January 7, 2016

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NEWS

SPORTS

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YEAR IN REVIEW

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Happy New Year!

January 7, 2016

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NEWS

USSU provides warm welcome for winter term KEIGHLAGH DONOVAN News Editor

For the first time in the history of the University of Saskatchewan and as an effort to continue their increased engagement with the campus community, the U of S Students’ Union is hosting Winter Welcome Week for new and returning students alike.

On Jan. 4–7, the USSU will be celebrating the first week back at school by providing a variety of activities and events for students to take part in while easing into the winter term.

Gabe Senecal, vicepresident academic for the USSU, included Winter Welcome Week in his election platform in March 2015. Since then, he has been working alongside Kehan Fu, vicepresident student affairs, to make the concept a reality.

“I wanted to include something that was a little bit different than what might be considered part of the portfolio for the vice-president academic. I think I bring more to a vice-president academic position than just exactly the academic grievances and university issues that I do deal with. I want to bring a collaborative approach,” Senecal said.

Considering that the final

exam period for the U of S did not officially conclude until Dec. 23, with the potential for several year-long courses assigning deadlines immediately following the holiday season, many students may be feeling like they did not get much of a break.

The USSU aims to counteract this potentially negative outlook, as well as the winter blues some people experience during the shorter days and colder months, by comforting students with free coffee, various games and, as their social media promotions claim, “fun for the sake of fun.”

“Obviously it’s not going to

be like [fall] Welcome Week; we can’t really do beer gardens inside, it’s a different vibe than September. A lot of the focus will be on events we can provide at night, like at Louis’ Pub for students,” Fu said.

Winter Welcome Week events will not only include coffee and other comforting freebies, but the Louis’ House Party returned on Jan. 5, encouraging students to wear all purple and celebrate throughout both levels of Louis’ Pub and Louis’ Loft. There will also be a lip-sync battle at Louis’ Pub on Jan. 6 hosted by the USSU and the Visual Arts

Students’ Union.

However, one of the notable additions to this term’s events is the trivia night on Jan. 7, which will be hosted in conjunction with the Indigenous Students’ Council.

“This is interesting because I think a partnership between the Indigenous students with the USSU is definitely building this year. The purpose of the trivia night is to provide a fun, competitive and accessible way to give people a chance to learn more about Indigenous aspects of various things through participating in trivia,” Fu said.

While the evening events

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The Sheaf is a non-profit, incorporated and student-body funded partially by way of a direct levy paid by all part and full-time undergraduate students at the University of Saskatchewan (U of S). The remainder of the revenue is generated through advertising. The financial affairs are governed by a Board of Directors, most of whom are students. Membership in the Society is open to undergraduate students at the U of S who 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 Editor-in-Chief has the right to veto any submission deemed unfit for the Society newspaper. In determining this, the Editor-in-Chief 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. The Sheaf is published weekly during the academic year and monthly from May through August.

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will provide excitement for some, Senecal has arranged a kaiser tournament for Jan. 6 at 2 p.m. at Louis’ Pub in an effort to offer up an alternative for those students who are looking for a change of pace.

“It’s really a Saskatchewan card game, it kind of plays a little bit like Hearts but it’s kind of a classic game that people have played growing up with their families,” Senecal said. “It’s played in partners so you can bring a partner or you can bring three of you if you guys want to sub out. There aren’t really too many rules, it’s more a matter of getting people to hang out and just have some fun.”

The USSU is also transforming the Place Riel North Concourse into an arcade, which will include board games, active games and refreshments for those students waiting in the long line-ups for their U-Pass.

While Winter Welcome Week will only last until Jan. 7, Senecal reminds students that the fun does not have to end as the term moves forward.

“Have some fun and just enjoy the time of year. Even though it could be sad or a little bit annoying to be back in some ways, it is still kind of exciting to have the new semester under way and another semester complete and to be back on campus with 17,000 other undergraduates that are as excited to be here as you should be.”

The mission of the Sheaf is to inform and entertain students by addressing those issues that are relevant to life on campus, in the city, or in the province. The newspaper serves as a forum for discussion on a wide range of issues that concern students. Written for students by students, the staff of editors, photographers, and artists collaborate with volunteers as studentjournalists to produce a product with relevance to the university community. With each composition, the Sheaf stays in touch with students on the U of S campus. It provides unique insight to university issues through a student perspective.

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corrections There were no errors brought to our attention in our last issue.

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january 7, 2016

NEWS

Campus news highlights: A year in review JESSICA QUAN When reflecting on campuswide events that have shaped students’ experiences throughout the year, individuals may recall 2015 as an exciting and dynamic year made up of many highs and lows for the University of Saskatchewan.

In 2015, the university propelled upwards in terms of numbers. By comparison, in 1910, only 70 students were enrolled and tuition only cost $30, whereas by the end of 2015, there are now 21,001 students enrolled and the approximate average cost for tuition is $6,500.

With a 2.4 per cent increase in tuition and provincial budget cuts, there have been many consequences for students, staff and faculty. With projects being halted, bank accounts feeling the effects and financial requests being denied, 2015 is remembered by many as a year of stringent and cautious spending.

Not only has tuition taken its toll, but security risks have been a concern for U of S students throughout the year.

On May 8, in the graduate students’ parking lot, 50 cars were broken into. The cars were not only significantly damaged, but valuables inside were also

stolen. The culprits have yet to be identified, while the victims demanded increased security and compensation.

Natural disasters were also a concern through the span of late-June to mid-July when northern Saskatchewan was engulfed in a total of 550 fires.

Not only did this have severe consequences for students living up north during the summer, but the air quality in Saskatoon hit plus 10 on the Air Quality Index Scale, making breathing conditions unbearable for many.

The year was not all bad news however, and in 2015, the U of S Students’ Union ranked in the top five for Canadian student unions that protect freedom of speech. This was reflected in the USSU’s capacity to effectively accommodate and oversee the needs of an ever-growing and diverse student body, bringing about beneficial changes for students.

The 2015-16 budget unanimously balanced in March, reaping positive benefits for the incoming USSU executive — president Jack Saddleback, vice-president academic affairs Gabe Senecal, vice-president operations and finance Ata Merat and vice-president student affairs Kehan Fu. From creating a more hypedup welcome week and a school year filled with events, to push-

550 wildfires caused air quality in Saskatoon to hit plus 10 on the Air Quality Index Scale.

ing for mandatory Indigenous content in all disciplines and establishing a female leadership commission, the 2015-16 USSU executive has worked towards enhancing the university experience for students, faculty and staff at the U of S. Another major initiative occurred during Sexual Assault Awareness Week when on Sept.

22, the U of S released its first official draft of a newly-created sexual assault prevention policy. Amendments were open to the campus community until Oct. 5. with the purpose of unifying the student body, faculty and administration through the common goal of creating a culture of consent across campus.

