Nov. 24, 2016

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SCIENCE & TECH

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Nov 24, 2016

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Lights, Romans, action: Students zap ancient artifacts at CLS JONAH EGAN-PIMBLETT Once university students declare a major, opportunities to study outside their discipline become limited, but students at the University of Saskatchewan are bridging the gap between departments — and using the Canadian Light Source to study ancient artifacts to do it.

The joint Chemistry and Classical, Medieval and Renaissance Studies 398 course brings together students from both disciplines to examine ancient artifacts. The course includes three groups of students, each studying a different artifact: Roman coins, ancient pottery and Egyptian faience. Many of the artifacts come from the Museum of Antiquities located on campus, but some were lent to the university specifically for study.

Melissa Shaw, a fifth-

year chemistry major, explains the X-ray fluorescence technique that the students use to analyze the artifacts.

“XRF works by exciting the electrons in a metal, so they will eject an electron, and that electron gives off a certain signal and we can measure that with a detector,” Shaw said. “Different elements give off different signature detection limits, so you can tell the difference between silver, gold and lead.”

Tracene Harvey, the Museum of Antiquities director and curator, stated that if any students are interested in working with artifacts and would like to take the class in the future, they could express their interest by contacting her at the museum.

Shaw shared that one of the highlights was the hands-on experience the groups have received.

“David Muir, the [sci-

entist] that works at the IDEAS beamline … just sat back and just let us run the whole show but was there if we had any questions,” Shaw said.

Ben Kmiech, a third-year CMRS student, explained the scope of his group’s study, which focuses on Roman coins, mostly from the period when Rome transitioned from a republic to an empire.

“In the ancient world, coins were literally worth their weight in gold, but in the later Roman empire we start to see them debasing the coins and that’s basically like watering down a drink. You’re pouring in a bunch of non-precious metal so you sort of get more bang for your buck,” Kmiech said. “Using X-ray fluorescence, we can see just how debased a specific coin is and we can sort of see … which emperors are the worst for debasement and which one’s are the

“

best — as in not doing it.”

Kmiech explains that the trends in their findings show that coins were most often debased during times of political instability, but debasement levels tended to recover as political stability returned.

Kathryn Bloski, a fifthyear CMRS student, highlighted a couple examples the group has found so far to explain some of their findings.

“Mark Antony [lived] in a time that so much war was going on that he needed to pay his soldiers, so we’re assuming he would debase [coins] just because he was running out of metal,” Bloski said. “Nero … could have had different reasons for debasing his coinage …

He wanted to rebuild Rome and make it better than it was before, so he debased [the coinage] a lot just so he could have more expenses.”

Bloski also shares the

group’s interest in how the Roman mining processes and metallurgy affected the elemental composition.

“We know that they heated up the metal and struck it to make it into the coin it is, so we’re seeing if that actually affected the elemental composition of it, and then if where they mined it from had different elements, in that we can detect if certain silver in one coin belongs to a different mine in Spain or Greece,” Bloski said.

Harvey emphasizes the value she sees in the course.

“What’s so great about the course is the interdisciplinary aspect … We wanted to give the students here at the U of S the opportunity to do these kinds of things for themselves, bringing together the chemistry and the humanities students, and so far it’s been a great experience both for the students and for us.”

In the ancient world, coins were literally worth their weight in gold, but in the later Roman empire we start to see them debasing the coins and that’s basically like watering down a drink.

You’re pouring in a bunch of non-precious metal so you sort of get more bang for your buck.

”

- Ben Kmiech, third-year CMRS student Lesia Karalash / Graphics Editor

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: Emily Klatt 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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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.

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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

corrections In our Nov. 3 issue, we incorrectly credited the photo in the article “U of S graduate releases first solo album.” The photo was taken by Emily M. Kohlert, with assistance from Devin McAdam.

We apologize for this mistake.

nov 24, 2016

PAGENEWS TYPE

For the love of science: Ambassadors bring science to northern communities LAUREN HOPE For many students at the University of Saskatchewan, finding summer employment that is both enjoyable and relevant to their field of study is no easy task. Fortunately for students in the sciences, the Science Ambassador Program is looking for science-loving, engaged students to join their spring 2017 outreach program.

This four to six week program, open to health sciences and senior science, technology, engineering and mathematics — or STEM — students, offers U of S student hires the chance to develop science activities and class discussions alongside teachers in northern Saskatchewan communities.

The main goal of the program is to build meaningful connections and develop a love of science in elementary school students.

The Science Ambassador Program is entering its 10th year of sharing the love of science in northern communities. Sandy Bonny, program co-ordinator for the last five years, explains how the program functions.

“What the program does

is it matches disciplinary expertise of science students … [with] remote Aboriginal Community Schools,” Bonny said. “[They often have] very strong teachers and culturally vibrant schools, but many of those teachers don’t have a science background, so they struggle to provide the science and math experiences to students that they would get in an urban setting where there are lots of science teachers.”

Starting Nov. 25, the Science Ambassador Program will begin hiring U of S students. The paid positions offered come with all expenses covered. Trips to northern communities are scheduled between the end of final exams in April and the end of June when community schools finish, so as not to interfere with the student employees’ university classes.

Once employed, students undergo professional development training sessions between February and April, to equip them for the ambassador role.

Former ambassador Mackenzie Moleski, a fourth-year honours student in physiology and pharmacology, participated in the program last year. Her experience was so

positive that she plans to apply to the program again in 2017.

“The Science Ambassador Program was a life changing experience for me. While there is so much learning to be had by explaining science concepts to others, there are beneficial learning experiences outside the classroom,” Moleski said. “University students can benefit from this program immensely because it improves communication skills, increases independence and really changes perceptions of northern living.”

According to Bonny, the program targets a very specific student group in northern communities, ranging from grades four to nine.

Various communities in the province host the program, some as close as Green Lake, which is a five-hour drive from Saskatoon, or as remote as Black Lake, located near Lake Athabasca, which can only be reached by plane.

Bonny also explains that the Science Ambassador Program offers advantages to participating university students. “[Ambassadors] learn about the northern environment [and] get to see parts

of the province they’ve never seen before. We have international students, and for them to get to live in a real community and be involved is great,” Bonny said. “They love it, they come back excited about engaging with different parts of society.”

Bonny shares that former participants report favourable experiences on post-employment surveys.

When asked if they would recommend the Science Ambassador Program to other U of S students, only positive responses were given, suggesting to Bonny that every ambassador has gotten something out of the experience.

In addition, many ambas-

sadors like Moleski reported a rekindled love for science and commented on the importance that relationship building and community involvement had for them.

“My favourite part of being a science ambassador was the relationships I built and fostered in the community of Green Lake,” Moleski said.

“The community welcomed my fellow science ambassador and I with open arms.

We had the opportunity to engage in community events and meet people other than the students and staff at the school. I did not expect to be so fully immersed in the community and culture of Green Lake, but it was a great surprise.”

Sandy Bonny / Supplied The Science Ambassador Program visits Opaskwayak Cree Nation in Manitoba.

Breakthrough in breast cancer treatment discovered at U of S NATASHA HAUSERMANN Saskatchewan has made history with a recent breakthrough discovered right here at the University of Saskatchewan. Triple-negative breast cancer has long been known as the most aggressive type of breast cancer, and this discovery could lead to an effective treatment that could save lives.

U of S researchers Andrew Freywald, of the College of Medicine, and Franco Vizeacoumar, of the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency, were excited to report their latest findings in breast cancer treatment.

This key duo, along with Deborah Anderson, director of research at the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency, were able to apply individual expertise to benefit one another in order to produce a promising future in triple-negative breast cancer therapy.

