Huskies track team
jumps the competition
SPORTS 4
Sheaf the
.com
Student Project Symposium to take over the tunnel next week
Liberal Party leadership candidate Marc Garneau stops by campus
NEWS 2
17 January, 2013 | The University of Saskatchewan student newspaper since 1912
Scared by the Bears — men’s hockey squad falls from first place
NEWS 2
SPORTS 5
What’s the value of vitamins?
Who the H-E-Double-Hockey-Sticks cares if the NHL is back?
CULTURE 6
OPINIONS 9
University to lay off 40 staffers within next three weeks
President announces TransitionUS, second major initiative to combat deficit BRYN BECKER and DARYL HOFMANN
raisa pezderic/photo editor
Forty employees will be sent packing in the coming three weeks as the university looks to slash spending. A second wave of firings is expected to be announced in April.
The University of Saskatchewan is set to lay off about 40 employees over the next three weeks as part of a campus-wide audit of its workforce meant to axe spending in the face of a growing budget deficit. The round of job cuts will affect administrative and support positions, with “more job loss expected in phases over the coming months,” said Barb Daigle, associate vice-president of human
resources, in an email to the campus community Jan. 14. The sweeping survey of employees — or “workforce planning,” as it’s called by administrators — is a major part of the university’s long-term plan to combat a projected annual budget deficit expected to reach $44.5 million by 2016. In March 2012, the university received an annual operating grant from the provincial government that was less than the university had budgeted for. The school expects to receive similar grants in the coming years. The yearly grant accounts for about 68 per cent of total revenue. The 40 jobs that will be lost will save the university an estimated $2.3 million annually. There are
about 7,500 university employees whose salaries and benefits use up roughly 70 per cent of the school’s operating budget. “While job loss is a normal part of the university’s business, what is unusual now is that our current financial situation requires a new strategic, long-term approach to our overall workforce complement,” Daigle wrote. “College and administrative leaders are making these difficult decisions strategically, rather than through across-the-board cuts, which are not effective in the long term as they don’t result in a workforce that is focused in the right areas.”
U of S layoffs
We The Artists showcase music, drama, art JENNA MANN Culture Editor
For the second year in what will hopefully become a long running tradition, student group We The Artists will showcase their work Jan. 19 at TCU Place. The event, also known as We The Artists, presents art, music and drama from students all across campus. The group was founded by the head of the Drama Students’ Association, Adam Naismith, in 2011. Naismith approached the heads of the Visual Arts Students’ Union and the Association of Student Musicians as well as
members of the faculty in order to shape the collaboration. “It was really important to Adam when he started this project to actually create something together as a group and not just in our own individual areas,” said Toryn Adams, administrative coordinator for the collaboration. “The fine arts are so inherently connected.” Adams said the show is a platform for students to interact with the community and to present their art outside of a scholarly context. By bringing We The Artists to TCU Place, a public venue, the group is hoping to reach a varied audience in the Saskatoon
area, outside of the campus community. The show will have music and drama performances as well as a gallery to showcase paintings, drawings, sculptures and even digital media work. In addition to work from the visual arts, music and drama colleges, this year’s event will include a project from students in the university’s MFA program in creative writing, a program that began in 2011. In their project, Brushes with Words, the students wrote poetry to accompany paintings made by the residents of the Sherbrooke Community Centre, a special care
home in Saskatoon. Brushes with Words has been featured on transit buses around the city since Oct. 1 and will be available for viewing at We The Artists on posters and postcards. The postcards will be handed out throughout the event and will have raffle numbers printed on the back for a draw at some point during the evening. “It was a really exciting project. It was the first time [the MFA creative writing students] had ever done anything like that,” Adams said. “Last year was the first year that the MFA was [a program], so it seemed natural to include them this year.”
brianna whitmore
Last year’s live painting was a hit among audience members.
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Live action painting will be returning to this year’s event. Tyson Atkings, who participated in the live painting at last year’s event, will be joined by painter Jordan Bulgis. “It was one of our biggest draws last year,” Adams said. The live painting artists start the evening off with a blank canvas and are to complete a work by the end of the evening. Last year the final project was auctioned off, but Adams was unsure if this year’s live painting will be for sale.
We The Artists
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blair woynarski
A dramatic performance by Jordan Svenkeson.
NEWS
2
| 17 January, 2013 | thesheaf.com |
Students to showcase their work Sheaf during Student Project Symposium the
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UPCOMING EVENTS
©
sheaf jan 17, 2013.indd
raisa pezderic/photo editor
Ruvimbo Kanyemba stands in the Arts Tunnel where students will present their work next week during the Student Project Symposium.
ANNA-LILJA DAWSON Associate News Editor Booths will line the Arts Tunnel Jan. 24 as usual, but a lot of them won’t be selling anything. The Student Project Symposium is setting up shop. The symposium is an oppurtunity for University of Saskatchewan students to showcase their projects. Ruvimbo Kanyemba, U of S Students’ Union vice-president
of academic affairs, organized the symposium in response to the high demand for experiential learning opportunities on campus over the past couple of years. “A lot of the conferences that we have at the university are departmentalized. Here is an opportunity to have an interdisciplinary [expo] for students from any college to display their work,” Kanyemba said. Similar events are held at other
A lot of the conferences that we have at the university are departmentalized. Here is an opportunity to have an interdisciplinary [expo] for students from any college to display their work. Ruvimbo Kanyemba
USSU Vice-President of Academic Affairs
Canadian universities. She said the symposium gives students the rare opportunity to present their work to an outside audience — which in this case includes both current and prospective students as high school students tour campus for the day. The symposium is open to students from all colleges and it recognizes not only classroom work but also research projects and presentations on
travel abroad experiences and internships. It will include submissions from students in education, engineering and business colleges. Third-year psychology student Trista Neilly jumped at the opportunity to participate in the symposium. She wanted to showcase her research on brain activity and feedback. The clinic has been working on using this kind of information to treat various mental health conditions such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and has had encouraging results with their research. She said the symposium is not only a great way to introduce the new treatment to the university, but that it is also an opportunity for her to prepare for the work she will be doing once she graduates. “It is a great way for students to practice public speaking in a low stress environment and to prepare them for presenting at more prestigious academic conferences,” Neilly wrote. The Student Project Symposium will take place in the Arts Tunnel Jan. 24 from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Liberal Party leadership hopeful Marc Garneau visits U of S STEPHANIE ARDELL
Astronaut-turned-politician Marc Garneau made a campaign pit stop on campus Jan. 11. Garneau, who’s in the race for leader of the Liberal Party, lunched and chatted with students and supporters in the Education Building. Garneau has an impressive and unusual resume. The Quebec native graduated from the Royal Military College of Canada with a bachelor’s degree in engineering physics before heading to London, England to pick up a PhD in electrical engineering from the Imperial College of Science and Technology. He went on to join the Royal Canadian Navy as a combat systems engineer and spent the LAURIE LYNN next fifteen years climbing the MUIRHEAD ranks, before retiring in 1989 as a Signing Naval Captain. Bone Sense In 1984, Garneau was selected Saturday, January 19, as one of six Canadians to become 1:00 PM a part of Canada’s astronaut program and in October of CARRIE MULLIGAN that year became the very first & HOPE Canadian in space. FOR MALAWI Garneau stayed on with the FOUNDATION'S Canadian Space Agency, Canada’s ELAINE AND equivalent to NASA, eventually PETER ZAKRESKI becoming the president of the Launching federal agency. He returned to the Hope For Malawi sky in 1996 and again in 2000 for Wednesday, January 23, another look, chalking up well 7:00 PM over 600 hours above the Earth, which he has now circled hundreds of times. Soon he would make the leap 1 1/6/2013 3:52:17 PM into politics.
