February 15, 2018

FEBRUARY 15, 2018

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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

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Research on prejudicial perceptions

Sexual protection in your student health plan

Transforming a terrible Tinder profile

Keeping up with kink classifications

THE

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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

From affection to appreciation: Singing valentines see it all The Love Notes sit down with the Sheaf for a question-and-answer session to discuss the details of delivering valentines on campus.

opinions@thesheaf.com

sportshealth@thesheaf.com

STAFF WRITER

Lyndsay Afseth staffwriter@thesheaf.com COPY EDITOR

| Amanda Slinger

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| Laura Underwood

layout@thesheaf.com PHOTO EDITOR

| J.C. Balicanta Narag

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| Lesia Karalash

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| Jeremy Britz

web@thesheaf.com OUTREACH DIRECTOR

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outreach@thesheaf.com AD & BUSINESS MANAGER

| Shantelle Hrytsak

ads@thesheaf.com Heywood Yu Those who order valentines can decorate them to accompany the delivery.

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Lesia Karalash BOARD OF DIRECTORS Kyra Mazer Emily Klatt Hasith Andrahennadi Momo Tanaka Katherine Fedoroff Liam Richards

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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.

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CORRECTIONS In the issue published on Oct. 26, 2017, the article “USSU executive member targeted with suspected date-rape drug” incorrectly referred to the AOCP as the Association of College Presidents. The acronym AOCP actually stands for the Association of Constituency Presidents.

The same error was made in the article “Preparing for the worst: Student associations face liability risks at events” in the issue published on Feb. 8, 2018.

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

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NYKOLE KING

Every year, around Valentine’s Day, students organize a performance service to deliver songs of love and appreciation on behalf of others, while bringing cheer to the campus community. This singing valentines team, known as the Love Notes, has now ratified as an official student group.

The Sheaf sits down with Daisy Ko, a fourth-year anatomy and cell biology student and the president of Love Notes, Matthew Praksas, a fourth-year music education student and the vice-president of Love Notes, and Cora Lamers, a fourth-year linguistics student and the publicist of Love Notes, for a question-and-answer session about the group.

Can you tell me what the Love Notes group does and how it functions?

Daisy Ko: The group is called the Love Notes, and we’re a group of singers, both in the music department and not, [but] that’s kind of where we had our roots… [A] singing valentine is a song delivered, usually in class, to somebody [along with] a chocolate rose and a personalized valentine that people get to decorate.

The funds that we raise go to

a charity we choose every year, and this year, we are giving to Saskatoon Sexual Health. We thought it was a good idea, because healthy relationships [are important] around Valentine’s Day and [so is] supporting that kind of thing. And then, also, this year, we lost a choir member to mental-health issues, and so, we thought it would be nice to donate to the Dubé Centre in her memory.

Matthew Praksas: Increasingly, we’ve seen more staff and faculty members getting involved, too. So, it’s funny to look through the list and see more [deliveries to] libraries’ commons [or] that are going to this faculty room. It’s really, really exciting to see the progression of how embedded it is in the traditions [on campus] now.

What is it like to deliver valentines? How do people react when they receive the deliveries?

Cora Lamers: I remember, my first year doing this, I was very, very nervous. But, it’s kind of funny, because the room of people that is listening to you isn’t super critical of you. They’re just delighted that you’re interrupting their class and you’re singing this song about love.

What ratio of requests do you receive for platonic versus romantic relationships?

DK: I think a very small portion of it is actually romantic. I think, for the most part, [that is] because, [when] people walk by and they say they don’t have anyone to send it to, we say, “No — you send it to your professor, you send it to your friends [or] you stir up some gossip by sending it to someone from someone else.”

There’s so much potential.

CL: You could send it to yourself from yourself and make it anonymous. Everyone will see that public display of love from a mystery person.

Have you ever received requests from multiple people to the same person?

MP: There [are] significant people in the university, like presidents of student groups, that will get five in one day. I don’t want to say it is a popularity thing, but sometimes, if you have a higher presence in your department, for example, people are inclined to send you a fun one. That’s the beauty of it being completely anonymous — it could be a crush, but they’ll never know who it was.

What is the gushiest valentine you have ever delivered?

DK: One of my favourite ones, in terms of sentiment — it came off as really romantic — it was “I love you very much. I’m really glad you’re in my life.” It was really sweet and romantic, something like that.

And then, we found out that it was from someone’s mom to their kid. It was so precious.

CL: I just had someone come up to the table and say that they were going to send one to their partner, who is a faculty member, and also to their kids, who are students. I was like, “Whoa, that is a family of love.”

MP: There [have been] a couple times, even, where people off campus do buy them for people on campus, so they will contact us and say, “So, I am living in this country, but can you still send this to this person?” It’s so nice to be able to deliver it to someone who had no idea they were going to get something in person.

This interview has been edited and condensed.

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Students use art installation to build awareness of overconsumption A collaboration between students and a local artist highlights issues of overconsumption, social inequality and feminism.

SYDNEY BOULTON

A third-year women’s and gender studies class collaborated with local artist Mindy Yan Miller to create an art installation with discarded used clothing, which will be featured in the Arts Building on the second floor until Feb. 26.

The course, WGST 324: Rebels With A Cause — Feminism and the Visual Arts, has collaborated with multiple local artists this term. The course examines contemporary feminist art since the 1970s, focusing on how women have contributed to the art world during this time. On Feb. 12, Miller facilitated a Sorting Party, which she conducts for her installations, where the 32 students enrolled in the course organized the used clothes for the current art installation.

For Shirley Cuschieri, a fourth-year psychology student, the experience of sorting through bags of clothing made her consider the issue of social inequality.

“Feeling the clothes in your own hands made the issue

very tactile. Some families in Saskatoon might only be able to afford these second-hand clothes, but others can afford to buy brand new clothes. Everyone has a unique relationship with clothes,” Cuschieri said.

Miller’s Sorting Party installations involve a group of participants that assist her in sorting through bags of used clothing and grouping them by the country they were produced in. The items are then folded and assembled in a piled structure for display. Students in the course say that the installation serves as a commentary on socio-economic and racial injustices.

Jesmin Subba, a fourth-year women’s and gender studies student, discusses the contrast between current events and the Sorting Party installation.

“The Olympics are happening right now, and we are celebrating and cheering for so many countries. Just like the Olympics, this art is also bringing all of the countries together, but in a very different way,” Subba said.

Joan Borsa, a faculty member in the department of art and art

history and the women’s and gender studies program, created WGST 324 over 10 years ago to examine the ways in which the contributions of female artists have not been appreciated.

“Rebels With A Cause offers a lens that focuses on what it [is] that women artists are frequently rebelling against — both in the art world and the broader social and economic world — and how they articulate that rebellion in unique, compelling and frequently inspiring ways,” Borsa said.

To demonstrate the experiences of female artists in Canada beyond a slideshow presentation, Borsa prioritized bringing local artists into the course curriculum. This term, the class has heard guest lectures from Miller, as well as Ruth Cuthand, Amalie Atkins and Lisa Birke.

Miller is a Canadian artist who works with large masses of found materials including clothing, human hair and CocaCola cans. She investigates themes of labour, loss, identity and commodification in her art and frequently works in a variety of mediums, most

Student research examines role of disgust in prejudice towards sexual minorities Student research about discrimination and prejudice towards gay men and lesbian women wins third place in university symposium.

emilegraphics / Flickr

LYNDSAY AFSETH STAFF WRITER

On Feb. 5, the University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union held its annual Undergraduate Project Symposium, where fourth-year psychology honours student Bidushy Sadika presented her research, taking home a $300 prize.

The UPS is an opportunity for undergraduate students to submit a research project for a chance to win an award. Sadika’s research was a comparative analysis of the participant’s disgust levels and how this disgust is related to prejudice and discrimination towards those perceived as gay men or lesbian women, which is called homonegativity.

Through this research, Sadika hopes to analyze the relationship between disgust, homonegativity and discrimination towards sexual minorities. Sadika explains further what she intended to find through her research.

“The purpose of my research is to look at how [an] individual’s … disgust is related to old-fashioned and modern homonegativity and also how it is related to discriminatory intentions or behaviours,” Sadika said.

Sadika received the third-place prize in the social sciences, humanities and fine arts category. In the same category, the second-place prize went to Julianne Labach for her study about how President Trump’s tweets affect the stock market and the first-place prize was pre-

Gabbie Torres Students in WGST 324 organize their installation, in Arts until Feb. 26.

notably sculpture, performative pieces and installations.

Borsa discusses how knowledge about social issues can be communicated using alternative methods, like Miller’s installations, as opposed to traditional written texts.

