THE
XAVERIAN VOLUME 122 ISSUE 3 SEPT 26 2013
FIND US ON TWITTER @XAVERIANWEEKLY
OUT OF THE KITCHEN SINCE 1895
ISSUE 2
THE XAVERIAN XAVERIAN WEEKLY
Thursday Mar 29 2012
Volume 120 Issue 20
EDITORIAL STAFF
Sunday, Thursday, September March 21,26th 20122013 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Volume 121 Issue Issue315 Sean McEvoy122 xw.eic@stfx.ca | (902) 870-9431
OUR STAFF
PRODUCT ION MANAGER Emma MacPherson EDITORS-IN-CHIEF xw.product@stfx.ca
Sean Ron Jeremy McEvoy
MANAGING EDITOR Lewis Peter North Forward Joe T hibault xw.managing@stfx.ca | (902) 867-3732
news A Retrospective look at Dr. Riley
xw.eic@stfx.ca
A look back at one of stfx’s most prominent figures
COPY EDITOR Alexandra Adams ART PRODUCT IST IC COORDINATOR ION MANAGER xw.copy@stfx.ca
LAURA ALOISIO | Contributor
Clayton Jesus ART IST ICBlagdon COORDINATOR Marie-Eve Pomerleau xw.photo@stfx.ca xw.product@stfx.ca xw.photo@stfx.ca NEWS EDITOR BUSINESS ART IST IC COORDINATOR MANAGER Lewis Forward xw.news@stfx.ca Graham Fanny McToaster Haynes
xw.managing@stfx.ca xw.photo@stfx.ca CULTURE EDITOR Kennedy Murphy xw.culture@stfx.ca COPY MARKET EDITOR ING MANAGER
SPORTS & HEALT H EDITOR Molly Burt Simmons Schreiber Micha Saade xw.sports@stfx.ca
xw.copy@stfx.ca xw.managing@stfx.ca
FEATURES EDITOR Annie Ewing NEWS BUSINESS EDITOR MANAGER xw.feature@stfx.ca
Mark Dolores Risebrough Umbridge OPINIONS EDITOR Amanda Daignault xw.news@stfx.ca xw.managing@stfx.ca xw.opinions@stfx.ca DIST RACT IONS EDITOR OPINIONS COPY EDITOR EDITOR xw.distract@stfx.ca
Laura J.K. Rowling O’Brien
SENIOR REPORT ER xw.opinions@stfx.ca xw.copy@stfx.ca Seth Rutner xw.report@stfx.ca SENIOR REPORT ER FEATURES NEWS EDITOR EDITOR Ellen Crosby Kate LarryCole King xw.report@stfx.ca
xw.feature@stfx.ca xw.news@stfx.ca
DIST RIBUT ION MANAGER Adam Ross
CULTURE OPINIONS EDITOR EDITOR Contact EIC at xw.eic@stfx.ca for information Rory Bob Marley MacLeod xw.culture@stfx.ca xw.opinions@stfx.ca DIST FEATURES RACT IONS EDITOR CONTACT USEDITOR
General Kaleigh Nas inquiries Bent (902) 867-5007 Advertising inquiries (902) 867-3732 Fax (902) 867-3941 xw.distract@stfx.ca xw.feature@stfx.ca E-mail xw.eic@stfx.ca
SPORTS CULTURE&EDITOR HEALT H EDITOR
FIND US
Aaron Big 111D, L Thornell Rm. Bloomfield Centre PO Box 924 xw.sports@stfx.ca xw.culture@stfx.ca St Francis Xavier University Antigonish NS, B2G 2X1 SENIOR DIST RACT REPORT IONS EDITOR ERS
The Xaverian Laura Oprah Aloisio WinfreyWeekly is the official student newspaper of St Francis Xavier Megan xw.distract@stfx.ca Dewey University. The Xaverian Weekly is xw.report@stfx.ca published on Thursdays by the Xaverian Weekly Publications Board and is SPORTS & HEALT H EDITOR editorially autonomous. COLUMNISTS Jared “Subway” Fogel Maria xw.sports@stfx.ca Rizzetto The Xaverian Weekly is a proud member Matt of theMacDonald Canadian University Press, North America’s largest cooperative of student SENIOR REPORT ERS newspapers. Campus Plus is the Xaverian STAFF Peter Parker WRITERS Weekly’s national advertising agency. Angela Clark Kent MacKenzie
Veronica xw.report@stfx.ca Farley opinions
Opinions expressed in the Xaverian Valerie Lemay Weekly are those of the author and DIST RIBUT ION MANAGER do not necessarily reflect those of DIST T heXaverian Flash RIBUT ION MANAGER the Weekly or the Xaverian Weekly Publications Board. for more info Laura contactMcLaughlin EIC at xw.eic@stfx.ca contact EIC for distribution inquiries
CONTACT US CONTACT US
copyright
All materials appearing in the Xaverian Weekly copyright their creator(s) Generalare inquiries: (902) 293-4366 and may not be used without General Advertising inquiries: inquiries: (902) (506) 867-5007 378-3326 permission. Advertising Email: xw.eic@stfx.ca inquiries: (902) 867-3732
Email: xw.eic@stfx.ca submissions
FIND US FIND US
The Xaverian Weekly welcomes submissions of articles, letters, photos, Room 111D, Bloomfield Centre and graphics. Submissions must be Room PO Box 111D, 924 Bloomfield received by Friday 5 pmCentre the week prior to Submissions PO St.publication. Francis Box 924Xavier University should be sent to xw.eic@stfx.ca or to the relevant St. Antigonish, Francis Xavier NS B2G University 2X1 section editor. Antigonish, NS B2G 2X1
The editor-in-chief thethose section Opinions expressed areand solely of their aueditors reserve the right to refuse to Opinions thors and expressed do not necessarily are solelyreflect those the their viewsauof print submitted material and toofedit thors The Xaverian and do not Weekly or The reflect Xaverian the views Weekly of submissions fornecessarily length and/or style. The Xaverian Weekly will mateThe Publications Xaverian Board. Weekly or not The print Xaverian Weekly rial that is racist, misogynistic, sexist, Publications All materialsBoard. appearing in The Xaverian Weekly homophobic, or libellous. All are materials copyright those appearing of their in creator(s) The Xaverian and may Weekly not
Contributors are be used copyright without those permission. of their creator(s) and may not
be Editors usedreserve withoutthe permission. right to refuse to print submit-
JAMES Editors ted material reserve MALLOV, andthe to right edit submitted to refuse MAYS tomaterial(s) print CHAMI, submitfor LAURA ted length/style. materialO’BRIEN, and ThetoXaverian edit submitted Weekly LIAM material(s) will PROST, not print for BREANNA length/style. material that is The racist, MITCHELL Xaverian misogynistic, Weekly will sexist, nothomoprint material phobic, orthat libellous. is racist, misogynistic, sexist, homophobic, or libellous.
In the first of a two-part series profiling Dr. Sean Riley, the Xaverian focuses on his experience as a student at StFX. The second part will examine how his roots at X shaped his future role as President of StFX University. In 1970 Sean Riley walked on to the StFX campus for the first time as a full-time student. The experience of attending university was new, but, having grown up in Antigonish, the physical setting was familiar. His family shares a deep heritage with the town of Antigonish. His mother’s family dates back to 1796 in the town and his father came over from Montreal during the Antigonish Movement. Like many of the couples you see walking around campus, Dr. Riley’s parents met at StFX. They were brought together through their work with the Extensions Department and they eventually married and settled in Antigonish. As many freshmen do, Dr. Riley had many interests Unsure where his future would take him, he decided to take on the task of completing a Bachelor of Arts degree. His focus of study was Political
Science and Economics. He was involved in sports teams and variety shows; he also volunteered, especially for X-Project, a student society that offers educational, recreational and leadership programs for African youth in local communities. In 1971, Sean Riley had his first experience with a strike on campus. Wanting to change the in loco parentis rules around housing, the students of StFX voted to strike. This rule required universities to act as parents and prohibited men and women from being in the same residence. This issue may sound benign, but when considered against the backdrop of the 60’s – which also saw the end of prohibition – one can realize why open housing could be such an explosive issue. Even the Xaverian was fuelling the fire with weekly articles supporting the strike and an editorial staff that had previously written, “Sitting on one’s complacent ass is no way to revolutionize.” Just like his fellow students, Sean Riley was impacted by the 12-day strike. It involved picketing, hunger strikes, a firebombing, and
required final exams to be mailed out to students for completion at home. He found himself an objective observer during this time and it provided him with firsthand experience of the impact on students’ lives when a school goes through a difficult time. When asked if he would change something about his university experience, Dr. Riley said “I enjoyed my student days immensely, but wish I had lived on campus instead of at home.” This reflection has been valuable to him, as it provides insight into the importance for students to experience life in residence. International opportunities were an area of interest for Sean Riley, and he was selected for a trip to Nepal in his third year. This meant that he was responsible for raising the money for his trip. To raise the money, Dr. Riley ran an event in the Student Union Building called “Bingo for Beer”; the prizes were cases of beer. Despite all the fun, Dr. Riley was always focused on gaining the most out of his education and was a dedicated student. For a summer job, he worked as a Research
Assistant to Dr. Stewart in the Political Science Department. In third year, Dr. Stewart changed Riley’s life. The words “Have you ever seen a picture of Oxford?” and a simple suggestion to apply put his plans to head to Washington, D.C. after college in jeopardy. Dr. Riley applied to Oxford and went on to become a Rhodes Scholar, and he looks upon that moment and his encounter with Dr. Stewart as life-changing event. When asked if he felt that his B.A. from St. FX had given him the skills for his current job he said “university doesn’t tell you exactly what skills you will use, but trains you to be analytical, social and flexible.” He further elaborated that an undergraduate degree was not a vocational experience as much as an opportunity to develop as a person. Experience in problem solving, balancing priorities, and making tough decisions is required in any position. As we will see in our next instalment, being the President of StFX has always presented him with challenges, even at the best of times.
