August 31, 2017

AUGUST 31, 2017

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF | Jessica Klaassen-Wright

editor@thesheaf.com NEWS EDITOR

CULTURE EDITOR

Nykole King

Tanner Bayne

news@thesheaf.com

culture@thesheaf.com

SPORTS & HEALTH EDITOR

OPINIONS EDITOR

Jack Thompson

Emily Migchels

sportshealth@thesheaf.com

opinions@thesheaf.com

STAFF WRITER

Lyndsay Afseth staffwriter@thesheaf.com COPY EDITOR

| Amanda Slinger

copy@thesheaf.com LAYOUT MANAGER

| Laura Underwood

layout@thesheaf.com

| Jiem Carlo Narag

PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

photo@thesheaf.com GRAPHICS EDITOR

| Lesia Karalash

graphics@thesheaf.com WEB EDITOR

| Jeremy Britz

web@thesheaf.com OUTREACH DIRECTOR

| Victoria Becker

outreach@thesheaf.com AD & BUSINESS MANAGER

| Shantelle Hrytsak

ads@thesheaf.com COVER IMAGE

Jiem Carlo Narag BOARD OF DIRECTORS Kyra Mazer Brent Kobes Emily Klatt Hasith Andrahennadi Momo Tanaka Liam Richards

ADVERTISING (306) 966 8688 EDITORIAL (306) 966 8689

Mission // 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, it provides unique insight to university issues through a student perspective. The staff of editors, photographers and artists collaborate with volunteers as student journalists to create a product relevant to students on the University of Saskatchewan campus.

Legal // The Sheaf, published weekly during the academic year and periodically from May through August, is an incorporated non-profit that is, in part, student-body funded by way of a direct levy paid by all partand full-time undergraduate students at the U of S. The remainder of the revenue is generated through advertising. The financial affairs are governed by a Board of Directors, most of whom are students. Membership in the Sheaf Publishing Society is open to all undergraduate students at the U of S, who are encouraged to contribute to the newspaper. Absolutely no experience is required!

The opinions expressed in the Sheaf do not necessarily reflect those of the Sheaf Publishing Society Inc. The Sheaf reserves the right to refuse to accept or print any material deemed unfit for publication, as determined by the Editor-in-Chief. The Editor-in-Chief has the right to veto any submission deemed unfit for the Society newspaper. In determining this, the Editor-in-Chief will decide if the article or artwork would be of interest to a significant portion of the Society and benefit the welfare of Sheaf readers. The Sheaf will not publish any racist, sexist, homophobic or libellous material.

If you would like to contribute to the Sheaf, email editor@thesheaf.com for more information.

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

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Co-curricular records program set to roll out for undergraduate students KAY-LYNNE COLLIER

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new volunteer-focused resource is in development by the University of Saskatchewan to validate undergraduate students’ extra-curricular work. Currently, co-curricular records are available to students in the colleges of Arts and Science and Education, but they are set to extend to other colleges in the coming years.

CCR are a personalized summary of learning activities that are endorsed by the university, which means students who participate in volunteering, experiential events and some training activities will now be officially recognized for their efforts outside of the classroom.

CCR was introduced as a pilot project during the 2016-17 academic year for the College of Education. Russell Isinger, university registrar at the U of S Student and Enrolment Services Division, discusses the feedback received from students during the pilot project.

“The feedback we’ve gotten has been pretty much universally positive,” Isinger said. “The education students are very excited about it.”

It is currently unknown when this service will launch for specific colleges, but Isinger explains that students outside the College of Education can look forward to seeing this program available in the future.

“I think we’ll probably go in stages,” Isinger said. “I think we’ll get quite a few going this upcoming term and some [going] later on, but I think all [colleges] are going to start this program in the next few years.”

The U of S Students’ Union has already been actively working to support this program. Jessica Quan, vice-president academic affairs at the USSU, speaks about how she is working to have student volunteering in the USSU centres recognized on CCR. “We’re in the process of implementing CCR for volunteers directly involved in the union.

This includes USSU centre volunteers, student councillors and committee members. A directory of opportunities within the USSU to get your volunteer work recognized on your CCR can be found on our website. This is a pilot project, and we hope to eventually roll this out to account for ratified student groups,” Quan said, in an email to the Sheaf.

Student volunteering through the USSU cannot be retroactively added to CCR, but in the future, the USSU will advertise which events are eligible.

A wide variety of learning activities are accepted for validation through the CCR program, including volunteer work or community service and even some other activities, such as conferences and first-aid training. According to Isinger, there is a lot of flexibility in what will be included on these reports.

“It’s not just up to the colleges to identify activity,” Isinger said. “Students can also send to the colleges the activities that they are participating in, and then the college can review it and say whether or not it is [an] appropriate activity.”

The software used for CCR is user friendly, and students can update their record online at the U of S website in a matter of 10 to 15 minutes, depending on how quickly staff can approve these changes.

Quan explains that this resource may motivate students to get involved directly in volunteering around the campus and in the broader community, as the university now provides a tangible report for their co-curricular work.

Isinger and Quan both note that this service can be utilized by students to further their employment and academic goals.

“Employers recognize that students can’t be defined by their grades alone,” Quan said. “By taking initiative to give back to your community or by participating in workshops, this speaks volumes about your character and leadership qualities, and these are things that your grades can’t speak towards.”

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International Students’ Association advocates for students JESSICA KLAASSEN-WRIGHT

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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ach new school year at the University of Saskatchewan signals a flurry of ratifications for new students groups, and one such new group seeks to bring together a large body of students on campus.

The newly formed International Students’ Association held elections for a five-member executive team in March 2017. As members of student council for the U of S Students’ Union, Nancy Eze, a third-year physiology and pharmacology student, and Kozy Ugo-Okeke, a secondyear finance and third-year sociology major, recognized the need for a collective body of international students on campus. With the help of Renata Huyghebaert, the former USSU vice-president student affairs, the ISA was born.

Eze, now president of the ISA, believes that the new group holds an important place in the Canadian context.

“This group is really important … since Canada as a whole is an internationalized country and the U of S is becoming more and more internationalized day by day,” Eze said.

Eze explains that any undergraduate student can join the ISA, whether international or local. Interested students can visit the ISA booth during Orientation and Welcome Week or contact Eze anytime by the group email or through the ISA Facebook page.

Although the U of S does offer services to international students through the International Student and Study Abroad Centre, Eze explains that the new student group meets a particular need.

“International students [are] a broad body, so ISSAC handles … undergraduate international students, graduate international students and exchange students,” Eze said. “It’s not like their work is specific … so we

everyone at once? We needed that unity, and that was how the ISA came about. We need a group that we can really talk to and get their input. Also, what really needed a [representative] about other people from differbody we could communicate ent countries that don’t really to that could advocate for us, have a group? How do we know and that is what made us think if they are doing okay?” about creating this association.”

He further explains that inUgo-Okeke, speaking from ternational students at the U his experience as an interna- of S face different challenges tional student representative on than local students, which may be heightened by an impending increase in tuition.

“Lots of international students have problems with tuition, paying up tuition and paying up rent,” Ugo-Okeke said.

“The current increase in tuition [is] going to have a really big effect on international students … Converting that money into your money back home, that might really make a Nancy Eze / Supplied big difference.”

Eze praises the 2016-17 the University Students’ Council, also believes that the ISA USSU executive team for a trip they took to the United will fill a gap on campus.

“As councillor for interna- Kingdom in November 2016 tional students, we didn’t have to discuss internationalization that body,” Ugo-Okeke said. and support for internation“What we had was different al students with other student groups. It was really difficult unions, citing it as part of her … because how do we talk to inspiration for forming the ISA.

NEWS She also commends the university for its Blueprint for Internationalization, a document drafted by the International Activities Committee of Council, which is meant to provide institutional direction for international research, partnerships and activities. However, Eze also believes the university can take further steps to support international students.

“I feel … what the university could do better is communication, which is something that the university lacks a bit,” Eze said. “I personally wouldn’t blame the university, since there wasn’t a large body like the ISA that they could ask directly.”

The ISA presents both an opportunity for university governance and students to build community on campus, and Ugo-Okeke encourages international undergraduates to reach out to the new group.

“I just want to tell international students that if they are going through any issues, they should know that they have someone they can talk to. They can always reach out to the ISA or to the USSU,” Ugo-Okeke said. “That is the whole point of these bodies. Just reach out, if you are faced with any issues.

We are here to serve you.”

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The 2017-18 USSU executives prepare for the upcoming year On March 22, four students were selected to be executives for the University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union, acting as a representative body for all undergraduate students in both academic and non-academic matters. Now that the 2017-18 academic year is finally here, the USSU executives are ready to implement their goals for the year and give a few tips to new students.

LINDSAY ROSE

“What was your platform and how is it progressing?”

David D’Eon, president “Our vision is to increase [the] accessibility of the union in its operations. This means finding ways to empower students, as opposed to doing it ourselves, and being creative in the ways we are publishing information.”

Jessica Quan, vice-president academic affairs “For my election, I ran on four campaign points: working on co-curricular transcripts, increasing the amount of open textbooks available, promoting the services that the university and the USSU offers and [hosting] a tuition commission.”

Deena Kapacila VP Operations & Finance

David D’Eon President

Crystal Lau VP Student Affairs

Jessica Quan VP Academic Affairs

“Do you have any major projects or events you are planning on pursuing this year?”

Deena Kapacila, vice-president operations and finance “I’m working on a student group survival guide. It has all of the information in one place for campus groups, including how to book space, apply for funding and the various services the USSU offers student groups. I’m also working on a community events page, which will feature all [of] the different events being held by student groups and the USSU. Lastly, I’m working on risk-management sessions, making students more aware of the non-academic misconduct policy.”

Crystal Lau, vice-president student affairs “I am currently working on over 14 projects right now, and the main two things that I campaigned on and that I am working on that are all year long are: the [skating] rink in the Bowl … [and] the second thing is the free menstrual products pilot project.”

“Do you have a focus for the year?”

D’Eon: “My overall focus is to empower the union to be more of a lobbying body for students. Part of that is the governance pieces, the coalition, but also beginning to put together research, both external and internal, that will strengthen our ability to negotiate with administration and all levels of government.”

Quan: “In the wake of the budget cuts that students are facing this year, I want to do [whatever] I possibly can within the university framework to maximize the availability, quality and awareness of services already provided. Although tuition costs are rising, I want to reduce expenses and offset financial costs in other areas.”

