FORT HEWEEKOFNOVEMBER28TH VOL UME47/I SSUE12
CONTENTS
Ryan Macfarlane
Editor-in-Chief einc@themeliorist.ca @_ra_mac
Features Editor f.editor@themeliorist.ca @smartstooge
Mohamed Hassen
Andrew McCutcheon
Meredith Pritchard
Travis Robinson
Campus Life Editor cl.editor@themeliorist.ca @vdubsmeliorist
Garrett Bishoff
Business Manager
Alisha VanWieren
Arts + Entertainment Editor ae.editor@themeliorist.ca @mereyrose Ad Manager
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b.manager@themeliorist.ca
ad.manager@themeliorist.ca
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Sam Loewen
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p.editor@themeliorist.ca
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Sports Editor s.editor@themeliorist.ca @sivartrobinson
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c.editor@themeliorist.ca
Southern Alberta Newspaper Group
Cover
Sam Loewen Kjel Erickson Contributors Gwendolyn Davidson Chloe Gust Vaughan Henning Tyrell Nielsen Morag Rahn-Campbell Jaime Vedres
The Meliorist:
Mel-ior-ism (meel始e riz始m) the doctrine that the world tends to become better or may be made better by human effort
CAMPUS LIFE OPINIONS FEATURES SPORTS ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT TLFS STUDENTS UNION SU166, 4401 University Drive West, Lethbridge AB, T1K 3M4 Phone (403) 329 2334 themeliorist.ca @The_Meliorist
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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
If I reflect on my life and the preferences within, I come to the conclusion that a chill night time has always been worth more to me than any sunny afternoon. What is it about the night time that has excited within me moments of wonder, fear, and exhilaration? I’ve looked over city scapes whose lights have impressed upon me a sense of the potential, and I’ve sought to answer their call. At the age of five the night time seemed to me such a mysterious thing. In the long days of summer I was in bed before the sun had even set, where I lay in wonder at the meaning of time. What was 8 p.m. to a boy whose restless mind couldn’t block out the sun peaking through the cracks in the blinds? I often heard the shouts and the laughter of those who remained outside, and thought that this wasn’t the night at all. Not until I fitfully awoke and descended the stairs to seek out the comfort of my best friend, the family dog, did I see the total darkness of night and believe it to be real. Then winter came. I was, at that time, a Beaver Scout. I spent my evenings in the gymnasium of my elementary school, sitting in circles, learning to share, and making temporary friendships. Within the walls of my school time passed unperceived. But somehow, in the small period spent under orange fluorescent lights, the sky transformed itself. I opened the doors of the school and stood on the threshold of a strange and different world. I looked up and saw a sky filled with bright stars. I looked down and saw the snow glisten by the dim street lights. Did this sky, with its star-filled, all enveloping blackness, have any relation to the summer sky whose sun destroyed sleep? Years passed and I grew older. The mystery of the summer slowly receded; I stayed up to see the setting of the sun. I eventually acquired
a telescope and learned to love the night in a new way. The stars, which before had merely been dim lights hanging from the sky, became objects of fascination. In the cool nights of summer I stood on my parents’ wooden porch and gazed into the night. In those days my parents lived on the border of town. Beyond our yard stretched endless prairie. Each star had a magnitude unparalleled. Each piece of the constellations shone, and I slowly learned the names of each collective body. I grew older still, but the stars grew dimmer. Eventually the city stretched out and consumed the land behind my parents’ house; the prairies were no longer endless, but only a distant memory. I turned my gaze toward the city and seeked solace from its growing lights. I realized that the night gave a weight to everything that I did. I learned to embrace the bright canopy of city lights, forgetting the joy and mystery that the night once communicated to me. Even now, when I am able to gaze backwards to the origins of my fascination with the night, I’m still enraptured by it. But that original question still remains. Does the night have some intrinsic value, a depth beneath its solid surface? Does the answer to my fascination lie within these reflections? Can I, like I did in my childhood when I stared at stars through my telescope, look beyond the individual points of light to see their connection?
Ryan Macfarlane Editor-in-Chief
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CAMPUS LIFE
ALISHA VANWIEREN CHLOE GUST
Ever had a terrible date with someone you didn’t know very well? If you have, you fall among the millions of others who have had horrible dating experiences. Here are some good dating tips and some bad dating tips, collected for students from students at the University of Lethbridge. Also included are some great places you can take that special someone when you go out.
Good Dating Advice
• Always listen to what the other person says to you – It means a lot when you remember • Make eye contact – Don’t look around their face or somewhere else on the body • Compliment their abilities, not (always) their appearances • Be honest about yourself • Take note of the other person’s appearance • Be upfront and don’t hide things – If they cant deal with who you are, it probably wouldn’t work out anyways • Don’t get drunk on the date (unless that is the date) • Don’t tell them how much you like them right away – Delivery and timing are incredibly important – Context is also important – i.e. It might be fine after several dates • Be yourself – have fun • Don’t go way over the top – Get to know the person • Be careful of online dating • Remember: you don’t have to get married to the first person you date in university • Communication is key – Especially with long-distance dating – Text, talk on the phone, or video chat • Don’t be obsessive about the other person, because it’s creepy
“One time, on the third date with a guy, he strung up lights in Prince’s Island Park in Calgary before the date and surprised me with a picnic in that area.”
Good Places To Go/Things to Do On Dates • Hiking in the coulees • Berry Picking • Waterton – Hiking at Glacier Lake – Going out for dinner – Swimming in the summer • A nice restaurant • Ice skating • Driving in the country • A coffee shop • Making dinner at home • A surprise or impromptu date – Adventure shall ensue • Fishing • A baseball game • A movie – Probably not a sad or scary movie • Sledding in the coulees – A recycled food tray can work as a sled • A frozen yogurt shop • Swimming at the pool • Bowling • Nikka Yuko Japanese Gardens • Mini-golf • Hiking • Zoo Lights at the Calgary Zoo • Paintballing • A theatre production
Bad Dating Advice (that you shouldn’t follow)
• Sleep with someone and leave in the middle of the night • Call them by the wrong name all night • Talk about your ex all night • Compare them to other people you’ve been with all night • Talk about yourself a lot • Tell your date about how you stalk them on Facebook
If you have any hilarious or embarrassing dating stories, you can submit them anonymously at themeliorist.ca/sth/ — 5
CAMPUS LIFE
Stuff happens to the best of us. It’s usually not funny at the time, but it can make for a hilarious story. Appearing in your university newspaper for the first time is a safe place where you can anonymously air all of your dirty laundry (in around 150 words, although exceptions will be made). Submissions can be emailed to cl.editor@themeliorist.ca or submitted anonymously online at themeliorist.ca/sth/.