A rivalry renewed? A BRAWL BETWEEN MACPHERSON AND MACDONALD MIGHT HAVE HAD AN UNEXPECTED TRIGGEr EMILY KEENAN | Contributor
This past Friday the 13th proved to be truly unlucky as the boys of Cameron Hall took “getting a little rowdy” a bit too literally. A seemingly tame night of celebration went sour when a massive brawl broke out around 11 pm on third floor TNT. The fight was centered around the ‘hobbit door’ – the only access across the building and the only means of contact between rivals MacPherson and MacDonald. What was one minute a casual jam between members of all three houses quickly escalated into a drunken skirmish as the entrance was suddenly swarmed. What provoked the fight remains hazy. According to eyewitnesses, there were no taunting words exchanged nor were tensions running high; rather, a punch was thrown and everyone in proximity re-
acted drunkenly and aggressively. However, rumour has it that the first blow was delivered not by a Cameron Hall resident but by a certain Mac Asshole visiting from across campus. The MacPherson Mustangs immediately took up arms, assuming it was their house adversary MacDonald initiating the conflict; as it turns out, only a few Highlanders were spotted amidst the fray. In their place, it has been confirmed that several O’Regan Leopards were involved in the fight and were consequently spotted slinking back to New Res looking fairly dishevelled. Panic ensued as the fight intensified, with more and more boys from either side of the house getting involved, peaking at around twenty-five participants. Residence staff called security to help diffuse the sit-
uation and the area around the hobbit door was on lockdown for the rest of the night. It goes without saying that no one was in their most coherent state of mind, which only added to the overall confusion. Even those with black eyes and swollen knuckles could not say for certain exactly how or what happened. Luckily, only mild injuries were sustained, although boasts of sucker punches and the kicking of the opposition down flights of stairs could be heard if one stopped to listen. Inter-house rivalries are a traditional element of the residence experience, but when these rivalries turn violent they are taken in a direction that is not good for anyone. If these tensions are allowed to reach their breaking points, it doesn’t just ruin what was otherwise a great night, but only serves to further negate an already hos-
tile rivalry between two sides of the same residence. Sydny Loughlin, a Tompkins RA, commented on the increased efforts to create a positive atmosphere within the residence this year. “The students in Cameron Hall are family; they’re not about violence. This year house council [is] visibly working towards reducing house rivalries and reducing damages. That being said, it’s disappointing to have a group of non-Cameron Hall students enter our building uninvited to disturb our family like that.” Thankfully, there has been no further conflict within Cameron Hall over the past week, and students from all three houses seem to be interacting no less amiably than before. With any luck, this trend will continue and the rivalry be treated in a friendly manner.
NEWS 3
The Xaverian-Volume 122 Issue 3
One of x’s own runs for office Meet your local liberal candidate Randy Delorey JULIA O’HANLEY | Contributor
For business students there will be a familiar name at the ballot box in the upcoming provincial election. Business Professor Randy Delorey has decided to run as the Liberal candidate for District 2, Antigonish County. With roots in education, Prof. Delorey’s two main focuses in his election campaign lie in community-based education and rural sustainability. Before deciding to put his name forward, Delorey was actively involved in many community-based organizations in and around Antigonish including Save Community Schools and the Nova Scotia Small Schools Initiative. As a part of these groups, Delorey helped lobby to save small schools across the province when they were facing the threat of closing down. His community work drew the attention of the Liberal Party of Nova Scotia, who asked him to join on their campaign trail. Delorey’s passion for community-based education, he claims, is
because “it gives students a connection to their region, and a stronger commitment and loyalty to their community.” Delorey continued by saying, “Through this connection you start to see the people in the community contributing to the sustainability of their community, through both economic development and the attainment of higher education, which makes better communities and a better Nova Scotia.” When asked about public transit in Antigonish, (as current MLA Maurice Smith has already begun work on developing a network in District 2), he said that the Liberal Party has a portion of their platform devoted to public transit. Delorey also wants to see increased public transit in rural communities, especially since the route changes after the cessation of Acadian Bus lines. “As of right now,” Delorey said, “the Liberals do not have a specific plan in place.” However, he is willing to seek the help of students, community members, and
community organizations to come up with a concrete plan to fix this issue here in Antigonish. As for culture, Delorey said he would also seek the expertise of local community groups in Antigonish. As a professor, Delorey recognizes that StFX is a cultural staple to Antigonish and would like to see students from the Coady Institute broaden their cultural outlooks and traditions into the community outside of StFX. So what would Delorey be able to do for us, as students, if he were elected on October 8? Delorey and the Liberal Party have three main plans to help students in Nova Scotia: The Liberal Party has made a commitment to making the provincial portion of all student loans for residents of Nova Scotia interest free. Although it would not directly apply to students here at StFX, the Liberals plan to change the way the province certifies students studying toward a
trade. If elected, Delorey and the Liberals will change legislation so that if a student is not able to receive all of their hours of apprenticeship here in Nova Scotia, they will be able to seek their necessary hours out-of-province and still be able to obtain their certificate at the end of their program. They plan to implement new scholarships for graduate students. Finally, Randy Delorey believes that being a professor in the faculty of Business here at StFX allows him to better see the needs of students, faculty, and staff at the university. Delorey is open to listening to StFX students and what they would like to see happen here in their riding of Antigonish. Delorey says he wants to see as many eligible students show up to polling stations set up in Antigonish as possible, saying the students’ “interests, issues and challenges are just as important to me as they are to any other community in the riding.”
