JANUARY 18, 2018
I SS UE 1 7, VO L . 1 0 9
YOUR UNI VE R S I T Y O F SAS K ATC H E WA N ST UDE NT NE WS PA P E R S I N C E 1 9 1 2
3
8
11
14
Library site gets virtual makeover
That’s neat: Campus curiosities
Reaching out to St. Francis Xavier’s arm
Why to do away with academic language
SLED D O G OPEN page 5
ARE YOU READY? CORNER OF AVE B + 22ND 306.244.7813 (IN THE HEART OF RIVERSDALE)
Ski & Snowboard Tune - Ups $50
The University of Saskatchewan’s main campus is situated on Treaty 6 Territory and the Homeland of the Métis.
NEWS
T H E S H E A F P U B L I S HI NG S OC I E T Y // JA NUA RY 1 8 , 2 0 1 8
the sheaf
y
NEWS
ciet
p ubl
is h
ing so
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 COVER IMAGE
J.C. Balicanta Narag BOARD OF DIRECTORS Kyra Mazer Brent Kobes Emily Klatt Hasith Andrahennadi Momo Tanaka Liam Richards
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 to 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.
City fails to get student input on Bus Rapid Transit To counteract a lack of consultation, the USSU will conduct surveys among students in hopes of impacting the new bus plan before implementation. NYKOLE KING NEWS EDITOR
Since July 26, 2017, when Saskatoon City Council awarded the Bus Rapid Transit contract to HDR Inc., the city has been pursuing enhancements to the bus system, but the University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union is worried students have not been properly consulted during the planning stage. According to Deena Kapacila, vice-president operations and finance for the USSU, the city has not taken student ridership into consideration with the new BRT system. As a way to bring these concerns forward, Kapacila will be visiting various colleges during the week of Jan. 15 to 19 to talk with students and gather their input with a survey on BRT models. Kapacila discusses her disappointment with the consulting firm that was hired to work on the BRT project, noting that the focus of the planning stage has been on potential
transit users rather than current users, like U of S students. “[The existing] four per cent of ridership … is made up of a majority of students, but they want to grow that ridership … instead of consulting with the ridership that they already have,” Kapacila said. “We have U-Pass, [so] they just assume that students are going to continue to use the service.” The BRT timeline projects stakeholder engagement and refinement of the plan from December 2017 to February 2018, which will then be brought forward to council sometime in spring. In the Preferred Configuration Report, a BRT station will be located on College Drive by Cumberland Avenue, and the infrastructure may consist of a platform between the two opposing lanes of traffic. Aidan Murphy, a member of both the University Students’ Council for the College of Arts and Science and the ad-hoc transit committee, explains that he is worried about large groups of students constantly flowing across College Drive
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! The 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 libellous material. 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
In our Jan. 11 issue, the article “NDP leadership candidates engage with student issues at campus debate” incorrectly stated that the event would be held in Room 150 of St. Thomas More College. It was actually held in Room 140 of STM. In the same article, Aidan Murphy’s first name was incorrectly spelled as “Aiden” with an E. We apologize for these errors. If you spot any errors in this issue, please email them to: copy@thesheaf.com Jaymie Stachyruk
2 / NEWS
I SS UE 1 7 // VO L . 1 0 9
to the BRT platform. “In my mind, it’s a huge safety concern, just given the traffic and congestion there alone. One of [HDR’s] responses to that was, with the BRT, there’s going to be people waiting for three buses every half hour, so essentially, it [will cut] your traffic by two thirds,” Murphy said. “But, [if] you’re still waiting for 10 minutes, there is still going to be a lot of movement.” It is unclear as to what type of infrastructure may be implemented at the bus stop closest to the Place Riel terminal. Chris Schulz, the growth plan manager for the City of Saskatoon, was reached for comment on the proposed configuration but was unable to provide details on this specific stop, as no specific recommendations have yet been made by the consulting firm. Overall, Kapacila believes that students will appreciate the evolution of transit services, yet she notes that the unavailability of information on the BRT plan and the lack of consultation and engagement events on campus for students have been concerns for her. “With the increase in services, the quality of services and the speed of service, [students will] be pleased,” Kapacila said. “But, I think that not telling students … is a little bit negligent on the city’s part.” The transit surveys will be collected by the USSU, and then, the information will be sent to HDR. However, Kapacila says that these surveys may not impact the project, explaining that student input has not been valued by the consultants so far. “I’ve got the feeling — not really from the city but more so from this consulting company — that they think … we don’t need to be consulted, we’re not as important, we’re going to continue to ride the bus no matter what,” Kapacila said. “I am going to do my best to hammer the survey down [the company’s] throat, but I’m going to be honest with you, I don’t know how much it’s going to actually do.”
JA NUA RY 1 8 , 2 0 1 8
NEWS
WWW.T H E S H E A F.COM // @ U SAS KS H E A F
Filipino students use history to navigate cultural identity A faculty member in history delivered a presentation on the history and culture of Filipino people. J.C. BALICANTA NARAG PHOTO EDITOR
On Jan. 10, three students at the University of Saskatchewan organized an event about Filipino culture called “Utang na loob: Rethinking Filipino History from KKK to the Huks” as a way to help other Filipino students learn about their culture. The three Filipino students who organized the event, Patricia Bautista, in fourth-year accounting, Eliza Acode, a third-year crop science student, and Jewel Manlapaz, in third-year chemical engineering, invited a faculty member in history to talk about the complex history of the Philippines. According to Acode, this presentation was organized as a way to help reconnect students with Filipino culture, as it is often difficult to practice their culture after immigrating to a country with a completely different historical background. “We [thought] of us Filipino
students who moved to Canada or who grew up here — how can we highlight the Filipino in us? It is very easy to conform to our non-Filipino friends, [and] I’m not saying that it is a bad thing, but it’s just what happens,” Acode said. The Filipino community in Saskatchewan has grown exponentially over recent years, and according to Statistics Canada, there were 26,860 people who emigrated from the Philippines to Saskatchewan in 2016, the largest number of people immigrating to the province from any one country. Among the population of Filipino immigrants are young people in high school and university who might wonder how important it is to remember their cultural heritage. The organizers say that they hope this event has helped Filipino students navigate this internal debate. Keith Carlson, a professor in the department of history and research chair in Indigenous and community-engaged history at the U of S, has spent time travelling the Philippines
and learning the culture and history of the country. He discusses why it is important for immigrants, and Filipino people in particular, to remember their culture. “I would hate to think that, as Filipinos come here, they somehow can’t be Filipino anymore. We want them to come to Canada, to be welcomed, to be embraced and to contribute new ways to changing Canada and making Canada a better place,” Carlson said. “That means, in part, keeping and retaining the things that [make] Filipinos distinct and special.” The event garnered the attendance of approximately 60 people, which came as a surprise to the organizers. Carlson says that he once proposed the idea of an undergraduate course on the topic of Filipino history, which was dismissed at the time because of a potential lack of interest, but the attendance at the event has prompted Carlson to revisit the idea. Carlson’s presentation detailed the history of the Philippines during Japanese and American occupation. He ex-
J.C. Balicanta Narag / Photo Editor Keith Carlson discusses the importance of “utang na loob” in Filipino culture.
plained how “utang na loob,” a core value of Filipino culture which means a debt of gratitude, had a profound impact on relations between Americans and Filipinos during that time. Some students held very different understandings of the phrase “utang na loob” before the presentation, like Bautista, who says she now understands the expression to mean more than just the repayment of a debt. “‘Utang na loob’ is returning a favour. You’re repaying someone [for] good deeds … done to you. Before the event,
I didn’t know that it takes on a circular relationship. I thought it ends after you have repaid the other person,” Bautista said. Alanna Baes, a second-year psychology student and an attendee of the event, explains that she views “utang na loob” like a random act of kindness. “It means ‘debt of gratitude,’ but it’s deeper than that. It is when you do something for someone — it’s not that they are obligated to do it, but you have to be selfless and think of the other person as well,” Baes said. “Like sharing … a random act of kindness.”
