March 12, 2015

THE SHEAF 12 March, 2015 - Your University of Saskatchewan student newspaper since 1912.

U of S shoots for Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds.

Pg.4

News - 3

Sports - 6

Culture - 11

Opinions - 12

Student-built Snapchat aggregator bursts onto campus.

Basketball teams set for national championships.

You shouldn’t need Persuasion to go to this play.

Remember the good old days without Internet assignments? We do.

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March 12, 2015 - THESHEAF.COM

U of S contributions to First World War remembered Barnhart delivers address on Rev. Edmund Henry Oliver SOMA DALAI

THE SHEAF Editor-in-Chief: Anna-Lilja Dawson, editor@thesheaf.com

Opinions Editor: Naomi Zurevinski opinions@thesheaf.com

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Corrections In our Jan. 29 issue, the article “‘Stop the CrISIS’ condemns Muslim extremism” we incorrectly stated that the Ahmadiyya Students’ Association’s Stop the CrISIS event was in conjunction with Islam Awareness Week when in fact they were two unrelated events.

If you spot any errors in this week’s issue, email them to copy@thesheaf.com

On March 4, University of Saskatchewan interim-president Gordon Barnhart delivered a speech to an intimate crowd at Convocation Hall, showcasing a side of him not often seen nowadays: the historian.

As part of the university’s centennial commemorations of the First World War, Barnhart was invited to talk about Rev. Edmund Henry Oliver, the subject of Barnhart’s master’s thesis and one of the many professors from the university who left to fight in the “war to end all wars.”

Oliver was originally from Ontario but came to Saskatchewan at the turn of the 20th century. He died at the relatively young age of 53, but Oliver’s prolific life shaped his adopted province of Saskatchewan in numerous ways, namely through his contributions to the U of S. Oliver was recruited to teach at the university by its first president, Walter Murray, and delivered the establishment’s first lecture on ancient history in the Drinkle Building, located in downtown Saskatoon. As one of the first buildings in the city with an elevator, Oliver began his address by joking that the building was perfectly equipped to encourage “higher learning.”

In 1912, Oliver helped found the Presbyterian Theological College, now known as St. Andrew’s College. He believed firmly in the role of a theological education, which would serve him through the battlefields of the First World War. When war broke out in 1914, the effects on the university were immediate and devastating.

“In 1914 alone, nearly 74 per cent of the student body went to war, alongside approximately half of the faculty. In 1916, the College of Engineering didn’t offer any classes because there weren’t faculty or students here to take the classes,” said Barnhart.

Oliver did not enlist until 1916, becoming an army chaplain. On the train to his first assignment to Camp Hughes, Man., Oliver wrote to his wife Rita and promised to pen a letter to her every day he was away — a promise he largely kept. Rita stored every letter, making them a treasure trove of information about his war-time experiences.

Barnhart said that Oliver left for war with several motives.

“He went there to protect the troops from two things: from alcohol — ‘demon rum’ as it was called — and he also was there to protect the soldiers from the relaxed social and sexual standards of Europe.”

Oliver frequently gave lectures

UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES & SPECIAL COLLECTIONS

Reverand Edmund Henry Oliver was commemorated for his contributions to the U of S during the First World War. to the soldiers regarding the virtues of avoiding alcohol, which was seen at that time as detrimental to the war effort, and maintaining strong moral standards. He would also help hospitalized soldiers write home, and composed letters on behalf of killed soldiers. However, Barnhart said Oliver longed to contribute more.

“He started giving lectures to the troops in England on history, literature, citizenship and all of the subjects he thought would serve these men well not only in their behaviour while at the war, but more particularly when they came home.”

Oliver also opened “reading rooms” where soldiers could come and read books on educational topics if they had time off.

Oliver wrote to Murray and other university presidents requesting books for these rooms. Later on, Oliver took this idea further with 12 other instructors and began a mobile university where they would travel by bike with bags of books directly to the front. They called it the University of Vimy Ridge.

Barnhart said that Oliver felt an urgency about his mission to educate due to the enormous death tolls of the war. In a letter to his wife, Oliver wrote: “If

we don’t hurry, our pupils may get shot or killed before they’re educated.”

Barnhart explained that Oliver felt education’s necessity was borne out of the belief that many of these soldiers would return to become future leaders.

“He believed that the men who survived had to be educated because they needed to be solid citizens as they re-entered Canadian society.

“The interesting thing about the work of Oliver and those 12 others and the University of Vimy Ridge — it’s interesting that those are not the things we tend to think about when we think about the First World War. You think about the heroes of the war and the number of people who died, and the trenches, and the mud and the terrible living conditions.

But here were these people who were carrying books, and wanting to make sure that they had an education.”

When the war ended, Oliver was one of the lucky few who returned home. On Nov. 12, 1918, he wrote with considerable relief to Rita.

“The war is over and peace has been won. The world has been made safe for democracy, and we’ll all get home to our wives.”

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March 12, 2015 - THESHEAF.COM

Oh Snap! U of S student makes Snapchat bot NAOMI ZUREVINSKI Opinions Editor University of Saskatchewan students now have a collective Snapchat account to post pictures on, officially known as usask-snaps2.

Snapchat is a photo-messaging app where users can take photos or videos and then send them to other users with added text or drawings.

Usask-snaps2 is simple for anyone to use. Anyone with a Snapchat account can search “usasksnaps2” and add the account as a friend. Those who have added usask-snaps2 can then post photos, which become visible as a Snapchat story.

Creator of usask-snaps2 Daniel Sanche hoped students would post photos of events happening at the U of S. Instead, much of the content has consisted of drugs, homework and selfies.

“I made it hoping that people would share events going on, but it’s more just people trying to freak each other out,” Sanche said.

Students can use the usasksnaps2 account to see what others are doing, both on and off campus.

“It’s another way to let students share around the university and you can really see what’s going on all over, and very quickly,” Sanche said. “It’s nice to see events, but it’s also interesting to see what people post when it’s unfiltered.”

Sanche, a third-year computer science student at the U of S, created usask-snaps2 on Mar. 9. The

account currently has over 2,000 users.

“It’s really easy to use. People just send any pictures to it and it will post them. Anything you send to it, it will post,” Sanche said.

The content users can post is unrestricted. Past photos have included graphic content, such as illicit photos of a sexual nature, which Sanche thought might happen.

“I can log into the account and manually delete stuff,” Sanche

said. “I kind of did that at first, but over time it’s not something I want to do — spend time monitoring every picture.”

Usask-snaps2 functions as a normal Snapchat account, but has a web bot monitoring it.

A web bot repeats the same tasks automatically once programmed. Sanche took a Snapchat bot template off the Internet and modified the code. From there, he set up the usask-snaps2 account.

The bot automatically checks

every 10 minutes for new Snaps that have been sent to the account and then posts the content.

The account is also subject to crashes, especially with the large volume of content posted by users. Sanche had to change the settings so only one snap would be posted every two minutes instead of instantaneously. If the account does crash, Sanche has to reset it.

Beyond an overload of content, Snapchat has also tried to shut down the account.

KATHERINE FEDOROFF / PHOTO EDITOR

Daniel Sanche (pictured) is the creator of U of S Snapchat aggregator usask-snaps2.