“Is there anything you wish you had known when you first started university?”

D’Eon: “In many other places in my life, I have been the nerd or the loner. That’s never the case in this university. There are so many people with different interests and experiences, and the culture that has developed is the greatest strength of this institution. Get involved with a campus club, volunteer, get involved in a sports team or just spend time doing what you want to do, and you will find your community.”

“What is your favourite part of Welcome Week?”

Kapacila: “Welcome Week is the perfect opportunity to hang out with people you’ve met at Orientation. Also free stuff — get all the free stuff and mini donuts!”

“Do you have any tips on how to prepare for lectures and exams?”

Quan: “As for preparing for lectures and exams, make sure to utilize the resources on campus. For instance, the USSU Help Centre has an exam file, which is helpful for studying, and the university library offers academic-related sessions throughout the year that cover a broad range of useful skills.”

“Do you have a favourite hang-out spot on campus to study and meet up with friends?”

All photos supplied by Olivia Swerhone-Wick

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Lau: “My first study spot would be those study rooms in St. Thomas More College across from the classroom 1001. As a matter of [a] hang out spot, I would change it to the piano in Arts, so I can jam with friends there.”

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Saskatchewan students unite to take on provincial budget cuts NYKOLE KING NEWS EDITOR

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he University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union is reforming the Saskatchewan Students’ Coalition as a way to unify with other institutions in the province and lobby against postsecondary cuts, after the austerity measures implemented by the provincial government on March 22.

When the annual provincial was budget announced, revealing that funding to advanced education would be reduced by 5 per cent, it left the U of S scrambling to allocate money towards its base budget. The tuition for the 2017-18 academic year was already set to increase by only 2.3 per cent by the time the provincial budget was dropped. However, students worry about tuition increases next year.

Mackenzie Stewart, first-year student in the College of Law and alumna from the College of Arts and Science, explains that students may want to advocate for accessible education, but they likely do

not have time to dedicate towards it.

“Most students are just trying to get by.

They’re not thinking about really pushing for change or pushing for reform,” Stewart said. “Which is why I’m happy our students’ union is taking on some of that responsibility now and [advocating] for students, because I do think it’s important.”

The SSC is set to launch a website and Facebook page so students can access information such as meeting minutes.

David D’Eon, president of the USSU and chair of the coalition, is working with the SSC to create a lasting impact and to insure that the Government of Saskatchewan recognizes the needs of students.

“I question how much students have legitimacy to the provincial government … We’re very much committed to working with the government if we can, but we haven’t received any indication yet that that’s going to be the way forward.

So if not, we have a strategy for that. We’ll move forward the best we can,” D’Eon said.

Martin Gaal, a lecturer in the de- the provincial government, and … I partment of political studies, discusses see no indication of support for that.”

Stewart explains the difficulties enthe impact of the largest cut to funding countered as a full-time student while in the university’s history.

“The ability to weather this austerity working, volunteering and trying to will depend on whether it is the new pay bills, difficulties that will only innormal or a short-term measure to crease with a rise in tuition.

“I haven’t let financial problems stop balance the books. It will also depend on the leadership of the university to me, but there have been times when adjust and plan for the future,” Gaal I’ve been pretty stressed out trying to said. “In the end, the austerity mea- balance everything … I wasn’t doing sures, whether you agree with them anything to the best of my abilities,” Stewart said. or not, should be taken as a D’Eon reports that he reflection of the governis continually seeking ment’s priorities.” feedback about the The provincial coalition, which coalition is made is why he will be up of the student reaching out for executives of the student particSaskatchewan ipation at upIndian Institute coming events of Technologies, throughout the the University of year.

Regina, Briercrest “When I say College and Semithat tuition is getnary, Saskatchewan ting too high, I have Polytechnic and both Lesia Karalash people that don’t believe the USSU and the GraduGraphics Editor me. It’s one thing if I’m ate Students’ Association from the U of S. D’Eon discusses the likeli- saying it; it’s another thing if I have hood that the government will restrict hundreds of students saying it,” D’Eon tuition increases for next year. said. “You’re not alone. It’s a common “The institution itself cannot sup- struggle that a lot of people are going port a tuition freeze at this time just through right now, and it’s important because of the budget cuts,” D’Eon to speak up and remember that your said. “So it would have to come from voice is valuable.”

Bengali event to elicit thoughts on multiculturalism and reconciliation NYKOLE KING NEWS EDITOR

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n Sept. 9, the Bangladeshi Students’ Association at the University of Saskatchewan will co-host an artistic event dedicated to the work of Nobel Laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore. The event will talk about identity and the philosophical teachings of the poet as a way to engage in reconciliation in light of Canada 150.

The event will celebrate Tagore with various art mediums that are meant to elicit personal reflection about the navigation of cultural identities in a multicultural country. In addition, the organizers hope to share the Bengali culture and promote ideas of peacebuilding in the campus community.

Jebunnessa Chapola, a fourth-year women’s, gender and sexualities PhD student and organizer of the event, discusses why she believes it is important to highlight the work of an international scholar and share it with Canadian audiences.

“As an immigrant, we have come here in a new land and every day all of us are struggling to fit into this new society and

new culture,” Chapola said. “So at this event, basically, we are trying to understand how we can share or how we can make a cultural bridge between Canadian culture, Indigenous culture and immigrant culture.”

Tagore is remembered for

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his contributions to the Bengali culture in writing, music and fine arts, but he was also influential for promoting the philosophies of universalism and humanism. Following Tagore’s visit to Vancouver in 1929, he wrote a poem called “Call to

Canada,” which inspired this event.

The event will be held at 7 p.m. at Quance Theatre in the Education Building. There is no admission cost, and light refreshments will be served. The event is being facilitated with the help of various groups, such as the newly founded Prairie Tagore Society and the College of Arts and Science.

Pritam Sen, a final-year student in mechanical engineering and president of BSAUS, explains that he finds a connection to his roots through studying Tagore’s work, even though a century has passed from the time they were written.

“If you think about his writing, mainly his short stories, those are very influential. They describe back then, at his time, how it was in Bengal,” Sen said.

“I have learned a lot about my culture and heritage itself, and also, not just that. His writing actually tells you how to be a better human.”

While Tagore’s poems and songs will be in Bengali, there will be English subtitles provided on screen when available. The organizers report that this event is accessible for all students, because the displays of artistic expression can be enjoyed and interpreted even without an understanding of Bengali or prior knowledge of Tagore’s work.

Asit Sarkar, a retired profes-

sor from the Edwards School of Business and the organizer of the event, explains that the last segment of the event is dedicated to leaving a legacy and will feature David Parkinson, a faculty member in the department of English, who will give an address about reconciliation and peacebuilding in Canada.

“The final segment is asking us a question,” Sarkar said.

“What would people think of us 50 years from now, when Canada celebrates its bicentennial?

What legacy are we going to leave?”

Sarkar emphasizes the need for students to be active in this discussion, as they will be the ones shaping the future of multiculturalism and reconciliation in Canada.

Sen explains that he values learning more about his own culture, and he can also connect the themes back to Canada. He explains that this event is not only for those students in the Bengali community.

“The theme of the event includes culture and heritage, multiculturalism, universalism and humanism, and those are things … [that] matter if you are Bengali or from any other origin. Those are all things we should take to heart and as a Canadian especially,” Sen said.

“If you are living in Canada, these are very important things, because it is what this country is built on.”

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FIVE LIFTS FOR BEGINNERS

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1. BICEP CURLS: The classic lift — all you need for this is a dumbbell and maybe a place to sit, if you’d like. To do this lift, take the weight in your hand and bend your arm at the elbow to bring the dumbbell into a full and smooth arc towards your shoulder.

2. TRICEP EXTENSIONS: Sometimes an overlooked muscle, the tricep is quite versatile, and thus, there v are many exercises to work it. One such exercise is the tricep extension, and it is performed by bringing a dumbbell, or one in each hand, directly above your head and then moving the weight in an arc downwards toward your upper back, then back to the starting position.

Jiem Carlo Narag / Photo Editor The new amalgamated Wellness Centre will combine all services under one banner.

Wellness Centre takes care of student health care LYNDSAY AFSETH

3. SQUATS: The most important part about doing squats is your form. Keeping your back straight and your hips aligned with your heels while you squat is crucial in order to avoid any injuries with this exercise. It’s best to start without any weight, in order to develop a solid technique, then advance to small amounts of weight on a straight bar held behind the head and across the shoulders.

4. BENCH PRESS: Another classic lift, the bench press works your arms and chest.

It is performed by laying down on the bench and positioning the rack at your head, taking the weight from the rack with an evenly spread grip, then moving the weight up and down in a motion perpendicular to your chest. This lift is best done with a spotter behind the bench to ensure the weight does not fall on you.

5. PULLEY ROWS: This exercise is performed at a pulley station, with a seat a fair distance from the pulley.

Essentially, this exercise consists of taking the handle of the pulley with both hands and pulling all the way back through your chest, using your arms and back muscles. This exercise will mainly work your mid-back muscles.

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STAFF WRITER

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he University of Saskatchewan has offered health care to students since the 1920s, but this September, health care will be even more comprehensive and accessible to students than ever before.

Beginning Sept. 5, Student Health Services and Student Counselling Services will become one entity called the Student Wellness Centre that will encompass both physical and mental health. The Wellness Centre will be on the third and fourth floors of Place Riel and will provide holistic health care to students, spouses and dependents.

The Wellness Centre provides a range of services to students, including doctor’s appointments for physical health care, mental health counselling, nutritional counselling and sexual health care. On top of these core services, they also offer physiotherapy, massage therapy and chiropractic care.

Jocelyn Orb, the Student Health Services manager, describes the Wellness Centre’s role at the university.

“We’re a primary health clinic. We’re multidisciplinary, so it’s about providing holistic care to students and their families, while they’re here doing their studies,” Orb said.

In the past, Counselling Services has focused exclusively on mental health, while Health Services has focused on physical health. By consolidating the two centres, students are now offered a more comprehensive health-care centre.

For students, taking care of mental health is just as important as taking care of physical health. The new Wellness Centre offers counselling services to help students with a range of mental health problems, including but not limited to anxiety, depression, relationship issues and crises situations.

The services at the Wellness Centre are offered to all students registered in at least one class, their spouses and dependent children, as well as some University of Regina students.

