Issue 7, Volume 122

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THE

XAVERIAN VOLUME 122 ISSUE 7 NOV 14 2013

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PARTYING AT GATSBY’S SINCE 1895


ISSUE 7

THE XAVERIAN XAVERIAN WEEKLY

Thursday Mar 29 2012

Volume 120 Issue 20

EDITORIAL STAFF

Thursday, November March 21, 2012 14 2013 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Volume 121 Issue Issue715 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

news Campus wide toy drive kicks off

MANAGING EDITOR Lewis Peter North Forward Joe T hibault xw.managing@stfx.ca | (902) 867-3732

MACDONALD HOUSE INITIATES TOY DRIVE FOR CHILDREN in need of a smile this holiday season

COPY EDITOR Alexandra Adams ART PRODUCT IST IC COORDINATOR ION MANAGER xw.copy@stfx.ca

SEAN MCEVOY | Co-Editor-in-Chief

Clayton Jesus ART IST ICBlagdon COORDINATOR Marie-Eve Pomerleau xw.photo@stfx.ca xw.product@stfx.ca xw.photo@stfx.ca

With the holiday season fast approaching, MacDonald House is taking initiative to spread some cheer by putting smiles on the faces of deserving children. In support of Ronald McDonald House in Halifax, a campus wide Toy Drive will run until December 14th, collecting toy and cash donations. Initiated by MacDonald Alum Jason Thorpe, the drive is a way for him to support a place that supported him in the past. “I was diagnosed with cancer at a young age and spent my time in the IWK (Children’s Hospital)”, says Thorpe. “Anyone that knows the layout of Halifax knows that the Ronald McDonald House is in close proximity to the hospital and for that reason my parents resided there while I was sick. They gave

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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

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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

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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

my parents the opportunity to be close to me as I battled leukemia and for that reason I am grateful because without my family I don’t know if I would be here today.” “In the end I believe that’s a good enough reason to give back not only to the house but to those who currently call the Ronald McDonald House home.”, he adds. Toys will be collected for children ages two to eighteen, as well as other materials such as cooking materials, magazines, sporting equipment, and home decor to support families. Ideas for toys include art supplies, board games, stuffed animals, blankets and various age appropriate electronics. “The toy drive wasn’t a new idea really, I was just looking for the right opportunity to do it and I

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 Julia O’Hanley published on Thursdays by the Xaverian Weekly Publications Board and is xw.report@stfx.ca SPORTS & HEALT H EDITOR editorially autonomous. Jared “Subway” Fogel COLUMNISTS xw.sports@stfx.ca The Xaverian Weekly is a proud member Maria Rizzetto University Press, North of the Canadian America’s largest cooperative of student Matt SENIOR MacDonald REPORT ERS newspapers. Campus Plus is the Xaverian Peter Parker Weekly’s national advertising agency. STAFF Clark Kent WRITERS

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The Xaverian Weekly welcomes Twitter: @xaverianweekly submissions of articles, letters, photos, Facebook: Room 111D, The Bloomfield Xaverian Centre Weekly and graphics. Submissions must be PO Box 924 received by Friday 5 pm the week prior to Submissions St.publication. Francis Xavier University should be sent to xw.eic@stfx.ca or to the relevant Room Antigonish, 111D, NS Bloomfield B2G 2X1 Centre section editor.

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home town in New Brunswick but here at X it has been even better. All the houses are on board and I know that certain houses off campus have shown interest. But of course this would not have been at all possible without the cooperation from the Students Union. I have to thank (VP Student Relations) Kelly Nelson for the support from herself but also from the HPs and VP’s on campus. Everyone has been anxious and excited to donate but I guess we will just have to wait and see if everyone pulls through in the end.” On campus toys will be collected by the respective house presidents up until 5pm on December 14th. For off-campus pickup and further information, email Thorpe at x2011xyd@stfx.ca.

Bruised and Battered MACISAAC DAMAGES ARE THROUGH THE ROOF (AND THE WALLS) MARK RISEBROUGH | News Editor

SPORTS CULTURE&EDITOR HEALT H EDITOR

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feel like right now is the best time”, Thorpe states. “Some people wonder how I come up with this stuff and I just shrug my shoulders, it’s just the way I think. It is a tremendous opportunity to put a smile on a child’s face especially when Christmas is so close. I went to Marcel (MacLellan) and Sean (Patrick) the current HP and VP of MacDonald to see if they were interested in joining and they have done a tremendous job so far. I am extremely excited to see how far this can go.” Thorpe adds he’s very pleased with how the campaign has gone so far in its early stages. “I have been extremely surprised at the response so far. I went home for the long weekend and received a lot of toys from my

Tenants of MacIsaac knew what the residence was going to be like before they even arrived in September, but they probably didn’t see this coming. MacIsaac Hall had been placed on 12-hour quiet hours from 8:00-8:00 due to the plethora of damages that have occurred within the residence. Ripping down exit signs and paper towel dispensers, mattresses being pushed out from windows, smashing ceiling tiles, and the glass covers to fire extinguishers, the creation of a floor slip and slide, and the number one offence: punching, head-butting, and el-

bowing holes in the walls. MacIsaac is up to its regular college shenanigans; heavy is the head that wears that crown. Compliments of the Vice President of Student Relations, Kelly Nelson, the Xaverian has received the costs of the damages that MacIsaac had endured from the month of September. And as a point of comparison, the Xaverian has also received the costs that MacIsaac endured during September of the 2012-13 academic year. These numbers speak for themselves. The costs of damages this year in the month of Septem-

In September, 2012: MacIsaac 1st - $378.50 MacIsaac 2nd - $288.50 MacIsaac 3rd - $751.00 MacIsaac 4th - $171.00 MacIsaac 5th - $60.00 MacIsaac TOT - $1649.00 In September, 2013: MacIsaac 1st - $170.00 MacIsaac 2nd - $1,955.00 MacIsaac 3rd - $1,155.00 MacIsaac 4th - $1,265.00 MacIsaac 5th - $945.00 MacIsaac TOT - $5490.00 ber alone are a staggering 350% more than they were the previous

year. After each weekend in MacIsaac the Residence Life team and the Students’ Union review the damages and determine if the damages are decreasing, increasing, or remaining constant. If the Students’ Union feels that MacIsaac has been doing better, then the SU and the SLO will lift or reduce the sanctions. As of right now, the House Council and the Residence Life Staff in MacIsaac are working together to try and reduce the instances of damage and are working to make Mac a more positive environment.


NEWS 3

The Xaverian-Volume 122 Issue 7

StFX Dean’s lists widened Senate motion increases student’s eligibility for dean’s list JULIA O’HANLEY | Senior Reporter

Changes are being made to students’ eligibility to make the Dean’s Lists here at StFX due to a Senate ruling. At the Senate meeting on Nov 4, Dean of Arts Richard Nemesvari proposed a change to the qualifications for the elite scholastic list, which was passed by the Senate with just minimal opposition. Before the senate meeting, to be included on the Dean’s list a StFX student had to have a 75% average, and be in the top percentile for his/her class: top 20% in first year, top 25% in second year, and in the top 33% in third and fourth years. Only students who met all of these qualifications and were enrolled in a 30 credit academic year were eligible for the list. Students studying only 24 credits were disqualified. The proposal, now legislated by the Senate, will keep most qualifications the same, but will now open the list up to students studying with a 24-credit course load in addition to those who have 30 credit semesters. “It will be the same list; it’ll just be more inclusive,” said Nemesvari. Now every student with an overall average of 75% or greater who is also in the top percentile in a 24 credit academic year will too be allowed a spot on the Dean’s List. There were four reasons why all StFX faculty Deans decided to make this change; the first being to modify an outdated academic system. “Increasingly, the 30 credit/year pattern

is not the standard student pattern,” commented Nemesvari, adding “students are spreading their degrees out; they’re lightening their loads each academic semester.” The second point raised by the Dean was a point of fairness. “There’s a fairness issue that the four Deans thought was dire enough to be addressed. 24 credits is viewed as a full-course load. You are therefore charged full tuition, so why wouldn’t the student be eligible for academic honour via the Dean’s List?” The question certainly resounded with many students, faculty members, and evidently the four Deans. “This became an increasingly difficult question to answer,” thought Nemesvari, which is why the four deans and the senate, he concluded, “answered unanimously in favour of this change.” The third reason made the decision much easier, as there would be no cost to the Deans to change the criteria for Dean’s List eligibility. “There is no disadvantage to be felt by the students,” Nemesvari continued, “because there isn’t going to be students with 30 credits excluded from this.” The Dean claims that this change will facilitate solely positive outcomes; more students will be included in the eligibility, and fewer left out. The fourth and final point raised by Nemesvari is one that was not mentioned at the Senate meeting. This

