The Sheaf - June 12, 2014

12 June, 2014 - The University of Saskatchewan Student Newspaper since 1912.

THE sheaf

Transformus causes uproar on campus. Pg.6 Facebook.com/thesheaf1912

Sports

News

culture

Blue Jays enjoying early season success.

University appoints new president.

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@thesheaf1912

@thesheaf1912

opinions

West Coast folk making waves on the prairies.

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Seeing the good in TransformUS.

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THE sheaf Editor-in-Chief: Anna-Lilja Dawson, editor@thesheaf. com Production Manager: Cody Schumacher, layout@thesheaf. com Senior News Editor: HenryTye Glazebrook, news@thesheaf. com Associate News Editor: Rainer Kocsis, associatenews@ thesheaf.com Photography Editor: Katherine Fedoroff, photo@thesheaf. com Graphics Editor: Stephanie Mah, graphics@thesheaf. com Culture Editor: Madison Taylor, arts@thesheaf.com Sports Editor: Austin Arvay, sports@thesheaf. com

Opinions Editor: Naomi Zurevinski, 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: Julia Wagner, Tyler Spink, Nicholas Kindrachuk, Jordan Bulgis, Aralia Maxwell Cover Graphic: Stephanie Mah/ Graphics Editor Banner Photo: Jeff Glasel Office Numbers: Advertising 306-966-8688 Editorial 306-966-8689

The Sheaf is non-profit, incorporated and student-body funded by way of a direct levy paid by all part- and fulltime 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-in-Chief 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.

Retraction The Sheaf would like to issue a retraction of the article “Med students raise concerns over cadaver labs” that was published in our May 1 issue and apologize to acting dean of the College of Medicine Colum Smith and associate dean Nick Ovsenek for any misrepresentation of their characters that may have occurred.

Lorraine Cathro

UPCOMING EVENTS

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sheaf june 12, 2014.indd 1

Speaking & Signing Roots & Adventures: A Prairie Childhood Monday, June 16, 7:00 pm

••• offiCe of the treaty Commissioner

Launching The Land Is Everything Wednesday, June 25, 7:00 pm

6/3/2014 3:07:21 PM

NEWS

12 June, 2014 - THESHEAF.COM

Gordon Barnhart named acting U of S president

HENRYTYE GLAZEBROOK Senior News Editor On May 21, former Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan Gordon Barnhart was appointed as acting president of the University of Saskatchewan following the sameday firing of Ilene Busch-Vishniac from the position.

Expecting to hold the position for an estimated 12–18 month period, Barnhart met with University Council on May 22 to address students, faculty, staff and the public at large.

“I’m not here to throw stones at the past,” Barnhart said. “I think it’s time for us to move on, turn the page and focus on many of the positive things we’re doing on campus.”

With the recent backlash against university administration and program prioritization model TransformUS — including DefendUS, a student and faculty rally taking place on campus — Barnhart is hopeful that the public debate will yield beneficial results for the university as a whole.

“I’m sorry when people are feeling that angry about things… but I am amazed with how many people have gotten in touch with me who are saying change is necessary, don’t stop now,” Barnhart said in an interview with the Sheaf. “So it’s

ANDREW MARESCHAL

Busch-Vishniac was terminated on May 21.

not just one side of the story that I’m getting; I’m getting pulled from both sides, and that’s healthy.”

Looking forward, Barnhart is opting to distance himself from the public perception of TransformUS in favour of focusing on his own plans as acting president.

“TransformUS is a word that is used for a whole bunch of different changes, and I would like us to look more at the description of what I’ve given in terms of the change coming up, and I’m not putting one word on it because I think it’s bigger than that,” Barnhart said.

“It’s the refocusing of our academic priorities, it’s also being very much financially aware of the financial sustainability that we have to make sure that that’s always on our mind as well.”

Touching on his goals as acting president, Barnhart intends to retain an open communication between students, staff, faculty and administration as the university plans for the future. Though savings have allowed the U of S to stay in the black for the time being, the potential financial crisis the deficit could entail means that a reorganization of spending is a chief concern.

“The problem is that our expenses are increasing at a higher rate than our revenues and you know from your own personal finances that you can’t spend more than you’re earning for very long before you start to run into trouble. And if we don’t get this under control, what

will happen is we’ll all of a sudden face that doomsday where we’re out of money,” Barnhart said.

