ISSUE 13
XAVERIAN THE WEEKLY XAVERIAN
Thursday Mar 29 2012
Volume 120 Issue 20
EDITORIAL STAFF
Thursday, March 13 21,2014 2012
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Volume 121 Issue Issue13 15 Sean McEvoy122 xw.eic@stfx.ca | (902) 870-9431
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news students’ union mutiny vote against ratifying president ben gunn-doerge for vp external position, leaves council & Exec ‘stunned’ SEAN MCEVOY | Co-Editor-in-Chief
In an unexpected turn of events, Students' Union President Benjamin Gunn-Doerge was not ratified by councillors for the position of VP External for the 2014-2015 school year. The vote left some in the room on the verge of tears, while many wore shocked expressions. Gunn-Doerge required a two thirds majority of yes votes from council and executive members at the March 9th council meeting, with the final tally being 12 votes yes, 3 votes no, and 4 four votes to abstain leaving Gunn-Doerge one vote shy of the required amount. At 7:53pm Sunday evening, council moved to go in camera, removing all gallery members from council chambers and all candidates for VP executive positions who were up for ratification that evening. Along with GunnDoerge were Paige Chisholm for VP Communications, Troy Mrazek for VP Activities & Events, Lauren Murray for VP Finance & Operations, and Hailey Vidler for VP Internal. VP of Union Services Amy Brierley, and Deputy Council Chair Hilary Perry were also asked to leave the room, as they were also applicants for the VP External position. Council continued to debate the ratification of the executive positions for over an hour. Councillors could be seen standing and speaking, with some looking exasperated with hands on their heads. At 9:07pm all candidates and gallery members were invited back into the chambers by
Chair Mariah MacKeigan. Council then moved to vote on the ratification of the executive by secret ballot. Most motions are voted on publicly by raising placards. Councillors and executive voted separately on each candidate, with MacKeigan collecting and tallying the votes after each round. Murray was ratified first as VP Finance & Operations with 18 votes yes, 0 votes no, and 1 abstention, with Vidler, Mrazek, and Chisholm following with 19 yes votes each to unanimously be ratified to their respective positions. The vote to ratify Gunn-Doerge came last, with MacKeigan counting and recounting the votes, as she quipped that all eyes were on her as council waited nervously in silence for the tally. With MacKeigan than announcing the 12-3-4 vote total and that the ratification motion had failed and subsequently adjourning the meeting, Gunn-Doerge left the meeting quickly showing little expression, while others turned to each other to question what had happened. Some were seen to be close to crying following the result, with one councillor exiting chambers saying that they were "stunned" by the vote. Others quickly gathered in small groups of three and four following the meeting to discuss the vote. According to MacKeigan, applications for the VP External position will now be reopened to all students and posted on theu.ca. From there the hiring process will follow
normal procedures with three councillors who were not on the original hiring panel sitting on the new panel. MacKeigan added that a special council meeting, possibly on March 23rd, may be called in an attempt to ratify a new VP External candidate. Although she initially applied for the position, Brierley can now be ruled out as a candidate for the position in the new hiring round as she is presently running for a councillor position. "I was rather nervous during the deliberation process as we were outside for a long time. I think there was an air of slight discomfort as time went on because we all knew they were hotly debating something, or someone", said Vidler of the ratification process. "As the council chair called my name for the secret ballot my heart started racing but it was over as soon as it started, and I was of course pleased with the result." Vidler had already begun work with House Council Coordinator, House President & VP's and Off Campus Leader interviews prior to her ratification vote, and so was glad when things became official. "The final ratification took an unfortunate turn but it was a quick lesson regarding the politics part of The U", she added. "I'm really looking forward to working with The U next year to bring all of my past experiences to an area of organized action. Due to the fact that the VP Internal job is new, there will be some kinks to work out at the beginning
but if all runs smoothly I will be managing a lot of on-campus life for students... Overall I look forward to learning new things and meeting more people on campus." Chisholm, as VP Communications brings previous experience with The U as a photographer for The U Marketing Team, as well as being active with CFXU Radio. Chisholm will also oversee The Xaverian, as well as Students' Union websites, social media, and marketing amoung other duties. Mrazek is a 2nd year student and Off-Campus Leader this school year. The native of New Waterford Nova Scotia worked with VP Finance Gareth Windsor and the Students' Union on the Memorial Field outdoor rink project. Mrazek himself has had a hockey career spanning the MHL with the Yarmouth Mariners and OJHL with the Hamilton Red Wings. Mrazek also worked this year as a student leader for Preventing Violence Against Women, and held previous positions as a bartender at Split Crow Pub, and security at the Golden X Inn respectively. Lauren Murray as VP Finance & Operations held the position of Business & Information Systems councillor this year alongside Molly Norris. A third year student from Bellevue Cove, Prince Edward Island, Murray is also a member of the StFX Rowing Club and a self professed sports fan according to her theu.ca bio.
SU councillor elections: March 19th Here’s the rundown on who’s running for what position in this upcoming election SEAN MCEVOY | Co-Editor-in-Chief
St. Francis Xavier University
The editor-in-chief thethose section Antigonish, Opinions expressed NS B2G areand 2X1 solely of their aueditors reserve the right to refuse to thors and do not necessarily reflect the views of print submitted material and to edit Opinions The Xaverian expressed Weekly solely or The those Xaverian of style. theirWeekly ausubmissions for are length and/or The Xaverian Weekly will not print matethors Publications and do not Board. necessarily reflect the views of rial that is racist, misogynistic, sexist, The All materials Xaverian orappearing The Xaverian in The Publications Xaverian Board. Weekly homophobic, or libellous. All arematerials copyrightappearing those of their in Thecreator(s) Xaverian and are copymay not
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SCIENCE Councillor (Elect 2 Erin Aucoin Emily Piggott Kate Winn Rebecca Kennedy Bry Crabbe Patrick MacKinnnon Emily Smith Amanda Chase INTERNATIONAL (Elect 1) Tatiana Atkins Natalie Moo
BUSINESS: (Elect 2) Kim Campbell Kate Sullivan Liam Kane ARTS (Elect 2) Angelina MacLellan Alex Miller* Amy Brierley* Julia O’Hanley OFF CAMPUS (Elect 3) Matt Cormier*
Kelly Nelson* Mitch George APT STYLE /GOVS (Elect 1) Jasmine Dezeouw Claire Gibbons UPPER CAMPUS (Elect 1) Alex Gardner LOWER CAMPUS (Elect 1) Ryley Erickson
Notables on council this year who will not be re-offering include: Isaac Turner- Upper Campus Councillor Erin Abbott-Frosh Councillor The election will take place on March 19th with voting from 8am-4pm on vote.theu.ca * indicates currently a councillor or executive with The U.
