Volume 18, Issue 1 - August 31, 2018

Volume 18 Issue 1 – August 31, 2018

The Sputnik, We Orbit Around You News, pg. 4

DORMS THAT ARE INCLUSIVE

Arts, pg. 7

Sports, pg. 10

UNIVERSITY 101: A HOW TO

A place for all Laurier stu- A survival guide from dents to call home fourth years to first years

YMCA FACILITY OPENS SOON

New building opens its doors September 2018

Opinion, pg. 11

Arts, pg. 8

THE HIGHS AND NETFLIX BINGE, LOWS OF UNI COMING OF AGE

Hate it or love it, we get through it

Yes Netflix, I am still watching

HOUSTON, WE HAVE A CHALLENGE Navigating the unknown at Laurier Brantford, your satellite campus

COVER BY: ANUJ KAPAHI

02

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 2018

03 NEWS EDITOR HIRING NOW news@thesputnik.ca

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CAMPUS

Faculty member pens book on survivors

Laurier Brantford professor shares the stories of survivors from the Huronia Regional Centre in Orillia

KATHERINE ROSSITER/SUBMISSION

An early photo of the Huronia Regional centre in Orillia, Ontario back in the eighteen hundreds, it later closed in 2009 due to allegations of extreme negligence and abuse on its patients. within institutional settings, but an were all diagnostic categories used reports for underfunding, overand 2009.

DELLESIA NOAH EDITOR-IN-CHIEF at the time. ordinary everyday expectation. We crowding, and abuse allegations, A year after the closure of the

The Huronia Regional Centre (HRC) for the developmentally disabled has been closed for nearly ten years, but the consequences of its systematic violence still resonate with individuals.

Wilfrid Laurier University faculty member Katherine Rossiter worked alongside Jen Rinaldi (faculty member of the University of Ontario) on Punishing Conditions: Institutional Violence and Disability. The book was released on August 20th.

The book details four years of research regarding the experiences of those institutionalized at the Huronia Regional Centre, an institution for developmentally disabled children run by the Ontario government between 1861

HRC, two Huronia survivors, Pat Seth and Marie Slark, came forward in a class action lawsuit against the Ontario government alleging abuse and neglect.

“I worked alongside people with intellectual and developmental disabilities when I was younger and when I ran into this court case, I was interested and I wanted to help if I could,” Rossiter said.

“I reached out to some of the people working on the court case and from there we began discussions about how my skill set might be useful as a researcher.”

Rinaldi said that the HRC was Canada's largest and longest standing institution for persons with diagnoses of developmental disability.

“Across its tenure, Huronia was subject to scrutiny, appearing in

and yet despite reports violence persisted within the HRC's walls,” Rinaldi said.

Rossiter and Rinaldi observed a commonality between the Huronia survivors. They all had experiences of violence and it was a common trait that they were noticing in many other institutions like the HRC. “What I was really interested in was why that happened in every institution. Whether that was residential schools or orphanages or institutions such as psychiatric institutions,” said Rossiter.

“The book uses Huronia to talk about institutions more broadly; how the design and institution of these structures lead to profound forms of violence,” Rossiter said.

“Our research unearthed that violence was not an aberration

found that situational conditions common across facilities meant to

What I was really interested in was why that happened in every institution. Whether that was residential schools or orphanges -Katherine Rossiter, Laurier faculty member

provide care gave rise to violence, and that models of care themselves justified violence and made violence possible,” said Rinaldi.

Rossiter stated that institutions like the ones discussed in the book lead to the dehumanization of people and that dehumanization leads to gross occurrences of violence.

She also said that these types of institutions can’t look to foster individuals’ needs and desires while keeping their effective costs.

According to the Ontario Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, the HRC opened in 1861 as the Convalescent Lunatic Asylum. That institution closed down and reopened six years later as the Hospital for Idiots and Imbeciles.

Both Rinaldi and Rossiter acknowledged that at the time there wasn’t a formal, scientific or medical body of knowledge regarding developmental disability, and that medical language and classification systems have been tools used in the service of dehumanizing disabled people and justifying mistreatment and separation. “Feebleminded”, “Moron” and “Imbecile”

What Rossiter said she’s noticed about society’s view on developmental issues is the level of disdain shown towards them. “There is no public space for them; they are not made welcome in a lot of ways. As a collective, we don’t pay attention, we don’t listen, and we don’t understand their struggle very well,” said Rossiter.

“As someone who is able-bodied and doesn’t live with that particular diagnosis that’s been a real eye opener and a painful one because the people who I have worked with on this project are my friends at this point.”

Rinaldi pointed out the type of segregation those with developmental disabilities have to endure. “Persons with diagnoses of developmental disability have historically been removed from their families and communities, and housed in large-scale, staterun facilities.”

