may 14, 2015

THE SHEAF May 14, 2015 - Your University of Saskatchewan student newspaper since 1912.

University Bridge closure a chance to talk about transit. pg. 3

News - 2

Sports - 4

Culture - 5

Opinions - 7

Federal Budget will have an effect on students.

Huskies football looks to a bright future with new recruits.

MazzFest 2015 is coming to Louis’ Pub.

Students share past difficulties with living in residence.

May 14, 2015 - THESHEAF.COM 2 NEws Federal budget to impact U of S students

THE SHEAF

EMILY KLATT Staff Writer

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The 2015-16 federal budget promises to deliver a number of changes that will affect Canadian students, including those at the University of Saskatchewan.

Federal Finance Minister Joe Oliver tabled the 2015 budget for the Government of Canada on April 21. This is the first balanced budget since 2007 and includes a $1.4 billion surplus.

With a federal election expected for the fall, this is the last budget to be released by the sitting Conservative Party cabinet. Under the government’s Economic Action Plan, the deficit has been reduced from $55.6 billion at the height of the 2008 global recession.

Research at the U of S will see an increase in support with $1.33 billion having been pledged over six years to the Canadian Foundation for Innovation, beginning in 2017. The foundation provides funding for a number of projects in Canada, including over 260 projects at the U of S as of January 2015, such as the Aboriginal Health Research and Training Facility and the Synchrotron.

Response from Gordon Barnhart, U of S interim president and vice-chancellor, has been generally positive, particularly in regards to research funding.

“A lot of new money [was] added to research. This is the single largest investment [and] is really good news,” said Barnhart. “More research money means expanded research programs, which helps grad students … it’s also there for undergrads as well, which makes our campus a better environment for teaching.”

Barnhart also acknowledges that the federal government can only do so much.

“It’s up to us to submit [funding] applications, to earn our right to spend a certain amount of money,” he said.

The Canadian Student Loans and Grants program will undergo major changes, including the removal of the assessment of in-study income from the evaluation process. Currently, student loan funding is reduced for every $100 earned per week by the student in external jobs.

Now, students can work and gain valuable employment experience and still receive full financial assistance, which will help an additional 87,000 students per year.

The expectation of parental contribution has also been reduced.

Starting in 2016, the government will contribute $119 million over four years to the Canadian Student Loan Program. This will increase support for approximately 92,000 students.

Other changes include Eligibility for Student Grants, which has

been extended to short programs.

The minimum length requirements for programs has been reduced by almost 50 per cent, dropping from 60 weeks to 34 weeks. This will increase student support by $184 million over five years, starting in 2016.

While these changes do provide some benefits, Jack Saddleback, president of the U of S Students’ Union, points out that no system is perfect.

“On one hand, we’re seeing the education system become more accessible to incoming students, while on the other hand, the federal government needs to address student debt better,” Saddleback said.

Aboriginal students will also benefit from this year’s budget, with $12 million pledged to Indspire, an Indigenous-led registered charity that aims to further the education of First Nations, Inuit and Métis students within Canada.

The money will go towards scholarships and bursaries to help students fund their post-secondary education.

Despite his acknowledgement of the budget’s downsides,

Saddleback also recognizes its positive implications.

“Twelve million in support for scholarships and bursaries is fantastic in that it addresses the societal disparities that create barriers for Aboriginal students in their access to education,” Saddleback said.

Certain aspects of the budget will continue to affect students even after they leave university, as the government has also promised to assist with the job hunt. It will provide a one-time investment of $65 million to business and industry associations to support them in working with post secondary institutions to align course material with the needs of employers.

JEREMY BRITZ / GRAPHICS EDITOR

NEws 3

May 14, 2015 - THESHEAF.COM

University Bridge closure creates opportunity for Saskatoon Transit

KEIGHLAGH DONOVAN News Editor As the city of Saskatoon reroutes its commuters to accommodate the closure of the University Bridge, an opportunity to increase public transit ridership and improve the present transit system has also arisen.

The nearly 100-year-old bridge is an iconic landmark in Saskatoon, a city known for its bridges. Initially constructed in 1916, the bridge has undergone various rehabilitation projects over the years. Despite the ongoing maintenance and the potential inconvenience for commuters, the city insists that the project cannot wait.

According to the City of Saskatoon website, “In 2013, an independent engineering assessment of the bridge identified that the deck is structurally insufficient and the concrete is susceptible to rapid failure and loss of strength due to freezethaw action. While there is no risk of danger, the assessment concluded that immediate repairs are required.”