Freywald eagerly speaks about the process that allowed them to make this discovery. “[Vizeacoumar] discovered that when he did the screening, it was based on an nov 24, 2016

original observation of one of the molecules I work with, which is frequently missing in triple-negative breast cancer.

So when [Vizeacoumar] did this screen we specifically looked for how we can kill cells that drop this molecule called EphB6,” Freywald said.

According to the researchers, the EphB6 molecule is a necessary component of a healthy, non-cancerous cell and targeting a gene called SRC might kill breast cancer cells lacking EphB6. Vizeacoumar and Freywald then found an inhibitor of SRC that had been used before to try and treat triple-negative breast cancer but had not been successful.

“Then we found already there is a super cool drug approved by the FDA, and we picked up right away that this drug molecule can target this gene X, that can be identified in our screen, which is called the SRC gene. We then tested this on animal models and cell models,” Vizeacoumar said.

With the SRC inhibitor, Freywald and Vizeacoumar found a way to target and kill the cancer cells that had lost

the EphB6 molecule. This process normally would not go to clinical trials right away; however, with the SRC inhibitor already FDA approved, the researchers are eager to move into these trials.

“We can go straight forward to human clinical trials, and … apply this inhibitor to [breast cancer] tumors that do not have this EphB6 produced, and if we suddenly see much better effects, these inhibitors can be technically applied in a proper treatment partial to triple-negative breast cancer,” Freywald said. “This can then be an option that is missing right now that would allow us to target this specific molecule in triple-negative breast cancer, and then eliminate tumors.”

Freywald believes that this major breakthrough should be important to students.

“For students it should provide some point of excitement to believe that the university is leading in some area of new treatment developments and developing new therapies focused specifically on treating of breast cancer patients,” Freywald said.

He also explains that the

investigation uses very advanced techniques that U of S students could receive training in.

“This advanced technology provides a big advantage for our students and for any university student who is interested in doing research in the future, because they can be trained in the most advanced techniques in the country used in cancer research,” Freywald said.

Students have gotten involved with research alongside Freywald and Vizeacoumar in the past. Currently, James Paul, their student and a co-first author of their recent publication, has produced a thesis specifically on their discovery and will be defending it in December.

Students who are interested in research are encouraged

to get involved, as Freywald and Vizeacoumar predict that they will have openings in their labs for students in the coming future.

“We take students all the time,” Freywald said. “The best way for students to get involved would just simply be to contact [Vizeacoumar] and myself, or preferably both of us, using our email addresses.”

Freywald and Vizeacoumar are both very enthusiastic about this treatment, a type of discovery that researchers like them strive to achieve everyday.

“This is completely Saskatchewan-based research,” Vizeacoumar said.

“The biggest dream for every cancer researcher is trying to actually initiate a clinical trial at the end of the day.”

euthman / Flickr U of S researchers may have discovered a new treatment method for breast cancer.

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For many students at the University of Saskatchewan, student groups and associations are integral to a sense of community belonging. In an effort to foster community, the African Students' Association recently held elections for a new executive team.

On Nov. 18, the ASA elected a new executive, including a president, vicepresident and secretary. The ASA’s aim is to provide a safe and helpful community for new students from Africa, as well as to form friendships with fellow students.

Simon Beresford, a fourth-year physiology and pharmacology student and out-going president of the ASA, speaks about how he and the 2016 executive members made the ASA what it is today.

“When we took over, there was no actually ratified organization as of then, so we started from scratch,” Beresford said. “An election was conducted in October last year, and the aim of that election was to be able to create an association that we could pass over to any other students that were interested.”

Although the ASA did exist before this, it was less focused on community and more focused on making money, according to Beresford. When the executive members took over last year, they had goals to transform the association.

“I came up with the idea, with some good friends of mine, to actually bring

about the association with the aim of uniting the African community, giving them a voice and a form of advocacy for them because they have a need for that,” Beresford said.

Among unity and advocacy, the association is also centered on forming friendships and having fun, and they host several events, open to all students, throughout the year.

“Forming friendships among people and bringing avenues where people can sit together and discuss issues of interest within the African community, and also to encourage the multicultural society we’re seeing on campus, are some of our further aims,” Beresford said.

In the next year, Beresford hopes that the new executive members will continue to work towards advocacy and community and also expand the scope of what the ASA does for students.

“Every year we have people from Africa coming to the U of S. Some people are very lost and they don’t know anything at all,” Beresford said. “What we are trying to do is to get a list of how many African students are coming and figure out what we can do to assist them and what kind of help do they need.”

Beresford also hopes that the ASA will provide financial and academic help to African students who need it, by offering textbooks and study help beyond what the university provides.

“Some people may have problems in terms of taking a class that they may not

really understand and they are not having the extra help. We are trying to set up an academic sector that can help students with stuff like that,” Beresford said.

The ASA has transformed throughout the last year, and Beresford spoke proudly about the work the association has done. He believes that the best thing they have accomplished this year is gaining the trust of African students on campus, which has allowed them to form such a strong community.

“What I think I’ve done that I am very proud of is gaining the trust of the people because in the past, no one within the African community trusted the ASA because all they wanted from the students was to have events and make money from them,” Beresford said.

“Now the association is very different. We are able to gain people’s trust, and that is the greatest thing we have achieved.”

Beresford believes that the ASA is important because being a new student from Africa can be difficult and scary. Having a community for support, Beresford feels, is necessary for those students.

“We have people who are treated unfairly because of their skin colour and I believe if we have a voice and an advocate for those people, things like that would not be happening. For me, it is like giving a sense of protection in a very foreign land and also building a very strong community that can stand for us no matter what.”

Jeremy Britz / Photo Editor As a way to support African students at the U of S, the African Students’ Association held elections for a brand new executive team.

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nov 24, 2016

SPORTSPAGE & HEALTH TYPE

Powering up your workout with technology JACK THOMPSON Staff Writer

Exercise can be a tough task to handle on its own.

Add schoolwork on top of that, and getting in a workout can seem nearly impossible. Thankfully, there is technology out there to assist with managing your fitness routine.

From staying motivated to keeping track of progress, technology can help with anything related to your workout. For the most part, there are three key things needed for a successful workout regime: motivation to get to the gym, motivation to complete your workout and the ability to track your progress.

Getting to the gym can be hard and one common excuse is a lack of time. This just leaves finding motivation to actually get out to the gym.

Any successful day starts in the morning and, barring any substantial event that happens in your day, it will

likely be your make or break point for the entire day.

This includes your workout.

Waking up late will leave you behind on your to-dos, and working out is generally the first thing to be cut in order to spend time on things higher on the priority list.

Available on both Android and iPhone, there are apps that can monitor your sleep cycle by using your phone’s accelerometer to track your sleep. This allows the app to wake you up when you’re at the lightest part of your sleep cycle. The creators of these apps, which are plentiful on both major smartphone platforms, state this makes for an easier wake up since you’re not coming straight out of deep sleep.

Finding motivation to actually complete your workout once you get to the gym can be another challenge.

Fortunately, there are several forms of technology to keep you motivated throughout your workout.

Some people find that listening to something while working out helps keep them motivated. One option is to play music using a

program like Apple Music or Spotify. Setting up playlists specifically for working out can help to keep you in the right mindset. A great feature that can be found on these apps is premade playlists for all different kinds of exercise, from running to weightlifting.

These playlists are especially interesting because users are allowed to customize the playlist to match the pace they want to workout at. This might apply more to runners, but having a playlist that never slows down can help to keep up your tempo, regardless of your type of workout.

