The Campus - January 31st '22

SINCE 1944

VOLUME 77 ISSUE 7

January 31 2022

MID-FLOW Bishop’s University returns to in-person learning

3

Sydney Wilson

1

Student run since 1944

Spotlight: The Disabled and Neurodivergent Students Club

9

Gaiter Good News podcast to premiere later this month

10

An era of virtual interviews

12

Gabrielle Liu

Questionable COVID-19 measures around the world

5

A return to practice instead of play for Gaiters’ athletes

7

Connor Kay

Quinn Ruby

Sydney Wilson

David Rossiter

Layout design by Gabrielle Liu & Cassie MacDonell

Photo courtesy of Emily Crunican

2

NEWS

THE CAMPUS JANUARY 31 2022

Sarah Halberstadt, News Editor » thecampus.news@gmail.com

Black histories in the Eastern Townships exhibit to be presented by Bishop’s University professor, Dr. Nigam Sarah Halberstadt - News Editor

O

n Wednesday, Feb. 2, the Eastern Townships Resource Centre (ETRC) will be hosting the launch of the exhibit Black Histories in the Eastern Townships online via Zoom at 7 p.m. The event will share important moments and movements of Black history in the Eastern Townships, which has often been overlooked or left out of historical recording in favour of white moments.

While the exhibit can be viewed online, there will also be an outdoor exhibit in the Quad available for viewing from Feb. 2 to March 18.

Dr. Sunita Nigam, guest speaker, curator, and returning Bishop’s University professor will lead the exhibit’s presentation, aiming to cast attention onto the existence and significance of Black movements while also acknowledging the gaps in historical archives, where the absence of recorded Black narratives is notable. Nigam presents this exhibition as an “unfinished work” of Black history in the region and asks the audience to carry on that discourse outside of the presentation. “It’s a beginning, it’s a conversation to start off what we want to do. It’s encouraging other museums or historical societies or researchers to dig deeper and reveal more about this topic that has not been so present,” said Fabian Will, executive director of the Eastern Townships Resource Centre.

The presentation will offer glimpses of Black historical moments documented within the Townships, going back to the history of slavery on this land, “the Underground Railroad, blackface minstrel performances, sports cultures, the jazz

scenes of the 1920s and 1950s, changes to the linguistic and cultural demographics of the Black population of the Townships in the 1960s and 1970s, and the Black activist movements of today.”

“It’s important that we share with the community stories that are less known,” added Will.

Though originally proposed as an in-person event with an online option, the exhibit launch has been moved online due to pandemic safety precautions. However, there is hope that the presentation may reach a wider audience online than it would have in-person. “It’s also a chance for us to reach out a little bit,” said Will.

There have been nearly 100 registrants for the event, many of them from all over Quebec and even from different

Images courtesy of the Eastern Townships Resource Centre provinces.

Nigam will also discuss her Black Histories in the Eastern experience in researching and curating this Townships is an event supported by the exhibit on QAHN’s Heritage Talks Online Belonging and Identity in English Quebec on Feb. 27, 1-2 p.m. for those interested grant, awarded to the ETRC by the in the process and the research that Nigam Quebec Anglophone Heritage Network underwent behind the scenes to shed (QAHN). Anyone can register for the event light on moments of Black History in the at no cost at www.black-histories.com. townships.

Update on COVID-19 cases in Estrie hospitals Catherine Fullerton - Contributor

T

he Omicron variant has become a major drain on the Eastern Townships. As of Jan. 26, there were 1,919 active cases in the Estrie region, with Sherbrooke accounting for 781 of those active cases. Due to this high volume, the government will officially be releasing COVID-19 updates every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, as it has become too difficult to post daily.

Premier Francois Legault came under fire recently for Quebec’s inability to control the fifth wave of the pandemic, driven by the Omicron variant over the month of December. In order to contain cases and help relieve stress on testing facilities, the government provided free rapid tests in Sherbrooke this past month.

Legault has lifted the curfew that was placed on Dec. 31 and allowed for schools to reopen on Jan. 17.

Though the Estrie region has seen an improvement in not reaching full hospital room capacity over the last few days, understaffed hospitals remain strained.

Since Omicron is considered to be a milder variant but easily transmittable, a higher number of medical staff are having to quarantine, leaving hospital staff scrambling.

If you are planning to visit someone who is currently in the hospital, you must show proof of vaccination along with photo ID to be able to enter the building, and even then, only one visitor at a time is permitted, with two visitors per day maximum.

How can you do your part in keeping

your loved ones safe? The CDC has released measures that all individuals should follow daily. This includes sanitizing your hands when entering and leaving a building, always wearing a medical mask over your nose while indoors, and maintaining a twometer distance from other people as best as you can.

“It’s going to be a battle to convince everyone that the vaccine works and to get the third dose,” states Judy Morris, head of the Quebec Association of Emergency Physicians. “It’s going to be so important and it’s probably how in Quebec we’re going to do better than in some other parts of the world.” She urges people to get their boosters and to do their part in ending the pandemic.

It has been a long two years

of following these protocols and it can become draining having to quarantine, so it is important to always check in on your mental health and to do things to help you feel connected. You can go on walks with your friends, participate in outdoor activities such as sledding and skating, video call friends and family, or devote time in the day where you focus on yourself.

If you need to reach out and talk to a professional, Bishop’s University offers drop-in counseling sessions which are offered daily from 9-11 a.m. and 1-3 p.m.

For more information about counseling, you can visit @bu_student_services on Instagram or go to the Bishop’s University official website. For more information about COVID-19 regulations visit CIUSSS de L’Estrie.

NEWS

SINCE 1944

3

Sarah Halberstadt, News Editor » thecampus.news@gmail.com

Health tax on the unvaccinated proposed by Legault to curb COVID-19 health crisis Eva Rachert- Contributor

Q

uebec has become the subject of a nationwide discussion after Premier Francois Legault announced plans of implementing a health tax for the unvaccinated. Those unvaccinated for non-medical reasons may soon be subject to heavy fines in addition to being banned from restaurants, bars, gyms, and some stores. Debate is now stirring regarding how much freedom the unvaccinated should be afforded in times of crisis.

Premier Legault announced the tax during a news conference on Jan. 11. He provided few details, with no date for when the tax will be instituted and how much it will cost. Legault suggested that the tax may be included with the provincial tax filings due in April. He explained that the tax was created to counteract the “important burden” placed on Quebec’s healthcare system by the unvaccinated and that the unvaccinated can expect bills of more than $100 come tax season.

According to federal data, approximately 14.4 per cent of Quebec’s population is unvaccinated as of Jan. 28, including those that are medically exempt. However, according to the most recent statistics from the Quebec Health Ministry as of Jan. 12, non-adequately vaccinated individuals above the age of five make up nearly half of admissions to hospital intensive care units (46 per cent.) Some Montreal hospitals have been forced to cancel non-essential surgeries and are facing severe staff shortages.

Proponents of the tax believe that it will help offset the cost of treating the unvaccinated who become infected and hospitalized with COVID-19. Evidence from other countries that have instituted similar laws suggests that financial pressure is a deciding factor in the choice to get vaccinated. Legault acknowledged that some groups — people who live in rural communities, people with autoimmune disorders, and people with

limited mobility — have legitimate reasons to be unvaccinated, and will not be penalized.

