January 30, 2020

JANUARY 30, 2020

The Sheaf Publishing Society

VO L . 1 1 1 , I SS UE 1 9 The University of Saskatchewan’s main campus is situated on Treaty 6 Territory and the Homeland of the Métis.

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YOUR UNI VE R S I T Y O F SAS K ATC H E WA N ST UDE NT NE WS PA P E R S I N C E 1 9 1 2

Huskie athletes hit new highs as season wraps up NYKOLE KING

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

U of S Huskie player Summer Masikewich, #11, shoots for a basket against the Calgary Dinos on Jan. 24, 2020. | Yasmine El-Gayed

Muslims unite to speak truth to power Islam awareness week opens doors for communication and co-operation.

Supplied/ MSA

WARDAH ANWAR

United Islam Awareness Week is an annual event held by the Muslim Students’ Assocation at the University of Saskatchewan in conjunction with four other universities across the west.

The very first UIAW was held in Saskatoon in 2013. So

the foundations of this now national event were laid here in our own city with the University of Saskatchewan being its original host. The first year was the most remarkable as it impacted attendees enough to follow the teachings of Islam.

Now, one might ask why isn’t there a week long event like this for other religions? Why do Islam and Muslims need an event like UIAW?

To answer this question, it is important to understand the various cases of on-campus Islamophobia experienced by Muslim students on a regular basis along with the Blasphemy Day student clash that occured at the U of S in 2012.

In October 2012, the Freethought Alliance set up a booth in the Arts Tunnel and invited students to “trade your soul for a cookie.” There were various pictures of deities posted and even a spin the wheel in order to determine which hell you would go to.

The ‘clash’ occurred because one of the representations of deities was the controversial picture of the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, drawn by a Danish cartoonist. In this illustration, he is depicted as having a bomb under his turban, whereas the other pictures of deities had no negative connotations. The MSA executive of the time

raised concern over that specific picture chosen.

The ‘clash’ ended with the MSA setting up their own table in the Arts Tunnel and facilitating discussions between the two groups. The problem in this scenario is that no one seems to have noticed is that Prophet Muhammad PBUH is not a deity, so him being included with the other deities made absolutely no sense.

This is why UIAW is much needed as people who have no knowledge about Islam or have knowledge from unreputable sources keep making claims about Islam.

This lack of knowledge and misinformation then lead to acts of Islamophobia. Rida Pervaiz, a first year pharmacy student and MSA vice-­president, talks about these acts of Islamophobia on campus.

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While last weekend was a mix of wins and losses, firstand second-year Huskies made their personal bests in basketball, hockey, volleyball, and track and field.

The women’s basketball team came out of the weekend with their first loss of the season.

Playing against the Calgary Dinos, the Huskies came out strong on Jan. 24, winning 66‑38.

The following night, the Huskies honoured their three fifth-year players, Sabine Dukate, Megan Ahlstrom and Vera Crooks. It was a special night for Dukate as she broke into the Canada West’s top 20 for career conference scoring with 1,446 points. To top it off, her mother traveled from Latvia to Canada for the first time to watch her daughter play for the Huskies.

Losing by only a five point margin on Jan. 25, the Huskies still maintain their number one spot in U Sports standings.

Holding strong in second is the Dinos, biting at their heels as both teams head into the weekend with a 15-1 season record.

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At a glance: NEWS

U of S gives first update on the University 3 Plan 2025

SPORTS & HEALTH

Should we be worried 5 about the coronavirus?

FEATURE

Impostor syndrome 8-9 on campus

CULTURE

Kloie Picot on her exhibit Translife in Asia 7

OPINIONS

What is crab mentality?

DISTRACTIONS

12

Crossword

15

NEWS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Nykole King editor@thesheaf.com NEWS EDITOR Ana Cristina Camacho news@thesheaf.com

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USSU’s proposed motion allows international students to run for VP positions International student leaders are dissatisfied with the executive’s proposed solution.

SPORTS & HEALTH EDITOR VACANT sportshealth@thesheaf.com CULTURE EDITOR Tomilola Ojo culture@thesheaf.com OPINIONS EDITOR Erin Matthews opinions@thesheaf.com STAFF WRITER Noah Callaghan staffwriter@thesheaf.com COPY EDITOR J.C. Balicanta Narag copy@thesheaf.com LAYOUT MANAGER Aqsa Hussain layout@thesheaf.com PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR Victoria Becker photo@thesheaf.com GRAPHICS EDITOR Shawna Langer graphics@thesheaf.com WEB EDITOR Minh Au Duong web@thesheaf.com OUTREACH DIRECTOR Sophia Lagimodiere outreach@thesheaf.com AD & BUSINESS MANAGER Shantelle Hrytsak ads@thesheaf.com BOARD OF DIRECTORS Mikaila Ortynsky Laura Chartier Matthew Taylor Sonia Kalburgi Emily Klatt Naomi Zurenvinski

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ADVERTISING (306) 966 8688 EDITORIAL (306) 966 8689 Mission // The mission of the Sheaf is to inform and entertain students by addressing issues 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 into 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.

Land Acknowledgement // The Sheaf acknowledges that our office is built on Treaty Six Territory and the traditional homeland of the Métis.

We pay our respects to the First Nations and Métis ancestors of this place and affirm both the importance of our relationship with Indigenous peoples and students at the U of S and our commitment to recognize and remain accountable for our collective history.

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ANA CRISTINA CAMACHO

NEWS EDITOR

Proposed amendments to the students’ union bylaws may allow international students to hold executive positions. However, the students who have been advocating for this change are upset over the reported lack of consultation over the matter.

The issue of international students being unable to join the University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union executive has been ongoing since the fall of 2019 when María Celeste Nuñez approached the USSU, asking for the bylaws to be revised. The current laws stipulate that an executive member must take up to two classes per term, precluding international students as they must take a minimum of three courses to work.

She then put forward a motion to address the issue at the USSU Annual General Meeting in November. After a lengthy debate, the motion was struck down. The USSU executives made a commitment to meet with the students and create an alternative amendment ahead of a special general meeting on Feb. 6.

Akingbehin Akinwande, president of the International Student Association, says that the executive’s commitment to helping them was not fulfilled. While the executive is putting forward their own motions on the subject, Akinwande says that they were not drafted in consultation with international students.

“We had just one meeting and even that seemed like a lipservice because they weren’t transparent with us at all. For instance we weren’t allowed to read the lawyer’s statements [ahead of time],” Akinwande said. “I wouldn’t say they delivered on that promise because in as much as they made changes … they didn’t meet our demands.”

The USSU did not respond to the Sheaf’s request for a comment in time for publication.

The executive’s motions for the SGM would make it so international students, and any student taking up to three classes per term, can run for the vice-president positions of the USSU. Along with this change, the vice-president positions will be turned into part-time jobs.

The only remaining full-time position will be the president, which will remain inaccessible to international students, among

other students with course credit restrictions.

Akinwande says that although the changes are a step in the right direction, he is not satisfied with this compromise.