“There are some issues with Snapchat itself. I think they’re trying to crackdown on bots because there’s lots of bots that just spam or advertise to people,” Sanche said. “Every time they try to shut it down I need to fix it again so they won’t notice it.”

Sanche previously made usasksnaps, the predecessor to usasksnaps2, on Feb. 19. On Feb. 22, he made an announcement to let students know about the account on Usask Confessions, a Facebook page where U of S students can post and view anonymous comments.

Snapchat shut down the first usask-snaps account and Sanche created a usask-snaps2 to replace it. According to Sanche, the second account automatically added all of the same followers from the previous iteration. Sanche is working on finding a way to prevent Snapchat from shutting down any future accounts.

After Sanche made the original usask-snaps bot, some unknown persons created a few more bots for U of S students, including usaskgonewild, usask-hot, usaskcuddles and usaskturds. The designer of these bots made an announcement on Usask Confessions on Mar. 1 informing students of their existence and advising them to “exercise discretion” when posting photos.

Snapchat users posting to usask-hot and usaskgonewild primarily send in content of a sexual nature while the latter tends to include snaps of students’ illicit actions as well.

At time of print, the usaskcuddles and usaskturds bots appeared to have been shut down by Snapchat and were yet to be reinstated.

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March 12, 2015 - THESHEAF.COM

Nelson talks balance, anticipates strong USSU leadership KEIGHLAGH DONOVAN March is election month for the University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union and current vicepresident operations and finance Elias Nelson is doling out advice for students thinking of running for the executive.

Studying political studies and economics, Nelson credits his extracurricular involvement as the most valuable and enjoyable aspect of his university experience.

Over the past five years, Nelson has been involved with several groups and events including We The Artists and the Arts and Science Students’ Union.

“It is much more fulfilling. I get to apply what I know, what I’ve learned and I get to learn a lot more rapidly than I do academically,” said Nelson.

As much as Nelson enjoys being a part of the campus, he said the balance between these commitments, along with work and school, is not sustainable in the long run.

Still, Nelson reflects fondly on his extracurricular involvement and has no regrets since taking on his full-time role as vice-president operations and finance last May. Nelson said his experience as a USSU executive has allowed him to become more of an active participant in affecting positive change.

“To be able to speak on issues

and have that authority to approach university administrators has been really empowering and has opened doors for me to tackle things I wouldn’t have been able to tackle otherwise.”

Some of the highlights of this past term for Nelson include the DefendUs rally and the USSU’s response to the transit lockout by the City of Saskatoon.

“The DefendUs rally was a really big deal,” said Nelson. “We talk a lot about action, grassroots activism and social justice. But then to really see something happen that engaged and rallied students behind a common cause — the life and value of our university — that was really great. I was very proud to see action taken on that and see people come together.”

Moreover, Nelson commends the university for stepping up when challenged with the transit lockout.

“For the university to provide an alternate bus system for the students and for them to bankroll that, I was quite impressed,” said Nelson. “I think things like that go a long way to repair the relationship between students, faculty and our university leadership. They didn’t have to do that and they did it.”

Perhaps Nelson’s greatest achievement this year was his contribution to the first balanced USSU budget in a decade. He doesn’t take all the credit, however, acknowledging the efforts of the staff who

have worked alongside the other executives.

“It is their hard work and their dedication and the fulfillment of a promise,” said Nelson.

Within five years of the completed renovations of Place Riel, it was said that the USSU operating budget would return to balance and Nelson said he was excited and proud to announce that the USSU has not only fulfilled a promise, but it has also done so in a strategic way without squeezing or cutting anything — ultimately leading to a positive growth in revenues.

“That was one of the best things I heard all year and I think that is the kind of thing that helps to instill confidence in the students — that their student government is working for them and managing their resources in the way that is in their best interests.”

Nelson said the hard work of his budget and finance committee and the attention to detail from USSU staff, such as the university facilities manager Stefanie Ewen, were significant contributors to this year’s successful budget.

Nelson said one of his biggest struggles when he first accepted the position as vice-president operations and finance was the isolated nature of the job, as opposed to his role as president of the ASSU, which sustained a large volunteer base. He misses the camaraderie and mentorship opportunities that

KATHERINE FEDOROFF / PHOTO EDITOR

Elias Nelson looks back on his term on the USSU executive fondly. come with a volunteer base, and hopes future executives can work toward expanding this base into further engagement, not just at the level of the centres but alongside the executives themselves.

As the USSU elections near, Nelson’s advice to prospective candidates is simply stated: “Make sure this is right for you.”

Another thing candidates should keep in mind, according to Nelson, is that the job is unlike most others.

“This is not a nine-to-five job, your job is an extension of you as a person, and it’s about working until the work is done but within the limits of your own personal well-being,” said Nelson.

Nelson remains hopeful for the future, and anticipates more success in the year ahead.

“There [is] a really good group of candidates — we have the potential for a very strong leadership next year.”

Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds presents alternative wellness EMILY KLATT

CAITLIN TAYLOR

Ryan Bradshaw ran a poetry workshop with Shanda Stefanson (not pictured) for Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds.

Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds brought students a week of alternative views and ideas on eating, exercise and body image.

Having taken place Mar. 2 – 6, Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds hopes to have a lasting effect on students at the University of Saskatchewan.

Co-ordinated between the U of S Students’ Union, the Women’s Centre and Peer Health Mentors, Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds aimed to expose U of S students to alternative and traditional ideas about health through a number of workshops and events.

Workshops were tailored to cater to varying interests. Alternatives like Ayurveda — a form of traditional medicine from India — and naturopathic eating focused on the food that we eat and how it affects us. Different forms of exercise such as hula hooping and acroyoga, prove that there are ways to be active other than just hitting the gym. Body casting, creating a plaster cast of a body part, focused on promoting healthy body image and self-esteem.

Event organizers Dylan LambiRaine and Christopher Brabant planned Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds to raise awareness about alternative healthy lifestyles.

“We do hear a lot of narratives of ‘It’s really important to exercise’ or ‘It’s really important to eat well,’ but what does that mean?” said Lambi-Raine, who is also the coordinator of the USSU Women’s Centre.

Brabant, the mental health facilitator for Peer Health Mentors, drew upon his own beneficial experiences with traditional health practices.

“I take Chinese martial arts and I’ve always wanted to bring them into the school because I know the knowledge that I have gained from there has supplemented my actual work to a great extent,” said Brabant.

With these ideas in mind, the pair set out to bring alternative ideas about health and wellness to the U of S community.

Accessibility was another important factor of Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds. All of the workshops were free to participants and were held at a variety of locations throughout campus.

“It’s not actually very common that people get to gain these knowledges for free,” said LambiRaine. “It’s hard to try out without investing a lot of money in it, so it was really important just essentially for that — to make healthy lifestyles accessible.”

Being healthy is about more than just eating and exercise,

though. It’s also about mental well-being and self-esteem.

“It’s often in society that healthy body image or mental health is separate from our physical self and our physical health,” said Lambi-Raine. Workshops focused on mindful meditation and body casting sought to improve the mental health of those that participated.

Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds placed a great deal of importance on the idea that everyone can be healthy in the ways that work best for them.

“There’s a thousand different ways to be healthy and we want to explore and show people that there are options,” said Brabant.

“We want people to feel empowered and beautiful, regardless of where they line up to societal expectations,” added Lambi-Raine.

Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds also received contributions from other individuals. Shana Mclean of the Physical Activity Complex, Tracy Everitt from the College of Pharmacy and Nutrition and Rita Hanoski of Student Health Services all helped with booking facilities for workshops. The Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds webpage was created and maintained by Craig McNaughton.

Volunteers from both the Women’s Centre and Peer Health Mentors also provided assistance.

Sports 5

Dog Watch: Ben Baker March 12, 2015 - THESHEAF.COM

AUSTIN ARVAY Sports Editor Ben Baker is the ultimate team player. From dishing the ball to his teammates to doing the dirty work on defence, Baker will do anything to help his team win.

In his fifth and final year of eligibility, Baker took home the Canada West Defensive Player of the Year award. It’s his second time earning the honour and he is quick to credit his teammates on his success.

“It’s certainly a nice honour, especially winning it twice. A lot of hard work went into it and a lot of teamwork. I think it’s just a reflection of our team’s discipline and work ethic.”

Baker was born and raised in Saskatoon and has been playing basketball since he was young. His parents registered him in community basketball and, as they say, the rest is history.

“We had a court in the backyard when I was growing up. I just played [basketball] a lot when I was younger and really liked it.”

Baker continued to play high school ball at Aden Bowman Collegiate where he won the city championship in Grade 11 and

was named team MVP in his senior season. That made him a coveted prospect for many schools, but the decision was an easy one for Baker.

“I’m from Saskatoon and I grew up watching the Huskies play, so [those were] two major points for me. I knew some of the guys on the team and I played on the Junior Huskies all through high school so it was an easy choice.”

His five years have flown by and anyone who has seen Baker play will surely miss him as a Huskie. His hustle at both ends of the floor, especially on defence, makes him one of the most complete players in the country. Not only can he score and pass, but he is usually given the role of shutting down the opposition’s best player, something that Baker enjoys.

“I enjoy competing, I look forward to who I’m guarding every week and that’s just something I’ve always looked forward to — the challenge of stopping someone.”

Baker has earned the reputation as one of the best defenders in the league, which isn’t surprising when looking at his talent at rebounding the ball. Averaging 10.2 rebounds a contest last season, the 6’3” player was the first guard ever to lead the CanWest conference in rebounding.

“Competitiveness, hard work and making sure I outwork the guy I’m guarding every night,” Baker said of how he managed to

become the best defender in the conference.

Baker’s final games in the green and white will come this weekend as his squad is headed to the CIS championships, following a second place finish at the CanWest Final Four. The Dogs drew a tough quarter-final matchup, but Baker is ready to go.

“I just want to play. It’s a lot of buildup and anticipation. It’s something we’ve worked towards all year and I’m just excited to play.”

As his time with the Huskies winds down, Baker reflected on what he would miss most, as well as his favourite memories as a member of the basketball team.

“I’ll just remember all the teammates I had and spending so much time with them,” he said. “I’m going to miss the routine. Always seeing your teammates and that family tradition you have with all the guys.”

Baker took that family bond to the next level, as he currently lives with three of his teammates, which actually caused his former pregame ritual to go out the window.

“I had to switch it up. My first few years I lived at home and I would always have pre-game meals made for me. Now we always have to scrounge together some food before the game. Matt [Forbes] is a big pasta guy so he usually makes that and we all just eat it.”

As he finishes up his basketball career, he is also finishing up

his kinesiology degree. Baker currently has no plans after postsecondary, but might consider a career in coaching.

“Maybe if the opportunity presents itself. Right now I’m worried about taking care of business this last week,” he said.

CAITLIN TAYLOR

6 Sports

March 12, 2015 - THESHEAF.COM

Women seeded fourth as they head to nationals KADE GATES A devastating one-point loss to the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds kept the Huskies from earning their fourth Canada West conference championship.

This weekend the women’s basketball team looks to win their first ever CIS national championship.

Standing in their way is four-time defending national champion University of Windsor Lancers as well as their first round opponent the University of Alberta Pandas. The Huskies will begin their drive for a title on March 12.

The Huskies have a tough first round matchup as they are 0–2 on the year against the Pandas. If the Dogs are to make noise this weekend they will live and die by how two-time CanWest Player of the Year Dalyce Emmerson performs.

In their three losses this year, Emmerson has averaged 10 points per game and in their 17 wins she averaged nearly 14 points each game. Added to that, in losses she averages 0.6 blocks a game, but in wins the number is 1.6 per game. If Emmerson can protect the rim without fouling and can get her shots to fall, then the Huskies are going to be

tough for any team in the Final 8.

Kelsey Trulsrud has had a huge coming out party in playoffs this year. The 5’9” fourth-year guard has played much bigger than her size as she has been averaging nearly a double double in rebounds and points during the post-season.

The Huskies could also use a big weekend from their three-point machine Laura Dally. The Western University transfer has hit the ground running her first year in the CanWest as she led the conference in three-point field goal percentage shooting the rock an incredible 47.2 per cent from long range. Dally can also get to the rim and convert as she put up 18 points against the Vikes in March 6 CanWest semifinal while going only 1–5 from behind the arc.

The experience of the Huskies’ backcourt will also play a major role in how the Huskies do this weekend.

Kabree Howard and Riley Humbert will be playing out their final games of their university careers this weekend. Humbert ranks fourth in the conference in assist to turnover ratio meaning that the Huskie guard has done a great job of taking care of the ball while still successfully running the offence. Additionally, Howard is second in assist to turnover ratio

STEPHANIE MAH / GRAPHICS EDITOR

which explains why the Huskies are top five in turnovers per game.

To beat the Pandas, the Huskies are going to have to shut down the number one offence in CanWest led by 6’1” guard Saskia van Ginhoven and Jessilyn Fairbanks.

Van Ginhoven is the engine that drives the Panda offence as she is their leading scorer at 16.7 points each game while still shooting a strong 58 per cent from the field.

There is no way to stop van Ginhoven, but the Huskies’ best hope is to contain what she can do, as they

did on the opening weekend of the year when they held her to just nine points.

Unfortunately, even if you stop van Ginhoven, you also have to deal with Fairbanks — the number two option for this high powered offence.

Fairbanks ate up the Huskie defence in their early season matchup as she dropped 22 and 17 points on them on back-to-back nights. Fairbanks is a solid three-point shooter — ranked seventh in the conference — and nearly automatic from the free throw line, at 83 per cent. The

Huskies’ guards will need to keep her out of the paint and off the charity stripe if they hope to contain her.

A win for the Huskies on March 12 night would most likely set up a matchup against the top seeded Lancers. The Lancers are 19–1 this year and are led by Korissa Williams who averages 19.3 points per game.

Saskatchewan will do battle with Alberta on March 12 with tipoff set for 8 p.m. EST. A live broadcast of the game can be seen on www.CIS-SIC.tv as the Huskies look to advance to national semifinals.

