The Campus – December 4, 2023

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SINCE 1944

VOLUME 79 ISSUE 6

December 4th, 2023

Student run since 1944

Wrapping up the semester

Photo courtesy of Emily Crunican.

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3 Motionball 5 Embracing complexity

when talking about the war on Palestine

BU Dance: Meet us at the Barre

8 Experiential learning in Peru: The Green Program

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Indigenous musician, activist visits English ecocriticism class

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Beyond the Bubble: Navigating success beyond university walls

SRC statement on impact of IsraelPalestine conflict

By Neleh Vigneau Sargeant advocating for better salaries and Contributor working conditions. Jacob Robbins- passes after extensive Kanter, a political studies professor at eachers and nurses from several Bishop’s University explained why these union coalitions took to the streets public sector unions have decided to discussion Unions take to the streets

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last week after rejecting the latest offer from the Quebec government. The striking unions include the Common Front of public-sector unions, whose 420,000 workers were on the picket lines from Nov. 21 to 23. Also on strike were the teachers represented by the Fédération autonome de l’enseignement (FAE), whose 66,000 teachers went on strike on Nov. 23. Additionally, 80,000 nurses from the Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec staged a two-day walkout on Nov. 23. to 24. Furthermore, 700 members of the Syndicat de professionnelles et professionnels du gouvernement du Québec, who are employed in ten colleges, also began a two-day strike on Nov. 23.

At the peak, nearly 600,000 disgruntled workers were picketing,

show a common front and strike together: “Since the COVID-19 pandemic there has been increased activism from organized labor.” He attributes this to the government’s reluctance to recognize the often heroic efforts of teachers and nurses during the pandemic in material ways.

The serious underfunding of the health care and education systems in Quebec along with the increases in the cost of living are causing financial hardships for many families.

This reasoning aligns with the demands of union leaders who want more staff, higher salaries and better working conditions. They argue that nurses and teachers have been asked to do more with less for several years.

The Quebec government made an offer at the end of October which Continued on page 2

@thebishopscampus

Content warning: Descriptions of the Israel-Palestine conflict, anti-semitism, Islamophobia

By Micah Della Foresta - News Editor & Bishop’s campus. Complaints, calls for action Gabrielle Liu – Editor-in-Chief and support for Palestine laid across the railing over the Massawippi River. The Muslim Student ast Monday, Nov. 27, the Board Association has held a keffiyeh fundraiser and of Student Representatives (BSR) organized poster-making sessions for protests postponed their decision to adopt a since. Other students, as Monday discussions proposed statement addressing the impact show, question the role and scope of the SRC to of the Israel-Palestine conflict on students’ make a statement. Their bylaws state the “SRC wellbeing. The meeting, open to all students, may adopt a position on any issue that directly ran 15 minutes overtime after discussing the affects the wellbeing of the membership.” statement, an amendment and whether to move Equity representative Irma Susset submitted into a confidential discussion. A supplementary the proposed statement on the floor last Monday, Dec. 4 BSR meeting finalised and passed a Nov. 27. It stated: “In light of recent global statement that will be released on social media events, we are deeply troubled and saddened platforms. by the tragic and ongoing loss of civilian lives The delay comes after the Nov. 13 BSR in Palestine. Your BUSRC is concerned about meeting where a different statement failed students’ well-being and psychological health to pass, citing needing further time to consult and is committed to providing support to with student groups. Since then, on Nov. 22, students.” It followed with encouragement to an expansive string of posters and messages consult, generally, mental health resources on has stretched across the bridge approaching the Continued on page 2

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Layout design by Mikyah Fortune

thebucampus.ca

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NEWS

THE CAMPUS DECEMBER 4TH, 2023

Micah Della Foresta, News Editor » thecampus.news@gmail.com

Unions take to the streets Continued from front page 1 included a 10.3 per cent salary increase over five years, a one-time payment of $1,000 to each worker and an extra three per cent increase for designated ‘priority’ jobs. The unions cited inflation expected to total 16.4 per cent over the next five years and rejected this proposal. They countered with a three-year deal with salaries tied to inflation: two percentage points above

inflation in the first year or $100 per week, whichever is more beneficial. They proposed salaries three points higher than inflation in the second year and four points higher in the third.

Quebec Premier François Legault acknowledged that the government would put more money on the table, but only if the unions agreed to organize their work differently. Examples of what this might involve include teachers committing to classes in the spring, rather than

August and incentivizing nurses with higher hourly wages to work less desirable shifts.

The Common Front has announced a new strike from Dec. 8 to 14. This strike would shut down some public schools in Quebec only a week before Christmas break. Union leaders stated that earlier strikes have motivated the government to listen to their collective demands and make some concessions.

Robbins-Kanter theorized that we

will see increased activity from organized labor in Quebec and elsewhere. He stated that “this is particularly true and important for younger generations who are finding they can’t afford the middle-class lifestyle that was available to their parents and grandparents’ generations.”

In the meantime, the coming days will determine whether many of the parents in these young families can remain at their jobs or have to take early vacations to stay home with school-age children.

Proposed SRC statement

Continued from front page 1

campus and “accredited educational resources on the topic”. Susset clarified during the meeting educational sources would be Amnesty International, the United Nations and Human Rights Watch.

Six observers stood together that day to reveal a message on their shirts and hold a Palestinian flag in front of the Board for the duration of the discussion. One of the students, Yousef Al-Haddad, says he has a stepmother in Gaza right now who is unable to get out. He told The Campus over a video call that while a statement wouldn’t change the situation in Gaza, it would at least make him feel supported to see someone standing with him. “I was crying like a baby”, he said when he first heard the news. “I can’t focus on basic tasks, so I can’t focus on my courses.” When the meeting closed, he told BSR members he had to drop out of all his classes this semester.

An observer at the Nov. 27 BSR meeting, Virginia Rufina Marquez-Pacheco, delivered a statement calling on the SRC to acknowledge that students’ emotional and mental well-being are being impacted by the ongoing events in Gaza. “The silence of our representatives while we experience this is all the more hurtful,” she read. Addressing fears of being accused of being anti-semitic, she told the BSR that the Jewish people are not the government of Israel, as evidenced by the vocal opposition of Jewish communities to the violence in Palestine. “In fact, we are also calling on you to vigorously condemn the rise in antisemitism and the rise in Islamophobia occurring because of this escalation of violence,” she said.

When questioned at the meeting why the proposed statement only mentioned Palestine, Susset said it was the result of her consultations with students. She said the statement could be amended to include that the SRC condemns all forms of anti-semitism and Islamophobia.

Since Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack and the Israeli government’s subsequent bombing and strikes in Gaza, there has been a rise in both antisemitism and Islamophobia on Canadian soil. Montreal has been the site of growing cases of reported hate crimes, as in early November there were bullets fired on three separate occasions into two Jewish schools. Most recently, on Nov. 27, a Molotov cocktail was thrown into the front entrance of a Jewish community center in CôteDes-Neiges–Notre-Dame-De-Grâce. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has condemned the attacks, saying that the violence must stop immediately.

A Canadian Senate report that was released in November highlighted an existing and increasing prejudice towards Muslims in Canada, which has continued to develop since the conflict began. The report found that one in four Canadians do not trust Muslims and that Canada leads the G7 countries in terms

of targeted killings of Muslims motivated

by Islamophobia. “The profound effects of gendered Islamophobia are such that it compels certain women to consider removing their hijabs to enhance their employment opportunities,” the report said.

During the BSR discussion, multiple members of the Board affirmed the SRC’s commitment to peace and safety, and some expressed a desire for the statement to remain neutral to include all students, either by including Israel with Palestine, or sticking to a general recognition of “global events”. A proposed amendment with the removal of Palestine and educational materials from the statement – citing inclusion and risk of affiliation – saw tied votes, failing. Susset called the amendment as “removing all the humanity” from the statement.

Marquez-Pacheco said in an interview that “There is a difference between acknowledging pain on both sides versus not weighing in at all” by leaving out mention of the specific conflict in Israel and Palestine, saying there is power in naming a situation. She said that at the very least, changing “global events” to “ongoing human rights violations” in the statement would be better.

“BSR members are trying their best to represent all students”, says SRC President Sophia Stacey when asked about several BSR members’ repeated mentions of neutrality. She says Board members have indicated they’ve felt verbally intimidated during this time as well.

Stacey had been the first to introduce a statement at the Nov. 13 meeting which she described as more neutral, without direct commentary or mention of the events in Israel or Gaza. No other BSR member responded to a request for comment.

Neither the Christian Students Association nor the campus chaplain was aware of students from the Israeli or global Jewish community willing to make a statement.