NEWS 3
The Xaverian-Volume 122 Issue 13
SENIOR CLASS PRESIDENTS SPEAK New senior Class Presidents have big plans for 2015 graduating class LAURA ALOISIO | Senior Reporter
With the completion of the semester now coming fast, the days of rest and relaxation during Reading Week have become a distant memory replaced with the stress of deadlines and steadily approaching finals. Kate MacDonald and Emily Pelley, however, have their sights set on the bigger picture as they prepare for their final year as Senior Class President and Vice President. Both have worked hard to prove themselves worthy of the position and running a smooth campaign was fundamental to their success. “Kate is the organized one on the team,” said Emily of her running mate, “She keeps us on track and focused.” Many people already knew of Kate’s ability before she declared that she would be running for president. As a MacKinnon Hall resident she demonstrated her willingness to help and support peers as an active member of house council for two years. She is also known as an energetic member of OCrew who helped make this year’s Frosh Week one to remember. Kate explained that this experience helped her gain a sense of independence as well as the confidence she
needed to be able to run for president. Kate and Emily met in freshman year as members of the StFX Ringette Society. That instant connection has made for a wonderful and productive working relationship. Since second year, Emily has known that she wanted to represent the senior class and they both knew that if they were to succeed it would be sideby-side. Emily already has experience in leadership on campus as Bishops Hall’s Vice President and a member of the student union marketing team. Kate speaks of Emily as a “constant idea generator,” further explaining, “She’s filled with lots of energy.” They describe the school spirit that has been fostered by their university experience as a “dream come true” and both students wanted to make their last year at StFX as incredible as the first three. With that goal in mind, Kate and Emily have started the herculean task of planning activities next year and have a vision that includes something special every month. While they wouldn’t give up their secrets, a plan for an event starting in September is already in motion. Senior students can also expect to see new ways to get involved with the creation of the Graduating Class Soci-
ety. This serves as a way for students not directly involved with the student union to provide input and voice any concerns or comments they have. The overarching theme for all their planned parties is going to be “inclusivity”, which will be demonstrated in their open style and easy access. This commitment to answering questions and making themselves constantly available to students is evident in what they feel their position as Class President and Vice President means. “It was an honour being elected to represent our class – but that’s what we are: representatives,” Kate explained. “We need and want students’ input because it is everyone’s last year so it’s important we make the most of it”. One of the things bonding the StFX community together is the coveted XRing and the plans for this important occasion are coming together under Kate and Emily’s leadership. Current plans are for Kate to address the students and Emily singing what she promises to be a “memorable performance” of Hail and Health. “I haven’t decided if that’s a good thing or not,” joked Emily. Super Sub XRing is the big day’s final act and is one of the responsibilities of the Senior Class President and Vice President, but Kate
assured us that “there is so much more to the job than X-Ring.” They are also responsible for eligibility forms for the ceremony, ticket sales, raising funds through working with sponsors in the community, and sitting as voting members on the X-Ring committee. Looking beyond the ceremony, Kate and Emily are also helping students gain the skills they need to land a job after graduation with workshops on resume building and career preparedness. Come April of 2015, graduating students of St. Francis Xavier University will gather for a closing ceremony and receive the degrees that they have worked hard to achieve. They can look down at their hand and see the X-Ring representing the hours of dedication to excellence demanded of them and feel a sense of pride in what they have accomplished. On this special day speeches will be made, families will cry with joy, and celebrations will be had by all. But this is just one day. Kate MacDonald and Emily Pelley are working hard to leave the graduates who came in as peers and left as part of a family with memories that will last a lifetime. This is “the last hoorah” and Emily believes “it’s going to be the best one yet.”
4 NEWS
Thursday, MARCH 13, 2014-The Xaverian
FEMINISM WITHOUT BORDERS Stfx professors publish book on first wave feminism with international origins RACHEL REVOY | Staff Writer
On Saturday, Mar 8, StFX professors Dr. Nancy Forestell and Dr. Maureen Moynagh launched their two-volume book on first wave feminism. The book, Documenting First Wave Feminisms, is separated into two volumes – “Volume I: Transnational Collaborations and Crosscurrents” and “Volume II: Canada—National and Transnational Contexts.” The publication includes crucial documents that contribute to the history of feminist thought and activism in Canada and transnationally in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. “Moynagh and Forestell offer an impressively comprehensive selection of documents that enables the reader to situate the work of elite white women, which is more readily available and known, within a transnational plethora of work by women who were not privileged in the same ways,” commented assistant professor Rachel Hurst on the two volume series. The volumes consist of important documents of the feminist movements of not only the middle-class white women of the late nineteenth and earlytwentieth centuries, but they also give voice to the less privileged women of the era in the
history of first wave feminism. A book comprised of the history of Canadian feminism and the feminist movement transnationally was crucial for Dr. Maureen Moynagh and Dr. Nancy Forestell, both of whom discovered that a book of this nature did not exist and would be a useful tool for the gender studies classes they teach at StFX. StFX English Professor Dr. Maureen Moynagh explains how the volumes came into existence. “The inspiration initially for this book project was pedagogical; I wanted to assign an anthology that collected some of the key documents of first wave feminism that was not limited to either the US national context or the British national context. I consulted [Dr. Nancy Forestell] to see if she knew a collection that brought international documents together. We couldn’t really find one so we decided that we would create one ourselves.” Her attitude towards this project was refreshing. At the book launch, Dr. Nancy Forestell detailed one of her favourite documents that was included in the volumes. The document describes the struggles of an Aboriginal woman named Katherine Sutton in the
1860s. Sutton was attempting to claim the land that she was entitled to based on her heritage. Since Katherine Sutton married a white English man, she was no longer allowed any of the rights allotted to her by her native status. This is one of the many cases of the discriminatory nature of colonial policy that was aimed towards Aboriginal women. “The difficulties of aboriginal women have received relatively low attention among women’s rights activists. Nevertheless, the very existence of this document and the precise argument used by Katherine Sutton provides important and tangible evidence that these imperial foundations were contested
from early on,” explained Dr. Forestell of the significance of the document by Katherine Sutton with regards to the treatment of Aboriginal women during the first wave. The book launch was a meaningful way to commemorate International Women’s Day. Dr. Forestell explained the history of this important date. International Women’s Day (IWD) emerged amidst the first wave of feminism. One origin story of IWD is described as a mass meeting that took place in support of women’s suffrage in the United States in the year 1908. The proposed idea was to hold a day to commemorate women’s suffrage and their ongoing struggles. The idea spread to
Europe at an international conference of social women. At the conference it was unanimously agreed upon that IWD would be held annually in support of universal suffrage for women. The text explores the complexity of the social lives of the women who fought for equality and coined the term feminism. The volumes develop an insightful look into territory that is not often explored or understood. The anthologies written by Dr. Forestell and Dr. Moynagh bridge the gap in feminist literature and is written for not only scholars and activists, but for students and any person interested in discovering more about the foundations of the first wave of feminism.
