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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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Fiery feminist punk with the Shiverettes
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The new provincial budget concerns Saskatchewan’s student unions The future of post-secondary education is on the minds of student unions and U of S administrators after the 2019-2020 budget was released.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF | Nykole King
editor@thesheaf.com NEWS EDITOR
CULTURE EDITOR
Tanner Bayne
Cole Chretien
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board@thesheaf.com 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
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U of S students in the Place Riel Student Centre on April 1, 2019.
NOAH CALLAGHAN
Representatives from both major Saskatchewan universities’ student unions express concern over the new provincial budget, fearing students will suffer most from cuts. “The Right Balance” budget announced on March 20 saw decreased direct funding for students, with scholarship funds being reduced by 42 per cent. Advanced education, as a whole, saw no increases. The University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union and the University of Regina Students’ Union perceive the budget as unfavourable for students while the U of S administration thinks of it as a return to a balanced budget. The cuts to scholarship funding affect the availability of awards like the Saskatchewan Advantage Scholarship. The scholarship was previously available to all high school graduates attending post-secondary education in the province but will now be distributed based on economic eligibility. Brent Kobes, vice-president of operations and finance at the USSU, says the “$5.5 million cut to scholarship” funding affects the bottom line of most students at the U of S. “I think that a budget balanced on the backs of students is not a balanced budget,” Kobes said. “‘The Right Balance’ would have included having continued support for students through scholarships.”
Kobes says if the institution is going to remain foundational to the province’s success, attending the U of S must be affordable, and the budget did not assist that. “If having a high-quality, accessible post-secondary education is an important part of what the USSU needs and what the students and the province need, the government needs to invest in us,” Kobes said. Jermain McKenzie, URSU vice-president of student affairs, shares the disappointment of the USSU with the provincial budget. “This type of tightening the purse strings with the hope of reform without having a strong, robust public discourse is the wrong approach to take,” McKenzie said. “It just comes back onto the backs of students.” McKenzie says the ramifications of an increasing price of education can impact how students perform academically as well. “It’s also affecting the ability of students in postsecondary who require a substantial amount of time outside of class to study,” McKenzie said. “Students are having to go to work eight hours a day… How are they able to grasp and improve their knowledge?” Peter Stoicheff, the U of S president, describes the budget as “comparable” to last year’s in a statement released on the university website on March 21. He says that the university and the provin-
cial government are working together towards ensuring a world-class education and a balanced budget. “We understand the provincial government has worked towards a balanced budget over the past several years,” Stoicheff said. “We have endeavoured to do our part during difficult economic times.” In a statement provided to the Sheaf, the Ministry of Advanced Education emphasizes the increases to the operating funds of both institutions since the Saskatchewan Party was elected in 2007. “Saskatchewan universities are well-funded when compared to other universities,” the statement said. “We have increased operating funds to our two universities by 53 per cent since 2007, more than double the increase in the cost of living.” The USSU has not joined the decision by the URSU to launch a petition for a tuition freeze. However, both student unions have continued discussions with the Ministry of Advanced Education to share concerns about budgets that don’t favour students’ finances. Kobes hopes to see more investment in students and universities going forward. “Ultimately, students are our number-one priority, and investing in students is the best way to move forward, whether that is directly investing into students’ pocketbooks or into the institution,” Kobes said.
APRIL 04, 2019
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Campus community mourns victims of Christchurch terrorist attack with event The event’s organizers discuss the ongoing issue of Islamophobia on campus.
U of S Muslim Chaplaincy / Supplied U of S students sign a poster to show solidarity with the Christchurch mosque-shooting victims in the Gordon Oaks Red Bear Student Centre on March 26, 2019.
WARDAH ANWAR
Following the Christchurch terrorist attack, the Muslim Students Association and the Canadian Muslim Chaplain Organization commemorated the lives lost and brought attention to Islamophobia at the University of Saskatchewan with a campus event. On March 15, the city of Christchurch, New Zealand, witnessed a terrorist attack in which 50 lives were lost and 50 others were injured during Jummah prayer at local mosques. On March 26, many students, faculty and staff from the U of S attended the event held at the Gordon Oakes Red Bear Student Centre to show their solidarity with the victims of the shootings. MSA executives Rida Pervaiz and Abdirahman Ali, practicing physician and CMCO Chaplain Dr. Joel Schindel and graduate student Gary Beaudin gave speeches addressing the shooting. They also used the occasion to bring attention to the problems Muslim students face at the university. These problems are sometimes seen through outright harassment
but also by not having their voices heard. Schindel acknowledged the diversity of the people that came out to the event and have been offering support. “I think the event itself basically represents how people have been feeling,” Schindel said. “I think we, the Muslim Chaplaincy and the MSA, have all received overwhelming words of condolences from the students wanting to support us through this difficult time.” However, Schindel expressed his worry over escalating Islamophobic comments and incidents that have been occurring on campus such as the threats made on Sept. 19. On this date, a student shared on social media his plans of executing “Saudi leaders” at the university. He was taken into custody a day after making these posts. “The most recent of which was of course Sept. 19,” Schindel said. “There were online threats against Muslims, threatening their lives, making mentions of the locations on campus as well as harassment of Muslim students.” Iqra Khan, third-year physiology and pharmacology student and the MSA secretary,
says that Muslim students face harassment and threats of attack. “Every time the MSA ever [posts] an event and makes it public, we have these people giving negative comments that we actually have to block and take measures to make sure that someone is aware of it in case an attack were to happen, which is why we had to have security at our event,” Khan said. “This is something that had been going on for a while, and it’s grown since the last three years.” Schindel, who himself is a U of S alumnus and has been on campus for over a decade, has seen Islamophobia grow as a trend. “Islamophobia is not just violent or overt. I think that it is also in terms of people not being able to necessarily understand the unique needs of Muslims on campus,” Schindel said. Schindel says that recently, the Muslim student community, and especially, the MSA has had problems with having their voices heard regarding the various issues that Muslim students face. “The MSA and other Mus-
lim students have come to the chaplaincy with concerns of their voices not being heard,” Schindel said. “If someone’s voice is not being heard, then it’s very challenging for the issue of Islamophobia to be addressed.” Schindel says universities should work closely with organizations that help Muslim students such as CMCO. “I think that universities in general should be working with organizations such as ours to be able to ensure that their Muslim students have an opportunity, and ultimately, a good experience throughout university,” Schindel said. Khan says the goal of the MSA is to make discussions between the university administration and the CMCO more effective to help with issues of Islamophobia. “We need the university to work with an established organization, such as the CMCO, to help them fix this problem,” Khan said. “All we ask is for the dialogue to continue with the university administration and taking meaningful steps towards stopping and eliminating Islamophobia on campus.” Khan says that she and the
CMCO were deeply touched, and they appreciated all of the support received from various people and student clubs, such as the Biology Club, before and at the event. “The Biology Club wanted to send us flowers for the longest time,” Khan said. “They were talking about how they were walking their friends to class since the attack just to make sure that they were safe. It was quite nice. The MSA really appreciates everyone who came out.” To describe the event’s purpose, Khan uses the Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) hadith, or teachings. “The entire point of the event was to go off of what the Prophet — peace be upon him — said, which was that the Muslims are one body,” Khan said. “If one part feels pain, then the rest of the body feels pain as well.” Khan says that the CMCO and the MSA ultimately hope to achieve security for the Muslim student community. “Our goal as the MSA and CMCO is just to make sure that Muslim students on campus are safe,” Khan said. “That’s basically what we’re trying to get to from the shooting.”
