STUDENTS AND RAMADAN
OPINIONS
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CULTURE
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July 9, 2015
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1998 HUSKIES HONOURED 4 SPORTS
NEWS
Province on fire: U of S students affected KEIGHLAGH DONOVAN News Editor
This season has produced over 550 wildfires across the province of Saskatchewan, and although Saskatoon has felt the effects of the resulting smoke, students from the University of Saskatchewan are facing several other challenges as more than 100 fires continue to burn. According to a recent update released by the Government of Saskatchewan, as of July 3 there are 107 active fires in the northern parts of the province. Travel is not recommended and fire bans are in place, including the prohibition of fireworks. Due to extreme wildfire hazards in La Ronge, La Loche and Pinehouse areas in particular, the Ministry of Environment continues to recommend avoiding non-essential travel to or through these areas. Toddi Steelman, executive director and professor for the U of S School of Environment and Sustainability, has spent the last 15 years researching wildfires and is trying to understand how communities can better prepare for these types of fires before and after they arrive. “Typically what we worry about with university students is that they want to
get out and do their run, or go biking or get their exercise in. With the air quality as bad as it has been, when you are doing exercise where you are really exerting yourself a lot and breathing really deeply, that’s something you want to avoid,” Steelman said. “You don’t want to be taking that particulate matter deep into your lung tissue because that’s what creates risk.” During the last week of June, Saskatoon experienced several smoky days that were rated as 10+ on the Air Quality Index scale, which is the extreme end of the index. The U of S Wellness Re-
sources department released an announcement addressed to the campus noting that those at greatest risk include anyone being active or simply working outdoors. For many Saskatoon residents, these advisory warnings will suffice. However, several students are dealing with more than just the air quality risks. Becky Whaley is a medical student at the U of S who also works as a registered nurse at La Ronge Health Centre. She has experienced the effects of the wildfires closer to the source. “People are scared. People are frustrated. It's difficult
Kandis Riese Wildfires continue to rage 15 kilometres north of La Ronge, Saskatchewan. The town has since been evacuated.
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letting go of control and the fires have forced us all to let go. A friend talked about leaving the community for medical reasons. She said it was indescribable leaving her home in the wake of massive fires,” Whaley said. Considering several students like Whaley go home for the summer, or are originally from some of these northern communities, they currently posses additional concerns requiring attention. Steelman acknowledges this struggle and recommends taking advantage of on-campus resources. “[Students] may not know what is going on, communi-
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cation could be cut off, you may not know what is happening to your family or you may not know what is happening to your home. That can be really stressful, so seeking some help or advice on campus about that anxiety or that stress is something you can think about,” Steelman said. Medically the most significant issue is the smoke, Whaley admits, acknowledging that several patients in La Ronge demonstrate an increased shortness of breath and other respiratory issues. Medical staff are evacuating those individuals who are at the highest risk for complications. Steelman looks to climate models to better understand the 1.4 million hectares burning across Canada right now, 400 thousand of which are here in Saskatchewan. She believes there is more where it came from. “I do think this is a sign of things to come in the future, so what that suggests is that as a society we have to learn how to coexist with fire better,” Steelman said. Coexisting is the key for Steelman, as she insists that we as a species are rendered absolutely powerless to the persisting wildfires. “We are at the mercy of mother nature right now, so until the weather shifts, until we see some rain or until temperatures cool down a bit, we are not going to see a whole lot of relief from it.”