I made pot brownies for the first time this summer. Not knowing how much to use, I just tossed in my entire stash. Good idea right? Wrong. So these brownies come out and they are wicked strong. Like, too strong. So I decide I will only ever eat half when I have one. I decide to store them in the freezer of the beer fridge in the basement of my house in Calgary; no one ever goes into that one except me. So weeks and months pass, I move to Lethbridge for school this year, and I forgot the last three or four brownies that were in the basement. "Oh well. I will just get them next time I go up," I think to myself. I come home later and I run into my dad. "Hey, I found some brownies in the basement fridge," he says. Oh, shit. "Yeah?" "Yeah... are they special?" "What? No, what do you mean special?" Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit. "Are they special brownies?" Umm. "I know they are, because I ate one." Oh shit. He ate a whole brownie? Those brownies fucked me right up. Like, I was not okay for a long time. "Just label them next time, so people don’t accidentally eat them." "O.K., dad.” I was dating this guy in high school, and we would hang out at my house after school. However, since I was in high school I was still living at my parents’ house, so if we wanted to get our tongues tied we would have to do it pretty stealthily. My mom's office was in the basement in the furthest corner of our house, so while my parents were upstairs making dinner we would canoodle in her office chair. In the midst of one of our steamy make-out sessions my mom and my stepdad walked in and burst out laughing. A couple weeks pass and my mother is working in her office and asks me to bring her some tea. I walk in and see her and my stepdad, in her chair, in the exact same position that my boyfriend and I were in, tongues tied together and all. So, that was uncomfortable. This one time, when I was about 13, my parents and my two sisters were watching a movie downstairs while I was taking a shower. I got out and realized I'd left my towel on the heater in my room. So I poked my head out and listened. I could hear everyone downstairs, except my typically quiet middle sister. So I assumed they were all still there. I picked up my clothes, held them in front of my boobs, and sprinted around the corner to my room next door. I open the door and my middle sister is lying on my bed, reading and stroking our cat. I freeze until she looks up and shrieks, then for some reason I drop my clothes in shock and mortification. I'm standing there buck naked, and we're staring at each other for a few seconds before I find my voice and shout, "You idiot!" and run back to the bathroom and slam the door. The best part is that immediately after, my oldest sister croons from the living room, "I know what just happened!" and my dad nearly busts a gut laughing.
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CAMPUS LIFE My roommate grounded me to my room. – yesmom So, someone tried to steal a product from the Canadian Tire I worked at over the summer. I, being blindly courageous, decided to jump on his truck, bang on his window, and curse him repeatedly until I rolled off at 40 km/h. I realized that he didn't get away with anything after my boss showed me the tape. I still have battle scars. – The Retail Protector
One time I got drunk at Pulse and lost all my friends. I didn’t have my wallet or my phone, but I had my roommate’s cell that I was holding on to. I decided that I didn’t want to bother anyone, so I made the logical decision to do the “Whoop-Up Challenge” in my dress and tights, even though it was pretty cold out. I sprinted as fast as I could down the hill when suddenly I started to lose control. I wiped out pretty hard but got up and kept running. Suddenly I heard my name being yelled across Whoop-Up Drive. It was my roommates! They came to save me even though I had drunkenly told them not to. I had never been so happy to see them. When I got into the back of the car, my roommate said, “Oh my God! Look at your legs!” I looked down and my tights were all ripped up, and I was bleeding everywhere. I hadn’t even felt a thing! I still have the scars. – Whoop-Up Challenger
So I was seeing this boy in the summer before I had to go back to school. I got really attached, and we got really, really drunk at my neighbour’s house one night at the end of August. I snuck him into my parents’ basement, thinking he would just leave after my parents went to work. Well, as we soon found out, my dad decided to stay home; despite my best efforts, he heard the boy sneak out the back door. My dad didn't talk to me for a few days and then finally said, "Do whatever you want in your own house, but no boys in your bed under my roof." – hifriend I went to Sasquatch for the first time this past summer. The very first day of the festival the group I was with decided to go see Japandroids for our first band of the day. I was wearing sandals, but I decided to still brave the mosh pit because I was a couple beers deep. Halfway through I got out of the pit to catch my breath and some guy came up to me to tell me my foot was covered in blood. To make me feel better he gave me another beer. It helped. I went back into the pit until the end of their set. As my friends and I were walking away, I looked down at my foot and noticed that it was coated in more blood and that my big toenail was hanging off. I had to go to the medi-tent where they cut my big toenail off and bandaged up my toe. Moral of the story: Don’t wear sandals in a mosh pit. – Sassy Sasquatch After the Lemon Party in my first year (it is now called Rumble in the Jungle) I ended up staying in res with a cute girl. However, I forgot that my shirt had been ripped off me, and the next day I had to walk across campus to my car without a shirt on. I was just about to get to my car when the SU president pulled up right in front of me. He got out of his car and said, “You look like you had a fun night,” and pointed at the hickies that I didn’t realize were covering my chest. - Walk of Shame
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BABY, IT’S COLD OUTSIDE
Cutting Edge Classics Stying and Make-up TANEAL VIERGUTZ
Photography
KJEL ERICKSON
Model
OLIVIA
Left Page
On Right
Above
SCARF ARDENE $5.99
PEARLS ALDO $13.99
DRESS FOREVER 21 $25.90
DRESS FOREVER 21 $15.99
TIGHTS FOREVER 21 $13.99
TIGHTS ALDO $12.50
SOCKS BLUENOTES $6.99
BOOTS WINNERS $45.99
SHOES FOREVER 21 $34.99
JACKET FOREVER 21 $65.99
BOOTS FOREVER 21 $49.99 BAG SIRENS $18.99 TOQUE FOREVER 21 $9.99
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GWENDOLYN DAVIDSON
OPINIONS
CHRISTMAS a progress report
THE PROCESS OF COMMERCIALIZING CHRISTMAS IS ALMOST COMPLETE. The colours red and green have now been so fully integrated into the holiday season that these colours instantly bring to mind easily-recognizable advertising campaigns by companies such as Coca Cola. This is exactly the kind of flourishing business that is to be encouraged around the holidays. Coca Cola is on the track to success. I give them a score of 86 per cent in utilizing the Christmas holiday for business purposes, just above Duracell batteries, with a score of 82 per cent. Through such advertising campaigns, the emphasis on giving and receiving gifts is beginning to trump the focus on family and religion. For those still behind on the times, attempting to keep the traditional family gatherings alive, let me ask you this: are you tired of all the effort put into family dinners that just means more work and cleaning at the end of the night? Give yourself a break this holiday season and book early at certain participating restaurants and businesses to allow them the privilege of hosting your holiday gathering. Space is limited and will fill up fast because this choice is becoming more and more popular, with 8 out of 10 restaurants offering some kind of Christmas package for group dinners. Keep up the fantastic work! The idea of people treating themselves during the holidays has been slowly emphasized. This idea of spoiling oneself has met with a great degree of success in the electronics industry as well as the home improvement industry. People are upgrading their entertainment systems, furniture, and décor at a rate of 38 per cent per year, utilizing the deals available around Christmas. It’s time to spoil yourself this holiday season; you deserve to get what you want, especially since it comes around only once a year. Taking children to sit on Santa’s knee in malls and shopping centres has become another wonderful opportunity to document such memories, with waiting times ranging from a mere 20 to 45 minutes. With professional photographers set up, quality prints can be purchased along with frames, snow globes, and tree ornaments that incorporate your child’s special moment. Package deals are also available: the more prints you purchase, the more money you save.