“Sometimes the reorganization or the refocus might not even be a cost savings but it’ll be a better way of producing education for our students — and the students are our focus.”

The decision from the Board of Governors to appoint Barnhart as acting president, which was announced alongside the “termination, without cause, of the appointment of Ilene BuschVishniac as president and vicechancellor,” came after a national controversy broke out surrounding the firing and subsequent rehiring of Robert Buckingham from his position of dean of the School of Public Health. Buckingham was let go — losing his tenure in the process — after he issued an open letter criticizing the merit of TransformUS. Busch-Vishniac has announced that she will return to the U of S in a teaching capacity and will act as a professor in the College of Engineering.

Barnhart comes with a wellcultivated history on campuses and in the political spectrum, including six years as Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan, five years as secretary for the U of S and spent time as a clerk of the Canadian Senate and the Saskatchewan Legislature.

With files from Rainer Kocsis/ Associate News Editor.

Ernie Barber appointed as university’s interim provost

Rainer Kocsis Associate News Editor Effective July 1, Ernie Barber will be appointed interim provost and vice-president academic of the University of Saskatchewan.

Barber will hold the interim position until a permanent provost is appointed to the role. There have not been any searches for permanent provost and president positions announced as of press time.

“Dr. Barber is a very thoughtful, thorough man and I think he’s very reliable and he will do an excellent job,” said Gordon Barnhart, acting president and vice-chancellor. “I was looking for someone that had experience and [for whom] the learning curve would be less steep than mine.”

Barber has had a long and illustrious career at the U of S having served as dean for both the College of Agriculture and the College of Engineering as well as vice-provost teaching and learning.

Due to the similar types of leadership required for each position, Barber said that deanships

will help him become a more effective provost.

“A leader’s job is simply to see the future in a clear way,” Barber said.

Currently, Barber serves as the managing director of the Global Institute for Food Security while the organization searches for an executive director and CEO. He was a key member of the team that established GIFS as a public-private partnership with PotashCorp and the Government of Saskatchewan.

Plans for continuity of leadership in GIFS will be confirmed near the end of June.

Barber holds a master’s degree in agricultural engineering from the University of Alberta and a PhD in engineering from the University of Guelph. He began his professional career in 1974 with the British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture as a specialist in engineering for livestock production including farmstead planning, animal housing systems and waste management. In 1981, Barber joined the College of Engineering at the U of S where his research focused on improving air quality in livestock buildings.

Over the course of his career,

UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN

Ernie Barber will take over as interim provost on July 1.

Barber has received numerous accolades, including four research awards from the Canadian Society for Biological Engineering, of which he was named a fellow in 2001. He has received a number of teaching excellence awards and was voted professor of the year by students in the colleges of agriculture and engineering. More recently, he received the U of S Students’ Union Doug Favell Spirit Award in 2010.

Barber has served on a number of national committees, including the Canada Plan Service and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada’s mechanical engineering grant selection committee, and on a number of provincial boards such as Ag-West Bio, Centre for the Study of Co-operatives and the Saskatchewan Farm Leaders’ Advisory Group.

“Given Ernie’s long history at the university, including serving once already as acting provost, I know he will help us stabilize and move forward over the important year ahead as we continue to enhance our academic excellence and strive for financial sustainability,” Barnhart said in a press release.

“I have complete confidence in him and I respect not only his skills, but also the collegial way he approaches his work.”

NEWS

12 June, 2014 - THESHEAF.COM

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Buckingham firing puts U of S under public scrutiny ALEXANDER QUON

DAWN STRANDEN

Robert Buckingham was let go from his position as dean of the School of Public Health, and later re-hired as a professor.

The firing and subsequent rehiring of Robert Buckingham has brought the University of Saskatchewan into the national spotlight.

On May 14, Buckingham was fired from his tenured professorship and his position as executive director of the School of Public Health after publicly circulating a letter criticizing the proposed cost-cutting measures in TransformUS — a programprioritization initiative intended to curb the projected $44.5 million deficit for the 2015–16 fiscal year — particularly changes which would place the School of Public Health under the College of Medicine.

He was also critical university leadership disallowing faculty from speaking negatively about the controversial TransformUS program.