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The College of Medicine works to update the biomedical sciences program by 2020 The new program will increase the focus on experiential learning. ANA CRISTINA CAMACHO STAFF WRITER
Eight months after five biomedical sciences departments merged into two, the College of Medicine is working in collaboration with the College of Arts and Science on a new version of the biomedical sciences undergraduate program. The biomedical sciences di-
vision at the CoM has undergone big changes over the last year with the department of anatomy, physiology and pharmacology and the department of biochemistry, microbiology and immunology presently housing what use to be five departments. With the changes complete, the college is now working on three new majors that match the new departmental structure to be implemented
Jordan Dumba / File
in the fall of 2020. The new majors are biochemistry, microbiology and immunology; neurosciences; and cellular, physiological and pharmacological sciences, the last of which is still a working title. They will replace the four biomedical sciences undergraduate programs. Students currently in these programs will be able to finish their studies without switching to the updated versions. Dr. Scott Napper, a faculty member in the CoM, is leading the project. In an email to the Sheaf, Napper says that the new curriculum will offer academic advantages to students. “These programs are designed to provide learners with student-centric, multidisciplinary training that inspires and enables careers within a spectrum of sciencebased activities,” Napper said. “Through emphasis on critical thinking, experiential learning and hands-on training in cutting-edge technologies, the
curriculum reflects modern priorities in biomedical science education.” Dawn Giesbrecht, a laboratory instructor at the Biomedical Sciences Teaching Lab, is also involved in the project. Giesbrecht says that experiential learning through research will be a strength of the new program. “We’ve offered course-based undergraduate research experience, and students get a lot of good, authentic research experience. We are building on that some more,” Giesbrecht said. “At a time when programs all across North America are cutting back on hands-on learning, I think one of the strengths of this program is that we can give students a lot of [that], so they get to learn techniques and skills in the labs.” Giesbrecht says the changes to the biomedical sciences program have been “ongoing for more than a decade.” With the changes to the undergraduate programs, the CoM will be working more closely with the College of Arts and Science.
“Our faculty right now is housed in the College of Medicine while the program itself is [run through] Arts and Science. By bringing these two components together, the College of Medicine will play a larger role in the program than before,” Giesbrecht said. “When you have faculty in one college and the program in another, there can be a bit of a disconnect. It’ll create the synergism of a more collaborative program.” Once the majors are offered next year, the CoM will continue to work on the biomedical sciences division. Giesbrecht says that the second phase of changes could include an additional major and new classes on subjects like epidemiology and pathology. “As I understand it, it’s not common to have epidemiology courses offered to undergraduate students, so we’re pretty excited to offer that,” Giesbrecht said. “These brand new classes will be innovative offerings for our program.”
Student group to start a solar farm on the Memorial Union Building roof The “Farm the Sun with US” group got funding from the USSU to begin assessments and aims to gain wider student interest. NATHALIE BAQUERIZO
A student-led project at the University of Saskatchewan hopes to install 86 solar panels on the roof of the Memorial Union Building, which houses Louis’ and some of the U of S Students’ Union centres. The project will save the USSU $5,400 per year. The project Farm the Sun with US began last year, proposed by 28 students in the Environment and Sustainability 401 class. It has now grown to include Kevin Hudson, energy and emissions officer on campus, and Rod Johnson, sessional lecturer in the department of geography and planning. With the solar panels, they will reduce carbon emissions by 26 ton per year and save up to $5,400 per year in electricity costs. The group recently secured partial funding from the USSU. They hope the union’s involvement will get more U of S students interested
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in the project. Femi Yusuf, fourth-year environment and society student and Farm the Sun with US member, says that solar energy is a good investment as Saskatchewan has the sunshine capital of Canada. “Research data that we gathered from SaskPower shows that Saskatchewan actually has the highest solar potential in all of Canada,” Yusuf said. “This means we have more than average solar radiation.” The University Students’ Council unanimously approved partial funding of the project after Yusuf gave a presentation at the March 21 council meeting. The USSU will finance $1,600 for a structural evaluation necessary to ensure that the roof can hold the panels. Before the USC voted on approving the funding, Caroline Cottrell, USSU general manager, said the USSU should support the project as the panels will be located on the student-owned building. It is also a statement in sup-
port of sustainability. “If we are capturing the financial value, we should be putting out the financial expenditure,” Cottrell said. “But beyond that, we believe that the student union should be the leaders in sustainability.” The rest of the project is estimated to cost $100,000, but SaskPower may provide a rebate of $20,000. The panels will be functional in a year or two and will have an estimated life of 25 to 30 years. Farm the Sun with US expects the project to have an impact on the University’s Sustainability Tracking and Assessment Rating System. Currently the rating at the U of S is silver, with their goal of reducing carbon emissions up to 20 per cent by 2020 still far from being achieved. Zach Person, first-year environment and sustainability masters student and Farm the Sun with US member, says the students involved in the project also hope to create an interest in their peers to encourage
Google Earth / Creative Commons The roof of the Memorial Union Building at the U of S.
growth in sustainability. “What we hope to happen with the project is that we’ll find younger undergraduate students that are interested to come on, and the older students that are working on the project will mentor them,” Person said. “It will be a continuous cycle creating sustainability of the project itself as well as creating sustainability on campus.” This is not the first project of this nature at the university. There are five other solar panel installations on campus, but none are set in a visible location. Person says that what makes the MUB project different is that it involves students. “We are trying to get this
project here because it’s very centred,” Person said. “You drive by it on the bus, you walk by it going to class, and we want students to see that green actions are being made on campus.” Yusuf says that one of the objectives of the project is to get students involved to spread knowledge and create awareness. “It takes 28 students to put solar panels on the roof. I think about what 300 students could do. We hope to get more student engagement. We are trying to get everyone involved,” Yusuf said. “This is our university. It’s the students’ university, our choice, and we want our voices to be heard.”