For this book, Rinaldi and Rossiter both spoke to many survivors of the HRC. “The resilience of the survivors we have worked with is remarkable. The stories they have shared have been weighty and difficult and shocking and profoundly sad and I marvel at their capacity to persist and to self-advocate,” Rinaldi said.

“None of this could have been possible without them, they have been incredibly brave about opening up and sharing their stories for a number of years. I have an enormous amount of admiration for their level of courage. This is kind of by them for them,” said Rossiter.

Both Rossiter and Rinaldi agree that it is a heavy responsibility to have these stories shared with them and to do them justice, but it is a responsibility they are honoured to undertake.

THE SPUTNIK

04

NEWS

FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 2018

CAMPUS

LB to start gender inclusive housing

New approach to incoming first years of all gender indentities, now can have a safer space to call home TAYLOR BURT LAURIER ALUM

Wilfrid Laurier University is taking action to make the university more inclusive for all.

For first-year students, living in residence can be both a huge change and a great experience.

However, having to pick a room based on drop-down menu options of “male,” “female,” or “other” might make it feel less like home.

This year, residence communities on both the Waterloo and Brantford campuses will have gender inclusive rooms, which will include a variety of buildings and room types.

“Students who are interested in gender inclusive housing shouldn’t be limited to just one type of housing option,” says Clayton McCourt, associate director of residence life.

The residence application gives a thorough explanation of what the options are and what students are able to choose.

“It could also be housing for students who are maybe on the more binary scale, and if they just like to live in a gender inclusive community, it’s for them too. So, it really was open-ended. It’s for anyone who’s interested in that type of community, so we are not just singling [out] the trans community,” says McCourt. “Isolating communities is not appropriate and can actually sometimes make things more dangerous, especially for students from marginalized communities.”

McCourt says this is a step forward, but there are many more to go. This is just the beginning of

what Laurier can do to be more inclusive towards its students.

“Students are the most successful when they can be their best selves,” he says.

Last year, Laurier took a step towards helping students who may not identify with the traditional gender binary. University staff worked with them on a one-onone basis to see where they would be most comfortable living during their stay in residence.

“Working with students on a one-on-one basis is not great, primarily because we’re making them jump through hoops that the other everyday applicant wouldn’t have to,” says McCourt. “We are looking for equity across the board.”

It could also be housing for students who are maybe on the more binary scale, and if they just like to live in a more gender inclusive community, -Clayton McCourt, Associate Director of Residence Life

A diversity and inclusion statement has been created and printed in the guidebooks as well as the residence applications this year, to make sure it is well known that everyone is welcome at Laurier. The statement allows everyone to know

MADELIN MOSES/PHOTO EDITOR

Post House residence among many Laurier residences to include gender inclusive housing for those who choose so .

that this is what Laurier stands for, especially when it comes to residence.

As dons move into their rooms and start preparing to meet the students on their building floors, extra training will be given about this new development in housing.

“A listening ear and a welcoming smile will make a world of differ-

ence, not that any less is expected from our dons” says McCourt.

Another change that will take place this year is the name cards on the doors of residence rooms.

Usually, the name cards are made by the dons during the summer and put up before the school year starts. This year, blank cards – uniform across both campuses –

will be put on the doors of rooms, where students will have the chance to write their preferred name and pronouns.

The residence team has worked hard to make university life more inclusive, but McCourt says there is a lot more to be done. He wants Laurier to be a leader in inclusion for other universities.

THE SPUTNIK

FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 2018

NEWS

05

City shelter system to be evaluated by report

BRANTFORD

The closure of women’s shelter has left many homeless DELLESIA NOAH EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

MITCHEL EMMANUEL-KALU/ /LEAD PHOTOTOGRAPHER

The Welcom In Resource centre closed their women’s shelter back in March.

A report is to be presented to the Social Service Committee on Wednesday, September 5 on the state of women’s shelters closing in Brantford.

The report is supposed to examine the city’s shelter systems as well as discuss a more formalized funding approach. The report was supposed to be presented by June, but is only now coming to light.

Trevor Beecraft, Executive Director of Brantford’s Welcome In Resource Centre, hopes that the report confirms the validity of his organization – an emergency shelter for civilians – as well as other not-for-profit organizations and services.

“The city had asked that I increase my female beds from seven to 12 which prompted me to do an internal review of the organization to see if I could manage that capacity,” Beecraft said. “Unfortunately, our request was denied and so we had to take measures to protect our organization as a whole and we unfortunately had to close our female shelter.”

The additional funding that Beecraft requested was to go towards more female staffing to further support female guests, but the shelter closed back in March because there wasn’t enough staffing to address the safety concerns.

“We have individuals that are coming in at a highly intoxicated state and that are under the influence of a substance and so we face so much more challenges here than what you would at a normal job,” Beecraft said.

The Welcome In Resource Centre is the only low-barrier shelter in the city, meaning those taking shelter there can have drug paraphernalia on them, although they cannot use drugs on the premises.

With the shelter closing, there are not many options left for homeless women in Brantford.

