November 23, 2017

NOVEMBER 23, 2017

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The University of Saskatchewan’s main campus is situated on Treaty 6 Territory and the Homeland of the Métis.

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF | Jessica Klaassen-Wright

editor@thesheaf.com NEWS EDITOR

CULTURE EDITOR

Nykole King

Tanner Bayne

news@thesheaf.com

culture@thesheaf.com

SPORTS & HEALTH EDITOR

OPINIONS EDITOR

Emily Migchels

Jack Thompson

opinions@thesheaf.com

sportshealth@thesheaf.com

STAFF WRITER

Lyndsay Afseth staffwriter@thesheaf.com COPY EDITOR

| Amanda Slinger

copy@thesheaf.com LAYOUT MANAGER

| Laura Underwood

layout@thesheaf.com PHOTO EDITOR

| J.C. Balicanta Narag

photo@thesheaf.com GRAPHICS EDITOR

| Lesia Karalash

graphics@thesheaf.com WEB EDITOR

| Jeremy Britz

web@thesheaf.com OUTREACH DIRECTOR

| Victoria Becker

outreach@thesheaf.com AD & BUSINESS MANAGER

| Shantelle Hrytsak

ads@thesheaf.com

Andy Pixel / Flickr Prices for gasoline are on the rise in the town of Churchill, making accessibility an issue.

U of S students feel the cost of Churchill railway washout Damaged railroad tracks leading in and out of Churchill have led to increased prices for the arctic field school program.

COVER IMAGE

Lesia Karalash BOARD OF DIRECTORS Kyra Mazer Brent Kobes Emily Klatt Hasith Andrahennadi Momo Tanaka Liam Richards

LAUREN KLASSEN ADVERTISING (306) 966 8688 EDITORIAL (306) 966 8689

Mission // 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, it provides unique insight into university issues through a student perspective. The staff of editors, photographers and artists collaborate with volunteers as student journalists to create a product relevant to students on the University of Saskatchewan campus.

Legal // The Sheaf, published weekly during the academic year and periodically from May through August, is an incorporated non-profit that is, in part, student-body funded by way of a direct levy paid by all partand full-time undergraduate students at the 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 Sheaf Publishing Society is open to all undergraduate students at the U of S, who are encouraged to contribute to the newspaper. Absolutely no experience is required!

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Land Acknowledgement // The Sheaf acknowledges that our office is built on Treaty Six Territory and the traditional homeland of the Métis. We pay our respects to the First Nations and Métis ancestors of this place and affirm both the importance of our relationship with Indigenous peoples and students at the U of S and our commitment to recognize and remain accountable for our collective history.

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

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Churchill, Man., has been without train transportation since March 2017 due to flooding that damaged the railroad track. Both Churchill residents and visitors from the University of Saskatchewan arctic field school program are facing rising costs of transportation.

The main sources of transportation to and from the northern town were trains and air travel, but now only the latter is available. The railway washout has created several issues in the community itself, as the lack of transportation restricts the transportation of goods and mobility in and out of the town. Indeed, because Churchill is a remote area, employers often fly in their employees temporarily, rather than relocating employees and their families permanently.

Churchill is also a popular tourist destination for wildlife sightings of polar bears and beluga whales. However, tourism has declined since the railway washout, and tourism businesses have felt the impact of the rise in the price of gas, as these businesses rely on boats and vehicles.

Karlynn Dzik, a fifth-year animal bioscience student who lives in Churchill seasonally for work, explains that trains were suspended a week before

she was scheduled to arrive, leaving her to find alternative transportation.

“I was only notified four days before I was to take the train that it was cancelled. I had to change my travel arrangements and book last-minute flights,” Dzik said, in an email to the Sheaf.

Dzik says that gasoline is a rising expense for residents, as it cannot be flown in by airlift. The effects of the railway washout extend beyond the Manitoba border as well, and Ryan Brook, associate professor in the College of Agriculture and Bioresources and program director of the arctic field school program, discusses how the increasing cost of gas and resources in Churchill has caused the program to adjust program prices for students.

“Any increase in costs, such as gasoline, definitely impacts this program, because students pay approximately 55 per cent of the total program cost,” Brook said, in an email to the Sheaf.

The total program costs were $50,000 per year, but because of increased gas prices, the program has had to compensate by raising program fees by $200 per student. Brook explains that the increase in the cost may lead to decreased student participation in the program.

“The big concern I have is that, as the cost to students increases, we start to lose participants who can’t afford it,” Brook said.

Beyond tourism, the railroad to Churchill was a delivery route for groceries.

Now, due to the damage that occurred because of flooding, groceries need to be flown in by plane, an expensive alternative that has led to an increase in the cost of food items for residents. Dzik explains that the impact of rising food prices while she lived in Churchill did not interfere with her ability to access food; although, it may be a concern for others.

“Food access was certainly an issue with cost. As I was only feeding myself, the cost of living was high for me but I wouldn’t say my food security was impacted. As for other families in the community, I can’t really say, but I imagine, especially for families, it was a difficult time,” Dzik said.

On Nov. 14, the federal government filed a lawsuit for 18.8 million dollars against Omnitrax Inc., the Denverbased company that owns the railway, because the company claims that repairs are too expensive. Barring further developments, the residents of Churchill and the students of the arctic field school program will continue to pay the cost for the washed-out railway.

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Grading in computer science class causes student-faculty dispute Computer science students and faculty are working to resolve a grading dispute that some students feel may be delaying their convocations.

TEEVIN FOURNIER

Although many students face low marks in difficult courses during their academic career, students in Computer Science 360: Machines and Algorithms feel that this required course is affecting their grade averages, and even their ability to graduate, to an excessive degree.

Students in CMPT 360 report that almost half the class has dropped the course and that the remaining students are struggling to maintain a passing grade. Students have raised concerns regarding the professor’s marking style, expectations and willingness to communicate with students.

The faculty, students and Computer Science Students’ Society are discussing ways to resolve the situation together.

As the course is a requirement for computer science degrees, many students are worried about their graduation status. Kevin Stanley, department head of computer science, explains that he is not worried about a higher-than-usual failing rate in the class.

“I’m actually not that worried [for upcoming graduates].

We pulled a bunch of historical records, and it doesn’t look like things are any more dire right now than they have been in the past. It may feel that way to students, but I am not concerned,” Stanley said.

Stanley explains that final marks are first sent to the faculty in the department for approval, which allows the department to look back at historical averages for any discrepancies.

“I think a lot of students don’t realize … that grades are approved by either the undergraduate chair or the department head once the professor submits grades. [The grade] doesn’t immediately appear on your transcript,” Stanley said.

Christopher Dutchyn, associate professor in computer science, is instructing CMPT 360 this year. Students in the class say that, during class discussion, Dutchyn was unwilling to consider their suggestions. Students also report spending over 20 hours per assignment and

Lesia Karalash / Graphics Editor

receiving low marks, which they believe did not reflect their effort or knowledge on the subject.

When contacted for an interview, Dutchyn would provide no comment on the situation in the class and forwarded all inquires to Stanley.

Dominic Lawson*, a final-year computer science and math student, believes it is beneficial that Dutchyn pushes students to stay updated on current trends in the computer science field.

“As small rewards in the class, in terms of marks, [Dutchyn] has given extra incentive to do things like learn … new programming languages that are gaining traction … in the work environment,” Lawson said.

“So, that’s something where — for the students who want to excel and learn extra things on their own — they would go do this, which I really like.”

Aazim Karim*, a fourthyear computer science student, notes that while Dutchyn does

not aim to fail students, his high expectations are unwavering, even when most of the class receives poor marks. In one attempt to address the issues, an online discussion forum was created between the professor and the students, as Karim explains.

“He doesn’t want to see you fail, but he has very high expectations and doesn’t want to drop them,” Karim said. “He doesn’t accept that there is a communication problem or some [other] kind of problem between us. He just assumes that the [students] don’t understand what is going on. It’s pretty clear if you read our class forum that he just thinks that the students are at fault.”

Lyndon Zhuang*, a thirdyear bioinformatics student who dropped the course, believes that Dutchyn’s expectations are unreasonably high and that the feedback from the professor about assignments was unhelpful.

“He’s really smart, but his

expectations are just unreasonable, and I think it’s because he’s not able to put himself in our position and [try] to relate to us at that level,” Zhuang said. “He would make it sound so simple, and he would tell us that it’s easy, but that wasn’t the case, clearly, because everyone was complaining.”

Stanley encourages students who are struggling with a class to speak up and ask for help, starting with having a discussion with the professor in person.