First-dose vaccination appointments saw a recent surge after Quebec instituted a vaccine passport for SQDCs and SAQs; a similar rise took place after the announcement of the tax. Legault is looking to further expand the passport but believes that more urgent steps must be taken first. “It’s a question of fairness for 90 per cent of the population, which has made some sacrifices,” he explained, referring to the percent of Quebecers who have received at least one dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine. In the past, Quebec has used incentives such as the vaccine lottery to encourage vaccinations.

The health tax may have a similar effect, but critics warn that the tax may alienate the unvaccinated and encourage distrust in the government. While it is a government’s responsibility to tax as it sees fit, the decision may ostracize the

vulnerable and misinformed. The tax will be a flat rate, which will unequally impact different income brackets. Notably, no other Canadian province has taken similar steps, and the federal government has not condoned the measure.

Quebec is suffering more under COVID-19 than many other provinces, holding the highest rate of COVID-19 deaths per capita at seven deaths per 100,000 cases. Canada’s other most populous provinces, Ontario and British Columbia, both have a larger vaccinated population than Quebec. Over the past two weeks, Quebec accounted for almost half of all Canadian COVID-19 deaths.

Until more is known about the Quebec health tax, it is impossible to predict how effective it will be at reducing COVID-19 related deaths.

However, the tax may help to negate Quebec’s rising COVID-19 infection rate, restarting the provincial economy and ensuring the health of its citizens.

and the Purple Pod to open its doors once again. However, the LLC Café and the Bus Stop Café will remain closed.

Bishop’s University provides resources to students who may be struggling, such as free mental health resources like EmpowerMe and dropin counseling sessions. In case of a COVID-19 diagnosis, help will be

Photo courtesy of Emily Crunican provided from the Student Accessibility and Accommodation Services (SAAS), so that students don’t fall behind in schoolwork.

While there is risk in returning to in-person learning, Bishop’s University has made the decision with caution and remains ready to transition to online learning if needed.

Bishop’s University returns to in-person learning Emilia Malpica-Iruegas- Contributor

S

everal places of instruction made the decision to delay the commencement of in-person classes, despite Quebec lifting curfew and opening schools on Jan. 17.

For instance, Concordia University will remain fully online until Feb. 3, and Université Laval plans for a return to in-person on Jan. 31. McGill has met resistance from students with its decision to begin all in-person learning on Jan. 24.

However, Bishop’s University began in-person learning on Jan. 17, with the option, up to the discretion of the instructor, to continue online learning until Jan. 31. Even with the early start, Bishop’s University has not taken the matter lightly, taking many precautions to allow students to come back safely. The Bishop’s community has also taken apart of the safe return, with 96 per cent of its population being vaccinated.

A notable safety precaution is for people living in residence specifically: the creation of the Purple Bubbles. A Purple Bubble is a group of four single-room and fully vaccinated residents, or five residents if four of them live in Patterson.

These Purple Bubbles are meant to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19

while still letting students have a group of friends to hang out with. Students who wish to create a Purple Bubble need to fill out an online form, which has previously been sent by e-mail, and wait for it to be approved by Residence Life. Once approved, the members of a Purple Bubble can gather in residence common spaces or inside residence rooms without masks. This initiative aims to support students’ mental health while also limiting contacts. The Purple Bubble has been an important part of student life for those living in residence. The bubble has been particularly appreciated by the students who arrived at residences early and had to take out lunch alone from Dewhurst Dining Hall during the first week of classes.

Indeed, Dewies only opened its dining area as of Jan. 17, although some significant changes have been made.

A two-meter distance is now imposed between students who are eating, as opposed to the one-meter distance from last semester, in an effort to reduce potential contagion. The take-out option is still available for in-residence students.

On Jan. 17, the curfew lift allowed for the Tim Hortons in the SportsPlex

4

OPINIONS

THE CAMPUS JANUARY 31 2022

Safia Hafid, Opinions Editor » thecampus.opinions@gmail.com

Lessons learned from COVID-19 on how to stop the spread of disease: Are we ready to try?

Leo Webster- Junior Copy Editor

I

nfluenza is a disease that we have failed to eradicate, either by vaccines or public safety measures, and it continues to kill and hospitalize people worldwide. My intent is not to overstate the risk; the Government of Canada’s website reports 224 deaths due to influenza in the 2018-2019 flu season in a population of over 38 million.

However, due to high transmission rates, influenza puts an extra burden on hospitals and causes many people to miss school or work. It is also worth considering that most deaths from flu are our vulnerable populations, including people over 65, under five, or already suffering from another medical issue.

Optimistically, since COVID-19 safety protocols were put into place, there has been a record low of flu cases in both Canada and the US, to the point where the flu season was non-existent last year. This should be celebrated for the great news it is. I can understand why people might not be noticing the flu numbers when they are concerned about catching an even more damaging disease, but I want to take note that when there is an effort to contain contagious illness, fewer people die.

So, am I advocating for permanent online classes, no more parties, and

interactions only with our own households for the rest of our lives? I recognize that there is only so much that can be done to help others while also protecting your own sanity. But coming from the US, where millions of people are championing personal freedom over public good, it is important to ask ourselves how we will react if COVID-19 comes to an end or becomes a persistent disease like the flu.

Is it truly the best choice to stop masking, hand sanitizing, staying home when sick, and all the other fortifications we have constructed against disease?

To me, masking is something that should be adopted for anyone who is sick or in a crowded setting, especially during flu season. Flu vaccines are something that could be adopted more widely, considering that in the 2019-2020 flu season, only 42 per cent of Canadians got the flu shot, according to the Government of Canada website.

The use of online meetings to include quarantined students in a lecture is something that seems practical for future use, for students that are sick or otherwise unable to be there. Some might argue that students may use this loophole to avoid lectures, but many students prefer in-person classes, and the professor

Viruses have always been a problem for society, not just during pandemics. Image courtesy of Fusion Medical Animation via Unsplash. is still able to take attendance and give that is still full of bacteria and viruses. participation grades. Fully online courses In my mind, the issue is that are another option that has provided more contagious diseases have never been just benefit than harm, since they allow a wider COVID-19, or other large epidemics. variety of students to access a university Viruses are mutating all the time, and education. there have been previous instances of flu These are simply a few examples, becoming something more dangerous, and I will not outline every measure such as H1N1. Many viruses that were that should be taken, because I think the once considered eradicated, like measles, importance is not the mandates, but rather have returned due to populations with the attitude of people towards supporting low vaccination rates. The way in the community. Canada has handled the which a society reacts to an illness pandemic well so far, but it would only be determines whether it remains a problem too easy to go back to “normal life” once year after year, or if it becomes fully the threat appears to be over – a normal life vanquished.

The need for hybrid classes Sydney Wilson - Contributor

I

truly believe that for this semester, Winter 2022, all classes should be offered in a hybrid format – both in-person and simultaneously online.

Given the high level of contagiousness from the Omicron variant, many students on campus now have COVID-19 and must isolate. For students enrolled in classes that are only offered in person this semester, this provides an extra barrier – they are unable to attend class, easily fall behind, and their professors must scramble to accommodate them.

