February 6, 2020

FEBRUARY 06, 2020

The Sheaf Publishing Society

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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

In Medias Res: A beginning to an end?

The future of this campus journal is in question as it nears its 25th anniversary.

CHELAINE KIRSCH

In Medias Res — for those unfamiliar with Latin, it means “in the middle of things.” For St. Thomas More College and on-campus creatives, In Medias Res is a means of showcasing literary and artistic merit.

It’s more than a Latin phrase: IMR is a student-run liberal arts journal. And it’s my baby.

Last year, the editorial board had four members and was facing the ever-looming question: should we call it quits?

Former editor-in-chief Emily Roberts had inherited the club from her older sister Hannah. But with one other returning member and only two gained, it became apparent that the workload wasn’t feasible for the few people involved.

So instead of publishing two issues in a year, we published one.

And as we approached the submission deadline for that issue — watching the creative writing submissions trickle in from the general student body — I learned that I was the only member both capable of and interested in returning the next year.

IMR’s status had reached “critically endangered,” and I

Mitch Rohrke, left, Chelaine Kirsch, and Linda Hayes, right, stand for a photo at St. Thomas More College in Saskatoon, SK on Jan. 20, 2020. | Heywood Yu

was the line between this status and extinction. I think you, as readers, know which decision I made.

I knew that in taking up In Medias Res, I was stoking embers.

While IMR is open to anyone university-affiliated — professors, staff, grads and

undergrads — it’s been run by a handful of undergrads for a number of years, and the bulk of its submissions stem from us.

But it didn’t start this way.

Just as Athena sprang from Zeus, IMR was the brainchild of two former STM professors, the Corrigans. The publication

was to serve as a forum for intellectual discourse relating to their teaching areas — philosophy and literature. The journal was first published in 1995 and has been published every year since.

I recently looked through the three oldest surviving copies of IMR, and I was surprised

Celebrating the few among many: A look into the Oscar film nominations Why do most of the nominations come from the tail-end of the year?

VICI HERBISON

Let’s be real — 2019 was a great year for film. So why doesn’t the 2020 Academy Awards represent the vast and diverse catalogue of brilliant films released last year?

While a majority of films this year do deserve their nominations, it’s hard not to look at the Oscars list and lament over the snubs.

We see so much love for Joker, The Irishman, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and 1917, but not one nomination for great films like Uncut Gems, Dolemite Is My

Name, Booksmart and The Farewell. How do these egregious snubs happen while 88 out of the 124 possible nominations went to the same 17 films?

Within the prejudiced system that is the film industry — which almost exclusively rewards white men for creating white male stories — there are two less discussed but problematic components that impacts a film’s possibility to be nominated: Oscar campaigns and Oscar season.

Studios often rely on Oscar campaigns in order to promote their films to the Academy. Through lobbying, parties,

screenings and even circulating potentially damaging rumours about their competition, studios can spend an upwards of $10 million on their campaigns. A studio wants their product to be profitable and being nominated or winning awards can help a film make money.

A studio that has the financial privilege to hire strategists and create an Oscar campaign can potentially influence Academy members. Wonderful films that deserve recognition but can’t financially keep up with big-budget Oscar campaigns are frequently left in the dust.

Oscar campaigns can get pre-

cious Academy votes, but which films do people remember the most at the end of the year? Often, it’s the movie that is freshest in their minds.

Traditionally extending from late fall to the end of December, Oscar season is the time when studios release the films that they think are awards contenders. When cinemas are overloaded with often very good films all vying for prestigious nominations at the end of the year, it can be difficult to remember the great films released earlier on in the year.

Continued to pg. 11

to see that many of the contributors haunt our campus still — as staff and faculty, of course.

This includes St. Thomas More’s president Carl Still and at least three English professors — Sarah Powrie, Celene Sidloski and Sheri Benning.

Continued to pg. 12

At a glance: NEWS

4 ISC stands in solidarity with Wet’suwet’en Nation

SPORTS & HEALTH

5

NBA review: A refreshing uncertainty

FEATURE

8-9 Black History Month: Microaggressions, injustice and solidarity with Indigenous people

CULTURE

11

OPINIONS

12

Posthumous music: The new norm in hip hop Mental health in the RCMP

NEWS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Nykole King editor@thesheaf.com NEWS EDITOR Ana Cristina Camacho news@thesheaf.com SPORTS & HEALTH EDITOR VACANT sportshealth@thesheaf.com CULTURE EDITOR Tomilola Ojo culture@thesheaf.com OPINIONS EDITOR Erin Matthews opinions@thesheaf.com STAFF WRITER Noah Callaghan staffwriter@thesheaf.com COPY EDITOR J.C. Balicanta Narag copy@thesheaf.com LAYOUT MANAGER Aqsa Hussain layout@thesheaf.com PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR Victoria Becker photo@thesheaf.com GRAPHICS EDITOR Shawna Langer graphics@thesheaf.com WEB EDITOR Minh Au Duong web@thesheaf.com OUTREACH DIRECTOR Sophia Lagimodiere outreach@thesheaf.com AD & BUSINESS MANAGER Shantelle Hrytsak ads@thesheaf.com BOARD OF DIRECTORS Mikaila Ortynsky Laura Chartier Matthew Taylor Sonia Kalburgi Emily Klatt Naomi Zurenvinski

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Students’ Council approves $257K for campus “furniture refresh” The money for the project will come out of the USSU infrastructure fund.

ANA CRISTINA CAMACHO

NEWS EDITOR

The University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union centres will be getting new furniture and refurbishments soon, same as some other central locations on campus.

The “furniture refresh” was introduced by USSU General Manager Caroline Cottrell at the Dec. 5, 2019 University Students’ Council meeting, a month ahead of the vote on Jan. 9 to approve $257,422 in funding for the project. The money will be used for furniture and millwork refurbishments for the centres and the North Concourse in Upper Place Riel.

Cottrell says that the upgrades to these areas are a long time coming, after years of the union doing renovations to their other properties such as the Memorial Union Building and other sections of Upper Place Riel.

“The chairs you are sitting on at this moment are over 40 years old… They have been recovered a dozen times,” Cottrell said to the USC in the Roy Romanow Student Council Chambers.

“We can carry on with these

if we need to but more importantly, there are four rooms that we have not touched and those are the centres. We haven’t done anything with the centres in forever.”

“I don’t know if any of you have noticed lately, but the Pride Centre couches are held together with two by fours.”

Full-time undergraduate students pay $126.48 a year to the USSU infrastructure fund. The students’ union is sitting on $964,073 in their unrestricted infrastructure reserve; the reserve funds that they can access anytime. This is not counting their restricted reserve, which holds enough funds to cover the students’ union’s mortgage for a few months in the eventuality of a cease to student fees.

Cottrell says that this surplus on the unrestricted reserve should have been used earlier to fund repairs to student areas.

“We have $964,073 — I think it’s absolutely atrocious. And I’m ashamed of myself for not dealing with this sooner; that we are allowing that to continue,” Cottrell said.

USSU President Regan Ratt­Misponas adds that this investment in the centres show the

commitment of the students’ union under their strategic goals, “The Path Forward,” to “revitalize community.”

“I think especially when it comes to the centres … we want to ensure that people are comfortable, and I think that this is something small that we can do to ensure that we’re revitalizing community and living up to the mandate that we’ve set for ourselves,” Ratt-Misponas said.

Aside from the centres, another campus area getting an upgrade is the Upper Place Riel’s North Concourse. Cottrell says that the students’ union staff examined the couches in the area and determined a need to upgrade them.

“We got [that furniture] at a garage sale from a sporting event that was held in Saskatoon in about 2010. It’s disgusting,” Cottrell said. “We’re looking to do a pretty significant refurbishment of furniture in this organization.”

The “furniture refresh” will reportedly not be completed by the end of this term. After the new items are purchased, the old furniture will either be returned to the retailer, donated to Habitat for Humanity, recy-

cled or given to the university for use in other buildings. The USSU has stated that they will aim to reuse or recycle every item replaced.

