October 11, 2018

OCTOBER 11, 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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The University of Saskatchewan’s main campus is situated on Treaty 6 Territory and the Homeland of the Métis.

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ESB alumnus host new community radio show

What voting in USSU by-election means

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New policy includes trans athletes

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Murray Library honours LGBTQ+ activist with exhibit

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the sheaf

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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

Jack Thompson sportshealth@thesheaf.com

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NEWS

USSU and Office of Sustainability to host clothing swaps over the fall semester The Sheaf speaks to the USSU and the Office of Sustainability about clothes, food and sustainability.

Erin Matthews opinions@thesheaf.com

STAFF WRITER

Ana Cristina Camacho staffwriter@thesheaf.com COPY EDITOR | Amanda Slinger copy@thesheaf.com LAYOUT MANAGER | Kaitlin Wong layout@thesheaf.com PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR | Riley Deacon photo@thesheaf.com GRAPHICS EDITOR | 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

Jaymie Stachyruk / Graphics Editor

COVER IMAGE

Jaymie Stachyruk BOARD OF DIRECTORS Jeremy Britz Lyndsay Afseth Matthew Taylor Kayle Neis Emily Klatt Heywood Yu

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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.

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

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

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

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ANA CRISTINA CAMACHO STAFF WRITER

This semester, University of Saskatchewan students can ditch any unwanted clothes for some new-to-them used pieces in a series of campus clothing swaps. The event hosts, the U of S Students’ Union and the U of S Office of Sustainability, hope to give financially insecure students easier access to clothing.

The first clothing swap will take place on Oct. 12 in the North Concourse of Place Riel during Campus Sustainability Week, an annual USOS campaign which aims to encourage students to think critically about their consumption habits and their ability to impact the environment. As part of this goal, the clothing swap allows students to trade unwanted clothing articles, instead of throwing them out.

Matt Wolsfeld, USOS community engagement co-ordinator, explains that the event originated as a by-product of another of the office’s initiatives.

“The clothing swap was actually a secondary effect of a refugee clothing drive we had in 2015, when there was a large influx of Syrian refugees in Saskatoon,” Wolsfeld said. “We had some leftover clothes from donations and figured there was a

better way we could give it back to the campus, without having to sell it or make it harder for people who needed it to get it.”

The USSU is also hosting a farmers’ market in Place Riel’s North Concourse on the same day as the clothing swap. Rose Wu, USSU vice-president student affairs, hopes that having the two events at the same time will increase student participation in both.

“This is the first time we are trying it monthly and at the same time as the Farmer’s Market to get both audiences in the same place,” Wu said. “It’s low maintenance and an important initiative — we just need to get the word out.”

Wolsfeld explains that the importance of the clothing swap is two-fold, as it has both environmental and social benefits.

“Instead of [having] these old clothes put into the landfill, we have them going to somebody who will likely wear them again,” Wolsfeld said. “We are trying to make clothing more accessible to an economically insecure student population.”

In an effort to increase the social benefits of the event, Wu says that she would like to see more specialized clothing offered in the clothing swaps this year.

“It would be nice if people could donate professional clothes,” Wu said. “Also, most

exchange students need to get warmer clothes for the winter, and they are so expensive.”

Wolsfeld believes that the clothing swap has potential to be a regularly occurring event on campus, beyond this semester.

“With people willing to participate, volunteer and be excited over it, we could turn it into something nicer and regular,” Wolsfeld said. “There are other schools that offer a free store through their student union.

We don’t have any expectation of having that sort of thing soon [because] it requires resources, but I think the logical end would be working towards self-sustainment.”

For students interested in participating in this and other sustainability initiatives, Wolsfeld recommends contacting the USSU Sustainability Committee, which has been granted a $15,000 budget this year to fund student events. Students can go to the committee’s online application to apply for funding.

Students can drop off clothing donations at the USSU office before or on the day of the event and exchange them for other donated garments. In addition to the clothing swap on Oct. 12, there will also be swaps on Nov. 23 and Dec. 14, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the North Concourse of Place Riel.

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NEWS

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U of S and Murray Library showcase LGBTQ+ collection, honour Neil Richards Neil Richards’ The Thing I’m Most Proud Of… is now on display at Murray Library.

RAQUEL ALVARADO

This October, students can visit Murray Library to view an exhibit featuring items from one of Canada’s largest LGBTQ+ archives. The Thing I’m Most Proud Of... is an exhibit paying tribute to the life’s work of the late Neil Richards, an activist and retired University of Saskatchewan Library employee.

Richards began working at the U of S Library in 1972.

In 1986, he donated a large amount of materials to the Provincial Archives of Saskatchewan, creating the first public LGBTQ+ archive in Canada.

Even after retiring, Richards remained dedicated to the archive, working until his death in January 2018.

Today, the Neil Richards Collection of Sexual and Gender Diversity holds over 8000 titles featuring LGBTQ+ materials that span decades of literature, unique memorabilia and political movements on the Prairies.

Joe Wickenhauser, a U of S alumnus and the executive director of Moose Jaw Pride, notes the importance of Richards’ collection to the LGBTQ+ community as well as the broader public.

“The more time you spend in the archive, the more you realize you need to share those stories with your community

because the stories are difficult,” Wickenhauser said. “They’re stories of struggle, and they’re sometimes stories of beauty and victory. But our community hasn’t been telling these stories, and they’ve been hidden, and there’s been so much shame for so long.”

Wickenhauser believes that the works collected will also serve future generations.

“To finally have the opportunity to access those stories, and to tell them and to celebrate them, is really a new thing and a beautiful thing,” Wickenhauser said.

David Bindle, an assistant librarian at the U of S, describes Richards as “a curious and furious collector” whose work has greatly benefited the university.

“It does attract international attention,” Bindle said. “We’ve had donors from the U.K. and all over the States that find this and look at it, and they’re so impressed with it, and they end up actually sending quite valuable materials to us… I think it situates the university here pretty well.”

For Wickenhauser, the collection represents Richards’ bravery and foresight.

“The importance of the work that he’s done can’t be understated,” Wickenhauser said. “Neil was participating in activism in the 70s — this is less than ten years after

Riley Deacon / Photo Editor An artwork sits on display in the Neil Richards exhibit on the first floor of the Murray Library.

homosexual acts were decriminalized in Canada.”

Wickenhauser notes that, at the time, individuals were losing their jobs and facing social isolation for being in the LGBTQ+ community. Furthermore, Wickenhauser says that Richards’ collection was considered “taboo” material at the time, placing Richards at risk.

“He housed it in his own home for years and years, until, finally, maybe 20 or 30 years later, an institution recognized the value of the work that he had done. And I think that requires tremendous vision and understanding of the importance of the work that is happening… We have that his-

tory because of his work and the risks that he took and the sort of vision that he had.”

For Bindle, the collection also represents a changing society.