Getting motivated for workouts is great to ensure you are sticking with your regime, but there is still the matter of ensuring you’re on the right track. This can be done through exercise tracking technology.

There are many apps that can help with this. Manually inputting all the values about how long your workout was and what it consisted of is far from ideal, but knowing where you’re at as far as workouts go can help to avoid plateauing.

This is where workout accessories like the FitBit and smartwatches like the Apple Watch come in handy. While it may not be financially feasible for some students to invest in one, they do make it easier to track your progress, utilizing components like step counters and heart rate

monitors. This also ensures that the information you’re using is accurate.

While these are only some of the ways you can aid your workouts with technology, they are a great start. By using technology to your advantage, you can get fit and have fun all at the same time.

Sarah Foley

Best apps for mobile mental health EMILY KLATT Sports & Health Editor

These days, it seems like there’s a smartphone app for just about every situation. From dating, to driving to drinking water, technology has found a way to improve them all. It’s unsurprising, then, that there are a whole slew of apps that promise to help users manage stress, anxiety and other mental health issues.

As someone who lives — and copes — with anxiety and depression, I’m always on the lookout for new ways to support my mental health, including smartphone apps that I can use between appointments or on the go.

I preface this article by saying that smartphone apps are in no way a replacement for actual professional mental health services. Students that are struggling with mental wellness should seek nov 24, 2016

help from a doctor, Student Counseling Services or other support systems.

That being said, mental health apps can still play a part in student wellness.

They are great for smaller moments of stress and as a supplement to professional treatment. I’m definitely in favour of anything that can help improve my mental health. Hopefully, one of these apps might help you too!

All of these apps are available to download for free on both iPhone and Android systems.

1. Pacifica: Pacifica is an app that allows users to track and monitor their anxiety symptoms, while also providing access to various resources and coping mechanisms. You can record your own thoughts and feelings over time, which may help you notice patterns of stress or potential triggers.

2. Breath2Relax: When you’re anxious, it can be difficult to focus on even the most basic things — even essential things like

regular breathing. Breath2Relax leads users through diaphragmatic breathing exercises, which force you to slow down and take deep, relaxing breathes.

The app also lets you record stressors and provides links to information about stress.

3. Recovery Record: This is a great app for those that are recovering from an eating disorder or anyone who just struggles with eating regular meals. Recovery Record gives gentle reminders around mealtimes. Unlike other food trackers, the app doesn’t keep track of calories; instead, it prompts users to keep track of the feelings and situations surrounding their meals, keep track of recovery goals and access a community of other users and mental health professionals.

4. Sleep Cycle: Sleep is one of the most important, but often overlooked, components of mental health. All too often, busy students — myself included — get caught in a vicious cycle of late nights and

caffeine-fueled afternoons.

Sleep Cycle tries to break that pattern by helping you get the best night’s sleep possible. The app monitors your sleep habits through sound and movement and aims to wake you up gradually during your lightest phase of sleep, hopefully ensuring a more restful night.

5. MindShift: Designed specifically for teens and young adults, MindShift is a joint project between AnxietyBC and the British Columbia Children’s Hospital. MindShift helps users rethink the way that they view their anxiety, as well as linking them to specific tools that help with things like sleep, test anxiety and panic attacks.

Mental wellness is a complicated issue to address. Just as no person will deal with the exact same symptoms or difficulties as someone else, no solution will be a perfect fit for everyone.

One of the benefits of living in an increasingly technological age is the nearly

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infinite access we have to a variety of different resources. Although not a substitute for professional mental health services, smartphone apps are one of many resources that are available to us.

When it comes to mental health, we should do everything we can to take care of ourselves — and in 2016, there’s an app for that.

Lesia Karalash / Graphics Editor

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SPORTS & HEALTH PAGE TYPE

Grant recipients put MS research into motion EMILY KLATT Sports & Health Editor

Living with a chronic illness is never easy, but one research project at the University of Saskatchewan hopes to improve the lives of those diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in a unique and innovative way.

Two of three Hermes Canada MS Society National Wellness Research Grants were awarded to the U of S to study the benefits that structured exercise routines may have on individuals with MS. The grants are each worth $40,000, and they wish to encourage research collaboration between academic institutions like the U of S and community partners — resulting in a unique approach to medical testing and research.

One grant went to a slightly more unconventional project: exploring the benefits that regular pilates classes may have for people with MS. This project comes as a collaboration between a team of U of S professors and a community

partner, Lead Pilates and Integrative Health Therapies.

The study will run for 12 weeks and include 30 participants. Half of the subjects will complete a twice-weekly pilates program and a weekly massage. The other half of the participants, the control group, will receive the massage only. Researchers will investigate any noticeable differences in things such as strength, balance, stamina and quality of life.

The original project proposal was the brainchild of Lead Pilates owners Jana and Jason Danielson. After working for several years in the health and wellness industry, the couple was drawn to the world of MS research after a friend within the MS society brought the Wellness Research Grants to their attention. As the grant program aims to improve the lives of individuals living with chronic illness through innovative wellness strategies, Jana Danielson felt it was directly in line with her goals for Lead Pilates.

“When someone asks me why [Lead Pilates] exists, that’s exactly why we exist.

There’s so much misinformation and just poor quality

information out there about fitness and wellness and movement,” Danielson said.

“We want to help people navigate through all of that noisy information and find a plan and help them be accountable to that so they can truly increase their quality of life.”

The U of S component is led

by Charity Evans, an associate professor with the College of Pharmacy and Nutrition. She is joined by kinesiology faculty members Jon Farthing and Phil Chilibeck, as well as post-doctoral fellow Dr. Whitney Duff. Evans, who has a background in MS research, spoke about the unconventional nature of the study.

“There’s not a lot of research that’s been done on pilates and MS, to date, and nothing done in Canada, but what has been done has shown that it has been beneficial for things like muscle strength or fatigue,” Evans said.

Although the study has yet to take place, Evans was able to elaborate on the desired outcomes of the project.

“The ideal outcome would be that we would see a difference, so that we would see that people in the pilates class

had improved walking ability.

We expect to see improvements in things like quality of life, muscle strength — and you know, really, at the end of the day if the participants feel better because they were involved in an exercise program, that is a benefit in itself,” Evans said.

Aside from the potential physical benefits for MS patients, Danielson emphasized how pilates can help improve one’s overall quality of life — a

goal she is happy to strive towards in any way she can.

“It’s as simple as this: our body was built to move,” Danielson said. “Movement is medicine. Movement is one way you can connect the mind and the body, to shut off everything else that’s going on in your world and just focus on this body. We only have one body to live in and we have to make it as effective and efficient for us so we can lead a high quality of life.”

SHRF / Supplied Charity Evans, an associate professor in the College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, is leading the U of S part of the research project.

Dog Watch: Shayna Uhryn JACK THOMPSON Staff Writer

In the gruelling endurance competition of cross country running, it takes both stamina and perseverance to succeed.

Luckily, University of Saskatchewan Huskies cross country runner Shayna Uhryn has both.

Uhryn is in her first year at the U of S, studying in the College of Arts and Science. She has a background in track and field, growing up in Saskatoon and starting cross country in the grade 11. This led to Uhryn finding her place among the Huskies’ cross country team this year, where her determination and genuine love for running solidified her success.

All the hard work Uhryn put into training and attending practices six times a week paid off when she was awarded with the title of Canada West Female Rookie of the Year in cross country.

“It’s pretty exciting because it’s for all western universities.

It’s cool to be the top rookie in all of western Canada,” Uhryn said.

