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Fifth annual Undergraduate Project Symposium celebrates student research SOPHIA LAGIMODIERE On Jan. 26, the University of Saskatchewan showcased a variety of research projects, giving undergraduate students the opportunity to present work to everyone on campus and to see the research of their peers.

The Undergraduate Project Symposium, held this term in the North Concourse of Place Riel, promotes undergraduate work and encourages students to participate in academic research, regardless of their area of study. This year, there were 48 applicants, almost double the amount of applicants in previous years. Forty-two of these applicants presented at the symposium.

Brooke Malinoski, vice-president academic affairs of the U of S Students’ Union, spent a lot of time organizing this year’s symposium and was very pleased with the turnout.

“As undergraduate students, you’re an important part of this institution and you contribute a lot to academia,” Malinoski said. “As long as a student is an undergraduate student, they can submit from whatever discipline they study. Or even if they’re taking a class in another discipline, they can submit from that as well. The only requirement

is that they’re an undergraduate student.”

Malinoski wants the event to encourage more students to see the value of research and help them understand how much they are capable of contributing to the U of S at the undergraduate level.

gory and won the Signature Research Area Award.

“I always try my best in events such as these, but it still came as a surprise finding out I had won two awards. It’s very impressive to see all of these undergraduate students who are

Olivia Swerhone-Wick Students present their unique research to the public, their peers and faculty judges at the Undergraduate Project Symposium.

Project topics varied from student groups to work and labs with faculty members, art work, research papers and drama pieces. Students will be able to submit applications for the 2018 project symposium in the fall of 2017. They can also email the vice-president academic advisor with further questions.

Courtney Onstad, a fourth-year geology major, was pleased to hear that she tied for first place in the Science and Engineering cate-

putting so much time and effort into these projects and I’m pleased we all got to be a part of it,” Onstad said, in an email to the Sheaf.

Participants in the symposium can win in either the Science and Engineering category or the Social Sciences, Humanities and Fine Arts category. Each category includes three ranked winners, determined by faculty judges.

The event also includes the People’s Choice Award and the Signature Research

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Area Award.

Onstad’s winning project is called “Preliminary geochemical analysis of host rock lithologies at the Arrow uranium deposit, Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan: Interpretation of protolith and alteration.”

“My project is focused around analyzing the main rock type that is cut by faults that contain the uranium in a northern Saskatchewan uranium deposit. I am using the chemical composition of the rock, including major elements like aluminum and potassium, to examine variations in alteration and trace elements to investigate the origin of the rock. I will also be looking at thin sections of the rock using a petrographic microscope

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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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to identify the minerals of the rock. The aim is to try to understand the origin of the rock and provide the best rock name,” she said.

Onstad explains her findings so far.

“It appears as though the rock was probably an igneous rock, which formed from a magma about two billion years ago and most likely in a volcanic arc setting,” she said.

Onstad plans to use her $800 in prize money for her plane ticket to Toronto for the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada Convention in March 2017, which will give her the opportunity to share her research with mining industry professionals.

She believes that the opportunity to take part in the symposium is an invaluable experience for undergraduate students.

“Research truly relates your university studies to real world applications. I always found it difficult to make sense of what I was learning in school when I couldn’t see the connection to the professional world,” Onstad said. “There is so much value gained from working on projects such as these. They will help you in your future university studies, they look great on your resumé and they enhance your presentation, research and communication skills.”

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.

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

corrections There were no errors brought to our attention in our last issue.

If you spot any errors in this issue, please email them to: copy@thesheaf.com

feb 02, 2017

PAGENEWS TYPE

Prime Minister Trudeau holds town hall at U of S LINDSAY ROSE On Jan. 25, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited the University of Saskatchewan to answer questions from Saskatoon citizens.

The crowd, including a large number of university students, gathered to express their concerns with issues such as the carbon tax and relations with Donald Trump and to protest the implementation of new policies.

University President Peter Stoicheff welcomed everyone to the university and the minister of public safety, Ralph Goodale, introduced the prime minister to the crowd. Trudeau has been touring Canada for the past two weeks, making various public appearances — including the town hall at the U of S, which attracted over 500 people — to discuss issues important to Canadian citizens.

His night began with a session, which gave media the time to ask questions for viewers at home, with topics ranging from the keystone pipeline to NAFTA deals.

feb 02, 2017

Trudeau then moved to the government is slowly moving re-establishing relations in Dubé Theatre in the Health forwards on this issue. a way that does not ease off Sciences Building where he “There are many ways of the concerns we have with commenced the town hall, looking at international rela- human rights,” Trudeau said addressing a crowd of 500 tions and how Canada should A student from the College in the theatre and of Education also about 120 in the asked if the fedoverflow room. eral government “Thank you for plans to change the warm welcome p o s t- s e co n d a r y onto traditional education systems, Treaty Six territoeven though edury; it is a real pleacation falls under sure to be here,” the jurisdiction of Trudeau said. provincial governMany students ments. Trudeau rewere present in sponded, affirming the crowd, some to the importance of ask questions and such education. some to voice their “The way we opinions and to look at education, protest incoming the way we look policies. Students at skills training, from the College the way we look of Agriculture held at post-secondary signs to protest education needs Jeremy Britz / Photo Editor Trudeau’s carbon to keep up with Justin Trudeau addressed Saskatoon citizens on Jan. 25. tax. the times. The “Dear Mr. PM: we may be engage with the world, and I world is rapidly changing ‘Brad’s Farmers’ but we put have the opinion that en- and we need to give our citthe food on your plate,” one gaging with conversations izens the tools to cope with sign read.

— even with people you dis- that. We need to make sure One international student agree with — is better than young people in universities asked if Trudeau will resume not talking with people you have access to top quality international and political disagree with. We continue post-secondary educations,” ties with his home country, to have serious concerns sur- Trudeau said.

Iran. In response, Trudeau rounding the Iranian governCalling attention to Bell explained that the Canadian ment, so we are cautiously Let’s Talk day, the last ques-

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tioner of the night asked if the government has plans to increase mental health awareness in Canada.

Trudeau responded from personal experience.

“It should not require courage to stand up and ask a question like that. There’s still a stigma around health issues. Too many people do not talk about them out loud.

I am incredibly proud of my mom, who has been sharing her life-long struggles with mental health. Statistics say that one in five Canadians struggle with mental health issues, which means five in five Canadians know someone who struggle with mental health issues. We need to do a lot more supporting in creating communities to address the fact that this is a massive issue,” he said.

Although Trudeau was asked difficult questions and protesters were present, he received a standing ovation on entering and exiting the Dubé Theatre, and he wrapped up by thanking the audience.

“It was a real pleasure to be here in Saskatoon and I look forward to seeing you all soon.”