This causes many challenges for both the students and the professors. Thus, if classes had a hybrid option, that particular issue would be solved.

While I do understand that hybrid classes require more time and effort for the professors, it would offer better opportunities for students to succeed in their classes. Even having notes or videos on Moodle would be helpful, even if the

class itself is not recorded.

I have had some of my professors teach in person, while also having a Teams call available for students who could not attend the class in person; these measures ensure that students will not fall too far behind while they are recovering or in isolation. Students who do not feel comfortable going to class, especially in the present context, could also access class material on Moodle and thus be able to follow along.

The fact of the matter is that the current COVID-19 guidelines in Quebec do not allow outdoor gatherings of more than 20 people, and prohibits people visiting other people’s homes. This makes sense, given the easily-transmissible Omicron variant; however, if that is the case, how can classes of 80 students or more be crammed in a small room together, often not wearing their masks even if they are told to do so? I do not understand how

that is safe.

Students with mandatory classes may have to enroll in a class that is only offered in person, while nevertheless not feeling comfortable or safe doing so. I feel that students should not be forced into this situation, and that hybrid versions should be offered to provide more options and prioritize the safety of the students.

There could be people in your class that have COVID-19, but are asymptomatic, and since some people do not wear their masks properly it can be very easy to spread the virus to the other students in the class.

It seems to me that many people hate online learning, and as such want to be in person – but do not seem to realize the possible risk of attending class during these current circumstances.

While I do not particularly like online learning, I think that until the cases on campus decrease, it is much better to be

Photo courtesy of Emily Crunican learning virtually where we are all safe at home. Barring that, all classes should have hybrid options, so that students are able to make decisions that prioritize their health and learning.

OPINIONS

SINCE 1944

5

Safia Hafid, Opinions Editor » thecampus.opinions@gmail.com

Questionable COVID-19 measures around the world Connor Kay - Staff Writer

I

n late December, the Premier of Quebec, Francois Legault, tightened his grip on restrictions in an effort to protect Quebecers from the new Omicron variant of COVID-19. As of January, the restrictions that remain are the closures of all gyms and bars.

Concerning the prolonged closures of gyms and physical activities like sports, a recent Harvard study found that people who are consistently inactive are more likely to be hospitalized from COVID-19, making the closure of gyms in Québec a questionable move by Legault in this context.

Not only have the tight restrictions across the country affected the physical health of both Quebecers and Canadians in general, but the national rate for Canadians who experienced depression grew from 15 per cent (before the pandemic) to 19 per cent (during the pandemic).

Legault plans to encourage people to get vaccinated against COVID-19 with a vaccine tax. The vaccine tax will apply to the Quebecers who choose to not get

the vaccine. The idea of Legault’s vaccine tax could be problematic, not only for the unvaccinated, but could prove to be an issue down the line as the goal posts for requirements to satisfy the government keep being moved.

In comparison to the tension of restrictions in Quebec, Australia has now implemented COVID-19 quarantine facilities and claims they exist to isolate infected individuals. However, as the alleged story of Hayley Hodgson makes its way across social media and news sources, it can be noted that these facilities are not only for the infected, but for the citizens who refuse to comply with the government’s random COVID tests, or for those who have potentially come into contact with someone who could have had COVID-19 (which to me is a bit of a stretch from the government).

As the goalposts move to fit the government’s narrative, there is also the fact that a person who does not consent to go to said facility will be fined $5,000 AUD as a punishment, and escorted there forcibly by the police. When Hodgson,

who was identified as a close-contact of a friend who had COVID-19, was questioned by authorities as to if she had taken a COVID test, she lied and said she had been tested; the authorities then checked her information to discover that she had not in fact been recently tested.

Hodgson was forced to cooperate to avoid being fined, and was brought to the Howard Springs quarantine facility for the minimum 2-week sentence. The living experience in the facility, while considered a “lodge” according to Google maps, was described as minimalistic.

Hodgson noted in an interview that she was only brought food once a day and was given warning that leaving her living quarters would result in a $5,000 fine and added time to the confinement in Howard Springs. Released two weeks later, Hodgson was notified that she had lost her job due to the two-week absence and only compensated with a small amount for her loss.

As various countries around the world struggle with the restrictions and limitations put on society and individuals,

Boris Johnson – the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom – has recently loosened the COVID-19 restrictions and mandates, aside from the self-isolation protocol in the event of someone being infected. When Prime Minister Johnson addressed masks, he said, “We will trust the judgement of the British people and no longer criminalise anyone who chooses not to wear one.” The rollback of restrictions, however, only came after Johnson was criticized for breaking the government’s own restrictions at a party in May of 2020. Johnson denied the allegations of breaking the restrictions in parliament on Dec. 8, which could prove to be a motive for the rollback of restrictions in attempts to get the spotlight off of himself.

The comparison of these various countries and their restrictions highlight the different approaches we have been seeing, from tight restrictions to none at all, thus making the decisions of our politicians questionable and potentially dangerous given every individual’s stance on COVID-19.

reaction calls the effectiveness of COPs into question. Do they benefit the climate action movement and make tangible positive impacts to the environment?

Dr. Bryan Dale discussed some of these issues surrounding COP26 in his Environmental Justice and Geography of Food class at Bishop’s last semester.

He has some answers to questions that arose regarding the impactfulness, or lack thereof, of the UNFCCC climate conferences.

Foremost, it should be understood that in order for the COP26 conference to produce agreements that can mitigate climate change, deals and policies must be agreed upon between various stakeholders in negotiation rooms. To have a specific demographic represented in the discussions, representatives must participate in conversations inside the rooms. After the conference, there were numerous reports stating that it was difficult to access these negotiations.

Dr. Dale invited Tiffany Traverse, an Indigenous seed saver, to speak in his Geography of Food class. She commented on the difficulty to have influence over

the outcome of agreements that were made behind closed doors. Dale adds, “It certainly seems that the UN processes feign inclusion, while actually being quite elitist. ‘Civil society’ representatives, which can include a broad array of people including those working for nongovernmental organizations, Indigenous peoples, and youth activists, are able to attend, but there seems to be little evidence that they can influence the proceedings in any significant way. They can attend a limited number of meetings and typically do not participate in negotiations where real decisions are made.”

Furthermore, many UN policies are made while remaining within the current system of economic and political constraints that result in further climate injustices. If more transformative solutions were considered, this would have greater effects to reduce climate injustice.

This issue of exclusion makes it evident that in order for UNFCCC climate conferences to become more beneficial, some structural change is necessary. One suggestion is to allow the representatives from “civil society” to be able to better

dictate the outcomes of these meetings. It is also important to center more Indigneous voices throughout these discussions, and the UN must be willing to take this action at the expense of economically powerful stakeholders.

As progress on climate science and social movements for climate action evolve, these conferences need to as well.

While this news of exclusion may come as a disappointment, it is not a reason to give up hope; Dr. Dale explained that researchers have observed effectiveness in climate policy at municipal and provincial levels despite the lack of progress at national and international levels. It is also important to not rely solely on policies to propel the climate action movement forwards.