“The changes are definitely positive and [some] would argue that it’s a huge progress and [that] although we didn’t get what we expected, we should make some compromise and accept this for now. I personally am not happy with it because this shows how disconnected the USSU is from its members,” Akinwande said.

Akinwande, Nuñez and the other international students involved in the AGM motion attempted to put forward another motion of their own for the SGM. Their proposed amendment addressed the president’s position as well as the vicepresidents’.

However, their proposed amendment was not approved by the USSU lawyers reportedly due to issues with internal consistency. The motion also did not address the fact that if four international students were elected at the same time, the USSU would have to hold by-elections to elect at least one Canadian resident because of provincial non-profit laws.

Akinwande requested to meet with the USSU to discuss why his and Nuñez’s motion was not approved, but no meeting was set with him.

“This for me is very disturbing and makes me question why I am a part of the union,” Akinwande said. “I am only a voice for the thousands of international students who are equal members of this union just as any other student.”

With only the executive’s motions being up for vote at the SGM on Feb. 6, Akinwande is discontent with this seeming end to Nuñez and his efforts in changing the USSU bylaws.

Going forward, Akinwande worries about the relationship between the students’ union and their constituents.

“I don’t really trust the USSU anymore,” Akinwande said. “If this amendment passes then that would mean the USSU … would have its way and do things on its own terms without listening, paying attention or consideration to the voices and demands of the students whose money sustains it.”

Undergraduate students can vote on these motions at the USSU SGM on Feb. 6 at 6 p.m. in Arts 241.

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NEWS

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First update on the University Plan 2025 reports on Indigenization initiatives From now on, the university will give annual updates on the plan in June.

KIENAN ASHTON

Decolonization is one of the key aspirations of the University of Saskatchewan’s current strategic framework. One year into the University Plan 2025, the U of S president and the provost reported on the university’s initiatives towards Indigenization under the plan.

This is the first update since the University Plan was released in October 2018. The institutional plan is intended to guide the university through 2025 towards the goal of being “the university the world needs.” Highlighted in the plan is the priority of Indigenizing programming and “transformative decolonization leading to reconciliation.”

At the December 2019 University Council meeting, President Peter Stoicheff and Provost Anthony Vanelli deliv-

ered the report regarding progress of the University Plan to the council, just over one year since the plan’s launch.

In accordance with the plan’s emphasis on Indigenization, Stoicheff provided examples of how the university has improved programs to include Indigenous content.

Stoicheff highlighted the College of Arts and Science’s focus on recruitment of Indigenous faculty, which has been in the works for at least four years and now has the goal of attracting 30 Indigenous faculty members within 10 years.

Starting in November 2018, the College of Kinesiology and Huskie Athletics partnered with the Saskatoon Tribal Council to develop an Indigenous Youth Leadership program for 50 young athletes.

The College of Medicine has created an Indigenous-led research plan in conjunction

with Indigenous communities that will guide $43 million in research investment through 2024. The College of Education has developed a master’s program in land-based Indigenous education.

At the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy, a program called “honouring Indigenous nations” has been created to conduct research to “support stronger governance and economic outcomes for Indigenous communities.”

The Office of the ViceProvost Indigenous Engagement has been changing the university’s promotion and tenure standards to “recognize Indigenous knowledge, ways of knowing and community involvement.”

The annual report will be the first of many and a website is to be dedicated to demonstrating progress made on the

plan. A more in-depth Indigenous strategic plan is expected to be released within the year to compliment the University Plan.

Other aspirations of the U of S under the plan include fostering “productive collaboration,” having a “meaningful impact,” educating “distinguished learners” and achieving “global recognition.”

In the question period of the president and provost’s report, a council member voiced the opinion that the plan should give more importance to cli-

mate action. In response, Stoicheff said that sustainability is a guiding principle of the plan reflected on the “weave,” the graphic representation of the strategic framework that shows the guiding principles behind the plan.

The next update on the University Plan is tentatively scheduled for February or March. Annual reports about the plan will be published in June and will include information about how the U of S is meeting its goals and benchmarks.

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File | Riley Deacon

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NEWS

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Conference seeks to illuminate a path for women in engineering The Illumination conference will work to empower and open doors for female students.

NATHALIE BAQUERIZO

The International Electronic Electrical Engineering student branch at the University of Saskatchewan is organizing the event Illumination for students to get experience and knowledge on the industry beyond academic knowledge.

The event is promoted to students of engineering, business and computer science, but it is open to all students and alumni. Samia Sami, a fourth year electrical engineering student and co-ordinator of the event, says the conference talks will cover a wider range of subject matters.

“The topics addressed in the speeches are not only for electrical engineering,” Sami said. “One of the speeches is ‘Fail early, fail often,’ and that applies to everyone; anybody can benefit.”

The annual conference has been in operation for almost

4 / NEWS

20 years, organized by electrical engineering students like Sami to encourage conversations with professionals of different industries and academia in a relaxed environment.

The first night of the conference will consist of a wine-and-cheese tasting along with expositions from different groups including the University of Saskatchewan’s Space Team and the U of S Aero Design Team. The second day will bring keynote speakers and a banquet.

This year, the talks are particularly aimed at encouraging women in STEM and promoting equal opportunity in academic areas where it is lacking. Sami says the organizing committee hopes the conference will be a place for female students to learn from professional women in the industry.

“The Illumination committee hopes to build selfconfidence among female engineering students to rec-

ognize the importance of having women work together and share experiences,” Sami said.

With this in mind, the co-ordinators are also inviting high school students to the conference. Women are typically under­- represented in STEM, but Sami says the conference will try to correct this assumption in younger students.

“In the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, usually the ratio of women is very low as compared to the guys,” Sami said. “Therefore this year, to inspire the high school students, we have invited them.”

Sami says a valuable aspect of Illumination is that it gives the students the space to network with professionals in their field of study as well as learn about the trends and research in STEM. This knowledge has reportedly helped past attendees understand the industry better and become a part of it sooner.

Illumination/ Supplied

“Usually second- and third­ - year students are deciding whether they want to go into industry or they want to pursue masters. So for students like that, it's very helpful to meet people in the industry and researchers. Talking to them can help you decide and see what applies to yourself as a student,” Sami said.

“This is also [an opportunity for] graduate students

to meet others and collaborate or even get a job. We have had in the past two people that got a job through Illumination.”

The conference is happening on Feb. 7 and 8 at the Hilton Garden Inn. You can get your tickets in front of Engineering 2C01 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The last day of ticket sales is Feb. 3.

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SPORTS&HEALTH

Global health: Should we be worried about a pandemic?

Outbreaks of new illnesses can be the source of global panic.

ERIN MATTHEWS OPINIONS EDITOR

In late December, reports began to circulate of a “mysterious pneumonia” originating in Wuhan, China, a city of 11 million.

The 27 cases of a “SARS-like illness” were linked to a wet market and thought to be caused by a new coronavirus. By Jan. 28, the illness had spread with 4,500 confirmed infections and 106 deaths. Should we be worried?

With the events changing rapidly and an influx of unconfirmed videos, texts, and tweets filling social media, it’s hard not to feel a sense of panic and ur-

gency. But let’s take a look at what we do know and define a few key things.