“Well eventually you have to come back down to earth,” Garneau says with a chuckle before recounting how the Canadian prime minister at the time, Paul Martin, had approached him to see if he had any interest in running for office. Garneau decided to run and is currently in his fifth year as an elected member of parliament in Ontario’s Westmount Ville-Marie riding. His track record, especially in leadership positions, is part of the reason Garneau believes he is a good candidate to head up the Liberals. “It takes someone strong who can remain calm and reassuring in crisis. I think I’ve demonstrated that in the responsibilities throughout my life,” Garneau said. While parliament tends to be saturated with members boasting law degrees, Garneau believes that his background in the sciences will allow him to bring forward a new perspective. Having been a student for many years himself, Garneau understands well enough the difficulty of finding a job and starting your life with the weight of student debt looming ominously over your shoulder. He plans to instate policies that ensure a less financially burdensome route for students in the future, as well as incentives for businesses to hire young Canadians and give them career experience in order to broaden their horizons. He believes enabling youth is the first
jordan dumba/flickr
Marc Garneau, the first Canadian ever to go to space, chats with students in the Education Building during a recent visit to campus.
step to that future. “Wilfrid Laurier is famous for saying that the 20th Century was going to be Canada’s, but he was off by a century. “The prospects for Canada are very bright for the future,” Garneau said. Another facet of Garneau’s platform that could rally college kids is his stance on the longstanding debate over marijuana. “I am in favour of decriminalizing and legalizing as well as regulating marijuana,” Garneau said, “It is a substance that has to be treated seriously, like alcohol.” As a person of science, he is aware of the “permanent cognitive development consequences” that can result from abuse of marijuana, particularly in the teenage years,
and believes that the power to regulate the drug could be the solution. Garneau is concerned with the impact it might have on Canada’s southern neighbors as well. “I would be sure to check one thing first though. I would not want [legalization] to slow down flow of trade with the United States. Though they are beginning to think that way, they are not quite there with Canada yet and we would not want them to view the border as a place where there could be a lot of trafficking.” Garneau will be keeping busy with a series of debates and appearances throughout the country in the next two months leading up to the announcement of the new Liberal leader on April 14.
NEWS
| thesheaf.com | 17 January, 2013 |
U of S layoffs
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Ilene Busch-Vishniac U of S President
The university will not freeze hiring over the coming years while carrying out firings and implementing cost-saving strategies, but new hires will be “carefully considered and focused in priority areas,” Daigle wrote. All positions are considered to be on the chopping block. “Strategic workforce planning that involves leaders in all colleges and units on campus will ensure the right people with the right knowledge, skills and experience are in the right positions to focus on the university’s ambitious goals,” she added. Transition councillors are available to all laid-off university employees in need of advice and support and employees are given severance packages in accordance with their collective bargaining agreements. The announcement of the layoffs comes just three days after university President Ilene Busch-Vishniac’s announced the TransformUS initiative, which will examine and prioritize all of the university’s academic and administrative programs. The plan hopes to save $20 to $25 million in permanent spending by cutting programs that are deemed excess or unsustainable. “Let me be clear from the outset: our primary motivation in introducing this new process is cost-cutting,” the president wrote in an announcement to campus. “This means that some valuable academic and support programs and administrative services will be lost through this initiative in order to ensure the university as a whole has the resources it needs to thrive and grow.” Two separate task forces will be assigned to examine and prioritize programs — one that looks at academic programs and another that examines the administrative side. The two working groups will consist primarily of high-ranking faculty members and administrative managers. No students will be included. “While students will not be included as members of the task forces because of the amount of work entailed and the significant impact this activity would have on their studies, both task forces will be charged with devising appropriate and effective mechanisms for student input and participation in the prioritization process,” Busch-Vishniac wrote. However, Chris Stoicheff, former U of S students’ union
Two rumours the university has responded to on the Rumour Mill:
Operating Budget Revenues
68
“Because of the size of the challenge we face, we are certain that jobs will be lost. There is no specific target of positions to be cut. Workforce planning is a way to help colleges and units make these decisions in a strategic way. Decisions will be made throughout the next four years and beyond, with some areas ready to make decisions sooner than others.”
Find the rest at www.usask.ca/ finances/resources/rumourmill.php
Investment and other
23
Tuition and fees Provincial operating grant
All other non-salary
(travel, office supplies, etc.)
Other targeted and directed initiatives1
10 17
Central scholarship and bursary funding
2 4
Salaries & Benefits
% 67
1. Targeted and directed initiatives include the medical college accreditation, nursing program expansion and the International Centre for Northern Governance and Development, among others.
Growing Projected Budget Deficit
“I’ve heard debt will be passed on to students in the form of tuition increases.” “Tuition increases have not and will not be used to deal with operating deficits. Our Board of Governors sets tuition based on three principles: (1) comparability, (2) affordability and accessibility, and (3) enabling quality. For over a decade now, the University of Saskatchewan has not balanced its budget on the basis of tuition increases. Further, students at the University of Saskatchewan continue to pay some of the lowest tuitions when compared to the U15 peer group.”