The city had asked that I increase my female beds from seven to 12 which prompted me to do an internal review of the organization.

-Trevor Beecraft, Executive Director at the Welcome In Resource Centre

What the city has put in place is a referral system that puts women seeking shelter through to social services.

From there, they can work with a housing resource worker that will refer them to Nova Vita. Nova Vita

is for those who’s housing involve domestic violence. If their housing situation does not involve domestic violence from there the woman would be directed to Victim Services.

“Unfortunately Victim Services is done through the police so many of the females that we work with aren’t in a position where they want to work with the police,” Beecraft said.

Beecraft recognizes that the city is trying to work with him to get to a solution, but is not sure if any actionable result will come forward before the year’s end.

“I do know that with it being an election year in Brantford the chances of anything happening before the end of the year are zero [or] less. If they get new councillors in and everything and all of them have to accolate themselves to the information and put their approval on it. It’s a process,” Beecraft said.

In the meantime, the Welcome In Resource Centre is looking to launch a fundraising program to make up for the denied request for additional funding.

“It’s called 1000 Do 10 for Homelessness and the idea is to get a thousand people in this community to donate ten dollars a month to our organization which would be the equivalent of a hundred and twenty thousand dollars a year to increase our budget,” Beecraft said.

Harm reduction strategies in Ontario

The ministry has “pressed pause” on safe injection sites but other harm reduction strategis are available

MITCHELL EMMANUEL-KALU/LEAD PHOTO

Needle dropbox sites are one of many harm reduction strategies that are placed around the city to reduce drug overdoses of illegal substances., many other cities have take similar approaches.

DELLESIA NOAH EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Despite the Ministry of Health putting a pause on supervised safe injection sites, Brantford still offers other harm reduction services.

Provincial Health Minister Christine Elliott confirmed Monday, August 13, that the province is “putting a pause” on supervised injection sites. Sites were approved for St. Catherine’s, Thunder Bay, and Toronto, but had yet to be opened.

“We have a Conservative government in and usually Conservative governments take a more conservative approach to harm reduction in general so that’s not too surprising,” said Lacey Dasilva,

drug strategy coordinator at Public Health.

Despite Brantford not having supervised safe injection sites, there are still other harm reduction strategies at work in the city.

Naloxone kits, safe inhalation kits, and the needle exchange program are all harm reduction services that Brantford offers.

Before a safe injection site can be put in place, a city would have to conduct a feasibility study that evaluates the need and the lived experience of users in that city.

There are neighbouring cities that the province has previously approved for supervised safe injection sites.

Hamilton and Waterloo are among them. Guelph is open-

ing up overdose prevention sites, which don’t need Health Canada’s approval as they are temporary facilities with more peer-to-peer support.

The Shelter Health Network says preliminary data shows there were 75 opioid-related deaths in Hamilton from January to October of 2017, compared to 41 over the same time period the year before.

Staff at Guelph's overdose prevention site have seen over 430 people – a number that has likely risen – since it opened at Guelph Community Health Centre back in May, according to an article in the CBC. And according to Waterloo’s The Record, there were 71 suspected overdose deaths in Waterloo

Region last year and 38 opioidrelated deaths in 2016.

We have a Conservative government in and usually Conservative governments take a more conservative approach to harm reduction...

-Lacey Dasilva, Drug Strategy Coordinator at Public Health

So what are Brantford’s needs?

According to data published in the city’s drug strategy report, opioids (e.g., morphine, hydromorphine/dilaudid, heroin, fentanyl) are the preferred drugs among clients (86.4% in 2016). Other drugs being used include cocaine/crack (5.4% in 2016) and crystal meth/ methamphetamine (5.3% in 2016).

The needle exchange program has seen a 10% increase in clients between 2011 and 2016 (from 5186 visitors to 5751 visitors). However, the number of new needles being given out has grown by 113% during that period (from 180,440 needles given out to 384,037 needles given out).

IF YOU CHOOSE TO USE, LOWER YOUR RISK. KNOW YOUR CANNABIS

Cannabis products should only be purchased through government regulated distributors.

AGE MATTERS

Under 25, your brain is still growing. Cannabis use can cause long-lasting damage to your brain.

AVOID THE BURN

Smoking burnt cannabis can harm your lungs. Choose non-burning methods like vaping or edibles.

ALL THINGS IN MODERATION

Daily use can increase health and social problems. Limit to occasional use.

HAND OVER THE KEYS

Or wait at least 6 hours or more after using cannabis before driving. It is illegal to drive drug-impaired.

WHEN TO SAY NO

If you are living with mental health issues, responsible for the safety of others, pregnant or breastfeeding, it’s best to say no.

