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August 25, 2016
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Ready to read: Department of English welcomes new professor EMILY KLATT The end of summer marks many beginnings at the University of Saskatchewan, from the first day of classes to the start of another Huskie Athletics season. This year, these beginnings also include the addition of a new professor to the department of English. The department welcomed Joanne Leow to its faculty at the end of the 2015-16 academic year. Leow comes to the U of S after earning her doctoral degree from the University of Toronto and completing a postdoctoral fellowship
at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont. She also holds degrees from Brown University and the National University of Singapore and worked for many years as a broadcast journalist in Singapore prior to entering academia. Leow specializes in transnational and postcolonial literature. She will be teaching three English courses related to these subjects in the upcoming terms, including the course Eng 207: Decolonizing Literatures in term one. For Leow, these courses are all about making connections between the reader and the places and perspectives different
from their own. “I’m hoping to sort of explore with the students the fact that a city is such an intersection of people … and colonial cities are special because they have that inequality of power between the colonizer and the colonized,” Leow said. “A lot of the texts that we’ll be reading in the decolonizing literatures class will be about that.” Leow is no stranger to teaching classrooms full of students, having taught courses at both the U of T and McMaster. However, she points out that each new classroom brings its own individual set of challenges.
Jeremy Britz / Photo Editor Joanne Leow, the English department’s new professor, hopes to marvel over texts and visuals with her students.
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“One of the challenges I always face when teaching is the class always comes in with a huge variety of perspectives and backgrounds,” Leow said. “You have to be able to hook on to something that interests or piques the interest of everybody [so that] everyone can come into the class and take away something that’s useful for them … It’s the most challenging and the hardest part, but it’s also what makes it new every year. That sort of challenge I enjoy.” When not teaching classes, Leow conducts research related to intersectionality, transnationalism, postcolonialism and literature. This research includes her postdoctoral project “Nature Capitals: Urban Ecologies and Literary Speculations,” as well as the manuscript of a book entitled Counter-Cartographies: Literary Wayfinding in Transnational Cities. “I’m doing a lot of research that’s transnational, which at first glance doesn’t seem to have a lot to do with Saskatoon — I mean, I’m talking about Singapore and Dubai and Vancouver and Hong Kong, and so at first glance it’s like, where do Saskatoon and my students and the U of S come into this?” Leow said. Although the connection might not be immediately clear, Leow em-
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phasizes the links she is able to make between her research and her role as a professor at the U of S. “I’m really looking forward to meeting my students and getting to know them — that’s the other part of my job that I really like, is getting to hear their perspectives on what it’s like encountering a city for the first time, or maybe they’ve grown up in the city but every city is different,” Leow said. “It’s that conversation in the classroom that enriches my reading of the text and their reading of the text, and those moments in the classroom are what I really appreciate.” Ultimately, Leow says that it is a love of close analysis of literature that keeps her passionate about her field of study — a love that she seems intent to share with her students. “I’m hoping they will take a walk with me through these books and come with me and pause on pages, pause on lines and really explore the intricacies of a sentence or a line of poetry … having that kind of communal encounter with this object that we’re all looking at, trying to question ourselves a little bit. How are we thinking? Why are we thinking that? ... How can we, by this communal experience of reading the text together come out kind of different?”
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august 25, 2016
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U of S Best Buddies look forward to a year of fun JALINE BROQUEZA With the school year set to begin in a couple of weeks, most clubs and organizations have planned their activities and events for the coming year and the University of Saskatchewan Best Buddies, ability awareness campaign March 2016, is no exception. Best Buddies, an international, dynamic and growing organization founded in 1989 by Anthony K. Shriver, strengthens friendships between people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities, also referred to as IDDs, by pairing
volunteers with a buddy for a one year commitment. According to the group’s website, Best Buddies has branches reaching across six continents and continues to establish a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with IDDs. Max Liu, a second-year arts and science student and co-president of Best Buddies’ U of S chapter, shares the group’s plans for this school year. “Best Buddies is going to have many fun activities this year. We will hold our annual
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summer 2016 after two years
JESSICA WRIGHT News Editor As the term approaches, the University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union centres old and new students. With a newly hired co-ordinator and a different lounge space, the USSU Women’s Centre is up for the challenge. The Women’s Centre, established in 1972, provides a safe and inclusive space for all students, focused on feminism and activism. This summer, the center was moved from the Memorial Union Building room 105, now occupied by the USSU Help Centre, to room 103, a larger room previously occupied by XL Print & Design. The move was part of an effort to consolidate the resources of the Women’s, Pride and Help Centres. year English and history major, began work as the new Women’s Centre coordinator at the beginning of august 25, 2016
major task was moving the Centre into its new home. “I feel honoured to be the space … The last centre was beautiful and I loved it, but it’s been there for so long, it was just so cluttered … I got the wonderful opportunity to go through it all and decide what to keep and what to get rid of. It’s just a completely fresh start in here and it’s so bright and so spacious. I’m really excited about it,” Clouthier said. Although the space is new, the Centre’s services remain the same. It continues to offer peer support with trained volunteers who listen to students in need. The Centre also offers referrals to resources on campus and in Saskatoon. It is a welcoming place, including a kitchenette and library, for students to relax and make connections with others. Aside from general support, the Women’s Centre always hosts multiple events throughout the year. Clouthier, along with the Saskatoon Women’s Community Coalition, has already begun
fall dinner fundraiser sometime in November and try to do another big fundraising campaign in the spring … This year, we are also going to try and partner with other groups like the Saskatchewan Polytechnic to do events and look into potentially starting Best Buddies programs in high schools or elementary schools across Saskatoon,” Liu said in an email to the Sheaf. Best Buddies will also continue to host events like Spread the Word to End the Word, a campaign that helps raise awareness about how the derogatory word “retard(ed)” affects people with intellectual disabilities. They will so be attending Saskatoon Blades’ games, inviting University of Regina’s chapter over for a day and holding their evening get togethers, which include dancing, socializing and Zumba. Aside from their events throughout the year, the Best Buddies U of S chapter will be present on orientation day, Sept. 2. In order to sign up for Best Buddies, students can visit their booth, send an email to them or send them
a message through Facebook. Students can also join any chapter nationwide by registering online with Best Buddies Canada at the beginning of every school year. Liu shares how volunteering for Best Buddies is open to any student and how it does not require a considerable amount of time. “Volunteering with Best Buddies is very easy, fun and not time consuming at all, which is perfect for any student. We ask that members plan outings with their newly paired friend at least twice every month, but most of our amazing volunteers do so much more frequently! It can be anything from going to a movie, lunch, walks, etc. Members are also encouraged to maintain regular contact with their pairing in order to foster a genuine one-to-one friendship,” Liu said. Liu adds, however, that working with Best Buddies is more than just volunteering. “There’s a bit of a misconception, I would say, that Best Buddies is like a mentorship or it’s like kind of looking after people with intellectual disabilities,” Liu said. “But the
real goal is to develop one-toone friendships, and I really want to emphasize that although it is volunteer work, … [it] is literally like hanging out with your best friend every other day or every now and then and it’s literally just having as much fun as you can and making new friends.” The club values friendships between people and believes that camaraderie contributes to the development of individuals. As stated in the U of S Best Buddies Facebook page, the organization is grounded in the belief that for all individuals with intellectual disabilities, friendship allows them to integrate more fully into their communities. This year, Best Buddies hopes to see more volunteers and Liu assures students that the year will be enjoyable and worthwhile. “Do not be shy to reach out to our group if you have any questions or concerns! It is the most fun you will have volunteering throughout the school year. You will meet lots of amazing people, and it will help create a positive environment for many people in the community.”