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NEWSTYPE PAGE

Islam Awareness Week confronts misconceptions RONALD TRAN As misconceptions about Muslim people hit a critical level in the United States with President Donald Trump’s Muslim ban, one student group at the University of Saskatchewan is working to create open dialogue and counter Islamophobia.

Islam Awareness Week, presented on campus by the U of S Muslim Students’ Association from Jan. 23 to 27, introduced a series of talks to increase knowledge about Muslim students and the wider Muslim community. Topics discussed at the five lectures, one each evening, included the Quran, the Prophet Muhammad, hijab, mental health and love.

Mhmoud Essalah, a firstyear medical student and the president of the MSA, explains that the main purpose of the event was to increase understanding.

“I think that everyone should have a basis at least [of] understanding what Muslims believe and what not. There are a lot of mis-

conceptions out there. A lot of people think some negative things about Muslims, so we’ve tried to bring discussion back to what we believe is fundamental beliefs,” Essalah said.

International experts, including academics and imams from Canada, the United Kingdom, the U.S. and Egypt, gave students an opportunity to learn from real people rather than from the media.

Jeren Hapyzova, fourthyear engineering major and executive member of the MSA for five years, was actively involved in organizing the event. She explains that students who want to know more about Muslim beliefs and practices can visit the Islamic Association of Saskatoon, open five days a week. On campus, students can contact the MSA by sending an email or visiting their Facebook page.

Hapyzova also shares why the MSA has worked to promote the awareness week at the U of S. “We’re in a learning environment and also we’re taking classes with people with many backgrounds. I realize

that this open discussion about Islam would bring people into understanding when they deal with [Muslim students] on a daily basis. For example, if they know ahead of time what Islam is about when they work with us in a school setting or class setting, they’d know better where we’re coming from, why we are here instead of just opinions about us through media,” Hapyzova said.

Essalah explains that the MSA co-ordinated conversations with attendees at their events throughout the week and encouraged them to ask questions about core Muslim beliefs.

“Islam is not a major geopolitical socioeconomic phenomenon. We would like people to ask very deep questions: what Muslims believe about God, what do they believe about life after death … There are billions of Muslims in the world, so it is important that people understand who they are,” Essalah said.

He also provides some specifics on the important topics discussed during the event.

“There’s one particular [lecture], ‘The Real Talk,’ that disposes the level of misconceptions and myths out there. We talk about Islam’s solutions to many everyday problems. On [Jan. 23], we talked about the role of mental health in Islam.

What is the most practical thing Muslims do in terms of what they believe and practice that can solve the mental health problems that we’re facing today. [On Jan. 25], we talked about the scripts and scripture of the Quran versus every day scripts like culture and tradition.”

Essalah recognizes that

Muslim students are involved in all areas of the university and he believes that the event gave these students the chance to openly communicate with the public and their peers.

“We hope to promote dialogue; one of those things we really pride ourselves in is questions and answers,” Essalah said. “There are no questions that people aren’t allowed to ask or anything like that. They ask such questions to have a dialogue to connect with Muslims. We understand and are aware of the fact that we are part of this community, just like everyone else.”

Jeremy Britz / Photo Editor

Spoon feeding the masses: Spoon University set to launch at U of S JESSICA KLAASSENWRIGHT News Editor

For many first-year students, particularly those in residence, cooking and eating healthy meals is a struggle.

With the help of Spoon University, one first-year student is working to support her peers, while creating a new and vibrant food community at the University of Saskatchewan.

Spoon University, an online food publication based in the U.S., was founded in 2013 by two female students

who wanted to improve their own knowledge about food and cooking skills, and share it with students like themselves.

The organization now boasts 250 chapters in 200 cities, providing thousands of digital resources created by students for students.

Jillian Rogers, a first-year student intending to pursue medicine and a resident of College Quarter, is in the process of launching her own chapter of Spoon University at the U of S. Rogers feels that the first year of university can be a complicated learning experience for many new students.

“For students living in residence … this is likely the first time they’ve been solely re-

Jillian Rogers / Supplied First-year Jillian Rogers hopes to help her fellow students build community with food.

sponsible for cooking meals, buying groceries, doing laundry and managing appointments. It can be overwhelming, to say the least. Between classes, labs, extracurriculars and socializing, finding the time to cook may be impossible. Some students may not even know how to cook anything other than microwavable popcorn or macaroni,” Rogers said, in an email to the Sheaf.

According to the Spoon University constitution, the main goals of the organization are to give students the tools to create a sustainable community, based around healthy eating, on their campus and to provide them with experience in food, journalism, online media and marketing.

Rogers explains that each chapter of Spoon must publish four articles and two videos per month and that articles can fit into a variety of categories: recipe, review, personal narrative, news, how-to, profiles and experiential. Any student can apply online to be a contributor to Spoon University at the U of S as a writer, marketer, photographer or videographer by visiting the chapter website.

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Rogers believes that Spoon University presents exciting leadership opportunities for students.

“Spoon directors and contributors have a lot of responsibility. Like any job, members have deadlines, goals and standards to uphold,” Rogers said. “Therefore, members will develop and hone their communication, interpersonal and work ethic skills … These positions look great on a resumé, and can offer valuable experience for those looking to pursue professional jobs.”

Rogers also feels that Spoon will offer a unique online community to readers and viewers that speaks specifically to life as a U of S student.

“Readers will get to hear all about the latest food [and] health trends first from a source they can truly comprehend. Our members will also research issues directly relating to Saskatoon and Saskatchewan. You’ll learn about local Saskatchewan products, the best places to eat on campus and around the city [and] Saskatchewan’s role in agriculture and life hacks for the busy student,” Rogers said.

“By analyzing the hits on our content, we can bring stu-

dents more of what they want to see. We write and create for our fans.”

As editorial director of the new U of S chapter, Rogers is currently hiring a directorial team, for which Spoon University will provide an online leadership training session in early February. She expects that the U of S chapter will be ready for launch after the February break.

Although the job of editorial director at a new chapter is a big commitment, especially for a first-year student, Rogers is up for the challenge.

“Right now, I’m most excited for setting a launch date and building the momentum and awareness on campus.

This past week has just been a blur. Between emails, interviews, info sessions and online orientations, I almost feel like I’m living in an alternate universe. Being an active chapter seems like a dream at the moment, but I know that setting a date and working on content will make the dream legit. Being able to contribute to Huskie pride is such an amazing feeling, and I’m incredibly grateful for the support I’ve received from the campus community.” feb 02, 2017

SPORTSPAGE & HEALTH TYPE

SPORTS AT A GLANCE MEN’S HOCKEY HUSKIES 10, COUGARS 2

HUSKIES 5, COUGARS 2 This past weekend the number two ranked Huskies took on their provincial rivals the University of Regina Cougars. Showing major prowess on Jan. 27, the Huskies captured a 10-2 victory on home ice.