Unleash the noise StFx students share their experiences with mental illness at national mental health summit JULIA O’HANLEY | Senior Reporter
Three StFX students travelled to Toronto from Feb 28-Mar 1 for the second annual Unleash The Noise Conference, a national youth mental health summit facilitated by student leaders from across the country. Unleash the Noise is a national initiative of the Jack Project, a non-profit organization created for Jack Windeler, a Queen’s University student who tragically took his life in 2010. The Jack Project actively works to change the stigma of mental health in society by opening up the conversation around the issue of mental health. The project attempts to do this by encouraging people to talk about their mental health to aid both young and old so that they may grasp a better understanding of mental health. With one in five people suffering from some form of mental illness, the issue is something many are now beginning to address. With this statistic in mind, the “5 in 5” concept is a prominent theme during the
summit: whether you are the one in five who is living with mental illness, or the four in five who are not, understanding, acceptance, and acknowledgement towards mental health is necessary among all. Properly understanding mental illness, self-care with mental illness, the importance of communicating mental health issues, as well as working towards ending the stigma attached to it were all discussed and emphasized during the national conference. Sarah Nartiss, Julissa Stewart, Gabriel Quenneville, and facilitator Dexter Nyuurnibe represented StFX among the 200-student participants aged 1525, representing 85 learning institutions from across the country. The weekend had personal meaning for all those who were selected to participate, whether they chose to participate due to a mental illness of their own, for a friend suffering from mental illness, or with a goal to change the face of mental illness and end the
stigma that surrounds it. For second-year student Sarah Nartiss, the opportunity to attend the mental health summit struck importance for her on a personal level. “I have suffered from anxiety for seven years. To me this conference was a form of empowerment and of strengthening a system that is lacking in Canada. It was about providing myself with tools, contacts, and friends that I can use to implement strong initiatives in Nova Scotia with regards to helping teens balance added stresses that mental health issues generate towards day-to-day activities and providing an overall understanding [of mental health issues].” We are all conscious of and have mental health that we need to sustain and take care of just like any other aspect of our lives. “We all need to take care of our mental health as well as we do our physical health. I think that is such an important concept,” stresses Nartiss.
“The results are remarkable, and are being drawn up into an online portal that can, and will be exclusively used by youths to create substantial change in their respective communities from coast-to-coast-to-coast” explained facilitator Dexter Nyuurnibe, an active advocate for mental health awareness both on- and off-campus. Just like Nartiss, Nyuurnibe has chosen to use his experience with mental illness to help others who feel as if they are suffering alone. “I had a suicide attempt a couple of years back whilst attending StFX that landed me on the third floor of St Martha’s Hospital. This would eventually lead to me taking a forced hiatus from higher education (other circumstances notwithstanding). Regardless, I believe I was put in a perfect position to use the time and passion I have towards breaking the silence that surrounds people who suffer from mental illness, both on-campus and in the wider community,” he
explained. The message of the Unleash the Noise summit holds true for Nyuurnibe, as he too believes in the power of informing not just those with mental illness but all of society in order to fight the stigma surrounding mental illness. He said that “5 in 5 [people] must be provided with the necessary knowledge needed to help aid all young people who have identified with some of the signs of a mental illness, providing support and eventually encouragement for young people to seek help.” Student participants left the Unleash The Noise summit with a network of contacts and a plethora of new skills to help fight the stigma of mental illness. With 400 students having graduated from the program in its first two years, the future looks bright for the annual conference, and it is believed that StFX, will be well represented at the national conference in years to come.
OPINIONS 5
The Xaverian-Volume 122 Issue 13
OPINIONS WRAPPED UP IN PERFECTION A PRACTICAL AND FASHIONABLE OBSESSION WITH SCARVES DEVON GREENE | Staff Writer
After a long, cold winter it finally looks like spring is ready to arrive. As the weather warms up, people start to shed layers and ditch their mittens. There is, however, one accessory that people hang onto all year- The scarf. The scarf is one of those multipurpose accessories that can completely change an outfit. They are useful, stylish, and perfect for almost every occasion. In general, I’m not a materialistic person, but when it comes to scarves I make a bit of an exception. I have so many scarves that it would be too embarrassing to admit to even a ballpark number, Suffice it to say that it is a lot. The problem is that there is such a wide variety, you just can’t get enough. Each scarf also has many uses so it is always easy to justify acquiring a new one because you know you will use it for so many things! First and foremost scarves are practical. Most common is the winter scarves. Everyone living in a place where it gets even a little chilly should have a warm winter scarf. You can get long ones to wrap around your whole face, short ones to fill up the gap above the collar of your jacket, or my personal favourite, the infinity scarf. Infinity scarves are the ones that connect creating a full circle that you loop around yourself as many times its length will allow. Its circular nature has led many people to believe that the infinity scarf was named for its shape. This, of course, is false, as the name comes from the sensation of being wrapped in an infinite hug. But scarves don’t have to be warm to be practical. A strategically worn scarf can cover up a world of secrets. If you got a little sloppy on your favourite shirt, use a scarf to cover up that stain and you can keep wearing it like nothing happened. If someone got a little sloppy on you at the bar, hide your hickey under a scarf and no one will ever know. You can even turn a scandalous bar top into a Grated outfit by covering your excessive cleavage. The uses are endless! In addition to being practical, scarves are also extremely fashionable. Depending on the scarf and how you wear it, you can change your entire look or simply compliment the one you already
have. The right scarf can make you look more sophisticated or artsy, or you can go totally bohemian with a head scarf. Scarves also instantly make you look more put together. There have been times when I have literally worn yoga pants and a plain t-shirt and received countless compliments all because I threw on a scarf before leaving the house. If you need the reverse effect, a scarf can also tone down an outfit. Scarfs
are my go to defense when I’m not sure how casual to dress for an event. When in doubt, I go a little on the fancy side and bring a neutral scarf as backup. If I feel like I’m overdressed the scarf makes everything a little more casual. Bright or patterned scarfs can also add some fun into a boring outfit and make you look a little less stuffy if you feel the need to look more relaxed. And let’s face it, there is nothing
hotter than a g uy who can rock a great scarf. I simply refuse to say “goodbye” to my favourite accessory just because the snow is melting away. Scarfs are more than just a way to bundle up in the winter. Starting my day with a funky scarf always puts me in a good mood. I just love scarves. I admit to having a bit of a problem, but can you really blame me?