4
Operating Budget Expenditures
Utilities “I’ve heard that 200 to 400 positions will be cut.”
5
Other govt. grant (InterVac and Vet Med)
%
$550M
Expenses Revenue scenario
based on two per cent annual operating grant*
$500M Revenues and expenditures
This means that some valuable academic and support programs and administrative services will be lost through this initiative in order to ensure the university as a whole has the resources it needs to thrive and grow.
president and current political studies undergraduate, believes that students deserve a place at the table. He suggested that an executive member from the union be included. “I’m pretty sure that’s what they get paid for,” he said. In an attempt to assuage concerns stirred up by the workforce planning strategy and TransformUS, a section of the university’s web page called the “Rumour Mill” was recently launched. The Rumour Mill sports a list of questions curated by the administration to help make sense of their initiatives. Worried members of the campus community can also submit their own questions or rumours for a response from the university. The Rumour Mill site makes no attempt to conceal the fact that jobs will be lost, stating that “we will have to stop doing some important and valuable work in order to focus on our priorities.” Five administrative support staffers from the Humanities and Fine Arts division of the College of Arts and Science were laid off in late November 2012 to cut spending and streamline services, saving approximately $250,000 annually. The Emma Lake Kenderdine Campus was shut down in November after university administrators said the university could no longer afford to keep the doors open. The site was used for fine arts and biology students and is expected to save the university $3 million.
Projected deficit ($44.5 million)
$450M
$400M
2012-13 Years
2013-14
2014-15
2015-16
*Assuming all other financial variables remain at currently projected levels (including investment income, other revenue, utilities expenses, salaries, etc.)
SPORTS
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| 17 January, 2013 | thesheaf.com |
Green and white track and field triumphs COLE GUENTER Sports Editor The Huskies track and field team jumped into the 2013 season with an early season victory, defeating the Regina Cougars 161-84 in the annual Prairie Dual non-conference track meet at the Saskatoon Field House Jan. 12. The yearly meet pits the best university track and field athletes in Saskatchewan against each other. The Huskies proved to be the dominant team — both in the men’s and women’s competitions — in this first meet of the year. Huskies men’s pole vaulter Lane Britnell had arguably the best showing. His 4.80-metre vault not only garnered a gold medal for his squad, but was also good enough to exceed the Canadian Interuniversity Sport standard of 4.72-metres. By reaching the standard set by the CIS, Britnell gains an automatic berth to the national university track and field
meet in March. Ryan Graf also picked up a gold medal for the Dogs by streaking past the competition in the men’s 60-metre dash with a time of 6.97 seconds, two-tenths of a second faster than anyone else and setting a personal best. “I’ve never started training this early [in the season] and it’s definitely making a big difference,” Graf said. Other gold medal-winning male Huskies included Jared Olsen in the 60-metre hurdles, Derek Sawatzky in high jump, Kyle Donsberger in the 300-metre race, Emmett Harrison in the 600-metre, Davis Guenther in the 1000-metre and Nolan Machiskinic. Machiskinic performed exceptionally well, capturing the top prize in shot put and weight throw. Machiskinic’s feat was matched by Karla Gabruch, a female Huskie athlete who also won gold in shot put and weight throw.
Being dominant in the same events, Gabruch and Machiskinic feed off of each other when they are training for track and field meets. “We throw together and train together every day we have practice,” Machiskinic said. The remainder of the Dogs women’s squad finished the day strong and gathered all three podium medals in the 60-metre dash, 1000-metre race, 200-metre team relay, high jump and pole vault. Michelle Young proved to be the quickest female sprinter in the 60-metre dash (7.79 sec) and 60-metre hurdles (8.85 sec), earning two gold medals. Young said it can be a challenge to prepare for the different races in the same day. “In the 60-metre dash I focus on keeping my head down and driving as long as possible but in the hurdles you have to pop up a lot quicker to jump,” Young said. “It
is sometimes hard adjusting when the races are so close.” Katrin Ritchie (300-metre), Sonia Rees (600-metre), Amanda Banks (1000-metre) Danielle Kabatoff (high jump) and Noelle Loran (pole vault) also added gold medals for the Huskies women’s team and helped lead the squad to a crushing defeat of their interprovincial rivals. The Huskies will get another chance to prove themselves when they, along with the rest of the Canada West teams, compete in Edmonton Jan. 18 at the annual Golden Bear Open.
The Huskies out ran, out threw and out jumped the Regina Cougars in the Prairie Dual track meet Jan. 12. calvin so
Men’s Hockey
Men’s Basketball
Jan. 18 & 19 vs. UBC Thunderbirds @ 7 p.m. • Jan. 25 at Regina Cougars Jan. 26 vs. Regina Cougars @ 7 p.m.
Jan. 18 vs. UBC Okanagan Heat @ 8 p.m. Jan. 19 vs. TRU Wolfpack @ 8 p.m. • Jan. 25 & 26 at Brandon Bobcats
Women’s Hockey • Jan. 18 & 19 at UBC Thunderbirds Jan. 25 vs. Regina Cougars @ 7 p.m. Jan. 26 at Regina Cougars Men’s Volleyball • Jan. 18 & 19 at Winnipeg Wesmen Jan. 25 & 26 vs. Brandon Bobcats @ 8 p.m. Women’s Volleyball • Jan. 18 & 19 at Winnipeg Wesmen Jan. 25 & 26 vs. Brandon Bobcats @ 6:15 p.m.