Words like “novel,” “coronavirus” and “pandemic” have been floating around, but it may be difficult to decipher the meaning of these terms if you are not familiar.

Novel simply means new and is often used to describe emerging or newly-discovered viruses.

Novel viruses are always monitored with caution because we don’t know how our bodies will respond or the severity of the illness.

This latest outbreak has been confirmed as a novel coronavi-

rus. It is thought to be zoonotic in origin, meaning that it “spilled over” from animals to humans.

Coronavirus is simply a name given to a group of viruses that we come in contact with frequently. These viruses are one of the causes of the common cold, but they are also the source of severe diseases like SARS and MERS. So is this novel coronavirus a possible pandemic?

Pandemic is a term used to describe an outbreak of illness that moves from an isolated pocket to a large global spread. At time of publication, the World Health Organization has yet to declare a global health emergency and hesitates to call the Wuhan outbreak a pandemic.

This is in spite of the fact that it has spread throughout China, triggering an unprecedented travel ban — locking down 17 cities.

With cases reported in 19

countries as of Jan. 27, it is difficult to say if these restrictions will quell the spread of the illness or if WHO will change its mind on an emergency declaration.

While the rapidly increasing numbers are worrisome, let’s put this into perspective. This new coronavirus appears to have a death rate of three per cent which seems to be holding steady even as the number of infections rise. SARS, the illness it is often compared to, had a death rate of 14 per cent.

The United States reported a 10.8 per cent death rate during the peak of the 2018 influenza season. The regular ol’ flu virus — that you don’t feel you need to vaccinate yourself against — is much more likely to kill you. So far anyway.

But how contagious or infectious is this virus? This is estimated by a number called an R₀ or ‘R naught’. While it seems like it’s burning through the population,

WHO has estimated that this virus has an R₀ of 2.5 — meaning that roughly two people will be infected by one person who is ill.

Measles, a disease that is making a roaring comeback due to a lax in vaccination rates, has an R₀ of 12 to 18. This makes it one of the most contagious viruses currently circulating.

It is alright to be concerned about emerging illnesses, especially when deaths are reported, but it’s best to keep everything in perspective. We need to be vigilant about illnesses like this, but panic often complicates an already complicated situation.

Currently, global health agencies and researchers are working to understand and manage the outbreak.

It is still too early to know exactly the direction that this illness may take, but staying informed with sources of reliable information is something we can all do.

Erin Matthews/ Opinions Editor

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SPORTS&HEALTH

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Huskie athletes hit new highs as U of S Dance Team season wraps up competes at world championship The group is preparing to face off against other university teams for the first time.

Two years since the team was formed, the University of Saskatchewan Dance Team has gone on to travel to Orlando for the University Worlds Cheer Championships 2020.

It seemed like a long shot for the pom and jazz section of the team to get the chance to face international competition. In order to be eligible for worlds, the team of 16 went to Lloydminster in December 2019 with a new routine they had to master in only two weeks.

It was well worth the trip as they won their bid and were on their way to UWCC 2020 in mid-January. This is only the second year since the team was created, so the team is looking forward to going up against other university teams, not to mention international competition.

The U of S team placed at the bottom among four teams at the world championship, but the group says it was a positive experience because going against Puerto Rico, Mexico and Florida State was an accomplishment in itself.

“All the points were pretty close so we’re really proud of how we did. And this was our first time at worlds so we weren’t expecting to walk away as World Champions, but we were really happy with our routine and how it looked,” said Jessica Parenteau, a member of the U of S Dance Team.

Parenteau recounts that while all the teams were backstage waiting for the results, the U of S team was dancing. Soon enough, the team from Mexico joined, as did all the other international groups.

“It was just awesome that we didn't even speak the same language, but we all got to come together and just dance. And that’s one thing that all of us knew how to do, and it was just universal,” Parenteau said.

While the Mexican and Puerto Rican team taught them dance moves from their home, the U of S Dance Team taught them how to line dance. Bonding over dancing with the international teams was one of the most memorable parts of the trip for Parenteau.

“We were just so happy. It didn’t even matter if we got fourth or first.

We were just so happy that we got to experience that and enjoy our time there with them,” Parenteau said.

Next up for the team is the Strive Dance Competition in Toronto where they will face teams from across Canada.

NYKOLE KING

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

U of S Huskie player Carly Ahlstrom, #3, going for a layup against the Calgary Dinos at Merlis Belsher Place at Saskatoon, SK on Jan. 24, 2020. | Yasmine El-Gayed

Both hockey teams captured wins this weekend against the UBC Thunderbirds.

NYKOLE KING

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Continued from cover Both the men’s and women’s hockey teams came out victorious against the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds.

Forwards Logan McVeigh and Jared Dmytriw both made five shots that game, landing one each. First-year forward Justin Ball captured two goals on Jan. 25 for the first time in his U Sports career. The Huskies finished the night with a 5-3 win against the Thunderbirds.

While the women’s team scored a combined seven goals over the weekend, top scorer was second-year forward Sophie Lalor who secured one in each game, doubling her goals this season. Second-year netminder

GetMyPhoto.ca/ Supplied

6 / SPORTS & HEALTH

Camryn Drever took over goaltending on Jan. 25 and fought hard to deflect 27 shots, letting only one in the net.

The Huskies women’s volleyball team won back-to-back games against the University of Regina Cougars. Middle Mandi Fraser, who has 1.26 blocks per set and is second in the nation, made 17 blocks this weekend.

Libero Shae Beaulieu is ranked second for digs nationwide and keeps racking them up. Making 58 digs over the weekend, Beaulieu has rounded her number to 300.

The team stays in sixth place in Canada West standings as they travel to Calgary to face off with the Mount Royal Cougars on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1.

Six members of the wrestling team travelled to the Fraser Valley Open, the final tournament

before the Canada West championship. Earning gold was Hunter Lee who is ranked first place in the country for the 90 kg category. Coming in second for their events was Cole Sanderson, Maddie Haney and Mackenzie Alexson.

Staying at home, the Huskies track and field team competed at the Knights of Columbus Saskatchewan Indoor Games last weekend. Tyrell Sawatzky made a personal best by cracking the 15-metre mark for weight throw with 15.23 metre, placing him first in the event.

Michelle Harrison completed the 60-metre hurdles with a time of 8.22 seconds. This is Harrison’s career best as she shaved 17 milliseconds off from her performance last year at the K of C Games. This time also puts her first in the U Sports ranking.

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CULTURE

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Genuinely curious: Kloie Picot on her exhibit Translife in Asia An accomplished photographer discusses her latest work and what her idea of the key to life is.

GABRIELLA FOURIE

For Canadian photographer Kloie Picot, business and pleasure were always mixed.

“I’m not the kind of person who likes to just go to the beach on a vacation or just hang out.

I’ve got too much nervous energy,” Picot said. “So I would always choose a project, research the project and then photograph the project while on my vacation.”

This sentiment has always been on Picot’s mind and did not waver as she travelled across Asia for many years. While perusing the different bars and clubs that the continent had to offer, the local trans communities and performers caught her eye.