The mission of the Sheaf is to inform and entertain students by addressing those issues that are relevant to life on campus, in the city, or in the province. The newspaper serves as a forum for discussion on a wide range of issues that concern students. Written for students by students, the staff of editors, photographers, and artists collaborate with volunteers as studentjournalists to produce a product with relevance to the university community. With each composition, the Sheaf stays in touch with students on the U of S campus. It provides unique insight to university issues through a student perspective. @thesheaf1912 /thesheaf1912 @thesheaf1912
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corrections There were no errors brought to our attention in our last issue. If you spot any errors in this issue, please email them to copy@thesheaf.com
july 9, 2015
NEWS
U of S psychology students win national competition KEIGHLAGH DONOVAN News Editor
Applied social psychology students at the University of Saskatchewan enjoy a unique opportunity in both masters and doctoral programs, which allows them to participate in the annual Student Evaluation Case Competition. The case competition began in 1986 and according to their website, has established a reputation as a dynamic, hands-on opportunity for postsecondary students to learn about evaluation. The competition aims to help students build their evaluation
skills using real-life cases. Each February, teams of university students from across Canada assess a case and submit their responses online. The top three teams are chosen by a panel of judges and invited to compete at the Canadian Evaluation Society annual conference. This year, the U of S team travelled to Montréal and took home the title for the third time in the competition’s history. Linzi Williamson, doctoral student of applied social psychology at the U of S, recognizes the value of this opportunity. “The [U of S] applied social psychology program is quite unique. There is only a handful of other schools across Canada that actually offer a similar program. There certainly
Karen Lawson U of S applied social psychology student team, Paradigm Shift Evaluations.
are some other programs, not psychology related, that offer training in program evaluation but to have an applied social psychology program evaluation focus is quite unique,” Williamson said. According to Williamson, the program and ability to participate in the case competition are not the only unique opportunities that the U of S offers its students. Upon completing her undergraduate studies at Wilfred Laurier University, Williamson relocated from Ontario to complete her graduate and doctoral studies at the U of S under the guidance of Karen Lawson, associate head and professor of the department of psychology. Williamson stresses the importance of having a supportive supervisor that encourages students’ goals and aspirations. “The reason why I moved here to do my masters in applied social psychology — the number one reason — was because of Karen. Karen Lawson has been my supervisor for my masters and currently is for my PhD, and then she has also been my coach for the student competitions.” The applied social psycholo-
gy program provides extensive training in research methodologies and in psychological theories and statistics, which builds a skill set that transfers into real-world application. The case competition takes the development of this skill set to the next level. This is Williamson’s third and final year participating in the competition. “I would say to students, we don’t always have a lot of people in applied social who want to take part in this competition and I would love to remind them about what a great experience it is. It is much different and more intensive than you could often get when doing your internships and practicums and it is something that is in addition to those experiences,” Williamson said. “I really think students need to give it a second thought and not just say, ‘Oh I don’t have the time,’ because it is absolutely worth it to make the time to take part in this competition.” Michael Heimlick, graduate student in applied social psychology at the U of S, joined the team this year. His research studies on First Nations proved beneficial in the last round of
the competition, which focused on the Aboriginal Youth Leadership Program. The program, offered by Canada World Youth, aims to build capacity for Aboriginal youth to become community leaders. “I think what really set us above the other teams is that we really tried to focus on cultural sensitivity and we understand that we don’t know best. We have to work with the First Nations communities that were in the case to develop an evaluation that they are going to be able to use and understand; it just makes sense to work with them,” Heimlick said. The U of S team’s presentation was so impressive that Canada World Youth wants to use their proposal to determine the impact that their current services are having on Aboriginal youth. Since his experience at the competition, Heimlick has decided to pursue a career in evaluation and encourages other social psychology students to participate in the future. “Take part! You never know what you may learn, or you might like it so much that you will want to make a career of it — like me.”