“In this project, we consider clothing as a type of material text or form of knowledge equivalent to books. The project is grounded in readings and related artworks, which look at the garment industry, our relationship to clothing, the over-production of cheap clothes and the increasing amount of discarded clothing

sented to Brynn Kosteniuk for her study on how companion animals contribute to recovery from opioid addiction.

The projects can come from any area of study, ranging from art installations to psychological studies like Sadika’s research submission. Her research explored homonegativity in two forms, she explains. The first is old-fashioned homonegativity, which is usually based on religious objections, and the second is modern homonegativity, which is based on more abstract concerns and misconceptions.

“Old-fashioned homonegativity would be believing that homosexual activity is a sin,” Sadika said. “For modern homonegativity, it could be something like thinking discrimination towards gay men and lesbian women is a thing of the past.”

Since she was comparing findings relating to both gay men and lesbian women, she had to collect two sets of data, Sadika notes.

“It’s a simple online survey, and there are two versions of the survey. One version looks at prejudice and discrimination against gay men and the other version would look at prejudice and discrimination against lesbian women.

That way, I can compare between the two,” Sadika said.

Although she presented her research at the UPS, Sadika is still in the process of conducting her research, and a link to the survey for her project can be accessed through the PAWS bulletin feed. Sadika describes the preliminary results of her study at the time of the symposium.

flooding places like Value Village,” Borsa said.

The installation will be on display at the top of the Arts Building ramp for two weeks for students to read about the topic on the accompanying posters. This project is meant to bring attention to the overconsumption practices of Saskatoon and the world, which is something Renée Prefontaine, a fourth-year education student, has started to do after taking part in Miller’s installation.

“Three hours of sorting clothes really puts the garment industry and labour into perspective.”

“We are still collecting data, but for the symposium, we analyzed the responses that we got. We had 218 participants at the time, and we found that participants who are disgusted towards situations involving sexual activities … are more prejudiced and [tend to] discriminate towards sexual minorities, especially towards gay men,” Sadika said.

The inspiration to pursue this project developed while Sadika was enrolled in a psychology course.

“When I was in my 300-level courses in psychology, I really got interested with the research topic of attitudes towards different social groups,” Sadika said. “I was interested in how we perceive minority groups, so that’s how I got interested in this topic.”

Sadika hopes that her research contributes to society by creating a greater understanding of the experiences of sexual minorities and helping to explain the role of disgust in prejudice and discrimination. This is an area of study that Sadika looks forward to pursuing in the future, as she is applying for the Canada Graduate Scholarships Master’s Program through the Tri-Agency research-funding collaboration.

“I recently applied for the [TriAgency] scholarship, because I am applying for graduate school next year,” Sadika said. “For that scholarship, my research proposal is related to how [sexual minorities] experience prejudice within their own families and friends, and I’m quite excited about that.”

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Science ambassadors engage in two-way learning with Indigenous community schools The Science Ambassador Program allows students to teach based on their own research interests.

GWEN ROY

University of Saskatchewan students will have the chance to use their science skills in Indigenous community schools across northern Saskatchewan and Manitoba this spring with the Science Ambassador Program. The SAP is an opportunity for both students and host communities to engage in two-way learning.

The SAP program partners with elementary schools and high schools to provide them with science-based learning activities for students, while the science ambassadors gain experience by facilitating the programming and learning from their host communities.

Victoria Harms, the science outreach co-ordinator for the SAP, organizes the logistics of the program and will be training new science ambassadors in the upcoming months.

“They’ll do a little bit of training where they’ll learn how to best design hands-on activities that are engaging, that get kids discovering, asking questions [and] finding out how things work on their own, rather than being instructed explicitly on what’s going to happen,” Harms said.

The student-ambassador positions are open to graduate students or undergraduates in the upper years of their program. These four-to-six-week paid positions allow budding scientists to visit communities, so that they can develop their communication and leadership skills through teaching.

Jordan Mihalicz, a former science ambassador and a master’s candidate in the School of Environment and Sustainability at the U of S, explains that science ambassadors often have the opportunity to learn from their host community and participate in cultural activities, such as a culture camp.

“We got to go to their culture camp, [and] we got to make a pair of mitts. We

got to experience their Dene culture and eat a lot of caribou. It was amazing. It was really, really good,” Mihalicz said.

Harms explains that the science ambassadors are sent to the communities in pairs, toting supplies for educational programming that often reflects their own interests as U of S students.

“What’s really fun is, [in] most of the science ambassador pairings, we end up with two science ambassadors with very different backgrounds, and so, they get to take advantage of their strengths and can create activities that highlight what they particularly love about science. So, they can share their passion, which is infectious,” Harms said.

Harms discusses how two U of S students shared their interest in rockets in a hands-on activity with the children in Cumberland House, a community in northeast Saskatchewan.

“They did a NASA rocket­ -building challenge, and they actually built a launcher, and so, they went out, and they had the PVC pipes and the rubber saddle, … and they were launching rockets, which was truly impressive,” Harms said. “The kids had a blast with that.”

Harms notes that she matches students, in part, based on whether or not the community has interests in a specific area. For example, when Mihalicz was stationed in Stony Rapids, he used his master’s research on aquatic insects to lead an activity with the school group.

The group went to the local waterways, where they used nets to catch insects for identification.

The program typically employs biology, chemistry and engineering students, who often go on to work in those fields, but Harms notes that science ambassadors may go on to pursue a career path in teaching instead.

Mihalicz explains that teaching the students was rewarding, and he recommends other university students participate in the SAP.

Lesia Karalash / Graphics Editor

“If you do go up there, the kids are going to love you, and you will have an incredible experience through and through,” Mihalicz said.

Mihalicz discusses how, as a science ambassador, he felt welcomed by his host community, even though he was unaccustomed to living in a remote lo-

cation like the one he was placed in.

“It takes a bit of getting used to, but the people there are so incredibly friendly, too. Once you get to know them, it becomes a second home,” Mihalicz said. “If anyone is interested, I’d highly recommend at least checking it out. Take the plunge — it’s more than worth it.”

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SPORTS&HEALTH

Eating disorder awareness panel provides interprofessional conversation Students in Nutrition 430 organized an interdisciplinary panel of professionals, ranging from psychiatrists to social workers, to discuss the reality of eating disorders.

AQSA HUSSAIN

On Feb. 7, nutrition students from NUTR 430: Professional Practice III took the project of organizing Eating Disorder Awareness Week one step further by inviting a panel of professionals to discuss a variety of perspectives on understanding and approaching the topic of eating disorders.

The panel, titled Eating Disorders: An Interprofessional Panel Discussion, featured a variety of health-care professionals — including a psychiatrist, a dietitian, a pediatrician, a pharmacist, an occupational therapist and social workers — all speaking on the topic of eating disorders. The panelists shared the fact that eating disorders have the highest mortality rate out of all mental illnesses.

The panelists stressed that disordered eating can affect anyone, even though studies do show that those who identify as female are more likely to develop eating disorders. There also appear to be higher rates of disordered eating in more marginalized communities — like Canada’s Indigenous population and the LGBTQ2S community.

Breanna Mills and Melissa Vollmer, two third-year nutrition students who helped organize the panel, discussed a common belief held by the health-care professionals and students who participated in the panel that disordered eating is a topic not properly covered in the education they received.

“We all felt that there was a gap in our education, and we really wanted to learn more about what different professions do to treat eating disorders,” Mills said.

Vollmer followed this up by noting that she could not recall a lecture where disordered eating was ever mentioned.

Kayly Yablonski, a panelist and clinical social worker with the Saskatchewan Health Authority, shared that, when it comes to eating disorders, there is a stereotypical image that can hide the truth.

“We have this concept in our

SPORTS&HEALTH

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Sheaf workout: Short and sinister FLORENCE SCHEEPERS

This workout is meant to exercise the entire body and leave you sweaty, panting and red in the face. The routine should take less than 15 minutes, but trying to complete it as fast as possible and recording how long it takes you can be a useful way to measure improvements over time.

Complete the exercises in rounds of 10 repetitions — per leg or arm for single-limb moves — followed by eight, six, four and then two repetitions. Rest when needed.

Materials needed: One or two dumbbells Reverse lunge and hop: To make it more challenging, reach for the ground with your opposite hand as you lunge down to ensure full depth. For a lower-impact option, drive the knee up without hopping.

Lesia Karalash / Graphics Editor

mind of what an eating disorder looks like, who has it and who it affects,” Yablonski said.

“Anybody [of] any shape, size, gender [or] ability — all those intersections can experience disordered eating… Eating disorders affect all people — they don’t discriminate, and they are not a choice.”

Yablonski notes that there is also a strong relationship between eating disorders and mental illness — such as anxiety, depression and OCD — a correlation that can lead to a life of isolation and avoidance behaviour.