They repeated this success again on Jan, 28, winning

5-2 at the Co-operators Centre in Regina. The Cougars are on the road next weekend to take on the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds, while the Huskies return home to host the University of Manitoba Bisons.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

WOMEN’S HOCKEY HUSKIES 0, COUGARS 1 The women’s hockey team had a mixed weekend as they also took on the U of R Cougars. On Jan. 27, the Huskies won a narrow victory after going into overtime, finishing 2-1.

The Huskies and the Cougars went head-to-head the next day on home ice

at the Rutherford Arena, but the Huskies ended with a loss of 1-0. Next weekend, the Cougars travel to UBC to take on the Thunderbirds, while the Huskies remain in Saskatoon to take on the U of M Bisons.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: SASKATCHEWAN 84, MOUNT ROYAL 44

The number nine ranked Huskies managed a 20-point victory over the visiting Mount Royal University Cougars, winning 82-62 on Jan. 27. The teams met again on Saturday night at the Physical Activity Complex, with

The Huskies women’s basketball team also managed to captured double victories against the MRU Cougars this past weekend. On Friday, Jan. 27 the number nine ranked Huskies capture a win with final score of 84-44 against MRU. They repeated this

the Huskies winning again with a final score of 90-87.

Next weekend, the MRU Cougars host the Trinity Western University Spartans in Calgary, while the Huskies remain at home to take on the University of Alberta Golden Bears.

Sports & Health Editor

HUSKIES 2, COUGARS 1

SASKATCHEWAN 82, MOUNT ROYAL 62

SK 90, MRU 87

EMILY KLATT

COMING EVENTS

SK 78, MRU 50

victory again on Saturday with a final score of 78-50, carrying the team’s winning streak to nine games in a row. Next weekend the Huskies remain at home to host the U of A Pandas, while Mount Royal returns home to host the Trinity Western Spartans.

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Thursday, February 2, 6:30 pm

WOMEN’S HOCKEY HUSKIES 2, WESMEN 3

HUSKIES 3, WESMEN 0 It was a mixed weekend for the Huskies women’s volleyball team, as they posted one loss and one victory against the University of Winnipeg Wesmen. The Huskies lost 3-2 in a close

game on Jan. 27, but came back to win a 3-0 victory on Saturday. The Huskies will play the UBC Okanagan Heat next weekend, while Winnipeg has a bye week and will remain at home.

HUSKIES 0, WESMEN 3

Saturday, February 4, 1 pm

HUSKIES 3, WESMEN 1

Josh Schaefer / Supplied Alex Unruh of the men’s basketball team makes a shot.

Signing

To Taste Her Smile

MEN’S VOLLEYBALL The U of W Wesmen extended a five-game winning streak with their Jan. 27 victory over the visiting number seven ranked Huskies, with a final score of 3-0. The Huskies got their revenge the following

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night, however, winning 3-1. Next weekend the Huskies travel to face off against the UBC Okanagan Heat, while the Wesmen remain at home with a weekend off.

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SPORTS & HEALTH PAGE TYPE

Too sweet: A look at added sugar consumption JACK THOMPSON Staff Writer

While it may be common knowledge that added sugars are far from good for you, it can be easy to forget how fast they add up. In order to see just how fast, I tracked my added sugar intake for an entire day — and these are the results.

All sugar, whether added or not, is a simple carbohydrate source for the body.

Some sugars naturally occur in food, like the sugar in fruit, while others are added during the processing of certain foods.

Although sugar has its place in a healthy diet, too much added sugar has been linked to a variety of issues ranging from heart disease to tooth decay. Aside from that, sugar isn’t particularly nutritious compared to other vitamins and minerals.

In order to demonstrate this, I recorded my intake

of added sugars throughout one whole day. All numbers are estimates, but still paint a fairly accurate picture of what my added sugar consumption looks like.

I’ll be comparing my day to the standards set by the American Heart Association, who set their recommendation at 36 grams of added sugar per day for men and 24 grams for women. However, I made a point of not checking these guidelines prior to recording my sugar intake in order to provide an accurate representation of my diet.

To begin my day, I woke up and immediately noticed I had slept in, a common experience among us nightowl students. Rather than miss my first class by taking the time to make breakfast, I grabbed an energy drink and rushed to my geology class.

Checking the label on the back of the can as I sat in geology class, I noted that it contained 57 grams of sugar. If you noticed that the first thing I consumed that day was already 21

Lesia Karalash / Graphics Editor

Reproductive rights are human rights: Ways to help in a post-Trump world EMILY KLATT Sports & Health Editor

Although we may feel removed from the actions of Donald Trump as Canadian university students, they have a larger impact on us as citizens of the world. As Trump issues controversial new deci-

sions on reproductive health, we realize just how important reproductive rights are to our basic health as a society.

On Monday, Jan. 23, Trump signed an executive order to reinstate the Mexico City policy, a piece of legislation that prevents, with certain exceptions, taxpayer funds from going to international non-governmental organizations that provide any information on or access to abor-

grams over the guideline, you’d be correct.

After my first class of the day, I walked home to eat the lunch provided by my dormitory. It consisted of tortilla chips, mashed potatoes and meatballs, all of which have pretty much no added sugar due to being largely carbohydrate or protein based.

However I also grabbed a cup of fruit juice, weighing in at 19 grams of sugar, tapioca pudding containing 17 grams of sugar and had two teaspoons of sugar in my coffee, each of which came in at four grams of sugar. My lunch had a total 44 grams of added sugars, bringing my running total to 99 grams by noon.

To conclude the day, my supper consisted of mostly Asian food, as we were celebrating Chinese New Year according to the lunar calendar. This meal had spring rolls at around one gram of added sugar, stir fry that was largely free of added sugar, a vanilla custard tart with 15 grams of added sugar, enough plum sauce

to add 10 grams of sugar to the total and some oranges in light syrup because I was feeling the need to at least be a little healthy.

Despite my attempt at being healthy by taking oranges instead of a larger dessert, they still came in at 25 grams. This brought my total up to 150 grams of sugar throughout my meals and then to 164 grams with the inclusion of the four Lifesavers I ate throughout the day.

While I can’t be considered to have the healthiest lifestyle, I wouldn’t say

tion services.

This move comes just days after millions of women and their allies participated in marches around the globe to protest the president’s controversial stances on women’s rights, minority rights and reproductive justice, amongst other issues.

While it was already illegal for taxpayer dollars to directly fund abortion procedures, the new executive order now prevents overseas organizations from receiving American family planning money if they offer abortion counselling or advocate for abortion as safe and reasonable — regardless of whether or not abortion is legal in that foreign country.

These are organizations that provide essential health services to some of the world’s most vulnerable populations.

Reinstating the Mexico City policy isn’t exactly an unexpected event. Since its creation in 1984, the policy has been revoked or reinstated numerous times, depending on whether or not it was a Democrat or a Republican in the White House.