Initiatives such as protests, Indigenous land defense, education, court battles, and transformative solutions are all just as important in protecting the environment.

In fact, many of these approaches are continuing to be advanced by students in our own Bishop’s community who care about the environment and who are making a tangible impact to lessen the effects of climate change.

The rose coloured glasses stay on at COP26 Renée Rosteius - Contributor

E

very year, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) assembles for a conference of the parties to strategize about how to mitigate environmental damage caused by climate change. This tradition began in 1995 at the first ever climate change conference in Berlin.

More recently, the 26th edition was held in Glasgow in November of 2021. These climate conferences aim to assemble world leaders, environmentalists, and other important stakeholders from around the globe to negotiate environmental policy with the goal of limiting the effects of climate change.

This year’s COP26 conference stood out for many reasons. For one, it was the first conference to have taken place since the start of the COVID pandemic, but also because it has faced the highest amount of criticism out of all the recent UNFCCC events. The Glasgow conference made headlines for its exclusivity, overrepresentation of the private-business sector, and underrepresentation of Indigenous people, farmers, and countries from the global south. Such a negative

6

SPORTS

THE CAMPUS JANUARY 31 2022

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

Two Gaiters take their rugby talents to Spain for the winter David Rossiter - Sports Editor

E

Photo courtesy of Emery Gbodossou

rika Scott and Trisha Shufelt are teammates and top contributors for the Bishop’s University women’s rugby team.

After finishing classes, the duo decided to take their talents abroad.

Average winter temperatures in A Coruna, Spain, sit at a balmy 1015 degrees. Certainly a step up from Sherbrooke, comfort-wise. Scott and Shufelt point to this as a contributing factor to their decision to leave.

The trip came together thanks to women’s rugby coach Tom Whyld. “Tom had connections to the rugby club in A Coruna either from playing or coaching there years ago,” said Scott. “He sent highlight videos of the two of us and basically helped organize the whole thing.”

The two Quebec natives will be practicing and competing for A Coruna in the Galician league. A semi-professional outfit, A Coruna will be paying the two

Photo courtesy of Heather McKeen-Edwards Gaiters room and board, plus a weekly pressures! stipend. Neither Scott nor Shufelt are “I’m trying to pick up some taking any classes abroad, so their full Spanish, but obviously it’s hard,” shared focus will be applied to rugby and Scott. “I’m sure it’ll be okay, I know left exploring northwestern Spain. and right, plus I’m sure ‘pass the ball’ Just before leaving, Scott was a translates well.” bundle of nerves and excitement. First, A few days after landing in late there was the issue of negative tests, January, Scott checked in with an update. border restrictions, and just hoping to get “We had our first practice on a field on on the plane safely. Then, after landing, January 24 and it was good to get back there would be the whole language running. We have our first game on barrier issue, not to mention the rugby January 30!”

LUG Hockey hosts Outdoor Classic Series due to indoor rink restrictions Andrew Phillips- Contributor

T

here is nothing quite like lacing up your skates, pouring yourself a cup of Tim Horton’s hot chocolate, and jumping on an outdoor rink in -15 degree celsius weather for a game of hockey.

That’s what Bishops’ LUG hockey athletes had the chance to do on Saturday, Jan. 22 at Parc Andrew-Sangster in Sherbrooke.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions on recreational sports, the 2022 LUG hockey season was forced to pause its inaugural season. Since games could not be played inside, they decided to take this opportunity to provide a unique experience and host some games on the outdoor rink.

LUG is a sports league and lifestyle company that aims to provide young people with the ultimate sports experience.

Similar to intramural, anyone can sign up to play LUG sports to participate in games, receive awards, attend events, and receive cool merchandise. Currently, the LUG Hockey season is underway, with LUG Softball ending its season in the fall semester.

The setting of the game was beautiful. The game began as the sun

was setting over the Sherbrooke hill, giving the rink a pink sky backdrop to start off the game. As the sky got darker, the lights came on, making the rink feel like an arena. Thankfully the snow held off, keeping the ice clean for players.

However, the biggest challenge that both teams had to face, other than each other, was the cold. Players could be seen adding layers of clothing under their gear, sipping hot chocolate, and even skating in circles trying to keep warm.

The game featured team Stiff Men vs team Mighty Drunks in a match that is unique to most outdoor hockey games.

Traditionally, players only wear their skates and gloves with no other equipment during outdoor hockey games. No one raises the puck or plays aggressively in the corners.

The LUG outdoor game, however, was treated like a regular game, with players in full gear with proper officiating and scorekeeping. When asked about this experience, Stiff Men’s goalie Mark Cripps said, “playing on the outdoor rink, was a really fun experience as a hockey player. I have played since I was young but never had the opportunity to play in

a full outdoor game. This game is the closest thing to a winter classic that an amateur hockey player can get to.”

Despite the frost on players’ cages, and choppy ice surface, the game was fastpaced and high-scoring. Stiff Men’s Pete Dickey opened the scoring with a sharp wrist shot over the shoulder of the goalie at the 3-minute mark. Goal scoring went

Photo courtesy of Adam Metcalfe Hurst back and forth between both teams in a well-balanced match. After many pucks lost in the snow, and with numerous cups of hot chocolate and Timbits consumed, the game came to an end in a score of 5-4 in favour of the Stiff Men. Players are ready to brave the cold again on Saturday, Jan. 29, as the LUG outdoor classic series continues.

SPORTS

SINCE 1944

7

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

Bishop’s University 2020-2021 Academic All Stars and All Canadians David Rossiter - Sports Editor

I

n 1988, USPORTS (then CIS) introduced its “Academic AllCanadian” designation for varsity athletes with a full year GPA of 80 per

cent or higher.

This designation is trademarked to USPORTS and its associated teams, but the Bishop’s Gaiters extend the honor to

all varsity student-athletes that achieve the 80 per cent or higher mark, using the alternate designation “Academic AllStar.”

Winter sports update

Congratulations to these 165 Gaiters who took care of business in the classroom during 2020-21, all while representing Bishop’s in sports.

Images courtesy of Bishop’s Sports Information

A return to practice instead of play for Gaiters’ athletes David Rossiter - Sports Editor

G

aiter winter sport athletes were dealt a tough blow in late January when Premier Francois Legault’s “déconfinement” loosening of restrictions left them still wondering when their season would resume, if ever.

In the fall, Bishop’s athletes and the community at large were able to enjoy the unfettered enjoyment of live, in person, regular season competition.

Soccer, Football, Rugby and Lacrosse games at Coulter were consistently full of supporters. Many sports reported actually receiving even more attention than usual, generally being contributed to the fact that all sports were canceled in 2020.

Our winter season athletes are those whose season takes place almost entirely during semester two. The women’s

hockey team and the women’s and men’s basketball team fall into this distinction.

In a bittersweet twist, these three teams were able to enjoy the aforementioned enjoyment of a real season with fans. During winter break it became clear that due to Quebec’s response to Omicron, that would not be the case in semester two.

The official Legault decision set to be in effect from Jan 31st, came at a time when many political opponents and mental health advocates across Quebec were calling for the allowance of sports, especially in schools.