After falling in love with the colours, shapes and forms, Picot decided to bring her camera to photograph the drag shows.

From there, she entered a unique world that she would spend years in.

This culminated in the photo gallery which she titled Translife in Asia: A Photographer’s Journey. The exhibit was on display

at the Gordon Snelgrove Gallery from Jan. 20 to 24.

Originally, her work was just for the aesthetic of the shows: the bright colours, bold makeup and high energy of the performers made for eye-catching photos.

But as she spent more time photographing the performers, she began to develop a “symbiotic relationship” with the people she was photographing. Eventually, this led her behind the scenes and allowed her to truly know the people intimately, and capture some of their most intimate moments.

An example of such a moment would be a photograph that Picot took of a trans woman showing her breast lactating — a side effect from the hormones she had been taking. Picot had no previous knowledge that trans women experienced such a thing. She was approached by the woman, and was asked if Picot “wanted to see something funny.”

“What I find is that everybody likes to tell their story because it makes them feel seen,” Picot said. “Especially when you’re a marginalized person and you see somebody who’s interested

in you and isn’t doing it in an exploitative way — their interest is authentic and genuine.”

Picot met many transgender performers and sex workers while hearing their stories and capturing their lives. One story in particular that resonated with Picot was that of a sex worker she met in Malaysia who has been in the industry for around 30 years.

“Her story really hit home, and her authenticity and resilience inspired me to also be authentic and resilient,” Picot said.

Authenticity and curiosity are exactly what she hopes to inspire her audiences. She strives to show them that people are just people across borders and genders, that people always have the capacity to bounce back after tragedy.

“We just have to be careful of judging others because we don’t know what they’ve lived.

We don’t know how they got there. And I’ve been in a war. I’ve photographed war, I’ve photographed really marginalized folk and really terrible situations, and people are resilient,” Picot said.

“And when you find people

Kloie Picot poses in front of one of her photographs on display in Translife in Asia: A Photographer’s Journey on Jan. 24, 2020. | Tomilola Ojo/ Culture Editor

who are marginalized, or in war or homeless, they have their community, and it’s their community that keeps them together.

That keeps them alive.”

In the future, Picot isn’t too certain where her camera will take her next.

“There are so many I’d like to look at too. My whole goal is to go back to the Middle East and work with children with trauma from war. So that’s kind of where I see myself going. So I need to learn more Arabic and that kind

of thing. But for now, I just want to get this book together,” Picot said, referring to her written work on translife in Asia.

Wherever Picot ends up, she’ll always have a genuine interest in whoever is in front of the camera.

“The key to anything — as a photographer, as a traveler, as a student, as a teacher, as anything — is curiosity,” Picot said. “That’s the key that opens any door — being genuinely, authentically curious about someone else.”

Wu-Tang co-founder GZA warmly welcomed by fans during Winterruption The pioneering hip hop artist’s live rendition of his acclaimed album shows he’s still lyrically sharp after 25 years.

Coupdoreille.fr/ Flickr

NOAH CALLAGHAN STAFF WRITER

The Broadway Theatre made the fifth year of the Winterrup-

tion music festival truly memorable by booking GZA, one of the nine founding members of the Wu-Tang Clan, for a live performance of his debut solo

album Liquid Swords.

As part of the album’s 25th anniversary tour, the musician made a stop at the Coors Event Centre on Jan. 23 to deliver an onslaught of lyrical proficiency to old and young Wu fans alike.

Following the success of their 1993 breakout album Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), the American hip hop group released a series of solo projects that have received endless critical acclaim.

Method Man’s Tical, Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s Return to the 36th Chambers, Raekwon’s Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…, Ghostface Killah’s Ironman and GZA’s Liquid Swords all contributed to cementing the clan’s legacy as a powerhouse in the genre.

Goontown, the local hip hop duo opening the show, properly warmed up the audience with some passionately delivered boom bap styled raps. A perfect choice to welcome the East Coast legend to the stage.

GZA then appeared to the iconic but unsettling sound of Liquid Swords’ synthesized rhythms and gave a thrilling performance of “Shadowboxin’.” Within this first song, GZA quickly demonstrated that

nearly three decades of experience have only strengthened his cadence and verbal prowess on the microphone Also known as “The Genius,” GZA lives up to this name through the complexity of his verses overflowing with deviously clever rhymes, similes and metaphors, and vivid imagery. One research project that quantified the lyrics of famous hip-hop artists revealed that GZA had the largest vocabulary of any rapper from the 1990s era and the fourth largest of all time.

Rather than a half­ -hearted delivery one might expect from a 53-year-old musician, GZA’s powerful voice and commanding stage presence shows that he may have never left his prime. The live performance of Liquid Swords was a flawless recital, and the only words to be missed by GZA were intentional opportunities for the crowd to sing along.

While GZA spent most of the concert performing, he did briefly pause the show to preach the truth to the concert goers saying, “This place is as cold as a motherfucker, but you’re all probably used to it by now.”

But the head boppin’ audience was treated to more than just songs from Liquid Swords, as GZA incorporated other Wu-Tang classics like “Protect Ya Neck,” “Wu-Tang Clan Ain’t Nuthing Ta F’ Wit,” and an immaculate cover of ODB’s “Shimmy Shimmy Ya” into his performance.

Besides the fan’s cheers and applause, one exceptional concert goer showed Saskatoon’s love for the artist by giving GZA a hand-made beaded necklace of the Wu-Tang logo before his final song.

While autographing records and clothing after the show, GZA told the Sheaf that he loved the necklace and thought it was an “awesome” present.

When asked about what it meant to be so well received in a Prairie city like Saskatoon after all these years, GZA said, “[It’s been] a lot of work, dedication and hard times and when we get love back and respect from the fans, I appreciate it.”

“And I appreciate the people who have been following us for so many years and that we are still able to do shows like this twenty-some years later.”

CULTURE / 7

FEATURE SOPHIA LAGIMODIERE OUTREACH DIRECTOR

Whether you are a student, faculty or staff member on campus, feelings of unworthiness run high in academia.

This psychological phenomenon is known as impostor syndrome, which can be defined as an individual’s consistent fear of being exposed as a fraud and an inability to internalize accomplishments.

In 1978, Pauline Rose Clance and Suzanne Imes first coined the term in an article titled “The Impostor Phenomenon in High Achieving Women.” This phenomenon is unique because it is common among those who are

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high achieving and successful, and shouldn’t be equated with low self­-esteem or confidence.

While impostor syndrome is more common among those with marginalized backgrounds, it is experienced by those in all walks of life.

In exploring this issue, I spoke to a PhD student in chemistry, a university librarian, an agriculture undergrad student and a pharmacy faculty member to hear their personal experiences.

From the outside, these individuals seem to have it all together. Despite their external successes, however, they all have experienced impostor syndrome.

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

Addressing the e in the room:

Impostor syndrome By starting a conversation on campus, members of the community can learn how to navigate impostor syndrome.