The current rehabilitation began on May 3, closing off the bridge only a week after the end

of the University of Saskatchewan’s 2014-15 academic year.

The estimated timeline proposes project completion by Aug. 30, just in time to accommodate the increased traffic of students and staff heading back to university in the fall.

In the meantime, summer students and commuters alike are encouraged by the city to familiarize themselves with alternate routes and substitute forms of transportation such as walking, cycling and transit. The city has kept one lane open for emergency vehicles and public transit, claiming the transit schedules should not be noticeably interrupted by the bridge closure.

Kehan Fu, vice-president student affairs of the University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union, anticipates that an increase in commuter dissatisfaction is inevitable.

“The university is a hub of the city so that creates a lot of congestion as it is; even with the bus routes there is obviously going to be delays,” Fu said.

Rachel Malena-Chan, a spokesperson for the 10 Days for Transit initiative, argues that Saskatoon commuters should not be discouraged but rather view the suggested alternative of taking transit as an opportunity.

“The whole time you are sitting on the bus you could be reading a book, you could be doing work.

It’s not just an alternative commute, it’s reclaimed time in your life that you get to take back for yourself and do the things you want to do,” said Malena-Chan.

10 Days for Transit is a campaign that ran from April 14–24 in an effort to raise awareness about the importance of public transit to Saskatoon. The campaign was created by a coalition of groups advocating for a better transit system and overall experience of Saskatoon, including the Bus Riders of Saskatoon, The Partnership, Better Transit YXE and the USSU. The Bus Riders of Saskatoon is a group of volunteer advocates for better public transit.

The Partnership is a product of a city bylaw established in 1986 that promotes the experience of downtown Saskatoon and Better Transit YXE is a small startup group focusing on transit in Saskatoon.

The coalition of organizers, along with several Saskatoon citizens, joined the campaign to encourage increased and new ridership over the course of the 10 days and asked the question, “What would it take to make Saskatoon a transit city?”

“Right now we are only at about four per cent of ridership and we know that as our city grows and we become a more sustainable city and economy, we are going to need transit to

become a real option for a larger portion of our population,” said Malena-Chan.

Monica Gordon, a regular bus rider and psychology undergraduate at the U of S, believes that Saskatoon transit is not yet the system it needs to be to satisfy a consistent ridership.

“In the last two days, I've had several buses be 10 minutes late.

The other frustrating thing is the hours they run. People want to run errands in the evening and on the weekend, but the buses only come once an hour at night and have reduced hours on Sundays. It isn't a logical reduction, and it isn't going to improve transit use,” said Gordon.

Although the delays may or may not be correlated with the University Bridge closure, Gordon insists that the service

remains flawed.

“It feels like the transit exists because the city's numbers are so large that they have to provide the service. Saskatoon is nowhere close to being an actual transit city,” said Gordon.

According to the City of Saskatoon’s website, the city has implemented an incentive agreement with the contractor, Horseshoe Hill Construction Inc., to encourage the timely completion of the bridge rehabilitation.

If the project extends past its anticipated completion date of Aug. 30, the contractor will incur a substantial fiscal charge paid to the city. If the renovation wraps up ahead of schedule, Horseshoe will receive a fiscal incentive from the city and the bridge will reopen earlier than planned.

KAYLE NEIS

Contractors work to rehabilitate the iconic University Bridge.

Upcoming events Thursday may 14

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Saturday may 16

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Wednesday may 20

The Drunken Superheroes with Savage Henry and the Infamous One Pounders at Amigos

Bastard Poetry with guests at Amigos

Diana Krall at TCU Place

Lovecoast with guests at the Capitol

Sarah Farthing with The Velveteins and guests at Vangelis

2015 Poetry Slam Finals presented by Tonight It’s Poetry at the Broadway Theatre

Gunner and Smith, The Northern Light, The Ashley Hundred and The Fever Feel at Final night of Crees Amigos in the Caribbean at Studio 914

Time for Change Tour at the Delta Bessborough

Last Ditch on the Left at Village Guitar & Amp Co.

Joel Plaskett and The Emergency with Mo Kenney at the Broadway Theatre

911 Turbo with guests at the Capitol Music Club

CAMPUS CHAT

Smegma.

