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CELEBRATING SEXUAL & GENDER DIVERSITY

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Your University of Saskatchewan student newspaper since 1912.

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RAMS BEAT HUSKIES

HEALTH COVERAGE

ANDY SHAUF

TRANSIT TROUBLE

SPORTS

FEATURE

CULTURE

OPINIONS

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Enactus students build investments for the future GABRIEL SIRIANY LINARES For Enactus University of Saskatchewan, 2016 is the year for continuing a legacy of social, economic and environmental changes that Enactus students agree are key components when creating a strong and successful community.

On Sept. 28, Enactus U of S travelled to Toronto to learn about the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals at the Enactus World Cup, which brought together an international network of students, business leaders and faculty from 36 different countries to collaborate and showcase their ideas. These development goals provide a framework for the sustainable changes strived for

by Enactus.

During this event, U of S students were observers, but they hope to bring back a better understanding of Enactus, what the group is on a global scale and how they can implement their new knowledge as they work to improve the Saskatchewan community.

As a global student-run non-profit organization with over 1,710 university programs around the world, Enactus partners with business, academic and community leaders and creates programs that focus on how social entrepreneurial action can identify and solve economic, social and environmental issues.

Keenan Davreux, president of Enactus U of S and a senior commerce and management student, explains how the organization determines what problems are most affecting communities in Saskatchewan.

“Through our extensive research into local communities and the global Enactus organization, we

like Pelican Narrows. In turn, CentsABLE, another Enactus program, aims to teach financial literacy to U of S students, so that they can budget and learn proper saving methods.

Another project run by Enactus is the Stock Market Challenge, which gives students the opportunity to invest fake money into

“

We identify organizations that align with our program goals and Enactus’s vision to create a better world through social entrepreneurship.

”

- Keenan Davreux, president of Enactus U of S

conduct a thorough needs assessment. Most recently, a small community called Pelican Narrows in northern Saskatchewan had its grocery store burn down, leaving them without access to fresh food within a 400-kilometre radius,” Davreux said, in an email to the Sheaf.

The involvement of Enactus within the socio-economic area of Saskatchewan is vast.

Food for the Future, one of many projects established

by Enactus, provides food education and support to communities in northern Saskatchewan

real life securities. In this way, Enactus can educate students on long term investing and foster an entrepreneurial mindset. Two other projects that Enactus manages are the Aboriginal Youth Idea Challenge and Lessons from Legacy.

Enactus’s far-reaching work would not be possible without the participation of students, faculty and business professionals, who all play an essential role in the making and in the materialization of these projects and challenges.

Davreux points out that Enactus is open to all col-

Photography Editor: Jeremy Britz, photo@thesheaf.com

Copy Editor: Larissa Kurz, copy@thesheaf.com

Graphics Editor: Lesia Karalash, graphics@thesheaf.com

Web Editor: Nicholas Kindrachuk, web@thesheaf.com

Editor-in-Chief: Naomi Zurevinski, editor@thesheaf.com

Culture Editor: Bridget Morrison, culture@thesheaf.com

Outreach Director: Sophie Kokott, outreach@thesheaf.com

Layout Manager: Laura Underwood, layout@thesheaf.com

Sports & Health Editor: Staff Writer: Brenden Palmer, Jack Thompson, sportshealth@thesheaf.com staffwriter@thesheaf.com

News Editor: Jessica Klaassen-Wright, news@thesheaf.com

Opinions Editor: Zach Tennent, opinions@thesheaf.com

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leges across campus and to all students wishing to make a positive impact in Saskatchewan communities, regardless of their level of education, as Enactus is always looking to grow and create new projects.

“If anyone wishes to learn more about our projects they can reach out to us through our email or check us out on our social media, @EnactusSask,” Davreux said.

According to the Enactus U of S students, it is important that Enactus creates partnerships with other organizations across Saskatchewan in order to attain the desired outcomes.

“We identify organizations that align with our program goals and Enactus’s vision to create a better world through social entrepreneurship,” Davreux said.

He explains that after this step is completed, Enactus reaches out to students to put the new project into action.

“Enactus does everything

from ideation to implementation. By utilizing our team members, business partnerships and faculty advisors, we create sustainable programs,” Davreux said.

Enactus brings together individuals with a similar mindset and allows them to concentrate their enthusiasm and energy into improving Saskatoon and the rest of Saskatchewan.

According to the Enactus team, they are greatly motivated by the knowledge that a person’s involvement and contribution to the larger community can be a game-changer in the lives of many.

“The most rewarding experience about being a part of the Enactus organization is creating change within our local communities and connecting with likeminded individuals,” Davreux said. “What drives us as a team to get more involved in the student community, is seeing the impact a single action can have.”

Tanner Braaten / Supplied The Enactus U of S team on their trip to Toronto for the Enactus World Cup.

Board of Directors: Ata Merat, Katherine Fedoroff, Kyra Mazer, Chennoa Tracey, Hasith Andrahennadi Cover Graphic: Mike Tremblay Advertising 306.966.8688 Editorial 306.966.8689

Ad & Business Manager: Shantelle Hrytsak, ads@thesheaf.com

The Sheaf is a non-profit, incorporated and student-body funded partially by way of a direct levy paid by all part and full-time undergraduate students at the University of Saskatchewan (U of S). The remainder of the revenue is generated through advertising. The financial affairs are governed by a Board of Directors, most of whom are students. Membership in the Society is open to undergraduate students at the U of S who are encouraged to contribute to the newspaper. Opinions expressed in the Sheaf do not necessarily reflect those of the Sheaf Publishing Society Inc. The Sheaf reserves the right to refuse to accept or print any material deemed unfit for publication, as determined by the Editor-in-Chief. The Editor-in-Chief has the right to veto any submission deemed unfit for the Society newspaper. In determining this, the Editor-in-Chief will decide if the article or artwork would be of interest to a significant portion of the Society and benefit the welfare of Sheaf readers. The Sheaf will not publish any racist, sexist, homophobic or libelous material. The Sheaf is published weekly during the academic year and monthly from May through August.

The mission of the Sheaf is to inform and entertain students by addressing those issues that are relevant to life on campus, in the city, or in the province. The newspaper serves as a forum for discussion on a wide range of issues that concern students. Written for students by students, the staff of editors, photographers, and artists collaborate with volunteers as studentjournalists to produce a product with relevance to the university community. With each composition, the Sheaf stays in touch with students on the U of S campus. It provides unique insight to university issues through a student perspective.

@thesheaf1912 /thesheaf1912 @thesheaf1912

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

corrections

In the Sept. 22 issue, the photo spread titled “Shots of Saskatoon” featured images submitted by professors as well as undergraduate students.

We apologize for this error.

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oct 6, 2016

PAGENEWS TYPE

U of S releases new policy and campaign to prevent sexual assault EMILY MIGCHELS With sexual assault and nation-wide apathy towards survivors facing students on university campuses across the country, the University of Saskatchewan is taking steps to change the general outlook.

On Sept. 26, the U of S launched the REACT to Sexual Assault campaign, a new sexual assault policy and an updated USafe app.

With this campaign, the U

of S Students’ Union, Campus Protective Services and various organizations on campus and in Saskatoon are aiming to provide support for students and effect positive change.

“See something, say something” is the attitude that the USSU and partners are fostering across campus.

Renata Huyghebaert, USSU vice-president student affairs, believes that a safe and healthy environment requires collective cooperation.

Jeremy Britz / Photo Editor Safety features and information are just a click away with the newly updated Usafe app.

“I think it’s a very important culture shift. We’re being a very strong example in Canada and I think what is so unique is that it’s not just students and it’s not just coming from administration, it’s really coming from voices across campus, and I think that is what makes this really powerful,” Huyghebaert said.

The REACT campaign addresses rising concerns that too many sexual assaults go unreported. A survey carried out by the CBC in 2015 found that there are often discrepancies between the number of sexual assaults that occur on Canadian campuses and the amount of sexual assaults actually on record.