point had to do with a concern raised by the Committee for Students with Disabilities. Students with disabilities at StFX are often encouraged to take a 24 credit year rather than the standard 30 credit year; Nemesvari thought that “maintaining the 30 credit system is in fact discriminating against students with disabilities. They have to take 24 credits for reasons outside of their control.” Shouldn’t students with disabilities be able to achieve academic honours and public recognition for their scholastic endeavours? There was one downside to the Dean’s List changes that the Dean mentioned in our interview; which concerned the current scholarship system. Scholarships are presently based on a 30 credit academic year. Having the Dean’s List now include 24 credit academic years will cause the two systems to be temporarily out of sync. Nemesvari said the scholarship issue is one that will soon be addressed, “It’s something that we’re going to address, but scholarships are much more complicated than a simply meeting and discussion. This is a small item in the calendar.” Scholarships have multiple layers of complexity and thus need to be treated with respect to these layers. “We’ll get to that, it’s just we couldn’t do them both at the same time without delaying the less problematic one for an extended length of time,” said Nemesvari. Keeping in mind that too much change too fast can quickly lead

to negative consequences, Nemesvari knows that only fools rush in. What do students who have made the StFX Dean’s Lists in years past have to say about all of this? Peter Haskett, a student in his fifth-year of study in the Faculty of Arts made Dean’s List in his third year of study. Haskett was not eligible for the Dean’s list in his fourth-year as he was only taking 24 credits. When asked whether or not he would have made the Dean’s List in his fourth-year with the new rule he said, “Well given that my grades were over 75%, yes. But then again, as far as I am concerned, the Dean’s List is just a nice title on your transcript.” He says the changes are a good idea, but that the Dean’s List is really just a “feel good” title. Jasmine DeZeeuw, a second-year engineering student at StFX, however, does not think the changes are necessarily a good idea. “I made Dean’s List in my first-year when I was studying general sciences. I am against the new changes because it doesn’t put those who are taking a heavier course load on the same playing field as those taking a lighter course load.” While the majority of senate members and faculty think the new change is good idea, some students are reluctant to take the same stance. However, with the motion passed at the senate meeting, changes are in order for the 2013-2014 Dean’s List whether StFX students agree with it or not.

ADVOCATES FOR THE ENVIRONMENt Two stfx Students to Present at AMERICAN GEOPHYSICAL UNION FALL MEETING LAURA ALOISIO | Senior Reporter

Since 1919, the American Geophysical Union (AGU), an international non-profit organization based out of Washington D.C., has gathered scientists, educators, and students to present and share groundbreaking research. This year, AGU’s 46th annual Fall Meeting in San Francisco, California is bringing together over 22,000 delegates from 146 countries to discuss topics that include, but are not limited to, biogeoscience, atmospheric space electricity, aeronomy and hydrogeo, space and tectonophysics. Corporations, governmental agencies, and universities all employ AGU members as their research drives the future of planet exploration, how we will mine natural resources, and how we can influence climate change. Though the description of the conference and the motives behind it make it sound like a place where modern Albert Einstein and Julius Oppenheimer’s

would be, think again. Laura Graham, Sarah MacLeod, Lynette Manuel, Liz O’Connell, and Adrianna Viale, all fourth year undergraduate environmental science students from StFX, will not only attend the event, but will also make presentations at the conference. Based on computer modelling and fieldwork in the Cape Breton Highlands, Laura Graham will present research related to the effect of warmer winters on the increased release of greenhouse gases from soil. This research is a paradigm-shift from the current trend that believed that these gasses were released exclusively in the summer months. Sarah MacLeod, who attended the European Geophysical Union this past spring in the Austrian capital of Vienna, will be discussing how the geographic distribution of forests in particular areas affects our climate. Sarah’s research is rooted in the challenge that, while trees

reduce harmful carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere, their dark leaves deplete the sunlight and heat needed by crops in the surrounding areas. Using a global climate model she monitored and recorded the impact that climate change had as she simulated moving vegetation to different parts of the world. According to the press release, Dr. Dave Risk, an Environmental Science professor here at StFX University, explained how uncommon it is for undergraduates to present at the AGU. “I can only think of two undergrads from StFX who have attended and presented in the last 13 years that I have attended. Furthermore, it is even rarer to have not only two presenting, but to have five students attending in one year.” This is something that Dr. Risk believes he can relate to. As a professor, researcher, and inventor with four pending patents, Dr. Risk won the Outstanding Student Pa-

per Award in biogeoscience at the 2001 American Geophysical Union. If you are an advocate of environment awareness who hopes to prevent further environmental degradation, or just proud to be a student at StFX, please help spread the word of the great accomplishments that these five students have strived long to achieve. To support them directly in raising funds for their trip, contact Laura Graham at x2010npy@stfx.ca. Accomplishments like this help remind everyone that StFX strives for academic excellence and will always throw punches above its weight.


4 NEWS

Thursday, NOVEMBER 14, 2013-The Xaverian

Plans for new StFX institute unveiled Mulroney Institute for Government set to replace Nicholson Hall in 2015 if fundraising goals are met LEWIS FORWARD | Co-Editor-in-Chief

Pending successful fundraising, StFX is working up plans to start construction of a new campus building as early as spring 2015. The Brian Mulroney Institute for Government is the product of the three main goals of the Academic Priorities and Planning Committee; faculty renewal, academic chairs, as well as student scholarships- and significant fundraising efforts leading to the reemergence of plans for the new campus addition. “We have had some major commitments already,” says VP Advancement Tim Lang. “I’m confident that we’ll make it happen. We’ve got a lot of work to do over the next 12 months.” Administrators working on the project have had preliminary discussions with faculty representatives about the programs that would accompany the project, but are waiting for confirmed funding to move forward with further academic planning. “There is discussion about a program of studies that would be connected to the Institute,” says Prof. Jim Bickerton, “and that new opportunities for students would be an important part of ongoing planning for programming going forward.” The new building would be located on the current site of Nicholson Hall, and utilize existing structural components of Nicholson. As part of the full refurbishment, classrooms, hallways, auditoriums, and other facilities would be renovated. Windows would be added- lots of windows- and preliminary designs indicate it would include a new staircase and walkway in front of the building, between Nicholson and the heating plant. Preliminary drawings have also been made for future plans to build a brand new health sciences center where the Annex is currently located- a separate fundraising goal. These student opportunities, according to Lang, would include government internships, scholarships, and other student work experience and financial need related programs. “We might have a fund to allow us to send [students] to work in a government office or a political office....So they could get hands on real life experience.” Plans for the Mulroney Institute are modeled loosely on Harvard’s Kennedy School for Government. As both a full Nicholson Hall refurbishment

and focused institute,it would include improved and modernized classroom space and an addiction of curricula and programs that would fit with the Institution’s focus on the arts. Lang told the Xaverian that the Institute is partly meant to provide a revitalization and enhancement of the StFX Arts program. “The arts is in decline in enrollment across Canada, it’s not unique to StFX. It’s too bad because StFX has a long, proud history in its arts program. We’ve made Premiers and Prime Ministers....This Mulroney Institute for Government would also help us attract students to the arts as well. It’s not just political science, it’s sociology, it’s history, its anthropology. We think if this is successful it would be a great addition to StFX. To some extent, we would like to model it after the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. So not only with the academic chairs, but also with student internships so students get lots of experiential learning. Former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney is a StFX alum, and has credited StFX with providing him with much of his leadership training. With a fundraising goal of $40 million, project advocates are still actively seeking donors for the project. “Its sometimes tough to go out and say, ‘hey, we need money,’” says Lang. “When you go out and have a project or a name, like we did with the Schwartz building and the McKenna centre, or in this case the Mulroney Institute, it makes it that much easier to achieve our objectives,” says Lang. Lang and other senior administration members are hoping that private donations will cover most of the cost, and are hopeful that federal funding will supplement these donations. The contacts that Mulroney made throughout his career are apparently easing the process of fundraising significantly. “The amount of money we need to raise is substantial, and we’re working hard to do that. We’re fortunate to have a number of Mulroney associates and colleagues who are very interested in doing something in his name, because they personally have benefitted, or they see how Canada economically has grown because of him.”