Cottrell says that the USSU staff seriously considered the situation before coming to the USC with the now-approved funding request. She agrees with Ratt-Misponas that the furniture upgrades will make the USSU areas more welcoming to students.

“We spend an awful lot of time taking very seriously the fact that we're spending your money. None of the senior management team takes this lightly,” Cottrell said. “This is absolutely about community.”

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Mission // The mission of the Sheaf is to inform and entertain students by addressing issues relevant to life on campus, in the city or in the province. The newspaper serves as a forum for discussion on a wide range of issues that concern students. Written for students, by students, it provides unique insight into university issues through a student perspective. The staff of editors, photographers and artists collaborate with volunteers as student journalists to create a product relevant to students on the University of Saskatchewan campus.

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NEWS

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University officially opens USask Community Centre A home base for promoting health on campus is taking a multidimensional approach to wellness and building connections.

NOAH CALLAGHAN STAFF WRITER

The opening of the campus community centre celebrates student wellness services, leadership opportunities and a place to connect.

At 11 a.m. on Jan. 29, an opening ceremony took place in front of the centre’s location at room 104 on the main floor of Marquis Hall, the former Peer Health offices. During the event, Peter Hedley, director of student affairs and services, said the USask Community Centre was key to a “multidimensional approach” to support student wellness.

“At the centre, students can learn about health and wellbeing at the same time as making connections and building community, and for us, wellness is all about connection,” Hedley said.

The USask Community Centre provides students with various wellness activities, ranging from spiritual guidance to yoga, and it is the headquarters for Peer Health services on campus.

The centre has been operating for four years, but to celebrate the official opening, Peer Health gave “sneak peak workshops” of the services being offered. The centre held workshops on breathing exercises, healthy eating habits and managing stress throughout the day.

According to Hedley, this health education program provides leadership and volunteer opportunities to the students as well as services. He says that in 2019, student volunteers designed and implemented

over 200 health promotion and harm reduction initiatives which accounted for 4,500 volunteer hours.

“They’re doing critical work for us because we know that peer-to-peer models are among the most effective things that we can do in this space,” Hedley said. “People like me standing up in front of students is not the best way to educate, but we know that students actually talking to students is.”

Hedley says it’s been great to see individuals who have been involved in volunteering for the program continue to focus on student wellness in their professional lives.

“It’s an exciting day in particular to hear from students who are both involved in the program now, but also people who graduated from the university and are still with us doing this work,” Hedley said.

Shiney Choudhary, the project co-ordinator for the Student Wellness Centre and MC for the event, began volunteering for Peer Health during her first year of university in 2014.

She says the leadership skills and friends she gained through volunteering helped during her time as an undergraduate student.

“Raising awareness about health issues has helped me improve my own lifestyle and be better at supporting the people around me,” Choudhary said. “I am grateful for the opportunities that Peer Health has offered me and will continue to offer through the USask Community Centre.”

The official opening of the centre coincided with Bell Canada’s national m ­ental-

Students make use of the space at the USask Community Centre on Feb. 3, 2020. | Victoria Becker/ Photo Editor

health awareness campaign “Let’s Talk Day.” Hedley says that the opening was a good opportunity to showcase that being a part of a community is vital to mental health.

“We often talk about clinical and professional supports and actually a lot of the time

what students really need is just connection with one another — a place to connect and an opportunity to connect,” Hedley said.

He adds that the USask’s Community Centre’s location across from the campus bookstore and Tim Hortons is a

good central site that offers an accessible way for students to receive wellness services.

“By locating this space right at the centre of campus, we have made it a bit simpler for students to stop by, catch their breath and feel a part of something,” Hedley said.

GREAT NEWS!

USask Community Centre sign displayed at the entrance of the centre on Feb. 3, 2020. | Victoria Becker/ Photo Editor

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NEWS / 3

NEWS

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Indigenous Students’ Council answers Wet’suwet’en Nation’s call for solidarity The RCMP’s actions on Wet’suwet’en Nation territory have been critiqued across the country.

AQSA HUSSAIN

LAYOUT MANAGER

The Unist’ot’en Camp of the Wet’suwet’en Nation recently issued an international call for solidarity in their fight against a Coastal GasLink pipeline. Indigenous students at the University of Saskatchewan have responded to that call with a statement.

On Jan. 13, an exclusion zone was put in place by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police on traditional Wet’suwet’en land in British Columbia. This checkpoint has been criticized by a coalition of hereditary chiefs and the BC Civil Liberties Association for the “improper and unlawful” cutting of access to land.

The U of S Indigenous Students’ Council released a statement on Jan. 23 condemning the RCMP’s actions and standing behind the Wet’suwet’en Nation as they “protect their traditional territory.” The traditional land of several Indigenous groups has been the centre of an ongoing conflict over the Coastal GasLink Pipeline for over a year.

ISC president Tyler Buffalo says releasing this statement was

important to the group because as Indigenous people, they have to look out for one another.

“In my teachings, it’s very important to come together as one,” Buffalo said.

He says that advocating for the sovereignty of Wet’suwet’en Nation is not only about protecting Indigenous peoples now but also those of the future.

“It’s about the next four years.

That’s really what the protests that our people tend to do are about. It’s not for us, it’s for the next generations,” Buffalo said.

Gabriel Michael, vice­ president of the ISC, says the statement also condemns the “injustices and mistreatment” of Indigenous people at the hands of the police in all of Canada, not only in B.C. “It’s still creating a mistrust between Indigenous peoples and the RCMP,” Michael said.

“I still find that there is definitely mistrust and a kind of fear, a constant fear.”

Buffalo agrees that the police are “not really a symbol of safety for Indigenous people in the province and nationwide.”

In the statement, the ISC also

called for B.C. Premier John Horgan to meet with the Wet’suwet’en Nation, saying that his silence was “disrespectful.”

“Words are just words. We like to see action, [and] we like to see something that’s implemented and carried on,” Michael said.

As of now, Horgan has still not met with the hereditary chiefs of the Wet’suwet’en Nation, although he has made a statement saying that they “are confident that there is a way forward.”

As for other efforts in support of Wet’suwet’en Nation at the university, the U of S Students’ Union is also planning to release a letter of support. The idea was put forward by Arts and Science representative Sarah Foley in a University Students’ Council meeting and received a positive response.

USSU President Regan Ratt­ Misponas says that it is not enough to release a letter because it is important to “try our best to advocate in any way that we can.”

“We cannot afford to be bystanders,” Ratt-Misponas said.

Buffalo encourages students to share posts in solidarity and

Creative Commons / Leadnow

plans to reach out to Indigenous and non-Indigenous organizations and students groups to ask them to stand for Wet’suwet’en Nation.

“There’s strength in numbers,” Buffalo said. “I truly believe that and there’s a lot of people that care out there.”

“I think we’ve really hit our stride”: Stoicheff looks to second term as U of S president The president was approved for a second term after a review with feedback from the community.

ANA CRISTINA CAMACHO

NEWS EDITOR

Peter Stoicheff came into his position as University of Saskatchewan president in 2015, a year that saw big provincial cuts to post-secondary funding. Five years later, Stoicheff looks at his second term with optimism, saying that the university has now overcome this difficult time.

Stoicheff first indicated his willingness to serve a second term in October 2019. The Board of Governors unanimously approved his reappointment in December 2019. Stoicheff is now slated to serve as the U of S president for five more years.

He is only the second president in the university’s history to hold the position for this long. His first term was a period of financial instability for the U of S, with persistent funding cuts from the province. However, this has also been a time of

4 / NEWS

growth for the university.

Stoicheff says that the U of S has accomplished many things in recent years to overcome those challenges and that now the university is in good shape to achieve its potential.

“I think we’ve really hit our stride,” Stoicheff said. “I came in when the university was experiencing a difficult time. And I do feel good that the university has been able over the last four and a half years … to move away from all of the challenges that it was facing immediately before that.”