Student union meeting Summary A DRIVE U DEBACLE, A MENTAL HEALTH ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, AND A BUNCH OF POLITICIANS. THE STUDENTS’ UNION IS BACK IN SESSION. LEWIS FORWARD | Co-Editor-in-Chief
Well, our friendly neighbourhood Students’ Union had their first meeting this Sunday. Though it was three hours long, it was exciting and useful, like a turbulent transcontinental flight with a baby for a neighbour. President Gunn Doerge made a strong first impression, noting he was “alarmed” with at least four or five issues on the table during the proceedings. Almost all councillors and executives were present, except Samuel Matthews. Then the constituency reports began, to a roaring round of sighs and paper shuffling. Lauren Murray and Molly Norris told council they had completed their training, and were planning exciting meetings with the Business, Women in Business, and Info Systems societies. Then they high-fived each other, I think. The scientists, Katy Grosicki and Michael Thomson, spoke next. They were excited to get to know their constituents, and have big plans for a river restoration and some scientific societies’ soirees. Arts councillors Alex Miller and Brandon Hamilton told council they were glad to be back, and spoke of the South Korean ambassador’s visit, and the completion of their training. Education representative Sarah Cavan spoke of the the softball tournament that happened over the weekend, and upcoming practicums, which are five weeks away. The new Grad Student rep, Katelyn MacNeil, met with the Chair of Graduate studies to bring up StFX graduate student issues. Isaac Turner, the Upper Campus councillor, was pumped on Lane’s homecoming events, speed dating
with Fraser, and working on lines of communication between New Res and Mac. He’s a Mac RA. Good luck Isaac. Good luck. Lower Campus Councillor Matt Cormier met with house presidents, who had a great time at training. Cameron hall had a “fast friends” session which is like speed dating, but you can speed date guys and girls. Take your pick. Siobhan Morris, the resident physics guru and Govs and Apartment Style councillor, says she’s going to build lines of communication (presumably using quantum teleportation), and says she is looking forward to meeting her constituents. Off Campus Councillors Megan Elliot, Kerrin Duggan, and Marissa Bentley already have the OC resource fair in the works, and better deliver bacon daily to their constituents, or else. They also met with the Off Campus leaders. They’re planning great events. Frosh councillor Erin “Rabbit” Abbott actually killed it. Really good job, we were impressed. Frosh, she said, are happy to be here, and they had an amazing week. Then the glorious leaders spoke. Ben is ready to foster inclusivity, work together, and show up at my house at three in the morning speaking gibberish and thinking he was really at Mylan’s. Not that last one, though. Ben stressed the importance of the elections, and made sure that the debate in the Mackay room will be advertised to all constituents. VP Student Relations Kelly Nelson told them about Jacob Kelly’s hiring as interim Mac President, and mentioned that applications for House President have gone out today. VP Union Services Amy Brierley
discussed an admin-donated garden box behind Lane Hall, which I imagine is admin’s replacement for that beautiful natural meadow that used to be there. Then, Students’ Union General Manager(/puppeteer/g randmaster/ mentor/cute baby in last week’s issue) Sean Ryan welcomed councillors, and recommended they collect opinions from constituency. Then, two special reports were presented. The first was from Marla Gaudet of Service Learning. Marla described the available service learning trips this year. They seem awesome, as usual. Marla is very helpful and will crack jokes with you if she deems you worthy. Then, grandmaster Sean Ryan spoke about the Student Assistance program, a mental health clinician program that may be offered next year that would provide a call-in
mental health line to students. More on that next issue (Ex- tra! Extra!). Then a Students NS rep spoke, for six or seven hours, about the lobbying and services that Students NS do on behalf of students all across Nova Scotia. They’re helpful. Then, societies were ratified with the exception of the X-Strike society. Athletic societies must now have one member with first aid training. Brandon asked for clarification on the Moustache Society. The answer: It’s a society about moustaches and Movember activities. Brandon, if you mustache the question, you must get the answers. Next, it turned out that in hiring DriveU drivers, the hiring committee allegedly discriminated against fourth year students in their hiring process, only granting interviews to a few fourth years. (Allegedly. Year CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
4 NEWS
Thursday, 26 September, 2013-The Xaverian
New frosh councillor The election of erin abbott is exciting news for all JULIA O’HANLEY | Contributor
Her name is Erin Abbott, or Duck, for those of you who find it hard to remember normal names. She’s a military brat, so she has called a few places home before moving to StFX’s house upon the hill, Lane Hall. Most recently, Erin has lived across the pond in Switzerland and Belgium, but she originally hails from Halifax, Nova Scotia. While here at X, Erin is hoping to do a joint
double-major in Developmental Studies and potentially Sociology. Erin plans to make sure all the voices of all of the frosh are heard. She says she will chase down returning and senior officers to let them know about the concerns of this year’s freshman students. If it takes singing at meetings or sending seventeen emails per day, Erin is willing to do it to make
sure frosh concerns are heard. She wants to have many frosh events this year, and is open to the idea of having meetings to hear first-hand what the class of 2017 wants to see in their first year here at StFX. So why is she the best choice to represent the frosh this year? Erin says losing her voice twice during Frosh Week from cheering as well as winning “Best House Spirit”
in the biggest Frosh House on campus shows her passion and dedication. She says living in so many different places in Canada and around the world, as well as speaking English, French, and a few other languages will help her relate to students coming from pretty much anywhere and make them feel at home in their first year at StFX. Finally, as a third generation Xaverian -
her grandfather graduated in 1956 and her mother in 1987 Erin says she knows all about the ran- dom traditions and has some pretty cool stories about the way X used to be. The ‘Nish is in her blood, and she says she will do her very best to make sure the frosh will not be disappointed with having elected her to represent them in the 2013-2014 school year.
STFX Finance in a ‘duff’ situation Interview about dollars and cents with Vice President of Finance Ramsay Duff MEGAN DEWEY | Senior Reporter
StFX recently took a major blow to its government funding. This, combined with new collective agreements between each of the three unions on campus that were negotiated last spring, has placed the university in a precarious situation. Ramsay Duff, VP Finance and interim-VP Student Experience, took some time to explain the university’s newly revised budget and discuss the impact of the last year’s strike on the school’s financial ability, saying, “It is absolutely true that the negotiations with the unions cost us money. At the same time the government decided to reduce its funding. These two events together put us in a terrible financial situation.” The majority of the financial strife currently plaguing the university is due to a combination of government tuition caps and a decrease of government funding. Athletics, residences, and academics all have very separate budgets to work with, and the revenue from those budgets comes from different places, Duff told the Xaverian, adding that “students should know that these departments operate completely separately from one another.” The academics budget is primarily supported
through government funding and students’ tuition fees. The Athletics budget is managed by the head of the Athletics and Recreation Department, and decisions affecting X Athletics are mainly made within the Department. Residences receive some funding through donations, but mostly generate their own revenue through students’ residence fees. Over the last three years, the provincial government has lowered university funding by 10% while simultaneously capping Nova Scotia tuition hikes at 3%. While the new collective agreements forged last spring between the university and each of the three unions on campus did have an affect on the university’s current financial situation, Duff was adamant that the unions not be blamed for the various cuts the university is currently facing. “If the government had retained their funding, we probably would not have faced the cuts that we did,” Duff mentioned, “The decrease in government funding has been a real hardship for the university.” The newly negotiated collective agreements and the drop in government funding have led to some major reconstruction to the university’s
budget. While the majority of the funding-necessitated changes will be felt by the staff of the university, students will experience some fallout due to StFX’s current financial state. The budget for professors’ instructional supplies took a hit, as did the travel budget for almost every department. The biggest impact students will see from the reorganized budget is in student services. 65 positions were cut from the university overall, affecting every department on campus. This means that the library, TSG, Facilities Management, administrative departments, and teaching faculty are all operating with fewer people than last year; students will have to cope with the fact that the services they rely on to help them with assignments outside the class environment will now be understaffed and overworked. The other major impact on students due to the government’s decision to cut university funding is the termination of the girls’ varsity volleyball team. Duff himself is not involved in the Athletic Department’s financials, though he did point out that, like all of the other budgetary decisions made in light of the new financial situation, “the decision to
cut the volleyball team was made by a committee, which included both staff and students, whose goal was to minimize the impact of the budget cuts in the classroom environment and outside of it.” Amidst all of the strike and budget stress last year, students couldn’t help but notice the construction of two new residences, O’Regan Hall and the still unnamed New Res B. Many students objected to the construction of the residences, citing the declining quality of academic spaces such as Nicholson Hall, the J Bruce Brown building, and the Annex as more worthy candidates for upgrading. When asked, Duff again mentioned that Academics and Residences operate with completely separate budgets, and continued by saying that the new residences have been in the works for roughly a decade. “The board planned for the building of new residences ten years ago,” Duff explained, “We knew that eventually something would need to be done with the Mount. After rising problems with heating, flooding, and mould, the decision was made to close the Mount as a residence space. We needed to replace the beds, so the board officially
approved the building of the new residences two years ago.” Duff went on to say that the new residence buildings are the only three-and-a-half star accommodations between Halifax and Antigonish, and will be rented out for conferences, events, and campus visitations throughout the summer, adding to the revenue generated by students’ residence fees. “We hope that the new residences, as well as the renovations to Bishops and MacIsaac, will help draw prospective students to the university,” Duff explained. Another tactic to draw more students to X is the increase of the university’s recruitment budget. With a drop in applicants from the Maritimes, the university is casting a wider net to recruit students to the school. “We have just installed a permanent recruitment officer in Calgary,” Duff said, adding that the university is also looking to Ontario, the US, and, to a lesser degree, the rest of Canada as an active pool to recruit future Xaverians. Only time will tell if StFX’s future plans with Recruitment will payoff, for now the university and its students must cope with the tough financial situation ahead.
Student union meeting Summary DRIVE U At half staff levels due to failed ratification CONT INUED FROM PAGE 3 of study isn’t an age, sex, religious or sexual orientation, or any of the other categories outlined in the Students’ Union anti-discrimination policies. Pretty loose definition of discrimination if you ask me.) DriveU will oper-
ate at half staff until further notice, and some days there will be no DriveU services. Further info on this next issue. The motion to ratify failed. Several Union positions were then ratified success-
fully. Next, the Students’ Union investigated the idea of sponsoring free fitness classes as they did second semester last year, but costs have increased 300% since last year due to a decreased willing-
ness by Athletics to co-sponsor the program. Motion was tabled until next meeting. Several by-laws were changed: Grad Class President and VPs terms of reference were changed to include clear prohibition of class trip
planning for insurance reasons. Positive Space training is also to be enhanced. Then, nearly three hours after it began, this behemoth burped, patted its belly, and said goodnight. See you in a month, Students’ Union.
