The Sheaf - January 9th, 2014

The Huskies teams get graded on their performance so far this season.

SPORTS 5-7

THE sheaf

9 January, 2014 • The University of Saskatchewan student newspaper since 1912

Planning students reinvision parking lot across circle drive.

NEWS 2

Celebrate the underappreciated films from 2013.

CULTURE 12

Are you guilty of filling up your Instagram feed with selfies?

OPINIONS 13

Career paths that break the mold CHIEDZA PASIPANODYA

Career paths are rarely straightforward, making many graduates feel lost after obtaining their degrees. “What next after graduation?” Every student in the College of Arts and Science has asked themselves this question — I certainly have.

Regardless of what degree you receive, there’s no limit to what kind of career you can have.

As students we often feel bound to the field that we majored in, but the economy doesn’t have a job for every one of us.

It’s even less likely to find a job in our specialization. In addition, after four or five years of studying a particular subject, you may discover that it isn’t what you want to spend the rest of your life doing.

Increasingly, graduates have had to rethink their career paths, take on new challenges or have simply had to create their dream jobs for themselves.

Profiling three alumni who graduated with a degree in fine arts, social sciences, or natural sciences but pursued a nonlinear career path, shows that getting creative when it comes to your career is a valid choice.

Following a career that isn’t directly linked to your degree isn’t out of the norm. No matter what changes you choose to make, you are always taking positive steps forward.

Kyle Hamilton began university with the intention of doing a medical degree.

After completing his Bachelor of Science in Biology, he went on to complete a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in English Literature with the intention of pursuing a law degree. After being accepted into three different law schools, he decided to take a job housekeeping at a remote mountain lodge instead. He worked for 10 years in hospitality.

Now he has a successful portrait and wedding photography studio, and has had

JORDAN DUMBA/ PHOTO EDITOR

The Student Employment and Career Centre is located in Lower Marquis Hall and offers students career coaching, resume and cover letter help, as well as tips on how to succeed in job interviews among other things. his work published in ski and snowboard magazines across the world.

During his time at university, Hamilton travelled to France, Sweden and New Zealand. He got money for his first plane ticket by collecting beer bottles from parties and subsequently had enough money for the first two weeks.

Once he arrived at his first destination, Hamilton worked odd jobs to stay afloat.

Hamilton says travelling and working in another country opens up your mind and

is the best thing you can do.

Choosing a career path that isn’t common is a lifestyle choice and, in Hamilton’s experience, inner passion has been the motivation that has kept him going.

By starting his own company, Hamilton realized that he needed to learn to take the good with the bad. In order to make career changes, he needed people that would encourage and push him to make forward progressions.

Choosing to look at nothing as a bad choice and counting every experience as a learning opportunity has helped him grow his business and make each change successfully.

Embarking on a non-linear career path is not an excuse to be disorganized.

Planning is still necessary for both the long term and the short term. However it is important to be open to making changes to your plans.

Career paths • continued on 13

2 THE sheaf Editor-in-Chief: HenryTye Glazebrook, editor@thesheaf.com Production Manager: Samantha Braun, layout@thesheaf.com Senior News Editor: Anna-Lilja Dawson, news@thesheaf.com Associate News Editor: Scott Davidson, associatenews@thesheaf.com Photography Editor: Jordan Dumba, photo@thesheaf.com Graphics Editor: Cody Schumacher, graphics@thesheaf.com Culture Editor: Nicholas Kindrachuk, arts@thesheaf.com Sports Editor: Kim Hartwig, sports@thesheaf.com

NEWS Stolen public art installation found

9 January, 2014 • thesheaf.com

Opinions Editor: Travis Homenuk, opinions@thesheaf.com Copy Editor: Tab Rahman, copy@thesheaf.com Web Editor: Carter Bryden, web@thesheaf.com Ad & Business Manager: Shantelle Hrytsak, ads@thesheaf.com Board of Directors: Pete Yee, Jenna Mann, Dan LeBlanc, Rose Lien, Liam Richards Index Photo: Jordan Dumba/Photo Editor Office Numbers: Advertising 966-8688 Editorial 966-8689

The Sheaf is non-profit, incorporated and studentbody funded by way of a direct levy paid by all partand full-time undergraduate students at the University of Saskatchewan (U of S). Membership in the Society is open to undergraduate students at the U of S, but all members of the U of S community are encouraged to contribute to the newspaper. Opinions expressed in the Sheaf do not necessarily reflect those of the Sheaf Publishing Society Inc. The Sheaf reserves the right to refuse to accept or print any material deemed unfit for publication, as determined by the Editor-in-Chief. The Sheaf is published weekly during the academic year and monthly from May through August. The Editor-inChief has the right to veto any submission deemed unfit for the Society newspaper. In determining this, he/she will decide if the article or artwork would be of interest to a significant portion of the Society and benefit the welfare of Sheaf readers. The Sheaf will not publish any racist, sexist, homophobic, or libelous material.

Corrections • No corrections were submitted for the Dec. 5 issue. If you find any corrections in this week’s edition, please forward them to copy@thesheaf.com.

SCOTT DAVIDSON Associate News Editor

Pieces of a public art installation stolen from the University of Saskatchewan campus sometime on Nov. 13 or 14, 2013 were located in Lot 7 on the east side of Campus Drive on Dec. 11 by U of S Protective Services.

“We’re really happy and relieved for this turn of events,” said City of Saskatoon community initiatives manager Kevin Kitchen in the StarPhoenix. “That someone would remove artwork and damage others was upsetting to say the least.”

Titled INFRA, the installation consists of eight life size wolf figurines made of fibreglass, resin, pigments and LED lights that glow and replicate the real animal’s thermal imaging signature. The piece was created by Toronto artist Tonya Hart.

INFRA was set up in the trees along College Drive across from Bottomley Avenue on Nov. 5 as part of the City of Saskatoon’s Placemaker public art

CHUCK TINDAL

Missing pieces of the sculpture INFRA were found in a campus parking lot.

program.

The art installation was showcased during Toronto’s Scotiabank Nuit Blanche and the Winterlude festival in Ottawa in 2011 and returned this summer as part of a four-month long rooftop exhibit in downtown Ottawa.

After so many successful showings, Hart said she was surprised to hear that her art had been vandalized and stolen.

“Nothing like this has ever happened before and this is the fourth exhibition

of INFRA,” Hart wrote in an email to the Sheaf, adding that she had anchored the sculptures to the ground with screws.

When the initial theft occurred, the rest of the sculpture was removed from the installation’s site by the City of Saskatoon.

INFRA was relocated to the top of the building at the Cameco Meewasin ice skating rink beside the Delta Bessborough Hotel on Dec. 16.

Hart also said that she hasn’t dealt with her art being stolen since she was in high school when her smaller sculptures would go missing.

The Placemaker program installs pieces of art from independent artists on a temporary basis in public locations around Saskatoon. There are currently 23 pieces on display in the Broadway, Downtown, Riversdale and Sutherland Improvement Districts, College Drive, 33rd Street West and River Landing areas.

INFRA was leased to the City of Saskatoon through the program for six months at a cost of $5,000.

Students propose re-imagined community space on College Drive SCOTT DAVIDSON Associate News Editor

A design project by four University of Saskatchewan students has set out a vision to create a pedestrian friendly plaza on College Drive. Located between Dairy Queen and Starbucks across from the U of S campus, the space is currently occupied by a parking lot.

The group’s plan for the area — titled the College Drive Expressway — entails turning the parking lot into a pedestrian plaza by reorienting store fronts into the space, creating a patio with benches and tables, adding public artwork and building a greenhouse. The redeveloped area would be linked to the U of S campus by a large crosswalk on College Drive.

“For our site, we wanted to focus on pedestrians,” said group member Shannon McAvoy, a third-year urban and regional planning major. “Lots of the intersections that cross College Drive are not pedestrian friendly; they are car friendly.”

The group sees updating the area as important because it serves as a gateway between the Nutana community and the U of S campus.

“When we got out there, we realized that

there were so many people coming that space and so many university students,” said Jelena Misevski, a fourth year regional and urban planning major and another of the project’s designers.

When the group started the project, they took into account the individual interests of each group member and tried to include them in the finished design. In doing so, the project brought together the unique backgrounds of each member, which range from engineering to visual art.

Both area businesses and the U of S community have had positive reactions to the group’s idea. According to McAvoy, Starbucks was open to the idea of having a patio for its customers. The College of Agriculture helped to develop the group’s greenhouse concept. The U of S Visual Arts Students’ Union also expressed support for the idea.

Despite the project’s favourable reception, no further progress has been made. Misevski says that the group has not met since the assignment’s end and that they have not received any “real offers” to further its development.

Opposition to the project has centered around the removal of parking spaces from the area.

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A group of U of S students sees potential in the space between Starbucks and Dairy Queen.

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A 3-D rendering of the group’s concept.

“We’re taking away parking space, but its not efficient parking space. More efficient parking space would be raised and have multiple levels,” McAvoy said.

One of the biggest obstacles to making the project a reality is getting the owner of the parking lot, as well as all the area businesses on board. However, McAvoy said she feels that with the community’s support, they can work through the issue.

“It’d really be up to the community to make this change happen. No one person or group can make changes like this,” McAvoy said. “That’s kind of what we’re hoping to spark; it takes community members to make positive change and to create spaces that are fun for everyone.”

The project was a class assignment for an upper level geography course on urban planning. Groups were assigned specific spaces in Saskatoon and tasked with reimagining them in a more functional way and to prepare a video presentation on their project, all of which can be found on YouTube.

Other spaces included the open grass area between the U of S’ President’s Residence and the University Bridge and the empty space directly south of the rail bridge on the west side of Spadina Crescent.

“We want to make a change to how Saskatoon is planning its spaces,” McAvoy said. “There are so many spaces that have so much potential that’s just not fully utilized.”

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NEWS

9 January, 2014 • thesheaf.com

Preston Smith welcomed to the College of Medicine ANNA-LILJA DAWSON Senior News Editor

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The University of Saskatchewan came to the end of its search for the new dean of the College of Medicine after Dr. Preston Smith was announced as having accepted the position on Dec. 17, 2013.