Just because it’s legal, doesn’t make it good for you.

brantford.ca/CannabisLegalization

bchu.org

THE SPUTNIK

MONDAY, JULY 17, 2017

07 ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR HYRRA CHUGHTAI arts@thesputnik.ca

ADVICE

A how to survival guide on university Fourth year students give all the advice on how to make university a more fun and manageable place HYRRA CHUGHTAI ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

Every person who has been to university can probably remember going into their first year: the feeling of anxiousness in your stomach; feeling scared of not knowing what to expect; or excited to discover all the new experiences you are about to have.

Still, whatever you may have been anticipating, one thing is for sure: you needed some sort of guidance to help you along the way. Maybe you needed tips, tricks, or even advice on where to go for help, to catch a quick bite, or even how to sort out your studying schedule.

What better way to gain all this knowledge by asking a fourth year student? Having experienced Laurier culture for the past three years, a fourth year student is very familiar with what to do and what not to do. So, if you are a first year student looking for some tips, or an upper year that still doesn’t know what to do, this might be the article for you.

What is a piece of advice do you wish you had as a first year?

“Don’t be afraid to ask for help. I think that being on my own made me feel like I had to do it all on my own, but I know now that there are lots of people on campus who want to help.” -Kelsey Mctavish.

“A piece of advice that I wish someone had shared with me going into first year is to put yourself first. University can be overwhelming with new friends, new city, new school, etc., but through all of that you have to take care of yourself.

Anything that you do should be because you want to do it, not because you feel obligated, pressured or because it'll look good on a resume. Follow your passions because those are the experiences that you will get the most experience and enjoyment from.” -Abby Myles.

“Don't forget to take time for yourself. Your first year is an amazing opportunity to find your fit on campus and get involved. It is a whirlwind of new experiences and is an amazing time as you navigate, meet new people and develop passions. Although don't forget to take time to self-care, getting burnt out is real! Ensure you spend time to breathe, relax and have hobbies.”Hannah Gamblin.

For someone that may be mov-

ing to Brantford from a bigger city, what are some fun things to do?

“Moving from a bigger city to Brantford can be really different, but there are still things to do.

Movies, going out for food, there’s even an escape room place on campus. There are also lots of museums around if that’s something you’re into.” -Kelsey Mctavish.

“During the winter months I would most definitely suggest bringing your skates for the free outdoor skating rink in Harmony Square! This is my favourite way to de-stress, especially during exams!

Other fun things would be going to First Year Leadership Program (FYLP) events, Students' Union events (Hawk Team, Healthy Lifestyles, program student associations, etc.) and many more that occur throughout the year.

Off-campus there are many pubs that often have student discounts where you can go to hang out with friends. A very popular place is Game Time, as you can get food and play pool or arcade games.”

-Abby Myles.

“I am a big fan of the Grand River trails. It is beautiful scenery, a breath of fresh air and a chance for some great photos!” – Hannah Gamblin How do you balance going out with friends or staying in to catch up on your readings?

“It can be hard at first to keep a good balance between having a life and keeping up with school.

The only thing that has helped me is keeping my priorities in check. Knowing what is most important helps to make sure that I am spending the time I need to spend on what needs to get done.”

-Kelsey Mctavish “This requires a lot of self control and regulation. It can be very easy to skip on readings for other engagements that seem more interesting or fun. I find that I try to schedule time with friends during the week or on weekends in advance, as a goal for myself. If I do my readings at the allotted time that I have scheduled them, then I get to reward myself with having a night, meal or afternoon with friends.” - Abby Myles “Schedule. Schedule. Schedule.

Time management is key when living a balanced lifestyle. I keep an up-to-date calendar, so I am always aware of deadlines and responsibilities. Along with this,

MADELIN MOSES/PHOTO EDITOR

University can be an overwhelming experience but there are many resources to help you manage your experience.

prioritization is incredibly important. If you have a 40 percent essay, make that your priority! If you know your friend’s birthday is coming up, get ahead of your work so you can spend it with them. Organization, prioritization, scheduling and being proactive helps make this balance possible!”

– Hannah Gamblin How do you deal with roommates you may not get along with?

“I am not a confrontational person, but I have learned that sometimes you just need to be honest.

Whether its going to someone and saying, “Listen would you mind doing your dishes more often?” or sometimes you must be the bigger person and bring it up. “I can tell that we have a problem. If we talk about it, we can fix it”.” – Kelsey Mctavish “Roommate contracts with your don are super helpful! I have used [them] every year of university and have found that they really help me to get to know my roommates better but have also addressed problems before they can manifest. I do not think that it is mandatory to be best friends with your roommates and it regularly doesn't happen, but the most important thing is that you can still be kind and respectful to one another.” – Abby Myles “Crucial conversations are key!

Addressing issues early will defi-

nitely help and keeping the communication open. I make an effort to be conscious that everyone has different values, experiences, and beliefs [that] may influence their living habits. I think it is also important to remember you do not have to be best friends but being respectful and cordial is necessary.” – Hannah Gamblin Living away from home means making your own meals. What are some tips for meal prep and trying to eat healthily?