Jewish students “feel under siege” right now, says Prof. Daniel Miller, regarding this.

The professor from the religion, society and culture department spoke to The Campus in an interview. Jewish people have a visceral reaction when they hear activists say they hate Israel, he explained, because the state was created in response to the killing of Jewish people.

He maintains “genocide” and “colonization” are incorrect terms that are causing a spike in antisemitism, saying they are used as a “cudgel”, holding Jewish people collectively responsible for the Israeli government and associating Hamas’s mass murders with decolonization. He notes that criticism of the term “genocide” does not exonerate the Israeli government from the killings. When students use these terms, he says he understands it comes from good intentions, but there is still a need for accurate and constructive discourse. The discourse he hears is not targeted at the government or Hamas enough. He points out that many left-wing Jewish people like him

Student observers at the Nov. 27 BSR meeting coordinated this demonstration in McGreer 100. One student, Yousef Al-Haddad said he felt that some BSR members couldn’t make eye contact with them. Prof. Daniel Miller says calling killings “genocide” is causing a spike in antisemitism, and seeks accurate language. Photo courtesy of Gabrielle Liu.

Photos courtesy of Emily Crunican decry the Israeli Prime Minister Nentanyahu’s government’s dehumanization of Palestinian people (many of whom he underscores Hamas killed on Oct. 7) and now feel left out to dry, abandoned by liberals, betrayed by Nentanyahu.

Both the voices of Israelis and Palestinians must be included, he says generally about university statements; Otherwise, there should be no statements at all. If not with both voices, a statement acknowledging people’s pain would be good, he said; “The reasons I am in pain are different from the reasons others may be in pain, but there is a shared pain.”

“Feeling that I don’t have the power to change [the conflict] wrecks me,” says Muhi Tahhan, a student from Syria who says he follows the news closely, disturbed that Palestinians are treated as collateral damage. “It’s hard to sleep at night thinking about it.” He says a statement would at least make him know the community supports him. “When did it become so hard to be human?” he asks.

Mohammed Abdullah Ab Al Fohiti, the Vice President of the Muslim Student Association (MSA) wrote in a statement that the MSA has “been unwavering in its commitment from the very outset to advocate for Palestinian rights and promote a call for ceasefire and lasting peace. The current situation in Palestine is undeniably devastating, and as a community, we must unite and raise our voices against the

ongoing humanitarian crisis.”

On Nov. 24 a four-day truce between Israel and Hamas was brokered by Qatar, extended to seven days. On Nov. 29, speakers at the United Nations called for a permanent sustainment of the truce. But on Dec. 1, a deal was not reached, and the fighting resumed.

The BSR struck a supplementary meeting for Dec. 4 where an amendment changed the statement to recognise both the violence in Palestine and Israel, as well as other international conflicts. It expressed the SRC’s acknowledgement of the pain and grief of those whose loved ones are lost or missing. Stacey expressed that it was time to pass a statement, one that acknowledged all students’ pain as that was their job as representatives. She noted that not all students were comfortable or felt safe expressing their opinions, further encouraging an encompassing statement. Board members noted that voting by secret ballot was necessary for their mental, physical and psychological wellbeing given unkind comments they have received. Susset opposed the inclusion of Israel in the statement, saying that it would be better not to release a statement at all, than recognise the oppressor, the state of Israel, which she also distinguished from the global Jewish community.

BSR approved the amended Dec. 4 statement, and it is expected to be released on social media platforms.

NEWS

SINCE 1944

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Micah Della Foresta, News Editor » thecampus.news@gmail.com

Sport, inclusion and a whole lot of yellow Kicking off Motionball for the 2023-2024 year

By Regan Simpson Contributor

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uring the basketball doubleheader held on Thursday, Nov. 16, observant attendees may have noticed the widespread distribution and adornment of vibrant yellow stickers within the gymnasium. Notably, athletes donned the bright yellow stickers during their warm-ups, symbolizing their endorsement of the No Good Way initiative spearheaded

by Motionball for the Special Olympics.

Nov. 15 was No Good Way day, part of a national awareness campaign created

by Motionball to bring awareness to the R-word’s negative impacts on Canadians with intellectual disabilities and their families; there is no good way to use the word. Students were encouraged to wear yellow to show their support for the No Good Way message. The vibrant display of support in the arena was not just a colorful dimension to the event but was meant to highlight the players and participants’ commitment to advocating for inclusivity and awareness.

A table set up outside of the Mitchell Gym offered education on the cause and the opportunity to take a pledge to never use the R-word. This initiative was part of a greater awareness campaign run by the Bishop’s Motionball executive committee throughout the entire week, the first of many Motionball events of the school year.

Motionball is a national non-profit which raises funds and awareness for the Special Olympics movement through social and sporting events. The motionball organization supports chapters in Canadian universities from coast to coast, with its

mission being to spread its values and work to younger communities. Bishop’s has organized a Motionball chapter since 2018. Last year they raised $10,100 for Special Olympics Quebec and Canada.

The chapter’s capstone event is the Marathon of Sport in March, a day where local Special Olympic athletes join with teams of students to compete in a series of sporting events. Last year, the teams participated in events including touch football, dancing and benchball.

On Nov. 16, Bishop’s hosted Special Olympic athlete Shelby St. Hilaire to watch the Gaiters take on Laval in Mitchell Gym. Shelby is a multi-sport athlete, playing soccer and competing in alpine skiing for Team Quebec at the 2020 Special Olympics Canada Winter Games. He was recently selected to compete for Team Quebec and will be representing his home province in Calgary next winter. When asked about his experience at Bishop’s, Shelby had nothing but praise. “The best part about all of this,” he told Special Olympics coordinator Joelle Gagnon, “is that I got to

meet and became friends with so many BU athletes, and the basketball game was good as well”. Shelby, along with several other local athletes, will be participating in the 2024 Marathon of Sport.

Beyond sport, the event seeks to contribute to community engagement and social responsibility, creating a platform for positive change and unity. Ultimately, Motionball is meant to be a catalyst for breaking down barriers, fostering a sense of community and promoting the overall well-being of all those involved.

For more information on motionball at Bishop’s, check out the committee’s Instagram @motionballubishops, or email bishops@motionball.com.

Photos courtesy of Regan Simpson

New report shows improvements in Bishop’s waste reduction

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By Danielle Storey Contributor

n October, Bishop’s Sustainable Development (SD) Office celebrated waste reduction week, La Semaine Québécoise de Réduction des Déchets.

During this week, the SD office hosted a waste categorization event that lasted about five hours where employees and volunteers weighed and sorted waste from every building on campus. The team then subsequently assessed the waste-sorting habits of staff and students.

From this activity, the latest SD Office report on waste management shows substantial improvements from 2022 to 2023, with the Sports Complex, Paterson and the SUB under the spotlight. These locations have witnessed overall reduced garbage levels and a commendable surge in compost disposal. The substantial increase in compost disposal efforts from 2022 to 2023 suggests improvement in the proper disposal of compostable materials at these key campus sites.

At the waste sorting event, employees and volunteers first weighed all the bags collected from the buildings. They then sorted the waste into garbage, recycling, compost and consignment cans and then reweighed the groups again. They kept note of anything strange found in some boxes, notably a pair of shoes that appeared to be

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in great condition found in the academic buildings.

The initiative provided an opportunity to gauge the impact of education in waste sorting across the campus. By analyzing the results and outcomes of different programs, the university aims to refine and optimize its waste management practices.

The event therefore plays a role not just for data collection but also as a forum for collaborative thinking.

The Green Team is one of the newest initiatives from the SD Office. The team is a group of students that gather at sporting events, the Purple Pod, the SportsPlex and green spaces. The Green Team aims to help people properly dispose waste while

Photo courtesy of the Sustainable Development Office

also working to maintain green spaces on campus. Diane Drak Alsibai, Green Team member, said, “We think it is important to educate people on where their waste goes because it reduces overall garbage on campus”.

The results of that day, compared to the 2022 evaluation, show there has been a significant decrease in garbage waste

and an increase in recycling and compost.

This may have been facilitated by the compostable packaging distributed at all Sodexo locations on campus and the online and poster campaigns for waste sorting.

These results could serve as a testament to the potential of targeted programs and the dedication of the Bishop’s community to a sustainable campus.