Canadian universities are not required to publicize the number of sexual assaults reported in a given time. For some, this is especially concerning and leads to questions of accountability and transparency.

Huyghebaert hopes that the REACT campaign will demonstrate that the U of S is taking the issue seriously.

“In the past, anywhere across the country, survivors have been shut out or not heard. I think it’s so important that we’re saying that we’re listening. [This campaign] is about survivors — we believe that it’s our job as a community to

support them,” Huyghebaert said.

The new sexual assault policy and USafe app will provide students with educational material and the resources needed to deal with sexual assault. Huyghebaert says that these initiatives will equip students with the tools to stop sexual assault even before it has a chance to happen.

“I think it’s everyone’s job to get out there and be a part of this education, and if you don’t know something, to go and read these resources or go and talk to someone about it — our door is very much open,” Huyghebaert said.

Emmanauel Barker, USSU vice-president operations and finance, has been a part of the development of the newly updated USafe app since the beginning of his term in the spring of 2016.

He explains that the app has many features for student safety, including the virtual Safewalk, a development on the already existing Safewalk program, which allows others to virtually check in on your whereabouts. “[The Usafe app] connects services from the USSU like Safewalk, includes all of the contact information from the [USSU] Centres, highlights policies and proce-

dures and it also connects you to emergency services, Campus Protective Services and it has things like the virtual Safewalk which you just wouldn’t get any other way,” Barker said.

Huyghebaert believes the U of S has been a pioneer in sexual assault awareness in the past, and hopes that the university will continue to be an example for other Canadian institutions.

“Sexual assault work has been going on here for years. We’ve had a Women’s Centre on campus since the 70s. Even though the REACT campaign is new, the sentiment has been going on and we’ve always been fighting for this and it's always been important,” Huyghebaert said.

At their core, Huyghebaert says, these efforts by the U of S show that the institution is serious about sexual assault and working to change the source of the problem.

“There’s really a focus on changing the stigma, and it’s allowing us to let the campus community know that survivors will be believed and there will be support for those who have been sexually assaulted who chose to come forward,” Huyghebaert said. “We want to spread the message that it is safe to do so.”

Queerapalooza: Celebrating sexual and gender diversity on campus JALINE BROQUEZA As the middle of the term approaches, the University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union Pride Centre will host one of its annual events, bringing together people of all sexual orientations and gender identities to show that everyone can have fun, despite and even because of their differences.

Since its opening in 1997, the Pride Centre, located in room 104 of the Memorial Union Building, is a campus community that welcomes diverse groups of people. The Centre provides a friendly setting and seeks to work with people in an open and progressive environment that advocates, celebrates and affirms sexual and gender diversity.

Queerapalooza, running from Oct. 11-15, is an on-campus pride week celebration that will consist of different events to educate students and build awareoct 6, 2016

ness about sexual and gender diversity on campus.

Kenny Starling, Pride Centre co-ordinator, shares that all students should get involved, as the week is about bringing people together and celebrating sexual diversity regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity.

“We’re supposed to build a community where these two groups of people can mingle and get to know each other and see that everyone is a person and we’re all the [same] and there’s really no difference except for our status. I think everyone should get involved because then it is an opportunity to have fun while getting to know people who could be someone who you may not normally hang out with just because of their sexuality or gender identity,” Starling said.

To kick-start the week on Oct. 11, an opening ceremony and flag raising will be held at noon in the Nobel Plaza. On Oct. 12, a Queer Poetry event will take place

in Louis’ Loft at 8 p.m., beginning with featured poets and ending with an open mic. The event is open to anyone aged 16 and over and entry requires a $5 cover at the door.

In addition to these events, a sharing circle will be held on Oct. 13 in the USSU Campus Club Space, located in Place Riel room 220. The sharing circle is a two-spirit event that will be lead by OUT Saskatoon’s Marjorie Beaucage, a two-spirit elder and Manitoba Red River Franco-Metis cultural worker, community-based filmmaker and storyteller, researcher, educator and community leader. The circle is open to two-spirit individuals, their families, friends and allies, and will be followed by soup and bannock sponsored by the Aboriginal Students’ Centre.

On Oct. 14, an evening of fun and games, or “Gaymes Night,” will be held in the Pride Centre and everyone is welcome. The event is an op-

portunity to meet new people and make new friends in a gender and sexually diverse positive space.

The grand finale of the week will be the Totally Radical 80s Drag Show, sponsored by Divas Nightclub.

The show is for attendees 19 and over and will be held in Louis’ on Oct. 15. Doors will open at 7:30 p.m. and tickets will be sold for $12 at the door or $10 in advance at the Pride Centre or in the Arts Tunnel during Queerapalooza. All proceeds will be used to pay performers and provide future funding for the Pride Centre to hold similar events.

Starling adds that, although Queerapalooza is one of the most entertaining weeks at the Pride Centre, it is just one of the many that the Centre and the USSU will host throughout the year.

“I recommend that people go to the awareness weeks.

I talk about identities that either have really bad [misconceptions] behind them

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— misconceptions or maybe just ignorance based on no knowledge on the situation or the topic,” Starling said.

Besides bringing awareness and celebrating the sexual and gender diversity on campus, Starling believes that Queerapalooza is important in terms of making a change.

“I believe that the universities, anywhere, especially the U of S is a place where we lead change. If we are more open and accepting, I feel like the rest of the city, then eventually the province, would follow suit.”

Lesia Karalash / Graphics Editor

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Sustainability Week: U of S to publicly commit to sustainability JESSICA KLAASSENWRIGHT News Editor

With a myriad of issues facing students across the country, from pollution to debt to isolation, important figures at the University of Saskatchewan are set to sign a memorandum that will affirm the university’s commitment to environmental, economic and social sustainability.

On Oct. 11, president Peter Stoicheff and the Sustainability Committee of the U of S Students’ Union will sign a Memorandum of Understanding on sustainability, a document that signifies a pledge to support, promote and champion sustainability initiatives on campus. The signing ceremony will take place at 1 p.m. in the North Concourse of Place Riel.

Renata Huyghebaert, USSU vice-president student affairs, stresses the importance of this memorandum, an agreement that, she says, has been made be-

tween few student groups and university administrative bodies in Canada.

“We thought it was very important for us as leaders to come together and make a commitment, saying that, ‘Hey, sustainability is very important.’ It’s important for our community and it’s important for our campus and for society as a whole,” Huyghebaert said. “So we will be signing an agreement between both of our parties, not only to say that sustainability is crucial, but also to really strengthen a relationship between students and administration when it comes to sustainability.”

According to Matt Wolsfeld, communication engagement co-ordinator for the U of S Office of Sustainability, the ceremony will also include funding commitments, information about the USSU Sustainability Committee and details about the future of sustainability at the U of S. Following the ceremony, the Saskatchewan Environmental Society and the Climate Friendly Zone will host a Local Action Workshop.

“[The workshop] will help participants co-ordinate and initiate positive change in their local communities.

Participants will learn how to leverage social media to their cause’s advantage, how to lobby municipal government for change and how to engage partners through effective writing campaigns,” Wolsfeld said, in an email to the Sheaf.

The signing ceremony and subsequent workshop marks the beginning of the USSU Sustainability Week, set to run from Oct. 11-14.

The week will also feature, on Oct. 12, a speaker series on climate change in Saskatchewan and the significance of how water interacts with landscapes.

On the same day, an art installation, created by senior sculpture students from surplus assets taken from the university’s landfill-bound storage, will be displayed in Place Riel.

Various student groups, including Parents on Campus, the Peer Health Mentors and the Environment Studies Student Association, will also host events throughout the week.

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Wolsfeld, also the main organizer of Sustainability Week, explains what the event is all about.

“Campus Sustainability Week is an annual October event where we showcase the successes, programs and issues key to sustainability at the U of S. We highlight student and staff groups, projects and initiatives and bring to life important issues that can be addressed through co-operation and collaboration here on campus,” Wolsfeld said.

Other prominent events include a tour of the Loraas recycling facility on Oct. 13, as well as a campus farmers market and a winter cycling workshop on Oct. 14.