OPINIONS 5

The Xaverian-Volume 122 Issue 7

OPINIONS The girls you will meet at X How do you solve a problem like maria? MARIA RIZZET TO | Columnist

As a counterpart to the previous “Guys You Will Meet at X” article, I bring to you the rightfully lengthy and complicated list of the girls you will meet at X… The Unicorn. Her name never comes up in any controversial conversations. You met her at an academic event or the biggest of parties. Wherever it was, she was the centre of attention – without knowing it, of course. This is a rare commodity in the 'Nish, so it adds to her mystical aura. She can be found almost anywhere, depending on the time of day: class, gym, volunteering, library, bar, or wherever she works. She is the definition of well-rounded. You most likely had, or will have, a close encounter with her – but never close enough. This leaves you exploring the rest of the girls on this list... The Master. The reality is she doesn't know if she's ready for anything serious, but she knows she can never be too single. Dating is a game and she is always winning. Everything will seem to be going fine until it's not, on her side of things anyway. Even though you are probably left confused about this, questioning it further will probably result in being fed some lame, fabricated excuse about not being over the last guy she dated. Just bury it. The girl with the boyfriend back home. You can pick this girl out particularly easy. During the first or second interaction with "the girl with the boyfriend back home" whether you're inviting her to party, group outing, or even for a study session, you will be

immediately rejected with some variation of the phrase, "Well, just so you know, I have a boyfriend," despite the fact that you weren't interested – even though you were, a little. Chasing what you can’t have is fun for a while, but the constant boyfriend talk gets old fast and you must learn to sink or swim: befriend or abandon. The girl “with the boyfriend back home.” No, this is not a mistake. These are two distinct categories. This girl can easily be mistaken for “The Unicorn.” She seems ideal: attractive, driven, busy but not too busy, and you are certain she was flirting with you at least twice. It looks like game on, until someone promptly informs you that she is taken. Quickly you resort to who you consider to be your most reliable mutual friend to unravel the truth. You are then shattered to hear, “Yeah man, that shit is on Facebook.” Well if it’s on Facebook we all know it must be serious… right? Luminous library girl. This is the female version of the “Academic Prodigy.” Just because a girl spends more than the average time in the library, doesn’t necessarily mean she doesn't want a distraction besides social media. This girl studies constantly while deep down she would love to be pulled away from her work. When that time does come she wants to appear to be spontaneous but actually have all her work done, like a good straight-A student. Only, and I mean only, if the nerdy girl is actually interested, will she be able to time manage enough to fit in both her term paper and you.

The stage 5-clinger. This girl can surface in two circumstances. First, you pursued her way too hard when she played hard to get and took her out on what you considered to be one of the best dates ever. You truly outdid yourself. It wasn’t until halfway through the date you came across this deal breaker. Too late, pal. Second, you barely remember anything, but you must be some secret Kama Sutra master when you black out because she is smitten. Her number gets programmed into your phone without you asking, when you look later to see if she actually went there, you see she texted herself “test.” Good luck. The Tease. She flirts with you uncontrollably in every situation, as she does with everyone. People say she has her fun, but nobody can say they’ve gone there. You dance with her all night, even though you normally never dance. You buy her a drink and you never buy girls drinks. You even buy her pizza! You walk her all the way home completely across town and away from the comfortable bed that would never tell you, “I had a great time tonight, you’re so much fun!” and you watch her disappear into her house. Idiot. Your best friend’s hot girlfriend. From the second he brought her home you knew it was going to be hell. You can’t stop staring at her when she’s around and you find yourself playing Devil’s Advocate when they’re fighting, or maybe you ask a little too many questions. She probably does flirt with you a bit when he is not

around and maybe she is secretly into you too. Be very, very careful; investigating this further could end in embarrassment or the suffering of a friendship. You’re better off waiting it out regardless of how much you’ve convinced yourself she is with the wrong guy. One of the boys. She is ready and waiting to play video games or watch almost any sporting event televised. You may or may not fall for her. If you do, you better make it known. More likely than not she has already written you off as a potential dating prospect so you have your work cut out for you. Try to break away from the group sometime; hanging out with everyone is fun but so are activities for two. She will take the hint graciously, for your sake. The free spirited first-year. Most of us have been there. These girls will eventually mold into one of the previous categories. So fresh, so fun. The bat-shit-crazy hot mess. You can’t miss her even if you try. She is wherever you are, grinding on every living human, male or female, and sometimes just objects. She is an older, less refined version of “the free spirited first-year.” She may even scare you a bit. Even though her behaviour is not really socially acceptable anymore and you actively avoided her all night, you still find yourself sending the 2:43am “what’s up” text knowing that you will, without a doubt, regret it in the morning.

November sucks, but that doesn’t mean you have to No other month of the year can compare EMILY KEENAN | Contributor

One of my good friends back home is synesthetic. His senses blend together so that stimulation of one sense will consistently trigger a response in another. He hears colours and feels sounds, all the while thinking this is completely normal. Over the years we’ve gotten into many heated arguments about whether or not the number eight is arrogant or if Wednesday is yellow or blue. One thing we’ve always been able to agree on, however, is that November completely and wholeheartedly embodies a murky, shit-stain brown. Let’s face it: November sucks. No other month of the year can compare to November’s abysmal canvas of thirty dreadful days. She kicks off her nastiness by deceiving each of us with our false friend Daylight Savings Time. As grateful as we

may be for an extra hour to sleep off that Halloween hangover, that gratitude doesn’t hang around for long once we realize we’re living in perpetual darkness, beginning the four-month stretch of zombiehood from lack of Vitamin D. Not that November gives you any incentive to be outside to lap up what little sunlight you can. The leaves have fallen but the snow has yet to arrive, leaving you with the sensation that you’re walking around in a graveyard filled with gaunt, pale, stressed out students. The world is dying, and you begin to feel like the life is literally being sucked out of you. You start to feel the Freshman 15 coming on, or whichever fifteen it is you’re working on this time around. Your jar of peanut butter definitely wasn’t that empty the last time you looked at it… or was it?

Hibernation mode begins and the old man sweaters and socks are here to stay - that is, when you’re not wrapped up in your covers since your biological clock thinks it’s always nighttime. The few hours a day that aren’t spent in bed trying to escape from this old hag of a month are wasted toiling away at your desk, only getting up to turn on the kettle for another cup of tea. Second midterms, papers, finals; it never ends. Were you wondering why we were graced with that lovely long weekend? That’s because suicide rates among students skyrocket in November. We were generously granted those few days off to regain our sanity before we return to the madness that is the rest of this next month. November: the month where your fall clothes are too cold but you’d become a so-

cial pariah were you to break out your Canada Goose; the month where that cute boy in your calculus class is suddenly not so cute anymore since there’s a ferret growing on his face; the month where the only thing you have to look forward to is for the month to be over. But fret not, fellow labourers: very soon the darkness in which we dwell will be illuminated by strings of white and coloured lights! Yes, this month will drag on and drag us with it, but every tumultuous day brings us one step closer to last class bash, Christmas music that will have you kicking yourself for hating November, getting your X-ring, printing your plane tickets… and we’ll be looking around asking ourselves where another semester has gone. November sucks. Don’t suck with it, Xaverians.


6 OPINIONS

Thursday, NOVEMBER 14, 2013-The Xaverian

in red we remember

WHITE POPPIES DRAW CONTROVERSY AND THE IRE OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION DANIEL COCHRANE | Contributor

Shockwaves were felt across Canada this week when a group of students at the University of Ottawa decided to wear and distribute white poppies, as part of the Rideau Institute’s “I remember for peace” campaign. As you might expect, this drew in the ire of the Royal Canadian Legion, who for decades have been distributing the well-known red poppy in remembrance of those who served. Celyn Dufay, a student of the University of Ottawa, says that their aim is to work for peace, rather than to celebrate war. As the long weekend and Remembrance Day have just passed, and Canadi-

ans everywhere bowed their heads in respect, I ask the question that Celyn and her fellow detractors of the holiday raise: What does Remembrance Day mean to you? I have a great uncle who died on the beaches of Normandy, and while I never knew him, I know what the war meant to him and to those who served with him during that chaotic battle. To the men and women who served our country and the world during the darkest days of human existence, Remembrance Day will never be a celebration of good times past, of the heyday of their youth, or of the time they got to backpack through Europe. It is, was,

and will remain a time to remember what youth, the very same age as us, had to endure to provide us with the freedom we have and subsequently take for granted. Some may have gone to experience the perceived romanticism of chivalry as it was portrayed in so many epics. Others may have gone to show their bravery with the hope that they could wipe out their opposition and come home a decorated hero! Most went because they were more afraid of being called a coward by their peers than of being shot. Unfortunately, they soon realized that the glamourized version of war that they expected was a lie, and

that each day would be met with the death of friends and loved ones in a foreign land, with no sense of whether their time would come next. When the war was over, those who survived and returned home were celebrated, but they also carried with them the horrors of what they had seen and done, a weight that would be too heavy for most to bear. So each year, we honour these people: the dead and the living, who, despite the fear facing them each day, had the strength of will to continue and triumph against those in the world who would take away the standards of living we each hold so dear.

They fought for the equality of all people regardless of their race or gender. They fought for the right to be who you are and do what you want in life, and the right to stand up for what you believe in. As Winston Churchill memorably said, “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.” It is truly the efforts of these men and women who changed the world, and the course of history, and each year we celebrate their memory not to “celebrate war”, but to never forget the atrocities that these people had to endure for our freedom – including the freedom to hand out a white poppy.