“First, … talk to the professor themselves… If that is less satisfactory, then you can certainly talk to your student representatives [in the] CSSS — they’re great,” Stanley said.

“If not those, I will always listen. I may not give you an answer that you like, but myself or the undergraduate chair … are always willing to listen to student concerns.”

Peggy Anderson, a fourthyear computer science stu-

dent and president of the CSSS, explains that the CSSS is able to speak to professors or the department head on behalf of students if they feel they are being unfairly graded or are having issues with a professor, but students need to speak up first.

“No one can even try to fix anything if they don’t know a problem exists,” Anderson said, in an email to the Sheaf.

Stanley explains that he is actively working with both Dutchyn and the students to resolve the issue in CMPT 360.

“I had a conversation with the faculty member, and we went over the workload expectations and grading schema — and [the] regular things [that] you would review if you wanted to look at how a course is going — and I think, more or less, it addressed some of the concerns.” *To respect the privacy of the individuals interviewed, their names have been changed.

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Kate Locsin Student leaders from a variety of organizations and communities gather in Edwards School of Business to discuss their experiences on campus.

Campus panel calls for increased inclusivity at student events A recent panel discussion showed the importance of diversity to student leaders on campus.

SYDNEY BOULTON

Canadians pride themselves on being part of a diverse nation, but the University of Saskatchewan may have some work to do to promote diversity on campus, according to a recent panel discussion.

USask Student Leadership, a student-led organization that organizes an annual Student Leadership Conference, is hosting the Student Leadership Workshop Series this year, focused on topics relevant to students. The most recent of these workshops, titled Diversity Discussion Panel, was held on Nov. 9 and co-hosted by USask Student Leadership, Peer Health and the Human Resources Student Society.

Evan Seebach, a second-year

physics student who attended the workshop, explains how attending the discussion panel expanded his view about diversity in university.

“I [attended] the workshop to support Peer Health,” Seebach said. “It really opened my eyes to what isn’t being done.”

Members of the Indigenous Students’ Council, the International Students Association, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Students’ Association and the U of S Graduate Students’ Association were panelists, as well as representatives from the deaf and LGBTQ communities. Panelists shared their thoughts about the state of diversity on campus, which included positive aspects and also issues that they feel need to be addressed.

One topic of discussion was

intersectionality, or the “overlapping and interdependent systems of discrimination or disadvantage,” according to the Oxford English Dictionary, that pertain to gender, race and class and how these intersect to create a unique set of experiences.

Naheeda Sahtout, a fifth-year PhD student in chemistry who represented graduate students at the panel, said during the event that she identifies as having an intersectional identity and explained that individuals are not defined by one aspect of their identity.

Sheldon Moellenbeck, a fifthyear psychology student representing the LGBTQ community, agreed with Sahtout, noting that he represents only one aspect of the queer community.

“There are queer people of

BECOME A RADIATION THERAPY STUDENT The Saskatchewan Cancer Agency invites you to consider a career in radiation therapy. Radiation therapists are an important member of the health care team in treating cancer. They plan, deliver and provide care and education to people receiving radiation therapy.

If you are interested in building a career that combines patient focused care with leading-edge technology, the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency invites you to apply to become a part of this exciting and rewarding field.

The Saskatchewan Cancer Agency is a clinical site for the University of Toronto/Michener Radiation Therapy Degree Program and offers selected candidates’ sponsorship to attend the academic portion of the program in Toronto and clinical experience in Regina and Saskatoon.

Minimum requirements include:

• 30 credits of undergraduate university classes with a minimum 3.0 (75%) GPA. • Regardless of the level of education attained candidates must have three credit hours in the following subjects: human biology, calculus based mathematics, physics and a social science.

• Applicants whom English is an additional language must meet the University of Toronto English language assessment requirements.

Successful applicants will have a good background in the sciences, strong technical skills and the ability to work with care and precision. Patience, tolerance as well as strong interpersonal, communication and teamwork skills are important to have.

If you are interested in applying for this unique educational opportunity please visit www.saskcancer.ca/RT or contact rtschoolinfo@saskcancer.ca to request an application.

Application deadline is 4:00 pm December 15, 2017.

For further information contact the radiation therapy department at 306-766-2288.

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those individuals to be interviewed will be contacted.

4 / NEWS

colour, queer women, disabled queer people and any combination of identities, and I can only speak from the perspective of a white cisgender male,” Moellenbeck said.

One of the questions posed to the panel was how to make campus events more accessible to all students. Moellenbeck addressed this issue by proposing more gender-inclusive language and better accessibility to genderneutral washrooms.

Daisy Houle, a third-year anatomy and cell biology student representing the ISC, explained that, for Indigenous students, alcohol can be a barrier for inclusion at events.

“When alcohol is present, it is not inclusive for student-parents or students who are sober for personal reasons,” Houle said.

Ausaaf Danial, a fourth-year anatomy and cell biology student representing the AMSA, discussed the need for food that caters to all dietary requirements.

“All students are bound to be friends with a diverse group of people with diverse needs. It isn’t just about having halal options, but all other dietary needs,” Danial said.

Adam Pottle, a sessional lecturer in the department of English representing the deaf and dis-

abled community on the panel, said that there are accessibility issues for deaf students at student events, explaining that a sign-language interpreter or captioner should be made available upon request.

Shiney Choudhary, a student outreach co-ordinator with Peer Health and organizer for this event, notes that the workshop series will feature a second panel on diversity during term two, which will include more communities that were not represented during the first workshop. Another workshop will be held on the topic of resilience and reconciliation.

Currently, no dates are finalized for the upcoming workshops.

Choudhary believes that all students can benefit from the series, and she welcomes any interested students to attend future workshops. Anyone can suggest a workshop topic or collaborate on a workshop by emailing USask Student Leadership at slcinfo@usask.ca.

“Every student should consider themselves a leader. Even if you just raise your hand in class, you’re a leader,” Choudhary said.

“With these workshops, we want to encourage out-of-the-box thinking and build more knowledge on campus, and anyone can benefit from that.”

Campus briefs JESSICA KLAASSEN-WRIGHT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Eggshell-supplement project

On Nov. 20, a team of innovators at the University of Saskatchewan was awarded $100,000 from Grand Challenges Canada, an initiative that supports international health and development. The U of S project led by Susan Whiting, professor in the College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, will focus on preventing fluorosis by teaching mothers in Ethiopia to mix an eggshell supplement and add it to their children’s food.

Protective Services brief*

Credit card fraud: Protective Services was contacted on Nov. 8 with information regarding an individual who was suspected of using a stolen credit card to purchase items on campus. Officers searched through recorded video-surveillance footage and provided all relevant information to the investigating officers at the Saskatoon Police Service. *Brief provided by Protective Services.

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SPORTS&HEALTH

Nourish Conference enforces belief that all bodies are good bodies The Nourish Conference teaches attendees how to achieve body sovereignty.

LYNDSAY AFSETH STAFF WRITER

What influences how you think about your body? How would your life be better if you had total body acceptance?

These are the questions that attendees were encouraged to explore at the Nourish Conference on Nov. 17 and 18.

Nourish, which took place at Station 20 West, was a two-day event that featured speakers and workshops covering a variety of topics related to body positivity. The main messages of the conference were that all bodies are enough, just as they are right now, and that the problem lies in outside factors, which send people the opposite message.

The keynote speaker, Sydney Bell, is a social worker, writer and body-positivity advocate. The main focal point of her discussion was body sovereignty, which means that how we feel about our bodies is self-determined. A person who is body-sovereign would be comfortable with and nonjudgemental of their body and how it relates to the world.

According to Bell’s presentation, 91 per cent of women are unhappy with their bodies, and I used to be one of those women. I was convinced that I would have a perfect body in the future, and then, I would be happy and everything would fall into place. As I have learned over the years, this is a fallacy, and body sovereignty comes from a lot of inner reflection and change rather than physical change.

As Bell outlined in her presentation, the three main components of body sovereignty are self-compassion, mindfulness and discernment.

Self-compassion simply means acknowledging our own suffering and responding with kindness. This allows us to be honest with ourselves and to take the time to figure out what

SPORTS&HEALTH

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our bodies really need.

As a practice, mindfulness means cultivating personal insight — particularly an awareness and acceptance of the self.

Mindfulness is a difficult thing to master, but it can lead to authentic self-exploration and internal awareness of what it is that we need. Being mindful of our bodies can help us to regain trust in ourselves. Bell believes that exercise is an excellent way to get in tune with our bodies in this way.

Discernment, as Bell expressed, is the ability to think critically about our bodies, to be conscious consumers and to determine for ourselves what is best for our bodies. These three components are not a threestep process, but rather, they should be worked on simultaneously.