During the winter months I would most definitely suggest bringing your skates for the free outdoorskating rink at Harmony Square -Hanah Gamblin

“Don’t try and completely change your eating habits right away. If you’re trying to eat healthy but you’re used to eating out a lot stopping all at once won’t always work. The other thing is make it taste good! Healthy food doesn’t have to taste awful. Find things that you like, and you’ll be more likely to eat them. I tried to eat the healthiest foods I could find, but I hated most of them, so I never wanted to eat the meals I’d made.

Try different things and find what works for you.” – Kelsey Mctavish “I have found it really helpful to schedule meals with friends where you can cook together. This can be really easy in residence because everyone is in such close proximity. It allows you to take your own cooking knowledge to teach others what you know, and you can also learn meals from the knowledge that they have. There are often easy, healthy recipes that you can find online on Pinterest or Facebook that can be handy as well. Cooking for yourself can be a very scary task, so don't be afraid to reach out to those around you to figure it out together.” – Abby Myles “Meal plan! Having a meal plan will ensure you only purchase what you need and ensures you don't waste food. I think it is important to be realistic. Healthy doesn't

need to mean kale and celery. It could be including more vegetables and reducing your dining out.

I always plan a month at a time and use Pinterest to ensure I am excited about the recipes!” – Hannah Gamblin How would you go about making friends outside of residence for someone who lives off-campus?

“Talk to people. It sounds so stupid but it’s true. Come out to campus events and talk to the person sitting next to you. Join a club and talk to the person that you’re setting up with. Find the person in a few of your lectures and ask to compare notes.”- Kelsey Mctavish “Orientation Week is a great way to make friends across campus and in different stages of their degree.

You will be placed on a colour team that is made up of several different residences and communities and will have Icebreakers in various programs, years and involvement opportunities on campus. Everyone is new and trying to create relationships and meet new people, so it is much easier to create connections during that time.”- Abby Myles “Don't be afraid to put yourself out there and simply say hello!

Classes are an amazing opportunity to meet new people and make some great friendships. It will feel awkward, but everyone is feeling the same way! I challenge you to reach out to a new person every single day for September.” – Hannah Gamblin If you could go back and do it all over again, what would you do?

“I would have gotten help with mental health sooner. There are places and people on campus who are there and want to help. Reach out if you need help.” – Kelsey Mctavish “I can't think of anything that I would change about my first year experience. I feel that the mistakes that I made were mandatory in learning and figure out what works for me and how I can be the best Abby that I can be.” – Abby Myles “I would do it the same. Obviously, I have made mistakes and there were challenges, but it taught me so much about myself! Don't be hard on yourself, it's a learning experience!”- Hannah Gamblin

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THE SPUTNIK

ARTS & CULTURE

09

MUSIC

Artist feature: Stephan Elmo Murphy

Murphy is one among many artists in Brantford to feature their music at venues and bars downtown HYRRA CHUGHTAI ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR

Local musicians are always a good find. Looking for something you have not heard before, or even something original can be frustrating, especially online.

Luckily, there happens to be a lot of local talent in Brantford.

Brantford native Steven Elmo Murphy has been creating music for people since he was 15. Now, the 41-year-old continues to create.

He shares his work and passion for music at local bars, such as Devlin’s Advocate.

The folk-rock singer and guitar player has lived in Brantford his entire life. He recalls spending summers in Port Dover and being heavily influenced by the time he spent with his grandparents.

“Grandma was a piano player and music teacher and was really good. I started playing guitar when I was 15 and started dabbling in it and really started to play around 16 and 17. By the time I was 18 I knew I wanted to play forever,” said Murphy.

Murphy says he was influenced not only by family, but also by the greats such as Steven Stills (often regarded as one of the greatest guitar players) and even The Grateful Dead and Pink Floyd. Now, covering his favourite artists for listeners generates some of his favourite experiences.

Although he knew early on that he wanted to play the guitar, Murphy did not always know that

singing would also have an impact on his life.

“Honestly I never thought I would become a singer. Singing is my passion. I started singing probably when I was 20. I sang before but never in front of people. I got over the fear… when my friend drowned when I was 20, and we used to play all the time and I would sing with him in my room.

He was a big influence for me, got me singing and playing,” said Murphy.

The first few steps of becoming a full-time musician were not always the easiest. This is especially true of the first gig Murphy played in 1997 at only 20 years old. Experiencing his first panic attack, Murphy had sworn out performing.

“I used to play at a place in Brantford called The Turnaround and I basically threw everything my friend taught me out the window. So I stopped playing because I had a panic attack. After that I said I would never ever play again.

Then after that the next time I sang was at his funeral. But after that I've been singing ever since,” said Murphy.

Since 1997, Murphy has continued to play and cover music. In 2004 he released his first album called “Friends and I” and went on to release three more albums. Murphy expects to release a fifth album in 2019. He also has two bands that he loves to play with: Stumble Weed and The Neu Guys.