SPORTS
Former Huskie Smuk to be remembered KADE GATES Cody Smuk will be known as a warrior on and off the ice. After 13 months of fighting cancer, the former University of Saskatchewan Huskies hockey player ultimately lost his battle with the disease and passed away on June 25. Smuk’s battle with cancer began in May 2014 when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer and a mass tumor was also found in his lung. As a four year WHL player, Smuk spent parts of those years with the Chilliwack Bruins, Lethbridge Hurricanes and the Moose Jaw Warriors. In all, Smuk played 272 games registering 23 goals, 49 assists and 72 points. While he was never a big time goal scorer, he was a solid third liner and an iron man who rarely missed games. After his WHL career ended, Smuk came home to Saskatoon to start his education at the U of S. For the next four years, Smuk played hockey with july 9, 2015
the Huskies while working towards a business management degree. Smuk finished his career at the U of S with 20 points in 89 games while having a plus-minus rating of -1. Smuk was a hardworking depth player on the team and was looked on fondly by all his Huskie teammates, including former captain Matt Delahey. “He was exactly what it means to be a Huskie, how he did everything," Delahey told The StarPhoenix. Smuk was a member of the 2014 team that went to the University Cup and took the Alberta Golden Bears to the brink before falling in the finals, finishing with a silver medal. Current Huskie forward Matthew Spafford reiterated Delahey’s comments. “He’s a little bit of my mentor from across the room. He
was my fashion stylist and everything else; he was just a good guy to have in the room,” Spafford said to The StarPhoenix. The Huskies final hockey home games of the 2014-15 season in late January were used to collect for the “Marty’s Men” foundation. Marty was Smuk’s nickname and all proceeds helped him with
the cost of medical bills and other expenses. Money from food and clothing sales went to the foundation and raffle prizes also contributed money to the Canadian Cancer Society. The Huskies wore special jerseys for the weekend set of games that were also sold to raise money. When Smuk was diagnosed with cancer, his fiancée Stephanie Vause started a gofundme.com page to help Smuk, who was too sick to work. The page was very popular, with $116,705 donated to the fund to help pay for special treatments and living expenses, though Smuk vowed that half the money donated was given to a cancer research charity. Smuk and his fiancée put off their wedding while Smuk was sick. The couple won a dream wedding Jeremy Britz / Graphics Editor giveaway worth over www.thesheaf.com
$28,000 through Saskatoon’s RSVP Event Design, yet put the wedding on hold as they wanted to focus on Smuk’s recovery. Smuk’s battle with cancer brought him to Germany for vaccine therapy, as chemotherapy wasn’t working. Specialists in Germany took a sample of the tumor in Smuk’s chest, which was inoperable, and created a vaccine out of it to attempt to combat the tumor. Though Smuk is no longer with us, he is remembered by people both in the game of hockey and outside of it. The strength and confidence that Smuk showed through his toughest test inspired all that knew him and revealed much of the character that made Smuk the man he was. Smuk’s funeral took place on June 30 and instead of flowers, the Smuk family asked that memorial donations be made to the Choc' la Cure Campaign online at choclacure.com, in support of the Saskatoon Cancer Centre.
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SPORTS
1998 Vanier Cup champions inducted into Saskatoon Sports Hall of Fame AUSTIN ARVAY Sports Editor
Seventeen years ago the University of Saskatchewan Huskies claimed their third Vanier Cup title in school history and it still stands as the most recent national championship by the football program. Fast forward to 2015 and the squad is being recognized again for their incredible achievement. Under the team category, the 1998 Huskies football team is being inducted into the Saskatoon Sports Hall of Fame. With a 6–2 regular season
record, the Huskies entered playoffs with a tough matchup versus the defending national champion University of British Columbia Thunderbirds. UBC was one of the two teams to beat the Huskies during the year, but the Dogs were not denied this time around as a tight 31–28 win sent them to the Churchill Bowl. Quarterback Ryan Reid threw for 302 yards and two touchdowns in one of the biggest games of his career. “We felt good about playing them … Our offensive line was solid that year and their secondary was the weakness of their team,” Reid said. “I specifically remember one play where I caught a reverse pass on the sideline. I had to come up with a catch in coverage; I ended up catching the ball
University Archives & Special Collections The 1998 Huskies were the last U of S football team to win the Vanier Cup.