6 OPINIONS
Thursday, MARCH 13, 2014-The Xaverian
HOW DO YOU SOLVE A PROBLEM LIKE MARIA? GOOD PEOPLE COME IN MANY FORMS MARIA RIZZET TO | Columnist
It was refreshing to see the neknominations switch from obscene drinking practices to random acts of kindness. Some of them gave me goose bumps (adorable gestures!), but they mostly got me thinking about motives behind doing good deeds. I’ve never donated thousands of dollars to charity, I’ve never stood on the street giving free things away, and truthfully the volunteering portion of my resume is starved. However, as far back as I can remember I was always to the rescue of elders with an abundance of groceries, never passed a homeless person in a city without digging into my pocket, an exchange student eating alone or a mom with her two kids about to walk home from the mall holding five bags a piece at Christmas. Not on my watch. Unfortunately, as I got older, I found these occurrences began to dwindle. They’ve never completely ceased, but truthfully I’d never even questioned the point where I realized I could look the other way. The reason for this article is not to declare the obvious reality of articles surrounding kindness— good deeds should be done for no reason— so you can keep reading. To begin, I argue good-doers can be placed into four categories after gathering opinions from all generations. The Teeter-totter. Everyone has one of those days. The day that’s so unbearable you conjure up every door you’ve held, every rushed person you’ve let pee ahead of you, and every 25 cents you gave so someone didn’t have to break a 20, and then wish you could take them all back. There is no way a just world would ever let you, the good doer, end up in such a situation. I mean you gave those hockey tickets away two years ago, not scalped, actually gave them away. How did you end up there? The Peacock. Doing good deeds to say you’ve done good deeds. Volunteering so you can build up your resume to get a job enabling you to never volunteer again. All those people you read about who donate hundreds of thousands of dollars to the hospitals, universities, or community centers and you hear someone say, “Oh, well of course that person would do that for this reason or for that.” Karma-Crazed Over-Analyzer. When your exam marks are directly dependent of the type of person you are day by day, morally. To the point where you are thinking of the canned food drive you couldn’t be bothered with, or saying ‘no thanks’ when you’re asked to donate two dollars to the IWK at the grocery store when looking at all the questions you don’t know the answer to. ‘What goes around comes around’ and ‘they will get what they deserve’ are views held by this type of
good-doer. The Saint. You don’t care if people know or people don’t; it is not going to effect what you do and how frequently it’s done. You pride yourself on doing good deeds altruistically or empathetically. There is no such thing as doing good to feel good for the Saint; it’s all about doing good because its right and you’re capable of contributing. I spent the break in Northern Alberta. From the descriptions people gave to prepare me for my first time travelling west, I went there expecting to be in the middle of nowhere, freezing my ass off, and surrounded by not-so-friendly people. Well, I was definitely frozen. But I was not in the middle of nowheredon’t tell someone from Cape Breton they’re going to middle of nowhere if there’s a Costco and The Keg. Most importantly, the latter was false; not only were people exceedingly helpful, it was there where I received my very own random act of kindness. With the idea of writing about good deeds already floating in my mind, this occurrence completely altered my reasoning. Walking into the grocery store I successfully steered clear of the gigantic Joe Fresh section luring me in with its neon spring colors but found myself in the middle of a bulk candy isle. I deliberately avoid the bulk barn (it’s just dangerous), but I couldn’t help myself. I picked out a little bit of my twelve favorite candies, got my groceries, and proceeded to the checkout. Each line had one four-or-more-children families whose orders require two grocery carts full to the brim, an obvious coupon lady, and an impatient middle aged women with a small cart not quite speedy checkout material. I stuck myself in a line and waited, for over 20 minutes. When it was finally my turn
the woman looked at my candy with pure horror, and then started flipping through a book finding the ‘codes’ assuring me with a smile it was ‘no problem at all.’ I guess my excitement for finding bulk candy outside the bulk barn made me forget everything needed it’s on own tag and code. Looking at the long line of people waiting behind me and feeling what I assumed was annoyed glare from the man behind me I told the cashier to ring in the groceries, put them aside, and I would go back and find the codes. This was all before she even found the first one. Sigh. After waiting in a simi-
lar line to the one I had just waited in instead of going to the front, the woman smiled as she rang in my candy. She said, “10.23, please!” and I quickly reminded her of my bags of groceries she had rung in earlier. Her reply was, “Oh, the man waiting behind you paid for them.” I couldn’t believe it. In an ideal world, of course good deeds would be done for no reason. But, I’d say at some point in my life I’ve been the peacock, the teeter-totter, and karmacrazed over analyzer. People can argue that you take away from a good deed once you boast about it, record it, or inform the world
about it via social media and there’s probably some truth to that. Although I can never be sure if this just another side effect of being a millennial that is soon to be examined and explained by someone that is not a millennial… but good deeds have been done with numerous motives for centuries. Regardless, happiness or self-satisfaction can be a side effect despite motive. I’ll never know what type of good doer that man was, but now I know all of these discussions are actually irrelevant when you’re on the receiving end.
The Xaverian-Volume 122 Issue 13
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Thursday, MARCH 13, 2014-The Xaverian
The Xaverian-Volume 122 Issue 13
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Thursday, MARCH 13, 2014-The Xaverian
Culture csi stfx: get inside the criminal mind Psychology professor dr. watt is now offering a new forensic psych special conentration VALERIE LEMAY & BRIANNA BOYLE | Contributors
Forensic psychology is a continuously expanding field with a wide array of career opportunities and learning experiences available for all of those involved. This field covers a range of topics at the interface of psychology and law, such as criminal offending, jury decision-making, eyewitness testimony, and police stress. In September, the Department of Psychology launched a new two-year Special Concentration in Forensic Psychology. This is a unique offering for undergraduates in Canada, where students are provided with the opportunity to gain specific academic training and hands-on experience in forensic settings like prisons and courts. It is hoped that the Special Concentration will provide students with a competitive advantage when entering the workforce, as well as when applying to graduate and professional schools. Following an application review process conducted by psychology professors – Margo Watt, Angela Weaver, and Kim MacLean – in the spring of 2013, nine
students were accepted into the new Concentration. The coordinator, Dr. Watt, is a Clinical Forensic Psychologist with almost 20 years of experience in conducting forensic risk and comprehensive mental health assessments for the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC). Shortly after arriving at StFX in 1999, Dr. Watt developed a Forensic Psychology course (PSYC 380) that has been praised by students for the unique opportunities it provides. Students in the course visit each of the five federal prisons in the Atlantic Region, both provincial and supreme courts, as well as other sites of interest like East Coast Forensic Hospital. Guest speakers, for example a Crown Attorney and RCMP polygrapher, further add to students’ experiential learning. In March each year, students in the Forensic Psychology course also host a full-day series, called Forensic Psychology Day at X, with speakers from CSC and other forensically relevant settings, as well as StFX alumni who now work in such settings.
