about the variant and its dangers quite yet, but global health authorities are recommending to proceed with caution. The new travel restrictions and recommendations, along with growing fear of travel amidst Omicron, “will likely sap tourism spending at airlines, hotels, museums, and restaurants,” economists say. Therefore, this may create a decrease in the demand of services from the Canadian public. Again, many families travel throughout the holiday season, but this year’s travel numbers may be lower (similar to last year) than pre-COVID times, despite Canada’s high vaccination numbers.
Career Prep Bootcamp returns Liz Beaumont - Economics & Business Editor
A
re you wondering about what comes next after university? If so, you’re certainly not alone. Whether you’re in your third or fourth year or are just finishing up your first semester, it is never too late or too early to start planning. The most difficult part is knowing where to start. Hosted by Career and Transition Services, the Career Prep Bootcamp is planned for Jan. 28 and 29 of 2022. Happening at the beginning of the winter semester, Bishop’s Career Bootcamp is coordinated and formulated to provide students with the necessary skills for an efficient job search process postgraduation. According to the Career Prep Bootcamp Facebook page, students will have the opportunity to “attend workshops centered around resume building, job search strategies, effective networking techniques, business etiquette, interview preparation, as well as interview practice with alumni.” Therefore, this is an extremely hands-on event for students who learn best by experience. Not only do students have the
opportunity to learn networking and job search strategies, but they will also be able to connect and learn from Bishop’s alumni who are currently in the workforce. Whether you learn a few different hacks or even create a new business connection, both are one step closer to a potential career path. Students will need to prove they have been vaccinated against COVID-19 and show an identification card upon entry. If you are interested in purchasing a ticket, they can be bought from the event’s Facebook page “Career Prep Bootcamp 2022” or through the following link: ubishops.jotform. com/212633554257052. Also on their Facebook page is a video with former students who attended the bootcamp during their time at Bishop’s. For a price of $35, students get “two lunches, snacks, and a networking cocktail” while experiencing an amazing opportunity to expand their networking circle. For any further questions, students are encouraged to ask Marlene Canuel, Bishop’s Career and Transition Services Coordinator.
Image via Career and Transition Services’ Facebook
LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
“
W
e 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