and it set us up for a touchdown that was quite important at the time. I do remember a couple things.” In the semis, fourth-year running back Doug Rozon had the game of his life and carried the Huskies past the Western University Mustangs, who were previously the only undefeated left in the CIAU (currently known as the CIS). Rozon, who currently works as a marketing director in Toronto, averaged just 86 yards rushing per game in the season before he exploded for 214 yards to help book the Huskies’ ticket to the Vanier Cup final. “Overall, we were well prepared and out matched them offensively. Western came in with the number one defence in Canada and were undefeated but I don't think that they had any matchups like they had with our O-line,” Rozon told the Sheaf in an email interview. “All of those factors coming together contributed to the outcome, both personally and as a team.” Kicker Matt Kellett, now the head trainer at Orangetheory Fitness in Calgary, was a perfect 7–7 on field goals in the playoffs and remembers the poise the team had during their post-season run. “We came into the national
championship game very confident. The great thing about Saskatchewan teams is that we have a quiet confidence about ourselves.” Kellett said in an email interview with the Sheaf. “At the time I didn't feel pressure, it’s amazing what confidence does to pressure. When you are extremely confident there is no pressure, you want more ‘pressure’ because you are so confident to overcome it.” On Nov. 28, 1998 the Huskies battled with the Concordia University Stingers with the national title on the line. The green and white defence played a crucial role in determining the outcome of the game, as rookie defensive back Kurtis Albers recorded three interceptions to slow down the Stingers’ strong passing attack. Three interceptions in the title game still stands as the Vanier Cup record today. With the game tied at 17 and about seven minutes left to play, the U of S defence shut down an option play — a similar option play in which Concordia scored its lone touchdown earlier in the game — thanks to some good pressure by the front seven. The ball ended up on the turf after a hit by Brent Dancey knocked it loose and line-
backer Trevor Ludtke recovered it in the endzone for the winning points and a 24–17 victory. The third championship in program history was definitely an exciting one and is something many of the players will never forget. Reid, who now works in advertising in the Okanagan Valley, B.C., looks back fondly on the championship memories. “Like any championship team, we played the best when it counted and that’s what I think was really special about the ‘98 team.” Reid said. “It was special looking back on it. I don’t think we realized the pressure that was on us, we were so young. When I look back now, I realize how special that group and that moment was.” Rozon echoed his quarterback’s words, also recalling the great memories. “Entering the Hall of Fame completes an experience that we still talk about 15 years later and will serve as a reminder of how fortunate we were to play and have success, as it is difficult to accomplish,” Rozon said. “It recognizes the commitment and dedication a considerable number of people put into the Huskie Football program.”
Dale happy to be home, joining Huskies football EMILY KLATT Staff Writer
The 2015 football season will be one of homecoming for allstar defensive lineman Donovan Dale. The former Saskatoon Hilltop is returning to the city after playing for the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds for two years and will join the University of Saskatchewan Huskies football team. Dale, who was named best defensive lineman in the Canada West Conference during the 2013 and 2014 seasons that he played with UBC, turned to the U of S after being passed over during this year’s CFL draft. “I actually did originally go talk to UBC to see if there was a way I could continue my education there, and it just wasn’t going to work out with feasibility and the program wasn’t as good there,” Dale said. “So
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when things weren’t working out with UBC, that’s when I decided it was time to start looking at other options, and so naturally the best option after UBC was to just talk to the U of S because I’m living here right now and everything would have worked out better that way.” While professional sports can be a selective profession, Dale has taken his disappointment in stride. “Yeah, it stung a little bit, but you can’t really let it affect you too much. Sometimes with the CFL it’s a funny thing because teams just don’t need your position that year. So the only thing you can really do is keep working and hopefully in another year they’ll be looking for a guy in your position,” Dale said. Dale completed a kinesiology degree at UBC and has been accepted to do a masters degree at the U of S in the same field. This allows him to continue playing football at the collegiate level and remain relevant to the CFL. This arrangement proves to
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be mutually beneficial for both parties involved. The U of S recently lost defensive lineman Timi Agbaje to the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Dale joins Brayden Twarynski and Evan Machibroda to complete the Huskies’ defensive line. “The Huskies team right now is really good. Their defence, their linebackers and their secondary are all veteran guys who have been playing together for a long time, and also a lot of the guys on the team are guys that I played Saskatoon Hilltops with years ago, so I have a lot of chemistry with those guys,” Dale said. “I’ll be stepping into a really good situation with them.” While playing for a new university will be a different experience, it’s one Dale is looking forward to. “One of the biggest reasons I went to UBC was because I thought their defensive line coach at the time was the best fit for me to make me the best player I can be. Now that I’m with a different defensive line
coach, Aaron Moser at the University of Saskatchewan, it’s just kind of a different philosophy of coaching, it’s a different way of attacking things. So it will just be a good way for me to expand my repertoire and become even more of a well rounded player.” For Dale, returning to Saskatoon is about more than just playing football. His entire family still lives in the city. “I have five siblings and I am married, so when I was playing in British Columbia it was definitely hard for everyone
to come check out games and stuff, so being home in Saskatoon will definitely be a nice change,” Dale said. Despite his success, Dale has remained grateful and dedicated to the game. [I’m] “just happy to be back. I hope everyone comes out and checks out a few games this year because I think it’s going to be an exciting season.” The U of S Huskies kick off the 2015 football season with a home game on Sept. 4 against the University of Manitoba Bisons.