Students give positive reviews of the library’s virtual makeover The U of S library website has undergone some changes over the new year, just in time for the second term of school. REBECCA TWEIDT
The University of Saskatchewan library website is transitioning to a new online format over term two, and as they phase out the old website, students share their opinions, comparing and contrasting the two website designs. The old library website format will be retired in May after providing students with a portal to online resources and access to facilities since approximately 2010. Over the past year, the library systems and information technology department has worked to design an updated version of the website to make it more user-friendly. On Dec. 20, 2017, the new site was integrated as the default URL, while the old website remains accessible if the user redirects themselves to the old page. Some students give the new website a positive review, like Natalie LaForest, a third-year horticulture student. “In regards to the library website, I would say the new website looks much more modern, and the new layout is
much more appealing, because it lists each of the libraries’ hours. Its resources — as well as booking a study room — are all on the main page,” LaForest said, in an email to the Sheaf. Shannon Lucky, the information technology librarian and head of the library website project, says that the aim of the project was to create a website that is responsive and mobile friendly, so students can access the services regardless of what type of device they use. The updates to the library website have brought changes to improve accessibility, such as less library jargon and more plain language. Some of the new features include the addition of a real-time dashboard that shows the availability of computers in all of the libraries, and on the homepage, the daily hours of operation are displayed for each library. Justin Norton, a fourth-year crop science student, notes the increased accessibility to online resources that has helped him with writing his undergraduate thesis. “I looked for journal articles back in November, and there were only a few,” Norton said.
Emily Sutherland The new library website has made accessing library services easier than before, according to students.
“I noticed there were more online sources added, when I checked again after [winter break].” Lucky explains that the library department wanted to make searching for resources more accessible to students who might be new to academic libraries and that the update was motivated both by appearances and improving technology. “Part of the impetus was that the site was aging and looking old and out of date. The other side of that push was the integ-
rity and stability of the older technology behind that site,” Lucky said. “We wanted a library website that reflected the quality of our library collections, spaces and services.” While using the new website, users are prompted to report any errors they spot or take a survey on their website experience. Lucky says she looks forward to any positive or negative feedback from students, as the project is constantly being updated and improved upon. Norton says he has already taken the survey, because he found
that the font is too large. Although students may need time to adjust to the new website format, Matt Struthers, a second-year agronomy student, explains that it offers a more userfriendly access point to the online library. “It took a while before I could navigate the new site as fast I could navigate the old one,” Struthers said. “Now that I have used it a couple times, I would say it’s easier to use than the older look. I’d say it almost feels like [the] unnecessary steps have been removed.”
NEWS / 3
SPORTS&HEALTH
T H E S H E A F P U B L I S HI NG S OC I E T Y // JA NUA RY 1 8 , 2 0 1 8
Recipe: Salted caramel hot chocolate SARAH BAINS
I SS UE 1 7 // VO L . 1 0 9
SPORTS&HEALTH
Recipe from www.sugarhero.com Serves: 8 Time: 20 minutes 1½ cups sugar ¼ tsp. fresh lemon juice 4½ cups milk, room temperature 8 oz. milk chocolate, finely chopped 2 oz. dark chocolate, finely chopped 1 big pinch salt Whipped cream and caramel sauce to garnish (optional) In a small bowl, rub together the sugar and the lemon juice, until the sugar is damp and fragrant. Place a medium saucepan over medium heat, and let it preheat for several minutes, until the pan is hot. Once the saucepan is hot, add the sugar. Begin stirring immediately and continuously, until it is a medium amber colour.
Lesia Karalash / Graphics Editor
Fitness class review: Yoga nidra
Continue to stir while you pour in the milk. Remove the pan from the heat once the milk is at a simmer — there should be small bubbles forming along the sides of the pan, but don’t let the milk come to a full boil. Then, add the chopped chocolates to the pan and whisk until the mixture is smooth and the chocolate is melted. Add salt to taste.
This version of yoga available at the PAC has a lot of surprises — one of them being an almost complete lack of movement. JACK THOMPSON
SPORTS & HEALTH EDITOR
Serve with whipped cream and caramel sauce. The hot chocolate can also be made ahead of time, kept in the refrigerator for up to a week and reheated in the microwave or on the stove top.
Though labelled as a form of yoga on the fitness class schedule, this class does not offer what many people would describe as yoga, since the focus is
pigs
COMING EVENTS follow us
canada's
©
Girls rock camp saskatoon info niGht
pink floyd
Wednesday, January 24, 7 pm
tribute act
left + right tour
an EvEninG with thomas kinG
"This concert experience will blow you away"
author of
- Don Lehn, Fraser Valley News
The Inconvenient Indian Tuesday, January 30, 7 pm
TIX at Broadway Theatre, by phone (306) 652-6556 or broadwaytheatre.ca 4 / SPORTS & HEALTH
sheaf jan 18, 2018.indd 1
not on stretching or movement — instead the class is spent in guided meditation. The description of the class online lists it as sleep-based meditation that attempts to heal the body and negate stressful thoughts. During the opening explanation of the class, the instructor did mention that, while participants should try to remain aware and focus on her instruction throughout the class, it was perfectly acceptable to fall asleep at any time. For equipment, the regular yoga mats and blocks were offered alongside thin pillows, towels and blankets. After a short bout of stretches, we were invited to get comfortable by lying on our backs and using the pillows, blankets and rolled-up towels to find a position that we could remain in for the full session. Something to note here is that the yoga nidra class only runs for 45 minutes, around 30 of which are spent in meditation, rather than the standard full hour. I personally found this to be the perfect amount of time, as it was easier to fit into my schedule. For those who have not experienced a guided meditation, the basic concept is to clear your mind and then focus on the instructor’s voice as they guide you through thought exercises. I’d been to a guided meditation before this class, and I still enjoyed it, as I find I can become easily distracted or restless during solo meditation. I also find that having the instructor’s voice to focus on helps me to clear my mind.
1/11/2018 9:27:40 AM
The yoga nidra session I attended had two goals, the first of which was to relax and negate stress. This was done by attempting to leave the thinking-and-doing self behind and focusing only on feeling and simply existing. I found this approach to stress relief especially relevant to the student lifestyle, as we spend much of our time in a doing-and-thinking mentality — just existing was incredibly relaxing. Separating myself from everyday life was relaxing, because often, when I’m not doing something, I am thinking about the next thing I have to do. The second aspect of the class focused on relieving pain or tension in the body. I was successful with this as well, as I found my back pain alleviated for the duration of the class and for a short while afterwards. This was also true for my partner, who attended the class with me, as she said she had the same experience with her shoulder pain. Of course, I would not list this class as a replacement for a chiropractor or any other type of treatment that you could be receiving for physical pain. However, the class was a great way to supplement these methods and avoid pain for a couple of hours. To conclude, I recommend this class to any student who feels they could use a little less stress in their life. I spent about 5-10 minutes of the class asleep and left feeling completely relaxed. Those looking to attend the class can do so from 12:05 to 12:50 p.m. on Thursdays.
JA NUA RY 1 8 , 2 0 1 8
SPORTS&HEALTH
WWW.T H E S H E A F.COM // @ U SAS KS H E A F
Huskies track and field teams open season in style The Huskies men’s and women’s track and field teams hit the ground running, as they started the off season on their home turf.
Gabbie Torres
Katherine Fedoroff While all althetes demonstrated amazing skill, the Huskies pole vaulting squad dominated the scene at the annual Sled Dog Open.