Orb discusses the costs of the services to students.

“There’s no cost for students for the core activity of the Wellness Centre,” Orb said. “If they’re coming to see a physician or nurse, or coming for counselling or to see a dietician, there is no cost.

But if they’re coming for massage, physiotherapy or chiropractic care, those are three things that [have a] fee.”

The fees for these three services are kept as low as possible for students. For a first-time visit for chiropractic care or physiotherapy, the charge is $55, and follow-up visits are $40. For massage therapy, the fees are $35 for 30 minutes, $45 for 45 minutes or $55 for 60 minutes.

Students can phone in to make appointments or come to the front desk on either the third or the fourth floor to register and make an appointment. Students can also come into the Centre for urgent care during its operating hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from Monday to Friday.

Orb explains that the Wellness Centre is there for students who are experiencing a crisis, too.

“If it’s an urgent or crisis situation, we do everything that we can to have them seen that day,” Orb said.

The staff at Health Services and Counselling Services have been working towards making the new Wellness Centre as accessible for students as possible, no matter what kind of health care they need.

“We’re changing our intake system on Sept. 5, as part of the new Student Wellness Centre,” Orb said. “We want to make it more accessible and easier for students to get in for an appointment, whether it’s for a physical health need or a mental health need.”

The Wellness Centre is a great resource for students, and Orb encourages students to either phone in or visit the Centre in Place Riel to register for health-care services. Most of the services are free of charge, and the location is convenient for students attending classes on campus.

For any kind of health care you may need, visit the Wellness Centre to gain access to everything they have to offer students.

“The campus is focusing more on overall wellness,” Orb said. “We’re not just a walk-in clinic where you come if you have a sore throat. You can do that, but there’s a lot of other services and a lot of other supports.”

New digital services offer university sports at home

Lesia Karalash / Graphics Editor

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HE CANADA WEST Universities Athletics Association is making it easier for sports fans to follow their favourite university sports teams with the launch

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of the new Canada West Front Row score-tracking app and the re-launch of the Canada West TV streaming service.

The Athletics Association is comprised of university sports teams from schools across Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. Both the CW Front Row app, which is available

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Department of Political Studies is pleased to feature two exciting Term 1 classes on these topics and more!

on both Android and iOS devices, and the revamped CWTV streaming service were made available for the 2017-18 season in mid-August.

The CW Front Row app was developed for Android and iOS devices

by PrestoSports, a Maryland softwaredevelopment firm that specializes in apps and software designed for college sports teams. The app is fully featured with a sleek interface that separates stats and news. What’s more, CW Front Row is available for free.

The application displays news and stats from a large variety of sports — including football, soccer, wrestling, hockey, basketball and track and field. The depth of the statistics can vary depending on which team is selected, as stats pages sometimes link to individual team websites, but most teams offer more than just box scores. Statistics can be viewed for individual players, and in some cases, even play-by-play recaps and team comparisons are offered.

The app also features a comprehensive notification centre that allows fans to opt into which sports they would like to receive live notifications about. The notification centre works like an app of the quality that one could expect from Sportsnet or ESPN, but the focus on university sports allows for some interesting niches. For example, those who want upto-the-minute notifications on university cross-country running can get them — CW Front Row has an option for it.

The news section of the app does exactly what it advertises, providing an aggregation of links to stories from the Canada West website. The overall presentation of the app is comparable to those released by larger sportsbroadcasting companies, and it functions in a way that is immediately accessible and intuitive.

The Canada West TV streaming service, which has been relaunched by Yare

Media Group Inc. — a media-streaming company from Surrey, B.C. — provides live sports broadcasting from across the Canada West catalogue. Canada West TV broadcasts live streams of hockey, wrestling, rugby, basketball, volleyball, football, swimming and track.

The business model is surprisingly versatile with an all-access package, options for specific teams and sports and pay-per-view pricing on specific events.

The streaming itself caps out at 720p in resolution, but the quality of presentation is strong, with a standard digital scoreboard across all events and solid commentary.

The service allows users to search for content by narrowing down the events based on team, sport and time of broadcast. CWTV also includes access to interviews and highlights under a clips tab.

Unlike the events, clips can be accessed on demand.

One of the best features of the service is the ability to watch up to four events at once. Each event is shown in a thumbnail-sized video player, with volume controls, allowing you to focus on the commentary from one video while playing the other three in the background.

The size of the videos leaves a bit to be desired, but considering bandwidth limitations, it’s still a neat feature.

The Canada West website claims that the service can be used on computers, as well as Apple and Android phones and tablets. With the help of Google’s Chromecast, AirPlay for Apple TV or an HDMI cable linking a computer to your TV, this service is capable of playing on your television as well. CWTV is a strong streaming app that should appeal to anyone interested in watching university sports.

Canada West’s new app and relaunched streaming service give university sports fans a few exciting new ways to follow their favourite sports from home.

IS 211 (01) Introduction to International Studies Development with Dr. Matthew Mitchell

POLS 362 (01) Global Political Economy with David York

MWF 2:30-3:20pm

MWF 11:30-12:20pm

Prerequisites: 18 credit units at the 100-level including at least 12 credits from ANTH, ECON, GEOG, HIST, POLS, RLST, RUSS, SOC, SPAN, UKR, WGST.

Prerequisites: 12 credit units POLS or 60 credit units at university level.

For more information, please contact political.studies@usask.ca

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ATHLETICS CALENDAR

September is a busy part of the year for both sports fans and participants alike. Below, you will find an amalgamated calendar of both the Huskies and Campus Rec schedules. For more information on Huskies events, visit huskies.usask.ca, and for Campus Rec registration information, visit recservices.usask.ca/campus-rec/intramurals.

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SPORTS&HEALTH

Eat healthy, study hard:

Looking for something different?

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any students enjoy snacking while studying, and although it may seem hard at first, these snacks can be healthy, when you know where to find them at the University of Saskatchewan.

Campus cafés: There are many options for quick snacks on campus, but most take the form of guilty pleasures like a Tim Hortons donut or an oat fudge bar from Starbucks. Two good places to start looking for healthier on-campus meals and snacks are the Arts Café and Agriculture Café, both of which feature a large variety of foods including healthy soup and bagel options.

Tim Hortons: Some Tim Hortons locations on campus also offer healthy snacks such as sandwiches, salads and vegetable cups prepared by Culinary Services. These are all healthy meal options, and the vegetable cups come with a mix of vegetables like carrots and celery and even

healthy options are available.

U of S Campus Market: The Campus Market pops up monthly in the North Concourse of Upper Place Riel, with the dates posted to the Office of Sustainability’s website. This market offers local foods, which can be eaten fresh on the day of the market or used to stock up your cupboards.

Free campus group eats: If free food is more your style, then keep an eye out for campus groups running events that offer food free of charge. Not only is this a free option, but sometimes the food is quite healthy, and it could introduce you to an awesome campus group that you previously didn’t know about.

Homemade snacks: Preparing snacks at home is also a great way to save not only money but also time spent on campus. Even having the forethought to chop up some vegetables and throw them into a bag can be a quick fix snack.

Another snack that many students are likely to have already lying around is dry cereal. Cereals

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include a little ranch dip.

The Tims on campus that carry these additional healthy options include the locations beside the campus Bookstore, in the Health Science E Wing and on the second floor of the Geology Building. With a wide spread of availability, these healthy eats are a good option for students who find themselves in any part of campus.

Convenience stores: Mac’s in Lower Place Riel, while featuring many unhealthy snacks, houses a few healthier options, such as granola bars, nuts and trail mix snacks. This is also true of the Tuck Shop in the Arts Building and both Starbucks on campus.

Food Centre: The U of S Students’ Union Food Centre in Place Riel serves as a depot for CHEP Good Food Boxes — containers of fruits and vegetables of varying sizes and prices available on a biweekly subscription basis. In addition to the boxes, the Food Centre also hosts a Fresh Food Market on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Place Riel, where

Kar a

SPORTS & HEALTH EDITOR S

Les ia

JACK THOMPSON J

ics Edi tor

Healthy snack options on campus

like Mini-Wheats, Cheerios and Life can make for a healthy and tasty snack right out of the bag.

Fruit is another quick, healthy snack to bring from home — or buy on campus, if need be — and it generally requires little packaging, provided you make sure nothing bumps or squishes it.

While granola bars can just be bought at the store, for the ambitious, they are also fairly easy to make at home with a few simple ingredients and an oven.

Energy bites are another option for students, and while recipes vary, bites like these are generally a bundle of carbohydrates and protein held together with

something like peanut, soy or nut butter. Energy bites are easily modified for personal taste and do not require any special cooking tools, making them perfect for students living in dorms without access to an oven.

Students can also use Tupperware with separated compartments to prepare their own yogurt parfaits for school. However, if it has to sit in your bag for a long time, this may not be the best option.

Be it on campus or off, simple or complex, there are a ton of snack options for students that do not require any compromise to a healthy diet.

Quick-Energy Pickups Adapted from Betty Crocker’s Cookbook for Boys & Girls

Paninis Have Arrived

Cooking Utensils: Waxed paper, medium bowl, spoon, teaspoon, cookie sheet Ingredients: 3 or 4 square graham crackers 1 cup powdered sugar 1 cup crunchy peanut butter 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips ½ cup instant nonfat dry milk 3 tablespoons water

OPEN until MIDNIGHT Have you tried our Rotisserie-Style Chicken yet?

NEW building Same location as before!

418 Cumberland Ave N

Instructions: 1. Crush 3 or 4 graham crackers with your fingers, onto a sheet of waxed paper.

2. Mix remaining ingredients thoroughly in the bowl.

3. Shape teaspoonfuls of the mixture into 1-inch balls.

Roll the balls in the graham cracker crumbs until coated.

4. Arrange the coated balls on an ungreased cookie sheet, and refrigerate for about 20 minutes or until firm.

Note: In place of the graham crackers, you can use a ½ cup of prepared graham cracker crumbs or ⅔ of a cup of flaked coconut.

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Huskies Athletics moves forward with new leadership position MATTHEW JOHNSON

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his fall, Huskies Athletics will get a fresh face in the form of a new management position meant to unify the program. This position comes in the wake of large changes to the way the athletics program is governed.