Rich Lam Saskatoon product Donovan Dale (#96) is looking to make a big impact this season.
july 9, 2015
CULTURE
Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan showcases U of S talent CHELSEA POWRIE
Culture Editor Talent from the faculty, staff and student body at the University of Saskatchewan will play a major role at this summer's Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan festival. Mikael Steponchev, a fifth year drama student at the U of S, will appear in both Othello and Much Ado About Nothing on the mainstage. He is undeniably thrilled to be involved. “The day I got the call, I nearly dropped my phone,” Steponchev said. “Being a part of two Shakespeare shows at once is a dream come true for me.” Steponchev learned about the audition from one of his professors, Pamela Haig Bartley, who is a professional director, actor and 25 year veteran professor with the U of S drama department. Haig Bartley is the director of Much Ado About Nothing and promises patrons an updated version of the classic comedy. The show has been uprooted from Renaissance England and re-situated in a post-Second World War setting. “The play stipulates that, at
the top of the show, the men are returning from war. I needed to choose a contemporary war at the end of which characters would be celebrating,” she said. Much Ado About Nothing also includes a female character involved in a traditional and male-dominated courtly romance contrasted with a firecracker heroine unwilling to accept marriage without equality. For this reason, Haig Bartley said she felt that “the time period needed to be one in which the status of women was on the cusp of changing in significant ways.” Haig Bartley is also hopeful that her semi-modernization of Much Ado About Nothing will help to make Shakespeare more accessible and appealing to the general public. She is passionate about Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan, crediting it as being a crucial part of exposing audience members to live theatre, sometimes for the first time. “They discover that they enjoy the unique immediacy and shared vitality,” Haig Bartley said. “They begin to seek it elsewhere … thus, the festival builds a sense of community, as well as inspiring generations of new, up-and-coming aspiring theatre artists.” Steponchev is one such artist. He commends the professionalism of the company and though
his involvement has kept him busy, he is far from complaining. “I'm learning valuable lessons, forging strong friendships and waking up in the morning ready to take on the world,” Steponchev said. Steponchev is also enjoying the challenge of performing two shows during the same period of time. While the plays offered on the mainstage have different directors, they share their casts — meaning the actors have to perform parts in both shows. Steponchev plays two characters in each show, so his acting training comes in handy while he works hard to maintain the integrity of each character. “In Much Ado, I play Balthasar and Borachio. These two couldn't be more opposite,” Steponchev said. “Balthasar is a
humble soldier with a big heart … Borachio, on the other hand, is a blue-collar schemer who wants to leech his way to success.” Steponchev has a lot on his plate this summer but it doesn't look like he will have much time to rest before he's back to auditioning for Greystone Theatre’s 2015-16 productions. Although money has been tight in the drama department, Haig Bartley said they have chosen to stay positive and produce three shows instead of the two that they offered in their 201415 season. Haig Bartley will direct Les Belles Soeurs, by Michael Tremblay. Greystone will also perform Caucasian Chalk Circle by acclaimed playwright Bertolt Brecht and a comedy by Steve
Martin — “yes, that Steve Martin,” — that Haig Bartley thinks will be a crowd-pleaser. Haig Bartley and Steponchev have in common their obvious enthusiasm for Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan and theatre in general. Both Shakespeare plays offered at the festival this year have a twist that Haig Bartley hopes will convert the public into fans. There's something for everyone this summer under the beautiful tents on the river, with the added bonus of local U of S talent. Much Ado About Nothing and Othello will be at Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan from July 8 to August 23, 2015. For more information and to purchase tickets visit shakespeareonthesaskatchewan.com
Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan / Supplied Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan is an annual summertime festival in the city that highlights local talent.
