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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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The University of Saskatchewan’s main campus is situated on Treaty 6 Territory and the Homeland of the Métis.
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USSU management Reject the lies, don’t eat criticized for centre hiring dyes
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NEWS
T H E S H E A F P U B L I S HI NG S OC I E T Y // MAY 03 , 2 0 1 8
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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF | Emily Migchels
editor@thesheaf.com NEWS EDITOR
CULTURE EDITOR
Tanner Bayne
Cole Chretien
news@thesheaf.com
culture@thesheaf.com
SPORTS & HEALTH EDITOR
OPINIONS EDITOR
Erin Matthews
Jack Thompson
opinions@thesheaf.com
sportshealth@thesheaf.com
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NEWS
Student claims USSU hiring bias, will not return to Women’s Centre An applicant who was rejected for the position of Women’s Centre coordinator alleges the decision was due to her participation in the election protests last month.
STAFF WRITER
Ana Cristina Camacho staffwriter@thesheaf.com COPY EDITOR
LAYOUT MANAGER
| Kaitlin Wong
layout@thesheaf.com PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR
| Riley Deacon
photo@thesheaf.com
| Jaymie Stachyruk
graphics@thesheaf.com WEB EDITOR
| Nykole King
web@thesheaf.com OUTREACH DIRECTOR
| J.C Balicanta Narag
outreach@thesheaf.com AD & BUSINESS MANAGER
| Shantelle Hrytsak
ads@thesheaf.com COVER IMAGE
Riley Deacon BOARD OF DIRECTORS Jeremy Britz Lyndsay Afseth Matthew Taylor Hasith Andrahennadi Yiuei Huang
ADVERTISING (306) 966 8688 EDITORIAL (306) 966 8689
Mission // The mission of the Sheaf is to inform and entertain students by addressing those issues that are relevant to life on campus, in the city or in the province. The newspaper serves as a forum for discussion on a wide range of issues that concern students. Written for students, by students, it provides unique insight into university issues through a student perspective. The staff of editors, photographers and artists collaborate with volunteers as student journalists to create a product relevant to students on the University of Saskatchewan campus. Legal // The Sheaf, published weekly during the academic year and periodically from May through August, is an incorporated non-profit that is, in part, student-body funded by way of a direct levy paid by all partand full-time undergraduate students at the U of S. The remainder of the revenue is generated through advertising. The financial affairs are governed by a Board of Directors, most of whom are students. Membership in the Sheaf Publishing Society is open to all undergraduate students at the U of S, who are encouraged to contribute to the newspaper. Absolutely no experience is required! 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 March 29 issue, the article “Suspects determined in two incidents allegedly involving date-rape drugs on campus” incorrectly stated that no campus alert was issued following the alleged date-rape druggings. In fact, there was a campus notification regarding one of the reported sexual assaults discussed in the article. We apologize for this error. If you spot any errors in this issue, please email them to copy@thesheaf.com for correction.
2 / NEWS
WEB EDITOR
| Amanda Slinger
copy@thesheaf.com
GRAPHICS EDITOR
NYKOLE KING
The University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union is still facing criticism from students following the election protests in March. Three students are claiming that they were wrongly rejected for a position as a centre co-ordinator because of their affiliations with the student action. Ashlynn Weisberg, a fourthyear women’s and gender studies student, is one applicant who is taking issue with the USSU. In a statement shared with the Sheaf as well as on Facebook, Weisberg states that this is her “final standoff ” with the union and that she will not return to the Women’s Centre in the following year. She explains that, while she appreciates all the student volunteers in the centres, she will “refuse to answer” to the USSU administration any longer, saying that they do not respect the safety of those students. Weisberg says that she is unsatisfied that the USSU did not acknowledge that approximately 10 students wrote letters on her behalf to reconsider her for the position and that the hiring committee did not appeal their decision following the support for her. The statement posted on Weisberg’s Facebook page included their arguments. “As select representatives of our Women’s Centre, we urge you to reconsider the decision to hire a lesser qualified candidate over senior applicants with greater levels of experience, both internally and externally… We argue that our voices and our understanding of our own community exceeds that of the USSU hiring committee… We urge you to follow your own mission statement and represent us in the way we see fit.” The USSU has not yet announced who the incoming co-ordinators are; although, some students believe they
Riley Deacon / Photo Editor The USSU centres are located in the Memorial Union Building.
have found out their identities through informal methods. However, the Sheaf was unable to confirm which students were selected for the positions as co-ordinators and whether or not those students participated in the protests. When contacted to respond to the claims, Jason Kovitch, the business and services manager of the USSU, explained the difficulty in choosing students for the positions. “Because of privacy issues, the USSU will not discuss the specifics of any individual hiring. One of the hardest things the hiring committee has to do is tell the people who are passionate about the centres that they were not chosen for the position. However, we are extremely pleased and excited about the incoming coordinators, and we are confident that they are going to do a fantastic job in the coming years,” Kovitch said, in an email to the Sheaf. Kovitch said that the hiring committee consists of several representatives including the co-ordinator of the centre, an executive member of the union and one or two staff members knowledgeable about the student centres. He also reports that everyone who applied was interviewed. On April 6, Weisberg received an email from Kovitch notifying her that she was not selected for the position. After her supporters emailed the union asking them to appeal
their decision, Weisberg followed up with both Kovitch and Caroline Cottrell, the general manager of the USSU, to ask for a second interview. Weisberg explains that the request was not for selfish reasons but because she felt responsible to the students who had vouched for her. She says that Cottrell responded to her email the following day with a statement that the hiring committee made their decision based on due process. Two other students have also echoed Weisberg’s claims that the protests precluded them from the Pride Centre co-ordinator position. Thomas Gendzwill is a third-year women’s and gender studies student who applied for the Pride Centre position and received a rejection email on April 4. However, the third student was not willing to comment at this time. Despite her grievances with the USSU, Weisberg expresses a heartfelt sentiment about her decision. “This is one of the most difficult decisions I have ever had to make, and the thought of leaving my centre has completely broken me… Please know that the centres were more than just spaces for me — they are a piece of my heart,” Weisberg wrote on Facebook. “I will continue to fight for justice, and I will continue to fight for the centres. I just cannot be physically present in them any longer.”