APRIL 04, 2019
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SPORTS&HEALTH
Huskies’ De Ciman drafted by the CEBL Saskatchewan Rattlers Chan De Ciman was selected in the inaugural CEBL draft, becoming the first ever active Huskies player to be drafted to a professional league. TANNER MICHALENKO
Chan De Ciman is now part Huskie and part Rattler. The 6-2 guard is one of four Huskies alumni to be drafted in the Canadian Elite Basketball League Entry Draft 2019. He will join the hometown Saskatchewan Rattlers alongside former Huskies Shane Osayande and Michael Linklater, who led the Huskies to their only national championship in 2009-2010. De Ciman, who is entering his fourth year of U Sports eligibility, will have an unprecedented opportunity in front of him this summer, and potentially beyond. As part of the CEBL partnership with U Sports, active U Sports players like De Ciman will be able to continue developing their game in a professional league during the summer months without it affecting their amateur U Sports eligibility status. In layman terms, De Ciman can play with and against veteran professional players in the summer when he’s not playing for the Huskies.
GetMyPhoto.ca / Supplied
Chan De Ciman / Supplied
“U Sports and the Canada West conference are both going to benefit from this. It’s going to improve everybody’s game,” said De Ciman. “I’ll be playing against great talent and be able to see how I match up with these guys. It’s also going to provide more exposure for us as well.” De Ciman’s older brother, Joe, played U Sports basketball before travelling overseas upon graduation to play professionally in Spain. Following in his brother’s footsteps is “definitely a goal for me — Joe has laid the
blueprint for me to follow,” De Ciman said. In the meantime, De Ciman understands how fortunate he is to be able to continue chasing his dreams of playing fulltime professional basketball while staying just two-and-ahalf hours from his hometown of Regina where he planned on living during the summer months before being selected by the Rattlers. “It’s a summer of growth for me. I’m just going to get better from this, taking every day one step at a time, and soak in as
much as possible from guys like Linklater. I’m going to be training every day,” said De Ciman. The Huskies have got to be pleased with De Ciman’s opportunity as well. The team will lose both their leading scorer and their leading rebounder from this past season, heading into the next. “We’re losing Joe [Barker] and Lawrence [Moore], so that’s a lot of points and rebounds that need to be replaced,” De Ciman said. “Next year is a big year for me. I’m just trying to focus on my craft and soak in the experience this summer.” All signs point towards an increased workload for De Ciman, who will be relied upon as a leader for the Huskies next
The Canadian Women’s Hockey League is closing up shop Just a week out of the CWHL Clarkson Cup final, the professional women’s league announced it will cease operations due to an “economically unsustainable” business model. TANNER MICHALENKO
On Sunday morning, the Canadian Women’s Hockey League shocked our country’s hockey landscape with their decision to discontinue all operations beginning May 1. The announcement comes just a week after the Calgary Inferno captured the championship trophy in the six-team league. The timing of this decision makes it quite unexpected as the Clarkson Cup drew a league-record of 175,000 viewers tuning into the championship final. Hundreds of female professional athletes will be dramatically affected, many of whom have Olympic-calibre talents as the league has featured numerous Canadian gold medalists, most notably Marie-Philip Poulin and Hayley Wickenheiser, throughout its 12-year history. Like many others around the league, former Huskie captain Kaitlin Willoughby will be
left wondering what lies ahead with seemingly few alternatives as it stands today. To say this decision is a shame is an understatement as a talent like Willoughby, who stands as the Huskies’ second all-time leader in points, should not have to worry about a place to play. CWHL players, including Willoughby, took to Twitter on Sunday to express their displeasure with the decision. “This morning we were informed the #CWHL is folding. As players, we will do our best to find a solution so this isn’t our last season of hockey, but it’s hard to remain optimistic. #NoLeague,” Willoughby wrote. Numerous other players tweeted out the exact same message. It’s a hard pill to swallow for these world-class athletes, left without a platform to improve their talents. The CWHL has been the only professional option for these women who can now only hope for a new opportunity to seemingly come out of nowhere.
Wikimedia Commons / Creative Commons The Toronto Furies in 2015.
Back in 2017-2018, the league made quantifiable progress with its decision to pay their players. And yes, previous to that season, the players did not receive any compensation for their professional work. The league set each teams’ salary cap at $100,000 with the annual salaries ranging between $2,000 and $10,000. This is quite a stretch from the $700,000 minimum salary that the National Hockey League offers its players.
The news is undeniably disappointing as many of these athletes will have to put their life’s work on the shelf until further notice. Natalie Spooner, a member of Team Canada’s 2014 and 2018 Olympic team, took to Twitter and added some perspective to the situation. “Today, the hockey league we played in and relied on to improve as players folded. The support we felt throughout these years was tremendous,
season in what should be a very interesting campaign for the program. This past year, the dogs swept Regina in the quarter-finals before being eliminated at the hands of the Calgary Dinos in the semifinals. The Dinos went on to win the conference and eventually lose the national championship game against Carleton. Be sure to support De Ciman and the Huskies next season as they seek to reach the Canada West championship final for the first time since 2014-2015. Until then, you can catch a glimpse of De Ciman’s game as the Rattlers kick off their inaugural season, beginning at home against the Niagara River Lions on Thursday, May 9. and we would love to keep this momentum going,” Spooner wrote. “The future generations need to be able to see their role models on the ice.” Spooner touched on the consequences of the decision. The CWHL provided young girls around the country with someone to admire and career goals in which they could aspire. One of those young girls includes eight-year-old Jordyn whose letter to Spooner got posted by The Sports Network’s official Instagram account. “Natalie Spooner is my hockey hero. I’m sad to hear the news about the CWHL… All of the teams and players inspired so many girls like me. When I’m older, my dream is to play for the Furies one day and sports broadcast for [the] CWHL. I really hope we can keep the league going… Keep your head up. I hope they can fix this soon,” Jordyn wrote. Jordyn’s note tells the tale of what really matters coming out of this decision. Let’s all hope that a sustainable opportunity opens up for these athletes as the future of Canadian female athletics is much better off with a recognizable platform for influential role models to lead the next generation.