Eliza Mae Acode sits for a photo at the U of S Agriculture Building in Saskatoon, SK on Jan. 15, 2020. | Heywood Yu

Horticulture undergraduate student Eliza Mae Acode Acode is a fourth-year horticulture science student. She is currently doing her thesis while volunteering regularly for non-profit organizations.

She was co-chair for two years with the refugee resettlement organization World University Service of Canada. She also worked for the university for two years while in school, helping international students and organizing cultural celebration events. Currently, she is a mentor at WUSC and is employed with the Government of Canada.

She first heard of impostor syndrome when she was having dinner with a friend a few years ago.

“I was telling her my experience of this volunteer work…

I was with grad students and masters [students], PhD people and professors,” Acode said. “I felt like I don’t deserve to be with this group of people.”

Before organizing a cultural event, Acode’s manager sat her down to compliment her work. It was then that she realized her experience with impostor syndrome.

“He sat me down and said ‘Eliza, you’re in this position right now because we really think you can do it. We see something in you.’ I got really emotional in front of him… It was just kind of a wake-up conversation,” Acode said.

She says that being an immigrant has led her to have high standards for herself. Acode is careful when speaking English as it is not her first language. Acode also believes that the university needs to talk more about impostor syndrome.

“Open your vulnerability to people. Some people are not ready to face that but I realized that it could be a good thing because people can relate to you,” Acode said. “One of my mentors said before, ‘you can accomplish more than you think.’”

8 / FEATURE

Josseline Ramos-Figueroa stands for a photo at the U of S Thorvaldson Building in Saskatoon, SK on Jan. 16, 2020 | Heywood Yu

PhD candidate in chemistry Josseline Ramos-Figueroa Ramos-Figueroa came to Canada from Perú over five years ago for graduate school. She is a PhD candidate researching the interface of chemistry and biology. Additionally, she is a helper with the Student Learning Services’ Grad Peer Mentor program.

After researching impostor syndrome for a peer mentor workshop she was co-leading, Ramos-Figueroa began to reflect on her own experiences with the phenomenon.

“I found that along all my years of my PhD, all of the different times I felt that I didn’t recognize it or how it was affecting my behaviors,” Ramos-Figueroa said. “That’s why I think, ‘Oh my god, I would have tried harder,’ you know?

I would have tried to think differently.”

There were moments while in grad school that she did not understand the experiments she had to do. She says that impostor syndrome can limit individuals from reaching their full potential because of fear.

“I just gave up… I didn’t research further because I thought ‘I’m just not good enough,’”

Ramos-Figueroa said. “I [felt] like I didn’t probably belong to the scientific community or chemistry community.”

Being an immigrant intensified those feelings. She says that for grad students, their personal conditions can act as barriers to success.

“You have to overcome different things like language barriers. You have to find a new group of people. How are the new kind of societal guidelines? Even though you think they’re not that important, it adds up,” RamosFigueroa said. “It isolated me.”

Self-reflection was the tool that helped Ramos-Figueroa address her impostor syndrome. She says that there has to be a mindshift where an individual reframes how they think about themselves.

“Just get it out of you and find that everybody’s feeling that way [too],” Ramos-Figueroa said. “Even if you’re doing hard work to reach a goal, it’s still an accomplishment. You’re working for it. You still don’t recognize the strength that you’re putting into doing that time.”

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FEATURE

elephant

e on campus Jaris Swidrovich sits for a photo at the U of S Health Sciences Building in Saskatoon, SK on Jan. 21, 2020. | Heywood Yu

Assistant professor in pharmacy Jaclyn McLean stands for a photo at the U of S Murray Library in Saskatoon, SK on Jan. 15, 2020. | Heywood Yu

Assistant electronic resources librarian Jaclyn McLean McLean manages all of the online collections of the library, the budget for the collection and negotiates all the licenses, among other responsibilities.

Three years ago, McLean gave a presentation about impostor syndrome titled The Elephant in the Room: Imposter Syndrome and Librarian Researchers after having experienced it early in her career.

McLean says that university librarians, as faculty members, must conduct research despite their master’s program not being thesis based. This, in turn, is why McLean believes the syndrome is commonly seen in librarians.

While she still sometimes agonizes over small flaws in her work, McLean has moved past those feelings of being an impostor.

“As you know yourself and you build some level of confidence in what you do, you start to realize that … the details you might agonize about are things that no one else is even going to notice,” said McLean.

Impostor syndrome can be experienced by anyone even if they are perceived as successful. It is especially common when comparing yourself to others.

“The grass is always greener, right? You can see all of the flaws in your yard but it’s hard to see someone else’s,” McLean said. “You can only see that person’s accomplishments because nobody wants to brag about the things that go wrong.”

But McLean discovered that people who experience impostor syndrome tend to be passionate and caring about their work, which could explain why so many motivated, high-achieving individuals resonate with the phenomenon.

On the flip side, she thinks that impostor syndrome could lead to burnout if a person believes that they are not deserving of success unless they reach that edge. McLean says that there needs to be a balance to combat this.

“In order to do a good job, I have to be a good person. I have to fill my own cup. If your cup is empty, you can’t do a good job at anything,” McLean said.

But academia can be an environment where people can start to feel incompetent. McLean says that students are graded and therefore hesitant to admit that they don’t feel good enough. Similarly, faculty members want to seem confident because of competition for grants.

She believes that talking about impostor syndrome more openly helps individuals get past it and feel less alone.

“As soon as you start talking about it, other people will have had experiences on it, right?” McLean said. “You realize that it’s actually quite universal. And it can make you feel less alone. And I think the more we talk to each other about where we don’t feel strong or confident, it can eliminate those barriers.”

Jaris Swidrovich Swidrovich is an assistant professor in the College of Pharmacy currently doing a PhD in education. He is well-recognized for being the first self-identified Indigenous doctor of pharmacy in Canada, and first and only self-identified Indigenous faculty member of pharmacy in Canada.

Meeting him at his office, the various awards and diplomas on the wall were telling of his accomplishments. Yet he also struggles with internalizing his success.

Not only has he been recently invited by the University of Manitoba as a program consultant, he has also been asked to be a keynote speaker multiple times and is responsible for creating an online resource guide for pharmacists across Canada.

Swidrovich feels an immense amount of responsibility in his position to deliver correct information to his students. He finds himself constantly questioning his place and often being self-critical.

“Sometimes it can be quite exhausting. But at the end of the day, I don't know who else will share this particular voice within my profession,” Swidrovich said.

Academic scholars with impostor syndrome often fear being an intellectual fraud. This was one factor driving him to begin his PhD in education as he wanted the qualification despite already being asked to offer his expertise on how to Indigenize pharmacy education.

“Are you actually thinking that I am like ‘oh yeah I’m awesome’. Cause that’s not how I feel,” Swidrovich said. “Probably which is why I continue to get more degrees, feeling like I need to do more.”

He admits that he still struggles with receiving compliments but says it’s different from being humble. Swidrovich says that a person who experiences impostor syndrome truly does not believe the compliments being told to them.

The academic environment is very competitive, which could fuel feelings of impostor syndrome because you are constantly compared to your peers. The system is designed to weight your success against others.