However, when President George W. Bush reinstated the policy in 2001, the U.S. halted the shipping of contraceptives to more than 20 countries, abortion rates doubled in the same places

and many organizations were forced to lay off staff.

Let’s be clear: these organizations do far more than provide access to abortion services — although it wouldn’t be bad even if they did. Reproductive health encompasses all kinds of services, including distributing condoms, providing STI treatment and healthcare for expectant mothers and new babies. Reproductive health is key to the health of an entire population.

Trump’s actions have caused the world to focus on reproductive and sexual health in a new and reinvigorated way. With that in mind, there are ways that we, as University of Saskatchewan students, can help promote reproductive health both at home and abroad.

One way you can help organizations affected by the Mexico City policy is to donate directly to those NGOs. Most organizations have a donation page on their website, and donations can easily be made online.

Closer to home, the U of S Students’ Union Women’s Centre is holding a menstrual product drive from Feb. 13-17 in the Arts Tunnel. The centre will be taking donations of unopened menstrual products such as pads, tampons and menstrual cups, along

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that these types of habits are uncommon among students. This means that throughout what I would call a fairly average day, I consumed 464 per cent of the daily recommended intake of added sugars as prescribed by the AHA. In seeing just how easy it is to consume what is considered to be an unhealthy amount of sugar, it causes us to really rethink what we’re putting into our bodies. Stay tuned for another article on how to reduce your added sugar consumption!

Laura Underwood / Layout Manger

with monetary donations.

Donations will be given to AIDS Saskatoon, which helps provide menstrual products to homeless or low-income people in need.

Donations can also come in the form of time. Volunteering is a great way to work towards reproductive justice in your community. Saskatoon Sexual Health — formerly Sexual Health Centre Saskatoon — is a community-based health clinic that specializes in sexual and reproductive health services. As a nonprofit, SSH relies on volunteers to help keep it running.

Another effective way to use your time is by learning and asking questions. Confused about different reproductive health services or how they’re implemented? Not sure how legislative policy works? Educate yourself. The Internet is a wealth of resources, and as they say, knowledge is power.

Education is a great way to fight ignorance and figure out the reasons behind a cause or movement.

The next four years are going to be far from easy, but that doesn’t mean that we can or should give up. For better or worse, Trump has the world finally giving reproductive health the attention it deserves — even right here in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. feb 02, 2017

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FEATURE

rtist watch:

U of S students prepare for thei BRIDGET MORRISON Culture Editor

University of Saskatchewan students graduating from the bachelor of fine arts program must complete a final show displaying their artwork. Not only is this is a great opportunity for students to showcase their work on campus but also to engage with the broader community of Saskatoon. Four BFA students sat down with the Sheaf to discuss their final shows, their studies and all things art!

Valerie Warwick

Dani Dale

What is your main discipline in the arts?

My main discipline is printmaking, which involves processes such as linocut, woodcut, screen printing, intaglio, waterless lithography and stone lithography. I really like the technical aspect of printmaking and how many different results you can achieve depending on the process that you use.

What is your main discipline in the arts?

My area of concentration is sculpture, mostly metal and extended media including video, sound and projection.

Can you tell me a little bit about your BFA final show?

My BFA show will be on display from Apr. 3-7 at the Gordon Snelgrove Gallery on the U of S campus. I’ve been preparing for this show since September. Admission is free.

What do you hope students or viewers will take away from your show?

I simply hope that viewers leave with new considerations of the topics I am presenting. I don’t really want to present my opinion on these topics, I would rather viewers come to their own conclusions.

Is there an artist, or artists, who inspire you and your work?

Oh so many! I love the work by Olafur Eliasson; his work with light, colour and space is incredible. I’ve also recently become acquainted with the media sculptures of Jakub Nepras and the performance light works of Nonotak, which I find super inspiring.

Can you tell me a little bit about your BFA final show?

My show will be displayed in the Snelgrove Gallery on Campus from Apr. 3-7, with the closing reception on the evening of Apr. 7. I have been preparing for it since September and have been focusing all of my school projects towards my show. The show will be free for everyone to see! The reception will be lots of fun and will have snacks and a mini-bar, so I am really hoping to see lots of people there!

Why do you think art, in any capacity, is important?

I think art is important because it allows us to explore complex issues both on a personal and a societal level.

I think this helps us to relate to one another. Art encourages discussions that can lead to change, and the more people that become a part of those discussions, the easier it is to initiate future change that will benefit everyone.

Where is your dream spot to have your art displayed?

The Venice Biennale.

What do you hope students or viewers will take away from your show?

My show focuses around family and childhood memories, so I hope that the viewer of my show will feel like they can relate to an aspect of my work. I always try to bring happiness to the viewers of my artwork, and try to create works that people enjoy.

What is your favourite part about being a fine arts major?

My favorite part about being a fine arts major is getting to do what I love every day! I feel very lucky to be able to major in something that I am so passionate about.

Why do you think art, in any capacity, is important?

I think that art is important because it creates a new language for people to view and enjoy. So much can be portrayed in art that may not be able to be said with words or text. Moreover, I like that looking at art can bring about certain feelings in people, and I think the most powerful works of art make the viewer feel a certain way just by looking at them.

Where is your dream spot to have your art displayed?

I recently learned about an opportunity to have some of my printmaking work display in Wuhan, China. I am going to submit some of my printmaking pieces to be juried and hopefully will be selected to be part of the show.

I think it would be a really great opportunity for me and my artwork.

8 the sheaf publishing society ∙ www.thesheaf.com

feb 02, 2017

PAGE TYPE FEATURE Emily Zdunich

ir BFA final show William Lee What is your main discipline in the arts?

Sculpture became my focus as I proceeded to work towards my BFA. Can you tell me a little bit about your BFA final show?

For my BFA show, I’ve been working with objects that I call “remnants.” These are objects that have survived catastrophe and have been left behind or discarded. I use casting processes to replicate and preserve these objects, so the viewer can observe them. I’ve been preparing my show since September of 2016.

I’m excited to be exhibiting my show in the gallery alongside Stephanie Turtle. We are combining materials and ideas to produce a collaborative project, which will be displayed in the center of the gallery space, between our two shows.

My show will be in the Gordon Snelgrove Gallery from Mar. 20-24, with a closing reception on Mar. 24. There is no fee to view my show. During the reception, there will be free cupcakes, along with wine by donation.

What do you hope students or viewers will take away from your show?

I hope viewers will participate in my work by producing associations that relate with their own life experiences.

Have you always been interested in the arts?

Prior to attending university, I had almost no experience with visual arts. I went to high school in a small town that didn’t offer art classes. I started university with a plan to major in English — until I decided to take a painting class as an elective. During this time, my mother passed away from leukemia. Painting became therapeutic for me — it helped me cope through that extreme emotional period. Art became my obsession.

What is your favourite part of being a fine arts major?