Shawn Burt was officially announced as the chief athletics officer, a position that is brand new to the University of Saskatchewan, on Aug 18. The new position will place Burt underneath the Board of Trustees, a university-wide governance model that was designed to elevate Huskie Athletics after its implementation in 2016.

Burt, who will officially begin his duties with the Huskies on Sept. 1, is looking forward to a new opportunity.

“The ability to join a school with an athletic program as tremendous as the Huskies is exciting,” Burt said.

A fan of the new governmental model, Burt believes it will be huge for the Huskies going for-

ward. He warns that the board’s goals will take time to come to fruition but also assures that we can expect great results.

“The newly formed governance model allows for out-of-the-box thinking by combining 12 perspectives on one board. I believe this group will enable us to become the best program in the nation,” Burt said.

Burt already has experience in a sports environment at a Canadian university. Before securing his position as chief athletics officer at the U of S, he spent six months at Ryerson University, evaluating and constructing ideas for the redevelopment of Maple Leaf Gardens, a sports arena turned multi-purpose facility. For the past seven years, he was the chief hockey officer for the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation and led the Road Hockey to Conquer Cancer initiative that has raised over 16 million dollars for cancer research.

A fresh face to the U of S, Burt plans to start by getting to know the City of Saskatoon, a

city that he believes is extremely underrated, and he’ll look to change that reputation and drive the Huskie brand across the country. Burt enters his tenure with the Huskies with many ambitions.

“A key goal of mine is to truly provide student athletes with a world-class post-secondary experience. That starts from the second the recruiting process begins and continues once they’re on our campus,” Burt said.

Another desire of Burt’s is to continue to grow aspirations among future athletes, as he believes doing so will help create a passion to be a Huskie.

“I’m a huge believer in U Sports. I believe that it’s an under-leveraged and underrated platform, something that we’ll look to help change,” Burt said.

Burt graduated from Dartmouth College in 1993, and was a member of the varsity hockey team while attending the Ivy League school. As a former collegiate-level hockey player, Burt understands the impact

Dave Stobbe / Supplied Burt is seeking to aide in the transformation of Huskies governance.

of the new Huskies rink — announced on Oct. 13, 2016, and set to have the ice surface operational by Fall 2018.

“Student athletes want to see investments in infrastructure.

It shows [a] drive to build your program. Merlis Belsher Place will have an incredible impact on our hockey programs and Huskies Athletics as a whole,” Burt said.

Burt explains that he will be joined this term by fellow newcomer Scott Flory, who is tak-

ing over the role of head coach for the Huskies football team.

Burt is extremely excited to see what Flory will be able to bring to the program.

“Were looking for [Flory] to set the expectation for what it means to be a Huskie,” Burt said.

With a wealth of experience behind him, Burt brings both expertise and enthusiasm to Huskie Athletics, and students can look forward to a great sports season.

usask kelly_pankratz_photography

usask

UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF DANCE Students, Faculty & Staff Keep Fit with Adult Dance Classes!

Beginner to Advanced Classes!

BALLET JAZZ TAP HIP HOP CONTEMPORARY HIGHLAND “FREE DROP IN WEEK” September 18 - 22, 2017 Classes run 10 weeks: Sept. 25 - Dec. 11, 2017 kelly_pankratz_photography University of Saskatchewan Observatory - Solar Eclipse 2017 #yxe #usask #usaskobservatory #observatory #solareclipse #solareclipse2017 #landofthelivingskies #landscape #landscapephotography #campus #universitycampus #summer #summer17 #canont5i #canoncanada150

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Registration & Information: 966-1005 or 966-1001 www.recservices.usask.ca/programs-services/dance/index-php (for schedule and fees)

Culture

Flickr / Civil & Mining Engineering The Geological Engineering Student Society received first place in Surveying and second place in the Equipment Handling competition at the Canadian Mining Games 2017.

Get involved this year:

Campus clubs for all!

BRIDGET MORRISON

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great way to enrich your experience as a University of Saskatchewan student is to join a campus club! There are a number of clubs on campus specific to various interests, activities, colleges or departments — so you’re bound to find one

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that suits your fancy.

If you’re looking for a club specific to your studies, chances are your program has one at the U of S. Joining an academic club — particularly one specific to your future career — is a great way to network and will often provide you with the opportunity to engage with professionals working in that particular

field of study.

Some clubs at the U of S specific to academic programs include, but by no means are limited to, the Computer Science Students’ Society, the Education Students’ Society and the History Undergraduate Students’ Association.

There are also clubs within academic programs geared toward a particular direction in that field.

For example, the Sports Law Club is for those students studying law with a keen interest in sports law.

Amongst other things, this clubs provides its members with the opportunity to hear guest speakers discuss topics such as player management and contract negotiations.

Whichever Canadian political party you may support, the U of S most likely has a club for it. Ranging from the U of S New Democratic Party to the U of S Conservatives, you can easily find an outlet for your political angst.

These clubs are a great way to engage with both provincial and federal politics and become an involved citizen.

If you’re looking for a way to work some physical activity into your busy student schedule, consider joining one of the various sports and fitness groups on campus. To name a few, there are U of S Barbell and the U of S Kinsmen/Kinette Club. This is a great way to take a break from all that studying and paper writing and get in a fun and energizing workout.

There are many clubs that provide students with the opportunity to volunteer with different organizations. Best Buddies U of S aims to pair, organize and foster relationships between U of S students and individuals in the community with intellectual disabilities. Monthly events are hosted to maintain these friendships.

For interests lying outside of

academics, there are various clubs to join if you’re just looking for a little fun! For example, the U of S Games Club gets together once a month to play board games and video games. The club even organizes tournaments to participate in, along with an annual 24-hour gaming marathon to raise money for the children’s hospital.

Nifty Knitters is a group for students who love to knit or crochet, or for those who want to give it a try. Most of the products made in the club are then donated to shelters in Saskatoon to help provide warm clothing for the winter.

If none of these groups pique your interest, there are over 75 ratified campus clubs, so chances are you can find one that suits you. Check out the U of S Students’ Union website to find a list of all ratified student clubs. This page will provide you with the complete list of groups, a summary of what the group is about and contact information if you wish to join the group or ask any further questions.

If you can’t seem to find a group that suits your interests, consider starting your own. All the information you need to know to get started is provided on the USSU’s website as well.

Take a chance and try something new — who knows, maybe you’ll find a hidden passion.

Joining a campus club is a great way to become involved, build campus culture and make your time at the U of S that much more memorable!

Press pause: Outstanding shows of summer 2017 COLE CHRETIEN

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lthough the fall television season historically has presented a greater quantity of shows, the 2017 summer schedule offered a few great new seasons of television.

The seventh season of Game of Thrones, which started airing on HBO earlier this summer, was perhaps the most anticipated returning series of the summer. The latest season narrows its scope early on, gathering up all of the characters on the single continent of Westeros and positioning an army of undead white walkers as a common threat.

The seventh season scales back the political intrigue of past seasons, choosing instead to focus on two conflicts: the North’s war against the white walkers and the mounting war between the Lannister family and the forces loyal to Daenerys Targaryen.

After seven years and countless character deaths, the show seems finally to point to a conclusive end with these two plotlines. It’s hard not to miss the more politically grounded stories of past seasons, but when the result is this thrilling, there’s not much to complain about. Viewers who have followed these characters up to this

point are going to find a lot to enjoy here.

Showtime’s Twin Peaks marks another highly anticipated return to TV, for both the fictional town of the series’ namesake and the show’s enigmatic director, David Lynch. The series picks up where the 1990s original left off, with Agent Dale Cooper escaping the other-dimensional black lodge and becoming trapped in the body of an insurance agent from Las Vegas, while his evil doppelganger creates havoc.

It’s a bizarre premise for a reboot of a show that is already better remembered for its strange dream sequences than for its central murder mystery, but Lynch directs it with all of the paranoia and intensity that has defined his filmmaking career. His direction elevates a seemingly nonsensical plot to something

atmospheric and foreboding.

Each Lynch-directed episode mixes surrealism, psychological horror and comedy to disorienting effect. The end result is the fever dream of a creator who is much more concerned with imagery than canon.

Through a collection of disjointed vignettes, the show finds emotional resonance in both the mundane and the unnerving.

Lynch’s camera doesn’t discriminate, giving a nuclear test the same importance as a worker sweeping the floor of a bar.

While the conFlickr / Robert Ball nection from one scene to the next is often unclear, what is clear is that Lynch is telling stories in a way that is completely new to TV. With any luck, it’ll leave just as big of an impact on the TV landscape as its groundbreaking predecessor did.

After flying under the radar last year, AMC’s Preacher is back as well. The series — based on Garth Ennis’s comic book — follows Jesse Custer, a preacher who possesses the ability to bend reality with his speech, on a quest to find an absent god.

The original comic book combined the grotesque artistic style of early independent comics with a quietly subversive take on superhero archetypes. AMC’s adaptation reimagines the source material as a neo-western in the style of some of the best Coen brothers’ films.

The second season of Preacher sees Custer and his pals heading to New Orleans, a nice change of pace from the smalltown-Texas locale of the first season. The second season also introduces The Grail, a crypto-fascistic organization concerned

by Jesse’s new-found powers, and the Saint of Killers, an immortal gunslinger who tracks the protagonist on foot.

The villains in Preacher are the standout element of the show, but the commitment to Breaking Bad-style storytelling and character development is rock solid. As far as AMC shows go, Preacher is one of the best since Mad Men went off the air.

With these three solid entertainment choices from the 2017 summer TV season, your fall procrastination routine is already thanking you.

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EVENTS F R I

PIMPTON WITH KWAME DOLO @ AMIGOS

S A T

’90S VIDEO DANCE PARTY @ AMIGOS

S U N

03

AGAINST ME!