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Saskatoon basketball product cracks the big stage Ja’Shon Henry’s basketball talent has given him an opportunity that almost every Saskatchewan-born basketball player can only dream of.
Timlin Lecture in Economics Presented by the Timlin Trust and Department of Economics
The Role of Central Banks by Dr. Stephen Williamson (PhD) Western University
April 15 5 pm Neatby-Timlin Theatre (Arts 241) Everyone is welcome to attend this free lecture.
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TANNER MICHALENKO
Three short years ago, Ja’Shon Henry was throwing down dunks at the Bedford Road Invitational Tournament. This past March, Henry became the second Saskatoon-born player to play on, arguably, the world’s biggest collegiate stage: the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament — also known as March Madness. Henry spent three years at St. Joseph High School in Saskatoon. The 6-6 guard and forward then took his talents to the Notre Dame Hounds program in Wilcox, Sask. The Hounds have earned a reputation as an athletic preparation school as they’ve helped players in the past land post-secondary, amateur and professional opportunities in their respective sports. For a basketball player from Saskatchewan, you really have to put yourself out there and perform at an exceptional level to get noticed. It’s safe to say that our province isn’t on the maps of most NCAA division I scouts. Henry had to know this as he went on to average 28.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game for Notre Dame. His work for the
Hounds landed him on the radars of NCAA scouts. “Obviously, it’s a huge honour to be able to represent where you’re from on that sort of a stage — it’s an amazing feeling,” Henry said. “Coming from Saskatchewan, a lot of people may have thought I was crazy to say that ‘Someday, it will be me playing in that tournament.’ But being able to finally say I did it, all the while representing my province, I wouldn’t want it any other way.” Henry is the first Saskatoonborn player to play in the NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament since Trey Lyles did so with the University of Kentucky in 2014-2015. Lyles went on to be the highestdrafted player from the province, picked 12th overall by the Utah Jazz. “As a kid from Saskatchewan, we can be overlooked as basketball players. Being able to show that we can play and prove that there is talent, that’s a huge honour,” Henry said. Henry’s future as a Bradley [University] Brave looks bright as the 20-year-old freshman averaged 12 minutes per game while shooting 52.9 per cent from the field. For a true freshman from Canada to have a real role on a division I team is an enormously im-
pressive feat in itself. Normally, overlooked or under-scouted players opt to redshirt for a year. Redshirting is an option offered by the NCAA where student athletes can still practice and be a part of their team, but they don’t play in a game for an entire season. This allows a player to focus on their development without using any of their four years of playing time eligibility. Henry has three more seasons of eligibility left to keep improving his game and hopefully earn a professional opportunity after college. But he is just focused on where he’s at with his game right now. “My focus is to tune up little things in my game to make me more of a threat. I’m excited to get back on the floor and start training because the off-season is where the work is put in to shine during the season,” Henry said. Despite carrying a lead into halftime, Henry and the 15seed Braves were eliminated by the 2-seed Michigan State Spartans in the opening round of action on March 21 by a score of 76-65. It was the first tournament appearance for the Braves since 2006. Keep an eye out for Henry and the Braves next season, and don’t be afraid to pencil them down to make a deep run in next year’s tournament.
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FEATURE
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The Sheaf presents: The 2019-2020 USSU election results There will be a by-election to follow in the fall to fill the vacancies on University Students’ Council. TANNER BAYNE NEWS EDITOR
JACK THOMPSON
SPORTS & HEALTH EDITOR
March has marched on, and with it, another University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union general election. Less than 10 per cent of undergraduates students voted in the election that named University Students’ Council and University Senate members, including the four executive positions that entail a salary of almost $40,000.
An underwhelming 1,697 students — only 9.34 per cent of the 18,175 undergraduate students at the U of S — cast their votes in the election. The presidential position was the only contested one, and Regan Ratt-Misponas won the seat by a slim 66 votes over Kylie Phillips. Maintaining a more than 10-year-long trend for uncontested positions, each of
the sole vice-presidential candidates secured their seats. Although all USSU executive positions have been filled, 12 of the 25 seats on the USC remain vacant — which means that students can expect to see a byelection in the fall. Likewise, one of the six student seats on the University Senate remains unfilled.
The 2019-2020 USSU Executive Regan Ratt-Misponas, fourth-year education Presidential position secured with 689 votes, 40.6 per cent of the total votes
How are you feeling about the win?
“I am feeling content. It feels like there is a huge amount of pressure off my shoulders. I spent much of the last two weeks on the ground meeting people, and that’s what I want to continue. I can only say thank you to both the other president candidates.”
One word to describe the U of S? “Home. For the last four years, I have been here. I came to Saskatoon for this reason — to get post-secondary education. I can’t say how much I love it and the community here. I’ve met some of my best friends here. This is a privilege. Getting to come here and experience life here as a student has been one of the best things.”
Do you have a message for students?
“Especially during finals, just know, my friends, that we are going to make it. It’s going to be heavy for the next few weeks, and we may feel like this isn’t something we want to do for the rest of our lives, but it only lasts a short time. But the benefits from it are going to last a lifetime. Just push through.”
Will you pursue the creation of an Indigenous Students’ Union?
“It is true I have been involved in the movement for an ISU on campus. It is still something that I see can happen on campus, but at the end of the day that decision has always been in the hands of Indigenous students. It’s not my decision. It’s the decision of the 3000 Indigenous students that make up this community. That is self-determination.”
Carlos Muñoz Pimentel, third-year political studies Vice-president academic affairs position secured with 1051 votes, 61.9 per cent of the total votes
Regan Ratt-Misponas / Supplied
How do you feel about the win?
“I feel pretty content. It was an uncontested race so it was more of a race against yourself, more or less. You’re fighting yourself in an election — like your reputation and what you say. I was really relieved that it turned out the way it did.”
What is the most important objective for you in the upcoming term?
“Working with the affordability proposal in my platform… At the end of the month, it’s always really tight, so giving students the opportunity to have access to money and funds by applying for these scholarships is definitely beneficial for them.”
Do you have a message for students?
“My door is always open — I love talking, and getting to know people in general is really fun. If you want to talk about academics, you’re more than welcome to come into my office. If you want to talk about your day, you’re welcome to come into my office. I’m here to serve and to help people, so my time is for everybody.”
What is step number one in bringing your proposed scholarship bundles into effect?