to plan Take Back the Night, a march to end violence that will begin at 7 p.m. on Sept. 15 at the YWCA. The roster of upcoming events also includes the Who Needs Feminism campaign, Pro-Choice Awareness Week, a menstrual product drive and International Women’s Day. Most prevalent on Clouthier’s mind, however, is the USSU Sexual Assault Awareness Week, set to run from Sept. 26–30. The week will feature a panel discussion, a poetry reading event and the Centre’s third annual Concert for Consent. “Our theme for [the week] this year is … ‘We’re All Part of the Solution,’” Cloutier said. “I really want to challenge the way people perceive assault and the way we feel like we should be combating it because a lot of the time campaigns like this will be focused on what to do after an assault has already happened. But I think we’re going to try to focus a little more on preventative measures this year and kind of addressing the reasons assaults happen, especially on campuses, because the rates
are so high.” While co-ordinators like Clouthier are integral to the Women’s Centre, its volunteers provide the life-blood that forms its community and allows the Centre to host numerous events. One of Clouthier’s major goals for the year is to recruit more volunteers and increase their level of involvement. “I’d like to see volunteers take more initiative, I think. So in the past it’s been the co-ordinator [who] does a lot of work in terms of planning events and coming up with new ideas and stuff, but from my experience our volunteers are so brilliant and so creative and everybody has different strengths and
passions,” Clouthier said. The Women’s Centre is always accepting new volunteers. Aspiring volunteers simply need to visit the Cenform and meet with Clouthier to discuss volunteer responsibilities. Clouthier also organizes orientation seminars once a term for those volunteers who wish to provide peer support for other students. “You don’t have to be a woman to come in here,” Clouthier said. “That’s kind of a misconception … We’re very welcoming of all gender identities. So I’d just like to see a really diverse crowd in here. I want everybody to feel welcome.”
Jeremy Britz / Photo Editor Co-ordinator Ashley Clouthier in the bright new USSU Women’s Centre.
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Students weigh in on Trudeau’s marijuana task force JESSICA QUAN The Liberal government has implemented a task force centred on drafting legislation that concerns the legalization and regulation of marijuana in Canada. University of Saskatchewan faculty and students are not lacking in input on the initiative and the impacts legalization may have on Canadians. The task force is comprised of appointed Canadian professionals and experts of varying backgrounds, like law and medicine. Input from these professionals and experts will assist in the establishment
of concrete legislation by the spring of 2017. Due to the medical, political and economic complexities of marijuana legalization, the task force seeks to study and research the effects of legalculties that currently exist or may emerge in the process. Professor Barbara von Tigerstrom of the department of law at the U of S is one of the many professionals to weigh in on the commission. Von Tigerstrom has a background in alcohol and tobacco regulation and the health-related implications of these policies. Aside from the appointed members of the commission,
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U of S students are some of the many Canadians who have assessed the repercussions and challenges of marijuana legalization, as well as in the near future. David D’Eon, third-year political studies student, notes that while there may be no ings developed by the task the implementation of the plans themselves. “It’s a matter of evaluating these plans or maybe adapting them to a more modern perspective,” D’Eon said. “Whether or not it can be approved by the Senate and passed into law and effectively implemented is where the bigger challenge lies.” D’Eon argues that the legalization of marijuana will be a for levels of federal, provincial and municipal governments and the current legal reinforcements embedded within these structures. “Dismantling all of the legislation against marijuana and replacing it with effective legislation that does the exact opposite of what we’ve been doing for so long is a
very complicated thing to do,” D’Eon said. In addition to the commentary surrounding marijuana legalization within political studies and policy analysis, ence and research have studied the effects of legalization and its potential impact on current and prospective users. Third-year medicine student Krishia McLaren noted that despite gaps that currently exist in research on marijuana, the government should move forward with legalization. “The suggestion that marijuana should be kept illegal because of its negative health effects has no backing — there’s been a bunch of studies done and they all come out with differing conclusions, which is why we aren’t really sure,” McLaren said. “I don’t think we will be until we try it.” McLaren argues that, despite complications that may arise from legalizing marijuana, such an action would reap overall. “For the medical system in general, I think, the biggest thing that would be good with
legalization is harm reduction. If marijuana is legalized, regulated and controlled by the government, we know that it won’t be laced,” McLaren said. In addition to the principle of harm reduction, McLaren notes that legalization would lead to destigmatization, alwith practitioners or seek help for addictions in a safe, accessible and judgement-free environment. “Even in the medical community now, there’s still a lot of doctors that silently judge a patient if they say they smoke marijuana,” McLaren said. “[Smoking] doesn’t devalue anything else the patient is saying ... If drugs are decriminalized, people are a lot more open to seek help if they think they have an addiction problem.” Consultation will eventually be open to the public before the task force submits its be put forward on behalf of the Liberal Party. Scrutiny or alternative recommendations by the public will allow the task force to make changes where it may be deemed necessary.