While Huyghebaert is excited for all of these activities, and the memorandum signing in particular, she wants to remind students that they can organize such initiatives themselves by applying to the USSU and the Office of Sustainability’s newly created Sustainability Fund.

The $5,000 fund is dedicated to student initiatives in environmental, social and economic sustainability and is open to all under-

graduate students through an online application. According to Huyghebaert, such an initiative could take the form of a building project, yoga in the park, a plan to minimize carbon footprint, a community gathering, a concert, educational art, sustainable investing or anything sustainability related that a student could imagine.

“I definitely think, when students realize they can engage in their communities and that sustainability is about contributing to a better future and that [the USSU is] willing to facilitate that through our fund and through this agreement with the university, that they can really build something lasting and powerful.”

Lesia Karalash / Graphics Editor

oct 6, 2016

SPORTSPAGE & HEALTH TYPE

SPORTS AT A GLANCE

WOMEN’S SOCCER

MEN’S SOCCER HUSKIES 3, WESMAN 0

HUSKIES 1, DINOS 1

HUSKIES 4, WESMAN 2 With a 3-0 win over the visiting University of Winnipeg Wesmen on Oct. 1 at Field 7 in PotashCorp Park, the Huskies improved their winning streak to three matches.

Second-year Jacob Powell opened the scoring late in the first half. He collected the ball outside the 40-yard line and dribbled into the box, beating Wesman keeper Joshua Partaker with a high right shot. The Huskies earned the third goal in the match on a Winnipeg own goal in the 77th minute on a scramble in front of the net.

Shedrek Samuel gave the Huskies a 2-0 lead with his first CIS goal at 56 minutes in. Gabriel Bautois took a corner kick for the Huskies, and Carson MacDonald was able to get a touch before Samuel tipped the ball into the net, bumping the lead to 3-0.

Huskie keeper Greg Buckley recorded his second shutout in a row and fourth of the season. The Huskies outshot the Wesman 15-4.

The Huskies ended their weekend

BRENDEN PALMER

Sports & Health Editor

HUSKIES 3, PRONGHORNS 0

with another win over the Wesman on Oct. 2.

Huskies Mitch Bauche opened the scoring in the seventh minute on a ball played by Bautois. His shot from the right side of the field flew into the right side of the net. Tyler Redl added the Huskies’ second goal of the match six minutes later, when Bryce Marinus played in a cross ball to the front of the net.

The Wesman cut the Huskies’ lead in half in the 49 minute with a goal by Krysztof Szulc on a scramble in front of the net. A shot bounced off the Huskie defenders before Szulc got a foot on the ball. Just three minutes later, Samuel found the net to give the Huskies a two goal lead again.

The Wesman closed the gap again in the 75 minute, but Sam Whiting pulled the Huskies ahead by two with a header from a Bauche corner kick at the 80-minute mark to secure the 4-2 win.

The sweep brings the Huskies to 5-3-2 record.

On Oct. 1, the Huskies took on the Dinos at Field 7 in PotashCorp Park, ending the opposition’s winning streak with a 1-1 tie.

The Huskies opened the scoring in the 22nd minute when rookie Maya Grabruch sent a cross ball in front of the net. Leesa Eggum headed the ball into the top corner.

The Huskies had the best chance to break the tie in the second half.

In the dying seconds of the match, Huskie Jordan Zemlak crossed a ball in front of the net. Striker Julie Labach was able to get a head on it but it narrowly cleared the crossbar.

Kyleigh Vause finished the match with two saves for the Huskies, while Sophia Traxler made five

saves for the Dinos. The Huskies outshot the Dinos 13-8.

On Oct. 2, the Huskies hosted the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns for their second home game of the weekend.

Huskies’ Erica Hindmarsh opened the scoring 11 minutes in, bending a long-range shot from a free kick into the top corner of the net.

The Huskies scored quickly in the second half scoring in the 46 and 50th minutes. Hindmarsh sent cross plays into the box. The first landed on the foot of Rebecca Weckworth and the second on the foot of Taneil Gay to give the Huskies a 3-0 win.

The two wins at home bump the Huskies to a record of 4-3-1.

CROSS COUNTRY Two University of Saskatchewan cross country athletes finished in the top five racers at the annual Huskie U of S Open in Saskatoon’s Victoria Park on Oct. 1.

Rookie Shayna Uhryn finished second with a time of 22 minutes, 55 seconds, clocking in just 100th of a second behind the top finisher in the six-kilometre race. Fifthyear Brooke Mentanko crossed the finish line fourth with a time of 23:29.

MacEwan University runner Hannah Leggatt finished first in the race at 22:54, while Nicole Soderberg of the University of Alberta Pandas took third at 23:21.

University of Calgary runner Russell Pennock won the men’s

eight-kilometre race in a time of 25:44. University of Regina Cougar Adam Strueby finished second at 25:49 and Alberta Golden Bear Kieran McDonald took third at 25:52.

Robert Bigsby had the top finish for the Huskie men’s team with a time of 26:51 to finish 15th.

Calgary came in first in the team standings on the men’s side, while the Alberta Pandas finished at the top of the women’s team standings. The Huskie women finished second, while the men were sixth.

The Huskies compete in the Stewart Cup on Oct. 29 in Calgary.

The Cup will be the final preparation for the Canadian Interuniversity Sport and Canada West Championship on Nov. 12.

UPCOMING GAMES

CANADA WEST STANDINGS WOMEN’S SOCCER: Prairie Calgary

MacEwan

Saskatchewan

Manitoba

Lethbridge

Mount Royal

Regina

Winnipeg

W-L-T 7-0-1 5-2-1 4-3-1 3-4-1 2-4-2 2-5-1 2-6 1-5-2

FOOTBALL: Team W-L Regina

4-1 Calgary

4-1 UBC

3-2 Manitoba

2-3 Saskatchewan 2-3 Alberta 0-5

oct 6, 2016

MEN’S SOCCER: Prairie Alberta

Calgary

Mount Royal

Saskatchewan Lethbridge

MacEwan Winnipeg

Jeremy Britz / Photo Editor Wesman keeper Joshua Partaker makes a leaping save to stop a high shot from the Huskies.

W-L-T 10-0-2 7-2-1 6-4-2 5-3-2 3-6-1 1-6-3 1-10-1

Football • Oct. 14 vs. UBC Thunderbirds @ 7 p.m.

Home Game

Men’s Soccer • Oct. 8 and 9 at Lethbridge Pronghorns @ 2:15 p.m.

Women’s Soccer • Oct. 7 at Regina Cougars @ 5 p.m.

• Oct. 9 vs. Regina Cougars @ 12 p.m.

Men’s Hockey • Oct. 7 and 8 vs. UBC Thunderbirds @ 7 p.m.

Women’s Hockey • Oct. 7 at UBC Thunderbirds @ 8 p.m.

• Oct. 8 at UBC Thunderbirds @ 5 p.m.

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SPORTS & HEALTH PAGE TYPE

Fast food for thought BRONWYN CHHAY Have you heard of the McDonald’s hamburger scandal, where a hamburger can be left out for months without going bad? Or how about the chicken nuggets that were once pink slime?

Questions from consumers about food content and the following negative publicity drove the company to overhaul its image in recent years.

Thus, the classic McDonald’s hamburger was never looked at in the same way again. Despite all this, we still flock to the drive-thru.

The science behind McDonald’s hamburgers seems to be ubiquitously unknown.

It’s tested ability to remain looking fresh-bought alarmed consumers enough that it got them thinking about what exactly is in those burgers.

According to the McDon-

ald’s website, the one and only ingredient contained in it’s hamburger patties is “100 per cent pure beef.” Health experts seem to agree that this claim is suspect simply because of the burgers’ long shelf life. The website does not provide a very detailed list of ingredients such as sunflower oil used in grill seasoning, or “natural flavors” used to spice the pickles.