While the messaging regarding the return of sports was challenged by journalists attending the press conference as “vague”, Marty Rourke from the Bishop’s athletic department was able

to shed light on what the bottom line was for Bishop’s athletics. “Our Gaiters’ Varsity Sports teams will be able to start practicing as of Monday, Jan. 31. We don’t have a return to competition date yet, however, the conference and school’s are working on revised schedules to be able to finish the year,” he said.

An interrupted and possibly canceled season is certainly frustrating to the basketball and hockey players.

Yet Connor Kelly is doing what he does best, looking to the positive side. “While we aren’t playing games yet it’s exciting news to be able to practice as a team again. I’m sure it will lead towards us competing soon.” The fourth year guard from Brockville is in his final season and is a leader for the Men’s basketball squad.

Photo courtesy of Blair Shier

8

FEATURES

THE CAMPUS JANUARY 31 2022

Manu Bissonnette, Features Editor » thecampus.features@gmail.com

What may be influencing your composting behaviour: A student’s research Karina Kramer - Contributor

W

ith environmental awareness recently being heightened, we have all surely reflected on our own actions and thought about what we could do to minimize our environmental footprint.

Composting presents itself as a very simple and time efficient pro-environmental act that turns organic waste into “black gold” – nutrient-rich organic matter that adds to the physical, chemical, and biological property of soils – rather than having this organic waste be landfilled.

With this simple act not yet being widely practiced throughout Canada, Environmental Studies student Karina Kramer wanted to understand what factors greatly influence the level at which an individual composts. Kramer thus partook in an independent study during the 2021 fall semester to answer this question, focusing specifically on the composting behavior of off-campus Bishop’s University students.

What is composting behavior exactly? Well, it signifies someone’s level of composting, ranging from composting all of one’s organic waste to not composting at all.

Throughout this study, the term “composting” referred to the correct way of disposing organic waste, so that it does not get mixed in with the solid waste stream and can instead go to a treatment facility where it would be processed into – what was discussed above – black gold.

An online survey was distributed to the Bishop’s student population through the Dish, the university’s research office email list, as

well as the Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems club and department social media pages. Getting back exactly 100 surveys – which was then narrowed down to 82 – Kramer used a statistical test called Fisher’s exact test to identify which variables were significant or insignificant predictors of an individual’s composting behavior.

Out of 14 variables, six were shown to be significant predictors of someone’s composting behavior. These variables were: dwelling type, effort to minimize environmental impact, indoor storage, curbside municipal brown bin, roommates, municipal composting system, and amount of effort.

The study then went on to discuss its findings. One of the key findings pertained to dwelling type, and how the type of dwelling in which an individual resides plays an important role in the amount of organic waste they compost. It was revealed that people who compost more of their organic waste are more likely to reside in a house rather than an apartment building. The reasoning behind the different compost rates assigned to each dwelling type may be due to the availability of indoor storage space and the availability of curbside municipal brown bins (which make up a municipal composting system).

The study found that 75 per cent of apartment dwellers stated that they do not have access to a curbside brown bin, while only 10 per cent of house dwellers reported the same.

According to Statistics Canada, households are more likely to compost through a curbside

collection service than by taking it to a depot or through other methods of composting, further supporting the study’s findings that the availability of curbside brown bins greatly influences someone’s composting behavior.

Further stressing the importance of curbside brown bins, Kramer’s study found that 83 per cent of participants who do not compost at all do not have a curbside brown bin in their residence. When these participants were then asked if they would be more likely to compost if they had a curbside brown bin, 97 per cent responded in the affirmative. Therefore, a viable and effective method for increasing composting rates within the Bishop’s offcampus student population would be to ensure that each residence has a curbside municipal brown bin, which can be done by either waiting for municipal government action or by demanding it from your landlords.

Other than the variables ‘dwelling type,’ ‘indoor storage,’ and ‘curbside municipal brown bin,’ the variable ‘roommates’ is a significant predictor of composting behavior.

The study found that living with other individuals who make an effort to compost has a positive association with composting behavior. Moreover, those who view composting as not requiring too much effort as well as those who make a conscious effort of minimizing their environmental impact are more likely to compost more.

With composting quite literally entailing the separation of organic materials from other non-organic materials, it should be a more

Photo courtesy of Emily Crunican common practice. This study has allowed the Bishop’s student community to better understand what goes behind their decision to compost, and through a better understanding of this behavior, we are one step closer to increasing our community’s composting rates.

Winter activities in the Estrie region Léontyne Haché

W

- Contributor

intertime has officially arrived in Lennoxville. Walking to class has become more and more dreadful, but our campus has never looked more beautiful. Most people know getting outside and breathing fresh air is great for your health, both mental and physical, but when temperatures start dropping below zero, going to hang out at Optimist Park doesn’t sound as attractive anymore.

Winter is a tough season, but the best way to conquer it is to find fun activities to do outside that make you smile when a snowstorm hits or the weather app announces it’s -20 C. Winter fun can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be; Lennoxville and Sherbrooke have so much to offer during this season.

The Old Lennoxville Golf Club, only a short walk from campus, offers Bishop’s students free access to 7 km of groomed cross-country ski trails. Sadly, they do not rent out skis, but the club does offer free snowshoe rentals which can come in handy on those days when there’s snow up to your waist and you want to go on a forest walk. The main chalet is currently open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for rentals and washrooms only.

If snow isn’t your calling, maybe

ice is. Did you know there is an outdoor skating rink behind Provigo, near Centennial Park? A 225-meter-long ice loop allows you to live out your speed skating dreams. If you’re up for a walk, cross the St-Francis bridge next to Nicolls Hall and take a sharp left turn at the end onto the Route Verte. You will be surrounded by nature as you make your way to Atto-Beaver Park where our next rink is situated. The park is home to a paneled ice rink perfect for a game of hockey with friends or to have your first skating lesson.

If you are looking for a bit more of a challenge, Mont-Bellevue is where you want to go. Accessible by bus or a quick 15 minute drive from campus, Bellevue is a convenient getaway from Lennoxville.

The mountain has lots to offer. On one side of the mountain, there are 10 alpine ski and snowboarding runs ranging from beginner to intermediate, a great snow park, a chairlift, T-bar lift, and magic carpet, making it a great place to learn how to ski or snowboard. If strapping yourself to pieces of plastic and sliding down a steep hill isn’t your cup of tea, maybe tubing is.

With two tube slides and a tube winder, it’s the perfect spot for a fun day. On the south

Photo courtesy of Léontyne Haché side, you will find 26 trails ranging from easy to very difficult where you can hike, snowshoe, cross-country ski, and even snow-bike. All this gear can be rented for a reasonable price at the main chalet, and more information on how to rent gear can be found on the Sherbrooke city website.

If all else fails, grab yourself a

deconstructed cardboard box, find out where the snowplow piles up all the snow and go sledding, or build a snowman, make a snow angel, anything. As Bishop’s students, we are so lucky to be surrounded by all this nature and we should take advantage of it anytime we can, no matter the weather.

SINCE 1944

FEATURES

9

Manu Bissonnette, Features Editor » thecampus.features@gmail.com

Spotlight: The Disabled and Eco-Week Neurodivergent Students Club is here!