W E D

06

ELIAS JAMES

T H U R S

HIKE, BIKE AND ROLL @ THORVALDSON BUILDING

01 02

07 F R I

08 S A T

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WITH BLEACHED AND THE DIRTY NIL @ LOUIS’ PUB

WITH ANNA KLEIN @ THE BASSMENT

TRAIN @ BESSBOROUGH HOTEL

USASK HOMECOMING GAME @ GRIFFITHS STADIUM

KAYE AND CO. WITH GUESTS @ AMIGOS

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DEBRA DIGIOVANNI @ BROADWAY THEATRE LOUIS’ COUNTRY CABARET WITH THE DIRT RICH BAND @ LOUIS’ PUB

NEW SWEARS

CANADIAN COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS @ SASKTEL CENTRE

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COM TRUISE & NOSAJ THING

SEPT 1-2

POTASHCORP FIREWORKS FESTIVAL

LB5Q 2K17 @ PRAIRIELAND PARK

WITH CLEOPOLD @ AMIGOS

@ RIVER LANDING AND FRIENDSHIP PARK

SEPT 6-8

USASK WELCOME WEEK

SEPT 6-10

YXEATS @ VARIOUS RESTAURANTS IN RIVERSDALE

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1402 College Drive • 652-0244 (across from campus under the Royal Bank)

Used University Textbooks Taken For Sale on Consignment

ART IN THE PARK @ ASHWORTH HOLMES PARK

KEITH HARKIN @ VILLAGE GUITAR

M O N

WANT TO SAVE ON TEXTS? E ?

BOOKS UNLIMITED

BROADWAY STREET FAIR @ BROADWAY AVENUE

WITH SWAYZE @ AMIGOS

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Buy your texts at reduced prices!

Large selection of used paperbacks!

Regular Hours: Monday to Friday, 11 to 5 Extended Hours: Saturday, September 2nd, 11 to 5 September 5th to 8th, 9 to 5 Saturday, September 9th, 11 to 5 Serving Students for over 30 years!

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WWW.T H E S H E A F.COM // @ U SAS KS H E A F

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A guide to prairie fashion in 2017 BRENT KOBES

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ith a summer of Canada 150 celebrations focused around the hubs of Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal, you might find that the Prairies — and Saskatchewan in particular — are lacking in the same gravitas of cultural heritage and expression.

With these big events happening around us, it might seem that we are passive consumers of culture. Moreover, it may feel like we — as a prairie people — are being fed a cultural narrative that doesn’t wholly apply to us. This feeling, however, needn’t be the case at all.

A rich and distinct collection of prairie art and culture has been refined by generations of Indigenous peoples and newcomers alike — with the fiddle music of the Métis, the ballads of Joni Mitchell, the political power of Buffy Sainte-Marie, the intense isolation of a Sinclair Ross story and the longing pride of Margaret Laurence.

Prairie culture, however, has never translated into an obvious aesthetic of apparel. While there are distinct prairie apparels like the North West Mounted Police red serge and the traditional dress worn during powwow, these aren’t appropriate for everyone to wear. This leaves the question, what can be seen as a distinctly prairie fashion?

There are a number of distinct prairie

brands, even if they are few and far between. Being so far away from the highend retail of Madison Avenue allows prairie brands to carve their own local markets.

Such Saskatchewan brands include Neechie Gear, Hillberg & Berk and Hardpressed. All of these brands create a distinct of apparel for the region, with Neechie and Hardpressed incorporating provincial and regional symbolism on base clothing to increase their appeal to local markets. Likewise, Hillberg & Berk incorporates local material into their jewelry creation. With this local focus, all three companies hold a

place in prairie fashion and each has built a brand that goes beyond the Palliser Triangle.

Aside from specific brands, there is provincial flavour to consider when thinking about prairie fashion. In Alberta, it would seem that the cowboy hat is an invitation to the circle, with every politician and their dog gearing up with a hat for events such as the Calgary Stampede. Belt buckles fit with this image of the Albertan as well.

It is important that prairie fashion be differentiated from similar fashion styles.

For example, nothing is overly unique about the denim jacket, even when added

Lesia Karalash / Graphics Editor

to a pair of blue jeans to make the ubiquitous Canadian tuxedo. Only when branded with particular symbols does denim become truly unique and prairie-esque.

Even the typical aesthetic ideal of the prairie farmer is no more identifiable with the Canadian Prairies than it is with the American West — or even the Midwest or rural Ontario. For that matter, if not for the recollecting of localized past goods, the prairie hipster would not look so different from someone in Ontario or British Columbia.

The localized flair can even be seen in apparel that comes from companies that don’t focus solely on clothing. This is perhaps most famously seen with the Hudson’s Bay Company or promotional items from organizations like the United Grain Growers or even a local Credit Union. These symbols spread through prairie towns, garage sales and eventually thrift stores, where finally, they can be reconstructed as hip. What makes them hip cannot be quantified, but certainly, the incorporation of the Prairie landscape aids in the reintroduction and success of such items.

Together, both the businesses of local entrepreneurs and the promotional materials of non-apparel companies have made their items into features of prairie fashion.

The mixing of localized prairie symbols with ubiquitous clothing basics has made way for the emergence of a cohesive, prairie-esque style.

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Summer sounds: A guide to some of this summer’s best albums

a romantic and undeniably cool feeling when you listen to her. For your greatest listening pleasure, Lust for Life is best paired with long drives down the freeway or with a good old make-out session.

TANNER BAYNE CUTLURE EDITOR

S

Lust for Life by Lana Del Rey: The queen of melancholia, Lana Del Rey prescribes another dose of summertime sadness with her newest album, Lust for Life.

Like her previous works, Lust for Life sees Del Rey contemplate love, fame and an assortment of millennial worries. Even after three albums of similar thematic and lyrical content, Del Rey still manages to establish

Flower Boy by Tyler, The Creator: Everyone’s favourite jokester MC Tyler, The Creator produces and delivers what might be his most polished work yet with his newest LP, Flower Boy. After releasing his less-than-stellar Cherry Bomb — we all know it wasn’t that good — Flower Boy is the album that Tyler fans deserve. The album is produced entirely by Tyler himself and features an all-star cast with the likes of Lil Wayne, A$AP Rocky, Frank Ocean and Estelle. Be sure to check out the exquisite single, “911 / Mr. Lonely.”

Minimum R&B by the Dirty Nil: Hamilton heavyweights the Dirty Nil released their high-energy, lowfuss sophomore album Minimum R&B this summer.

Do not be confused, though. This is not a rhythm and blues album. This is a rock album. If you’re into music that’s a little heavier, the Nil’s grungy guitars and poppunky hooks are definitely for you. After winning a Juno in April for Breakthrough Group of the Year, and after touring with the likes of Billy Talent and Alexisonfire, these Steeltown strummers are some of the best in the Canadian alt-rock scene. Sometimes we all just need to kick and scream, and Minimum R&B can be your soundtrack for it.

ummer is a bittersweet occasion for music nerds worldwide. On the one hand, people might have more time to peruse the surplus of new releases. On the other hand, it is exceedingly difficult to stay on top of the best releases. The Sheaf, however, is willing to take on this challenge so you don’t have to. Here is a short compilation reviewing some of the more remarkable releases that dropped this summer.

Modern Pressure by Daniel Romano: If you haven’t heard of the Canadian country crooner Daniel Romano, Modern Pressure will be a great treat for you. As Romano’s seventh and newest album, Modern Pressure contemplates the roles that art and love play in our lives. What many might assume to be a quiet, inquisitive record, it is quite the opposite. Modern Pressure is a rambunctious, rockabilly, alt-country masterpiece that at times disguises itself as a pop album, and it may just be one of the most contemplative country records you’ll hear this year.

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Lesia Karalash / Graphics Editor

Surf Manitou by the Garrys: Although Saskatoon is far from any big body of water, the easy-going and friendly disposition of surf culture is strangely at home in Saskatchewan. Acknowledging this synergy, the Garrys — Saskatoon’s seminal surf-rock sisters — perfect this feeling in their sophomore LP, Surf Manitou. The album is filled with spooky riffs and haunting harmonies juxtaposed with silly, innocuous lyrics. Perhaps the strangest part of this odd coupling of influences is that the album works — real well. All this is plain in the infectious track, “Manitouna.”

The Siren’s Song by Kacy & Clayton: The Siren’s Song is the third release from this Wood Mountain, Sask., duo.

Produced by Jeff Tweedy — of Wilco fame — The Siren’s Song sees Kacy & Clayton perfect their old-timey folk style. Kacy’s lilting vocals and Clayton’s intricate guitar picking are enough to turn anybody into a lover of folk music. The album has followed a very successful year for the duo. Aside from collaborating with Tweedy, they have also played with the likes of k.d. lang and were nominated for a Juno in early 2017. So, grab your favourite denim jacket and your best dancing shoes — preferably those old cowboy boots in the closet — for the best listening experience. Be sure to check out “White Butte Country.”

COMING EVENTS

Legisla ve Pages - Part-Time Term Posi on

Legislative Assembly Service of Saskatchewan If you are interested in this opportunity, please submit your cover le er and resume by 5:00 p.m. (CST), September 15, 2017 to: Sandra Gardner Administra ve and Chamber Services Coordinator Office of the Clerk Room 239 - 2405 Legisla ve Drive Regina, Saskatchewan S4S 0B3 Tel: (306) 787-0603 E-mail: Legisla vePages@legassembly.sk.ca

The Legisla ve Assembly of Saskatchewan (LAS) exists to support and enhance parliamentary democracy and the Legisla ve Assembly for the benefit of the people of Saskatchewan. The LAS requires energe c individuals to work part- me as Pages in the Assembly. This is a unique opportunity to observe the daily workings of the Legisla ve Assembly.

Pages are employed in the Legisla ve Chamber to assist the Speaker, Members of the Legisla ve Assembly (MLAs) and the Clerks-at-the-Table in carrying out their respec ve du es. Pages deliver documents and messages both in the Chamber and elsewhere in the Legisla ve Building. Pages will also be employed in the Office of the Clerk to assist in the prepara on of the Assembly for its daily si ng. This will include performing a variety of general office du es, such as distribu ng documents, running errands, mailing, filing, receiving telephone messages and photocopying.

The term of the employment will extend over both the 2017 fall (October - December) and 2018 spring (March - May) si ngs of the Assembly. The hours of employment will be Monday to Wednesday, 12:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Addi onal hours of employment Monday to Wednesday may be assigned.

Some over me may be required each week, par cularly when the Assembly is si ng on Monday and Tuesday evenings from 6:45 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Pages will be paid at a rate of $16.488/hour.

All employees of the Legisla ve Assembly Service are required to conduct themselves in a strictly non-par san and neutral manner.

To learn more about the LAS, our Vision, Mission and Values, and to find further informa on about how to apply for the posi on, and salary and benefits, please visit:

www.legassembly.sk.ca/about/employment Clearly indicate in your resume or cover le er where and how you have gained the required knowledge and qualifica ons. Selec ons for interviews will be based on this informa on.