“I think there’s been a radical change over the last twenty years… This collection is something that really illuminates how acceptance and inclusivity [have] changed over time, for the better,” Bindle said.

Richards’ efforts to track LGBTQ+ history have resulted in what Bindle describes as “a great resource for somebody who might be also struggling with their sexuality.”

The work generated from Richards’ collection is ongoing

Riley Deacon / Photo Editor Gay Bob displayed for the Neil Richards exhibit on the first floor of Murray Library.

as researchers explore the vast archive and his colleagues carry on his work of expanding it.

“He was quite something, and we all miss him,” Bindle said. “He’s going to be hard to forget because he’s left us with a lot of work,” he joked. “[Richards] left us with one of the most prestigious collections in North America.”

Students can view the exhibit on display on the ground floor of Murray Library and in the Link Gallery on the first floor of the Library. Students can also head to the University Library’s website to search through the Neil Richards Collection of Sexual and Gender Diversity online.

Riley Deacon / Photo Editor Various works sit on display on the first floor of Murray Library.

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U of S hosts third-annual Fall Neuroscience Research Symposium

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Gr aph ics

From Oct. 10 to Oct. 12, the University of Saskatchewan hosted the third annual Fall Neuroscience Research Symposium, which aims to showcase local research, get students involved and provide networking opportunities for event-goers.

Justin Andrushko, a PhD student in neuromuscular physiology in the College of Kinesiology, is a student member on the symposium-organizing committee. Andrushko hopes that the symposium can provide exposure for the neuroscience research currently being done in the province.

“The objective of the symposium is to promote neuroscience research in the province of Saskatchewan,” Andrushko said in an email to the Sheaf. “We have a lot of brilliant neuroscientists in this province, and this symposium provides a platform to showcase their work to their peers from across the province.”

At the time of print, the event intended to feature keynote talks from neuroscience experts, including Lynn Raymond and Christian Naus from the University of British Columbia, Simon

Duchesne from Laval University and Alyson Fournier from McGill University. The speakers will have shared their expertise on multiple sclerosis, glioblastoma, neuro-imaging and Huntington’s disease, respectively. As well, Andrushko reveals that additional presenters were booked for the symposium.

“There will be a number of speakers discussing their research, [which] spans from cellular-level neuroscience to human behavioural neuroscience,” Andrushko said.

Although the formatting of the symposium was similar to previous iterations, this year’s event included an awards ceremony at the Remai Modern, which Andrushko believes to be a “first-class experience” for symposium-goers.

Andrushko believes that undergraduate students, no matter their proficiency in neuroscience research, should get involved with research at the U of S and that the symposium is an ideal place to learn more about what this kind of involvement can look like.

“It’s important for students to get involved in research at all levels of education,” Andrushko said. “Research is the basis for

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KIMIA BAYATTORK

Editor

The Sheaf speaks to an organizer of the Fall Neuroscience Research Symposium.

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discovery and is essential for the advancement of society. It takes bright, passionate young minds to become leaders tomorrow…

You never know what you might find that may excite you and drive you to become the next great researcher.”

Adrushko says that students who are interested in neuroscience research but weren’t able to attend the Fall Neuroscience Research Symposium can still

access the information discussed at the event and become involved for next year’s symposium.

“We do put out an electronic version of the book of abstracts that can be made available to those that are unable to attend,” Adrushko said. “In there, you can catch a glimpse of the outstanding neuroscience research being done in this province.

There [are] also always oppor-

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tunities to join the organizing committee for the symposium next year, and everyone is encouraged to register to attend the event next year.”

Students who are interested in more information about the third annual neuroscience symposium and its future iterations are encouraged to contact Francisco Cayabyab at frank.cayabyab@ usask.ca or Chris O’Grady at chris.ogrady@usask.ca.

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SPORTS&HEALTH

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SPORTS&HEALTH

Trans athletes to be granted entry into U Sports competition The U Sports Equity Committee recently revealed their new policy for trans athletes and how they will fit into the current anti-doping policies.

Sheaf workout:

Work out without working hard HOPE N.S. JEFFERY

Stop right where you are! Okay, maybe not in the middle of Place Riel or the Thorvaldson building but somewhere comfortable where you are alone or with a few friends.

Remember to engage your core, and try to keep your body aligned parallel to the floor beneath you.

The third exercise in this list is similar to a plank but with movement. You will bring your knee forward and out to the side as if you were going to touch your elbow on the same side. In the last exercise, remember that slower is better. Your feet should never touch the ground but will come close to it.

2. Side plank: One minute

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Gra phic s Editor

1. Elbow plank: One minute

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JACK THOMPSON

SPORTS & HEALTH EDITOR

U Sports broke historic ground with their decision to introduce a new policy aimed at making university sport more accessible to trans athletes. The policy came into effect Sept. 26 and affects all 56 universities under the governing body.

The new policy will allow all athletes to compete according to their gender identities. The policy will not require that athletes undergo hormone treatment in order to participate in the sport in the category that matches their gender identity.

However, the policy does require that athletes meet the requirements of the previously established Canadian Anti-Doping Program, which is facilitated by the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport. For athletes who are undergoing medical transition or hormone treatment, this contingency may become a barrier.

For athletes that take estrogen, the process is pretty simple, as estrogen is not a banned substance under the Canadian Anti-Doping Program. There are a few related substances that do fall under the list of prohibited substances, though, and testosterone is a banned

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substance in and of itself. Despite these being prohibited substances, there are ways that athletes using them can still compete.

The Canadian Anti-Doping Program may prohibit the use of testosterone and other substances regularly, but therapeutic-use exemptions allow athletes to take prohibited substances that are essential for their health.

Therapeutic-use exemptions are not solely limited to trans athletes and are used by athletes that need medications for a variety of reasons.

Therapeutic-use exemptions allow athletes to apply for the ability to use a prohibited substance and still compete. The program refers to the World Anti-Doping Agency for their guidelines on these therapeutic-use exemptions, which consists of several categories — one of which specifically concerns trans athletes.

The guidelines outline a variety of ways that trans athletes can be permitted to take testosterone with an approved therapeutic-use exemption.

These exemptions require extra paperwork and monitoring for the athlete. Forms must be filled out for individual substances, making for duplicate work — i.e., filling out multiple copies of the same form — for athletes taking more than one

substance on the prohibited list. Despite the difficulty, however, it is still possible that they could take the testosterone they need while not breaking the anti-doping rules, so long as the proper paperwork and monitoring is done.

When it comes to the responsibility of providing a complete record of testosterone delivery method, dosage, dates and information regarding the personnel giving injections, if applicable, the onus falls on the athlete. This data allows for proper drug testing — which occurs at random at least 1 to 2 times per year.

Additionally, athletes are not allowed to play for more than one gender category per season, nor can they switch mid-season, but they can choose to change categories for the next year. This flexibility should allow trans athletes to be on the team they feel most comfortable being a part of.