One of the primary objectives of the USSU was to increase voter engagement in anticipation of the federal election, which took place in October. By hosting a multitude of events to raise awareness such as candidate forums and a trivia night at Louis’ Pub, as well as providing information regarding voter eligibility and voting procedures to make voting more accessible, students were encouraged to participate democratically.

Although the statistics regarding youth voter turnout have yet to be released, national voter turnout spiked seven per cent from the previous election, with 68 per cent

On May 8, in the graduate students’ parking lot, 50 cars were broken into.

Jeremy Britz / Graphics Editor

january 7, 2016

of Canadians exercising their democratic rights.

The placement of advance polls across Canadian campuses was successful as, over the span of four days, 3.6 million Canadians voted at the advance polls, a 71 per cent increase from the 2011 federal election.

In addition to a new prime minister, the university welcomed their new president, Peter Stoicheff. Formerly the dean of arts and science, Stoicheff began his presidency term on Oct. 24.

One of Stoicheff’s plans for the future of the U of S includes Indigenizing the institutions on campus. Currently, 2,236 Aboriginal students, or 10 per cent of U of S students, are enrolled for the 2015-16 year and this number has been incrementally increasing.

A central focus for the upcoming year is accommodating space for students to retain and share cultural values, practices and ideas for future generations.

The Gordon Oakes-Red Bear Student Centre started construction in 2013 and was completed at the end of 2015. This space is an inclusive ground for different student groups, the hosting of ceremonies and aims to provide learning and sharing opportunities for others with the overarching goal of cultural and educational understanding.

In response to global pandemics and national issues, the U of S community has also shown its support over the past year by raising awareness, support or money for an array of causes and charities.

The Pan-Canadian Day of Action took place in March across Canadian universities to protest increased tuition rates and the corporatization of education. Carried out in front of the Peter MacKinnon Building, over 100 U of S students and faculty protested against the current state of the post-secondary educational system.

The past year saw multiple organizations and student groups on campus taking an initiative to raise awareness and funds for refugees living in Canada and abroad, but the U of S has also opened its doors to provide refugees with learning opportunities.

The U of S Student Refugee program is run by the World University Service of Canada, which aims to provide both education attainment and stability for impoverished youth around the world.

Currently, there are three Kenyan refugees studying at the U of S through WUSC, as well as approximately 14 refugees in undergraduate studies who have been involved in the program.

U of S students and groups have also responded to what has been coined as “Islamophobia” over the course of the year through dismantling extremist notions and misconceptions of Muslims while purporting the peaceful teachings of Islam.

Saskatoon Ahmadiyya Students’ Association, Ahmadiyya Muslim Women’s Association and Students for a Free Palestine are examples of groups who have aimed to deconstruct the prejudices and misconstrued perceptions on Islam through public panels and discussions.

Another topic shrouded in misconception is mental health. Recently, the conversation about mental health has begun to open up, but in 2015 the dialogue was consistently flowing the entire year.

Overwhelming collaboration between the USSU and various groups and organizations led to workshops, events and activities to educate students about the importance of mental health.

This heightened awareness shed light on the stigmas associated with mental illness while teaching students different methods of self-care.

While 2015 involved many significant initiatives and developments across campus, along with unexpected security breaches and natural disasters, the 2016 term has already begun as students return to campus and look forward to the year ahead.

In 2015, the U of S Students’ Union ranked in the top five for Canadian student unions that protect freedom of speech.

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NEWS

Edwards JDC West team prepares for annual competition EMILY KLATT Staff Writer

The new term may have just begun, but Edwards School of Business is already busy preparing for the annual JDC West competition, taking place from Jan. 15–17.

The competition, which aims to foster development of valuable skills in its competitors, will take place at the University of Saskatchewan this year. Top business students from across Western Canada will be coming together to test their skills in a variety of different categories.

This year, the Edwards JDC West team is lead by co-captains Michael Gonari and Jordana Knoblauch, both fourth-year commerce students at the U of S. Gonari speaks to the kind of experience that students can expect from the competition. “[JDC West] challenges them to use their critical thinking skills and applying real knowledge outside of the classroom

to solve business scenarios and present to judges,” Gonari said.

JDC West finds its origins in the Quebec business competition Jeux de Commerce. In 2006, the format was adapted for the unique environment of Western Canada and has been held annually ever since.

Hosting duties rotate between a number of western Canadian universities.

The competition is comprised of four different categories: academic case challenges, debate, sport and social challenges. Over the course of the weekend, each team will compete against the other schools with the event culminating in an awards gala.

Over 600 students from 12 different schools will soon gather in Saskatoon to take part in the annual competition. With a team of 50 students, 2016 has already been a successful year for JDC West at the U of S. “We’ve put together a really great team this year. We have the highest recruitment numbers this year. The number of people that actually applied this year was record breaking

— we had really good marketing,” Knoblauch said.

Preparation for the competition begins early in the year, with JDC West students putting in several hours of their time per week.

“Roughly once a week, [academic case] students will get together and simulate what the competition would look like. They’ll … solve a business case for three hours, and then they’ll present to their coaches for the same amount of time as they would at the competition, which is 20 minutes, followed by a five-minute question period,” Gonari said.

The social, debate and sports teams each have their own unique preparation methods, with the sports team showing particular dedication to their competition.

“They actually all joined the Campus Rec dodgeball league, so they all played on Saturday afternoons as well as getting up at 6 a.m. on Mondays and Wednesday and going to the PAC to practice ringette for an hour and a half,” Knoblauch said.

JDC West also requires participants to go beyond their

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university and give back to their local communities.

“This year for charity we’ve raised close to $10,000 for Habitat for Humanity in a single day — we raised that in our top charity event. We’ve actually done, as a team, over a thousand hours of community service from September to January, which I thought was pretty good for a group of 50 students who are all full-time students,” Knoblauch said.

For both Gonari and Knoblauch, the benefits of JDC West extend far beyond the opportunity to win a competition.

“My favorite part of the team is definitely the bond-

ing aspect that happens with the other people that are part of the team. I’ve met my best friends in commerce through this team and I’ve formed lifelong friendships that I will never ever have regrets about,” Knoblauch said.

Gonari hopes that students benefit from JDC West as much as he has.

“I want students to come out with a solid group of friends that they consider very close to them because of all that time spent together,” Gonari said. “I want them to come out feeling like it was the best experience of their university career and that so much value was added as a result of it.”

Supplied / Tanner Assie Edwards business students are excited to compete in this year’s JDC West competition.