John Holgate

Final day of the Saskatoon World Cup soccer tournament at the SaskTel Centre

An EvEning with JAnE UrqUhArt Harper.

Moist.

Vineet Kumar

Is Now Accepting Applications for its

Launching The Night Stages

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What is the grossest word you know?

Opening day at Batoche National Historic Site

Wednesday, May 20, 7 pm

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May 14, 2015 - THESHEAF.COM 4 sports Huskies football announces new recruits, kicks off spring camp

AUSTIN ARVAY Sports Editor Following another year that ended in playoff disappointment, the University of Saskatchewan Huskies football team took the first steps to righting the ship in 2015.

On April 30, the Huskies held their annual Dog’s Breakfast to announce the 25 new recruits that will join the team — 15 of which are Saskatchewan-born products that will aim to help the Huskies win their first conference title since 2007.

Head coach Brian Towriss was at the banquet to introduce and welcome the rookies and noted that he was very excited about this recruiting class.

Some of the key recruits joining the squad are former Saskatoon Hilltops Justin Filteau (All-Canadian linebacker), Wayndel Lewis (AllCanadian running back) and Ben Hodson (All-Canadian offensive lineman).

Top high school talents Ben

Whiting (defensive back), Payton Hall (defensive back) and Eric Thakurdeen (linebacker) will join the Huskies as well. All three players suited up for the U-18 Team Canada and helped defeat Team U.S.A. 25–9 at the 2015 International Bowl in Arlington, Texas.

Saskatoon high school standouts Jacob Solie (defensive back), Adam Lewis (running back) and Greg Lamb (receiver) all played for Team Saskatchewan in 2014 and will suit up for the Dogs in 2015 and beyond.

Following the banquet, the team hit the gridiron later that evening for their first official practice of the new year. The spring camp wrapped up on May 3 with the annual Green & White Scrimmage.

“Spring camp gives us an opportunity to introduce our systems and evaluate and compare the incoming players with the veterans on our roster,” Towriss told Huskies Athletics.

In the scrimmage, both sides of the ball turned in a great effort and capped off what was a very successful weekend of football.

The offence moved the ball effectively through the air and on the ground for the majority of the mini-game, but struggled in the ball

security department, with a disappointing four fumbles throughout the afternoon.

With Mitch Hillis leading the way, the offence scored four touchdowns in the game — two from running back Jarvis James and the other two courtesy of Hillis, who will enter his third season of Canadian Interuniversity Sport eligibility and will be counted on heavily to produce in the Huskies aerial attack.

Up front, the offensive line will be expected to improve this season after injuries plagued them in 2014.

Quarterback Drew Burko will need better protection in the pocket and more consistent holes will need to be opened up for the running game to be successful. The running back position will be an intense battle to see who gets the nod as starter, with incumbents Shane Buchanan, Jarvis James and Andre LaLonde up against youngsters Tyler Chow and Wayndel Lewis.

The running game has been inconsistent over the past couple of years and will be a necessity if the Huskies want to compete with the University of Calgary Dinos and the University of Manitoba Bisons for the top spot in the Canada West conference.

Defensively speaking, the

secondary played very well with many impressive and athletic pass knockdowns. The front seven were also stellar, providing pressure early and often to help slow down the offensive attack and forcing four turnovers which impressed defensive coordinator Ed Carleton. It was great to see following last season when the Huskies defence led the

CanWest in takeaways.

The team will now be off until August when fall camp starts up, just prior to the beginning of the 2015 season. With one of the strongest recruiting classes in recent memory and some positive signs at spring camp, it looks as though 2015 will be another good year for Huskies football.

JEREMY BRITZ / GRAPHICS EDITOR

Canada prepares to host the world’s best KADE GATES

The 2015 Women’s World Cup will be hosted right here in Canada and one of the contenders for the gold will be our very own Canadians.

Canada brings a roster full of players who were also the Olympic bronze medalists at London in

2012 and were a few calls away from going to the Olympic final. However, Canada will face stiff competition from other countries such as Germany, the United States and Brazil.

The goalkeeping duties for Team Canada will be handled by the duo Karina LeBlanc and Erin McLeod.

The pair have combined for 214 appearances at the national level and are both very solid keepers for

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their club teams.

The top defender for the team is likely to be Rhian Wilkinson, who has 163 previous appearances. Wilkinson was also the 2007 Canadian Soccer Association’s Female Athlete of the Year. Kadeisha Buchanan is one of the up-and-coming stars of this Canadian team, as the 19-year-old already has 34 appearances, two goals and was one of the top players in the National Collegiate Athletics Association as a freshman.