Uhryn finished 10th in the CanWest championship with a time of 23:00.8 and finished the season ranking 33rd, according to U Sports, the national governing body for university athletics in Canada. Each race for women’s cross country is six kilometres long and the CanWest, which is simultaneously the national championship, was held in Quebec City this year. Uhryn spoke on the diversity in the courses they visited over the duration of the season.

“Running in the different places, like Quebec City, we’ve never been there — it’s not like we can train on it. So we kind of have to be ready for anything that can come your way,” Uhryn said.

However, this does not slow her down. Uhryn states that the variety is part of why she enjoys cross country running, compared to track and field.

“I like how each race is different. It’s not like running in a straight circular path like track. I like track too, but the

different courses for the hills and running on grass is cool,” Uhryn said.

Uhryn also mentioned the difference between running cross country in high school in comparison to university in terms of the level of competition, noting that many of the girls she competes against are five years older than her. This does not deter Uhryn or her love of running though, as she says she intends to continue with cross country going forward.

“I definitely plan on joining again next year. I think I can take away that it definitely was an eye opener, just to see the different levels of [runners at] universities across Canada,” Uhryn said.

On observing the various skills levels across the country, Uhryn says she tries to take away different training methods, as well as finding areas to improve in.

Uhryn stated however, that her biggest challenge during the season was not to be found on the course. Instead, it was found in the classroom.

“I think the biggest chal-

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lenge would’ve been trying to perform at such a high level while you’re still trying to maintain five classes and three labs. It’s a heavy workload,” Uhryn said.

Running is clearly a labour of love for Uhryn, as she lists it at the top in her favourite things to do in her free time.

“Definitely running. I actually love running but I also [am] heavily involved in all sports.

So like volleyball, basketball, badminton, cross country, track [and] flag football. I’m kind of in everything,” Uhryn said.

While the cross country season may be over, Uhryn says she will be continue to run with the U of S track team during the off season. It seems that Uhryn can’t outrun her passion for the sport that has brought her so much success.

Josh Schaefer / Supplied Shayna Uhryn was named the Canada West Female Rookie of the Year in cross country.

nov 24, 2016

PAGE TYPE CULTURE

Theatre re-inventing itself: Artists create a convoy for social change LAUREN KLASSEN Independent theatre may be short on money, but it’s not short on ideas.

Theatre is transforming in Saskatoon and University of Saskatchewan students are contributing to this by fostering a conversation on mental health through the plays See Bob Run and Wild Abandon by Tough Choice Productions.

Formed in 2016, Touch Choice Productions is ready for their debut production with the notable Tom Ratzlaff as director. The debut plays feature two actors — Trillian Reynoldson and current fine arts U of S student, Braden Butler, who sat down with the Sheaf to discuss the production and theatre life in Saskatoon.

Starring Reynoldson, See Bob Run illustrates the story of a girl who hitchhikes her way east while running away from home.

While travelling across the Trans-Canada Highway, she leaves pieces of her story behind with the different drivers she meets.

These stories reveal the trauma she endured in

childhood and through this, the audience discovers her contorted misconception of love. See Bob Run has a powerful script that creates suspense as Bob discloses the awful life she is running from.

Similar to See Bob Run, Wild Abandon, which stars Butler, tackles heavy topics. The story follows Steve, a young gay man who has felt isolated and restricted his entire life because of his upbringing in a strict Catholic home.

While telling the story of his upbringing and adversity, we also witness Steve’s mental processes as he attempts to find a reason to live. The setting for Wild Abandon is minimal because it focuses on the very raw and real emotions of Steve, which allows room for the audience to draw a strong connection to the character.

“There’s no pretence, there’s no fourth wall — we are all here together and you’re going to witness the biggest decision of his life,” Butler said.

Both plays include sensitive material, and Butler warns students to be aware

of this before they attend the show.

“It’s heavy subject matter. It is dark material. But it also has its lighter more comedic moments,” Butler said.

Working in theatre can be a struggle and although Tough Choice Productions hasn’t received any grants, they are generating revenue through high school matinees, donations and ticket sales.

“There’s no way to survive as an independent theatre if you aren’t partially funded by grants, whether it’s at a national level or provincial level,” Butler said.

The lack of funding for artists is a difficulty that will not change without communication between citizens and the companies that provide funding.

Butler believes that for theatre to continue to thrive and to captivate audiences, plays need to address relevant topics facing communities today.

“It can’t just be about entertainment value for much longer. In a lot of ways it isn’t, but it needs to evolve [and] it needs to be relevant

Logan Taylor / Supplied Tough Choice Productions is helping bring awareness to mental health through theatre.

to the communities it’s being performed to,” Butler said.

For theatre to survive in this technological age we live in, Butler believes change needs to take place.

“The idea of theatre potentially being a dying art is something to scare artists. However, I would say that I don’t think it’s a dying art at all. I think that if theatre is going to survive in this century it’s going to have to re-invent itself,” Butler said.

This is exactly what Tough Choice Production is hoping to do by showcasing relevant topics in need of conversation to Saskatoon’s community.

These two plays feature relatable characters, whom U of S students are sure to connect with.

“The playwright Daniel McIvor says in an essay in the beginning of the scripts, ‘There is a little bit of Steve and Bob in all of us,’ and I certainly find that to be true … Their struggles are unique, but they’re also very human,” Butler said.

Tough Choice Productions will be showing both plays back-to-back running from Nov. 24 to 26 and through Dec. 1 to 3 at PAVED Arts.

Tickets are available online at ontheboards.ca or at the door and are $15 for students and $20 for general admission.

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nov 24, 2016

www.thesheaf.com

∙ the sheaf publishing society 7

FEATURE

All inforgraphics by: Lesia Karalash / Graphics Editor

U of S researchers make ground-breaking finds

on asthma, other allergies and autoimmune diseases NAOMI ZUREVINSKI

Editor-in-Chief

“

There’s an incredible human side to solving food allergies because of their capacity to be lethal.

But also, direct and indirect costs of asthma in Canada cost us somewhere between $1 and $2 billion per year. So if you could reduce that, it would have a significant impact on our healthcare system.

”

- Dr. John Gordon, head of the research team

Significant research underway at the University of Saskatchewan is grabbing international attention, as it has the potential to help millions of people in Canada and across the world who are affected by allergies, asthma and autoimmune diseases.

A group of researchers on campus has developed an immunotherapy technique that reverses food allergies in mice, which has the potential for positive results in humans as well. The team is headed by Dr. John Gordon, who is a research leader of the Canadian organization AllerGen Networks Centre of Excellence, the vice-president of the Canadian Society for Immunology and a professor in the department of medicine on campus.

Although the most recent findings were published in October 2016 in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Gordon has been involved in this research for 12 years and explains what it is that the team has discovered.

“In essence, we have developed a cellular therapy by which we can reverse allergen sensitivity in mice that are allergic to egg proteins and peanuts. We’ve shown previously that we can also do this type of thing in mouse models of asthma and with allergic cells from asthmatic individuals, but using a slightly different type of dendritic cell, and that was also relevant in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis,” Gordon said.

In 2010, the research team took blood cells from

8 the sheaf publishing society ∙ www.thesheaf.com

asthmatic individuals and converted them into tolerance-promoting dendritic cells in a test tube.

They then used these new cells to convert asthmatic, or Th2 cells, into regulatory cells, which switch off the rest of the asthmatic cells in the blood cell donor.

This means that the researchers are trying to replace the damaging responses seen in those who have allergies with the non-aggressive or tolerant responses seen in those who do not have allergies. Dendritic cells are important for the immune system and are present in all tissue that comes in contact with the external environment, such as the skin and the lungs.