MATTHEW JOHNSON
The 49th annual Sled Dog Open, which saw the Huskies compete on Jan. 12 and 13 to open the season, will go down in history as the start of the Jason Reindl era. Reindl, who is returning to his alma mater after spending the past five seasons as a coach for the University of New Brunswick, is fresh off winning men’s track and field coach of the year in the Atlantic University Sport conference. Reindl was named the first full-time coach in Huskies track and field history in the spring of 2017, and he is excited to return to the University of Saskatchewan. “[I am] very excited to be back home in Saskatoon and working with such an amazing team. We have such a legacy of success, [which] is something
that I was very excited about,” Reindl said, via text message. Reindl is very pleased with what he saw from his team in their season debut and hopes this is just the start of something special, as he aims to continue building this program. “The team atmosphere, support and culture is something that I am extremely happy with. While it doesn’t seem like much, this is a huge building block for us in our continued success,” Reindl said. The team won eight gold medals, and Huskie athletes had 19 other podium finishes, which is a start to the season that Reindl is extremely proud of. “Results-wise, we had a ton of personal bests, which highlight the work our athletes and staff have been putting in,” Reindl said. Among the medals, the
Huskies were able to dominate in pole vaulting, as they swept the podium in both the men’s and women’s competitions. Leadan Chartier won gold for the women, while Josh Websdale finished on top of the men’s event. Websdale speaks of the pole vaulters’ dominance at this year’s edition of the Sled Dog Open, and he believes Reindl has been a welcome addition to the program this season. “The vault group has made some major improvements this season with the addition of some strong rookies that are making an immediate impact. [Reindl] is a great coach, and having him around to provide encouragement just boosts everyone’s confidence and makes us want to be better,” Websdale said, via text message. On the track, Julie Labach was phenomenal. The fourthyear business student won
gold in the 1,000- and 600-metre races, narrowly edging out teammate and second-year business student Courtney Hufsmith in both runs. Their times in the 1,000-metre race, which surpassed the previous program record, qualified both women for the U Sports National Championships this March. “[Labach] and [Hufsmith] are both extremely talented but also extremely focused. They have proven that they are two of the top athletes in the country,” Reindl said. Hufsmith explains that, going forward, she will be more focused on longer events, and Labach will keep her attention on shorter races. Hufsmith also notes that training alongside Labach is a tremendous advantage. “It’s great being teammates with Julie, as we are very competitive and push each other
Katherine Fedoroff
to our best,” Hufsmith said, via text message. Labach and Hufsmith will also compete together as members of the Huskies 4 x 800 relay team, and as a whole, Hufsmith is pleased with the group the Huskies have put together and confident in the team’s ability to make some noise on the national level. “I feel really good about the talented athletes we have on the team this year and the program that [Reindl] is building,” Hufsmith said. “The women’s side is ranked fairly well, currently, and I’m excited to see what we can do this season.” The women’s team, which is currently ranked number eight in the country, will look to build on their ranking as they, along with the men’s team, travel to Edmonton on Jan. 19 to compete at the University of Alberta’s Golden Bear Open.
SPORTS & HEALTH / 5
SPORTS&HEALTH
T H E S H E A F P U B L I S HI NG S OC I E T Y // JA NUA RY 1 8 , 2 0 1 8
I SS UE 1 7 // VO L . 1 0 9
New Huskies app brings fans closer to the action A new app released by Huskie Athletics offers a strong suite of features, as well as an ambitious new rewards program for university sports fans. COLE CHRETIEN
The new Huskie Athletics app launched on Jan. 2 and is available for download on both Apple and Android devices. The app was developed by Hopscotch, a Californian developer that specializes in creating apps for colleges, sports teams and live venues. The Huskie Athletics app is a visually sleek, functionally intuitive offering with an ambitious rewards program, and if you’re familiar with any other score-tracking app, then you’ll be right at home with this one. The first screen you see after downloading and opening the app asks you to highlight which sports you are interested in. This will determine what content is displayed and which notifications are pushed to your phone. The app provides schedules, scores and news, as well as links to video and audio coverage. In addition to statistics, the app also features a comprehensive news feed. The news section Lesia Karalash / Graphics Editor
UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF DANCE Students, Faculty & Staff Keep Fit with Adult Dance Classes!
combines official news and press releases from the Huskies along with relevant tweets. This feature is particularly useful for those who do not wish to have a Twitter account but would still like to follow Huskies-related news. The news section also serves as the best way to read Huskies news on mobile, as the official site is better suited to desktops. The targeted content-customization features allow you to narrow the focus to preferred sports, which also makes this app a clear choice over the website for mobile users. The addition of a sidebar also makes it easier for mobile users to navigate between news, scores and the other sections of the app. These features may seem small, but they make navigation seamless and enjoyable on mobile devices. The Huskie Athletics app includes a handful of interactive features in the Fanzone, such as a 50/50 tracker, phone wallpapers and a Dakota Dunes Player of the Game poll. The playerof-the-game feature is the most developed of the bunch, with voting and results announced by push notifications. Also included as part of the application is a Facilities section that contains information about Griffiths Stadium, the PAC and other venues where campus sporting events are held. The facilities section lists information about parking and seating, as well as directions to each of the venues. usask
The app launched alongside a new rewards program that allows users to collect points, which they can exchange for merchandise and special offers. Users can sign up for the program by downloading the app and registering with a one-click Facebook login or an email address. According to information pages provided on the app, reward points are earned with loyalty codes that can be acquired by attending games, buying merchandise and food at Huskies events, following Huskies’ social media accounts, purchasing season tickets and more. Rewards include everything from merchandise to free concession items and gift cards. Items worth less points include pins and apparel, while higher-priced items consist of opportunities to meet and interact with Huskies staff and players, including free VIP tickets and training from Huskies coaches. As part of a launch promotion, users who download the app in the month of January are automatically entered into a draw to win a prize package for an all-inclusive trip for two people to see the Stanley Cup finals, the NBA finals, the World Series and the Super Bowl. Users who check in to games using the app will earn additional entries into the draw. Overall, the Huskie Athletics app provides fans with new and interesting ways to engage in campus sports.
#Sheafgram
momo_n_littlemiss
Beginner to Advanced Classes!
BALLET JAZZ TAP HIP HOP CONTEMPORARY “FREE DROP IN WEEK” January 15 - 19, 2018
Classes run 10 weeks: Jan. 22 - April 5, 2018 Registration & Information: 966-1005 or 966-1001
Online registration at www.beactive.usask.ca
6 / SPORTS & HEALTH
Find us on
momo_n_littlemiss Tilly is doing well following her surgery. She’s been moved out of the ICU and is moving around well. We can’t wait for her to come home. Huge shout out to the amazing folks at University of Saskatchewan Small animal clinic for the great work and care they have provided for out Little Miss!
CULTURE
WWW.T H E S H E A F.COM // @ U SAS KS H E A F
JA NUA RY 1 8 , 2 0 1 8
EVENTS
CULTURE
T H U R S
18
HARRY POTTER TRIVIA @ MANA BAR, 7:00 P.M.
ASKATUNE VOL. 24 @ THE WOODS ALE HOUSE, 8:00 P.M.
WINTERRUPTION: DELHI 2 DUBLIN WITH DJ KHANVICT @ LOUIS’ PUB, 9:00 P.M.
WINTERRUPTION: MO KENNEY WITH TOO SOON MONSOON @ AMIGOS CANTINA, 9:00 P.M.
F R I
19
TRANSGENDER BODIES, LANGUAGE & ALLYSHIP @ OUTSASKATOON, 7:00 P.M.
THE LENGTH OF GRIEF: THE DAUGHTERS OF MÉTIS MOTHERS @ AKA ARTIST-RUN CENTRE, 8:00 P.M. WINTERRUPTION: RED FANG WITH SHOOTING GUNS @ LOUIS’ PUB, 9:00 P.M.
Sebastian Buzzalino / Supplied
WINTERRUPTION: PARTNER WITH DUCHESS SAYS
Few Canadian artists have gone through as many stylistic changes as Daniel Romano.
@ AMIGOS CANTINA, 10:30 P.M.