“My first step is assessing all of the current scholarships that exist in the university and trying to see what requirements each scholarship has, and based on that, trying to group them together depending on your major [and] depending on the application process you need and just trying to make them work together.” Carlos Muñoz Pimentel / Supplied
8 / FEATURE
FEATURE
WWW.T H E S H E A F.COM // @ U SAS KS H E A F
APRIL 04, 2019
Jamie Bell, third-year management
Vice-president operations and finance position secured with 994 votes, 58.6 per cent of the total vote
How do you feel about the win?
“The win for me is reaching a goal I’ve set out for myself in the past few years because I’ve wanted VP Operations and Finance for a few years, and now, I’ve just reached a point where I felt ready to actually run for it. I felt prepared enough that, if it were a job application, I would feel comfortable enough submitting my application.”
What is your timeline for when your proposals can be utilized by students? “I want to start having these discussions as soon as I’m in office. I want to survey work nationally — similar work that’s done to get a sense of what I can do, what is culturally appropriate, what I can take from cultures … to guide me in my discussions.
“I want to have this all done and published — again with the budget documents — by August, so that way, students can have them ready to go when they come on campus in September.”
Do you have a message for students?
“Don’t procrastinate — I know it’s hard. I just pulled an all-nighter, and it sucks. Do your projects, do your readings, [and] study. For first-year students specifically, try to get involved as much as possible, because the more you integrate yourself with your campus and your classmates, the more fun you’ll have the rest of your degree.”
What is a fun fact about you?
“I’m a notary public. Services and rates are available at jamiehbell.com.”
Allen Lewis, first-year undeclared
Jamie Bell / Supplied
How are you feeling about the win?
Vice-president student affairs position secured with 856 votes, 50.4 per cent of the total vote
“I’m really excited — even to get to know the other executives, the staff and to see how I can engage with students. That is something that I think is needed.”
What are some of your hobbies?
“I like photography, … travelling whenever I have time off, [and] I like driving. I really like going out to Vancouver — that’s my favourite place.”
Fun fact about you?
“I know how to salsa dance.”
One word to describe the U of S?
“Connected. Not just within the university but how it connects to Canada through research or whatever. That’s what I like about this position — I get to connect with many different people.”
What is the most important thing you plan to do this year in your position?
“Student engagement. If I could get student groups doing cross events, seeing different groups of people work together, that’s the main thing.”
Do you have a message for students?
“I really want students to get involved with extracurricular activities — especially if it can somehow connect with their studies, so they can bring it all together.”
Exploration was part of your platform: what tangible ways do you plan you explore campus? Allen Lewis/ Supplied
“Getting to meet all the ratified campus groups and then getting to know the challenges that they might have.”
The 2019-2020 University Students’ Council College of Agriculture and Bioresources Raul Diego Miguel Taylor Markham
College of Arts and Science Jacob Reaser Sarah Foley One vacancy
College of Education Lauren Klassen One vacancy
Edwards School of Business Isaac Reaser One vacancy
International Students
Abhineet Goswami Kantarama Sense Sale
College of Medicine
Alexa McEwen
College of Nursing Seth Dear Sarah Power
St. Thomas More College Kagen Newman One vacancy
Western College of Veterinary Medicine Kate Illing
The University Senate Michael Aman Jackson Andrews Emma Ashworth Robert Henderson Jonathan Heppner
Note: There were some seats for which no one was nominated. Therefore, there are eight other vacancies.
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Propaganda politics: A look at the harms of fake news culture Fake news culture is inherently harmful to the fundamental nature of democracy. JESSICA MROSKE
The term “fake news” has become both a meme and a relevant pop-culture phenomenon in the recent years due to its increasing popularity with the President of the United States Donald J. Trump. President Trump first used the phrase when calling out CNN after they posted a series of negative articles covering the then-candidate in the presidential race. Since being elected, the only things to increase faster than the president’s use of the phrase were the memes and jokes that followed. As a result, the term fake news is used to describe nearly anything for the sake of humour, having the true and serious meaning of the phrase constantly overlooked. In truth, fake news culture is more harmful than the memes would have you believe. It is important to note that the acceptance of the term into meme culture is a side effect of President Trump’s political goal. It scares the average person into a toxic relationship with mainstream media
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networks as noted by Cory Wimberly in his research on propaganda. The resulting collective consciousness becomes one where the average citizen has a distrust for the organizations that are supposed to guarantee unfettered access to accurate, truthful information and allow an intimate view into inner political circles. Even organizations once thought to hold credibility are not safe from the illogical and often overkill skepticism held by people in this new culture sphere. Why is it a problem if the average person does not have faith in the news media? It comes down to the role of the media in the democratic machine. The press is a tool of the people to hold the government of the day accountable for their choices. The press is a lens for the public to see into the inner workings of the government and to understand it. What happens when no one
Shawna Langer
can trust the media? When the press loses validity, so does a limb of the democracy of that country. When people cannot trust the press, they often blindly trust other authority figures in their spheres of reference, namely, the government. The issue with having the government regulating the information that people receive is that bias is inevitable. Motivat-
ed by self-interest and political preservation, the government can frame any action in a way that is deceitful and misleading to the public. How does this affect the average person who may or may not be deeply involved in politics? It is actually quite simple. This specific case acts as a catalyst for misinformation. More specifically, it blurs the line
between valid and non-valid sources. Blurring these lines leaves room for radical groups to claim legitimacy, stating mistrust in the government as their reason and proof for existing — for example, flatearthers. Adding to this, the legitimacy and importance of issues of this nature are undermined. While memes provide quality content, they often make light and hide the relevance of the issue. In these cases, the President of the United States actively engages in creating propaganda for the people of his country. This is the very definition of propaganda that serves to misinform rather than serve democracy. A publicly supported, unbiased free press that cannot be bullied by political leaders who aim to discredit the information is a fundamental protection for our system of democracy, and indeed, for global humanity.