“Only 20 per cent of the population has allergies, while the other 80 per cent don’t, despite the fact that in spring time, for example, both groups are equally exposed to allergens,” Gordon said. “For the 80 per cent that don’t have allergies, their own lung dendritic cells take the inhaled pollen, for example, and show it to immune cells with instructions indicating that, ‘We don’t need to get aggressive about this, we just need a regulated response.’ So these dendritic cells activate the body’s regulatory T-cells, and so you don’t get an allergic response.”

nov 24, 2016

PAGE TYPE FEATURE

In contrast, the remaining 20 per cent of the population do develop an allergic response, as their dendritic cells tell the immune system that the allergen is a dangerous pathogen that needs to be attacked, culminating in an allergic reaction.

Gordon and his team have found a way to convert those Th2 cells in allergic individuals into regulatory cells, which suppress the individual’s allergic response by up to 90 per cent. This process can be applicable in a number of settings.

“In principle, it could work for many immunologic diseases — and that includes allergies — from atopic dermatitis to food allergies and asthma, but also into autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis,” Gordon said.

According to a 2010 nation-wide study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, one in every 13 Canadians suffers from a food allergy, the most common being peanuts, other tree nuts, eggs, seafood, soy and sesame. This does not even take into account those who also suffer from seasonal and environmental allergies as well.

Lara Witt, a bachelor of science honours student in physiology and pharmacology and a member of Gordon’s research team on campus, notes what this discovery would mean for people with allergies.

“If this research becomes a medical reality, patients will be able to cure their asthma and allergies … Patients will no longer need to utilize the typical treatments; these can be inconvenient, expensive in the long-term and often have unsavoury side-effects when taken regularly. Additionally, acute care in this field will also all but cease to exist. The unreasonable price of EpiPens has been in the news lately; this therapy could potentially make EpiPens, as well as all other current emergency treatments, obsolete,” Witt said.

While the impact of such research would be incredibly positive for those who do have allergies, it could also benefit those with asthma. A chronic inflammatory disease of the airways, asthma is characterized by a shortness of breath, coughing, tightness in

nov 24, 2016

the chest and wheezing. According to the Asthma Society of Canada, asthma affects over three million Canadians.

Gordon notes that this research could also reduce the cost of Canadian healthcare.

“There’s an incredible human side to solving food allergies because of their capacity to be lethal,” he said. “But also, direct and indirect costs of asthma in Canada cost us somewhere between $1 and $2 billion per year. So if you could reduce that, it would have a significant impact on our healthcare system.”

Canada also has the highest rate of multiple sclerosis in the world, with the MS Society of Canada reporting that approximately 100,000 Canadians are living with the disease. Multiple sclerosis is a disease that attacks the protective covering of the nerves, called myelin, causing inflammation and damage to these coverings. Myelin is crucial for the transmission of nerve impulses through the nerve fibres in the body, and as it stands, there is currently no known cause or cure for it.

Witt believes firmly in the research project, noting that she thinks immunotherapy is the future for allergies, asthma and autoimmune diseases — and she is not alone. Christopher Rudulier, who is also involved with the research and is a fourth-year post-doctoral student at the U of S, completed his PhD in immunology in 2012 and finds this current research fascinating.

“The most interesting aspect of the research to me is the broad applicability of our regulatory dendritic cell approach to allergy.

These regulatory dendritic cells are immunosuppressive in that they actively ‘turn off’ unwanted immune responses. So, in principle, any allergy can be targeted by putting the relevant allergen — cat dander, egg protein, fish protein, etc. — into the dendritic cell. Additionally, regulatory dendritic cell therapy has the potential to be curative as it ‘turns off,’ or corrects, the immune response driving the allergy,” Rudulier said.

Gordon and his research team have been talking to Health Canada for a year now, and they are on board with the project. Moving forward, however, the team needs to acquire

funding and to make sure that their process is safe for testing on individuals before Health Canada gives full approval.

“What we need to go into people [for testing] is the ability to generate good manufacturing practice, or GMP, cells. Those are ones you can put into people without worrying if [the cells are] contaminated at all. So we need the capacity to generate those cells, and once we can do that, and Health Canada is satisfied that we have good protocols in place, then they would give us permission to [move forward] with putting them into an individual to make sure it doesn’t have any adverse effects,” Gordon said.

If everything lines up perfectly, the team could be ready to start testing on individuals in a year from now. Gordon mentioned that they already have six of Canada’s leading allergists in place, who are ready to move forward with clinical trials on individuals once the project is approved by Health Canada.

The team has also been collaborating with other universities, such as McGill University and Stanford University, along with other departments at the U of S. The collaboration range is wide, and Rudulier notes this is partly due to the fact that the research taking place is rare.

“The type of work being conducted by Dr. Gordon is rather unique in Canada. I think that using Dr. Gordon’s work to attract other researchers working on allergy immunotherapy could have a tremendous impact on the university,” Rudulier said. “In addition, and perhaps more importantly, building a program centered on immunotherapy for allergy, where a number of researchers are working on the same problem, has the real potential to increase the rate at which these groundbreaking discoveries are made, which in turn has the potential to impact the lives of people with these devastating allergies.”

For Gordon, having this research come to the limelight after all these years would be incredible.

“I’ve been working on this for a long time …

I’m a researcher, my heart is in the research.

To me, seeing this go forward, and particularly come out of Saskatchewan, would be a wonderful thing.”

www.thesheaf.com

∙ the sheaf publishing society 9

CULTURE

Let’s get technical: TV shows about technology BRIDGET MORRISON Culture Editor

Lesia Karalash / Graphics Editor

10 the sheaf publishing society ∙ www.thesheaf.com

In a world that is becoming more technological as each day passes, it’s only natural that TV shows reflect this. From depressing sci-fi to quirky British comedy, the Sheaf has put together a list of shows about either technology, science or computers that are must-sees — and don’t worry, you don’t have to be a geek to watch them.

First on the list — and my personal favourite — is Mr. Robot. With Rami Malek, the series’ lead actor, winning the 2016 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, this show has been gaining more and more attention recently, and rightfully so.

Mr. Robot is a drama-thriller, which follows the story of Elliot Alderson (Malek), a cyber-security engineer whose behaviours are driven by delusions and paranoia and who some say suffers from dissociative identity disorder or schizophrenia. Alderson is recruited by a man known as “Mr. Robot” — played by Christian Slater — who is an insurrection anarchist, to join his hacker group called “fsociety.” The hope of this group is to erase all debts by bringing down the large corporation known as E-Corp.

This show is heavy and may take an intense toll on you, but it’s definitely worth it. Mr. Robot easily lives up to all the hype surrounding it.

Second on the list is the British comedy, The IT Crowd. Beginning in 2006, the show consisted of four seasons with six episodes each, as well as one episode special which concluded the show in 2013.

The show takes place in London and is set in the fictional offices of Reynholm Industries. It follows both the professional and personal lives of the three staff members of the IT department — which are awkward, unfortunate and hilarious all mixed together.

Starring Chris O’Dowd, who is more commonly known for this work on the TV show Girls and the film Bridesmaids, The IT Crowd is perfect for students needing a laugh. I do warn you, British humour isn’t for everyone — it consists of a lot of sarcasm and self-deprecation — but sometimes that’s just what one needs.

Third on the list is yet again, another British show. Horizon is a documentary TV series that is now, in 2016, in its 52nd season and consists of over 1,200 episodes overall.

Although Horizon covers the broad topics of science and philosophy and not all episodes revolve around the topic of technology, there are many that do. Each episode is 50 minutes and it is a great series to check out if you want to relax but keep your brain engaged and your mind sharp.