Daniel Romano heralds an age of musical ephemera in Canadian music The Sheaf talks to Canadian music virtuoso Daniel Romano about musical style and longevity in 2018. TANNER BAYNE CULTURE EDITOR
On Jan. 11, jack-of-manygenres Daniel Romano played to a packed room at Amigos Cantina with his backing band, the Jazz Police. Few fans, new or old, knew what to expect from one of Canada’s most versatile acts. Romano has worn a lot of musical hats over the years. After parting ways from the folkpunk outfit Attack in Black and from his work with City and Colour, the Welland, Ont., native has pursued a varied solo career — first in the folk tradition, then in old-style country and now moving on to a genre of psychedelic-tinged rock. If anything, Daniel Romano fans need to roll with these changes — an idea he made clear at this show. Though primarily playing material from his 2017 release, Modern Pressure, the songs were almost unrecognizable — they were louder, more frantic and entirely more fun. However, Romano is generally unconcerned about his sonic progressions, asserting that it isn’t premeditated. “I don’t really think about it too much, to be honest, nor do I really notice it in anything I’m doing, but I can acknowledge it does exist, of course,” Romano said to the Sheaf, while on the road. For Romano, changing up
songs simply comes down to a momentary feeling. “I don’t make any plans or choose styles. It’s just the environment suits the song, and the song suits the mood. A song isn’t a permanent thing — it can change. It’s good to keep it interesting for everyone, ourselves included,” Romano said. Romano may be reticent to acknowledge his breakneck pace, but his latest works reveal just how quick he is to change his sound. On Jan. 4, Romano released Nerveless and Human Touch on Bandcamp — two full-length LPs that couldn’t be more sonically disparate. Nerveless is a full-band effort that is imbued with late1960s pop influences, whereas Human Touch is a subdued singer-songwriter album, letting the focus fall solely on Romano. This isn’t the first time that Romano has done a double release — 2016 saw him release Mosey and Ancient Shapes together — but this is the first time that he has given his albums a terminal date. When his current tour wraps up on Feb. 11, the albums will be removed from Bandcamp, likely never to be released again. For Romano, this choice reflects the ephemeral nature of music in the streaming age. “I think it’s pretty obvious that I don’t do anything with guidance from the music industry — I just make records
and follow the song… As far as Nerveless and Human Touch, I figured that records don’t have more than a three-week lifespan anyways, so I may as well only put it out for three weeks,” Romano said. If you’re not impressed by his musical versatility yet, Romano is backtracking eastward across the country with his punk band, Ancient Shapes, stopping again at Amigos for a show with local surf-rockers the Sips on Jan. 31. For longtime Romano fans, this sonic switch is less surprising, as Romano’s first foray into the CanCon scene was in a punk group. As impressive as his musical range is, Romano is cognizant of the fact that constantly altering his sound might be alienating to some listeners. Ultimately though, he doesn’t think that listeners have to like everything that he does. “I’m okay with someone who likes one of my records but not another one. I wouldn’t expect anyone to like them all. I’m also okay with someone who doesn’t like a previous record but likes the one that is happening now,” Romano said. “I wouldn’t expect everyone to like everything that I’ve done. Maybe they’ll like something, though.” To keep up with Daniel Romano — it’s hard enough as it is — follow him on Instagram or check out his website at danielromanomusic.com.
S A T
20
ROBBIE BURNS NIGHT @ GORDIE HOWE SPORTS CENTRE, 5:00 P.M.
LATTE ART THROWDOWN @ VENN COFFEE ROASTERS, 7:00 P.M.
WINTERRUPTION: CHAD VANGAALEN WITH MAUNO @ AMIGOS CANTINA, 7:00 P.M.
WINTERRUPTION: BEGONIA WITH JEN LANE @ EMMANUEL ANGLICAN CHURCH, 7:30 P.M.
S U N
21
SUNDAY TOURS AT THE REMAI MODERN @ REMAI MODERN, 1:00 P.M.
HOUSING AS A HUMAN RIGHT WITH SHERI BENSON @ COSMO CIVIC CENTRE, 2:30 P.M.
TONIGHT IT’S POETRY COMMUNITY STAGE FEAT. ECOABORIJANELLE @ AMIGOS CANTINA, 8:00 P.M. WINTERRUPTION: CLASSIC ALBUMS LIVE — ABBEY ROAD BY THE BEATLES @ BROADWAY THEATRE, 8:00 P.M.
M O N
22
HISTORY OF JUSTICE IN SK FROM AN INDIGENOUS PERSPECTIVE @ COLLEGE OF LAW, 12:00 P.M. A NEW PIEROGI @ OUTSASKATOON, 7:00 P.M. WICCA 101: AN INTRODUCTION TO THE CRAFT @ PRACTICAL MAGICK & CURIO SHOPPE 7:00 P.M.
VANGELIS COMEDY NIGHT @ VANGELIS TAVERN, 8:00 P.M.
T U E S
23
CHANGING THE STORY: A TALK BY HAROLD R. JOHNSON @ GORDON OAKES RED BEAR STUDENT CENTRE, 4:00 P.M.
SKILLS: GNOCCHI WITH CHEF LINDSAY JANZEN @ THE LOCAL KITCHEN, 6:30 P.M.
CHARLESTON CLASS @ 1002 22ND ST. W., 7:30 P.M. OPEN STAGE @ CAPITOL MUSIC CLUB, 9:00 P.M.
W E D
24
ANATOMY & CELL BIOLOGY CLUB TRIVIA NIGHT @ LOUIS’ PUB, 7:00 P.M.
OPEN MIC AT VENN @ VENN COFFEE ROASTERS, 7:00 P.M. DANIEL CHAMPAGNE @ THE BASSMENT, 8:00 P.M. WEDNESDAY DROP-IN VOLLEYBALL @ SHAW CENTRE, 8:00 P.M.
JAN 18-20
SPIN BY EVALYN PERRY @ THE REFINERY
JAN 23-24
POLISH FILM FESTIVAL 2018 @ BROADWAY THEATRE
JAN 24-25
EDWARDS CONNECTS 2018 @ EDWARDS SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
CULTURE / 7
FEATURE
T H E S H E A F P U B L I S HI NG S OC I E T Y // JA NUA RY 1 8 , 2 0 1 8
Whiskers on kittens: A few of our favourite things on campus Life is cold and busy, so let the Sheaf take you on a quick tour of what’s worth your time at the U of S. EMILY MIGCHELS OPINIONS EDITOR
I SS UE 1 7 // VO L . 1 0 9
01
LAURA UNDERWOOD LAYOUT MANAGER
We know it’s been rough lately — with frozen eyelashes, 4 o’clock sunsets and readings you’re definitely already behind on. January can be unforgiving, and February break is still far away. We’re going to be on campus for awhile — like, daily. Some of you probably aren’t worried, because you love school the most. And that’s amazing, but some of us are prone to winter-term ruts — drifting in a stress-haze between classes without even taking our parkas off. If you, too, have a bad, bratty corner of your heart that doesn’t fully appreciate the incredible privilege that is post-secondary education, it’s okay — it’s normal. We don’t have a solution for this feeling, but we did make a list of some special places and things that we really like about campus. Hopefully, they will give small comfort — or just something new to think about — to get you through the coldest months of the year.
01. The Eggel: For a notable campus comfort food, the Eggel is an afford-
able option — at $6.50 — for an upscale experience to quell your midday breakfast-food hankerings. Jalapenos, one fried egg, a bagel that’s never too toasty to adequately maintain the structural integrity of the sandwich — there is literally nothing wrong with this menu item. It’s usually available at Louis’ Loft, hours and supply permitting. Ask to substitute extra hummus in place of cream cheese if you’re sensitive to dairy, or even if you aren’t. Hummus is the hot, trendy spread of the young generation.
Laura Underwood / Layout Manager
02
Laura Underwood / Layout Manager
02. Study spot spotlight: There are countless study corners on campus, each
with pros and cons. Some boast desirable proximity to plug-ins, photocopiers or Starbs. Others are coveted for their flattering lighting or extended hours. Still others are great, because they are secret. It would be a shame if any of those shrouded havens got blown out, because someone published them in the Sheaf, but if you’re looking to freshen up your routine, why not test drive the comfy chairs along the mezzanine on the second floor of the Leslie and Irene Dubé Health Sciences Library? We’re not saying it’s the best spot on campus, but this particular semicircle of lounger and low-table quads is at least business class. The strict no-talking policy in Health Sciences is great if you desperately need to concentrate, and the lighting in the morning, from the southeast facing two-storey windows, can be magnificent. If you’re worried about glare, don’t be — it’s controlled automatically by high-tech robot blinds. What a time to be alive.
03 J.C. Balicanta Narag / Photo Editor
03. Most calming resource: We seem to hear a lot about mindfulness
meditation these days. Modern life is busy and stressful, and mindfulness meditation is often touted as a beneficial practice that can increase well-being and even grades — and it is one of the many mental-health resources offered on campus, for free, with no registration required. The setting for these sessions features soft-coloured light filtered through stained-glass windows, and participants are invited to find a seat in the circle of chairs. For the next hour, there are no responsibilities, except allowing a gentle voice to guide one through a series of mellow visualizations and/or inventories of bodily sensations. If your mind goes astray, and it will over and over again, all you have to do is return your awareness to the present moment. Breath goes in, breath goes out. It’s simple, relaxing and makes you feel better. This all happens Mondays from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the St. Thomas More College Chapel.