He has played with other artists at venues in Woodstock, Paris,

Hamilton, and Port Dover. Recently, Murphy had an opportunity to play a music festival in Durham.

Music surrounds Murphy’s life, literally. He says that he has an ever-growing vinyl collection that began with him collecting 45 records at age five.

“Vinyl is very important to me,” said Murphy. Sometimes he likes to throw vinyl parties for him and his friends, collecting and sharing new music that each has discovered and growing their interests.

Life isn’t always about music for Steven Elmo Murphy, though. In fact, his every day life includes his ten-year-old daughter Scout and being able to spend time with her as well.

“I have a ten-year-old daughter, so I try to spend time with her, Scout. You know I like to spend some time to find other gigs and other jobs. I don't play sports anymore. A lot of mucking around really, I play quite a bit. If I'm not playing I'm taking care of my child.

I watch a lot of hockey with my dad and hang out with my friends and go to parties. I like to go down the river, being around water and a lot of time at the beach,” said Murphy.

The Toronto Maple Leafs fan also helps with landscaping and cutting grass for families, but one day he hopes to quit everything else and focus only on music as a full-time career: living his dream with his family, kids, and music.

STEPHAN MURPHY/SUBMISSION

Murphy performing live on his guitar at the Legion in downtown Brantford

We never really stop ‘coming of age’ Entering university for the first time feels like a grown moment put you’ll have many more to come DELLESIA NOAH EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

If you think about it, every great coming of age story centers around a high schooler going through this typical hero’s journey in one way or another.

There’s an obstacle or challenge that they must defeat, and once they do, they are a changed person on the other side.

I would like to argue that you never really stop “coming of age”.

Although the media likes to portray it as a fixed moment allotted for your early teenage years, that’s just not the case.

You’re going to have those moments many times throughout your life; actually, many of those moments are going to happen in university. You’re going to stumble and fall, but you’re going to get up and try again.

In the midst of all that learning, studying, and freaking out about assignments and midterms, take a moment to relax and indulge in some mindless Netflix. I recommend you check out some of these coming of age titles. #RealityHigh Director: Fernando Lebrija Cast: Nesta Cooper, Keith Powers, Alicia Sanz Our heroine, Dani Barnes (Cooper) has dreams of getting into UC Davis’ top veterinary school, but an old frenemy draws her into high-profile social scene that begins to threaten all she’s worked for.

Okay, hear me out on this one: this movie is not going to win any awards any time soon. It gets a

little preachy about the drawbacks of living your life completely consumed by social media. I mean the movie’s villainess Alexa Medina (Sanz) is doing the ABSOLUTE MOST just to get some damn views on her YouTube channel.

But I think where this movie does get it right is in its portrayal of getting lost along the way on this journey called life.

It happens, you’re going to lose your way and get distracted, and it may take you more than 90 minutes to solve your plot issues, but you’ll get to your destination.

Candy Jar Director: Ben Shelton Cast: Jacob Latimore, Sami Gayle, Tom Bergeron Two dueling high school debate champs, Bennett (Latimore) and Lona (Gayle) are at odds on just about everything, but must work together on ambitious plans of getting into the college of their dreams.

What I like about this movie is that it doesn’t coddle our main characters. They have to deal with tragedy very early on in the movie and they have to learn how to work through that -- and they do.

They work hard and they try their best -- although they have to remind themselves to have fun along the way -- but at the end of the day they still don’t get exactly what they work for. And you know what? That’s life.

Sometimes you’ll work so hard and be the best at something and it still won’t work out in your favour.

It’ll happen to you in university, and it’ll happen to you in life.

Honestly, it sucks and it’s so unfair,

WDECORA/FLICKR

After a long day of classes and studying, wind down your day with a little Netflix binging .

but I think it teaches us to adapt and be willing to accept other opportunities that we may not have thought were the right fit for.

Girlboss Director: Kay Cannon Cast: Britt Robertson, Ellie Reed, Johnny Simmons (Very) loosely based on the story of Nasty Gal founder Sophia Amoruso (Robertson). Sophia discovers a passion for fashion in an

unlikely turn of events, and in the process starts her own business.

As her business grows, she has to cope with family and friends and her love life, all while managing being her own boss. This is my favourite pick out of the three selections, because although this title is not necessarily your typical coming of age story, I think it helps get my point across that we do not stop coming of age.

Sophia is in her mid-20’s and

she still doesn’t have it completely together yet. She doesn’t start her company until way after high school/university/college age and I think that goes to show that we’re all going to make moves at our own pace.

Don’t compare your university pace to somebody else’s, because it will all come together for you eventually.

THE SPUTNIK

10

FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 2018 SPORTS EDITOR JESSA BAUN sports@thesputnik.ca

CAMPUS

New recreation centre is finally here After years of waiting, incoming first years get to reap the benefits of the new YMCA centre downtown

JESSA BRAUN SPORTS EDITOR

The long wait has come to an end: the Laurier Brantford YMCA is set to open early September . . . and there are a lot of reasons to be excited for it.