The midfield is where the Canadians have most of their experience.

Diana Matheson, Sophie Schmidt, Desiree Scott and the University of Saskatchewan’s very own Kaylyn Kyle combine for an amazing 481 games played and 36 goals for the red and white. Matheson is recovering from an ACL tear in October 2014 and as such is still questionable to play in the Women’s World Cup. Christine Sinclair will be the engine that drives the Canadian team as she leads Canada with 222 games played as well as 153 goals.

Sinclair also seems to excel during the big games, as she has 15 goals in her 22 combined Olympic and World Cup games. Most memorable of the those games was the London 2012 Olympic semifinal versus the Americans when Sinclair had three goals as she nearly willed the Canadians to an Olympic final before falling 4–3.

Germany will be one of Canada’s stiffest competition. The world’s number one ranked team is led by their goalkeeper and 2013 FIFA

World Player of the Year Nadine Angerer. Angerer is well remembered amongst women’s soccer fans for shutting out every opponent she faced in the 2007 Women’s World Cup, going all 540 minutes without allowing a goal. Célia Šašić will lead the goal-scoring effort for the Germans as she has 57 goals in 103 appearances so far.

The U.S. has never finished worse than third at the Women’s World Cup and this year should be no different. The U.S. will be led by plenty of familiar faces such as defender Christie Rampone, goalkeeper Hope Solo and strikers Abby Wambach and Alex Morgan. Wambach is the all-time leading scorer for the Americans with 178 goals in 239 appearances. Solo will be heavily leaned on, as the other two goalkeepers on the roster have a combined seven appearances.

Brazil will be tough as always and players Marta and Cristiane will look to carry them to another strong finish. The two have a combined 165 goals in 198 games played. Marta is a five-time FIFA World Player of the Year and has been nominated 10 times. Cristiane was the top scorer at both the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games. Brazil is the world number seven, but with two of the world’s best goal scorers they will be very difficult to defeat.

Canada drew a very favourable group as they will face world number 16 China, number 17 New Zealand and number 12 the Netherlands. Canada is 8–1–0 in their last three games against each of their first round opponents.

Canada will need to bring their "A” game, but a semifinal appearance is not out of the question for an experienced team like Canada.

FLICKR / MATT BOULTON

Former Huskie Kaylyn Kyle will look to help Canada win gold on home soil for the 2015 Women’s World Cup.

culture 5

May 14, 2015 - THESHEAF.COM

CBC award recognizes U of S graduate student MACKENZIE PARADZIK

Jebunnessa Chapola is making her mark in the fields of feminism, volunteering and cultural activism.

Chapola is a scholar and mother currently working on a PhD in Women’s, Gender, and Sexualities studies at the University of Saskatchewan. She has an array of experience and achievement under her belt, which recently earned her a CBC Future Top 40 Award for community leadership, social activism and volunteerism.

Chapola is grateful to her respected community elder and mentor Arati Chattopadhyay, who nominated her for the award. For Chapola, receiving this honour is not only the recognition of a goal achieved but a motivation to keep working hard and raising awareness on the issues that are important to her.

Chapola was born and raised in Bangladesh where she obtained an undergraduate degree in sociology. She furthered her education with two graduate degrees in social work and gender and development in Sweden and Norway, respectively. Upon returning to Bangladesh, Chapola worked for the United Nations Development Programme.

In 2010, Chapola immigrated to Canada with her husband and

two daughters. Chapola wanted to build bridges between diverse cultures and people, and make community involvement more accessible to new Canadians.

“My life’s mission is dedicated to making subalterned ethnic and indigenous cultures visible in the international arena and to creating awareness about the barrier to achieving social and environmental justice through engaged scholarship, relational and arts-based research practices and working within and across new media environments,” Chapola said.

She emphasizes the importance of having an intersectional view towards social justice and strives for solutions to issues such as institutionalized racism, classism, sexism, systematic injustice, white privilege, heterosexual privilege and cultural imperialism. In short — she's a busy lady.

Chapola became such an involved activist because she wanted to challenge societal assumptions about motherhood. After the birth of her two daughters, Chapola struggled with maintaining her professional identity. She noticed a shift in others’ attitudes towards the work that she was doing and began to feel devalued as her focus shifted away from her career to her family and community. These attitudes brought up a question for her: why is unpaid

work not considered a contribution to society?