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This has also become the perfect way for parents to find out about the newest toys and video games that their children want for Christmas, which then must be bought to keep the illusion of Santa alive, as well as distracting the child for the two whole weeks until school begins again. Extending Boxing Day to encompass the full week after Christmas Day has allowed for the returning of gifts that were not liked or appreciated, or their exchange for items that better suit the person returning it. When people wander in to return or exchange, they will be tempted by the extensive and unbelievable deals, which will most likely result in their continued patronage. The majority of such customers leave the store after purchasing between four and seven items in addition to those they planned on obtaining. Each year, the date for the beginning of the holiday season is sliding closer and closer to the beginning of November, exponentially increasing profits for every day earlier that holiday themed products are available. Congratulations to Walmart this year for transitioning entirely to holiday focused marketing the weekend directly following Halloween; that has to be the quickest turnaround ever recorded! It is all about the consumers this holiday season – pampering them, treating them, and making them feel guilty unless they show their gratitude to others in the same way. Tell people that the only way to express their love is through the giving of purchased gifts and they will proceed to purchase store-bought gifts. Advent calendars are becoming more and more popular. Containing an edible reward for surviving every day counting down to Christmas, they come in a variety of Christmas and holiday themed styles. Alternate methods of counting down the days include radio reminders, social media reminders, and electronic sign reminders: there’s even an app for that. All of these serve to increase the anxiety and fluster of the holiday season, giving one the feeling of time running out, of not enough time for the important things such as buying gifts. The key to making people buy as many gifts as possible is to impress upon them the threat that the holiday season is ending. Constant reminders that Christmas happens only once a year and that time is running out have previously increased consumer rates by a full 25 per cent. Let’s strive to make this year better! The countdown has already begun. Less than a month now, there are 27 days left until Christmas: 26 days left, 25 days, 24, 23... Less than a month left to put up your Christmas lights (in competition with the rest of the houses on your street), to get a tree and decorate it (making certain it is visible through your living room window for everyone to see). Less than a month left to shop for all those people that you don’t want to think that you’ve forgotten them. Less than a month left to wrap and parcel and give and receive – to buy, buy, buy. Less than a month left to listen to Christmas music. Less than a month left until the holiday season is over. Happy Holidays from all of us here at The Christmas Holiday Review Board. ■
OPINIONS
A PRIEST, A PARENT, AND A PUPIL ALL WALK INTO A BAR stop me if you’ve heard this one — ANDREW McCUTCHEON
BOOKS ARE AWESOME. MOST OF MY CLOSE FRIENDS CLAIM THAT A BOOK OR A BOOK SERIES HAS CHANGED THEIR LIFE IN UNIMAGINABLE WAYS. FOR ME, IT WAS GEORGE CARLIN’S NAPALM AND SILLY PUTTY. THE IRREVERENT HUMOR COMBINED WITH SCATHING SOCIAL COMMENTARY MADE FOR AN ENTERTAINING READ THAT GAVE ME MY FIRST DECISIVE CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS AT AGE TEN. Other books aren’t so great, however. People often tell me their lives were forever altered after reading Catcher in the Rye or On the Road. I’m glad when they do, because it helps me steer clear of the sort of shallow, pseudo-intellectual, and near-sociopathic people with whom I refuse to associate. So when it comes to choosing a book to live your life by, you can do a lot worse than the New Testament. Jesus seemed like a pretty cool dude. The Old Testament books are filled with the fire and brimstone mythology of the series, but, like The Empire Strikes Back, the sequel improved vastly upon the original. Jesus had some pretty great ideas when it came to giving to the poor, caring for the sick, and focusing on living a modest life. One of my favourite excerpts from the Gospel of Matthew has Jesus preaching the idea that when you donate to charity, you should do so in secret. It’s a passage that enforces ideas of piety, modesty, and virtue. Later in the same passage, Jesus recites the Lord’s Prayer for the first time. It’s been about two millennia and people are apparently still missing the point. The Lord’s Prayer was officially removed from Dr. Hamman Public School in Taber on Wednesday, November 6 after complaints. Melanie Bell, mother of several students attending the school, objected after her children were allegedly being disciplined and singled out for their lack of participation. The prayer has been pulled, but the issue is far from over. There are those criticizing Bell, claiming a minor exemption for Alberta and Saskatchewan was made when they had joined in 1905. What they tend to forget is that there were laws on the books up until 1972 that allowed legal sterilization based on the “scientific principles” of eugenics. We don’t have a great history of social justice in Alberta and it’s up to the courts to interpret and put these archaic, sort-of laws on trial. The very idea of good governance is lost on Bell’s critics. Tonya Torrie, in an interview with the Lethbridge Herald, argued that she just didn’t “think it’s right for one person to make a decision that affects everyone else.” Moreover, Torrie argued that there was a misunder-
standing of what a public school entails, saying “It means we have a division that supports what parents want, regardless of whether it has to do with God or not.” This is a fundamentally incorrect interpretation of how our government works. In a pure democracy, the majority would rule over every decision. This is a flawed system and not the one we use. In a pure democracy, George Zimmerman would have gone to the gallows, which in and of itself isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it’s not how we organize ourselves. We live in a democratic republic, which means that there is an overarching set of rights and freedoms for everyone that supersedes popular opinion. So, regardless of how many parents whine and complain to the school board, it can’t override Bell’s right for her children to have a secular education. The saddest and most difficult part of this whole situation is the effect that it will have on children. Truthfully, can any child conceptualize spirituality, dogma, or religion in any meaningful way at that age? When I was in grade four, I know I was more concerned with memorizing how to beat the Elite Four at the end of Pokémon Blue than I was with my eternal soul. That’s the way childhood should work. Kids shouldn’t have the politics of their parents forced upon them at this age, as the only thing students are going to learn here is that exclusion, ignorance, and hate are viable problem-solving options. There is a school-board meeting planned for November 26. Torrie is quoted as saying that, “We are a society that is democratic – that we can come to a consensus. It might not be perfect for either side, but we can find some middle ground.” There should not be a middle ground. There should be no compromise. When a flawed school system appears before the law, the obvious solution is final and overwhelmingly apparent: there should be no prayer in any public and secular institution. That solution may anger and offend, but truly I say to them: they will have their reward in full. ■
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MUCH ADO ABOUT NURSES — TYRELL NIELSEN
FEATURES
The relationship between the United Nurses of Alberta and Alberta Health Services has never been considered smooth, and the recent contract renewal negotiations between the two show that this hasn't changed. In fact, all recent graduates who were either interviewed or asked to be interviewed for this article refused to have their names published alongside their statements for fear that it would impede the progression of their career. The significance of these negotiations, however, isn't in the strained relationships but in the development of a nurse’s role in Alberta's health care system. While AHS didn’t provide a representative for an interview, Debbie Martin and Steven Johnson, representatives of the UNA, addressed the subject. "It’s been clear to us that Alberta Health Services has certain mandates here. One is Workforce Transformation, which is what they eventually want RNs [registered nurses] to be doing. That is, they do not want RNs at the bedside; they want RNs directing the workforce, not doing the direct work." Martin, herself an RN, continues: "Taking us away from the bedside is allowing more, lesser-skilled staff to be working with patients, and we know – and there’s lots of research to back it up – that there would be more instances of near misses and death." She goes on: "We don’t want to say that LPNs [licensed practical nurses] are lower quality, but they have a scope; RNs have a scope, and health care workers have a scope, and I think we can work together quite fine. It’s just that they are pulling more RNs away, leaving just the lesser skilled staffing by the bedside." This idea of pulling RNs away from their current role is confirmed by AHS’ website, where it states: "Today, registered nurses are often doing work that other members of the nursing community are able to do. We need our registered nurses working to the full scope of their training and abilities. And, we are asking health care aides and licensed practical nurses to work well with our registered nurses so that together, the whole nursing team can deliver high quality team-based care." The difference here lies only in the projected outcome, as the AHS document goes on to say: "In turn, our patients receive better care." AHS also states that they have "one of the lowest rates of clinical staff working full time in all of Canada." They explain that this should change because "when there are more full time positions, patients and families see the same health providers more regularly. They get to know their care team and can better express their care needs and preferences." From UNA's perspective, this statement isn't accurate. Johnson explains, "What they’re doing is trying to show the public that currently a lot of RNs aren’t working full time, they say about 31 per cent, but the truth is actually, according to the Canadian Institute of Health Information, that RNs are at 41 per cent full time work." He calls this effort a "propaganda slant," saying, "It’s not that they’re actually posting more full time jobs, they just want nurses to work more full time.” This contrasts with recent advertisements published by AHS across the province, which claim that, "We need to create more full time nursing positions, so patients get the consistent, reliable care they need from our nurses." Both Johnson and Martin take issue with the ads, citing current job postings as evidence. "Right now there’s about 100 full time postings, and 200 part time postings," says Johnson. "The truth is that AHS is advertising that they need more full time nurses, but they’re not actually posting more full time jobs." UNA goes further, claiming that AHS is actually in the process of