SCOTT JONES tragedy is troubling We simply have to act in response to this terrible tragedy LIAM STORY | Contributor

I wish to speak out to the Xaverian community about something that concerns everybody. For some time now I have been deeply troubled by a tragedy that has befallen an innocent young man. A greater tragedy, perhaps, is that it is part of ongoing madness that has been snowballing for far too long. The indelibility of the initial shock on my conscience has prompted me to write this article, in the hopes that I might do some good and share my thoughts on the issue. I refer to the recent attempt on the life of a 27 year old choir director in New Glasgow. Scott Jones was attending the opening of the new Eventide art gallery that evening, and was violently and senselessly attacked with a knife while walking home. His throat was slashed and he was stabbed multiple times in the spinal cord, paralyzing him. Scott survived this hate crime and is being treated in hospital, but the damage done here is obvious and widely felt. This concerns you – YOU, reading this right now. Here in Antigonish we have our fair share of problems on the surface, terrible driving be-

ing perhaps among the most prevalent. However, not 45 minutes away, in the town where I grew up, there is a much more aggressive problem, growing more evident with the daily addition of violent behaviour and sickness. Over the last few years, Pictou County has earned a pretty sinister reputation, due almost exclusively to the escalating violence and negative behaviours that have caused a great deal of lasting pain and suffering within the community. This is a place that is now tragically identified with the murder of Amber Kirwan, the bath salt capital of Canada, and the place where the municipal police are in possession of a tank. Yes, a tank. While I cannot deny that the reputation has surely worsened since these specific tragedies have unfurled, some of my fondest memories of growing up there are still contrast with those unpleasant occasions where cars would bypass me walking on the sidewalks and the strangers within would feel a need to yell homophobic slurs in my direction, which was unfortunately not at all uncommon for pedestrians to en-

counter in those days. While I was in High School, I distinctly remember incidents of stabbings, one of such which resulted in an elderly man’s death on a sidewalk on Washington Street. When so many of these negative things are occurring around you every day growing up, it is easy to become desensitized to it and turn instead to apathy. You begin to view the whole place as a kind of cesspool that merely warrants ignoring, as it is seen to be an unchangeable entity somehow separate from you or your own interests. In reality, nothing could be further from the truth. Scott Jones is an outstanding citizen in New Glasgow. He is a loved, wellrespected individual who has dedicated his life to music and spreading joy throughout the community. The individual who chose to attack him is a sick person who is obviously filled with hatred and anger. Today Scott has the ongoing support of friends and family, but the road ahead will be a lot harder if nothing is done about this crime. We are all lucky that Scott is alive with us today. Some people have not survived these vicious attacks, and the effect

of this on the collective consciousness of everyone is still being felt. Too many young people in Pictou County have been lost to murder, drugs, and illness. Perhaps here in Antigonish, 45 minutes away from this problematic culture, we are accustomed to not caring much. After all, the university lifestyle is very much centred around having fun, papers that need writing, and exams to study for – who has time to worry about the plight of someone we may not know? We all have time to worry about this – after all, do we at StFX not encounter violence in our binge-drinking; do we not know women who are sexually assaulted and have nowhere to turn; and even people with mental or other health issues who are dismissed or not given proper assessment and treatment? Are we really so enlightened in our academic world, or are we living behind an administrative wall? If you think the former, perhaps you are content to allow parking tickets to take precedence over true safety and security, and alcohol over better judgement. I, however, am tired of a hostile environment where passing

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judgement upon others supersedes acceptance and violence trumps peace. The reason this happens at all is not because evil outweighs the good in our society, but rather that apathy has come to outweigh empathy, and this is just as great a danger. We, as the young generation, must decide now whether we want to continue our preoccupation with our egotistic selves, or whether we want to be a part of something that is infinitely greater than all the of the hatred we see in homophobes, racists, and people with sadistic intent combined. When we finally wake up and realize that we are not the centre of our lives, but rather that all people are intrinsically connected, then perhaps we can look beyond the superficial veil that our society has thrown over true kinship. If you would like to know more about how to get involved with this issue, you can visit www.supportscottjones.com, where you can make donations or offer your thoughts and emotional support for Scott and his family. Together, we can do away with hatred. We simply have to act.


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The Xaverian-Volume 122 Issue 7

keeping your focus and the dooms of distraction Tips and tricks on how to maintain your grades and your sanity during one of the most stressful times of the year MICHEL BOUCHER | Contributor

It’s that time of year again. You’ve decided that your paper is more important than personal hygiene; there are Doritos, which you’ve convinced yourself is brain food, strewn across your desk. Every human being around you has now become your worst enemy due to lack of sleep. That’s right: it’s paper week and distraction are everywhere. To help get you through this tough time here are some tips to help you stay concentrated while writing your paper. 1. Block Facebook and Youtube If you are distracted by how many likes your newest Facebook comment is getting, or you just want to see that guy get kicked in the genitals one more time, you might be interested in apps like StayFocused, Productivity Owl, or Leechblock. If you can’t stay away from time-wasting websites while you are writing a paper, blocking them for a limited amount of time might help you. StayFocused and Productivity Owl are add-ons for chrome that will help you do just that. You can also use Leechblock if you use Firefox to surf the net. Just add in the amount of time you want these websites to be blocked and you should have no problem finishing your paper. These add-ons are highly effective tools, and will help you get through your essay without any distractions. 2. Pick the Right Study Space You have probably been told this many times before, but finding a quiet and clean study space is probably

ANGELA MACKENZIE | Staff Writer

one of the best ways to maximize your productivity. When choosing a place to study, make sure there is nothing in your field of vision that will distract you. For example, you should not be writing your paper near a television. Also, there should be no noise to take your attention away from the computer. Therefore, the StFX music room would probably be a place you should steer clear of. Follow these steps and your paper should be finished in no time. This might be an oldie but it works. 3. Take a break You might be inclined to think that working 4 hours straight on your paper is a good idea, but taking breaks is probably one of the best ways to ensure you write a quality paper in a reasonable amount of time. Given that our attention span only lasts so long (less than one hour, and I’m being generous) it might be a good idea to give yourself a break every once and a while. If your eyes stay glued to that computer screen for too long, you tend to become less productive and more easily distracted. Try and set yourself a goal and once you achieve that goal just relax for a little while. Eating a snack might help boost your energy so you can stay focused that much longer when you take a second crack at your paper. Abide by these tips and you may find that staying concentrated on your paper is a lot easier than you thought.

Even as I speak, students are finding new ways to procrastinate from school life. I know many times I have gone over to my desk determined to write an essay only to get distracted by the abyss that is the internet. There are ways to avoid these distractions so that your assignments can get done stress free. 1. Turn off your Wi-Fi! If you are writing an essay or doing an assignment that only requires your text book, then having your Wi-Fi settings turned off is a smart idea. That way you have to take those few extra steps before getting on your browser and it will get you to stop and think about what you really need the internet for. 2. Leave your phone at home. One of the biggest distractions I find is having my phone on me while I’m typing up an assignment. If you leave your phone at home, or if your turn your phone off and leave it in your backpack, you will find you get a lot more work done. If it’s out of sight then it will also – hopefully – be out of mind. 3. Listen to lyric-free music. I find listening to soft background music really helps me studying. If you are one of those people who need to listen to music while you study I suggest finding something lyric-free. A great 8Tracks playlist for this is called “Improving Your Mind”. It’s the perfect playlist for studying – it has movie soundtracks and popular singles without the lyrics so you can have some background music without getting distracted by singing. 4. Earplugs. Some people prefer per-

fect silence while studying, however even in the library there can be white noise. The slight whisper here, the occasional cough, and the rustling of pages or clicking of keyboard keys. If you are one of these people who can’t stand any kind of noise while studying, invest in some neon orange earplugs. They’re fashionable, and they block sound out! You can finally be alone with your thoughts while you study. 5. Study with others. I find one of the biggest ways to avoid distractions is to study with others who will keep you on track. Yes, there is a higher chance of getting off topic and talking too long with your friends, however if you are studying with others you are less likely to go on Facebook or reach for your phone. If you are there with a bunch of people to study then at least one person will keep you on track. 6. Pick an appropriate place to study. There are so many hidden places on campus to study, and depending on how you study you may want to avoid certain places. If you want a quieter place go to the Library; if you are better studying with noise in the background, the SUB is a good place for that. Don’t go to the wrong place if you know that you will not get anything done in that setting. These are just a few ways to avoid distractions while studying or writing assignments. Little things like this will help keep you focused and on the right track. Whether you choose to follow them or not is a different story. But beware: procrastination is something that will always be lurking.

V-Card (that membership you didn’t sign up for) Get thee from the nunnery. Leave the virgin alone V. FARLEY | Staff Writer

Is it okay to be a virgin at university? My first response to this question is “Of course!” and an eye roll – leaving the “Duh!” to be implied. The state of your hymen or whatever the male equivalent is, commonly called the “v-card”, is no one’s business but your own. If you’re okay with being a virgin or a non-virgin then everyone else should be too. Virgins aren’t even in bad company. According to the National Student, 31% of students say they aren’t having sex and the number of admitted virgins tends to be from 11% to 15% of the student population. And even if you’re a wannabe non-virgin and are worried you’ll never get to experience sex – you have time. Life expectancy has been steadily increasing in Canada to 80.93 years. And let’s face it: sex is fairly popular pastime, so the chances of you finding a willing partner are more likely than your chances of meal hall having your comfort food on the day you really need it. My second response is: why does

anyone give a you-know-what about what appears to be a fairly personal topic? That is not a rhetorical question, bu I do not have an answer for it. I am genuinely puzzled. Is it a gossip thing? I know that technology like cell phones and Facebook make us think we have to know everything about everyone we’ve ever met and magazines, alongside the internet, ensure that we can keep up to date on the doings of even the people we’ll never know personally. But the phrase TMI exists for many reasons, and because no one’s invented brain-bleach yet, those reasons remain valid. It seems like virginity is associated with qualities that have little to do with all the sex they are not having. Sleeping around, or not, has nothing to do with your courage or intellect or any quality that matters, with the exception of cheaters- I’d imagine that would reflect someone’s loyalty. You don’t need an imagination as fertile as mine to come up with rea-

sons, some of them even a little embarrassing, for remaining a virgin that aren’t such stereotypes as “too hideous”, “too religious”, or “too frigid”. Maybe you had to take one of those awful mechanical babies home as a school assignment and it kept you up all night for a week and you decided you would never risk children until you had the money to hire a 24/7 nanny. Maybe you’re asexual. For those not in the know, asexual does not refer to amoebas or aliens – they are people who don’t experience sexual desire. They might be able to appreciate you’re attractive, but they’re never going to connect the observation of “that girl/guy has a finely shaped rear according to the standards of my society” to the thought of “I’d tap that.” Maybe you’re sworn to forego the pleasures of physical intimacy until you’ve valiantly conquered the fearsome beast that is your honours thesis. Maybe you’re waiting to meet your Cullen of choice – well, you get the idea.