Tanya O’Reilly - Contributor

Gabrielle Liu- Layout Editor

A

person who does not have a disability often knows someone who does. But, overwhelmingly, nondisabled people’s understanding of people living with disabilities or who are neurodivergent is limited. This is attributed to ableism, which is the intentional and unintentional discrimination against people with disabilities.

Fighting ableism on campus is the mission of one of BU’s newest clubs, the Disabled and Neurodivergent Students (DANS) Club, founded by Pénélope Fortin, a third-year student in sociology. On behalf of the DANS club, Fortin spoke to The Campus on the club’s origins, purpose, and vision.

“I wanted people to feel like they belong at BU.” In December 2020, Fortin was diagnosed with autism.

“As I was processing my diagnosis, I asked, how do I meet people who share this reality? I looked to see if there were any autism or disability associations at BU, and couldn’t find any, so I decided to start my own.” The DANS club began in November 2021 and is now has 18 members at the time of the interview. “The main goal of this association is to create community, trust among each other, and for students to feel safe,” Fortin said.

One of the most common experiences members of the DANS go through is the difficulty of getting accommodations for their learning.

In the Fall 2020 semester, Fortin was in the process of being diagnosed with autism. During this time, she was enrolled in a biology course, and like many courses at BU, the evaluation scheme was solely the midterm and final exam, leaving little room for error. According to Fortin, the midterm and final were oral exams, which are “very stressful and produce anxiety, causing me to become nonverbal and have difficulty speaking,” she said. As the midterm approached, she emailed her professor in mid-October to explain she was in the process of being diagnosed and the challenges that oral examinations placed on her learning style. She asked for him to be considerate of speech, communication, and question processing difficulties, and he was patient and allowed her to take her time.

Bishop’s Student Accessibility and Accommodation Services (SAAS) are intended to support students with permanent disabilities. SAAS accommodations must be respected by “members of faculty, and instructional staff, support and administrative staff [who] share the University’s responsibility under the Québec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms to provide accommodations to students living with disabilities,” as stated in the 2021-2022 Academic Calendar.

Approximately a week before the biology final took place, Fortin had received her full diagnostic report, but did not have enough time to have her doctor fill out the Disability Verification Form specifying education accommodations, and therefore was not able to be approved for SAAS accommodations before the exam. Including her full diagnosis in the email to her professor, Fortin once again explained her situation and asked if she could take a written exam. The professor “couldn’t make an exception and [said] if I wasn’t comfortable doing [an oral exam], I shouldn’t have enrolled in the course. Then he proceeded to say that I could still drop the course,” Fortin shared.

When asked about the effects of underdiagnosis of disabilities, Fortin pointed out that underdiagnosis is a problem especially among women – young girls’ symptoms manifest differently than among young boys’, among other phenomena.

Late diagnoses often mean that they grow up struggling and wrestling with their disability without professional help, coping mechanisms, study tips, and space to discuss their experiences.

Furthermore, “even if you have a diagnosis, you’re stuck with stigmatization,” she said.

Discrimination against the DANS community in higher education goes beyond BU, Fortin points out. Quebec’s Ministry of Higher Education’s Loan and Bursary program offers financial assistance to students pursuing full-time

The DANS club met virtually on January 27th.

Photo courtesy of Pénélope Fortin post-secondary studies. Prior to 2018, the Loan and Bursary program allowed students with disabilities recognized by Aide financière aux études to be considered as full-time students even if they were studying part-time. Now, on the website of the government of Quebec, students must have a “major functional disability” (a severe visual, hearing, or motor impairment) to be eligible for this exemption and financial aid. Fortin pointed out that this new list no longer includes ADHD, learning disabilities, or dyslexia.

This change appears to send the message that “[the government] assumes we can’t make it to higher education,” Fortin explained, “so they left out these disabilities entirely.”

She recalled a friend who, without the Loan and Bursary program, would have never been able to go to university. “I have a comfortable job working at home, and my parents are able to support me. There are a lot of students who don’t have that privilege.”

Thinking ahead With pandemic restrictions putting in-person club activities on hold, the DANS club is focusing on virtual activities. On Jan. 27 they held an introductory meeting for their members. Throughout the semester, Fortin said, their plans include creating disability awareness workshops for professors.

Other plans include hosting meetings for tips and tricks about studying with disabilities, study sessions for students who may thrive better in group study, and mental health sharing sessions for students to find support and open ears about how they experience ableism. “Our goal really is to create a safe space at BU,” Fortin reiterated.

The DANS club also looks ahead to ambitious projects.

“There are no scholarships for disabled students, but there are 15 for athletes,” she noted in an email. In the Academic Calendar, Bishop’s has 15 awards and four bursaries for student-athletes. Fortin hopes the DANS club can reach out to alumni and spearhead the process of a new scholarship.

Fortin hopes DANS can partner with local organizations serving people with disabilities and work with other BU associations, such as Spectrum, the Sexual Assault Support & Healing (SASH) group, and the Indigenous Cultural Alliance (ICA).

Do people who do not identify with having a disability have a role in the club?

“Yes. We welcome allies – as long as you’re respectful of our members, and you do your work to dismantle your ableism. Even I am dismantling my own ableism,” Fortin said.

Thus, there will be rules and guidelines about how to talk to DANS people, and allies will be held accountable and expected to respect them.

“We also welcome people who don’t have a diagnosis.

There are club members who don’t identify as disabled but do identify as neurodivergent” and vice versa, she said.

Working alongside Fortin is co-lead Cassey Perley, who is also the SRC Indigenous student representative, and helpers Sabrina Nadeau, Christina Garant, and Oriane Herviault. As the DANS Club grows in members and allies, BU can keep an eye out for their empowering projects.

Poster courtesy of the BU Environmental Club

W

ith the winter semester quickly progressing, Bishop’s University is taking a full week, from Feb. 7 to 11, to raise awareness about climate change and promote sustainable habits. The Sustainable Development Team and the Environmental Club have come together to present Eco-Week. Throughout the week, there will be a handful of events each day to celebrate our planet and Bishop’s involvement in sustainability. What’s more, keep an eye out all week for a recycled art feature in the Molson building!

For the first day of Eco-Week, we are kicking things off with a virtual launch of Bishop’s Sustainable Development Plan, which the university has been building to evaluate how sustainability is being managed. This launch will be followed by a fermentation workshop held by the Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems (SAFS) club, in which club leaders will introduce and practice at-home fermentation techniques. Athome fermentation can help students save money and reduce waste from buying these products in store. The day will then finish off with a virtual screening of a documentary called Manufactured Landscapes or This Changes Everything, as well as a discussion on environmental practices with regards to the movie.

On Tuesday, Dr. Jen Gobby will give a talk called “Climate Change: The Good News!” She will tell stories of real action taken across the world to help fight the climate crisis. She will also dive into explaining the accomplishments and challenges of climate change to help us understand how we each have our own role to play in this fight.