Buckingham said that in December, then-university president Ilene Busch-Vishniac had spoken apprehensively to vicepresidents and college deans about the oncoming implementation of TransformUS. “T h e presiden t sa id t o h er senior leadership forum… that our opinions should not be shared publicly if they disagreed with the

process or we disagreed with the fineness of TransformUS, and if we disagreed publicly our tenure would be short,” Buckingham said When the TransformUs task force recommendations were unveiled, Buckingham did not see the recommendation as beneficial for the School of Public Health, saying that he had tried to privately convince the administration for months afterwards to change their minds over the recommendation which would see the School of Public Health absorbed into the College of Medicine.

“The College of Medicine has enough problems on its own. It’s on probation and they have enough hurdles to overcome in a short time,” he said, adding that he didn’t want the U of S to risk jeopardizing the School of Public Health’s recently granted “international, prestigious accreditation.”

The morning after the letter was made public, Buckingham says that he was called into former provost Brett Fairbairn’s office. There, he was read his letter of termination and was then escorted off campus by two U of S Protective Services officers.

The letter of termination describes Buckingham’s conduct as having “damaged the reputation of the university, the president and

the school.” The letter concluded by stating that all of Buckingham’s benefits and pension were terminated.

Buckingham said that he expected to be reprimanded.

However, because he had only had five weeks remaining on his contract as the executive director of the School of Public Health, he did not believe that he would be fired and have his pension, tenure and professorship taken away.

“Deans serve at the pleasure of the president. She had the right to fire me, for cause or without cause, so I accept that,” Buckingham said. “I didn’t think she had the right to take my tenure away, take my pension away, take my administrative leave away, take my sabbatical leave away. But I respect her, I have no ill feelings towards her, I love this university.”

Only 24 hours after Buckingham was fired, amid mounting external pressure and public outcry, the university offered to reinstate Buckingham as a tenured professor.

However, they would not allow him to continue as executive director of the School of Public Health.

Although Buckingham acknowledes the slim possibility, he is holding out hope that he will be reinstated as executive director of the School of Public Health.

TransformUS plans stalled for new president, provost ANNA-LILJA DAWSON Editor-in-Chief The cost-cutting program TransformUS has been temporarily delayed following major changes to University of Saskatchewan leadership.

After the controversial firing of the director of the School of Public Health Robert Buckingham, provost and vice-president academic Brett Fairbairn resigned while only days later Ilene Busch-Vishniac was removed from her role as university president. Both Fairbairn and Busch-Vishniac were key actors in the administration of TransformUS since its inception in 2013.

Gordon Barnhart, an adjunct professor from the College of Arts and Science, was announced as acting president on May 21. Ernie Barber, the managing director of the Global Institute for Food Security at the U of S, will be appointed as interim provost and vice-president academic on July 1.

“The whole situation has changed, the people involved have changed.

It’s about having new leadership, making sure they’re informed, consulting with the community and seeing what needs to move forward,” said Greg Fowler, vicepresident operations and resources.

In 2012, the U of S announced a projected deficit of $44.5 million for the 2015–16 fiscal year if no action was taken. Subsequently, university administration created TransformUS — a plan to seek out inefficiencies in the institution’s programs and services with a goal of saving upwards of $25 million.

Fowler said that the university will be able to update their records as the 2013–14 fiscal year just came to a close and the 2014–15 operating budget will be released by the end of June.

The TransformUS action plan that was released on April 30 did not include many timelines for its various objectives. Fowler said this flexibility will give university administration the time they need to adjust to recent changes and to

make more informed decisions as the plan proceeds.

“Our thinking right now is getting the new president and the provost some time to get up to speed — and to talk to our community, our students, our faculty and especially to the deans as well — and then determine which [plans] are the best ones to move forward on based on that consultation,” Fowler said.

In Barnhart’s first address to the University Council on May 22, he promised those present that he will conduct a full review of the university’s finances before continuing with any actions related to TransformUS. “I am going to be taking a very close look first at what the deficit is,” Barnhart said. “I also want to see how much have we saved during

that period of time, over the last year particularly, and that will give us an idea of what is the gap and how much farther do we have to go.”

The address also provided faculty, staff and students with Barnhart’s assurance that the university will be keeping them in mind when TransformUS continues moving forward.

“I’m hopeful that we can find ways

of minimizing the hurt to staff and faculty and particularly students,” he said.

Fowler said he would like to remind the campus community that TransformUS is not solely about finding savings but that a key aspect of the plan is to strengthen the university’s programs and services.

LEGISLATIVE PAGES The Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan requires energetic individuals to work part-time as Pages in the Assembly. This is a unique opportunity to observe the daily workings of our Legislature.