MAY 0 3 , 2 0 1 8
NEWS
WWW.T H E S H E A F.COM // @ U SAS KS H E A F
Student coalition takes a stand against sexual violence The USask Campus Community Coalition Against Sexual Violence is collecting signatures for a vote of non-confidence against USSU presidentelect Coden Nikbakht.
Spotlight on tuition increases at the U of S Deena Kapacila, 2017-18 USSU vicepresident operations and finance, says that tuition hikes do not reflect the realities of many students’ economic situations. TANNER BAYNE NEWS EDITOR
On April 4, the University of Saskatchewan Board of Governors announced the tuition rates for the 2018-19 academic year. On average, students at the U of S will be paying 4.8 per cent more than they did in the 2017-18 academic year. At the U of S, tuition is set based on three considerations: comparisons to the tuition levels of other U15 universities, the perceived quality of education, and affordability and accessibility. With the tuition announcement, the Board of Governors released an information document outlining the tuition increases by college. The tuition hikes for direct-entry colleges are as follows: Agriculture and Bioresources 4.8 per cent increase, from $6,119 to $6,413. Arts and Science 4.7 per cent increase, from $6,751 to $7,065. J.C. Balicanta Narag Tbe USask Student Campus Community Coalition Against Sexual Violence will plan their future efforts this summer. ANA CRISTINA CAMACHO STAFF WRITER
Following the University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union general election on March 22, a group of students concerned with the perceived implications of the sexual-assault allegations circulating against the USSU president-elect decided to form the USask Campus Community Coalition Against Sexual Violence. The coalition was created shortly after the election results were announced, at a meeting of student protesters in the Gordon Oakes Red Bear Student Centre. The group’s aim is to advocate for survivors of sexual assault and respond to their allegations tangibly, not only in the context of the USSU elections but also in regards to the wider systemic problems that are being discussed in the aftermath. Mackenzie Paradzik, a fourth-year political studies student and spokesperson for the coalition, explains that, even though the group was formed in response to the allegations surrounding USSU president-elect Coden Nikbakht, they plan to broaden the scope of the coalition. “We don’t believe that he is someone that exemplifies what is expected of a leadership role,” Paradzik said. “But ob-
viously this issue doesn’t only exist in the context of [Nikbakht’s] election. We hope that this group can be a response to the systemic issue of rape culture in our society and on this campus.” The coalition aims to address perceived gaps in the university’s responses to sexual violence. Paradzik believes that the USSU general election was symptomatic of existing problems, citing a lack of supports for sexual-assault victims on campus, which is an issue that the coalition wants to change. “The lack of response from the USSU and the university has set a precedent that shows that their cares don’t [lie] with survivors of sexual assault and that this campus is not safe for people who have experienced it,” Paradzik said. “We want to be a group on campus that is there in support of survivors and mobilizes against sexual assault in a tangible way.” Despite being a student movement concerned with improving the university community, the coalition is not ratified by the U of S. Paradzik states that the group deliberately exists as an entity separate from the university, as some of their aims don’t align. “After the lack of response that we have received from the USSU administration, we are not trusting of their respect for survivors,” Paradzik
said. “Right now, we are separate from the university, even though we are a group made up of students from the U of S.” Paradzik explains the importance the coalition places on decisive action to create change. The group’s Facebook page states that they “will not remain silent or neutral” on the issue of sexual assault. Paradzik says that actively advocating for survivors is the coalition’s main focus. “It’s important to not be silent as a community in regards to this,” Paradzik said. “Our main goal is to stand against sexual violence by amplifying the voices of the survivors. Action and speaking out is necessary to combat the conditions that exist right now.” As for the future, the coalition will co-ordinate their efforts over the summer. Currently, the group is collecting signatures dissenting against Nikbakht’s presidency. To put forward a vote of non-confidence, the signatures of 7.5 per cent of undergraduate students at the U of S are required. If the position becomes vacant on or before October 31, it will result in a by-election; if it is vacated after that, the University Students’ Council will decide whether to split the duties of the role or hold a by-election.
Edwards School of Business 3.3 per cent increase, from $7,406 to $7,647. Engineering 4.0 per cent increase, from $8,172 to $8,500. Kinesiology 4.4 per cent increase, from $6,100 to $6,371. In a media release following the Board of Governors’ tuition announcement, 2017-18 USSU vice-president operations and finance Deena Kapacila stated that the USSU is pleased with the tuition dialogue between the U of S administration and the USSU. However, Kapacila doesn’t believe that the hikes reflect the economic realities of students, and in her statement, she called on the provincial government for increased financial assistance. “With the understanding that the cost associated with post-secondary education is a shared responsibility, we are asking the province of Saskatchewan to adequately fund our post-secondary institutions and work with the U of S to combat the declining student experience referenced in the Maclean’s U15 rankings,” Kapacila said. “Even if a student is lucky enough to find a well-paying job, working all summer barely covers the cost of one term.”
