Issue 10, Volume 121

THE

VOLUME 121 ISSUE 10 JAN 24th 2013

XAVERIAN

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GOING ON STRIKE SINCE 1895

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Thursday, 24 January, 2013 | The Xaverian Weekly

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Thursday Mar 29 2012

Volume 120 Issue 20

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Thursday January October 24th 25 2012 2013 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Volume Issue 10 7 Sean McEvoy121 xw.eic@stfx.ca | (902) 870-9431

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NEWS StFXAUT and administration move closer to strike As Conciliation breaks down, negotiations reach 11th hour PATRICK LeCLAIR | News Editor

As the month of January crept in with cold breezes and snowy days, negotiations between professors and administrators at StFX began heating up. Continuing with conciliatory talks, the Association of University Teachers (AUT) met with StFX administration to try and reach a new contract for professors and other teaching staff.

The first talks this year took place Jan. 4 and 5. During these talks, which involved a provincially appointed conciliator, no deal was reached and both sides walked away empty-handed.

As a result of the impasse, the provincial conciliator filed a report, which commenced the countdown towards a potential strike date. The report, filed on Jan. 11, gives both sides until Jan. 25 to come to an agreement. If neither side comes to an agreement before this date, then the AUT has the legal right to file for strike action. Once the request to strike is filed, the AUT has to wait 48 hours before they can hit the front lines. This means that the earliest date that a strike could be seen is Monday, Jan. 28.

The strike could be avoided, though, if the AUT and the administration reach a tentative contract during the next round of talks occurring on Jan. 23 and 24. Chris Frazer, chief grievance officer for the AUT, stated that he “didn’t see a willingness to move,” but emphasized that a strike was the AUT’s “last resort.”

“We’ve been trying to avoid it for quite a while,” stated Frazer, “but it looks like they are go-

ing to force it on us.” The idea that a strike was not the desired response also echoed on the administration’s side. “The AUT and administration are going to do the best they can to solve this as quickly as possible,” assured StFX President Sean Riley.

While the outcomes are not clear, the AUT’s current demands are. Currently, the AUT is looking for an increase in salary to match the rising cost of living caused by inflation, increased benefits, such as health and dental, along with other demands involving job security and tenure. According to Chris Frazer, the AUT “would like some justice for our least privileged members.”

The AUT last proposed the option of a 10.5 per cent raise over the next four years that would see greater increases in the back half to allow the university to find ways to accommodate these changes. The university has countered this offer with a proposed 6.75 per cent raise over the next four years.

“We would like to do more things around the university,” says Riley, “but we’re in a financial crunch partly imposed by the government cuts over the past years.” Another large reason for the lack of funding was the drop in enrolment for this year and the drop in number of first year students returning to campus for their second year.

As was reviewed in a previous article in the Xaverian Weekly, the province of Nova Scotia has steadily reduced government funding for universities by a total of 7 per cent over the past two

years and is reducing funding by another 3 per cent next year.

These cuts are also paired with government limits on the amount that universities are allowed to increase tuition.

As a result of these strains, the university is projecting a net revenue of close to $69 million for 2012-13, the lowest it’s been in 5 years. As well, the university is projecting a net deficit of over $2 million for the current fiscal year.

“I haven’t seen the pressures be this high and this serious,” said Mary McGillivray, academic vice president and provost.

In response to these budget concerns, the AUT stated in its last bargaining bulletin, “[O]ur salary proposal is justifiable and affordable based on data made available by the StFXAUT Financial Oversight Committee.”

With both sides bringing reasonable arguments to the table, it is unsure whether or not an agreement will be reached this week.

If an agreement fails to be reached and a strike occurs, the AUT will continue to have an open door to talks with administration. “Talks can still continue even if a strike is under gone.

That’s how you end it,” affirmed Peter McInnis, president of the AUT. When continued talks eventually lead to an agreement,

the tentative deal will then be brought back to the AUT’s executive who will decide whether or not to bring it to their members.

When the tentative agreement is finally brought to members of the AUT, a vote will occur to see if the contract will be ratified. If the members of the AUT vote in favour of the tentative agreement, then “classes would start as soon as they could,” stated McInnis.

However, this process could last upwards of a week.

Whether a strike occurs or not,

“I haven’t seen the pressures be this high and this serious,” said Mary McGillivray both the AUT and the administration have assured students that they will face the minimal amount of inconvenience possible. “Students should keep working on their courses, doing the readings, and going to class. Don’t assume the worst,” said Riley. The regular day-to-day student services also plan to continue running.

According to Corinna Fitzgerald, director of student life, “As far as we’re concerned, at this point it’s business as usual.”

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Students show strong support for faculty Dozens of students gather to express frustration and solidarity with StFXAUT SEAN MCEVOY | Co-Editor-in-Chief

Freezing temperatures and blowing snow could not stop a large amount of student supporters rallying in favour of the StFXAUT in front of Morrison Hall on Jan. 18 at noon.