And even in the non-virgin camp, some students might be going without. Just because you’re at university doesn’t mean everyone one you know is hooking up. Some people who have lost their cherry might choose to be celibate while at university. Maybe they too need to ignore sex in favour of acting classes and job hunting – not to dismiss sex as a mere distraction, but there’s a lot less mood music and scheduling involved in taking care of yourself. Maybe they’re involved in a long distance relationship with their childhood sweetheart. Or maybe, just like with the virgins, it’s their choice and it doesn’t really matter why. It’s a brave new world! Your limbs and features and privates and everything else all belong to you to do with as you please. However, remember: this promise does not include protection from either societal or peer pressure and you should see a doctor if you do intend to exercise your sexual freedom.


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Thursday, NOVEMBER 14, 2013-The Xaverian

Culture bringing the world to antigonish the coady brings students from abroad, but stfx and the coady need to be brought together MAGGIE EDWARDS | Contributor

Despite the shared campus, students of StFX and the Coady International Institute have limited interaction. Although collective knowledge, resources, and interaction would benefit both groups, they remain divided. The Coady International Institute, named after the Antigonish Movement leader Moses M. Coady, joined the StFX campus in 1959. Since, it has been a space to “train leaders from around the world in the principles and practice of people-based approach to development” that was ignited by the Movement. According to the Coady website, the institute is “committed to breaking down and transforming the North/South divide by bringing Canadians and people from the Global South together to exchange innovations and learn from each other.” Perhaps this process should begin at the local level by bringing Coady participants and StFX students together. There is undoubtedly much to learn from each other. Coady and StFX students provide access points for each other becoming members of the global society and potential to enrich each others’ experience. While Coady participants can provide StFX students with a look into the Global South, StFX students can provide Coady participants with a connection to the Global North. The two schools provide

avenues of cultural awareness and global understanding, but it seems these avenues are virtually vacant. Establishing long-term connections with Coady participants can provide StFX students with valuable experience working with people from diverse cultures and may lead to international job opportunities. Interaction with the Coady Institute, through events such as there and Culture Night, various meet-and-greets, or simply day-to-day interaction can increase our cultural awareness and acceptance of diverse groups. Likewise, StFX students can be a great asset to Coady participants. Returning students who are acquainted with local resources both on and off campus have the opportunity to be cultural ambassadors assisting Coady participants, helping them to become oriented to their new environment, thereby reducing their culture shock. With such potential, why does there seem to be a divide between the students and participants? Of course, StFX students and Coady participants do not interact much in the classroom. However, the classroom is not the only interactive space on campus. All students have accessed meal hall, yet it is evi-

dent that students from the two schools do not use this as an opportunity to mingle. The disparate academic calendars also pose an issue when it comes to bridging the gap. Coady diploma students arrive at the end of July, and depart after their graduation in December while StFX students arrive in September and depart in April. In the past, interaction between students has existed with-

in the classroom through common courses such as the shared nursing and Coady course on international health and development. This has been very beneficial for collaborative work between the two groups, creating a strong learning environment built on diverse experiences and ideas. However, crossover courses are increasingly difficult to maintain as class schedules of Coady participants and StFX students are not conducive to this format. Coady students come with specific goals and focuses per-

taining to their professional careers, whereas most StFX students are studying for careers they don’t have yet. We should not be divided by our different objectives, but united by our universal values in education and learning. Even the language that defines the two institutions constructs barriers by creating distinction between StFX “students” and Coady “participants.” Although the Coady Institute is a part of StFX, it is often viewed as a separate entity. Perhaps Coady participants should be viewed as StFX students as well in order to establish unity between them and undergrad students at StFX. Welcome socials take place for each new group of Coady participants that arrive on campus. They are perfect social settings to make connections between participants and students. They are open to all students at StFX, but are not well attended. Will we see this disconnect between students perpetuate? The CoadyFX society hopes not. The society’s mission is to “foster an environment that enhances the learning experience of the Coady participants and X students by blending the two student populations in a way that elicits social unity, friend-

ship, and brings about a broader perspective of our world.” The CoadyFX team works with Coady’s Liaison Committee to create spaces for participants and students to interact. The committee can request to have certain activities such as swimming lessons and soccer games, and CoadyFX connects these opportunities to StFX students as resources to initiate them. These are great interactive opportunities and can be used to connect larger groups of students together. The International Student Society is also working on bridging the gap between the Coady and StFX. In the past, the society has supported the Coady Institute through participation in their events. However, this year the society plans to take a more active role by collaborating with them on these events and initiatives. The society president, Natalie Moo, says the society would like to “provide them with support in any way when given the opportunity.” They would also like to link international students with Coady participants from the same countries. StFX students and Coady participants that have connected realize the incredible opportunities we have by sharing this campus. Hopefully our futures will be more interconnected at StFX and beyond.

an international perspective one coady student’s stfx experience KULDEEP SINGH | Coady Participant

My name is Kuldeep Singh and I am a development worker and human rights advocate for slum dwellers in Delhi, India. My story begins in mid-December of last year. I was very happy and relaxed during the Christmas season hoping for

the good Christmas program with my family. A week before Christmas I got an email from Robert, my friend who attended Coady International Institute Diploma Program in 2002. The email was an announcement of admission about the Diploma course. Initially I just ignored the email, assuming that it was not fit for me, as I had already completed my two Masters and had a registered PhD since 2010. Robert was very persuasive and he convinced me that the Diploma course was a U-turn for his life. The most significant thing I observed about my friend Robert was that he was more assertive and compassionate after attending the Coady in 2002. It

still took a month for me to decide whether I should apply for the Diploma. I realized that I had certain grey areas in my life which blocked me from doing more for the community. I found hope seeing Robert’s performance. I prayed & decided to apply for the 2013 Diploma program. My heart was filled with joy and happiness when I shared my decision with my director and he agreed to endorse and support my decision. This journey was not as easy. The Diploma was more than 4 months long but I had been heading my organization for last 8 years. I delegated my responsibilities to key staff through personal orientation

and induction. It was a delightful moment when I got a letter of acceptance from the Coady Institute. I would like to thank CIDA for their generous support. Without them my journey would not have been possible. But every journey is not so easy. Unfortunately, a day after I applied for my Visa to come study in Canada, there was a strike of professional staff in Canadian embassies worldwide. But finally my dream came through and I arrived at Coady. Although Antigonish is small town compare to New Delhi where I live, I find that Antigonish is a wonderful and peaceful place surrounded by natural scenic beauty. Undoubtly, the

people of Antigonish were welcoming as they warmly greeted me. The facilitators at the Coady International Institute are real life-coaches. It was amazing and unusual to observe that St.FX students are very sports loving, especially girls, as it not the same in India. With the new knowledge and I have gained I am going to transform and transfer this knowledge for building a just and peaceful society. There is no ambiguity, as my learning at Coady is really life transforming. It is not only academic gain but I succeeded in understanding/identifying my own personal barriers. This journey is not ending here. Indeed, it is the beginning of new journey.