Yablonski believes that these negative effects also come from a culture of healthism, in which unrealistic ideals create a dichotomy of what is good food versus bad food or a healthy body versus an unhealthy body.

“All bodies can be good bodies… Even fat bodies can be healthy. Fat is not a bad word, and [we need] to learn about a ‘health at every size’ approach,” Yablonski said.

The Health At Every Size approach, recognized by every panelist, is a weight-inclusive approach introduced by author Linda Bacon in her book titled Health At Every Size: The

Surprising Truth About Your Weight.

Bacon looks to dismiss the body mass index as a predictor of health and to improve health-care settings, like clinics and hospitals, to be more respectful and weight-inclusive.

Bacon also writes about not limiting one’s activity to just the gym, and Yablonski reiterates this in her own words.

“If you don’t like the gym, don’t go to the gym. If you like to hike with your dog, … go to a Zumba class or … play on the playground with your kid, those are all ways that you can move your body and take care of yourself,” Yablonski said.

While changing the way society thinks about health and body image is going to take some time, Mills finds it is very important to have dialogues with the people around her to create positive change.

“I think having these conversations about [eating disorders] is really important, and [so is] going home and reflecting on [them] and thinking about how what you do in your daily life really contributes to this and how maybe you can change and how you can get others to change.”

Dumbbell snatch: An alternative exercise would be squatting while bringing the dumbbell to your shoulder and finishing with a shoulder press.

Goblet squat: Use the same weight as you did in the previous exercise or a slightly heavier one.

Burpees:

All graphics by Lesia Karalash / Graphics Editor

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Bumping uglies: The dirty truth about STIs A campus guide to safe sex and the best protection against infection.

ERIN MATTHEWS

Uninvited guests like sexually transmitted infections can ruin the mood of a night in with a lover. Don’t fret, though.

There are many ways to protect yourself and minimize the risks, while still enjoying yourself, and this article will show you how to do so with the resources available to you on campus.

STIs are bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic infections that are spread through sexual activities. All sexual activities carry a risk — sorry to ruin the party — and unfortunately, STIs are often asymptomatic even when they are infectious. This means you can be infected by your lover without ever knowing.

If you peek behind the bed sheets of history, syphilis — an adorable, squiggly bacteria — spread through Europe like wildfire. There was often no way of knowing your bedfellow was infected until the end stages. Syphilis is still around, but thanks to the invention of antibiotics, it and many other STIs are treatable, for now anyway.

This may not always be the case, as antibiotic resistance is making bacterial infections harder to treat. Gonorrhea is one STI that is waging a war against antibiotics. So, it’s critical to avoid initial infection as best you can.

Let’s take a look at the best ways for you to navigate your sexual health. If we look at the Student Health and Dental Plan, it can be confusing to know what is covered regarding STI protection.

The plan includes prescription drugs, so products like the birth control pill and the NuvaRing are covered for up to 80 per cent of the cost. However, these products, although usually effective at preventing pregnancy, are not a method of protection from infection.

If you do receive an unexpected gift from your Tinder date, antibiotics are also covered under the plan. The plan covers medications for chronic viral STIs, like HIV and herpes, for up to 80 per cent. Antivirals are the best treatment to manage these long-term viral infections.

The health plan, although great for

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Michaela DeMong The free condoms you can find on campus are just one means of protecting yourself against STIs.

some prescriptions, fails to deliver much in the way of funding for barriers, although there is $150 in the plan for vaccinations that protect against some STIs. So, what’s the best way to protect yourself against STIs? Let’s take a look at BET — barriers, education and testing.

If you take a trip up to the fourth floor of the Place Riel Student Centre, you’ll see the sexual-health oasis that is the Student Wellness Centre. Here, you will find the best ways to protect yourself.

Barrier protection is your best friend when it comes to minimizing your risk for infection.

Barriers come in all shapes and sizes, from male and female condoms to dental dams that help to minimize infection risk during oral sex. Unfortunately, bar-

riers are not fool proof and won’t always protect you from something like herpes, which can spread through direct physical contact.

This is where education comes in. The centre has pamphlets and knowledgeable health-care staff and student volunteers who can answer all your questions and arm you with tools for sex that’s both safe and smart. One such person is Hallie MacLachlan, a fourth-year nursing student completing a rotation at the centre, who offers this tip.

“Get educated! Search out credible information on all forms of sexual health, and keep sourcing out information until you feel comfortable and confident,” MacLachlan said, in an email to the Sheaf.

MacLachlan also discusses our last means of protection: testing.

“Students can come to the [centre] for STI testing. These can be done by [a Registered Nurse], which means students usually get tested the same day they walk into the clinic,” MacLachlan said.

Regular testing is crucial to staying healthy and making sure you aren’t passing along unwanted gifts to your bed buddies. Knowing your sexual-health status can also help you access prompt treatment if you happen to get infected.

There are many resources available on campus, so students can continue to have healthy and safe sexual encounters.

So, pick up a barrier device, brush up on some medical microbiology, and pee in a cup — your partners will thank you.

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SPORTS&HEALTH

Merlis Belsher’s vision comes to fruition as construction continues on new facility A new multi-million-dollar arena will provide a much-needed improvement to the U of S athletic facilities.

Gabbie Torres Anticipation is building for Merlis Belsher Place as construction nears completion.

MATTHEW JOHNSON

In October 2016, Merlis Belsher made a $12.25 million donation to help build of a new arena at the University of Saskatchewan, and in the fall of 2018, the Huskies hockey program will have a new place to call home.

The facility will be a massive upgrade from Rutherford Rink, as the team’s home arena will move from an attendance capacity of 700 to 2,614 — and eventually, to 3,546 once phase two of the construction is complete.

Built in 1929, Rutherford Rink has played host to a lot of hockey over the years, but many people understood that

a new arena was desperately needed on campus. After a media tour of the new facility on Feb. 6, U of S President Peter Stoicheff acknowledges that the project required backing from donors.

“We’ve been imagining having to replace Rutherford for decades, and for one reason or another, we weren’t really certain we could pull it off.

But, with the support of Merlis, with the support of the city and so many other alumni and those engaged with our athletic programs, it was made possible,” Stoicheff said.

Belsher, whose donation stands as the largest single donation from an individual in school history, was humbled during the tour of the building, which is shaping up right in

front of his very eyes.

“I’m overwhelmed, actually.

It’s great,” Belsher said.

Throughout the building process, Belsher has emphasized that the facility should not only be functional but also beautifully designed, as Stoicheff explains.

“Merlis understands construction, and he understands aesthetics. He was always adamant that this building had to look beautiful from the outside, and when you moved into it, you felt like this was a space that you belonged in and wanted to be in,” Stoicheff said.

Although the primary use of the facility will be for Huskies hockey, a second ice surface is also being built for Saskatoon Minor Hockey, which will provide the city with a

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much-needed new rink. The ice will also be the new home for Campus Recreation hockey at the university.

In addition, the ice pads will be adaptable for para ice hockey, and Tourism Saskatoon is in the midst of submitting a bid for an upcoming national championship to be played at the new facility.

The Huskies basketball and soccer teams will also benefit from the new facility, as it will house two NBA-sized courts, allowing the Huskies basketball teams to continue practicing on campus in December, when they would normally be booted from the Physical Activity Complex and unable to practice during final-exam season.

The men’s and women’s hockey, basketball and soccer teams will also gain dedicated locker rooms at the facility.

Huskies hockey players Kohl Bauml from the men’s team and Brooklyn Haubrich from

the women’s team were onhand after the tour, and both were taken aback by the marvellous new facility.

“Seeing it first-hand makes it a reality. You see pictures, but once you see it with your own eyes, it’s amazing. I’m kind of blown away right now, for sure. Playing in front of a home crowd in this rink is going to be fun. I’m excited. It’s going to be electric in here,” Haubrich said.

Bauml mentions the buzz he has already felt in the community regarding the new arena.

“The amount of people that have been talking about wanting to come to games because of the new rink, the number of fans that are going to be here, the atmosphere — like Brooklyn was saying, it’s going to be electric. It’s going to be awesome to see, and we’re going to have a lot of fun playing in this new rink in front of Huskies supporters and Saskatoon in general.”

pigs

canada's

pink floyd

tribute act

left + right tour

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CULTURE

EVENTS T H U R S

15

CFCR’S CHINESE NEW YEAR FEAST 2018: YEAR OF THE DOG @ MANDARIN RESTAURANT, 6:00 P.M. STOP THE CUTS SASKATOON — FEBRUARY MEETING @ THIRD AVENUE UNITED CHURCH, 6:30 P.M.