Thank you for your interest in this posi on. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

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AN EVENING WITH GAIL BOWEN Saskatoon Launch

The Winners' Circle: A Joanne Kilbourn Mystery Thursday, September 7, 7 PM CO-PRESENTED BY THE WORD ON THE STREET SASKATOON WITH GUEST HOST ANTHONY BIDULKA

Saskatoon’s newest coffee roasters make coffee a positive experience for all LIAM DELPARTE

J

uly 2017 saw the Broadway area welcome Venn Coffee Roasters. Tucked in behind Amigos, this coffee shop offers more than just great espresso and Norwegian-inspired pastries.

Venn Coffee first appeared in local Saskatoon businesses like The Night Oven Bakery and The Hollows. Venn is not Saskatoon’s first local roaster, nor its first third-wave-style roaster, but they definitely do things differently.

Characterized by small-batch, single-origin and light roasts, third-wave-style coffee seeks to elaborate upon the coffee experience. By connecting consumers to the producers of their coffee and by showcasing the full flavour potential of the beans themselves, craft and complexity enter our morning ritual.

Casey Loseth, co-owner and operator of Venn Coffee Roasters spoke to the Sheaf via email about the positive impacts that he hopes

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Venn can have.

“If I can do good by someone, then I’m happy. Whether I’m viewed as trendy or popular or not, it’s more important for me to be able to promote good living for people. This all applies to coffee, too. Everything I do is to showcase the work the farmers put into the coffee. I just simply try to not ruin that,” Loseth said.

The shop itself is bright and minimal in almost every way.

Venn’s white walls are adorned with a mural of floating mountains painted by Saskatoon artist Vanessa Postnikoff, known by @thefourthcup on Instagram.

One of their most visually grabbing pastries, called tebirkes, is a flaky Danish treat wrapped around almond paste and covered in poppy seeds. From the esthetics, the pastries and the name of the shop — venn being Norwegian for friend — a Scandinavian influence is felt throughout. This clean atmosphere leaves ample room for the real star of the show — the coffee beans.

By reading the labels on the bags, one can see the exact regions in which the beans are grown.

These regions include Santander in Colombia, Tarrazu in Costa Rica and Gedeb in Ethiopia.

Twenty dollars gets you a 12-ounce bag and a complimentary espresso, a little more money for a little less coffee than your standard Starbucks pickup.

Besides the subjective flavour improvements, Loseth believes in the power of conscious coffee consumption as a way for positive change.

“Right now, on a socially conscious and fair coffee farm in Guatemala, a harvester would make $8 for that 200 pounds of cherry he picked. Simply being willing to pay more for coffee — or not accepting free refills — can mean elevating entire communities out of poverty,” Loseth said.

With their more direct trade model and single-origin roasting, Venn is able to provide information about the social and environmental impact of any coffee you

buy from them. This information is shown on their website.

“Not only does coffee have the potential to be so socially positive, it also has an amazing possibility to be truly sustainable, and not just carbon neutral, but to be environment repairing,” Loseth said.

Loseth goes on to explain that quality coffee is one industry that is usually socially positive.

“Good coffee, and by that I mean specialty coffee — which accounts, at the moment, for only the top 10 per cent of all coffee traded — must, for quality’s sake, be grown under diverse circumstances,” Loseth said. “If you’re growing specialty coffee, then you are growing a rainforest, which means healthy soil and animal habitat. All of these things

Jiem Carlo Narag / Photo Editor Venn Coffee Roasters is nestled in the heart of Nutana.

Usask reads: Students talk about their favourite summer novels Summer break is a great time to catch up on the books you’ve been meaning to get to but haven’t had the time to read during the school year. The Sheaf caught up with some known Usask bookworms who dished the dirt on their favourite novels of summer 2017.

TIESS MCKENZIE

David D’Eon, USSU president The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K. Le Guin Give a description in ten words.

“A man’s dreams have the power to reshape reality.”

What’s your favourite thing about the novel?

“There is a lawyer character who plays a prominent role in the book, and seeing how her character is altered by the changes that take place is an excellent commentary on how our identities shape us in ways we don’t always recognize.”

Why should people read it?

“The book uses a campy premise to talk about complex social and philosophical questions, such as what your obligations to people are if you have the power to change their lives without their knowledge... I think we all have ideas of how to make the world a better place, but the price — both on ourselves and other people — is not always obvious. For a book so short and concise to ask these questions and still be funny and adventurous is an achievement.”

Mitch Cassidy, fifth-year engineering For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway Give a description in ten words.

“Humanity, brutality and the Spanish Civil War. Only one explosion.”

What’s your favourite thing about the novel?

“I found the writing style captivatingly unique.

make it really easy to be excited about working in coffee. In other industries, often, the only way to be happy in a job is to turn a blind eye to the atrocities of the man.”

As Loseth explains, some extra effort is required to reap the full benefits of Venn coffee.

“It’s about slowing down, enjoying life and appreciating things. It sounds dumb, but I really believe it. A simple, thoughtful life is more fulfilling than a rushed, complicated one and is generally healthier and longer lasting, too,” Loseth said.

Not convinced? Go try it. Venn is located at 830 Dufferin Avenue.

Your taste buds — and caffeine addiction — will all but command you to welcome the thirdwave of coffee roasting into your home.

[Hemingway] clearly conceived the story’s dialogue in Spanish, and then translated it directly in a way that preserves a lot of the flavour and peculiarities of the original language. He also delivers some long, free-flowing, poetic passages about love and war.”

Why should people read it?

“It’s a personal and intense look at the realities of war on the scale of human relationships, written by a man with a first-hand perspective on the conflict. It’s also a decent love story.”

Jiem Carlo Narag / Photo Editor The Usask campus is a perfect place to sit down and read.

Rafaele Rigolo, fourth-year music education Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi Give a description in ten words.

“The story of two half-sisters’ families through eight generations.”

What’s your favourite thing about the novel?

“The many characters and family ties are worthy of a high fantasy novel, and Gyasi does an amazing job of

linking every relative together while not being overly confusing.”

Why should people read it?

“The book examines racism and class differences by following the mesmerizing drama of two families, all the way from slavery in Ghana through to the present day in the U.S. The book does a great job of showing the injustices that befall people simply because of their place of birth, and how that misfortune can radiate through generation after generation.”

Liam Delparte, third-year political studies Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace Give a description in ten words.

“Tennis, drugs, the pursuit of happiness. It predicts Netflix, Trump.”

What’s your favourite thing about the novel?

“Part of the novel sees a comical band of wheelchair-bound Québécois assassins, who are the most feared terrorists in America, kidnapping a pimply audio engineer for an elaborate downhill shovelling manoeuvre. All this in the periphery of a meeting on which the fate of a newly unified North America hangs in the balance.”

Why should people read it?

“It’s famous because it’s long — 1079 pages — and difficult. I read it with a dictionary on my lap, but it’s also hilarious and entertaining. The novel’s main thrust is questioning the purposeless pursuit of happiness and challenging the North American status quo. There are hundreds of characters, and all of them feel very real. For all its complexity, Infinite Jest is still deeply felt, and while it expands your mind, your heart will grow at least three sizes as well.”

Novels are often portrayals of the societies they are written in. They provide opportunities to learn about worlds near and far, conflicts within and without. If you are looking for a good book to enjoy and learn from, one of these great choices might be for you.

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Foolproof ways to be an ally VICTORIA BECKER STAFF WRITER

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hen you are in a position of privilege, you don’t face the same injustices that people from various other social groups do on a daily basis. In the uptick of oppression felt south of our border and beyond, it is now important to make decisions that can help remove social barriers that prevent equality.

Campus is home to many different races, religions, sexual orientations and abilities; it is important to know how to be a proper ally when in a situation marked by inequality. Here are 10 tips that can help you be a good ally and make campus a safer place.

1. Know your privilege: Know your background and social status. You are possibly in a position of privilege that the allies you’re supporting are not. Understand that your decisions impact your allies and will either support or harm them. Make the connections between oppression, economic obstacles and daily occurrences of injustice.

2. Educate yourself: To be a proper ally, you must be informed on what it is your allies are facing. You can understand the historical impacts facing different groups by reading articles and books about the history behind racism, heterosexism, etc. Keep in mind, educating yourself does not allow you any right to demand enlightenment from oppressed allies. Know

that it is not your ally’s job to educate you on their oppression.

situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.

3. Be an active listener: To be an understanding ally on the topics of marginalization and oppression that social groups may face, you must listen to as many voices as possible.

7. Stay in your lane: As a person of white privilege, you have no place correcting or having a discussion on what racism is to a person of colour. I mean “stay in your lane” almost literally. As a person of white privilege, you have a responsibility to call out other people of privilege on their racism and promote an anti-racist dialogue. This principle can be applied when discussing the rights of any minority group.

4. Accept that you’re going to be wrong: When you find yourself in a situation where you’ve wronged someone you’re allied to, listen and apologize. Accept that you’re in the wrong, and let them know you accept responsibility for your actions. It’s not enough to apologize once you’ve been corrected. When you realize you’re wrong, you have to move forward, making sure to keep the lesson you’ve learnt in mind.

8. Say “No” to cultural appropriation: Minority groups can be shunned or mocked for using practices and items that are significant to them. People in a place of privilege might receive praise for adopting those same things.

Calling out your friends on their culturally appropriated Halloween costumes and festival headdresses is a crucial part of being an ally. No more Indian princesses, no more chola girls. Culture is not costume.

5. Being an ally isn’t just a fashion statement: Actions speak louder than words, and being an ally is not a fashion statement. “Ally” is not a badge you can just wear as a part of your identity. It should be the actions you take to support your allies that show your character. Genuine alliance is supporting the work your allies are doing, not giving yourself another platform from which to be heard.

9. Support people you don’t know: Support groups that you are not actively involved with, and defy injustices that do not directly impact you. An injustice for one is an injustice for all.

6. Be an active ally: When you notice injustices happening to others around you, stand up for those being oppressed. It is your duty as an ally to intervene when someone disrespects a minority. You must acknowledge and stop hate wherever you see it. If you are neutral in

10. Advocate for change: Allies are essential in helping secure rights for others. Use your voice to help those in minority groups be heard. Post flyers about important legislation, petition your community, promote positive conversation and make sure to vote.