It became one of Chapola’s biggest missions to make sure that activities without pay are valued as equally as jobs that generate an income. Volunteering and domestic tasks require both effort and passion, even though they are unpaid.

Chapola began volunteering for various organizations in Saskatoon as soon as she arrived in the city.

She served as vice-president of the board for the International Women of Saskatoon organization for three years, as a cultural ambassador at Ness Creek Music Festival for four years and currently takes part in cultural festivals all across the city.

Chapola is also heavily involved in the U of S Students’ Union Women’s Centre, the International Student and Study Abroad Centre and the Aboriginal Students’ Centre.

She will also serve as the vice-president academic of the Graduate Students’ Association at the U of S for the 2015–16 academic term.

She also finds time to teach free lessons in music and vocal performance out of her home for children in her community.

In 2012, Chapola initiated a radio show on CFCR 90.5 FM titled Banglar Gaan O Kotha — which translates to Bengal’s Song and Stories.

The show highlights Bengla culture

and provides the Bangladesh community in Saskatoon with a way to stay connected with their music, language and history.

The CBC Future Top 40 Award recognizes Chapola’s many years

of community contribution. Her fierce passion for social justice and ability to overcome obstacles makes her an inspiration to students and the wider community alike.

CAITLIN TAYLOR / PHOTO EDITOR

Jebunnessa Chapola is dedicated to promoting social equality.

MazzFest features future stars and local talent CHELSEA POWRIE Culture Editor MazzFest 2015, a mini music festival featuring new artists in the world of metal and alternative rock, is shaping up to be the perfect start to summer.

Taking place at Louis' Pub on May 30, MazzFest will squeeze all the excitement of a full festival into one day. Three separate stages will be in use — one upstairs at Louis' Loft and two down below.

MazzFest's founder, Vince Geiger, is excited about this year's new venue and altered focus.

“We have a lot of new talent.

Almost all the bands are new,” Geiger said, explaining his vision of the next chapter in the festival's story. He describes the event as a preview and kickoff for all the bands on their further tours this year. MazzFest is well known in the Canadian metal scene and Geiger is looking forward to it becoming a platform for the exposure of future stars.

MazzFest began six years ago as a project that Geiger undertook as a teenager. It was initially

a massive success and the demand has since grown. This is the first year that Louis' Pub will be hosting the event, as O'Brians Event Center was MazzFest's previous home. Geiger explained that they have simply outgrown the previous space.

A new venue means new rules, so this year's event will only be open to those 16 and up. The event was previously open to all ages, which Geiger had specifically decided. Many University of Saskatchewan students who grew up locally will remember the popularity of MazzFest when they were in high school. Geiger wanted an event that teenagers could safely attend that allowed them access to the metal music scene.

“The rave scene is big right now.

This provides another option,” he said.

The age restriction doesn't mean that alcohol won't be available though. Beer gardens will serve those old enough to indulge. The event will have in-and-out privileges and Louis' kitchen will be open throughout the day. All of the stages will be in use, so ticket holders can have their pick of a variety of talent at any given moment.

A diversity of genres is another new aspect this year. MazzFest will continue to boast their reliable base of metal talent and will

also showcase independent acts from other styles of music. For the first time, a hip-hop act has been included in the lineup, along with alternative rock and punk bands.

The lineup looks as though there will be something for everyone.

The talent MazzFest presents comes from all across Canada, making it a great opportunity to experience some of the best independent acts this nation has to offer, all in one place. Local acts will perform as well, such as Saskatoon band Hollow Between the

Hills, who describe their music as progressive, melodic metal.

Up-and-coming acts from the prairies will feature heavily, including Alberta-based band Colour in the Clouds, whose music is layered in a way that will appeal to fans of any genre.

MazzFest has previously featured acts from the United States and even Europe — a testament to the reputation of this festival. The respect it garners within the music community is something that Geiger intends to uphold.

Music festivals out of town can be expensive, but this one is available in the U of S' own backyard on a student budget. MazzFest is a perfect opportunity to welcome the summer and take your pick of a wide variety of talented musicians.

MazzFest will be at Louis' Pub on May 30 beginning at 1 p.m. Tickets are $25 and are available online at ticketfly.com or at the door. For more information on the lineup and specific performances, check the MazzFest Facebook page.