Ramadan a time for family, friends and faith CHELSEA POWRIE Culture Editor
Many Muslims at the University of Saskatchewan will be observing Ramadan this month, fasting from dawn to dusk and connecting with their faith and community. Since Ramadan is based on the lunar calendar, its starting date shifts by roughly 10 days each year. While forgoing food during daylight hours sounds difficult at the best of times, doing so while involved in classes or research seems es-
Jeremy Britz / Graphics Editor
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pecially daunting. But biomedical sciences graduate student Syed Ahmad doesn't find that the word difficult applies — for him, it is all about perspective. “Imagine trying to do a ‘hard’ task — for example, solving that ‘difficult’ math problem,” Ahmad said. “Although it may be ‘hard’ at face value, to the person doing it the task may be fun and the satisfaction achieved at the end is worth it.” Ramadan is a very special time for Ahmad. He uses this opportunity to reflect on what it means to be a good Muslim. “We look upon all of our actions and deeds and ask our souls: Was this the best you can do? Could you have done better towards another person? Are your deeds accepted by Allah?” Ahmad said. During the month, fasting serves as a way for Muslims to become more conscious of God. It isn't an act of atonement — it is a way to achieve righteousness. Muslims are also more conscious of how they speak of others and abstain from inter-
course during daylight hours. It is a spiritually rewarding month for Ahmad and millions of Muslims worldwide. However, Ahmad admits Ramadan isn't without its challenges. He is involved in research for his masters degree, and the spiritual and physical demands of Ramadan can be difficult to balance with these commitments. Good deeds, both private — like prayer, for example — and public, carry a 700 times multiplied reward during this month. As such, Ahmad feels motivated to spend more time on worship. “But I still have to make time for work, study and other worldly activities,” Ahmed said. “Finding this balance is an art!” Muslim students on campus don't have to meet this challenge alone. The Muslim Students' Association is active in providing resources and opportunities for community gatherings. Friday prayer, the most important of the prayers throughout the week, is offered throughout the year. The MSA
maintains a website and Facebook group where members can connect and stay informed. According to Ahmad, this community connection is one of the best parts of Ramadan. “Many Muslims come together in a mosque or at a friend or relative's house,” Ahmad said. “There are prayers in congregation and often you get to catch up with friends you haven't seen for some time. For me, this is one of the greatest blessings of the Blessed Month.” The end of Ramadan is an especially exciting event. The final breaking of the fast is called Eid al-Fitr and it falls on the day the first sliver of the new crescent moon is seen in the sky. Communities come together to congratulate each other, sharing delicious meals and visiting with friends and family. The MSA also has plans to host an Eid BBQ. The importance of community is a theme that occurs throughout Ramadan and Ahmad said this applies to everywww.thesheaf.com
one. “Ramadan is a great month for Muslims and non-Muslims alike. For anyone interested in hearing why Muslims do what they do, I encourage them to visit a mosque and find out,” Ahmad said. The MSA also offers a weekly Halaqah — an open meeting to discuss the basics of Islam — on Friday evenings. Although Ahmad is a scientist this does not preclude him from having a deep spiritual life. He thinks that some misconceptions about Ramadan and Islam in general can be cleared up by people looking through a Muslim perspective. “Not all of life's answers are mathematical or scientific. Sometimes, you need to feel what the other person feels to understand them,” Ahmad said. The bottom line for Ahmad is that Ramadan is a fun and spiritual month, not an unpleasant chore. The Muslim community at the U of S will leave this month feeling closer to both each other and to their faith.