Jaymie Stachyruk / Graphics Editor
NEWS / 3
SPORTS&HEALTH
Nutrition Spotlight:
Fish-oil
supplements
T H E S H E A F P U B L I S HI NG S OC I E T Y // MAY 03 , 2 0 1 8
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SPORTS&HEALTH
A dyeless diet: My month of not eating synthetic food colourants Reject the lies, don’t eat dyes — my motto for the month and why it should be contemplated at the dinner table.
JENNA LEUNG
Fish-oil pills are multivitamin supplements composed of two kinds of omega-3 fatty acids: eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). These fatty acids are complementary to your diet and can improve your immune system. Omega-3 fatty acids are not produced by the human body. Therefore, they need to be derived from the foods that we eat. Fish oils are one such source. Because of how important essential fatty acids are for nutrition, they are linked to many health benefits. Fish-oil supplements can help relieve pain, combating muscle stiffness and aches. Some people have found that this may alleviate the delayed-onset muscle soreness experienced after a workout. People also take fish oil to treat high blood pressure. Moreover, studies have shown that the EPA present in fish oils can reduce fat levels in people with high amounts of triglycerides — the major form of fat in the body. Mercury levels in these pills are generally low, as they go through a refinement process. As a general rule of thumb, fish-oil pills sourced from nonpredatory cold-water fish are the safest in terms of low mercury content. Finding a Natural Product Number on the package specifies that the product was tested for heavy metals, pesticides and toxins. As for how much you should consume, Health Canada recommends no more than 3 grams of total fish oil per day — meaning EPA plus DHA. As always, consult a doctor or health professional to find out what considerations may apply to your personal health.
Jaymie Stachyruk / Graphics Editor
4 / SPORTS & HEALTH
J.C. Balicanta Narag Plenty of popular pantry products contain synthetic dyes.
LAUREN KLASSEN
The use of synthetic dyes in food production is cause for concern for students and consumers due to the harmful effects dyes have on the body over an extended period of time, so I didn’t eat artificial dyes for a month. Natural dyes have been replaced by synthetic dyes in food production practices over the past decades because synthetic dyes are more affordable and easier to use. This is problematic because synthetic dyes have carcinogenic properties. Studies have linked dyes to asthma, behavioural issues and cancer. Research found that yellow no. 5 tested positive for genotoxicity — meaning it has destructive effects on a cell’s DNA. This means that dyes have high carcinogenic properties, so only concentrations of 0.005 to 0.05 per cent are permitted in foods. However, since carcinogenic effects are cumulative and synthetic dyes are added to numerous foods, ranging from baby food to vitamin supplements, extended exposure can cause harm to the body regardless. This April, I did not consume any food or drink with synthetic dyes. The purpose of this experiment was to challenge myself to be more aware of what I consume and to create a dialogue about food. The project raised
two questions for me: First, how will my diet change by erasing synthetic colourants from the picture? And second, do consumers get a say over what is in their food? From my findings, while heavily processed foods including pre-made meals, fast food and vibrant junk food contain artificial dye, so do frozen fish, Shake ’n Bake, cereals and jams. Even baked goods from the Safeway bakery contain yellow no. 5 and yellow no. 6. Certain brand names, such as Kraft, consistently use artificial colourants. I could not get fast food, eat candy or some chocolates, or consume certain alcoholic drinks. I couldn’t settle for some of my quick, go-to packaged meals. However, the challenge did push me to spend more time and effort on what I eat. Preparing nutritious meals is a struggle for university students because healthy alternatives are costly and home-cooked meals can take a significant amount of time to prepare. Many students don’t have the time or resources to avoid food colouring, let alone do home cooking, even if they want to. Therefore, access to nutritious food is not always a tangible option for many students. My findings from this project not only raised my awareness of the dyes in food but also the variety of food items that contain other additives, such as BHT and palm oil. I have document-
ed my month of no dyes on Instagram @cultivatedconsumer. While my diet did not change drastically, I found out that some of the products I eat regularly do contain artificial colouring. The project was not very difficult — there are far more unavoidable ingredients in food production, such as palm oil or modified milk ingredients, but I chose artificial colouring because I wanted to start somewhere. Since the effects of the carcinogenic properties in synthetic dyes are cumulative, removing dyes from my diet for a month will not prevent the long-term effects of dyes on my body. To prevent the effects, the project would have to last a lifetime. But even so, it may be too late, as I have been exposed to food dyes since childhood. There is no nutritional value to adding synthetic dyes to food. It is a marketing tool to produce visually pleasing products to entice consumers, and corporations are not going to change the process of food production without any push from consumers. In discussions with peers about food, the phrase “everything gives you cancer” has arisen on multiple occasions, and I fear the complacency and acceptance attached to it. For me, this project raised a question that perhaps speaks to a larger issue of passive, mindless food consumption in North America — have we stopped caring?