Keith Warriner from the department of food science at the University of Guelph commented on behalf of the company: “McDonald’s hamburgers, french fries and chicken are like all foods and do rot if kept under certain conditions.” Turns out, the crude moisture content is what keeps the hamburgers fresh-looking and unspoiled.

Warriner explains it is the lack of moisture that he attributes to air exposure, cooking and processing that inhibits growth of mould.

Synthetic preservatives are used to prolong the life of food, kill bacteria and fungus or help process the food, but can have negative effects on a person’s health. According to nutritionists at Foodwatch. com, some preservatives and other additives commonly found in fast food have been linked to hyperactivity in children, migraines or headaches, depression, stress and irritability to name a few.

There is also a connection between the popular sodium nitrates, potassium nitrates and cancer causing carcinogens. Although preservatives are found in many other grocery food items like lunch meats, cheeses end even breads, fast foods seem to use much higher amounts of them.

One quarter pounder meal contains 520 calories, 40 per cent of your daily fat content and 45 per cent of daily sodium content. Not exactly figure flattering, this meal has the ability to do damage if you’re not careful. Share that

with your fit fam.

In 2015, doctors from the International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications studied long-term effects of food preservatives such as sulphates, nitrates and sorbates. Weight gain, obesity, diabetes and cancer can all occur with prolonged ingestion of these substances. As seen in the film Super Size Me, the most immediate effect was weight gain.

University students often lack free time and motivation to cook, so what’s the big deal with picking up a fast food meal with friends? The appeal of fast food within the student body seems to be one of convenience over nutrition, but over time this has an impact on students’ wallets, waist lines and well-being.

Not only are there healthier options to staying away from fast food, but there are more economical options as well. The average Saskatchewan student pays about $7,100 for tuition each year — one of the highest rates in the country. If you are in the habit of eating a quarter pounder meal once per week for only 40 weeks of the year you are spending upwards of $300.

If you are looking deeper into the costs of your personal consumption, factor in the other trips you make throughout the week and year for fast food and the cost of transportation. This habit ends up equating to almost 5 per cent of your overall tuition cost spent on fast food and can quickly rise as your trips to the golden arches at midnight increase.

As we have been told over and over again, balance is the key to academic success but if we extend this to our food regime, the same is ultimately true. Scale back on fast foods and try to eat more fresh foods, learn about what is in your food and start cooking your own dinners with your friends as a preservative-free alternative.

Brenden Palmer / Sports & Health Editor Would you eat this if you knew that it would look nearly the same in a week?

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oct 6, 2016

TYPE SPORTSPAGE & HEALTH

Rams end Huskies' six-game win streak at Mosaic Stadium JACK THOMPSON Staff Writer

The University of Saskatchewan Huskies sixgame win streak over the University of Regina Rams came to an end in the first game played in the brand new Mosaic Stadium in Regina on Oct. 1.

In front of a Canada West record-setting crowd of 16,500, the hometown Rams came out on top with a score of 37 to the visiting Huskies’ score of 29. With this defeat, the Huskies sink to 2-3 and are also out of the conference playoff picture for now.

Huskies’ head coach Brian Towriss spoke on the experience at the new stadium.

“It was exciting. I’m sure it was exciting for the kids [to have the] opportunity to go down and see it. The bottom line is it was a football game … we played hard but we didn’t play well enough to win the football game.

[I give the] Rams the full

credit for their win,” Towriss said.

Towriss went on to say that although the game was played in Regina, the Huskies brought with them a strong following.

“We actually thought it was gonna be a little bit louder than it was. It wasn't, as we figured, it wasn’t a totally partisan Ram crowd.

When we were introduced, there were as many [people] cheering for us as there was for them. Noise wasn’t a factor at all but certainly it was a great atmosphere to play in,” Towriss said.

Rams' quarterback Noah Picton led his team to victory, passing for four of the Rams' touchdowns. Picton also threw a touchdown pass to Ryan Schienbein at 7:26 in the first quarter for the first points to be scored at the new stadium.

The Rams took their lead by air following this historical touchdown, with Picton hitting his target on 29 of 42 passes and finishing the game with 370 passing yards and four touchdowns.

Schienbein was the receiver for two of those touchdowns and leading all other

Rams receivers with 189 receiving yards.

The Huskies did not take the defeat lying down.

Leading the offense was Tyler Chow, running back for the Huskies and thirdyear geology major. Chow achieved 100 all-purpose yards throughout the course of the provincial rivalry matchup.

However, Chow was humble about his performance, giving the credit to his teammates.

“In general, I don’t think I played very well and a lot of players stepped up and played around that. It was awesome to see that there were guys that were able to play,” Chow said.

Chow scored two touchdowns, the second of which came at 3:41 in the fourth quarter, breathing excitement into the air late into the game. Following this, the Rams and Huskies traded interceptions back-toback, but this tumultuous play offered no changes to the lead the Rams held until the clock ran out on the Huskies.

With a record of 2-3, the Huskies sit at second last in the CanWest conference. In order to qualify for playoffs, the Huskies will have to raise in the ranks by at least one position, making their next game crucial for any playoff prospects.

The Huskies have a bye-

week over Thanksgiving, following which they will be taking on the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds at home on Oct. 14.

Head coach Towriss outlined the Huskies’ plan for the short break.

“Fundamentals and rest.

We’ve got to get back to some fundamentals: blocking [and] tackling. Getting some alignment issues corrected and then we’ve got to get some rest and these kids have to catch up academically … We’re back on Thanksgiving Monday [when] we got to turn our attention towards UBC. Because that’s now the most critical game of the season for us,” Towriss said.

Caitlin Taylor / Supplied The Huskies were defeated 37-29 by the Rams in the first game ever held at the new Mosaic Stadium in Regina.

ALL OUT NOV 2

Student Day of Action Students are taking action across the country to fight for our vision of post-secondary education in Canada.

JOIN THE MOVEMENT: Saskatoon Local Action Committee Tuesday October 11, 18 and 25 at 4pm GSA Commons Volunteer with the campaign.

Orgnaize events, collect pledges and recruit your friends.

Email dayofaction@cfs-fcee.ca or visit cfs-fcee.ca/volunteer to sign up

CANADIAN FEDERATION OF STUDENTS

oct 6, 2016

Take the pledge at cfs-fcee.ca www.thesheaf.com

∙ the sheaf publishing society 7

FEATURE

Are we really getting good health coverage?

BRENDEN PALMER

Sports & Health Editor

The health and dental plans offered by the University of Saskatchewan Students' Union provide basic coverage to students — but is it enough? Many health

services that students need and use aren't covered by the government, and it can be difficult to choose whether or not the USSU plan and its advantages are right for you.

I’ve definitely had my fair share of injuries over the years. I’m only 23 years old, but after having a few concussions, a nasty case of whiplash after getting into a car accident, injuring my rotator cuff after a hard body check, rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in my knee playing hockey — and

then going through reconstructive surgery and quite a bit of physiotherapy to get back up to full speed — I’m no stranger to rehabilitation and taking time off to recover.

But hey, it could be worse — way worse. Thanks to some luck, good doctors, naturopaths, chiropractors, physiotherapists and massage therapists, I’m fortunate enough to still be walking around and enjoying the sports and activities that I always have. I still have to do a bit of maintenance work in

order to stay healthy, and I don’t plan on giving up sports anytime soon.

Aside from the injuries, like everyone else I also need to get my teeth cleaned every year, have a wisdom tooth that needs to get pulled, have a prescription for glasses that I never wear and could probably use a good massage once a month. None of this stuff is free, either, and on a student budget health care costs are definitely much scarier. I imagine that I’m not the only who thinks so.

The Basics

All students enrolled in a minimum of nine credit units in term one and who are undergraduate students are automatically enrolled in the plan. The cost of full coverage per policy year — which starts on Sept. 1, 2016 and ends Aug. 31, 2017 — is $247.69, which is split between health and dental coverage at $136.85 and $110.84, respectively.

In order to opt out of the plan, students need to provide proof that they are covered under an insurance

plan with equal or greater benefits before the opt out date, which was Sept. 30. Students can also choose to permanently opt out provided that they already have adequate coverage but may re-enrol under the USSU plan in the future if need be, although they will be required to pay a fee in order to so.