Huskies drop CanWest final: Next stop, nationals AUSTIN ARVAY Sports Editor Following a thrilling win on March 6, the Huskies moved on to the Canada West final and more importantly, booked themselves a ticket to the Canadian Interuniversity Sport men’s basketball Final 8 tournament.

In the conference semifinal, the Dogs were in tough against the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds, a team they failed to defeat in the regular season. Down by two at the beginning of the fourth, Saskatchewan rallied in front of its biggest crowd of the season and knocked the T-Birds off 81–75. Led by fifth-year Dadrian Collins, who had 11 of his team-high 20 points in the final stanza, the Huskies advanced to the conference final and for the second straight year, earned a berth at nationals.

Collins was cool under pressure as he hit two long range jumpers early in the fourth to get his team going. However, he was more focused on winning.

“This was our goal for the whole season and we wanted to host this game,” Collins said. “We took advantage of our opportunities and were successful. It feels great right now.”

On March 7, the Huskies and the University of Victoria Vikes would

do battle, with the winner taking the conference title. It would be a slow start to the game in front of a nervous crowd of 1,802 as the Dogs couldn’t get anything to fall early on.

Vikes guard Marcus Tibbs was putting on a show early and he finished with 25 points and seven assists. At the half, Victoria had a 41–32 lead.

After trailing by as many as 14, the Dogs made a second-half push sparked by a new defensive strategy that denied Tibbs the ball on offence. It was a great plan by head coach Barry Rawlyk that gave the Dogs momentum as they opened the third quarter on a 19–4 run and took back the lead. The rest of the game would be back-and-forth before the Huskies found themselves down three with just eight seconds to play. Ben Baker put up a three, but it wouldn’t fall and the Vikes stole the championship on the Dogs’ homecourt.

“It was so close and it came down to the smallest details and at the end of the game they just executed better than we did and that’s what made the difference,” Baker said.

Moving forward, the Dogs will face their toughest test of the season as the CIS Final 8 schedule was announced on March 8 and the Huskies drew the number one seeded Carleton University Ravens in the first round.

“They’re a team that has a lot of great strengths and we just have to play to ours,” Rawlyk said. “They are very mechanical in the way they play. It’s disciplined and they don’t vary too much on what they do, however in that there [are] some

CAITLIN TAYLOR

Matt Forbes (#13) goes in for an easy lay-up against UBC. The Dogs would defeat the T-Birds and lock up a spot at nationals. things that we know they’re going to do and we have to try and take advantage of that.”

Carleton enters the national championships as the number one

team in the country, fresh off of an Ontario University Athletics championship, in which they hammered the University of Windsor Lancers in the final 103–59. The Ravens

have won the tournament for four straight years, but their last loss at nationals came in 2010 at the hands of the Showron Glover led Saskatchewan Huskies.

Using great shooting, the Ravens average 91.1 points per game and sit with a record of 20–2 heading into nationals. Not allowing open looks and easy shots for Carleton will be a huge factor in determining the outcome of the game. Not only do they score in bunches, but their defence is incredibly strong, holding opponents to a CIS-best 56.4 points per game. Thomas Scrubb was their leading scorer with 17 points per game as well as 7.6 rebounds.

A big loss for the Huskies is the injury to Shane Osayande. The second-year forward from Toronto injured his ankle in the final day of preparation before the CanWest Final Four and will miss the next seven weeks of action due to the injury. He had provided Saskatchewan with great energy and athleticism off the bench.

The tournament opens on March 12 in Toronto with Ryerson University acting as hosts. All four quarter-final matchups will take place then, with the semis set for March 14 and the final on March 15. With a victory, the Dogs would advance to the semifinals and face the winner of Victoria and the Dalhousie University Tigers matchup.

The Huskies will face Carleton at 11 a.m. EST on March 12 with a live stream being broadcasted on www.CIS-SIC.tv.

A loss would end their chance at being crowned national champions.

Sports 7

March 12, 2015 - THESHEAF.COM

STEPHANIE MAH / GRAPHICS EDITOR

Stay strong Leaf fans, stay strong

AUSTIN ARVAY Sports Editor For those unfortunate few — like myself — who cheer for the Toronto Maple Leafs, you know exactly the struggle I go through.

Every year we fans enter the new season with a sense of renewed optimism that maybe, just maybe this is finally our year. Of course, that unwavering faith hasn’t been rewarded, as the Leafs have only won a playoff series once in the past 12 years and they currently sit second last in the Eastern conference — just a mere 19 points out of the final playoff spot.

By now we have heard it all: “Losers since ‘67,” “What do the Leafs have in common with the Titanic? They both looked good before they hit the ice,” “When you die the Leafs should be your pallbearers so they can let you down one last time.” All hilarious and depressingly true. This season has gone so poorly that I actually avoid watching my beloved Leafs altogether so I don’t have to sit through three hours of torture wanting to cry.

In short, it’s bad — but who is to blame for this mess? Is it Dave Nonis and his swift thinking to dish out over a combined $20 million — just under one third of the salary cap — to Dion Phaneuf, Phil Kessel and David Clarkson? Was

it ex-coach Randy Carlyle and his schemes that caused the Blue and White to spiral so far out of control that even a combined effort from Johnny Bower, Darryl Sittler and Wendel Clark couldn’t bring them back?

Regardless, the unforgettable game seven collapse in Boston just two short years ago will be the closest thing to the post-season for quite some time for one of the greatest sports franchises in North America. That being said, we don’t have it that bad compared to some other Canadian hockey fans. Edmonton fans know they’re going to be a dumpster fire every year and probably end up with a lottery pick. Montreal fans — well it doesn’t matter how their team does, they’re just going to annoy the hell out of the rest of us.

My message is simple fellow Leaf fans: Stay strong. Amidst all the controversy, media scrutiny and losses is a hockey team long overdue for success — and right along with them is one of the most passionate fan bases in the league.

The change isn’t going to happen overnight. Heck, knowing Toronto it might not even happen in the next 10 years. But one glorious day, when the Toronto Maple Leafs finally win the Stanley Cup, it will all be worth it.

The years — scratch that, decades — of pain, humiliation and anger will all be forgotten in a moment of pure jubilation that I can’t even begin to imagine. So bear with me Leafs Nation — now that I think about it, next year may just be our year.

Upcoming Games Men’s Basketball

Track and Field

• March 12 vs. Carleton Ravens @ 8 p.m. (CIS Final 8)

• Mar. 12–14 at Windsor, Ont. (CIS Championships)

Women’s Basketball • March 12 vs. Alberta Pandas @ 8 p.m. (CIS Final 8)

- Home Game

THE SHEAF

visit us online @ thesheaf.com

FEATURE

Exotic creatures and small animals at the U of S

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KAYLE NEIS

PHOTOS AND ARTICLE

Dr. Caitlin Wright (left) uses a tonometer to check eye pressure.

Located in the Western College of Veterinary Medicine is the small animal clinic which specializes in a variety of treatments and rehabilitations and singles itself out as the main referral centre for all Saskatchewan veterinary clinics.