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The Xaverian-Volume 122 Issue 7

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Culture, Creation, Connection, & Celebration A Home Base for New Glasgow’s Newest ART GALLERY DEVON GREENE | Staff Writer

New Glasgow is a small town that is changing in a big way. Known to many StFX students as that town next door with Wendy’s and the movie theatre, it is often overlooked as a home of arts and culture. In fact, until recently the majority of its own residents have been unaware of the artistic potential this little town has. What was once a place of tradition and folk art is rapidly evolving into a source of fresh, edgy, and innovative talent. Eventide Art Hub opened in early October, making it New Glasgow’s newest addition to the arts community. It serves as a centre for artists to create and showcase their work and become part of a network that connects them to other artists and supporters. Eventide Art Hub is a not-for-profit, artist-run centre that was born of a collaboration of artists and supporters. Executive Director Andy Cunningham first had the idea for a space like this in 2008. “Going to school and moving around the country put a hold on plans for the space but after returning to plan the second New Glasgow’s Art at Night, the need for a permanent office became evident to me.” says Cunningham. During his years spent working with local artists to develop projects of a variety of mediums, from film to music to visual art, Cunningham knew there was a strong artistic presence in New Glasgow but it needed an outlet in order to make itself known. The opportunity to make this much-needed resource into a reality presented itself in August of 2013 when Cunningham found a space in downtown New Glasgow that had everything he was looking for and more. “The space we found was much larger than what we planned, but it

brought me back to the ideas I had in 2008. I saw the potential that was there, so we did it.” Originally meant to be used as an office for New Glasgow’s Art at Night, which is an annual festival to celebrate art, Cunningham soon realized the potential to create a multipurpose centre that could be used by artists for creation and connection. Eventide Art Hub consists of four parts working as one entity to support the creation and promotion of art in all its capacities. The hub includes Intentions Art Market, Look Up Art Gallery, artist studios, and serves as a homebase for New Glasgow’s Art at Night. As a whole, the hub fosters art in every stage from the ground-up: creation, display, retail, and celebration. The studio space is available for artists to design and create either privately or allow visitors to witness creation in action. The studio not only supports art from the very roots of existence, but it also inspires and encourages artistic creativity by providing easy access to the required light and space and is complete with an in-room sink. Look Up Art Gallery serves both artist and audience by providing a place for art to be displayed and performed. The gallery is an opportunity for artists to showcase their work for public viewing and expand their audience. It also exposes the general public to contemporary art, allowing people to explore and discover art within their community. The next piece of the puzzle, Intentions Art Market, is a direct link from artists to public. It allows artists to share their work in a tangible way through retail sale and offers the public the chance to bring art into their own lives. There is a diverse selection of mediums available at Intentions Art Market including visual art, magazines, and music on CD or vinyl. The market is welcoming of all types

of art and artists who wish to share their work, creating a multidimensional resource through which the public can access a variety of local art. Eventide Art Hub also serves as a home-base for New Glasgow’s Art at Night which takes place in May. This annual multivenue festival is a celebration of the art that shapes a community. The event is helping to bring the once-hidden artistic community into the foreground of life in New Glasgow. With its new permanent home, Art at Night will be able to grow and reach out to more artists and spectators. Facilitated by Eventide Art Hub, plans for Art at Night 2014 are Left- Bronte Boucher, local artist already underway Right- Andy Cunningham, Executive director for the first weekPhoto Credit- Josh McKenzie end in May. Despite being a new addition to of the art hub are excited to use events downtown New Glasgow, Eventide Art like these to build a strong community Hub is already a widely recognized based on creativity and expression in a presence in the community. Eventide safe and open-minded environment. recently showed its support for its comEventide Art Hub is located at 199 munity members by hosting an art auc- Provost St. in New Glasgow and is tion to raise funds for local musician currently featuring M.E. Sparks’ From and supporter Scott Jones who suffered There to Here in the Look Up Art Gala spinal injury in early October. This lery until Nov 23. More information event raised $4, 550 to go directly to about the art hub, including hours of Scott. Eventide also helps bring people operation, can be found at www.eventogether by hosting an official opening tidearthub.com and on the hub’s Faceto each new artist featured in the Look book page, Eventide Art Hub. Up Art Gallery. Friends and supporters

PRISSY PIG MORNINGS their breakfast WILL HAVE YOU EATINg like a pig LAURA ALOISIO | Senior Reporter

On Main Street most of the action, happens in the west end. For those that are directionally challenged, that’s the end near Shoppers and The Wheel. The east end is reserved for visiting parents that have lost their way and wander into “the other” Tim Horton’s to ask for directions. But right on the corner of St. Andrew’s and Main is the much-overlooked Prissy Pig. Mornings aren’t for you, but still love breakfast? The Prissy Pig serves up a tasty all-day breakfast menu. Tony’s Breakfast Special is the way to get everything you want for a low cost. For only $5.50 you get two fresh eggs made to order, home fries, and Texas toast. Tony’s Meats provides the local sides and you can choose between ham or sausage. Can’t decide which? The Farm House Breakfast re-

lieves the pressure. For $1.45 extra, you get both ham AND sausage: decision made. If you are looking for something different, then try their Homemade Buttermilk Pancakes. They are served with bacon or sausage, topped with sweet berry sauce, and whipped. Want to go light? Try the Veggie Bagel, which is topped with spinach, tomato and red onion, all on a thick layer of yummy cream cheese. If you decided to sleep in, lunch at the Prissy Pig is a great option if you know what to order. I would stay away from the sandwiches and go for the salads. The shaved smoked ham & swiss is served on fresh rye bread and the honey mustard mayo had a good spicy sweet balance. However, the shaved smoked ham is tough and the giant

stack required too much effort to chew. Sandwiches come with the choice of soup or salad or a bag of potato chips for $1.50 more. I went with the special, bacon and potato soup, but it had an overpowering bacon taste that dwarfed the subtle richness of the potatoes. Make sure to complete your meal with a dessert item and a cup of coffee. You can add in a flavor shot to mix it up or remain a purest and just stick with coffee. The cinnamon roll is $1.69-worth of disappointment. With cinnamon only covering the bare bones of the roll it leaves the majority just flavourless dough. If you have any dietary needs, vegan options and many gluten free options are available, all still using the same high quality local ingredients. The Prissy Pig has made great efforts to try and cater to students. The

first annual 2013/2014 StFX Student Menu is good everyday for all students. Just bring your student ID card and receive exclusive access to a special menu that includes specially priced breakfast and lunch features. If none of these significantly reduced price items work for you, you can still receive 10% off any of their other menu items posted in the restaurant excluding refreshments. The Prissy Pig is a great place for breakfast and I would be tempted to try some of the special lunch items reserved for students. The atmosphere was bright and airy and, with free WiFi, it’s a great place to work on that paper or get some studying in before finals. Overall, the Prissy Pig is on a road less travelled but, to further paraphrase Robert Frost, it is well worth the journey.


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Thursday, NOVEMBER 14, 2013-The Xaverian

epic wing night plaskett plasters the inn and floors the audience BLAKE CREAMER | Contributor

T’was 5 o’clock Wednesday evening when the name of a surprise musical guest was officially unveiled for last weeks Epic Wing Night. Despite the Student Union’s tightly sealed lips, at some point during the word slipped out and the familiar name rolled around campus like an unopened beer can, the pressure and excitement growing with every whisper: “Joel”. Was it ever a long hump-day at the library. From an early hour the Golden X Inn was filled with guests enjoying beer, wings and the Inn’s ever-inviting, hyper-social atmosphere. By 9 o’clock, the frequent wing night performers RJ and Michael Gillespie had filled the dance floor with staple wing night sing-alongs and the

crowd was feverish in a haze of anticipation. Based on the unbroken Joel Plaskett dialogue heard around campus that day, fans were equally excited at the prospect of a solo acoustic set as one where Mr. Plaskett is joined by his band, the Emergency. This November 5th, the Inn greeted the slender, acoustic guitar wielding, Halifax native with cheers and open arms. As he strolled on stage, the beer can burst and all eyes and ears fell on stage. As expected, Joel did not disappoint. The lineup of tunes strung through the lot of his career, from early Emergency tracks through some songs from his newest, summer 2013 release, Scrappy Happiness. The Inn served as a great

standing-room venue, with a mass of fans flowing from stage to bar. The crowd swayed and danced, all singing along to the iconic Atlantic Canadian songs of our generation. With the chorus of voices joining Joel, I felt very much at home and it seemed that my teenage experience was shared with many fellow Xavierans. Whether it was Ashtray Rock or a welcoming tune from nearly

any of his albums, Plaskett has always acted as a soundtrack for the night for our fleeting teenage years. This night was no different.