The opening date is rumoured to be the 14th. Until then, we can get excited about the 18 thousand square feet of workout space and everything else the new facility has to offer.

“It [the YMCA] has blown my expectations out of the water,” said Megan Jacklin, Laurier Brantford Manager of Sport and Recreation.

“It is so big, so spacious, so bright, so inviting and full of opportunity.”

One of the most highlighted and anticipated features in the building is the 25 m pool.

Swimming is an opportunity that Laurier Brantford hasn’t been able to offer to Laurier Brantford students before.

“I’m most excited about the pool,” said Rachel Reid, a fourth year Health Administration student who will be working at the new building as a membership associate.

The pool will offer mainly lane swims and swimming lessons.

Along with the pool is an exerted swim tank, hot tub and sauna.

A fuller group fitness schedule is also new to Laurier Brantford Athletics and Recreation this year.

There will now be over 30 hours a week of fitness classes as opposed to having a few classes offered per day.

To go with the new fitness scheduling is more space for the classes. There are three fitness studios: two multipurpose and one for cyclefit.

“There are two levels of fitness equipment and then studios throughout the building as well, which I can’t wait to use to achieve my own fitness goals throughout the year,” said Reid.

Fitness schedules will be released on a month-to-month basis so students, YMCA members and the public can provide feedback regularly.

Also changing slightly is the intramural program. Most of Laurier Brantford’s intramural sports will be integrated with adult recreation leagues.

“It has blown my expectations out of the water. It is so big, so inviting and full of opportunity.”

-Megan Jacklin, Manager of Sport and Recreation

Intramural leagues will be created after trying out open gym for a month and seeing which sports are popular among patrons.

Open gym sports include basketball, badminton, dodegball, volleyball and pickleball.

A dodgeball league for first years and ice hockey are the two intramural sports that don’t require a trial month and will consist of just Laurier students.

With the new gymnasium space comes an excellent opportunity to host more extramural competitions.

This year, in addition to the annual ice hockey tournaments the campus hosts at Wayne Gretzky Centre, Laurier Brantford will host tournaments in dodgeball, volleyball and basketball at the YMCA. More information will be released at the end of September.

With all these new sporty opportunities arising, one might think they have to be athletic in order to

MADELIN MOSES/PHOTO EDITOR

The new YMCA facility is putting the finishing touches to construction on colborne street..

appreciate the facility. However, there is a lounge where students can hang out or study – no physical activity required.

Even obtaining a job in the new building is an opportunity made for everyone.

Students can apply to work jobs such as a cleaner, childcare worker, health and wellness coach, fitness instructor, front desk staff member or lifeguard.

“There will constantly be employment opportunities available in this space,” said Jacklin.

Wilkes House hired seasonally, but the YMCA hires throughout the year since most positions are not contracted.

“I’m looking forward to being able to help students, as well as the community, to start their journey through the YMCA,” said Reid.

Some roles still only hire seasonally, including Laurier student leader positions, intramural referees and Laurier event staff.

Event staff help with hosting tournaments and other events run by the Laurier Brauntford Athletics and Recreation department.

Students in Concurrent Education and Youth and Children Studies might be particularly interested in working in the YMCA’s childcare sector.

“The child minding is an awesome opportunity for students to come in and work with kids on a regular basis,” Jacklin said.

Laurier students who have a child are allowed to use the child minding service for free.

Greeting these new features and changes is exciting, but some students haven’t yet forgotten about our current, humble workout facility.

A big question floating through the student body has been: “What will happen to Wilkes Gym?”

As of Sept. 1, Wilkes is a bookable space for Laurier students and groups to host events. In the later future, the upstairs might become offices for faculty.

Over the past two years, the campus got more use out of Wilkes than most people were expecting.

Many students – especially upper years – are aware of the construction delay the Laurier Brantford YMCA experienced two years ago.

Indigenous artifacts were discovered all over the foundation where the Laurier Brantford YMCA was being built, pushing the YMCA project back a year so the artifacts could be dug up.

“Even though it was disappointing, it was ground-breaking,” Jacklin said.

Approximately 400,000 artifacts were found, with some dating back to before Christ. The event was one of the largest archaeological discoveries in North America.

Laurier played a role, as there were Golden Hawks who worked on the excavation.

There will be a revolving display in the new building to showcase

some of the findings.

Another ornament included on display in the building is the time capsule. One member from each of the Laurier Brantford YMCA’s committees contributed. The items will be revealed 25 years from now.

There are many upcoming opportunities to learn more about the Laurier Brantford YMCA. On September 5 between 3:00 and 6:00 pm first years can meet at Wilkes to get VIP tours of the YMCA. For the public and any students not in first year, there is a community open house and guided tours on September 14 between 6:00 and 8:00 pm. For more of an “event,” come on September 15 from 2:00 – 4:00 when there will be activities, prizes and food.