From the media, we are constantly told that we are not good enough, and confusing nutritional advice adds to the problem. The Nourish Conference emphasized that body acceptance comes when we gain the ability to trust our bodies to discern what we need, not what outside influences say we need.

Aside from the advice given during the conference, I have found that journaling is one of the things that helped me the most on my own journey to body acceptance. It let me be honest with myself, and after doing it for long enough, I found that I already knew what I needed to feel better — I just did not know how to access it.

Another thing that has been important on my journey to body acceptance is consciously choosing what content I see on my social-media feeds, and what other kinds of media I consume, so that my body image is not negatively affected.

From conferences like Nourish, considerable inner reflection, and reading a lot of Naomi Wolf — author of The Beauty Myth: How Images of Beauty Are Used Against Women — I have learned that happiness will not be achieved by changing yourself physically and that real change happens within.

If you missed the conference and are interested in learning more about these topics, you can visit the Nourish YXE Facebook page for additional resources.

Sheaf Workout: For the student on the go KIMIA BAYATTORK If you’re at home or at the gym, this workout will give you a boost towards building a great body.

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Toe taps: 20 reps (10 per side)

2.

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Plank: 30 seconds

Mountain climbers: 40 reps (20 per side)

Switch!

4.

Straight leg raises: 20 reps (10 per side)

Lesia Karalash / Graphics Editor

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Trick or Eat team Sticky Sweet brings in the most donations Competition can spark good deeds — and this year’s winners of Trick or Eat at the U of S came together not only to win but also to contribute to the community.

JACK THOMPSON

SPORTS & HEALTH EDITOR

Sticky Sweet / Supplied Trick or Eat winners Sticky Sweet dressed up to hit the town on the hunt for donations.

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Each year, the University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union Food Centre puts on a Trick or Eat event, which sees teams of students compete to gather the largest quantity of food donations from the community.

This year, students came together to bring in about 2,500 pounds of food.

Those 2,500 pounds came in the form of 282 bags of food from the community, which were donated alongside a total of $480 in monetary contributions. The first-place team, named Sticky Sweet, gathered 46 of these bags and brought in a whopping $265.

Sticky Sweet’s contributions made up a sixth of the food donations and over half of the monetary donations brought in this year. With the win comes prime recognition: your team name engraved onto the Trick or Eat cup.

Coming in second place was the International Student and Study Abroad Centre, whose members brought in 35 bags of food and $57. In third place came a group of kinesiology students, who garnered 27 bags of food as their contribution to the initiative. Taken together, the top three teams gathered a third of the total bags and brought in well over half of the monetary donations.

One member of the winning team, Sticky Sweet, was Josef Beug, a fourth-year mechanical engineering student. Beug shares his experience as a participant on the top team.

“It was a lot of fun! The event itself is a great way [to] experience Halloween, both because the event helps the community and [because] it is reminiscent of trick or treating as a kid. Most of the houses we stopped at were very friendly and generous with their donations, which also added to the experience,” Beug said, in an

email to the Sheaf.

Beug’s team of six people were mainly veterans of the event, as half of them were on a team together last year. They had planned on participating in this year’s event after their last excursion, and Beug explains how this organization played a role in their success.

“The biggest impact was handing out fliers ahead of time. People generally want to donate food, but might not have anything ready to donate,” Beug said. “By handing out fliers for the event a day or two before, people can set some items aside or drop by the grocery store. Other than that, having access to a car is also helpful, simply to store and transport donations.”

The event is not only much easier to participate in with a team behind you but can also be, as Beug notes, a good social-activity option for Halloween.

“I personally decided to participate, because it’s something my friends and I can do together for Halloween. There are no limitations on what college you’re from, and dressing up is encouraged, but not expected,” Beug said.

Aside from the social aspects of Trick or Eat, there are some obvious benefits that participants bring to the community. All of the donations brought in through this event will be used to help out those in need in Saskatoon.

Beug explains why he thinks these kinds of charity events are important.

“I think that this event and initiatives like it benefit the community in two ways — the first being the food donations themselves, as they can go on to help those in need, and the second being the attention that these events bring to the needs of the community. By going door to door, residents can get an idea of what the Saskatoon community may need and what they can do to help.”

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SPORTS&HEALTH

DOG WATCH:

Josh Roach

Named Huskie athlete of the week three times this season, and with nine goals in 12 games, Josh Roach is the men’s hockey player to watch.

KIM MABEE

Like many others from the Prairies, Josh Roach’s parents got him into hockey at a very young age. Since then, Roach has played on teams like the Humboldt Broncos and the Flin Flon Bombers in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, before joining the University of Saskatchewan Huskies.

Thus began Roach’s now 20-year-long hockey career.

Making his way from the SJHL to university sport in 2013, Roach brought 16 years of hockey experience with him when he joined the Huskies hockey program. Roach is a third-year education student at the U of S, but since it’s his fifth year at the university, this will be his last year of eligibility with the Huskies hockey team.

Roach explains that the experience of playing as a U of S Huskie has been great so far.

“It was an adjustment, becoming a student athlete, but

the support offered through the team and university helped ease the transition,” Roach said, in an email to the Sheaf.

Over his five years on the Huskies hockey team, Roach has had some notable moments, including winning a Canada West Championship and attending the National Championship three times.

Roach’s other successes include winning two league championships — one while playing for the Humboldt Broncos and another while playing for the Huskies.

Roach notes that the team has been doing well this year, with nine wins and three losses so far.

“The team got out to a hot start, and I personally have experienced some success. It has been a great team effort thus far, and hopefully, we can continue to build on our start,” Roach said.

Roach himself has obtained nine goals and 14 assists in his 12 games this year, helping immensely with getting the team to where they are now

in the season. With these nine goals, Roach has already exceeded the amount he scored in previous seasons — with a half-season left to go.

Roach is not only hitting some personal bests but is also leading the Huskies in scoring by a wide margin. Second place in scoring is split between Logan McVeigh and Michael Sofillas, who have five goals apiece.

The U of S Huskies have acknowledged Roach’s achievements this year, having named him the Huskie athlete of the week three times already this season — for the weeks of Oct. 10, Oct. 16 and Nov. 20.

During the week of Oct. 10, Roach made two goals and three assists, helping the team stay undefeated in their first two games of the season. The week of Oct. 16, he obtained six points in two games, securing two wins against Lethbridge.

Most recently, in the week of Nov. 20, he scored a pair of goals in a 4-0 win against the Alberta Golden Bears.

Roach acknowledges some

Jessa Robb Josh Roach is making his fifth year count with excellent performance.

of the role models in his life who got him to where he is today in his hockey career, including his Huskie hockey alumnus father.

“My role models have definitely been my parents,” Roach said. “The early mornings and countless sacrifices they made in order for me to pursue

hockey [have] been unbelievable, and without their dedication and support, I would not be where I am today.

The next men’s hockey games will take place on Nov. 24 and Nov. 25 at Mount Royal. The Huskies’ next home game will be on Dec. 1, against Regina, and the puck drops at 7 p.m.

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CULTURE

EVENTS T H U R S

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PSSA PAPER BLITZ @ PLACE RIEL CAMPUS CLUB ROOM, 5:00 P.M. USSU ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING @ ARTS 146, 6:00 P.M. QUEER NIGHT @ USSU PRIDE CENTRE, 6:30 P.M. NEW CONSTELLATIONS FEAT. JULY TALK, LEANNE BETASAMOSAKE SIMPSON AND MORE @ BROADWAY THEATRE, 8:00 P.M.

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CULTURE

Fully focused: Five albums for the distracted student A little bit of music can make studying — which is a fairly monotonous task — a little more enjoyable. However, your scholarly soundtrack can also hinder your focus.

KARAOKE THURSDAY @ AMIGOS, 9:00 P.M.

TANNER BAYNE

F R I

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THE KARPINKA BROTHERS WITH THE GARRYS

CULTURE EDITOR

@ ROXY THEATRE, 7:00 P.M.

CURRENT SWELL @ BROADWAY THEATRE, 8:00 P.M.

MEGAN NASH AND BEARS IN HAZENMORE @ THE BASSMENT, 9:00 P.M.

THE DISSENT @ CAPITOL MUSIC CLUB, 9:00 P.M.

Have you ever wasted valuable study time putting together a study playlist, only to find yourself disenchanted with your music and further distracted by your choices? Here are five albums to freshen up your distraction-free study sessions.

S A T

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DEATH FROM ABOVE WITH THE BEACHES @ O’BRIANS EVENT CENTRE, 8:00 P.M.