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january 7, 2016

SPORTS

Making gains: How to succeed at exercise goals in 2016 NAOMI ZUREVINSKI

Editor-in-Chief If your idea of exercise is the walk from the couch to the fridge and back, then 2016 just might be your year to become more active. Luckily, it’s not impossible to stick to exercise goals while attending university, and here are some tried-and-true tips for how to achieve getting in better shape this year.

According to the Toronto Star, in 2011, 50 per cent of Ca-

nadians who made resolutions had dropped them by the end of January of that year, while 15 per cent of Canadians had dropped their resolutions after one week.

This is hardly surprising. For the first two weeks of January, the Physical Activity Complex and every other gym on the block will be packed with exercise hopefuls. By the end of January, the flow of people will be back to its regular pace and only a handful of those who made exercise goals will have managed to stick with them.

So what’s the secret? For me, sticking to a regular exercise routine involves much more than motivation and willpower; it’s about setting yourself

Caitlin Taylor / Photo Editor New Year’s resolutions don’t have to be exhausting: listen to your body and be realistic.

up for success with the right mindset. That’s why my first tip is recognizing that you’re only human — and being realistic.

Being realistic means acknowledging that it’s highly unlikely you will look like a Victoria’s Secret model or bodybuilder by 2017 — and that’s okay. The number one reason people give up on exercise goals is that they had unrealistic expectations to begin with. Strenuous gym workouts every day of the week is simply unsustainable for your body, mind and schedule.

Think about how much time you can actually devote to exercise and start slowly to avoid over-exerting your body. If you commit to exercising two or three times a week at first, you are more likely to stick with it than a more intense plan, which will only leave you exhausted and drained.

Along the same lines as being realistic is making sure you avoid approaching your goals with an all-or-nothing attitude. Having to skip exercise one day does not mean you failed at your goal and should just quit while you’re ahead.

It just means you skipped one day — that’s all.

If you miss an exercise session, you can find simple ways to be active throughout the day instead. Take the stairs over the elevator in the Murray Library or consider walking to school. Even 10 minutes of a solo dance party in your kitchen between studying is better than nothing and will boost your mood considerably.

Equally important is making sure you listen to your body. If you’re sore from squats, take a rest day. If you wake up tired, swap the run you had planned for a lighter walk. Sometimes the best gift we can give ourselves is listening to what our body needs, even if that goes against your new exercise plan.

Try tracking how you feel after exercising in a journal or with an exercise app, to see what is best for your body.

Recording your goals can also help you reflect and track your progress, which may be useful for sticking to your plan.

It’s also important to make exercise enjoyable for yourself.

There are very few people who actually find pleasure in pushing their bodies through gruel-

ling workouts. Choose activity and movement that you like, and you will be far more likely to look forward to your exercise times.

Exercise can include everything from taking an adult dance class, martial arts, skating, yoga or signing up for a Zumba or kickboxing class. Try switching a coffee date with a friend to a walking date — you will both save some cash and enjoy the fresh air — or do a workout DVD if you prefer to exercise from the comfort of your home.

How you view the goals you make will determine whether or not you keep them. If exercise is a chore to you, you will be unlikely to continue with it. Make sure to stay positive — it’s far better to focus on the one workout you did, rather than the three you missed.

You will feel more motivated in the long-run if you’re not beating yourself up over small setbacks.

If you begin to view exercise as something that can be enjoyable, and plan realistically while listening to your body, then keeping your goals will be that much easier for 2016.

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SPORTS

2015 a year to remember for all Huskies

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Women’s hockey plays for a cure AUSTIN ARVAY Sports Editor

Preparing for a new year and a new semester of school also means the return of Huskies athletic action after a lengthy December break. But before the teams officially get back underway on Jan. 8, the Sheaf wanted to take one last look back at the year that was 2015.

It was a roller coaster year for all the

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Huskies teams, as there was joy, sorrow and plenty of excitement to go around.

With all 15 teams — plus one unofficial team — competing to the best of their abilities for the past 365 days, the Sheaf ranked the top moments from 2015.

Without further ado, here are the top 10 moments of 2015 for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies.

Cheerleading team earns national gold Although they aren’t recognized as an official team under Huskies Athletics, the U of S cheerleading team deserves some recognition. The team consists of 26 members — 22 females and four males — who went to Brampton, Ont. and wore the green and white with pride, taking home the

The Swede with speed

Cross-country runner Erik Widing moved to Saskatoon from Stockholm, Sweden just prior to the 2015-16 academic year. A few short months later, he was able to accomplish something very rare — a

national championship with a nearly flawless final stunt routine.

The cheerleading team has been attending the same competition for the past 15 years and was able to deliver their best result ever, dethroning their provincial rivals — the University of Regina Cougars — in the process.

U of S athlete winning the annual Sled Dog Open race, hosted by the U of S. Widing crossed the finish line with a time of 25:05, placing him in first out of 62 runners competing in the event.

Volleyball team gets emotional win On Jan. 23, 2015, the U of S announced that women’s volleyball coach Jason Grieve would be placed on leave after a handful of members on the team had filed complaints of misconduct. The team played one of its final regular season games later that night.

Entering with a 4–14 re-

cord and up against a playoff-bound University of Manitoba Bisons team, the Huskies played one of their best matches of the season, despite the circumstances.

A 3–1 (25–16, 19–25, 25–17, 25–22) win was the final victory of the season for the Dogs.

Men’s hockey experiences red-hot start Coming off a disappointing 2014-15 season, the Huskies men’s hockey team entered this season with a renewed focus. Sporting plenty of new faces in the lineup, the team clicked right out of the gate, winning seven straight games to open the campaign.

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After losing their first game of the year to rival Alberta, the Huskies reeled off five wins in their next six games and found themselves in the top spot of the weekly Canadian Interuniversity Sport rankings on Nov. 24, with a record of 12–2.

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On Jan. 24, 2015, the women’s hockey team held their annual Play For The Cure night. The team rocked custom green and black jerseys with ribbons on both shoulders — one for Cody Smuk and the other for Yvett Marie Hyatt, a grandmother to one of the players. Both had

previously lost their battles with cancer.

The Huskies wound up losing 4–3 in overtime, but raised money for various cancer foundations by selling game-worn jerseys and accepting donations in their seventh annual Play For The Cure game.

Handful of wrestlers find national podium From Feb. 26–28, 2015, 10 Huskies wrestlers represented their school at the national championships in Edmonton, Alta. Four wound up earning medals, including one gold medal for Josh Bodnarchuk, who also took home CIS Rookie

of the Year.

Veterans Annie Monteith and Dylan Bray both took home silver medals, while Jacob Phillips captured a bronze for the Dogs. It was one of the best recent wrestling performances at nationals for the Huskies.