When thinking about his first term, an accomplishment that stands out to Stoicheff is the U of S’s growing global recognition as a quality research institution.

“We have become recognized across the country, and in select ways around the world, as a research powerhouse,” Stoicheff said. “The university tended to pass a little below the radar —

it deserved to be way above the radar — for a lot of these things.

And now it’s really recognized.”

Stoicheff also highlights the university’s increased focus on Indigenous peoples. When Stoicheff first came into office, he established Indigenization as the main focus of his presidency.

Since then, the university has increased numbers in Indigenous students and faculty, and the University Plan 2025 puts Indigenization as a collective goal of the institution.

“We have really come together as a university around the imperative and priority of being the right place with and for Indigenous students and their communities,” Stoicheff said. “It’s not enough — I never want that to be inferred from what I’m saying — but it certainly wasn’t enough before and we’re moving in the right direction.”

Before Stoicheff was approved for a second term, a Presidential

Peter Stoicheff, president and vice-chancellor of the U of S, is gifted a ceremonial blanket during the revealing of the University Plan 2025 on Oct. 10, 2018. | File/ J.C. Balicanta Narag

Review was conducted to collect feedback about him from the community. According to Stoicheff, a good portion of the feedback he received was on the topic of the university’s Indigenization, among other priorities he has identified during his term.

“I think the majority of the feedback that I got … had to do with not wavering at all on the Indigenous work that we’re doing and moving more aggressively on Sustainable Development Goals and in the Equity,

Diversity and Inclusion direction,” Stoicheff said.

Stoicheff ’s second term officially starts in July. Thinking about the next five years, he says that a priority of the university will be to be “outward-facing” and to respond with innovative programming and research to issues worldwide. “‘The university the world needs’ is not a boast, it’s a challenge to ourselves,” Stoicheff said.

“That outward-facing spirit is the real foundation of my term.”

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SPORTS&HEALTH

NBA mid-season review: A refreshing uncertainty No expert or fan can predict the outcome of the season or playoffs.

For the past few years, the NBA season seemed to be a foregone conclusion with the Golden State Warriors, fielding a team with two of the league’s most valuable players, in addition to one of the all-time best threepoint shooters and a perennial defensive player of the year candidate.

The regular season was a futile exercise with the Warriors typically dominating the post-season to win multiple championships. However, the 2018-19 playoffs flipped this script. The Toronto Raptors’ excellent defense and stellar offense, led by Kawhi Leonard, toppled the juggernaut Warriors. The Warriors were decimated by injuries to key stars Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson by the end of the series.

The summer of 2019 can only be described to be of seismic proportions. All-stars and stellar role players moved to unexpected new teams and restored the NBA with dynamic duos rather than a league dominated by a stacked team.

The Houston Rockets reunited James Harden with Russell Westbrook. While young European star duo Luka Dončić and Kristaps Porziņģis are now playing for the Dallas Mavericks. Jimmy Butler headed to South Beach to join Bam Adebayo and the Miami Heat. The Brooklyn Nets signed both Kyrie Irving and Durant.

UDAY CHHINA

The biggest shift was felt in Los Angeles, as the Lakers traded for Anthony Davis to pair with superstar Lebron James while Kawhi Leonard left the champion Raptors to return home and play with Paul George on the Los Angeles Clippers.

A summer of movement across teams rejuvenated the league. For the first time since 2015, the race for the title is as open as ever. As we approach the midpoint of a long 82-game season, here are some of the biggest emerging stories from around the league.

Raptors stay afloat

Following Kawhi Leonard’s departure, many expected the Raptors to perform significantly worse without the two-way star.

Despite a plethora of injuries throughout the season to point guard Kyle Lowry, centre Marc Gasol and forward Pascal Siakam, the team has managed to stay amidst the top teams of the Eastern Conference.

Rising star Siakam has not stopped his growth and may be in the running for most improved yet again.

The Raptors recorded impressive wins against the Lakers, Celtics and 76ers. A spot in the playoffs is highly likely for the Raptors at this point. But it remains to be seen what they can accomplish in the post-season without Leonard, their exceptional former leader.

Giannis rules the East

In the 2018-19 season, the Milwaukee Bucks posted a league best 60-22 record and were poised to make the finals after an early 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals. They lost in a devastating fashion after dropping four straight games to the eventual champions.

Greek superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo has returned this season at his best, developing a three-point shot that seemed unlikely to critics. He has taken his game to new heights and elevated his teammates’ play along with his individual prowess.

With the best record in the league and convincing victories over the Lakers and the Clippers, the Bucks are the early favourites to win the Eastern Conference.

Miami Heat’s hot start

Despite signing five time All-Star Jimmy Butler during the off-season, the Heat was not expected to be a team in the upper echelon of the Eastern Conference.

Their standing can be credited to stellar play by young star centre Bam Adebayo, who has flourished in an expanded role after the departure of Hassan Whiteside. Additionally, rookie sharpshooters Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson are blazing from three-point range.

With one of the best home records in the league, the Heat will prove to be a formidable foe and a tough match up in the playoffs, especially if they can secure home court advantage with a high seed.

A rejuvenated Celtics team

Superstar point guard Kyrie Irving departed the Celtics after a disappointing 2018-19 campaign, but the team immediately replaced him with all-star guard Kemba Walker. The fit has been magnificent both on and off the court, as Kemba leads the team in points per game and is a professional presence in the locker room.

Boston’s two “Jays,” Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, are only improving, providing scoring support to Kemba. The recent 107-139 victory over the Lakers was a dominant performance, proving the team can contend with the best in the league.

Boston looks to reach the Eastern Conference Finals just as they did in 2018, after a frustrating playoff run that ended abruptly in 2019.

The King’s resurgence

Shawna Langer/ Graphics Editor

Categorizing the 2018-19 Laker season as a failure would be a massive understatement as the team was in great disarray. LeBron James’ groin injury, along with middling play from the young core including Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball, led to the team missing the Western Conference playoffs.

The unexpected resignation of Magic Johnson on the last day of the season was perhaps a microcosm for the team’s season: one without identity or a plan.

The arrival of superstar PF Anthony Davis in a blockbuster trade that sent the aforementioned young core to the Pelicans has flipped the Lakers’ fortune.

Davis and head coach Frank Vogel have transformed the Lakers into a top five defence, and Davis carries his weight on the offensive end as the team’s top scorer.

LeBron has settled into a facilitator role, leading the league in assists. The superstar pairing has terrific chemistry and the team is bolstered by consistent production from role players.

However, the team does have deficiencies, as proven through their losses to teams with great forwards such as Kawhi Leonard, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jayson Tatum.

If the Lakers can add a defensive wing at the trade deadline, the sky’s the limit for the current Western Conference first seed.

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SPORTS&HEALTH

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NBA mid-season Huskie Athletics update: review: A refreshing Women’s basketball faced uncertainty the heat and won it all No expert or fan can predict the outcome of the season or playoffs.

The dogs prepare for one more weekend series as they gear up for the Canada West playoffs.

UDAY CHHINA

Continued from previous page

Clippers showcase flashes of dominance

The Los Angeles Clippers were widely expected to be the best team in the league due to the addition of superstars Paul George and Kawhi Leonard to an already strong core that reached the playoffs last season.

However, the team has rarely been at full strength due to George and Patrick Beverly dealing with various nagging injuries and Leonard load managing his chronic knee injury.

The team is still among the top in the West, and especially dominant when playing with their full lineup. Leonard led the team to convincing wins over the Lakers on Christmas Day and opening night.

George has been more inconsistent in his offensive output.

Yet his tenacity on defence along with Leonard forms the best defensive tandem in the league.

The NBA is a league where star forwards are the most impactful, and the Clippers have two of the best two-way forwards. If the team can stay healthy for the rest of the season and during the playoffs, they will be a force to be reckoned with.