Organized by the online group StFX Students Supporting the StFXAUT, a turnout of close to a hundred people braved the cold to voice their frustrations with the university administration over the

treatment of the university faculty in collective bargaining negotiations thus far. Those attending were a mix of pupils and members of not only the AUT but also the NSGEU (Nova Scotia Government & General Employees Union), and the CAW (Canadian Auto Workers), who have also been locked in negotiations with university administrators, with the CAW recently reaching a tentative agreement. Despite

that, Union Chair of the CAW Gail Fraser was at the rally to show support.

"We'll stand behind them," said Fraser. "We want to show solidarity across the campus.

This would be the first time in years that this has ever happened."

"The purpose of today's rally is to basically deliver a message that we are better off reaching a negotiated settlement at the conciliation round on the

23rd and 24th[of January], and also to show that we're trying to build a community here that brings academic workers and students together," said Chris Frazer, chief grievance officer for the AUT. "It's bullshit," says music student Luke Knopp regarding the possibility of a strike and the possible repercussions. "A lot of really important classes are CONTINUED ON PAGE 3...

The Xaverian Weekly | Volume 121 Issue 10

NEWS

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Members paid close to starvation wages, says Frazer CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 ...going to be cut with budget cuts.

There's a chance that if they cut any more courses we won't be able to get certain degrees."

Joshua Parsons, another music student who attended the rally, echoed these concerns.

"We paid for this. We're here because we paid thousands of dollars to be here, and get our education and do what we love. A lot of the music students are here because we love music, and that's what they want to do.

If we have a strike, we're going to have that taken away from us."

Fo l l ow ing the initial gathering, speeches were given by rally leaders on the doorstep of StFX President Sean Riley's office. First to step up to address the huddled crowd was StFXAUT President Peter McInnis.

"This is the academic mission we want to defend, with a fair equitable contract for all of our people," said McInnis. "The question is why are we doing this at this point, and the answer is the university administrators have taken us

down the wrong path, they have overbuilt, they have over paid themselves, rather than negotiate a fair deal."

"Again we thank the students very much for your support, we need your support, and we need you to also speak to the administrators and tell them to get on with this deal because it can be done," he continued.

Next to speak was Chris Frazer of the AUT who delivered a spirited m e ss a g e w h i c h garnered much applause from the crowd as he spoke of the minimal wages some of the union's members earn.

"20 per cent of our members are paid close to starvation wages. We're looking for some justice and some fairness for those members. We're also looking for fair compensation and improvements in working conditions for our entire union," he said.

This past week, the university administration placed a full page ad in the local Casket newspaper, outlining the administration's position in the bargain-

ing process. This ad infuriated some members of the AUT, saying that it was wildly inaccurate. Partially in response to this incident, Frazer has the following to say: “The administration of this university would like to divide us up. They would like the public to think it's just a bunch of well paid p ro f e ss o rs going out on strike for a few crumbs more and the reality is no. We are standing up for all our members, including those who are the least privileged and the least protected and who will suffer the most if the u n i ve r s i t y gets away with their continued process of development that its engaged in. Putting up buildings instead of investing in the people who actually deliver the academic mission at this university."

In conclusion, Frazer added that the union is still working to get a deal done

at the table, but is willing to take drastic action if need be.

"You can be damn sure, that we are working for a deal and we would like to get that wrapped up this coming week if we can. If not, we are prepared to stand on our two feet and insist on some justice for our members," he said.

Last to speak was Rachel Garbary, a lead student organizer of the rally.

"For every student who is here today, I think that reflects a greater number who are in classes, who are in lunch, who couldn't be with us today," she said.

We have been circulating a petition just since Tuesday, and we have had a great response to that.

We have over 500 signatures of support so far.

The petition is supporting a fair negotiating process.

This is the crucial time for students to be in support of these people, this is the face of our education that we are talking about."

As of press time, the number of signatures on the petition has grown to 779 according to Garbary. The petition will be submitted to members of the administration this week, but signatures will continue to be collected until the outcome of the negotiations are clear.

Street Beats PATRICK LECLAIR | News Editor

How do you feel about the possible upcoming strike?

Delaney Watling First Year

“I’m really excited to have a week off.”

Sam Babcock Second Year

“I hope it doesn’t last too long because I don’t want to be waiting around here doing nothing.”

Aly Gillis Second Year

“If it goes on for more than a week it would suck, but a week would be a good break.”

Shane Hickey Fourth Year

“I’m pretty ambivalent about it in terms of the fact that most strikes have ended right at the last minute.”

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NEWS

Thursday, 24 January, 2013 | The Xaverian Weekly

A strike around the corner?

Why a strike could happen and what that means for students

Student Union Meeting Summary: In Whimsical Rhyme

MEGAN DEWEY | Contributor

LEWIS FORWARD | Co-Editor-In-Chief

Demands Currently, the demands of the AUT include a more comprehensive health plan, better pay and longer contracts for part time staff, and a commitment to reaffirming and maintaining the academic mission of the university.