The psyche of love Why love conquers the spring air. YASHICA BITHER
The snow is melting, the sun is shining, and upon us smile the gods of spring. The goddess of love herself seems to be roaming around with all the romance flourishing and couples eager to celebrate the warming weather. At the same time, it seems like many couples are breaking up. This raises the question — is love actually in the spring air? Winter is a rough time. University students are not only stressed to the max with assignments and exams but are also trying to couple up with someone to survive the cold. It’s a test of love for many couples to juggle between school and relationships as the stress reaches new levels, and unfortunately, they sometimes end up breaking up once spring comes. Simultaneously, the white blanket of winter is lifting, giving way to the colour pops of spring. The seasonal depression lifts, and we become more open to looking for a new beginning. That new beginning, for some students, is springtime romance as portrayed in anime. It may seem silly to say that you broke up or felt down because of the winter blues, but studies have shown that, because of the lack of natural sun-
light during the winter months, our daily body rhythms get out of sync and cause us to have low moods. However, in the springtime, the natural light comes back and our daily body rhythms return to their usual synchronization, elevating our moods. If you’re in a good mood, you’re more willing to be social, and this could lead to a budding romance. You are able to do fun activities with your significant other — or potential significant other — rather than just staying at home all day to avoid the cold. This is just basic psychology. You can go out and enjoy a nice stroll in the park, go to a festival and just do things that make you happier. Also, because dopamine levels increase in the spring, so does your sex drive — just saying. Yes, the reason we fall in love in spring is because the natural neurotransmitters in our bodies, like serotonin and dopamine, increase. Add in the stimuli of seeing more people with fewer clothes on, brighter coloured clothing, happier moods and a better atmosphere, and you’re bound to be more vulnerable to falling in love. If you’re an avid anime fan, you would know that this is around the time for new spring animes to drop, and those are
Yashica Bither
known for their idyllic onscreen romances. They usually start off with the cliché of two teenagers meeting under a cherry blossom tree on their way to their high school with the petals falling beautifully around the two. As time slows down, it seems like they are the only ones in the world. It’s the start of a beautiful romance, and it’s all thanks to those cherry blossom petals. Of course, add in a harem, some weird characters and
many subplots, and you’ve got a classic spring anime. But the idea of that romance is still prevalent, and we all know those two initial characters will end up together anyways. With this in mind, I encourage you to get out there if you want and try to find your own romance, complete with imaginary cherry blossom petals falling and all. In the words of famous anime songs, like from Ouran Highschool Host Club, “kiss kiss fall in love.”
APRIL 04, 2019
CULTURE
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The Shiverettes talk about their new album and its inspiration prior to their Saskatoon show This Calgary band is not afraid to speak out for what they believe in.
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AMBER ADRIAN JACKSON
The Shiverettes are a feminist punk band from Calgary who will be performing at Amigos Cantina on April 26. Their electrifying new album Real Shrill Bitches drops on April 18. The band recently sat down with the Sheaf to talk about their upcoming album and vision for their music. When asked about what inspired them to write such an overtly political record, lead vocalist Hayley Muir said, “When we were going into writing it, I sort of had this idea that I was like, ‘I don’t wanna write a political record.’” However, the band is predominantly made up of women, and they find that women’s experiences are inherently political, and that affects their writing. Each member has a different favourite track on the new album, such as “Very Cool Dude,” “Hard Bitch,” “Trust” and “Scorpio.” A common denominator among all these tracks is that they each have something that distinguishes them from their previous works. This is expected as a band grows and evolves together, and the Shiverettes are
evolving fantastically. The band’s last album Dead Men Can’t Cat Call is undeniably good. It is a fundamentally punk album with powerful lyrics. Their next album, Real Shrill Bitches, continues to do what made the first one so great, but better. Feminist content aside, the music is intense and well done. Listening to the politically driven lyrics reveals how empowering and moving they are. The band also shows a genuine punk attitude. As a predominantly female punk band, it is to be expected that they would experience some challenges. According to drummer Steve Richter though, “the girls don’t take anyone’s shit” even if that means that there are certain people, bands or venues that they aren’t able to work with as a result. Real Shrill Bitches opens with “Bumblebee,” a strong and intense instrumental that lets you know exactly what you’re listening to as soon as it begins. The closing track called “Boys Club” encapsulates the experiences of many women, which is the goal and essence of the Shiverettes’ work. When asked what they would like people to take away from their music, guitarist and vocalist Kaely Cormack says,
“I want people to see that their voice matters and that people are listening… It’s important for people who are marginalized.” The majority of people making recognized art are still straight white men, but there is an audience waiting for new voices. The Shiverettes are making music about inherently female experiences and are thriving from it. This is a sign of progress in the music industry, and it should be celebrated by all punk fans. The music is empowering. As a woman, songs like “Dead Men Can’t Cat Call” and “Shout Your Assault” from Dead Men Can’t Cat Call and “Incel” and “Very Cool Dude” from Real Shrill Bitches resonate. These are very real experiences, and it is validating not only to hear them but to hear them angrily. Anger is often seen as an unacceptable emotion in women, but it is reclaimed here. Listening to the Shiverettes is a cathartic experience. It provides an outlet for people who have experienced the things they write about. It is very important for people to see themselves represented in art, and the Shiverettes provide this for young women. This is the point of music, and the Shiverettes capture that perfectly.
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Nostalgia: A ticket out of our scary reality Our fixation on nostalgia is escapism at its finest. TOMILOLA OJO
Shawna Langer
Whether it be for the good old days when we were kids and had no responsibilities or for a seemingly magical summer gone past, nostalgia has always had its place in people’s lives. However, today’s youth seem to be more fixated on nostalgia than ever — but why? The past few years have seen the resurgence of throwback or vintage culture. We have Spotify, but people are going out and
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buying vinyls and record players. We can shop anywhere in the world from the comfort of our own computers, but thrifting has somehow come back with a vengeance. We even see companies trying to profit off this by selling vintage clothing with crazy markups or with merch from old movies and music becoming more popular. The Jonas Brothers are back, Miley Cyrus is rocking that old Hannah Montana look again, and everyone is reliving their childhoods. Everyone seems to be obsessed with going back to the good old days, and the reason is that people are so stressed out about their current and possible future lives that they look to the past as a form of escapist fantasy. Things are moving so fast that people are looking for a reminder of simpler, more consistent times. Generation Z and millennials have their childhoods characterized by rapid advancements in technology. Some people might even remember going from a chalkboard to a whiteboard then to a smartboard. Things change so fast in today’s world that people are looking for some stability, something apart from the crazy and constant barrage of new information we get every day. This nostalgia phenomenon in culture is not new, however. We’ve all listened to our parents speak fondly of concerts they went to as kids or rolled our eyes as they would reminisce — for the umpteenth time — over the fun times they had during youth. Maybe, we even got our love for some throwback bands from them.