The university’s Board of Governors appointed Smith to begin a five-year term on July 1.

In a Dec. 17 press release Provost and Vice-President Academic Brett Fairbairn said Smith was the candidate best suited for the job that lays ahead as dean of the College of Medicine.

“We have ambitious goals for our College of Medicine and Preston Smith has the combination of leadership qualities and proven academic experience that position him to succeed in the challenges that lie ahead,” Fairbairn said.

“I am confident he will lead our College of Medicine to its rightful place as the flagship of our university and I am excited to welcome him to the U of S.” Currently the Senior Associate Dean of Rural Medical Education at Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Medicine, Smith is responsible for distributing medical education throughout the Maritimes, connecting and building realtionships with doctors and hospitals in the many communities and the university’s medical program. Smith also has more than 20 years of experience as a medical practitioner in Moncton, N.B. During November 2013, Smith came to the U of S along with two other candidates for the position. Each candidate gave a 20-minute presentation of their vision for the College of Medicine. On Nov. 4, Smith spoke of the college as it would be in 2020 — no longer facing accreditation issues with strong leadership roles and a research intensive mandate.

Smith said he first had his eye on the U of S when he met Dr. William Albritton, the previous dean of the College of Medicine, at a strategic planning event in 2010. The similarities between the U of S and Dalhousie appealed to Smith, who said the similarly sized universities both try to spread medical education across a wide, rural area while working within two large cities. The College of Medicine’s history of social accountability and work with the community also appealed to Smith.

The similarities between the two universities “were all [the] kinds of things that resonated with my experience and my values,” Smith said. “Also, the commitment by both the province and the university to see the College of Medicine succeed was a huge factor in my interest in the job.”

Getting the College of Medicine off of probation is Smith’s first priority once he arrives at the U of S. Having already dealt with accreditation issues at Dalhousie, Smith said strong leadership and goal setting led to that probation being lifted within two years. In 2009 Dalhousie’s Faculty of Medicine was put on probation but, after a massive overhaul of the

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Dr. Preston Smith will join the College of Medicine’s leadership team on July 1.

curriculum, full accreditation status was regained in 2011.

“The biggest thing about getting past accreditation is providing people with a vision of what the college of medicine could be and getting people behind the idea of going for that,” Smith said.

“We had a vision that we weren’t just going to get past accreditation, we were going start a new curriculum, we were going to start a new campus and we were going to do it all really, really well.”

Smith said that although the U of S has already progressed quite far with the College of Medicine’s new curriculum, he will use all of his previous knowledge for its application.

“My experience in dealing with implementing a new curriculum is making sure that there is widespread communication, good back lead development and above all, attention to detail about making sure that new cases are ready for the students when students need them [and] the lectures are ready well ahead of time,” he said.

Aside from tackling accreditation issues, Smith said increasing the college’s comparatively low research funding is his other top priority. In order to do so, he will begin recruiting for the new position of vice-dean of research in the months leading up to his arrival.

All three of the College of Medicine’s vice-deans along with numerous department heads and the chief operating officer have yet to be filled with permanent candidates. The intent was to wait until the new dean was chosen so that they could fill the positions as they see fit.

“For me a big part of that first year will be getting that leadership team established and my first priority there would be the vice-dean of research,” Smith said, adding that he would then move on fill the remaining positions as the year goes on.

Albritton retired from his position as Dean of the College of Medicine in July 2012 after serving two terms. Since then, Lou Qualtier and Colum Smith have been the college’s acting deans.

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NEWS

9 January, 2014 • thesheaf.com

Campus highlights of 2013 ANNA-LILJA DAWSON Senior News Editor

January

March

April

Announced on Jan. 11, program prioritization is expected to save the University of Saskatchewan between $20 and $25 million. TransformUS was originally intended to have University Council create two taskforces — one to rank academic programs and another for support services — comprised solely of faculty, staff and administrators.

Students were quick to note their exclusion from the taskforces and, at the Jan. 24 University Council meeting, they filled the auditorium and voiced their concerns.

Support from concerned faculty members led to council voting in favour of including one undergraduate and one graduate student on each of the two taskforces, bringing the total number of members on each up to a range of 20 to 25.

With a deficit of $44.5 million projected for the 2016 operating budget, the U of S sought out ways to trim the growing gap between revenues and expenses. Alongside TransformUS, workforce planning also began in January.

A university wide review searching for inefficiencies in its workforce led to 40 employees being laid off, saving the university an estimated $2.3 million annually. A second round of job cuts took place in April, followed by massive layoffs during the summer that brought the total up to around 200 employees losing their jobs.

March is elections month for the U of S Students’ Union. This year saw a large number of candidates running for most positions, resulting in an executive with all new members.

Max FineDay beat out Brayden York and Alyssa Bredohl for the union’s president. The then third-year political studies major ran on a platform promising to protect students’ interests through an academic year that would face the challenges of program prioritization.

In an equally tight race, Jenna Moellenbeck was voted in as the vice-president of operations and finance. Running for the position a second time, Moellenbeck brought her previous experience on University Students’ Council budget and finance committee paired with her knowledge as an Edwards School of Business student to the election. Also running for the position were Rose Lien, Nathan Adams and Elias Nelson.

The vice-president of student affairs was the most sought after position, with six candidates in the running including Jeremy Yorga, Gibson Odoka, Payton Byrns, Kris Jones, Nour Abouhamra and Andrew Hartman.

Abouhamra received the most votes and promised a year full of events for students.

Jordan Sherbino ran uncontested and became the new vice-president of academic affairs. Running on a platform of accessibility and transparency, Sherbino guaranteed to not only represent students when dealing with academic issues, but to give them a strong voice when working with administrators.

Long-awaited renovations of the McEown Park residences began in April. The extensive overhaul of the buildings is expected to take 20 years.

Seager Wheeler, Souris Hall and Assiniboine Hall, which opened in 1970, and Wollaston Hall, which followed in 1976, had their carpets replaced with tile in April. Natural lighting and bed bug resistant furniture will be some of the residences’ new features. The first five years of renovations will address the areas of utmost importance.

The university conducted an engineering study to ensure the residences will be up to code structurally, electrically and mechanically.

Acting Director of University Consumer Services Martin Gonzalez previously told the Sheaf that the ground floors of the residences will be an area of focus. Currently used for storage and maintenance purposes, the ground floors could be turned into common or retail spaces.

To enhance students’ experiences and create a greater sense of community, Martin said the common spaces that are currently located at the top floor of each building may be moved down to a central floor.

The renovations are part of a campus-wide plan to rejuvenate the university’s aging buildings called RenewUS. There is no budget set for the renovations, however, due to the university’s current financial state, prioritization will lead to addressing problem areas first while being subject to funding restraints.

University begins year with cost cutting

USSU Election

DUCKIEMONSTER/FLICKR

January: Battling a future $44.5 million deficit for 2016, the U of S started the new year with some big cuts.

JORDAN DUMBA/ PHOTO EDITOR

March: Jenna Moellenbeck, Nour Abouhamra, Jordan Sherbino and Max FineDay were voted in as the 2013-4 USSU executive.

September

October

November

Following a pipe ceremony on Sept. 3 celebrating the success of the university’s Indigenous Voices program, assistant professor Kevin Flynn wrote an article in the Sept. 13 issue of On Campus News titled “Honour traditions but with inclusive ceremonies.”

Flynn authored the piece after receiving an email inviting him to the pipe ceremony and providing some guidelines to the ceremony’s protocol.

The email advised women to wear long skirts if participating in the ceremony and that those “on their moon time” — menstruating — should sit outside of the circle. Flynn wrote in his article that the pipe ceremony was not inclusive towards women and that they were “marginalized.”

Flynn’s article caused an outrage on campus as students, faculty and staff members were quick to respond by saying that Flynn did not fully understand the pipe ceremony tradition and was lacking knowledge about aboriginal culture.

Indigenous Students’ Council President Terri Favel invited everyone from the campus community who felt they had been affected by Flynn’s op-ed to attend a meeting at the Aboriginal Students’ Centre.

Many students responded at the forum that they felt staff and faculty at the U of S require more training regarding aboriginal traditions and suggested having a female traditional healer come to educate about women’s moon time.

The College of Medicine was put on probation for a second time on Oct. 4. The college is Saskatchewan’s only medical school and is the only one in Canada to be given probationary status twice.

That day the Committee on Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools/Liaison Committee on Medical Education informed the U of S that the college had received a grade of “Accreditation with Probation” following the accreditors’ visit in March.

The College of Medicine was supposed to have rectified ten areas in need of improvement by the time the accreditors came. However, the college came up short in understanding authority and responsibility, supervising students on clinical rotation and defining roles and objectives of staff and faculty towards the medical education program.

One of the continual issues the U of S medical school has faced is uncertainty in its leadership roles. Since Dr. William Albritton retired as dean of the college in 2012, the position has not been filled with a permanent candidate.

In the reorganization of the College of Medicine, three vice-deans have been created to attend to research, medical education and faculty engagement. These vice-dean positions are all filled temporarily.

Hired on from Dalhousie University as the U of S medical college’s new dean in December, Dr. Preston Smith will create his own leadership team by hiring those vacant vice-dean positions along with some department heads where required.

The U of S opened its first residence that is exclusive to graduate students on Nov. 20.

The residence is the final addition to the College Quarter residences and will increase occupancy at the U of S by 262.

Graduate students were heavily consulted in the design of each unit so that their unique needs could be met. There was also a committee of students that gave recommendations for how much each apartment should cost for a student to live in it.

The new residence features four different apartment-style living arrangements. Each unit has a kitchen, major appliances, a microwave and natural lighting. Wheelchair accessible apartments are available in two styles — one for a single occupant and one designed to house the student and their assistant.

The unit styles include a smaller, economic apartment for a single student and a loft-style apartment with two bedrooms for a pair of students.