The large facility contains a cancer treatment centre, dentistry clinic, rehabilitation facility, medical imaging centre and a zoo, exotic and wildlife medicine department.

Within the small animal clinic are five women who specialize in small, exotic and wildlife animals coming in from across Saskatchewan

and out-of-province. This group of medical professionals consists of one lead doctor, three interns and a lab technician who assist and trest all cases.

The exotics team is responsible for treatments from basic check-ups to surgery in a variety of patients ranging from household animals to wildlife and zoo patients.

The head of this team is Dr. Dennilyn Parker, who is responsible for all of the animals that go through the clinic. Parker received her master’s in veterinary science from the University of Saskatchewan and is

a diplomate for the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (Avian).

Alongside Parker is her clinical associate, Dr. Katarina Bennett. Born in Halifax, Bennett recently completed an internship at the U of S before getting the position as clinical associate.

Dr. Kristin Britton from Bakersfield, Calif. and Dr. Heather Joseph from Ohio, are on one-year internships while Dr. Caitlin Wright is the rotating intern for small animals.

The full-time lab technician is Jacqui Valmont, a Saskatchewan Polytechnic graduate

Dr. Kristin Britton holds Avery, a conure bird, while being checked for an abnormal smell in the bird’s droppings.

Test samples of Avery’s fecal matter used to determine the presence of bacterial overgrowth.

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from Prince Albert, Sask.

The medical professionals at the small animal clinic take in privately owned patients that range from bunnies to lizards during 10 a.m to 1 p.m, throughout the week then focus on treating the overnight patients and wildlife.

Included in the weekly check-ups and appointments, the doctors and technicians of the exotics clinic take weekly visits to the Saskatoon Forestry Farm and Zoo on Wednesdays for non-immediate surgeries.

9 Daren Mandrusiak, a second-year veterinary medicine student at the U of S, does flight tests with Jafar the hawk.

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Dr. Dennilyn Parker from the zoo, exotics and wildlife department quizzes her interns on bird feathers.

Dr. Kristin Britton (left) takes blood from Boo the bunny, while Jacqui Valmont comforts and holds down the animal. Boo is being tested for chronic ulcers.

Dr. Kristin Britton inspects a turkey during a routine check-up at the Saskatoon Forestry Farm and Zoo.

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Chavo the crested gecko was being examined because his hemipenes were prolapsed.

March 12, 2015 - THESHEAF.COM

March 12, 2015 - THESHEAF.COM 10 Culture BFA graduate Shelby Lechman finds inspiration in unlikely places MACKENZIE PARADZIK Shelby Lechman may be one of many graduating from the fine arts program at the University of Saskatchewan, but her final show sets her apart from other graduates through its unique representation of the human experience.

In order to obtain a bachelor of fine arts, students must create and show a successful art exhibition in which they defend what is referred to as their artist statement, which is a brief explanation of their work that helps the viewer better understand the artist’s intent. Lechman’s exhibition Fragmented: Broken Peace was inspired by a chance encounter that she had with an elderly Hungarian man.

“He told me an interesting story about how whenever he puts his head under water in the hot tub, the sounds of the jets remind him of being a little boy riding on the train back in Hungary,” Lechman said. “I instantly had this vision of a flooded train car with this little boy on top of the luggage racks just peering down at all of the water.”

Students put many months of hard work and long days in to fully complete their exhibition pieces.

The project is independent and gives students a taste of what it is like to put on and organize an art show.

Lechman’s final show required a

lot of preparation and research as she further worked to understand the background and history of the story she wished to tell.

“He told me that he was from Hungary, but he didn’t mention anything else about the country.

I began researching more about it and came across the Hungarian uprising in 1956 where the Hungarians rebelled against the Communist control of the Soviet Union,” Lechman said.

Lechman references Hungarian history while creating her own personal narrative. This exploration of personal experience and historical struggle brings the story to life. It is especially moving when seen through her paintings, which all stand an impressive five feet tall and are made up of nine tiles which create a puzzle-like image when fitted together.

“This piece is part of the inspiration for the title of my show [Fragmented: Broken Peace.] I chose to include paintings and printmaking in my show because I want to demonstrate that I am technically skilled in many areas,” said Lechman.

While Lechman enjoys a variety of art forms from drawing to printmaking, she focuses primarily on painting.

“With painting I am always challenged. I feel like I am able to push myself and grow through painting and I feel that there is lots to learn,” she said. “I also work for Alison

Glenn, a painting professor here at the U of S. I am influenced a lot by her style. She paints impasto — which is painting very thick. I’ve always loved the look of thick paint and being expressive with your brush marks, but yet very realistic.

I’ve learned so many techniques and she’s been a positive influence on everything I have been doing.”

Though Lechman draws inspiration from other areas in her life, her greatest influences come from history and storytelling.

“I’m really inspired by how different the past is from today, but also how similar,” she said. “Technology is changing, things are changing, but the whole idea of human suffering, power and conquest — it all remains the same. It seems to be a part of humanity. Experiences are always something that inspire me too, like meeting and talking to the man that inspired this exhibit.”

Lechman’s plans in the world of art don’t end after her exhibition.

She intends to visit New York in

order to immerse herself in the art that she loves so deeply.

“I chose that destination because of the city’s large selection of contemporary paintings,” said Lechman. “I am also planning on doing several out-of-country artist residencies to give myself the opportunity to work and collaborate with other artists.”

Fragmented: Broken Peace will be on display at the Gordon Snelgrove Gallery from March 23 to 27, with the reception taking place on March 27.

KATHERINE FEDOROFF / PHOTO EDITOR

Shelby Lechman in her studio showcasing her paintings, which is her favourite medium.

Upcoming events Thursday March 12 Friday March 13

Saturday March 14 Sunday March 15

Goitse at the Bassment

Rah Rah with Snake Bad Decisions with River and the Fuss at Wizards at Amigos Amigos Stocatta with Undercover Pirates at Nite\Vision and Little Troy MacGillivray and Bon Temps Café Criminals at Vangelis Kimberley Fraser at the Bassment In Flames, All That C.R. Avery at the Remains and Woods Ale House Language Arts at Woven War at Vangelis O’Brians Event Throwback Thursday Centre at Louis’ Pub Summering and The Moas at Vangelis

Northcote with Sammy Kay at Amigos Bluegrass Brunch at Bon Temps Café Remix Art Show and Sale at the Refinery

Monday March 16

Open Mic Monday at Circling Over Louis’ Pub Shannon at Bon Temps Café Crestwood at Bon Temps Café St. Patrick’s Day Party at Louis’ Pub Benighted with Bookakee and Agony Spawn at Vangelis

The Hockey Sweater at TCU Place

BOARD OF GOVERNORS’

Campus Community Reception Join the University of Saskatchewan Board of Governors for an informal reception at Louis’ Loft. This is your opportunity to chat with your board members one-on-one.

Louis’ Loft

|

Monday, March 23

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Tuesday March 17

4:30 – 6 pm

A complimentary refreshment and light snacks will be served.