I really enjoy being challenged creatively. Throughout my degree, I’ve pushed myself to evolve and improve my work. Sometimes materials don’t behave in ways I would expect, so I’m forced to find creative resolutions. I’ve learned that sometimes it’s good when things fall apart — failures, errors and last-minute arrangements help drive my work into places I couldn’t have imagined.

Why do you think art, in any capacity, is important?

Art is important to me because it reveals unconscious thoughts that would normally be inaccessible.

Viewers can follow my Instagram at @william_lee_art, where I continually post behind-the-scenes images and videos of my process, leading up to my show. feb 02, 2017

What is your main discipline in the arts?

I would say my main areas are painting and sculpture.

However I’ve taken pretty much every art class you can take and enjoyed them all. I find I overlap the disciplines — you find drawing in my paintings and the strong use of line in my sculptures, for example.

Can you tell me a little bit about your BFA final show?

Entrance to the gallery throughout the week is free! My show is going to be in the Gordon Snelgrove Gallery from Apr. 3-7. With the closing reception on the 7th, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., snacks and beverage will be served then. I started preparing for my show last year, although subject matter has evolved since then. I’ve had a progression of ideas and themes that I have continued to work from.

What do you hope students or viewers will take away from your show?

I hope that people come to the show and leave feeling like they aren’t alone and that they can feel a connection to something, either others at the show or with the work itself. I hope people can have a time of self-reflection with the work and leave feeling however they need to feel at that moment. I really want the work to be somewhat of a mirror for people and they can do with that experience whatever they need.

Have you always been interested in the arts?

I think I was always a creative kid; I had a wild imagination and always enjoyed doing arts and crafts. Art was my favorite subject in school by far. I never took it very seriously until my third year of university. I always thought to myself, ‘Wow, wouldn’t it be amazing if I could just do art classes and that was my focus.’

I always admired others who just did art school. So, after some time I eventually did just that and haven’t looked back since.

What is your favourite part of being a fine arts major?

The concept that doing art is your homework, like sitting and creating something is your task is just amazing. I also find the department really is a family and a community and that’s really motivating.

Why do you think art, in any capacity, is important?

Art is important for so many reasons. It can be whatever it needs to be, it can be personal, it can be political, it can be brave, it can say what needs to be said, it can scare people, it can anger people, it can heal people.

But as my high school art room poster states, “The Earth Without Art is Just Eh.” For art updates and information on how to contact me, you can follow me at @emilyjessica__ on Instagram.

All photos by: Jeremy Britz / Photo Editor www.thesheaf.com

∙ the sheaf publishing society 9

CULTURE

Must-see social justice documentaries NAOMI ZUREVINSKI

Editor-in-Chief One of my favourite things to do is curl up in bed with a glass of red wine and a good documentary.

There’s nothing quite like being wrapped up in an interesting topic that leaves you feeling inspired, motivated or curious for more information.

The benefit of documentaries is that you often learn something new while relaxing — it’s a win-win for your body and your mind! For the social justice warrior out there, here are some of my favourite documentaries I’ve watched.

1. Food, Inc.: this documentary is all about what we eat, how it is produced and the environment. Available on Netflix, this 2008 film will leave you thinking about what you put in your body.

With a close examination

of corporate farming and a look into animal slaughterhouses, this film challenges viewers to be more conscious about where their food comes from, what it does to the earth and what it does to our bodies.

2. The True Cost: Released in 2015, this documentary is also available on Netflix and tells the story of clothing, focusing on who makes the clothes we wear. The documentary is filmed in various parts of the world, and looks at the lives of those who work in clothing factories, as well as the impact that mass-produced clothing has on the environment.

It challenges the viewer to think about what goes into the clothes we buy and wear — and who is paying the real price for it all.

3. Born Into Brothels: this heart-wrenching 2004 documentary looks at the children born to work as prostitutes in Calcutta, India. One of the documentary’s co-directors, Zana Briski, took

photographs of the children, in return for teaching them basic photography skills so that they can record their own lives. The film won an Academy Award in 2005, as well as best documentary feature. This documentary is also on Netflix.

time when demonstrations supporting European integration ended in a violent revolution. It won the People's’ Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2015 and is also available to watch on Netflix.

4. After Tiller: this film looks at the only remaining four doctors in the United States who perform lateterm abortions. This documentary won an Emmy Award in 2015, and it’s subject matter is often a point of controversy. The title is inspired by the late doctor George Tiller, who was murdered in 2009 after performing late-term abortions.

Also available on Netflix, this film was nominated for and won many other awards and received much critical acclaim for its take on the hot-topic of abortion.

6. Miss Representation: focusing on stereotypes of women and breaking those down, this 2011 documentary inspires everyone, regardless of gender, age and race, to be who they are and break free of negative limitations. The film is also linked to The Re p r e s e n t a t i o n Project, which has a number of social media platforms to promote its message and encourages viewers to join the movement. This film is also available on Netflix.

5. Winter on Fire: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom: this 2015 film is about the Euromaidan protests in Ukraine during 2013 and 2014, at a

7. Poverty, Inc.: a 2014 film that looks at foreign

aid and the impact that it has, this documentary introduces viewers to poverty in the Third World and how this is a global problem that needs more attention. As the winner of over 50 major film honours, this documentary challenges the idea of charity and donation and encourages viewers to think about solutions to poverty in a different way. Poverty, Inc. is also available on Netflix.

Lesia Karalash / Graphics Editor

Self-defence program for women offered at the U of S JACK THOMPSON Staff Writer

For any women feeling unprepared or scared about the threat of sexual violence or assault, there is a program offered at the University of Saskatchewan to turn to in order to aid in the prevention of these situations.

The course is called the Rape Aggression Defence System which, while facilitated by the U of S, is instructed by a nationally certified R.A.D. instructor.

R.A.D. is an internationally recognized set of programs aimed at all types of people, although the course offered at the U of S is strictly for women.

While the sessions for the winter term have already begun, there is the option of booking a pri-

presidioofmonterey / Flickr Self-defense training is a good preventative measure for students.

vate course by contacting Campus Rec directly.

This course range from eight to 12 members and cost $20 to attend. It is held in the Physical Activity Complex from 7 p.m. till 10 p.m. on designated days. With four time slots in total, the course is covered over a time span of 12 hours.

Since the course is designed with all people in mind, no prior experience in self-defence or any physical skill is required.

Any female can sign up for the R.A.D. course at the U of S, regardless as to whether or not they are a student. This is a great opportunity for students, though, due to the limited time requirement and moderate cost, as well as its location on campus.

To compare to another class of the same concept, the Saskatoon Defensive Tactics Academy covers the same concepts but with the addition of dealing with armed attackers, for four hours of training in their women’s self-defence seminar, the cost is $40. This seminar is located at their academy on 262 Avenue B South.