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Huskies defeat Golden Bears in preseason scrimmage BRENDEN PALMER
Sports & Health Editor The University of Saskatchewan Huskies Football fall training camp and getting ready to return to regular season play. Although the regular season does not start until Sept. 2 when the University of Regina Rams kies fans were nonetheless able to enjoy a good football game during the preseason. On Aug. 20, the University of Alberta Golden Bears arface off against the Huskies in a controlled scrimmage match. The scrimmage commenced with a few drills. On the offensive and defensive lines from each team squared off against one another, alternating between protecting their quarterbacks — or coaches, who were in place of the quarterbacks — and going on the offensive to sack the other team’s quarterback. Meanwhile, the receivers,
quarterbacks and defensive backs lined up at centre
which is really no different than last year. Now we’ll
against passes. After warming up with a few drills and short scrimmage games, a full four-quarter game took place with the Huskies defeating the Golden Bears by a score of 27-17. Huskies head coach Brian Towriss was pleased with the scrimmage, adding that the game allowed coaches to evaluate players and revealed what aspects of the game the Huskies need to focus on during the remainder of fall camp. “I think that both teams probably got out of it what they wanted. It’s hard when you’re playing 85 people on both sides of the ball to know what kind of matchups are going to be, so I don’t think it’s any indication at all of what the regular season has to bring, but we got some
evaluate and start to narrow it down a little bit,” Towriss said. “Everybody has had equal reps until this point, so we’ll get people into units and maybe start focusing on our starting group a little bit more now. We’re not far from our roster.” Towriss added that the big offensive play makers did
kids,” Towriss said. “We saw some good things, saw a lot of mistakes and I think [the Golden Bears] are going to say the same thing.” Despite winning the game, Towriss said that there is still plenty of work to do before the season starts.
Supplied / Electric Umbrella Huskies getting ready for this season.
KEY RECRUITS OR TRANSFERS: Colton Klassen (RB) Chad Braun (Rec) Evan Kopchynski (Rec) Mike Palumbo (OL) Nick Summach (OL) KEY LOSSES: John Trumpy Matt Leung Mat Czerniak Andrew Lalonde
particular, wide receivers Mitch Hillis and Julan Lynch sat most of the game out in order to let the coaching staff observe some of the new offensive players. “Now we move on. We’ve got a couple of days off to regroup. We have another two weeks of camp and we’ve
(Rec) (OL) (C) (RB)
KEY RECRUITS OR TRANSFERS: Matt Kozun (DL) Nathan Cherry (DL) Quinn Pierce (LB) Joel Seiferling (DB) KEY LOSSES: Chris Friesen Dane Bishop
(DB) (LB)
“They took it to us running the ball pretty good in the start, and we threw the ball pretty well on them
got to do,” Towriss said. The Huskies may have lost some key offensive and defensive players from last year, but 2016 still boasts a strong roster full of veteran players. On offence, quarterbacks Drew Burko and Kyle Siemens return to guide the Huskies from the pocket. year of eligibility — completed 117 of 206 attempts
for 1725 yards and nine touchdowns, and played in a preseason game with the Canadian Football League’s Montreal Alouettes in June. Siemens went 76-for-127 for 1099 yards and six touchdowns in his rookie year. Wide receivers Hillis and Lynch will return to the backs Jarvis James and Tyler Chow. Tackle Evan Johnson will lead the offensive line. fensive lineman Donovan Dale will lead the charge on the Huskies defence. Dale transferred to the Huskies from the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds in 2015 and was named a Canadian Interuniversity Sport All-Canadian for the third time after recording 36 tackles, eight sacks and three forced fumbles. Joining him on the defensive line are Brayden Twarynski, Tristan Koronkiewicz and Evan Machibroda. Sean Stenger will return for special teams. Ben Whiting — who was an all-star at the 2016 International Federation of American Football World Junior Championship — and Eric Thakerdeen will anchor the linebacking corps.
Women’s Huskies soccer team preparing for the upcoming season was largely one-sided, with the Huskies offense dominating the Wesman in the
JACK THOMPSON The University of Saskatchewan Huskies women’s soccer team plans to kick their season off strong this year with a new lineup of players and some tricks in their back pocket. real test on Aug. 20 when they played the University of Winnipeg Wesmen in a preseason game. The game
keep the ball in the Wesmen’s half for large portions of the second. The game 3-0 in favour of the Huskies. Head coach Jerson Barandica-Hamilton commented on the team’s performance. “[The game was] good. Preseason it’s more about the process than the actual result, but having said that, we still want to win and we still want to try
Ashley Britz The Huskies defeated the University of Winnipeg Wesman 3-0 on Aug. 20.
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[to] implement what we’ve been working on,” Barandica-Hamilton said. Barandica-Hamilton broke down the team's strengths and weaknesses for the upcoming season. “Our attacking phase has been well. We’ve been working on that for the past seven days. I think you could tell our movement was sharp and dynamic,” Barandica-Hamilton said. However, their game was not perfect, according to Barandica-Hamilton, who listed what the team will be working on to prepare for the upcoming season. “As we progress into preseason, we’ll be looking now to build on the defensive side. Today we were a little bit shaky at times but that’s normal because we haven’t worked on that — just the tuning the little details of our game,” Barandica-Hamilton said. Barandica-Hamilton attributed some of the shakiness in the second half to the fact that team’s lineup has quite a few rookies.
However, rookie left winger Maya Gabruch stood out during the game. Gabruch scored two of the Huskies’ three goals and shared how she intends to improve going into the regular season. “What I want to work on is beating people down the line or taking people oneon-one, because I’m down the wing so that would reour speed up the line. Put some crosses and shots on net,” Gabruch said. Gabruch is one of seven new players this year and
the Huskies and felt the team played well as a whole. Overall, Gabruch said the team has been very welcoming to her as a rookie. With seven new players this year, the Huskies women’s soccer team will certainly be different from last season. Center midtion major Erica Hindmarsh compared this season’s roster to last year’s. “I think we’re going be a
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really different team than we were last year. We have a lot of recruits that bring a lot of different aspects that we might not have had last year, so I think it’s hard to kind of compare just because the roles that everyone’s playing are a lot different than last year. So I think we should be really good,” Hindmarsh said. Barandica-Hamilton shared how he felt taking this year's squad into a time this year. “Off-season, it seems like it’s so long. We train, we put in the work [and] we work hard behind the scenes, then this is the fun part. As coaches, we love this and as players, you can tell they were enjoying themselves out there,” Barandica-Hamilton said. Following the preseason game on Aug. 20, the Huskies played the Wesmen once again on Aug. 21, which resulted in a tie of 3-3. On Aug. 24, the team traveled to Calgary to compete in a preseason tournament.