KARL ROTH @ THE BASSMENT, 8:00 P.M.

THE NORTHERN PIKES @ BROADWAY THEATRE, 8:00 P.M.

ing layered with sparse string arrangements. The simplicity of the album is what makes it great for studying — there’s nothing distracting about it.

Beyond being a great study album, Sketches I is a beautiful and somber soundscape. If you like what you hear from this album, you’re in luck — Black Elk has four other Sketches albums just like it.

CAUGHT IN A DREAM WITH BLACK SEA HOLLOW @ CAPITOL MUSIC CLUB, 9:00 P.M.

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YIN YOGA INTENSIVE @ ONE YOGA SASKATOON, 12:00 P.M.

MUSICAL TALES: GREYSTONE SINGERS & UCHORUS @ KNOX UNITED CHURCH, 3:00 P.M.

TONIGHT IT’S POETRY COMMUNITY STAGE FEAT. DWENNIMMEN @ AMIGOS, 8:00 P.M.

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POSITHIV EMPOWERMENT ART EXHIBIT OPENING @ FÉDÉRATION DES FRANCOPHONES, 7:00 P.M.

VIDEO GAME MONDAY @ LOUIS’ PUB, 7:00 P.M.

VANGELIS COMEDY NIGHT @ VANGELIS TAVERN, 8:00 P.M.

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Themes for Dying Earth by Teen Daze: This album is perfect for lovers of easy-listening electronica. Teen Daze is an expert producer who really shows off his producing skills with this elegant work. On top of being a great study album, Themes for Dying Earth also pairs well with latenight drives and evening walks. Its companion album, Themes for a New Earth, is just as sonically impressive, so you have twice the musical material to study with.

TOONIE TUESDAY @ LOUIS’ PUB, 7:00 P.M.

MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT GROUP @ USSU HELP CENTRE, 7:30 P.M.

Chopin: Piano Works by David Fray: Most people know that piano-based music is great to study to, so it’s just a matter of finding a musical artist that suits you. I recommend Chopin for studying any day of the week. This album sees David Fray innocuously perform some of Chopin’s most famous work — so it’s unobtrusive while you study. What’s more, listening to Chopin will make you feel classy as all hell.

CAPITOL OPEN STAGE @ CAPITOL MUSIC CLUB, 9:00 P.M.

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WING WEDNESDAY @ LOUIS’ PUB, 5:00 P.M.

CBC ASKS: CULTURAL APPROPRIATION, IS IT EVER OKAY? @ BROADWAY THEATRE, 7:30 P.M.

PUNK ROCK BINGO @ VANGELIS, 8:00 P.M.

NOV. 24-25

HUSKIES WOMEN’S HOCKEY VS. MOUNT ROYAL @ RUTHERFORD RINK

NOV. 24-25 NOV. 26DEC. 2

CHICAGO @ TCU PLACE FESTIVAL OF TREES: FAVOURITE THINGS

The Life Aquatic Studio Sessions Featuring Seu Jorge: While I don’t recommend listening to vocal-driven songs while studying — voices are distracting, after all — sometimes you just need the comfort that words bring. This pick is a compromise that sees Seu Jorge acoustically cover several Bowie tunes in Portuguese, so while beautifully familiar, this album won’t disrupt your studies by being too catchy.

Baby Sleep White Noise by Natural White Noise Relaxation: Hear me out before you judge me on this one.

Yes, the title is ridiculous, and yes, white noise can be disconcerting, but it can also provide you with what you need most in your study sounds — background ambience. This album is comprised of 32 all-natural white-noise pieces — instead of hearing annoying, pulsating TV static, you’ll be listening to calming waterfalls and whispering winds. I consider this album the crowning jewel of studying music.

@ WESTERN DEVELOPMENT MUSEUM

Sketches I by Black Elk: This album is 45 minutes of gentle, ambient dron-

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Let us know your favourite study tunes in this article’s comment section at thesheaf.com.

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Searching the swamp: Examining the persisting cultural relevance of Shrek Sometimes you have to stage a Shrekathon to understand why the series is so damn meme-worthy.

TANNER BAYNE

Ed i

cs

Few films carry the cultural resonance that the Shrek films do. From the infamous Shrek is Love, Shrek is Life series to Swamp Sim inspired by The Slender Man to the post-ironic resurgence of Smash Mouth’s “All Star,” Shrek continues to occupy a place in our lives.

Since the release of the first Shrek film in 2001, the series has exploded to include four feature-length films, a plethora of side-stories, a host of video games and even a musical. With the series’ fifth installment in the works, it’s clear that Shrekmania shows no signs of stopping. So, I decided to get to the bottom of this cultural obsession with Shrek in the only truly appropriate way — by staging a Shrek marathon.

The plan for the Shrekathon was simple: I would watch what Netflix supplied of DreamWorks Pictures’ Shrek filmography in one day — a mission that meant consuming nearly 10 hours of Shrek content. Though this Shrekathon was a considerable undertaking, it was something that I knew I had to do.

On the morning of Nov. 15, the Shrekathon began with a viewing of the original Shrek film. Simply put, Shrek is deservedly an iconic work. It boasts an infinitely quotable script, a convention-breaking narrative, a swamp-load of quality jokes, a cast of talented voice actors and a killer soundtrack — you can’t really beat having “Hallelujah” and “All Star” in the same movie.

Despite these obvious reasons to love Shrek, the film has not aged well visually. Shrek and company are fuzzy figures set against flat, boring backgrounds — making the film seem less than dynamic. However, these graphics are to be expected from a film released in 2001.

Besides this, the film holds up extraordinarily well in 2017.

If Shrek’s style broke new ground, then Shrek 2 perfected the technique.

Like the original, Shrek 2 has a stellar score, great jokes and a compelling story arc. Thematically, the two movies are identical — they both follow Shrek’s struggle to deal with intolerance and his difficulties with learning to accept who he is.

Shrek the Third is where the Shrekathon started to take a turn for the worse. In comparison to the first two movies, Shrek the Third has fewer jokes land, fewer references in general and a rather lackluster soundtrack.

More than anything, Shrek the Third just feels tired.

The 2010 film Shrek Forever After — which misses the opportunity to jump on a “four-ever” excellent title pun — is

to r

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sh a la Kar Lesia

certainly the darkest entry in the franchise. Though emotionally compelling and unexpectedly somber, Shrek Forever After just regurgitates the series’ stale “true love’s kiss” motif to solve the narrative tension, making the film feel like a poor attempt to conjure the same magic that the first two Shreks brought to the table.

In addition to the core Shrek films, some DreamWorks shorts were also part of the Shrekathon. However, these shorts — Scared Shrekless, Far Far Away Idol, The Ghost of Lord Farquaad and Shrek the Halls — are largely derivative and uninspired. Since each short has a runtime of under thirty minutes, they needed to be concise. This unfortunately means that they just focus on Shrek’s perpetual grumpiness and his inability to accept change — a repetition of every other Shrek work.

Shrek the Musical was the final part of the Shrekathon — and easily the worst of all. To give you an idea, Brian d’Arcy James, who plays Shrek, cannot maintain a consistent accent. Moreover, the musical is bereft of all the songs that

people love from Shrek, except for an over-the-top rendition of “I’m a Believer” at the end of the movie, as if to absolve the film from its otherwise disappointing sonic roster.

At best, Shrek the Musical feels like a half-baked piece of grotesque fanfiction. At worst, it’s an unforgivable bastardization of what made the original Shrek great. If anything, Shrek the Musical reveals the worst ways that the Shrek series can be used.

When I completed the Shrekathon, it became clear to me that the widespread obsession with Shrek is frequently centred around the first two films. I think that part of the reason why we hear more about the layered onions from Shrek than about the communist undertones of Shrek Forever After, for instance, is because Shrek and Shrek 2 are the most culturally porous compared to the other installments in the franchise.

Between the topical soundtracks, the many references to fairy tales and films, and the incessant visual homages, the first two Shrek films are cross-cultural reference keys of sorts. After Shrek 2,

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the series loses its emphasis on cultural happenings, more broadly — and in the process, it lost much of its mimetic potential.

Moreover, I think that nostalgia plays a major role in the perpetual relevance of Shrek. Many of us twenty-somethings were children when Shrek and Shrek 2 were released, so these movies are deeply ingrained in our memories.

This familiarity has established Shrek as a template for jokes and ideas, while remaining accessible. Sometimes the things that hit us first hit us the hardest.

At the end of the day, we could pick a worse series to have a small obsession over. At its core, the Shrek franchise is about love and about life. These works encourage us to love ourselves and those around us. They tell us to embrace the changes that come our way.