RSVP by March 18, 2015 by visiting alumni.usask.ca/events/registration

Wednesday March 18 West Coast Swing at Louis’ Loft Chic Gamine at the Bassment

Culture 11 Newman Players prove Victorian literature is still relevant March 12, 2015 - THESHEAF.COM

MADISON TAYLOR Culture Editor Alfred Lord Tennyson may have famously said that it is better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all, but the Newman Players’ Persuasion is looking to convince its audience otherwise.

Directed by Ian Elliott and Rachelle Hosak and adapted from the novel of the same name written by Jane Austen, the Newman Players’ rendition of Persuasion will be performed in the Father O’Donnell Auditorium at St. Thomas More College from March 12 to 15.

The play tells a classic tale of lost love through its main characters Frederick Wentworth (Graham Schmitz) and Anne Elliot (Kathleen MacLean). The subject matter that Austen tackles may seem outdated and stuffy at first glance, but Schmitz and MacLean assure audiences that the story is still as witty and engaging as it was 200 years ago.

“This is a pretty relatable story and it’s kind of saucy for its time,” said MacLean.

Persuasion tackles the theme of class struggle in a superficial

society through a satirical lens, combining dry humour with sharp social criticism to create a play that is both entertaining and thought-provoking.

In staying true to Austen’s portrayal of Victorian society, the Newman Players will be using period costumes and props to aid in their performance. Schmitz and MacLean said historical representation doesn’t end at the set design, however. Body language, expressions and even the simplest of gestures were highly restricted in the 1800s, especially for women.

“It’s difficult to have to be so aware of your body, because usually if you’re doing something funny or different you can kind of bring yourself into it whereas in this you have to be composed,” said MacLean. “There’s certain things that we can’t do because they’re too modern.”

“I tried to get in the headspace of what it was like back then and understand the pressures and limits that were set for everyone,” added Schmitz.

This consciousness of social standing is particularly crucial for MacLean’s character, Anne, as the reason that she and Wentworth cut their relationship short was her family’s disapproval of him as a suitor.

The Elliots are “all about blood and social status and

CLARISSA KOSTIUK

Schmitz (left) and MacLean’s characters embrace when reunited after seven years of separation. how wealthy people are,” said MacLean. “The reason she said no to Wentworth was because she was persuaded by her family and chose what was right for them rather than what was right for her.”

The emotional upheaval that results from the star-crossed lovers being forced to part due to circumstances beyond their control is what MacLean believes to be most relatable part of the play.

“A lot of my inspiration came from reading the actual novel

and being like, ‘I’ve felt this way before!’” she said.

MacLean and Schmidt even acted out a breakup between themselves in real life in order to get in the right mindset to accurately portray their characters’ emotions.

“To help us get into it I thought, ‘okay, we’re just going to take a moment and fake breakup with each other,’” said MacLean. “It was so intense, I thought I was going to cry.”

“But it’s helped so much on stage,” Schmitz added. “Our

characters never talk directly about our past until the very end, there’s just kind of awkward allusions to it. But that method helped a lot in those situations.”

This willingness to step into their characters’ shoes no matter how uncomfortable it may be at times is a perfect reflection of the group of talented young actors that make up the Newman Players. The dedication that the cast put into portraying a historically accurate representation of a classic novel and how much fun they had doing it is what the two actors believe makes Persuasion a must-see.

“I know a lot of people think, ‘Jane Austen, that’s so dry,’” said MacLean. “But we really tried hard to bring life into it.”

“Our directors have done a lot to add things to scenes, liven them up and add humour,” Schmitz added.

If you’re looking for a performance that combines cheeky British wit, insightful societal criticism and the universally relatable anguish of lost love, then the Newman Players’ Persuasion is a show that you won’t want to miss.

Persuasion will be running from March 12 to 15. Tickets are $5 for students and $10 for members of the public and can be purchased online at www.picatic.com/persuasion

Caffeine convergence: Ten Thousand Coffees connects students and CEOs KEIGHLAGH DONOVAN In this fast-paced technologically advanced time, it’s more difficult than ever to stand out in a multitude of job-seeking students and recent graduates.

Dave Wilkin, founder of Ten Thousand Coffees, is creating opportunity for students and recent grads by enabling access to conversations with industry

professionals — all over a cup of coffee.

“What can happen when 10,000 of today’s leaders meet with 10,000 of tomorrow’s leaders over 10,000 coffees?” Wilkin said.

Unlike Facebook or its professional counterpart LinkedIn, Ten Thousand Coffees is an online platform where industry leaders and professionals create accounts specifically for

JEREMY BRITZ

the purpose of meeting with the next generation of workers for a mutually beneficial conversation.

Launched in January 2014, Wilkin has invested over five years to build Ten Thousand Coffees with the aim of making it easy and effective for students and recent graduates to build their networking experience with organizations and people.

“With coffee as the currency of opportunity, tens of thousands of people from up-and-comers to industry professionals are gaining access to opportunities they otherwise would not have had,” said Jessica Dell’Aquila, public relations manager for Ten Thousand Coffees.

Wilkin and his team at Ten Thousand Coffees have ongoing conversations and partnerships with CEOs from some of the world’s biggest companies. These industry leaders admit that one of their biggest challenges in business and in their countries is how they can engage in and understand the ideas and insight and talent of the next generation.

“What students don’t realize is that companies are as excited to meet with them as students are to meet companies,” said Wilkin.

Ten Thousand Coffees currently has tens of thousands of participants. Over 30 industries are already involved, including

professions from the music, art, graphic design, banking and marketing industries.

“We know that using a resumé and showing up at job fairs or networking events can not only be incredibly difficult for some people, but also incredibly ineffective for most,” said Wilkin.

Wilkin acknowledges that many talented students and recent grads lack the connections, confidence and experience they need to take the next step and ultimately make money doing the things they love. Moreover, industry leaders and professionals struggle to find the best talent through resumés alone.

“So many arts graduates, for instance, have transferrable skills and people skills and unfortunately a resumé doesn’t do anything to show that,” said Wilkin.

Those students or recent graduates who are unfortunately screened out by resumé scanners on paper now have the opportunity to showcase their ideas, insights and passion for the industry over a cup of coffee.

“Ten Thousand Coffees is always eager to collaborate with innovative organizations who share our core values of enabling experiences that move people forward,” said Wilkin.

In February, Ten Thousand

Coffees announced a national partnership with the online marketplace leader, Etsy. Together they launched a new “maker” category, which gives aspiring creative minds the opportunity to access a network of established Etsy sellers and other creative industry professionals and provides opportunities beyond coffee conversations.

To celebrate the partnership, Etsy is giving away a $5,000 award to kick-start a student’s burgeoning online business. A panel of judges will review applicants and select the top 20 finalists. They will be looking for well-executed, unique, creative and inspiring ideas that are simple but powerful.

Aside from pairing up-andcomers with industry pros, Ten Thousand Coffees aims to provide students with everything they need to start a business.

“We are challenging all of these creative people to go and join the group and start conversations with real people who have already started their business,” said Wilkin.

“What they will see is that they are actually a lot closer to starting their own businesses than they might think.”

For more details on the Ten Thousand Coffees grant opportunity, you can visit resources.tenthousandcoffees.com/grant/

12 Opinions

March 12, 2015 - THESHEAF.COM

Online assignments are overrated ZACH TENNENT The Internet plays a big role in the lives of students. Although it can be a useful research and information tool, I’m tired of the way it’s continually applied to university courses and assignments.