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Griffiths Stadium track in need of replacement BRENDEN PALMER
Sports & Health Editor After a long and proud history, the only outdoor all-weather track in Saskatoon may be nearing the end of its life and could be removed in the near future. The has been repaired annually for over a decade, and organizations around the community are currently working together to devise a plan to construct a new outdoor replacement. Paul Rogal, director of recreation services at the University of Saskatchewan, said that the current track is costly to maintain and building a replacement track in the future would be a better alternative for the community of Saskatoon rather than continuing upkeep on the existing track. “Where we’re at now is not removing the track or moving it elsewhere. The track will get through this year, and
will be good for 2017, but beyond that we’re not sure about its usability or safety going into 2018,” Rogal said. According to Rogal, the cost to maintain the track varies per year but on average, the annual expense amounts to roughly $20,000. “We put layers over the track over time, and when those layers are penetrated by a spike, water gets into it and tends to bubble a little. If you go to the track right now,
in bubbles, and we just can’t keep doing that over time,” Rogal said. “The track needs to be replaced. Whether it’s replaced in its current spot or elsewhere is a discussion that is ongoing; it might be useable in 2018 but we just wanted to give everyone a heads up.” Rogal added that although Huskies athletes currently compete inside the Field House during the track season, an outdoor track is important for the community. discus and javelin, cannot be held indoors, and Hus-
often train with non-university clubs on outdoor tracks during the off-season. At the moment, all plans for a new track are still in the preliminary stages and no formal plan has been proposed. However, the U of S is currently working with other groups in Saskatoon to plan for a replacement track, whether or not the new track is located on or off campus. “The university is working hard with all of the community partners to develop a longterm strategy to create a new track. Hopefully we’ll have a plan in the near future to address the needs of the community and put a new track in place,” Rogal said. Dennis Beerling, an inductee to the Saskatoon Sports Hall of Fame and the Nationof Fame, is concerned about the possibility of Saskatoon being left without an outdoor track before a new track can be built. “It’s the only [outdoor all-weather] track that’s in the city right now. Mind you, it’s been in bad repair in any case and the university has
Jeremy Britz / Photo Editor
been shouldering the expense trying to upkeep it every year. Nobody else has helped [the U of S] in repairing the track each year and it’s getting to the point right now that it’s almost beyond repair,” Beerling said. Beerling added that if the moved before a replacement could be built, Saskatoon would be the only major city in Saskatchewan without an all-weather surface track — something unusual for a community with such a sto“Track is a big program at the university, and maybe people don’t realize it but the U of S has won more Canadian Interuniversity Sport
championships than all the other university sports put together. They have had a program at the U of S for a long time now,” Beerling said. Beerling thinks that the U of S campus would be an ideal location for a new track, but added that the needs of the community and available land locations must be conHe added that building a replacement track — regardless of the location — before the priority. “I would like to see a new all-weather surface track in place by the fall of 2017. It’s a short timeline, but right now we’re exploring every option that we can,” Beerling said.
A Sheaf guide to recreational sports and activities at the U of S JACK THOMPSON
fun recreational activities and ways to stay in shape can be a bit daunting, so the Sheaf has compiled a short guide to assist you on your way. When signing up for intramural sports, students can either register as a whole team or as an individual. This allows anybody to participate regardless of whether or not they can get an entire team together. Leagues are also split into competitive and recreational pools, allowing each student to choose the experience they prefer. Both forms of registration can be done either at the Physical Activity Center Ofyear — can be done online at beactive.usask.ca. From here, individuals will be placed onto teams. Full teams will and both individuals and the captains of teams will have to attend an information meeting. Total team fees for all sports are $50, with the ex-
ception of ice hockey which costs $500. Registration deadlines vary from sport to sport and are as follows: basketball’s deadline is Sept. 21, curling is Oct. 5 and dodgeball is Sept. 22. The football deadline is Sept. 15. Ice hockey is Sept. 28. The inner tube water polo deadline is Sept. 22. All deadlines are at 4:30 p.m. For the soccer deadline, register by Sept. 15. Ultimate frisbee’s deadline is Sept. 15 and the volleyball deadline is Sept. 20. Registration opens up Sept. up fast, so it’s advised to register early. Badminton this year will take a different format as no sign-up is required. For students, you must have your student card and can drop in at the Education Gym for various playing times. For a complete schedule and the drop-in dates, visit recservices.usask.ca. Not all intramural sports require you to enter into a league. In term one, there will be tournaments in slopitch, battleship, tchoukball and squash. The slo-pitch tournament will be held on Sept. 24, battleship on Sept. 25, tchoukball on Oct. 2 and
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squash on Oct. 28 and 29. Students can register for these tournaments the same way they would for a league. Also worth noting is that nertube basketball leagues are also happening, but not until second term. Intramural sports aren’t the only way to get active, however. There are also “Learn-to” classes offered through the U of S. These classes focus on teaching the basic skills of an activity and are welcoming to beginners. Learn-to belly dance is a two part course held on Oct. 23 and 30 which costs $10. Social dancing is also offered, but you must register in pairs. Classes are held from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. on Nov. 20 and 27, on Dec. 4. This course costs $20 a pair. There are also three aquatic Learn-to’s offered, including kayaking, scuba diving and a class on how to play canoe polo. The kayaking course is held in the PAC pool, costs $30 and will be held on Oct. 16, 23 and 30, with the fourth session on Nov. 6. All of the kayaking sessions will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
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The scuba diving course is held on Oct 2 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and costs $25. This single session program is held in the PAC pool, as well as room 161 in the PAC. The canoe polo session will be in the PAC pool on Nov. 27 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and costs $25 per person. Additionally, there are a variety of sessions offered on skill level. Through this program, there is also a Rape
Aggression Defense Course offered. This four-part course is held on Oct. 11, 18 and 25 1. This $20 course is offered solely to women and teaches awareness, prevention, risk reduction and risk avoidance, as well as the basics of handson defense training. For more information on campus rec, visit recservices. usask.ca/campus-rec/index. php.