The Grad House has retail space on the ground floor, laundry facilities and many lounges for either studying or social gatherings.

Although students have their choice of roommate, families are not allowed.

This newest residence rang in a at cost of $39 million and was built between June of 2011 and December of 2013.

President of the Graduate Students’ Association Ehimai Ohiozebau said students were pleased with the residence and that it was well designed for graduate students.

OCN article ignites debate

Med school on probation

McEown Park begins massive renovations

Grad House opens

JORDAN DUMBA/ PHOTO EDITOR

April: With some residences over 40 years old, the McEown Park towers were long over due for a renovation.

JORDAN DUMBA/ PHOTO EDITOR

Novemeber: Grad students now have a residence to call their own.

SPORTS

9 January, 2014 • thesheaf.com

5

Huskies’ report cards How did the Huskies teams fare on the court and on the ice? Read pages 5-7 to find out.

KIMBERLEY HARTWIG Sports Editor

Graphics by Cody Schumacher/Graphics Editor

The women’s basketball team hit the court ready to play and their hard work paid off.

Heading into the break the Dogs held the top spot in the Prairie Division and a top five Canadian Interuniversity Sport ranking.

The Huskies lost only one game during the first half of the season — a 52-73 loss to the University of Regina Cougars.

The defeat broke the Huskies’ four game undefeated streak, but they quickly got back on the winning track and, having not dropped another game since, are currently riding a five game winning streak.

Routinely putting up more than 70 points a night while allowing less than 60, the Huskies have been expertly combining offence and defence to keep their opponents off balance.

As one of the top scoring teams in the country, it will be difficult for any team to knock the Dogs off their pedestal. But, the Huskies will need to keep their shots rolling as they face tougher opponents.

In their only loss of the season the Huskies shot 28 per cent, well below their average of 46.1. If these women can maintain their accuracy, it will be a tough ask for any team to out play them.

The Huskies will face stiff competition

Men's basketball

Hot off a second place finish in the 38th Tom Byron Classic held in Santa Barbara, Calif., the Huskies men’s basketball team is revved up for the second half of their season.

Before the break the Dogs accumulated a 9-1 record and were tied for first place in the Prairie Division with the University of Alberta Golden Bears. They will no doubt be looking to see the Golden Bears off and take the top spot for themselves.

The Huskies’ sole loss this season came during a down-to-the-wire contest against the Trinity Western University Spartans.

With less than a minute left in the game, the Spartans came up with clutch shots to steal the win and hand the Huskies their first and only defeat.

Their first game back on Jan. 10 against the University of Victoria Vikes will be a tough matchup for the Dogs. The Vikes are the top

JORDAN DUMBA/ PHOTO EDITOR

The Huskies have been sharp during the first half of the season. Can they keep it up?

JORDAN DUMBA/ PHOTO EDITOR

The rest of the field will try to chase down the top ranked Huskies when play returns.

when they return to the court on January 10. The Dogs travel to British Columbia to face the University of Victoria Vikes and the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds.

The two teams are tied for first place in the

ranked team in the Pacific Division of Canada West with an identical 9-1 record. The game will be the first and only meeting between the two squads for the regular season.

With 12 games remaining, there’s still a lot of ball left to play and a chance for teams to move around quite a bit in the standings.

The biggest battle will likely be between the Huskies and the Golden Bears, who end their seasons with a two game series in Alberta.

The Huskies are in a good position to advance into the post-season. The top four teams in the Prairie and Pacific divisions advance to the Canada West play-offs and, barring a major slip in play, the Huskies should easily advance.

Thanks to stellar defence the Dogs have held their opponents to less than 70 points four times and have outscored teams by more than 30. Very few of the games the Huskies have played have been hotly contested, with the Dogs routinely outpacing their opponents from tip off until the final whistle blows.

The Dogs have been incredibly sharp on offence this season — their 875 points is the second highest scoring tally in the country.

Stephon Lamar has been a force, scoring 201 points in 10 games. Dadrian Collins and Matt Forbes are the next biggest scorers with 153 and 127 points respectively. Ben Baker has been strong off the boards, grabbing 107 rebounds. Forbes also has 90 rebounds of his own.

Pacific Division of Canada West and are sure to push the Dogs.

It doesn’t get any easier after the first series, as the Huskies stay on the road to face the University of Calgary Dinos. The Dinos sit in a hotly contested three-way tie for second place in the Prairie Division alongside the Regina Cougars and the University of Alberta Pandas. The Dogs will hope to maintain their dominance when they clash with the Dinos and the Pandas for the first time later this year.

Dalyce Emmerson has been at the helm of the Huskies’ offence, scoring an average of 20.5 points per games, the fourth highest in the league, and recording four doubledoubles. Through the first ten games Emmerson netted a total of 205 points.

Fifth-year Kiera Lyons has been making a big impact in her final year with the team, averaging 12.8 points per game for 102 overall. Kabree Howard added another 93 points to the scoreboard and Desarae Hogberg contributed 71.

With four teams advancing to the playoffs, the Huskies are in a very good position make it into the post-season to battle for the Canada West banner.

The Huskies finished last season as the number one ranked team in the Prairie Division, with a 16-6 record, but failed to advance past the quarter-final stage of the Canada West Championship, falling 1-3 to the University of the Fraser Valley Cascades in crossover play. The Dogs have the talent to go even further in the tournament and should aim to compete at the Canadian Interuniversity Sport Championship.

Glenn Skeldon ©

UPCOMING EVENTS

Women's basketball

Signing Not Just ANY Green Englishman

Saturday, January 11, 1:00 pm

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kerry Alcorn Launching Border Crossings: US Culture and Education in Saskatchewan, 1905-1937

Monday, January 13, 7:00 pm

6

SPORTS

9 January, 2014 • thesheaf.com

Women's volleyball After a hot start to the season the women’s volleyball team has cooled down considerably.

The team opened with two wins for the first time since the 1998-99 season, but struggled after the strong start, going on a six game losing streak where they only managed to win two sets. The Dogs found some form heading into the break, winning three of their last four to earn a 5-7 record.

The Huskies have a good chance to pick up some wins in the second half of the season. with three of the five teams they’ll face ranked below them. When the Dogs return to the court on Jan. 10, their first challenge will be the University of Winnipeg Wesmen, the ninth ranked team in the division.

Things don’t get much more difficult until Jan. 31, when the Huskies face the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds — the current Canadian Interuniversity Sport champions. The matchup will offer the team a chance to see just how they fare against one of the best teams in the country.

If the Huskies can stay ahead of the lower

Men's volleyball

Fighting their way back into matches only to stumble at the finish line won’t be enough if the Huskies want to challenge the top teams in the league — they’ll have to start playing the big points well.

After a disappointing opening half to the season saw the squad fall to tenth in the Canada West Division and post a 4-8 record, the men’s volleyball team is looking to rebound.

The Huskies have had their fair share of chances in matches but have routinely been unable to capitalize. Six of the 12 matches the Dogs have played have gone to a deciding fifth set, but they have emerged victorious only twice.

The team has already gotten some games under their belt after hosting the Enns Baxter Wealth Management Invitational on Jan. 2-4.

The Huskies won the tournament without dropping a match, going 3-0 in round robin play and defeating the fifth ranked University of Brandon Bobcats 3-1 in the final.

The wins won’t improve the Huskies’ record in league play, but winning four straight matches means they have much needed confidence under their belt.

The University of Regina Cougars and the University of Sherbrooke Vert et Or also

1. Trinity Western 2. UBC 3. Alberta 3. Thompson Rivers 5. Brandon 5. Calgary 7. Mount Royal 8. Manitoba 8. Winnipeg 10. Saskatchewan 11. UBC Okanagan 12. Regina

Men’s Hockey GP-W-L 12-11-1 12-9-3 12-8-4 12-8-4 12-7-5 12-7-5 12-6-6 12-5-7 12-5-7 12-4-8 12-2-10 12-0-12

*Top seven teams from each division qualify for playoffs

Women’s Volleyball 1. UBC 2. UBC Okanagan 3. Brandon 4. Trinity Western 5. Alberta 5. Manitoba 7. Mount Royal 7. Saskatchewan 9. Calgary 9. Winnipeg 11. Regina 12. Thompson Rivers

GP-W-L 12-12-0 12-10-2 12-9-3 12-8-4 12-6-6 12-5-7 12-5-7 12-4-8 12-4-8 12-3-9 12-3-9 12-0-12

*Top seven teams from each division qualify for playoffs

1. Calgary 2. Albertaa 3. Saskatchewan 4. Regina 5. Manitoba 6. Mount Royal 7. UBC 8. Lethbridge

Men’s Hockey

Women’s Hockey GP-W-L-OTL 16-15-0-1 16-14-2-0 18-10-7-1 18-9-9-0 18-7-9-2 16-6-9-1 16-5-10-1 18-2-15-1

*All eight teams advance to playoffs

Men’s Basketball

1. UBC 2. Saskatchewan 2. Alberta 4. Mantioba 5. Regina 6. Calgary 7. Lethbridge 8. Mount Royal

GP-W-L-OTL 18-14-3-1 18-11-4-3 18-11-4-3 18-11-5-2 18-10-6-2 18-7-10-1 18-6-9-3 18-2-14-2

*All eight teams advance to playoffs

Women’s Basketball

Prairie Division 1. Alberta 1. Saskatchewan 3. Lethbridge 4. Winnipeg 5. Calgary 6. Brandon 6. Regina 6. Manitoba

GP-W-L 10-9-1 10-9-1 10-7-3 10-6-4 10-5-5 10-2-8 10-2-8 10-1-9

Prairie Division 1. Saskatchewan 2. Alberta 2. Calgary 2. Regina 5. Winnipeg 6. Lethbridge 6. Manitoba 8. Brandon

GP-W-L 10-9-1 10-8-2 10-8-2 10-8-2 10-4-6 10-3-7 10-3-7 10-2-8

Pacific Division 1. Victoria 2. Thompson Rivers 3. Mount Royal 3. Trinity Western 3. UFV 6. UBC 7. UNBC 8. UBC Okanagan

GP-W-L 10-9-1 10-6-4 10-5-5 10-5-5 10-5-5 10-4-6 10-3-7 10-2-8

Pacific Division 1. UBC 1. UFV 1. Victoria 4. Thompson Rivers 5. UNBC 6. UBC Okanagan 7. Mount Royal 7. Trinity Western

GP-W-L 10-7-3 10-7-3 10-7-3 10-6-4 10-4-6 10-2-8 10-1-9 10-1-9

*Top four teams from each division qualify for crossover playoffs

competed in the event.