It was a wing night to remember and new memories of our dear time here at StFX were made.

on a guy only to get a mouth and face full of hair; it’s just not appealing. Taking care of your pubes shows that you care about the person you’re sleeping with and not just about having sex with them; that goes for everyone. Messy pubes, whether intentional or not, sends off a sign of laziness to your sexual partner. Another major hair turnoff for guys and girls is hair around the butthole. It’s not necessarily the first spot you think of with hair down there, but trust me, it’s there. Your sexual partner can totally feel it, and if you’re having anal sex and happen to be exceptionally hairy around there, it can get in the way of a good time. For the ladies, pretty much the same rules apply. Arguably, there are a lot more options for vagina hair than for penis hair. If you’re

a female and ever tried shaving your vagina, it’s a understandably confusing predicament. Not only is the entire area covered in fragile and sensitive skin, but there’s also no way of seeing what you’re doing while you’re doing it. The vagina is, for the most part, a mysterious place and girls deserve a lot more credit for being able to navigate the area with a sharp razor than they do. So the lady-hair-down-there is confusing in the first place; so confusing that we need to seek out someone else to remove all the hair for us when waxing. It modern culture, it seems like there are a lot more expectations for girls to maintain a certain style to their pubes than guys – there’s always a new article or story telling you the newest way to style your va-jayjay. But what it all comes

down to is a personal choice (and this goes for guys too): if you like having a little hair, then by all means grow it; if you like to be smooth like butter, then leave it bare! In relationships, it’s always nice to gear your hair to your partner’s tastes, but if it’s really not what you’re comfortable with then you shouldn’t be pressured into it. However, if you’re enjoying the single life, you may as well style your hot zone in whatever way makes you feel sexiest. To quote the Vagina Monologues, “Hair is there for a reason. It’s the leaf around the flower, the lawn around the house.” But hair is also easily changed, and it will always grow back. Experiment with your hair, figure out what turns you on (and off ) about others’ hair, and most of all… don’t be afraid to get scruffy every now and then.

sex with an x the HAIR DOWN THERE TINA TATAS | Sexy Lady

As humans, we all evolved at some moment in time to grow hair on our nether regions. While surely at one point this was a logical evolutionary development – probably before clothes and underwear gained popularity – nowadays the hair down there is widely frowned upon. Of course, this varies depending on your culture, age, orientation, and individual preferences; but here’s the general low-down on what you should do with bushes of your secret garden. If you base your genital maintenance from the land of porn, you probably assume that the world of sex is a hairless place. Women have bare-skinned vaginas that awkwardly resemble a small child’s and men are hairless from chest to balls. There are, of course, many exceptions to this based on

genre – a think “bear” porn, or au-naturel fanatics – but your standard porn video has everyone hairless, humping, and happy. However, if you ask a majority of people, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of complaints about having hair down there. Just like how no one is really interested in that full-on bushy look, it appears that most people don’t actually prefer the completely hairless look. For the boys, it is simply a fact that if you trim and ‘man-scape’ your pubes, it WILL make your dick look bigger. The more hair that’s there, the less of your penis is showing; its all a game of proportions. Further, the more well-kept you are around the base of your shaft greatly increases the likelihood of getting a blow job. Neither girls nor gay guys appreciate going down

are you interested in getting involved with your campus radio station? cfxu is hiring interns! now accepting applications and resumes at cfxu@stfx.ca or in the basement of the sub. may the fox be with you.


DISTRACTIONS 13

The Xaverian-Volume 122 Issue 7

DiStractions Kaleigh Bent: Editor/ Rosetta stone user

The Soundtrack to Paper Life

Antigonish

November Lull

The emotional stages of paper season with 8 tracks musical accompaniment

*One month till deadline* Young and Naive: Papers? What papers! I have plenty of time to do absolutely nothing! Papers? What Papers! I’ve got plenty of time to do absolutely nothing. Watch while I channel my inner “Snow White” and woo the crows and pigeons of Antigonish into helping me clean my room while I watch every show with more then one season on Netflix.

Unrated:

No drinking, no parties, no fun planned

events; that’s all I could think of when I

sat down to write this article. What is

-->“Ultimate Disney mix”: Idril *3 weeks till deadline* There are better things to do: For instance… Learn how to twerk, Finally figure out how to separate my laundry,Facebook Origami myself a zoo, Vine, Memorize one rap from “Look at me now” or get a jumpstart on that work out regime I’ve wanted to try. Yeah lets work out.

“unrated”

about

November?

Absolutely

nothing. Personally it is the worst month

for me at X. Exams are too far away to think about but the amount of assignments,

-->“Swoll”: cassieyoung22 *2 weeks till deadline* Ok so I should do stuff: FOCUS TIME Were did the last couple weeks go…didn’t we just have a long weekend? I used my time wisely! I didn’t waste my precious paper minutes ongoing outside, or eating…or bathing. Time to get the paper grind on.

essays, and mid terms reaches a breaking

point. It’s the month when there is noth-

ing to look forward to except the slow countdown to the end of term (unless of

-->“You’re invited to the focus party”:serendipitybee *1 week till deadline* F%#K it its party time:Oh, you’re going to the inn? Yeah I’ll come, I’m not doing anything else. I need one last good rage before I start writing. Oh, this is a bender? Legit.

course you have a November birthday, go

you!). I for one am done with the November lull and have every intention of going out

-->“Hot beats to party to”: Tannerh123 *2 days before deadline* Time to call home: hey mom, yeah its me, the failure. There is currently a (Insert paper that’s destroying your life here)standing between you and that beach house I promised when I become a neurosurgeon. Quick life path change here, have you seen my instagram lately? I’m thinking photography?...mom?....Hello…..

this week and partying it up. This month is the easiest to fall victim to homesickness

and that gross winter feel bad mood. So

toss some rum in your hot chocolate and

--> “Just another sad mix”: sleepingwithguitars *Night before deadline* WHAT IS SLEEP: My heart may be experiencing coffee/aderol/caffeine/red bull induced palpitations but this paper is going to be the work of gods. Minimum 1500 words? Try 1350 with stupidly large punctuation marks and enough filler to make another damn essay. -->“The fifth stage of studying momentously heroic”: kimtsan

make candy cane flavored jello shots; because the holidays are approaching, and even

better, so is wing night. I’ll see some of you brave souls who withstand the bitter winter air in the pub lineup this week.

Instagram of the week

I

Mustache

you a question Guess this lip warmer!

This homebrewer is proud father to Two small facial hairless

children.He mastered facial lip art in his hometown of montreal The man behind this stache speaks bothenglish and Francais..oui oui.

?????????????????????????????

????????????????????????????

By: Kaleigh Bent


SPORTS AND HEALTH

SPORTS & HEALTH The Academic Hail Mary how to Study on NFL SUNDAY DAN COCHRANE | Contributor

It’s inside two minutes. Your team has just recovered an onside kick! Now, with no timeouts left and trailing by 4, a field goal isn’t going to cut it; they’ve gotta take it to the house. The quarterback is hitting pass after pass, marching it down the field, but they can’t get out of bounds and the clock is running. Suddenly they get inside the ten and things look bleak. After two incompletions he hits his man over the middle for a short gainer. It’s 4th and time is winding down, they’ve gotta line up and find the end zone quick! They rush to the line, the ball gets snapped, the DB slips and the quarterback’s got his man open when all of a sudden… You realize you’ve wasted three hours watching football instead of studying. The NFL is arguably the most exciting sport on the planet, and the pinnacle of pro football achievements is to hoist the Lombardi trophy in February. Unfortunately, as most diehard fans can attest, watching your team take that journey can become allencompassing. As a student, it can be difficult to focus on your books when the fate of your team’s season seeming-

ly hangs in the balance every Sunday. The weekends are meant to be our time to catch up on all those readings we didn’t do during the week, and to study hard so our midterm and final cram sessions aren’t as critical to our academic success. How do we balance the love of sport with the hope of academic success? Fear not! I’ve got the foolproof studying plan that will give you the time to crush your courses and still yell at your TV over yet another bogus pass interference call! Research conducted by the Wall Street journal in 2010 has shown that while the average NFL broadcast is about 175 minutes, the ball is actually only in play for 11 minutes per game! Commercials tie up approximately one hour of broadcast time, and of course the halftime show is another 15 minutes, but that still leaves an hour and a half of game time without the ball in play; that’s a lot of filibustering for Cris Collinsworth and Al Michaels. Now consider that on average each team will run about 65 offensive and special team plays. That works out to an average time per play of between 3-5 sec-

onds. Each team is allowed a maximum of 40 seconds between plays to strategize, line up, and get the ball snapped. Here’s where the magic happens, my pigskin aficionados! In order to prepare for the game, you gotta plan ahead. You and your buddies need to not only take notes in class (I know, that means you gotta go to class), but you need to separate them accordingly: -Separate easy, short form concepts from longer, more detailed paragraphs that require more thought and focus to remember. -Break down your short answer material in bul-

let points so they’re easier to read and remember, and then, if need be, elaborate on them in paragraph form in your long answer section. Now here’s where the rubber meets the road. During the 40 second breaks between plays, read through several bullet points. Once it cuts to commercials, switch to the paragraph section and use these precious minutes to grasp the broader subjects. Half time is your chance to review what you’ve learned, by having a quick question and answer period with your friends. It’s important to remember

that the game is often won and lost in the first quarter. Likewise, as the game winds into the fourth quarter and you’ve had a few more than a few brews it’s gonna’ get tougher and tougher to remember what you’ve read, so make the early hours count. To those of you who read this and question its effectiveness, I can assure you that it’s carried me to the solid 70 average which I tote with pride and it can do the same for you. While I can’t promise you’ll pass all your courses, I can guarantee 100% satisfaction – and, hey, there’s always next season!

food intake, the physician writes a prescription for blood pressure medication. As one of my obese uncles once said, “The medication is so you can still eat whatever the hell you want.” I digress. To combat being tired, I decided to get more sleep... and guess what? It’s working! Another reason I chose to quit slugging back the joe was the impact on my wallet. The one thing I’ve always disliked about coffee is the unnecessary high cost associated with the behaviour. I did some simple calculations and determined the following: I would use about one tin of coffee per week, meaning that making coffee at home costs about $8 per week. Over four weeks, this converts to only $32. However, most days I would pick up a mid-afternoon

coffee at $2-$3 including tax, depending on the coffee shop. Let’s assume an average cost of $2.50. Simple math tells us that over 30 days this equates to $75. Add in the morning ritual and that is at $107 per month. In one year, I was spending $1,284 on this habit, and that was assuming I was buying just one coffee away from the household each day. Things are always 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 one month attempt to live and feel better. Each month, I challenge you to better your life. Commit to something that is challenging, difficult, and for the betterment of your health. This is just one way I’ve bettered my life while saving money along the way!