OPINIONS 5
The Xaverian-Volume 122 Issue 3
OPINIONS rapid fire rants
IN A RUT
Quick views on what’s happening a X
PARKING ON CAMPUS NEEDS SERIOUS IMPROVEMENTS
SEAN MCEVOY | Co-Editor-in-Chief
ANGELA MACKENZIE | Staff Writer
Replacing Riley The process of finding a replacement for Dr. Riley has begun with intense debate amongst students and faculty about the specific qualities our new leader should have. Do we want a carbon copy of the leader we know, or do we want a fresh face to take StFX in an entirely new direction? Cases can be made for both options. Under Riley, the university was brought into the modern age in regards to infrastructure and technology. He helped strengthen the university’s reputation as the “premier undergraduate experience” [whether you believe that to be true or not], and became a welcoming friendly presence on campus from day one. Calls for his resignation this summer by StFXAUT members were very premature despite his hand in last year’s strike. The man is not without his flaws, and missteps have happened along the way, but I believe history will remember Sean Riley in a positive light at the end of the day. Looking for a candidate to take the university in a new direction may be a positive step to boost morale, and refresh the outlook of the university, but to ignore the qualities of a man who has done so much for this institution would be unwise. Student Politics Voter apathy is something that has once again reared its ugly head on the StFX campus. Whether it’s in provincial or Student Union politics, the majority of students just don’t seem to care when it comes to casting ballots. Last week’s councillor election showed dismal turnout numbers, with Frosh Councillor Erin Abbott[ who was a standout success at the first council meeting] winning by a margin of 65 votes to 59 over runner up Ryley Erickson. Apartment Style/Govs Councillor election had a grand total of 31 voters, while International Councillor had a mere 20 voters. The first Students Union council meeting of the year had a grand total of zero students in the gallery, not counting those whose job it was to be there. At the Provincial Election debate held this past Tuesday in the Mackay Room, despite having a packed venue, the vast majority of those in attendance were not students. This despite holding the debate on campus, and a faculty member running for the Liberal Party. To fix this two things must change. The attitudes of students in general towards politics must improve. Without our votes, and without our voices, the right people will not get elected, and those elected will be left without direction or accountability for their actions. Secondly, politicians need to do a better job of truly understanding students needs. It’s one thing to say you want to promote lower tuition rates and better mental health services in your platform, but do they really understand the impacts these issues have on our day to day lives? Have you made the effort to get to know your constituents primary needs and concerns? If this disconnect is eliminated, we may begin to see a higher turnout at the polls.
X-Ring The debate on whether to purchase your X-Ring from Camerons or Rideau has not deserved a tenth of the attention it has recieved on campus. Yes, X-Ring is a huge deal. It’s going to be one of, if not the most exciting experience you’ll have as a student here to receive your ring on December 3rd. However, when we all eventually make that walk up to the stage and put it on our finger, is our first thought really going to be, “Wow I’m so glad I got it at [Insert company name here]!”. No, of course not. You’re going to think of your friends, the parties, the sacrifices, the all nighters, the blood, sweat, and tears, that went into getting you to where you are today. The attacks we’ve all seen on social media against people for picking one company or another are completely out of line. Students should be able to choose the option that will make them happy at the end of the day. X-Ring is about our unique journey. Everyone should be able to make their decisions without condemnation. We are all a part of one Xaverian community an upstart jewellery company should not drive a wedge in between us. Whatever you choose, wear your ring proudly. New Rez Living life in a hotel can’t be that bad right? Apparently it can have its down sides. Despite the luxurious accommodations we outlined in last week’s issue, some students have voiced opinions that they are finding that community building in O’Reagan and New Rez B is proving to be difficult. It’s easy to see why. Unlike more traditional residences like Lane, Bishops, or the Tri-Mac, each floor does not have a lounge for meetings and general chill time. Rooms are spaced farther apart than in most other buildings and with no prior house memories or history to bond over, making friends may prove more difficult than usual. On the flip side, many are loving their swanky accommodations in a quiet spacious atmosphere. With a new gym, private bathrooms, comfy beds, and modern rooms, there is a lot to love. SMU The events that occurred during SMU’s frosh week were in a word, disgusting. It is absolutely mind blowing that these cheers were able to carry on for years when numerous students and administration had known about it. Further still, it is amazing that this was encouraged and accepted by student leaders. If the video of the cheer had never surfaced, I would think the behaviour would have carried on without a word. While I feel lucky to go to StFX, a university which encourages positive cheers during events throughout the year, and with Student Leaders who condone such behaviour, our school isn’t faultless. Sexual assault occurs on this campus. Female and male students on this campus have been victims, and that is exactly why events such as Take Back the Night are so important, to help break the silence on this issue which has gone on for far too long.
Imagine this: you are living off campus, you wake up late, and you have ten minutes before your 8:45 in Nicholson Hall begins. You jump out of bed, quickly get changed, then jump in your car and drive to campus. You arrive at campus with 5 minutes to spare but there is no parking outside Nicholson Hall. You end up driving all over campus until you finally find a spot, perhaps near Governors Hall or in that mess of a dirt parking lot outside Apartment Style. Bottom line is, you end up being 15 minutes late for class. More and more students have been starting University with cars to get themselves around. But what good is a car if there is nowhere to park it? The increase of cars has caused parking on campus to become more crowded, making it almost impossible to find a spot. The parking lots fill up quickly in the morning with the cars of students, professors, and other employees of the University. There needs to be more parking available so students won’t have to worry about getting to campus 20 minutes before class starts just to give themselves time to find a place to park. Parking is even worse for the students living on campus. There is not enough space for students to park overnight. There are only four overnight parking spots on the entire campus. These fill up quickly, meaning that some people have to walk all across campus to get back to their dorm. If it’s late at night, some people may not feel comfortable walking from behind Lane Hall to Bishop’s. The four overnight parking lots are located behind Lane Hall, behind MacIsaac Hall, next to Governor’s hall, and the dirt parking lot in front of Somers and Power Hall. Only one of these parking lots is in a central location for students; the rest give the
impression that they are reserved for their Halls (which they are not). The dirt parking lot is the most convenient for lower campus students but it seems to be the most unsafe place to park. It has no lines whatsoever and, since it is the closest overnight parking lot for Bishop’s, MacKinnon Hall, Cameron Hall, and the apartments, it almost seems like students are fighting to grab a decent spot in that lot. When it fills up there is no organization to parking. Cars just seem to be in any possible spot the driver can find. When driving my car, I do not feel safe parking in the dirt parking lot so I try to avoid it at all costs. Last year there was a time when I had to reverse through the parking lot just to get out because there were no parking spaces available and I had no room to turn my car around. It is just a matter of time before one car crashes into another. There needs to be a new parking lot for lower campus that students feel comfortable parking in. There should be more student parking available especially now that New Res B and O’Regan Hall have been built. The students living there with cars have nowhere to park overnight. It is a tease because they drive by the huge, empty SUB parking lot space to find a place where they can leave their car for the night. Why aren’t students allowed to park overnight in the most convenient place for them? Why do we have to park in overcrowded and possibly unsafe conditions when there are other, larger parking lots left vacant overnight? There needs to be more student parking, especially lots where cars can be overnight without the worry of getting scratches and dents or worse. Parking lots should not make one fear for their safety.
6 OPINIONS
Thursday, 26 September, 2013-The Xaverian
WING NIGHT...WHY? EXPLORING THE REASONS AND CONSEQUENCES OF DRINKING ON WEDNESDAY NIGHTS MAX KOUGHAN | Contributor
There’s nothing better than a cold one- or ten- after a long stressful week at the books. But for some, the time between weekends is just too long. So when“Hump Day” arrives, you may feel that the bulk of the week is finally behind you. And what better way to honour this weekly milestone than with Wednesday night wings and brews among friends? It certainly is convenient. The Inn is right on campus, and its well-advertised wing night has become a ritual for many. If practised in moderation, Wednesday night outings can be fun social experiences. But can you overdo it? Is the convenience of wing night impeding your ability to excel academically? How much is too much when it comes to filling up on empty calories and mind-numbing substances?
Most of us know the grim repercussions of drinking to excess. Add a Thursday morning class into the mix, and you’re bound to feel the full wrath of the hangover from hell. Your eyes sink, your head pounds, and focusing isn’t exactly the top priority. It’s nearly impossible to learn anything in this state. The phrases, “I’m never drinking again” or “What happened last night?” may come to mind, as they seem to every time. Drinking copious amounts throughout the week, especially if you do so all year, will certainly have a negative effect on your academic performance. So why on earth would you do this to yourself ? University is a place where academic achievement is of utmost importance. With studying, assignments, papers, and juggling extra-curricular activities, things can
pile up quickly. If you begin to fall into the trap of regularly sacrificing academics for socializing, problems are bound to arise. So by understanding that drinking to excess affects the way you learn, you can now focus on moderation. Simply having a personal limit can allow you to have fun while not paying the price the next morning. By drinking a glass of water between alcoholic beverages and getting to sleep at a decent hour, waking up for that morning class won’t seem quite as difficult. We are, after all, students. We may have different interests and passions, but we all have at least that much in common. But isn’t there something else that we all have in common on a grander scale? Yes, we are all human! And humans have needs. In fact, there is
a hierarchy that lays out human needs in ascending order of importance. Abraham Maslow made it nice and simple for us. We have the basics: food, water and shelter. Then we have safety: security, stability and freedom from fear. Here’s where it gets interesting... love and belonging actually come before self-esteem. So to break it down in more understandable terms, our relationships with family and friends are more important than our own achievements. In order to “level up” on the hierarchy, all previous levels need to be met. Even if we are loved by our families, there may still be a void that must be filled by friendship with others. If we don’t have positive relationships with our peers, especially when we’re far away from home, we may feel a certain loneliness
or emptiness. Imagine how difficult it would be to study for that approaching midterm with such negative feelings. Thus, social life is quite important in terms of building our self-esteem. For the most part, university offers a shelter from many “real world” problems; however, it presents its own set of challenges. When it comes to blending school and fun, not everyone sees eye to eye. What matters is how you manage your time by doing what works best for you. That being said, you share this experience with the many people you encounter every day. Everyone has different lifestyles and beliefs, but if you can incorporate moderation into your Wednesday night activities, you can certainly achieve success in both your social and academic pursuits.