Overall, the policy is the result of years of work put in by the U Sports Equity Committee — which has been drafting the policy since 2016. While the policy is thorough and is certainly a step forward for the inclusion of trans athletes in university sport, the true functionality of the policy will only be revealed following some trial and error.

3. Spiderman plank: Twenty repetitions per side

4. Leg lowers: Twenty repetitions

All graphics by Jaymie Stachyruk / Graphics Editor

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SPORTS&HEALTH

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Knock-on this: U of S Rugby Club scrums for status With an inclusive, community-based approach, the U of S Rugby Club moves towards Huskie status.

ASHLYNN WEISBERG

Throughout the long history of Huskie Athletics, different sports have come and gone from the rosters, but the university currently does not host Huskies rugby.

Straddling the line between non-Canada West student athletes and ratified Huskies, the University of Saskatchewan Rugby Club navigates a complex terrain.

The fast-paced, high-intensity sport found its way to the U of S in 2012, in the form of the U of S Rugby Club. Though, initially, the club consisted of only a men’s team, a women’s team was added in 2016.

Currently, U of S Rugby boasts over 50 registered members and accepts new athletes at any time, regardless of experience and skill.

All U of S students are welcome, and the club also has a handful of Saskatchewan Polytechnic students as well as a few high school students as prospects.

Unfortunately, without varsity funding, the club functions on a pay-to-play basis — meaning that the athletes pay club dues, travel and accommodation for tournaments, tournament entry fees and facility fees for practice spaces. Uniforms are paid for by local sponsors, but the majority of fees are raised via regular fundraising efforts.

Mikayla Waller, in her first year of graduate studies in veterinary biomedical sciences, has been with the U of S Rugby Club for four years, serving as captain for three. Waller discusses the financial burden and the barriers that money can pose to athletes.

“Sometimes [fundraising] is a really big burden on the students, and sometimes the money is the reason why someone can’t play, and that just makes me really sad because rugby [doesn’t] need any equipment, so we want everyone to be able to play,” Waller said.

In contrast, a lack of Huskie status provides U of S Rugby with an incredible amount of freedom and flexibility. With club status, all that are interested are welcome — which is a highly unique attribute for teams at the university level.

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Ashlynn Weisberg Players on the women’s team compete over the ball during practice.

Riley Deacon / Photo Editor The U of S rugby team head coach instructs the team before practice on Oct. 3.

With regards to this distinct feature, Waller notes that, “as adults we don’t really get to try new things,” and because the club functions outside of contractual obligation, it is not only possible but encouraged to bring on beginners.

For Eryn Minifie, a newcomer to the club in her first year of animal bioscience, the communal aspect of the club serves as a grounding element in her transition from northern British Columbia to Saskatchewan.

“The rugby club here is so incredible — they are so inclusive… Everyone gets to play, and they make it fun for everyone,” Minifie said. “I was not hesitant at all to start.

I actually wanted to play but didn’t know there was a team here… I showed up to a practice and am so thankful that I did.”

If the U of S Rugby Club was to become ratified with the Huskies, it would unfortunately lose a large portion of its inclusive core values due to an institutionalized increase in what is considered to be the baseline skill level required. Third-year mechanical engineering student Tom Stubbs, in his third year as captain, explained that this divide could be managed.

“I would like to think that, if we became Huskies, we would get more funding, and in that respect, we would be-

come better at our sport and more competitive but also be able to maintain a separate club or an affiliated club … that does bring the newcomers on because I think it’s very important,” Stubbs said.

Discussions with both the U of S Students’ Union and Huskie Athletics are ongoing, and Stubbs believes that the trajectory of the club is heading for Huskie ratification within a five-year period.

Isaac Driscoll, a thirdyear education student in his third year of playing for the club, hopes that, in gaining Huskie status, rugby will receive institutional legitimacy and validation as a sport.

“We are put in a unique spot. We want to represent the university, and ultimately do, but we are often neglected and viewed as non-existent,” Driscoll said.

With Huskie ratification years in the making, Driscoll offers his advice to the present student population.

“We like to have a good time together on the pitch and off the pitch, so even if you’re just looking for a community to be a part of, come out and play,” Driscoll said.

“It’s well worth it.”

Whether you’ve played before or you’d never even heard of rugby until now, the U of S Rugby Club has a place for anyone and everyone. With the freedom of club status for now, there is no shortage of opportunities to get involved.

Ashlynn Weisberg Players on the women’s team practice at the Saskatoon Soccer Centre.

Heli Huttunen A U of S rugby player moves down the field with the ball on Oct. 3.

Riley Deacon / Photo Editor The U of S rugby team runs down the field during fitness practice on Oct. 3.

CULTURE

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CULTURE

New CFCR radio show by Edwards School of Business alumni brings a voice to immigrant communities

EVENTS T H U R S

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@ QUANCE THEATRE, 7:00 P.M.

COMEDY LAB

@ AMIGOS CANTINA, 9:00 P.M.

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THE DARK MARKET @ VILLAGE GUITAR & AMP CO., 6:00 P.M. ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN FILM SERIES: DESIGN CANADA @ REMAI MODERN, 7:00 P.M. FRIENDS OF FOES ALBUM RELEASE PARTY WITH RAEBURN AND TWIN VOICES @ CAPITOL MUSIC CLUB, 8:00 P.M.

CFCR FM-PHASIS WRAP-UP: FACTOR CHANDELIER, CRABSTYLE AND DENISE VALLE @ AMIGOS CANTINA, 10:00 P.M. S A T

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al Students’ Society and the president of the University of Saskatchewan Ahmadiyya Muslim Student Association.

During his time as president of the association, he received the AMSA Excellence Award for his efforts to fight youth radicalization as well as his work towards reconciliation with Indigenous student groups. Ahmed hopes to continue his work with immigrant and Indigenous communities with The Voice of Saskatoon.

“The main purpose of this show is to build bridges among immigrants, refugees and Aboriginal communities. The other thing is that it’s really important to give thanks to the creator of the land and to the Aboriginal [communities], so that is the main soul of our show,” Ahmed said.

For Ahmed, The Voice of Saskatoon is about bringing a voice to marginalized communities. Upon moving to Canada, Ahmed never saw himself as a broadcaster, but through his background in business school, he has developed a voice of his own.

“I never thought I would be a good broadcaster because I was a shy guy, but I will say thanks to my professors at Edwards School

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of Business [for] how they train us, especially in business communications classes [when] we were asked to present in front of a crowd…

After taking those classes, I got so much confidence,” Ahmed said.

For both hosts, the show is a long-term project that they plan on continuing for the foreseeable future.

“This is not a short-term thing. We definitely plan on this being a long-term thing.

We just hope to keep helping newcomers with information to inspire them, like true stories of other successful immigrants,” Mysha said. “We’ve been getting great support from the community.”

As part of their goal to better represent the diverse communities in the city, the hosts of The Voice of Saskatoon are always looking for new guests and musicians to feature on the program.