Holding an identical 2-4 record at home and away, home court advantage hasn’t meant much so far. The team will look to change that when they return to conference play on Jan. 10 to host the eighth ranked University of Winnipeg Wesmen for a two game series.

The final ten games of the season will give the Huskies a good chance to pick up some wins. The toughest challenge will be the number two ranked University of British Columbia Thunderbirds, but with every other team ranked outside the top five, the Huskies should pose a challenge.

The Huskies roster is not lacking in talent.

Bryan Fraser, Paul Thomson and Jordan Nowakowski have recorded upwards of 130 kills so far, putting all three within the top 20 in the country. Fraser has also recorded 105 digs.

The Dogs have the ability to end points in their favour but they also make their fare share of errors. With 256 on the season, the team sits fifth in a category you don’t want to be leading in. Cleaning up their game could pay dividends for the team.

With seven teams advancing to playoffs, the Dogs have some ground to make up, but after

JORDAN DUMBA/ PHOTO EDITOR

The Dogs need to start winning if they’re to rank among the country’s best.

advancing to the postseason last year for the first time since the 2004-05 season they will no doubt be eager to make it back.

Upcoming Huskies Games

Canada West Standings Men’s Volleyball

JORDAN DUMBA/ PHOTO EDITOR

Can the Huskies secure a playoff berth?

ranked teams they’ll have a good chance of making it into the playoffs — something they haven’t been able to do in a long time.

The past few seasons have been focused on improving the team’s record and, since Jason Grieve took over the position of head coach in 2011, the squad has been moving in the right direction. When he started the Huskies had a .153 win percentage, which has improved to .417 this season.

The Dogs have already assured they’ll finish with a better record than the 201213 season— an abysmal 3-19 finish— and making it into the post-season would be a big accomplishment for the team.

Captain Candace Hueser is leading the team in kills with 102 while Kayla Tycholiz is right behind her with 101. Jennifer Hueser has recorded 132 digs and Anne Hanbidge has 91.

Moving forward the Huskies will have to stay in the top seven if they want to realize their playoff dreams. If the Dogs can rediscover the form they had opening the season, they just may see it happen.

*Top four teams from each division qualify for crossover playoffs

• Jan. 10 in Edmonton vs. University of Alberta Golden Bears at 7:00 p.m.

• Jan. 11 in Edmonton vs. University of Alberta Golden Bears at 6:00 p.m.

• Jan. 17 and 18 in Lethbridge vs. University of Lethbridge Pronghorns at 7:00 p.m.

Women’s Hockey Jan. 10 and 11 vs. University of Alberta Pandas at 7:00 p.m.

Jan. 17 and 18 vs. University of Lethbridge Pronghorns at 7:00 p.m.

Men’s Volleyball Jan. 10 and 11 vs. University of Winnipeg Wesmen at 8:00p.m.

Jan. 17 and 18 vs. University of Regina Cougars at 8:00 p.m.

Women’s Volleyball Jan. 10 and 11 vs. University of Winnipeg Wesmen at 6:15 p.m.

Jan. 17 and 18 vs. University of Regina Cougars at 6:15 p.m.

Men’s Basketball • Jan. 10 in Victoria vs. University of Victoria Vikes at 8:00 p.m.

• Jan. 11 in Vancouver vs. University of British Columbia Thunderbirds at 7:00p.m.

• Jan. 17 in Calgary vs. University of Calgary Dinos at 8:00 p.m.

• Jan. 18 in Calgary vs. University of Calgary Dinos at 7:00 p.m.

Women’s Basketball • Jan. 10 in Victoria vs. University of Victoria Vikes at 6:00 p.m.

• Jan. 11 in Vancouver vs. University of British Columbia Thunderbirds at 5:00p.m.

• Jan. 17 in Calgary vs. University of Calgary Dinos at 6:00 p.m.

• Jan. 18 in Calgary vs. University of Calgary Dinos at 5:00 p.m.

Wrestling • Jan. 11 in Regina at Cougar Invitational

Track and Field • Jan. 11 in Saskatoon at Quad Meet • Jan. 17-19 in Edmonton at Golden Bear Open

Home Game

SPORTS

9 January, 2014 • thesheaf.com

7

Women's hockey Women’s Hockey Record: 11-4-3 Canada West Rank: CIS Rank:

2nd

8th 5th

Goals Scored: 45

11th

Goals per game: 2.50 Goals against: 32

16th

Goals against per game: 1.71

9th

B+

!

ob J d

o

Go

Men's hockey

Men’s Hockey Record: 10-7-1 Canada West Rank: CIS Rank:

3rd

no rank

Goals Scored: 61

The women’s hockey team had a solid start to the season, including a four game winning streak that moved them into second place in Canada West with an 11-3-2 record.

The Huskies returned to the ice on Jan. 3 and 4 to face the University of Manitoba Bisons, where they suffered a 1-2 and a 3-2 loss. Following the defeats the team is now tied with the University of Alberta Pandas.

The Huskies will battle the Alberta Pandas for second place on Jan. 10 and 11.

The two teams met earlier in the season, with the Pandas taking the first game 2-1 while the Huskies won the second 3-2.

The Dogs and the Pandas aren’t the only two teams fighting for dominance, as the top four teams in the division are all within five points of each other.

Depending on how the Huskies fare in the next few weeks they have a chance to overtake the top ranked University of British Columbia Thunderbirds, who only hold a four point lead. The Dogs will also

8th

Goals per game: 3.39

16th

Goals against: 46 13th Goals against per game: 2.54 9th

B

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n goi

After an up-and-down first half of the season, the men won their last two games to head into the break with a 8-7-1 record and grab third spot in the Canada West Division. The team came back to the ice strong, sneaking out two games against the fifth ranked University of Manitoba Bisons.

The Huskies defeated the Bisons 5-4 in overtime on Jan. 3 and 3-2 on Jan. 4. With some solid momentum and a four game winning streak behind them, the second half of the season could see a much more formidable Huskies team.

In the coming months it’s unlikely the Dogs will be able to overtake the number one and two teams — the University of Calgary Dinos and the University of Alberta Pandas, who are 15-0-1 and 14-2-0 respectively — and will instead be looking to stave off their lower ranked rivals, namely the University of Regina Cougars.

The Huskies suit up to battle the Alberta Pandas on Jan. 10 and 11 in Edmonton, a good test to see how the Dogs match up with one of the best teams in the division

finish the regular season with two matches against the Thunderbirds on home ice, which may determine their season ending rank as well as seeding for the playoffs.

The Dogs boast a near perfect 7-1 record on home ice, the lone loss coming against the University of Mount Royal Cougars during the second game of the season. With a losing 4-6 record away, it bodes well for the team that six of the 10 remaining games will take place at home.

Cami Wooster leads the team in scoring with 10 goals and 10 assists, making her the second highest scorer in the division.

Sara Greschner and Kaitlin Willoughby have each contributed ten goals to the Dogs’ offence.

Both of the Huskies’ goalies have been performing well. Cassidy Hendricks boasts a .928 save percentage through 12 games while Karen Lefsrud is .944 through seven.

Finishing in fifth place last season before falling to the Alberta Pandas in the quarter-final round, the Huskies will look

JORDAN DUMBA/ PHOTO EDITOR

The Huskies men’s hockey team picked up where they left off — winning.

and the number two ranked team in the country. Earlier this season the Huskies lost to the Pandas 2-3 and 2-4. Picking up a win on the road against a strong opponent could give the team some much needed confidence heading into the final month of the season.

Home ice has favoured the Dogs, with the team going 8-3 at home and only 2-5 away.

With the Huskies only hosting three of the final 10 games, they will need to improve their record on unfamiliar ice if they want

JORDAN DUMBA/ PHOTO EDITOR

The women’s hockey team has their eye on the number one ranking.

to make it back into the postseason and go one step further.

Given the way the Huskies have played so far, it’s hard to not see them making it into the playoffs. The trouble will come when they have to face the Pandas or Thunderbirds, who have proven to be tricky opponents.

to continue adding to the win column.

Kenton Dulle and Ryan McDonald have each netted seven goals to lead the Huskies in scoring while Derek Hulak leads overall points with six goals and 22 assists. The twenty-eight points puts Hulak third in the league.

Ryan Holfeld has been tough in net with a .919 save percentage making 477 saves, the most in the league. Holfeld also has three shutouts to his name.

Some of the pressure is off since the Huskies are guaranteed a spot in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport national championship thanks to their hosting gig, but the Dogs will need to use their time on the ice to prepare to face the toughest teams in the country come playoff time.

The Huskies hosted the tournament last year and failed to win a match in the round-robin stage, going 0-2. This year the Dogs will no doubt be looking for some retribution and to hoist the University Cup in front of a home crowd.

Do you have feedback on the recommendations in the reports of the TransformUS task forces?

We’re listening.

Join us at our student town hall on January 15 at noon in Graduate Student Commons. For more information and to provide feedback online, please visit transformus.usask.ca Feedback closes January 31, 2014

THE sheaf Got Huskie pride? Write for sports! sports@thesheaf.com

8

FEATURE

Do students really know what T ANNA-LILJA DAWSON Senior News Editor TransformUS was one of the most talked about issues at the University of Saskatchewan in 2013. Students stormed a University Council meeting, questioned senior administration and waited a year to see the fate of their programs.