JEREMY BRITZ / GRAPHICS EDITOR

May 14, 2015 - THESHEAF.COM 6 culture Hats off: Saskatoon designer shows off new skills at Fashion Week LYNDALL MACK

SUPPLIED / MICHAEL HRYCAY

Sherri Hrycay’s designs for women of all sizes took the stage at Saskatchewan Fashion Week.

Sherri Hrycay, owner and designer of Sova Design Millinery, took her collection to new heights for Saskatchewan’s annual fashion week in Regina — a three-day festival from May 7–9 showcasing prairie-based design talent.

Hrycay graduated from the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Education in 1994. After graduating, she taught home economics in Calgary where she discovered her love of fashion and design.

In 2008, Hrycay and her husband Michael were inspired to create Sova Design Millinery, a brand initially dedicated to couture hats.

“Sova” is a derivative of the word “owl” in Ukrainian, and Hrycay chose it to honour her family roots by using the feminine form of her surname. After three years of perfecting the collection, Hrycay debuted her brand at the Vancouver Fashion Week in 2011.

Hrycay's journey to this point began in self-reflection. She was encouraged by a past teacher to become a milliner — the traditional term for a hat maker — and she began by returning to fashion sketches she had made when she was younger. Hrycay was also inspired by reading about fashion designer Coco Chanel’s classic rags-to-riches journey to the

creation of her iconic high-end label.

Millinery was only the beginning for Hrycay. A new challenge for her creativity this year is the inclusion of clothing to complement her line of couture hats. Since this addition, the response has been overwhelmingly positive. Contrary to current fashion norms, Hrycay’s vision for her line does not consist of designs intended exclusively for size two models.

“My mission is to produce a line of fashion that makes women of all sizes feel comfortable and beautiful,” Hrycay said. “My philosophy is that clothing graded up from size two does not fit the body shape of larger sizes.”

In a time when designers strive to be modern and cutting-edge, Hrycay brings a unique element to her collection by shining a spotlight on the past and emphasizing the style of a forgotten era. By doing so, Hrycay consistently presents a line brimming with class and elegance.

“The works are inspired by the roaring 20s, and in particular, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries. The show is centered on a 40-something woman who is strong and independent — which is what inspired my clothing line.”

Hrycay said. “We believe one of a kind and handmade goods form

the essence of a bygone era where quality and style supersede consumerism and materialism.”

In addition to presenting her collections at fashion weeks across Canada, Hrycay garners attention beyond the fashion industry. In 2012, the Saskatchewan Government House commissioned her talent to create six replicas of hats that Queen Elizabeth II wore on each of her trips to Saskatchewan. Her collection was on display in the Government House in Regina and was viewed by Prince Charles, Prince of Wales during his tour commemorating the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. Hrycay credits it as the most memorable moment of her fashion career thus far.

With another successful fashion week under her belt, Hrycay will now look ahead at what’s next for her career. She aspires to expand her brand and eventually create a label dedicated to clothing intended to be carried in small, independent boutiques across Canada.

She'll also continue to create couture hats for private clientele at her storefront located in downtown Saskatoon, and will seek to further their production nationwide.

Hrycay’s classic yet unique hat and clothing designs have already been noticed by retailers in Alberta, Ontario and Quebec — proving that Saskatchewan has more to offer than wheat and canola.

Museum of Natural Sciences is full of hidden gems CHELSEA POWRIE Culture Editor The Museum of Natural Sciences at the University of Saskatchewan is an undervalued attraction well worth an in-depth exploration.

Many students are familiar with the museum from passing through it on their daily trek to class. It is housed on the ground floor of the Geology Building and its iconic Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton makes it memorable. But the museum has a lot more to offer than what first meets the eye, and a thorough visit beyond perfunctory glances in the few minutes between class reveals its true treasures.

The main section of the museum functions as a timeline through the history of evolution. Tanks full of fish and amphibians graduate to enclosures housing reptiles and birds, all of which are accompanied by informative panels explaining at which point in earth's history these types of animals appeared.

The animals also have signs providing details about their specific care and story. For example, Sammy the rat snake was an accidental hitchhiker inside of a shipment of produce from Kansas, U.S. She was discovered and saved, and then

made her way to the U of S. She now lives in the Museum of Natural Sciences, where visitors can watch her be fed on Wednesday mornings or marvel at all six feet of her shedded skin.

Another notable feature of the fish and reptiles section is the koi.