“To publish anything, your peers have to review it before it even gets published in a journal. To get promotion or tenure or merit points, that’s done based on a comparison between you and your colleagues all the time,” Swidrovich said.

Swidrovich struggled with navigating his Indigenous identity and says it plays a role in his feelings of impostor syndrome. Having both European and Indigenous ancestry, Swidrovich grew up thinking he was Métis but later learned he was actually status First Nation, despite having a Ukrainian father.

“I acknowledge I’m a white-presenting status First Nations person, which has a whole lot of considerations just to that… People will question the validity of my identity,” Swidrovich said.

“Even if you don’t look what people determined to be the look of an Indigenous person ... you might have an entirely Indigenous way of living and being and thinking and doing, but the world doesn’t see you as that. And that’s the interface where I find myself,” Swidrovich said.

He believes that it will take time for the university to further improve, but we need to see more women, black, Indigenous and people of colour at all levels on campus. More newcomers, immigrants and refugees. More queer and transgender people. More people with disabilities.

“There needs to be more visibility of all of those walks of life,” Swidrovich said. “Let’s celebrate all of these diversities and in ways that truly honor and centre the experience and contributions of those people versus tokenistic approaches.”

He hopes that individuals from a variety of backgrounds experiencing impostor syndrome know that they are not alone and that these feelings are common.

“I’m still working on accepting my own advice, which is ‘You belong. Period.’” Swidrovich said. “You belong here. You belong in all places and spaces for where you are. Wherever you find yourself to be, that’s where you belong. And even the places you haven’t found yourself to be yet, you belong there, too.”

FEATURE / 9

CULTURE

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Age of climate change: The most anxious generations face eco-anxiety How do we deal with the fears that the climate crisis is raising in the next generation?

W h e n you’re fighting for something you care deeply about, it’s easy to get emotionally invested into what could happen if you don’t win that fight.

This is the fear going through the heads of millennials and gen z as they fight for climate justice. These generations have by far been the most active and vocal in the fight against climate change, likely because they’ll be the first ones to experience the significant effects in their lifetime.

The fear of being unable to reverse or halt the changing climate or protect the environment is called eco-anxiety, and no generation has felt it as much as millennials and gen z kids do.

Though gen z is giving them a run for their money, millennials remain the most anxious generation for many reasons. There’s the issue of unprecedented political and economic instability, not to mention the constant developments in technology.

Though other generations might have also felt the effect of all these factors, millenials are experiencing eco-anxiety in unprecedented numbers. For them, the climate crisis raises questions such as whether it is moral to bring children into an unfit world and whether there is a point in working towards a future you might not be able to live in.

These issues come up in the HBO show Big Little Lies. In season two, episode three, we see a discourse arise over teaching grade two students about the dangers of climate change after a student collapses from a panic attack during a class discussion on the topic.

In reaction to this, we see Renata, the mother of the collapsed child, argue that eight-year-old children are too young to be learning about climate change and in turn, their own mortality.

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Alternately, the principal of the school argues that climate change is a reality that the next generation has to face, so it needs to be deconstructed so that the children can process it.

It’s easy to understand the perspective of a concerned mother who does not want her young child collapsing from anxiety because of talk of the deteriorating state of our planet. Youth are being forced to confront their own mortality at a very young age, and this is taking a toll on their mental health.

However, as the principal argues, youth do have a right to learn about what is going on and the steps that need to be taken to fix the problem — especially because they’ll be the ones inheriting the issue. And as we see with the growing numbers of teenage activists in the news, children do have an interest in taking these matters into their own hands.

While children cannot be kept completely blind to the issues concerning the world they will inherit, the method of teaching chosen in the show — having the students listen to and repeat worrying facts about climate change — wasn’t handled well according to experienced climate educators Maria Ghiso and Jungwon Kim. According to these professionals, starting small with digestible facts is key to teaching young people about climate change. Involving their schools in the education is also vital, as this is where children spend a lot of their time.

Most importantly, sharing success stories of victories won in the fight against climate change will show that the situation isn’t hopeless and help them avoid anxiety. Finally, show them how they can get involved so they are actively fighting the issue.

Eco-anxiety isn’t going anywhere because climate change isn’t going anywhere. However, there will always be ways to keep it under control.

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Netflix scores: The trauma behind a killer pro-athlete This true-crime show hooks viewers with captivating twists and an inside look at the world of football.

VICI HERBISON

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Just because the Patriots aren’t going to the Super Bowl this year doesn’t mean that they’re out of the spotlight. Netflix’s latest addition to its plethora of true crime documentary series reignites crucial discussions surrounding violence, toxic masculinity and football.

Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez tells the story of former New England Patriot Aaron Hernandez who, in 2013, was arrested for the murder of Odin Lloyd and later indicted for the 2012 double homicide of Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado.

This three episode docuseries is not Netflix’s first rodeo when it comes to true crime. Similar to other popular Netflix true crime series such as Making a Murderer, Killer Inside is full of suspense and intrigue, enthralling viewers with twists and cliffhangers that will keep audiences at the edge of their seat.

However, the series still feels new and creative, taking the basic formula of discussing a subject’s life in true crime documentaries and combining it with a critical look into the systemic, damaging problems that plague football culture. Even if you are familiar with the story of Aaron Hernandez, details about Hernandez’s life and the inner workings of football allow for surprise and emotional investment.

The series is centred around Hernandez’s trials, cutting back and forth to different points in Hernandez’s life while never giving away big twists prematurely. Despite being told in a predominantly non-linear fashion, the series is not hard to follow as viewers are often reminded of the narrative’s timeline to avoid confusion.

Though it focuses on two vicious crimes, the series itself

is not particularly gruesome.

The murders are discussed and some crime scene photos are shown, but there is nothing too grisly. If you’re a fan of true crime but a bit squeamish, this series should suit you just fine.

The story of Hernandez’s life and trials is recounted through interviews with lawyers, journalists, former football players and other people who knew Hernandez personally. These various perspectives allow for not only an understanding of Hernandez from a criminal and judiciary standpoint but also of his history, his past and his character.

It is vital for a good documentary to have a balance between the legal and the personal in order to both tell an accurate account of the story but also to make audiences care about what they are watching.

It is easier to care about something that you become emotionally invested in, even when it comes to television shows. Killer Inside encourages a mixture of emotions from viewers, suggesting that feelings of anger, sorrow, disdain and sympathy are all valid when watching this series.

In particular, the audio of phone calls from Hernandez to his friends and family while in prison are played intermittently throughout the episodes. These moments on the phone are the most complex human depictions of Hernandez in the series, allowing a further glimpse into his psyche. It’s hard not to listen to some of those calls and feel such sadness and frustration at the lives lost and torn apart due to greed and violence.

The more complete image of Hernandez in this series does not condone his violent behaviour. It encourages the audience to think about the impacts of repression, of trauma, of not having a healthy support system.

ph ic s

Ed ito r

While sympathy is felt most strongly for the victims and their families, this series challenges its audience to rethink the idea of who is a victim. Is it those who lost their lives and loved ones to violence? Absolutely.