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OPINIONS
The continued persistence of gay slurs LEE BONHAM Since the rights of the LGBTQ community are undoubtedly on the rise worldwide, the continued prevalence of gay slurs comes as a considerable surprise. In the midst of the Supreme Court of the United States’ landmark ruling to legalize gay marriage nationwide and the burgeoning hashtag “lovewins” social media campaign, many of us would like to believe that the days of discrimination and persecution of the LGBTQ community are over. This certainly is not the case though. Words like “faggot” and phrases such as “no homo” are still uttered blatantly and without remorse or forethought by some, including people on the University of Saskatchewan campus. It is not unusual for the average student to hear such slurs multiple times a day. When the vast majority of people in both Canada and on our campus seem to be in support of the gay rights movement, there is no reason for
us to continually undermine our acceptance and tolerance with what is intended to be an innocuous use of terms and phrases that have been so historically steeped in hatred. As a white heterosexual male, I can attest fully to the prevalent use of gay slurs throughout both my elementary and high school education. When insulted or called out by a fellow classmate, it was almost a reactionary response to call into question the sexuality of the perpetrator, calling them gay, a faggot or a queer. Unfortunately, the reactionary use of gay slurs as a defense mechanism seems to have found itself ingrained into the vernacular of many young students, especially males. I have heard gay slurs used when someone is simply annoyed or speaking of a person they dislike. The use of gay slurs in this respect is unique, as modern society would never permit the use of racial or religious slurs as a way of expressing dislike or annoyance. It seems as if those who use gay slurs have managed to
uphold them as anachronisms that aren’t meant to carry the same meaning they did 20 or 30 years ago. This is a poisonous way of thinking and must be eradicated from our collective psyche. Recently, I was witness to the casual use of such a slur in the workplace. Two of my colleagues were talking about a trip to Toronto for a workshop at the Dare to Stand Out: Gender and Sexuality Alliance Forum, that one of them had just returned from. My colleague Thomas Gendzwill, who identifies as a cisgender bisexual male, is extremely passionate about the subject of gay rights. Having heard of his involvement at the workshop, my other coworker regrettably responded with the statement, “Well aren’t you a lovable little faggot?” Spoken without any malice or perceived homophobic connotation on the part of the speaker, this statement underlines just how deeply rooted this train of thought can be. In an email to the Sheaf, Gendzwill, who is pursuing a women’s and gender studies degree at the U of S this fall,
said the exchange made him feel “like I'm not a person, I'm a faggot. When it's used in such a casual manner, it feels like this person who I saw as a friend only saw me for my sexuality. ” This is the power that gay slurs carry. They exist solely for the purpose of demeaning fellow human beings. They’re not to be used in a tongue-incheek manner; they are used to discriminate and subjugate a minority of people. The English language is so vast and varied that to use a
gay slur as a means of expressing one’s opinions and feelings shows not only a lack of intelligence, but a complete lack of compassion towards a group of people to whom these slurs are nothing but a torment. Unfortunately, the use of these slurs remains all too prevalent in casual speech and until we eradicate their use and hold them to the same standard that we hold other harmful slurs, the road to true equality will be hampered by this most unfortunate of speed bumps.
Jeremy Britz / Graphics Editor
Spoiler alert: We don’t have beaches in Saskatoon ZACH TENNENT
Opinions Editor Despite the efforts of some to change the perception of the river on a hot summer’s day, a sandbar is not a beach and some of us seem to be forgetting that. So far in a notably dry and hot summer, many have been flocking to the South Saskatchewan River’s emerging sandbars to enjoy the water and beach-like atmosphere.