Men’s basketball playoff run Entering the Canada West post-season as the number one seed, the Huskies had quite the exciting ride. After a thrilling series against the Thompson River Wolfpack, the Dogs were able to host the CanWest Final Four at the Physical Activity Complex. With a national cham-

pionship berth on the line, the Huskies pulled out an exhilarating 81–75 win.

A heartbreaking loss in the CanWest final earned the Huskies a silver medal before they headed off to Toronto for the CIS championships, where they finished in fifth, posting a 2–1 record.

Men’s volleyball hosts CIS Championships After a disappointing regular season that saw the Huskies men’s volleyball team miss the CanWest playoffs, they had to quickly set their sights on a much bigger prize — the CIS national championships that were played in their home gym.

Handed a tough task of

facing the number one ranked team, the Dogs held their own in front of a near sold-out crowd of 2,223 at the PAC. In one of the loudest and best atmospheres in quite some time, the Huskies ultimately fell 3–0 (26–24, 25–20, 25–18) and finished in fifth place.

Hockey teams honour Cody Smuk In one of the most emotional nights for the Huskies in recent memory, the men’s hockey team honoured their fallen teammate in a game on Oct. 25. In a touching pregame ceremony, they raised his number to the rafters at Rutherford Rink and every single player on the team wore a Smuk jersey, with his

name and number on the back during their warm-ups.

There wasn’t a dry eye in the building as one of the most well liked members of the 2013-14 team was remembered. The team skated to a 6–2 win and, more importantly, raised over $3,000 for Smuk’s cancer foundation, Marty’s Men.

Women’s basketball picks up right where it left off After a loss in the semifinals at nationals in March 2015, the Huskies got back to work in the summer and, so far it has paid off. They have yet to lose a game in the new season and currently sit with an 8–0 record.

Thanks to their impressive play so far, they have

been ranked number one in the CIS rankings for three straight weeks and are one of two undefeated teams left in the country. They are considered national championship contenders and will look for revenge when they head back to the CIS championships. january 7, 2016

CULTURE

Shop for a unique elective at the U of S KEZIA FOURIE Though the University of Saskatchewan doesn’t actually offer a class on underwater basket weaving, we’ve all been stuck in electives that feel just as impractical. Luckily, there are many noteworthy classes to make elective requirements feel less like a chore! Try something new this term and gain some useful skills with these off-beat options.

CLASSICS 103: MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY

Latin and Greek are not common languages in North America. However, these two languages combine to make up the extensive vocabulary of the sciences. This class aims to help students alleviate the need to memorize vocabulary by teaching them the Greco-Latin roots and how they can be used to decipher words and phrases. Although this class is highly beneficial to those in the life sciences, students of all areas of study

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can find this class interesting and useful — the course also touches on language history and etymology, the study of language.

Classics 103 is taught this term by Beth Ritchert, and it has no prerequisites or restrictions for registration.

INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES 110: STRATEGIES FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESS There are times in the life of every student when we learn a valuable lesson about academia the hard way. Perhaps we wish we had better managed our time, written that essay more thoroughly or studied harder for that test. Unfortunately, we can't change the past, but there is a class that focuses on these and other strategies for achieving academic success.

The skills learned in this class are not only applicable to academia but also to daily life.

Interdisciplinary Studies 110 is taught by a variety of professors from various departments. For example,

Daryl Janzen has a PhD in physics and is a post-doctoral fellow at the Global Institute of Water Security at the U of S, while Liv Marken is a sessional lecturer in English and is involved with Student Learning Services on campus.

This diversity brings a completely unique perspective to every section, a feature many other classes don't have. Any student with fewer than 60 credits already completed may register.

MUSIC 101: FUNDAMENTALS OF MUSIC

Music is heard every day all around the world. Understanding the language of it can give one a new appreciation for music, its industry and its producers. Throughout this class, students learn how to read music through interpretation of basic musical characteristics. It’s also a good way to get exposure to music genres you may not have discovered otherwise.

Music 101 is currently only offered online, so it is great

for students with a need for flexible schedules. It is taught

by Kerry Agnew and Allison Fairbairn, both of whom hold bachelor degrees in music.

The class has no prerequisites for registration, but students majoring in music are ineligible. Students who intend to major in music may take this class only if they do not pass the music faculty’s required theory placement exam for admission.

PHILOSOPHY 120: KNOWLEDGE, MIND AND EXISTENCE What is knowledge and just how much can we “know?”

Is reality a figment of our imagination or does it truly exist? This is just a small taste of what you can ponder in Philosophy 120. This class aims to aid your knowledge of the universe by asking questions that cannot be answered by conventional means. By combining class discussions, essay writing and thought-provoking readings, students gain valuable critical analysis, communication

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and writing skills which are imperative in the working world.

Although there are several sections taught by different professors, this term’s classes are taught by assistant professor Dwayne Moore, sessional lecturer Mary Day and St. Thomas More College lecturer Pierre-Francois Noppen. With diverse backgrounds in areas such as epistemology, which is the study of knowledge, and metaphysics — philosophy concerning the abstract concepts of the universe — these professors are well suited to their subjects.

Jeremy Britz / Graphics Editor

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FEATURE

Grading grad schools:

HOW DO WESTERN CANADIAN UNIVERSITIES MEASURE UP? ZACH TENNENT

Opinions Editor If you’re thinking about relocating to another university — for graduate studies or to just finish your undergraduate degree — finding the right one can be overwhelming. However, if you don’t want to stray too far from home, western Canada offers plenty of solid choices.

It’s a new semester at the University of Saskatchewan and for returning undergraduate students, that likely means you’re one step closer to finishing your degrees. With this feeling of accomplishment comes a minor sense of dread for the future, with many students wondering “what next?”

Obviously, there are different strokes for different folks, and there’s a lot to consider when it comes to choosing the right school for you. While your field of study should take highest priority in choosing where to apply to, there’s more to your decision than just that.

If you’re a homebody and don’t want to stray too far from Saskatchewan — or if you just plain hate Toronto — there are lots of good choices at your disposal.

The University of British Columbia, based primarily out of Vancouver, B.C., obviously has the perk of

being located in one of the most gorgeous parts of the country — offering a far cry from the brutal Saskatchewan winters. It also offers graduate degrees in more than 250 fields, from civil engineering to harpsichord, so you can get a master’s degree in almost any area you want.

UBC is also one of the most prestigious schools in the country. In the 2015-16 edition of QS Top Universities’ annual World University Rankings, UBC placed 50th — the third

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doctoral programs at UBC comes in at a comparably economical $4,615.35 annually, while professional degree programs vary.

However, with a 2014-15 student body of 59,659 — 10,764 of whom are graduate students — it may be a little too easy to slip into the crowd. Likewise, Cameron Metcalfe, a third-year undergraduate student studying physics and education, finds campus culture to be pretty weak.