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Step outside your box: Ronald McDonald House Charities Saskatchewan LANDON WAGNER

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here’s nothing quite like a cup of coffee, a freshly baked cookie, the pitter-patter of little feet and a rewarding volunteer experience to reinvigorate the typical bleary-eyed and school-weary student.

Look up from your books and just across College Drive, and you’ll see that all of this and more can be found at Ronald McDonald House

Charities Saskatchewan.

Scholarships, internships, college applications, graduate school applications, job hunting — the demand for post-secondary students to be involved in their communities is an ever-growing expectation. To set yourself apart from the crowd, there are few better ways to gain experience and show personal commitment than by getting involved in volunteer work.

Additionally, the personal benefits of individual growth

and involvement in social networks can make a big difference in your life outside of school. Opportunities for meaningful and rewarding volunteer work abound at RMHC-SK. RMHC-SK provides support and accommodation to Saskatchewan families with children who are receiving medical care in Saskatoon.

Since 1985, families from around the province have found a comfortable, accessible and safe space away from

Jiem Carlo Narag / Photo Editor RMHC-SK supports families.

RMHC-SK is located on the corner of College Dr. and Clarence Ave.

the hustle and bustle of the hospital. Whether by helping children receiving chemotherapy treatment, parents waiting for premature babies to grow, or simply patients returning for follow-up appointments, the House has made a huge difference in the lives of many families.

In 2016 alone, Ronald McDonald House supported 1437 families in Saskatchewan. The facility itself contains 34 separate guest rooms and all the amenities that you would hope to find in your own home.

Kitchen and pantry spaces are provided for each family, and laundry facilities are found on each floor. A games and media room for entertainment, large

Jiem Carlo Narag / Photo Editor

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playrooms and a fitness room are among the spaces commonly utilized by families.

Running a charity with an operating budget of over $1.5 million and a house that spans 43,000 square feet can be a challenge, and RMHC-SK relies heavily on the support of volunteers.

Volunteer co-ordinator Kim Gilbert emphasizes the importance of volunteers to the House’s function.

“We depend on our amazing team of volunteers to create a welcoming, comfortable, home-like environment for the families who stay with us.

Roles vary from hospitality to administration, maintenance tasks, cooking and family programming,” Gilbert said.

Given the unpredictability of medical treatment and the emotional experiences that come along with it, volunteers are in a unique position to provide help and support to those who need it, when they need it.

Tamryn Eglington, a fourthyear arts and science student and RMHC-SK volunteer, says the House has made a big difference in her life.

“School can be quite stressful, and coming here is a really nice break from schoolwork, [and] I’ve found it very inspiring to speak with staff and families about their experiences. I was initially drawn to the Ronald McDonald House, because I want to become involved in the medical field, and I was looking for something to expose myself to those types of environments and situations,” Eglington said.

It may seem challenging to fit a volunteer gig into an already busy school schedule, but Eglington believes the House is a convenient choice for students.

“It fits well with my schedule, and the staff are very accommodating during finals or when other things come up,” Eglington said.

If anything, it’s worth a try for the experience.

“Sometimes, when you go to other volunteer positions or work it feels like a chore, but I can’t name a time when I’ve had a shift and not wanted to be there. When I get a chance to engage with families, it’s really interesting and very rewarding. If you’re looking for a place to apply, it’s a great choice. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” Eglington said.

If you’re interested and want to learn more about the roles RMHC-SK are currently recruiting for, visit their website at www.rmh.sk.ca.

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The Sheaf guide to telling your parents you’re getting an arts degree EMILY KLATT

S

Lesia Karalash / Graphics Editor

o you’ve decided that you want to get a Bachelor of Arts. Congrats! You’ve figured out what you want to do with your life — or with the next four years, anyway. Now comes the hard part: telling your parents.

The liberal arts — a broad category of subjects that includes fine art, humanities and social sciences — have gotten kind of a bad rap. When compared to programs like business and engineering, the liberal arts are often written off as impractical and a waste of tuition fees.

Many parents are wary of their children pursuing arts degrees, mostly because they’re worried about a lack of stable job opportunities in the future.

What do you do when you’re passionate about classical, medieval and renaissance studies, but your parents want you to be a mechanical engineer? How do you be honest with them about your BA ambitions?

I’ve come out to my parents exactly twice in my life. The first time I came out, it was as

bisexual. The second time was as an English major. If you can believe it, it was easier to tell them that I like kissing girls than it was to tell them that I plan on getting an arts degree.

You can start by breaking it to them slowly. If you haven’t yet declared your major, most students take a combination of random Arts and Science classes. Tell your parents that you’re just exploring your options and that everyone takes an English or history class in their first year of university anyway. Get them used to the idea that liberal arts are something to be studied, not feared.

Until you feel ready to be totally honest with your parents, use your mandatory science and math classes as a cover.

Almost every BA program at the University of Saskatchewan requires a couple of science credits. Distract Mom and Dad from all of the drama classes on your schedule by emphasizing the fact that you’re also taking the all-important chemistry, which is most definitely a science and even sometimes involves working in a lab — I think.

Reassure your parents that you’ll still be the exact same person as you were before, just with the letters BA at the end of your name. You can even become a doctor like they always wanted you to! Just, you know, a Doctor of Philosophy, not medicine. Sure, maybe you won’t be saving lives, but you’ll be able to analyze what it real-

OPINIONS ly means to be alive in the first place.

It’s important to remind your parents that lots of arts students grow up to become healthy, productive members of society.

They’re our friends and neighbours, our telemarketers and our baristas. Really, liberal arts students are just like everyone else. They wake up, drink coffee, fall in love, start families and — gasp — even get jobs.

In all seriousness, getting an arts degree isn’t something to be ashamed of. In fact, it’s something to be extremely proud of.

Liberal arts classes teach communication, time management and critical thinking — which are all extremely employable skills. Subjects like history and psychology teach us about people and help us understand the world around us. English teaches language.

Art teaches us to appreciate beauty. Regardless of what your parents say, those are some pretty valuable and worthwhile things.

Ultimately, it’s your life. One of the really cool things about becoming a grown up is being able to make choices for yourself and not for other people.

It might not always be easy to admit to your parents that your dreams are different from theirs, but being honest with them is the first step in creating your own fantastic, BA-holding life.

And if all else fails, there’s always law school, right?

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Drop the frat act: Setting a positive example during Welcome Week LIAM DELPARTE

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t’s that time of year again — Welcome Week, where campus floods with disoriented faces, SaskTelsponsored giveaways, and most anticipated by returning students, beer gardens.

This article isn’t waxing for the return of Frosh Week, a time of no-holds-barred debauchery beyond the memory of all but the most senior of students, nor is it asking for a Welcome Week totally devoid of alcohol. What I am asking is that students, both new and returning, approach their alcohol consumption through this week quite critically.

What does having a beer garden front and centre at our Welcome Week mean, and what could be the deeper implications of this promotion?

What, to you, is just catching up with friends you haven’t seen since April over a couple of beers can be perceived quite differently from the other side of the fence.

This is not to infantilize those impressionable first-years who, let’s face it, most likely already drink. Rather, I want to call awareness to the plain fact that your actions are cementing the ties between university social life and alcohol.

The institutional nature of the beer gardens carries the endorsement of the university behind it, and Great Western wouldn’t be sponsoring the event if they didn’t see marketing value in the prevalent links between drinking and the university experience.

I’m not asking you to boycott the beer gardens, and I’m not calling for their removal, I’m just asking you to be aware. Hearing a senior student boasting about skipping

their syllabus classes to down a cold one may seem innocuous, but those claims do not fall on deaf ears. These comments may be humorous between friends, but in combination with media and advertising, they contribute to the normalization of blatantly unhealthy drinking habits.

Whether it’s the beer gardens or an off-campus freshie or a raucous night in the College Quarter, when you’re around people who are facing it all as a brand new experience, it becomes your responsibility to promote healthy drinking habits and include conversations about consent.

Many new students arrive with established unhealthy drinking habits, and while senior students are not necessarily authority figures, their behaviours are on full display. It would be unfortunate to push someone further in the wrong direction in the name of fun. Please be aware that peer pressure exists in forms beyond explicitly telling people to drink.

The University of Saskatchewan continues to make a strong effort to provide opportunities for alcohol-free fun during Welcome Week. On Sept. 7 at 9 p.m., the university’s annual Carless Drive-In will be screening Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. The Office of Sustainability is also putting on their Hike, Bike and Roll event, a used bike sale and active-transportation information session on Sept.

7 in front of the Arts Building. There will also be sponsor-provided activities in the Bowl that don’t involve alcohol.

Is this really enough, though? This year’s three-day Welcome Week festivities come to a close at the climactic Huskies football home opener on Sept. 9, a Friday night.

This is not going to be an alcohol free event, and with no clear alternative, students who have a hard time saying no to alcohol will definitely be drinking.

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It’s undeniable that, going forward, there will continue to be a place for drinking in Welcome Week, and that’s okay. I am in no position to tell anyone that they can or cannot partake. However, with the shadow of a non-university-affiliated back-to-school party that sent four students to the hospital in 2016 looming over us, a conscious effort to provide alternatives to drinking events and to address campus binge-drinking culture is needed from the institution, faculty and students alike.

Open textbooks will provide savings for students LYNDSAY AFSETH STAFF WRITER

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ith the high costs of postsecondary education that students face, access to free textbooks seems like a dream too good to be true. Before you rush to the bookstore this fall, look a little closer at your syllabi. For some students, this dream is becoming a reality.

Over the summer, the University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union along with the Gwenna Moss Centre for Teaching and Learning have been working to create, adapt and adopt more open textbooks into U of S curricula.

Jessica Quan, vice-president academic affairs, has taken on the role of advocate for the open-textbook initiative and will be working throughout the school year to promote the process as well as celebrate the achievements that the university has already made.

Quan explains what the opentextbook initiative entails.

“Open textbooks, simply put, are free textbooks that are made through a collaborative process,” Quan said. “There are three components to implementing open textbooks — creation, adaptation and adoption.”

In the context of open textbooks, each of these terms has a particular meaning.

Creation takes place when a professor

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or faculty member actually writes the textbook for their class. Adaptation is the editing and modifying of existing open textbooks to make them more suitable for a particular class. Adoption is the process a professor undertakes when switching from a regular textbook to an open one.

Open textbooks are a collaborative process in that they have a Creative Commons license, which allows others to access, distribute and borrow from them. There are already open textbooks in universities all over British Columbia and Alberta, and the trend is just starting to take off in the rest of Canada.