These diagrams show the change in waste categories in Paterson from 2022 to 2023 from garbage bags collected at the waste-sorting event. There was a decrease in garbage, increase in recycling, and increase in composting compared to when the last data was collected.

he Campus acknowledges that land on which we operate is stolen land, the traditional territory of the Abenaki people. We live, learn, work, and play on this land, home to Indigenous peoples still living. Canada was founded through colonization, a system rooted in oppression and the abuse of power over others, continuing to affect First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities today. As a student newspaper, The Campus has a responsibility to highlight truth. We are committed to prioritizing underrepresented voices in our community and proactively highlighting Indigenous peoples’ histories and ongoing realities, including their resilience and achievements. We recognize our work plays a role in shaping public perceptions, being able to call-out injustice but also call-in action. We emphasize that we must go beyond a land acknowledgement, which is only one step towards reconciliation. It is the stories in our paper – told with respect, accuracy, and integrity – and the respect and humility we show to the land and others that is more important than what is written in a land acknowledgement. Actionable steps to go beyond a land acknowledgement include educating ourselves and others, and supporting Indigenous traditions, movements, and businesses. —The Campus Team

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OPINONS

THE CAMPUS DECEMBER 4TH, 2023

Annabelle McIntosh, Opinions Editor » thecampus.opinions@gmail.com

Navigating university life and dating culture as an aromantic

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By Leea Rebeca Ruta Graphics Editor

ou are probably familiar with asexuality, a queer orientation that denotes a person who experiences little to no sexual attraction towards people. But have you heard of people who experience little to no romantic attraction?

To be clear: being aromantic does not mean someone does not believe in love/ has given up on love due to the hard dating scene. Just like asexuality, aromanticism exists on a spectrum, so no two people experience being “aro” in the same way. Some aromantics might identify as aro-allo (aromantic + allosexual), i.e. someone who does not feel romantic attraction but feels sexual attraction, but there are dozens of sub-identities under the aromantic umbrella.

For a long time, it never crossed my mind that I could be aromantic, because I had crushes on people ever since I was in kindergarden. Yet, I also remember having an aversion to people showing romantic interest in me. When a boy in elementary school or middle school had a crush on me, I would resort to being mean to them in the hopes of getting them to not like me.

Growing up, I used to have deep desires of a potentially romantic relationship later in life.

For a long time I craved that kind of intimacy, and I longed for a sense of belonging to another person for the rest of my life. So, I couldn’t technically be aromantic if I had those feelings, right?

My experience with dating people

post-secondary has not been very successful because I had to end those developing relationships prematurely.

Simply put, I was uncomfortable with everything romantic: the obnoxious good morning and good night texts, the heart emojis, the endless “I love yous,” not being able to do things for myself without having someone pestering me, them oversharing romantic playlists, etc. It was overwhelming, dare I say suffocating.

I would start to slowly resent the other person for being “too clingy.” I began to miss the casual conversations we had when we were platonic friends.

I thought I was afraid of committing because I had never been in a relationship, but this pattern of rejecting person after person was becoming worrisome. A couple of months ago, I stumbled upon a video of a guy describing his aversion to romance, and he explained my feelings perfectly.

That’s when it clicked! I then looked up the Reddit community r/aromantic, and the more I was reading other people’s experiences, the more validated I felt. I was not alone!

But does aversion to romance mean that I will be forever alone? No. There exists what are called queerplatonic relationships or queerplatonic partnerships.

There is no strict definition of what those entail because it is different for everyone, but simply put, it is a more-than-friends partnership that “bends the lines between a romantic relationship and a non-romantic relationship” (taimi.com) and “doesn’t follow traditional heteronormative rules” (divethru.com).

It is challenging being aromantic

Graphic courtesy of Leea Rebeca Ruta in a society where romance is the norm.

Attending university with couples left and right and where most people end up finding their life-long romantic partners, can certainly feel lonely at times. Then, there is also the problem of rejecting people who show romantic interest in you

and losing a potential friend when you do not reciprocate. I hope that through this article, more people can be aware of what it means to be aromantic. And as a fun side note, a platonic crush is called a squish, and queerplatonic partners are sometimes nicknamed “zucchinis.”

Individual Differences Conference

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By Annabelle McIntosh Opinions Editor

n Wednesday, Nov. 22, fourth and fifth year students from the School of Education who were enrolled in the Individual Differences course participated in the Individual Differences Conference. At this event, students presented posters highlighting their findings on a topic of their choice that pertains to fostering an inclusive classroom. Some topics included Tourette syndrome, obsessive-compulsive disorder, non-verbal learning disorder, fetal alcohol syndrome and many more. The Gait was filled with incredible, eye-catching posters with valuable information. The event was primarily organized by our course instructor, Felicity Burns, with the support of the School of Education, the Buildings and Grounds crew and the Print Shop. I had the exciting opportunity to participate in the conference this year.

In my opinion, this is an event all education students should come to see, and professors should try and encourage their

classes to attend. When I was a first year student in 2019, my class was dismissed to go watch the presenters. This excursion made me look forward to researching a topic and presenting at the conference in the future.

Students in both sections of this class put in hard work. experience.

Students in both sections of this class put in hard work. To begin the process, we broke into small groups at the start of the semester and selected a research topic.

After that, we began our research and created a research proposal. The next step was to complete the research and prepare a poster to highlight these findings. Once the poster was complete, we shared them with our peers in class to gather feedback. The next big step was to set up the Individual Differences Conference in the Gait.

Students’ hard work was certainly evident

with the final product of the posters.

Reflecting on the Individual Differences Conference, Burns says she is quite pleased. “The quality of the posters surpassed expectations, showcasing the hard work and commitment put forth by the bachelor of education students. I also take immense pride in the unwavering dedication exhibited by the students involved.”

The event had a modest turnout.

However, people who attended gave many compliments to the class. Along with this, I learned valuable information about different learning exceptionalities that I could potentially see in my practicum and in my future teaching career.

I think the conference should be advertised more by the department in the future so that the findings from the research can be shared with other students. It is such a great event and presents a learning opportunity for anyone who stops by.

“Looking ahead, my aspiration is to see more students and faculty, especially those within the School of Education, attending the Individual Differences

Conference,” says Burns. “It’s important to remember that this event is not merely a conference; it is a celebration of knowledge, collaboration, and inclusivity. It is a chance to explore the fascinating world of education, actively participate in meaningful discussions and gain insights that could profoundly impact the way we approach teaching and learning.”

Photo courtesy of Annabelle Mcintosh

SINCE 1944

OPINIONS

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Annabelle McIntosh, Opinions Editor » thecampus.opinions@gmail.com

Embracing complexity when talking about the war on Palestine

Content warning: Descriptions of the war, mentions of death, anti-semitism, Islamophobia

By Virginia Rufina Marquez-Pacheco Contributor

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ct. 7 signaled the start of the most recent escalation of violence in Israel and Gaza, with Hamas launching an attack on Israeli territory, killing an estimated 1200 people and taking approximately 240 people — including children — as hostages, which is a war crime. In retaliation, Israel has launched a full military operation against Gaza that has killed over 14,000 Palestinian civilians — including children, displaced over a million, severely limited access to food, water and medicine, and destroyed infrastructure.

I also argue that two or more things can be true at the same time, a fact that many have forgotten when discussing the recent war against Palestine.

While this may seem like a straightforward retelling of events, with Hamas seemingly attacking Israel unprovoked, I argue that this narrative lacks the necessary nuance and context to understand the nature of this violence. I also argue that two or more things can be true at the same time, a fact that many have forgotten when discussing the recent war against Palestine.

First, it is undoubtedly true that Israelis and Jewish people are experiencing a lot of pain and grief. After all, their loved ones were and some still are being held hostage. Moreover, Jews are experiencing an increase in antisemitic attacks outside of Israel, which everyone, including the Board of Student Representatives (BSR) and Bishop’s University, should unequivocally condemn publicly. Additionally, many Jewish people consider Israel to be their homeland, which is understandable considering the historic and ongoing antisemitism in the world.

Just as all the above is true, I believe that it is also true that Palestinians and Muslim people have been experiencing an increase in hate-motivated attacks and Islamophobia, which the Board of Student Representatives and Bishop’s University should unequivocally condemn publicly.

It is also true that the policy that the

government of Israel is pursuing amounts to a violation of countless human rights and international laws. For instance, the recent hostage swap has left a few people asking themselves why Israel had so many Palestinian hostages to begin with. According to Human Rights Watch, the Israeli government has detained far more Palestinians since Oct. 7 than have been released in the swaps. Most of these people are women and children, and most of them were never convicted, with around 2000 Palestinians being detained by the military without charge or trial. Detained Palestinians are regularly denied due process, are exposed to torture by Israeli authorities, and are not subject to the same judicial laws as Israeli citizens.