Quitting Coffee is possible Leaving out your morning Joe Will is worth it - For your body and wallet MAT T MACDONALD | Health Columnist

If you’re like most people around the world, you probably start the day with a morning cup of coffee. For years, I too enjoyed this morning ritual, and felt my morning was incomplete without a cup of hot java. In fact, I use to love everything about the coffee experience. I loved the smell, the warm feeling of a hot beverage in hand, the stimulant properties, the taste, and, of course, the socializing that takes place around the drink at home, work, and elsewhere. While my relationship with coffee has primarily been positive, there have always been several things I disliked about the stimulant. First, the physical and physiological dependence. Second, the terrible coffee aftertaste and bad breathe it causes – no one likes smelling

coffee breath! Finally, the cost for something that is, in reality, a very inexpensive drink to brew. If the thought of giving up coffee sounds impossible, I am living proof that anyone can quit drinking coffee if they truly want to. Most mornings, I would not drink a cup of coffee, but rather a pot of coffee. Later in the afternoon, I would usually have another mid-day pickme-up to help get me through the day. I’m not sure that everyone should quit drinking coffee, though. There are thousands of studies conducted linking coffee with added heath benefits. Like most health information, sometimes this can be confusing. One day the news says that drinking coffee has health benefits and the next day it says it’s

bad for our health. Regardless of whether it is good or bad, only you can decide. So why quit? I decided to quit drinking coffee because I disliked both the dependence and the cost. If I felt tired, coffee was the solution. Rather than fixing the problem by getting more sleep, I most often fixed this problem by drinking coffee. This BandAid solution is a common approach in virtually all aspects of our lives, and this is the way our health care system is designed. Rather than spend our money on health prevention, we spend our money on prescription drugs, hospitals, surgeries, and other quick-fix remedies. If we have high blood pressure, instead of our doctor writing a prescription for exercise and strictly monitoring our


SPORTS & HEALTH 15

The Xaverian-Volume 122 Issue 7

Keeping off the winter pounds

A Shout out to Student Therapists

Just because its horrible outside doesn’t mean you can’t stay in shape

MAGGIE EDWARDS | Contributor

DEVON GREENE | Contributor

The time has come; the weather is getting colder and before you know it, the ground will be covered in snow. Dropping temperatures might be forcing you indoors, but there is no reason you have to swap your beach body for winter bulk. Staying physically active through the winter months takes a little creativity, so here are some simple indoor activities that will help you get your sweat on when the weather gets chilly. Lakes and oceans might be freezing, but an indoor pool is the perfect temperature all year round. There is a wide range of aquatic workouts which makes the pool a great resource for people of all fitness levels. Swimming is a low impact workout and serves as both cardio and resistance training. If you are not sure where to start with aquatic training, start by taking an aqua-fitness class. Few people realize what a great workout these classes are, even for those who are already in great shape. You are free to work at your own pace, so you can tailor the workout to meet your own fitness level. If you want to make sure your workout is exactly what you want, try designing your own plan by swimming laps and using water weights. Even just spending an hour in the pool with friends is fun way to work some physical activity into your day. If you have the know-how, racquet ball and squash are two excellent ways of combining social and fitness obligations. Being accountable to someone else is a useful strategy to ensure you follow through with your fitness plans, and a little friendly competition will help you stay motivated to work hard while having fun at the same time. These racquet sports are ideal during the busy winter months because they allow you to

be physically active indoors without sacrificing time with friends. Intramural sports are another fun way to stay active and the coordinators really know what they are doing. They make sure to plan events so that they are accessible and enjoyable for everyone during the whole year. As the year progresses, the sports change from field sports to indoor sports. Volleyball, water polo, basketball, and indoor soccer are just a few of the upcoming choices that will be available throughout the year to keep you active until the spring thaw. No more late nights out on the turf where you can see your breath; intramural sports will be heading indoors for the winter. Things can get pretty hectic around this time of year. School work is piling up and seasonal depression is starting to set in. Try not to let the long cold nights get you down. On those days when you just can’t bring yourself to go to the gym you can count on some of the great classes offered at the KMC to get you up and moving again. No fuss, no planning, just drop in, follow along and your daily workout is done. The KMC offers a variety of classes such as yoga, Zumba, and step classes. With a little experimentation and willingness to try new things, everyone can find something to suit their preference. For all you dedicated runners out there who need a break from the cold, there are options for you too. For longer runs, the treadmill is a good alternative to outdoor running. The wellness centre is equipped with a number of cardio machines which can be used for long or short runs. One of the hidden gems of the KMC is the indoor walking track around the auxiliary rink. Although running around a short track is tedious when

it comes to long distance running, the track is the ideal place for shorter distances. The treadmill can make it difficult to change speeds quickly but the track is great for practicing sprints and doing interval training. Even running hills can be simulated by adjusting the incline settings on the treadmill. Hills allow you to include resistance training to your run while ramping up your cardio workout. The scenery might not be as interesting as running outdoors, but you can still get the benefits of the fluctuating terrain by switching up the settings on the treadmill, using different cardio machines and trying out the indoor track. StFX has numerous clubs and societies that get members up and active. If you are willing to brave the cold weather, the hiking society continues to journey out all through the year. The rock climbing society does trips as long as weather conditions are decent, but they don’t let nasty weather stop them. The society makes regular trips to indoor climbing gyms in the area and is hoping to team up with Climb Nova Scotia for some winter events. Recreational hockey leagues are always a blast with friends, but if you can’t commit to a team you can head out to the free skates at the KMC for some nostrings-attached fun. The winter months are busy. The paper crunch, immediately followed by exam season takes its toll physically as well as mentally. Making time for some physical activity can help to relieve stress and keep you focused and working at optimum capacity. Don’t let the cold keep you from reaping all the benefits of a healthy and active lifestyle. Be creative, try something new, and, most importantly, have fun this winter!

Check out these programs and More at the Keating Centre’s Dance Studio Visit goxgo.ca and look for the Recreation page for all the information Time

Mon.

6:05 AM 9:15 AM

Tues.

Wed.

Wake-up Call

Thur. Wake-up Call

Fri.

Sat.

Stretch ‘n Strength

Stretch ‘n Strength

10:00 AM

NIA

5:15 PM

Core ABILIT Y

7:30 PM

Circuit Blast

8:30 PM

Vinyasa Yoga

Yoga For Everybody

Total Body Blast

Bootcamp Zumba

Beginner Yoga

Vinyasa Yoga

Circuit Blast Beginner Yoga

Circuit Blast

Sun.

StFX values its athletes, and to make sure they are always prepared to represent us on the field, ice, or the many other places they compete, each team is assigned a student therapist. Student therapists are required to attend all of their team’s practices and games. There, they support athletes with basic care and prevention of injuries and administer emergency first aid when necessary. Typically, this adds up to an extra twenty to thirty hours of work per week. While they don’t get paid for their indispensable work, they do receive a swanky swag bag of student therapy clothing. Student therapists are a great resource for athletes. In addition to providing information about injuries to help in recovery, they assist athletes by introducing them to equipment that helps prevent and care for injuries. At the same time, student therapists gain valuable experience working with our varsity teams. They have an opportunity to work closely with Tara Sutherland, StFX’s head athletic therapist, and her assistant Angela Wylie. They also get first-hand experience working in a therapy room and helping athletes to achieve the highest level of athletic performance. StFX’s student therapists are required to complete Human Kinetics 222, an Introduction to Athletic Therapy course with Tara Sutherland before they can apply. They are also required to have First Aid and CPR certification. In exchange, they receive on-the-job training to assist our athletes in significant ways, while gaining valuable experience and opportunities for careers in physiotherapy, athletic, and occupational therapy, as well as sports and general medicine, all fields which many hope to pursue. Fourth year Human Kinetics student Jessica MacNeil says, “I knew going into sports medicine was what I wanted to do, and I had heard the student therapy program was a great way to learn more about it.” Student therapists also have the opportunity to travel with the team for tournaments. As with our athletes, the play an important role in representing StFX and should be recognized for their efforts. Student therapists are an integral part of athletics here at StFX. They dedicate tremendous amounts of time and effort to our varsity teams and support Tara Sutherland and Angela Wylie in many important ways.

This Week At STFX Friday November 15th 7:00 Pm - Men’s Hockey vs St. Thomas Saturday November 16th 2:00 pM - WoMen’s Basketball vs SMU 4:00 PM - men’s Basketball vs Smu 7:00 PM - Women’s Hockey AT UPEI 7:00 PM - Women’s Hockey vs UPEI


16

Thursday, NOVEMBER 14, 2013-The Xaverian


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