2018 MOHYLA LECTURE @ SHANNON LIBRARY IN STM, 7:00 P.M. NDP SASKATOON LEADERSHIP DEBATE @ TCU PLACE, 7:00 P.M.

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I SS UE 2 1 // VO L . 1 0 9

CULTURE Let’s talk about sex(ually trasmitted infections), baby Asking your partner or partners if they’ve been tested for STIs doesn’t need to be scary or awkward.

AN INTIMATE STORYTELLING SESSION WITH TENILLE CAMPBELL @ ABORIGINAL STUDENTS’ CENTRE, 12:00 P.M. COOKING HEALTHY, ECONOMICAL FOOD @ GLOBAL GATHERING PLACE, 1:00 P.M.

INDIGENOUS LEGENDS MOVIE NIGHT @ CARLYLE KING BRANCH LIBRARY, 7:00 P.M.

BEARS IN HAZENMORE WITH TAYLOR JADE AND TOO SOON MONSOON @ BLACK CAT TAVERN, 9:00 P.M.

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2018 ABORIGINAL YOUTH IDEA CHALLENGE GALA @ DAKOTA DUNES CASINO, 5:00 P.M.

THE TIPPING POINT @ THE BROADWAY THEATRE, 7:00 P.M.

CHRONOBOT WITH CLOVEN HAND AND THE BASEMENT PAINTINGS @ AMIGOS CANTINA, 8:00 P.M. GILLIAN SINGS JONI @ THE BASSMENT, 8:00 P.M.

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SMUDGE AND SHARING CIRCLE @ ST. GEORGE’S ANGLICAN CHURCH OF SASKATOON, 12:00 P.M.

SUNDAY NIGHT ACOUSTIC JAM @ BUDS ON BROADWAY, 8:00 P.M.

COOKIN’ WITH GRANDMA @ THE YARD & FLAGON PUB, 9:00 P.M.

Jayden Pierce

SUNDAY FUNDAY! @ HUDSONS CANADA’S PUB, 9:00 P.M.

M O N

19

RAWLCO RADIO FREE ADMISSION DAY @ REMAI MODERN, 10:00 A.M.

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

CARMANAH @ THE BASSMENT, 8:00 P.M.

STANDUP COMEDY NIGHT @ BLACK CAT TAVERN, 8:00 P.M.

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HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT EXHIBIT @ ROUND PRAIRIE BRANCH LIBRARY, 10:00 A.M.

SALT COOKING CLASS @ SIMONS FINE FOODS, 6:30 P.M.

MOVIE NIGHT @ OUTSASKATOON, 7:00 P.M.

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

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

RAIS 2018 STUDENT FILM FESTIVAL @ THE ROXY THEATRE, 6:30 P.M.

THE WOODS SIMPSONS TRIVIA EXTRAVAGANZA VOL. II @ THE WOODS ALE HOUSE, 8:00 P.M.

SHRED KELLY WITH BAND OF RASCALS @ CAPITOL MUSIC CLUB, 9:00 P.M.

FEB. 16-18 AND 23-25 UNTIL FEB. 17 FEB. 17-18

EMILY KLATT

THREE PLAYS BY DON NIGRO @ PAVED ARTS

THE BEAUX’ STRATAGEM @ THE GREYSTONE THEATRE

CROKICURLYXE TOURNASPIEL @ BROADWAY BID

8 / CULTURE

You’ve been seeing someone new. Things are going great. You like them a lot. They’re incredibly attractive. It’s finally time to have that uncomfortable but important conversation — no, not about defining the relationship — about getting tested for STIs. Sexually transmitted infections are infectious diseases that are spread from person to person through any type of sexual contact. Some of the most common STIs include chlamydia, gonorrhea, genital herpes, syphilis and hepatitis B. Anyone who is sexually active could potentially contract an STI, and some can even be transmitted in many non-sexual ways. Many STIs are treatable but can have negative health effects if left undetected and untreated.

Despite living in a world that loves to talk about sex, we’re really uncomfortable talking about sexual health — even with the people we’re banging. According to a 2017 survey conducted

by Cosmopolitan and Esquire magazines, 47 per cent of millennials reported that none of their past partners had asked about their STI-test results.

Although STIs are extremely common amongst young people — the American Sexual Health Association reports that about half of sexually active people will contract an STI by age 25 — we’re not asking our partners to get tested nearly as much as we should.

In a perfect, sex-positive world, asking the people you’re sleeping with about their STI history would be easy. In reality, it can be an extremely difficult conversation to have, even with someone you know and trust. There’s still a lot of negative stigma associated with STIs, and sexual

health is often regarded as a taboo topic.

Talking about STIs is one of the most important and positive things you can do for any sexual relationship. By starting the conversation early, you and your partner will be better equipped to deal with any potential problems you might encounter. Prevention is key, here!

Asking your partners to get tested — or having them ask you — has nothing to do with cheating or mistrust. Not only are STIs super common, they’re also extremely hard to detect. Many STIs — including chlamydia, gonorrhea, HPV and hepatitis B — can be present in a person’s system without any obvious symptoms, although the likelihood of displaying symptoms can depend on the person’s biological sex. This means you could have an STI for a long time and not know it.

Even though it’s a very clinical topic, asking your partner about STI testing can actually be really, really sexy. You’re showing your partner that you care about their well-being and the wellbeing of your relationship.

Students can access free and confidential STI testing at a number of locations in Saskatoon, including the Student Wellness Centre at the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon Sexual Health, OUTSaskatoon and the public Sexual Health Clinic on Idylwyld Drive.

While it’s recommended that everyone get tested regularly, you should also get tested if you’ve had unprotected sex, if you have multiple sexual partners and with each new partner you have.

Talking about STIs might never be the easiest thing to do, but it doesn’t have to be impossible.

Prevention, trust and communication are the keys to having safe sex. And, regardless of what type of sex you’re having or with whom, we can all agree that safe sex is the best kind of sex.

F E B RUA RY 1 5 , 2 0 1 8

Swiping right: Easy tips to improve your Tinder game Tinder doesn’t have to be so demoralizing with these easy tricks.

MARIANNE HOLT

Tinder is a great way to connect and chat with people that you maybe would not otherwise meet. However, there are many poor profiles out there.

Here are the Sheaf’s tips to up your Tinder game, so you can get all of those right swipes.

Good quality pictures are the most important feature of an appealing Tinder profile.

You only have six photos to show potential matches that you are worth a swipe, so it’s imperative that your pictures are on point.

Your pictures should be diverse and high-quality, and you should refrain from using pictures with Snapchat filters.

The first Tinder photo will make that initial impression, so it should represent who you are.

You should avoid using a group photo as your main profile picture, as doing this saves would-be swipers from the awkwardness of working out which person is you. An assortment of pictures is ideal — in addition to your solo profile portrait, you should have at least one picture with friends to make you look sociable and a jokey picture, which always makes for a good conversation starter.

If you have a pet, then definitely feature them in your profile — who doesn’t want to

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WWW.T H E S H E A F.COM // @ U SAS KS H E A F

look at and talk about a cute dog or cat? That being said, dead animals should certainly be avoided if you want people to swipe right on your profile.

Many Saskatonians on Tinder use pictures of themselves posing with hunted animals or proudly holding a caught fish, but animal corpses are not the gateway to Tinder matches.

Connecting your Tinder profile to your Instagram is always a good idea, as it enables other users to see some of your hobbies and interests. Linking your Spotify to your Tinder account is also a good move, as having an absolute jam as your Tinder anthem is always attractive. However, it’s crucial to remember that potential matches can see what your top songs on Spotify are, so beware of repeatedly listening to “My Heart Will Go On.” Another crucial part of the Tinder experience is the bio.

The absence of a bio — even the smallest, most banal one — gives people the impression that you’re unwilling to let yourself be known. Simply putting down your interests, or even just your university major, is a good place to start.

I’d advise you to consider engaging people with your profile by putting a question in your bio. Asking “What is your favourite ABBA song?” will resonate with more people in comparison to messages like “If we match, you have to mes-

sage me first, because I won’t message you.” This commonly used bio is not advisable — it immediately gives the impression that you are high maintenance and boring.

However, none of these tips will get you to Tinder greatness like perfecting the art of chatting. Tinder chatting is as simple as commenting on your match’s bio or using a tastefully quirky pickup line — just make sure to be unique with whatever you say. Remember to ask the person what they are looking for, because it will save you both time if you immediately find out that you’re both looking to hook up or hang out.

It’s also important to be cautious with compliments while on Tinder. Though usually appreciated, there are creepy and nice ways to give a compliment. Under no circumstances should the eggplant emoji be implemented.