Going into the 2017-18 school year, the U of S has 24 available open textbooks, five of which were created by faculty and professors at the university. The courses that have switched to open textbooks range across colleges and departments, existing in the Colleges of Arts and Science, Agriculture, Engineering and the Edwards School of Business.

Four thousand students are currently enrolled in the 24 courses that offer open textbooks, collectively saving nearly a million dollars on course material.

The Gwenna Moss Centre is working with faculty and professors in each department in order to get resources to create and adapt an open-textbook system across the university. Students can access a list of textbooks available at

Jiem Carlo Narag / Photo Editor Open textbooks would mean fewer costly trips to the bookstore.

the U of S on the Gwenna Moss Centre website.

Although there are some challenges, such as the amount of unpaid work that needs to go into creating and adapting open textbooks, Quan believes that the more the university invests in open textbooks, the more accessible they will be to students, which will help offset some of the other major expenses that students face.

“With the budget cuts that the university is taking, our tuition will inevitably go up, and costs will go up, and there’s going to be a lot of different cuts that will affect students,” Quan said. “The least that can be done is to mitigate some other costs that students have to face, such as textbooks.”

Free textbooks for all is a dream that might never fully come true, as some

classes just aren’t conducive to using open textbooks. However, the university is working towards switching most first-year classes to open textbooks, a plan which will create the most savings for students over all.

Anything that the university can do to help ease the financial burden on students is worth pursuing. Open textbooks are already creating savings for students. Even if free textbooks for all classes is an impossible dream, an increase in classes that adopt free textbooks will at least take some of the financial burden off some students.

Four thousand students and a million dollars worth of savings is a great start at the U of S. Hopefully, with the work the USSU and the Gwenna Moss Centre are doing, there will be even more savings next year.

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The root of it all: Digging up interest in student groups EMILY MIGCHELS OPINIONS EDITOR

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ith Welcome Week, Orientation and an uptick in populace inhabiting the tunnel impending, we’ve reached a crucial point for student groups campus wide. They’re all looking for one thing: fresh meat with potential for consistent commitment.

It seems that the one thing plaguing all student groups alike is a growing atmosphere of indifference. Across the board, the struggle to maintain consistent involvement and participation is a common concern.

Whether it be a college association, improv group or pizza-eating club, student groups are a useful and important part of the university experience.

At the University of Saskatchewan, over 130 student groups were ratified as of the 2016-17

academic year. That’s 130 places to find your niche, or for some, 130 potential responsibilities to dodge like a rogue city bus.

Is it a unanimous fear of commitment? Is it a sign of the times? Are we degrading as a society to a state of solely self-motivation, and have we lost all sense of community and togetherness? Do all of these groups just suck once you’re in them?

I think it’s fair to put some of the blame on the plain fact that Canadian universities simply pale in comparison to our southern neighbours when it comes to active participation in campus culture. If you’re new to the U of S campus, let me tell you straight, it’s not much like you’ve seen in movies.

Another culprit might be insecurity. It’s a thing, people experience it, and for some reason, it’s really easy to let it govern your choices. Social obligation is more terrifying than

Lesia Karalash / Graphics Editor

a carnivorous swamp monster taking up residence in the koi pond at Boffins Public House would be. Unfortunately, student groups really only have one setting when it comes to reaching out to people — they’re aggressive and in your face and it’s generally quite uncomfortable to be subjected to. Imagine yourself going out there and pushing participant propaganda in a similar fashion. The thought probably makes you want to puke.

Why do they do it? Why do these ragtag organizations, associations and unions keep trying, when the only thing they seem to be working toward is

securing more members? Is it just some lustful quest to establish power structures in a boundless system? Do people join these student groups for titles?

Yes, student groups and the students who form them can be kind of toxic and cliquey.

Welcome to the world, baby.

People will always find a way to make things suck. Maybe you’re avoiding joining student groups because you don’t think you jive with the type of people who join student groups, but doesn’t that seem like a hasty judgement?

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— I’m talking to you, ambiguous small-town class of 2017 — student groups are a great place to find some purpose in your newly liberated life. Joining a student group can also set you up with a group of older mentors and students to call on for advice.

Here’s the simple truth: student groups are purposeful and worthwhile, if you can put in some time, and you find a way to care about what you’re doing. In my first year, I joined the Arts and Science Students’ Union, because I needed new friends and the dude that gave their presentation at Orientation seemed cool. I’m still not sure what the ASSU really does, but just attending weekly meetings helped me come out of my shell and learn some new skills.

Don’t let the lacklustre get you down, lower your expectations and join whatever interests you even a little bit. The student groups we’ve got aren’t just going to get better, flashier or more fun without your help.

Groups need active members and people who are willing to put a little bit of themselves into something. That’s why those blood-thirsty pamphlet pushers keep harassing you in the hallway and why I hope they never stop.

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OPINIONS / 23

MEET THE SHEAF

T H E S H E A F P U B L I S HI NG S OC I E T Y // AU G U ST 3 1 , 2 0 1 7

Most likely to: Compulsively organize things.

Most likely to: Develop osteoporosis.

Favourite song from Shrek? “My Beloved Monster” by Eels.

Best dad joke: What’s the difference between a crow? One of its legs is both the same.

Useless superpower I’d want: Inserting my USB correctly every time.

Jessica Klaassen-Wright, Editor-in-Chief

Nykole King, News Editor

Age: 25 College of A & S, undeclared, fifth-year (graduated in English)

Age: 22 St. Thomas More College, international studies, fifth-year

Biggest pet peeve: When people leave you on “read.”

Most likely to: Get a Sheaf tattoo.

Most likely to: Die alone.

Weirdest thing I’ve ever eaten: ABC gum.

Average amount of cups of coffee you drink daily: 4-5.

Sometimes I want to quit school and become a: Professional traveller.

What’s your middle name?

William.

Victoria Becker, Outreach Director

Jack Thompson, Sports & Health Editor

Age: 20 College of A & S, Indigenous studies, second-year

Age: 20 College of A & S, English, third-year

Most likely to: Wear socks and Birkenstocks.

Most likely to: Leave you on “read.”

Favourite late-night snack food: Nutella.

Restaurant we should have on campus: Thien Vietnam 3.

Number one travel destination: Italy.

Laura Underwood, Layout Manager

Tanner Bayne, Culture Editor

Age: 28 College of A & S, psychology, fifth-year

Age: 21 College of Arts & Crafts, English, fourth-year

I never go anywhere without: A healthy amount of self-doubt.

Most likely to: Join a cult.

Most likely to: Think the grass is greener.

Netflix go-to: Party of Five.

This song describes my life: “Express Yourself”

by Charles Wright.

If I could trade places with anyone for a day: Howler, the Huskies mascot.

Secret talent: Picking out song samples.

24

I SS UE 02 // VO L . 1 0 9

Jeremy Britz, Web Editor

Emily Migchels, Opinions Editor

Age: 28 College of A & S, fine arts, fifth-year

Age: 20 College of Darts & Science, political studies, third-year

AU G U ST 3 1 , 2 0 1 7

WWW.T H E S H E A F.COM // @ U SAS KS H E A F

MEET THE SHEAF

Meet the 2017-18 Sheaf Staff

Most likely to: Be caught working after midnight.

Most likely to: Become a hermit.

Favourite movie: District 9.

I know all the lyrics to: “Good Riddance (Time of Our Lives)” by Greenday.

Cats or dogs?

Cats.

Lyndsay Afseth, Staff Writer

Amanda Slinger, Copy Editor

Age: 25 College of A & S, political studies, third-year

Age: 29 College of A & S, psychology, second-year

Best study spot on campus: Sixth floor, Murray Library.

Most likely to: Pass out by a bush.

Most likely to: Overthink a most likely to.

What is the last text message you sent? “I didn’t even know it was an option really.”

Penguin or shark?

Penguin.

Least favourite popular song: “Look What You Made Me Do” by Taylor Swift.

Favourite place to cry on campus: Snelgrove Gallery.

Jiem Carlo Narag, Photo Editor

Lesia Karalash, Graphics Editor

Age: 27, but 22 College of A & S, undeclared, fourth-year

Age: 23 College of A & S, fine arts, fourth-year

25

DISTRACTIONS

T H E S H E A F P U B L I S HI NG S OC I E T Y // AU G U ST 3 1 , 2 0 1 7

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thursday $7 burger and a beer

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saturday

I SS UE 02 // VO L . 1 0 9

Back to School Playlist “Crazy” by Yukon Blonde “Danceland (Come With Me)” by the Garrys “We Find Love” by Daniel Caesar “Road Head” by Japanese Breakfast “Freeze Me” by Death From Above “War is Coming (If You Want It)” by Car Seat Headrest “Stoned 2” by STRFKR “Holding On” by the War on Drugs

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AU G U ST 3 1 , 2 0 1 7

WWW.T H E S H E A F.COM // @ U SAS KS H E A F

DISTRACTIONS

Campus schlep actually really likes new Taylor Swift, derails class discussion ARTS BUILDING — While the general response to icon Taylor Swift’s newest album release has been negative, one guy in Philosophy 133 won’t shut up about how it’s a powerful allegory.

Camille Dierkson, a fourth-year kinesiology student, was excited to take the class as an elective. Dierkson said that, while she had been looking forward to learning through peer discussion, the pretentious comments from her classmate turned her off the whole endeavour.

“No one really asked him to offer an opinion; actually, we were talking about Social Contract Theory when

he walked in, turned to the guy on his left and started saying he respected Taylor’s bravery,” Dierkson said.

When asked to elaborate on his opinion, Dierkson reports that the student in question responded theatrically.

“He stood up and screamed ‘I’m a feminist’ three times and left the room. I’m still not sure what that has to do with anything Taylor Swift did,” Dierkson said.

Carl Smith, a sessional lecturer who was teaching the class, reports that the whole ordeal took up approximately 20 minutes of class time.

“I tried to steer the conversation back to the coursework, but he just kept talking. At first, it seemed like everyone was just ignoring him until he got it out of his system, but then he said that her music video was a cool, original concept,” Smith said.

The student was reportedly sporting an expensive Swedish-brand backpack, denim shirt and wore his hair in a tight bun. Reports of a man matching this description have surfaced in political studies, computer science and German classes. All sources say he “seems like the type.”

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