eliminating positions. This statement stems from UNA's recent interaction with AHS, which was made to disclose documents containing their Staff Scheduling Transformation plans. "What UNA found on the document was a two phase plan, which would eliminate registered nursing positions," says Martin. "In phase one and phase two, in the information we received, we’re going to see, as they [AHS] call it, 400 headcount gone." The first of these cuts has already taken place, although the effects have been minimal. "So far, the nurses who have had their positions eliminated have found other positions within AHS, but the more that they roll this out, the more position eliminations happen, the more nurses won't finds jobs in AHS." This especially doesn't bode well for nursing students or recent graduates, due to the “bumping” clause in a nurse’s contract. This clause enables more experienced nurses to bump less experienced nurses out of their positions. "They’re going to lay off senior nurses," Martin says. "So those senior nurses are going to take other positions, and a new grad would have to wait until all that [bumping] was finished to see what was still available." She also notes another obstacle for current nursing students. "In the past, AHS had to hire 70 per cent of the graduating class, but in negotiations AHS is saying no, they don’t want to do that." From UNA's side of these negotiations, Martin says they want "a contract that respects work-life issues, and that there would be positions for newly graduated nurses.” She continues: “They’ll leave unless they find work, so we’re really trying to get these new grads hired and get some experience behind them so that they’re marketable." While the negotiations continue, Martin and Johnson are encouraging everyone to get talking about the need for, and role of, registered nurses in Alberta. They both agree that “we need RNs, we need LPNs, we need health care workers in the system, and they all have to be at the bedside to provide the best care for patients, clients, and residents.” Even though the outcome is yet to be determined, it is already clear that for current students of nursing, friends of current students of nursing, or anyone who thinks they might at some point be subject to some form of nursing, this issue is going to have a direct impact. ■
TAKING US AWAY FROM THE BEDSIDE IS ALLOWING MORE, LESSER SKILLED STAFF TO BE WORKING WITH PATIENTS, AND WE KNOW – AND THERE’S LOTS OF RESEARCH TO BACK IT UP – THAT THERE WOULD BE MORE INSTANCES OF NEAR MISSES AND DEATH
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FEATURES
ORAL HISTORY ON CAMPUS THE UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE LAUNCHES CENTRE AIMED AT PRESERVING SOUTHERN ALBERTA’S ORAL HISTORY.
The University of Lethbridge today launched a new institute aimed at ensuring southern Alberta’s oral history is preserved and accessible. The Centre for Oral History and Tradition (COHT) will not only advance research disciplines pertaining to oral history in the academic world, but also collaborate with community organizations across southern Alberta to help preserve, study and understand the region’s oral history. “The institute will strive to preserve and analyze oral history sources,” says Dr. Heidi MacDonald, director of the new centre. “Oral histories contain valuable information that is often not available in any other form. Preserving these narratives is critical to understanding many fields of study. Our research will have an enduring relevance well into the future because the oral histories we capture will be studied for many more generations.” University of Lethbridge faculty and graduate students involved in the institute have expertise in such areas as employment, health, sport, gender, religion, culture, and local history. Together with community partners, including the Galt Museum and Archives, the centre will provide workshops and other support in order to identify, establish, and assist oral history projects undertaken in southern Alberta. The centre is also committed to ensuring these projects are made available to the public. “We want to be a portal for the dissemination of oral history to other researchers as well as provide a place where this knowledge is available to the people of southern Alberta and beyond. In addition to sharing the research we at the
ORAL HISTORIES CONTAIN VALUABLE INFORMATION THAT IS OFTEN NOT AVAILABLE IN ANY OTHER FORM. PRESERVING THESE NARRATIVES IS CRITICAL TO UNDERSTANDING MANY FIELDS OF STUDY
centre are interested in, we want to build this capacity with community groups that have an interest in preserving their own oral histories,” says MacDonald. Collecting and preserving oral histories is becoming increasingly important. MacDonald says information is continually becoming more transient, which will have implications for the future. For example, fewer people keep diaries, and in the workplace, e-mails are easily deleted. “Sources that historians have traditionally used are becoming rare. Far less information is hitting paper today compared to even a decade ago,” says MacDonald. “In addition, oral histories can provide personal insights that expand on more standard histories.” The announcement of the COHT was made at the Galt Museum & Archives, with U of L faculty and community partners in attendance. The event included a display demonstrating an oral history project undertaken by the University of Lethbridge Art Gallery and University Archives, an initiative that supports the gallery’s vast Nicholas de Grandmaison collection of artworks and artifacts. As an itinerant painter, de Grandmaison often stayed with ranchers, farmers and Aboriginal families for several days at a time while he painted their portraits. His unique lifestyle, character, and attitude having left a plethora of interesting experiences that augment the context of his paintings. These stories complement the University's de Grandmaison collection. The U of L is home to 12 different centres and institutes that foster and promote research expertise and capabilities as well as provide a platform for trans-disciplinary research. The U of L’s Vice-President (Research), Dr. Dan Weeks, says these centres and institutes facilitate the formation of unique and creative research and teaching partnerships inside and outside of the University. “The University of Lethbridge’s initiative to create new centres and institutes allows for greater collaboration among researchers and makes research more publicly available. The Centre for Oral History and Tradition will make an incredibly positive contribution to southern Alberta communities through its work,” says Weeks. ■
PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE IN SCHOOLS THE UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE BACHELOR OF NURSING AFTER DEGREE PROGRAM PARTNERS WITH ST. CATHARINE’S SCHOOL TO PRESENT PHYSICAL ACTIVITY HEALTH FAIR.
Health promotion has never been so much fun – thanks to University of Lethbridge nursing students in the Bachelor of Nursing After Degree (BNAD) program. The BNAD students, 12 in all, are wrapping up a semester-long community placement program at St. Catharine’s School in Picture Butte, Alta. by staging a Physical Activity Health Fair on Tuesday, November 26, 2013. It all culminates with a game of monopoly on a human-sized Beach-opoly board. “The prime objective we have had for the St. Catharine’s students is that they gain an understanding that they don’t have to be on a sports team to be active,” says Mary Nugent, nursing instructor in the University of Lethbridge’s Faculty of Health Sciences. “Education that is fun always yields better results, so that was actually one of our goals with our BNAD students this semester – to just have fun – and we’ve had loads of fun.” The BNAD program is for those students interested in pursuing nursing and who have already completed a first degree. It welcomes students from all disciplines and more than teaching nursing; it promotes the basic tenets of care and contributing to the betterment of a community. The community placement aspect of the BNAD program immerses students into the community as they gain hands-on experience, all the while promoting healthy living practices. “The connection with the BNAD program has definitely met our goals in supporting initiatives that we have here at St. Catherine’s,” says Jodie Gross, associate principal. “The topics they have covered range from sneezing etiquette to portion sizes to developing healthy relationships, all of which are pertinent to the guidelines given to educators by Alberta Education.” The nursing students were split into three four-person working groups, each assigned to a different division of children (Grades 1-3, 4-6, or 7-9). The students then developed a concept map for each group, looked at Health Cana-
da’s mandated policies for the specific ages, and then worked with St. Catharine’s teachers to determine which areas of health education needed attention. Tuesday’s activity fair and Beach-opoly game (students will take part throughout the day as they attend their physical education classes) is a final way to show that a healthy lifestyle can also be fun. “It’s been so exciting to see the light bulb go on for the kids when we’ve been teaching our lessons,” says BNAD student Trish Wong. “Our group focused on mental health and our students responded with some really insightful ideas for how to make healthy choices and reach their goals in life.” The placement has proven to be beneficial to both the BNAD and St. Catharine’s students, with the lessons learned hopefully enduring. “The real crux of health promotion is essential worldwide because it enables people to increase their participation in controlling their own health,” says Nugent. “That’s really what we’re trying to instill: how do we create an environment that empowers kids to wash their hands, to get exercise, to feel safe in their community, and to make healthy choices about their lives?”