With over 1,200 episodes, there’s bound to be a topic discussed that interests you. Not only will this show transform you into a walking information and random fact dispenser, but it will also help you excel in your classes — give it a go, you won’t be disappointed.

Last on the list, and one I feel I have to mention, is the well-known Silicon Valley. Just renewed for a fourth season in 2017, the show follows six young men who founded a startup company in Silicon Valley.

Starring Thomas Middleditch, this is the ultimate geek show. As someone who isn’t as nerdy as most, a lot of the jokes about technology go over-my-head. But, if you know your computer and technology lingo, I promise you’ll get a couple of laughs.

Whether you are a science and technology geek or not even in the slightest, all of these shows have something to offer you. From laughs to facts to dramatic plots, next time you can’t decide what to watch, give one of these shows a try!

nov 24, 2016

PAGE TYPE CULTURE

Saskatoon-based artist

explores all genres with debut EP BRIDGET MORRISON Culture Editor

Beginning the process of writing both lyrics and melodies over two years ago, Saskatoon-based artist Xandra and her musical partner JFP have just released their debut EP. Entitled Vinyl Secrets, the EP’s sound is a unique mix of genres that all University of Saskatchewan students will want to check out. Xandra and JFP sat down with the Sheaf to discuss the process of putting together their first EP and all things music.

With the theme of lust and freedom to love, Vinyl Secrets is described as being closest to jazz-pop, with a compilation of jazz vocals, hip-hop beats and electro-synth undertones.

Xandra however, didn’t always have this eclectic sound — initially it was just her and a guitar with roots in country music.

“I feel as though this EP really captures my journey of growth and finding my voice … the entire EP feels like the lead-up from a lot of experimentation using various sounds and genres, and so this project is a stepping-stone that lays the groundwork for the direction I will take in the future,” Xandra said in an email to the Sheaf.

After working as just a pair putting together songs, Xandra and JFP approached Jesse Weiman, a Saskatoon-based produc-

er who helped them push boundaries with their sound.

“Jesse would add beats or instruments, or synths, and help us restructure songs — sometimes we would change the tempo or the key, or turn a song upside down with a completely different melody — and so it was a lot of experimenting and the process forced me to define my sound,” Xandra said.

Xandra attributes part of the difficulty she had in determining her own sound to her vast range of taste in music.

“I started listening for commonalities in music that captured my attention. I basically enjoy any music that has beautiful vocals, a smooth beat and jazz atmosphere or bright instrumentals — that type of music to me is timeless … although I listen to a lot of mainstream music, my influences are outside of that definition,” she said.

Drawing from artists such as Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu and Solange, Xandra said, “Basically any song with beautiful female vocals will have my heart.”

The EP consists of six tracks with “Taboo” as the first song listed, even though it was one of the last to be written. “‘Taboo’ is one of my personal favourites … for me, it is a song that makes you want to move but still has a chill vibe with some jazz atmosphere. The lyrical content echoes a feeling of escape, because to me, being in love is such a beautiful escape from

harsh realities,” Xandra said.

For Xandra, music has always been a part of her life that she holds dear. It is a place of comfort and something that she hasn’t and will never be able to separate from.

“Singing is second nature and for me, it is a medicine, a healer — I feel like I am in a dreamlike state when I express myself and it is the only space in my mind where I can make sense of my experience in the world,” she said.

Xandra hopes that U of S students don’t feel as though they have to choose between academia and art, because like she did, it is possible to balance both.

“It was hard to fit music into my extremely busy schedule as an engineering student … but it’s important to just set some time aside every week to pursue your dream one step at a time,” Xandra said.

As a Nakoda woman, belonging to Carry the Kettle First Nation on Treaty 4 territory, Xandra hopes to inspire other Indigenous people.

“I want to be a role model and inspiration to other Indigenous artists and youth to pursue their passions and express themselves and their reality through artistry,” Xandra said.

Vinyl Secrets is available for purchase on iTunes, Google Play, Bandcamp, Soundcloud and on her website at xandraofficial. com.

24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Thursday

friday

saturday

upcoming events • First day of Jack Semple’s B.B. King Tribute at the Bassment • Holodomor Vigil at Murray Library • Puppetry Of The Penis at the Broadway Theatre • Wilma at the Capitol Music Club • Women in Politics at Earls Restaurant • YWiB presents Confidence powered by PechaKucha at Louis’ Loft

• First day of Newman Sounds’ Seventies Show at St. Thomas Moore College • Last day of Jack Semple’s B.B. King Tribute at the Bassment • Sad Buckets with Knee Socks & Lakeridge Preschool Band at Vangelis • The Switching Yard with Black Thunder and SRA at Amigos

• Friends of Foes with Slow Down Molasses and Autopilot at the Capitol Music Club • Ineke Vancoorn & Marc van Vugt Quartet at the Bassment • Last day of Newman Sounds Glee Club’s Seventies Show at St. Thomas Moore College • Last day of the Festival of Trees at the Western Development Museum • PUP with Meat Wave and Chastity at Amigos Respect the Elements: Volume 2 at Vangelis • Barra MacNeils Christmas Tour 2016 at the Broadway Theatre • Etsy SK’s Winter Pop Up Market at the Saskatoon Farmers Market • Victorian Sewing Circle at the Marr Residence

sunday

• First day of the Saskatchewan Geological Open House at the Delta Bessborough Hotel • The 24th Street Wailers at the Bassment

monday

• Counios & Gane Reading and Signing at McNally Robinson Booksellers

tuesday

Tyson Anderson / Supplied Xandra (pictured with musical partner JFP) hopes to inspire other Indigenous artists to pursue their passions and express themselves.

nov 24, 2016

• Brandi Disterheft Trio at the Bassment • First day of It’s A Wonderful Life Christmas Dinner Theatre at the Barn Playhouse • First day of the EUS Booksale and Hoorah • Last day of the Saskatchewan Geological Open House at the Delta Bessborough Hotel

wednesday

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∙ the sheaf publishing society 11

OPINIONS

Are you clear about nuclear power?

BODAN WOROBETZ The director of the Sylvia Fedoruk Canadian Centre for Nuclear Innovation at the University of Saskatchewan, Neil Alexander, was relinquished of his duties in October 2016. The circumstances surrounding his dismissal are unclear, but it is certainly a hard blow against nuclear power in this province.

Electricity is essential to the functioning and progress

of our modern world. The debate of how to generate this electricity in a sustainable and responsible manner has never been more prevalent than today.

Currently, Saskatchewan sees its electricity come from a variety of sources — 40 per cent natural gas, 32 per cent coal, 20 per cent hydro and five per cent wind. This means that 72 per cent of our electricity is generated through the burning of fossil fuels — a process that emits

Lesia Karalash / Graphics Editor

large amounts of carbon into the atmosphere each year.

The question is, would nuclear power be a better solution?

In May 2016, Tim Eckel, vice president of transmission at SaskPower announced that the implementation of small nuclear reactors are something that the crown corporation is considering for the future. With this announcement, the idea of nuclear power generation in Saskatchewan became something no longer solely confined to the realm of science fiction.

How does nuclear power generation work? The first step involves the extraction of uranium, an element which occurs naturally in the earth’s crust. In fact, trace amounts of uranium are found in our bodies and even the water we drink.

However, concentrations of uranium exist in certain parts of the world, such as the Athabasca Basin in northern Saskatchewan. Once the uranium is extracted, it is refined and ready for use in a nuclear power facility.

Once at a nuclear power plant, the refined uranium isotope is subject to fission — the splitting of atoms — in which heat is released as

a by-product. This heat is used to evaporate water into steam which is then used to drive a turbine and, voila, generate electricity, much like fossil fuel power generation does.