Women’s Basketball Jan. 18 vs. UBC Okanagan Heat @ 6:15 p.m. Jan. 19 vs. TRU Wolfpack @ 6:15 p.m. • Jan. 25 & 26 at Brandon Bobcats Track & Field • Jan. 18 & 19 at Alberta Golden Bears Jan. 25 & 26 — host meet @ Saskatoon Field House - Home Game
Canada West Standings Women’s Volleyball 1. UBC 2. TWU 3. Alberta 4. Mount Royal 5. UBC Okanagan 6. Calgary 7. Manitoba 8. Brandon 9. Winnipeg 10. Regina 11. Saskatchewan 12. TRU *Top seven teams qualify for playoffs
Men’s Volleyball 1. Alberta - x 2. TWU 3. Brandon 4. Saskatchewan 5. UBC 6. Manitoba 7. Winnipeg 8. Mount Royal 9. TRU 10. Calgary 11. Regina 12. UBC Okanagan *Top seven teams qualify for playoffs
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W-L 13-1 12-2 11-3 10-4 9-5 7-7 7-7 5-9 4-10 3-11 3-11 0-14
W-L 14-0 11-3 10-4 9-5 9-5 8-6 7-7 5-9 5-9 2-12 2-12 2-12
Women’s Hockey
W-L-OL 1. Calgary - x 16-3-1 2. Alberta 13-6-1 3. Regina 13-7-0 4. UBC 10-7-3 5. Manitoba 9-8-3 6. Saskatchewan 7-9-4 7. Lethbridge 6-11-3 8. Mount Royal 6-12-2 *Top six teams qualify for playoffs
Women’s Basketball
x - Clinched playoff spot
Men’s Hockey
W-L-OL 1. Alberta - x 16-4-0 2. Saskatchewan - x 14-6-0 3. Manitoba - x 12-5-3 4. Calgary - x 13-7-0 5. UBC 11-7-2 6. Regina 9-9-2 7. Mount Royal 4-15-1 8. Lethbridge 1-17-2 *Top six teams qualify for playoffs
Men’s Basketball
Prairie Division 1. Regina 2. Calgary 3. Alberta 4. Saskatchewan 5. Lethbridge 6. Winnipeg 7. Manitoba 8. Brandon
W-L 11-1 10-2 7-5 6-6 5-7 5-8 2-11 0-12
Prairie Division 1. Alberta 2. Winnipeg 3. Saskatchewan 4. Manitoba 5. Lethbridge 6. Calgary 7. Regina 8. Brandon
W-L 10-2 9-4 8-4 8-5 6-6 5-7 5-7 3-9
Pacific Division 1. UFV 2. TRU 3. UBC 4. Victoria 5. UBC Okanagan 6. UNBC 7. Mount Royal 8. TWU
11-1 10-3 9-3 8-4 5-8 4-8 3-9 2-10
Pacific Division 1. UBC 2. Victoria 3. UFV 4. TRU 5. UNBC 6. TWU 7. Mount Royal 8. UBC Okanagan
10-2 7-5 7-5 6-7 5-7 4-8 3-9 2-11
*Top four teams in each division qualify for crossover playoffs
EXPIRES JANUARY 17, 2013
Upcoming Huskies games
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SPORTS
| thesheaf.com | 17 January, 2013 |
Dog Watch:
Chris Gilbert HENRY TYE GLAZEBROOK
It may sound cliché to say that Chris Gilbert was destined to play volleyball, but the old saying rings surprisingly true for this fifth-year Huskie setter. “When my mom was pregnant with me, she was still playing volleyball in the co-ed leagues,” Gilbert said with a smile. “I was born into a volleyball family.” Gilbert may have picked up a few tips from his mom before he could even speak, but he is also quick to acknowledge the rest of his family for leading him into the sport. “My dad was my coach growing up. He taught me most of the things I know.” With a heritage steeped in the game, it’s easy to see where Gilbert’s passion for volleyball comes from. “It’s the ultimate team sport,” Gilbert said. “You need six guys on the court who are all committed. Since you can’t contact the ball twice, you have to work as a team.” Born in Saskatoon, Gilbert moved to Lethbridge when he was a toddler. He spent his formative years playing
for his high school team, but it wasn’t long before he found his way back home to play volleyball for the University of Saskatchewan. “After a couple years of college, head coach Brian Gavlas recruited me to play here,” Gilbert said. “It was volleyball that brought me back to Saskatoon.” Currently in his last year of Canadian university sport eligibility, Gilbert is already making big plans for his career post-graduation. “I’m hoping to go play professionally over in Europe,” he said. “Norway, France, Germany, Holland. Overseas is where some of the best players in the world go and play top-tier volleyball.” Even with his sights set on the horizon, Gilbert still takes the time to help the local volleyball community flourish. Gilbert coaches with the Junior Huskies volleyball club and thinks the experience has had a positive influence on his own performance. “You notice more things on the court when you’re a coach,” Gilbert said of his time with the young up-and-comers. “You see all your
players and know what their skill set is. You get a bigger picture of the game.” Gilbert is happy to shepherd these pups as they grow into dogs. “I’m trying to give back for everything the U of S has given me.” From the sounds of it, this campus has given Gilbert more than he could have asked for — particularly in his teammates. “It’s been awesome. I came in here not knowing anybody and over the past years they’ve become my best friends. These are relationships that are going to last for the rest of
my life.” “I’ve had nothing but a positive experience with the team.” Before games, Gilbert uses music to get himself amped up. “I’m a pretty big techno guy.... I get the heavy beats going.” Although many athletes find common ground in their use of music to get psyched up, Gilbert purposefully avoids the more superstitious beliefs that others can get caught up in. “I know some people who have to tie their left shoe first, then their right, or they’ve got a pair of lucky
raisa pezderic/photo editor
underwear. It’s just a false sense of luck.” Whether it’s his birthright or the result of a lifetime’s worth of hard work, this Huskie has set himself up with a bright future in volleyball. With the skill to back it up, there’s little doubt he’ll land an ace. Those looking to catch Gilbert with the rest of the team can mark Jan. 25 and 26 on their calendars, when the men’s volleyball team will face off against the Brandon Bobcats at the PAC.
Huskies lose battle for best in the west COLE GUENTER Sports Editor
After entering the weekend tied for top spot, the Huskies men’s hockey team was edged out of first place in the Canada West standings by the Alberta Golden Bears. Two hard-fought games saw the Golden Bears down the Dogs by a one-goal margin Jan. 11 and 12 in Edmonton’s Clarke Drake Arena. The pair of rivals have now settled
11 of their last 13 contests by just a single goal. Huskies captain Brennan Bosch opened the scoring 29 seconds into game one to give his squad a 1-0 lead. The teams went back and forth on the scoreboard until the game was knotted at two midway through the third period. In the end Kruise Reddick was the difference maker for Alberta. He potted the game-winning goal with only 1:21 left in the third
frame to put his team up 3-2 in front of more than 2,000 cheering fans. Huskies head coach Dave Adolph said the Huskies made one bad mistake that cost them that first game. “We tied the game up and had control completely,” Adolph said. “Myself and our assistant coach thought we were going to overtime and were already planning for four-on-four. Then one of our best
players turned the puck over in the neutral zone — Alberta went in on a breakaway and scored.” Game two started differently because it was the Golden Bears who jumped ahead 2-0 before the finish of the first frame. The result was the same, however. The Dogs could not claw their way back and lost 3-2 despite goals from Bosch and forward Jimmy Bubnick. The 16-4 Golden Bears now hold a four-point advantage in the
standings over the 14-6 Huskies. While the Huskies still hold down second spot for the time being, Manitoba and Calgary sit close behind the Dogs with 27 and 26 points, respectively. “That’s the thing that really irks me the most about the four points that we didn’t get in Alberta — that it allowed everybody else to close the gap on us,” Adolph said. With eight games remaining on the schedule, including a pair against the Calgary Dinos, the Huskies will need to play their best to earn the bye week given to the top two teams in the league going into playoffs. “I know we are going to nationals and we’re going to make sure we have a really good team, but we are going to find out what kind of character we have over the next three weeks,” Adolph said. The Huskies will be at home in Rutherford Rink Jan. 18 and 19 to host the fifth-place University of British Columbia Thunderbirds.