MAY 0 3 , 2 0 1 8
WWW.T H E S H E A F.COM // @ U SAS KS H E A F
SPORTS&HEALTH
Huskies 2018 football schedule officially released, as the program sets its sights on redemption The Canada West Conference is perennially competitive, and this year will be no exception, as the Huskies will look to return to the post-season for the first time since 2001. MATTHEW JOHNSON
With the 2018 Dogs’ Breakfast quickly approaching, football season is within sight. The Huskies spring camp starts on May 3, when the team will officially begin preparations for the upcoming season. Head coach Scott Flory and company now know their official schedule, which was unveiled on April 9. The off-season provided Flory with the opportunity to make his mark on this program, as it was his first chance at putting together a full recruiting class. The Huskies are set to bring in over 40 fresh faces to the University of Saskatchewan’s football team, which will make the 2018 recruiting class the largest in program history. The new recruits, along with the rest of the Huskies, won’t
have to wait long to get a home game under their belts, as the team kicks off their 2018 campaign in Saskatoon, where they will take on the Alberta Golden Bears. Last season, the Golden Bears emerged as a playoff team for the first time since 2010, so they will be looking to begin the season with a win. However, the Huskies picked up their first home win of the season in 2017 against the Alberta Golden Bears and will be hoping to continue that trend in week one of the 2018 season. Week two will provide the Huskies with their first road trip of the season, with the team travelling to Winnipeg to take on the Manitoba Bisons. The Bisons and Huskies met in week one of the 2017 season, where the Huskies picked up an impressive road win. In week three, the Huskies
will play host to the defending Canada West champions, the Calgary Dinos. Calgary will open up the 2018 season as the conference top dog, and taking care of business at home with a statement victory could go a long way toward Saskatchewan’s fate in the playoffs. The Huskies schedule is front-loaded with home games, as week four will bring in their provincial rivals, the Regina Rams. The Rams will be eyeing their third straight post-season appearance, and taking down the U of S would help in that. Each time these two programs square up, it has all the makings of a classic, and 2018 should be no exception. Rams quarterback Noah Picton is one of the top players in the country and will be looking to put on a show in what will likely be the 2016 Hec Creighton Trophy
winner’s final game at Griffiths Stadium. Week five will provide a second meeting for the Huskies with the Calgary Dinos — but this game will take place in enemy territory. The trek west to McMahon Stadium is always a tricky trip for the Dogs, as they’ve lost five of their past six regular-season games in Calgary, which includes a 51-28 defeat in 2017. Following the Thanksgiving bye, the Huskies will head west to take on the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds. Along with Picton, Thunderbirds quarterback Michael O’Connor is one of the best in the country to line up under centre in U Sports, making for a difficult matchup. A rare afternoon game will be held at Griffiths Stadium in late October, as the Manitoba
Bisons will clash with the Huskies for their second meeting of 2018. The Bisons dashed the Dogs’ post-season hopes in the final game of the regular season in 2017, which will undoubtedly be on Saskatchewan minds as the team sets out to make sure they protect home field this time around. The Huskies will wrap up their regular season at the beautiful Mosaic Stadium in Regina, in what will be their second matchup against the Rams. With both programs expected to be in the thick of things, this game has the potential to contain its fair share of playoff implications. After a disappointing 2-6 season in 2017, the Huskies will be desperate to turn the page and push for a post-season appearance in 2018.
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CULTURE SPORTS&HEALTH
T H E S H E A F P U B L I S HI NG S OC I E T Y // MAY 03 , 2 0 1 8
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Stay active: Summer fitness in Saskatoon No matter your availability or preferences, there is definitely an activity for you. ANA CRISTINA CAMACHO STAFF WRITER
Whether it’s outdoors or indoors, in a group or by yourself, twice a week or once in the whole season, summer is the time to get some exercise and enjoy life — before things get busy and cold again in the fall. If you are a team player that is ready to put aside a couple of hours a week to have fun, intramurals at the Physical Activity Centre are for you. From the end of May to late July, you can be part of a team that meets weekly and competes against other groups. The sports offered during summer are slo-pitch, soccer and spikeball, and all skill levels are welcome. There is a $50 fee per team, and the registration deadline is May 23. Get your friends together to form a team, or register by yourself and meet new people — either way, it’s sure to be a good time. Another option is PlaySask, a business that sets up recreational sports leagues. Same as intramurals, you can join on your own or with a team, and lack of skill is no problem — the main goal is to have fun. Their registration fee is higher than Campus Rec’s at around $100, but you also get a longer season from May 13 until mid-August. PlaySask offers beach dodgeball and outdoor soccer leagues, so it’s a good way to enjoy the summer sun. Registration for the spring-andsummer season is open on their website.
If you don’t want the commitment of intramurals and are seeking out a less structured way to get back into the healthy lifestyle that you so completely abandoned during exam season, fitness classes are for you. From yoga to spin to zumba, the PAC’s Fit Centre offers 21 types of classes a week during the summer in over 30 time slots, so you are sure to find something interesting to fill that one-hour break in your schedule. For most students, which includes anyone who pays rec fees, the classes are cost free — all you have to do is register online up to two days in advance or get there a little early and hope the ten dropin spots available for each class haven’t been claimed yet. The Saskatoon Field House is also an option. Located just a 10-minute walk away from the University of Saskatchewan campus, this leisure centre offers drop-in programs that are very similar to the Fit Centre classes but a little more varied in content. They offer sport and fitness classes in various time slots. Unlike the fitness classes, though, the Field House has a daily admission cost of $9.80, but it’s still good to keep it in mind for when the Fit Centre’s schedule doesn’t work for you or you want to try out something different. You can check out their daily schedules and register through their website. If you are more into working out by yourself, the Fit Centre also has options for
Heywood Yu Joining a Campus Rec team can be a great way to spend your summer downtime.
you. This year, the climbing wall and the main entrance will be closed in May due to renovations, but the Fit Studio will remain open and free of cost to students. You can drop by to use the exercise equipment from 6:30 a.m.
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to 10:30 p.m. from Monday to Friday and from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends. With your university classes momentarily out of the way, summer is the season to put some time into the activities you were too busy
for during the academic year. There’s no better time to construct a healthier lifestyle that will carry you through your stress once fall rolls around, so do your future self a favor and fit some exercise into your schedule now.