The following day starts off with free hot beverages in the SUB from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., if you bring your own reusable cup. At noon, we welcome you to join us on a walk around Bishop’s beautiful trails in partnership with BUnited and Student Services, in which we will discuss climate anxiety. This stroll will hopefully be a moment of gratitude and reflection for all participants dealing with anxiety. During the afternoon, the ArtLab will be hosting a mending workshop to repair old or broken clothes instead of throwing them out and buying more. In the evening, another of our professors, Dr. Bryan Dale, will give a talk on the connection between climate change and food security. This presentation will provide context to how each society struggles with having enough food for their citizens and the increasing impact of climate change on the issue.

On Thursday, a virtual Trivia Night about environmental matters will be held, starting at 7 p.m. The event will take place online via Teams, and the quiz will be on the fun software Kahoot. This trivia aims to raise awareness in the student body about the green initiatives on campus and promote useful facts on how to be more sustainable in our daily lives.

To finish off the week, we will be going out with a bang by hosting an indoor mini market and community fest in the Gait from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The purpose of this event is to promote local shopping, sustainable living, and eco-friendly opportunities that students can get involved in. This market will feature environmental clubs, informational kiosks, a local artist, and much more! This market is the perfect opportunity to learn more about sustainability.

All events are on a stop-and-go basis, no registration needed, so feel free to join any time!

10

ARTS & CULTURE

THE CAMPUS JANUARY 31 2022

Quinn Ruby, Arts & Culture Editor » thecampus.artsculture@gmail.com

Foreman Art Gallery Gaiter Good News opens new exhibition podcast to premiere Rihannon Day - Senior Copy Editor later this month

B

U’s own Foreman Art Gallery recently opened its newest exhibition, “Les yeux dans l’eau”, curated by Genviève Wallen, featuring artists Kelly Jaclynn Andres, Maude Deslauriers, Gaëlle Elma, and Tania Love. This exhibition is open for all to view from Jan. 21 to March 26 and displays artwork on the overarching theme of relationships formed with water. “Les yeux dans l’eau” combines several unique artists and different mediums to form a cohesive gallery filled with intricate canvases detailing water, intimate photographs describing relationships and connection, glass pieces, and more.

Kelly Jaclynn Andres’s work can be seen in the form of blown glass pieces intricately combined with water, as well as laser etching, and a digital video piece open for viewing on a 70-minute rotation. This work was created to explore the relationship between humans and plant technology, and how water plays an integral part in this equation.

Maude Deslauriers, a Montreal-based artist, creates her work with traditional floral figures in mind. At the gallery, several oil pieces on wood panels can be found illustrating the freshwater mussel shell and its importance

in ecosystems on the Saint-François River.

Artist Gaëlle Elma is a Montreal-based photographer whose art is displayed in this exhibition depicting relationships with and amid water and the emotions related to this form of intimacy. Her photos selected for this gallery are entitled Water series.

Artist Tania Love, Toronto-based, focuses her work using diverse materials, inks, and dyes. Her works chosen for this exhibition are entitled pathways, waves, and reflections.

This series includes several panels displaying bodies of water and their associated ripples and patterns. These works of art were created to focus on the precious aspects of water and its importance as a natural resource.

This exhibition is presented at both the Foreman Art Gallery on campus and the Sporobole Art Centre in downtown Sherbrooke.

Students can visit the Foreman Art Gallery, next to the Centennial Theatre, between 12 p.m. and 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.

Those interested can also visit the second installation of this exhibit, which showcases artists Caroline Monnet and Ludovic Boney, at 74 Rue Albert in Sherbrooke.

Quinn Ruby - Arts & Culture Editor

G

aiter Good News, a new Toast Radio podcast created by SRC President Enzo Evangelisti, is set to hit Spotify later this month. The podcast will also potentially include written summaries of each episode, either posted on the SRC’s website or included in emails from the Dish.

While Evangelisti was originally leaning towards the medium of an e-magazine, he credits the podcast’s host, Jeremy Audet, with turning it into a podcast as a way of making it more accessible to students. He also credits the podcast’s conceptualization to members of last year’s SRC team, Director of Events Amelia Krallis, Director of Communications and Marketing Hannah Wallace, and VP of Student Life Izzy Audet.

But why now? To Evangelisti, there has never been a better time.

I would be remiss not to address the low morale that so many of us have experienced this year. With the seemingly never-ending pandemic, the frustration of online classes, and the string of sexual assault allegations that began in November that caused us to question our university’s administration, the energy on and around campus has undeniably shifted.

And this isn’t something that Evangelisti is shying away from. He says, “I think we’ve maybe lost touch with what Bishop’s meant to us when we started. So much has happened that it doesn’t quite feel at times the way that it was when we first entered. So, I think this is a way to re-highlight the community that we have.” I wondered to myself last semester if there was any effective way to lighten the mood. Not in a way that would distract or take away from these incredibly important issues, of course, but in a way that would offer and highlight positivity among students. It turns

out that Gaiter Good News is just that.

Evangelisti offered insight into the creation of a podcast and just how much tech support there is for students that want to create one of their own. With a station manager to help with the schedule and template, and someone to provide training on the podcast equipment, the technical side of creating a podcast is fairly simple. “The creativity,” he says “comes naturally to some people and maybe not as much to others. That’s a piece that might take more time, but overall, it’s rather simple.” So simple, in fact, that he has even been considering creating a podcast for the SRC to aid in transparency in communication with students.

He also cleared up a potential misconception about the content of the submissions: they really can be about anything.

“It’s anything that’s about the Bishop’s community that’s positive and uplifting. It can be, ‘Hey, I want to highlight this person. They did an amazing thing. They didn’t necessarily win an award. It didn’t necessarily change the community, but they did something really nice. And I think that should be highlighted.’ It can be as simple as that,” he says.

Submit your good news by emailing thedish@ubishops.ca and check out the first episode of Gaiter Good News later this month on Toast Radio on Spotify.

Parasite Luke Munroe - Contributor

Photos courtesy of Emily Crunican

ARTS & CULTURE

SINCE 1944

11

Quinn Ruby, Arts & Culture Editor » thecampus.artsculture@gmail.com

Shadow and Bone – Updates Safia Hafid- Opinions Editor

S

hadow and Bone, a Netflix original series based on the Grishaverse books by Leigh Bardugo, has recently released key casting news for the upcoming second season. Adapting the first book in Bardugo’s original Shadow and Bone series for the first season, the show also incorporates characters from a later companion series, Six of Crows.

In other words, the show is an epic crossover that gave the main storyline of Shadow and Bone a new angle while also creating extra character development and backstory for the Crows.

I, like many fans, loved the show – the music, costumes, acting, characters from different series interacting on screen, character development, relationships, magic, battles, cons, etc.

I loved the action, the plot, and how the writers managed the crossover. It was very well done, adding a breath of fresh air to TV fantasy while demonstrating how adapting a series can add to the characters and the world. Moreover, the show was renewed for a second season, and on Jan. 13, the casting of important book characters was announced.

While the release date is not known yet and is likely months away, this new update is exciting and encouraging. It gives us something to look forward to, as well as being able to put a face to beloved characters. Nikolai Lantsov, one of Alina’s love interests and a key part of the fight against the Darkling, will be portrayed by Patrick Gibson; Tolya YulBataar and Tamar Kir-Bataar, Nikolai’s companions and Grisha like Alina, will be played by Lewis Tan and Anna Leong Brophy respectively; and the final member of the Crows, Wylan Van Eck (Wylan Hendricks in the show), will be portrayed by Jack Wolfe.