04
Emily Migchels / Opinions Editor
04. Best spot to melt down cinematically: Adjacent to the University of
Saskatchewan’s sculpture garden and just a few steps from the Diefenbaker Canada Centre, this bench offers the perfect setting for your mid-semester crises. Actually, this spot will sustain breakdowns year-round. Pretend you’re crying for the camera, and give the Meewasin Valley an Oscar-worthy performance. The grandeur of nature plays an astute supporting role. Though near a high-traffic walking trail, it’s a fairly secluded vantage point with a spectacular view of Saskatoon’s illustrious skyline. You can cry your heart out, here, with a slim chance of confrontation — no matter how loud you wail. Don’t let frigid temperatures keep you from this spot, either. On occasion, you might catch a glimpse of a lonely ice chunk floating down the South Saskatchewan River — it can be nice to watch things float purposelessly like that when you’re feeling pretty purposeless yourself.
8 / FEATURE
09
Mitchel Knaus / Supplied
WWW.T H E S H E A F.COM // @ U SAS KS H E A F
JA NUA RY 1 8 , 2 0 1 8
05
05. Most aesthetic chairs: Though the Louis’ Pub renovations may not have dazzled overall, their upcycled copper bar stools are a welcome upgrade to the tired interior of the campus watering hole. These chairs are beautiful and comfortable — to sit in them is to feel like a true savant. A feature of note: these chairs supply a near-perfect footrest bar for anyone taller than the required height to ride most roller-coasters. Keep in mind, there’s only eight chairs available, so be wary if you plan to bring a group to test them out. That being said, the staff were surprisingly unphased by an unknown individual ambiguously asking to move and take photos of the furniture. An Instagram opportunity for all, perhaps?
06
Laura Underwood / Layout Manager
06. Best new artwork: Above the ramp in the Arts Building, in one of the
busiest campus corners, hangs a colourful new painting by Kevin Pee-ace. The painting, depicting a graduation-capped student reaching toward a shining star, was commissioned for Aboriginal Achievement Week in the spring of 2017 and painted on site as part of the celebrations. According to the artist, the painting is meant to inspire the dreams and goals of students in arts and science. Rise of the Morning Star showcases the bold signature style of one of Saskatchewan’s most recognizable artists. This new painting is as massive, dazzling and vibrant as your future. Next time you find yourself in the pre-lunch traffic jam, shuffling slowly down the main Arts ramp, take time to admire Rise of the Morning Star in all its fierce chromaticity and take solace in its message — that graduating student could some day be you.
07. Best guerilla public artwork: Poke around the second floor in Murray Library North Wing, and you’ll likely stumble upon this mysterious collage adorning the eastern wall of a room full of empty, often precariously piled desks — a coveted study space for those in the know. The colourful rocket ship is eye-catching, but it’s those whimsical tiny paper camping figures, glued in a friendly and welcoming arrangement, that inspire the most intrigue. Imagine yourself enjoying two-dimensional marshmallows with them the next time you need a break from your books — or invent a story about the lone floating astronaut and fishbowl. The piece has remained untouched for at least four years — perhaps there’s an institutional appreciation for really good graffiti? The artist, or artists, remains unknown.
Emily Migchels / Opinions Editor
07
FEATURE
08. Cutest campus critter: At the Rayner Dairy Research and Teaching
Emily Migchels / Opinions Editor
08
Facility, you’ll visit for the cathartic smell of cow shit and stay for the friendly, furry tour guides like Cheeto, who lives and works here as a fulltime mouser — though she’s especially keen on observing visitors and scratching her face on the Cow-Walk’s guard rails. The facility was established in 2013 and houses around 100 cows yearround. When asked which of these bovid mammals Cheeto is especially fond of, her blank stare made it clear that she’s not into picking favourites. It’s obvious that Cheeto doesn’t often meet new friends — she can be shy — but once you break the ice with a few pats, she’ll snack on your pants and stick her head right into your pockets. The identifying tag on Cheeto’s collar simply reads “do not take” — as though anyone could truly capture her free spirit. Cheeto is available for you to visit any time at the Feeding the World Interpretive Centre, which is open for public viewing from 12 to 4:30 p.m. every day, except on public holidays.
09. Speediest campus club: Getting involved with clubs is a great way to
Emily Migchels / Opinions Editor
10
enrich campus life, but maybe swing dancing, improv and knitting seem too slow. Luckily, the U of S has a Formula One club where you can help design and build an actual race car. That’s right, Huskie Formula Racing is a group of students from a variety of colleges who get together to conceive, design and fabricate a race car, which is entered each year into an international competition. Last year, the team secured a second-place finish for their sales presentation. This club seems to have a lot of montage potential. All the elements are there: hard work, a long-shot dream, a crew of — just guessing, here — lovable weirdos. There’s even an underdog dynamic, as the U of S team is working with a much tighter budget than many of their international competitors. Although this club is, by nature, geared towards engineering students, anyone can join. Meetings are held every Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Engineering Building, Room 1B71, and you can also visit the team headquarters, located in Room 1A25, any day except Sundays. If no one is there, head to Room 1A72 and ask for Mike.
10. Honorable Mention: ASSU does The Sheaf: This display — located in Arts 218 — is a heartwarming reminder
Emily Migchels / Opinions Editor
that people can and do read this paper. The Arts and Science Students’ Union has been collecting and showcasing active council member’s Sheaf contributions since September 2016. Features, articles and interviews are lovingly clipped from print and hung for all to see. Drop by the ASSU office to rent a locker, check out their exam file and — while you wait for someone who actually knows the computer’s password — read some great student writing.
FEATURE / 9
CULTURE
T H E S H E A F P U B L I S HI NG S OC I E T Y // JA NUA RY 1 8 , 2 0 1 8
Dave Stobbe / Supplied Over a thousand art lovers flocked to the Remai Modern for LUGO 2018.
LUGO 2018: Expensive, eclectic, and unfortunately, exclusive Despite some excellent performances, LUGO 2018 has yet to grow into the Remai Modern. JOSHUA BRAND
Jan. 13 saw the latest incarnation of LUGO, Saskatoon’s core high-art event. Although the night featured a variety of great performances, the event needs a new vision to fully fit into the Remai Modern Art Gallery of Saskatchewan. Held at the Mendel Art Gallery and O’Brians Event Centre in previous years, LUGO took place at the new Remai Modern for the first time this January. In contrast to the smaller venues from earlier
occasions, LUGO 2018 spanned across the three floors of the newly built and award-winning gallery. Organizers had much more physical space to fill, and a significant amount of pressure, as they worked to match the high expectations set by the Remai’s recent success. At its core, LUGO is a celebration of Saskatoon’s ever-growing art scene. Bringing in performances from many mediums — whether it be experimental music or interpretive dance spanning an entire floor — the event had it all. It also offered drinks and
food hailing from many great restaurants in Saskatoon, such as the Hollows, Sushiro, the Night Oven Bakery, Calories and more. The night saw performances scattered around the Remai Modern, allowing easy access to entertainment wherever a person happened to be throughout the evening. For example, the haunting sounds of the local cloud-masked group, 3 Ninjasks, echoed fittingly throughout the large space. Terry Riley’s famous 1964 ensemble piece, In C, was another standout performance of the
night. This minimalistic orchestration was recreated by musicians from all over Saskatoon, who exhibited a wide range of instrumental ability. However, the most fascinating aspect of LUGO was not the individual performances themselves but the fact that those in attendance got to witness a relatively small city — which can often have the blasé attitude of an insular, tight-knit community — come together for the love of art, particularly for these experimental and unusual art forms. LUGO was the mashup of a congenial atmosphere that comes from an easily recognizable crowd of friends and acquaintances with the exploratory kind of art that is often found in more intimidating settings. Despite the event’s $40 ticket price, all 1,300 placements were sold. Fortunately, the costs for food and drink were more reasonable. Grub tickets were $2.50, and food items were typically available for one ticket, whereas drinks ranged from two tickets for a glass of wine to three tickets for a cocktail. That said, LUGO clearly was not economically accessible for all Saskatonians. Considering student budgets, paying two Elizabeths simply to gain entry to an event is not very affordable. Aside from the cost, LUGO
I SS UE 1 7 // VO L . 1 0 9
was also plagued by an unfortunate lack of crowd movement. The Remai’s three floors were packed with people, resulting in confusion regarding where to go and what exactly one was supposed to do. It often felt difficult to find performances, despite the fact that they were scattered liberally throughout the gallery. Because it was easier for people to stand around and talk than to see the performances, LUGO felt more like a social event than an annual celebration of the Saskatonian art scene. Although LUGO had the potential to deliver something new and spectacular at the Remai Modern, the event felt undeniably adrift. While the performances were spectacular and demonstrated the strength and growth of Saskatoon’s art scene, LUGO is evidently still trying to figure out exactly what it is and how it fits within the colossal Remai Modern Art Gallery. It’s clear that LUGO has potential to facilitate artful expression in Bridge City, despite missing the mark this year. Simply put, Saskatoon has many other crucial celebrations of art that have succeeded in terms of accessibility, affordability and scope. LUGO, however, needs to take its time to fully grow into its role as an important Saskatonian event.