THE PRIME OBJECTIVE WE HAVE HAD FOR THE ST. CATHARINE’S STUDENTS IS THAT THEY GAIN AN UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY DON’T HAVE TO BE ON A SPORTS TEAM TO BE ACTIVE
— 15
INTERVIEW WITH
MIKE HANSEN
TRAVIS ROBINSON EOIN COLQUHOUN
SPORTS Mike Hansen is the newest head coach in the University of Lethbridge athletics universe. His padded basketball résumé, including coaching stints with Lethbridge College, NAIT, and various teams at the high school and national level, make him worthy of the position that his predecessor Dave Adams so eloquently carved out. Hansen is also an alumnus of the Horns basketball team, where he played for some very successful teams in the early 90s. I had the opportunity to chat with Coach Hansen last week, and the coach’s impressive basketball I.Q. only made the interview that much more interesting. Hansen calls this year’s team the “most un-athletic team in Canada West,” but praises his players for their ability to simply play basketball. As of this printing, the team currently sits fourth in their division, and will be poised to make the playoffs if this trend continues. Clearly, the basketball fundamentals are getting wins. Herewith, excerpts from the interview with Mike Hansen. Travis Robinson: How does being an alumnus of the school inform your coaching? Mike Hansen: I think there’s just a comfort level. Sandy Slavin was the athletic director when I was here, so I’ve known her for a long time. I know most of the staff that works here; I know a lot of the alumni, a lot of people in the community, so I guess there’s just a comfort level. Some new coaches that come in aren’t familiar with Southern Alberta, don’t become a part of the community. I’ve been part of the community now for 23 years, and it gives me an advantage I think. TR: Both you and (former head coach) Dave Adams have similar backgrounds in education (both holding Masters of Education degrees). How has this aided in high-level coaching? MH: As an educator, you really value an education. So, we take a student-oriented approach with our athletes, and I think they appreciate that. They know they aren’t just here to play basketball games. As a coach, I want to see them get their degree. We really focus in on that, and it’s a priority task. I’m really proud of the fact that at the Lethbridge College we had five academic all-Canadians. Those are areas that, as an educator, you value a little bit more, whereas a career coach who has never been on the education side of things – he sees the basketball pieces, but he doesn’t necessarily see that education piece. TR: Where did your interest in coaching come from? MH: When I graduated [in 1994], Dave [Adams] and I knew each other…He created a mentor position on the provincial team for me, and gave me the opportunity to come coach with him. He was teaching in the Holy Spirit School Division, and he encouraged me to take the opportunity to coach at Catholic Central High School. I started coaching at Catholic Central, then did my education degree and it became a wonderful opportunity. I spent my first five years there, and we had a lot of success…As I get older as a coach, you realize that a lot of your success in life has not necessarily to do with the right talents; it has a lot to do with timing, and you get lucky sometimes. I had a nice run at the Lethbridge College, and then suddenly Dave decides to go to Oman to pursue a great opportunity. That opportunity came just at the right time in my life. Five years earlier, five years later, I might not be sitting here right now. Sometimes you have to get lucky. TR: This year’s squad has several players listed just around 6’0” tall. How does this perceived lack of size impact how you strategize for the game plan?
MH: We are in the unique situation this year where we have either a lot of “bigs” or a lot of “tinies.” We have Brent Watkins who is 6’10,” we have Trey Wilson who is 6’10,” we have Spencer Wenzel who is 6’9.” So we have big guys, but when you go to our backcourt, with Morgan Duce and Dallon Martin, a lot of guys who are under 6’0” tall. So when you’re talking about how you manage that as a coach, in years past where we switch a lot of screens and do those things defensively, we’re now conscious to keep our big guys close to the hoop and our little guys out on the perimeter…you have to be a little creative sometimes, but I feel that this team has great balance on it and we’re solid at every position, which is pretty rare for a team. TR: The squad is comprised of small-town locals and American and international players. How does this effect team chemistry? MH: It’s interesting, but we have always recruited for fit; that’s a big philosophy for me as a coach. The guys from outside the area, we do a lot of due diligence to ensure they’d be a good fit. As far as chemistry, this team really plays for each other. They’re really close knit, and we made a conscious effort in training camp to go away for a time and do some team building and bonding. When you look at Brandon Brine, who’s from Australia, he fits in well with the guys. Both Alex Fletcher and Brent Watkins, who are from California, you’d never know. You’d think they’re just another local kid, the way they fit in and get along with guys here. This team has always been about our local talent, we’ve always had local kids, and for us to be able to add a couple kids from outside the area to come and boost our talent level, we’re lucky that way. TR: Is running a traditional-style offence still feasible at this level? MH: I don’t think it’s feasible in basketball in general. You look at the NBA, who used to play two traditional back-to-the-basket players; a lot of them now are playing a four-out, one-in system where their second forward is playing out on the three point line and can shoot and do those kinds of things. I think the game has changed a lot in terms of [how] it has opened up. Look at a team like UBC, who’s been nationally ranked year in, year out, 14th last year. [Their coach] has gone with a three forward system, where he has gone really big across the front line, and they’ve started out 2-4 this year…You can still try and play traditional basketball, but at the end of the day, it’s getting to the point now where you tend to have four perimeter players and one traditional inside player. The key is [question] is “are you getting defensively what you need out of each position?” TR: What are the keys to maintaining your current fourth place (and final playoff spot) division standing? MH: The key thing is finding those wins [in close games]. That starts with winning at home. We explain to the guys that if you can win at home and split some on the road, you’re going to be a playoff team…Not splitting means we have to find a way to make up a win somewhere else, and we follow the standings closely and do those kinds of things. I still think we’re within reach, and I think we have a really favourable schedule this year because we have winnable games on the road and the toughest games at home. To be able to have U of A, UVIC, UBC at home, those are going to be critical games. I think we’re going to be in that situation where it comes down to the end of the year in the Prairie division in particular. Out of the eight teams, six are legitimate playoff contenders, maybe even seven...it’s a dogfight every weekend. ■
“ WE EXPLAIN TO THE GUYS
THAT IF YOU CAN WIN AT HOME AND SPLIT SOME ON THE ROAD, YOU’RE GOING TO BE A PLAYOFF TEAM.
”
— 19
K ’D
ERIC HAMILTON
IN
Brayden Baines at Nectar Art Collective in Lethbridge, Alta & Stephen Barnard at Libertine Tattoo in Lethbridge, Alta
"I got my first tattoo when I was 16, and haven't really stopped since then. There isn't so much an overall running theme, more so a collection of pieces that reflect my personality. I don't think tattoos have to have really deep meanings behind them. If they do for other people, great. A few of mine have special thoughts and memories connected to them, but I’m not the type of person who thinks every tattoo has to have some grandiose story as to why you had it put on your skin forever. The girl I have on my shoulder I got because I thought the original drawing was beautiful and I really liked the way the artist made his paintings feel.”
#ulethtattoos KJEL ERICKSON
ARTs + ENTERTAINMENT “I love horror films and metal music, so I got scenes from a bunch of my favorite horror movies and logos for some of my favorite bands done. It’s as simple as, I like girls in gas masks and I like skulls… so I got them tattooed on me.”
“All my work has been done by two guys whom I have been tight friends with for years: Brayden Baines, who tattoos at Nectar Art Collective, and Stephen Barnard, who owns and operates Libertine Tattoo."