Harden leads Houston

James Harden’s scoring was a tour de force in the 2018-19 season, as he scored 60 points multiple times and led the league with a blistering 36.1 points per game. Somehow, he has maintained his form this season with individual games where he reached 60, 59, 55 and 54 points.

In addition to his scoring, he directs the offence with lobs and pinpoint passes to shooters, providing the team with steady playmaking.

Former MVP Russel Westbrook helps shoulder the load by providing a steady stream of scoring and playmaking himself.

Houston may have the best guard combination in the league, but their depth suffers, as they lack a true backup centre and are often playing a seven-man rotation.

The 82-game season is a long road, and the intensity only ramps up during the playoffs so fatigue may limit the Rockets.

Maintaining the player’s minutes and health will be a top priority down the stretch, as the team looks to preserve its rotation and not burn out before the postseason.

A surprise in Oklahoma

After suffering a deflating five-game series loss to the Portland Trailblazers last season, Oklahoma City Thunder’s championship hopes were put to rest.

Paul George requested a trade to the Clippers and departed OKC shortly after, forcing the team to also deal franchise legend Westbrook to the Houston Rockets in an effort to rebuild the team for the future. Their haul for the two stars included a plethora of first round picks along with veteran guard Chris Paul and the young Canadian star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

It would not have been surprising to see the decimated squad at the bottom of the Western Conference. However, Chris Paul’s leadership and clutch playmaking as the point guard, along with Gilgeous-Alexander’s rapid improvement, has the team fighting for a playoff spot in their conference.

A team with no expectations for the season has managed to shatter fans’ expectations, proving to be one of the most entertaining teams in the league.

Overall, after the reshuffling of powers last summer no expert or fan can predict the outcome of the season and playoffs.

The absence of a clear contender has made for an exciting season, one that will only get more interesting as we get closer to June.

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University of Saskatchewan Huskies guard Libby Epoch passes the basketball as University of British Columbia Okanagan Heat forward Mackenzie Horst defends during the second quarter of the U Sports women’s basketball action at Physical Activity Complex in Saskatoon, SK on January 31, 2020. | Heywood Yu

J.C. BALICANTA NARAG

COPY EDITOR

HEYWOOD YU

For most of the Huskie teams, there’s only one more game until the playoffs begin.

It has been a season full of wins and losses, but nevertheless, the players have persevered.

And with last weekend’s series, the dogs had fans gritting their teeth before cheering for their wins.

Women’s basketball

To say it was just a win is an understatement because the women’s basketball team dominated in this weekend series.

It was a landslide win for the Huskies on Jan. 31, scoring 101 points against the University of British Columbia Okanagan Heat, who scored 39 points. The next day was a similar outcome with the Huskies winning again, 85-41.

Fourth-year Summer Masikewich led the team in the first game with 22 points while fifth-year Megan Ahlstrom led the second game, scoring 16 points.

Making 48.8 per cent of the shots in the first game and 48.3 per cent in the second, Sabine Dukate, Vera Crooks, Libby Epoch and Kyla Shand were part of the team’s efficient scoring. The dogs continued their impenetrable defense last

weekend, with UBC only making 21 to 23 per cent of their shots in both games.

Overall, Saskatchewan maintains its number one position in the Canada West standings with 17 wins and one loss, with Calgary behind in second at 16-2.

The women’s team will be at an Alberta court on Feb. 7 and 8 to go against the Pandas, who are sitting at third in the Canada West standings.

Men’s basketball

The Huskies men’s basketball team swept the series last weekend, too. It was a close match for Saskatchewan against the UBCO Heat on Jan. 31, winning the round only eight points ahead. But the dogs packed a stronger punch on Feb. 1, putting out the Heat with 83-58.

Seventh in Canada West standings, the Huskies are right behind the University of Fraser Valley Cascades; both teams carry a season record of 12-6.

They have one more weekend to go before playoffs. Traveling to Edmonton, they will face the University of Alberta Golden Bears who are dominating the conference with a season record of 17-1.

Women’s hockey

The women’s hockey team entered the weekend with a six-game winning streak.

They breezed through the first game with a 3-0 win at home, earning their seventh win in a row. But the strong run unfortunately ended in the second game of the weekend.

Netminder Camryn Drever earned her third shutout of the season, blocking 22 shots.

Forwards Kara Kondrat and Jordyn Holmes recorded their first ever U Sports goal over the weekend.

Then the streak was halted in a dramatic game. The Huskies brought a comfortable 3-0 lead into the third period, but the Bisons scored four answered goals to steal the win from the Huskies.

The Huskies have secured a spot in the playoffs and are currently placed third in Canada West standings, trailing the University of Calgary Dinos by one point. They will be traveling to the queen city to play provincial rival University of Regina Cougars on Feb. 7, and will be coming home on Feb. 8 to host the Cougars.

Men’s hockey

The men’s hockey team travelled to Winnipeg to play the University of Manitoba Bisons. They successfully extended their winning streak to nine.

The first game was a stalemate as the two teams were tied until forward Logan McVeigh scored the double overtime winner, bringing

the Huskies a 3-2 victory.

With 13 game-winning goals, McVeigh is currently fifth in Canada West record books for the most game-winning goals.

Even though the Huskies conceded two early goals at the early stage of game two, they were able to come back and scored four goals, taking a 4-3 victory home.

The Huskies will be hosting the U of R Cougars on Feb. 7, then they will be travelling south to play their provincial rival in the last regular season game on Feb. 8. While the dogs have a nine-win streak, the Cougars are going into the weekend with only eight wins the entire season.

The Huskies are looking competitive this season at second in Canada West standings, although last year at this time, they held 22 wins rather than 20.

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This is the last weekend before Canada West quarterfinals.

Women’s volleyball

Despite dropping both games in Calgary against the Mount Royal University Cougars, the Huskies clinched a playoff spot — the first time for the program since 2002.

Regardless, outside hitters Olivia Mattern and Emily Koshinsky displayed strong performances. Along with two aces and two blocks, Mattern recorded 28 kills over the weekend. Koshinsky led the team during the weekend with 30 kills.

Sixth-place Huskies will face off with fifth-place University of Alberta Pandas this weekend at home.

Men’s volleyball

The men’s volleyball team split the weekend series with

the Mount Royal Cougars, winning the first one by 3-1 while dropping the second one with 2-3.

Middle Daulton Sinoski led the team in the first game with 13 kills, followed by outside hitter Cole Burkart’s 10 kills. The second game was just as exciting with Burkart taking the lead this time and Sinoski just behind him.

The Huskies are going against the Alberta Golden Bears on Feb. 7 and 8 at the Physical Activity Complex.

Track and field

The Huskies women’s track and field team is currently ranked third in the country with 59.5 points, while the men are sixth with 42 points.

Both teams will be competing in the Panda Challenge in Edmonton this weekend. This is the last event before the Canada West Championship.

Wrestling

This weekend, the men’s and women’s team head to the Canada West Championship in Calgary. The women’s team will defend their Canada West title

while the men, who finished second last year, will try to claim it.

The women’s team is ranked second in the nation with 44 points, while the men are ranked third with 51 points.

Vaping may not be as safe as you think Students from the U of S Master of Public Health program provides insight on vaping.

ZOE BYE

MEGHANA CHEEKIREDDY

KATIE OLDFORD

ALLISON SAMA

It is a commonly-held belief that vaping is a safer alternative to cigarette usage, but emerging evidence indicates that the issue may not be as cut and dry as was once thought.

E-cigarettes have been promoted as a harm-reduction method to help people quit smoking. More young people than ever before have started vaping with no previous history of smoking, causing immense concern among public health officials.

Recent cases of lung injury related to vaping in the United States and Canada have increased concern beyond the experts and into the conscious of the general public. With this in mind, we would like to share some common myths about vaping, along with the facts to dispel them.

Myth: Vaping is safe and doesn’t cause any side effects.

Fact: E-cigarettes often contain nicotine. Aside from developing a long-term addiction to the drug, the negative health effects of vaping with nicotine can include heart palpitations and chest pain.