CULTURE
WWW.T H E S H E A F.COM // @ U SAS KS H E A F
MAY 0 3 , 2 0 1 8
CULTURE
Picasso, photography and human hair: A look at Remai Modern’s summer exhibits
EVENTS M A Y
SILENCE KIT WITH THE RADIANT AND THE DEPARTMENT HEADS @ BLACK CAT TAVERN, MAY 5
Saskatoon’s modern art museum offers up a variety of new shows, with exhibits ranging from challenging sculptures to evocative abstract works.
CINERGIE: SASKATCHEWAN’S FRANCOPHONE FILM FESTIVAL @ THE ROXY THEATRE, MAY 8 - 13
PAUL CHAN’S BATHERS AT NIGHT @ REMAI MODERN, MAY 11 - JULY 29
CLEO NGUYEN
RADIATION FLOWERS AND ARCHAICS WITH GUESTS @ AMIGOS CANTINA, MAY 18
With the turn of the season, the Remai Modern is exhibiting new works: a bold collection of Picasso linocuts, a cinematic adventure, eccentric sculptures and lens-based works by leading Indigenous artists await in its gallery spaces. The gallery features a new exhibit based on the theme of one of Picasso’s prominent interests: bullfighting. Among the works showcased in Picasso on View, those that are notable include: Toros en Vallauris and his series Picador Goading Bull with Matador. The collection comes from the archives of Picasso’s master printer, Hidalgo Arnera. Curator Sandra Fraser explains the significance of the authenticity of the works. “[The Remai has] working proofs and experimental proofs in addition to the finished print that most people would have had a chance to see,” Fraser said. “What I really love is how I can imagine myself in Picasso’s studio as he works through choices around composition or colour — I can see the things that he tried out, at times rejected and other times carried through.” The bright abstractions and lines that characterize Picasso’s works contrast against the neutral colours of the gallery walls in a way that most certainly warrants delight. Other works feature a darker palette with rich, muted tones — inviting the viewer into a closer examination of Picasso’s action-packed depictions of bullfighters. Picasso on View closes on July 20, and a new exhibit, curated by Fraser, will take its place: Pablo Picasso: Process and Poetry. Echoes, running at the Remai Modern until Oct. 14, showcases the photography of Indigenous artists Rebecca Belmore, Lori Blondeau, Raymond Boisjoly and Duane Linklater — whose artwork represents a unique exception, as it is presented through video and sculptural media. Fraser emphasizes that hav-
BUFFY SAINTE MARIE @ KNOX UNITED CHURCH, MAY 23
J U N E
PONTEIX, FOAM LAKE AND ETIENNE FLETCHER @ CAPITOL MUSIC CLUB, JUNE 1
SASKATOON PRIDE FESTIVAL @ CITYWIDE, JUNE 10 - 24
DANIEL CAESAR @ TCU PLACE, JUNE 19
SASKTEL SASKATCHEWAN JAZZ FESTIVAL @ CITYWIDE, JUNE 22 - JULY 1
SASKATOON SUMMER PLAYERS PRESENTS ANNIE @ REMAI MODERN, JUNE 30 - JULY 8
Riley Deacon / Photo Editor Pae White’s Lucky Charms has been a mainstay of the Remai since its opening.
ing the works of Indigenous artists featured in the gallery is one of the Remai’s central values. “It is important for us to reflect our audiences and to engage with concerns — both artistic and social — that are relevant to the communities we serve,” Fraser said. Among the notable works in Echoes are the breathtaking portraits in Blondeau’s series Asiniy Iskwew. Blondeau, a master’s of fine arts graduate from the University of the Saskatchewan, is the co-founder and current director of TRIBE, a Canadian Aboriginal arts organization. The primary exhibit at Remain Modern, housed in the larger galleries upstairs, is At the Center of the World by Jimmie Durham. A quote from Durham near the gallery entrance reads: “I feel fairly sure I could address the whole world if only I had a place to stand.” The themes of Durham’s works challenge Western historical narratives, including the state and dominant institutions, colonialism, the vehicle of language, the relationship between humans and nature, and Indigenous identity. His sculptures consist of natural materials, ranging from animal bones and seashells to driftwood, and astonishingly enough, human hair, human dentures and Durham’s own teeth — as seen in Head. These elements, paired with everyday objects such
as mirrors and pipes, add to the vaguely morbid character of his artwork. The exhibit is compelling, eccentric and unsettling — it is bound to pique intrigue with its social commentary. Durham himself is a man surrounded in controversy, having self-declared as Cherokee. Many of his works centre on the theme of identity, drawing from his personal life. Public condemnation has been voiced by multiple Cherokee artists in protest to his claims, and Durham remains highly criticized, as members of the Cherokee Nation have explicitly rejected Durham as Cherokee. At the Center of the World will be calling the Remai Modern home until August 12. Remai Modern’s new cinematic exhibition Roving, featuring five works by Oliver Husain, is on display until Oct. 14. Curator Rose Bouthillier says that viewers should anticipate a unique immersive experience upon seeing the Canadian director’s works. “It’s an unfolding survey that shows how certain themes have developed in Husain’s work, including pageantry, illusion, anticipation, absurdity and the apparatus of film itself,” Bouthillier said. Themes of Husain’s work, as observed by Bouthiller, include a visual exploration of social, political and environmental upheaval; the process by which histories are mythologized; and the radical potential of art.