Unfortunately, these people seem to be forgetting their location. Saskatoon’s sandbars are highly inhospitable and undesirable places to be. On June 9, Les MacPherson of The StarPhoenix wrote an editorial titled “Why are we so afraid of the water?” In this article, MacPherson suggests that the City of Saskatoon should be utilizing all that the river has to offer with a designated public beach, complete with all the necessary amenities, despite the no swimming bylaws and inherent hazards that currently prevent such a “beach” from being estab-
Caitlin Taylor / Photo Editor Saskatoon’s sandbars offer a convenient but dangerous place to swim.
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lished. We shouldn’t be encouraging people to swim in the river to begin with and the very idea of a beach on the riverbank is flawed beyond salvation. MacPherson argues that the risk of drowning posed by the river’s current should not deter swimmers, as they could very well drown at any other beach in the world. Among a number of fallacies, this argument furthers the skewed perception that Saskatoon’s sandbars are beaches — or that they are consistent and safe enough to be treated as such. Saskatoon already has a number of indoor and outdoor pools and MacPherson — who seems to think that public safety is a terrible argument against swimming — can rest assured that over the years plenty of people have drowned at these establishments too, so it’s not as if Saskatoon swimmers don’t already have plenty of opportunities to get hurt or killed in the process. While the aesthetic appearances of these so-called
beaches could surely be changed for the better, maintaining a viable business on an ever-shifting landmass, improving the sanitation of the water and taming its current would prove to be far tougher tasks. The river is swift, smelly and abounding with garbage. To think that a beach would be feasible — let alone desirable — is to be delusional. Even if the city ever did open a beach with refreshments, restrooms and the like, it’s still not as if these businesses would ever accomplish the kind of blockbuster sales that MacPherson seems to imagine. Who among us — especially out of those who would pick a river over a public pool — would choose to buy a four dollar bottle of water or abstain from drinking alcohol at a public beach when one could simply migrate down river and continue to bring one’s own food and drink as before? Assuming that a public beach would require lifeguards just as public pools do, their wages would thus be wasted on protecting a beach
that would go neglected and unattended as people continued to illegally swim elsewhere. As it stands, the city’s approach to sandbar swimmers is imperfect, but about as optimal as it could possibly be. The city actively discourages swimming through the existence of bylaws, while also avoiding any type of mass crackdown — a fact the Saskatoon Police Service has publicly acknowledged. The city is thus free of the liability it fears, while the swimmers are more or less free to act at their own risk. The adage of “rules were meant to be broken” is tired and debatable but at the end of the day, it’s pretty accurate. It’s hot out and next to nothing is going to keep some people out of the river when they want to take a dip. That does not mean, however, that the current level of passive complacency should give way to even the slightest level of encouragement. If people want to swim in the river, let them, but don’t encourage the thought that they’ve got the right idea. july 9, 2015
DISTRACTIONS photo of the week
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T hursday
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Monopoly. Arooj Fatima HARKAVAGRANT.COM
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upcoming events Opening night of Othello at Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan Opening day of Experience Downtown Sidewalk Sale on 21st Street between First and Third Avenues An Evening with Nongkran Daks and Amy Bronee at Travel Alcove
Opening night of Chickens: A Musical Barnyard Comedy at the Station Arts Centre DRAW: Saturday Morning Drawing Workshop reception at the Gordon Snelgrove Gallery Dominique Fricot and The Folk Roadshow at Village Guitar & Amp Co.
Opening day of the Saskatoon Reggae and World Music Festival at A.E. Graham Park Opening day of Canada Remembers our Heroes: Tribute to Veterans Airshow Wenches and Rogues with the New Jacobin Club at Amigos
Medieval Feast and Much Ado about Nothing at Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan Against Me! with Frnklero And The Cellabration and Annie Girl & The Flight at O'Brians
Dance Party Extravaganza at Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan John Mellencamp at TCU Place
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Opening day of A Taste of Saskatchewan at Kiwanis Park Opening day of Velocity Prairie Thunder – NASCAR Canadian Tire Race Series
Readings by the River at Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan Full Flex Express featuring Jack U and Zeds Dead at Diefenbaker Park
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