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august 25, 2016
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Five albums you should have
listened to this summer TANNER BAYNE It's all right, we get it — summer is a busy time for everyone and it can be difficult to stay on top of all the new music. So, here’s a list of some impeccable albums that came out this summer that, guess what, aren't Coloring Book — sorry Chance. Morning Report by the Arkells The Hamilton, Ont. heartthrobs return to the limelight this summer with their fourth studio album Morning Report. This time around, the boys shy away from their harder, rock 'n' soul roots to opt for a lighter, more pop oriented direction. The album opens with “Drake's Dad,” which buoyantly regales a night in Memphis when vocalist Max Kermin met, and partied with, the Six God's old man. Goofy songs aside, Morning Report also offers pensive ballads, like “Making Due,” that make you wonder about the direction of your relationships and your place in your home town. The emotive versatility of the Arkells' Morning Report make it the perfect album to get the party started and to walk you home at the end of the night. Puberty 2 by Mitski Puberty 2 is the album you need when you catch that inevitable summertime sadness. Laden with
neurotic ruminations and catchy folk-pop arrangements, Puberty 2 is an innately accessible record for those feeling a little blue. Mitski muses on common grievances like self-doubt, unsuccessful relationships and overall discontent in Puberty 2 without seeming banal. This may be due, in part, to the self-awareness that she exudes throughout the album. “Happy,” the record's ironically titled opener, attests to this awareness and seems to affirm self-indulgent melancholy. Freetown Sound by Blood Orange Can summer really be complete without a great record to dance to? Probably not. If anything, Blood Orange’s Freetown Sound is an album one can groove with. At first glance, Freetown Sound is a catchy, 1980s influenced R&B album — the man behind the moniker, Devonte Hynes, quickly reveals that Freetown Sound is more than a simple dance record. He does this through songs like “Augustine” and “Love Ya,” where he openly considers the limitations that race, sex and religion place on love. At the end of the day, Freetown Sound is an album that you can spend hours dancing to or thinking about. Maybe even both, if you're lucky. Day of the Dead by various artists Curated by Aaron and Bryce Dessner of The National, this behemoth
compilation boasts a catalogue of nearly 60 Grateful Dead covers recorded by an impressive array of artists. The immensity of Day of the Dead guarantees that there is at least one song for you in there. Whether it's The Lone Bellow bringing you a bawdy rendition of “Dire Wolf” for your night's libations, or Courtney Barnett crooning “New Speedway Boogie” for a late evening stroll, this album befits nearly any situation. What's more, all proceeds from Day of the Dead benefit the Red Hot Organization, a charity dedicated to HIV and AIDS research and awareness. Teens of Denial by Car Seat Headrest If there was any album to come out this summer for the angsty teenager in us all, it would be Teens of Denial. Jam-packed with feisty guitar lines and moody prose, Teens of Denial is superbly catchy and undeniably youthful. With lines like, “We are not a proud race / It's not a race at all / We're just trying to get home,” to rally behind, front man Will Toledo will inevitably jump-start your cold, adult heart so that you can feel like a kid again. If you're still on the fence about the album and need a professional opinion, look no further. A little band by the name of Smash Mouth said on Twitter last month that “Drunk Drivers / Killer Whales” on Teens of Denial is one of the best tunes to come out of 2016. Go figure.
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Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: A magical let down BRIDGET MORRISON Culture Editor
Like many University of Saskatchewan students, I grew up reading — and let’s be honest, worshipping — the Harry Potter series. I always wished I could read the series over again for the first time to experience the excitement, the adventure and the emotion with reading each book. So naturally, I was beyond excited when I heard the eighth installment, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, was on its way. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child was written
by Jack Thorne, a screenwriter and playwright from Briton, England, whose notable work includes the film A Long Way Down and TV series Glue and The Fades. The play is based on the original story that was developed by Thorne, the play’s director John Tiffany and the legend herself, Ms. J.K. Rowling. I wish I could say I enjoyed reading the play, I really, really do — and maybe I’m only going to go in circles comparing the play to the series, but how could I not? After sitting down for a couple of hours and reading the play cover to cover, I was left thoroughly and completely disappointed, and here’s why —spoiler alert! I was so excited to catch-
up with the characters I hadn’t seen in so long — how they’ve grown, what they are like, what their jobs are, if they have partnered, if they have kids — you know, all the standard questions. Instead, I was forced to read about characters like Amos Diggory — who, no offence, I don’t particularly care about. What about the Weasley’s — Molly, Arthur and George — or Luna Lovegood and Neville Longbottom? Sure, names were mentioned, but not much more — and where in the world was Teddy Lupin? For the characters that were included, none of them seemed to be acting like themselves. I get it, people change over time,
Jeremy Britz / Photo Editor Harry Potter and the Cursed Child receives mixed reviews from both fans and critics.
but what was with Harry being a complete dud to Professor McGonagall and a horrible dad? Maybe it was because the dialogue was so unnatural that the characters didn’t seem like themselves? Who knows — either way, no fan wants to hear Harry Potter tell his son he doesn’t want him. One of the things that bothered me most about the play was the reappearance of Severus Snape. Snape’s storyline in the original series was fundamental, heavy and emotional, and for it to so carelessly break in this play felt like the power of it was negated. Hearing Snape speak so casually of everything he had done and what had happened to him, and that he knew it would happen, took away the integrity of his character and the original plot line — as if none of it really held any significance or any power anyways. I find this ironic, because to me it was one of the most powerful plot lines, as he was a character both before and after his death. On a lighter and less death-related note, we have to talk about the trolley witch. Through-
out the whole book series she’s this kind, innocent old lady who hands out yummy snacks to children on the Hogwarts Express. Next thing you know, the Pumpkin Pasties turn out to be grenades, and she is literally throwing Pumpkin Pasty grenades to block children from getting off the train. Next weird thing — Voldemort had a child. That’s right, Lord Voldemort, the darkest and most feared wizard of all time, had a child. Better yet, the mother of the child was Bellatrix Lestrange. We knew she was Voldemort’s most devoted and faithful servant, but wow, just … wow. If you want to read a play that feels like a poorly written fan-fiction, where characters time travel every two minutes even though there isn’t supposed to be any time-turners left, and where they pack just enough dramatic moments into one page that they lose all significance, and where Ron Weasley is for some unknown reason running his brothers’ Joke Shop — then Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is for you.