And what about those who get hurt in the name of capitalism and entertainment? Those who die so corporations can keep making money? What kind of victims are they? Do they deserve our sympathy?

Killer Inside appears to argue that they do.

The telling of Hernandez’s life — from childhood, to college, to the NFL, to his arrest — gives the audience a sense of how someone who appears successful can have a dark side.

It ask audiences important questions of how abuse, stress and physical injury contribute to a descent into violence.

These may feel like uncomfortable questions, but Killer Inside shows viewers that sometimes, it’s crucial to ask difficult questions if we want to change harmful systems.

The tremendous amount of

pressure inflicted on athletes at both a college and professional level can force players, coaches and communities to make poor decisions, which may be lucrative but harmful to the players.

This pressure ingrains in players the idea that they need to stay in the game, playing through injuries and concussions. Like many recent criticisms of athletics, this series highlights the detriment of chronic traumatic encephalopathy — a neurodegenerative disease caused by repetitive head injuries. The series shows the damaging impact of years and years of physical trauma.

While the series also valuably discusses the horrific homophobia present in football culture, it’s almost as if the show wants to have its cake and eat it too. The series criticizes the media’s focus on Hernandez’s sexuality both during and after his trials.

However, the series does discuss Hernandez’s sexual history in detail to the point where it seems to be presenting his sexuality as a salacious

topic. It would have been effective enough to shed light on the impacts of being raised in a homophobic environment and existing in the hyper­ masculine world of football rather than focusing so heavily on his sexuality.

This documentary shows the kind of positive, supportive communities that can be created by the sport while reminding audiences that we can no longer feign ignorance about the detrimental, permanent damage football players accumulate over their athletic careers.

While Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez does not make excuses for violence and murder, it never lets its audience forget that there is a connection between violent behaviour and trauma.

Whether you’re familiar with the story of Aaron Hernandez or not, if you’re a fan of true crime or of sports and you have three hours, give this series a watch. You may be surprised by what you learn and the questions you’re left grappling with.

CULTURE / 11

OPINIONS

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What is crab mentality?

Crabs and humans can share a self-destructive vision of success, but it doesn't have to be this way.

KRISTINE JONES A. DEL SOCORRO

The term “crab mentality” is a popular phrase among Filipinos and was first coined

by Ninotchka Rosca, a Filipina feminist, author, journalist and human rights activist.

Crab mentality simply refers to a person’s behaviour of undermining or sabotaging anyone who succeeds or shows potential for success greater than their own.

Imagine this: you are at your local supermarket and you are looking for something to eat other than the lastminute impulse order from SkipTheDishes. You reach the produce section and something catches your interest in the aquariums filled with live sea creatures.

The one filled with crabs holds your attention a little longer than the others — there’s something going on other than their predetermined plate — I mean, fate.

You notice how over­ crowded the aquarium is, and if you just observe a little

closer, you realize that a few of the crabs are making their way to the top while climbing on top of another.

Some make it to the very top of the aquarium, climbing on the backs of others.

And while trying to reach the next level, another crab takes a claw to its body and down they go, back to the bottom.

Amused, you decide to purchase one to take home and eat.

As you clean up after the delicious meal, you began to think about what you saw earlier at the supermarket and suddenly, a lightbulb turns on. You realize that the image of the crabs climbing and dragging each other down can be synonymous to the greedy and competitive side of human nature.

This is crab mentality — and the effects are detrimental for anyone involved.

From a career perspective, the promising future of a worker at a corporation can plummet while climbing the corporate ladder.

Or a small-business owner

can suffer from a smearcampaign orchestrated by their competitors. And for the victim of slander, it can take a toll on many aspects of their life.

In these instances, an individual’s self-esteem is likely to be diminished given to the extreme beating they took. In addition to that, relationships can often be jeopardized in the haze of crab mentality with individuals experiencing trust issues and isolating themselves from their loved ones. Once clawed, twice shy.

The abusers — the king crabs, if you will — may very well be their own worst enemy. Trapped in a perspective that focuses only on the negative, it would seem as if anywhere they go, nothing is to their satisfaction.

Communication and willingness for conflict resolution are the key ingredients into fixing this shaky foundation.

Being genuinely happy and content with yourself and your station in life, while another individual seems like

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they are “further ahead” is a good indicator of someone who is positive and self­ assured.

Humans are social beings, and we need people in order to adapt, grow and thrive in any environment that we are in. A sense of inclusivity and community is a must.

Ed ito r

Let us put a stop to the idea that we must tear each other down in order to attain something as impermanent as social hierarchy. Intead, let us redefine success and focus more on longevity. This shift in focus is better for our own well-being and relationships with others.

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Alone but not lonely As I reach the ripe age of 25, I can’t help but reminisce about how I came to this conclusion.

J.C. BALICANTA NARAG

COPY EDITOR

We’ve reached a point of exhaustion in the school year where we may begin to isolate ourselves — at least, that’s how I feel. But in times that you feel lonely, or maybe you just don’t want to be alone, know that you are not the only one. I’ve experienced it as well.

It was undeniable how tough my first year in university was. Coming out of high school with the worst habits for studying led me to fail several of my classes. Little did I know that my studying habits were nothing but the tip of the iceberg.

I was enamored with the socialite lifestyle, which allowed me to party and befriend everyone I came across. It was foolish to think that college life was about drinking, partying and nothing more. I was with friends every day and every night.

I was never alone. I never wanted to be, anyway.

That year was a time of change. I transitioned from a small community where my

surroundings seldom changed to a vast environment filled with new people to meet, new experiences to feel and new opinions to hear. It was overwhelming, but being with friends and classmates helped me cope with the burden of a whole new world.

When my friends started to be busy with other plans that didn’t always include me, I sometimes found myself alone with my thoughts.

In my times of solitude, I was accompanied by loneliness.

As I spiralled downwards, the deeper I associated isolation with feelings of emptiness and sadness. This line of thinking grew as more of my friends became busy. I was not in the best mental health space.

It wasn’t until one of my friends asked me what was wrong that I realized something was definitely not right.

That’s when the walls came tumbling down — I was in my third year of university. After what seemed like hours of endless crashing thoughts and slurred speech, she said only a few words that brought me out of a sea of unconscious reverie.

“You’ve destroyed yourself enough,” my friend said. “You can start building yourself again.”

In the midst of all these changes around me, I neglected to realize that I was also changing. There were parts of me that were the foundation for who I am. As it turns out, I was subconsciously demolishing them with a sledgehammer. It was the moment my friend asked me what was wrong that I realized I had nothing else left in me to destroy.

From then on, I focused on building myself again. That was when I found solitude in being secluded. I went on a winter hike in the northern woods with one of my friends.

There was a time that he was far ahead of me, and I was alone in the middle of nowhere. I stood still, scared of my own irrational thoughts — but they never came.

I felt at peace.

That was when I realized that aloneness is not loneliness. A study into how adolescents view their feelings of loneliness found that they de-

Ana Cristina Camacho/ News Editor

scribed it as a lack of emotional support paired with sadness and hopelessness. Aloneness, in contrast, is seen as a “temporary state” as opposed to a “pervasive feeling.”