“Everyone is welcome to our show — whether you are a musician or you have an inspiring story or you want to share your experience in Saskatoon,” Ahmed said.

The Voice of Saskatoon is broadcast live on CFCR 90.5 FM at 8:00 a.m. every Sunday. The hosts can be reached on Facebook @thevoiceofsaskatoon.

INTRO TO THE DARK ROOM WORKSHOP: PART 1 @ PAVED ARTS, 12:00 P.M

SWITCH ZOMBIE RUN @ DONNA L. BIRKMAIER PARK, 12:00 P.M. 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY — 50TH ANNIVERSARY @ THE ROXY THEATRE, 7:00 P.M.

CANADIAN COMPOSER SPOTLIGHT

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A new radio show on CFCR 90.5 FM, produced and hosted by two former Edwards School of Business students, hopes to bring immigrant voices and live music to the airwaves of Saskatoon.

Anika Mysha and Rashid Ahmed are the people behind The Voice of Saskatoon on CFCR. Both Mysha and Ahmed are human resources graduates from ESB and the children of refugees. Mysha is from Bangladesh and Ahmed’s family is from Pakistan. Together, they hope to bring their knowledge, along with their perspective of the immigrant experience, to local radio.

“The Voice of Saskatoon is actually the voice of all the people who are living in Saskatoon. We provide opportunities, and we are also providing information to newcomers, refugees and local people,” Ahmed said.

The Voice of Saskatoon has been on the air for over a month. The show is broadcast live and includes conversations with influential community figures as well as a live musical segment. The idea for an immigrant-focused talkradio show was originally conceived by Ahmed, but Mysha brought the musical element to the show.

“In our breaks, when we talk to our guests, instead of playing music from Spotify, we thought about promoting local talent because there is so much local talent in Saskatoon,” Mysha said.

“We have been inviting local artists — local singers — to come sing instead.”

Both Mysha and Ahmed have been involved in the international students’ community and associated student groups. Mysha was the president of the Bangladeshi Students’ Association while Ahmed was a founder of the Edwards Internation-

GETTING WOMEN AT THE TABLE

KARAOKE THURSDAY

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CULTURE EDITOR

@ LOUIS’ PUB, 5:00 P.M.

@ CRAZY CACTUS, 7:30 P.M.

The Voice of Saskatoon looks to bring the perspectives of new Canadians to community radio.

COLE CHRETIEN

SUSTAINABLE DRINKS

@ THE BROADWAY THEATRE, 7:30 P.M.

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OUR LADY PEACE FREE SHOW @ COORS EVENT CENTRE, 8:00 P.M.

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

TONIGHT IT’S POETRY @ AMIGOS CANTINA, 8:00 P.M.

KARAOKE NIGHT @ FLINT SALOON, 9:00 P.M.

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LEARN TO COOK @ PLACE RIEL, ROOM 323, 4:00 P.M.

GAMES NIGHT @ LOUIS’ PUB, 7:00 P.M.

SELF-CARE NIGHT @ LOUIS’ LOFT, 7:00 P.M.

100% TUESDAYS @ LOUIS’ PUB, 8:00 P.M.

THE COMEDY GRID @ AMIGOS CANTINA, 8:30 P.M.

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

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WRITER/ARTIST JAM @ AMAZING STORIES, 6:30 P.M.

STORIES IN THE BAR @ AMIGOS CANTINA, 7:00 P.M.

JAZZ JAM WITH THE RORY LYNCH QUARTET @ THE BASSMENT, 7:30 P.M.

WOMENCRUSHWEDNESDAYS: A COMEDY OPEN MIC @ COORS EVENT CENTRE, 8:00 P.M.

OCT. 10-20

ARCADIA

OCT. 15-17

ART IN MIND

OCT. 15-19

MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK

@ GREYSTONE THEATRE

@ PLACE RIEL NORTH CONCOURSE

@ U OF S

CULTURE / 7

FEATURE

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What the student vote means in the USSU by-election The Sheaf looks at past voting trends and the importance of voting in the upcoming USSU by-election.

TANNER BAYNE NEWS EDITOR

There’s an old political maxim that says you can’t complain if you don’t vote. With the University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union by-election drawing near, it’s a good time to better understand the union, the significance of voting and how students can complain more effectively.

From 9:00 a.m. on Oct. 17 to 4:00 p.m. on Oct. 18, undergraduate students at the U of S will be able to cast their votes in a by-election that aims to fill the 12 vacant seats on the University Students’ Council as well as the position of president on the USSU executive. The latter vacancy follows former USSU president Coden Nikbakht’s departure from the union on Aug. 31.

According to USSU election records, the 2018 general election saw the lowest voter turnout in four years, with only 12.5 per cent of the undergraduate body — 2210 of the 17,645 undergraduate students enrolled — voting on the uncontested candidates, as opposed to 18.6 per cent in 2017, 23.5 per cent in 2016 and 22.3 per cent in 2015.

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There are any number of reasons that might explain these low voter-turnout percentages, from the busyness of university life to not fully understanding what the USSU does to simply not caring. While there is merit for each of these reasons, the reality of the situation is that, in the last four years, more than 75 per cent of the undergraduate student body has remained unengaged with the union that represents them.

Caroline Cottrell, USSU general manager, says the low voter turnout in the union’s elections is due to situational circumstances rather than a disinterested student body.

“Students engage with the university, their environment and their experience where it makes sense for them to engage,” Cottrell said. “When we did the referenda for the U-Pass, … we had more students vote in one of the referendums than did in the federal election that was going at the same time… It’s not so much an issue of apathy but of a particular interest at a particular time.”

Whether students realize it or not, the USSU’s reach extends far into the experiences of the undergraduate body at the U of S. With an operating

budget of $3,022,524 for the 201819 year, the USSU is responsible for an array of services significant to the student body. From brokering the student health and dental plan to overseeing the upcoming changes to the transit system, the USSU manages many services that students pay into each semester.

As directors of the organization, the USSU executive are responsible for overseeing many of the services that the union offers. Although the standing executive members have worked towards their platform goals since being acclaimed six months ago, the incoming president will technically be responsible for coordinating them.

Subsequently, the president-elect will be able exert their own influences on the direction of the USSU executive and services, while staying within reason of this year’s budget.

Ultimately, the student vote is the primary vetting measure for USSU elections. Each of the candidates for the presidential position will have their own ambitions and goals while in office, and the student vote is the one mechanism that can either reject or legitimize a candidate. This is something that the USSU does not hide.

Cottrell states that, aside from en-

suring that candidates are eligible for the position, the USSU is not responsible for judging an individual’s competency or quality.

“It’s not a job application — it’s a democracy. Anyone who meets the basic criteria can run,” Cottrell said. “It’s up to the students who do the voting to determine whether or not [a candidate is] going to be in an elected position for that term.”