file photo: raisa pezderic/photo editor
The Alberta Golden Bears swept the Huskies in their weekend series Jan. 11 and 12 to take sole possession of first place in the Canada West standings.
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CULTURE
| 17 January, 2013 | thesheaf.com |
Fighting Vitamin D, Omega-3 deficiencies NICOLE BARRINGTON Those who believe in the preventative powers of vitamins and health supplements might just be on to something. While catching a winter cold or two every year may be the status quo, mineral deficiencies can leave one needlessly vulnerable during the snowy months. Taking your Flintstones isn’t the only way to repel the flu, though; there are several ways to get your required daily intake of nutrients outside of the medicine aisle. Here are a few tips and tricks from a naturopathic doctor on how to stay healthy for the rest of the winter. Vitamin D: How does it work? According to Jacqui Fleury, naturopathic doctor at True Potential Health services in Saskatoon, essential vitamins work by augmenting dietary and environmental deficiencies. Of these, vitamin D deficiencies are most commonly prevalent among Canadians, especially during the winter months when the days are shorter and sun exposure is limited. “If we’re not exposing our bodies to sun every day, then we’re not going to be producing vitamin D,” Fleury said. She said that vitamin D can be purchased over-the-counter or obtained through light therapy, an exercise in which specialized lamps are used to expose the body to light similar to sunlight. “Light therapy can generate vitamin D while treating skin conditions such as psoriasis.” Vitamin D deficiencies vary from person to person and Fleury recommends taking blood tests in
Prairie residents tend to lack Omega-3 fatty acids and, especially during the winter months, vitamin D. Taking vitamins and supplements can help.
order to receive treatment tailored to one’s nutritional requirements. There’s something fishy… According to Fleury, our prairie lifestyles aren’t just lacking in sunshine. Landlocked Canadians may suffer from a lack of Omega-3 fatty acids in our diets because we do not consume enough fish. Omega-3 fatty acids are an “antiinflammatory” and can be useful in treating conditions such as eczema. They also help digestion and are helpful in the maintenance of cardiovascular and brain health. “Omega-3 fatty acids are something we have to work pretty hard at getting here, as we don’t have a lot of fish on the prairie,” Fleury said. If you’re looking for a homegrown solution, Fleury recommends flaxseed, though
supplements also help. And no, you can’t get omega-3s from just any fatty food, so put down the french fries already. Please. “Looking at the ratio of good fats to bad fats, so to speak. If you’re consuming larger amounts of artificial or trans fats, you’re not getting enough good or healthy fats,” Fleury said. Tragically delicious, these bad fats work opposite to Omega-3s, causing inflammation throughout the body. In order to avoid these triggerfoods, Fleury suggests following a straightforward rule when it comes to diet: if you can’t pick it, dig it or hunt it, you probably shouldn’t be eating it. That rule “takes us back to our whole foods roots, when we ate good-quality protein. It’s a basic hunter-gatherer philosophy,” Fleury said. “If you can’t pronounce a word
on a package, think twice about what you are putting in your body.” “You get what you pay for” Sadly for university students on a budget, not all vitamins are created equal. According to Fleury, the pills that are tougher to absorb are usually cheaper to manufacture, so investing in high-quality (read: expensive) vitamins can pay off health-wise. “Some brands are better than others,” she said, adding that some companies save money producing vitamins by including “filler” and minerals that are hard for the body to absorb. “One way of supporting your immune system is through vitamins, but if you’re catching many colds or flus, look at the bigger picture. Eating Tim Hortons or McDonald’s five days a week will suppress the immune system.” Coincidentally,
happy sleepy/flickr
you can’t grow, pick or hunt Egg McMuffins. “We as a society over-consume sugar and carbohydrates, and that can come in many different forms,” Fleury said. When coupled with the absence of UV rays in the winter, this sugary, carbohydrate-laden, nutrient-low diet inadvertently makes it too easy to contract the flu bug. So what’s the easiest way to stay healthy? Multivitamins are generally safe and a healthy choice, and you’re less likely to have a reaction to one than to a pharmaceutical, but they’re not a surefire way to prevent the flu. A balanced diet rich in good fats and exercise should be the primary focus of a preventative health plan.