Patrons can stand at the edge of the open-air pond and peer down at these surprisingly large Japanese carp. They have intricate coloration and amusing habits: they swim to the surface and gulp hopefully for snacks when they have visitors.

Following the koi, the exhibit changes its focus. An impressive fibreglass cast of a Stegosaurus skeleton marks the end of the reign of the dinosaurs and the rise of mammals. Using a horse as an example, the exhibit illustrates evolution through a series of skeletons ranging from a tiny prehistoric horse ancestor with several toes to a large modern horse with hooves. It is a simple yet highly effective way of communicating the amount of change that evolution has caused and information panels accompanying the displays are complementary and thought provoking.

After visiting this main section, patrons may feel they've seen it all, but the museum has more to offer.

The natural science focus includes earth science and the museum's collection of minerals is extensive.

In the main lobby, a large case in

the central area displays impressive specimens with a wide range of colors and crystal structure. Taking the time to stop and look closely at each of them is worthwhile.

This display is the most obvious, but it is not the only one. Off the beaten path down the hallway are more glass cases filled with rocks and minerals. A particularly fascinating case houses a large number of quartz crystals, demonstrating the vast range of coloration that can manifest.

On the wall opposite of the display cases hang a series of informational panels. They cover basic geological history, briefly explaining Saskatchewan's current makeup.

One panel explains the prevalence of potash in the province, which is particularly interesting given its importance to the economy.

The information panels in general are the strength of the museum and are all too easily missed during a brief visit. Patrons are guaranteed to learn something new if they take the time to read. The panels are concise and well-written, and include photographs and maps.

They range in topic from the local to the cosmic, including a section on meteors, which is fascinating to the viewer.

Other highlights of the museum include the adorable degus, which are small brush-tailed rats, and the tropical fish tank, which houses fish in all the flashy colors of the

rainbow. The museum is chock full of interesting visuals and information.

You may think you've seen everything it has to offer, but a closer

look will undoubtedly reveal more.

Best of all — it is completely free!

The Museum of Natural Sciences is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

KATHERINE FEDOROFF

The Museum of Natural Sciences contatins interesting attractions both big and small.

opinions 7

May 14, 2015 - THESHEAF.COM

Final exams: Marking up the wrong tree CHELSEA POWRIE Culture Editor A student's performance on their final exam should be an accurate representation of what they learned in that course. Too often however, it is not.

The question is, would standardizing the weight of final exams improve the career prospects of University of Saskatchewan graduates?

I propose 40 per cent finals across the board, with the remaining mark being comprised of two midterms and assignments of varying weights. Midterms are valuable for students, as they provide feedback on performance at that point.

Multiple midterms are painful, yes, but they’re useful checkpoints to keep students engaged and committed.

Likewise, homework serves the same purpose, and the process of completing it brings about a deeper learning process than cramming. In my experience, skills gained completing assignments are far more likely to be retained in the long term than those hectically practiced at the last minute.

Let's be honest — we've all written exams that we probably shouldn't have passed. We've stayed up all night reading through every lecture slide, frantically taking notes and gulping Code Red Mountain Dew. We've compressed the material down to a single page and then attempted to memorize it, feverishly flipping through flashcards until the last possible second in the hallway outside of the exam room. And — without fail — we've checked our marks a few weeks later to see if we failed, only to find that we actually did pretty well.

The problem with this kind of learning is that it doesn't last. Two weeks later, you couldn't pass that test again if your life depended on it. But you've still got that mark on your transcript which is supposed to tell the world that you've mastered at least some percentage of the course's content.

Final exams come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from the takehome essay worth 20 per cent to the monstrous three hour ordeal riddled with trick questions and problems you swear the professor never covered. Meanwhile, both ends of the spectrum are expected to be properly indicative of a student’s grasp of the content.

As it stands, a bachelor's degree gained from the U of S can mean a lot of different things when it is

broken down into its individual courses. At the end of the four or so years, no matter what the percentage of each of your finals was worth, you earn a degree.

But there are still so many different ways of assigning grades among colleges and courses. Your degree could stand for years of dedicating yourself and forgoing a social life or it could stand for years of skipping class to sleep off hangovers and cramming effectively at the last minute.

With standardized exams, if an employer were to see a U of S graduate's resume, they would know that it stood for a rigorous standard of education. They could rely on the knowledge that an applicant’s degree represented a strong level of comprehension in that field.