The problem of Palestinian hostages is but one of many violations of civil and human rights laws by the Israeli government. Generally, Palestinians do not possess the same rights and privileges as their fellow Jewish Israeli citizens even when living in the same territory with regard to a variety of aspects of life.

Even in territories that are technically under Palestinian control, the government of Israel still retains an immense amount of control over the movement of people, borders, airspace and much more.

I believe all these policies pursued by

the government of Israel are tantamount to the crime against humanity of apartheid and are colonization and imperialism.

I also believe that these policies are intentionally being pursued by Israel’s government to facilitate the dispossession of Palestinian land that has been ongoing for 75 years. The most notable of these colonial actions are the illegal forced displacement of Palestinians from their homes on Palestinian land to make way for Israeli settlers and the creation of illegal Israeli settlements. I find it no coincidence that the government of Israel’s greatest supporters are other settler colonial states such as the United States, Canada and Australia.

It is also important to note that criticisms of the government of Israel do not amount to antisemitism. The government of Israel is not the Jewish people, as demonstrated by the vocal opposition of many Jewish groups and individuals to the violence being done against Palestinians. Again, it is true that outside the state of Israel, Jewish people face antisemitic violence. Does this justify this kind of an Israeli government and its violent occupation? I think not. Liberation from oppression cannot come from the oppression of another. After all, none of us can truly be free until we are all free.

A night you won’t want to forget

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By Eric Clipperton Contributor

Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.” This quote from the novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a saying I like to think of here at Bishop’s during the fall, because I know that once the leaves start changing and the mercury in the thermometer begins to drop, that November is once again upon us.

November at Bishop’s is an interesting month. You have students taking midterms and or preparing for finals and projects, but on the flip side, you have one of the best nights of the year at Bishop’s sitting all pretty in the middle of the month: Gait Gatsby. For some, it’s just another Gait night but for many, it’s particularly special.

It’s one of the few nights where everyone actually dresses the theme. From fancy dresses and jazz music, to the glitz and glamour of the decorations so carefully and well made by the wonderful people at Residence Life, the Gait is transformed into the hall of Jay Gatsby.

One of the best aspects about Gait Gatsby is that year after year, it might be the same event, but it remains a fan

favourite. From those going to their first to those who have been to the party five times (or more!), the night always comes to life, and it is a spectacle to marvel in, year after year.

In the wonderful writings of F. Scott Fitzgerald, “Can’t repeat the past?. . . Why of course you can!”. This is the feeling I have had about Gait Gatsby the past five years I’ve been here at BU. Although, due to circumstances we are all too familiar with, I have only been able to attend four of those past five Gait Gatsby nights, but each and every one of them has had a different flair and something unique that made each one memorable in their own ways. Whether it was the drink special, the photobooth, the music, or the people around me, they’ve been wonderful nights to behold.

Coming into this year, I wasn’t hard set on attending the evening as I was still a bit uneasy with the fact that you now have to buy a ticket to enter, a change that arrived last year. Normally, I am not the biggest fan of the Gait and did not feel strongly about going. I sat back and remembered just how much fun the night has been year after year. I said to myself that I was going, and no one was going to stop me.

This year’s event was definitely one to remember. The atmosphere created by the Residence Events Committee was astounding. The band, the decorations and the overall positive vibes of the night were

spectacular, and it made the fight to get a ticket worthwhile. All in all, Gait Gatsby is one of my favourite nights of the year.

I know many others would make the same claim.

Photo courtesy of Pranav Buchinen

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SPORTS

THE CAMPUS DECEMBER 4TH, 2023

Owen Kitzan, Sports Editor » thecampus.sports@gmail.com

Gaiters lax on the rise

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By Jayme Marteniuk Staff Writer

ishop’s men’s lacrosse team faced a unique challenge this season with the departure of around 10 graduating players from last season, leaving them with a considerably young roster. Heading into this year’s season, the initial expectation was that the team might struggle due to their relative inexperience.

However, the team defied these expectations, demonstrating a remarkable amount of progress throughout the season. The journey began with a young and inexperienced squad, who naturally took some time to find their rhythm and chemistry on the field. As the season unfolded, the team began to come together, showing commendable resilience and delivering an incredible comeback.

Throughout the season, the team secured three wins and came close to defeating one of their top competitors,

Carleton University, with a score of 9-12 on Oct. 29. Throughout each of the games, multiple individuals highlighted the team’s talent and what they are capable of.

Liam Reynolds, a second-year attackman, reflected on the challenging year, stating, “It was a tough year for the boys, but next year we are going to come out fresh and show this league what Bishop’s lacrosse is all about.” His optimism captures the spirit of the team, a determination to bounce back stronger in next year’s season.

The graduation of key players created a significant void that required the younger members, particularly second and thirdyear players, to step up. And they for sure did: they embraced the challenge, filling the gaps with newfound leadership and determination. This fresh leadership not only contributed to the team’s current successes but also helped lay a strong foundation for their future.

The top three highest scorers for the season are as follows: Markus Young,

leading with 17 goals; Antoine Tremblay, adding 11 goals; and Jackson Cowley, contributing 10 goals.

Some impressive accomplishments also include first ever career goals for Michel-Philip Telfer, Ian Nicholson, Tucker Kauffeldt and Max Chiarella.

Chiarella, representing the rookies this year, shares his experience on this young team: “Coming in as rookies, we didn’t know what to expect, but we learned quickly what Gaiters lacrosse was all about. Hard work, commitment and grit held us together through a tough season, but what’s to come in the next few years will be special!”

Despite the learning curve and the challenges of being a young team, men’s lacrosse exhibited a strong bond, undeniable drive, and exceptional resilience this past season. According to George Krallis, a second-year long pole, “It was definitely a slow start to the season, but I’m very happy with how the season turned out, and it’s left a lot of

excitement in the room for what’s to come in the 2024 season.”

As the season concludes, our Gaiters lacrosse team looks ahead with optimism.

With valuable experience gained, a closeknit team dynamic, and a renewed sense of purpose, we can anticipate the team shooting for success in the upcoming seasons.

Photo courtesy of Simon Swain

Gaiters Basketball:

Women back on track, men rolling

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By Rowan Halpenny Contributor

ince their home openers against McGill, Bishop’s has now played four more games. The women now sit with a record of 2-4 and the men at 4-2.

After their opening night heartbreaker, the women went on to lose their next two games in a similar fashion. These games mimicked the first night of the Gaiters, as they got off to strong starts but were unable to hold onto their leads. It took a heated rematch against defending champion UQAM for the Gaiters to find their groove in their fourth game. Rookie guard Eve Atchampone pulled in a breakout game, netting 18 points. Junior forward Victoria Gauna claimed a monster game of her own, securing a double-double with 22 points and 19 rebounds.

The women then followed that game

up with a 29-point thumping over McGill at home. Playing with only 7 players due to injuries, Bishop’s still managed to be in control the whole game and ran away with it in the second half. Freshman Marianne Boithias had career highs in three statistical categories with 17 points, nine rebounds, and six assists. Forwards Gauna and Kalina Alexander-Renaud combined for 43 points and 17 rebounds. So far, the league looks like it is pretty wide-open, and Bishop’s has as good of a chance as anyone to keep winning games.

On the men’s side, the Gaiters started their season on a three-game win streak before colliding with their fellow undefeated team UQAM in Montreal.

In this high-scoring bout, UQAM got the best of Bishop’s, winning 92-85.

UQAM drained 15 threes on an efficient 0.39 shooting percentage from distance.

Hot shooting and momentum swings in

UQAM’s favour made it challenging for the Gaiters to best their opponents. High scorers were Citadin Kevin Civil with 30 points and Gaiter Charles-Andre Robert with 23.

The next game for Bishop’s was at home against winless McGill, and the Gaiters stormed in with something to prove. When the final buzzer sounded, Bishop’s had 111 points, the most scored in an RSEQ game in over 20 years. They walked away with a spectacular 50-point win: 111-61. Everyone stuck a foot in the action, with 11 Gaiters scoring a field goal.

Sophomore forward Etienne Gagnon was brilliant, scoring 25 points, successfully making his five shot attempts from deep.

Heading into their next game with the Concordia Stingers, the men’s team were in a tie for first place and looked to for further victories so they could secure home-court advantage come playoff time.

Both Gaiters’ squads sought to ride their recent momentum into their final game of 2023 at Concordia. The games tipped off at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Nov. 30.

Coming out of their game with McGill, the men were off to their best start since the 2013-14 season. However, the team suffered a heartbreaking 77-76 loss in Montreal, and the women’s team fell to the Stingers as well, 58-46.