So what kind of basic coverage do students get?

All infographics by Lesia Karalash / Graphics Editor

8 the sheaf publishing society ∙ www.thesheaf.com

oct 6, 2016

PAGE TYPE FEATURE

Is It Worth It?

Health Coverage - Coverage of up to 80 per cent of most drugs legally requiring a prescription.

- 80 per cent coverage for appointments with psychologists, to a maximum of $750 per policy year.

- For massage therapists, chiropractors, physiotherapists, naturopaths, osteopaths, registered dieticians, podiatrists/chiropodists, speech therapists and athletic therapists: coverage up to a maximum of $20 per appointment and up to $400 per year.

Vision Coverage - A maximum of $100 per 24 months for glasses and contacts.

- Up to $50 per year for an eye exam performed by a licensed optometrist.

- Laser eye surgery is covered to a maximum of $150 per policy year.

Dental Coverage - Coverage up to $500 for dental visits per policy year.

- 70 per cent coverage for recalls, cleanings, extraction of impacted teeth and fillings.

- 50 per cent coverage for oral surgery, root canals and gum treatment. oct 6, 2016

According to Colten Yamagishi, the program manager with Studentcare, the administrator of the USSU Health & Dental Plan, the current plan offers excellent coverage at an affordable price because of its group payment structure and does not discriminate against students that already have pre-existing medical conditions.

“A lot of other plans will look to see if you have other medical issues and if you do, then you’ll have to pay more up front for that, but this plan doesn’t discriminate,” Yamagishi said. “So say you had Crohn’s disease, for example — something that requires really powerful prescription drugs, then you might have to pay more. Same thing with heart disease.

Or say that you require a wheelchair.

They’re very expensive.”

Other benefits include improved coverage for mental health services, that was previously only covered up to a $400 limit with a maximum reimbursement of $20 per appointment.

“One big push that the USSU had last year was to change the coverage for psychologists. That used to cover $20 per policy visit up to $400 per policy year. That’s just not enough.

Psychology appointments are pretty expensive and students really need the support,” he said.

Yamagishi added that travel coverage provided by the plan is exceptional and valued at a price that is higher than what students currently pay.

“It covers you for 150 days per year, during exchange or if [students] want to go on extended vacations after they convocate. Compared to other private plans the cost is very low and because there are so many students enrolled in the plan it keeps costs low,” Yamagishi said.

He also points out that having the USSU plan can be complementary to an existing plan as well.

“A lot of students do opt out because they do have other coverage, either through their parents or their employers, but the nice thing though is that if you do have double coverage through your parents and the health and dental plan, then the coverage will compliment each other. So say you get $1,000 in dental work done in one year, you could use coverage from each of the plans to cover it,” he said.

“There’s nothing wrong with opting out, but the fact that it’s a group plan really decreases the price and this is probably the best deal that you’re going to get for a plan at any point in your life.”

Despite the travel and mental health coverage, the student plan does have its drawbacks. Under the current plan, students are only reimbursed $20 per visit for appointments with most health care providers — excluding psychologists and Studentcare Network physiotherapists, massage therapists and dentists — instead of a flat rate across all services. www.thesheaf.com

For a $45 chiropractic appointment, students would only end up paying $25 under the student plan after being reimbursed — this equals roughly 45 per cent coverage for one appointment up to maximum of $400 in coverage per year.

However, if a student visited a naturopath for one appointment under the current plan at a cost of $100 per appointment, the total cost would come to $80 per appointment with only $20 being covered, or a coverage rate of 20 per cent.

Furthermore, if students already have a better plan, which, for example, offers a flat rate of 80 per cent coverage that is provided for all health care services up to a maximum of $500 for most healthcare practitioners, then students would only end up only paying a mere $9 per appointment until the reimbursement limit is reached.

And they would probably save more money by opting out of the program than reclaiming the out-of-pocket expense with the money they are paying for the student health and dental plan.

It’s also important to consider how the USSU plan differs from other university plans across Canada. At the University of Regina, students pay a total of $196.40 per year for the complete health and dental plan and get minimum coverage of 80 per cent on preventative services and 70 per cent on basic services for dental. By choosing to visit dental care providers under the Studentcare network they receive an additional 20 per cent discount, increasing their coverage to 100 per cent and 90 per cent — and they have a $750 reimbursement limit.

At MacEwan University in Edmonton, students pay a total of approximately $232 per year and can get up to 100 per cent coverage on basic services, and a minimum of 15 per cent for major restorative work.

Students at the University of Toronto pay upwards of $300 per year, but they also are reimbursed $100 per psychologist appointment up to a maximum of 20 appointments per year and they are reimbursed $30 per appointment with most healthcare practitioners up to a $600 limit.

Looking at the plans of other universities in Canada, it seems the U of S sits somewhere in the middle when it comes to coverage, cost and services.

The way our plan works might not be suitable for everyone, but it does offer decent coverage in certain areas, especially when used in conjunction with a secondary health plan.

The question is, should students be more concerned with how their student unions negotiate coverage plans, and what those plans include?

Furthermore, are students informed enough about the extent of the coverage they are getting and are they being properly informed about their options to opt out of the plan?

∙ the sheaf publishing society 9

CULTURE

Polaris Music Prize musician Andy Shauf set to play Saskatoon TANNER BAYNE You’re at a small gathering with a group of old friends — there’s alcohol aplenty, an abundance of cigarettes and well established chemistry between all attendees.

Normally, this would be a recipe for a nice night.

However, there’s something a little off — few are talking and the only conversation comes from the couples fighting in nearby rooms. The host is on edge and chain-smokes to cope.

There’s sexual tension and apprehension, and nobody is having a good time. If this sounds familiar to you, you’re not alone.

Saskatchewan singersongwriter Andy Shauf, originally from Bienfait, Sask., knows this situation well. Even if it’s just in his mind, the idea is focused on in his newest album, The Party. Despite the realness that the party concept gives the record, Shauf insists that the people and events are fictional.

“They are mostly just made up, I think the characters are familiar, but I didn’t

base them on anyone that I know. I did a lot of projecting myself onto different scenarios,” Shauf said.

This is probably a relief to those close to Shauf, as The Party has received a great deal of attention. Since its release in early May, the neurotic, loose concept album has been on the forefront of musical discussions in Canada and abroad.

It even gained enough traction to be placed on the prestigious annual Polaris Music Prize Short List — a placement shared with only nine other Canadian artists.

Regardless of the positive acclaim received from the album, Shauf said he was nervous throughout the entire evening at the Polaris Gala.

“The [Polaris] Gala was kind of cool. I was excited about it. When it actually came to do it, I was pretty nervous. I had a stomach ache all night, which was pretty annoying and right when it was announced who won it, my stomach ache went away. It was super weird. I guess I was super stressed,” Shauf said.

However, this isn’t to say that Shauf is ungrateful

for the attention — in fact, quite the opposite.

“It’s super cool. It’s nice to have some people’s ears. For me, it’s been really gradual you know, it’s been a lot of years of playing shows and building up a small audience and having more people come to shows. It just feels like I’ve been super busy and every once and awhile you see things get a little better,” Shauf said.

Shauf is one of few Saskatchewan artists to make the Polaris Short List, one other being last year’s winner, Buffy Sainte-Marie.

Shauf identifies that Saskatchewan and, moreover, western Canadian artists are quite under-represented in the national context.

“I think that a lot of music that comes out of Regina goes unnoticed. I think a lot of, and I don’t want to start any beef or complain, but what gets covered is music based from the west coast or east coast, but even the west coast not as much as eastern music does. Vancouver is sort of a bubble, and the prairies get skipped over a lot,” Shauf said.

A desire for a change of pace and to be closer to

the music centre of Canada, Shauf recently relocated to Toronto. Despite the big move, Shauf insists that he is a Saskatchewan boy at heart.

“I still identify as a prairie guy — I don’t think I’ll ever get away from that because it’s pretty ingrained in us.