There’s no doubt that the Internet provides modern students with many advantages that would have been luxuries in previous generations. Thanks to Google, you’re never more than a few clicks away from the answer to any question you could have. Online archives and databases make it so that virtually no source is unattainable. When it’s time to study, online video lectures and websites like Khan Academy — an organization that makes free math and science video lectures — make review far easier.

It’s fair to say that with all these resources available to us, the Internet has much to offer for enriching modern education. However, university instructors fail to understand its uses when it comes to incorporating it into schoolwork.

Recognizing the change in how students go about learning, many professors seem to be doing their best to work online components into otherwise unchanged assignments. The intentions behind this would be ostensibly to better engage students by refocusing the

format of traditional schoolwork and centering it around the use of computers — which so many students already rely on for class notes and work.

This includes acts like assigning blogs, giving online quizzes and assignments or even giving homework from the lab CDs that come with many introdcutory level science textbooks.

These kinds of variations almost always end badly. Arbitrarily

CHRISTINE CZAJKOWSKI

making assignments into online projects doesn’t enrich the learning process. All it does it take an otherwise straightforward lesson, quiz or project and apply it to a medium that it isn’t suited for. This then wastes all the potential that the Internet actually has when it comes to being an educational tool.

Making a blog or Wikispaces page instead of simply writing a paper isn’t going to make the project any better or make the act any more

exciting or dynamic for the student.

An online quiz may seem like a way to mix things up, but it will always just be a quiz. Doing questions on a CD instead of out of a textbook won’t aid in the learning process.

Not only do these computerfocused assignments lack purpose, but they also defeat their own objectives. It shouldn’t be about getting students to do their work online just for the sake of incorporating the Internet. If

a professor is going to be giving online work, it should be a type of assignment that actually warrants a change. In my experience, assignments that actually necessitate the use of online resources are almost non-existent.

All this suggests to me is that professors want their assignments to be more exciting, but they don’t actually want to change anything about them or come up with new ones, so they simply wedge in the Internet as a means of making the old assignments more relevant to technological changes.

There lies the problem. I would much rather have no Internet assignments than ones that are unnecessary and do nothing to promote better learning.

As I said, there are definitely ways in which the Internet can be beyond beneficial to students.

It makes researching, problem solving and studying all far easier, but current online assignments don’t even play to those strengths; instead of giving students opportunities to learn in new ways, they just superficially offer the same old thing and call it adaptation.

I have no doubts that professors are capable of creating online assignments that are stimulating, educational and purposeful, but until they begin to use online resources in a more functional way, we’re simply squandering potential.

Opinions 13

March 12, 2015 - THESHEAF.COM

Homestays key to success for int’l students TRAVIS HOMENUK Living in homestays is the best option for students who come to Canada to pursue post-secondary education. The many benefits for both students and host families should encourage the University of Saskatchewan community to consider hosting a student.

The U of S Language Centre offers intensive English as a Second Language classes for international students. They must work through multiple levels of study to satisfy their conditional admittance into the U of S. Progress can take months or years, depending on the individual’s English ability upon entry, social integration and motivation, among other factors.

Students at the USLC not only take classes from qualified instructors, but they are also required to take part in cultural programs and activities, all of which are rooted in improving their English. Activities range from Saskatoon Blades hockey games, trips to Shekinah Retreat Centre and adventures in ice skating, salsa dancing and cookie decorating. Through these activities, students are able to use English in numerous settings with a variety of people.

Even though these activities are undoubtedly helpful in improving the English proficiency among students, those who live in a homestay frequently have stronger English language capabilities, especially verbally.

From the fall of 2012 to the summer of 2014, the USLC conducted research regarding the success rates of students enrolled in the ESL program. The study looked at students who lived in homestays, on-campus residences and personal residences.

The pass rate of students living in homestays is 79 per cent. In contrast, the pass rate of students who did

not live in homestays or residence was only 59 per cent. Frankly, the numbers are quite telling.

Paulette Wallace has taken in international students since 1997.

She notes that mealtime is very important for homestay families, providing students with the chance to practice their English, hear spoken English and of course, eat a delicious home-cooked meal. This kind of practice is normally non-existent for students who choose not to stay with homestays.

The USLC also looked at the percentage of students who did not complete courses, in conjunction with their living situation. Of these students who did not complete courses, 13 per cent did not live in a homestay or residence. This number looks large when compared to the three per cent of homestay students who did not complete their programs. Needless to say, a homestay environment seems more conducive to student success.

In particular, male students benefit most from the Homestay Program. While 75 per cent of male students in a homestay completed their program, only five per cent did not and instead opted to drop out of the program. This number is impressive when compared to the low 54 per cent of men who completed the program and did not live in a homestay, with a whopping 13 per cent incompletion rate. Notably, 62 per cent of the ESL students at the USLC are male, so this is a significant demographic to analyze.

The most impressive success of the Homestay Program is attributed to female students who have an 83 per cent success rate, with an extremely low 0.5 per cent incompletion rate.

If the numbers aren’t telling enough, the feedback from students and families is certainly indicative of why the program is so important to the success of ESL students.

Wallace estimates that she’s hosted over 50 students.

“The first girl I had was from Mozambique and she was with us for 15 months. Since that first experience, I have had more students than I can keep track of,” Wallace said.

Wallace noted that her

biggest regret as a homestay family is that she has not kept a guest book of sorts with pictures and writing from all of her students.

She claims the Homestay Program is an absolute benefit to students and that she’s made some lovely friends through the program.

Nettie Cherniatenski, another homestay mother, has hosted about 29 students from 2002 onward, all of whom “have blended into [her] family.” While travelling to a few of the native countries her students are from, Cherniatenski said the homestay experience has been beneficial to her family.

“It opens the door to a family bond with different cultures that says there is no room in this world for discrimination,” Cherniatenski said.

Both Cherniatenski and Wallace produced a laundry list of benefits for their families and the students alike. Whether it’s meeting friends and family, travelling to another city, grocery shopping, running errands or talking about English idioms around the dinner table, there’s a cultural exchange taking place that works for everybody.

Cherniatenski recalls a time when one of her students wanted a picture with a “real cowboy.”

“So off to Moose Jaw we went and lo and behold there was a boy in his 20s wearing blue jeans, a cowboy shirt, boots and a hat. What a dream come true for her,” said Cherniatenski.

In many cases, the homestay family acts as parents to their student.

“A few of my girls needed doctor visits, so off we went as mother and daughter,” Cherniatenski said.

Similarly, Wallace has been invited to numerous w e d d i n g s a l l around the world and is planning a trip to Ecuador to visit former

students soon.

International students Da Liu, Yingxin Wang and Hui Jiao from China also highlighted how the program has benefitted them.

Jiao notes that homestay families are able to correct spoken English which helps students become comfortable interacting with Canadians.

Liu enjoyed the homestay experience because it provided a family-like environment.

This “was the first time for me to go abroad and stay by myself, but with homestay, I didn’t feel lonely.