This definition helped me to differentiate when I am actually feeling lonely from the feeling of just wanting to be alone.

I recognize that my experience is personal and that others may feel different. So, if you are experiencing lone-

liness, don’t hesitate to seek help. Emotional support can do more than you may think.

If you feel scared or confused as the end of your first year approaches, keep on. You will eventually find what you seek. In a world of hustle and bustle, it is easy to be overwhelmed. Other than that, there’s not much else to say than a few more words that I hope will help.

Don’t give up.

Muslims unite to speak truth to power Islam awareness week opens doors for communication and co-operation.

U of S MSA /Supplied

WARDAH ANWAR

Continued from cover “I have recently found out three sisters were confront-

ed by this one man who told them to remove their hijab, that [they] don't have to wear [their] hijab on campus,” Pervaiz said.

Acts and threats like these threaten the safety of Muslim

students on campus and creates fear. Just last year, a man threatened to come to the Bowl and execute “Saudi leaders.” He was taken into custody.

Current MSA executives, Iqra Khan and Pervaiz, re-

call the Québec City mosque shooting, which happened during the UIAW events of 2017. They spoke of how the shooting affected them, making them realize the true power and importance in having these kinds of weeks.

“After the Christchurch shootings and the Québec shooting, there’s been an increase of fear in the Muslim students on campus,” Pervaiz said.

This year, the organizers wanted to tackle the issues and misconceptions at the core of Islam with more emphasis than in previous years. This resulted in the theme for this year — “Radical Islamic Honesty: Changing the Narrative.” The topics covered over the week were: Qur’an Burning Doubt, Is Jihad Lit? Yours Truly, Muhammad PBUH, Killing Us Softly and The Triple Threat.

MSA president and second year Arts and Science student Abdirahman Ali sees UIAW as a chance for Muslim students to reclaim the narrative and celebrate their religion.

“It is a chance for us to speak

the truth about Islam, on our own terms, as it is taught in the Qur’an and the Prophet PBUH, and most of all, it’s a chance for us to have that confidence and be proud about the beautiful teachings of this religion,” Ali said.

People help make UIAW a success every year. With many volunteers and attendees from all the universities, UIAW is about representation. It is not everyday that you see Muslims reclaiming their narrative and inviting speakers from all over the world.

UIAW empowers the identity of Muslims at the U of S and across the other four universities that take part in the activities of the week. There is always a wonderful crowd that come to learn and support the event.

“One thing that always sticks with me … is how engaging the crowds are,” Ali said. “Everyone is critical, whether they’re Muslims or non-Muslims, about issues in our society and how they frankly have questions. They’re not just following blindly. Now, those questions get answered.”

OPINIONS / 13

OPINIONS

T H E S H E A F P U B L I S HI NG S OC I E T Y // JA NUA RY 3 0, 2 02 0

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

A “shorts” story: Winter faux or winter fail?

A look at the trending fashion of students in residence.

YASHICA BITHER

Shawna Langer/ Graphics Editor

14 / OPINIONS

Winter in Saskatchewan is like none other. With its harsh windchill and pure grey sky, it’s an excuse to stay home — except if you happen to live on campus.

Living in residence is a whole other experience compared to living off-campus.

First of all, there is the number of people surrounding you, secondly, the food is not great, and most recently, the fashion has been wild.

There are three main residences on campus. Voyageur Place is located directly on campus with access to all the buildings through the tunnels. Then there’s College Quarter, the residence across from the Stadium Parkade.

And lastly, you can find McEown Park tucked further behind, just off of Aird street.

The last two are technically off-campus since you still have to walk to school. It’s much closer than where most students live, but you need to bundle up when walking to school especially when temperatures drop like they did earlier this month.

However, those lucky VP residents don’t have to step outside to access anything on campus since they can hit the tunnels to most of the buildings around campus — RIP to people with classes in the Education Building. Because of this easy access, many residents can be seen wearing summertime gear in the dead of winter They wear nothing but shorts, t-shirts and flip-flops year-round. Hell, sometimes

they even wear tank tops when it’s -30 degree Celsius.

But is it okay for them to wear this fashion when the rest of us are bundled in two sweaters, a jacket and a million other accessories to keep us warm?

To be fair, it’s understandable that they continue to sport last year’s summer fashion. They can continue to wear shorts without feeling the windchill eat away at their legs because they never have to step outside.

But for the rest of us who have to commute to school, we’re often stuck with battered, bright red legs after our brisk jaunt to campus despite having our legs fully covered.

This seems unfair. We continue to suffer with the cold and have to be reminded of the lost summer days whenever we see a VP kid shuffling through the tunnels in flipflops.

Saskatchewan weather is unpredictable at best. When we do experience a little summer, we try our best to make the most of it. So to be reminded of that brief time period where we aren’t covered in grandma's sweaters and long johns feels like a stab in the heart.

Of course, everyone is welcome to wear whatever the hell they want but at the same time, be reasonable. It’s Saskatchewan and winter here lasts forever.

Ditch the winter shorts and flip-flops combo and sub for a fuzzy robe and furry slippers — let’s all suffer together. Enjoy the warmth, VP kids. I hope none of you have a lecture in Quance Theatre.

JA NUA RY 3 0, 2 0 2 0

DISTRACTIONS

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

CROSSWORD Guess the theme!

Across 1) Odin’s day 6) Jason Vorhees’ day 7) On fire 8) The day of the sun 10) The British drink 11) Max and Nev, hosts 12) Aquaman’s weapon 14) Alaskan all-purpose knife 15) Her wove, jumbled 16) A rare round object 17) Also called “turf ” 18) A person who makes slow progress

Down 20) Approached by someone 22) Whichever, Nay? 23) The day of the moon 25) An old car in a dilapidated condition 27) A logo 28) To enter

2) The light of day yesterday 3) Help (3) 4) A stranger 5) Numerous 7) To steal tomorrow’s happiness 8) Saturn’s day 9) Old man 10) Thunor’s day 13) Related to Mars, day 19) Drink, Bombay 21) Moodir? or ancient racetracks 23) Mother 24) Passed away 26) Peas in a what?

DISTRACTIONS / 15

T H E S H E A F P U B L I S HI NG S OC I E T Y // JA NUA RY 3 0, 2 02 0

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

U S S U B A C K PA G E February 1, 2020 9 am - 4:30pm

USSU Volunteer Orientation Training

Neatby Timlin Theatre (Arts 241) Attendance is mandatory for all USSU volunteers, but who doesn't want to have some fun with us?

Cost: FREE to all USSU Volunteers Stop by any of the USSU Centres or contact the Help Centre coordinator for more information email helpcentre@ussu.ca or call 306-966-6982

PrideCentre University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union

UPCOMING LOUIS

EVENTS

USSU PARTICIPATE IN THE

SPECIAL

GENERAL

MEETING FEB 6, 2020

6 PM TNHEEAATTBRYETIMLIN

(ARTS 24

BRING YOUR STUDENT CARD POP & PIZZA PROVIDED! F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N V I S I T U S S U . C A

1)