All of this talk and action, but what do students really know about TransformUS? The Sheaf spoke with 48 students from various colleges and programs and a mere nine students said they had heard of TransformUS. Less than a handful of the students that knew what TransformUS was said they had concerns about the end results of program prioritization or questions about the process.

Following the release of the TransformUS taskforce reports on Dec. 9, 2013, students at the U of S frantically checked to see if their program might be axed. However, few have been left wondering not only about the future of their programs, but of the inner workings of the university and how TransformUS works.

First-year nutrition student Janessa Mann said she followed the TransformUS updates until the taskforce reports were released and she saw that her program did not fall into the fourth or fifth quintiles (there are five classifications for academic programs ranging from being a candidate for enhanced resources to being cut).

“Our college wasn’t really as affected so we’re not really urged to read it,” Mann said. “So far I haven’t heard any reasons to be concerned.”

Similarly, Garrison Zellar, Codi Munro and Ben Sartison each only read the portion of the academic taskforce report that detailed into which quintile their degree fell into.

“My program’s not getting cut, so I’m happy,” Munro said, adding later that after checking which quintile her program fell into she did not continue reading the academic program taskforce report.

Zellar, Munro and Sartison are each in their third year of a degree in economics, history and linguistics, respectively.

Arts and science student Robyn, who chose to withhold their last name, said they were concerned about students’ lack of awareness and knowledge of TransformUS. “I feel like if it wasn’t your college that was directly affected then people don’t really hear because they’re really focused on their self,” Robyn said. “I don’t think anybody really knows how exactly it is going to affect them yet, but many just don’t care.”

Since the program prioritization plan was announced on Jan. 11, 2013, it has been under fire with criticisms from a minority of students — notably that they were being excluded from the taskforces. The TransformUS taskforces would evaluate the university’s academic programs and support services and then submit their recommendations as to which programs should be cut or receive more or less funding to the university president.

At the Jan. 24 University Council meeting, Neatby-Timlin Theatre in the Arts Building was packed full of students and faculty members who debated whether or not students should be allowed on the taskforces. After an hour and a half of deliberations, University Council members voted to allow one undergraduate and one graduate student on each of the taskforces.

Colleges with most Q1 Programs

Colleges with most Q5 Programs 71% 34% 29% 27% 25% 22% 17% 13% 11% 10%

Graduate Studies Engineering Public Health Agriculture Bioresources Kinesiology Arts & Science Medicine Nursing ESB WCVM

10

Quintil

Quintile 5: 98 programs

Quintile 4: 107 programs 0

Arts + Science

Ag Bio

ENGG

Pharm, Vet Med

Analysis + Implementation Plan Feb.2014 - April.2014

Consultation + Feedback Dec.9.2013 - Jan.31.2014 -Taskforce Reports Released Dec.9.2013 -Town Hall Meetings: Jan.8 Jan.9 Jan.15 **Students Only

However, following the creation of the taskforces, there has been little word from the student body as they waited for the taskforces to assess all of the university’s academic programs and support services and submit their reports on Nov. 30.

The much anticipated reports were released to the campus community on Dec. 9, detailing not only the scores for each program and service at the U of S but also outlining each task force’s criteria and general observations.

Third-year engineering student Jeff Glasel said he has not read the taskforce reports, but is aware they were released and is wondering when the university will begin making cuts and how students can be involved in the process.

From Dec. 9, 2013 to Jan. 31, 2014, the consultation phase of the TransformUS process will be taking place. University administration is asking for the campus community to submit their feedback online and will host three town halls in January to answer questions and receive feedback. The first two town halls, on Jan. 8 and 9, will be held in Convocation Hall and are open to

-Implementation Plan Announced: April 30

the general public while the third, held on Jan. 15 in the Grad Student Commons, will be exclusively for students.

U of S Vice-President of Finance and Resources Greg Fowler said the consultation period is a time for the university to gauge the campus community’s responses to the TransformUS recommendations before moving on to creating an implementation plan.

Glasel said he was skeptical of the extent to which student voices would be heard despite there being a town hall held solely for them to air their concerns and ask questions.

“They have all these times when you can ask questions and speak your mind, but I feel sort of not able to have a lot of power or a lot of say,” Glasel said.

Fowler said the consultation period’s main goal is to have the voices of worried students heard and the possibility that students will go unheard is the driving force behind the town halls.

“One of the things that is very important for us is the voice of the students,” he said. “It’s not a question of whether or not

P

they will be heard. I don’t think that is the concern here and that is why we wanted to have the one town hall that’s just for the students: so we can listen and they would not be overpowered by any other groups like faculty or staff.”

Glasel said he was also curious as to how closely the Provost’s Committee on Integrated Planning will follow the recommendations from the taskforces.

“If [the taskforce reports] are just suggestions, how likely is the university to implement these suggestions,” Glasel said, adding he would like to know more about the decision making process that will lead up to the university choosing which programs get cut, receive more funding or are unaffected.

In response to Glasel’s question, Fowler said that the results from the consultation phase may overrule the taskforce’s reports.

“What we’re doing right now is going through a period of consultation so it isn’t a question of how closely [the deciding bodies] will follow [the taskforce reports], it’s a question of the consultation period,

9

9 January, 2014 • thesheaf.com

TransformUS is?

le Breakdown of U of S Quintile 1: 16 programs Quintile 2: 143 programs

Quintile 3: 115 programs

Decisions + Action May 2014 - Beyond

Plan is put to action: May 1

CODY SCHUMACHER/GRAPHICS EDITOR

listening to the community, listening to our deans and unit leaders and listening to the students to determine what their thoughts are on what the recommendations were,” Fowler said. “There may be times where we would not proceed with areas where the recommendations were to proceed.”

“It’s more about becoming as informed as we can and making sure that we have all of the information available to us.”

Once the consultation phase comes to an end the university will follow its regular governance model, having the Provost’s Committee on Integrated Planning give their recommendations to the Board of Governors and University Council to approve and put into action.

The concern students have brought up at town halls and at University Student Council meetings was the main point Glasel wanted an answer to: whether or not students will be able to finish their degree should their program be cut.

“The biggest question for me is how are they dealing with the students that are in their third year, fourth year and are about to graduate,” Glasel said.

Fowler assured students that they will all have the opportunity to complete their degree and that the university will follow the same method it always uses when phasing out programs.

“We would never, ever consider any decisions without making sure that students would have the opportunity to finish the programs that they’re in,” Fowler said.

Programs will only begin to be phased out in May once the implementation plan is announced on April 30. Some phasing out may not begin until the university enters the next planning phase in 2016.

The academic taskforce created five quintiles for academic programs to be categorized into based on the extent to which it aligns with university priorities and its academic contributions.

Candidates for enhanced funding fall in quintile one when the taskforces determined that increased funding will aid them in contributing to the university’s academic goals. The smallest category, quintile one, accounts for three per cent of all academic programs.

Of the university’s 16 colleges and schools, only five had programs classified for enhanced resources. The College of Arts and Science has the most programs in quintile one, with eight being candidates for increased funding. The College of Agriculture and Bioresources has three programs in quintile one while the College of Engineering has two. Both the Western College of Veterinary Medicine and the College of Pharmacy and Nutrition each have one program in the first quintile.

Quintile two is the largest classification with 143 programs deemed candidates to maintain their current funding. These programs are well-aligned with the university’s priorities and receive an allocation of 34 per cent of the U of S operating budget funds used for academic programming.

Programs falling into quintile three may be candidates for reduced funding and are subject to future budget adjustments. There are 115 programs in the third quintile.

Academic programs that stray from the university’s priorities are categorized into quintile four. These programs may be reconfigured for efficiency and effectiveness and may also be merged with other programs of this quintile. The effects of this quintile are not necessarily negative, as the weakest parts of a program may be trimmed while retaining its strengths.

There are 107 academic programs that fall into this category.

Programs that are unsustainable for the university to offer are in quintile five and are candidates for phasing out. The academic taskforce examined 479 academic programs, 98 of which have been suggested to be cut.

The College of Engineering has 34 per cent of its programs slated in quintile five.

Though the College of Arts and Science has just short of 200 programs, 43 of them fell into the fifth quintile.

Despite being a smaller school, the College of Graduate Studies and Research was hit the hardest with five of its seven programs being recommended for phasing out.

The colleges of dentistry, pharmacy and nutrition, education and law along with the schools of physical therapy, public policy and environment and sustainability did not have any programs receive recommendations to be cut.

10

CULTURE

9 January, 2014 • thesheaf.com

Friends of Foes tackles fear of time with debut release

“Romeo and Juliet leaves you longing for a few more pages of music and another lovers' pas de deux.”

- The Winnipeg Sun

Romeo +Juliet JAN 14 + 15/ 2014 SASKATOON choreography Rudi van Dantzig music Sergei Prokofiev Amanda Green, Liang Xing (Guest Artist) PHOTO: Rejean Brandt Photography

Next Tuesday & Wednesday!

TCU Place Sid Buckwold Theatre

TCUtickets.ca Tickets from $29!

plus applicable fees & taxes

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Amanda Green, Liang Xing (Guest Artist) PHOTO: Rejean Brandt Photography

Friends of Foes take a seat in the Vinyl Diner.

NICHOLAS KINDRACHUK Culture Editor Saskatoon super group Friends of Foes has put all their pieces in the right place with their first full album release, Chronophobic.

There is a special moment for a listener when they know that everything in a song has just clicked and that they are hearing some kind of once in a lifetime chemistry between musicians. The band’s energy and the way they engage with each other instrumentally drops the listener into the recording studio with them, creating an almost kindred connection between artist and audience.

Friends of Foes has certainly touched this ground on several occasions with Chronophobic, and show no signs of

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stopping. What they have done is create a freshman effort not without its flaws, but which stands strong as a great album that wrapped up 2013.

A distinct atmosphere of melancholy is a key theme throughout the project, one that the band relates with their frequent mention of time. The concept comes up in many ways, including looking back with regret or happiness and looking forward with shame or excitement. The infinite possibilities of even a single day and the eternal nature of time is what causes that fear and this is exactly what Friends of Foes wants to highlight.