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TV shows to binge-watch before school begins NAFISA ISLAM The warm summer days are dwindling to a close and soon students will plunge manding work of academia. There’s no better way to relax before the fall session starts than by catching up on some TV shows you missed out on this summer. Whether you were workeling through Europe or taking summer classes for the past couple of months, it’s common to feel restless when all these things come to an end. The last couple of weeks before school reseemingly endless amount of free time — the free time all the TV shows you meant to watch this summer. Here are some of the Sheaf’s top picks to binge-watch before school. First up, the TV talk of the summer: Stranger Things. is a suspenseful, light horror set in the small town of Hawkins, Indiana, 1983. It centers on the events following the disappearance of a young boy and launches into an investigation.
This thrusts his family and friends into unraveling truths about dangerous government experiments and the supernatural world. Stranger Things is able to weave together family tropes to create something new, yet still be reminiscent of the 1980s enough to make one feel nostalgic. If you’re a fan of horror or want to try something new and unique, this show is bound to get you hooked. If horror isn’t your thing, Sense8 might be more your speed. The series surrounds eight strangers around the globe selves interconnected by their ability to communicate, share experiences and skills with each other. themselves in danger from a mysterious organization that wants to hunt them down. They must work together in order to protect themselves while simultaneously navigating the obstacles of their mundane everyday lives. There are currently 12 episodes out, storylines and cinematography. If you’re more of a
staunch realist and lean more towards drama, How To Get Away With Murder The story centers around Annalise Keating, a successful criminal defense lawyer and professor who becomes entwined in a her students. It’s a legal drama produced by the great American writer and producer Shonda Rhimes — and like many of her other shows, it’s bound to keep you on the edge of your seat. I would suggest watching the show with a friend, as the twists and turns can be more than a little emotionally taxing. However, you should be warned, the show currently has two seasons out, consisting of 15 episodes each, with the third season starting Sept. 22, 2016 — making this show the most time-consuming on the list. If you want to watch something a bit more lighthearted, I suggest Master of None a watch. Created by and starring American actor and comedian Aziz Ansari, Ansari plays Dev — a struggling actor living
in New York City, who attempts to navigate the hurdles and uncertainties of young adulthood. Even if you aren’t familiar with Ansari’s past work — such as Tom Haverford on Amy Poehlers’ Parks and Recreation — Ansari is sure to charm you with his signature witty dialogue, multi-dimensional characters and interesting storylines. Master of None is one of the most relevant comedies I have seen in awhile — starring people of dif-
ferent race, ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender — this show displays what life really is like as a young adult. Ansari tackles serious topics with comedy and does it well, and with ease. The show currently has one season out, consisting of 10 episodes. What better way to end off summer than with some comedy! Take these suggestions take advantage of these last few days of summer and relax with a little TV.
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Band spotlight: Apollo Cruz releases music video BRIDGET MORRISON Culture Editor
Like most bands, Apollo Cruz has worked its way up the ladder. Starting with jam sessions to headlining with David Wilcox and MonkeyJunk — Apollo Cruz has found a name for itself and the band is now set to release their first music video, “The Man I Want To Be,” along with a live show on Sept. 2 at Buds on Broadway. Apollo Cruz is selfdescribed as a high-octane blues power trio that incorporates a little rock into their blues. The band consists of lead vocalist/ guitarist Nick Longpre, drummer/backing vocalist Aiden Currie and Brandon Ziola on bass, keyboard and backing vocals. Both Ziola and Currie have attended the University of Saskatchewan — Ziola august 25, 2016
graduated from Edwards School of Business in 2014 and Currie is currently in his second year in the College of Arts and Science. Playing at Buds on Broadway holds a special place with the band, as it is where the members all first met each other. “I first jammed with Nick at Buds about six years ago, with two other musician friends of mine. Six months later, Nick and I were without a bassist for a Saturday afternoon jam and Brandon was our savior. The rest is history,” Currie said. When Apollo Cruz first started playing together as a band, much of their influence came from Texas blues artists such as Stevie Ray Vaughan and ZZ Top. However, over the past four years the band has been pulling inspiration from elsewhere. “We’ve really looked to the great tradition of Canadian blues acts for in-
spiration, from legends like David Wilcox and Big Dave McLean, all the way to new Canadian blues artists like the Harpoonist & Axe Murderer and Jesse Roper,” said Ziola. After playing afternoon jams and smaller shows for a while, Apollo Cruz played their first headlining show at Buds in 2012, and since then has worked their way up to playing the coveted Friday night time slot. “To make it to the weekend at Buds, you have to prove to the bar that you have what it takes. There is a small group of bands that play on a Friday or Saturday, and getting there takes a combination of putting on a great show for patrons and bringing in big crowds,” said Ziola. Ever since the band first got together, they have wanted to shoot a music video but a couple things always stood in their way. “The timing never seemed to work out. We
also had yet to meet someone whose vision and style matched how we wanted to present ourselves. That all changed when we met Ryley [Konechny] from RAKK Productions,” said Ziola. Konechny approached the band with a plan and storyboard, impressing them with his past work, his unique and novel location ideas for shooting and his professionalism. “The final product will be more than well worth the time and effort,” said Currie. There are some common perceptions about blues music, many of which are negative but Apollo Cruz hopes that those who attend their concert leave these preconceptions behind and come out to enjoy their unique take on the blues and just have some fun. “Whether they think it’s ‘old’ or ‘boring,’ we are going to change that. We’re going to put on a
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high-energy show that brings them in and gets them dancing,” said Ziola. Friday, Sept. 2 at Buds is to be a night of celebration, filled with excitement, good music, food and drinks. “We are so excited to release this video to the public, and celebrate the achievement of making it to the weekend. As for U of S students, I think they can expect to hear songs and see a show like nothing they’ve ever seen before,” said Ziola.