However, in a generation that is almost defined by its uncertainty and fear about the future, nostalgia has left the realm of fun pastime and entered into that of coping mechanism. With climate change looming and reaching the point of no return and the political climate of the world being so precariously balanced, fear for the future is rampant. Seeing as we have until 2030 to make changes that will reverse climate change, if we are unable to do this, our generation will be the first to deal with climate change. We are also the generation that is witnessing the fall of the American dream. Working hard no longer directly equates to living a comfortable life, and you can’t put yourself through college working a part-time job. There definitely are people out there making real and monumental strides to make the future a less scary place, but right now, it is all up in the air. So most people look to the past for simpler times, reminisce on good times gone by and make memes about the issues in our world right now to cope with the alarming uncertainty of it all. I’ll be the first to say that nostalgia is my drug of choice. I will always look back on the past fondly and throw my favourite Destiny’s Child record on while obsessing over ’90s Chanel fashion shows. Nostalgia is a great escape, but at some point, we need to wake up and smell the climate change. Focusing on the past won’t stop the future from coming.
OPINIONS
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APRIL 04, 2019
After an assault: Better access to health care necessary for victims of sexual violence Access to services for sexual-assault survivors is promising, but more work needs to be done.
Jeremy Gee The front entrance of the Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon.
CAMI KAYTOR
A 2018 study from an Ontario hospital revealed that healthcare workers are often the first to interact with those affected by sexual violence. They also noted that only two-thirds of victims agree to a forensic rape kit. Only a month ago, there was limited access to these kits as they were only offered in one emergency room in the city.
Thankfully, this is no longer the case. As of March 12, all emergency departments in Saskatoon offer all services for victims of sexual assault. Before this, St. Paul’s Hospital didn’t offer forensic kits or emergency contraception, such as the well-known plan B. Megan Evans — manager of communications and development at Saskatoon Sexual Assault & Information Centre, a non-profit organization that responds to community-based
sexual violence — says that a lack of properly trained staff could complicate a victim’s efforts to recover from the assault. “The biggest determinant we see is how long it takes [victims] to disclose and how the person who is disclosed to responds. If it gets minimized, or there’s blame or denial, then that might shut the victim up for a really long time. Getting back to a healthy state of mind, talking to someone is the biggest thing that helps people afterwards,” Evans said. The increased emergency services for victims was informed based on community needs, says Amanda Purcell, media relations specialist at the Saskatchewan Health Authority. “Recently, it has become clear that people in our community could be better served if victims of sexual assault were seen at the facility where they were first present. In response, the three Saskatoon area hospitals’ emergency departments are working together to ensure holistic care
— which addresses the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of victims of sexual assault — is available at all three sites,” Purcell said. St. Paul’s Hospital is in Pleasant Hill, a neighbourhood which is affected by poverty and homelessness. Evans explains the correlation between being socially disadvantaged and being at risk for sexual assault. “The more people are marginalized, there’s an increased chance for sexual violence because it shows where you are in terms of vulnerability. If you struggle with addictions or are sleeping on the street — all the things people take for granted, especially for children — they’re especially vulnerable when it comes to sexual assault,” Evans said. Unlike the downward trend seen in other types of crime, the rates of sexual assault in Saskatchewan are not decreasing. Our province is currently second in the country for per capita rates.
Organisations like the SSAIC, Mobile Crisis Services and the Saskatoon Community Clinic Westside exist to fill gaps in the current system. In the future, Evans would like to see even more resources devoted to prevention of sexual assault and victim care. “It’s really awesome to see mental-health initiatives in the recent budget, but sexual-assault [initiatives] got no funding. With a new report coming out before the next budget, we hope to move vital stakeholders forward and mobilize human and financial resources to achieve the goals,” Evans said. As public awareness of sexual assault increases, information becomes more readily available, which leads to better support systems for victims. Social-media movements, like #MeToo, have no doubt drawn attention to sexual violence in our everyday lives and will hopefully continue to encourage better support and care for survivors.
Undergraduate publishing on campus Students have the opportunity to build their skills and share their work through the U of S Undergraduate Research Journal. SARAH FOLEY
I’ve been an editor with the University of Saskatchewan Undergraduate Research Journal for the past two years, first as an associate editor in the interdisciplinary section of the journal and now as a senior editor with the natural sciences section. This experience has provided me with a great opportunity to learn about the many aspects of open-access scholarly publishing and improve my research and writing skills. This year’s first issue of the journal contains a breadth of subjects from paleobiology to philosophy. Topics explored within the journal are also diverse, ranging from research exploring the relationship between cannabis and epilepsy to a review of queer representation in mainstream cinema. The journal also accepts artistic works and is currently working toward establishing a panel review process for these submissions. The journal provides a platform for undergraduate research and review articles from all disciplines. The works are
freely available online, facilitating broad readership. The 93 articles published by the journal have been downloaded 72,464 times since its inception in 2014. Bidushy Sadika, who graduated in October 2018 with a B.A. honours in psychology, published the article “Promiscuous versus Romantic Lesbianism in Films” with USURJ. Sadika found that the visibility of the article gave her a new sense of confidence in pursuing a career in research. “I got an opportunity to build my social network — more people now know me and my research work, and that really feels amazing,” Sadika said in an email to the Sheaf. Sadika is continuing on to a master’s program in September 2019. All articles that are published in the journal have been peerreviewed by faculty in order to ensure they meet the discipline’s established guidelines and standards of work. USURJ uses double-blind peer review, which ensures the anonymity of both the author and the reviewer throughout the process. Branden Neufeld, a mas-
ter’s student in the department of biology, published an article with USURJ entitled “The Dire Consequences of Specializing in Large Herbivores.” He says that he was impressed with the rigour of the peer-review process for the journal.
Erin Holcomb/ Supplied
“I had heard that the peer-reviewed publishing process was difficult… I thought USURJ would be taken less seriously as an undergraduate journal, but thankfully, it was not. My reviewer made sure that I covered all possible aspects
of my topic thoroughly and fact-checked my sources,” Neufeld said in an email to the Sheaf. As of October 2018, USURJ uses a Creative Commons Attribution -Noncommercial copyright licence. This allows others to use and build upon the work in a non-commercial setting as long as they acknowledge the author in the new work. Authors can also choose to apply any other Creative Commons licence to their work by informing the editorial board of their decision prior to publication. Before this change, all rights remained with the author — excluding the journal’s right to publish the work first. However, reserving these rights can create barriers for others who wish to build upon the work. If an open licence — such as a Creative Commons licence — is not used, any future users must contact the author prior to using their work unless the use is covered by an exception in the Copyright Act. Un d e r g r a du at e - s tu d e nt
authors tend to be a transient population with often-changed email addresses. Using a Creative Commons licence ensures that the author’s wishes are known for all potential future users even if they are difficult to track down. Another exciting new development at USURJ is the addition of research snapshots to the accepted submission types. These are short abstract-style pieces that include author reflections on the personal value of the research experience along with preliminary results and next steps. Snapshots provide a unique opportunity for students to share their work when there’s not a polished final product. USURJ is committed to sharing undergraduateresearch experiences and provides a great stepping stone for undergraduates to pursue further research. To learn more about the journal, submit work or apply for a position as an editor, visit https://usurj.journals. usask.ca/ or contact the editorial board at usurj@usask.ca.