Del Rey-diohead: Looking into the benefits and drawbacks of music copyright laws Join the Sheaf for an examination of the copyright beef between Lana Del Rey and Radiohead from the perspective of a fourth-year U of S music student. TIESS MCKENZIE
What do Led Zeppelin, Robin Thicke, John Fogerty, George Harrison and the Verve all have in common? They’ve all been in trouble for copyright infringement. To kick off this year’s copyright infringement drama, Radiohead and pop star Lana Del Rey are reportedly having a dispute over Del Rey’s 2017 song “Get Free” and its similarities to Radiohead’s 1993 breakout hit “Creep.” Del Rey first spoke about a rumoured litigation against her on Jan. 7. “It’s true about the lawsuit. Although I know my song wasn’t inspired by Creep, Radiohead feel it was and want 100% of the publishing - I offered up to 40 over the last few months but they will only accept 100. Their lawyers have been relentless, so we will deal with it in court,” Del Rey wrote on Twitter. As reported by Variety on Jan. 9, Radiohead’s publisher, Warner/Chappell Music, re-
10 / CULTURE
leased a statement clarifying the issue and addressing the specifics of Del Rey’s tweet, noting that there is a dispute between the two groups but no actual lawsuit. “It’s true that we’ve been in discussions since August of last year with Lana Del Rey’s representatives… To set the record straight, no lawsuit has been issued and Radiohead have not said they ‘will only accept 100%’ of the publishing of ‘Get Free,’” the statement read. Interestingly, Radiohead themselves were sued for copyright infringement when a judge found that “Creep” was too similar to the 1974 hit “The Air That I Breathe” by the Hollies. Radiohead had to concede partial songwriting credit to songwriters Albert Hammond and Mike Hazelwood. If you’ve heard the songs currently in question, you’ll immediately notice the similarities. The verses of Del Rey’s song use the same chords as Radiohead’s song, along with a similarly recognizable tempo and melody. Howev-
er, while Del Rey’s song sounds more similar to Radiohead’s song than either of them sound to the Hollies’ song, there’s a larger issue that needs to be considered — should song likenesses be illegal? Copyright law in the United States lacks a definition when it comes to music copyright — the copyright laws from Title 17 of the United States Code contain exactly one mention of “melody” and no mentions of musical “chords.” Because of this, copyright-infringement decisions are largely based on legal precedents set by other cases. It is difficult to verbally define what makes songs sound similar. For example, when Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams were successfully sued due to the similarity of their song “Blurred Lines” to Marvin Gaye’s “Got to Give It Up,” there were no matching chord changes between the two tracks. It was deemed that the beats and rhythms — essentially the “feel” — of the songs were too similar. Following the decision, Wil-
Tim Cheesman / Flickr Though music copyright has existed for some time, it’s still murky territory.
liams explained his displeasure with how the case turned out. “The verdict handicaps any creator out there who is making something that might be inspired by something else… Everything that’s around you in a room was inspired by something or someone. If you kill that, there’s no creativity,” Williams told the Financial Times. Though copyright laws can constrain creativity, some artists, writers and musicians have noted the potential creative benefits of this constraint. This includes André Gide — a Nobel Prize laureate in literature — who wrote at length on the
issue of artistic constraint. “Art aspires to freedom only in periods of illness, when it would prefer to live easily. Whenever it feels vigorous, it seeks struggle and obstacle… Art is born of constraint, lives on struggle, dies of freedom,” Gide said. Maybe nothing is new — or at least not anymore. However, artists should perhaps consider this an opportunity rather than complain about how confusing, unwieldy and restrictive copyright laws can be. It could be an opportunity not to be lazy and a chance to try something new.
JA NUA RY 1 8 , 2 0 1 8
WWW.T H E S H E A F.COM // @ U SAS KS H E A F
CULTURE
Catholic Christian Outreach / Supplied The St. Francis Xavier relic is making what is likely its first appearance ever in Canada on a cross-country tour.
Handling a relic: A historical look at St. Francis Xavier and his arm, now touring Canada The Sheaf meets with resident historian Courtnay Konshuh to dig into the history of Catholic relics, from stealing to incorrupt saints to severed toes. JESSICA KLAASSEN-WRIGHT EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
It’s not every day that a religious relic comes to Saskatoon — let alone the severed forearm and hand of one of the Catholic church’s most important missionary figures. In fact, according to Angèle Regnier, this is likely the first time the arm has come to Canada. Regnier is a University of Saskatchewan alumna and co-founder of Catholic Christian Outreach, one of three bodies that organized to bring St. Francis Xavier’s arm to Canada. When the relic isn’t on pilgrimage, its permanent home is the Church of the Gesù in Rome. Francis Xavier was born in 1506 in the now defunct Kingdom of Navarre, which is part of modern-day Spain. He is considered the most important Catholic missionary after St. Paul, and it’s estimated that he converted anywhere from 30,000 to 100,000 people to the Christian faith. Regnier explains that the relic rarely travels — its last visit was to Australia in 2012, and before that, it made a trip to the United States in 1950. She hopes that those who visit the relic will witness the three graces associated with its pilgrimage, linked to graces Francis Xavier demonstrated in his lifetime. “We anticipate people having a deeper conversion of heart to the Lord Jesus Christ [and] having a greater abandonment to God’s will … and what he may be calling people to do in life,” Regnier said. “And then, the third [grace] is healing, because Francis Xavier healed many people and even raised people from the dead.” Courtnay Konshuh, term professor in history at St. Thomas More College, notes
Catholic Christian Outreach / Supplied The desiccated but incorrupt hand of St. Francis Xavier in its protective case.
that this relic is significant because of its history and completeness. “What’s really cool is that we know for sure that this is [Francis Xavier],” Konshuh said. “That can be documented… The arm is super complete, and that’s pretty unlikely, actually… That it’s his blessing hand is really important if you’re Christian, because it’s the hand [with] which he touched all the people that confers blessings.” Regnier explains that, after Francis Xavier’s death in 1552, he was buried once off the coast of China and again in Malaysia, for a total period of almost two years, before being transferred to the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Goa, India — one of his key missionary sites. Each time the body was exhumed, no natural decomposition had taken place, making Francis Xavier what is called an incorrupt saint. “We believe in the resurrection of the body and life everlasting — that someday our bodies will be resurrected for eternity,” Regnier said. “And so, these incorrupt saints are like a sneak preview of what is to come — that we are to live forever in heaven, even in our bodies.” Konshuh notes that there are numerous
documented cases of incorruption, and that it is a significant indicator that someone is a saint. “The key is that [the body] doesn’t liquify… So, you can do it artificially — if you mummify a body, then it won’t liquify, it’ll dry out,” Konshuh said. “But, the key with a sign of a person being a saint, and this is since the fourth century, … is God doesn’t allow their body to decompose in the normal way, and they dry out.” Regarding incorruption and whether or not it actually takes place, Konshuh explains that she believes such a phenomenon is far more likely than the numerous miracles associated with a saint. “In general, I would say [saint’s stories are] mostly propaganda. Most saints’ lives were written by the monastery that acquired their bones, as essentially a tourist and money-generating trap. There are heaps of stories of miracles that happen after the saint is kept there, … like a thief comes to steal something from the church, and then, they’re just stuck in the earth, and it’s the saint that holds them fast until people come and find them,” Konshuh said.