Don’t pay more at vintage shops, learn to thrift NATALIE AYBARS — The Other Press (Douglas College)
WESTMINSTER (CUP) — Shopping second-hand is not only easy on your wallet, but also a great way to express individual style. Gone are the days when handme-downs were forced upon you, oppressing your freedom for personal expression. Today’s hand-me-downs are sought-after treasures. Instead of stifling creativity, limited edition and oneof-a-kind pieces offer a sense of individuality to their wearer. Let’s distinguish the difference between thrift shopping and vintage shopping. Vintage stores curate special second-hand finds for consumer convenience and so the price tags are largely marked up. Basically, you pay more for the convenience. Not everyone is willing to spend hours sifting through racks and racks of junk in order to find hidden gems. So if you’re okay with spending a little extra money, vintage stores can save you most of the effort. With time you will learn to know a good deal and a great find when you see one. On the other hand, thrift shopping is just that: being thrifty. Finding bargains for great items in places like Value Village, Goodwill and pawn shops can be like a treasure hunt. Successful thrift shopping requires a keen
eye, determination and patience. Walking into a Value Village as a rookie can be overwhelming and discouraging, but the key is to have the right mind set. Here are some tips for skilled thrifting: Demographic The nicer the area, the better the finds. Let’s be honest: you’re not going to have much luck finding anything of value at the Value Village in the dodgy end of town — and even if you do, leave it for those in need. Check out thrift stores in the well-to-do areas and you’ll be amazed at how what was another person’s “trash” is just waiting to be claimed as your treasure. No expectations are good expectations Walk in with no expectations or judgements. If you go thrifting for a specific item, you’ll never find it and you may end up missing out on something special that you’ve overlooked because you’ve been close-minded or too focused on a specific find. Materials Stay clear of polyester and other low quality materials. If you think wearing it might make you itchy or if you’ll look as cheap as the price tag, then don’t bother. After thrifting a couple times you will learn to train your eye to look for materials, patterns and colours that appeal to you. You don’t have to pick out every single
item to decide if you’ll like it. Scan through the materials and if something pops out at you, pull it out and take a closer look. Don’t waste your time. Always, always, ALWAYS try it on You never know how something will look until you put it on your body. You don’t want to look frumpy, outdated or tacky. If it’s not your style or it’s not something you can see in your wardrobe, put it back. If it’s worth altering then make sure the price to make changes doesn’t cost more than the clothing itself, and make sure you’re actually going to do it. It may only be five dollars, but if it’s just going to sit in your closet, it’s not worth it. Bring a buddy It always helps having a second opinion, specifically from someone who knows your taste and style. Best friends will always be honest if they like something or not. Go with your gut At the end of the day you’re the one who has to wear it, and if you don’t feel good in something then it’s not for you. Style is 100 per cent about confidence, which comes from knowing who you are and staying true to that. Just because something is fashionable or trendy doesn’t mean that it fits for you and your style. Happy thrifting!
Tighten up your wallet, shop thrift stores.
the other press
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CULTURE
| thesheaf.com | 17 January, 2013 |
Powder Blue set to release first EP AMY JANZEN and JENNA MANN Powder Blue describe themselves as “the soundtrack to your dreams and nightmares.” The local group, combining members from very different Saskatoon bands, blends psychedelic rock and grunge to create music both eerie and hypnotic. Lead vocalist and guitarist Shelby Gaudet is formerly from the indie rock group Color Field. Keyboardist and singer Elsa Gebremichael, who occasionally plays drums, fronts electro pop group We Were Lovers. Bassist Sonia Dickin plays in folk band Pearson and indie group The Moas. Rounding out the group, drummer Amber Kraft performs in the demolition rock band Ultimate Power Duo. “I can’t really think of another band in Saskatoon that sounds like us,” Gebremichael said. The foursome, which recorded its first EP, Dream in Black, as a fivesome — Sarah Krawec recently decided to leave the band — will release the six track album Jan. 19 at Amigos.
We The Artists
raisa pezderic/photo editor
Powder Blue hold it down for the Saskatoon music scene.
“Sarah Krawec was a part of Powder Blue since the band formed until just a couple months ago, actually,” Gebremichael said. “She played bass in the band and recorded on the EP we’re about to release. We’re gonna miss having her around.” Though Powder Blue is a
relatively new collaboration, the group found chemistry right away. “Gebremichael had a party and we jammed and were like let’s just make this a project,” Gaudet said. “We had always talked about it but that spontaneous jam was the push that we needed.” That was a year ago and
Gebremichael considers it a pivotal moment for the girls and an opportunity for them to explore new avenues musically. “You,” Gebremichael said to Gaudet, “always wanted to front your own project and be lead singer in a band, and I vocalized that I wanted to play drums
because I’ve wanted to play drums in a band forever.” It’s obviously working as Powder Blue sold out their first two shows. “I think it’s because we’re a new band and people are curious,” Gaudet said. “So many people are stoked about us and we’re stoked to be on shows with bands that we love,” added Gebremichael. Although Dream in Black is Powder Blue’s first album, some tracks have been online for over a year. “I Can Go On Forever,” for instance, was released shortly after the band formed. Gaudet said that sometime after their album release show, the band hopes to start touring. “We’re going to Winnipeg and Regina in February. We’d like to do a lot of places close by and keep going back to generate a fan base.”
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“Last year’s painting is beautiful. We have it at the university now,” she said. “Doug Thorpe, who is a faculty member in the English department, bid on it and won last year and donated it back to the university.” No other artworks in the show will be for sale. “We made a really conscious decision last year not to sell the art,” Adams said. “We didn’t want this event to come across as a money grab or an advertising scheme. This was just an event to show people what we do at the university.” We The Artists takes place Jan. 19 at TCU Place. It is an all ages event but will feature a cash bar for those over the age of 19. Tickets are available in the Arts Tunnel or via email at: wta.uofs@gmail.com. file photo: brianna whitmore
Patrons browse last year’s event.