MISS AMERICA: SASH, ROSES, RACISM NEWLY CROWNED MISS AMERICA SUFFERS RACIST BACKLASH OVER INDIAN DESCENT MARIA RIZZET TO | Columnist
I like to think we live in a world that is evolving into a place that is more accepting of diversity. Unfortunately, reactions to certain events, like elections, and in this case, pageants, work to eradicate these hopes for the future. Hopefully we all know what it’s like to finally achieve a goal we have set for ourselves after years of hard work and dedication. There is no better feeling to be had. After Nina Davuluri achieved one of her goals and was titled Miss America, the American public’s reaction was an embarrassment. She was immediately attacked in the realm of social media. Tweets ranged from, “Miss America right now or Miss Al Qaeda,” to, “Are you serious??!!! The Arab wins??!!! This is miss AMERICA!!! Not miss Arabia!!! Miss Kansas is in the army and is a country girl!!! C’mon.” The latter refers to the contestant from Kansas, a blonde bombshell enlisted
in the US army. Aside from the majority of the negative tweets being undeniably racist, Davuluri is not even Middle Eastern. She is of Indian descent. Alongside this, she is actually from Syracuse, New York. “I always viewed myself as first and foremost American,” Davuluri stated after her win. Apparently, even though this is the way she sees herself as person, it is still not American enough. On the other hand, the real question is: Why did Davulri’s accomplishment result in such a backlash from people who probably do not regularly pay attention to these contests? There are already numerous Indian-Americans occupying positions of power in the US, from government officials and influential business people to models and actors. Some people consider the Miss America pageant to be outdated, but in reality the winner is representing national identity. Therefore, an Indian woman winning is
bound to spark some controversy. Racism in North America is not black and white. Davuluri symbolizes acceptance, a new idea of what it means to represent America, and she is no less American than Miss Kansas or any other contestant in that pageant. The most absurd aspect of this whole controversy is the fact that America, with good reason, voted in an African American to oversee their country – but there is still an issue with the country’s pageant Queen being of Indian descent? Unfortunately, it is an unrealistic request to completely eliminate racism from any country, but let’s take a lesson from Miss America herself. Among her statements in a press conference after being crowned, she said, “I’m so happy this organization has embraced diversity,” and “I’m thankful there are children watching at home who can finally relate to a new Miss America.”
READ THE NEWSPAPER. LISTEN TO THE RADIO. THE XAV AND CFXU ARE COMING AT YOU WITH concerts, artist interviews, festival coverage, ON-AIR INTERVIEWS AND OTHER NIFTY MUSIC-PRINT collaborations. radiocfxu.ca + xaverian.ca = OUR STUDENT MEDIA.
OPINIONS 7
The Xaverian-Volume 122 Issue 3
SWEATPANTS & SOCKBUNS how do you solve a problem like maria? MARIA RIZZET TO | Columnist
It’s not a revelation that university students are diverse. “People watching,” in general, is one of my favorite past times, especially on campus. There’s usually an intriguing pattern of mix-matched couples, hilarious encounters or good-doers waiting to be discovered. After spending more time on campus than I wanted to last week I’ve decided to discuss a new phenomenon I’ve noticed. Ladies, it is all about balance. I’ll be the first to admit that sweatpants to school is more than ok but I, along with some of you I’m sure, have noticed an absurd trend. I like to call it “sock buns and sweatpants.” Back in the good old days, if you decided to wear sweatpants to school it’s for a number of reasons. Most popularly your alarm didn’t go off or you were too tired to set one but can’t miss the class. Maybe you actually slept
in them and it’s just too damn cold to even entertain the idea of taking them off. Maybe you just bought some new sweatpants and want to wear them indefinitely. A common trend found in all of the sweatpants’ reasoning is that some type of primping disorder usually accompanies them. Perhaps it’s left over make-up from wing night or a mop of messy curls in a sloppy ponytail because doing hair at 7am is just insane. The issue at hand is when you come to school looking ready for a royal ball from the neck up and an NBA warm-up from the neck down. What do you do, get ready in your room in sweatpants for an hour then… change into different sweatpants? If you are trying to go for the “natural, I just rolled out of bed look” you are embarrassingly failing. Try wearing a cute sweater and- gasp- skipping the make-up.
Unfortunately enough, another thing that sticks out like a sore thumb are girls who are overdressed for school. I like to refer to them as perfectly put-together princesses. I know that’s a mouthful, but seeing them is an eyeful. These ladies are either completely matching from head-to-toe or look like they stepped out of a magazine. I honestly have nothing bad to say about this group of girls at all. You look great. At any other university that isn’t in a smalltown like the ‘nish, you don’t turn around and act proper when you hear heels clinking behind you in the hallway because you assume it’s one of your professors. The worst thing in the world is when you buy an awesome blouse and feel like you need to save it for presentation day. If you get an adorable dress you shouldn’t have
to think, “I can’t wear this, it’s too dressy for school.” You need to think of it like this, you aren’t over-dressed everyone else is underdressed. Aside from these two prominent attires everyone else seems to be hopeless replications of each other aimlessly walking around campus. I get that we are in Antigonish and shopping is beyond limited, but that cannot be the reasoning behind everyone looking the same. Why you may ask? Because I shop here, a lot, and the majority of the time I’m one out of five people in each store, including the workers. I know that every girl at this school has distinct personalities, so they should be expressed through clothing! But… I also know Joe Fresh is awesome and you can’t beat a good deal. So now that Fall is upon us, Happy leggings and boots Ladies, until uggs and Canada Goose!
STREET BEATS: How do you feel about the new ios7 for iphone?
LAURA O’BRIEN | Opinions Editor
“I like the update but it really eats my battery.” -Kate MacCuspic
“I love it” -Mike Gorber “I don’t have an iPhone” -Kyle Debellotte
“I haven’t updated it yet...” -Chris Elias
“I didn’t do the update intentionally but I really like the new effects. I think the text conversations look a little cartoony though.” -Amy Sheppard
“I love it! My phone is a lot faster. It took a few days to get used to though.” -Alana Evanovich
“I haven’t gotten around to updating it yet...” -Jake MacPherson
“It’s pretty good” -Caleb Rehill
“I feel like it makesmy phone slower but overall it looks good.” -Megan Elliot
8 FEATURE
Thursday, 26 September, 2013-The Xaverian
The Xaverian-Volume 122 Issue 3
FEATURE
9
10 CULTURE
Thursday, 26 September, 2013-The Xaverian
Culture one thousand aprons waving goodbye StFX INSTRUCTOR MARGARET NICHOLSON’s EXHIBIT IS worth the walk RACHEL REVOY | Contributor
A walk onto Bethany’s grounds reveals an array of colourful aprons, neatly organized along a path winding through the forest. This breathtaking display came from the mind of Margaret Nicholson, one of the art instructors here at StFX. This display portrays the shift of the roles of women over the past century, as well as the skills that have diminished with time. The foliage gives a refreshing backdrop to the bright aprons that move slowly as if to tell the tales of generations past. These aprons, nearly all handmade, evoke a feeling of home. Some even have names or quotes stitched onto them to add a personal touch. This makes you wonder what the woman was like who wore that apron and took the time to make it their own. You can imagine someone’s mother, grandmother, aunt, or wife wearing these aprons as they provide their loved ones with a delicious meal. Instead of this exhibit being viewed as a liberation of woman’s progression out of the kitchen and home, it celebrates the hard work and dedication of these women.
“These aprons represent my mother,” says Nicholson, “They represent the whole generation, a generation that has stopped with me.” Seeing the aprons and listening to the unspoken words of the many women that were once behind them uncovers a story. One of skill, of dedication to the home, and of providing and sacrificing for the family. When I was chatting with Mrs. Nicholson, she described the importance of creating something to commemorate all the women who have worked to provide and take care of the ones they love. “When I saw a pile of aprons, I was so sad they were left; it was a lack of respect for all the hard work that was done by these women,” Nicholson said. Then the idea arose to begin this project after washing and hanging a few of her first aprons on a clothing line to dry. While seeing them slowly move in the wind, she imagined how lovely they would look on a larger scale, for everyone to see. The colours of the aprons faded after weeks in the sun, and the loose ties became worn. The message behind the aprons became more
prominent as the generation that prided themselves on skill and persistence is slowly fading out of existence. The reaction to the exhibit titled “One Thousand Aprons Waving Goodbye” has been significant. Many woman of older generation have brought their mothers to witness the sight and cel-
ebration of all these handmade aprons moving with the wind. It reminds them of their mothers and grandmothers. The sight brings them back to a time where hard work was daily life, and the reward of hard work was an experience the family could enjoy with every meal, and every newly made item of clothing.