— 21
EXIA A REVIEW VAUGHAN HENNING JAIME VEDRES
ARTs + ENTERTAINMENT Last week the university theatre played host to the second main stage production of the semester, Exia, written by Governor General’s Literary Award nominee and faculty member Meg Braem. To summarize the plot, we focus on Chrysothemis, the sister of the infamous Electra, and her struggles to bring unity to a family wracked by war, murder, and infidelity, along with her advances in the realm of young love. When walking into the theatre Thursday evening, the first aspect of this play that I was privy to was the set upon which the actors would be plying their trade. I am of the opinion that the set is one of the most enjoyable aspects of this play, specifically how well-built and realistic it looked. The stone steps are grandiose and imposing on stage and give a true sense of scale to the work. Along with this, the cyclorama at the back of the stage provides a great back-drop upon which to project the sky and adds yet another level of depth to the set. However, when one looked at the set, one very striking feature was the lack of colour; from the steps to the scrim, and even the colour palette of the costuming, it is all very one-note, and particularly earthy. Because of this colour choice there is an unfortunate side effect of swallowing the actors in a wash of similar hues. However, when one takes a second look, one notices that a large section of the scrim is coloured red to truly convey how much blood has been shed, to bring to fruition the events to which the audience is subjected. Unfortunately this effect becomes incredibly heavy-handed at points, and is very heavily hinted-to near the beginning of the play, which severely reduces the effectiveness of said tactic. Overall, I think that the set was beautiful to take in, yet it did not add or take away from the experience; at the end of the day, it was simply a place for the drama to unfold. Another aspect of the play that the audience is privy to quite early on is the music and scoring for the work. Like most well-done aural accompaniment to visual works, the music for Exia fits in perfectly, and so well that one does not often truly appreciate the depth that it brings to the production. Through most of the work there is a continuous ambient track that plays, be it the sound of chickens and trade in the marketplace, birds in the trees, or the crickets’ nighttime serenade. While such sounds might be jarring to those on stage not used to such effects, it was a very effective technique for drawing in the audience and adding hints of reality to the play. Along with the ambient sound, the interlude music is very well-done, comprised mostly of percussion, contemporary double reed instruments (imitating a Greek aulos), and plucked string instruments. Along with the quality of the ensemble, the scoring included meter in 2, 4, 5 and 6, and no piece of music was used more than once. The only real issue that I took with the music was at the close of the production; I found the use of an audible gasp to be both redundant and a mood-killer. If the final gasp is meant to startle the audience into reaction, that has already been accomplished by the plot-twist we have just witnessed, and if it is to represent the “dying gasp” of the play, that is also immediately apparent by the massive lighting change on stage. Because of this, I found any dramatic tension we experience from the bloody scene unfolding before us to be lost, and the sound itself to be borderline comedic. Yet, despite this one misstep, this is some of the best scoring for a play I have seen for quite some time. Sincere congratulations to Kelly Roberts for such impeccable scoring; it was truly engrossing and failed to disappoint at any time. Unlike other productions that I have seen at the university theatre, I found the lighting for this show to be fairly one-note. Be the scene interior or exterior, the lighting was rarely different, at least to the eye of a layman; rather, such changes were made apparent through other means, such as the sound design. Along with this, the lighting seemed fairly static throughout and changes only seemed to be made at the open and the close of scenes. As previously stated, the heavy use of red lighting also became less and less effective as the play went on, and
said effect seemed to rarely be used in moderation, being applied rather liberally. I found the use of spot lights during Electra’s (Erica Barr) and Clytemnestra’s (Chloe Sando) intertwined monologues and in the final scene to be very cliché, and if anything, detracting from the articulate delivery of both characters’ horror at two individual moments in time. Along with this overused effect, the return of heavy red lighting was prominent in these scenes, resulting in an uninspiring and insipid viewing experience despite the content-heavy techniques. Finally, there are two more aspects of the design that I would like to address, those being the air of a faux period-piece and the set changes that occurred. When speaking of a faux period-piece, I am talking about the costume styling and language choices. In regards to the costuming, they were clearly designed to look as though they were of a period, although in no way were they ancient Greek. Yet in the case of the Vendor (Garrett Bishoff), he is wearing a Phrygian cap, which in ancient Greece was a symbol of the perceived barbaric customs of the East (an aspect of the character that is done astonishingly well by Bishoff). While this may be nitpicky, I prefer the design of a production to be uniform throughout, and small deviances from a uniform aesthetic break the mood. In the same realm of continuity issues, I found that many lines in the play were written in a very poetic prose and were rife with artistic flourishes. In some scenes, lines like these were spoken back-to-back with lines that felt very contemporary in their composition, and I found such a sudden shift in language was jarring. My final bone of contention with the design of the play is that the set changes, specifically that they seemed very awkward and unwieldy with perhaps the only saving grace being the costuming of the running crew as servants. And now drama students, the moment you’ve been waiting for: the acting. I honestly can say that I enjoyed every performance in this play. Chrysothemis (Aimee McGurk) did a wonderful job as the lead of the show, often having to pull emotional 180s at the drop of the hat, something which is no mean feat. The emotion she delivered as she tried to rebuild a family single-handedly was visceral and engrossing. Her banter with Electra was both witty and sharp-tongued, yet the blossoming young love between her and the Young Man (Aj Baragar) is both lite and riddled with youthful awkwardness; truly a full gamut of emotion. The part of Clytemnestra as the emotionally-distant mother was impeccably done by Sando, especially in her body language and how she manages to look down on everyone in every situation. Yet, throughout the play, we see the cold façade crack and the chance of a rekindled relationship within the family is expertly brought through in the warmth of her voice. The chorus of Ancient (Kyle Schulte), Middle (Brianna Diodati) and Youngest (Meredith Pritchard) was very well done, conveying both comedy and tragedy. I found that the tone of Ancient was fairly uniform throughout his delivery, yet his physical acting was quite good. Youngest also seemed to deliver her lines in an abrupt and succinct fashion, yet it is likely that this was a directorial choice to truly convey the childlike nature of the character. This brings me to Middle, who I believe was the star of the show. The timing of her delivery was impeccable, and the richness of her voice was on a level of its own. Along with a nearly perfect aural performance, her physicality was incredibly precise, incorporating both flowing movement and a perfect level of subtlety for stage acting, a trait that I have seen many past students struggle with. Overall, I found this production to be one of quality, especially in the realm of acting, sound design, and the beauty of the set. While every aspect of the production did have some downfalls, there was nothing that was so glaring that it sat with me for the entire work, or left a lasting and universally negative impression. Most importantly, I am very happy to see the U of L harbouring local talent and giving a young, contemporary playwright an audience that all artists desire, yet few receive. Exposure that both she, and her work, deserve. ■
WE FOCUS ON CHRYSOTHEMIS, THE SISTER OF THE INFAMOUS ELECTRA, AND HER STRUGGLES TO BRING UNITY TO A FAMILY WRACKED BY WAR, MURDER, AND INFIDELITY, ALONG WITH HER ADVANCES IN THE REALM OF YOUNG LOVE.
— 23
TLFs
Faith restored in humanity when a girl bought my lunch for me on Monday. Huge thanks, and sorry I didn’t get to thank you in person. Much love! Guy in the blue plaid jacket. You have a great sense of style, also you’re pretty cute.-girl carrying her identical blue plaid jacket. To the guy in blue eating a sandwich in the uhall cafeteria mon morning. You walked into the cafeteria, and took my breath away. Girl watching u. checkered coat. It amazing (and shocking) that an effing bottle of water is more expensive then COKE OR OTHER BOTTLED TYPE DRINKS at the Urban Market. How ’bout you make living healthy affordable?