“At the beginning of the year, there

If you’re a homebody and don’t want to stray too far from Saskatchewan — or if you just plain hate Toronto — there are lots of good choices at your disposal.”

highest placing in Canada and the highest this side of Ontario.

Likewise, in Maclean’s ranking of Canadian universities in October 2015, UBC maintained its third place position in the Medical Doctoral category, behind the University of Toronto and McGill University Tuition for research master’s and

is no frosh week, no welcome week.

We jump right into classes, which is disappointing,” Metcalfe said in an email interview with the Sheaf. “It doesn't help with the problem that there doesn't feel like there is much school spirit at UBC.” So while UBC may be a good pick for those medically minded among

us, if you’re looking for a sense of belonging away from home, you may be out of luck.

The University of Alberta has its appeals as well. Located on the south side of the the North Saskatchewan river in Edmonton, Alta., the centralized location of the U of A is a definite bonus, as it is a short distance from both downtown and the Whyte Avenue district, a popular shopping destination and cultural hub in the city.

While not rated as highly as UBC in the World University Rankings, the U of A came in at a respectable 96th place. Furthermore, it seems that the institution may strike a happy medium between UBC and the U of S on a number of levels.

In the Maclean’s 2015 Medical Doctoral ranking, the U of A placed fifth. However, it seems that the department of English and film is where the school really stands out.

In 2014, it was found to have the 22nd best department for English language and literature worldwide

by QS World Universities, with only the University of Toronto placing higher in Canada.

Among the department’s specialities are post-colonial and gender and sexuality studies, while the faculty also runs the Canadian Literature Centre, a community of writers, researchers, publishers and more who aim to foster and strengthen the study of literature in the country.

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january 7, 2016

FEATURE

Stephanie Mah / Layout Manager

While a top notch English department may be a feather in its cap, the U of A offers master’s and doctoral degrees in 170 fields of study, guaranteeing you plenty of other options as well.

The total student population at the U of A for the 2014-15 year was 38,733, likely affording you a little more breathing room on campus than UBC does. However, with 7,572 of these being graduate students, your number of peers may not be overly affected.

Tuition at the U of A is $5,465 for course-based master’s programs and $5,550 for doctoral programs and thesis-based masters annually.

Simon Fraser University, based out of Burnaby, B.C., has a couple of aces up its sleeve when it comes to attracting prospective students.

The comprehensive category of the 2015 Maclean’s rankings found SFU sitting on top of the list.

Likewise, in a 2012 report comparing breadth and depth of research conducted at Canadian universities, the Higher Education Strategy Associates found SFU to be one of the top 10 schools in the country in both of its categories: 10th in social science and humanities and sixth in science and engineering.

Of course, while wholly superficial, going to school atop a mountain can most likely be considered a bonus to studying at the gorgeous SFU campus.

The institution also offers dozens of graduate degree programs, affording students plenty of directions to take.

This is all considerably high praise, but it’s not all as rosy at SFU as it may seem. Despite being listed at number one on the comprehensive Maclean’s poll, the university dropped to 12th place in the student satisfaction poll.

Additionally, it placed dead last in a january 7, 2016

poll asking if students believed their school was adequately preparing them for employment, with only 22 per cent of respondents from SFU strongly agreeing.

As of fall 2015, tuition for graduate students at SFU sits at $5,290.14 annually, and with enrolment for the 201415 year coming in at 35,141 — 5,339 of which are graduate students — these numbers are more-or-less middle of the road.

So, while SFU seems to be a solid pick for furthering your education — especially if you’re looking to study in the fields of science or engineering — if you apply, just don’t expect to always enjoy yourself.

The University of Calgary is also a

‘‘

30,201 — 5,804 of which are graduate students. Still, it offers a veritable smorgasbord of program options for graduate studies.

Living in Calgary would certainly offer its perks as well. As an arts hub, students would certainly have lots of options on how to spend free time — but if you’re not into that sort of thing, you can always opt to sport a cowboy hat instead of a man-bun.

Tuition for doctoral and thesis-based masters programs comes in at $5,593.50, the highest of any school examined so far, if only by a couple of dollars. Still, if money is a concern, you may want to look elsewhere.

Lastly, for the student who really doesn’t want to stray too far from

home, there’s always the University of Regina located in Regina, Sask.

While it can be occasionally overlooked and written off by some snooty U of S elitists — myself included — in truth, the U of R actually offers some programs and opportunities that we could only dream of here, making it an appealing and convenient choice for graduate studies.

It’s definitely a smaller school, with the enrolment numbers breaking records in fall of 2015 at a whopping 14,360 — 1,748 of which were graduate students.

It may be a smaller scale than we’ve seen so far, but that may be what

you’re looking for. The U of R offers just over 50 master’s degree programs and 18 doctoral programs. However, the fields for these degrees is what’s really interesting.

The U of R offers graduate studies in both the department of film and journalism, neither of which are offered at the U of S. So for students who need to leave Saskatoon to study in either of those fields, a solution may be close at hand.

It’s not like the U of R is a half-assed university either. It placed 12th in the Maclean’s comprehensive ranking in fall 2015. While 12th place may pale in comparison to SFU’s number one standing, keep in mind that neither UBC, the U of A or the U of C appeared in the top 15.

Unfortunately, as of winter 2016, tuition for graduate programs at the U of R comes in at roughly $6,600, which is pretty whopping, so that’s something to keep in mind.

Compared to cities like Edmonton and Vancouver, Regina may not have as much to offer for recreation during your down time, but most students would likely still find the city to be agreeable.

While no one can know or decide which school is best for you but you, taking a cursory look at a handful of western Canadian schools reveals some information worth keeping in mind.

UBC might be a good pick if you don’t want to break the bank and don’t mind dealing with crowds. If you’re looking to study English and literature, the U of A may be something to look at. SFU offers mountain views but student blues, while the U of C would never leave you bored. But if you’re a fan of small classes and weekend trips home, the U of R may be just right for you.

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...there doesn’t feel like there is much school spirit at UBC.” ­— C a m e r on M e t ca l f e , p h ys ics a n d e d u ca t i o n , t h i r d y e a r , U n i ve r s i t y o f B r i t is h C o l um b i a

commendable choice for students. Located in northwest Calgary, the U of C has a respectable reputation in western Canada. In 2015, the QS rankings found it to be the best university under 50 years old in North America, placing 12th overall.

In another 2015 ranking of Canadian universities, the Globe and Mail found the U of C to be above average in the research it conducted. This same ranking found the university to have strong programs for both veterinary sciences and development planning.