As far as advice goes, I think this is pretty applicable nowadays.

But between the Shrekathon, writing this article, and listening to “All Star” basically every day, I don’t think I’m alone in saying that I need a break from Shrek — I’m swamped.

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From honeybees to emoji: Exploring the psychology of language through cognitive neuroscience

AMANDA SLINGER COPY EDITOR

Dive into the psychology of language with Ron Borowsky for an in-depth look at the U of S Cognitive Neuroscience Lab, animal communication, the singular they and the psychology of emoticons.

[or] worldly knowledge, … to someone else’s,” Borowsky said. “And, if I find that referring to something through metaphor is a potential bridge … then indeed, I think that metaphors serve [as] an incredible link behe psychology of language tween different individuals.” studies how we acquire, repMetaphors are especially useful if the resent, understand, encode speaker doesn’t have the vocabulary to articand produce both visual and ulate a concept or if the vocabulary doesn’t auditory language — includexist yet, a concept known as inexpressibiling both its dysfunction and ity. In this way, metaphors act as bridges to biological, cultural and historical foundathe unknown. tions. The field goes by many different names, The definition of language presents anbut modern scholars prefer the “psychology other unknown. Throughout recorded hisof language” to pithier terms like “psycholintory, scholars have asked themselves how “A lot of the difficulties we have in our guistics” and “neurolinguistics.” language should be defined. Is it a distinctworld are problems with communication PSY 256: The Psychology of Language is ly human skillset, or do other types of ana class well worth taking, especially at the imal communication count? Moreover, if — and sometimes, we draw lines that seem University of Saskatchewan. Ron Borowsky, we teach signs and symbols to animals, like rather artificial to me, where we aren’t coprofessor of cognitive neuroscience and facchimps and dolphins, does that count as lanulty member in psychology, has been teachoperating with each other as a planet as well guage? ing the course for over 20 years — while Language is often judged on its generas we could — and again, I have hope that actively researching language at the Cogniative capacity and linguistic productivity tive Neuroscience Lab on campus.

— which centre on the idea that a limited it’s through language and communication Although his area of expertise is cognitive number of components, such as letters and that it [becomes] a better world.” neuroscience, Borowsky notes that the psywords, can be used to create virtually an in— Ron Borowsky, U of S professor chology of language is interdisciplinary — finite number of new words and sentences. likening language to a puzzle piece that links Using these principles, some language thea variety of disciplines together, beyond the orists, such as Noam Chomsky, would say scope of psychology alone.

He adds that the CNL works with six neurosurgeons, that animal communication isn’t language.

“Language is kind of a hub — and there are different mapping patient brain function before resection pro“There are some folks, like Chomsky, who have fairly cultural, biological [and] sociological interests with it,” cedures. set constraints or rules about what language is or isn’t, Borowsky said. “And, to me, that’s the definition of a “We are regularly asked to help with neurosurgery and I know when he’s asked a question like this, he rereally rich interdisciplinary field.” patients,” Borowsky said. “Before a neurosurgeon de- fers to things like — how generative is that commuBorowsky stresses that there are many different paths cides where to cut, we test the patients and provide a nication system?” Borowsky said. “So Chomsky, when that lead to language — from writers and researchers map of where the various cognitive and language-based asked, ‘Does this chimpanzee’s ability to use sign lanto neurologists and speech therapists to anthropolo- processes are that might be nearby, so that they have a guage constitute language?’ … Chomsky’s clear about gists and philosophers, almost anyone can study the good guide as to what areas they should avoid… They that — he doesn’t think [so].” psychology of language. He notes that his own students of course want to avoid any eloquent cortex.”

However, Borowsky elaborates that even Chomsky have taken various approaches — from computational Because the psychology of language is such a multi- acknowledges some forms of animal communication modelling and mathematics to neurobiology and neu- faceted field, there are many rich areas to mine. Some as comparable to human language. rophysiology to language disorders and speech pathol- of the most interesting subdisciplines of language psy“[Chomsky] would actually say that the waggle of ogy. chology include figurative language and metaphor, the honeybee is the closest, because it’s infinitely genBorowsky explains that passion and the pursuit of communication in animals, the psychology of emoti- erative … so his definition is very interesting. I don’t knowledge is really all that matters. cons and emoji, and language as social justice — pro- think I agree with it. I have to admit, I have a different “It’s like lifelong learning, as an academic, and the moting equality, inclusivity, accessibility and literacy. definition than Chomsky when it comes to what conpassion and the motivation of what you’re interested Figurative language pervades our spoken conver- stitutes language,” Borowsky said. in is what should drive it… Students should really se- sations, clarifying even the most difficult concepts Borowsky clarifies that his personal definition of lanlect training experiences and courses that reflect their through poetic description. Figurative devices like guage is much broader. passion… The liberal arts and sciences are a wonderful metaphor are needed to bring clarity out of obscuri“I would define language more as effective commuway to pursue knowledge,” Borowsky said. ty, convey novel concepts and promote both memory nication between any organisms,” Borowsky said. “I Borowsky is also an associate member in neurosur- and understanding. A metaphor compares two things think that allows for that sense that we might have of gery with the College of Medicine, and he notes that by equating them as functionally, topically or themat- a communicative bond with our pets… There are sitthe CNL has been fortunate enough to explore mul- ically the same to convey information in simple but uations where I feel like we shouldn’t be ‘specist’ about tiple facets of cognitive neuropsychology, including evocative ways. it — if that’s a word — the idea that only humans can helping neurosurgical patients in Saskatchewan.

Borowsky stresses the expressive potential of figura- have this advanced language ability.”

“If we can do something that helps patients — tive language — characterizing metaphor as an essenMuch like our understanding of language, modern great! That’s great, because not a lot of labs, in general, tial communication device that facilitates the transfer usage has also evolved — especially since the develophave that ability to work both on basic research and of knowledge by attempting to foster connection and ment of the internet and social media. From emoticons curiosity-driven, advanced knowledge — as well as understanding between people. to emoji to stickers, these new methods of symbolic translate [that] to help society,” Borowsky said. “[Metaphors] connect our semantic [systems], … communication pervade our electronic dialogues —

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FEATURE

but it turns out that the smiley face is more than just Moreover, Borowsky says that cognitive neurosci- as a planet as well as we could — and again, I have frivolous fun. entists are always finding new ways to study language. hope that it’s through language and communication Cutting-edge research, presented at the Cognitive “Language itself is evolving, too,” Borowsky said. that it [becomes] a better world.”

Neuroscience Society’s conference in San Francisco “As [with] emoticons, we are finding new things One way to build a better world is to strive for inon March 26, indicates that emoji carry out compli- to study all the time, and they sometimes relate to creased inclusivity and accessibility in our language. cated linguistic functions succinctly — such as con- things that we’re very familiar with, like basic picture For example, the singular they dates back to the 16th veying irony and sarcasm. Scientists discovered the processing.” century, and while the word has long been used in same electrical pattern in millennial brains forms like “everyone wants to feed healthy whether sarcasm is indicated by spoken infood to their pets,” recent usage also reflects tonation or a winking emoji. a more modern understanding of gender.

These symbols can also be used to show Borowsky says he supports the singular empathy and emotion in written text, they, explaining that having a gender-neustanding in for the facial expressions and tral personal pronoun is necessary. tone of voice present in face-to-face discus“It was about avoiding sexist language — sions. A study of the emoji used on Instainstead of saying he or she, say they — and I gram, for example, indicates that six of the applaud that… It does serve the purpose of top 10 emoji are facial expressions. getting us away from traditional gender-tied Borowsky agrees with the sentiment that references, and in today’s world, that’s mayemoji and emoticons convey emotional be even more important… [Academics are] “I would define language more as tone, highlighting that they do so efficientresponsible to not go down a path that could ly. lead to what appears to be a gender bias or effective communication between “I think the richness of emoticons in a particular acceptance of a dichotomy,” any organisms. I think that allows communication — and the fact that we Borowsky said. spend so much time on our devices and Just like the singular they, the psychology for that sense that we might have of a we communicate with each other so much of language is going strong, and Borowsky communicative bond with our pets… more frequently now through those means encourages students to consider pursuing a than perhaps we did in the past — [shows There are situations where I feel like we career in the field. that] we should consider … how [an emoji] “I think having a passion for communishouldn’t be ‘specist’ about it.” might actually help convey someone’s emocation and language and the representation tion … [in a way] that cannot be achieved of knowledge [is] very stimulating… I enjoy — Ron Borowsky quite so efficiently with words,” Borowsky this work, because we’re still just beginning said. He further notes that emoticons and to figure out how language operates in the emoji are potential fodder for neurocognitive reBorowsky further notes that he is hopeful about the mind and the brain, and actually, the body as well…” search. direction in which language is evolving.