Personally, I recommend experiencing the sight of thousands of coloured aprons winding along a forest path. Take a trip to Bethany’s Grounds, located behind Sister of St. Martha’s Religious Center, where you can witness these aprons waving goodbye to a passing generation. It truly is a sight to see.
hours of operation when the store has become better established, but has no plans to look for a larger venue. For other people seeking to open a retail business Ms. Dobbs advises a good command over your stress levels commenting that it is important to be able to put problems aside and rest. In addition, she has found a strong support system to be invaluable citing her husband’s help (you’ll recognize a shared last name that had a part in Mary Mary’s layout) and enthusiasm for the project as examples. She mentioned people interested planning a new venture would do well to have the space inspected before leasing or buying. Dobbs and her solitary worker, Pauline, are both personable as well as passionate about the style options they
are making available to the Antigonish area. There is a good chance if you visit Mary Mary you’ll get the chance to make inquiries about the clothes to the founder herself. The location itself is on the small side, however the merchandise is well placed, providing good visibility for the products without crowding the space. And despite solid black walls (punctuated by graffiti put up by tattoo artists Joshua Dobbs and Lance Hoag) the place is well lit and welcoming. You can also get a sense of Mary Mary through the shop’s Facebook presence, where you can find updates about what’s in stock and when upcoming sales will take place. So what are you waiting for? Mary Mary is open every day but Sunday from noon to five on 330B Main Street.
the new girl in town a new reason to buy local VERONICA FARLEY | Staff Writer
There’s a new kid on the block in Antigonish and her name is Mary Mary. It’s actually a new boutique, and if you haven’t been yet then I recommend you take the first opportunity presented to you to check out this delightful new source of clothing. Located on Main Street, it is easy to find and extremely close to campus. At first glance, Mary Mary seems to cater exclusively to darker styles like gothic Lolita or rock and roll, perhaps in part due to its neighboring store – a tattoo place, but take a look inside the store and you’ll find the stock on display can’t be categorized by such narrow terms. Mary Mary sells more edgy clothing articles alongside preppy trends so there is something for everyone from band t-shirts and skate
brands to patterned leggings, accessories and maxi skirts, both branded and non-branded. Most notably, Mary Mary stocks WeWood watches that are timepieces, fashion statements, and good for the environment- a tree is planted every time one is sold. Despite the store’s feminine name, Mary Mary carries many pieces for men like the aforementioned unique t-shirts in such from brands as Crooks & Castles and Red Dragon and Diamond Supply. Only recently established, Mary Mary is not yet sponsoring any events, although owner Emilie Dobbs indicated an interest in supporting the local arts community with the Art After Dark pamphlets at the cashier table. When queried about her plans for the future, the new business owner said she was happy
with her current space and expressed an interest in expanding her online presence
to allow for internet sales and perhaps providing longer
CULTURE
The Xaverian-Volume 122 Issue 3
11
The park bench players local theater group living with metal illness blow audiences away DEVON LOCKHART | Contributor
Antigonish is an iconic town home to the highly praised St. Francis Xavier University. Renowned worldwide, StFX captures the hearts of the young and aspiring who not only gain the experience of a lifetime but also work eagerly towards earning the famous X ring. But, Antigonish is also home to much more. From the shadows of this landmark university emerge the Park Bench Players (PBP) and their inspiring 90 minute three-act show, “With A Little Help From My Friends”. The Park Bench Players are an ensemble of six individuals who are living with chronic and persistent mental illness. “With A Little Help From My Friends” celebrates the talents of this remarkable cast in a theatrical presentation that emphasizes mental health literacy. The original script was written by Jim Mulcahy, but was mainly developed through the compilation of each cast member’s personal experiences. It demonstrates their many blessings of friendship, courage, and hope, which have proven vital to their recovery and survival. Honesty, realism, and experience, as well as a healthy dose of humour, are combined to make this theatrical experience riveting and unforgettable. From its inception, Maria VanVonderen, Verna MacDonald, and Dana Mason, the producers of PBP, had a mandate to inform the public of men-
tal illness. From there, they hope to reduce the negative stigma often associated with it. You could say they have succeeded, as PBP have caught fire, winning many awards, including: the 2012 Community Health Advocacy Award, 2012 PSR Canada Recover Award of Excellence, 2013 Inspiring Lives Recognition from Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia and the Canadian Mental Health Association, and the 2013 Canadian College of Health Leaders ‘Quality of Life Award’ The cast has performed twenty-nine shows throughout Nova Scotia and has also travelled to Vancouver through generous donations so the cast and crew could receive their award in person.
Through extreme bravery and courage this eclectic group of actors have not only shown their true colours, but have also heightened their vulnerability in order to share their daily hardships and struggles. They have become role models and educators for people affected by mental illness, as well as the general public, and have garnered nationwide support for their craft. One audience member commented, “I was blown away by the performance by the Park Bench Players. It was poignant, touching, inspiring, honest, and hysterically funny. I admire the actors for their bravery and wisdom. Everyone should see it and perhaps especially those with the experience to appreci-
ate for themselves what is possible with a little help from your friends!” Not only have the PBP been instrumental in educating the public, but the presentation has also impacted the lives of these amateur thespians in a positive and meaningful way. Cast members expressed their extreme gratitude to the show by saying, “I am more aware of my strengths and I feel better about myself overall,” and, “I find I am a happier person. Life has meaning and purpose now. I wake up early looking forward to going on with the day,” as well as, “I don’t think we are invisible anymore. It is not easy for any of us to step up into the spotlight and admit our flaws or imperfections”. The next theatrical performance has not yet been announced, but the Park Bench Players are optimistic they will be sharing their experiences again with us in November. Volunteer opportunities are available with this life-changing group. Learning the craft from the cast themselves, technical assistance during a performance, and promotions for the theatre company are a sampling of how the community may get involved. If you are interested, please contact Verna MacDonald at Verna.MacDonald@gasha.nshealth.ca. Oscar Wilde once wrote, “I regard the theatre as the greatest of all art forms, the most immediate way in which a human being can share with another the sense of what it is to be a human being.”
Ryan MacGrath: New beginnings antigonish born artist reveals all in soul-bearing preformance SABEEYAH BOBAT | Contributor
Anitgonish native Ryan MacGrath gave an intimate and beautiful performance Thursday night alongside fellow Nova Scotian Erin Costelo while on their “One Soulful Mama and One Dandy Fellow” tour. I sat down with Ryan before the show to talk about his latest music and the journey to get here. Ryan MacGrath was born in Antigonish, but in early 2011 embarked on a new voyage after filing bankruptcy and moving to the mountainous city of Innsbruck, Austria. More than a year and a half later after embarking on his adventure he released The Pink Lark in March of this year. Ryan’s style progressed from his last album Cooper Hatch Paris, and the six soul-bearing tracks depict his difficult journey. The EP and subsequent tour showcases his raw, natural talent as seen during his one-man guitar performance in the StFX art gallery this past Thursday Sep. 19. Ryan gave a great show; showcasing his new EP he played both old and new songs and was a pleasure to watch. He is currently touring alongside Erin Costelo, who released her new album We Can Get Over this past year,
which has been nominated for seven Nova Scotia music awards. Ryan’s style has been described as alternative and parlor pop,” When I asked him to elaborate he explained that “For me it was mixing songwriting with the pop way of writing. I’ve often been described as alternative, I wanted to mix genres and give and old-style feel to my music.” The convergence of these two styles was proven to be a successful combination. From song to song Ryan captured the audience. Clearly Nova Scotia culture must differ in some respects from that of his new home across the ocean, so I was curious to know how his immersion into a new culture affected the music. I sat down with Ryan to check in on what his plans were for the future. RM: “Leaving was hard, I left an established community of fellow musicians and artists and being over there I had to make a new community. The scenery, being surrounded by the Alps influenced me greatly it was such an extreme landscape.” THE XAV: Do you feel as though your venture; moving to Austria and
now returning has come full circle? RM: “I hope not! (Laughs) It’s an adjustment being back but I plan on being in Austria for the future. In a way it’s all just the beginning.” THE XAV: Your artistry definitely grew during your time in Austria as a musician; when painting your selfportrait for the cover of The Pink Lark did the art have a desired significance? RM “It was a self-portrait, a reflection and growth really of me like the EP I was looking into a mirror when I did it and the view I had was of the mountains. It was beautiful and extreme.” THE XAV: After your tour here in Canada what are your plans? RM: “We plan on touring Europe, I’ll show her (Erin) around. But come January I plan to start work on a fulllength album.” From his artistic capability in his performance of songs from his current and past albums, a full-length album is necessary. With that said I truly feel
that all those who couldn’t make it out this past Thursday night should make seeing Ryan MacGrath preform a priority whenever he’s next in town. Ryan and Erin’s “One Soulful Mama and One Dandy Fellow” tour will be heading to Port Hawkesbury and Boutilier’s Point before finishing up in Ontario. Be sure to check him out!