The biggest difference here is that no greenhouse gases are emitted during fission. In fact, only a small amount of greenhouse gas emissions result from the entire life cycle of nuclear energy production — including the construction, operation and decommissioning of a facility.

Unfortunately, nuclear energy production is not without its flaws. The largest issue with the generation of electricity from nuclear fission is the use of uranium.

The extraction and refining of uranium presents the first problem, in which environmental damage occurs as a result of these activities.

Secondly, there’s the issue of the management of uranium while it is in use. The highly publicized tragedy at Chernobyl, Ukraine in 1986 frequently comes to mind in the opposition of nuclear power. The cause of this accident was a result of an improperly trained nuclear workforce paired with a faulty nuclear reactor.

Lastly, there is the question of what to do with spent uranium fuel. While exhausted uranium fuel can be safely stored deep underground, it is highly radioactive for many years to come.

However, there are also benefits to the use of nuclear fission to generate electricity. As previously mentioned, perhaps the brightest side of going nuclear is that carbon emissions during a nuclear power plant’s life cycle are much less than fossil fuel power.

Nuclear energy is also more reliable than wind or solar power, in that these sources rely on constant sun exposure or sustained wind, which are often not present during hours of peak energy demand.

It is clear then that nuclear power is not the perfect solution, but as of now, no solution is perfect for power generation. Until humankind can perfect and reduce the cost of truly renewable energies, the positives of nuclear energy might well enough offset the negatives in providing a short-term solution to bridge the gap between fossil fuel power generation and the renewables of the future.

Standing Rock: Checking out of activism?

EMILY MIGCHELS Internet content and social media can have a huge influence on grassroots movements — just ask your bounty of Facebook friends who have “checked in” at Standing Rock in the past month.

It would seem, in this digital age, that participation in anything is as simple as clicking a button. Millennials must be the most involved generation, just look at our Google Calendars.

Each day is a new opportunity to digitally confirm your presence at events around the world.

It has become a trend, maybe even a meme, to show support and take action, via Facebook’s check-in feature, for the efforts in Standing Rock, North Dakota, where protesters have gathered en masse to prevent the rerouting of the Dakota Access Pipeline through Indigenous lands.

The theory of this action

is such: by checking in at Standing Rock, even from the comfort of your own home, you are using your voice to confuse and hinder the efforts of police and government officials who might use social media as a means of intercepting protestors and organizers who are actually on site.

This doesn’t seem like a bad thing, right? Of course not, but it has been met with more online criticism than the Cincinnati Zoo after the death of a certain silverback gorilla. Should we be wary of this seemingly “slacktivist” effort, or should we be glad for at least the inkling of solidarity that is filling our newsfeeds?

Many have questioned the legitimacy of Facebook check-ins as concrete action after the Morton County Sheriff’s Department released a statement denying their use of social media to learn information about the protests, despite the growing ease for law enforcement to do just that. Facebook can

provide a plethora of information to law enforcement beyond that accessible by regular users.

Other criticisms have come in the form of concerned individuals saying that a Facebook post just isn’t enough. There is, undeniably, a need for a physical presence on the ground.

Protests aren’t effective when they’re easy and there are people who are putting their lives at risk to ensure that this potentially damaging endeavor, which is posing a very real threat to the health of Indigenous communities, does not go forward.

I will not pretend to be an expert on algorithms, and I recognize that my voice — when speaking of the events in Standing Rock — shouldn’t be heard over that of an Indigenous individual. I am comfortably living, studying and writing Sheaf articles without the immediate fear that I or anyone I am close to is going to be directly impacted by this pipeline.

12 the sheaf publishing society ∙ www.thesheaf.com

It does not bode well to discourage people from using what voice they may have to join these efforts.

Any support is good support, even if it only goes as far as a few Facebook posts.

At the very least, this check-in trend has sparked a conversation among individuals who may not have sought out this information on their own, and who may have felt that any action they could take to help the movement was beyond their means.

I implore you, however, to consider what really is within your means. Whether you have already or are planning to make a post or share a

video, picture or article, ask yourself if there is more you can do and respond honestly. There are actions to take right here in our community.

For example, on Nov. 3, 2016, University of Saskatchewan students participated in a round dance flash mob at Midtown Plaza and the U of S hosted a teach-in on Nov. 15 which brought students together with members of Indigenous communities to learn about the issue and discuss potential for change. There is potential for many more events like these in the future. If you can lend your voice, do.

Lesia Karalash / Graphics Editor

nov 24, 2016

PAGE TYPE OPINIONS

How fake news became more important than the real thing ZACH TENNENT

Opinions Editor

Beating all odds, madeup news stories and their creators turned out to be the real winners in the 2016 American presidential election. While this is most definitely a reason to facepalm, it sheds light on the important conversation of how fucking gullible we are.

In the weeks following Nov. 8, 2016, you probably heard about the unprecedented role fake news stories had in influencing the public throughout the election. Fictitious stories targeting Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump and others spread across social media — most notably Facebook — like wildfire.

This was thanks to both Facebook’s self-proclaimed commitment to neutrality and their inability to properly vet articles for accuracy and weed out fake news, due to switching over to computer editors in August 2016.

Being the Sheaf’s creator and purveyor of our fake news section myself, I was intrigued to hear all this. I was not pleased to hear it,

however, but rather kind of infuriated. Had people really become this foolish?

Despite Facebook CEO and Jesse-Eisenberg-wannabe Mark Zuckerberg saying there was no way his website influenced the election, a May 26, 2016 report from the Pew Research Center found that 66 per cent of people on Facebook in the United States are getting their news there. Compared to other social media sites and apps, Facebook also dominates as far as being the news outlet of choice for the public.

Misreading something that was written to be funny is understandable to an extent. Satirical fake news publications like the Onion and the Beaverton have long entertained while simultaneously exposing the public’s gullibility along the way.

It isn’t this fake news that makes the real waves though.

Far fetched, unfunny, scandalous articles written for the sole purpose of fooling people were the real offenders in the election. Written disproportionately by Macedonian teenagers eager to make money off of people sharing their posts, fake articles about Clinton’s FBI investigators being found dead or Pope Francis endorsing

Trump were shared heavily, with those behind the lies reaping all the benefits.

Making matters worse, in March 2014, The Washington Post reported that approximately 60 per cent of Americans get their news strictly from headlines, and a June 2016 study from Columbia University found that 59 per cent of links shared online haven’t even been read.

Personally, I can’t help but assume that had a candidate been shot at a rally, I might also hear about it somewhere other than a single Facebook article that I didn’t even read.

Yet, that’s what happens.

People still choose — in an age when no one should be so gullible as to blindly trust what they read on Facebook — to do just that, and Facebook is complicit in it.

By personalizing the ads and posts you see in your newsfeed to reflect the things that you post, share and like, Facebook essentially insulates its users with their own values and opinions. Likewise, the trending topics that appear on your Facebook account are the result of an algorithm that tries to reflect your interests.

Facebook closes you into a bubble where you’re seg-

regated from the views of those you don’t agree with.

It’s with the convergence of all these awful elements that the culture of fake news festers.

In this age of bullshit being sent all across the Internet, people are in a position where truth doesn’t matter.

Oxford Dictionaries declared the 2016 word of the year to be “post-truth,” an adjective, “relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief.”

This is all pretty sad. It doesn’t even matter what’s

true and what’s wrong, as long as it’s garnering attention.