Pages will be employed in the Legislative Chamber to assist the Speaker, Members of the Legislative Assembly and the Clerks-at-the-Table in carrying out their respective duties. Pages deliver documents and messages both in the Chamber and elsewhere in the Legislative Building. Pages will also be employed in the Office of the Clerk to assist in the preparation of the Assembly for its daily sitting. This will include performing a variety of general office duties, such as distributing documents, running errands, mailing, filing, receiving telephone messages and photocopying.

The term of the employment will extend over both the 2014 fall and 2015 spring sittings of the Assembly. The hours of employment will be Monday to Wednesday, 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Thursdays from 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Additional hours of employment between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. Monday to Wednesday will be assigned on a rotational basis. Some overtime may be required each week, particularly when the Assembly is sitting on Monday and Tuesday evenings from 6:45 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Pages will be paid at a rate of $16.885/ hour.

Applicants must have graduated from high school or be enrolled in a post-secondary program. An interest in the parliamentary system of government would be an asset. Pages must exhibit initiative, sound judgment and reliability as well as possess excellent interpersonal skills, be comfortable dealing with a variety of individuals and be at ease performing in a team setting. The employees of the Legislative Assembly provide non-partisan service to all Members of the Legislative Assembly.

Tentative start date will be October 2014. Original, fax or electronic resumes with references must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, September 12, 2014. If possible, electronic resumes should be submitted in a word format.

KATHERINE FEDOROFF/ PHOTO EDITOR

Students can put their minds at ease over the proposed action plan.

Sandra Gardner Administrative and Chamber Services Coordinator Office of the Clerk Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan 239 Legislative Building, Regina, Saskatchewan S4S 0B3 E-Mail: sgardner@legassembly.sk.ca Phone: (306) 787-0603 Fax: (306) 787-0408

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Sports

12 June, 2014 - THESHEAF.COM

Blue Jays top in American League East AUSTIN ARVAY Sports Editor The Toronto Blue Jays are currently sitting in first place in the American League East division. The Jays have used a powerful offence, solid pitching and defence to earn the third best record in the league.

Entering the new season the biggest question mark was the starting pitching for the Jays. After a dreadful 2013, the starting five have turned it around and are giving the team a chance to win night in and night out.

Mark Buehrle was the first pitcher in Major League Baseball to record 10 wins and needed just 12 games to accomplish the feat. R.A. Dickey has been much better this season, pitching deeper into games and giving up fewer runs. Youngsters Drew Hutchison and Marcus Stroman are both pitching very well to this point as well.

Toronto’s defensive play has been nothing short of spectacular. Whether it’s José Bautista, Brett Lawrie, José Reyes, Edwin Encarnacion or Melky Cabrera, the squad is making big

Gose who laid down a perfect bunt, resulting in a throwing error on the attempt to get him out at first base.

Pillar ended up scoring from first base on the play to give the Jays a 3–2 victory and sending the home crowd into a frenzy.

Toronto has not made the playoffs or had a winning season since 1993.

There is lots of baseball left to be

played, but it’s hard not be excited about the Jays when they’re doing all the little things right and everyone on the team has bought into the team first mentality — a very important quality which all winning teams possess.

If the pitching can stay steady and the Jays continue to play good defence, and hit the ball like they

have been, there is no reason not to be optimistic about this team’s chances.

At the beginning of June, the Blue Jays had a three game lead over the New York Yankees for first place in the division. Out of the last 10 seasons, the team leading the division into June has gone on to win the AL East.

plays on defence and helping out their pitchers.

This was especially on display during the Blue Jays nine-game win streak in May. It seemed in every game of the streak one of the players was going to make a highlight reel play in the field.

A big key to that streak was also the Jays offensive abilities. Encarnacion tied an American League record with 16 home runs in a single month, an incredible number, which had not been done since Barry Bonds in 2003.

Bautista, Adam Lind, Cabrera, Juan Francisco and Lawrie also contributed with the long ball, each of them hit at least five home runs in May. The recent success of the Blue Jays seems to come from their versatility.

You can’t hit home runs every game — although the Jays are giving it their best effort — and to be a great team you must be able to manufacture runs in close games.

One way to do that is with speed; Reyes, Anthony Gose and Kevin Pillar have all been nightmares on the base paths for opposing teams this season.

Whether it’s stealing bases, bunting or advancing an extra base on a hit, these guys are willing to do whatever it takes to get the team a win.