This year, Forensic Psychology Day at X will be held on Mar 14, where there will be a wide variety of professionals, researchers, graduate students, and potentially two inmates who will present on behalf of their respective institutions. Due to the success of the Forensic Psychology course, the new Special Concentration has been created to provide students with the possibility of diving further into their forensic aspirations. Aside from the Forensic Psychology course, other classes that students in the Concentration will take include Abnormal Psychology, Drugs and Behaviour, Human Sexuality, Introduction to Clinical Psychology, and Psychology of Gender. A key aspect of the Special Concentration is the practicum component, in which students have the opportunity to gain valuable hands-on experience by participating in placements within forensic institutions, such as prisons, courts, Addiction Services, as well as with community organizations, including the Elizabeth Fry
Society. Currently, one student in the Concentration, Chris Lively, is teaching guitar lessons to female offenders at Nova Institution for Women in Truro. Nova is a multilevel security federal institution that houses women who have been sentenced to serve over two years of incarceration. The Concentration is aimed not only to provide students with experience and knowledge, but also to benefit the institutions in which they are placed. Lively’s placement initially started with him teaching one offender identified as a “complex case” – a person who has severe and complex mental health needs – but has grown into him teaching 11 women thus far. In his placement, Lively also has the opportunity to interact directly with the professional staff and further his understanding of the institution. Two more students are currently doing their practica at Addictions Services in Pictou County in the Detox Unit. Similar to Lively, Valérie Lemay and Stewart Barclay have been able to interact with professionals at their institu-
hooping it up with best buddies
tion, including nurses, addiction counsellors, and clinical therapists. Once a week, Lemay and Barclay have the opportunity to talk to inpatients first-hand about their substance abuse and also to sit in on group sessions facilitated by the addiction counsellors. By doing this, both Lemay and Barclay have been able to gain valuable knowledge that they would not be able to gain through class material alone. Like Lively, Lemay, and Barclay, students in the Concentration will receive a four-year Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with a Special Concentration in Forensic Psychology. Interested students (Majors, Advanced Majors, or Honours) are encouraged to apply at the end of their second year or the beginning of their third year of study. A call for applications for next year will be issued on Mar 3 with the deadline for submissions being Mar 31. For more information on the Special Concentration, you can contact us at the email addresses below or Dr. Margo C. Watt at mwatt@stfx.ca, x2011bvo@stfx. ca, and x2011ryr@stfx.ca.
nothing but net and nothing but fun at this week’s upcoming fundraiser for one of the school’s most beloved societies SEAN MCEVOY | Co-Editor-in-Chief
If you're looking for a society at StFX with a strong community outreach, look no further then Best Buddies. Reaching out to members of the Antigonish community with physical or developmental disabilities, the group has allowed students to form lasting bonds, and friendships with their 'buddy'. Boasting one of the largest and most established Best Buddies chapters from across Canada, the group will be hosting a major fundraiser, Hooping it Up, this Saturday from 1-2:30pm in the Oland Centre gym. We got in touch with society members Alison MacPherson and David Feehan, to learn more about Best Buddies, their experiences with the organization, and this weekend's fundraiser. XW: In your own words, what is Best Buddies? Alison: Best Buddies is a program focused on creating one-on-one friendships between students and individuals in the community who have in-
tellectual or developmental disabilities. It is found internationally in both high schools and universities, with the goal of providing individuals with disabilities the friendships the majority of us take for granted. It further helps to make our school more inclusive and accepting of people with intellectual disabilities. Our Best Buddies chapter includes around 110 members in total, 55 students and 55 Buddies (individuals with developmental or physical disabilities), making our chapter at StFX one of the largest out of all universities in Canada. XW: Tell us a little bit about your own Best Buddy. How do you spend your time with them and what is the time commitment? Allison: My Best Buddy is named Krystle. We have been matched since I was in second year and we have become really great friends. Krystle and I usually watch Full House, Boy Meets World or game shows to-
gether. But usually we are only half watching TV because we are always chatting throughout the show. We also have gone on outings before; Krystle likes to go to Walmart to shop for movies and I come over for birthday parties too and whatnot. The commitment for myself and the rest of the executive committee as well as other students involved in our program is to meet with your Buddy biweekly for a minimum of one hour, and the week you are not meeting with your buddy you are to give them a phone call and chat as well as discuss day/time etc. for the next time you’ll see one another. I still go see Krystle in the summer when the Best Buddies program is over though because I truly just love hanging out with her, we have a great time. Our Chapter also has various events throughout the school year in which all students and Buddies go. David: My buddy's name is Brian. We hangout once a week and play Super Mario Bros on
the Wii at his house. He doesn't hold back when I mess up and often chirps me for being so bad at the game. Brian and I enjoy teasing each other and working as a team in challenging games. And while both of our schedules are quite hectic, we both find time to see each other and talk about our weeks. Every time I go to visit Brian he pretends he is a Pizza Delight delivery man and I must first order a pizza before I am allowed in his apartment. I thoroughly enjoy my time with Brian as I often look forward to hanging out with him. XW: Has working with Best Buddies been a rewarding experience for you? What lessons have you learned and why would you encourage other students to get involved? David: Yeah, I would say it's been rewarding. For me, its no different than having a buddy you hang out with. I love seeing him and I gained a good friend from being involved in Best Buddies. I was fortunate
to get Brian as a buddy because he teaches me a lot of patience and how to be tough. Brian works something like 3 jobs and has a really bad back, but every time I see him he is laughing and smiling. I think its easy to think that you are hard done by, but Brian taught me to just live with what you got and make the best of it. XW: Can you tell us a little bit about the Hooping it Up event this weekend? Alison: Our Hooping it Up is this Saturday (March 15th) from 1-2:30pm at the OC in the Main Gym. Hooping It Up with Best Buddies is a free-throw competition featuring the StFX X-Men basketball team, where students will attempt to sink as many baskets as possible within 60 seconds. It costs $2 to participate, and participants will have the chance to compete for the top score with top three scorers on Saturday receiving a pair of movie passes, and a chance to win the National Grand Prize ($500) and title.
CULTURE
The Xaverian-Volume 122 Issue 13
why we celebrate
CFXU is HIRING
a history of st. patrick’s day
your campus-community radio station needs you!
ANGELA MACKENZIE | Staff Writer
BRENDAN MORLEY | CFXU Station Manager
Shamrocks, green clothes, leprechauns, and green beer are four of the many stereotypes that emerge around this time of year. Annually on Mar 17, people in Ireland and in other countries including Japan, New Zealand, Argentina, Canada, and the United States celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Friends gather around to wear green, drink during the day, and go out at night to celebrate Irish Heritage. But why do people gather to celebrate this holiday? St. Patrick’s Day is a tradition that has been celebrated since 1737. It was first publicly celebrated in Boston by Irish immigrants. 200 years after that the first St. Patrick’s Day was held in Dublin as a celebration of the life of one man, St. Patrick. In the late 4th century, St. Patrick was born in Britain, not Ireland. He was kidnapped and enslaved by Irish raiders when he was a teenager and was lucky enough to escape their captivity six years later. During his captivity he became fluent in the Irish language and turned to a life of prayer. He claimed to have escaped through the help of God, who came to St. Patrick in a dream and informed him to go to the Irish Coast where he would find a ship to sail to back Britain. Once back to his home town he dedicated his life to God and became a priest. He worked hard in the Church and eventually made his way up to become a Bishop. Later in his life he had experienced another dream in which
the people of Ireland were calling out to him to return to their country. He saw this as a sign from god and travelled back to the place where he was held hostage for six years of his life. He was given the task of teaching Christianity to the Irish people. He travelled all across Ireland, converting many along the way. He had a strong group of disciples and together they converted thousands of Irish and built churches all over the country. St. Patrick was in Ireland for over 40 years preaching about Christianity and convincing many to convert. He was an idol to the people and helped reform the people of Ireland, bringing about the strong Christian faith that Ireland is known for today. When he died on Mar 17, the clans in Ireland fought over who would be honoured to have his final resting place. After much deliberation, his final resting place was located in South Belfast. St. Patrick’s Day started as an Irish holiday that catholics could celebrate religiously. It was a day of silent prayer where the Irish could thank God for sending St. Patrick to their community. Over the years it has evolved into a celebration of Irish heritage. It’s a day to celebrate being Irish and thanking St. Patrick for helping be a part of the creation of Irish History. This year St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Monday, but I still believe, without a doubt, that people around campus will be raising a beer celebrating their Irish heritage.