Compared to the previously examined schools, U of C is also relatively small, with a student headcount of

CULTURE

7 8 9 10 11 12 13

upcoming events • First day of Aiden Flynn Lost His Brother So He Makes Another at the Refinery Arts and Spirit Centre

s aturday

• Truth, Treaties and Trivia at Louis’ Loft

• BC Read Big Band at The Bassment • Last day of Eaton’s Once Upon a Christmas at the Western Development Museum • Royal Red Brigade with Off The Top Rope and Never Green at Vangelis • Sydney Mae at Village Guitar & Amp Co.

• Lang Dang with Quinzee Town at Amigos • Last Day of the Enchanted Forest Holiday Light Tour at the Saskatoon Forestry Farm • My Constant with Me The Guts and Most Wanted at the Capitol Music Club • U of S Amati Quartet in concert at Knox United Church

• Last day of $5 charity classes at Move N Soar • TiP Community Stage featuring Coral More at The Woods Alehouse

sunday

• Banff Mountain Film Festival at TCU Place • Lady Bits Women’s Comedy Collective at Amigos • SASC Variety Night featuring Economics and Potash Corpse at Vangelis

monday

• LEAD Saskatoon at Horizon College & Seminary

tuesday

wednesday

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BRIDGET MORRISON

• Kaiser Tournament at Louis’ Pub

T hursday

f riday

It’s not too late — start the new year with a campus club!

• Last day of Hypneurosis at the Persephone Backstage Stage • Playing with Fire: The Theo Fleury Story at the Persephone Theatre • Refugees Welcome Multicultural Poetry Night at la Fédération des Francophones

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The academic year may be half over, but don’t worry, you can still join a University of Saskatchewan campus club.

This is a great way to meet new people and become involved in student life and the broader Saskatoon community. There are a number of clubs on campus, so chances are you’ll find one that suits your interest.

One of the most common types of groups on campus are those that pertain to a specific program of study. A few examples of this would be the Computer Science Students’ Society or the International Studies Students Society. Generally, these types of groups encourage and aim to provide a sense of community among students who are pursuing the same degree.

Networking opportunities with professionals in the community are made available by connecting students with those who are actually working in a particular field of study. Most of these groups also act as a social outlet, hosting events and providing guest speakers relevant to students’ interests.

These groups are a great way to meet people who share the same academic interests as you and can be helpful in the pursuit of your degree and career. Do a little research of your own and see if your program has a campus group — odds are good that it does!

Are you interested in politics? If so, there are plenty of opportunities for you to become more involved with the political culture here on campus. There are groups solely dedicated to a certain political party, such as the U of S New Democratic Party, the U of S Young Liberals and the Saskatchewan Party Campus Club. This is a great way to become a politically active student and democratic citizen.

If you want to join a club that doesn’t have anything to do with your academic field of study, don’t worry — the U of S has many opportunities for just that. These groups don’t necessarily have to do

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with academic endeavors, but instead are intended for interest’s sake and for fun!

These are groups such as the Games Club, Animanga Club and the Huskie Motorsports Club. This is a great way to engage interests outside of academics, while providing some much needed fun and stress relief in the midst of a student’s busy life. Pick a random one you’ve never heard of and check it out — you may find a new passion.

Often the clubs that are specific to a field of study allow students who are not in that program to join the club as well. This is yet another great opportunity for students to explore other interests and break out of their comfort zone. One example of this is VASU — the Visual Arts Students’ Union. It isn’t just for visual arts students, but for any U of S students who have an interest in art and wish to become more engaged in the artistic community on campus and in Saskatoon.

If you’re into fitness, there are numerous clubs you may

want to check out. To name a few, there is the U of S Kin Club, the Men’s or Women’s Ultimate Frisbee Clubs and the Barbell Club. There is even a Rugby Club on campus! These types of clubs are a great way to have some fun while getting in a workout.

There are over 130 ratified campus groups, so chances are you will be able to find a club that suits your interests.

Check out the U of S Students’ Union website to find a page that lists all of the ratified student groups on campus. This page will provide you with the complete list of groups, a summary of what the group is about and contact information if you wish to join the group or have further questions.

If you are unable to find a group that suits your interests, you might want to consider creating one of your own. All the information you need to know to get started is provided on the USSU’s website as well.

Take a chance and join a campus club! It’s a great way to make new friends and become involved in student culture on campus. Happy campus club hunting!

Jeremy Britz / Graphics Editor

january 7, 2016

CULTURE

Get results from your resolutions

Caitlin Taylor / Photo Editor Toss those unrealistic New Year’s resolutions in the trash!

CHELSEA POWRIE

Culture Editor New Year’s resolutions are notorious for being easy to make but difficult to keep.

Students who want to find success with the following common resolutions can use this guide to making practical promises instead of being over-ambitious.

1. “I'm going to attend all my classes, pay attention and do all my work ahead of time.”

Many students may feel inclined to make a dramatic, sweeping statement about how they're going to become a model pupil, especially if they had a disappointing first term. If this sounds like you, be honest with yourself — are you really going to be able to cut your truancy habit cold turkey?

Try for something more manageable first. If you're a social media addict during class, for example, limit yourself to one or two checks of your phone, working up to leaving your phone in your bag.

If you're partial to sleeping in through classes, set a goal for how many times you will allow yourself to skip per month, and bring the number down as the year progresses.

If you tend to let your readings and homework pile up until it's midterm season and you're scrambling, try starting each week off with one manageable goal.

Look at what is expected of you, and highlight something that you promise to complete by the end of the week. Increase the number as time goes on.

2. “I'm going to stop drinking/partying.”

Too much time at the bar or too many trips to the liquor store can be hard on a student's wallet and productivity. But if a lot of your social life involves going out at night, it's unrealistic to cut that out of your life in one fell swoop — you're bound to feel left out. So, take baby steps.

A good start could be choosing limited evenings when you can have a couple drinks. You can reassess at the beginning of each week, tailoring your choice in case there is an event you'd like to drink at, but january 7, 2016

don't go over your pre-determined number of nights. Also, stay involved with your friends' outings by offering to be the designated driver — that way, you don't miss out and you’re doing a good deed.

3. “I'm quitting junk food.”

Trying to eat healthier for someone with a major sweet tooth can be tough.

If you're a student who is used to frothy frappucinos before class, sugary snacks during lecture and crunchy crisps while doing homework, you'll have to take it slow to kick the cravings.

Pick your favourite indulgence and allow yourself to enjoy it on limited days. Do a Google search on healthy alternatives for some of your favourites — there are lots of inventive recipes out there that are fun to try and will help with the transition to healthier habits.

4. “I'm going to be less stressed.”

Students are no strangers to stress and many of us know how debilitating it can be to every aspect of our lives.

This resolution is too sweeping and non-specific, however, so in order to not fail before you've even started, start by breaking down the problem.

What are the top stressors in your life?