Andrea Evans / Supplied Apollo Cruz plays Buds Friday, Sept. 2.
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Boushie shooting sheds light on reality TRAVIS HEBERT Canada often likes to distinguish itself as being distinct from the United States. However, parallels are beginning to surface, particularly in Saskatchewan. Since Michael Brown, Trayvon Martin and Freddie Gray were shot at the hands racial tensions have been reaching a boiling point in the United States. In recent weeks and months, shootings in Louisiana, Minnesota and Texas have topped American headlines. Undeniably, Saskatchewan has its fair share of incidents of blatant racism that are comparable to the aforementioned. Following the unprecedented shooting of a 22-year old Indigenous man, Colten Boushie in August 2016 near Biggar, Sask., racial tensions have become elevated in Saskatchewan and the rest of Canada. After stopping at a farmBoushie and four other individuals were quickly involved in an altercation with property owner, Gerald Stanley, who reportedly “came out of nowhere,” smashing
the vehicle’s windshield and
of which struck and killed Boushie. Canadians have distantly racially motivated violence in the United States, which could easily make Canadians feel at ease with the current status of race relations at home. These feelings of contentment suddenly ceased when the initial details of the farmyard incident were released to the public. The knee-jerk reaction of Stanley coupled with the details recounted by a passenger of as a matter of race. In addition to the act of racially motivated murder, what took place on social media following the incident added a troubling underlying theme. A shocking amount of online comments — particularly on Facebook pages and purported news sources — not only denied that race played a part in the incident, but also defended and praised the actions of the shooter. Hateful remarks, ranging from derogatory terms to criticizing the shooter for not killing all the passengers,
were posted in the public sphere and received a plethora of “likes” from those who crawled out from the woodwork to form a social media lynch mob. As the University of Saskatchewan’s own Robert Innes — a professor in the department of Indigenous Studies — tweeted: “when people are celebrating the death of an Indigenous man and calling for the killing of more Indigenous men, we have to acknowledge that there is racism in this province.” This statement of admittance sums up the testament that this murder was the result of one individual’s ideation. The amount of support Stanley received evidences that his actions are representative of the thoughts of many Saskatchewan residents. The hate crimes committed in Maryland, Louisiana, Minnesota and nearly anywhere one can point to on a U.S. map have been observed and understood from a safe space north of the border. Following any police shooting, similar comments and formations of this mob mentality can be found on social media and even news sites.
Alistair / Flickr
Canada is not so different from its southern neighbours. Canadians can no longer act removed from the larger picture. The pattern of killing visible minorities that is so prevalent in the U.S. mirrors itself north of the border. The horde of angry intolerance rears its ugly head in both countries as long as the proper catalyst allows it to come about. On Aug. 9, 2016, the same superiority complex that was exhibited by European missionaries hundreds of years ago against Canada’s Indigenous population was displayed again with Boushie’s death. Now, as Stanley has been granted bail after pleading not guilty, one can
only wonder if the accused will be served justice. Based on the present evidence, it would be shocking if he were to be acquitted. However, Canada watched as George Zimmerman and Edward Nero were set free after the shootings of Trayvon Martin and Freddie Gray, respectively, so would a similar result really surprise anyone? The evidence should lead to a conviction, but the skin colour of Stanley, who resides in a province with roots deeply ingrained in systemic racism and oppression of its Indigenous people, and the sheer number of citizens who stand in solidarity with Stanley, may cause a different result.
There’s an app for that: Using technology in your academic life KEZIA FOURIE Long gone are the days of gers — today we have technology and information at ignoring it, pick up your phone and use it to enhance your academic style. The Sheaf has compiled a list of free apps available on the Google Play Store to help you succeed in your studies.
1. Forest: at some point, we’ve all felt the dread of realizing that instead of spending a quick two minutes on our device, we spent a whole two hours — oops. In comes Forest to save the day. This app allows the user to grow a virtual forest in exchange for time spent focused. Set an amount of time that you would like to stay focused for and Forest does its best to keep you on track. Stay on the count-
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down screen for the entirety of the time and you plant a tree. Leave the screen and your tree dies. Don’t be a tree killer — stay focused. 2. Grade Tracker Pro: how many times have you thought to yourself, “I only need 20 per cent on this Knowing what your average is can be reassuring at times, or at other times be downright frightening. Instead of sitting there and doing the math yourself, use Grade Tracker Pro to do the work for you. This app can calculate your current overall average, the average you have in one class or even what mark you need to get that coveted 90 per cent. The options are endless. 3. Quizlet Flashcards and Cram a student’s best friend, as long as they work with you. Make them on your device and you have them everywhere you go. Weekend road trip? Get some study time in along the drive — a
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little goes a long way. Both Quizlet Flashcards and Cram allow you to make
tips. Use this app to search cles from around the world.
any way desired. Where they differ is in memorization style. Cram has two learning methods — “memorize” and “cram.” Memorize is the most basic way to use
5. Microsoft Word: yes dear student, this well known program is available on your mobile device. Having Microsoft Word on your phone can be a lifesaver. While it has less features than the standard desktop program, the mobile version is still quite handy. Need to edit an essay while waiting for your doctor’s appointment? Done. Had a thesis statement pop into your head while in the middle of shopping? Add it quite easily to your paper. With the app, Microsoft Word can become as versatile as you need it to be. Armed with these apps, and many more available on the Google Play Store, your learning experience can evolve quite drastically. You can go from a Charmander to a Charizard thanks to your device. Don’t let school get the best of you this semester — your grades will thank you later.
know its meaning or answer a question. Cram cards to see just how many you’ve memorized. Move up each level as you cram in all the knowledge. Quizlet has a larger variety of methods, for many different learning styles. Options include matching, testing and more. The choice is yours. 4. PubMed Mobile: whether purely for interest or for a dreaded paper, there may come a time when you need to look up an article in a scholarly journal. PubMed is a collection of millions of scholarly articles. Talk about having -
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It’s worth it to stretch out your degree BODAN WOROBETZ The debate of whether or not to hammer out a bachelor’s degree in three or four years is alive and well. Some students choose to get in and out of university faster than one might spend in an adult novelty store, while others do not. However, there are pros and cons of taking your time in the novelty store.