Lastly, if someone doesn’t reply to your Tinder messages, don’t spam them with more messages. The last thing someone wants to see when they open Tinder is a ton of messages from someone who was annoyed that they didn’t receive a reply right away.

By implementing these Tinder tips and tricks, you’ll likely see a few more matches — and maybe even a message or two — next time you open up the app. Happy swiping!

The Sheaf’s

midnight makeout mix TANNER BAYNE CULTURE EDITOR

What do activities like crying, cruising and the horizontal nasty have in common? They are all made better by adding some mood music. So, here are some of my favourite sonic bangers for when things get a little hot and heavy.

“Wonderful World” by Sam Cooke “Real Love Baby” by Father John Misty “All Night Long (All Night)” by Lionel Richie “Dancing in the Moonlight” by Toploader “Everywhere” by Fleetwood Mac “Harvest Moon” by Neil Young “Those Were the Days” by Angel Olsen “First Love / Late Spring” by Mitski “Baby” by Ariel Pink “Opposing Truths” by Sean Nicholas Savage “For What It’s Worth (Stop, Hey What’s That Sound)” by Buffalo Springfield “It’s the Falling in Love” by Michael Jackson “One I Want” by Majid Jordan featuring PartyNextDoor “Broken Clocks” by SZA “Morning After” by dvsn “Best Part” by Daniel Caesar featuring H.E.R.

Thought Catalogue / Flickr

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FEATURE

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exual violence still occurs wherever we live, work, study and move throughout the day — so it is imperative for students to understand and continually challenge the supports and preventative measures that our post-secondary institutions provide.

Any sexual act or any act targeting an individual’s sexuality, gender identity or gender expression — whether physical or psychological in nature — which is committed, threatened or attempted against an individual without that individual’s affirmative consent is considered an act of sexual violence.

The term “sexual violence” is not limited to sexual assault, but also includes sexual harassment, stalking and voyeurism — in other words, non-consensual viewing or recording, done for a sexual purpose, of an individual or individuals in a situation where privacy is expected — among other circumstances. The distribution of sexually explicit photographs or recordings without the consent of the receiver is an example of sexual violence.

Affirmative consent is a voluntary agreement to engage in sexual activity. It requires clear communication, and each individual must be able to freely — without intimidation — choose between yes and no.

Consent is never obligated or implied and must be maintained up to and during sexual activity.

Sexual violence can impact people in many ways — including physical injuries, pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, mental-health challenges, self-injurious coping behaviours and personal and professional tensions. Experiencing sexual violence can change how you view trust, your own self-worth and relationships. The effects of sexual violence often remain with survivors years after an experience.

The Sexual Assault Prevention Policy — introduced to the U of S in December, 2015 — provides a fairly comprehensive detailing of the procedures and processes by which the university handles disclosures, reports and complaints with regards to instances of sexual violence on campus.

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IS CONDUCT M & T L U A S S Does the University of Saskatchewan A have what it takes to prevent sexual EMILY MIGCHELS OPINIONS EDITOR

One poignant quotation from the policy reads, “All members of the University of Saskatchewan community have a right to work, live, and study in an environment that is free from any form of sexual assault and other forms of sexual misconduct.”

The U of S is among a host of post-secondary institutions across the country that have implemented a stand-alone sexual-violence policy such as this, with legislation in the provinces of Ontario, British Columbia and Manitoba deeming these policies a mandatory requirement for universities in these areas since 2017.

Such policies in post-secondary institutions serve to acknowledge sexual violence as an issue that has a significant effect on a student’s well-being and academic success. These policies should offer adequate and accessible support for survivors, as well as clear and comprehensive procedures for disclosures, reports and official complaints against perpetrators of sexual violence.

The Sexual Assault Prevention Policy at the U of S is a long-term commitment for vice-provost, teaching and learning, Patti McDougall.

“I think that all of the work that we’ve done over the last few years has really been focused on what we can do through our policy, procedures and campaigns to encourage people to come forward,” McDougall said.

With a survivor-centric approach, the Sexual Assault Prevention Policy puts emphasis on the value of disclosure or getting help. Partnered with the U of S Students’ Union, and with support from the Saskatoon Sexual Assault & Information Centre, the U of S offers many different avenues through which to receive support with this policy.

“Unless people come forward and speak out, we’re never going to be able to make this stop — we’re never going to be able to end the sexual violence… [Coming forward] makes it more possible to help the individual and for there to be positive change in that regard,” McDougall said. “Fundamentally, it’s about the care of the individual.”

One of the best attributes of the U of S Sexual As-

All statistics collected from U of S students who participated in an online poll conducted by the Sheaf.

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violence on campus and support survivors?

sault Prevention Policy is that it’s collaborative. In December 2017, McDougall met with student leaders from the USSU, the Graduate Students’ Association, and the Pride and Women’s centres to evaluate the policy based on the standards set by the national student-advocacy group OurTurn.

“Whenever we work in this area — as was the case when we developed the policy — we seek feedback from the community to know whether we’re on the right track,” McDougall said.

In the future, McDougall plans to continue these conversations, as well as invite more people who might be interested into the discussion.

Another point of note is the university’s commitment to education efforts aimed at preventing sexual assault and misconduct on campus, as well as mandated training for individuals in the campus community who may be called on to assist and guide someone in a disclosure involving sexual violence. This training is designed to help peer mentors, staff and faculty establish safe and comfortable spaces as well as maintain confidentiality.

In many ways, the U of S is certainly succeeding in its efforts. McDougall notes that an increase in disclosures and reports means more people trust that they will be believed, respected and supported — and that their questions will be answered when they come forward.

“After someone has disclosed a sexual assault and we’ve mobilized and responded, we always ask that person if they’d be willing to talk with me, at a comfortable point, and everyone has said yes in the last couple of years,” McDougall said. “Fortunately, the feedback has been generally positive, and it gives me confidence in those people who are on the front lines responding.”

There is still room for improvement, however. The Sexual Assault Prevention Policy currently lacks set timelines by which processes should occur in response to a disclosure, report or formal complaint. This could leave survivors in uncomfortable or even unsafe positions while waiting on a verdict.

Furthermore, the policy does not stipulate immunity clauses for drug use and underage drinking — an oversight considering that fear of punishment will prevent some individuals from coming forward and seeking help.

In the future, the university might also consider implementing academic accommodations for survivors of sexual assault and misconduct in all course syllabi.

In a society that continues to facilitate rape culture, we must consistently make strides to be heard, to live, to work, to study and to pursue success without fear, guilt or shame caused by sexual violence. Through better understanding, we can challenge the status quo.

F E B RUA RY 1 5 , 2 0 1 8

FEATURE

W W W.T H E S H E A F.COM // @ U SAS KS H E A F

What can you do if you’ve experienced sexual violence?

Disclose and get help: Choose to tell someone about what has happened — this can be a friend or family member you trust or a university staff member or peer mentor. University staff and peer mentors are committed to providing support in a non-judgemental and empathetic manner. They can help with decision-making and will refer you to appropriate resources, whether on or off campus.

Make a report for the official record: You can report an incident to Protective Services on campus, as well as

the Saskatoon Police Service.

If you have witnessed sexual assault or sexual misconduct, or if you have become aware of an incident of sexual assault or sexual misconduct, it is also possible to make a report, but it is important to note that, if someone chooses to disclose to you, you should seek their permission before going on the record.

Following a report, Protective Services — or in some cases, an alternate body appointed by the university — will investigate the incident. The university may also impose non-punitive interim measures, such as separation of academic and living situations or temporary suspension or modification of the accused person’s academic program.

Seek justice by filing a formal complaint: You — or any other individual, including a university official speaking on your behalf — can file formal complaints through

both Protective Services and the Saskatoon Police Service.

At the university level, complaints against students are handled through the Standard of Student Conduct in Non-Academic Matters and Regulations and Procedures for Resolution of Complaints and Appeals — or in other words, as non-academic misconducts.

Complaints against university employees are handled under the Discrimination and Harassment Prevention Policy, Violence Prevention Policy or the applicable collective-bargaining agreement.

Remember that you have the right to withdraw a complaint at any time and that you are protected against any form of retaliation by the accused person.

If the accused person is not a student or employee, the university can still assist you in filing a report with the Saskatoon Police Service and can take steps to legally prohibit an individual from coming onto a U of S campus.

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“All members of the University of Saskatchewan community have a right to work, live, and study in an environment that is free from any form of sexual assault and other forms of sexual misconduct.”

— U of S Sexual Assault Prevention Policy

Who can you call on?