In 1622, Jesuits in Rome requested to have St. Francis Xavier’s right arm brought to them, as he is one of the founding members of the Jesuit church. According to Konshuh, the origins of most relics are not so easy to trace, and many cannot be associated with the complete body of a saint. In fact, relics often forcefully changed hands and were sometimes collected by scavengers. “Basically, you scavenge [relics]. If [a saint] dies near you, then you take them… But, you can also buy relics, and the best way to get them, really, is to steal them. So, there’s lots of cases in the medieval period of important rulers stealing saints’ relics from a different church and bringing them to the new church that they wanted to promote,” Konshuh said. Although St. Francis Xavier’s body is mostly complete, he has not been immune to theft. Indeed, during an early exhibition of the body, a Portuguese woman reportedly bit off one of his toes, hoping to set up a rival pilgrimage attraction — a situation that Konshuh says was not uncommon. “There are other records of people doing stuff like that,” Konshuh said. “Sometimes, they would swallow it, because then, it would be within them, and they felt that that brought them really close [to the saint].” Although the arm is encased in glass — leaving no opening for crafty scavengers — anyone can visit the relic on its cross-Canada tour. St. Francis Xavier’s arm will be displayed in Saskatoon on Jan. 18, from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m., for public veneration at the Holy Family Cathedral. A guide book about the relic and what to expect as a visitor is available at cco.ca.
CULTURE / 11
OPINIONS
T H E S H E A F P U B L I S HI NG S OC I E T Y // JA NUA RY 1 8 , 2 0 1 8
OPINIONS
Lauren Klassen A new grocery store in Saskatoon promises more for less.
Bulk Basket will lettuce stop wasting food Although it’s a bit of a trek, Saskatoon’s newest grocery store is worth the trip. MARIANNE HOLT
Billions of dollars’ worth of food are wasted in Canada every year — paradoxically, many Canadian households
continue to struggle with food insecurity. Bulk Basket, a new reduced-waste grocery store, could simultaneously combat hunger and food wastage here in Saskatoon. Food wastage is a global crisis — about a third of the food
in the world that’s produced for human consumption is thrown away or lost. To contextualize this statistic, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, if food waste were a country, it would rank only behind the
United States and China in greenhouse gas emissions. Many countries have stepped up to the plate in response to the global food wastage crisis. France has made it illegal for grocery stores to waste food, forcing French stores to donate unsold food to charities and food banks. Canada has a bad record and is culpable for $31 billion of food that’s wasted every year, according to a 2014 report from Value Chain Management International. Ironically, one in eight Canadian households faced issues of food insecurity in 2011. The Canadian government has been reluctant to legislate sustainable practices in the food industry. However, zero-waste stores have surfaced across Canada to tackle food wastage. Jan. 14 saw the grand opening of Saskatoon’s first wasteconscious, plastic-bag-free bulk-food store. Bulk Basket is certainly a breath of fresh air in Saskatoon — it offers a sustainable alternative to grocery-store giants like Walmart and Superstore. In addition to filling your cupboard with goodness, Bulk Basket pledges to minimize unnecessary packaging and waste for the local community. The store offers hundreds
This just in: Satire dead? Satire is a venue from which the public can express their displeasure with the social and political paradigms that confront them. JORDAN STOVRA
Lesia Karalash / Graphics Editor
12 / OPINIONS
From the early examples of English-language satire in works like Jonathan Swift’s A Modest Proposal, an essay about a possible solution for the Irish Famine, to more contemporary examples such as satire websites like The Onion or Reductress, the goal of this comedic communication is to provide comment on the socio-political situations that surround us. In the past 10 years, the satire industry has become bloated and underpaid. This is a result of three specific factors. First, more mainstream individuals are creating and distributing satire, and reaching a much larger audience, too. Second, social media has made satire overwhelmingly available. And third, most people view satire as lacking in results. In the contemporary context, there are many individuals doing work that would be considered satirical. Co-
medians like Trevor Noah or Samantha Bee mock the current North American sociopolitical climate in their acts and TV shows. The quality of today’s satire is probably the highest it has ever been, but the greater quantity of satirical articles available to the general public creates a smaller audience for young satirists to thrive in. The industry is, undoubtedly, starting to bloat. In the satire writing that appears online on websites like The Beaverton, the amount of capital that the website — nevermind the writer — is generating has declined due to the increasing influence that social media has and the oversaturation of the industry, an effect that is created by so many people writing and publishing satire online. It is easier to create a piece of satire now than it would have been in Swift’s lifetime. Anyone can become a satirist — you probably know someone on your Facebook or Twitter feed who considers themselves
I SS UE 1 7 // VO L . 1 0 9
of pantry basics and speciality items, primarily in package-free bulk form. The store encourages customers to bring their own containers. If you forget your containers, Bulk Basket conveniently offers compostable paper bags and reusable organic-cotton containers. Evidently, Bulk Basket will play an invaluable role in reducing food wastage in Saskatoon — the store’s pledge to minimize waste for local communities may also help to relieve food insecurity. Initiatives to reduce waste have a direct impact on food security, as they increase the general availability of food at the producer, regional and community levels. There is one downside to Bulk Basket — the location is extremely inconvenient. The store is located near the Saskatoon airport, which is less than ideal for non-commuters. But, when you really think about it, the vast majority of the grocery stores in Saskatoon are awkward to get to if you don’t have a car. The whereabouts of Bulk Basket should not detract from the fact that the store will make it so much easier for Saskatonians to live zero-waste lifestyles. a superb satirist — and that creates a problem for the people who actually try to make a living from their satire. Most importantly, in the modern context, satire does very little to help the progress of social or political movements. While today’s low levels of activism do not fall exclusively on the backs of satirists, the lack of action that results from satire reflects the actual importance or weight of the pieces themselves. One example of a satirist who finds a way to tangibly support a social cause is John Oliver — who often contributes to a charity or an activist organization during the presentation of his satire. Satire is an important mechanism to call out the problems and injustices that occur in our society. Without it, many of the issues that we face would not be corrected. However, it is important to remember that there are actual people behind satire and that they deserve to be paid equitably. Just because you share an article on your social media platform of choice doesn’t mean you have effected change — activism means going one step further to find a way you can contribute to the cause.
JA NUA RY 1 8 , 2 0 1 8
WWW.T H E S H E A F.COM // @ U SAS KS H E A F
OPINIONS
Don’t be shy: Let’s talk sexual health and destigmatize Sexual health should not warrant nervous giggles or horror stories exchanged in whispers. CLEO NGUYEN
Sexual health is really just everyday health — whether you’re sexually active or not, engaging in safe-sex practices or otherwise. Likewise, sexually transmitted infections are a common health issue — much more common than the normative narrative acknowledges. When it comes to the topic of STIs, it seems our hang-ups tend to manifest as fear of the person rather than the ailment — because being infected must mean that person is dirty, right? The stigma and prejudice against individuals living with STIs is an ugly, prevalent reality that we’re not willing to acknowledge. We live in a society that paints things like genital herpes, HIV, chlamydia and gonorrhea as shameful and dirty. Whether you’re actively engaging in sex or not, the implications of understanding your own personal sexual health are much broader than mere sexual activity. Human sexuality manifests itself in a variety of behaviours and expressions. Sexual health connects to a number of topics — be it the activities we engage in, concerns regarding accessible resources and reproductive rights, body image, gender identity, feelings of attraction, relationships and orientation. Yes, sexual health is a topic that should be approached with heightened sensitivity and consideration, but the topic is too often avoided due to a variety of sociocultural factors. Each person has a different relationship with their own sexual health, and yeah, it’s a difficult conversation to facilitate, but it shouldn’t be — and it doesn’t have to be.