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CONS: Stretching out your studies means stretching out your budget. The longer you decide to take to fin-
ish your degree, the more it is going to cost you. I’m not talking about tuition dollars, but referring to the concept of opportunity cost. Simply put, opportunity cost is the cost of one thing, foregoing an alternative. In this analysis, we’re talking about the opportunity cost of those two extra years in university — one thing — when you could have otherwise been out in the workforce making the big bucks — the alternative. For example, if a good entry-level job out of university pays $40,000 yearly, then by taking two extra years of university education, you’re looking at an opportunity cost of $80,000. Add to this the extra student fees you’ll pay for two more years and you’ve got a hefty bill to foot. Finances aside, there are many other reasons it sucks to be a student. Our diets, for the most part, consist of 73 per cent ramen noodles. We usually
live paycheque to paycheque and take whatever crappy part-time and summer jobs we can get. So staying in school longer means putting up with these things for a longer period of time. Enough with the negativity though — let’s look at some of the positives of taking longer to finish a bachelor’s degree. PROS: I’ll start this category with money, once again. I did say that staying in university longer will cost you more — and that’s no lie. However, looking at those sweet, sweet greenbacks from another angle breathes new light into this side of the argument. If you are taking fewer classes per term, you do have more time to potentially toil away at that crappy — or maybe notso-crappy at all — job of yours. You might even be able to make enough to somewhat compensate the opportunity cost of staying in university longer, help-
ing you to avoid racking up student loans. Loans accumulate interest and interest on debt is bad. By staying in university longer, you also have more opportunities to network. Universities are hotbeds for opportunities like this. Career expos and guidance, volunteering, internships and inspirational academics are only but a few of the amazing opportunities, not to mention the people that hang out in and around universities. The longer you’re here, the more time you’ll have to connect and build relationships through these events and with these people. Lastly, you’ll have more time to think about who you are. University is a time of discovery for most people and discovering what your strengths, weaknesses and interests are is crucial to your future success. It’s here that I’ll admit that I’m one of those people taking a six-year bachelor’s degree, and I have no regrets.
If you’re not dead-set on a particular career, industry or field, then taking the extra time to figure that out before hastily jumping into the workforce, signing a mortgage and making babies is certainly worth it. CONCLUSION: These are only a few of the pros and cons to consider. Whatever you decide, it’s really a matter of what is most important to you and what you want out of life. However, my argument leans toward the “stay longer” option. Having more contacts, knowing what’s important to you and having stronger skills for the workforce never hurt anyone. In dollar terms, the opportunity cost of these benefits may be high, but I’d say it’s definitely worth it. You’ll just perform that much better in everything you do later in life. Never feel embarrassed to be one of those students who hangs out in the adult novelty shop for a while.
Get Saskatoon Transit on track before it’s too late ZACH TENNENT
Opinions Editor
With a new school year on the horizon, the perennial issue of poor public transit is sure to return as a topic of conversation for Saskatonians — students especially. While transit in the city is a headache, we still need to get on board with it sooner than later. In May 2016, the StarPhoenix reported on the low ridership on city buses, noting that in 2015 the city didn’t rake in the fares it had budgeted for. In the article, Sarina Gersher of Bus Riders of Saskatoon — a special interest group that advocates for improvements to public transit — suggested that ridership would and will increase if city buses are regarded as and accessible.” If city buses have a repuunreliable and inaccessible, it’s for good reason. Most anyone who rides city transit regularly will have august 25, 2016
their handful of bus horror stories: drivers who skip your stop, buses so late that they’re early and of course, the bus that doesn’t even show up at all. Furthermore, you know you’ve got an accessibility issue when people are driving to their bus stops because routes don’t extend out to their neighbourhoods. In light of these shortcomings, it would be easy for many in the city to write off public transit and not even consider it as a viable option. After all, Saskatoon has historically been a motorist’s city anyways. This to pretend that the Bridge City isn’t already dependent on buses would be a grave error. If you don’t believe that buses are essential to this city then you almost certainly weren’t a student in autumn of 2014 when a transit lockout left thousands seeking other means of transport to get to and from school, work and play. Furthermore, personal car use is starting to become a thing of the past. An August 2016 report on
transit planning from the University of Toronto underlined the importance of “shared mobility” — referring to a shift away from single ownership of transportation and towards communal resources. At the risk of sounding pessimistic and shitty, it seems that we’re so used to bad or at least subpar public transit that we don’t even consider it an acceptable option, which then allows the quality to sit stagnant and further alienate potential riders. In a strange loop, it seems that Saskatoon’s transit is bad because not enough people rely on it, because it’s bad. Saskatoon is a city on the grow. Becoming a larger metropolitan hub doesn’t mean pushing the limits of car-centric living. It means embracing the ways that urban centres operate. What we need to do is begin the move towards heavier reliance on public transit and make a statement that transit improvement needs to be a greater priority in urban planning. When riding the bus is a regular part of commuting and the possibility of a transit lockout
is unacceptable to citizens, we’ll be in the right place. For its part, Saskatoon Transit does seem to be addressing current issues. As of July 2016, 8th Street has adopted rapid transit combat transit delays, with buses as frequent as every 7.5 minutes during peak streets throughout town
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are set to follow suit in 2017. Likewise, bus routes also changed in July, being overhauled, extended, scrapped and created from scratch based on feedback and monitoring. Our dependence on Saskatoon Transit is only going to grow in the coming years, so we may as well start to embrace it and get what we want out of it.
Jeremy Britz / Photo Editor
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Farm girls club in food preparation class in 1935.
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The U of S men’s hockey team in 1911.
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The U of S women’s badminton team in 1949.
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Area roommate just put up Che Guevara poster A student in College Quarter was alarmed today to see his new roommate tape a poster of Communist revolutionary Che Guevara on his side of the room. “I just don’t get it,” the student told the Sheaf. “He’s
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In one word: what are
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paying like $40,000 for a kinesiology degree and probably bought that poster at a Walmart anyways.” While the communist-sympathizing student declined to comment, his ponytail says more than words ever could. -Alison Feland
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