Photo courtesy of the BU Athletics

“Life after playing can be just as fulfilling”

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By Nick Baril Contributor

s my one-year anniversary since retiring from playing football approaches, I find myself reflecting on the incredible journey that has brought me to a new chapter in my life – coaching.

The transition from being a player to stepping into the role of a coach has been both challenging and immensely rewarding.

In January 2023, the Gaiters football head coach Cherif Nicolas offered me an opportunity to join the football coaching staff. After three difficult seasons at Bishop’s due to Covid-19, an injury and not dressing in my third year, I decided that it would be the best decision to make.

Entering my fourth year in a new role with the team provided me with many opportunities.

I assisted our new defensive backs

coach Samuel Polan’s transition into the team in the spring and oversaw special teams’ logistics during practices and games with Coach Nicolas. As a staff member, I also had the opportunity to initiate my own project in the team. In collaboration with the sports studies department, I introduced virtual reality training to the quarterbacks.

Head coach Cherif Nicolas and offensive coordinator Samuel Gendreau fully supported me in this project. This new initiative allowed the quarterbacks to experience the repetitions executed in practice in virtual reality and review plays in a fully immersive environment.

As a former athlete, the transition from playing to coaching within the same program was an interesting experience.

At first, there was a sense of not being in the right place. However, as I grew more comfortable in my role and better understood my responsibilities, I began

to realize that I was truly in the right role.

I felt supported by the entire coaching staff but more importantly, by my former teammates, to whom I was now a coach.

In this change, I realized my passion for football was greater as a coach than as a player. In the years ahead, I am eager to

continue evolving as a coach, honing my skills, and contributing to the growth of the sport. My journey is a reminder that life after playing can be just as fulfilling, as the lessons learned on the pitch become the foundation for a new chapter in the world of football.

Photo courtesy of Heather McKeen-Edwards

SPORTS

SINCE 1944

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Owen Kitzan, Sports Editor » thecampus.sports@gmail.com

BU Dance: Meet us at the Barre

By Kate Vandermeulen Director of Marketing & Communications

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hile many students attended class or hunkered down studying on Friday, Nov. 24, the members of BU Dance warmed up for one of their favourite nights of the year. After countless hours of rehearsal, it was finally time to raise the curtains on BU Dance’s annual Gait Showcase.

All three groups of BU Dance came together to showcase the Bishop’s community their efforts since September.

The club team came prepared with three dances: a hip-hop number titled “Bring ‘em out” choreographed by Kyddo; a high-energy jazz dance to “Rich Girl” choreographed by Kayla Vardy; and a heart-wrenching contemporary number choreographed by Kyddo and Hannah-

Michelle Samson to “Vampire” by Olivia Rodrigo.

The competitive team debuted abridged versions of their large jazz, small jazz, new-school hip hop and oldschool hip hop, choreographed by Kate Vandermeulen, Rianna Ostrosser and Kyddo, respectively. The competitive team will compete these numbers, and more, at an upcoming competition in March in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Junior coordinators Hannah-Michelle Samson and Sonoma Brawley lead the pom team, who riled up the crowd with two numbers: the first being a dazzling routine to “A Little Party Never Killed Nobody” choreographed by Samson, and the second a classic and upbeat dance to ABBA’s hit “Waterloo” by Brawley.

Samson describes the Gait Showcase as one of her favourite events of the year: “It’s amazing to have all your friends show

up to watch you do what you love”.

Brawley noted that “dancing at Bishop’s has been such an incredible experience and getting to share our joy and love for what we do is so rewarding.” She thanks everyone for coming out.

This showcase, titled “Meet us at the Barre”, was the first showcase for a majority of the performing dancers.

“My favourite part of the showcase was cheering for my teammates – I literally lost my voice!”, said first-year member of the competitive team, Gabby Lalonde.

Teammate Makena Burns chimed in about how fun it is to “get to feed off the energy of the crowd and just have fun”.

Missed the Gait Showcase? BU Dance performs again in Centennial Theatre on March 24 at their final showcase of the year! Keep your eyes peeled and follow @bishopsdance on Instagram for more information.

Upcoming Winter home games Come cheer on your Gaiters!

Please consult gaiters.ca for updated locations, times, and dates of all games.

Women’s Hockey (Jane & Eric Molson Arena) Jan. 19 vs McGill – 3:30 p.m.

Men’s Basketball (Mitchell Gym) Jan. 11 vs UQAM – 8 p.m.

Jan 20 vs McGill – 8 p.m.

Women’s Basketball (Mitchell Gym) Jan. 11 vs UQAM – 6 p.m.

Jan 20 vs McGill – 6 p.m.

Photo courtesy of Tati Pasternak

BU men’s hockey home-opening weekend

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By Mikayla Geraghty Staff Writer

he weekend of Nov. 18-19 was an exciting one for fans of college hockey. The Bishop’s men’s club team played their home-opening weekend in front of a packed crowd at the Jane and Erik Molson Arena. The team played two games against Stonehill College, who traveled up from Massachusetts. Bishop’s team eyed a redemption run after losing their first game of the season to Stonehill 6-5 in a close game that ended in a shootout.

The puck dropped for the first game Saturday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. in a packed crowd buzzing with excitement seeing the team in action at home base.

Both teams came ready to play, resulting in a fast-paced game right from the get-go.

Raph Deslauriers (#93) scored the first goal of the game with just over six minutes left in the first period. With just under three minutes remaining in the first, Frederic Nicolas (#91) netted the second goal of the game. Stonehill clinched a goal, scoring with 25 seconds left. Bishop’s men’s team held a 2-1 lead going into the

second period.

Bishop’s came back into the second period ready to play as Frédéric Grenon (#11) scored with a beautiful shot for his first career goal. The game heated up at the top of the second after a couple hits, resulting in a line brawl. Ultimately, Keyan Hogan (#5) got thrown from the game with a one game suspension. After the fight, players Jack McGowan and Joe Aubert both received 10-minute misconducts, throwing the BU men into a penalty kill.

Grenon played a strong game, securing another goal for the team.

Nicholas Deichmann (#97) also scored his first career goal at home this game.

Frederic Nicolas boasted a phenomenal game, scoring three more goals for the team including the game-winning goal that put the men up 8-5 for their first home win of the season. When Nicolas scored the hat trick, fans were ecstatic, rushing to throw their hats on the ice and celebrate with the team.

The crowd couldn’t contain their excitement as they watched the club team claim their first home victory of the season, chanting and cheering up until the last seconds of the game. In a post-game

interview with Hogan he shared that “the home crowd was unreal. We couldn’t have earned the W without them. The chants and overall support just reiterated that we’ve got the best fans in college hockey – probably the most electric atmosphere I’ve ever played in front of.”

The boys came back the next day for a 10 a.m. puck drop. BU men dominated this game with a 6-2 win for their third victory in a row. Alex Budd (#16), Kalum Gendron (#21) and Ryan Gudernatsch (#79) all scored their first career goals with the men’s hockey team. Ryan Massicotte (#7), Jack McGowan (#83) and Nicholas Deichmann (#97) also struck goals in the second home game of the weekend. The home opening weekend secured the team a top ten spot in the AAU college hockey national rankings, coming in at number nine on the scale.

John Geraghty, a fan that travels to all the team games, shares that “The BU hockey experience is the real deal! Every player pulling in the same direction to ensure the team’s success… and the crowd at the home games providing the energy needed to make the experience electric!

These games are so fun to watch.” Geraghty

is not the only fan to share this sentiment; the team was featured on a popular hockey Instagram page “hockeyhousepod”, noting the huge crowd that came out to support the team.

Photo courtesy of Keyan Hogan

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FEATURES

THE CAMPUS DECEMBER 4TH, 2023

Emmanuel Sossou, Features Editor » thecampus.features@gmail.com

Experiential learning in Peru: The Green Program

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By Emily Crunican Staff Photographer

ack in May of 2023, I was fortunate to receive a certificate in water resource management and sustainable practices, a program hosted by The Green Program (TGP) in Peru. This opportunity was made possible thanks to Bishop’s Exceptional Student Talent (BEST) Project Fund. The BEST Project Fund is a gift donation by an anonymous alumni, and is considered to be the “premiere experiential learning opportunity at Bishop’s” according to the university website. This funding assists students to “determine their career paths and realize their ambitions.”

TGP is based out of the United States, with programs in Iceland, Nepal, Belize and Peru. Their mission is “to educate and empower future sustainability leaders through experiential education, responsible travel and adventure.”

In Peru, our days were split up between class and fieldwork.