The World Health Organization defines sexual health as “a state of physical, emotional, mental and social well-being in relation to sexuality.” Therefore, in order for us to have a healthy relationship with sexual health and our own well-being, we should have access to resources and be willing to educate and inform ourselves. Most STIs may not show immediate or recognizable symptoms, and they often go untreated or undetected. STIs warrant proper medical care and attention, and some, if left untreated, can result in infertility, cancer or birth defects. Consider the measures you take for everyday health concerns — battling the winter cold with layers upon layers, lining up for flu shots, sneezing into your elbow, washing your hands and arming yourself with an extra cozy, warm scarf. Make sexual health another part of your wellness routine — get tested on a regular basis, and make sure it’s part of your annual doctor’s checkup. There are a number of places in Saskatoon that offer applicable educational resources regarding sexual health, as well as affordable and confidential STI testing. The University of Saskatchewan’s Student Wellness Centre, located on the fourth floor of Place Riel is among the organizations that offer this service. Additionally, you can check out Saskatoon Sexual Health, OUTSaskatoon’s Queer Sexual Health Clinic, the Saskatoon Health Region’s Sexual Health Clinic and most family clinics. Action Canada for Sexual Health & Rights provides information on reproductive and sexual health and connects individuals to resources such as doctor’s referrals or even just a
Alterna / Flickr
listening ear for someone who needs to disclose their situation to a nonjudgmental party. Modern medicine and technological advancements have produced wonders, but these are only helpful if you allow them to be. Further measures beyond regular testing involve communicating with your partner or partners. If you choose to engage in sex, make an effort to do so safely. Discuss your sexual history and safe sex practices, engage in consistent and proper use of contraception, disclose if you have or have had mul-
tiple partners or have been in contact with anyone who is positive, and be sure to follow your health-care provider’s instructions and recommendations when receiving treatment. Communication, honesty, accountability and healthy physical and emotional boundaries should all be part of a healthy relationship. Be sure to establish your physical boundaries, your preferences, what you’re comfortable with and what you’re uncomfortable with. When it comes to sex, it is the
responsibility of all parties involved to seek and uphold consent. If it’s not clear, ask. Sexual pleasure is a healthy, normal part of human function, but it’s not fun if it’s a product of sexual coercion. Consent should never be implied or presumed — it is an ongoing process, and these rules are applicable in well-grounded relationships, too. Consent is simply a matter of respect, and respect is one of the core objectives that good sexual health practices promote. Sexual health is absolute care for your well-being.
OPINIONS / 13
OPINIONS
T H E S H E A F P U B L I S HI NG S OC I E T Y // JA NUA RY 1 8 , 2 0 1 8
I SS UE 1 7 // VO L . 1 0 9
Academic language limits accessibility Fuck is one of the most versatile words in English, and yet, it’s unusable in academic writing. TAYLIN DOSCH
More people are connected with greater access to information than ever before, but there are still some holdouts when it comes to accessible learning — predominantly the world of traditional academia. It’s easy to start pointing fingers regarding who is at fault for the inaccessibility of academic information. Some may choose to blame professors for this issue, while others may place the blame on the financial barriers created by universities — but there are other reasons. The continued presence of a language barrier in academia has resulted from how these post-secondary institutions began. The first spaces known today as Western universities were created in eleventh- and twelfth-century Europe. These places of higher learning were intended for people who had both the leisure time and the money to learn instead of working, during a time when the way in which a person spoke was an identifier of social class. Also during this time, the French aristocracy was in power in England, but they still had to talk to the English aristocracy. Essentially, because
14 / OPINIONS
of the use of French in court, those who spoke French were associated with higher ranks in society — this problem was exacerbated by the continued use of Latin in certain academic and religious circles. This association between language and social standing is likely to blame, in part, for the tradition of academic language. In our university, professors in all fields have been trained in this continuing tradition, using exclusively academic language. For example, academia has a spoken, and sometimes unspoken, rule about writing from a neutral or objective position. Yet, no writing can be truly objective, because human beings hold varied perspectives. The individuals who espouse the idea that academic language is a standard for neutrality often come from a high position in the social hierarchy. Academic language is almost a different language altogether — and certainly, it is a distinct dialect of English. Language is the backbone of a culture, reflecting the values of the societies in which it is used. Thus, academics value sounding fancier and smarter than the so-called lay population. Despite all the shit that can prevent those outside academia
from understanding academic language, the worst aspect of academic discourse is that it just does not sound natural. No one talks using academic language, which is why it’s so difficult for even monolingual English speakers to understand it. Academics keep themselves disconnected by continuing to use this inaccessible language, and because of this, the world often does not listen to them. Because academic language is inaccessible, it should no longer exist. Academic discourse creates a divide between peo-
ple and perpetuates old ideas. There is no readily available source of modern academic work outside of these university institutions if you do not want to or cannot pay for a journal subscription. Academic language allows people to create false and harmful ideas of professionalism and social status, simply because they sound “smart.” Yet, lectures are often given in accessible language, and they maintain their prestige, because students know that the professor speaking is an expert in the field. Casual language should be
celebrated in academia, because it betters the world through knowledge. If the knowledge has an opinion attached, then that just means the person writing it has a strong feeling about their topic. Casual language feels natural to write in as well as read. It makes knowledge accessible to everyone, not just those with the privilege to study, who can decide when and how such knowledge is distributed. The next time an academic article seems too difficult to read, remember that your intelligence is not in question.
Michaela DeMong Why do some required readings seem like they’re written in another language?
DISTRACTIONS
WWW.T H E S H E A F.COM // @ U SAS KS H E A F
JA NUA RY 1 8 , 2 0 1 8
LOCAL WOMAN FALLS DOWN WET STAIRS, HER FAULT FOR WEARING SHOES PLACE RIEL — As Becca Tremblay was preparing for the day on Jan. 16, she did not expect to hurtle down the two flights of tiled stairs connecting Upper and Lower Place Riel. An unexpected temperature spike in Saskatoon coincided with Tremblay’s decision to wear sneakers in place of her more hefty winter boots — a wardrobe choice she would later be shamed for making, despite the fact that her sneakers are seasonally appropriate and comfortable to her. Tremblay fell at approximately 1:05 p.m., while walking from class in St. Thomas More College to the Arts Tunnel, where she had been scheduled to sell tickets for an upcoming Edward’s School of Business student event. She
sustained no major injuries, despite tumbling for what she says “felt like five minutes.” At the time of the incident, Tremblay reports there were no signs indicating a wet floor, although she says that she could tell the stairs had been mopped recently. Tremblay reported the incident to the Facilities Management Division but was turned away on the grounds that she wouldn’t have fallen if she had chosen more sturdy footwear — or taken off her sneakers and descended the stairway sock-footed. “When [Tremblay] got dressed to go out, she should have thought about the way her provocative shoes would appeal to a wet floor,” a representative said. AHREN KLAASSEN-WRIGHT
#albumoftheweek:
Blue Madonna by BØRNS
Tanner Bayne
Sometimes you get tired of your hyper-obscure, SoundCloud-rapper go-tos. Sometimes, all you need is a pop soundtrack to vibe to. Garrett Borns, who performs under the name BØRNS, gives you just that with his latest release, Blue Madonna. The album is the epitome of easylistening — showcasing electronic grooves, inconsequential lyrics and a falsetto that would make even Bon Iver proud. All together, these elements produce a dreamy, almost nostalgic soundscape. Check out the song “God Save Our Young Blood,” where BØRNS enlists help from the gloom-pop princess herself, Lana Del Rey.
Every once in a while, there is a new fad diet that takes the world by storm. Paleolithic diets, gluten-free diets, low-carb diets, veganism — these are all examples of popular diets. The diet that I am talking about today promises to keep your clothes six times cleaner than its competitors. “How does it do this?” you might ask. Well, it creates an environment for the individual user where they don’t even need to do laundry: a hospital, or potentially the afterlife. Now, when I eat my Tide PODS®, I like to combine them with a little bit of bleach, just to really set in the toxicity of it all. Maybe bleach will be the new fadmeme diet? This meme can be dated back to CollegeHumor’s video about the foodlike appearance of Tide PODS® in March 2017. And, although Tide PODS® have always been beautiful poison, the meme has just recently risen to mass internet fame. It is slightly forced, but I give this meme an 8/10 Strange Hubbs Certified Freshness Seal of Approval. xkcd.com
DISTRACTIONS / 15
BACKPAGE
University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union
UNDERGRADUATE PROJECT
SYMPOSIUM February 5, 2018 For more information visit
www.ussu.ca
Prize money awarded to top presentation, people's choice, and signature research areas!