There’s still hope, however. Disgruntled Facebook employees are mutinying against their employer to make Facebook more ethical and to stop the spread of harmful content. The unofficial task force seeks to blow the whistle on problems they feel Facebook isn’t taking seriously enough, like the effects of fake news and personalized newsfeeds.

While fake news has been proven to be very powerful on Facebook, hopefully, the era of post-post-truth lies ahead.

Lesia Karalash / Graphics Editor

Trump’s blunt rhetoric too offensive for today’s world BODAN WOROBETZ Donald Trump’s recent victory in the American presidential election came as a shock to many. However, was all the cynical, inflammatory press coverage all it’s cracked up to be?

Trump is the very pinnacle of the aggressive New Yorker. He’s brash, blunt and he’s not afraid to speak his mind.

In addition to this, he’s long been in the business of yelling at people. Throughout his presidential campaign, he was accused of being a xenophobe, a racist, a homophobe — although it’s unclear where evidence of that one stems from — and a misogynist.

The very real video footage that circulated containing audio of Trump speaking derogatorily about women is something that is outright shameful and cannot be defended by anyone who holds the least amount of respect for fellow human beings.

On the other hand, the remaining accusations and attacks against Trump have nov 24, 2016

largely been overblown by an overly sensitive and left-leaning media and a similarly orientated Internet generation with no hesitation to click “like” or “share” before doing a bit of prior research.

Western society is developing a worsening linguistic sensitivity to free speech.

This was never clearer during the months preceding the 2016 American presidential election, as countless attacks were launched against Trump’s comments, many of which were taken laughably out of context. Trump did not run on a campaign based on the promotion of violence, discrimination or racism.

These are attack words that were and are used by the opponents of Trump who are misinterpreting the themes of his messages and have likely been offended by his strong comments. Let’s be honest, Trump is not modest with his speech. He is straightforward and speaks his mind.

Many people were offended by the things he’s said and they have every right to be,

but Trump simultaneously has the same right to be blunt in speaking about the very real issues that the world is facing today.

For example, Trump is interested in the safety and security of his fellow citizens.

Yes, threatening to build a wall between the United States and Mexico seems extreme — and sort of funny. At the same time, this extreme example gets people’s attention and it does bring to light the issues the United States has long had with illegal immigration.

As Trump highlighted, both criminals and non-criminals stream across the border illegally. Whether these people are criminals or not, they are still moving across borders illegally and to attack Trump’s comments on illegal immigration can be likened to condoning the crime itself.

Those who misinterpret the boldness and bluntness of Trump’s messages, promote violence and spread hate are also getting it seriously wrong. Trump is not promoting violence and hate. He is

not a role model for violence or hate.

These are the results of people convincing themselves — based on the misinterpretations they’ve been exposed to — that violence and hate are the solutions, but they are not. In fact, Trump’s acceptance speech was one of unification and modesty. He asked for all “to come together as one united people,” regardless of political orientation, race, background or religion, even including his own naysayers.

The day following the election, reports emerged from across the United States that students at various universities were hosting events known as “cry-ins.” Students needed a day to mourn the results of the election, in which they were given PlayDoh and colouring books to ease their minds of the reality of a Trump victory.

At schools like Cornell University, lectures and exams were cancelled or postponed. Staff provided hot chocolate and tissues. These young adults are the future

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workforce of the United States. These are future doctors, lawyers and school teachers and it’s obvious that there are problems with over-sensitivity amongst this generation and beyond.

No, Trump isn’t perfect. He isn’t going to be the president of the United States known for his class and eloquence, but he has been elected the next president of the United States. Some like him and some don’t — and that’s fine — but crying over some Play-Doh and hot chocolate will not make America great again. Being a little bit blunt and straightforward might just be what the world needs in times like these.

gageskidmore / Flickr Trump’s words are too strong for many.

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CAMPUS LENS

University of Saskatchewan Space Team A view of space.

Devin Bradburn The USST testing equipment.

Chelsea Ellison Photo of a banana cell.

Kathlyn Zales The November 2016 Supermoon.

Danno Peters InfraRed Normalized Difference Vegetation Index image captured of Saskatoon.

Danno Peters U of S Space Team rocket launch in fall 2016.

To see more science & technology photos visit thesheaf.com.

Paul Boyce A Prairie Dog in Grasslands National Park in Saskatchewan, performing a “jump-yip” to communicate. The U of S Space Team “on Mars.”

Cassandra Klos

Danno Peters U of S Space Team rocket launch in fall 2016.

Paul Boyce A red squirrel eating a truffel, studied by the Lane Lab in the U of S’ biology department.

14 the sheaf publishing society ∙ www.thesheaf.com

Devin Bradburn The U of S Space Team mission planning at their rocket launch in fall 2016.

nov 24, 2016

PAGE TYPE DISTRACTIONS campus chat

“

”

What is your favorite app on your phone?

U of S WiFi now only available to people using Netflix MURRAY LIBRARY — University of Saskatchewan Campus Technical Services announced on Nov. 21 that wireless Internet will henceforth

“Snapchat.”

only be accessible if you’re trying to watch TV. According to Geoff Ancilier of the CTS Help Desk, this will revolutionize Internet use on campus.

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“Camera.”

Jodie Lonsberry

“A common complaint from students is that their computers don’t always connect to the campus WiFi networks, or that when they do, their Netflix stream looks like shit because some asshole next to them writing an essay has 12 tabs open on their browser,” Ancilier said. “We’re here to give the greatest service to the greatest number of students, and what can we say?

Their voices have been heard.”

Another hope for this change is that reduced availability of WiFi will encourage students who feel like studying to stay home and quit

We Got It From Here… Thank You 4 Your Service

by A Tribe Called Quest TANNER BAYNE

RESTAURANT & bar

Featuring Canadian/American Cuisine, Fusion & Global Flair Specialties

All items are scratch made:

A Tribe Called Quest are back with their secretive and long-awaited album. With the passing of MC Phife Dawg earlier this year, We Got It From Here… Thank You 4 Your Service is the sixth and final record from the pioneering hip-hop unit from Queens.

Be sure to check out their exceptional swan song.

hogging all the fucking electrical outlets. Faith Barilko, a first-year arts and science student, calls the change “progressive.”

“This girl used to sit on the couch across from me with all her books on the table,” Barilko said. “I don’t know where she goes now, but these days I’ve got the whole area to myself. I can stretch my legs out on the table.

Sometimes I don’t even watch with my headphones in anymore.”

To celebrate the change, the U of S Students’ Union’s Long Day of Luke Cage event will be held on campus on Sunday, Nov. 27.

COMING EVENTS follow us

©

AdAm Pottle Reading & Signing

The Bus

Monday, November 28, 7 Pm

appetizers salads sandwhiches gourmet burgers noodle bowls

dwAyne BrennA

pastas steaks california pizzas

Reading & Signing

and so much more!

New Albion

Wednesday, November 30, 7 Pm

Also featuring our own famous delectable desserts Straight-up Saskatchewan Goodness Daily Food & Bar Specials Happy Hour from 2pm Across from campus on Cumberland at College open daily 11am till late

nov 24, 2016

306-956-7777

www.thesheaf.com

∙ the sheaf publishing society 15 sheaf nov 24, 2016.indd 1

11/16/2016 12:18:21 PM

BACKPAGE PAGE TYPE

PARTICIPATE IN THE

USSU ANNUAL

GENERAL MEETING Thursday November 24, 2016

6:00 p.m. Neatby Timlin Theatre, Room 241 Arts Bring your student card.

Pizza & pop will be provided For more information visit:

ussu.ca

16 the sheaf publishing society ∙ www.thesheaf.com

nov 24, 2016