In Peru, our days were split up between class and fieldwork. Our in-class lectures at the Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola covered the topics of Peruvian diversity, past and present local water management practices, environmental concerns in Peru, climate change and renewable energy and sustainable development in the Peruvian

context. Throughout the two weeks I spent there, we were also working in groups on our capstone projects.

During our numerous field trips, we visited the Huatanay River, right in the town of Cusco, and saw first-hand the impacts of pollution in the river on the surrounding environment and community. We also visited a local water treatment facility, surveyed ancient Incan aqueducts at an archaeological site and collected data for a geographic information system.

We visited the renowned Machu Picchu and toured a bio-waste facility.

After speaking with the engineers there, we gained insights into the different initiatives aiming to preserve this wonder of the world, considering the challenges posed by littering and pollution within the area.

The next day, we took a train to Ollantaytambo. From there, we rode ATVs to our next class at Huaypo Plan Meriss, where we learned about the surrounding farms that the lake provides irrigation for.

One of our projects was completed in Choco, where the community included us in the installation process of an irrigation line that would service many farms and greenhouses in the community. It was incredible and rewarding to see the water finally flow out of the line after all the hard work. Engaging with this community was an amazing experience, knowing that we participated in a project that would have a lasting impact. It was also incredible to hear first-hand stories from locals regarding their experience farming in Peru.

During my time in Peru, I made great friends and lasting connections with people in my field of interest and learned valuable lessons about water management

and sustainability. My time in Peru further fuelled my love for environmental studies and sustainable agriculture and has ultimately given me certainty that this is the field of work I want to pursue a career in.

Any student who has an idea for an experiential learning opportunity is encouraged to check out the BEST Project Fund. Applications are due in January 2024. More information can be found at https://www.ubishops.ca/future-students/ fees-and-funding/scholarships-awardsbursaries/b-e-s-t project-fund/.

Photos courtesy of Emily Crunican.

The 2024 Canadian Undergraduate Security Conference

By Christina Lépine Contributor, SRC Vice-President of Academic Affairs

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arlier this year, on Feb. 11, 2023, I attended the Canadian Undergraduate Security Conference held at the Royal Military College (RMC) in Saint-Jean, and presented research on cybersecurity and the use of surveillance technology in electoral campaigns. I also had the opportunity to listen to many other presenters during four panels taking place throughout that day.

For this year’s edition, I have been selected alongside Bishop’s political studies student Fabrice Blais-Savoie and other students from the RMC in Saint-Jean and Kingston, to assist in the organization of the second edition of the conference, being held in Kingston on Feb. 10, 2024.

This year’s call for applications has been open since Nov. 9 and closed on Dec. 1, 2023. Undergraduate students from all Canadian universities were encouraged to apply and send a short abstract (250-350

words) to the CUSC selection committee, focused on one of this year’s four topics.

The four topics this year are security and emerging technology, environmental insecurity, sub-state security and conflicts, and gender and conflict. Students have the choice to present their research in French or in English, as all universities are invited to participate.

Once selected, students must prepare a paper that is then submitted to an expert on this topic, which will be annotated for feedback and returned on the day of the conference. Students must also prepare a 10 to 15-minute presentation for the conference. The presentations are spread out in a few panels to address the four topics selected, and scholars and experts in the subjects moderate the panels.

Former presenters who are now part of this year’s organizing team have shared their testimonies on their experience as presenters at the Canadian Undergraduate Security Conference. Officer Cadet Vincent Bélisle, who is a second-year international studies student at RMC Saint-Jean, shared that “participating in the CUSC gave [him]

the chance to show [his] research to other people that were interested.” “These same people were also able to give feedback and help me progress in my academic career. It gave me the opportunity to learn by listening to other participants’ presentations,” he added. Bélisle is now a great addition to the organizing team, and I have the pleasure of working with him amongst others to plan this conference.

If I can describe in a few words my experience as a presenter, it would be to speak loudly about the CUSC. Participating in this event is an excellent first experience as a researcher and helps to define how you will present or approach further research throughout your undergraduate and graduate studies. Many of our students will pursue graduate studies after Bishop’s, which will require researching and presenting their work. Having the opportunity to start early, to make more space and time for improvement during your studies, can be very beneficial.

Applications closed on Dec. 1, 2023, but a few late abstract submissions may still be considered. Should you want

more information on how to send your abstracts, consult the Instagram account @cusc_official, and send in messages..

All applications can be directed at cusckingston@gmail.com.

Photo courtesy of Christina Lépine

FEATURES

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Emmanuel Sossou, Features Editor » thecampus.features@gmail.com

Bishop’s Undergraduate Earth Research Group develops student research skills

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By Diane Drak Alsibai Contributor

esearch is an important aspect of the environment, agriculture and geography (EAG) department.

Students and professors are fueled by curiosity and seek solutions to ongoing environmental issues. The EAG department created the Undergraduate Bishop’s Earth Research Group (UBERG) to allow students to gain research skills through experiential learning and pursue their passion for studying the environment while benefiting the surrounding community.

UBERG is an active program of the Multi-scale Climate and Environmental Change Research Group at Bishop’s University.

UBERG’s projects are mainly based on the study of aquatic activity in nearby lakes through geospatial data and remote sensing. These projects are run by Prof.

Bruno Courtemanche and Prof. Elisabeth Levac for EAG and biology students. They receive funding from the department, and there are also honours projects subsidised by the government. A few projects even involve collaboration with Université de Sherbrooke. UBERG is also an opportunity for the university to promote its excellence in educational research.

Currently, there are two ongoing projects within UBERG. The first one, titled Lacustrine herbarium identification by air

and marine drone (Ubergaiter), involves lake near Mount Orford, was the first lake UBERG continues to go forward using drones to monitor underwater to have its plants photographed and mapped with research projects throughout the year herbaceous species, aiming to accomplish out. and welcomes more students. Students do more efficient aquatic plant mapping. “[B]oth the vehicle and the dataset are not necessarily have to be enrolled in the UBERG is also carrying out three- novel offerings developed here at Bishop’s, environment and geography program to be dimensional mapping of Quebec caves to which will help boost our understanding involved. improve techniques in gathering cavern and decision power towards improving the For more information about this telemetry, a type of remote data collection. management of invasive aquatic plants,” opportunity or how to get involved, Each of these projects has a group Poulin wrote in message. “I am grateful to students can reach out to info@uberg. of students working on it as well as aid local lake associations and contributors, and ca or bcourtem@ubishops.ca. Additional students working on their honours and it also led me to do quite a bit of scientific information can also be found at https:// masters theses. The team is made up of 13 communication,” he shared. uberg.ca/. undergraduate students and two graduate students.

Jacob Guité, a fourth-year environmental studies student, has been involved with UBERG for two years. He’s worked on a previous UBERG project aiming to monitor pollen grains in lakes, which has since stopped running after research challenges. As of now, he works with a group of other students on a diving project involving the removal of an invasive aquatic plant, the Eurasian milfoil, during the fall season.

Steven Poulin, who is completing his masters in computer science, prepares his thesis on the Ubergaiter, shown in the image with this article. The Ubergaiter is an autonomous water drone that will automatically map and categorise various underwater plants around different lakes, taking underwater photographs. The drone usually runs at night so pictures have The Ubergaiter, an autonomous drone that maps and categorises aquatic plants. consistent lighting. Lake O’Malley, a small Photo courtesy of Steven Poulin.

Olney family internship: Accessible adventures with Rocky Mountain Adaptive

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By Grace Johnston Contributor

he barren prairies that separate Ontario from Alberta, combined with the six days of driving across them certainly did not scream dopamine.

So, you can imagine my excitement when the striking mountains and dense forests of the Canadian Rockies came into view just past the road sign that read Banff, 90 km. This scenery was mesmerizing for a kid from Ontario, and yet, it was only the preview of a summer filled with adventures.

The mountains alone make a compelling case for the internship at Rocky Mountain Adaptive. Rocky Mountain Adaptive (RMA) is a non-profit organisation that promotes accessibility in the mountains through adaptive outdoor recreation for people of all ages and abilities living with neurodivergent or physical challenges.

In the Rockies, the crisp mountain air wafts through Canmore and the sun casts an evening alpenglow on the surrounding peaks as it sets. However, for me, it was the invaluable hands-on work experience in adaptive sport, the tom-foolery with my coworkers turned friends, the development of my passion project and the wealth in adventure that put summer 2023 in a rank of its own. In addition, this internship is also generously compensated with $12,000 from the Olney Family Foundation and six experiential learning credits to tag along.