10 the sheaf publishing society ∙ www.thesheaf.com

Throughout the 12 hours of the R.A.D. course, participants will be instructed in realistic self-defence tactics and techniques to maximize their own personal safety. Beginning with preventative measures such as awareness, prevention of confrontation, risk reduction and risk avoidance, the course then moves on to basics in defence training.

These principles and techniques, despite being taught over only 12 hours, are meant to be the beginning of a lifetime development. With this philosophy in mind, each participant in the program is provided with a manual that outlines the entire program along with additional information for later reference and continuous personal training.

While R.A.D. does teach hands-on defence, it is not to be regarded as a martial arts program. However, due to the physical nature of this training, R.A.D. courses are taught with the use of a suit which allows for the safety of participants while performing simulations.

One reason for choos-

ing this program, besides its convenient location on campus, is that it has been around since 1989 and has been used to train over 900,000 women internationally. Additionally, it is the only self-defence program endorsed by the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators, among other institutions.

With the increased anxiety that comes with PAWS notifications about sexual assaults that occur every so often, it can become easy for anyone to feel nervous walking on campus alone. While no one can be invincible or completely capable of fending off any conceivable attack, it is possible to be prepared for more than you were before, which is the idea at the heart of self-defence.

A positive to taking any self-defence class is the feeling of confidence that comes with the furthered capability to protect yourself. Be it on campus at night, walking downtown after a night out or any other scenario that could be potentially dangerous, it doesn’t hurt to be prepared. feb 02, 2017

How to avoid common products that use animal testing JACK THOMPSON Staff Writer

It’s no secret that animal testing is a common practice among companies that sell cosmetic, self-care and home cleaning supplies, and it can be difficult to tell which companies do and which companies don’t practice animal testing in their production.

In recent years the public has come down on companies that utilize animals to test their products. For many, this has incited a need to change what they purchase in order to show their position on animal testing.

However, this decision comes with a challenge of knowing which companies are truly cruelty-free and which are not.

An indispensable tool for the cruelty-conscious can be found in the Leaping Bunny Program — an internationally recognized certification program for countries that do not allow any testing on animals. The guidelines they enforce upon their members are strict and come with the possibility of third-party cruelty audits, in order to ensure that a company does not conduct animal testing.

The Leaping Bunny Program is run by the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics which includes eight animal protection groups from both Canada and the United States. This program is free to companies willing to participate, but the initiative to join must come from the company, thus making it entirely possible for cruelty-free companies to exist outside of this list.

While the Leaping Bunny Program may not be exhaustive in its list, it’s value comes from the strict guidelines it follows so consumers know that these companies are truly cruelty-free. As an added bonus, the program also has its own smartphone app for iPhone and Android that includes the entire list as well as the option to search by barcode scanning.

There are a few noteworthy absences in the list of companies, such as Unilever, Avon and Sephora, as well as many others that are not apfeb 02, 2017

proved by the Leaping Bunny Standard.

In the case of Unilever and Avon, there is a statement on both of their websites that they are working towards ending animal testing and have developed ways to limit the amount of animal testing done in their company, although they’re not listed on the Leaping Bunny website.

According to Avon’s website, they have faced difficulties in some countries such as China which require animal testing by law for certain “special use” products such as sunscreen, deodorant and hair dyes.

Due to the global nature of these companies, it can be difficult to circumvent these laws, leading to their products being tested on animals despite the company not requiring it. Companies such as Unilever and Avon state that they are working with governments to increase the acceptance of testing that does not require the use of animals.

Among the other 600 companies listed on Leaping Bun-

ny, some companies that did make the list are Burt’s Bees, Badger, Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps, Kiss My Face, The Body Bar & Co., The Body Shop, The J.R. Watkins Co., Urban Decay and the Canadian Bath Bomb Company.

While it is possible for companies that don’t appear on this list to be cruelty-free, it is valuable to know that there are many ways for companies to advertise a cruelty-free product without it being completely true. Claims such as “cruelty-free” and “we do not test on animals” can be misleading.

This is because this claim can sometimes only apply to the finished product and not the ingredients used. Additionally, companies can make this claim and still contract other companies to conduct their animal testing for them.

However, claims like these are not acceptable in order to be placed upon the Leaping Bunny list.

Visit leapingbunny.org for more information.

PAGE TYPE CULTURE

02 03 04 05 06 07 08

upcoming events • Julie & The Wrong Guys with Slow Down Molasses at Vangelis • We Were Lovers with Repartee and Alex Bent & the Emptiness at the Capitol Music Club

Thursday

friday

• Kara Golemba and Allyson Reigh at the Underground Cafe • Pure Bliss, Doubt It and Doctor Booty Quiver at Amigos • Silent Sea, Kirby Criddle and Taylor Jade at Vangelis • The College of Law presents Legal Follies Variety Show at the Broadway Theatre • Too Damn Hot Comedy Jazz Trio at the Bassment

• Bob Marley Birthday Bash at the Capitol Music Club • Herd of Wasters, The Browns, Me The Guts and SoulMates at Vangelis • In With The Old Album Release Show with Old Towns at Amigos • Jazz Singerfest at the Bassment

saturday

• Last day of Displaced presented by Live Five Independent Theatre at the Refinery • Last day of the Potashcorp Wintershines Festival at the Saskatoon Farmers’ Market • Last day of the USSU’s Give Your Prof A Gold Star

sunday

• Arkells with Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls at Prairieland Park • First day of the USSU’s Sex Week

monday

• First day of Game Changers Exhibit at the Western Development Museum • PSSA SGM Take 2 in room 206 in the Arts Building

tuesday

• Comedy Night with Simon King and guests at the Capitol Music Club

wednesday

Lesia Karalash / Graphics Editor

www.thesheaf.com

∙ the sheaf publishing society 11

OPINIONS

Lack of organization mires Trudeau’s town hall LOGAN HUARD

Jeremy Britz / Photo Editor Trudeau’s town hall was a mishandled and disappointing affair.

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On Jan. 25, the University of Saskatchewan campus was buzzing with the news that a town hall would be held featuring Prime Minister — and one of Vogue’s top 10 picks for unconventional alternatives to the sexiest man alive — Justin Trudeau.

Unfortunately, tickets were in hot demand as the 400 free tickets provided on the Liberal website were snatched up promptly after becoming available. The Dubé Theatre seats approximately 500, leaving the remaining seats free to the public on a sort of firstcome-first-serve basis.

Seemingly, the organisers of the event did not anticipate the hundreds of people who showed up hours in advance in an attempt to get one of those empty seats, resulting in a very unorganized and mismanaged ordeal.

Liberal Member of Parliament Ralph Goodale’s page for the town hall encouraged the public to arrive at 6:30 p.m. — when the doors were scheduled to open for the event — but lines started to form inside the Health Science Building around 3:30 p.m.

As the line of people grew, the officers in charge moved everyone out of the building so they could prepare the venue. The way in which the line was transported was not done in any coherent or authoritative manner, as there was confusion that resulted in the reshuffling of the order of the line as well as a number of line jumpers.