I think it influences me as a person, in how I act and what I grew up with, but I don’t know if it played that much of an influence in my songwriting,” Shauf said.

Andy Shauf will be re-

turning to Saskatoon on Oct. 7 to play the Broadway Theatre as a stop in his cross-country tour. For students planning to go to the show, Shauf provided little information on what to expect, leaving an air of mystery.

“Well, we’re going to play songs off my last two albums. It’s going to be a quiet evening. That’s about it,” Shauf said.

Tickets are $27 each and are available at broadwaytheatre.ca.

Colin Medley / Supplied Saskatchewan artist Andy Shauf is set to play the Broadway Theatre.

Using YouTube to help with university LYNDSAY AFSETH YouTube can be good for a laugh and pleasant distraction, but it also has many channels that university students can use to their benefit when it comes to their education. Whether it’s just a quick explanation of something you missed in class or a break from the typical studying session, the Sheaf has put together a list of educational YouTube channels that will

satisfy the quest for learning and help you ace your classes.

Kurzgesagt — In a Nutshell This channel makes animated videos with narrations that explain concepts relevant to modern society and culture in 10 minutes or less.

Although there are not a lot of videos up on the channel, the ones already uploaded are high quality.

The channel makes videos about lots of different areas of study, but it only covers cur-

Shamille Sarcauga

rent society — sorry history students, this isn’t the channel for you. The videos do a good job of providing context on specific concepts, such as fracking or black holes, especially in such a short length of time.

TED By now, the phenomenon of TED Talks is extremely well known and if you don’t already watch these short lectures, you really should start.

The concept of TED Talks is to share the best ideas from the TED conferences with the rest of the world. These lecture-style videos cover a vast subject area — all you have to do is put in the time to look through the collection for something that will be helpful to you.

While the videos covering topics like science and business are very informative, the videos most worth your time are the ones that teach you about things like time management and discovering your potential — something every student should know.

MinutePhysics Videos on this channel are all about a minute long and they cover topics relating to

10 the sheaf publishing society ∙ www.thesheaf.com

physics theories and scientific theories in general. The videos explain difficult concepts in an easy to understand way, making them enjoyable for both students who are cramming for an exam and students who just want to expand their knowledge for fun.

Students who didn’t think science was cool before definitely will after watching this channel.

Crash Course From world history to biology and everything in between, this channel makes videos covering nearly every topic imaginable. Delivered with clever wit and humorous anecdotes, these videos are highly entertaining while still being incredibly informative — it’s easy to forget that you’re learning while watching them. Crash Course is a great channel to help with studying, however, for the student who has trouble staying focused, it may not be the best study tool, as it’s nearly impossible not to get distracted looking around.

Khan Academy This channel covers a vast amount of subjects, including math, economics and much

more. As stated on its YouTube channel, Khan Academy’s mission is “to provide a world-class education for anyone, anywhere.” The videos use voice-over narration and have graphics that look like a blackboard which give the illusion of being in class, but they are usually more engaging. This is a great channel for math and science-based university courses.

The RSA This channel has a mixture of lecture-style videos and animated videos that cover many topics from economics to aging. The lecture-style videos are similar to TED Talks but some of them are much longer. The animated videos are insightful and entertaining, but there are not nearly as many of them as the lectures.

The channel also has debates and interviews with leaders in a variety of different fields, which are engaging and an innovative way to learn. Whatever your time limits and subject interests are, this channel will have the right video for you.

Best of luck and happy studying! oct 6, 2016

PAGE TYPE CULTURE

The naturalized Ruffian: Born Ruffians talk tour and community radio support EMILY MIGCHELS Don’t touch that dial Saskatoon — your community radio station is bringing back more great bands with a jam-packed two weeks of shows. Among those, the Ontario band, the Born Ruffians is set to play a show and sat down with the Sheaf to talk learning, keeping it together on the road and the politics of Ruffianism.

With a still fresh-born album and finishing up a brief tour with fellow Ontarians, Tokyo Police Club, the band is excited to be back on the headline as a part of CFCR’s annual FM-Phasis fundraiser and they promise a fun and high energy show.

The band’s bassist, Mitch Derosier, speaks to the benefits of community radio for artists and emphasizes the importance of its principle purpose.

“We've always had great support from community radio. Their ability to reach out to local artists and help them get started is super valuable. Definitely an under-appreciated part of the music business,” Derosier said.

While Born Ruffians quickly bounced around Canada on this leg of gigs and hit some brand new locales such as Red Deer, Alta., Lethbridge Alta., and Nelson B.C., Saskatoon isn’t anything new.

With a welcomed change of tune, the band is looking

forward to their Oct. 9 show at Amigos with Saskatoonborn Ponteix as openers — it’s bound to be a killer set.

Their touring album, RUFF, is an upbeat, heartfelt and biographical collection. Just enough to get your toes tappin’, it’s catchy and fun.

“We probably put more of ourselves into RUFF than any other record. From essentially producing it ourselves, to Luke [Lalonde] illustrating all of the artwork and liner notes, to being as lyrically uncensored and honest as possible, it was really true to us as a band,” Derosier said.

The album is a first for the band — with lyrics written with a central theme in mind, a track list full of songs about playing shows and being on tour — it all started with one single.

“The first song written for RUFF was ‘Shade to Shade’ and ended up being the lyrical blueprint for [the album],” Derosier said.

As the band continues to tour both on their own and with other bands, they appreciate opportunities to learn and grow in different ways.

“I feel like [we’ve learned] something about touring from every band we’ve toured with. We learned work ethic from Caribou, showmanship from Franz Ferdinand, how to make the crowd a part of the show from Akron/Family,” Derosier said.

The Born Ruffians have some tricks to keep them from going batty on the road — endless distractions. Pursuers of podcasts like Democracy Now and Comedy Bang Bang, good board games and their Nintendo DS’s — all good Nintendogs go to heaven — the Born Ruffians know how make the best of a hectic schedule.

“We always seem to end our night at the hotel with Andy [Lloyd] loading up something on his laptop to laugh ourselves to sleep to,” Derosier said.

When asked about the political culture of the Ruffian fan base, Derosier elaborated on the integral role fans can play and what constitutes a “born” Ruffian, rather than a “naturalized” Ruffian. Naturalization being the process by which a non-Ruffian might achieve legal Ruffian status.

“Naturalized ruffians contribute to a rich and vibrant fan base and should not be looked upon any differently than born ruffians.

In fact, some naturalized ruffians have become Ruffians fans after enduring trying situations that born ruffians may not even be able to handle. We are definitely supporters of naturalized ruffians and hope that in the future more and more people become naturalized ruffians equal to or surpassing born ruffians,” Derosier said.

06 07 08 09 10 11 12 Thursday

friday

saturday

upcoming events • Oh Pep! with Basia Bulat at the Broadway Theatre • Dri Hiev with Shirley & the Pyramids, Walrus and Billy Moon at Vangelis • James McMurtry & Joe Nolan at Village Guitar & Amp Co. • Mental Health Awareness Panel at the NeatbyTimlin Theatre

• Andy Shauf with Scattered Clouds at the Broadway Theatre • I Mother Earth with the Standstills at O’Brians Event Centre • Kevin Roy with In With The Old at Underground Cafe • Last day of the USSU’s Mental Health Awareness Week

• Honest Friends and Between Now and Then with guests at Vinyl Exchange • Royal Canoe with guests at the Capitol Music Club • Les Ballet Jazz De Montreal at the Broadway Theatre • Stop Podcasting Yourself at The Refinery • The Sadies with the Heatscores for FM-Phasis Fundraiser 2016 at Amigos

• Belvedere with Me The Guts and Tickle Trunk at Louis’ • Born Ruffians with Ponteix for FM-Phasis Fundraiser 2016 at Amigos

sunday

• Amati Quartet at Knox United Church • La Coka Nostra at the Saskatoon Event Centre • Thanksgiving Day — University closed

monday

tuesday

Billions Corporation / Supplied The Born Ruffians are set to play Amigos as part of the CFCR FM-Phasis fundraiser.

oct 6, 2016

wednesday

• Carrie Underwood at the SaskTel Centre • C. W. Stoneking with guests at Vangelis • First day of the USSU’s Queerapalooza Campus Pride Week • Open stage with Chad and Sam at the Capitol Music Club • Saskatoon Pattern Dance Club at the All Saints Anglican Church

• First day of The Golden Age at Greystone Theatre • First day of the Wicihitowin Aboriginal Engagement Conference at TCU Place • Mayoral Forum & Councillor Meet and Greet at Frances Morrison Library • The Motorleague with Highkicks at the Capitol Music Club • The Small Glories at Village Guitar & Amp Co.

www.thesheaf.com

∙ the sheaf publishing society 11

OPINIONS

Transit problems: What you need to know and why you should care GENEVA HOULDEN The City of Saskatoon and the Amalgamated Transit Union — representing bus drivers and the rest of the city’s transit department — have been deadlocked in contract negotiations since 2012. While contract issues don’t usually affect the general public, this is a rare exception.