In a three-month span, I was launched head-first into the expansive world of adaptive hiking, biking, and kayaking. It was a privilege to witness as someone tests the waters in a kayak; experiments with the throttle on a Bowhead bike, adaptive electric mountain bike; or rediscovers a love for hiking with a Trailrider, a mobility “wheelchair” that can be navigated and climb harsh terrains. During this past summer, I had the opportunity to try every piece of adaptive equipment under the sun and explore every trail, river, nook and cranny in the parks enclosing the Bow Valley. I would rarely get through a day of work without an afternoon glacial dip

to cool off or a wide-eyed, scenic-viewinspired “Wow”. There was no end to the amazement I had for this new backyard.

Each week, I would chip away at my internship project, which culminated in a weekend outreach event in Fernie, B.C., where there is a sizeable gap in adaptive summer recreation. That particular weekend I trained volunteers, met and greeted Fernie locals, offered equipment trials and assessed the market demand for future events.

To bring this project to life, I secured a full external sponsorship, connected with several partner organizations and trail alliances, secured permits and clearance,

Photo courtesy of Grace Johnston

coordinated advertisements and combated heavy rain and smoky clouds. At the end of the event, after an equipment trial, one participant looked me in the eyes and said that they had “been waiting for someone to come here and bridge this gap because out here there is nothing.” Knowing that my work was impactful to the Fernie community was the affirmation I needed to validate my project’s mission.

The summer was brought to a close with RMA’s infamous Friends and Family Camp at William Watson Lodge. Every year, this fully accessible lodge hosts a week-long overnight, adaptive summer camp experience, outside the reaches of cell service. There, we spent the days in the sun hiking, biking, rafting and kayaking around the bountiful scenery of Kananaskis Country. We dedicated our nights to the summer camp classics: s’mores, game nights, stargazing, belly laughs and core memory-making. That last week ended with a family-style BBQ. We laughed, cried, brimmed with gratitude for this experience, and said our goodbyes for the summer. I left Alberta with more memories than I could pack in my carry-on.

If you are interested in this incredible opportunity, the Experiential Learning Office will be accepting applications until Jan. 29, 2024. This internship is made possible due to the generous support of the Olney family, BU alumni. All questions and application packages can be directed to el@ubishops.ca.

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ARTS & CULTURE

THE CAMPUS DECEMBER 4TH, 2023

Caitlyn Gerrish, Arts & Culture Editor » thecampus.artsculture@gmail.com

Indigenous musician, activist visits English department’s ecocriticism class

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By Caitlyn Gerrish Arts & Culture Editor

n Monday, Nov. 20, the English department’s ecocriticism class welcomed musician, artist and activist Kym Gouchie from the Lheidli T’enneh Nation (people where the two rivers meet) for a virtual guest lecture and performance. The discussion provided Indigenous perspectives on the environment and explored how music can be employed as a useful tool to address the climate crisis. Through a mixture of discussion and song, Gouchie shared glimpses into her life and how she uses these experiences as inspiration. “A lot of my personal stories are woven throughout my music.”

A respected elder-in-training of the Lheidli T’enneh Nation, also known as Prince George, British Columbia, Gouchie explained the historical context of her home, specifically how the implementation of the railway caused the displacement of her ancestors from their native village. Looking out the window of the room Gouchie joined the class from, she reflected on how she lives directly in between the railway that forced the relocation of her family and of the intersecting river from which her nation gets its namesake. “It reminds me that I live in between two worlds.”

This story led to Gouchie performing her song “Every Mountain”, which the class reflected on afterwards, saying it was personifying nature, thus giving it a voice.

Agreeing with this comment, Gouchie stressed how elements of the environment, such as mountains and trees, have been here for thousands of years, and are full of wisdom.

“They are the ancient ones.” It is this way of thinking that she encourages society to consider when thinking about the climate crisis. The lyrics of the song reflect this message. “Mother Earth is calling on you and me / To protect what is left for the people to be.”

Taught for the first time, the ecocriticism class aims to explore the changing attitudes towards the environment seen through literature. Prof. Shoshannah Bryn Jones Square shared some insight behind her approach to building the course: “I have always valued interdisciplinary approaches to teaching, and given that ecocriticism is itself an interdisciplinary field, I felt it was essential to provide a multitude of perspectives from a variety of disciplines.”

“Moreover, interdisciplinary thinking is critical when it comes to confronting and combating the climate crisis.” Prof. Jones Square stressed that “it was vital that I provide Indigenous voices and perspectives.” When asked how music fits within an ecocriticism’s scope, Prof. Jones Square provided some scientific reasoning. “The neurotransmitter dopamine is released when we listen to music, which is associated with happiness and motivation. Because of this, music is an extremely powerful vehicle for fostering care for others and for the environment—it gets us in sync, and it moves us.”

Kym Gouchie’s lecture and life mission are a testament to this. Through her music and art, she actively fosters change, whether that be to address the climate crisis or to bring awareness about First Nations and missing and murdered Indigenous women.

In her final song of the lecture, Gouchie

By Leea Rebeca Ruta Graphics Editor

Graphic courtesy of Leea Rebeca Ruta used a traditional drum, hand-crafted by renowned drum maker Norman Retasket who is also a residential school survivor. When asked what her favorite instrument was to perform with, she quickly responded that it was the drum. “It embodies everything that we are. It is the first sound we have ever heard.

It connects us to the sound of our mother’s heart”, Kym explained. This universal

Comics

connection between humans and the drum was accented in a beautiful anecdote she told to the class. When Gouchie performed at a Royal Canadian Legion, she shared a touching moment with a gentleman in attendance who was deeply moved by her song. When asked why music is so powerful, her response was simple but deeply moving. “It is as universal as a smile.”

By Michel Gagné Contributor

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Caitlyn Gerrish, Arts & Culture Editor » thecampus.artsculture@gmail.com

Behind the scenes: Reflections on Life’s a Dream

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By Eve Rowlett Contributor

s a fourth-year student studying in the drama department, I have had incredible opportunities to work alongside professors and artists-inresidence to put on a multitude of productions in Turner Studio Theatre and Centennial Theatre.

This fall, I was able to combine my experiences and manage the stage for Life’s a Dream. I worked alongside artist-in-residence Carlos Rivera, student director Laura Fernandez and 11 dedicated cast members. Our audition process began in mid-September and after a lengthy day of vocal and physical exercises, varying line reads and multiple water breaks.

Finally, we had chosen our cast.

While managing Life’s a Dream, I was coordinating the New Plays Festival, which has open auditions at the start of each semester and puts on plays of varying genres and lengths.

Thus, I had many schedules to organize. After a successful sold-out festival, I was able to dedicate all my time and energy towards our main production: Life’s a Dream. Before rehearsals began, I had many meetings with my directors and the heads of all our departments: lighting, sound, costumes and set/props.

Department meetings continued weekly until

our production ran in early November, and it was my responsibility to keep us on track while taking down all notes.

When I first arrived at Bishop’s University, I knew that acting was not my strong suit and that within the drama department, I wanted to study production and management. Thankfully, during my second year, a spot opened up for stage management, and I was thrown in with the cast. It was a whirlwind of a production, and I am thankful for my director and cast who helped me during this experience. After my second year, I continued to stage manage and later direct in the department’s New Plays Festival and TheatreActiv. Both are wonderful opportunities for the department and the general Bishop’s community! It helped grow my confidence as a stage manager and my skills in the world of technical theater.

After department meetings, we began with a table read and then moved onto rehearsals.

Rehearsals were about six days a week, however, actors were only called when needed.

Each evening, I took notes to pass along to various departments and kept track of the actors’ blocking – placements and movement on stage – in my main script. This can be helpful if an actor forgets their place, was missing during rehearsal or if directors need refreshers. When late October came around and we practiced

more run-throughs, it was my responsibility to be on book, constantly reading along with the actors, to give them a line if needed. During this process, I also kept track of lines that were misread, forgotten or paraphrased, in hopes that these notes would benefit the actor’s overall memorization.

When November rolled along, it was my favorite time of the production schedule: tech week. During tech week we focused on complete run-throughs and dress rehearsals of the show, though the week always began with a cue-to-cue (Q2Q). A Q2Q is a stage manager’s day to run through the entire script and practice calling all the cues with actors on standby. This

took a couple of days and many hours of work.

Life’s a Dream had many light and sound cues, meaning that Q2Q would help to clean up and tighten when the cues needed to be called. I wore a headset all day until my ears ached, and actors repeated line after line until we all generally felt confident in the cue placement.

When the show dates came around, I believe we all felt very solid in our performance and excited to show audiences our hard work!

Overall, I hope everyone enjoyed Life’s a Dream and our recent festivals. A lot of effort and dedication goes into these productions, and I genuinely enjoy every step of the way!