“Trust in you / Generation growing old,” croons vocalist Celeste Nicholson on the opening track, “Youth.” While she talks about growing older, the song is mostly an exploration of how timeless being young feels. The song is a perfect opener for the album, with a lot of atmospheric plucked guitar and bass building into a beautiful harmony on the chorus.

The only issue with the album begins with the soundscape created on this first track, which feels all too similar to songs which follow — in particular “Ones You Love” and “This City.” While the band seems to be maintaining a similar aesthetic to tie the album together, these first few tracks border on repetitive with their distinct Death Cab for Cutie inspiration that guitar player Matt Stinn has discussed openly.

However, “Light Sleepers/Heavy Dreamers” speeds things up with a nice a bass groove and a tom-heavy drum line. It is another example of everything hitting all the right notes, with an especially infectious hook that wonderfully combines Nicholsons voice with Stinn’s backup.

The main stand out on the album is “Monuments in Yellow Lights.” It has a carefree atmosphere and many strong pop influences that allows a breather from the gloom that resonates throughout a majority of Chronophobic. It would be great to see the band take their songs in such a direction for future releases.

Musically, the album’s tracks are some of the tightest in recent memory. Drummer Keegan Stretch delivers some truly compelling drum lines and the dynamic between recording bassist Nevin Buehler (who has since left the band) and Stinn is ever-present.

However, the group is not looking to show off their skills; Friends of Foes is not a collection of solo artists, but a cohesive unit working together to make undeniably great tunes.

While some songs may not have the full progression they deserve, Chronophobic is a strong debut with fantastic moments by a band that only stands to grow stronger as time passes.

CULTURE

9 January, 2014 • thesheaf.com

Upcoming Events Thursday Jan. 9 • The Cherry Orchard at The Refinery

Friday Jan. 10 • BC Reed at Amigo’s • Kacy and Clayton with Mich Grier at The Bassment • Put A Wedge In it at Affinity Gallery

Saturday Jan. 11 • Switch Ungala at Amigo’s • The Martin Janovsky Orchestra at The Bassment • U of S Amati Quartet - The Beethoven Cycle at Third Avenue United Church

Sunday Jan. 12 • Enchanted Forest (final day) at Forestry Farm Park & Zoo • The Cherry Orchard (final day) at The Refinery

Monday Jan. 13 • Western Canadian Crop Production Show at Prairieland Park

Tuesday Jan. 14 • Romeo & Juliet at TCU Place

Wednesday Jan. 15 • Pink at Credit Union Centre • Romeo & Juliet (final day) at TCU Place • The Luyas at Amigo’s

11

2013 was a year to celebrate gaming KATLYNN BALDERSTONE Say what you want about 2013, but there was no end to the excitement when it came to the gaming community. Between major console launches, new and continuing game titles, the controversy surrounding Microsoft’s mismanaged promotions and increased interest and relevance from the indie community, you were bound to find something that caught your interest no matter what you play.

Hanging over the heads of gamers all through 2013 were the releases of Microsoft and Sony’s next generation of consoles, the Xbox One and Playstation 4 respectively.

Fierce competition and similar November release dates saw a surge in the rivalry and leaps forward in hardware.

Microsoft’s focus on television home entertainment over gaming and controversies regarding the Xbox One’s digital rights restrictions — including an interruption to confirm ownership in the middle of a gaming tournament. The privacy issues concerning a Kinect that is required to be on at all times allowed the PS4 to gain the advantage in units sold.

Meanwhile, Nintendo has been struggling in sales of its next-gen Wii U despite a year head start on its rivals and a continued strong showing with both its handheld 3DS console and its lower-budget 2DS counterpart.

Even with these setbacks, titles such as Pokemon X and Y, the life simulator Animal Crossing and a remastered version of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker to serve as a companion to a new 3DS title in the franchise, A Link Between Worlds, have allowed the company to remain relevant.

Nintendo also announced 2013 to be the Year of Luigi, a commemorative event to celebrate the oft-overshadowed brother of their mascot character Mario. And with upcoming titles such as a new Super Smash Bros. for both Wii U and the 3DS, Nintendo will likely be able to keep its stride into the new year.

Continuing with big-selling game titles, 2013 saw a large surge in high-quality and big-budget software. Grand Theft Auto V

The Walking Dead: 400 Days presented yet another grim perspective on the famed series. cleared the charts as the top-selling game, with a budget that outpaced even Hollywood blockbusters, while other titles like Call of Duty: Ghosts, Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, and Bioshock Infinite managed a strong showing as well.

There was an increased focus on dramatic games such as The Last of Us and Beyond: Two Souls, though the latter suffered critically due to its focus on theatrics over gameplay making it more movie than game.

Adventure game company Telltale Games, meanwhile, managed to define the cinematic experience once again with its continuation of their The Walking Dead adaptations 400 Days and The Walking Dead: Season Two. Other franchises opted to revitalize themselves as well, with both DMC: Devil May Cry and Tomb Raider serving as reboots of their respective franchises to strong critical reactions.

But this past year wasn’t just about the big names and franchises: numerous indie games and developers have begun to gain a stronger foothold in the industry while providing a more refreshing and insightful degree of experimentation.

The Stanley Parable (a former mod of the Half-Life game engine turned full production) provided players with a twisting and turning

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look at narrative and the illusion of choice within game design, while The Fullbright Company’s Gone Home took a similar focus on story and turned it into a quiet exploration of a family’s life and tribulations.

If you don’t have the time or hardware to play most games try Aniwey’s Candy Box, which sparked a surge of simplistic-yet-fun desktop computer games that you can leave running while resources and options are automatically collected for you to use later.

Part of the fun is letting the candy accumulate to large degrees to see what it can be spent on.

Despite the year’s setbacks, 2013 was largely a good year for games, especially with grand budgets, greater capabilities and more opportunities for experimentation.

As for 2014, we can expect new franchise installments like Halo: Spartan Assault, The Elder Scrolls Online, and Final Fantasy XV to come out swinging.

Other titles without set release dates like Murdered: Soul Suspect and The Sims 4 show a lot of promise, and those with a PS Vita and affinity for Japan’s quirkier titles may want to watch for the high school thriller Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc.

New Swedish rating system challenges sexism in films LAURA MOONEY — Over The Edge (University of Northern British Columbia)

PRINCE GEORGE (CUP) — Art-house cinemas across Sweden are breaking moulds and challenging the typical film rating standards by implementing a system that determines whether a film is considered sexist or not and, unfortunately, not many of our beloved Hollywood blockbusters are passing the test.

The new standards use a system created in 1985 called the Bechdel test, which is a basis for testing whether a work film leans towards gender bias. It was taken from a character’s comment in a comic by Alison Bechdel.

The new system takes the original idea put forth by the Bechdel test and expands on it further to show just how much gender bias is present in not only the films we view today, but the films created over the whole span of the film industry’s existence.

The rating’s system asks three basic questions about a film. Does it have at least two named women? Do they talk to each other at some point in the film? And do they talk about something other than a man?

The cities of Stockholm, Gothenburg, Helsingborg and Malmo, with praise from the Swedish Film Institute, have already introduced this new ratings’ system to members of the public and have implemented it in the cities’ art-house cinemas with approval from Bechdel.

These cinemas have agreed to only show

BENEDICT FRANCIS/FLICKR

These new ratings hopes to spark more thought and vocal reaction to gender roles. in film.

films that meet the standards of the Bechdel test and refuse those that go against them. So far some of the films included have been The Hunger Games, Savages and The Iron Lady, all of which feature strong female leads in powerful positions.

While this new system may not catch on around the world in larger theatres, it does open the movie-going public’s eyes to gender bias and exactly how much of it is really occurring in the hit films we watch.

Favourites such as the Star Wars and Lord of the Rings series did not pass these new ratings, as well as classics like Pulp Fiction and Good Will Hunting. Even the Harry Potter series only had one film that would pass the Bechdel test. These findings point out that the majority of our favourite blockbusters are male-dominated, leading to the question: what about the women?

While the test does point out the male dominance of the film industry, one major

flaw in the system still remains. The system measures a film’s gender bias strictly by these standards, and in no way takes into account if the females in the films are stereotypical or are presented in a negative way.

Although the Bechdel test is supposed to measure gender bias, it cannot tell if a film is feminist or if it highlights women in a positive light. Even the German film Run Lola Run, for example, does not pass the Bechdel test standards despite being known for its strong female lead and feminist undertones. At the same time, some animated Disney films may pass the test even while re-enforcing gender stereotypes.

While the Bechdel test is still only popular in theatres in Sweden, it still raises questions about what we watch when we go to the movies. While 50 per cent of the movie-going public is female, only 10 per cent of films feature a strong female lead. Is it because we prefer to see a male in the lead role? Or perhaps it is because of gender roles which have been around for ages? Either way, the experiment in Sweden is opening the public’s eyes to hidden biases in films.

Only the future will tell if these new findings will change the way people choose which movies they see. Even if the testapproved films only remain in art-house theatres, the fact that these new observations have now been brought to the general public is a step forward in stopping gender biases in popular films today.

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CULTURE

9 January, 2014 • thesheaf.com

Films you might have missed last year NICHOLAS KINDRACHUK Culture Editor

2013 is long gone, but it’s not too late to check out some of the films that did not get the credit they deserve and certainly earned a spot alongside the year’s greats.

Nearly everyone at this point knows Elijah Wood for his iconic role as Frodo in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Since then he’s mostly been playing the lovable indie guy and not much more. If you’ve seen a lot of his films, you may have noticed that he has creepy character undertones that are rarely pursued due to the nature of the films. What many don’t know is that Wood is a huge fan of horror films. He has produced many, but last year marked his first time starring in one.

Maniac is a remake of the 1980 film by the same name. It stars Wood as Frank Zito, a deranged psychopath who sells mannequins. To make ends meet when he was a child, his mom would moonlight as a prostitute and would often bring customers home.

For Zito, his mother’s guests created in him an inability to have any sort of meaningful relationship. This trauma comes to a point where all of his sexual impulses bring on violent urges that he thinks of as his mothers will.