High percentage finals provide the opportunity for laziness. Every student has felt the temptation to slack off, especially in the aftermath of the rigid attendance taking in high school. Having a heavily-weighted final means someone could pass a course they barely attended simply by cramming. On the other hand, finals are still important and they shouldn't be worth too little — they are, after all, at the end of the course and they should confirm that the student has adequately learned the course content.

Yes, this sounds like more work,

since many courses don't currently adhere to this level of organization. But isn't it better to be constantly obligated to work and learn because of due dates and multiple tests than to leave it all up to your own motivation? We would get more out of our courses, we’d go into our finals more prepared and we could stop spending so much money on caffeine.

If the percentage that finals were

worth was standardized, an undergraduate degree from the U of S would begin to mean something more than it currently does. As it stands, employers can't know what kind of employee they’re getting — steadfast and studious or lazy and lucky? Final exams should be used to gauge the knowledge gained over an effectively managed course and should not be an opportunity for last minute salvation.

JEREMY BRITZ / GRAPHICS EDITOR

U of S residence not always the best choice MONICA GORDON

Every year, a portion of University of Saskatchewan students take up residence in Voyageur Place, one of the U of S’ four residences. For some, living in residence is a thoroughly frustrating experience.

I spoke to several students who have lived in Voyageur Place to get an idea of what it’s like. While there are both positive and negative aspects to living there, the services offered to students seem to be both disappointing and overpriced.

In an email interview with the

Sheaf, fourth year computer science student Erik LaBine, suggested that the quality of rooms left quite a bit to be desired.

“Paint was peeling off every ceiling, lights would flicker unless you left them on all day long, insulation was falling off of steam pipes and radiators were often stuck at an inconvenient temperature setting,” LaBine said.

Living in Voyageur Place can also be significantly more expensive than living off-campus. After his second year, LaBine moved off campus, feeling that residence simply wasn’t “worth it.”

Besides the quality of the rooms,

students also identify the bureaucracy of residence as a huge drawback.

One former Residence Assistant, referred to as Alex to protect their privacy, described how slow the process of changing rooms was.

When experiencing conflict, students “would be encouraged to go through a remediation process which, depending on how busy the RA [was], could take up to two to three days,” Alex said. “They would have to then go two to three weeks before residence would take any further action. Residence, after deciding that further action is necessary, could take days to weeks before arranging a room change.”

JEREMY BRITZ / GRAPHICS EDITOR

Alex also indicated that in some cases it could take a whole month for the process to conclude.

Irritation with the bureaucracy isn’t limited to room changes, either.

Lucas Berg, a sixth year physics student who lived in Voyageur Place for several years, found himself the victim of changing regulations on move-in day for the 2014–15 academic year.

“I was told that since I hadn’t made arrangements months in advance, I would have to pay the full rent for the semester on the spot, a policy much different from the previous four years’ ‘pay as you go’ method,” Berg said.

This change in an extremely important policy was not adequately advertised to students, and Berg wasn’t the only person who was unpleasantly surprised that day.

Though he did manage to make the bulk payment on time, it was only with the help of friends.

What frustrated him most was the unsympathetic manner in which he was treated by residence staff.

“They were certainly being more difficult than I felt they had reason to be,” Berg said, going on to note that while he was initially inclined to attribute his treatment to inexperienced staff, he changed his mind upon hearing of the similar experience of a friend.

It shouldn’t be said that living in Voyageur Place is without redeeming

qualities though. Former RA and third year computer science major Royce Meyer thoroughly enjoyed his experience.

“I liked that it was close to everything. I could crawl out of bed 10 minutes before class started and make it in time,” Meyer said. “What residence offers is a place on campus, close to classes, potentially near friends, where you can feasibly worry about nothing but your academics and social life, as your expenses are effectively unified into one bill.”

With this in mind, living on campus is not necessarily a wholly bad idea.

Student residences can be a great place for new or out of town students to make friends and they can often foster a sense of community among students.

It appears that the only significant flaws are in the execution. For many students, the price tag, poor room quality and exasperating bureaucracy are substantial enough grievances to prompt a relocation off of campus.

“I felt like I was being treated like a disposable product,” LaBine said.

“I’d guess that the university is leaning on the residence department to try to turn a profit to deal with the current financial woes ... The upper administration can get away with screwing over the students and the staff, because they know there’ll always be a fresh batch next year, no matter how many people swear it off for life.”

8

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