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CFXU is an unbelievably great place to work. Here is a very brief list of job descriptions!
Additionally, they are responsible for all of the promotion of CFXU events and news.
Program Manager: Responsible for all on-air programs, the Program Manager’s main duties involve scheduling, training, and managing DJ’s. In doing so, the Program Manager ensures that the sound of CFXU at all times adheres to the CRTC regulations, and abides by the CFXU objective to provide entertaining and quality programming.
Events Coordinator: Shows! The primary responsibility for the Events Co-ordinator is planning and executing CFXU radio events. These are often musical showcases in the Art Gallery and The Inn. They are in constant communications with artists and The U.
Music Directors: The Music Directors are responsible for CFXU’s music programming, and ensuring that our cart rotation satisfies the CRTC regulations. This includes receiving, reviewing, and archiving new music, and updating cart rotations. (Three positions: Two Directors, and a Coordinator). Production Manager: The Production Manager is our resident techie. They are in charge of the creation and production of Ads, I.Ds, and interviews, as well as maintenance of the CFXU equipment, and technical aspects of radio station events. Promotions and Advertising Director: Ads and Promo is our business shark. They are responsible for selling advertisements to local community stakeholders and other businesses.
DJ Society President: The DJ society President acts as liaisons between the DJ’s and the staff of CFXU. They hold socials and workshops with DJ’s and build a strong CFXU community. Summer Station Manager: The summer station manager position keeps the presence of CFXU alive during the off season. This includes checking and responding to emails, collecting and archiving mail, ensuring that the cart is running and updated, supervising any summer DJ’s, and maintain communication with the VP of communications for The U concerning frosh week stuff. If interested, grab an application online at radiocfxu.ca and attach your filled out application to an email addressed to cfxu@stfx.ca! Applications are due by Friday, March 14th.
Humans of antigonish: jp is dropping out realy failure? BENJAMIN KENT | Contributor
In the past year, several of my friends have dropped out of university, generally to the universal disdain of their peers, professors, and parents. What I have noticed, though, is that these people have all become happier, more productive, and more satisfied since dropping out. In order to understand why there is the ubiquitous perception that those who do not succeed in university will not be able to succeed in life, I sat down with my friend JP, who plans to drop out of university in order to join the French Foreign Legion following this semester. The Xav: What are your plans after finishing this semester? JP: This summer I want to prepare myself mentally and physically for the challenges that I will face while training for the French Foreign Legion. I will be tree planting this summer, and then in September I plan to go to France and apply to the Legion. The Xav: Why do you want to join the French Foreign Legion in particular? JP: I think I’ve realized that university just isn’t the right place for me and I think if you are in that position you need to make a radical change in your life. If you want to succeed in universi-
ty, you need to go into it with the attitude that you need to kick yourself into gear and apply yourself — I didn’t do that. Why the Legion though? It will entirely cut ties with who I was before this point. Being in a new country, a new environment, and doing a job like that, it gives me the opportunity to completely change. I don’t just want to drop out of school, I want to drop out of this society. The simplicity of doing something that I genuinely want to be doing, and that I feel I’ve chosen to do without outside pressure will bring back the sense of adventure to life. Even if this turns out to be the hardest thing that I’ve ever done, I think it’s important to be able to find joy in what you are doing. You don’t necessarily have to be happy with every single part of what you are doing, you just need to find joy in knowing that you are doing what you really want to do. The Xav: What would you say to those who think this is a terrible idea to join the French Foreign Legion? JP: In most cases, I would have to agree that it’s a stupid idea. I can’t say the Legion is the best thing for me, but it’s a start in the right direction. If I didn’t do the legion I think I’d still just be sitting around here. You know, if you want to go do something you have to go
do it. Even if you fail, so what? You tried. You did what you wanted to do. The Xav: What if the Legion doesn’t work out? What will you do? JP: Then I will have failed doing what I wanted to do. I have a back-up plan set up if this doesn’t pan out. I’m going to go do an apprenticeship with a guy I know making machine parts. I’m not sure if pursuing something as extreme as my friend is is the right approach, but I do think that his attitude is admirable. If you are not fully engaged in what you are doing, and unless you know that it is what you genuinely want to do, then why bother with it at all? Everyone has a passion that they want to pursue. It doesn’t need to be a job or a career, it just needs to be something that engages your abilities and your interests, and makes you happy. If your lifestyle
doesn’t facilitate your passions, then maybe you ought to take a lesson from JP. Maybe you ought to make a radical change in your life.
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Thursday, MARCH 13, 2014-The Xaverian
stfx student artist of the week in the first of a new series highlighting student artists we look at the works of dartmouth native, wing ng SEAN MCEVOY | Co-Editor-in-Chief with ANDY MACLEAN | StFX Department of Fine Art
Wing Ng is a native of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia and is currently in her third year of study toward a BSC. She is a student in ART 200:12 with course instructor Andy MacLean. Wing: “Art is a way of bringing people together. I believe art is something that we will always have; even in ancient times art was being used as a means of communication, story-telling, letting the later generations know of what used to be. Nowadays, the teaching of art is passed down from one person to another. What a person learns from art and does with it, I find really blooms, when they develop their own style, and their work becomes something much more than what was expected. Art is definitely a good way to hone one’s skills, whether it be how to handle a brush or learning how to be patient. The process of art may not seem very beautiful to some at first, but to me the finished product is usually surprising. Everything that is put into a piece of work, is what makes the art piece a unified whole.
Doing art calms me down when I’m not in a good mood, it has taught me to be patient, especially when I’m struggling in a particular area, then slowly succeeding in that area by being patient and using skills of what I know. Art has taught me that everyone has a different perspective on everything, and to be observant, detailed.” Objectives and themes of ART200:12: This course is meant to introduce the student to the fundamental principles of representational oil painting at the foundation university level. Pupils are primarily concerned with the wet-on-wet or alla prima(Italian for ‘at first attempt’) technique.This is an approach to painting which really celebrates the beauty of the material and its best characteristics. Emphasis is placed on developing a disciplined, healthy working practice by managing time, materials and methods effectively. The student gains an understanding of the techniques and tools available to the artist in creating expressive and dynamic paintings. Career Advantages of Studying Fine Art: From illus-
tration and design to visual artist, or curatorial and management work (in galleries, museums and cultural organizations), the Fine Arts can open the door to many career paths. In the digital age, the Internet has made it possible for artists to market their work broadly and efficiently. In a world where we are increasingly bombarded with images from more and more sources of media, understanding the design, importance and creation of images and what they mean is vital to a wide range of professions. Economists and intellectuals have dubbed the emerging marketplace as one that demands “creative problem solving” and a fluency in visual culture. Creativity is no longer associated only with painters, musicians and writers; in contemporary business and industry it has become synonymous with economic development and success. Top: “Still Life with Mask” 16x20” oil on masonite, November 2013 Bottom: “Landscape and Reflection Study” 16x20” oil on canvas, January 2014. Both works by Wing Ng.