From here the film goes all the way down the rabbit hole, having Zito stalk, murder and then scalp a woman. Wood’s performance as Zito is mesmerizing as you watch his psyche crumble.

While hard to watch, the performance from Wood and the chaos of his situation is more than enough to keep your eyes open — making Maniac one of the best horror films of 2013.

Drive was the surprise hit of 2011, cementing Ryan Gosling’s name as an iconic actor and putting director Nicolas Winding Refn out in the open. When it was announced that both Gosling and Refn were returning to make a spiritual sequel of sorts to the film, Only God Forgives, people were beyond excited for

SUPPLIED

Mix a protein shake and watch the bros try to pull off a heist. another deliberately paced and exciting thriller.

When the film hit theatres it received little financial success and poor critical reception, leaving little in the way of word of mouth and putting it in the shadow of its predecessor.

While it was generally said that the film was all style and no substance, what Refn did with Drive and to even greater degree with Only God Forgives is subvert expectations and turn the style into the substance. Every shot is delicately crafted and feels like a fragile work of art, with each character and object holding some hidden meaning. The film moves at a manic pace, going from quiet and slow to sudden explosions of gruesome violence.

Following Gosling as Julian, an american running a large and respected drug front in Bangkok, Thailand, the story weaves around the politics of avenging his brother who was

killed after commiting rape. The story quickly spirals into a game of who killed who.

The movie is not like anything else you’d see in theatres. It’s story is carried through the careful orchestration of all it’s characters within the scene and the flashing neon lights of Bangkok. For those who are looking for something truly unlike any other cinema experience, Only God Forgives is the right choice.

To take things in a lighter direction, the masses seem to have had enough of Michael Bay since he successfully dug the Transformers series into the ground. However, it’s a shame since he seems to have finally found his groove with Pain and Gain.

The film stars Mark Wahlberg as ex-con Daniel Lugo, recently released after doing time for medicare fraud, while Dwayne Johnson

plays another ex-con in Paul Doyle, a former cocaine addict.

These two lead a surprisingly poignant satirical action comedy about “bro” culture and consumerism. Wahlberg and Johnson show great comedic chemistry together, pushing the films narrative forward into a compelling spectrum that most never thought Bay was capable of.

While Pain and Gain does meander into the spectrum of Bay’s trademark fascination with explosions in its second half, it suits this over-the-top comedy style of film far better. It seems that Bay has finally found out where his strengths lie while two action stars show once again that they certainly have the chops for comedy. Don’t expect any oscar bait here, but it’s damned hard not to have fun with Pain and Gain.

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OPINIONS

9 January, 2014 • thesheaf.com

13

The selfie phenomenon flourishes TRAVIS HOMENUK Opinions Editor

Narcissism continues to reign supreme worldwide, especially with the Oxford Dictionary’s announcement that “selfie” has been chosen as the word of the year for 2013. And yes, this phenomenon is narcissistic, even if the photos produced are artistic in one way or another.

The popular Instagram hashtag even beat out “twerk” for the title for word of the year, which was probably most upsetting to Miley Cyrus and her followers. “Schmeat” was also in the running for this prestigious title, which references meat that has been produced synthetically from biological tissue. Synthetic meat anyone? No thanks.

Before English wordsmiths start to lose their minds over “selfie” being acknowledged by the Oxford Dictionary, it should be clarified that the word has not officially been added to the Oxford English Dictionary, but does appear online via oxforddictionaries.com. Let’s all breathe a sigh of relief.

Though, if words like “twerk,” “sext,” and “selfie” continue to be used so frequently, it wouldn’t be shocking to find these words in print versions of the dictionary in the near future. Soon we’ll have young children writing in their journals that they took a selfie while twerking over the weekend.

Are we as a society so self-obsessed that we can’t help but take pictures of ourselves on a consistent basis, most often operating under the premise of receiving “likes” on Facebook or Instagram? The answer is obviously yes — but why do we do it?

We’re all guilty of taking selfies. If you haven’t done it, you might as well hop on the Narcissus Train to Naricissiumville, make a duck face and snap a picture to make yourself look as deep and brooding as the next person on social media.

And if you’re going to post a selfie,

STEPHANIE MAH

don’t forget to add a top-notch caption as well (that often has very little to do with the picture itself). “I hate studying,” “new hair,” “Happy Holidays,” or some googled quote seemed to caption many selfies produced during the month of December.

I suspect January will bring captions dealing with New Years resolutions and subsequent self-loathing.

While Narcissus fell in love with his own reflection, it seems that we’ve taken that same idea and altered it slightly. But rather than individuals taking selfies and feeling great about their appearances — gaining some self-confidence along the way — we’ve now become dependent

on other people’s “likes” on our photos to make us feel as though we’re good looking.

This isn’t good. At least Narcissus was able to fall in love with himself of his own accord. We, as a society, are unable to do so and rely on each other for this push to love ourselves.

But seriously, to the people who take only selfies, why the hell do you do it?

This is annoying. Stop it. Your followers will unfollow you if you keep this up.

Take a picture of an old chair and its shadow on a rainy day to make your feed more interesting for crying out loud!

We all know at least one person on our

Instagram feeds who does this, and we all don’t like it.

In the case of many Instagram accounts, follower-hungry individuals leave their accounts unlocked to welcome strangers to follow them so they can gain “likes” on all of their photos — selfies included. Good grief. The Internet is dangerous enough as it is; let’s not leave the door wide open for stranger danger.

It’s important to have love for yourself, but it’s worrisome that our society has moved towards receiving this self-love with the help of others. Maybe we should try to start loving what we see in the mirror as opposed to equating our self-worth with how many “likes” we earn from a selfie.

Perhaps I’m wrong about the severity of the selfie phenomenon, and perhaps I’m even more wrong to have called those of us who take selfies narcissistic. Either way, I’m quite sure the selfie in and of itself is something that we should be critical of.

With the help of the Oxford Dictionaries, we’ve certainly established the “what” part of the selfie phenomenon, but I think we should try to get to the bottom of the “why?” before the year is out. Where’s Dr. Freud when we need him?

The next time you’re cruising on Instagram or Facebook, check out a few individual profiles. Take note of how many selfies any one person has (this could also be yourself) and see what they’re up to.

Were the selfies taken while the person was on a trip alone, or were they simply lying around one afternoon taking selfies to pass the time? Without implying that the former is better than the latter, I’m sure you understand what I’m getting at: there’s a time and a place for a selfie, so take them judiciously.

And if you’re finding yourself taking selfies just for a little ego boost, just call someone that loves you instead. Or better yet, buy a pet for some unconditional love.

That’s what I did.

Career paths • continued from 1 A liberal arts degree makes you realize that “University is where you go to learn how to learn,” Hamilton said. “The skills I learnt at university were far more valuable to me than any knowledge point that I learnt.”

Frank Collins likewise entered university with the intention of pursuing a career in medicine. After trying different classes out, he settled for the social sciences and completed a BA in International Studies (Development Stream) from the University of Saskatchewan. Collins is now the Owner and Operator of Danger Dynamite Multimedia, a marketing company in Saskatoon.

After graduating, Collins was employed by the City of Saskatoon, spent time on the oil rigs and then worked for a tech company. This last venture set him up to see how a business is run, skills that he put to use in Danger Dynamite.

In making his career switches — and eventually starting his own company — Collins questioned what skills he possessed and how he could make money using them. A turning point for Collins was realizing that he didn’t want to work for someone else, despite the uncertainty that comes with entrepreneurship.

“Starting your own company means being okay with the possibility of failure,” said Collins.

Long term goals are important. No matter how non-linear your career path is, your short term goals must be the steps you take towards achieving that final

SUPPLIED

Frank Collins is the owner of Danger Dynamite Multimedia, a marketing company in Saskatoon.

goal. And, if you can’t find a job that you want for yourself, then create it — just as Collins did.

Shannon Dyck, another alumni from the U of S, says that her BA in Art and Art History taught her the value of transferrable skills.

After completing her undergraduate degree, she pursued a Masters in Environment and Sustainability. For her, it

has always seemed normal to be interested in more than one thing.

“I think it’s stranger to think that people would ever just be interested in one area — I just don’t know if people are that straightforward,” Dyck said. In the learning and career changes she has made, Dyck never felt like she was jumping from one extreme to another.

Art requires a person to be a problem solver, innovator and forward thinker. You have to use your imagination to dream about what could be and envision ways to improve upon what already exists.

These are skills that Dyck puts to use at her current job as an Environmental Coordinator for the City of Saskatoon.

Change isn’t something Dyck became comfortable with, it is something she embraced and even looked for.

“Failing to see something as part of your plan can blind you from seeing the opportunities around you,” Dyck said.

Indeed, great, meaningful journeys aren’t the ones that are clearly set out and welltrodden.

Before university, Dyck went to Germany for a year-long exchange and lived in England for the duration of her third year of university. These experiences took her out of her comfort zone and shook things up for her. The ability to meet and learn about new people is clearly a great skill. It is one that you don’t even have to travel very far to practice.

“Taking one degree doesn’t bind you to one particular path,” Dyck said. “You can

HEATHER LAKE

Shannon Dyck has embraced change in her career, and recognizes the value of transferrable skills.

always change your mind. And it should never be considered backtracking because you’ll end up gaining so much by taking on something new.”

Being open to change, taking advantage of the opportunities to travel, and being willing to take a risk by tapping into your entrepreneurial side are just a few of the things that Hamilton, Collins and Dyck had in common. These skills helped all of them attain the successes they have experienced in their fields thus far.

Taking a career path that isn’t directly linked to your specific degree isn’t out of the norm. So figure out what skills you possess, and find or create a career that works for you after graduation.

14

OPINIONS

Twerking away from Disney NAOMI ZUREVINSKI

I think it’s safe to say the days of Hannah Montana are long gone for Miley Cyrus.