Laurier Brantford Athletics and Recreation will provide students with more information about tours and the new facility at the O-Week Info Fair on Sept. 6 from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm and at the Get Involved Fair on Sept. 7 from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm.

JESSA BRAUN/SPORTS EDITOR

The old studio space at the YMCA centre located at Wellington and Clarence.

THE SPUTNIK

FRIDAY AUGUST 31, 2018

SPORTS

11 OPINION EDITOR AVERY MCISSAC opinion@thesputnik.ca

MENTAL WELLNESS

Is university best and worst of times?

The next four years of university are going to have some really high moments and really low moments AVERY MCISSAC OPINION EDITOR

Starting university can be one of the most exciting and intimidating times in a person’s life. The great part of being a first year is feeling like there’s so much potential for greatness in front of you, and there is. The key thing to keep in mind though is that this whole four-year experience is what you make of it.

For me, university has simultaneously been the best and worst time of my life. Mostly the best, but there have been some pretty significant lows too. I know when my parents first dropped me off in residence, I was so nervous I thought I was going to throw up. I grew up in Brantford so I wasn’t worried about being in a new town, by any stretch. But I had never actually lived on my own before.

My parents stayed for probably an hour and then left me with two complete strangers. But the great part about university is you end up meeting new people that are a lot like you. It sounds cliché, but I made some of my best friends here. Some from residence, some from classes, and some right here at The Sputnik.

If your experience is anything like mine, you’ll experience a lot of ups and downs in the next four years. Some of the best and worst days of my life have been during my university experience. One of my biggest struggles was with my mental health.

I had a very strong first year; I was confident and excited to be in this new chapter of my life. But in second year I really struggled.

I went through this weird time where I felt like I had no idea what I was doing. I was anxious all the time and everything else in my life suffered as a result. My grades dropped, I had a harder time maintaining friendships, and I could barely persuade myself to go to class. It ended up being the worst year of my life. My biggest mistake – one I hope no one else makes – is that I didn’t tell anyone I was struggling for a long time.

Once I finally started talking about it, I found out that a lot of my friends were feeling the same way, whether they showed signs or not.

This is basically my longwinded way of trying to say that if you feel like you’re struggling, don’t hesitate to ask for help. Most of us are in this weird time of our life where we feel this overwhelming pressure to have everything figured out. Some of us do, but most of us don’t.

A lot of people struggle with mental health during university because it can be a really stressful time, especially during midterms.

You’re not the only one and you’re not lesser because you’re struggling.

Going to counseling helped me more than I can even put into words. That might not be everyone’s kind of thing, but if you’re struggling consider reaching out to someone you trust. You will never be better off suffering in silence.

Thankfully, where there are lows there are also highs. I have made countless memories with people I’ve met at Laurier. Between celebrating birthdays and other holidays, movie nights, baseball games, and just sitting around talking about life, the last three years have been some of the most fun I’ve ever had.

MADELIN MOSES/PHOTO EDITOR

The experience of being at university for the first time, brings on a lot of high moments and a lot of low moments .

Not everyone you meet in residence or during O-Week will be your BFF, but some of these people will genuinely be your biggest supporters. I’ve made friends here that have helped me through some of the hardest experiences of my life. If you’re lucky, you’ll develop a home away from home with the people you meet.

Since starting at Laurier I’ve really managed to come out of my shell, like many others do. I made the choice to get involved on campus by joining The Sputnik. Since joining I’ve had to interview com-

plete strangers on and off campus, which is something I originally didn’t have the confidence to do.

Being a volunteer in second year gave me the push I needed to put myself out there. Since joining I’ve learned a lot and become more confident in myself. I’m even willing to run the Opinion section, which is something I never would have been comfortable doing when I first got to Laurier.

One thing I highly recommend to any first year reading this is to just join something. Even if you’re crazy shy like I was. It’ll force you

to meet new people and experience things you wouldn’t otherwise.

To sum things up, being in university is basically like being blindfolded and put onto a rollercoaster.

You have no idea what the hell is coming next but you hope it’ll probably be fun. You’re going to meet so many people, and if you’re lucky some of them will become life long friends. It sounds cheesy, but you're going to laugh a lot, and at times be so frustrated you could scream.

It’s four years of your life so you’ll more than likely experience some pretty dramatic stuff, but you'll always come out on the other side of it. This weird rollercoaster of emotions is going to be totally worth it. If I can give any advice to incoming First Years it would be put yourself out there, join something, learn how to manage your time properly, prioritize your mental health, and on a slightly less serious note, don’t eat out every day. The freshman 15 is real people.

THE SPUTNIK

12

MONDAY, JULY 17, 2017 OPINION EDITOR MEGHAN GAUVIN opinion@thesputnik.ca

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