Dear Mr. Mustache Man: Thanks for buying the entire table’s food at Dirty Bingo on Friday!! You da bomb dot com. - your Mustache admirers Ha! Just saw muscle shirt guy the day after last weeks issue and he’s covered up today. His poor fans.. Don’t walk with your head down, someone might uppercut you! Thank you to the student union for organizing Spy Vs. Spy it was epic, and it was awesome meeting so many spies along the way! This is one for the history books! Spy 32 First time gym goer, we’re glad we made the experience a good one! Sincerely, gym employees
it amazing (and shocking) that an effing drink of water is free from a tap or foundation
I WILL NOT BE SILENCED!
Did you know that you don’t need a Costco membership to shop at their liquor store…. awwwwww yeeaaah! #cheapbooze
I want my mitts and toque back if you picked them up please email me madison.siemens@uleth.ca pink homemade toque and zebra mitts I left them by the library doors near the bus loop
Are you not entertained?!! U of L confessions, keeping it classy Don’t complain about being a broke student with Starbucks in your hand.
Galway and Faith are bffs they rock my socks k bye.
fuck sound poetry. blahbleeeprarwabamagagfarrr wasn’t that so deep?
To the 10millionhugs.com Hugger’s outside of the pool on Wednesday – You rock. Keep it up
1. 2nd most beautiful eyes 2. Dem glasses 3. He is a genius These are the reasons I love him.
Library extended hours run from Fri, 29 Nov to Mon, 16 Dec 2013. Hours are: Mon-Fri: 8am-11pm; Sat-Sun: 9am-11pm. http://bit.ly/zLDnFc
Who designed these classrooms? Hong Kong? There is no room, it is too crowded.
THANK YOU ULSU for the microwave in Markin Hall. This Management student was not going to walk all the way to UHall for a warm meal.
Dear Red Polar BearI would love to stand around and have people look weirdly at us. Where do you stand? -Green Dragon The Campus Farmers’ Market is returning for a Holiday Market. Stop by Dec 5, SU ballrooms, 12:00-5:00. Food and gift vendors will be there! Dear Goalie Fan, This is a friend of the goalie! She wants to know who you are, so if you possibly want to get to know her, email me at kate.kovacs@uleth.ca Friend of Goalie! Dear Guy in Red; Sounds perfect. I’ll be the one wearing a floral blazer. See You Then. Cute GIrl
Dear MSS, Some students are trying to study in Markin Hall, and by blasting your crappy music will not make anyone want to buy ski trip tickets. Studying Management Student The perplexed pair of pants Standing in the grocery store Wonders if anything has been forgotten imagine if romeo & juliet had snapchat. could such a thing even exist? yes. Anyone else see Doctor Who?! Besides squealing fangirls who only their first was the 10th Doctor; I seriously died of happiness. To the pretty Asian lady in PSYC. Visit me back in calgary?
VINTAGE TLFs
Green beans can be hazardous to your health - Sept. 2nd, 93.
Please puzzle over political panacea. Present promises panicking people. - Sept. 23rd, 93.
Opportunities to meet people - Sept. 2nd, 93.
Thought: “Are all female teachers sexist toward male students?” Ed. Note: No. Just you. - Sept. 23rd, 93.
Hey, Mister. Gotcha back for Easter. It’s all your fault anyway. Did she notice? - Sept. 9th, 93. B. Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! I got the last word! Patti-bitch-chick-you-like-to-argue-about-production-with - Sept. 9th, 93. Hey Babe, I’m coming home. Don’t you forget about me. Me. - Sept. 9th, 93.
Soccermen, stop whining like kids & start playing like men… - Sept. 30th, 93. I felt orange. I felt green. Funny how I am, now that you’re gone - But you’re still here, you’re just warthog molting. - Sept. 30th, 93. The warthog is loose! That doesn’t sound right, and it tastes like shit! We want Mooshead - Sept. 30th, 93.
Arthur Erikson went bankrupt! - Sept. 16th, 93. We better see that fucking moose in the Zoo again, or it’s Duke Duke Duke! - Sept. 16th, 93. … in director proportion to the mass of the ass causing a throb of the knob - Sept. 16th, 93.
CTHULHU is coming! CTHULHU is coming! CTHULHU is coming! CTHULHU is coming! CTHULHU is coming! CTHULHU is coming! - Sept. 30th, 93. Mike, if you are going to bring your kid into the Zoo - Keep her on a leash. - Sept. 30th, 93.
In my dream we talked - we merged 0 we flew apart - we pined a while … how long does a dream last? I’ll mourn you now, babe. - Sept. 30th, 93. Confirm your love in God. Join us in our christian affirmation chanting sessions every Friday - Sept. 30th, 93. What could be more fun that batting baby Seals? Why, harpooning dolphines with tooth picks of course. The Drunken Two. - Oct. 7th, 93. Free Willy slept with my mom and she said he should be called Wee Willy - Oct. 7th, 93. If you can’t drink the ladies pretty, then drink yourself blind! - Oct. 7th, 93. I’m going to the Cardston Temple on Sunday and I need a passenger to hold my cup of coffee and keep my beer cold. - Oct. 7th, 93. One horny art major looking for another cross-dressing male to spend time with and sometimes each other. - Oct. 7th, 93.
Hey Jeff! You don’t need a stats tutor -- You need a fucking life! - Oct. 14th, 93. OOOHHH, AAAHHHH, I can’t believe how much I enjoy reading TLFs from sexually deprived chics… MMMMM, AAAHHH - Oct. 21st, 93. I hate the world. So there. - Oct. 21st, 93. Do you think you’re hard, do you dress the part because it’s cool? Fuck off! Still be here after you submit. SID. - Oct. 28th, 93. I’m going to dress up as a slut on Halloween, what about you? - Oct. 28th, 93. Little one: You have the paint, I have this time. I’ll make your renderings easy - no costume at all! Swiss Miss - Oct. 28th, 93. From a tender young age we believe what we’re taught, to see what is real and what is not… - Oct. 28th, 93.
COURSE EVALUATIONS:
YOUR CHANCE TO ASSIGN A GRADE DEE GOYAL Arts and Science Representative
Course evaluations are generally met with apathy by the student body; proach, students have copious amounts of studying to deal with, especially when taking a full course load or working to pay bills, or both. While studying is critical to student success, it unfortunately hinges on adequate sleep and a nutritious diet, which may not be readily accessible to all university students. At such a stressful time, course evaluations do not rank highly on a student’s list of priorities and to some extent, rightly so. In order to address this problem, SU VP Academic Katie Kalmar and I have been working closely to come up with possible solutions. The faculty members we spoke with shared an astonishingly similar opinion on the lack of participation on course evaluations. They reported a participation of less than 30 per cent and added the resounding bias involved. In most cases, course evaluations are polarized in that they only dents that thoroughly enjoyed the course or the ones that found it unbearable. Students that fall somewhere in between these two extremes may undermine the importance of course evaluations and consequently, adopt apathy towards them. However, course evaluations play a crucial role in assessing the instructor’s performance and in providing them with feedback. In fact, course
evaluations can play a role in determining the instructor’s salary and their job security. As it stands, the assessments remain anonymous and the instructor sees the summary of responses, together with written com-
Since students are evaluated based on their knowledge of the course material, it makes sense that professors be assessed based on their ability to instruct. For every course, a grade is assigned this semester, it is essential that students make an effort to reciprocate this evaluation. Understandcould be spent studying or catching up on much-needed sleep, however it will not take more than a quick study break. Nonetheless, the fact remains that student participation on course evaluations needs to be improved in order to enhance the student-instructor experience and further build on the high quality of education at this university. There are ways to improve the current method, but unfortunately, any reforms will not be in effect this semester. Possible improvements instretch or having them done in-class (perhaps on the last day of classes) as opposed to online. This would promote a higher participation and alleviate the bias involved. If you have ideas, please contact either Katie at su.academic@uleth. ca or myself at dipankar.goyal@uleth.ca.