Nicotine is particularly harmful for adolescents and young adults since it can alter brain development, affect memory and significantly in-

fluence concentration skills.

E-cigarettes present unique issues since they can deliver much higher doses of nicotine in a shorter amount of time than conventional cigarettes.

Myth: Vaping without nicotine is totally safe.

Fact: Nicotine-free vaping means that you will not become immediately addicted to the drug but the truth is that e-cigarettes still contain many chemicals that may lead to an addiction.

Several flavouring agents have been identified as harmful. For example, menthol or mint flavours have been found to facilitate nicotine dependence, making it more difficult to quit smoking or could even introduce a non-smoker to cigarettes.

The long-term health effects of vaping are unknown, but we do know that cancer­-causing agents can be produced in the vaporization process through the production of chemicals like formaldehyde hemiacetals.

Myth: Vaping is better for your lungs than conventional cigarettes.

Fact: The process of vaping does not involve combustion like a conventional cigarette, but it does involve aerosolizing e-juice which can result in

just as damaging lung injury.

Symptoms can include shortness of breath, bad cough attacks and chest pain. Cases of vaping-related lung injury have recently been reported in the US and Canada.

Myth: Vaping with cannabis is safe.

Fact: There has not been much research completed on vaping with cannabis. However, many vape-related lung injury cases are linked to the use of THC in vape products.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests cannabis has had a major role in the outbreak.

Ultimately, the Government of Canada still suggests vaping as a valid means to quit smoking, however, they do

emphasize that young people and those who do not smoke should not start vaping.

This emerging societal habit requires further research with regards to its health effects.

Nevertheless, it is critically important to provide reliable

and valid information to the public in ensuring we can all make informed choices about our smoking habits.

For more information, and for tips for harm reduction, visit: www.students.usask.ca/ articles/vaping.

Cole Chretien

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Microaggressions, injustice and solidarity with Indigenous people Why is observing this monthlong event important, and what history is there to celebrate?

Due to the efforts of Jean Augustine, the first black woman elected as a member of parliament, Canada observed its first Black History Month in 1996.

According to the Government of Canada website, Canadians are “invited to participate in Black History Month festivities and events that honour the legacy of Black Canadians, past and present.” The theme for this year’s “Black History Month is Canadians of African Descent: Going forward, guided by the past.”

Despite what the government says, we do not see much effort put into actually creating these events and festivities to celebrate black Canadians, especially in Saskatchewan.

This lack of effort could be attributed to people not knowing where to look for other people who would be interested in organizing events. They may have the drive to create something meaningful but not much community support to actually go through with it.

Another likely reason and something every person of colour experiences throughout their life is racism. Maybe they are trying to assimilate to the environment they are in, or anticipate some pushback if they did try to express their pride in their heritage. These fears can also be attributed to microaggressions.

Microaggressions are often thought to be smaller, more subtle, almost unconsciously racist things that people say or do towards minorities or marginalized people.

Though this is a part of it, microaggressions do not refer to ‘smaller’ occurrences of discrimination but rather everyday racial prejudice. This racism differs from institutional racism, where people of colour are systemically targeted and oppressed by political and economic power structures.

I sat down with slam poet and activist Peace Akintade­ Oluwagbeye, who is a member of the Youth in Service Speaker Bureau for the Office of the Treaty Commissioner, to discuss her experience with microaggressions.

As someone who is extremely proud of her African heritage and shows it in how she dresses, Akintade-Oluwagbeye has a lot of people approaching her and asking about it on a daily basis.

“There are strange people that come up and they like to start with, ‘Where are you from?’... I usually just say Nigeria and then they’re done with it,” Akintade-Oluwagbeye said. “But then there’s the ones that really want to get under your skin and are like, ‘If you’re from Nigeria then why are you here?’”

Whatever the intentions of the speaker, the connotation of the question, “Why are you here?” is clear: what business do you have here because you don’t look like you belong.

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Supplied / Peace Akintade-Oluwagbeye

only one there, so I feel like I’ll be the only one that will relate,” Akintade-Oluwagbeye said. “That’s why it’s important to have a community.”

Though we’re starting to see small steps in the right direction, Black History Month isn’t as recognized in Canada, and Saskatchewan especially, as it should be.

Due to a lack of education on the matter, people might believe that Canada doesn’t have an abundance of black history to celebrate. Much like with Indigenous history, black history in Canada tends to be pushed to the fringes.

Though it often goes untold, black Canadians have a long and rich history in Canada. From the black labour union Order of Sleeping Car Porters to the original Book of Negroes document, detailing the names and descriptions of 3,000 black loyalists who escaped to Canada, our country has an abundance of black history. One such history is that of Africville.

Africville was a primarily black settlement in Nova Scotia that dated back to 1848 — though black people have been living in Nova Scotia as enslaved people since they built Halifax in 1749.

“But then there’s the ones that really want to get under your skin and are like, ‘If you’re from Nigeria then why are you here?’”

— Akintade-Oluwagbeye

Flickr/ Coastal Elite

These kinds of questions can make you feel as though you need to justify your presence to a complete stranger, convince them why you belong. It feels like an attempt to push you into the category of ‘other’ — an admonition that your place in this country belongs in the margins. Do not be too loud or take up too much space because why are you here in the first place?

Dealing with this question is difficult. For some people, brushing it off is enough. Others may feel the need to conform or make themselves smaller.

For Akintade-Oluwagbeye, dealing with this issue is a matter of focusing on the positive.

“I like to really focus on the people that come up to me and compliment me. There are still people out there that come up to you and actually really want to know about your culture, they want to know how you’re so colourful,” Akintade­ Oluwagbeye said.

On the bad days where she gets upwards of 10 people approaching her, Akintade-Oluwagbeye says she tries to educate them.

Others, like fourth-year business student, Lola Adebogun, approach it differently. To her, it’s more about preemptive action — don’t give people the space to come at you with that kind of energy.

“When you walk into a room, you just create that ambience

that whatever notion [other people] have of what black women are supposed to be, you go in there and you destroy it,” Adebogun said. “Because you’re like, I don’t care what you guys think of what my people can do, but I’m going to tell you I can do more than you think I can.”

While some people are deliberately and explicitly discriminatory towards certain races, others might not even realize that what they’re doing is microaggression. This does not excuse their actions, but it does highlight the need for education.

This is where the importance of Black History Month comes in. Despite the connotation of the name, this monthlong event isn’t just about learning about black history — it’s also about celebrating the achievements and cultural diversity of black people. It’s about getting educated on issues faced by black people so we can all stand in solidarity. When fighting racism, a community is essential.

Akintade-Oluwagbeye remarked that she has met people in the community who were interested in celebrating Black History Month, but they feel like there would be no interest if they were to host an event. She also finds that she is almost always the only black person in the room advocating for black issues, so she doesn’t always feel the support needed to create something meaningful. “[I feel like] I can’t talk about [black issues] because I’m the

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The people of Africville were mostly formerly enslaved people who had been promised land and freedom in Canada. It was a home for people to call their own, build their heritage and practice their beliefs — a microcosm of black culture in a predominantly white Canada. Africville even had its own hockey team, the Africville Brown Bombers.

However, as much as we might try to hide it or push it down, the fact is that Canada has a serious anti-black racism problem and this was reflected in Africville.

Africville was destroyed by systemic racism. Though the residents paid taxes to the city of Halifax, they received no amenities. No paved roads, no running water and no sewers.

A prison, slaughterhouse, human waste disposal pit, an Infectious Disease Hospital and dump were built in and around Africville. The city council had ruled against building these institutions near the nearby white neighbourhood, Fairview, and council minutes show that they paid no mind to the health concerns of Africville residents in their decision.

After these undesirable institutions solidified the perception of Africville as a slum, it was easy for the government to justify the community’s destruction. In 1969, Africville’s last property was taken from its owner by the state and demolished.