Pick one thing and start with that — for example, do you frequently worry about money? Start by being brutally honest about how much you've spent at the end of each week, and look for specific purchases that could have been made more intelligently or not at all. Do you have toxic relationships in your life that heighten your anxiety? Step back from those interactions and slowly cut down on time spent in those situations.

Also take positive steps to find activities that relax you — maybe try yoga, schedule a bubble bath evening once a week, go on a loose leaf tea shopping spree to find your favourite type — whatever works for you. Don't let those things slip off your calendar, no matter how busy you feel.

These four resolutions are just a few common choices for students. Whatever your goal, remember to start small and build — otherwise, you may be overwhelmed with how impossible your task seems and end up being one of the estimated 90 per cent of adults who break their resolutions within several months.

Break down the problem and start the new year feeling successful.

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OPINIONS

Fake Don Atchison sticker campaign refreshingly honest PATTY HAILS Scattered throughout Saskatoon’s downtown core are stickers that aptly read, “Don Atchison: for a drug and gay free Saskatoon.” These unofficial stickers are somehow more honest than anything I’ve seen come out of the mayor’s office.

The stickers were first noticed in mid-December and have since been removed by the city as they appear, seeing as the stickers have no connection with the mayor’s office despite featuring the City of Saskatoon logo.

I would love to sport my best necktie and enter Atchison's office, along with the

Jeremy Britz / Graphics Editor

creator of this ingenious new sticker campaign, to discuss LBGTQ folks, drug addicts and weed. I feel as though the exchange would be enlightening for several reasons.

Throughout his time as mayor, Atchison has never made an appearance at the Saskatoon Pride Parade, often citing scheduling conflicts — or the possibility of scheduling conflicts down the road — as the reason.

When probed last summer on the reasoning for his repeated absences, Atchison told Global News, “I don’t understand the big concern over all of this, because I think we all belong to one race, and that’s the human race.” This could almost be considered sweet, if it wasn’t such an irrelevant sentiment.

That said, as a member of Saskatoon’s LGBTQ community, my concerns were not relieved by his presumably well-intentioned shrug-off.

Atchison's actions and response provide little reason to assume that what the stickers suggest is wrong.

The corner of 2nd Avenue and 22nd Street in Saskatoon

once housed a McDonald’s restaurant that doubly served as a gathering place for some of the city’s homeless or otherwise poverty-stricken population.

Deemed less than desirable by area merchants — and perhaps coincidentally a block or so away from Atch & Co Menswear, the Atchison family business on 21st Street — in May 2013, Saskatoon City Council proposed that the benches out front be removed, “in hopes of discouraging loitering.”

While the benches remained, in August 2013 the restaurant’s owner elected to have his business torn down.

They paved a building that once provided reprieve from Saskatoon’s bitter-cold winters for people who desperately needed it, and put up a parking lot. It should be noted, however, that the public seemed to support this destruction.

Cut to the present and public opinion has shifted in several key areas. Although Canadians have elected a Liberal government into power, I write this while sitting in my

Saskatoon riding that is still a Conservative stronghold.

The Liberal Party is vocally in favour of legalizing marijuana, planning to regulate its growth, content and distribution and tax it, which could arguably bring in a phenomenal amount of much-needed federal revenue. But we can’t have that now, can we?

Despite the potential for federal legality of marijuana dispensaries, and their already longstanding prominence and usefulness in cities such as Vancouver, B.C., Saskatoon Police Service famously and embarrassingly busted the local Compassion Club and arrested its staff.

Police Chief Clive Weighill admitted to the Star Phoenix on Dec. 29, 2015 that they have no regrets over the closure. It appears our police will not back down without a fight.

As with many issues in our city’s east-west divide — homelessness and inflated drug charges being no exception — police targeting individuals with real or perceived minor drug offences

is of course also racialized to an extent. Another gem this past year is that of the SPS’s carding practices.

Saskatoon police officers have been known to stop Aboriginal people on the street and demand to see their identification. A YouTube video containing raw footage of such an incident in Saskatoon, which at the time of print has garnered over 80,000 views, drove this point home quite poignantly in the spring of 2015.

When mayor Atchison and other city officials seem to want a drug and gay free Saskatoon, it raises an important question — can we continue to tolerate this leadership?

It is critical that we ask this question and others like it as we enter yet another election cycle with Atchison.

The sticker campaign is a brilliant way of ensuring that these questions get asked.

I would love to see them mass-produced and sold in local stores — I’d take several copies.

So, to the creator or creators of the stickers — well done.

Interruption to winter

4 venues X 3 days

Venue 04 Venue 03 Venue 02 Venue 01

Broadwaytheatre.ca

12

Broadway Theatre The Refinery The Bassment Louis’

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Thursday January 21

Friday January 22

Saturday January 23

Emily Wells Whitehorse

Good Lovelies Harpoonist & the Axe Murderer

Andy Shauf The Dears

Steph Cameron Dave Bidini

Jonathan Goldstein

Tickets on sale now!

JP Hoe Old Man Luedecke

Alex Cuba

the Broadway theatre & regina folk festival

Scott Thompson (from Kids in the Hall)

Fred Penner Department Heads The Wet Secrets

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(from CBC’s Wiretap)

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january 7, 2016

OPINIONS

J Staxx: The man behind the hoverboard EMILY MIGCHELS The music video for rapper J Staxx’s “My Hoverboard” has spread around campus faster than news of free breakfast in the Bowl could. While it has been met with ample criticism, there’s more to this selfbalancing scooter lover than students might realize.

Seated in a busy coffee shop on a sunny afternoon, I was needlessly worried that I’d miss J Staxx if he entered while I wasn’t scanning the door.

Right on time, however, a figure glided into view: tattooed, sleeveless despite the freezing temperatures outside and riding his hoverboard so naturally it was as if he was born with it attached to his feet.

J Staxx, while a fourth-year commerce major in Edwards School of Business, is first and foremost a rapper. He immediately expressed a desire to work on music full time after graduating.

Completing his degree holds special significance though, marking a turning point in the artist’s life. J Staxx began his university career at California State University, closer to where he was born and raised in Riverside, Calif. Quitting

january 7, 2016

after two years of classes, he struggled with a drug addiction before deciding the solution was to move to Saskatoon.

“I had a near death experience and I realized I had to get out of there. I booked a oneway ticket out here, where I have family and I got off heroin cold turkey and ended up getting back into university,” J Staxx said.

“My Hoverboard” came about after J Staxx observed the personal transportation devices becoming a growing trend in hip-hop, but the video might not be entirely indicative of his true talent. He mentions that the entire song took about 15 minutes to write on the spot while recording and that the repetitive lyrics were to clearly get the point across.

“Before I even recorded the song, I already had the video shoot lined up because I knew this was going to be something that could be very big. I wanted to get everything together as quick as possible before something could happen or someone else could make something along the same idea,” he said.