A CELEBRATION OF PERSEVERANCE aka ENDER BENDER ADAM LONG VP Student Affairs
been a long and gruelling road. From papers, projects and presentations to fee increases and class budget cuts: everything has added to our level
recharge that sense of encouragement and drive. However, for some a good old-fashioned celebration is all that’s needed to revive one’s spirit. Enter: Ender Bender. The tradition of Ender Bender has been carried on for many years here at the U of L. It provides the opportunity to bring friends together for one last chance to celebrate before everyone departs for the holidays. Or maybe it’s a students’ happy place to retreat before hell week (aka exam week). Whatever it is that brings you out to Ender Bender, this year promises to be nothing less than amazing.
Every cabaret needs a theme and Ender Bender is no different. We here in the Students’ Union are encouraging everyone to dig deep in the back all grown so accustomed to sporting this time of year. Yes! we mean that one your great grandma Millie knitted for you when you were too cool to wear grandma’s clothes, or yes! the one you managed to nab for a steal of a deal in the reject racks at your local thrift store. Yes! Come one ugly sweater, come all, because the ULSU will be giving away some awesome prizes just for wearing your holiday best! Not only that, we’ll also be featuring DJs from DJSAL all day in celebration of their one year anniversary as a campus club, and they will no doubt be spinning some of your favourite Christmas tunes. We will have plenty of games and activities set-up from ping-pong and billiards, to foosball and a bean bag toss. So, have no fear! The holiday spirit is here to ensure there will be many ways to bond with your friends beyond the tipping of cups. On the last day of classes, next Friday, Dec. 6 join us in the Zoo from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. to kick it Ender Bender style! Entry to the event is free, meaning the good times don’t cost a penny: just don’t forget to bring your holiday cheer!
COMIC
PLASTIC FANTASIC
MORAG RAHN-CAMPBELL
PUZZLES
2
9 2 6 7 3 5 5
1
4 3
6
— 30
5 2 3
3 2
3
7 8 6
8 6 9
8 7 7
www.str8ts.com
Previous solution - Medium
9 8 2 5 3 1 6 7 4
8 9 7 3 4 2
4 6 5 7 7 6 4 3 6 5 9 4 8 7 6 5 7 9 6 8 3 8 7 9 5 8 9 4 2 6 9 1 3 2 4 5 2 3 1
2 8 9 4 3
How to beat Str8ts – Like Sudoku, no single number can repeat in any row or column. But... rows and columns are divided by black squares into compartments. These
No. 153
6
4 9
Tough
4 8 5
2
4 8 9 3 7 2 6 5 1
7
7 1 2 6 4 2 3 7 8 3 8 6 1 4 5 8 8 3 2 3
complete a ‘straight’. A straight is a set of numbers with no gaps but can be in any order, eg [4,2,3,5]. Clues in black cells remove that number as an option in that row and column, and are not part of any straight. Glance at the solution to The solutions will be published here in the next issue. see how ‘straights’ are formed.
Previous solution - Medium
© 2011 Syndicated Puzzles, Inc.
7
6
Easy
© 2011 Syndicated Puzzles, Inc.
No. 153
5 3 1 8 6 9 7 4 2
6 7 2 1 4 5 9 8 3
3 1 4 7 5 8 2 6 9
7 5 6 9 2 4 1 3 8
2 9 8 6 1 3 5 7 4
8 2 3 5 9 7 4 1 6
9 6 5 4 8 1 3 2 7
1 4 7 2 3 6 8 9 5
board by entering numbers 1 to 9 such that each row, column and 3x3 box contains every number uniquely. For many strategies, hints and tips, visit www.sudokuwiki.org If you like Str8ts check out our books, iPhone/iPad Apps and much more on our store.
CES JOB LISTINGS WELCOME BACK EVERYONE! Let us introduce you to CES (Career & Employment Services). CES is a student service office dedicated to assisting you with your Career and Job Search needs. Weʼre within the Career Co-op Services Office in AH154, along with Applied Studies and the Management and Arts & Science Cooperative Education programs. CCS office hours are 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. Monday - Friday. Workshops for December & January:
To see full workshop schedule and sign up go online to uleth.ca/ross/ces/workshops.
CES career exploration workshops:
Tuesday, Jan. 14, 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22, 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Some of our services include:
• CAREER ADVISING – whether you are in your first year or about to graduate; if you are wondering what you can do with your major; if your career path is the right one for you, or how to go about finding a job, come in to make an appointment with a Career Advisor! • CES JOB BOARD! – access part-time, summer, full-time, international, and volunteer opportunities! Check postings 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, from the comfort of your own home or on campus. For more information and how to access the site, go to our website or come in to our office in AH154. All of the positions listed below can be found on the CES Job Board uleth.ca/ross/ces/job-board, • JOB SEARCH STRATEGIES – do you have questions about resumes or interviews? We have handouts for you; drop by to sign up for a workshop, • CAREER & EMPLOYER INFORMATION SESSIONS – watch for upcoming career events and information session dates. Sessions start as early as Sep 10. • CAREER INFORMATION – we have employer information, website lists, info on professional entrance exams (e.g. LSAT, MCAT, DAT, GRE) and an array of career planning information.
CES job search & networking workshops:
CES resume & cover letter workshops:
Thursday, Dec. 12, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 17, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 15, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Monday, Jan. 27, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 4, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Monday, Dec. 16, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 9, 1:40 p.m. – 3:40 p.m. Monday, Jan. 13, 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Friday, Jan. 31, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
CES interview techniques workshops:
Wednesday, Jan 29, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Go to our website for more detailed information on our services: uleth.ca/ross/ces For details of the postings and information on the application processes go to uleth.ca/ross/ces/job-board
L.A. BEAT LISTINGS labeat.ca
November 28 - December 4
28 James Oldenburg
Cotton Blossom Lounge Jazz
Open Mic in the Cave
The Cave (Lethbridge College) Pop
Open Mic at Inferno Inferno Nightclub DJ
Shaggy
Average Joe's Sports Bar/ Joe's Garage Pop
Hicks Jazz Quartet with Sheena 29 Herb Lawson Mocha Cabana Jazz
Lethbridge Folk Club Open Mic
Mercury Audio
The Slice Metal
30 Open Jam at Studio 54 Studio 54 Rock
Herb Hicks Jazz Quartet with Sheena Lawson Mocha Cabana Jazz
Jimmyʼs Pub Rock
Owl Acoustic Lounge Rock
Beethoven, and Radiohead with 3 Bach, Jesse Plessis CASA Classical
Open Mic The Slice Rock
Lori Kole
CKXU presents signal.bin: experimental music with Valiska, Muskoaka, Cory Xaradur and Soucier
Open Mic at Jimmyʼs
2 Open Mic at Owl Acoustic Lounge
Ricʼs Grill Folk
Lori Kole
Honkers Open Mic with Steve Keenan
Napalmpom with Betterhalf
The Slice Alternative
Bryant Watson Duo
Lethbridge Casino Country
Honkers Pub Blues
The Slice Metal
DIRT
Wolf's Den Folk
Lethbridge Casino Country
Blueprint's seventh anniversary show with Napalmpom, Fox Eyes, Fist City, Betterhalf, Advertisement
Owl Acoustic Lounge Country
The Bordello Alternative
Open Mic at the Smokehouse Smokehouse Bar and Grill Rock
Rykka
Average Joe's Sports Bar/ Joe's Garage Rock
4
Drama Nutz Uncensored Improv Night NAAG Studio Comedy
L.A. Beat Open Jam
Owl Acoustic Lounge Folk
Washboard Hank with Lance Loree
The Slice Country