In the May 25 game, the Jays were in a 2–2 tie in the ninth inning with the visiting Tampa Bay Rays. Pillar reached first base and next up was

The Blue Jays have used a powerful offence to grab first place in the American League East division.

part of the last decade. Their roster consists of a great deal of young, raw talent and fringe NHL players — something that will prevent them from winning anytime soon. That being said, there is a great deal of hope that some of the young prospects will develop into star

players sooner rather than later.

A step in the right direction would be having the other “kids” on the team — Jordan Eberle, Ryan NugentHopkins and Nail Yakupov — having a breakout season to not only help out Taylor Hall but also to finally get their own top line numbers.

KEITH ALLISON / FLICKR

Oilers continue tumultuous rebuild LOGAN FOSSUM

Following another tough season, the Edmonton Oilers find themselves with the third overall pick in this years National Hockey League draft.

The Oilers have been the face of mediocrity in the NHL for the better

SLIDINGSIDEWAYS / FLICKR

The Oilers have not made the playoffs since 2006. Will next year be the season they finally turn it around?

Many hockey analysts propose the idea of trading one of these three players, but general manager Craig MacTavish stated he has no desire to move any of their “core” pieces, —which also includes defenseman Justin Schultz.

It is this inability to part with young core pieces that hold the Oilers back from competing for anything of importance — other than the draft lottery. Looking at the winning teams around the NHL, they all consist of a mix of different players, ranging in ability and experience.

Hall, Nugent-Hopkins, Yakupov, Eberle, Sam Gagner and David Perron make up the Edmonton Oilers’ top six forwards who are soft like butter, easy to knock off the puck and seem lost in their own end. Beyond these six is an offensive black hole, as their bottom six struggle immensely in finding the back of the net. A couple minor trades and one or two free agent signings could create a forward group to compete with the powerhouses of the Western Conference.

The Oilers number one line of Hall, Nugent-Hopkins and Eberle is an offensively dangerous one with a great deal of chemistry developing between them.

The number two line could use some change; signing a strong two way centre like Mikhail Grabovski would be a good start. Under utilized in both Toronto and Washington, he would provide proven depth behind Nugent-Hopkins. I would project

a speedy second line of Perron, Grabovski and Yakupov.

Talks this past season between Nashville and Edmonton saw the potential of a Colin Wilson for Gagner swap that could provide the third line with a much-needed overhaul. The Oilers would lose some offensive touch, but gain some size and defensive reliability with Wilson.

Nikolai Kulemin could be another signing as it is rumoured that he and Grabovski would like to play on the same team again. Using this year’s third overall pick, the Oil are likely to draft a centre. Anyone of the projected prospects could potentially slide into the third line and see some sheltered minutes. A third line of Kulemin, the first round pick this year and Wilson could be a solid one going forward.

The Oilers fourth line could be drawn from within using fireball Matt Hendricks, who provides the team with energy through his gritty play. He could be on defensive specialist Boyd Gordon’s wing, with up and coming two way forward Anton Lander on the right flank. This line could be given a great deal of defensive responsibility.

A couple minor moves and maybe a few overpayments to land a few free agents and the Edmonton Oilers could have a forward group able to compete in their own division. The power is in the hands of general manager MacTavish, let’s hope he doesn’t just sit on them.

Culture

12 June, 2014 - THESHEAF.COM

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Summer lovin’ in the city of bridges MADISON TAYLOR Culture Editor Finding yourself at a loss for things to do this summer? Watching the human-shaped dent in your couch grow increasingly deep? Despair no more for Saskatoon is a hotbed of activity during the few warm months of the year.

For the die-hard or the reluctant outdoorsman, our city offers an impressive selection of natural attractions. On your next day off why not check out Cranberry Flats or Wanuskewin Heritage Park? Just a short drive outside city limits, both of these beautiful nature preserves are home to an impressive array of scenic hiking and bike trails as well as historical sites.

If you were hoping for something a little closer to home, the South Saskatchewan River makes a fantastic backdrop for an afternoon stroll or picnic by the iconic Bessborough hotel. For those early weekend risers, One Yoga Studio also offers free yoga every Sunday morning at 10 a.m. in Rotary Park.