Upcoming Events 20
Sunday
Tonight it’s Poetry ft. Britta B at Lydia’s
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Monday
Metal Monday at Lydia’s
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Tuesday
Big Dave Mclean at Bud’s On Broadway Open Stage at Lydia’s
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Thursday
Nelly Furtado at the Odeon Jenny Berkel and Belle Plaine at Vangelis Jesse Roads at Bud’s On Broadway Girls! Girls! Girls! at the Refinery Outside the Wall at the Bassment
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Friday
Body Lvl, Sleepwreck and Mehta at Amigos The Lonesome Weekends and Zachary Lucky at Vangelis Michael Wood Band at Lydia’s
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Wednesday
Open Mic Night at the Fez Shirley Valentine at Persephone Theatre
Saturday
Jeans Boots and Magna Carta at Vangelis Powder Blue and the Wizards at Amigos Suicide Messiah and Black Hell Oil at the Fez Blackberry Wood at Lydia’s
for the week of January 17 - 23
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| 17 January, 2013 | thesheaf.com |
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OPINIONS
| thesheaf.com | 17 January, 2013 |
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Hockey is back but do you care? TRAVIS HOMENUK The NHL is back in business. Whoa, calm down! Is the excitement actually seeping out of every pore of your body, or are you nonchalantly shrugging your shoulders at the announcement like I am? The absence of this single sport from TV hasn’t been as terrible as some make it out to be. In fact, I think the NHL’s absence has been wholly positive. Those who claim to miss hockey on TV should reevaluate their priorities in life. It is just a game, people. Go play the game if you miss it that much — and you don’t have to go to Russia to do it. We have ice and skates right here in Saskatoon. Begrudgingly, I’ll admit that sports — whether watched or played — often unite people and create a sense of community among fans. A key example is the Roughriders, who have clearly taken over Saskatchewan. Rider pride even has a hold on my home. My mother and her middle-aged, postmenopausal friends can’t get enough of the Riders. I’d argue they’re actually after hunky, athletic men in tightfitting clothing, but who am I to judge? I’m more of an arts person myself, though I’ve played pretty well every sport. Much of my disdain for sports has to do with the fact that my own father spent night after night with his butt parked in front of the TV, watching whatever game might be on when I was just a young lad. In some cases — perhaps in most — fathers may be able to get their sons obsessed with sports on TV too, but I guess I was a tough nut to crack. There are other things I would have liked to have done with my dad, but didn’t get to because the game was on. Let this be a note to all parents: not every child likes or wants to have anything to do with sports. Encouraging them to watch or play something they have no interest in
won’t help anybody. Some parents push ballet, others drama or football. I wonder if the best thing one could do as a parent would be to expose your child to anything and everything and then see where they find their niche in the world of sports, the arts or the great outdoors. If your daughter wants to be a quarterback and your son wants to be a dancer, let them thrive. I’ve digressed, but I want to point out that the absence of one activity gives invitation to others. What have those who’ve typically spent hours in front of the TV done in lieu of watching NHL games? Perhaps there have been more date nights or more time at the rink actually playing the
samantha braun/graphics editor
able to yell at your TV or share a beer with your TV-watching companion. I’m especially sorry to those who like hockey because it’s their favorite game and pastime. I may not be a fan, but I can appreciate a winter night on the rink, skating and tossing a puck around just like a true hockey junky. But I hope that those who have traditionally spent a lot of time in front of the TV obsessed with the NHL have invested that time into other aspects of life, areas that have most likely been neglected during previous hockey seasons. So, major league hockey is back — though I’m not sure it needs to be.
Letter to the Editor:
Letter to the Editor:
In September 2011 I wrote a letter to the Sheaf expressing deep disappointment with Tannara Yelland’s article on feminism. I write today to thank Ms. Yelland for taking the time to examine and explore some of the real concerns of the feminist movement, and for having the courage to admit that when she wrote her initial article she had not yet developed anything more than a “superficial understanding of feminism.” Recent, horrific events in India have thrown into sharp relief the realization that many women in many places have great need for society (writ large) to embrace the precepts of equality, equity and justice for women upon which feminism is based. Ms. Yelland goes right to the nexus of these precepts when she says that “if you think women and men are equal human beings and should be treated as such, congratulations!
freakin’ game. Perhaps the dad with the kid who likes theatre took him or her to a show or two, and realized how great bonding can be when it’s over something mutually enjoyed. The lockout hasn’t been bad for fans so much as it has been bad for the hockey industry. Perhaps that’s the real problem: hockey has become a business and the true essence of the game has been lost as a result. Instead of leaving fans with nothing to watch, the loss of the NHL this winter has allowed smaller leagues to gain high-status media attention. If you’ve truly missed hockey, I’m sorry about the lockout. I’m sorry that you haven’t been
You passed the test and you are a feminist.” Kudos to you, Ms.Yelland, for doing the work to understand the true nature of feminism and for publicly revisiting and re-stating the case. Sincerely, Caroline Cottrell General Manager, USSU
Ms. Yelland, I have read your recent article on feminism in the latest Sheaf. I too have taken a journey to understand feminism and its negative aspects, and arrived in the same place: there are good things about feminism and I am a feminist. I was a child of the 80s and a survivor of the early iterations of feminism. My experiences as a kid watching my mother’s feminist friends sit around and man-bash seemed hypocritical. It appeared that they were the exact same thing that they were trying to fight. It just seemed angry to me. I didn’t think that men were second-class citizens that needed to be taught that women were superior to them, and that men needed to be put in their place. Now that I am old enough to be a mother myself, I think that some aspects of feminism were hijacked by corporate interests. I can see how hard women have worked to prove
that they were better than men. They worked their asses off. They lived lives to complete exhaustion, returning to work after a baby as soon as they could sit without an ice pack. They didn’t do the work/ life balance or make things happen in short bursts of “quality time” that they could sandwich in with “me time.” As a kid looking up at all this rushing, it was hard to see what was so damn important. In recent years, in the name of feminism, corporations have given maternity leave top-ups to coerce women to return to work at the end of their leave. It is extremely hard to make any choice about returning to work if there is a large sum of money that would be owed with interest if you don’t go back. Where is the freedom to make the best choice for us in this situation? Recently, looking at feminism and trying to understand it, I still feel hurt by it, but I have come to
a peace with it too. I can see that the movement brought light to the issues of domestic abuse, sexual assault, equality to all, and prejudice of all kinds. I now call myself a neo-feminist. It’s a bit different than the 1983 version. I have extended my maternity leave with my kids and I have become an executive director of an organization that I started. I have a fullness of being feminine, gentle and nurturing with my children, but I also have kept my professional side satisfied as well. It is gloriously feminine and professional at the same time, and I feel empowered to change the world and have time to love my kids unconditionally. This is what being liberated looks like to me and surprisingly it might just look like a 1950s housewife. Cheers, Ellen Friesen
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OPINIONS
| 17 January, 2013 | thesheaf.com |
University budget cuts and the austerity model DAN LEBLANC and SAVHANNA WILSON Much of the commotion and discontent surrounding the University of Saskatchewan’s projected deficit of $44.5 million by 2016 is centred on the salaries of top university administrators. The $400,000 annual salary of the current president, Ilene BuschVishniac, and the salaries of the provost, deans and vice-deans are significantly higher than the average Saskatchewan resident’s $34,500 income. Many have called for the administration to take symbolic pay cuts to pacify outrage and demonstrate administrative commitment to the institution. But calling for pay cuts to top U of S administration members diverts attention from the real root of the university’s financial woes: the tight-fisted Saskatchewan Party government’s decision to withhold funds. While our attention is on internal disparities at the university, we’ve forgotten that the Sask. Party cut the funding allocation from an expected 5.8 per cent increase for the 20122013 academic year to a meagre two per cent increase last March, and the university has been told to expect similar levels of funding increases in the coming years. Public outrage at the loss of invaluable administrative support staff is justifiable, as is the anger over the non-transparent processes by which these decisions were made. However, it distracts from the
real root of the “financial crisis” that led to these decisions, which is the provincial government’s refusal to properly fund the university. Decreased government funding is the main reason the university is facing this financial problem. The decision to withhold funding from the main research institution — and a mainstay of economic growth — in the province has a far greater impact on the future of the U of S than any one division’s expenditures. The “elites” we ought to criticize are not the people working on campus, even those bringing in higher-than-average salaries. They are the corporations — particularly those related to resource extraction and sale — who have enjoyed unacceptably low tax rates while selling what belongs to all Saskatchewan residents. These low grant increases allocated to the U of S in this, a time of economic boom for our province, is unprecedented. We should be directing some of the financial benefits of our resourcerich economy toward decreasing the debt burden of students. Instead, it is misdirected away from institutions of higher education. The problem with the U of S budget lies in the government’s apparent unwillingness to increase our funding. Pressure must be put on the province to ensure the current economic boom benefits all residents, students included. If there is a choice to be made between imposing hardships on our academic institutions — and
This is not the road we should be travelling down.