12 CULTURE
Thursday, 26 September, 2013-The Xaverian
The big taste of little christo’s Little Christo’s packs a punch LAURA ALOISIO | Senior Reporter
Pizza in Antigonish is a religion with two denominations: Kennyites and Wheelers. But look out, there’s a new preacher in town named Little Christo and he’s converting followers with stone baked pizzas, subs, salads, and an array of gluten free and vegan menu options. You can start your meal off with any of the ten options ranging from simple hummus and garlic bread to Lebanese Zaatar
bread. Salads made fresh to order are a great option for either a main course or just on the side. I decided on the Greek salad loaded with fresh feta. With cold and flu season just around the corner a bowl of their homemade soup may be a reminder of home, but don’t tell your mom. I stole a bite of third-year aquatics student Candace Nickerson’s Stone-Baked Sub and I must say it was cooked
to perfection! The sandwiches come with house vinaigrette, shredded lettuce, onions, and tomatoes; since it’s all made from scratch you can make as many substitutions as you like. Pepperoni, peppers, and mushrooms are also available for a dollar more. If gluten is a concern you can try one of their specialty sandwiches with all buns baked in-house. Little Christo’s understands students are always in a rush and on a budget. They offer a 15% discount on all takeout orders and if you to stop by between 11 am and 2:30 pm, the lunch combinations are a great deal. Besides saving money, what I really liked about Little Christo’s was the pizza dining experience. That’s right, I said “pizza dining experience” about a place right here in town. Picture it: you are sitting in one of the roomy booths with your friends when suddenly a waiter ap-
pears with a stone-baked pizza topped with fresh ingredients. It smells so good that you bite into it and, forgetting how hot it is, fall in love. Yes, emerging from your state of delusion brought on by pizza fumes, you realize your mouth is on fire – but it’s worth it. The dough is light and fluffy but cooked well enough to still carry all that gooey cheese divided by a thin layer of seasoned tomato sauce. The crust can stand alone with no need for a dipping sauce. A medium is plenty to share but if you don’t feel like sharing, the personal pizza is the one to order. Pizza is the feature at Little Christo’s but, if you want to change it up, the house specialties can bring back memories of a home-cooked meal. Owner Michael Hanleg says he believes Little Christo’s to be the newest spot for date night and I can see why. Friendly staff comes by to take your order and
fill your glass, leaving lovers to gaze into each others’ eyes and say those magic words: “Pepperoni or meatball?” But no matter who you come with, a table in the window or a booth in the back is the perfect way to enjoy anything Little Christo’s has offer. Dessert and coffee make a great meal or a great way to end one. The next time you get a break, want to try something new, or just want to avoid the lines at meal hall, test out Little Christo’s. The name says “little” but the taste is big.
Email the Xaverian Weekly @ xw.eic@stfx.ca and let us know what you think about Little Christos or any of the restaurants we will review. Be sure to check our next issue as the Xaverian Weekly examines the hot spots for grub in Antigonish!
sex with an x ONE NIGHT STANDS BET T Y SKROOTER | Sexy Lady
Maybe this goes without saying. Heck, maybe you’ve been saying this to yourself for years now. But say you just figured it out on a walk home early in the morning: there is nothing wrong with a one night stand. To be fair, if you’ve never had one that is also okay; there is no right or wrong way to own your sexuality. But in popular culture, and around campus, one night stands seem to get a bad rap. So many people view one night stands as slutty, risky, or just a drunken mistake that they lose sight of the fact that one night stands can be fun and hot and totally intentional. The pub is obviously a breeding ground for one night stands. Girls and guys alike are cheered and leered at for going home with a stranger, or a meal hall crush, or that person who
was posted about on Spotted At StFX. Going home with that person gives you a great story for the morning (good or bad) and some sexual satisfaction to boot. Having a one night stand also helps lower your inhibitions. If you don’t feel great about your body, this person will only be seeing it once so it doesn’t matter. It’s suddenly okay to be sloppy, drunk, and horny because you found someone in the same boat as yourself. There’s also a kind of freedom that goes along with trying new things – finally all those sex positions from Cosmo can be attempted, because how is the other person supposed to know that you aren’t some sort of sexual gymnastwizard? The element of spontaneity makes everything urgently passionate. You both know what you want, and dam-
mit you’re going to get just that. The goal of a one night stand is clear from it’s beginning, and as long as you don’t forget your wallet at their house the next morning, all you have afterwards is another notch in your bedpost and a goofy grin on your face. One night stands help us all separate the emotional from the physical and teach us that sex doesn’t always have to be with a person you love. Sometimes, you can just love sex. Girls are so often raised to think that sex is a precious gift to give, but that’s just a social convention. Sex is an ingrained human need, and fulfilling that need with a random every now and then is perfectly natural. We all spend way too much time talking about one night stands with shame over our heads – but who says it’s wrong to fulfill our sexual needs?
WANT TO READ MORE STUFF? CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE. THERE’s MORE SEX WRITING ON THERE. THE INTERNET HAS SEX ON IT, THANKS TO THE XAVERIAN WEEKLY. YOU’re WELCOME. www.xaverian.ca
DISTRACTIONS 13
The Xaverian-Volume 122 Issue 3
Distractions KALEIGH BENT | Distractions Editor
Inn Move Of The Week The Palm Tree
AntigonishUnrated:TheNotSoNaked Mile What started out as a humorously themed “towel party” turned into Antigonish’s own version of The Naked Mile. While driving home from a movie in New Glasgow, my roommates and I were visually assaulted by four young men running across St. Ninian’s in their birthday suits. Slung over their shoulders were beach towels, which at some point during the party had lost their function of covering up certain X-rated parts of the body. As we continued onto Main Street, it became clear that we had entered the set of a 90’s college comedy. Girls were pouring out of The Wheel, pizza in hand as well as...Interestingly enough, their towels. Seriously confused, one of my roommates took the initiative and called out to one of the scantily clad (or unclad, depending on how you look at it) males and asked what was going on. He put everything into perspective for us when he replied, “Sup babe!”. Intoxicated, very intoxicated. While the entire drive was an uncomfortable affair, it made me realize how much I love our little university town, where else do you get to see naked people running around aimlessly?
STEP 1: Plant legs firmly on ground (preferably in the center of a crowd) STEP 2: Throw hands above head but allow hands to lay limp STEP 3:Sway from side to side slowly whilst bobbing top half of your body (remember to keep feet planted), eyes may remain open. STEP 4: (Advanced palm tree-ers) You may choose to escalate the move to “Palm Tree In a Hurricane” For this move simply helicopter and sway your arms as though caught in a wind storm, eyes should remain closed.
Don’t answer that, for the sake of us all. By: Kurt Brothers
INSTAGRAM OF THE WEEK Cartoon by: Emma Dysart
GUESS WHO? 1. #lol#omg #brb 2.She may say to you “long may your big jib draw” to wish you good-luck
Quoteable Quote...
3. Has been at stfx since 1994
“Bleep bloop bleep bleep, bloop bleep” - R2D2 “Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back”
???????????? LAST WEEK’S BABY? SU MANAGER SEAN RYAN!
SPORTS AND HEALTH
SPORTS & HEALTH x-men suffer setback against axemen Second half collapse brings team’s record to 2-1 ALEX WARSHICK | Contributor
In front of a packed Oland Stadium, the StFX University X-Men football team fell to the Acadia Axemen 40-11 in a game that can only be characterized as disappointing for fans and players alike. With the X-Men coming off two early season wins, fans eagerly awaited what promised to be a competitive outing from a program that has struggled in the last few seasons. The Inn’s patio was packed, the beer tent was bustling, and the stands were full as the game got under way shortly after 7 PM Friday night. Before kick-off there was a short celebration for returning X-Men football alumni. With so many former players in attendance, the current X-Men surely felt the pressure. The first half got off to a rocky start for the X-Men after an early unnecessary roughness call gave the Acadia Axemen excellent field position on their first drive. The Axemen looked crisp on their opening possession as they marched down a shortened field to eventually score on a shuttle pass connection between quarterback Evan Brown and slot receiver Sebastian Robinson.