Only Eddie Carvery, 24 years old at the time, remained. He pitched a tent in protest, demanding compensation and a public inquiry that stayed up for 50 years. His protest camp was taken down just last year, in November 2019. What started out with one man and a tent grew into one of the longest civil

rights protests in Canadian history.

Africville is just one of the many stories in the rich cultural tapestry that is black history in Canada. From fighting in both wars despite being segregated even in combat, to famed abolitionist Harriet Tubman’s hand in bringing black people to Canada, there is still so much to learn about.

Black people in Canada have a long way to go, and Black History Month is only the beginning of it. When speaking of racism in Canada, however, it would be a gross injustice to leave Indigenous people out of the discussion.

Since the days when the first colonizers and settlers came to Indigenous land, they have been cheated, killed, incarcerated and assimilated.

The tale of Africville is not the first or last one of its kind. We still see Indigenous communities being denied basic amenities by the government, only to have people dismiss the ensuing community issues as the fault of the people. Centuries of being systemically discriminated against and killed has also created issues of intergenerational trauma.

After educating myself on what Indigenous people go through — because the school system sure does an abysmal job at it — speaking up about black issues almost feels audacious. Despite the discrimination we face, we are still settlers living on Treaty 6 Territory, the homeland of the Cree and Métis Nations.

While I am an African-Canadian and this is my home and I do belong here, I am still a settler on Indigenous land and a witness to their persecution on their home. How do I reconcile these two opposing sides?

Being mindful of the space she is taking from the Indigenous community is something Akintade-Oluwagbeye also struggles with. In fact, she remarked that it is one of her biggest sources of turmoil as an activist. When asked how she deals with this issue, Akintade-Oluwagbeye had some insightful words of wisdom.

“It feels almost guilty that I’m making such an effort to bring out the word of Black History Month when the Aboriginal people have to struggle every day,” Akintade-Oluwagbeye said.

“But I like to think of it like if I can get the voice out about the issues that are happening with us, I can make way for a conversation about what is happening to them.”

Akintade-Oluwagbeye also believes that there is a lot of overlap with colonization with both Indigenous and black people.

“There’s a lot of differences but there’s still a lot of similarities. Like with settlers coming to our country and taking our resources and leaving us with nothing,” Akintade-Oluwagbeye said.

She believes that by fighting for justice for one community, we can fight for justice for the other as well. She however noted that no one is perfect and we all have growing to do.

“We also have to agree that racism can happen even in our

Supplied/ Peace Akintade-Oluwagbeye

community towards them, and they can be racist in their community towards us,” she continued.

“Even though we’re all being accused of so many things, we're all being pushed down so much but we're also pushing each other down. It should be more of something where we put our heads together like, okay, let's go fight the common goal.”

Black History Month and justice for black people in Canada is important, but it is nothing if we are not working alongside Indigenous people to achieve it. At the end of the day, we are living on Indigenous land, and if we cannot use the little gains we have in society to help pull each other up, how will we ever break out of this cycle?

This Black History Month we all need to make an effort to look inwards and pull out our misconceptions about marginalized people. This discussion does not need to be confined to February’s short 29 days.

Reforming our education systems to include a broader view of Canadian history, being more socially conscious when it comes to racialized communities and putting pressure on the government to act on reconciliation are a few places we can start. To dismantle Canada’s long history of colonial violence, we need to work in solidarity with the other groups that have also faced it.

Flickr / Nicole Bratt

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Saskatoon’s cold winter made bearable by heartwarming Winterruption shows The festival’s lineup featured something for everyone and breathed life into the darkest month of the year.

WYATT HENLEY

HOLLY GILROY

From Jan. 22 to 26, the city of Saskatoon was lit up with over 25 shows, featuring everything from death metal to folk to ‘90s rap.

With multiple shows on each night and the freedom to see any which one we wanted, the world of Winterruption was our oyster.

On Thursday, an alt-rock group with an off-kilter sound named Weaves was playing at Amigos Cantina.

Weaves, consisting of vocalist Jasmyn Burke, Spencer Cole on drums, Zach Bines on bass and Morgan Waters on guitar, delivered an absolutely crushing set that held our attention from start to finish. The performance ebbed and flowed between hysteria and a mischievous energy, and the audience never knew what was coming at them next.

Burke’s voice wandered through the songs with unpredictable energy. Sometimes, she collapsed to the ground with gravelly vocal screams, and other times, she talked to the crowd with a sly and delicate tone.

The band’s instrumentals were also incredibly diverse. Waters’ electric guitar was layered with effects and at one point, he brought it up to his face, yelling into the body of the instrument to create a wildly distorted sound.

The band wrapped up with a cover of “My Generation” by The Who, taking the already rebel-

Supplied by Winterruption | Barbara Reimer

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lious song to a new level of intensity. We left the venue extremely impressed and as night one drew to a close, we wondered what would be able to top it.

Begonia, the stage name for Alexa Dirks, played at the Broadway Theatre on the Friday of Winterruption. Opening for her was Winnipeg-based hip hop ensemble Super Duty Tough Work, which featured insightful lyrics rapped over catchy horns and jazzy rhythms.

Performing songs off of her new album as well as older tracks of hers, she was able to take the crowd on an emotional rollercoaster with her unique lyrics and appealing stage presence.

With Dirks’ incomparable voice and drummer Cody Iwasiuk’s groovy beats, the entire theatre was on their feet by the end of the show, dancing along to both of her encore songs. Begonia also put on a heart-tugging performance of her song “Hot Dog Stand,” which featured only keys and her voice.

After the show, people lined up in hopes of meeting the vocal powerhouse of the night and the band greeted every last person with a great amount of affection.

Begonia’s show was unique, captivating, emotional and powerful.

After taking in three stellar shows, we checked out the outdoor activities located on the Victoria School grounds. We circulated through the space, getting to experience festival activities such as bonfires, a performance by local multi-media artist Alejandro Romero and the Tipi Theatre.

An Elder sits inside a tipi during the Winterruption event on Broadway Avenue in Saskatoon, SK on Jan. 24, 2020. | Heywood Yu

Romero uses diverse artistic mediums to address social issues, and presented a thought­provoking performance art piece on the subject of migration. He interacted with the audience by leading them through the space, as well as playing audio clips to create an immersive experience.

The Tipi Theatre, presented

by PAVED Arts, consisted of six short films made by Prairiebased Indigenous artists. The films were diverse in terms of content and production, some focusing on issues close to the heart of the creators and others were music videos to songs. A highlight was the lively short film Skate Break by Peatr Thomas which combined elements of Indigenous and hip hop culture.

Despite some slightly cold toes by the end, listening to stories told around a fire was a high-

light of Winterruption. Day four came to a close.

The final night featured a wrap-up show by Leif Vollebekk, Hannah Epperson and Little Criminals. This mellow evening of folk was a perfect close to the festival, and the sense of community was strong in the warm Broadway Theatre. It was the type of music made for cold winter days, with delicate acoustic instruments and profound stories creating an intimate show for the audience.

Epperson entranced the audience with her signature looped violin and Vollebekk swapped between electric piano and guitars. A crowd favourite of the night was Little Criminals, consisting of Saskatoon locals Olivia Cayce and Taylor Jade, who performed haunting folk tunes that seemed almost ancient in nature.

Winterruption is a shining example of a community coming together to showcase art and a valuable reminder that every season is what you make it. This is a city that cares deeply about providing good music yearround.

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Posthumous music releases: Nothing new but the new norm in hip hop Recent releases show the popularity of deceased rapper’s music, but do they honour the artist’s legacy?

Flickr / Tyler Merbler

NOAH CALLAGHAN STAFF WRITER

The posthumous album of Mac Miller titled Circles debuted at No. 3 on Billboard’s Top 200 after being released by his family on Jan. 17. The album was announced on Instagram by the late rapper's family saying, “This is a complicated process that has no right answer.”