by extension on those receiving an education within it — and on corporations, then the government ought to place those burdens on the corporations, whom they have no mandate to represent. In a time of economic success, how can the U
of S justify accepting these funding cuts and undertaking austerity measures to keep its budget under control? It cannot. It is time for the university’s administrators to stand up to the
401(k) 2012/flickr
provincial government and insist that our collective academic future be a priority. The value of our academic future is higher than the price of potash.
Learning another language worth the agony KIMBERLEY HARTWIG
There’s something wonderful about wrapping your mouth around a foreign word. You fumble with the unfamiliar syllables but you eventually produce something, understandable or not. The first couple attempts at pronouncing sounds you’ve never had to make will always be a struggle. These are the first shaky steps into learning an unknown language. At first another language — its words, its grammar, its syntax — might seem indecipherable. Even the simplest of phrases are difficult to grasp and you find yourself constantly stuttering and searching for words, feeling like an idiot. Simply figuring out how to ask where the bathroom is makes you feel like a success. But as you continue to practice, words become more natural and phrases begin to roll off your tongue with ease. This progression often happens without you realizing it is happening. Learning a new language is something anyone can do, no matter how daunting the task may seem. It takes time and a great deal of commitment to achieve but it’s one of the most useful and rewarding things you can do. Anyone who has ever learned another language knows that all it takes is one embarrassing mistake and the lesson will be ingrained forever in your brain. One of the most liberating things about
learning another language is the ability to make mistakes. You don’t have to be perfect, and when you do make mistakes there is always someone willing to help you. The most important thing is to try new words and new expressions. It doesn’t matter how silly you sound, because your effort will be rewarded. It’s easy to think that by speaking English you don’t need to speak any other languages. After all, everyone speaks English, right? Wrong. It is important to remember that the majority of people who speak English speak it as a second language. That means these people speak at least two languages while you speak a measly one. Millions of people have learned a language that allows them to communicate with you, so why shouldn’t you do the same? It’s polite to return the favour. It is unfair and incredibly limiting to expect the entire world to learn English. English isn’t widely used because it’s the best language, whatever that might mean. It’s only natural that people want — and need — to learn the language of the world’s dominant economic power, which has been the United States for several decades. That’s not to say that English isn’t a great language. It is. But every language has its strengths and weaknesses — things it does well and things it could do better. This is the reason certain words and meanings are lost in
translation; other languages don’t have the tools to express the exact same meanings. Untranslatable words can be found in every language, words too specialized to be exchanged for another without losing the spirit of the original. The French have “l’esprit d’escalier” (thinking of the perfect comeback too late), Czech’s “litost” (a state of agony and torment created by the sudden understanding of one’s own misery) or the Yaghan tongue twister “mamihlapinatapei” (a look shared by two people with each wishing that the other will initiate something that neither one wants to start). You can try to find an equivalent word in another language but you’ll soon realize it’s impossible as nothing has quite the same essence. The more you delve into other languages the more you realize just how different each language is. Just as each language is individual, so is the culture of the people who speak it. Learning another language opens up the possibility of relationships with people from different cultural backgrounds, people you may otherwise never have had the pleasure of knowing. It is impossible to really get to know someone if you can’t speak to each other. Gestures and grunting will only get you so far. It’s also impossible to completely understand a culture without understanding its language. By understanding
another language, cultural barriers are broken down; things that at one time seemed foreign and strange are now commonplace and ordinary. It doesn’t matter if you speak your new language like a kindergartener would; words are words, as rudimentary as they may be.
Learning another language is challenging but the knowledge it brings opens you up to different places, different people and different ways of living and thinking. If you listen there is a language that will speak to you even though you don’t understand the words (yet).
samantha braun/graphics editor
HUMOUR
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Campus Chat
| thesheaf.com | 17 January, 2013 |
What are your thoughts on the university’s spending cuts?
Art History students are not impressed. Nichole Atkin
It’s a shame to lose Kenderdine campus. It’s such a large part of our institution. Anastasia Conly
Where has the $44m the university needs to recoup gone? Joel Seaman
There’s a push to digitize library services and I’m worried about the people who work here for a living, who have degrees in library services. Emily Tatarniuk
FAKE NEWS
Stephen Harper first national leader to release dick pic; says ‘oops’ Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper earned the dubious honour of being the first head of state to expose his genitalia online Wednesday. In an effort to court the youth vote his party has consistently failed to excite, Harper had started a personal Twitter account in late November. Most of the tweets were heavily self-censored updates from the PM’s workday and travels. But between two tweets about the government’s new strategy to encourage venture capital investment in Canada, Harper committed the same error that led to US Congressman Anthony Weiner’s resignation in the summer of 2011. With no text attached, Canada’s top elected official sent a picture of his exposed member onto the internet. The move, presumed an accident, has been neither explained nor apologized for by notoriously media-averse Harper. So complete has been the silence that some conservative-friendly pundits have begun to ask if this was a canny move to court online publicity. In the two hours before it was deleted, Harper’s “Dickpicgate” tweet was retweeted over 5,000 times by Canadians alone, and garnered so much attention that some other national leaders have discussed the possibility of increasing their own “personal brands” with similar moves. Sources reported Russian President Vladimir Putin was outraged to hear that another state leader had beat him to such an overt display of masculinity. Shortly afterward Putin was seen driving a brand new Porsche 911.
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| 17 January, 2013 | thesheaf.com |