While you’re kicking back and enjoying some of that long awaited vitamin D, why not scope out some of the delicious snacks the

local food trucks are dishing out this year? Rising star Scout Mex Hall is a burrito-slinging machine, easily distinguishable by its sleek black paintjob and badass skull logo. This new addition will be cruising alongside the more seasoned food truck veteran Disco Dogs, hitting the streets for its second consecutive year to bring gourmet hotdogs and sausages to the good people of Saskatoon.

In the spirit of summer grub, what is more appealing on a hot afternoon than a cool and creamy waffle cone? Homestead Ice Cream on Victoria Avenue has earned its status as the go-to place for all things dairy. With flavours ranging from the weird (dill pickle) to the wonderful (peanut butter crackle crunch), Homestead has the fix for sweet-tooths of every kind.

Above all else summer is festival season in Saskatoon. June through August, the streets are flooded with musicians, artists, actors and entrepreneurs who share their unique talents and wares with locals and tourists alike.

Kicking off the festival hoopla is MoSo — or “Mobile Social” — Fest, running June 11 to June 14 along Broadway Avenue.

Featuring lectures from experts on everything from social media to marketing and design,

this festival is a celebration of the technological era — and of course, there will be music. Local artists such as Zachary Lucky, Gunner & Smith and Caves will be

STEPHANIE MAH / GRAPHICS EDITOR

playing alongside other Canadian groups like We Are The City, Timbre Timbre and Library Voices.

Second in line is Saskatoon’s world

famous Jazz Fest, which will be taking over downtown from June 20 to June 29. This summer the city will play host to the likes of Ben Harper, Common, Tegan & Sara, John Legend and St. Vincent. Ticket prices range anywhere from pocket change to cold hard cash, with the headliner concerts taking place on the TD Stage in the Bessborough Gardens.

Everyone’s favorite bard will be making their midsummer night’s dreams come true from early July to the end of August as Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan returns for yet another season.

Easily one of Saskatoon’s finest theatrical events, this 45-day-long affair has been running in the city since 1985. This season the plays featured will be the classic tragedy Romeo and Juliet and the witty comedy The Taming of the Shrew. Alongside its live performances, Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan offers artistic appetizers such as medieval feasts, workshops and art displays.

Ness Creek Music Festival will be bringing good tunes, good vibes and eco-consciousness to its beautiful wooded location July 17–20. Nestled 30 minutes east of Big River in a secluded area off of Highway 55, this unique festival allows ticket holders to enjoy the music of over 30 musicians under the sun and

stars from the comfort of their very own tent — or better yet, Westfalia.

A modern day Woodstock, Ness Creek promotes a warm feeling of community and an appreciation for the arts with nature as its headlining act.

For a bit of local fare and flair, PotashCorp’s annual Fringe Festival is always worth a gander. Overtaking the Broadway area from July 31 to Aug. 9, the Fringe sports everything from local food vendors to unique crafts and street performers. Entire blocks are shut down and changed into a pedestrian paradise overnight to accommodate the influx of people and merchandise. Just a stone’s throw from the downtown and university areas and completely free of charge, this is an event you won’t want to miss.

Tying up the loose ends of summer is Saskatoon’s Folkfest, bringing international cuisine and culture to the city the weekend of Aug. 14 to Aug. 16. Celebrating its 35th anniversary this year, Folkfest stands as a tribute to the preservation and awareness of other cultures and traditions. With pavilions from over 20 different countries, there is sure to much much to listen to, learn and best of all, taste.

It’s time to get your festival tickets ready folks. After a long and heartless winter, those far-off dreams of summer have finally become a sizzling reality.

West Coast band delivers music and message to Saskatoon KAYLA MCCUTCHEON West Coast band Carmanah performed in Saskatoon on June 3 as part of their “Out of the Woodwork” tour.

Carmanah, from Victoria B.C., is composed of four members known for their folk sound. The band also incorporates the genres of rock, country, reggae and funk. Vocalists Laura Mitic — who plays the fiddle, guitar and flute — and Pat Ferguson — playing the mandolin, guitar and djembe — formed the band after they met at a music festival in 2011.

Drummer Steve Biggs joined the group two years later and bassist Cody Gregory joined only recently.

Sonorific, a local band, created a complementary atmosphere as they opened for Carmanah at the Underground Café. Emma Jean, a member of Sonorific, read her favourite poem Dark Pines Under Water by Gwendolyn MacEwan because it reminded her of her tree planting days on the West Coast.

An organic sound was certainly present in Carmanah’s music at the show. Their instruments — particularly the djembe and flute — and many of their lyrics immediately connect the audience with nature.