On the same day, Eminem released his Music to Be Murdered By, which eclipsed Miller’s album by debuting at No. 1. The most popular track on the album, “Godzilla,” features a catchy hook recorded by Juice Wrld before he passed from a drug-induced seizure on Dec. 8.

The media’s sensationalization of a famous rapper’s death has astounding effects on their popularity. Following Juice Wrld’s and Miller’s overdoses, their music streams rose 453 and 970 per cent, respectively.

Because Miller and Juice Wrld shared similar causes of death, their posthumous reception is at the epicentre of concerns about artistic intent and commercialism.

While Circles and “Godzilla” were both projects worked on by the artists before their deaths, other proposed posthumous records raise questions about how the musician’s estates are managed and the ethics of profiting from deceased artists.

But posthumous album releases are nothing new in hip hop or music for that matter.

Following the murder of Tupac Shakur, Interscope Records and his mother’s record label Amaru Entertainment released more albums than the rapper had during his lifetime.

And after The Notorious B.I.G.’s death, his acclaimed Life After Death album came out and reached the top of Billboard’s Hot 100.

Similarly, Nipsey Hussle, who was murdered last March, was awarded with the best rap performance for his single “Racks In The Middle” at the 62nd Grammy Awards.

While these examples highlight projects that artists intended to release during their lifetime, the story of XXXTentacion’s posthumous releases show how this process can be prioritized on producing content for profits. Before the 20-year-old’s murder in 2018, he reportedly signed a $10-million record deal with EMPIRE Distribution inherited by his mother along with the rights to his estate.

Similarly to Miller and Juice Wrld, XXXTentacion’s popularity soared after his death and his streams rose 549 per cent. Since

then, his estate has published four albums, including the most recent Bad Vibes Forever released on Dec. 6 and ahead of this, a brand new merchandise line was announced.

But if posthumous music was a spectrum of artistic intent, Bad Vibes Forever and Miller’s Circles feel like they would be on opposite ends. Miller’s album consists of 12 fully fledged songs and was produced primarily by Jon Brion. Comparatively, Bad Vibes Forever consists of 25 never­ -released recordings made by XXXTentacion retrofitted into songs by 13 producers.

The contrast between these two posthumous records shows the difference between honouring an artist’s legacy versus capitalizing on their image. Since Circles was always intended to be a companion piece to Miller’s 2018 album Swimming, it feels like a part of the musician’s vision.

But Bad Vibes Forever’s endless tracklist of what seems to be every demo recording XXXTentacion made during his lifetime set to unrelated beats comes across as shovelled out content to promote merchandise.

For these reasons, Circles has received much acclaim and has

been praised by critics as a “fitting farewell.” Whereas, Bad Vibes Forever had poor responses and Pitchfork’s review described it as “more of a monument to XXXTentacion’s brand than his artistry.”

Like Miller and XXXTentacion, Juice Wrld’s family and label announced that they will be releasing posthumous projects “to honour Juice’s talents, his spirit … by sharing unreleased music.” However, it is unconfirmed whether the upcoming albums will continue with his habit of glorifying drug use after his tragic overdose at the age of 21.

Juice Wrld reportedly had about 2,000 songs recorded at the time of his death that could be potentially used for future albums. But even if 100 Juice Wrld songs were released each year, there would be enough material for two decades worth of releases.

While there might be “no right answer” when it comes to releasing posthumous music and honouring a deceased artist’s legacy, the decisions made by the estates of Miller and XXXTenacion reveal two distinct paths Juice Wrld’s family could take for the upcoming album.

Celebrating the few among many: A look into the Oscar film nominations Why do most of the nominations come from the tail-end of the year?

VICI HERBISON

Continued from cover But how is that exclusion either fair for early year releases or beneficial for a system which claims to award cinema’s best and brightest?

The Academy can make allowance for films that can’t take the financial risk of being released at the same time as major studio Oscar hopefuls by changing how it selects nominees.

This issue is illustrated by the prestigious nominations for Best Picture this year.

Six out of nine best picture nominees are distributed by major studios that have the budget to campaign. If you want to add Netflix in the mix, that number goes from six to eight. Only Bong Joon-

ho’s surprise contender Parasite — the first South Korean film nominated for best picture — was distributed in North America by indie studio Neon.

And of those nine films nominated for best picture, eight of them were released between October and December — the outlier being awards darling Quentin Tarantino’s latest feature Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, which came out in July.

These patterns are troubling when you step back and look at the plethora of wonderful, creative and different films released in 2019.

The Oscars are not the beall and end-all of cinema. But what the Oscars do that is so important is that they legitimize films.

If the film industry and the Academy continue to allow

Flickr/ Alan Light

big studios to hack the system, we will continue to see an oversaturation of white

male films during Oscar season. Maybe someday the Oscars will do what they are

meant for and actually celebrate artistic and technical brilliance in cinema.

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In Medias Breaking through the blue wall: How can we talk about mental health in policing?

Res: A beginning A shift in police culture by changing the language around mental health may help save lives. to an end?

The future of this campus journal is in question as it nears its 25th anniversary.

CHELAINE KIRSCH

Continued from cover There’s also been contributions from notable Saskatchewanian writers Tim Lilburn, Yann Martel and Guy Vanderhaeghe over the years.

There’s a sense of legacy to the publication but still, IMR dwindles under my tutelage. And in facing the ever-looming question: “Should I call it quits?” I find my answer shifting.

Regardless of IMR’s future, it — as its name suggests — still has a present. We are accepting submissions for our upcoming publication until Valentine’s Day. We accept art in addition to fiction, non-fiction, poetry, travelogues, essays and anything else we deem worth reading.

We also have a theme for every issue, this issue’s being “revival.”

Submissions don’t need to match the theme, but the pieces relating to it would have an edge over other submissions.

If in search of examples of successful submissions, many issues preceding 2008 can be found in the Shannon Library, and the newer can be found on the STM website. With volumes spanning 25 years, there is a wide variety of content and a noticeable shift towards creative writing within recent years.

IMR will also be holding a writing salon in the Chelsea Lounge at St. Thomas More College on Feb. 7 from 7-10 p.m. — in part to promote its upcoming publication, but also to foster a writing community and support undergraduate writers.

IMR is unique because it is open to students of all majors and levels of study. It is a physical creative writing publication for students, by students.

So send submissions our way?

Together we can make IMR’s 25th volume great.

If you are interested in having your art or writing published, or you’re interested in joining the editorial board, please send your work or questions to inmediasres@stmcollege.ca.

To read the newer issues of IMR, visit stmcollege.ca/imr.

12 / OPINIONS

Flickr / Waferboard

MARIA CRUZ

The recent RCMP report on Const. Jean-Pascal Nolin’s tragic suicide identified the need for nationwide research, more psychologists and mental health education for members of the police force.

While the details of this 39page report are withheld for now, the media discussion on the recommendations seems to be missing a crucial point.

What else could a nationwide study identify that existing literature hasn’t established already? More importantly, why does it seem that the rest of society views “mental health” as a buzzword, while police officers are left to suffer alone in silence?

In recent years, there has been a shift towards prioritizing officers’ wellness needs. Today, mental health resources for Canadian police officers have grown, with the RCMP offering greater mental health support.

Other initiatives include Critical Incident Debriefings and Stress Management Programs, where all members involved in a case have the opportunity to talk about what they witnessed with each other. Some larger police forces, including our local Saskatoon Police Service, have psychologists and mental health experts on their team.

In speaking with several ac-

tive and retired Canadian officers, they acknowledged that large strides have been made towards destigmatizing mental illness. But many of them expressed concerns about how mental illness is equated with weakness in police culture, despite the recent systems and initiatives implemented.

Officers who advocate for change want more discussions on mental health in policing.

Instead of pushing for a complete organizational overhaul, the best approach may be to find a middle ground between the “old attitude” and a new cultural shift.

Changing the language

There seems to be a divide between the “older” and “newer” generations made prominent by an expectation of strength and resilience commonly upheld by senior officers.