Borowsky said. “And to me, it means this is going to be “As we’re rapidly communicating with our thumbs “I feel that we can expect a world that can only a very rich field of study for a very long time.” on these devices, being able to pull up an image or two get better as a function of better communication,” that help relay the sentiment is very much an import- Borowsky said. “A lot of the difficulties we have in If you want to learn more about the psychology ant part of language and worthy of study,” Borowsky our world are problems with communication — and of language, take PSY 256 from Borowsky and visit said. “We’ve certainly been studying picture process- sometimes, we draw lines that seem rather artificial homepage.usask.ca/~rwb471/ for more information ing and word processing for quite some time.” to me, where we aren’t co-operating with each other about the Cognitive Neuroscience Lab.

Did You Know?

•

The word alphabet comes from two Phoenician word symbols — “h’aleph,” which became the letter A, and “bet,” which became the letter B. The phrase “h’aleph bet” means “ox house.”

•

Until about 10 months of age, babies are linguistic geniuses. They use sophisticated statistical reasoning and can easily discriminate between all human phonemes.

•

The singular they has existed for hundreds of years, dating back to the 16th century.

•

Honeybees use a complex system of “waggles” to communicate. The waggle of the honeybee has a generative capacity similar to that of human language.

•

Alexia and agraphia mean that a person cannot read and write, respectively. Language functions are so modular that brain damage can cause alexia without agraphia — meaning patients can write down a sentence correctly but are then unable to read it.

•

Dolphins have names — they use unique whistles to call individual porpoises.

•

Despite protests by the Académie Française, a gender-neutral form of written French known as “écriture inclusive” is catching on in academic circles.

All graphics and infographics by Lesia Karalash / Graphics Editor

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Victoria Becker / Outreach Director Kenny Hotz (left) and Spencer Rice (right) talked to the Sheaf’s Outreach Director Victoria Becker after their show at Louis’ Pub.

Canadian comedians: On the road with Kenny vs. Spenny Spencer Rice of Kenny vs. Spenny talks to the Sheaf about friendship, his comedic legacy and the romance of the road.

VICTORIA BECKER OUTREACH DIRECTOR

Although the show ended in 2010, Kenny vs. Spenny remains a classic Canadian comedy. The show first aired in 2001, gaining notoriety for its wild antics. The premise was simple: each episode, Kenny Hotz and Spencer “Spenny” Rice would go head-to-head in a zany, juvenile — but entertaining — competition.

Such competitions included who could sell the most bibles, who could be tied to a goat longer and who could keep an octopus on their head longer.

The victor of each competition then determined a humiliation for the loser — which was often nauseating for both the loser and the viewer alike.

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Although the show has been finished for some time, the dynamic duo continues to deliver the same gut-churning laughs that they’ve been dishing out since 2001 — now on a live tour across Canada. The Sheaf talked with Rice to discuss life on the road, ambitions, the show’s legacy and his future endeavours.

After six seasons and 85 episodes, Rice ended up with 59 losses and 59 corresponding humiliations. Regardless, Rice takes pride in his greatest victories against Hotz.

“My favourite humiliation was when I had Kenny kissing that 90-year-old lady — French kissing no less. That was pretty satisfying … In terms of my favourite victory, I think mine was [in the episode] “Who’s the Better Jew”… The rabbi unbe-

lievably picked me,” Rice said.

While Hotz and Rice’s relationship was often under strain on the show, Rice believes that their friendship is still strong.

“Our relationship has been through a lot — both … positives and negatives,” Rice said.

“On the tour, we get along really well. We both enjoy it, but we have to manifest the hostility when we get on stage… It’s a good experience. It’s been very good for our friendship.”

Although it appears Rice has always borne the brunt of the duo’s dysfunctional relationship on screen, he assures fans that is not the case in real life.

“Our fathers were friends, so we’ve known each other for decades — there was always that difference… I disagree with the concept that he’s on my back — I let him be on my

back, because we love the comedy, we love the show, and we see the value in the show,” Rice said.

For Rice, their success on television and on tour comes from the authenticity of their friendship and how candid they are with one another.

“Kenny and I are real people, so it wasn’t a manufactured relationship or fake in any way…

[Whether the fans] realize it or not, they got the realness of it,” Rice said. “You can’t have the kind of timing we have without doing it for many, many, many years.”

Rice also believes that touring allows him and Hotz to continue doing what fans know and love, while also promoting their brand.

“Fans [can expect] hostility, comedy, grossness and mer-

chandise. Actually, the merchandise is really nice on this tour — we’ve been selling a lot of T-shirts,” Rice said.

Despite the success that Kenny vs. Spenny continues to generate, Rice hopes to branch out with his endeavours.

“Music is [what’s next]. I’ve been doing that for a couple years now, as a solo artist and [in] a band. It’s what I love to do,” Rice said.

Though the two comedic competitors have firmly established themselves in the Canadian comedic canon, Rice is still awestruck by how big Kenny vs. Spenny has become.

“I don’t think we ever envisioned that our competitiveness and our dysfunction would turn into a TV show,” Rice said. “I don’t think we ever saw that coming.”

Ahren Klaassen-Wright Andy Shauf played to a full house at the new Roxy Theatre.

Andy Shauf brings The Party to the newly refurbished Roxy Theatre The Sheaf reviews the inaugural show at Saskatoon’s newest concert hall.

JESSICA KLAASSEN-WRIGHT

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Over the November break, I had the great pleasure of attending Andy Shauf ’s show, in one of the last stops on the Estevan-born artist’s tour for his 2016 album, The Party.

The event was promising — the first concert at the newly

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decked-out Roxy Theatre, now sporting a light-and-sound system to wow the crowds.

The show, a collaboration between the Roxy and Village Guitar and Amp, was sponsored and presented by Shift Development, a residential and commercial developer based in Riversdale and the team behind The Two Twenty, a coworking space on

20th Street West that features Collective Coffee. The concert supported the Saskatoon Friendship Inn, a community centre that provides programs and food services free of charge to the surrounding community.

The evening, which featured a boat-load of 9 Mile Legacy beer, began with works from two poets — including

Kevin Wesaquate, founder of the Indigenous Poets’ Society and the artist and writer in residence at Saskatchewan Polytechnic. Wesaquate’s spoken-word offerings — calling forth the brightly burning Saskatchewan night skies and empty Saskatoon winter streets — provided a thematic connection to Shauf ’s dulcet tones and lyrics, which make life’s mundane events beautiful.

Audience members were promised that the concert, one of five that Shift will host at the Roxy, would be an “unforgettable” evening. The show was sold out, and while I enjoyed myself, I can’t say that the memory of it will permeate my existence. Although Shauf is a seasoned performer, the show lacked the full-bodiedness so apparent in his studio recordings. At points, Shauf sounded like he was singing underwater, and I found myself drifting into boredom rather than rapture.

In fact, the show got off to a bit of a rocky start. Shauf ’s peaceful vocals were all too quiet, and the sound technicians had to make some last-minute adjustments. A number of odd moments later in the evening also featured jarring harmonies and percussion, although I’m unsure whether this was at the fault of the band or the sound team.

If I can say one thing about Shauf — he’s not a conversationalist on stage, jumping swiftly from one song to the

next. But his quaint interactions with the audience brought welcome, if brief, moments of amusement to an otherwise serious evening.

In terms of the visual presentation, the stage was well-organized, creating beautiful symmetry with band members on either side of Shauf. I give extra points for not hiding the drummer in the dark recesses at the back of the stage. The lights, while beautiful — especially the deep blues, pinks and oranges flushing the theatre curtains — were poorly timed at numerous points, and occasionally, even blinding. If you want to time lights to music, you’d better do it right, as mistakes will be painfully obvious.

On a final note, I am curious about the future success of the newly re-made Roxy Theatre. Will the potential for more shows by artists like Andy Shauf draw larger audiences to the 20th Street location, bringing a much-needed boost to the theatre and Riversdale, or will it contribute to neighbourhood gentrification and siphon off community resources from businesses like the Broadway Theatre, a venue that already focuses on live music? The answer remains to be seen.

If you’d like to see the Roxy Theatre’s new digs for yourself, check out Shift Development’s next show at 7 p.m. on Nov. 24, featuring the Karpinka Brothers and the Garrys.