A friend or family member you trust Women’s Centre Room 103, Memorial Union Building womens.centre@ussu.ca

Aboriginal Students’ Centre Gordon Oakes Red Bear Student Centre 306-966-5790 asc@usask.ca

Pride Centre Room 104, Memorial Union Building pride.centre@ussu.ca

Help Centre Room 105, Memorial Union Building help.centre@ussu.ca

Student Wellness Centre Third and fourth floors, Place Riel Student Centre 306-966-5768 Saskatoon Sexual Assault & Information Centre 24-Hour Crisis Line: 306-244-2224 Office Line: 306-244-2294

All Graphics by Lesia Karalash / Graphics Editor

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Sensual stanzas: Four poems straight from the heart The Sheaf enlists help from four student wordsmiths to talk about the many forms of love through poetry.

TANNER BAYNE CULTURE EDITOR

From Dylan to Donne, there is a unique universality that is innate in love poetry. I mean, who doesn’t adore a good love poem? Since this is the love and sexuality issue, here are four poems from four undergraduate-student poets at the University of Saskatchewan, reminding you to gather ye rosebuds while ye may.

Ten Confessions of Being Infatuated with Your University Professor

by Lo Ten

TRAPPIST

by Ky Mason

If the age gap is less than ten years, it’s fine right...?

Somewhere out there, in the beautiful vastness of space, in the incredible galaxies and far beyond, in the mystery of existence itself,

Nine I fucking love yo—urrr method of teaching

I like to think a little alien is holding its darling lover the way that I am holding you.

A little alien that would be fascinated by how our strange arms can wrap around each other, A little alien who sees its lover in ultraviolet hues, on light spectrums we can’t imagine, A little alien mystified by the idea of a creature like us, falling in love with every cell in our squishy beings.

Somewhere out there, in the stunning solar systems, in the strangeness of each space rock, in the unquantifiable nothingness peppered with just a little magnificent somethingness,

Your voice is a fire alarm in my mind, I rush out of my house in the morning because I am not going to be late to your lecture I am on fire to sit in the front row And I am HOT for your knowledge

I like to think a little alien is loving like we do, at peace, and soft, and gentle, but maybe a little different, too,

Eight

A little alien unafraid of loving, who doesn’t shake as they introduce their sweetheart to their friends, family,

I looked forward to coming to your class more than any other class

A little alien who exists somewhere, it’s loved like we aren’t, who won’t get weird looks and whispered jabs, A little alien that wouldn’t comprehend why we let go of each other when we see someone we know, Somewhere out there, in the intricacies of galaxies, in the wonderful, monumental worlds beyond us, in the unfathomable beauty of it all — I like to think one day we will love like the little alien — fearlessly.

Seven I was expecting my professor to be old Six I promise I will never be a kiss-ass in class, but I wouldn’t mind kissing your ass after class Five My academic evaluation form is like a love letter missing rose petals and lipstick stains Four When you winked at me during the final exam and I knew it was a “you’re gonna do great on your final exam” kinda wink But I kinda wanted it to be a “you’re kinda cute” kinda wink A wink that was kinda like an “I’m undressing you with my eyes” kinda wink Three I could listen to your voice for threehour classes Two We have two mutual friends on Facebook One I only had one class with you, but I would take it again if I had $700

Jessa Robb What’s more romantic than some old-fashioned love poetry?

12 / CULTURE

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F E B RUA RY 1 5 , 2 0 1 8

I’m Sorry I Sold Your Gear for Drug Money

by Ghost Note I wanted to tell a story tonight.

So I made myself a cup of tea and sat on the downstairs couch.

I cried for a few hours — this is where all my best stories come from.

There are load-bearing walls in my brain that I’ve desperately tried to demolish.

But you are a fine foreman and I don’t want to disappoint you.

“You are doing it” is a rallying cry for an army of one.

If I could have my way with the world I would see myself with your eyes or you with mine.

There is a discrepancy here that feels immoral.

To think so highly of those who curse your name in heated discussions of those who bring about fire and brimstone with the touch of an angel, fallen from grace of those who do not build. of those who plug their hearts into dead bathroom sockets of those for whom brightness

comes so easily of those who scream and curse and yell of those who will tell your stories when you cannot, to put so much trust in them when so many others have been let down This is worse, than all the demon clowns I could make up in my sleep.

These are fourth-grade, camp-cabin horror stories half remembered, half asleep, but still afraid of the real threat of ghosts stealing your breath during the night.

This night is not unlike any other I’m still crying I’m still broken and you’re still there for me which is more than I can say for myself so here we are I’m sorry I’m sorry for the days where you saw something moving inside me I’m sorry for my moving of the tectonic plates I’m sorry for my road trips I’m sorry for getting angry about taxes I’m sorry for passing out I’m sorry that I’m easily swayed from the righteous path

I’m sorry that you have to look at me, and pull me up from this pit, when all I want to do is sink, wallow, and slowly descend into nothingness

Cardiac Love

by Blake Graham

If you saw an earthworm sitting on the floor of your favourite coffee shop, would you pay it any mind?

Or would you just not.

There are magnifying glasses that are sold with dictionaries, fonts too small to read and you have the audacity to order a chai latte, rewrite your resume, and rant about the sun.

There is an equilibrium of sorts — creation and destruction.

You are the fish, and I am the bear.

circulation declined to my eyes and feet explained why love is blind and my knees go weak

O my blood’s like a red, red rose forming puddles in early spring I let my arteries close removed Desire’s heart-burning sting

I felt chemistry betwixt biology soulmates via arterial connection let love pour through capillaries perform aortic vivisection you plucked on heartstrings a venous violin caused murmurs an arrhythmic beat sings how absence makes the heart firmer

You are the well-constructed fortress and I am the opposing soldiers and yet you lay down your weapons at the gate and allow me to reign free.

Jessa Robb

Love languages: What they are and how you can use them Try something new to strengthen your relationship — or prospective relationships — this Valentine’s season.

LYNDSAY AFSETH STAFF WRITER

Chances are you have heard something about love languages, but you might not know what they really are or how to use them in your own life. For starters, there are five love languages, and they come from the 1995 book The Five Love Languages by pastor and marriage counsellor Gary Chapman.

The concept of love languages is simple. Drawing from his own experiences in his marriage, and the experiences of his clients, Chapman put together this simple system to help couples show their love more efficiently. Here are the five love languages he came up with.

Acts of service: This love language is for people who want their partner to lend a helping hand. These folks appreciate help with homework, chores, solving problems and anything else. They know that their partner cares about and values them when that partner puts in

the time and energy to help. If this is your partner’s love language, do not waste any time to start helping them with whatever they need.

Physical touch: This love language sounds steamy, but it is not what you think — at least not entirely. This one is for people who feel appreciated when their partner shows physical affection, such as hand-holding.

Through physical touch, these people get a sense of safety. If this sounds like your partner, just make an effort to show them physical affection when you can.

Quality time: This is the love language for those who really appreciate being their partner’s main focus. They crave their partner’s undivided attention and do not appreciate a bad listener or someone who divides their attention or cancels dates.

If this is your partner’s love language, put down your phone and spend an evening focusing only on them.

Receiving gifts: This love language sounds simple, and it kind of is. What makes these

Daniela Granados Love languages are meant to bring you and your romantic partner or partners closer.

people feel loved and appreciated is to receive gifts. Thoughtful presents are what make these people tick, and surprises are even better. If this is your partner, surprise them with something you made, which will make them feel like you put in the time to really make them happy.

Words of affirmation: This love language is all about using words to make your partner feel appreciated. These people need

to hear compliments and plenty of affirming words in order to feel like they are valued by their partner. If this sounds like your partner’s love language, make sure you say “I love you” often, and don’t forget to be charitable with your compliments.

One thing to keep in mind is that each of the five love languages is important to a relationship in its own way — and ideally, they will all be present to varying degrees.

Does this approach to relationship-building really work? According to Chapman, it does, but if you want to be sure, try it for yourself!

Implementing the five love languages into your own relationship could not be simpler — just take the quiz online to see your own and your partner’s primary love languages, and you could be on your way to a happier romantic relationship.

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OPINIONS Edition 6: A Tinderella Story

Victoria Becker / Outreach Director

VICTORIA BECKER OUTREACH DIRECTOR

Jaymie Stachyruk

Got the V-Day blues? The Sheaf has you covered

Emily Myers, second-year, environmental engineering Marcel Laforge, second-year, economics

Five easy ways to share the warmth that you have in your heart with those around you.

How did you two meet?

Emily Myers: It’s a really funny story, actually. The first time we matched on Tinder was like a year before we matched for the second [successful] time. The first time he asked me out, I straight up said no.

ML: [laughs] On Tinder, whenever you ask someone out, they’ll either say, “Yeah, sure, let’s hang out,” not that I’ve ever asked anyone out besides Emily, or they would basically just not answer you. The funny thing about her is she just said no — I was like “fuck.” But then, when I got Tinder back about six months after having deleted it, she was the first girl I matched with.