J U L Y
SHAKESPEARE ON THE SASKATCHEWAN @ SPADINA CRESCENT, JULY 4 - AUG. 19
SECOND AVENUE SIDEWALK SALE @ SECOND AVENUE, FROM 20TH TO 23RD STREET EAST, JULY 5 - 7
A TASTE OF SASKATCHEWAN: PRESENTED BY CONEXUS CREDIT UNION @ KIWANIS PARK, JULY 17 - 22
NESS CREEK MUSIC FESTIVAL @ BIG RIVER, SASK., JULY 19 - 22
FOOD TRUCK WARS STREET FESTIVAL @ RIVERSDALE DISTRICT, JULY 27 - 29
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POTASHCORP FRINGE THEATRE AND STREET FESTIVAL @ BROADWAY DISTRICT, AUG. 2 - 11
SASKATOON RIBFEST @ DIEFENBAKER PARK, AUG. 3 - 6
SASKATOON FOLKFEST ’18 @ CITYWIDE, AUG. 16 - 18
CHAD VALLEY WITH GUESTS @ AMIGOS CANTINA, AUG. 31
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CULTURE / 7
CULTURE
T H E S H E A F P U B L I S HI NG S OC I E T Y // MAY 03 , 2 0 1 8
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Corner Gas reanimated: A classic back from the dead? Despite a shift to animation, the latest from Brent Butt feels stale. JACK THOMPSON
SPORTS & HEALTH EDITOR
After six seasons and a movie, Corner Gas canon came to an end in 2014, and fans have had a long while to come to terms with its demise — even the set in Rouleau, Sask., has been laid to rest. But years after its death, the show has come back in a zombified state: Corner Gas Animated. At the time of writing, four episodes of the new animated series have aired, all currently available for free online via the Comedy Network’s website. Episode one centres around the town running out of gas, while episode two primarily focuses on the elusive sasquatch and a hoax put on by characters Wanda and Hank — each was disappointing in its own way. The shift to animation was lauded for the ability to do more with fantasy elements by the show’s creator, Brent Butt.
After having watched the first few episodes, I think it has more to do with the destruction of the set. The animation is fairly uninspired, and the style feels incredibly repetitive and reminiscent of shows such as Brickleberry, Big Mouth and every other adult cartoon out there right now. Rather than providing more room for creativity, the animation stifles what made the show feel personal, because rather than watching the characters discuss their fantasies, the show just depicts them. While this may seem counterintuitive, the conversational nature of the characters’ interactions was what made Corner Gas feel authentic. The new animated show doesn’t feel like it takes place in a smalltown conversation in the same way that the live-action show did. Something is lost in the animation. Dog River no longer feels like a place in Saskatch-
ewan — which is true because it isn’t produced in the province anymore. The production company behind both the animated and live-action versions of Corner Gas, Vérité, has relocated from Regina to Toronto, with company officials citing the removal of the Saskatchewan film tax credit as the cause. This is somewhat poetic, as the character Lacey in the original show was treated like an outsider in the rural town because of her Toronto upbringing. Overall, Corner Gas Animated feels disconnected from its roots and fails to bring anything new to the table, resulting in a fairly hollow experience for viewers. Nothing new comes from the animation, and the show feels like it has lost its homegrown Saskatchewan appeal. This brings up the question of where exactly our Saskatchewan representation in Canadian media is if not on
Corner Gas / Supplied
Corner Gas. With no incentives for major productions to take place on this patch of the Prairies, there’s no business sense in choosing to film in Saskatchewan, so of course much of the action is going to be elsewhere. Everyone benefits from representation in the media — seeing people like you on TV is a very wholesome feeling — which is part of the reason the original Corner Gas was so popular. Saskatchewan has a lot of stories to tell, and there is obviously an appetite for this type of content. The series
premiere of Corner Gas Animated broke the record for the most-watched series premiere on The Comedy Network with over 360,000 viewers. It’s somewhat surprising that nothing has come along to fill the vacuum left by the original Corner Gas, and with the release of the animated series so far not living up to the original, the thought that nothing will fill this niche is disheartening. The lack of a replacement to Corner Gas is less representative of a lack of interest and more indicative of an industry issue.
Wish you went to film school? Video essays offer a free alternative.
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The University of Saskatchewan may not have a film program, but aspiring filmmakers and critics in the student body can learn a lot from an unlikely source — YouTube. The video essay is a sub-genre of YouTube video that combines audio, video, writing and narration to progress an argument about media or pop culture. The genre is particularly well-suited to film since the proposed argument is supported by the visuals that compose the backdrop of the video. Video essays often face criticism for weak production and the overuse of genre clichés. Poor audio recording, deadpan narration, low-fidelity video and corny chill-hop music — lifted straight from “hip-hop beats for study and chill” compilations — plague the medium. A few strategic YouTube searches led me to content that I couldn’t imagine anyone willfully consuming, with videos with titles like “The Secret Genius
by the directors featured in these video essays are freely available on Kanopy, a streaming service provided to U of S students that only requires a valid NSID for login. Other recommended videos on this channel include a concise and entertaining overview of the French New Wave movement, an examination of existentialist themes in the seminal anime series Cowboy Bebop and a nearly feature-length, scene-by-scene analysis of Martin Scorsese's Taxi Driver. Another channel worth checking out is Every Frame a Painting, which focuses more on the technical aspects of filmmaking and uses more contemporary pop-culture examples. I highly recommend watching “Edgar Wright — How to Do Visual Comedy.” This video analyzes the editing methods of the British cult auteur behind Baby Driver and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and compares them to the steadycam improv style of American comedy films. It’ll make you rethink the visual possibilities of comedy and ask more of what’s currently on offer.