Coming into Friday’s game with two tough losses under their belts, the Axemen showed early poise to take the lead just four minutes into play. On both sides of the field, Friday’s game was a statement game. The winless Axemen came into Oland Stadium looking to reassert themselves and to remind the conference that they are the two-time defending champions. For the X-Men, the match-up against the previous conference winners offered an opportunity to prove that they could be the best in the AUS. StFX would respond to Acadia’s opening salvo near the end of the first quarter. After stalling on three previous offensive possessions, the X-Men scored in style with a 74-yard catch-and-run by receiver Devon Bailey. Quarterback Clay Masikewich had targeted Bailey multiple times prior to the connection and it paid off when Bailey made a leaping grab over Acadia defensive back Thomas Blight before sauntering down the field for a massive touchdown. On the following kick-off, Hayden Peters pinned the Axemen in their end zone
for a single point to give StFX the lead 8-7. After regaining momentum the X-Men came into the second quarter swinging. StFX defense shut down Acadia’s offence on a number of short drives and the X-Men looked capable of moving the ball. However, the X-Men drives began to stall after one or two first downs, leaving the defensive unit on the field more and more as the quarter waned. An overturned fumble recovery by defence left many in the stands scratching their heads, but it was a miscue on a third down near the Axemen goal line that signalled the beginning of trouble for StFX. With Acadia pinned deep, the X-Men were caught offside on a play when the Axemen punter was going to kneel in his end zone for a safety. The play ended up being a five-point swing as the Axemen went on to march down the field and score a field goal to close out the half. Following the unfortunate end to the second quarter, the X-Men could not recover any momentum. Acadia came out in the second half with another rouge point on the opening kick
and drove to another touchdown just three minutes into the half. Acadia would follow up with two more major scores over a seven-minute span due to the great field position provided by a blocked punt and a foiled third-down fake-punt deep in X-Men territory. StFX would manage to tack on a field goal late in the third, but never again threatened to put points on the board. X-Men offensive drives were halted by the Axemen and another controversial call saw a Hayden Peters interception ruled incomplete. This resulted in deflation for both the fans and players. Acadia would add another six points on a long interception return by Brett Backman to close out the competition. The high-flying X-Men offence of the first two games was unable to find its rhythm against the Axemen. Quarterback Clay Masikewich went 18of-37 for 249 yards and a single touchdown. Masikewich also threw his first interceptions of the season, finding Acadia defensive back Brett Backman three times. Ashton Dickson, the AUS rushing leader, had
similar difficulties getting the StFX ground game going; he averaged 2.3 yards per carry on nine attempts. Jordan Catterall and Randy Roseway had excellent games returning punts and kicks with Catterall picking up 71 yards on six punts – including a 32 yard return – and Roseway collecting 60 yards on two kick-off returns. The StFX defence played a solid game but was hurt by the lack of production on offence and poor field position. Hayden Peters and Sanmi Adereti were standouts on defence. For Acadia, Evan Brown threw for 221 yards and 3 touch downs. Thomas Troop led the way on the ground with 60 yards on just 8 carries. Defensive back Brett Backman was the Subway Player of the Game. Friday’s game, a scrappy affair, served to further cement the growing rivalry between the two schools. With a rematch scheduled for Oct 19 in Wolfville, fans can expect to see the X-Men playing with an added edge. The X-Men take on St. Mary’s next weekend in Halifax.
barry sanders, meet martin brodeur a look at this fall’s hottest sports games: how do they stack up? MICHEL BOUCHER | Contributor
EA’s Madden and NHL franchises are arguably two of the most popular sports video games we have in Canada. It only makes sense that eventually these two titans would end up going against one other. My pick for best game has nothing to do with which sport is the best, or which has the better graphics. The winner of this match up is based purely on what I think a video game experience should entail. Both Madden and NHL feature amazing presentation with great commentators, realistic looking crowds, and sound effects that make you feel like you are part of the sporting experience. However, that is where the similarities end, and the quality of these games become much more apparent. First off NHL features (as it has for a while now) skill stick mode, which gives you complete control over your player’s hockey stick via the right analog stick on the controller. Pull back and then
forward to initiate a slap shot or simply push the right analog stick up to get in a quick wrist shot. This feature makes your goal as a hockey player a bit harder, but ultimately more rewarding once you master the technique of controlling the puck. This control system also feels a lot more intuitive when compared to Madden’s, where you are simply reduced to pushing a button in order to pass the ball to your receivers. However, kicking feels a touch better, where pushing back and forward on the right analog stick sends the football soaring into the air. Madden also has you relying a lot on your non-player character teammates, while NHL 14 leaves you with the feeling that you took part in every little action and accomplishment the game has to offer. Ultimately, I feel like NHL achieves its goal in replicating the hockey experience, and that Madden ends up fumbling the ball when any interactivity is concerned. I also believe that
NHL is a much more approachable game than Madden. NHL introduces you to the skill stick with ease even though it takes some time to master. However, if you are new to football in any way the Madden experience will quickly leave the player confused. There are plays to memorize, an excess of rules, and a multitude of players to account for. NHL features easy to learn controls, less rules, and only a handful of teammates to keep an eye on. Because of this I feel that NHL 14 is not only superior as a representation of a sports game, but is also a much more entertaining and enjoyable experience. Whether it’s because of its intuitive control scheme or the game’s sheer playability, NHL 14 shines when compared to its football counterpart. I realize that most of these arguments will not appeal to people who prefer football to hockey, but when you look at the two games objectively NHL 14 is the clear winner.
SPORTS & HEALTH 15
The Xaverian-Volume 122 Issue 3
Get To know a rookie Cool ‘Nish Runnings What Makes Dylan Lawrence Tick?
Where to go, when to go, and Who to go with
SCOT T SAMPSON | Contributor
MAT T MACDONALD | Sports & Health Contributor
IF YOU like
SPORTS
You should write about them. email x2011tra Editor: Aaron Thornell Throughout this year, the Xav will be looking the fresh faces who have joined the sports teams here at X. This week’s rookie is Dylan Lawrence, a first year who hails from Ottawa, ON. Age: 18 Hometown: Ottawa, Ontario Team: Men’s Varsity Soccer What are you studying at StFX? I’m studying Business and majoring in marketing. What residence are you staying in? Plessis. When did you first start playing soccer? I started playing soccer when I was six years old and I have had a passion for the game ever since. What is your position on the team? Winger. What made you choose StFX? I chose StFX because I was recruited for soccer and the school spirit here is incredible. What is your favorite food? Lasagna. What is your biggest fear? Clowns. What is your favorite movie? The Dark Knight. What would you do if you won the lottery? Travel the world. What is one soccer moment you will never forget? I will never forget scoring the gamewinning goal for the ERSL Championship held in Ottawa last year. What are your expectations for this soccer season? I hope to get a fair share of playing time and for the team to win the championship.
Photos by Clayton Blagdon
THIS Week’s SCHEDULE Sept. 27th Women’s Soccer @ CBU - 3:00 PM Sept. 27th Women’s Hockey vs. Montreal @ Kingston - 5:00 PM Sept. 27th Men’s Soccer @ CBU - 5:15 PM Sept. 27th Football @ St. Mary’s - 7:00 PM Sept. 27th Men’s Hockey vs. St. Thomas @ New Glasgow - 7:00 PM Sept. 28th Men’s Rugby vs. Acadia 1:00 PM Sept. 28th Women’s Hockey vs. Queen’s @ Kingston - 8:30 PM Sept. 29th Women’s Hockey vs. Laurier @ Kingston - 12:00 PM Sept. 29th Women’s Rugby vs. UPEI 3:00 PM Oct. 2nd Women’s Rugby vs. St. Mary’s -
If you are like most recreational runners, running in the summer is a dreaded chore. While I thrive under sunny hot skies, most suffer. As a result, most people enjoy running on cool autumn days when the air is crisp and humidity is practically non-existent. This is the recipe for the perfect for outdoor running. The ideal running weather gets lots of runners outside and off the treadmills, and I love feeding off of the energy of other runners on the roads and trails. Not too long ago, I felt like an anomaly on my morning runs down Main Street. However, now I’m seeing heaps of students and community members pounding the pavement before class. It’s fantastic! Not only is the temperature ideal, but the scenery is gorgeous. With the leaves changing colours it is always a nice distraction during fall runs. The beauty of running in the fall, especially during sunrise or sunset, is incredibly calming and tranquil. If you’re looking to connect with your inner zen and beat the stress of school (with the added benefit of keeping fit), make sure to schedule time for fall running. After all, what’s more important than investing in your health? If you are new to Antigonish or have never ventured further than the treadmill, I encourage you to seek out the beautiful running routes Antigonish has to offer. I used to be guilty of running the same routes every day. Since then, I have expanded my repertoire of spectacular running routes. In fact, it was not until the end of my second year that I discovered the Antigonish Landing. Now this running route
has become a staple, just like bananas in my diet. If you are currently running on a treadmill, I encourage you to save that for cold winter days. After all, Antigonish has plenty of them. Start today and ditch that bloody treadmill and reconnect with nature. Running outside has many psychological advantages. Rather than focusing your attention on the treadmill monitor, you can focus on your thoughts while allowing yourself to connect with your body. In addition, you’re less likely to injure yourself when your body is relaxed and you’re running at a pace and stance that feels good for you. Rather than have the treadmill dictate your pace, you have full control over your body and terrain. So where are the best running routes in town, and how can you connect with other running enthusiasts in Antigonish? I used to ask myself the same questions. That’s when I decided to take action and develop a platform to connect the running community. Most recently, I developed a very basic website (www.antigonishroadrunners.com) and Facebook page (Antigonish Road Runners). On this website I’ve listed several popular running routes in Antigonish, created a calendar of events, and included some important training intensities for people looking to improve. I have also created a FREE Wednesday morning running group that departs from the StFX track at 6:30 AM. Whether you are a first time Road Runner, weekend warrior, or a hardened veteran, there is something for everyone in Antigonish.
16
Thursday, 26 September, 2013-The Xaverian