#Sheafgram

usask casedlsix

casedlsix DAY 5 - Seven days, seven black and white photos of my life. No people, no explanations. #blackandwhitechallenge #workagain #usask

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OPINIONS

Aries: If things start heating up in the sack

this month, end it. You’ve got money on your mind, and the hustle don’t stop unless you get preoccupied.

Taurus: You will be visited by three ghosts.

Gemini: If you stand in the light of the

supermoon on Dec. 3 and windmill your arms like a m***********, you might be able to shoot lightning bolts out of your fingers.

Cancer: Now would be a great time to re-

establish a relationship with your estranged parent and disregard other more immediate responsibilities.

David Hartman There are pros and cons to shackin’ up.

Cuffing season: Is it worth it to pair up?

It’s that time of year again, when all of your notoriously single friends are settling into relationships — should you join them?

SYDNEY BOULTON

Leo: Never accept a wedding invitation from anyone named Chad — Chad does not have your best interests in mind and probably wouldn’t spring for an open bar anyway.

Virgo: Do you ever just stop and think about how you could be, like, murdered?

Libra: Don’t measure your worth by the standards others set for you. Trust your compass.

Scorpio: Home Alone 2 is the best sequel of all time.

Sagittarius: The sun moved into your

house on Nov. 22, and it’s never going to fill in the chore spreadsheet.

Capricorn: Vision boards — you’re going to make them trendy again.

Aquarius: This month, you’re going to take 18 different personality tests, which will all tell you that you’re destined for nothing.

Pisces: Honus “The Flying Dutchman” Wagner was also a Pisces.

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Cuffing season — the annual period during autumn and winter when everyone is trying to tie themselves into a relationship until spring — pairs the cold, dreary weather with prolonged indoor activity, resulting in many lonely singles who are desperate for a monogamous partner.

According to a poll conducted in 2015 by the dating app Hinge, men are 15 per cent more likely to be actively looking for a relationship during the winter and women are five per cent more likely. Is all that searching worth it, though? Relationships might not seem as fun and exciting as being single — so will you stay actually cuffed when the snow melts?

I’ve been in a relationship for almost three years, and this will be my third winter season with my serious boyfriend. Though many cuffing season relationships end shortly after Valentine’s day — after you get a nice box of chocolates or a bottle of wine, of course. I have found that the benefits of being in a committed long-term relationship can greatly outweigh the benefits of being single, especially during the winter months.

While there are obvious benefits of being in a relationship — like companionship, affection and support — there are also a few cuffing-seasonspecific benefits that are often overlooked. For example, Oscar-movie season conveniently begins around the same time as cuffing season, so you’ll have someone to see all of this year’s best movies with.

You also won’t have to worry about shaving, so you’ll stay nice and toasty during those cold winter nights. You’ll get someone to cuddle with on a regular basis, to bring you Starbucks holiday drinks after class and to enjoy regular Netflixand-chill sessions with.

As a student, however, maintaining a rela-

tionship during the school year isn’t always easy.

With midterms characterizing the transition from autumn to winter, and final projects and exams dominating the weeks before the holiday season, it can be hard to keep your relationship alive. Here are some tips to help you keep your fire burning through the cold months.

Study together — it’s easy to blow off your significant other because you have homework to do, or because you need to study for your exams, but having another person in the room can help keep you on track.

Studying together doesn’t need to involve holding hands while simultaneously highlighting your notes or attempting to quiz each other during sex — which, for the record, doesn’t work very well. Simply sitting across from one another and expressing silent support can be a way to keep your relationship healthy.

Find a stress reliever that you both enjoy. Joining a gym together or trying a new sport will keep you active and help you both relieve some stress. Exploring coffee shops around the city to find the perfect late-night-studying atmosphere can be surprisingly romantic! Even something as simple as playing a board game at your kitchen table can help sustain your relationship.

Be honest, open and understanding. Being in a committed relationship means recognizing when you, or your partner, need some space. Don’t be afraid to tell your partner that you need a couple of days alone to recuperate from a stressful paper or that you need some extra love and support after a hard exam. Let them know what you are feeling, why you’re feeling that way and how they can help.

A partner who really cares about you will respect these wishes and do the best they can to make you feel better. While this respect may be difficult, this is what will separate the relationships that last from the relationships that end, come springtime.

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OPINIONS

Safe spaces limit free and open discourse The university setting should support student development through information and idea sharing — without restriction.

WYATT BERNIER

Open discussion and free speech are incredibly important, so it is surprising how regularly people’s voices are silenced and their opinions are dismissed in the university environment because of safespace initiatives. I believe this needs to stop.

It would seem that the University of Saskatchewan’s student base is well populated by left-wing millennials who often drown out the few conservative voices on campus.

While this is not necessarily

a bad thing, having such an overwhelming majority of liberal voices limits the diversity of views and values that we can express on campus.

The so-called safe spaces that the university fosters are, ironically, a large source of exclusion — primarily of ideas and conversations. In our crusade to close any discussion that may prove to criticize a certain demographic, we have eliminated the possibility of having some very useful conversations.

Instead of taking traditionally unpopular views — like the ones often labelled conservative — and having open

conversations about whether or not they are good views to have, we instantly dismiss ideas, new and old, creating an environment of censorship and intolerance.

Conversations about conservative ideas are often swept aside by snowflakes under the pretense that being offensive or controversial is grounds for suppressing an idea. If we can’t even have open discussions about something as factual as whether or not using weed is healthy, how will we ever approach subjective topics like gender fluidity, abortion or anything even remotely involving culture?

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As millennials, we love criticizing our parents and grandparents, whose conservative views led them to label progressive discussions off limits for being taboo. Yet, we fail to see how, ironically, our progressiveness has swung the pendulum in the other direction — our hypersensitivity is now labelling conservative discussions off limits for being too controversial.

We’d like to think that we’re better at having open conversations about controversy than our parents, but the reality is, we’re actually worse. We shun anyone who voices controversial viewpoints, sometimes even violently — a tactic used

by Antifa, a self-proclaimed anti-fascist group.

To be clear, political correctness is not the issue — the real problem is that many people are too easily offended. People have issues separating their views from their identities.

This creates a hostile situation in which no conversation can take place, because all views are too closely tied to people’s identities. We shouldn’t treat criticism as a personal attack.

Take traditional Indigenous medicine practices, for example. Discussion about whether or not modern medicine is more effective in certain cases than the alternative medicines used by Indigenous people is simply a discussion

of fact and science, not an attack on Indigenous culture.

Although Indigenous practices like healing circles and medicinal traditions are an integral part of many people’s pasts, their cultural importance should not make them off limits to scrutiny. This applies to all opinions and views, and any criticism of a view someone holds is not an attack on that person.

The first step to improving anything in life is conducting an open and unbiased evaluation of it, regardless of the possibility of the assessment resulting in harsh criticism. If this university is serious about its pledges to openness and diversity, then I think it needs to be a place that is open to all diverse opinions.

Take a step back and separate your views from your identity, and you’ll realize that criticism — especially self-criticism — is one of the most fundamental aspects of being human. Giving alternative viewpoints in lectures and group discussions is one of the easiest ways to help yourself and others to better support their views — or to support entirely different ones altogether.

We won’t ever be flawless in our self-reflection, but criticism can only lead to better-developed views, which should be our end goal.

OPINIONS / 15

OPINIONS

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Changing demographics make male-only scholarships equitable Exclusive scholarships offered in the social sciences might resolve the widening gender gap on campus.

NYKOLE KING NEWS EDITOR

Since 1981, there has been a decline in men in undergraduate programs and a minority of men in the field of social sciences. To offset this gender imbalance, the University of Saskatchewan offers an award to male students.

There are more women entering university than ever before, making men the minority in most disciplines outside of science, technology, engineering, mathematics and computer science. Compared to all other Canadian provinces, Saskatchewan has the worst gender equality when it comes to post-secondary education: for every 10 women between the ages of 25 and 64 who secure a degree, only six men do the same.

The Benjamin J. Sanderson Fellowship is a $5,000 award for male students under 30 who will convoke, or have already convoked, with a social science degree. The fellowship is donated on bequest of George Benjamin Sanderson and only awarded

approximately every five years to a student who intends to further their studies at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Looking further into the list of scholarships and bursaries offered at the U of S, there are categories exclusively for students who are female, Indigenous, disabled or visible minorities.

While I understand the need for extra financial support for these groups, I find it odd that there are still awards that have eligibility based on gender at all.

Awards from donors sometimes have niche requirements for students that limit eligibility to those from specific areas in the province or those in specific areas of study. These specifications are often established by the donor based on their personal background, which is likely why the Benjamin J. Sanderson Fellowship is specifically for male applicants.