EM: Awww.

ML: [blushes] I was like, “Hey, it’s dolphin girl,” because her profile picture at one point had been her and a dolphin, and I still remembered it. I was like, “Hmm, yeah, this is dolphin girl — [she seems] goofy and cool.”

EM: On a whim — it was just, like, a Wednesday — I was just like, “Hey, want to hang out now?” and he said, “Sure.”

KIRSTEN SAMSON

Valentine’s Day is one of the most hated days of the year — but is there hope for the mushy celebration? Isn’t the power of love strong enough to bring joy to the despised day?

I love Valentine’s Day. Something about seeing people express their love to each other, and reminding their loved ones that they appreciate their presence, warms my entire being.

Although some argue that we should be expressing love and gratitude every day, let’s be real — we can all be a little forgetful.

There is something so powerful about simultaneous expressions of love by a great number of people. Seeing people in love reminds me that there is hope for our world, which feels so desolate at times.

I am always ecstatic to see people around me blush when they’re told how incredible they are. Hearing folks express their gratitude to those around them gives me confirmation that this world isn’t always harsh and thankless.

I do sympathize, however, with arguments about the commercialization of the day of love. It frustrates me that many people believe that affection and gratitude can only

be expressed by the numbers on the till at Carlton Cards, or any Valentine’s Day store of your choice. Love doesn’t have a price tag, and thanking someone shouldn’t require a gift.

So, here are a few of the things I do to avoid the typical Valentine’s Day “buy your partner a gift and call it good” attitude, while still acknowledging the love and gratitude that I believe are central to the day. Some of these items require purchases, but others just require expressing the love in your heart.

1. Make your own cards: Homemade cards express your gratitude and love for those around you at virtually no cost.

Depending on your style, all you really need is paper, markers, paint or — if you’re really into it — maybe some glitter glue. A quick Google search will provide you with more ideas than you need to make cards for your loved ones. And as an added bonus, this makes for an excellent study break.

2. Cook a celebratory Valentine’s Day meal: Depending on how you’re feeling, you could do this with your partner or with friends. I prefer brunchtime potluck meals with a group of friends, as they can help you keep costs low. If this activity doesn’t have enough love in it for you, each person

at your meal can say something that they love about the person on their right.

3. Call a caregiver: On Valentine’s Day, I always make a point of calling someone who has acted as a caregiver for me.

I typically call my mom or dad, but in the past, I have also called former teachers to thank them for their love and support.

4. Dress in red or pink: Okay, I know that this one is a little silly, but I love dressing in these rich, warm colours — especially for Valentine’s Day. Put on some crushed velvet or a snazzy red scarf. Bright colours and clothing keep me feeling warm, in both the physical and emotional senses.

5. Remind the people around you that they rock: The barista who just handed you your coffee deserves to know that they are doing a great job. Your professor deserves to know that the innovative technique they are trying out is really facilitating your learning. The people we engage with every day are working hard, and giving them a little bit of the love in your heart could make their day.

Valentine’s Day is just a calendar reminder to smile a little brighter, speak a little gentler and listen a little harder to those around you. Who knows how much joy sharing a little love could bring?

How long have you two been together?

Marcel Laforge: Five months yesterday, but to break it down, 151 days — give or take.

When did you feel like your partner was a person that you really wanted to be with?

ML: I definitely knew during our first date that I got along with her super well — I remember driving home and being like, “This is something that is going to be special.”

What is the best thing about your partner?

EM: He always knows how to make me smile, and [how to] make me feel really good about myself — no matter what kind of mood I’m in.

What would you tell your younger self about love?

ML: I would tell my younger self, “Hey, relax — not only are you going to find someone who’s very caring and lovely, like Emily is, but you’re also going to find someone who makes you feel like you can be yourself around them.

You’re also going to find someone who’s super hot, too.” [laughs] I always tell Emily that I never thought I would date anyone as beautiful as her — good things come to those who wait, I guess.

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Kink ain’t queer: Adding K misuses acronym The length of the acronym doesn’t matter — kink just doesn’t need a place in it.

David Hartman Size need not matter when considering additions to the queer acronym.

MEG LAND

The queer community today includes a huge range of identities under the umbrella of gender and sexual diversity — but what counts as diverse? And, why does it matter?

The letter K has recently been introduced as an addition to the acronym that generally goes something like this: LGBTQQIP2SA+ — meaning lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, pansexual, two-spirit, asexual,

and other gender and sexual minorities.

The proposed K stands for “kink.” Some opponents to adding the K argue that the acronym is getting too long and that we should do away with it altogether. But, the acronym is important, and inclusivity is

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important in the queer community, which spent too long as an exclusive club for strictly gay individuals.

People are coming up with new words to define communities where they didn’t feel they fit in before, and that’s great. I am not pansexual, but I’m glad a word now exists that helps people find each other and feel included. However, that does not mean everyone gets a letter here. Misuse of the acronym erases people who need inclusion.

For example, the A has often been misinterpreted as standing for “allies,” when it actually stands for asexual — a group of people often forgotten about in the queer community. We love our allies, but they are not queer. We can also love dominatrixes and masochists, but that still doesn’t make them queer.

Kink isn’t queer. Kink is, well, kink. It’s the sex that some people like to have — and that is not what queerness is. I am not queer because of the sex I have. I am queer, because the relationships that are emotionally fulfilling to me often lie outside what is considered normal by society.

Kink offers sexual fulfillment — which can lead to emotional fulfillment — but it’s still defined by the act of sex, not the relationship. Someone who likes to participate in kinky activities might be having sex outside of the norm, but it does not encompass every aspect of their lives the way queerness does to a queer person.

Does a straight, cisgendered person who identifies with kink have to pretend their partner

2/5/2018 12:06:37 PM

is their roommate when they go apartment hunting? Do they have to carefully change the pronouns of their partner when asked about their personal life at a new job or avoid travel because they no longer match the picture and name on their ID? Have they had their identity erased, because it’s allegedly grammatically incorrect? The singular they is grammatically correct — ask an English professor. Have they been told to “pick a side already” or been asked what’s in their pants?

Have they been denied access to traditional cultural events, because colonialism was so thorough that many of our Elders now see the world in a gender binary — with the third, fourth and sometimes fifth genders present in pre-colonized North America all but forgotten?

No, someone who likes to bring a cattle prod to bed does not have to deal with any of those things. Unless they are queer, in which case the pertinent issue would be with their queerness and not how they need to have someone inflict pain on them — or whatever their kink is — to get off.

Our acronym is important to us, and it needs to be used properly. It is long, and that’s okay, because every letter represents a group of people who have been excluded from the heteronormative world in some way. Adding new letters makes people feel reassured that, yes, they are queer enough to exist in queer spaces — something that people who are into kink do not necessarily experience.

OPINIONS

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We need to talk about “the Talk” Sometimes sex education can do more harm than good.

MEGAN FAIRBAIRN

Though sex education comes in many forms, it’s beyond time to reevaluate what we teach young people. My first introductions to bedroom business left me ashamed, terrified and the most confused I’ve ever been.

The kitchen was bright and warm and smelled of double-chocolate cookies.

My mother and I, side by side, rolled the dough into balls. “You know, I think you’re old enough now,” she said.

My mother’s voice startled me from the baking process, and I asked what I was old enough for. “To know how babies are made,” she said. What a genius scheme, cornering your child in the kitchen and placating them with cookies. The awkwardness was inescapable.

Surprisingly, I remember little of that monumental afternoon, other than a palpable disgust that a man had something that was supposed to go in me, but only to facilitate making children — otherwise, it was a sin. I wasn’t concerned about sinning, though — I absolutely did not want a man’s anything in me, and I certainly didn’t want to birth a child as a result.

Little else was said on the topic that afternoon — and likewise, for the next few years. I felt uncomfortable breaching the subject with my parents again. I got the sense that sex was a topic to be kept hidden away in sock drawers and closets — something too awkward and indecent to reveal itself in the light of our moral,

double-chocolate-cookie-smelling Christian household.

Finally, in ninth grade, a nurse from the Saskatchewan Health Region was supposed to give us a sex-ed presentation. It sounded promising until some buttoned-up woman arrived at our classroom with a slide show wracked with graphic images of infected genitalia.

“This is what can happen to you if you have unprotected sex,” she warned, pointing at the gonorrhea-laden vulva on the screen. The presentation lasted two stomach-churning hours, and not once did she even explain how to use a condom. Even worse, the word “consent” never crossed her lips. This wasn’t sex education — this was a scare tactic.