Although the by-election may not be a job application for the president-elect, it will end in a job.

USSU executives rake in just under $39,000, before taxes, for their year-long term. However, the incoming executive member can expect a pay reduction for the six months that have already elapsed.

Cottrell reveals that student eligibility to run for executive positions is outlined in two legal documents: The Non-profit Corporations Act of Saskatchewan and the USSU Bylaw. “[Candidates] must be of sound mind, 18 years of age, [25 per cent] of directors must be Canadian citizens and they must not be bankrupt — and that’s under The Non-profit Corporations Act [of Saskatchewan],” Cottrell said. “Under the USSU Bylaw, they must be currently registered students, they must come to an orientation

With an operating budget of $3,022,524 for the 2018-19 year, the USSU is responsible for an array of services significant to the student body.

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meeting [and] a procedures meeting, [and] they must be in good academic standing.”

While these requirements for eligibility are intended to allow more students to get involved with this facet of campus life, they are also part of what caused the presidential position to become open in the first place. Nikbakht was asked to discontinue his studies after not completing four classes. Under the aforementioned union bylaw, this then made him ineligible to be USSU president.

While Cottrell says she did not consider the general election in 2018 to be controversial — although over 100 students gathered in Place Riel to protest Nikbakht’s acclamation in March — she believes that there is a causal relationship between university scandals and student-voter turnout.

“It has been my experience that, when we don’t have a particular controversy, students are less likely to be engaged with voting,” Cottrell said.

“When we have lots of controversy, students are more aware amid the noise of the university, and so they get more engaged.”

Although the voter turnout of the last election seems to be at odds with Cottrell’s claim, students may see the correlation between scandals and voting in the by-election, following Nikbakht’s departure from

“It’s not a job application — it’s a democracy. Anyone who meets the basic criteria can run,” Cottrell said. the organization.

However, reactionary voting due to controversies still means that controversies are taking place. Recent events at the University of Ottawa have suggested the importance of informed student voting, so that controversy doesn’t strike later on down the line.

After a series of fraud allegations were revealed last month, the U of O administration released a statement saying that they would no longer recognize the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa — the U of O’s equivalent of the USSU — as the exclusive organization representing the university’s undergraduate students.

The federation’s president, vice-president operations and executive director were named in the allegations

All Graphics by Jaymie Stachyruk / Graphics Editor

and vacated their positions on Sept. 27.

After the agreement between the U of O and the SFUO is terminated on Dec. 24, the university will no longer collect student fees — meaning that the 35,760 undergraduate students will be without health and dental insurance from Aug. 31, 2019 until a new student organization is formed and works in conjunction with the U of O. Unfortunately, the student body at the U of O is paying the price for their union’s mistakes.

The unfortunate reality of this anecdote is that the SFUO members that are now on the line for fraud were elected — in good faith — by the will of their student body. This is not meant to insinuate that the USSU is on a parallel path to the SFUO. Rather, this situation reveals the importance of students engaging with their student union.

In any election — be it federal, provincial, municipal or collegial — it’s impossible to ensure the efficacy of candidates before they begin the job. The most that students can do on this front in terms of the USSU by-election is to become familiar with the platform points of the candidates for president.

Although there are currently no confirmed candidates yet, campaigning officially begins on Oct. 15 at 12:01 a.m. and platforms will be revealed shortly thereafter.

Even if students are unable to brush up on the candidates’ platforms for whatever reason — be it indifference or busyness — or feel that they don’t support any of the candidate’s platforms, voting to abstain in the by-election is still more beneficial than not voting at all. Not voting has no real impact on the outcome of the election.

There is no minimum number of

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votes required to legitimize USSU elections. Voting to abstain, however, can have profound impacts on the by-election. The option to abstain is available for students who are not confident about any of the candidates in the election. Effectively, students can use the abstain option as a rejection of all the available candidates.

The USSU Bylaw states that executive members are only acclaimed to office if they get a majority of yes votes.

Using the abstain option detracts from the total number of votes for or against a given candidate, rendering this majority more difficult to reach.

Should students be dissatisfied with the results of the by-election, there are still other avenues through which to voice concern. The USSU Bylaw states that a resolution of non-confidence for any given executive member can be passed if a petition containing signatures from 7.5 per cent of the student body — which amounts to 1599 students based on this year’s enrollment numbers — is presented to council.

Ultimately, the student vote is the primary vetting measure for USSU elections.

There are multiple reasons why voter turnout is so low at the U of S, but the truth is that the USSU by-election is going to impact students whether they know it or not. As campaigning begins and the polls open for the USSU by-election, students may realize that it’s easier to complain with their vote, than to complain when it’s all said and done.

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Five modern horror recommendations on Netflix to get you ready for October Here’s a collection of some of the most bone-chilling contemporary horror movies on Netflix.

RYCHEL SMITH

Jaymie Stachyruk / Graphics Editor

As we bid farewell to September and welcome Spooktober with open skeletal arms, it’s time for us to settle in on the couch, put on our favourite horror films and collectively crap our pants.

There are so many notable scary movies out there, and it can be hard to choose between them. Luckily, Netflix boasts a decent selection of horrors and thrillers to keep you suf-

ficiently frightened all month long.

The Babadook After losing her husband in a car accident on her way to give birth at the hospital, a woman struggles to control her 6-year-old son’s persistent fear of monsters and other behavioural problems. One night, she reads to him from a mysterious book that has appeared on his shelf.

The book tells of the Babadook, a sinister entity which cannot be stopped after it has been summoned. What follows is an unyielding barrage of psychological torment — proving that, when it comes to supernatural creatures, there’s nowhere you can hide.

Hush A deaf and mute author finds herself besieged in her secluded house after a masked killer takes an interest in tormenting her. Without the ability to hear her attacker, she is forced to rely on her sight and her wits in order to survive.

Hush takes a tried-and-tested plot device and adds a twist that allows for several unconventional situations that keep the movie feeling fresh.

While the movie is not designed to outright terrify, it does well at keeping the audience in a constant state of unease by exploring the frightening reality of a deranged psychopath without having to invoke any supernatural tropes.

The Witch The only movie on this list not set in the modern age, The Witch follows a family living in 1630s New England. This unconventional horror film explores concepts of witchcraft, black magic and the paranoia surrounding them.

While boasting high critical acclaim, the movie has received mixed reviews from audiences. The film itself is well-made and worth the watch for many reasons, but the old-fashioned English and its slow-burn approach to horror could, admittingly, turn off some viewers.

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Oculus A woman finally tracks down a mirror that she believes to have compelled her father to torture and kill her mother during her childhood.

She then contacts her brother, who was recently released after being committed to a mental institution after the incident and charged with the murder of their father.

Oculus follows the woman as she sets about creating a plan to convince her brother of the mirror’s destructive powers in order to destroy it.

However, if the mirror really does play host to a demonic spirit, destroying it may prove more difficult than they expect.