J Staxx is optimistic about the future of his work moving forward, remarking that “My Hoverboard” is to be his fresh start. He has been rapping since his California days, but doesn’t have much of that work available to check out now, save for a collaboration with American rapper Lil Wyte in 2013.

“I want people to be able to see me from now and see how I build on this,” J Staxx said.

“My Hoverboard” is no doubt outrageous, but also somewhat brilliant. The song is comparable to the shock value of Miley Cyrus' "Wrecking Ball" music video, released in 2013, which gained great popularity by being, well, kind of hard to watch. For “My Hoverboard,” J Staxx simply took advantage of something certainly relevant in today’s popular culture — hoverboards — and presented them in an attention-grabbing way.

The video has reached nearly 500,000 views on YouTube and J Staxx has been featured in the Vice Media music blog Noisey.

He’s also received positive feedback from the likes of Kenny Hotz — co-creator of the Canadian television favourite Kenny vs. Spenny — and We the

Supplied / J Staxx When not “sipping codeine on [his] hoverboard,” Saskatoon based rapper J Staxx studies commerce at the U of S.

Best Music Group, the record label founded by none other than the snapchat wisdomgiver DJ Khaled.

The video has even snagged J Staxx a hoverboard endorsement deal.

“I’m actually endorsed by the company. You can go on their website, trekboard.com.

At checkout, put in the discount code JSTAXX and you get a discount, plus you get a free carrying bag,” J Staxx said. “For each hoverboard sold under that too I get a royalty, so I’m definitely not fishing money out of cereal bowls or borrowing hoverboards.”

Despite online criticism for the video, J Staxx comments that even negative responses can help boost his work’s popularity.

“Almost any publicity is good publicity. I mean you can get publicity for being a murderer and that’s not a good thing, but if you can do something that doesn’t cause harm to people and you’re not hurting anything or doing anything illegal and you can get a reaction and you can get people talking, that’s good,” he said.

So, love it or hate it, the video is getting exactly the response it was intended to — people are certainly talking.

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13

DISTRACTIONS

r g a SU

photo of the week

e p C S i and

Q: I recently broke up with my girlfriend, but the problem is that we were in the same friend group. It’s annoying because she wants to keep our friends as hers, but so do I, and I can’t stand to be around her in the same room. What should I do? I basically just want her to find new friends. — Liam Caitlin Taylor

JANUARY 28, 2016

Sugar: Things are always tough after a break-up. You both need your space and if that means finding a new group of friends, then maybe take some time apart. Don’t ask friends to pick a side and draw lines, that will just get messy.

If you need space, allow yourself to take some time apart — even if that means from your friend group too.

Spice: Think about it. Do you really want to be friends with people low enough to be friends with your ex?

Q: I want to make a New Year’s resolution to get a girlfriend, but I have no luck with the ladies. How can I actually accomplish this? — Theo

BATTLE OF THE STUDENTS IN MARQUIS KITCHEN STADIUM FOR THE U OF S IRON CHEF TITLE!

DISHES CAN BE A FAMILY OR ETHNIC FAVORITE, MOMS BEST RECIPE, OR YOUR OWN CREATION DISHES MUST BE NUTRITIONALLY BALANCED

HOW DO WE ENTER?

INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION CAN BE PICKED UP AT THE CASHIER STATION IN MARQUIS OR ONLINE AT WWW.USASK.CA/CULINARYSERVICES/

Sugar: Well Theo, hoverboards seem to be a surefire way to get girls these days, so there’s always that. But if sliding into romance isn’t your style, four leaf clovers have been proven to increase luck in 90 per cent of cereal consumers.

Spice: What do I look like, Reddit? I’m not going to even waste my time on this one.

XKCD.COM

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january 7, 2016

DISTRACTIONS

ASTRO

Your Saskatoon sky news for Jan. 7 — 20

Back-to-school time means students are wrapping their heads around learning again — sometimes a painful process. Check out the night sky during the new and waxing moons and exercise your brain by spotting some celestial objects that shine best in the darkest skies.

alert

Jan. 9 is the month’s only new moon, so cross your fingers for good weather and head away from city lights for your best chance to view the band of the Milky Way. The outer arm of our solar system’s spiral galaxy home is visible as a diffuse, a bright smear stretching from east to west across the top of the sky. When you view it, you’re looking at the edge of the galaxy, past which the nearest neighbor is the Andromeda galaxy — 2.5 million light years away.

Practice spotting Capella, the brightest star in our skies that is the same type of star as our own Sun, a yellow dwarf. It’s actually two yellow stars, visible as one presence to our eyes. Find Capella and its host constellation, Auriga, by looking due east at 9 p.m. on the days around Jan. 12 and following a line straight upwards until you are looking almost straight up — find a noticeably bright star near the top of the sky. Capella is a circumpolar star at Saskatoon’s latitude, meaning that it never sets below the horizon.

If you haven’t broken your late-night winter break habits yet, look due east at 11:00 p.m. on Jan. 16 or 17 to watch Jupiter rise. It will be easily distinguishable, and the brightest element in the sky at that time. Jupiter will curve west through the sky as the night goes on, reaching it’s highest point in the south at around 5 a.m. The planet will continue to rise earlier in the evening as the month continues.

Top 5 easy to keep resolutions for 2016

1. Get fatter.

2.

Ignore more people from high school in public.

3.

Get better use out of your Netflix account.

4.

Quit thinking about your future.

5.

Continue to write “2015” in your notes well into April.

campus chat

“

Sum up 2015 in one word.

”

Crazy.

Mariah Hillis

#blessed.

Gabe Senecal & Kehan Fu

Shitty.

Frederique Santos

PBFCOMICS.COM

Challenging.

Gail Vaz-Oxlade

UPCOMING EVENTS

©

Curtis Smeding

Speaking & Signing Money Talks: When To Say Yes And How To Say No Tuesday, January 12, 7 pm

••• la TrOupe du JOur

Preview Reading Shadows of a Dancing Moon Thursday, January 14, 7 pm XKCD.COM

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BACKPAGE

Last day to apply for Term 2 Opt Outs is January 15, 2016.

Opt Out applications are available online at ussu.ca/upass.

SUNDAY TO THURSDAY 8:30-11:30 P.M. 306-966-SAFE

AFTER HOURS 966-5555

Completed online applications are due no later than 4:30 p.m.

January 15, 2016.

For more information go to www.ussu.ca/upass

ASIST

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training

A two-day suicide first aid interactive workshop that helps save lives.

February 6 & 7, 2016 For more information contact Jesse

Phone: 306-966-6982 Email: help.centre@ussu.ca

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the sheaf publishing society

∙ www.thesheaf.com

january 7, 2016