The City/ATU dispute led to a lockout in September 2014, affecting the entire city. For nearly a month, ATU members were locked out of work by city managers, making public transit impossible for residents.

The disruption disproportionately affected University of Saskatchewan students, many of whom

rely on the bus to get to and from campus. Eventually, the Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board deemed the lockout illegal. The city withdrew its lockout notice and transit resumed in October of 2014.

In the same ruling, the SLRB also found that the city illegally changed several contractual obligations, including conditions of employment and several benefits.

Fast-forward almost two years and there is still no agreement covering the hundreds of transit workers who provide our community with the essential services so many of us rely on every day.

At the heart of this dispute is the workers’ pension plan. Until 2012, when the

Jeremy Britz / Photo Editor The buses have our back, so we owe it to them to have theirs.

contract between the city and the ATU expired, transit workers had a defined contribution pension plan that guaranteed a set monthly benefit based on the worker’s age, years of service and average earnings upon retirement.

As the employer, the city is responsible for managing the pension plan and is liable for any deficits in the fund so it can pay its retired workers the amount set out in the plan.

Now, fearing a deficit that at least some pension actuaries say won’t happen, city managers want to replace the existing plan with a target-benefit pension plan, which ties the value of the plan to market investment returns.

Employers and employees assume equal risk for the “guaranteed” amount, and if there is a deficit, pension benefits are slashed to make up for it.

Wait, aren’t bus drivers already well paid? Didn’t the city offer to increase wages by 10 per cent? Why should I care about their pension plan?

Let me put it to you this way: imagine you are in

your second year of university. The administration estimates that their annual cost for lawn care on campus may go up — maybe not, the grounds crew says the lawn looks fine — but just in case, they want to hike your tuition next year by 20 per cent.

Don’t worry, they say — they are going to increase your scholarship from $100 to $150. But the rest of the increase is your responsibility to make up. I don’t think any of us would handle that well, especially if you were budgeting that tuition will increase two to three per cent.

It’s the same thing with the city’s offer: a 10 per cent wage increase isn’t going to make up for a shortfall in your pension if you’re already 50 years old; there’s just not enough time to make up that money.

Unions protect workers from the big-businesscures-all tendencies of conservative governments, and shelter workers from unfair labour practices, like locking out workers to force them to give up a pension plan both sides negotiated and signed.

I don’t think wanting what was promised to you makes you greedy. I think blaming transit workers for disruption of service is completely manipulative of public perception. The city has figured out that it’s easier to keep fingers pointed at “the union,” because then no one points fingers at management when they break their word.

U of S students make up a significant portion of daily bus riders, and a disruption of service affects us all.

We need to make sure the ATU knows they have our support, because they have always been there for us and we need to be there for them.

All undergraduate students belong to the U of S Students’ Union, and so we, too, are all members of a union. If the administration said they were going to raise tuition 20 per cent, we would expect the USSU to be there for us, so how can be blame the transit workers for doing the same? We can’t let the city manipulate us into believing unions are greedy troublemakers, because without unions, we all would be in far worse shape.

The grass is greener: Why we’re stuck in the USSU ZACH TENNENT

Opinions Editor

While student unions exist to serve and represent the best interests of students, an argument against their mandatory nature seems to be slowly gaining steam across the country, and for interesting reasons.

In a 2011 report entitled “The Case for Voluntary Student Unionism,” published by the Frontier Centre for Public Policy, Canadian academic Jonathan Wensveen had choice words about union membership on university campuses.

Among his more inflammatory suggestions, Wensveen posits that compulsory student union membership violates not only the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, but likewise the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights on the grounds of free association — a loaded charge to be sure.

However, this is mere-

ly a secondary observation of Wensveen’s, as it seems his primary concern is that compulsory membership is unnecessary.

“The reality is that the vast majority of the goods and services that student unions provide could easily be provided by voluntary organizations, which individual students could either belong to or not as suited their preferences,” Wensveen said.

To his credit — and despite his wild views on the legality of student unions — he does make a fair enough point. Even if they exist to provides goods, services and representation to students, perhaps some would rather pass on handing over their union fees.

The University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union works for the students — and is paid quite handsomely to do so — but if some students would rather decline their services, more power to them. After all, you can opt out of other fees, right?

Well, not quite. While students are able to opt out of the transit fee as well as

dental and health fees, you can’t simply choose to do so. There are eligibilities involved and you need an alternate plan to opt out of medical coverage. It’s not like you can opt out of the USSU and join the other student union with equal bargaining power. So that’s not exactly a fair comparison.

Then again, looking strictly at the U of S, voter turnout is regularly disgraceful. If people can’t be bothered to vote, their interest level in what the USSU does for them is likely non-existent. If they don’t care about what the USSU does for them, why should they have to pay?

Again, this argument seems to make sense but doesn’t. While saying you wouldn’t or already don’t take advantage of the USSU’s services may seem easy, it’s almost guaranteed to be untrue. Much like the Sheaf, even if you don’t enjoy their services, you almost certainly utilize them from time to time. Plus, in the real world you can’t get out of paying taxes by pick-

12 the sheaf publishing society ∙ www.thesheaf.com

ing and choosing what communal resources you want to use.

There’s one final argument against compulsory membership. When a single entity represents a student body that is richly diverse in many ways, some are bound to feel misrepresented.

The Students For Life Club at Brandon University in Brandon, MB, is currently suing the BU Student Union for discrimination after their club status was revoked. This is no anomaly in Canada and in complete sincerity, I have to feel for them.

Regardless of my views or anyone else’s, it’s unfortunate for those students that the organization they mandatorily pay to be a part of shut their club down because its politics made the BUSU “uncomfortable.” Given the circumstances, I can only imagine the members of the club would prefer the ability to choose if they wanted to be in the union or not.

However — even in this situation — I still have to come down on the side that

union membership must remain compulsory. The fact that a union doesn’t represent the views of all students equally is simply a flaw in representation, and one that can, if deemed necessary, be easily remedied internally. Quitting the union to protest its values doesn’t accomplish much.

In sum, it seems like even if we don’t like our student unions, compulsory membership is still the only way to go. That’s okay though.

We can complain about them until we’re blue in the face — after all, we pay for them.

Lesia Karalash / Graphics Editor

oct 6, 2016

PAGE TYPE OPINIONS

Time for the U of S to adopt the Accessible Icon TRAVIS HEBERT Logos have unprecedented powers and can directly affect how the public perceives their meaning. With this in mind, the University of Saskatchewan has some major reconsidering to do.

One of society’s most common logos is in dire need of revamping. The International Symbol of Access, otherwise known as the wheelchair symbol or “handicap logo,” is far out of date and in need of revitalization.

The Symbol of Access was created in the late 1960s with the intention of producing a universal design that could be used to indicate the removal of accessibility barriers for the elderly, those with small children and of course, those with disabilities.

If we were to take a brief look at the logos baseball teams used in the 1960s and compare them to what the teams use today, it would become clear that almost every team’s identifier has gone under a myriad of changes since then.