Photo courtesy of Kate Vandermeulen

My English degree

By Colin Ahern – Contributor

Across 1.Authoritarian form of government 5. The Old Man and the Sea 6. Female character in “The Raven” 9. Evil old woman 10. Frankenstein’s Mary 11. Wordsworth Tintern 13. “My Galley”, Thomas 14. Oeidepus suffers from dramatic and situational...

17. Author of “Digging”, Seamus 19. First monster in Beowulf 21. Thoreau’s pond 23. 1 across & 9 across. “Hot ...”

25. The Great God...

26. Not the Ego but the 29. Young Goodman 31. “This Wound is A... “ 33. Animal from Fahrenheit 451 35. Jacques Lacan’s ___ Stage 36. Lover of Film 40. Wurmwood’s Writer 41. Femme Fatal Irene 42. Paradise that Frankenstein’s monster famously quotes 43. Old english word for “wanting to go outside”

Down 1. Genre of the “The Miller’s Tale” 2. Tom Cruise and Jamie Fawkes, 2004 film 3. Canadian author of Cambodia: A Book For People Who Find Television Too Slow – Brian...

4. Extended metaphor 7. Hemmingway’s The Sun Also ____ 8. Canadian Philosopher Marshall 12. William “cleanse the doors of perception” 15. The Unbearable Lightness Of 16. John Donne marriage metaphor 18. “That on the ashes of his ___ doth lie” Shakespeare, 73 20. Late Night With the _____ 22. Poetic repetition at the beginning of lines that closes previous lines 24. Anderson’s Cousteau 27. Jamaica Kincaid’s Autobiography of my _____ 28. Who does Hamlet stab through a curtain 30. Nathaniel Hawthorn & Taylor

Swift. Symbol of stigma. ____ Letter 32. Goneril, Regan, and ...

34. A Spear of Summer (Whitman) 37. Brundlefly. First _____ politician 38. Legend of sleepy 39. Dragon in the hobbit Check your answers online at thebucampus.ca/2023/12/04/ crossword-dec-4/

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THIS ISSUE’S CONTRIBUTORS: Danielle Storey Regan Simpson Eric Clipperton Virginia Rufina MarquezPacheco Rowan Halpenny Nick Baril Diane Drak Alsibai Christina Lépine

Grace Johnston Eve Rowlett Colin Ahern Michel Gagné Sara Scafuro Frédérique Leblanc-Piette

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ECONOMICS & BUSINESS

THE CAMPUS DECEMBER 4TH, 2023

Joseph Aubert, Economics & Business Editor » thecampus.businesseditor@gmail.com

Beyond the Bubble: Navigating success beyond university walls

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By Sara Scafuro Contributor

n Saturday, Nov. 25, the Montreal Racket Club played host to an informational event, “Beyond the Bubble,” organized by the Bishop’s University Commerce Society (BUCS).

This unique gathering provided an opportunity for the Williams School of Business (WSB) students to acquire insights from accomplished WSB alumni. The event featured three guest speakers—Mark McCrea, Sean McLelland and Stephen Lloyd – who shared their experiences at BU, their post-Bishop’s journey and reflections on where they are today.

The Montreal Racket Club was a fitting location for the event, setting the scene for students to share ideas and experiences. It acted as a connection point between academic learning and real-world applications, giving students a look into how their education translates to the professional world.

The guest speakers, each successful in their respective fields, shared their wisdom with the eager audience. Mark

McCrea stressed the importance of experience, emphasizing the need to stand out in a competitive job market.

Additionally, he highlighted the significance of finding a mentor to guide and support professional growth.

Sean McLelland shared his journey, emphasizing the power of connections and the value of hard work in setting yourself apart. Stephen Lloyd, drawing on his experiences, emphasized the quality of being unique. “Be Unique, BU,” he urged.

For attendees who couldn’t make it to the event, here were some key takeaways: Uniqueness matters: In a world full of talented individuals, it’s crucial to discover and embrace what makes you unique. Stephen Lloyd’s focus on this resonated with many, serving as a reminder to embrace your strengths in your professional journey.

Connections and hard work: Sean McLelland emphasized the value of connections and hard work, highlighting that success often comes from both your connections and the effort you put in. Building a network and showing

dedication can make you stand out in your career.

Mark McCrea’s insights on experiences emphasized the value of both positive and challenging encounters in your professional journey.

Experiences are key: Mark McCrea’s insights on experiences emphasized the value of both positive and challenging encounters in your professional journey.

He highlighted their role in personal and professional growth.

The event ended with a social and networking session, giving students the chance to connect with other alumni.

Reflecting on the event, George Krallis, a WSB student studying finance, shared that “Beyond the Bubble was a very valuable experience. Hearing from multiple alumni really opened my eyes to

the numerous opportunities that are open specifically for Bishop’s students.”

Marketing student Chelsea Lafontaine, offered her perspective, stating, “Beyond the Bubble is one of the best BUCS events of the year! It’s so great to get the opportunity to network with alumni and fellow BU students, as well as to learn such valuable information like we did from Sean, Mark and Stephen.”

Many attendees left the event feeling inspired and with new insights and connections to guide their professional journeys.

Beyond the Bubble appeared a success, linking future successful BU students with the professional world. The advice from alumni is a guide for current WSB students, showing them a path for their careers. The event highlighted that the journey beyond the bubble has opportunities for those who are proactive, unique and resilient. Alumni reminded students to always remember to keep learning from one another. Looking ahead, students can anticipate the next BUCS event – an end-of-semester party – on Dec. 6 at the Golden Lion Pub in Lennoxville.

Embracing the social economy at Bishop’s University

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By Frédérique Leblanc-Piette Contributor

ovember marks the celebration of the social and sustainable economy. In honour of Social Economy Month, this article sheds light on businesses that promote this type of economy and who have been part of the campus community since 2017.

Understanding the social economy So, what exactly is the social economy, and how do businesses in this sector differ from private companies?

It is first and foremost a distinctive approach to business, prioritizing the well-being and needs of its members and community. These businesses, whether nonprofit organizations, cooperatives, mutuals or others, involve their members, employees or clients in the decisionmaking process. Social economy businesses also offer goods and services while making sure that their actions have a concrete and positive social impact, based on the values of democracy, equity and solidarity. In the province of Quebec alone, there are approximately 11,200 social economy-like businesses, contributing $47.8 billion in annual sales to the economy.

Making a difference Social economy businesses attempt to make a significant impact on the lives of everyone involved.

Working with such businesses, you might unknowingly be contributing to the well-being of the community.

Over the past years, Bishop’s has collaborated with several social economy companies for various contracts, including: Niska: A consultation firm that offers support for collective processes, consulting with target groups and strategic planning.

Défi Polyteck: A social rehabilitation business that offers various services linked with recycling (confidential papers, electronics, etc.).

Festivals et évènements verts de l’Estrie (FEVE): A business offering education and waste management services for events, along with support and training for event managers.

Au Pont de bois: A social rehabilitation and woodworking business.

Jouvence: A vacation camp in nature offering cabin rentals and team-building spaces.

Café Caus: A worker’s cooperative and catering business.

Advantages of Social Economy 1) Redistribution of Profits: In social economy enterprises, surpluses generated do not enrich investors, but rather are reinvested to accomplish the enterprise’s mission for the benefit of the community.

2) Focus on Local Needs: Over 75 per cent of social economy enterprises cater to a local clientele, providing local services, creating jobs and revitalizing living environments.

3) Gender Equity: In Quebec, 50 per cent of the members of the boards of social economy enterprises are women compared to private companies where only 20 per cent of board members are women.

4) Room for Democracy: Social economy enterprises in Quebec accumulated 13 million members, all having a voice and a vote in the business decisions.

5) Happiness: People who work in social economy enterprises are more likely to be happy, with factors such as positive labor relations, self-improvement, recognition, accountability, fair compensation and a sense of belonging. According to the Leger Happiness Index, 75.85 per cent of non-profit organizations and coops’ workers are happy.

Social Economy Month at Bishop’s University spotlights businesses prioritizing community well-being.

Collaborations with companies like Niska, Défi Polyteck and others exemplify the university’s welcome to this

model, emphasizing the social and economic benefits of embracing a more humane and community-focused approach.

Be “[a]ware that it’s getting late. But confident that we can do our part. Towards a better world for people.

More human. More useful. More sensible. Between a probable future and a preferable future. It’s now or never. Let’s do it. Let’s choose another economy. Let’s choose the social economy”, the Social Economy Month website states. You can learn more about social economy enterprises in Quebec at mois-es.com, available in French and English.