She’s left behind the Disney Channel, the blonde wig and most of her clothes. We all inevitably transition and change as we age, so maybe we shouldn’t be so quick to judge Cyrus.

Cyrus’ behavior has attracted a large amount of attention. Between twerking on Robin Thicke at the Video Music Awards and flying naked on a wrecking ball, the young starlet has been deemed rebellious — her decisions being considered scandalous and somewhat inappropriate.

I’m not a huge fan of Cyrus, but I do respect her for the choices she has made.

Fans that grew up with her and feel put out because of her new image are not actually entitled to anything.

I hate to break it to you, but you don’t actually know Miley Cyrus. She doesn’t owe you anything and she is allowed to change and do whatever she wants. If she wants to cut her hair and you don’t like it, well that really has nothing to do with you.

Cyrus has grown up in a world that is vastly different from that of the average person. Her dad being famous would have no doubt impacted her, making her childhood different than most people — if she even had one at all.

For most of her life Cyrus has been under the public eye which has scrutinized and judged her every move, be that personal or professional. I can only imagine how difficult that would be to deal with.

Being confined to the Hannah Montana image for most of her career could also cause Cyrus to want to leave that behind and present herself in a very different way.

But here’s the thing: just because Hannah was where she gained her popularity and fame doesn’t mean that that’s the person

PNG’S E ETC.../FLICKR

Miley Cyrus has certainly changed her appearance from her younger days.

she is. She was playing a role, and that character is in no way the person she is.

To say that she’s changed and she’s different now is true as far as the public eye is concerned. But this also isn’t really a fair statement. Maybe this is who she has been all along and she was just repressing that part of herself during her Disney days.

In MTV’s mini-documentary Miley: The Movement, Cyrus says that this part of her life “is not a transition; it’s a growth and a movement.”

I don’t know a single person who hasn’t changed at some point in their life.

Everyone changes, everyone tries something new and there’s always going to be someone who doesn’t agree with you. Being a young adult, she is just doing what the rest of us are all trying to do: figure out who we are and how we want that to shape and embody our lives.

Granted Cyrus is doing so in a very different way than most of us — and yes, some of her behavior can be considered inappropriate or vulgar. It’s different, but that doesn’t always have to mean that it’s bad.

Cyrus embodies the idea of doing what is right for you, being who you feel you are meant to be, trying different and crazy things and giving absolutely no fucks about the repercussions of your actions.

And you know what? That is appealing to a large number of our generation.

Whether or not this is a good thing is another debate. But it is entirely applicable to North American culture. Her music and performances make life seem like a big, fun and crazy party.

Expressing yourself however you choose to do so is not only something that takes guts, but it is also something that can be respected and, for her fans, something that can be admired.

She has taken several risks, put herself out there in a completely new way and separated herself from other artists by creating her own distinct image.

She’s an entertainer. Were you on some level entertained by her performance at the VMA’s? Probably, even if it wasn’t positive entertainment. She is just doing her job and experimenting as an artist and a person.

My point is that everyone goes through different phases or transitions in their lives where they do different things. Maybe Cyrus will look back on these years with regret or maybe she will look back and only have good things to say.

Her choices are her own and at the end of the day if she’s happy with what she’s done, then who are we to judge her for her actions?

Shedding the innocent Disney image might not have to include also shedding the majority of her clothes, and it could probably be done with less tongue flicking.

But regardless, it’s a learning process and she is still a human being who can and will make mistakes — just like the rest of us.

Misogyny and the music scene NATALIE DAVIS In general, when one thinks of the most misogynistic songs on the airwaves today, the mind naturally gravitates towards rap music.

Artists in hip-hop and rap use derogatory wording and raunchy music videos to assert their masculinity and dominance over women, as well as establish themselves as the alpha male amongst all the others.

Though much of rap music revolves around this sexist mentality, hip-hop isn’t the only genre responsible for portraying blatant gender inequality.

The worst offenders of musical misogyny are often also the most catchy and popular songs. They sell the most copies and therefore reward the artists which put sexist messages out to women all over the world.

Record companies and artists are well aware that sex sells, and they’ve capitalized on its draw. It’s apparent in all genres, from country to rock to pop music.

Unfortunately, this consistency in music doesn’t seem to bother most people enough to take a stand against misogynistic content in what they’re listening to. It’s much easier to concentrate on the beat rather than the lyrics, and party without wondering what your “let it be” attitude will lead to when the younger generation follows suit.

If a line isn’t drawn somewhere, the artists of the future, taking example from the success of their predecessors, will become worse and worse.

This problem has undoubtedly become

more prevalent in the last few decades, and the increasing popularity of hip-hop and rap has contributed significantly to the increase in acceptance of misogynistic songs.

However, the concern is not new by any means. Think back to the early rock-androll bands, to the men who shaped modern rock and planted the seed of objectifying lyrics that are so widespread today.

Elvis Presley released a song in 1955 entitled “Baby Let’s Play House,” containing the lyrics “I’d rather see you dead, little girl / Than be with another man.” John Lennon re-used those poignant words ten years later, in his song with the Beatles entitled “Run for Your Life.”

Along that same time period, we had Jimi Hendrix belting out the powerful lyrics of “Hey Joe,” a song centred on domestic abuse. He sang “I’m going down to shoot my ole lady / I caught her messing ‘round with another man.”

Of course music is just a small part of the problem modern society faces of degradation of women and glamorization of violence. It is also prevalent in television, film, video games and the internet, but music is the oldest offender.

In retaliation to the generally malecentric music scene, strong-willed women realized that the pen is mightier than the sword. These women produced songs that not only denounced misogyny, but got their point across without harsh words, intonations of violence or verbally bashing men as the male lyricists had resorted to in their music.

In the 60’s, Etta James released a heart-

FORA DO EIXO/FLICKR

Music continues to contain misogynistic messages.

felt record “I’d Rather Go Blind” the lyrics of which go as follows: “I would rather go blind, boy / Than to see you walk away from me.”

An interesting contrast from Elvis’s choice of words, don’t you think? She doesn’t say a word about a desire to go and shoot her ex-lover for his choice to leave her; rather she wishes pain on herself.

Now, in the modern age, there are female singers with a bit more gumption. Pink’s power-ballad from last decade “U and Ur Hand,” for instance, or Beyoncé, who has likewise put out a plethora of girl-power melodies inspiring young girls to be more assertive and have higher self-esteem.

This issue is multi-faceted, but there are many artists producing music that respects women, doesn’t use us as tools to sell records, and conveys a message that women should be treated as equals.

Perhaps it’s time we re-evaluate what we’re supporting in music and media, so generations of the future have a more respectful example to follow.

9 January, 2014 • thesheaf.com

Yellow journalism prevails: mass media coverage overshadows actual stories

TINA WALLACE/THE FULCRUM

The controversial white poppy exploded last fall, but was the story as big as the media made it seem?

STEPHANIE PIAMONTE — The Fulcrum (The University of Ottawa)

OTTAWA (CUP) — 2013 was a good year for journalists: there was Edward Snowden and the National Security Agency, Stephen Harper and the Senate scandal, Miley Cyrus and twerking, Vladimir Putin and the Sochi Olympics, Kate Middleton and her pregnancy and Rob Ford and Toronto.

Despite all of these great stories, it seems like the media no longer just reports the news, but also makes it. Take the white poppy story, for example, in which “left-wing pacifist” students became part of a Remembrance Day controversy. Sun News took a small symbol of protest — only 2,500 white poppies were available for distribution compared to the 18 million red poppies worn nationally this year — and turned it into a big politically, ideologically and emotionally charged issue.

Is this a new, troubling trend?

Maybe not. It’s no miracle that somehow most news stories fit perfectly into a newspaper or a broadcast segment.

Stories are selected, edited and presented to a specific audience and for a specific purpose, usually for profit or for socalled public interest.

The objective standard of news reporting is a really nice thought, but a look back at history suggests otherwise.

Yellow journalism is the term used to describe sensational, frequently political stories of sometimes questionable veracity.

“The truth” is presented along with a moral, ethical or political opinion intended to frame the facts’ public consumption. Yellow journalism was popularized in American media when Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst built news empires and competed for circulation.

Pulitzer and Hearst believed the primary role of the press was to expose political corruption and thereby help maintain public accountability. They also focused on increased circulation.

With yellow journalism, they struck an awkward balance between a democratic and capitalist ideal.

At its worst, yellow journalism encourages cynicism and that feeling of “here we go again” or “just another scandal.” At its best, yellow journalism can spark engagement and lead to progressive reform. For example, Hearst and Pulitzer’s newspapers had significant roles in the fight for workers’ safety and rights after the New York Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire of 1911.

Is mass-media sinking to new lows by creating controversy over symbols like the poppy? Or is the media returning to its historical roots and trying to elevate public discussion while simultaneously selling more news? Was the Sun trying to provoke a visceral reaction or provoke thoughtful discussion?

We are constantly trying to understand who we were, who we are and who we want to be. For better or worse, the media is a part of that process.

HUMOUR

9 January, 2014 • thesheaf.com

15

Campus Chat What’s your favourite winter activity?

Making hockey rinks.

Ahmed Ahmed

Snowboarding because it’s awesome.

Snowfort building.

Amanda Campbell

Staying inside.

Michael Lepp

Yonina Rollack

Crossword MIKE T

DAN

VISIT THESHEAF.COM/CROSSWORD FOR WEEKLY ANSWERS.

16

BACKPAGE

9 January, 2014 • thesheaf.com

The TransformUS Report is now available.

Feel free to email the USSU Executive at contactus@ussu.ca with any concerns you may have with the recommendations.

Students can also provide feedback at one of the following town halls in January:

January 9, 2014 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm Convocation Hall

January 15, 2014

(students only) 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm Graduate Student Commons

Undergraduate Students Only

Term 2 Stickers now available.

Term 2 U-PASS Exemption Deadline is January 17, 2014.

Exemption Forms available at www.ussu.ca/upass Exemption Forms must be submitted to the USSU Main Office next to the Information Centre in Upper Place Riel no later than 4:30 p.m. January 17, 2014.