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of Jake Paul — A Video Essay” and “Rick and Morty — Finding Meaning in Life.” Despite the abundance of low-quality pseudo-philosophical videos, there’s also a wealth of informative content available in video-essay format. One of the best creators in the video-essay sphere is Lewis Bond, a Toronto-based YouTuber who runs Channel Criswell. Bond’s videos are polished, beautifully written and edited, and further arguments about film that are decidedly unique in their observations. Bond’s videos tend to focus on great filmmakers and often highlight interesting critiques of different directors. Channel Criswell includes director-based video essays regarding the work of Denis Villeneuve, David Lynch, Andrei Tarkovsky and others. The channel also features the highly educational In Storytelling series, which covers the basic building blocks of cinema including use of colour, editing and composition in filmmaking. The In Storytelling collection provides a great crash course in the basics of film, and many films
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Video essays provide a way to learn the basics of film theory.
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Another interesting videoessay channel is Luiza Liz’s Art Regard, which focuses almost exclusively on the critical analysis of high-minded arthouse directors. Art Regard’s video essays include examinations of Ingmar Bergman, Alfred Hitchcock and David Cronenberg. As one of the few women working in the video-essay format, Liz has also started a video series called Women in Film, which looks at the basic components of film from a gendered perspective.
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At its best, the video-essay format functions as art unto itself. Video essays work as tributes to directors by distilling the essence of their achievements into a few short minutes of stunning sight and sound. They also offer a basic crash course in film literacy and criticism without viewers having to set foot in a lecture hall. Video essays can be a great gateway into the world of film, or if you’re already an experienced film buff, they can help you become a more attentive and analytical viewer.
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OPINIONS
OPINIONS
Summer is knocking, but how about hitting the books? Summertime classes don’t necessarily bring summertime sadness. BIDUSHY SADIKA
Summer is definitely meant for relaxing and taking time for yourself, but taking a few summer classes may be something to think about. Surprisingly, they do have a lot of benefits. Writing final exams at the end of the winter term, when the summer weather is ready to brighten our lives, is a tough job. We want to hang out and have fun, but the school stress drains us. We can’t help imagining ourselves enjoying the bright and warm weather. In this situation, why would we even think of taking summer classes? Taking a summer course can help students get their hardest classes out of the way. I am a psychology student,
but I am still required to take six credits of science courses — a fact that I hate about my undergraduate degree. I have been consistently registering in and dropping classes for this requirement for the past three years. Finally, this spring, I am taking a course that will be done within three short weeks. Finishing a tough class in just a few weeks has its own pros and cons. In many ways, the struggle is easier because you know that it will be over soon. However, if you take an upper-year course in the spring and summer terms, you may feel a little overwhelmed with the amount of content. I tried my hand at a thirdyear psychology course one summer, and although I got an excellent grade, those
three weeks were very hard for me indeed. You can finish your degree on time, or early, if you take summer classes. I struggle with taking five courses per semester, and I am sure that many people can relate to this. Cutting down on the number of classes you take per semester can alleviate this, while still finishing your degree within the prescribed four years. Summer classes may also help you get employment or into the honours program early. I finished my third-year psychology courses in the spring and summer, which helped me get into the honours program in my final year. You may just need to finish one or two classes to gain entrance into a specific program.
Jaymie Stachyruk / Graphics Editor
For example, when you can’t register for a professional application because you are behind a few courses, you end up wasting a semester or even a year. What else could be more frustrating than this? Completing those thirdyear classes ahead of time also helped me gain some volunteer research experience. Once I finished my psychology requirements, I was able to volunteer as a research assistant for a few psychology and sociology professors. I agree that summer is the time to relax, but trust me, the sunshine of summer can be an encouragement to
work harder. While the freezing winter days can demotivate us, the warm summer weather can make us more cheerful and happy. In this situation, our academic performance can be positively affected, too. Worried about missing out on summer activities while taking these classes? One tip is to budget your time. Take courses in May and June, and enjoy July and August. Or maybe go outside for a walk after school or when you have finished your assignments. Amidst your attempt to get ahead in your degree, don’t forget to take some time out for yourself and enjoy the beautiful weather.
How unplugging from my phone, and failing at it, taught me to manage my time better I kind of unplugged from tech for a week, and here’s what I learned. COLE CHRETIEN CULTURE EDITOR
If you’re a part of the generation that grew up with cellphones and social media, you’re probably hyper-aware of the supposed negative effects of technology. I decided to unplug for a week to test the benefits of a life lived offline. As technology has gotten better, it’s become increasingly difficult to escape the alluring pull of the digital screen. Ten years ago, an internet addiction was something that was confined to a single room with a personal computer, but with the advent of the smartphone, it’s become something that we can take with us everywhere we go. Many of us lament the time we waste browsing through Instagram’s explore feed, refreshing our Twitter timelines or just catching up on the news. My internet addiction mainly takes the form of Twitter, but I spend a lot of time reading music blogs and
listening to podcasts as well. In recent iterations, the political landscape on social media has become incredibly toxic, and part of the fun is just seeing all of the absolute weirdos out there. Twitter is essentially one big rowdy party where all of your least favorite people show up, and I love it to death. Spend enough time on Twitter, as I certainly have, and you’ll notice a strange divide between the incredibly fragile and self-serious far-right basement-dwellers, the centre-left and centre-right eggheads who think that The West Wing is cool and mean tweets should be criminal offenses, and the unholy alliance of leftists and shitposters whose irony levels are so high they’ve transcended the physical plane. Watching a centrist pundit meltdown in real time is perhaps one of the funniest things you can see. However, watching all of this empty pageantry — regardless of how entertain-
ing it is — can’t possibly be good for your brain. After becoming as extremely involved online as I was, I felt I could benefit from some time being extremely offline. But in the hyperconnected world we live in, that’s actually really hard to do. As well, I realized that the middle of exam season isn’t exactly the best time to toss your phone in a drawer and throw your laptop in a shoebox. Instead, I opted for a half-measure. I installed an app that monitors phone usage and tried to spend as little time on my phone as possible. After a quick starting diagnostic, I was shocked to learn that I spend an average of nearly three hours on my phone a day. So I made it my goal to stay under an hour of phone usage per day. Over the course of a week, I managed to get pretty close to that. Aside from one day where I only spent 41 minutes looking at my phone screen, I only spent about an hour and 15 minutes plugged in each day. This meant I had a little over an hour and a
Emilena Charles Cut ties with technology.