Carmanah’s presence on stage evoked a medley of emotions that were soothing, elating and uplifting

all at once. The members are clearly humble and appreciative of those who support and treasure their music.

Carmanah’s new album Out of the Woodwork was released on May 16, the first day of their 2014 tour. They believed that the organic sound and the hands-on feel of the title suited the band and its members.

Since its creation, Carmanah

has shown great interest in environmental activism. The band’s namesake is the Carmanah Valley in B.C. where protesters chained themselves to ancient trees in an effort to protect them from logging companies in 1988. As a result, the valley is now a protected provincial park. They performed one of their very first gigs near that piece of land.

Covering British Columbia, Alberta

and Saskatchewan, Carmanah’s three-week tour has been better than they expected.

“The food has been good, the locals have been hospitable and the best part has been meeting the people along the way,” Ferguson said.

Mitic’s favourite moment on tour took place in Fernie, B.C. After their show, the band members joined

KATHERINE FEDOROFF/ PHOTO EDITOR

Carmanah gave a warm West Coast greeting to the people of Saskatoon.

the locals in a pub where they were invited on stage for the open mic night. The power went out during their second song, leading to an unintentional drum solo for Biggs who was the only one who could be heard. The locals made the most of it, lighting the room with cellphone screens and lighter flames while dancing.

Aside from performing in pubs, cafés and festivals, Carmanah also an active member of the Jellyfish Project.

This educational endeavour engages middle and high school students across Canada through music and invites students to become active in in environmental discussions.

Students learn about issues such as overfishing, plastic pollution, carbon emissions and climate change.

The band’s learning continues during throughout each session of the Jellyfish Project. The teachers involved, the students’ questions and the audience’s enthusiasm continues to inspire them.

The Jellyfish Project allows the group to bring together their their passions for music and the environment. Carmanah’s website states that the members believe that their connection formed through music breaks down the barriers that exist during discussions.

As the band’s website says, “Music is the best way to speak our minds.”

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Opinions

12 June, 2014 - THESHEAF.COM

Does TransformUS have to be all bad?

NAOMI ZUREVINSKI Opinions Editor Since the TransformUS winds of change started to blow, common reactions have included resistance, anger and downright rejection of the proposal.

But change is inevitable, is it not?

And TransformUS is no exception.

Major changes at the University of Saskatchewan were necessary due to financial issues and goals.

Whether the chosen action plan included the ‘right’ changes or not, the TransformUS goal of a hefty $20–25 million in proposed savings does need to be met somehow.

If you are a U of S student, chances are your email account has been bombarded with emails pertaining to TransformUS over the 2014 winter term. However, there was no public outcry or concern until recently. Weeks ago I even had multiple friends ask me the shameful question, “What is TransformUS anyway?” Clearly the

emails weren’t getting through.

From the comments and conversations pertaining to TransformUS, a lot of confusion seems to be the result of the action plan and the DefendUS rally.

Many seem to base their outrage at TransformUS over the closing of libraries they’ve never even set foot in and their newfound hatred of the former U of S president, Ilene BuschVishniac — “We will not be Buschwacked,” read one DefendUS poster.

It all seems very puzzling, lacking both focus and clarity.

However, I do not believe it matters whether students or protesters at the May 20 DefendUS rally were all up on the details.

The outrage and student response shows a harsh truth deeper than the facts: you cannot force people to accept changes that they had no part in making and that will directly affect them.

According to the email sent out on April 30, former university provost and vice-president academic Brett Fairbairn and vice-president finance and resources Greg Fowler stated, “We are seeking to advance the university decisively rather than through small, incremental steps.”

And did they ever. If you put a frog into a pot of water and gradually increase the heat, the frog will stay in the water and die an unsuspecting death. But if you

STEPHANIE MAH / GRAPHICS EDITOR

put a frog into boiling water, it will jump out immediately because it recognizes the heat.

As unfortunate as this TransformUS mess is, it has thrown the U of S directly into a pot of boiling water.

Slow, gradual changes may not have sparked the same response from students that the current abrasive action plan did. In fact, it is highly likely that a gradual release of the plan may have caused no uproar at all. As a crescendo, TransformUS may have had a place. But its current state has been more like a pie to the face — and when is anyone happy about that?

While the recent political activism has been inspiring, it all comes down to the basic idea that it is simply too much change all at one time. The resistance has proven that you cannot chuck adjustments and alterations at independent thinkers without provoking some sort of reaction. While some of these changes are necessary, they were presented in such a way that resulted in a most dramatic response.