This movie plays heavily on the unreliability of the human psyche and does great work using visual techniques to capture the feeling of confusion brought on by the characters’ hallucinations.

The Ritual A group of men pay homage to their friend by going hiking in the woods a year after he was killed in a liquor-store robbery. After one of the men falls and injures his leg, the group decides to save time by travelling directly through the forest. It does not take them long to realize that there are worse things to be afraid of than getting lost.

Similar to Oculus, The Ritual also utilizes psychological horror to disturb the audience by allowing them to share in the characters’ frightening visions.

While audiences have criticized the ending of the movie for its change of tone, that alone does not warrant missing out on one of best original horror movies on Netflix.

Whether you enjoy watching scary movies with family, with friends, on dates or alone, these easily accessible films should pack enough spooks to scratch your horror itch. With everything from malicious spirits to psychotic killers, there should be a little something here for everyone. All that’s left to do now is to cook up some popcorn, sit back and enjoy the show.

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A look into the world of Netflix competitors The Sheaf looks at potential streaming competitors to see if Netflix still the only game in town.

COLE CHRETIEN CULTURE EDITOR

If you’re a Netflix subscriber, you’ve probably grown tired of the flood of middling original content and frequent price increases.

I decided to check out three of the competitors of Netflix to see if I’d be better off taking my binge-watching business elsewhere.

I chose my Netflix-killer candidates based on a few things: the service had to allow me to cancel my subscription without paying when I was finished this review, the service had to have an Apple TV app, and the service had to offer a substantial amount of content that wasn’t included in a Netflix subscription. With all this in mind, I subscribed to CraveTV, MUBI and Shudder.

CraveTV is Bell’s answer to American streaming platforms like Netflix and Hulu.

It managed to come out on top against Shomi by Rogers in the bloodbath competition for Canadian eyes and dollars. What started as a strong library of content, bogged down by unusably buggy streaming, has become one of Canada’s most underrated providers of streaming content.

Even when compared to its American equivalents, CraveTV has an incredibly strong library of content.

CraveTV features content from HBO, Hulu, CBS All Access and a bunch of others.

The service is also notable for having new episodes of Showtime series like Billions

Supplied / Wikimedia Commons

and Who is America ready to watch within hours of airing on cable.

CraveTV is almost exclusively comprised of TV shows, but the quality of the content is much higher than most of its competitors. The app performance has improved on all devices since I first used it three years ago, and while the monthly price has increased from $7.99 to $9.99, gaining access to the complete series of The Wire and The Sopranos is pretty much worth it alone.

In honor of Halloween, I decided to try AMC’s Shudder next. I initially liked the idea of a curated horror-only streaming service, although I doubted it would replace my Netflix for more than the month of October.

Sadly, since the initial Canadian marketing push, Shudder has become a content graveyard.

Shudder offers an unappealing mix of movies, original content and foreign films all loosely based around a horror theme. The definition of horror has been stretched to its absolute limits to pad out the library with genre titles like Old Boy and Dogtooth. There are none of the expected horror classics, and the lesser-known films are of

the straight-to-video variety.

If there’s one cool thing that Shudder does, it offers a unique take on channel surfing that drops you into the middle of themed horror marathons. It would be a better feature if the films on the service were actually worth watching, but at $4.99 per month, it’s not really a loss either way.

It’s hard for me to imagine what sort of audience Shudder is for, unless the goal was to build a streaming service for people who used to rent the direct-to-DVD sequels to The Butterfly Effect at Blockbuster. Shudder feels like it’s on its last legs, which is too bad because it’s a really interesting idea with some potential.

For art-house fans, MUBI offers a business model that is unique. MUBI only hosts 30 films at a time and adds a new film each day, pushing the oldest film off of the list. This affords the service the funds to buy rights to hard-to-find art films and new indie hits. It also means that, if the current lineup isn’t to your liking, you may prefer a film added in the future.

Currently, the service is hosting the 2015 biographical Amy Winehouse docu-

mentary, Amy, in addition to a crop of curator-selected foreign and independent features. If you take your film seriously, you could do a lot worse than MUBI — although, it comes at a steep monthly price tag of $9.99 and impermanent selections may be off-putting for many.

Of the three services I

looked at, I would recommend CraveTV as either an add-on to expand your streaming options or as a replacement for a Netflix subscription if you have to choose between the two. CraveTV offers top-tier content, clear streaming and comparable pricing options that make it a real contender for your streaming money.

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The real thriller saga is the nightmare of midterms

Midterms may terrorize students, but we can fight back their darkness with a few tricks and tips.

Yashica Bither

YASHICA BITHER

October is the season to be spooky and enjoy the cooler temperatures with scary movies and pumpkin-patch pictures. But another horror approaches University of Saskatchewan students as we enter this month — midterms.

While some people may actually be able to enjoy this time of year — if they’ve convinced themselves that they’ve retained

and learned everything taught in class — there’s a big difference between learning concepts and memorizing answers, especially when it comes to cramming in content the night before.

Yes, if you are a diligent student, you may be prepping a week or even two weeks in advance of a midterm, but how much of this information could you say you’ll remember in say, five years?

Midterm season is a time where all the material from class

piles up. Suddenly, you don’t have a chance to fully learn and understand it all. Week after week, exam after exam, you can really only hope that your attempts are enough to get the grade you want. Left with little choice, all you can do is memorize.

The nightmare does not end here, either, folks — it’s widely known that, once midterms start, the entire semester is filled with endless studying until the end of the term. All we can hope for is that we somehow survive the rest of the year with the occasional coffee and Spotify jam session.

Thankfully, there are a couple of ways to relieve that midterm stress and catch some relaxation, even if it is just for a few minutes.

Know that your health comes first even though, sometimes, you can’t help but stay up all night to get that assignment done. Instead of depending on coffee to stay up, why not choose

healthier options? Green tea is a great alternative for those seeking a caffeine rush. It has a lower caffeine content than coffee but enough to give you a boost.

Having an option to give you that energy without becoming dependent on coffee is great, as coffee dependency can become a problem. It’s a better option for people who deal with anxiety, too, as higher caffeine consumption can cause you to become more anxious.

How about a snack to help get you through it? Stress can influence our eating in different ways.

It can cause us to eat more or to not eat at all. It may be a struggle, but eating something healthy will give you the energy to pull through.

It can be something simple, like peanut butter on toast, crunchy carrots, or yogurt and granola — even some Halloween candy is better than nothing!

All of these snacks have different benefits and are another way to stay healthy, or at least, as healthy as you can when you’re in university.

Lastly, let’s all get up and move around a bit. Studies recommend that, after about 30 minutes of studying, one should get up and stretch, move around and be active — even if it is just for five minutes.

We all know from experience that, when you are stuck stationary for a long time, you start to feel sleepy, so moving around is a good way to kickstart your brain. However, if you do need some sleep, don’t deny yourself a quick nap. Lack of sleep can have huge impacts on your health and performance in school, meaning denying yourself can impact that midterm grade. Midterms don’t have to be a struggle. Hopefully, these tips and tricks can help you thrive this exam season.