half of extra time in the real world each day. With this new-found time, I spent a day at the Remai Modern art gallery, I read the lion’s share of Michel Foucault’s Discipline and Punish, and I finally caught up on my film backlog. I’ve now seen The Shape of Water, and man, I think that movie is really bad. Maybe I’ll update this with my thoughts on Dunkirk when I finally get the chance to watch it in 2021.
During this time, however, I listened to podcasts while doing the dishes and studied on my laptop, so my FBI guy probably didn’t miss me much. I’m not going to tell you to throw your phone off the Broadway Bridge or that all social media is poison. But I will tell you that rethinking how you use technology can give you more time for the things you love, and everyone could use a bit more of that.
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OPINIONS
T H E S H E A F P U B L I S HI NG S OC I E T Y // MAY 03 , 2 0 1 8
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Books and brews: A pseudointellectual’s guide to summer The Sheaf is here to help you find the perfect beer and the perfect book for your summer break. ERIN MATTHEWS OPINIONS EDITOR
Gone is the vengeful winter that dug her icy claws into the heart of spring. Summer, awakened from her slumber, greats us with the warm tendrils of her golden sun upon our vitamin D-deficient skin. This is the perfect time to catch up on all the delights and indulgences that were sacrificed to the gods of grades during the academic year. It’s also the prime time to try something new. Whether you are an avid reader and a seasoned drinker or you need a little convincing, this guide will give you some options and inspiration for this traditional pastime. Here are some books, and their most appropriately paired brews, to fuel your brain and your taste buds this summer. The Double by José Saramago Tertuliano Máximo Afonso, a bored and dissatisfied history teacher, rents a movie and discovers his doppelganger. He becomes consumed with thoughts of the double — obsessing over which of the two men is the original. A dark descent follows, as Afonso becomes involved in the double’s life. Saramago’s works of speculative fiction delve into the core of the human condition. Exploring the darkness within us and the beauty of our banal moments, Saramago picks at the ugliness that makes us human.
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I recommend the Berry Dark Ale from the Saskatoon Brewery to pair with this tale of duality. Appearing as a stout, the Berry Dark is sweet and light — a tale of two beers hidden in a pint glass. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by Jean-Dominique Bauby A heart-wrenching exploration of the depths of one’s memories, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly tells the tale of Bauby’s life after a brain stem stroke left him suffering from locked-in syndrome. Unable to move anything but a single eye, Bauby wrote the book with the assistance of his therapist. He managed to dictate the story by painstakingly blinking out the alphabet. Bauby died shortly after it was completed. This is a poetic and lovely look into one man’s retrospective of life after a life-altering experience. I recommend Unibroue’s Blanche de Chambly while reading this masterpiece of determination and vulnerability. This “on the lees” — or unfiltered — beer pays homage to the Parisian backdrop of this autobiography. The Demon in the Freezer by Richard Preston I am an avid consumer of popular-science books, so naturally, a few of them made this guide. The Demon in the Freezer is not your usual book on science, though. Preston, a former journalist with a flare for dramatic storytelling, tells the tale of the
Photograph by Erin Matthews / Opinions Editor Graphical illustration by Riley Deacon / Photo Editor.
2001 anthrax scare, the threat of bioterrorism and the history of smallpox. It reads like an action novel while being a non-fictional account of real-life scientists and the victims of ravaging microbes. I suggest you sip along to this thrilling narrative with Black Bridge Brewery’s Wheatburst — a strong India pale ale with fruity undertones. This brew is bitter yet sweet, much like Preston’s hyperbolic descriptions of hemorrhagic smallpox. Bad Science by Ben Goldacre Bad Science is the perfect introduction for the novice science reader. If you have never
picked up a popular-science book, I suggest you lose that virginity to this one. Even if you’re not a huge fan of the subject, you will appreciate Goldacre’s humorous depictions of pseudo-science and embarrassing mishaps. To complement this foray into new territory, I suggest an experimental beer combination — a half-and-half blend of Nokomis Craft Ales’ IPA and any generic Radler. It sounds like a Dr. Jekyll kind of brew, but I swear it’s the perfect summer beverage — trust me. Insomniac City by Bill Hayes This book is a beautiful por-
trayal of love and loss. Hayes talks about his life with neurologist and lovely human Oliver Sacks. Hayes also reveals past heartache and his battle with insomnia in the city that never sleeps. The book’s narrative is interwoven with journal entries and photographs, while Hayes’s descriptions of his partner are both beautiful and perfectly insightful into how we look at the ones we love. I recommend pairing this read with Great Western Brewing’s Original 16 Prairie White Belgian-Style Wheat Beer. It’s a sweet, light summer beer — honest, just like Hayes.
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