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I guess we’re really doing this: No one wins in the Peterson-Žižek debate The two philosophers will flex their intellectual prowess when they go head to head later this month. COLE CHRETIEN CULTURE EDITOR
On April 19, Jordan Peterson and Slavoj Žižek — arguably the two primary public intellectuals of our generation — will hold a debate in Toronto. In advance of what’s sure to be an absolute shitshow, I hope this can serve as a watch guide. For most people, this event will be of little interest, but to those who spend their days curating philosophy memes and pointing out ad hominems in Facebook comments, it’ll be entertaining at the least. Peterson made his name as a professional “lib triggerer” after he spoke out against — and arguably mischaracterized — Bill C-16, a bill put forward by the Liberal government that codified gender expression into the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. His vaguely philosophical self-help guide 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote for Chaos gained bestseller status despite his controversial views. Žižek, a Slovenian Marxist, has spent years forging bizarre linkages between Lacanian psychoanalysis and Hegelian philosophy. He has produced extensive works in both print and film that alternate between brilliant and confounding, making him one of the most wellknown modern philosophers in the Marxist tradition. The topic being debated will be “Happiness: Capitalism v. Marxism.” The economic focus makes sense since the two philosophers both have generally reactionary social attitudes. So a debate on, say, political correctness or campus issues would end with both parties vigorously agreeing on everything before
Samantha Langer
high fiving and calling it a day. There are two major fault lines between Žižek and Peterson. The first being the aforementioned political disagreement between capitalism and socialism while the second is based in psychoanalysis. As a psychologist, Peterson advocates for the theories of Carl Jung while Žižek stands by famous French Freudian Jacques Lacan. Peterson is an advocate of Jung’s theories of archetypes and the collective unconsciousness. This essentially amounts to a sincerely held belief that the human race shares a thought realm
where idealized exemplars of human perfection — and countless other perfect objects — actually exist. In contrast, Žižek presents a Lacanian analysis that theorizes that everything we perceive as real is actually a mixture of subjective fantasy and symbolic interpretation. Žižek has expanded this to a critique of society and ideology, using Lacan’s intermingling of the imaginary and the symbolic to study cultural movements, political systems and attitudes of prejudice. Avoiding a social debate is probably best for everyone in-
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volved, and props to the event organizer for making that call. However, the debate topic chosen is not really suited to either philosopher. Peterson and Žižek both outwardly appear as monuments of human misery, and neither thinker’s world view leaves much room for happiness as a consideration. Peterson is mostly concerned with hierarchy, duty and responsibility. He disregards a spiritual path to happiness, citing Christian doctrine as a useful rulebook for governing society and little else. His prescriptive life plan suggests happiness but focuses mainly on maintaining social order. He often appears vindictive and wounded, claiming that a GQ interviewer who challenged him was “animus possessed from the Jungian perspective.” He repeatedly berates his detractors rather than coming up with an actual argument. Instead, he spends his time as a guest on The Joe Rogan Experience and hot-take generator, in lieu of, you know, actually doing philosophy. He is also a staunch critic of Michel Foucault and the supposed philosophical movement of “post-modern neo-Marxism,” a label that really only exists in the space between Peterson’s ears. Ironically, Foucault was a critic of Marxism, whose analysis of power led him to advocate
for the necessity of hierarchies as a condition for any productive society. Surprising literally no one, it turns out that the post-modernists don’t care much for modernity either. Peterson isn’t much of a philosopher, but Žižek is hardly an ideal advocate for the left. While he is well-read in the Western canon of philosophy, his conclusions are often suspect. Žižek has advocated for bizarre and dangerous political solutions including a return to authoritarian communism, and more recently, an anti-capitalist revolution spearheaded by Bernie Sanders supporters and members of the alt-right. Žižek is a fountain of insane word-association-style philosophical ideas, and he’s been called out for misreading his inspirations on multiple occasions. Watching Žižek talk can be fascinating, but there’s always a suspicion that most of what he’s saying is bullshit. He’s drawing connections that no one else is, but there might be a reason no one has. I’m not sure how this debate will go, but it’ll probably be a farce on at least some level. I’m not much of a fan of either of the participants, but I hope, at the very least, this piece can serve as an introduction to the work of both philosophers for a more informed debate-viewing experience.
APRIL 04, 2019
DISTRACTIONS
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Aries: March 21 - April 20 Pro tip: if you walk into the rain, no one can see you cry.
Taurus: April 21 - May 20 Do not venture into the tunnels after dusk; the humans are out for Minotaur blood.
Gemini: May 21 - June 20 That doppelgänger you It’s the end of an era. Goodbye to our long-time comic contributor, Mike T. All the best in the future. –XOXO, The Sheaf Staff 2013-2019
conjured last month may be plotting to smother you in your sleep, but at least, you have someone to write your finals for you.
Cancer:
June 21 - July 22 Don’t count your teeth before they hatch.
Leo: July 23 - Aug. 22 Maybe the chicken crossed the road because she just wanted to get the fuck out of here.
Virgo: Aug. 23 - Sept. 22 If you sit very quietly in desk
274 of the airplane room, the ghost of Thorvaldson will whisper the Sagas to you.
Libra: Sept. 23 - Oct. 22 The truth is worth its weight in mud.
Scorpio: Oct. 23 - Nov. 21 I guess there is nothing left to do but fuck like the rabbits we are.
Sagittarius: Nov. 22 - Dec. 21 There is no better
time to drop everything and run naked through the Bowl. Just don’t forget your knee brace.
Capricorn:
Dec. 22 - Jan. 19 When the pelicans return to the South Saskatchewan, your plan will be set in motion.
Aquarius: Jan. 20 - Feb. 18 Sometimes dusty boxes
aren’t meant to be opened: has Pandora taught you nothing?
Pisces: Feb. 19 - March 20 Find a puddle to drown in.
xkcd.com
Wei Soong Lau
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T H E S H E A F P U B L I S HI NG S OC I E T Y // A P R I L 0 4 , 2 0 1 9
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