The fellowship is unique, because it targets a specific gender that is underrepresented in undergraduate studies. The requirements for this award are based on the student’s academ-

ic achievement, commitment to humanitarianism and ambition to use their post-secondary education for the benefit of Western Canada.

Clearly, men are not precluded from applying to other scholarships with an unspecified target gender. But, I find it strange that most of the scholarships offered exclusively to men are for students who are also Huskie athletes — this reinforces the idea that sports involvement is a redeeming masculine activity that needs to be rewarded.

While, at first glance, it might seem like an award specifically dedicated to men is sexist, I hope that those who take offence look into the statistics that show men are now less likely to attend university, let alone enter a social science program, before having the knee-jerk reaction.

I can understand why some people might be wary of an award specifically for men, especially considering the fact that men in female-dominated fields tend to receive more recognition for their service and get promotions and raises more quickly. However, I have taken

enough social science classes to see the imbalance of genders in my classrooms, and I hope that, maybe, this can start a conversation about why there is a growing gender gap in education.

We live in a patriarchal society, and yes, men are the majority when we look at demographics in PhD programs and faculty across almost every discipline on campus, but beyond that, we need to look at why men are being dissuaded from applying to university.

Maybe this goes back to the toxic masculinity that socializes men and boys to think that they

should not participate in certain activities, which are deemed feminine. In high school, young men might be shamed for wanting to attend university for social sciences and told that they should pursue trades instead.

So, if a man feels any stress or anxiety for pursuing a degree in social sciences, I hope that the extra financial compensation will make his studies easier on him. This fellowship does not mean that women are less likely to face barriers in academics. Rather, it addresses the widening gender gap within the discipline.

Gabbie Torres There should be support for men in social sciences.

$5 all you can eat wings

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OPINIONS

Rink in the Bowl needs a second thought It’s worth approaching this new initiative with concern — an outdoor rink just might not be the cure to the winter blues.

EMILY MIGCHELS OPINIONS EDITOR

Lesia Karalash / Graphics Editor

The University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union intends to go forward with plans to create a free, outdoor, public-access skating rink in the Bowl — warm fuzzies aside, it’s not a great idea.

The rink in the Bowl was a campaign promise from USSU Vice-President Student Affairs Crystal Lau. Here’s what we know so far: The project has secured $10,000 in funding from the President’s Office.

The President’s Fund sponsors unique and creative activities and events with a strong connection to the U of S and a direct impact on students. Applicants are considered bi-monthly, and any student can apply online.

There are two plans being considered for the construction of the rink.

The first would be temporary — lasting one season — provided by the campus carpentry department, at a cost of $7,986. The second option is to purchase ready-to-assemble materials that would be reusable, at a one-time cost of $9,500, excluding any incurred damages and regular wear and tear.

The goal of the rink is to promote physical activity and healthy mental practices, while instilling a sense of community among students. The project has also in-

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cluded outreach to promote the rink to the surrounding Saskatoon community.

The rink is said to be a community project, employing volunteers to help with maintenance and upkeep.

The Facilities Management Division has agreed to help with maintenance in the event of a snow storm. Lau is also negotiating with Safewalk, Culinary Services, the Language Centre and the College of Kinesiology for support in the various working parts of the rink’s operation, like skate rentals and hot chocolate services.

The outdoor rink will be situated at the top of the Bowl, nearest to the Peter MacKinnon building. Hockey will unfortunately not be allowed.

And if something goes wrong? The USSU has $10 million in commercial general liability insurance, and university insurance will also extend to the outdoor rink area. Additional expenditures will be covered by the $2,500 USSU Executive Project Budget and what’s left over from the contribution from the President’s Fund after the rink is built.

It’s an impressive project, and Lau has been ingenuitive and determined in fulfilling her campaign promise — but we would likely have forgotten about this promise pretty quickly if she’d never brought it up again.

Ultimately, the success of this initiative is a gamble. Should the U of S and the USSU be allocating these kinds of funds and resources to a feel-good project with a lot of room for error? There are a few things to consider before jumping on the rink-in-the-Bowl bandwagon.

First, the obvious — there are a lot of things that could go horribly, horribly wrong. Injuries, theft, property damage — and I’m sure someone is going to find a way to have sex on the ice. People are gross and stupid, and by putting the responsibility for the facility in the hands of the public, this project will invite a hurricane of human disaster.

Second, it’s worth considering that perhaps the rink will be exclusionary for people who are interested in physical activity and healthy mental practices but who can’t use the ice. For many, skating is really not that accessible, and the focus should be on activities that are inclusive to all ranges of abilities.

And if skating is your favourite activity, and you’re great at it? Good — there’s actually already a lot of public, free-ofcost skating spots around the City of Saskatoon. Check the elementary school closest to your house or the Cameco Meewasin Skating Rink next to the Delta Bessborough, which offers an excellent view of the South Saskatchewan River.

We just don’t need an outdoor skating rink on campus, and there are far better allocations for the time, money and energy required to implement one.

The City of Saskatoon offers an online, interactive map with over 50 outdoor rink locations, many of them close to campus, at www.saskatoon.ca/parks-recreationattractions/recreational-facilities-sportsfields/skating-rinks.

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THROWBACKS

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CJUS-FM staff members in an informal group photo from 1967.

University of Saskatchewan , University Archives & Special Collections, Photograph Collection, A-10708

USSU President Keith Hanson with U of S President R.W. Begg in 1975.

University of Saskatchewan , University Archives & Special Collections, Photograph Collection, A-8473

Students working in a lab on campus ca. 1950.

University of Saskatchewan , University Archives & Special Collections, Photograph Collection, A-2252B

The U of S Observatory in the summer of 1966.

University of Saskatchewan , University Archives & Special Collections, Photograph C ollection, A-4517. Photographer: Gibson.

A panoramic view of campus ca. 1924, with St. Andrews College at the forefront.

University of Saskatchewan , University Archives & Special Collections, Photograph C ollection, A-765

An interior view of the Museum of Antiquities ca. 1990.

Backtalk: Colour association: What comes to mind when you think of the colour‌

University of Saskatchewan , University Archives & Special Collections, RG 2016, 20161111, 303-083

The Sheaf , Vol. 84, Issue 14, p. 3, November 5, 1992 / U niversity Archives & Special C ollections

18 / THROWBACKS

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DISTRACTIONS

STUDENT SURPRISED TO FIND ASSIGNMENT WRITTEN ON WEEK-LONG BENDER SHOCKINGLY INCOHERENT MURRAY LIBRARY — Vanessa Brinkmann, the self-proclaimed queen of the dance floor at multiple night-life locations in and around Saskatoon, had a fullon meltdown at the printer on the ground floor of the Murray Library after she skimmed a paper she had written over the reading-week break.

Brinkmann, a student in her third year in the College of Law, says she was sure that she had

done a better job on the 12-page argumentative essay — due inclass on Monday, Nov. 20 — even though she wrote 10 of the 12 pages from her smartphone, at a table on the second floor of the Crazy Cactus.

“I just really thought I had this one, you know. It’s unfair that there are so many expectations on students that we can’t even, like, let loose sometimes,” Brinkmann said.

Brinkmann admits she spent at least 50 hours at various drinking establishments over reading week.

With little time to pull anything more together, Brinkmann opted to hand in what she had finished. Time will tell if titling the document “Eight things I learned at the bottom of eight gringos” will pay off in meeting Brinkmann’s academic aspirations.

#PHOTO OF THE WEEK

AHREN KLAASSEN-WRIGHT

Hello, comrades. It is I, Strange Hubbs. I am back after doing anything but reading during reading week, and slowly but surely, regret is wafting past my olfactory bulbs. Somehow, we don’t ever think of the consequences of our actions.

This meme is an excellent representation of that feeling.

Who knew that hitting a wall with a hammer would make a hole? Who knew that not studying for my midterm until the night before would result in a 55? This meme — like many memes — is about self-destructive tendencies or self-deprecation. I give this meme a very shiny 8 out of 10.

Kathlyn Zales

#albumoftheweek:

Medicine Songs

by Buffy Sainte-Marie Emily Migchels

Medicine Songs, out since Nov. 10, is a personal, powerful compilation of tracks, new and old. This is an important release labelled “songs for the resistance.” It’s biting, raw and thought-provoking — but from Sainte-Marie, we’d expect no less. The album starts off strong with “You Got to Run (Spirit of the Wind),” a track featuring Tanya Tagaq. Medicine Songs retains a real rock ’n’ roll attitude — the album doesn’t focus much on Sainte-Marie’s ’60s folk days — but “Little Wheel Spin and Spin” remastered is simply haunting.

DISTRACTIONS / 19

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