Firing and rehiring aside, there may actually be some positives to TransformUS. Perhaps with time, changes to our beloved university will benefit the faculty, students

and finances. It is hard to say when we only look at one side of the plan and not at all the behindthe-scenes planning that goes into such a process. I don’t agree with cutting libraries, but at the same time I have no alternate solutions to offer. But if you want a plan that both benefits and satisfies the students and faculty, then you must naturally include them in the planning process.

While many will not agree with the way the changes were all presented at once, this is really nothing but a positive. Other methods would not have sparked such an energetic student and public response. It is inspiring to see students so active in something that will directly affect them. If it weren’t for all the poor — I mean “interesting” — administrative choices made, then the current state of reevaluation and active involvement would not be what it is.

This has given us a chance to embrace TransformUS. If a better plan of action can be made to implement the necessary changes, then why not?

Change doesn’t have to be for the worst. I don’t recommend staying too long, but perhaps a quick dive into the TransformUS pot might not kill us after all.

Protesting bug finds its way to the U of S FATUMA ADAR “They say cut back. We say fight back,” was one of the many chants coming from students as they banged their noisemakers, cheered on protest speakers and made it clear that they deserved to be heard at the DefendUS rally on May 20.

As a student at the University of Saskatchewan for almost four years, I have never seen students as motivated and enthusiastic as they were at the rally. It seems as though students were fighting for the right to have their opinions understood and heard by finally saying, “We’ve had enough!”

Nick Marlatte, a U of S student, organized the protest to speak out against the TransformUS plan, the censoring of professors and other issues that students have regarding the university’s administration.

The Bowl filled with approximately 500 people who supported the belief that “top heavy decision making,” as law student Dan LeBlanc said, is taking away the integrity of a people’s university.

Although many students were already unsupportive of TransformUS, some would say that it was not until professor Robert Buckingham was fired for speaking out against the action plan that the final nail was put in the coffin.

This decision could be considered “BlunderUS” and raises questions as to why students still have to fight to be a part of the decision making

process when a diverse community consensus is clearly what this university needs.

The TransformUS recommendations were available for quite some time, however in light of recent events, students now feel personally attacked when they learn that their advisors and deans are under gag orders to keep their opinions to themselves.

For students, censorship was certainly not an issue at the rally as Marlatte sang gleefully into the microphone, “I hope you all will be submitting your resumes for president because it seems to be opening up soon” — a prediction to come true. The day after the protest university president Ilene BuschVishniac was fired from her post.

There was no question that the reason the bellowing crowd was so large was because students, faculty and citizens of Saskatchewan were not going to stand for an academic institution ridding them of their right to freedom of speech.

The DefendUS rally was the students’ way of showing that they cannot be silenced. It was both invigorating and inspiring to see students take on the administration and stand up for what they believe in. The university learned that you can’t put a muzzle on an institution that churns out independent thinkers.

Knowledge and good intentions are what separates an organization fighting for the chance to be heard

from a mindless revolt. Although many students that showed up to the rally seemed to be going with the motions, it was no doubt that by the end of it they were informed of real issues that they could no longer turn a blind eye to.

A university is a place where we mold our minds and learn from experienced scholars about not only what’s on our syllabus but also

different ways to look at the world.

No institution can thrive if only a small percentage is responsible for making the big decisions.

There is no doubt that the students have been bitten with the protesting bug and that this is surely not the last blow in the students versus TransformUS battle.

Students have the right to have a say in their future and if they have

to, they’ll say it very loudly. The fact that it had to take a media scandal in order to light this fire is its own debate, but for now I’ll just say that there’s no such thing as bad press.

Unless, of course, your last name is Busch-Vishniac.

I think many of the people that attended the rally share Marlatte’s sentiments when he said, “Man, I feel scared for the administration.”

JEFF GLASEL

The U of S campus finally came to life as TransformUS protestors marched to the Bowl during the DefendUS rally.

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Campus Chat Humour

12 June, 2014 - THESHEAF.COM

What is your favourite summer festival & why?

Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan because I’m in it!

The Jazz Festival because I love John Legend.

Jacob Yaworski

Dog Patch Festival because it’s new.

The Fringe because its fun, organic, artsy and free-spirited.

Carrie Gates

Brad Wilson

Grace Yong

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