The line quickly grew and spanned from the E-wing doors on Wiggins Avenue around and down College Drive. A large number of the people in the line were outside in double digit sub-zero temperatures for multiple hours.

The line had been divided into two sections, to differentiate between those with and without tickets.

When the ticket holders were allowed in at 6 p.m., opportunists found their chance to capitalize on the lack of structure that was supposed to be implemented either by the organizers

or the officers that were present.

A number of people without tickets piggybacked off of the speedy entrance of ticket holders, which pulled them to the front of the line and allowed them to — in 10 minutes — bypass the three-hour-old line and gain entry before others who had been waiting.

Once the ticket holders had all entered, the public was allowed to as well. The problem was that when the public was allowed in, they were neither guided nor controlled in any legitimate fashion. Instead, a sort of anarchic free-forall ensued as hundreds of people tried to squeeze through the two doors only to find there was another line forming in the tunnel within the Health Science Building.

As the line made its way through into the main corridor of the building, hopes to see the prime minister were decimated as the line was directed past the Dubé Theatre and into a separate overflow room.

The overflow room allowed for around 100 people to view a live feed of Trudeau on two projection screens, all while knowing that the likelihood of getting to ask a hard-hitting question was virtually impossible.

A general consensus of those in the overflow room was that they would have preferred to have been told when the theatre had filled, so that they could make alternative plans or cut in line earlier in the day.

Overall, the event was bungled from the perspective of the public who were encouraged to attend. The combination of a lack of structure and order while entering the building led to an unequal treatment of line members. This manifested itself in some being allowed to wait inside while earlier attendees were forced to wait in cold because no one was there to prevent budging.

Lastly, I can safely say the conditions leading up to the event for the public attendees were not outweighed by Trudeau’s less-than-compelling performance.

open. online. everywhere.

12 the sheaf publishing society ∙ www.thesheaf.com

feb 02, 2017

PAGE TYPE OPINIONS

How I got my green card — without asking my family doctor LIAM DELPARTE This isn’t another Sheaf article attempting to justify the legalization of marijuana, or me trying to convince you of its medical benefits — you know about all that already. What I am here to do is share my expe-

rience with Natural Health Services, and how I got my green card.

Now what does that mean? With my card, I may now possess marijuana outside of my home, as long as I have my prescription on my person. I may now smoke without the ever-present paranoia of being arrested.

Jeremy Britz / Photo Editor Despite its benefits, medical marijuana remains stigmatized.

I don’t have to tell my future employers about that time when I was 20 and got busted with a minor possession — that is, if I even get to speak with them about it — or about my medication ruining my life. I can say that it feels amazing to no longer have to consider myself a criminal.

That’s a lot to say about me, but what about others?

Having access to an openly friendly doctor means eliminating the overwhelming anxiety that many people feel when speaking to a family doctor — someone who has usually known them since birth — about how they use marijuana, and how it’s a positive aspect of their life.

It also means eliminating stereotypes that they are a drug seeker. Anecdotally, I have yet to meet someone who partakes solely for the pleasure — there is usually something at play there, like their anxiety, their insomnia, their depression.

Having a green card also provides legal protection for those who, by nature of their circumstance, find

themselves in contact with the police more often than need be.

NHS, located on 23rd Street and 2nd Avenue — directly bordering the downtown transit terminal — provides consultations with a doctor who is willing to write prescriptions for medical cannabis for those with legitimate medical need.

You make an appointment on their website, then show up to their storefront where you’re given an information package on medical cannabis, how it may be consumed and the details on the process of getting your prescription.

NHS requires you to return every three months for follow-up visits. You’re also provided with a list of 35 licensed producers to choose from. You will need to pick one on the day of your appointment, as it is through your LP that you receive your prescription bottle or bag that gives you the legal protection to carry.

Each LP has their own website where you may check out their prices and selection of products. Per-

sonally, I chose the Whistler Medical Marijuana Corporation, as they offered a large selection of products and openly displayed information such as terpene content and THC percentages.

It is important to note that those under the age of 21 are required to have parental or caregiver approval in order to schedule an appointment with NHS, but from my experience it seems that the doctor at the Saskatoon location is comfortable seeing patients over the age of 18 without their parents, as there is no legal requirement to get them involved.

My experience with NHS was incredibly pleasant and professional. The staff were able to answer my questions about how exactly medical cannabis works both legally and medically, and can provide guidance through the world of LPs. I highly recommend that University of Saskatchewan students who habitually consume pot with any legitimate intent go through the process of becoming a medical patient.

I don’t care what old people think:

Why Saskatoon needs a safe injection site EMILY KLATT Sports & Health Editor

While data shows that Saskatoon residents have divided opinions on building a safe injection site in the city, we should be looking at the fact that safe injection sites are proven to work for those most affected by intravenous drug use — the users themselves.

According to a January 2017 poll conducted by Mainstreet and Postmedia services, the majority of people in Saskatoon are opposed to building a safe injection site in the city.

Of those that were surveyed, 41 per cent were against a safe injection site, while 38 per cent were in favour.

The poll, conducted on Jan. 3-4, used a random sample of 600 Saskatoon residents, and has a margin of error of plus or minus four per cent, 19 times out of 20.

For those that aren’t familiar with the term, a safe infeb 02, 2017

jection site — or a supervised injection site — is a legal, medically supervised facility that aims to reduce the harms of intravenous drug use.

Typically run by nurses, social workers and other public health providers, safe injection sites provide a variety of services to drug users, ranging from sterilized needles to counselling support.

Canada is currently home to two safe injection sites, both located in Vancouver’s downtown eastside — an area famous for its epidemic level of intravenous drug usage.

While Saskatoon definitely isn’t Vancouver, that doesn’t mean we don’t have our own issues related to intravenous drug usage.

Saskatchewan continues to lead the country in new reported cases of HIV, with an infection rate two times higher than the national average. Our HIV infection rates are comparable to areas of sub-Saharan Africa. Hepatitis C infection is also a major issue in Saskatchewan.

The leading cause of new

cases of HIV and hepatitis C in Saskatchewan? Intravenous drug usage.

Indigenous populations are particularly at risk when it comes to both IV drug usage and HIV infection rates. With one of the highest Indigenous populations in Canada, Saskatchewan needs to consider this when approaching drug addiction treatment and prevention.

The Saskatoon Tribal Council currently operates a needle exchange on 20th Street in downtown Saskatoon that offers many of the same services that a safe injection site would offer: counselling, clean needles and medical assistance. Resources are limited, however, and the STC can only do so much for such a large issue.

If more can be done, it absolutely should be.

Safe injection sites aren’t things that can or should be built impulsively. They require substantial public funding, proper staffing and expertise. They’re certainly an investment and one that

Kelsey Philipchuk

should be considered carefully. There are reasons to be methodical and cautious.