Scared by the flu vaccine?

Don’t be Reasons why you should think about rolling up your sleeve this fall.

Wei Soong Lau

WYATT BERNIER

Flu season is almost upon us, and that means it’s time to get vaccinated. Though some perceived barriers and misinformation remains, it’s easy for students to protect themselves against the viral illness.

You can walk in and get your flu shot without an appointment at most medical clinics and pharmacies in your area, including the University of Saskatchewan’s very own Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy in Upper Place Riel.

It doesn’t cost anything, and all you need is your health card and a few minutes to fill out a medical form.

Now, assuming you or your friends aren’t quite on board with

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getting a vaccination, I — along with some reputable internet sources and Dr. Andrew Potter, the director of the Vaccines and Infectious Disease Organization — will address some common concerns.

First of all, vaccines do not cause autism. This theory, and the anti-vaccination movement as a whole, stems from a now debunked study done by Andrew Wakefield in 1998. Wakefield claimed there was a link between the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine and autism. Since then, every single one of Wakefield’s findings from the study have been dismissed, his paper has been retracted, and his medical licence has been taken away.

Needless to say, Wakefield is not a reliable source of scientific

information. Numerous books have been published on how scientists like Wakefield fudge their findings, such as Ben Goldacre’s Bad Science. There is plenty of misinformation like this surrounding the topic of vaccination.

Some people might take issue with the so-called toxic substances that vaccines allegedly contain. While some vaccines do contain things like mercury and aluminum, these chemicals are not as dangerous as you think.

These supposedly harmful substances in vaccines are found in small doses that don’t pose health risks, and in some cases, they even differ from the compounds that are viewed as toxic.

For example, many people would be worried to see mercury on the ingredient list for the flu shot, but it is actually a part of a preservative compound called thimerosal, which contains ethylmercury, a substance that does not have the same properties as

methylmercury, the compound responsible for toxicity.

The amount of these chemicals present in a single dose is so small that its effects are essentially negligible. It’s best to remember the golden rule of toxicology: the dose makes the poison. Aluminum hydroxide, for example, has been used in vaccines for over 85 years to boost the body’s immune response. Although it can be harmful at high levels, the amount a person receives through vaccination is slight. For example at six months old, babies will already have ingested more aluminum than what they’ve received from their vaccinations.

Lastly, there is the fear that people might have an adverse reaction to a vaccine. The flu vaccine, as Dr. Potter points out, contains eggs, which can affect young children for whom egg allergies are fairly common.

However, these unexpected reactions are extremely rare since the nurses administering vaccines

always ask beforehand about allergies, medical conditions and medications to avoid a negative reaction.

If you are someone who cannot be vaccinated due to reasons such as allergies or religion, Potter says that herd immunity is your best option. “[Herd Immunity] is a pretty simple concept… If you vaccinate enough [people] in a group, the ones that aren’t vaccinated are going to be protected because the virus isn’t going to be circulating,” Potter said.

Although this isn’t a surefire way to avoid catching the flu, it greatly decreases your odds.

There are plenty of things you can do to ward off the flu, such as washing your hands often and eating healthily, but getting the flu vaccine is definitely the most effective way to protect yourself and those around you. So, if you have a break between classes this coming week, stop by the pharmacy and get your flu shot.

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Building up community members through community partnerships STR8 UP and Quint come together to create Build Up Saskatoon, with the goal of providing access to meaningful employment.

RAQUEL ALVARADO

Build Up Saskatoon, a new partnership between STR8 UP and Quint Development Corporation, offers meaningful employment opportunities to formerly incarcerated individuals in hopes of breaking the cycle of criminal and gang-related activity in Saskatoon.

According to a 2015 study in Public Health, youth gang involvement is a growing issue in Canada. The National Crime Prevention Centre notes that risk factors for gang involvement include a lack of education and employment opportunities. Public Health also reports that membership in gangs may often result in traumatic stress, substance use and socio-economic vulnerability.

Gang members are those who have lived through risk factors beyond their control, later becoming caught in a cycle of violence and criminal activity that impacts opportunities later in life. This is where STR8 UP comes in to offer help and support.

STR8 Up’s website describes the organization as a grassroots movement supporting ex-gang members and their families in Saskatoon. The group offers healing supports, professional development, sharing circles and family-friendly programming. The organization’s website states that their healing model shows “that a healthy alternative to gang life is possible.”

Formerly incarcerated individuals or ex-gang members often have difficulty finding employment as a result of social stigma and public perception.

This can result in increased social vulnerability and can contribute to a return to old routines, which may include criminal or violent activity.

Overall, the group aims to encourage and support their members by implementing positive changes in their lives in hopes of reducing the chances of them returning to criminal and/or violent activities.

STR8 UP and its programming offer people a chance to change these narratives.

By partnering with Quint Development Corporation, STR8 UP has developed

Build Up Saskatoon, a contracting business that offers physical-labour employment to individuals who were formerly incarcerated or who are in transition out of gang life.

This is a great step toward addressing gang-related activity in Saskatoon, as gangs will often seek out society’s most vulnerable individuals across racial, economic and cultural lines. The Youth Gang Prevention Fund of Canada notes that providing young people with alternatives to gangs is one of the strongest evidence-based approaches to reducing youth violence. The Quint Development Corporation Facebook page advertises the business as an opportunity to provide skillbased training, motivation and meaningful work to disadvantaged individuals.

A harsh, punishment-based approach to justice sees formerly incarcerated individuals as needing to pay the price for the rest of their lives. Instead, social rehabilitation should begin by offering tools for change and encouraging strengths rather than defining people by their weaknesses.

Programs like Build Up are one step towards ending the cycle of vulnerability and stigma that contributes to violent activity. Transitioning out of criminal activity is a difficult and brave act, but unfortunately, the continuous stigma often leads people to rejoin the cycle of trauma that they have taken steps to escape.

Build Up highlights the importance of community support. Becoming caught in a cycle of violence and crime is not entirely the result of individual choice, but rather, a compilation of social vulnerabilities and pain, upon which gangs prey for new membership. By supporting individuals in improving their economic and employment circumstances, Build Up contributes to breaking the cycle by welcoming individuals back to society with open arms.

Everyone deserves the chance to access tools to improve their lives. Individual and collective healing are one in the same, and it all begins by eliminating the stigma that our punishment-based society enforces on those who have already served their time.

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Gender Physics

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The noble Nobel? Difference of opinion surrounds Nobel Prize science categories Is the science side of the Nobel Prize an archaic form of pompous flattery or a true celebration of achievements in society?

ERIN MATTHEWS OPINIONS EDITOR

During the first week of October, annually, a steady stream of Nobel Prize winners are ushered into the ranks of winners past, with unique stories of the recipients and their achievements littering news outlets and social media.