DISTRACTIONS 13
The Xaverian-Volume 122 Issue 13
DiStractions Kaleigh Bizent: Editor/ wee little Leprachaun
ANTIGONISH UNRATED The Luck of the Irish
SHAMROCK GINGER
GUINNESS GREEN
GOLD CLOVER
IRISH PART Y
It’s almost time for the last day that gives students a chance to drink from sun up to sun down, St. Paddy’s Day! It’s a time when everyone becomes Irish and all drinks are dyed green. The billboard 100 songs are replaced with knee smacking Irish music, which everybody seems to enjoy (for this one day only). Personally I have never had what would be considered a “successful” St. Paddy’s Day because I never make it out and usually end up in bed by supper. This year though, I will do it right. After 3 years of university I’ve discovered there is an art to partying all day. The rookie mistake is peaking early, you don’t want to be that one person begging for Kenny’s at noon. So make sure you pace yourself, and I’ll see you at the pub decked out in the latest Irish fashions from the dollar store.
ST PAT RICK DANCING
By: Kurt Brothers
LEPRACHAUN
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF
Comic by Emma Dys-Art
On St Paddys Day
If I drink green beer, will I puke green? Is a shamrock shake really a good idea if I’m hungover? I wonder if I would get annoyed being a ginger on St. Pad dy’s Day? Am I still considered a champ when I attend my Tuesday 8:15 if I am mildly intoxicated?
Paige Chisholm
TRANSFORM THIS PAPER INTO AN IRISH DRINKING HAT Do not be decieved! This is no ORDINARY newspaper hat. This is the great IRISH DRINKING HAT. Got your eye on a St. Paddys day Lad or Lassie? Pop this chapeau on and you have yourself a conversation piece. Garunteed to start a party, this hat will not let you down. At the end of the night, remove from head face opening upwards, INSTANT PUKE CATCHER. You can thank me later.
SPORTS AND HEALTH
SPORTS & HEALTH The torch continues to burn Canadian athletes representing us proudly at this year’s paralympics in sochi LAURA ALOISIO | Senior Reporter
This year the Paralympic Games, held in Sochi, Russia, brought together athletes from around the world to compete in five events over nine consecutive days. These Games, which are held in the same venues as the Olympics, are organized under by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the global governing body responsible for organizing the Games. About 575 athletes from 45 countries are competing, with Canada sending 54 athletes to participate in all events, with the hopes that Canada will finish top three in the gold-medal count. Because of the current situation in Ukraine, these Games have come under pressure to devolve from a sporting event into a political statement. The United States, Great Britain and Canada are among the countries that have decided not to send a political delegation in order in order to send a message to Russia’s Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. There is also movement to pressure athletes and the Canadian Paralympic Committee to boycott the Games in a sign of solidarity, and raise awareness of the problems in the Crimean regional capital that lays some 475 kilometers north-west of Sochi. Canada has been a participant in the winter and summer Games for close to fifty years, and after achieving its highest overall ranking of third in Vancouver in 2010, there is a strong reluctance to withdraw from the Games. The sentiment of neutrality was echoed by the International Paralympic Committee, which said in a statement to The Associated Press, “As with situations around the world, we hope a peaceful resolution can be found in the spirit of the Olympic Truce, which has covered the Paralympic Games since 2006.” The Canadian Paralympic Committee’s response was more direct, stating, “Our business is sport… We are here to win medals.” Unlike many international Olympic athletes who often receive government funding or endorsements to fund their training, Paralympic athletes must rely on private sources to pay for expenses. Qualifying for the Canadian Team, candidates must meet three sets of qualification and eligibility standards requiring athletes to train and compete actively leading up to the Games. The five categories of Paralympic sport include alpine and cross country skiing, sledge hockey, wheelchair curl-
ing, and biathlon. Alpine and cross country skiing, as well as the biathlon events, are broken down into subcategories of visually impaired, standing, and sitting. Wheelchair curling was an adaptation using the same stones and ice surface, but throwing takes place from a wheelchair and there is no sweeping. Sledge hockey is essentially the same as ice hockey with the exception of the players using a sledge instead of skates. An added sport this year is para-snowboarding, a dream come true for Tyler Mosher, a native of Wolfville, Nova Scotia, who has been actively lobbying for inclusion of the sport in the Sochi Games. Mosher graduated from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design and now, at the age of 41, lives in Whistler, B.C. as a landscape architect when he is not training. Tyler suffered a spinal cord injury during a snowboarding accident in 2000, leaving him a paraplegic, paralyzed 40% below the waist. Tyler used a combination of yoga and cross country skiing in his rehabilitation, and after returning to snowboarding in 2005, he set his sights on competing at Vancouver in 2010 in cross-country skiing. His efforts to add snowboarding to the Games have not only paid off for him personally, but have changed the face of the sport forever. Other Canadian athletes to watch are Kimberly Joines, Colette Bourgonje, and Josh Dueck in skiing, Mark Arendz in the Biathlon, Sonja Gaudet in Wheelchair curling and Dominic Larocque in Sledge hockey. These competitors, as well as the 48 others that are competing for Canada at Sochi, are an inspiration not only because of their athleticism, but their ability to overcome the obstacle that a physical handicap has placed in the way of their dreams. However, the political climate may look at them as a vehicle to deliver a message to world leaders to end fighting, which seems ironic when the origin of the Olympics in 778 BC involved the leaders declaring an Olympic Truce that required a suspension of all fighting, in order to allow the athletes to travel safely to the Games. Perhaps we should look upon them simply as athletes, driven to push the limits of physical sport and inspire us with their courage and commitment.