However, when we review the wheelchair symbol, the logo today is an exact representation of when it was fashioned in 1968. It’s time for change.

Earlier this year, I met a man named Richard Harlow who told a compelling story about his motivation to become an artist.

During his time pursuing his dreams at Emily Carr University of Art and Design, he began to experience blindness.

A degenerative disease took over his eyesight and crushed his dreams, but being as ambitious as he is, he chose to use his ailment as a tool to help others with similar or more serious disabilities than him. Despite his blindness, he was able to promote an artistic activist program and continue working with things he loved.

I saw him give a speech at a convention regarding an issue he was passionate about — an icon that would alleviate the stigma surrounding disability — an icon that would provide perceptions of mobilization and autonomy to those

experiencing difficulty. Of every subject he could have orated, he chose to speak about the Accessible Icon.

I followed up with Harlow shortly after he made that speech and told him I appreciated his passion on the subject and that it moved me to make an attempt to institute the idea at my own university.

Now, I try to spread this idea to my fellow students.

The wheelchair symbol on campus requires change.

The symbol shows a person who is immobile — someone who needs help — waiting for someone else to push them forward.

The Accessible Icon, which I urge the U of S to adopt, shows a person in a wheelchair in motion, pushing forward, without the hopeless attitude of the current icon. A simple change in signature would help to alleviate the stigma associated with disability — a change I believe our university should welcome.

We need to update our logo in the same way we update the way we treat people. As Harlow suggests, the iconography has

not necessarily kept up with the evolution of the way we treat and view people with disabilities.

If the U of S wants to be an institution that is ahead of the times or a leader in the push for greater acceptance of those who have disabilities, then adopting the Accessible Icon is the first step.

Any natural resistance is negated because this project is inexpensive and easy and it makes a difference.

With a small budget, we could buy stickers to cover parking signs and parking stall logos, therefore helping to replace the current aura of stigma with one of acceptance.

Why wouldn’t the U of S want to be a part of this?

We are a leader among universities in environmental and social issues, regarding our installation of solar panels on a number of buildings as well as gender neutral washrooms.

If we can make progress on those issues, we can do the same on this one.

Once our community becomes a more accepting, inclusive space, everyone will benefit. We are ahead of the times on many great social issues and it would be great to make advances on this one.

To support the adoption of the Accessible Icon at the U of S, students can visit www. change.org/p/university-ofsaskatchewan-accessibleicon-u-of-s-change-thesign-change-the-attitude.

Jeremy Britz / Photo Editor The wheelchair symbol, nearly 50 years old, is sorely outdated.

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www.thesheaf.com

∙ the sheaf publishing society 13

OPINIONS

Graffiti damages university property, our image as an academic institution AFFAN HASAN While many consider graffiti a form of art, making it on University of Saskatchewan property is quite costly for the administration to remove — both in time and money.

Graffiti — unapproved writings or drawings on public surfaces and spaces — is mostly found in our university’s washrooms and libraries. From romantic prose to derogatory statements, one can find various types of graffiti on university property, particularly in the Arts Building and the Murray Library.

In university washrooms, people often write or draw right above the urinals or inside the toilet stalls — I guess it is the quickest way to bag as many pairs of eyes for their work as possible.

I am often amazed at the amount of effort these people put into draw such graffiti. It requires them to pull out a pen, find a suitable time of loneliness in the washroom and scribble their message, all the while relieving themselves.

Study desks and walls of the cubicles in Murray Library aren’t spared either.

Often portraying racist, sexist or violent themes, such graffiti can be offensive to the students and

the library staff — neither of whom would wish to read such demeaning messages before or during their time at work.

A disturbing message — or a message of any sort for that matter — serves only to distract students from the much needed hard work that brought them to the library in the first place.

Graffiti is usually drawn using permanent markers or is forcefully embedded into the wood by a pen. Not only is it time consuming to remove such graffiti as it requires several efforts of cleaning and re-painting, the removal process can also be incredibly costly, especially in a space the size of a university library.

The costs can include new cleaning solutions, paint and in extreme cases, new furniture. Unfortunately, it seems the U of S administration has shunned the option of updating the furniture in fears of repetition of similar damage to its property.

At the end of the day, this only makes our study places dirtier and less attractive. Think about it: the time spent by the university staff on removing graffiti could be spent on cleaning or organizing the washrooms and libraries respectively.

Moreover, the U of S is

Laura Underwood / Layout Manager While still a form of artistic expression, graffiti can be an unsightly nuisance.

proudly the epicenter of many academic and social events in the province.

Prominent figures and students regularly visit our campus from other parts of the country and the world.

In opposition to the unique architecture and the natural beauty that our campus offers to our guests, the existing graffiti becomes a source of unpleasantness and impairs our collective image as an academic institution. I am

sure this doesn’t help to raise our standing among other universities in the country.

Does this mean I’m discouraging people from expressing themselves through creative art forms?

Of course not. In fact, I believe that graffiti has the power to creatively express one’s heartfelt opinions.

All I am asking is that we channel our creativity and works to legal and appropriate publishing spaces

such as display boards or newspaper sections instead of damaging U of S property. It is by respecting our place of education that we will be able to gain greater respect for the education we receive.

Graffiti is considered to be “unsightly damage or unwanted vandalism” by U of S Protective Services. In the event that you wish to report vandalism on the campus, Protective Services can be reached at 306-966-5555.

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Thank you to our sponsors:

14 the sheaf publishing society ∙ www.thesheaf.com

Colin Aldorfer at

oct 6, 2016

PAGE TYPE DISTRACTIONS campus chat

“

Live @ Louis

UPCOMING CONCERTS: October 9 - Belveder October 23 - Stiff Little Fingers October 31 - Face to Face

If I could be another person, I’d be...”

” Jeremy Britz / Photo Editor Punk-rock legends SNFU returned to Louis’ with their unique blend of storytelling skate-punk.

“Tom Hanks.”

22, A Million

by Bon Iver

Robin Steeg

EMILY MIGCHELS This long awaited album is absolutely nothing you’d expect from the mysterious, cabin-dwelling folk artist. With cryptic track titles and melodic but coded lyrics, it’s difficult to decipher what exactly this album really means. A long way from For Emma, Forever Ago, 22, A Million shows incredible growth and change for the artist, even if it does seem to read like a last-ditch effort to stay relevant.

“A politician.”

Xu Xu

COMING EVENTS “Trump or Clinton.”

Monica Judkins

“A cat.”

Anh Phan

Son somehow coming home

follow us

©

for Thanksgiving more conservative than when he left Frances Boyle CENTRAL BUTTE, SK — In an unprecedented move, first-year University of Saskatchewan student Ryan Lawrence is preparing to introduce his new politically active ideology to his family over the Thanksgiving long weekend.

“University has been such an eye opening experience,” Lawrence said.

“I think I had what you would call the traditional ‘small town’ upbringing.

You know, very left wing, open-minded, that sort of thing. Being at the U of S for the last six weeks and meeting people with right wing political views for the first time in my life has forced me to completely reconsider my stance on things like the energy sector, my respect for the federal government and the evils of democratic socialism.”

While still unaware of

the magnitude of this shift, the boy’s father is already expressing concerns.

“I just don’t get it,” Carlton Lawrence said. “We were talking on the phone last week and he told me that I was a drain on society. Is this what I’m paying his tuition for?”

While Lawrence has yet to confirm with his parents, he is reportedly considering switching majors from philosophy to agriculture.

& Monty reid A Night of Poetry

Wednesday, October 12, 7 pM

Marion Mutala

Reading & Signing

Ukrainian Daughter’s Dance Thursday, October 13, 7 pM “Kylie Jenner.”

Demi Beaupre

oct 6, 2016

www.thesheaf.com

∙ the sheaf sheaf publishing society 15 AM oct 6, 2016.indd 1 9/28/2016 11:25:16

BACKPAGE PAGE TYPE

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16 the sheaf publishing society ∙ www.thesheaf.com

oct 6, 2016