I hope to see the writers handle

certain storylines better, such as the way the main character – Alina – was treated in regards to her race. While white in the books, Alina is half Shu Han (half-Asian) in the show and portrayed by a biracial Asian actor. In theory, I am all for raceblind casting, as well as diversifying the characters when adapting books into movies or shows. It adds something new to the world and the storyline, as we saw with the recently-released first season of The Wheel of Time.

However, there was controversy regarding how the writers adapted Alina Starkov’s storyline in the show in light of this new identity. When changing the race, sexuality, or gender of a character, there are usually two avenues: either choose to not change the plot at all or integrate the change in identity into a new direction for the character (as the writers did with Alina). Both are perfectly fine when executed well. Yet with Alina, her being Shu Han only leads to racial slurs and abuse throughout the show, most of them contributing nothing but showing that Ravkans hate the Shu Han – and that hatred is never consistent nor explained. Her struggle with identity is later replaced mostly with her struggle as the promised Sun Summoner. While the bond between Alina and her friend Mal Oretsev is supposedly based in part because both of them are biracial in the show, his identity is never really mentioned past the first episode, and he never suffers from prejudice as much as Alina does. Additionally, as some people have pointed out, there is little connection or joy that comes from her Shu Han heritage. Certain fans loved the representation on screen, while some felt it was lacking, and some felt that certain aspects could have been handled better.

I can only hope with the introduction of Tolya Yul-Bataar and Tamar Kir-Bataar, who are both Shu Han, and the feedback from the audience, the writers and showrunners will improve

Leea Rebeca Ruta - Graphics Editor

THE CAMPUS STAFF 2021-2022 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

NEWS EDITOR Sarah Halberstadt

ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS EDITOR Elizabeth Beaumont

thecampus.editor@gmail.com

thecampus.news@gmail.com

SENIOR COPY EDITOR

OPINIONS EDITOR

GRAPHICS EDITOR

thecampus.copyeditor@gmail.com

thecampus.opinions@gmail.com

graphicseditor.thecampus@gmail.com

Cassie MacDonell Rhiannon Day

Safia Hafid

COPY EDITOR

FEATURES EDITOR

thecampus.jce@gmail.com

thecampus.features@gmail.com

Leo Webster

Manu Bissonnette

thecampus.businesseditor@gmail.com

Leea Rebeca Ruta

SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR Jeremy Audet

BUSINESS MANAGER

SPORTS EDITOR

PHOTOGRAPHER

thecampus.business@gmail.com

thecampus.sports@gmail.com

thecampus.photographers@gmail.com

Justin Brant

LAYOUT EDITOR Gabrielle Liu

thecampus.layout@gmail.com

David Rossiter

Emily Crunican

ARTS AND CULTURE EDITOR

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

thecampus.artsandculture@gmail.com

thecampus.associateeditor@gmail.com

Quinn Ruby

on certain aspects of Alina’s character. I am very excited about the new cast being announced, and I cannot wait to see what season two of Shadow and Bone has in store for us.

Grace McArthur

Photos courtesy of Emily Crunican

STAFF WRITER Connor Kay

This issue’s contributors: Catherine Fullerton Eva Rachert Emilia Malpica-Iruegas Sydney Wilson Renée Rosteius Andrew Phillips Karima Kramer Léontyne Haché Tanya O’Reilly Luke Munroe

12

ECONOMICS & BUSINESS

THE CAMPUS JANUARY 31 2022

Elizabeth Beaumont, Business and Economics Editor » thecampus.businesseditor@gmail.com

A new era of virtual interviews Sydney Wilson - Contributor

J

anuary is often the time of year when students apply to summer internships or jobs for post-graduation. Like many students, I applied to several positions for the summer. Most places have a standard application process where you send your resume, answer a few questions about yourself, and then receive an email that says you will be contacted for next steps if you have a successful application.

What I was unaware of while applying is the company’s ability to conduct a virtual interview, an interview in which questions are posed remotely and the interviewee answers in a video format, without interaction with an interviewer.

This was odd to me since all the interviews I had done in the past were with a live person. When you have someone interviewing you, you can read them and gauge expectations by how they react. In a virtual interview, it feels as if you are talking to yourself and have a limited idea of how well the interview is going.

Something that helped me feel more

prepared was making a list of possible interview questions and then recording myself answering them. I would then go and watch myself, seeing how I answered and making note if there was something I needed to add to the responses. It was very awkward to watch myself, but it helped me improve and get comfortable with answering questions.

When practicing for case competitions, I learned to go through the presentation I had made and determine if there was anything unclear or missing.

If there was, the group practiced the topic, because if we noticed the error, a judge would as well. This is something I considered when practicing for interviews.

If I said something that didn’t make sense or was confusing, I would get asked to explain myself better or have follow-up questions on the topic. When in a virtual interview, there is no one to ask you followup questions or ask you to explain an aspect of your response, which is a nervewracking thought. I became overly aware

of each word I said, and if something I said didn’t make sense, I would try and explain myself better to reduce confusion and to gain confidence.

I would still recommend practicing interviews with someone who can provide

Graphic courtesy of Leea Rebeca Ruta you with guidance and help you perfect your answers. However, I found practicing on my own helped me feel more prepared because it was more similar to the reality of the new virtual interview format.

are more than welcome to order their favorite coffees or bakery essentials to-go.

Primarily recognized for their Lennoxville location, Bekkah’s Bakery expanded last fall and opened a new location at Champlain College.

Georgi Pistilli, a third year student at Bishop’s, works for Bekkah’s Bakery at the Champlain College location. Although business looks different than last semester, Pistilli mentioned Bekkah’s Bakery is “open as normal” and is “not particularly affected with all of the job closures.” Given its business status as a cafe, employees were able to maintain their jobs.

This is great news for the Lennoxville residents and student community because it maintains some form of normalcy, practiced safely.

Despite the shutdown, those in the service industry are still able to maintain their jobs in a safe manner and provide service to customers.

Small businesses experience restrictions amongst Omicron surge Liz Beaumont - Economics & Business Editor

T

he school semester already looks different from last semester.

December entailed an unfortunate chain of events, in consequence to the exponential rise of COVID-19 cases across the province. The Government of Quebec shut down or limited many non-essential services. Schools, bars, restaurants, and gyms closed until at least Jan. 31 as Omicron became Quebec’s dominant variant.

This temporary shutdown, intended to slow the spread of COVID-19, has put Quebec employees out of work, including students. Students who work in

the service industry in Lennoxville and Sherbrooke have experienced a shift in their employment. Hours are cut, staff are laid off due to budget issues, or business is simply much slower.

However, some establishments still manage to provide some services. Indoor dining is closed, but the option to supply take-out service remains. In Lennoxville, there are businesses that kept their doors open. Although customers are not permitted to eat indoors, food businesses such as Bekkah’s Bakery are open for business. Although they are experiencing less business flow than usual, customers

Photo courtesy of Emily Crunican

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