When I get sick, they take care of me and provide special food for me. When I feel upset, they try to talk with me and help perk me up,” said Liu. Wang noted the importance of a homestay family from her immediate arrival in Canada.

“When I walked out from the door at the airport, my homestay mom, Sharlene, was already there and waiting for me. We started talking and it just made me feel more comfortable and less nervous,” Wang said.

Jiao sincerely enjoyed learning about Canadian customs and holidays, which helped with socializing in different settings.

“If I have to go to a party, I know what I should do,” Jiao said.

Jiao’s homestay also encouraged getting involved in different volunteer-based activities. This helped Jiao meet Canadian friends, while having fun and speaking English.

Liu, Wang and Jiao all noted the safety and convenience of their homestays.

“When I go out for activities, my homestay always asks when I’ll come back. If I do not come back on time, [they] will phone just to make sure I am okay,” Jiao said.

In Liu’s case, there was an interest in attending church.

“Over two weeks, we went to five different churches,” Liu said, while also listing the many other cultural activities the homestay arranged.

The most important thing about the Homestay Program for students, families, and organizers is that it’s not about assimilation into Canadian

culture, but rather about the cultural exchange that takes place.

In many cases, the students become true family members.

“I do not even remember when I started to call it home instead of my homestay, and [when I started] to call them family instead of my homestay family,” Wang said.

Being a homestay family is an added responsibility with a good deal of organizing, but worth it in the end. Families can host students for short-term or long-term periods and they’ll receive $26 per day. The Homestay Program is always in need of families with furnished rooms and the ability to provide three meals per day; lunches consist of packed lunches during the school week.

The true sentiment of a homestay family is to provide students with an authentic family experience.

Location is also an important factor for homestay families, as they must be 30–45 minutes by bus to the university.

“Students are very keen to live as close to the ESL school as possible,” said Debra Marshall, who works for the Accommodation Office at the USLC. “Many of our students plan to attend the U of S eventually, so being able to live with a family that is very familiar with university life — and being exposed to it — takes a lot of the unknowns and apprehension out of making that transition from being an ESL student to undergrad,” said Marshall.

Ideally, more faculty and staff from the U of S would play host to international students in the future.

After all, so many U of S staff members and professors live near campus.

I implore the staff, faculty and students of the U of S to consider being a homestay family in the future. There are clearly cultural benefits for families and academic benefits for students. In this case, the potential pros outweigh the cons.

STEPHANIE MAH / GRAPHICS EDITOR

14 Opinions

March 12, 2015 - THESHEAF.COM

Male students should care about feminism GABE SENECAL Feminism is not only a women’s issue, it’s a people’s issue. Feminism is too often perceived as a problem only relevant to women, which men ignore because of a misunderstanding of what feminism is or what it seeks to accomplish.

I do not believe I am a particularly relevant voice for feminism. Based on the latest Student Headcount and Demographics for the 2014–15 year there are 9,762 University of Saskatchewan female undergraduates who may be able speak to the issue. However, I am qualified to speak on why male students should care about feminism.

By definition, feminism advocates for equality of the sexes socially, politically and economically. People should not be held back by structural inequalities based on their sex that prevents things such as pursuing a career or running for office.

Equality is not a controversial issue. Even those most adamantly opposed to feminism, Men’s Rights Activists, argue that feminism creates inequalities towards men. Equality is clearly the accepted ideal; the misdirected conflict is largely based upon

a misunderstanding of what feminism actually is and would be dulled by defining the word properly.

Perhaps these MRA’s are missing the F section of their dictionaries; online men’s rights forums are disturbingly populated. Shockingly frustrated with what the world has given them, men adamantly rant on these forums that others in society — namely, women — somehow owe them something.

Equality of the sexes goes two directions — men often gain from changes advocated by feminism.

Paternal leave is a good example. Allowing either the mother or father to take a leave from employment to raise children benefits both men and women. How can anyone tell young parents which of them is to work and which of them is to care for a child?

American comedian and actor Louis C.K. makes a poignant joke

about how insane it is for women to continue to date men at all, yet the species’ continuation depends on it. He claims the number one threat to women is men, so logically women should avoid dating men altogether. He speaks to an unfortunate truth. Men have a role to play in reducing assaults against women aside promoting safety and general welfare. While all men are criminals, acknowledging men’s role in reducing violence

STEPHANIE MAH / GRAPHICS EDITOR

is a vital part of addressing the issue.

The most important reason men should care about feminism is that it seeks to address an unfairness in society. People care for people, and believe it or not, women and men are both people. Once you subtract the confusing noise around the definition of feminism, it is clearly an issue only seeking equality and to stop inequality. No one argues inequality is the ideal.

Universities are crucibles of social change. If there’s anywhere men should care about feminism, it is on the campuses that lead society towards shifts that halt inequality. The U of S is no different. Young people, the leaders and bread winners of tomorrow, should work to ensure that the campus culture is conscious of feminism and what it stands for.

If we cannot even clearly understand the problems society faces, how are we to solve them?

Ideally, fewer obstacles will stand in the way the U of S’ 9,762 female undergrads in the future.

But structural problems continue to exist. These issues are not issues only for women to address, but for men too. We need to properly address these problems as they affect all students, both now and in the future.

So yes, I care — I’m a feminist.

distractions 15

March 12, 2015 - THESHEAF.COM

CAMPUS CHAT

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

What’s the number one song played on your iPod?

PHOTO BY KYRA MAZER

“Hold Back the River” by James Bay

Send your photo of the week submission to photo@thesheaf. com, and then check the next issue for a chance to see your photo!

Stefan Draskic

THE SHEAF Like drawing comics?

Why not show them off in the Sheaf?

“Happy” by Marina and the Diamonds Nancy Whitecalf

Last week’s solution

“Something in the Water”

by Carrie Underwood Anna Jacobson

“Party in the USA” by Miley Cyrus Levi Paradis

An EvEning of PoEtry

with Jeanette Lynes and contributors to Where the Nights are Twice as Long: Love Letters of Canadian Poets

UPCOMING EVENTS

©

Thursday, March 12, 7 Pm

••• Dr. ShAron L. AcooSE

Launching An Arrow In My Heart A First Nation Woman's Account of Survival from the Streets to the Height of Academia

Monday, March 16, 7 Pm

sheaf mar 12, 2015.indd 1

3/3/2015 3:44:33 PM

comics@thesheaf.com

16 BAckpage

March 12, 2015 - THESHEAF.COM

ELECTIONS

For USSU Executive, Senate and Members of Student Council EXECUTIVE FORUMS • North Concourse - Place Riel MARCH 17 - 1:00 p.m.

VOTE!

• Engineering Student Lounge MARCH 19 - 12:00 p.m.

Polls Open MARCH 25 - 9:00 a.m.

Polls Close MARCH 26 - 4:00 p.m.

St. Patrick's Day Toonie Tuesday Featuring

Wenches And Rogues

March 17 +19 Show Doors At 7PM

ASIST

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training

March 28 & 29, 2015

For more information contact Jesse 306.966-6982 help.centre@ussu.ca ussu.ca/events

• Louis’ MARCH 24 - 4:30 p.m.

For more info visit:

ussu.ca/elections