SEX WITH AN X BOOBS! MIRANDA | Sex Columnist
No matter your gender, you’re probably a fan of boobs. They are fun to have and to hold, to touch and to tweak, and they make the female landscape an all-the-more interesting view. Boobs are the fun friend that you bring to a boring party, they’re the extra shot of tequila at Wing Night; boobs do nothing but make people smile. As a girl, it can sometimes be frustrating when you spend so much money on expensive bras to not have them appreciated by a sexual partner. Wearing a sexy bra can make you feel hotter about yourself, and that confidence can only improve your sex life. But to your partner, it doesn’t really matter how good you look in your bra and undies, because when it comes down to you, them, and the mattress, that bra is just getting in the way of the awesomeness that is your naked breasts. It goes without saying that boobs most certainly come in handy (pardon the pun). There’s countless ways of making boobs the stars of your sex life, or at least some of the time. We all get caught up in the basics of genital sex that we forget of all the other options out there, namely the boobs. The mysticism of boobs and sex has been around for a long time, and it seems like no one really knows how to incorporate boobs to their greatest potential. It doesn’t matter what bra size you are, because all boobs deserve their time to shine. Tittyfucking? Boob orgasm? They do exist! Breasts are a magical playground for their owners and their sexual partners to discover and learn from. Even men can get pleasure from nipple play, despite the fact that it is commonly associated with women. For men and women, nipples are very sensitive and open to pleasure. Ladies can
achieve a complete orgasm from their nipples alone, and because the area is less focused-on for men, the nipples can become extra-sensitive to pleasure for them as well. Nipple orgasms for women are a truly wonderful thing. Not all women can necessarily have one, because sexual experiences are different for everyone, but Sex With An X highly suggests you give the ladies some extra attention and try it out. Even if you can’t have an orgasm from nipple play alone, they can still be a key part in reaching orgasm during sex and keeping things interesting in the bedroom. Another great way to spice things up is to use your boobs to get someone else off. And no, I’m not talking basic grabbing and squeezing, but the ultimate boobsex move: the tit job. It’s the clas-
sic porn move that is often seen and not-as-often tried. And because most guys have seen a considerable amount of porn in their lifetime, the tit job is definitely on their sex wish list. Smoosh your boobs together and let his member in the space in between. Hands down it will be one of the best views for him and it can make you feel pretty empowered when he won’t be able to wipe the grin off his face for the rest of the day. So ladies, as boob wielders, you hold all the power during sex. Use your boobs for good and not evil. Share them with your lovers and friends. You’re beautiful, and so are your boobs. Together, you are the ultimate trio of sexiness, so never hold back from walking through the world with love in your heart and your chest forward.
SPORTS & HEALTH 15
The Xaverian-Volume 122 Issue 13
a month of sacrifice try a 30-day challenge - It may be the best thing you ever do MAT T MACDONALD | Fitness Columnist
Things are easier said than done, or so the old adage goes, and I couldn’t agree more. That’s why I suggest a 30-Day challenge – a monthly attempt to live better. With spring now on it’s way, it’s time to shake the winter funk and spring into action! Whether you’re training for a spring running race, trying to get fit for summer, or looking to shake those extra pounds from winter, a 30 day challenge may be just what you need. This month I am challenging you to better your life. Try and do something that is challenging, difficult, and for the betterment of your wellbeing. After all, health is wealth! For the next 30 days, I challenge you to invest in yourself. Whatever challenge you decide on, stick with it, and make it a daily priority. Don’t let anything get in the way and make time in your busy schedule to get ’er done! Improving your physical health will not only make you resilient, but it will benefit your mental health as well. Having a healthy body will allow you to better manage stress, anxiety, depression, and everyday activities that drain your energy reserves. Being healthy is the key to maintaining good energy levels. So if you want to be at your best, it’s time to invest. Setting short-term goals is not only fun but rewarding as well. When you successfully execute your plan and reach your goals, feelings of accomplishment will soon infiltrate your body. This is important, as success breeds confidence. When you are successful at accomplishing
your short-term goals, then your long-term goals don’t seem so impossible. I have seen this time and time again; success breeds success. Before you begin your 30 day challenge make time to really think about your goal. Make sure your goal is specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time bound. If you are too ambitious or don’t have an execution strategy in place, the the task may seem too difficult to achieve. The balance lies somewhere in the middle. Make your goal challenging but not so difficult that it is unattainable. Examples include: Giving up Coffee. Sweating everyday. Avoid or eliminate all fast food or restaurants from your diet. Prepare your meals in advance every night for the following day. Avoid all forms of alcohol for 30 days - Or take it to the next level, three months! Get eight or nine hours of sleep every day. Eat breakfast everyday. Give up all forms of junk food (chocolate, candy, pop, chips, etc.). Do 50 push-ups everyday. This will equal 1500 push-ups in 30 days! Do 50 bodyweight squats everyday. Run five kilometres everyday. This will equal 150 kilometres in 30 days. Go for a walk everyday during lunch hour. Do some form of cardiovascular exercise everyday for at least 30 minutes. Eat one piece of fruit with each major meal. Limit your Facebook or television watching to 30 minutes per day. The possibilities are endless. Let your interests and passion guide your 30-day challenge so that you, too, can lead a happier, healthier life.
march ignorance we love the NCAA so much - and forget about our own country’s university sport AARON THORNELL | Sports and Health Editor
The month of March is associated with many things: the possibility of the arrival of spring in Canada, St. Patty’s Day, hangovers, and crippling amounts of school work. But for many sports fans, Canadian and American alike, the third month of the year means March Madness, a two and a half week display of the top 64 college basketball teams in the United States. People love the tournament for its upsets, the intensity of the players, and learning about colleges that nobody except for those enrolled there even knew existed. Speaking of which, who among us were even aware that the Canadian equivalent of March Madness has already concluded? I was not among those following the tournament closely, and only really cared enough to check the boxscore of the final game between the University of Ottawa and Carleton University. This begs the question: why don’t we care about our university and college sports here in Canada?
We all know it isn’t about a lack of passion for sport in general. According to the Globe and Mail, over 15 million Canadians tuned into some part of the 2014 men’s Olympic hockey final, and 33.35 million Canadians watched a portion of the entire Games held in Sochi, Russia. We can compare this to the numbers given for last year’s NCAA Men’s Basketball tournament, when around 23 million viewers caught a bit of the final between Louisville and Michigan. But let me emphasize that this isn’t some hockey team that is every fantasy hockey manager’s wet dream. This is college sports. The product being offered, of course, is different. American colleges draw the best athletes of a young age group, and the result is surely more entertaining. While this is not to say that anyone could play university sport in Canada (nothing could be further from the truth), very few athletes from Canadian schools go on to careers as pros.
One even wonders how many hidden gems were missed due to the location of their stints as college athletes. But how is it, then, that Michigan State’s football stadium can seat a crowd of 109,000 - over half the population of Halifax? For one, comparing the money behind these NCAA operations and Canadian Interuniversity Sport is like comparing the incomes of Bill Gates and yours, even when you’re working two jobs. In 2011 alone, the NCAA brought in $757 million in TV revenues and marketing rights fees. Meanwhile, CIS sports receive funding from a variety of sources, one of which is the Canadian government. In 201213, the Canadian government pledged $804,000 to be distributed between the 54 schools involved in CIS. It goes further than just dimes and cents though, clearly. American supporters live and die for their team, and game days in the States
are practically regional holidays. I haven’t ever considered myself to be anywhere close to a diehard as my fairly average Yankee counterpart. A large source of this difference comes with the locations of schools in Canada. Most schools, with some obvious exceptions, are located in large metropolitans, where one can also find a pro or semi-pro team to follow. In the States, the sheer number of schools means rivalries are easily conjured up, and the local college team may be the clear favourite to root for. We may never really know what drives the popularity of American sports to such great heights, or what pushes the support of our Canadian sports down. Regardless of the cause, perhaps it is time to change that. That’s not to say one shouldn’t tune into the insanity that is March Madness - it just means that you shouldn’t forget about all the other tournaments taking place in your own backyard.
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Thursday, MARCH 13, 2014-The Xaverian
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