There seems to be a divide between the “older” and “newer” generations made prominent by an expectation of strength and resilience commonly upheld by senior officers.

Rookie cops who can be more aware of their personal mental health limitations may be identified as “weak” or outed as different from the uniform group. Motivated by career progress, they would much rather avoid that label, toughen up and suffer in silence.

around mental health is necessary so that it lines up with the dominant culture of perseverance and the societal pressures to prioritize members’ needs.

The goal of de-stigmatization is nuanced, but it appears to be attainable.

For example, let’s look at taking time off to spend it with your parents, child or partner.

Whether it’s taking them to the movies or some special event, a day off from work to be with your family is a mental health

day in itself.

However, by not disclosing it as a “mental health day” to superiors, it allows officers to take the necessary two or three days off without any social or professional repercussions.

With the current stigma associated with mental illness, coming back from a mental health day could result in the officer returning to a hostile work environment. But with a shift away from the current culture, the officer who spent time with their loved ones could come back mentally and emotionally rested. They could be greeted by colleagues who respect and understand the decision to prioritize family over work.

I understand the critique that this could be seen as “playing the system.” In my opinion, the small number of officers who want to take advantage of their unlimited mental health leaves will do so. But the overwhelming majority of those who are dedicated to their jobs should be aware of their human limitations and know when to take that necessary family day.

The result? Happier, healthier officers who demonstrate a work-life balance. This could lead to less officer and Mountie suicides. Perhaps even a better, stronger police force. But surely enough, these are small, significant steps towards de­ stigmatizing mental illness in policing.

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You can still aim for a better you this year It’s never too late to lay down habits that stick.

THEA PEARCE

January 2020 has come to a close, and maybe you still have some unfulfilled fitness goals. Let’s not dwell too hard on these unattained fitness milestones.

These aspirations are admirable, but it often falls through the cracks for university students struggling to juggle their classes, social lives and jobs or other extracurricular activities. This is why it’s so important to build sustainable healthy habits that will withstand the twists and turns of everyday life.

So many people start working out for the wrong reasons. A “new year, new me” mentality won’t cut it because fitness goals should ultimately be centered around loving yourself. I’ve seen first-hand so many people who work out because they hate what they see when they look in the mirror. This only negatively impacts their mental health and self-esteem. But there is a better way!

People with this self­ loathing mentality often resort to fad diets, quick fixes and an unfeasible workout plan. The average couch potato can’t go from doing nothing to working out six days a week. It’s just not realistic, nor is it healthy.

If you have done this yourself, then you’re honestly a machine. These changes cannot usually be accomplished in a single step. They require patience, motivation and consistency.

The same goes for a nutritional diet. A person seeking a healthier lifestyle needs to make changes in small increments in order to ensure that they are sustainable. For example, one might start work-

ing out three days a week and cutting out junk food. These small changes are effective and leave room to establish even healthier habits.

Healthy habits aren’t hard to start, but they are easy to quit. We’ve all been there, haven’t we? I would personally recommend trying to increase your intake of fruits, vegetables and protein. These foods are nutrient dense and keep you full for longer periods of time while providing your body with the nutrients it needs to function effectively.

The best part is that eating healthy doesn’t mean restricting yourself from enjoying the things that you love. Many fitness professionals follow the 80:20 rule where they consume healthy foods 80 per cent of the time and indulge for the remaining 20 per cent.

Contrary to popular belief, carbs are not your enemy. In fact, you need them to function properly. Think of it like this — all food is fuel, but a well-rounded nutritional diet is like premium gas. All forms of food will ultimately sustain you, but won’t necessarily be the best for your body Similarly, exercising should not always feel like a punishment. Don’t get me wrong — at times it will absolutely feel like a self-inflicted form of torture. The good news is that there are plenty of ways to work out.

Yes, the gym is a great option, but it isn’t always the answer. Swimming, biking and every sport under the sun are also valuable forms of exercise. You need to find what works best for you. At the end of the day, any form of exercise will only serve to benefit you.

No matter what your workout goal is, keep in mind that

Shawna Langer/ Graphics Editor

fitness is a journey. At every point, it is important to remind yourself that you are doing this because you love yourself. There will be ups and downs, but consistency will be the key to your personal success.

People shouldn’t work out because they hate their bodies — they should exercise because they love them.

Feed your body the nutrients it needs to fuel your day-today life. Exercise to escape from reality or to release stress-reducing endorphins in an otherwise jam-packed day.

Consistent exercise and nutritional eating will improve an individual’s mental health.

So get that workout in when you can and eat in a way that honours your body. Do what works for you and makes you feel like it’s a “new year” and an even better you.

r Ou ! s e o mer W st Cu

* SOME RESTRICTIONS APPLY

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OPINIONS

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February vs. November: A comparison of mid-term breaks Not all breaks are created equal.

ERIN MATTHEWS OPINIONS EDITOR

Shawna Langer/ Graphics Editor

14 / OPINIONS

February is notorious for its missing days and weird leap year tendencies. But this month is one of the holiest of months, containing the most coveted week of the year — Reading Week.

Now, while it’s not the only week-long break — at least not for the past five years — it’s unequivocally the best one.

The University of Saskatchewan’s academic calendar refers to the third week of February as “Winter mid-term break,” but the week that follows Family Day is known in our hearts as Reading Week.

It’s a contradictory week where we do very little reading and likely engage in more suitable activities like sleeping, drinking and travelling. All the while we will keep telling ourselves that we’re going to finish the essay that is due after the break or study for that looming midterm — knowing full well we will not.

Perhaps the university knows us better than we know ourselves and opted for a more realistic name. For simplicity, let’s just call it February break.

This wintery break is a perfectly timed respite in the hellscape that is term two. It comes at the right time between the rising action of the beginning of the term and the climax of our stress between midterms and finals. It’s early enough that we are able to get a grip on ourselves and the course load that is slipping through our fingers. It allows us to muster up the courage to continue on into the final stretch of the year.

February break falls a month after Blue Monday, the third Monday of January. Blue Monday was coined back in 2005 as the most depressing day of the year by a pseudo-psychologist hired by ad men of a travel agency. Blue Monday isn’t anything more than a clever marketing ploy to push tropical vacations, but seasonal depression or seasonal affective disorder does appear to be real. And SAD makes the drudgery of mid-winter even more unbearable.

A mid-winter break, smack in the middle of our darkest hour, is one way to ease the strain on our mental and physical health.

On the other hand, while full of great intentions, November break falls flat. A relatively new addition to the academic calendar, Fall midterm break was an initiative advocated by Max FineDay during his 2014 term as the U of S Students’ Union president. FineDay sought to find solutions to address growing mental health concerns of U of S students and another ‘reading week’ seemed like it would be a good attempt at alleviating some of the stress.

However, the November break hasn’t been as successful as it’s winter predecessor.

For instance, professional colleges haven’t been able to make time in their packed schedules to allow for this break. Instead of a week off, students in medicine, nursing, dentistry and vet med get a “fall long weekend” around Thanksgiving.

Arguably, the students in these colleges are some of the individuals who need a break the most. There have been concerns raised in recent years about the mental health of med students with advocates calling for solutions. It was reported that, as recently as December 2019, a med student from the University of Ottawa died by suicide, an incident that demands more attention be paid to student’s mental health.

While professional students are being cheated out of a much needed break in November, the rest of us aren’t benefiting much either. The break comes much too late in the term to be an effective relief. The mid-term break falls more accurately at the end of term, just weeks away from finals. It is a point in the semester where we are already burnt out.

While any week off of classes is a great week, November break can leave us feeling less motivated instead of rejuvenated. It is a week where you feel like giving up and not returning to campus — the very opposite of what it is supposed to do. If fall mid-term break actually landed in October, the true middle point of term, then February break may have some competition.

But for now, that glorious mid-winter week off is still the GOAT.

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DISTRACTIONS

CROSSWORD ANSWERS From Jan. 27 issue

DISTRACTIONS / 15

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