The thing is, if we’re putting at-risk populations first, safe injection sites work. According to Maclean’s, as of 2015 — 12 years after the establishment of Vancouver’s Insite — the area surrounding the facilities had seen a 35 per cent decrease in overdose deaths and the facility itself has never seen a death on site.

Additionally, intravenous drug users who injected at Insite on a regular basis were 30 per cent more likely to seek addictions counselling.

www.thesheaf.com

Safe injection sites work.

They help to improve the lives of our most vulnerable populations — the ones that have the most to lose and almost certainly the ones that weren’t surveyed on their opinions about safe injection sites.

The numbers are too close for popularity to be a barrier to building a safe injection site. In the end, it doesn’t matter if the majority of people in Saskatoon support a safe injection site or not — what matters is that safe injection sites improve the health and safety of those that use them.

∙ the sheaf publishing society 13

OPINIONS

Open the flood gates: Why Keystone XL must be built BODAN WOROBETZ Only a few days into his presidency, American President Donald Trump has already taken action on advancing the construction of the long-stalled Keystone XL pipeline expansion. This news has been received with intensely mixed reactions, but should be celebrated as a success for all.

The construction of pipelines has long been intensely contested — with those opposed citing fears of impending environmental catastrophe. Obstacles to development originate from groups who oppose the strive for increased efficiency, safety and — subsequently — standards of living involving fossil fuel resource extraction.

The responsible development and extraction of the world’s fossil fuel resources — while ensuring the simultaneous protection of the environment and human rights — have never been of greater importance to the people of Saskatchewan, Canada and the whole world. The further investment in pipelines as a means of transporting oil is currently our best option.

There is no perfect solution when it comes to the transport of oil resources, but pipelines are the safest and most efficient mode of movement compared to the next best method of rail.

Kenneth P. Green and

Taylor Jackson’s 2015 study “Safety in the Transportation of Oil and Gas: Pipelines or Rail?” concluded that shipping oil by pipe was in fact 4.5 times less likely to experience an incident than rail shipments.

From 2003-13, pipelines in Canada experienced 0.049 incidents per thousand barrels of oil equivalents versus 0.227 for rail.

As well, only 17 per cent of pipeline incidents occurred in actual pipe, with the remaining incidents occurring in areas such as compressor stations and terminals, where containment is more immediately effective.

Another argument of pipeline opposition is that Canadians should build more refineries instead of pipelines and become energy independent. This simply does not make sense.

Building more refineries is not a viable option due to the economics of energy markets. Per David A. McLellan of Financial Post, Canada already refines 10 per cent more oil than is used domestically, with a refining capacity of 2.65 million barrels per day as of January 2014.

In a sense, we are already energy independent when referring to domestic refining capacity and consumption. Building more refineries would just mean exporting additional refined product.

Higher refining capacity would also require a market to take it. With current

shannonpatrick17 / Flickr People are too quick to lob criticisms at the Keystone XL expansion project.

infrastructure, this market simply does not exist. Of the roughly four million barrels per day of raw oil that Canada currently extracts, half is exported because there are markets for this unrefined resource in places such as the United States and Asia.

These markets are looking to import and refine oil as they have the refining infrastructure and capacity, but not enough inputs.

Canada has an excess of inputs which are readily available for export. In sum, increasing domestic refining capacity would not be a wise investment for any company or govern-

ment in Canada.

Additional benefits of pipeline expansion will come in the form of employment during the construction phase. Premier Brad Wall estimates approximately 2,200 jobs will be created in Saskatchewan alone, if the pipeline is approved.

Increased value for the shareholders of energy companies will also be a reality as product shipment costs fall. This means all Canadians can benefit financially.

According to the CPP Investment Board, as of Mar. 31, 2016, more than 10 per cent of CPP holdings in

Canadian publicly traded equity were in energy, representing over $1 billion in investments. Therefore, to support the success of the energy sector is to support the financial security of all Canadians.

These are only but a handful of reasons that pipelines are not as bad as they are often made out to be. The fact of the matter is that oil and everything derived from it will still be needed in the short term.

No one knows when we will become a people who no longer need oil to survive, but it’s likely it’ll take longer than it does to build another pipeline.

photo of the week

Laura Underwood

14 the sheaf publishing society ∙ www.thesheaf.com

feb 02, 2017

PAGE TYPE DISTRACTIONS campus chat

“

”

What’s the worst thing you’d eat for a million dollars?

Agriculture students suck shit, warns engineering department study

“Meal worms (dead).”

Steven Huang

ENGINEERING BUILDING — A groundbreaking new study from the University of Saskatchewan College of Engineering shows that the College of Agriculture and Bioresources is for a bunch of big dumb, stupid morons. While the implications of the findings are unclear and the purpose of the study unknown, the U of S is buzzing nonetheless.

For engineering student

Antle Bjorn, the development is revolutionary.

“It’s been a contested theory for years, but now that we have definitive, concrete proof that agriculture students are all dirty little twerps who are jerks to everybody, I think you’re really going to see a shift in how society views student interactions here on the U of S campus,” Bjorn said.

The study — seemingly

conducted simply by asking engineering students what they think of agriculture students — also comes on the heels of the College of Agriculture's controversial 2016 panel, titled “Jealous Pencil Pushers and Why They’re Idiots.”

Discussing the findings of the engineering report, College of Agriculture and Bioresources Dean Teri

Fleischer expressed skepticism.

“How would they know we’re ‘all stinky nerds who hate good people’ without first conducting more thorough research?”

Fleischer said. “This is simply engineering students being lazy, sloppy bullies who like to pick fights all the time.”

The Sheaf wishes to stay out of the dispute.

“Anything.”

Cody Fofonoff

“Nothing.”

Amanda Slinger

Near To The Wild Heart Of Life

by the Japandroids TANNER BAYNE After a half-decade long hiatus, the Vancouver rocker duo Japandroids have released their third album titled Near To The Wild Heart Of Life. Despite flirting with acoustic guitars and synthy arrangements, this eight song album maintains the upbeat and punky tones of the band’s quintessential sound.

HARKAVAGRANT.COM

EATMOREBIKES.TUMBLR.COM

feb 02, 2017

www.thesheaf.com

∙ the sheaf publishing society 15

BACKPAGE PAGE TYPE

SEX WEEK FEBRUARY 6 - 10, 2017

SEX TOY PARTY

EROTIC POETRY

SEXHIBITION VISIT USSU.CA/EVENTS FOR DETAILS

University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union

PrideCentre

stitch and bitch Come socialize and take part in crafts in a fun and safe environment.

It's a great way to de-stress from a long week while learning something new with friends!

Thursdays • 6:00 pm • USSU Pride Centre - Room 104, MUB For more information, email pridecentre@ussu.ca

16 the sheaf publishing society ∙ www.thesheaf.com

feb 02, 2017