It appears, however, that differences of opinion plague the public perception of the Nobel Prize, and its very inception was a contentious one.

It is widely believed that Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, had the nightmarish opportunity to read his own obituary. His brother had recently died, and a French newspaper mistakenly published the notice for Nobel himself — celebrating his demise by coining him the “merchant of death.” As the story goes, the prize was created due to Nobel’s personal anxiety surrounding his legacy.

Nobel had a vision for highlighting the advancements of individuals in five categories:

physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature and peace — based on who “conferred the greatest benefit on mankind.” Yet, in recent years, several op-eds have been published condemning the award and branding it an absurdity.

This year, two historic wins in physics and chemistry were noted when two women — Donna Strickland and Frances Arnold — were recognized for their research concerning lasers and enzymes, respectively. The focus on their wins, after the fact, was more about their newly shared status among a still meager collection of women and less about their research.

In total, 49 women have won the Nobel Prize — with Marie Curie winning the prize twice, once in physics and once in chemistry.

The majority of female prize winners are from the literature and peace categories. Only five women have received the prize for chemistry and three for physics, where Strickland’s name now resides.

Strickland is a Canadian optical physicist and associate

professor at the University of Waterloo. Her research has contributed to the development of laser surgical techniques, such as the popular Lasik eye surgery.

One of the most astounding things about her is that the work she did, which would later secure her the Nobel in 2018, was done when she was still a PhD student.

Since her win, there have been dozens of articles published about Strickland and her research, catapulting her out of obscurity. Back in May, Wikipedia denied a user’s attempt to add a page about her to their catalogue, citing that there was insufficient evidence of notability.

This has since been reversed — an entry about Strickland went up 90 minutes after her win.

Among all of this fanfare, the prize itself is heavily scrutinized for its shortcomings. The Nobel Prize has been critiqued as sexist and white-washed — with the majority of its laureates being white males — along with its lone- genius representation of science, as the contributors behind the success of a project leader are rarely recognized.

This narrative was infused into Strickland’s win when the story emerged of her status as an associate professor. Because Strickland is not a full professor, it was automatically assumed by many on social media that she was being held back in her academic advancements. Yet, Strickland has said that is frankly not the case. In an interview with the Waterloo Region Record, published on Oct. 5,

Supplied / Royal Karolinska Institute Alfred Nobel’s profile depicted on the Nobel Prize medal.

Strickland revealed that she never applied for the promotion.

She goes on to say that she didn’t see any value in the process of seeking the promotion and states that she only does what she wants to, and this, she adds, was simply not worth doing. Her response speaks to larger faults in academia, professorship and tenure — just not in the same way it was framed by speculators on Twitter.

All systems have their flaws.

Though still grossly under representative among the laureates, there already appears to be a shift towards recognizing the accomplishments of both women and people of colour. There is, of course, much more work needed to even out the scales, but in time, we can hope to see more diversity among the list of winners.

Still, it is argued that the scientific process is skewed by the award. Science is inherently collaborative, yet the prize focuses on one contributor to the field

while snubbing the others who might have also broken ground on certain projects.

This is something that won’t be easily overhauled, as I doubt the foundation will hand out honourable mentions. However, the Peace Prize is often awarded to whole organizations, and this could perhaps be a model for more inclusive recognition among the sciences.

The winners of the Nobel Prize become positive representatives of their fields, bringing attention to the work of others, and hopefully, they are capable of such a responsibility.

Despite the faults of the prize, in the end, it is a soft win for science communication. The attention to science research this past week was incredible, with dozens of media outlets publishing hundreds of articles and segments on the subject. If one person learned one thing about science during this popularity contest, to me, that is a positive step forward.

The USask alumni family is here to give our students and young grads helpful tools to become the leaders the world needs. Join us to hear USask alumni offer up advice and skills on issues that matter to you.

Louis’ Loft, 4 pm Register today at alumni.usask.ca

OCT. 22, 2018* Personal brand and social influence OCT. 25, 2018 Ten things I wish someone had told me in my early 20s NOV. 20, 2018 Money 101: financial advice for students and young grads JAN. 15, 2019 The art of resumés and cover letters MARCH 5, 2019 The dos and don’ts to buying your first home APRIL 2, 2019 Mindful meditation

* Oct. 22 has a $10 entry fee and includes your own professional headshot. The others are free to attend.

14 / OPINIONS

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DISTRACTIONS

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Aries:: March 21 - April 20

poorlydrawnlines.com

In the next lunar cycle, you’ll find new ways to compartmentalize your academic failures.

Taurus: April 21 - May 20

Times and dates are significant to your memory — let today be the anniversary of your rebirth.

Gemini: May 21 - June 20

Like a bird, you’ll choose fly away from your strict calendar for a day or two while Venus is in retrograde.

Take a dump on any random passerby to embody this transition — it doesn’t have to be figurative.

Cancer: June 21 - July 22

These days, you’ve been feeling torn between two worlds — the only thing to do now is dismiss reality completely.

Leo: July 23 - Aug. 22

It’s never too late to try capoeira.

Virgo: Aug. 23 - Sept. 22 #albumoftheweek:

Piano & A Microphone 1983 By Prince Emily Migchels

As the late artist’s first posthumous release, Piano & A Microphone 1983 intimately encapsulates an entire musical legacy. A look behind the curtain, so to speak, the LP was unveiled by Prince’s estate on Sept. 21 and comes from deep within the artist’s personal archives.

Piano & A Microphone 1983 was initially recorded in one take at the artist’s Kiowa Trail home studio, as a demo cassette, with recording engineer Don Batts. For a rambling first sketch, it’s surprisingly cohesive. The tracklist features a brief first look at “Purple Rain,” a heart-wrenching rendition of the spiritual “Mary Don’t You Weep” and — to reach for a local connection — a version of Joni Mitchell’s “A Case of You.” Whether or not we were meant to hear it, Piano & A Microphone 1983 is an important piece of the artist’s work in life, and I promise it’s more than worth your time to listen.

Important information is coming your way — keep an open mind.

Libra: Sept. 23 - Oct. 22

To quote the Crow, it’s true that everyday is a winding road.

Scorpio:

Oct. 23 - Nov. 21 Consider taking advantage of this tumultuous time in your love life — you can’t find the hypotenuse of a monogamous relationship.

Sagittarius: Nov. 22 - Dec. 21

The ground will freeze soon — dig your grave now, so you can be ready when finals come.

Capricorn: Dec. 22 - Jan. 19

Feelings aren’t often first on your list of things to deal with — if you haven’t gone through an emo phase yet, this is the month to give it a try.

Aquarius: Jan. 20 - Feb. 18

Of all the things you could be doing right, this is what you’ve chosen?

Pisces: Feb. 19 - March 20

Others will challenge your stance, but there is no way to prove that Michael Keaton isn’t the best Batman.

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