As horrifying as that abstinence-or-die indoctrination was, what now bothers me the most about my sex-education — both at-home and in-school — is the implication that heterosexual, monogamous, child-rearing marriage is compulsory and that physical intimacy outside of such a relationship is somehow dirty, perverse or shameful.

Not once was I told that same-sex relationships were a valid option — the only education I got on these “nontraditional” relationships was that they were, like premarital relations, sinful.

Luckily, by the time I was 16 and undeniably certain that I was attracted to women, I had cast off the conservative messages surrounding sex that were thrust upon me in my younger years.

Thanks to a few older, experienced and more liberally minded friends, I learned

Lauren Klassen Chances are, many of the things you’ve leaned about sex are wrong.

that “sex” was a loaded term and that it meant much more than a procreative act of obligatory heterosexual intercourse.

A few internet searches later, I discovered the health and normalcy of varying expressions of sexuality in individuals and relationships of all kinds. Sex no longer seemed like a means to an end that could either liberate or condemn me based on who I was sleeping with, what we did or didn’t do and when, where or why we did it.

Unfortunately, my experience with sex education is fairly typical. Authority figures such as parents and health-care providers often dogmatically preach abstinence — which, don’t get me wrong, is a very valid choice — and fail to teach young adults the complexities of sex and sexual experiences.

By telling kids that sex will make them ill unless they are in a narrowly defined

traditional relationship, society is conditioning them to be ashamed of a natural part of their maturation and development.

When I stopped believing that I was wrong, perverse or sinful for failing to fit into the traditional box of sexuality that society has so wrongfully constructed, I moved past that awkward cookie-smelling kitchen and terrifying high-school classroom into a place of self-security and self-knowledge.

We need to begin teaching the next generation what a safe and healthy sexual relationship can mean for them, not what we think it should mean. Most importantly, we need to make sure young adults know that they, and their potential partners, have the agency and responsibility to mutually agree on the type of sexual experiences they will engage in, if they choose to at all.

More action: Saskatchewan government neglects HIV crisis The Sask Party needs to realize that we have an ongoing health crisis in the province.

JORDAN STOVRA

Saskatchewan has the highest rates of HIV and AIDS in the country, and the provincial government has failed to adequately address this problem — even after warnings from medical professionals.

Historically, Saskatchewan’s HIV rates have always been some of the highest in the country — with over 2,000 cases reported since 1985 — and these cases affect the Indigenous population most dramatically. In 2016, of the 170 new cases in Saskatchewan, 79 per cent of patients were Indigenous people.

In September 2016, doctors urged the provincial government to declare a state of emergency regarding the increase in HIV-AIDS cases in the province. That year, the Sunrise Health Region saw an 800 per cent spike in HIV cases. On average, this region identified

two new cases a year from 2006 to 2015, but in 2016 alone, 18 new cases were reported.

Danielle Chartier — Member of the Legislative Assembly for Saskatoon Riversdale, who is currently serving as the opposition’s official health critic — says not enough has been done since the province received warnings from medical professionals. Chartier believes the most important thing is that the government ensures accessible treatment for all.

“A year and a half ago, we had health professionals call on our government to declare a public-health emergency,” Chartier said. “They also called on our government for universal funding of antiviral medication.”

To Chartier, this is the bare minimum the government should do, and she is not confident that there will be any new developments under the new majority leader, Scott Moe. “I guess time will tell wheth-

ISTAidsHV / Flickr

er this will make a difference,” Chartier said. “Scott Moe has been sitting around the same cabinet that has not increased funding to this problem, especially during this crisis.”

So far, Moe has offered little insight into his party’s potential plans to intervene. However, in an email interview with the Sheaf in December 2017, before he was named premier of Saskatchewan, Moe did discuss his view of the crisis.

“The increase in HIV diagnosis is extremely troubling and my team is very concerned

about it,” Moe said. “A large part of the increase in diagnosis is the increase in testing being done throughout Saskatchewan. My team will continue with the next steps of continuing various HIV treatments within our health system.”

He is right about the increase in testing — in 2016, the province spent $854,710 on HIV testing, whereas a decade ago, that number was just $157,390 — but HIV is a lot more than a diagnosis. Affordable treatment can still be difficult to access, especially in northern

communities where cases are the most concentrated.

Furthermore, prevention measures are still focused on urban Saskatchewan, once again leaving out those more vulnerable northern communities.

It will be interesting to see what Moe’s new government will do in response to the health crisis in our province. A good first step would be to admit that the official response to the HIV crisis needs to go beyond just an acknowledgement — more long-term supports and solutions are required.

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A poetic letter to the editor, submitted to the Sheaf in 1993.

The Sheaf , Vol . 84, I ssue 24, p. 8, February 11, 1993, University Archives & Special Collections.

A Valentine’s Fashion feature, published in the Sheaf in 1946.

The Sheaf, Vol. 35, I ssue 18, p. 2, February 15, 1946, University Archives & Special Collections.

I want the blond goddess in the Sheaf office to know that her shine I’m building is almost complete.

You rock — Your future love slave.

To everyone who has supported me, cared for me, and driven me home.

Thank-you. Friendship is the best form of love — JSG Snooky, Ah, my leetle Much Ado About something! You are zee Midsummer Night’s Dream of my heart! I adore you, my leettlle passionate Juliet!

— Pooky Le Pew Mihira, Hit me baby one more time. I’ll be waiting.

— Brittney S. The cover of the Sheaf ’s Valentine’s issue in 1993.

Anonymous valentines submitted to the Sheaf in 2000.

Backtalk: What are you hoping to receive for Valentine’s Day?

The Sheaf , Vol . 84, I ssue 24, p. 1, February 11, 1993, University Archives & Special Collections.

The Sheaf , Vol . 91, I ssue 23, p. A8, February 10, 2000.

The Sheaf, Vol . 85, I ssue 24, p . 3, February 10, 1994, University Archives & Special Collections.

CAMPUS LENS: ROMANCE EDITION

Zico Wang

Laura Underwood

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J.C. Balicanta Narag

Gabbie Torres Hael Espiritu

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BOSTON DYNAMICS SEX ROBOT PROGRAMMED TO CALL YOU BY WRONG NAME FOR REALISTIC PERFORMANCE ENGINEERING BUILDING — On Feb. 12, an invite-only audience saw Boston Dynamics present their first sex-robot prototype as part of a cross-country lecture series.

Named “Monotony,” the robot is said to provide an incompara-

#albumoftheweek:

Little Dark Age

by MGMT Emily Migchels

bly realistic sexual experience.

For lead programmer and designer Gerald Oakhouse, this authenticity is reached because of Monotony’s active disinterest in the task.

“We understand the importance of creating a realistic and

authentic sexual experience,” said Oakhouse, during the lecture. “For many people nowadays, banality is the status quo for sexual encounters. So, we programmed Monotony with that in mind.”

Oakhouse revealed that Mo-

DISTRACTIONS notony is programmed to yawn, sigh, check its phone and even call you by the wrong name while doing the deed. Oakhouse hopes that forthcoming updates will allow Monotony to shake users’ hands once finished.

For Derek Bradson, a thirdyear mechanical engineering student, the lecture was inspiring.

“Not only was Monotony super hot, I’m glad that Boston Dynamics is finally focusing on worthwhile projects,” Bradson said. “It’s really shown me the possibilities in the sex-robot field are endless. I hope to one

day create the first emotionally unavailable sex robot.”

Bradson isn’t alone in understanding the potential that Monotony heralds. In fact, Boston Dynamics announced that they will cease to work on Atlas, Spot and Handle in order to focus on creating two more lines of realistic sexbots.

Monotony is slated for release on June 7, available on Amazon or at your local adult store.

This article is satirical and is not intended to communicate any true or factual information about the American design company Boston Dynamics.

This long-awaited release proves there’s nothing wrong with never changing. Little Dark Age drips with the same semi-psychedelic, synth-driven attitude that the band established back in 2002 — and it’s still a breath of fresh air. The lyrics explore themes like social-media dependence, loneliness and human connection.

Little Dark Age is a balancing act, with lighthearted tracks like “She Works Out Too Much” alongside heavy jams like “James,” in which frontman Andrew VanWyngarden affects a brooding King Krule-esque monotone. Listen, and relive your weirdo days of glory.

Tinder Bingo instructions: Complete one horizontal, diagonal or vertical line of this bingo card, and submit it to us with your contact information for a chance to win Sheaf swag! You can submit your completed card in one of four ways: 1. Post a photo of your completed card to Instagram and tag the Sheaf @usasksheaf.

2. Send in a photo of your card to outreach@thesheaf.com.

3. Swing by the Sheaf Office (Room 108 in the MUB) during office hours and drop off your card.

4. If you’d rather not say hello, slide your card under the Sheaf Office door.

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