As it stands, the health plan provided by the students’ union to students is more inclusive than the health plan the university provides to full-time faculty, with no plan currently offered to part-time, non-tenured AUT members.

Many of the staff make under $20,000 per year and must take on second jobs or apply for employment insurance during the summer months. The AUT is asking for an extension of the eight month contracts currently offered to part time staff to be extended to ten months, in order to follow the new laws regarding employment insurance.

The academic mission the AUT refers to is the commitment AUT members have toward maintaining the excellence in teaching, research, and service to students that the university is known for. A large part of the academic mission relies on academic freedom, the ability of AUT members to teach, research, study and publish material they feel is relevant to their courses and disciplines, without intervention or discrimination from the administration. Academic freedom also means that faculty members are provided with adequate spaces and conditions to study, research, and facilitate critical thinking and meaningful learning for their students. Another aspect of academic freedom is job security.

The AUT states that a lack of tenure protection or another form of job security means that faculty members can be fired without just cause or due process, which threatens the learning experience of the students and the overall academic mission of the university.

The AUT The AUT, led by President Peter McInnis, is made up of over 400 members, consisting of full- and part-time professors, lab instructors, writing centre employees, nursing school instructors, librarians, and other faculty members that provide academic support to students. Of the 400

members that make up the AUT, roughly 80 per cent cast their vote on whether or not to enter strike proceedings.

The motion passed with an 80 percent majority in favor of a strike. Chris Frazer, chair of the strike support committee, commended faculty and AUT members, both those for and those against the strike, on maintaining a civil discourse throughout the negotiation process.

When asked his stance on strikes and the current tension between the faculty and the administration, Frazer spoke of his reluctance to interrupt the academic lives of the students, and the potential negative impact a strike could have on the faculty members themselves. Frazer also mentioned the right of a union to hold a strike in order to push for a change, and said that, despite the impact on students, the only time a strike would be effective to the AUT cause is during the school term.

McInnis echoed Frazer’s sentiments, saying that, though he supports the driving forces behind a strike, he feels that a strike speaks to the breakdown of communication between the AUT and the administration. He stated that the inability of both sides to come to a mutually beneficial solution exemplifies the university’s lack of focus on the academic mission. Both McInnis and Frazer stated that they feel a settlement could have been reached by now, and mentioned the administration’s unwillingness to take negotiations seriously as part of the reasoning behind the decision to strike.

The Administration In contrast with the AUT’s openness in the weeks leading up to the strike, the administration has not released much information about their side of the negotiations. The key administrative figure in the strike negotiations is Ramsay Duff, vice president finance and operations of the university.

Mary McGillivray, academic vice president and provost, stressed the university’s commitment to the academic mission and to ensuring that students will not lose any credits in the event of a strike. McGillivray reaffirmed that students are the first priority of both the administration and the AUT

and expressed her wish that a deal be reached at the table, before a strike could occur.

The Students Since the start of the semester, students have been trying to make their voices heard to both involved parties.

Development Studies (Devs) Society President Rachel Garbary spoke of her experiences with students and faculty in the lead up to the strike, commending the AUT for making themselves accessible to students and expressing a desire for more information from the administration, which seems to be echoed among the rest of the student body.

McInnis, Frazer, and the rest of the AUT have made a concerted effort to make sure that the students of StFX are kept up to date with the strike negotiations. The AUT has published all of its strike related documentation on its website, has held numerous panels to talk to students, and members are more than happy to talk with students about any concerns they have relating to the strike.

In the event of a strike, the largest impact on students would be the cancellation of classes. Though the term may be lengthened, both the AUT and the administration stressed that students would not lose the year or the term.

Residences and campus food outlets will remain open, as will the library, though with a reduced staff. Students’ Union President Nick Head-Peterson stated that, despite the students’ union neutral stance in the negotiations, the union will be available to help students with any and all issues they encounter during a potential strike.

If a strike were to occur, the members of the AUT have assured that they will not intervene in the lives of students entering or exiting campus, and have extended an invitation to students to join the pickets should they wish.

If students want to make their voices heard, they can email both the AUT and the administration to urge them to come to a deal, or to lend their support to either side. Further information on the AUT’s demands and negotiations can be found at http://stfxaut.ca, and the students’ union will be keeping students updated at theu.ca.

In the great halls of Union, All the Councillors sat.

There was Nick, There was Rachel, There was Wylder, There was Pat. They sat in a square In great concentration, Prepared for hours of debate and informative presentations.

Sarah put down her phone, Mitch waved hello, Some looked at the door, But there was nowhere to go.

Mariah called the meeting to order With the bang of a gavel, They were off to the races, Their feet on the gravel.

Then, the business rep started With force A forum of business majors, He said, Met in Schwartz The Nicol competition was off o a start Many business plans drawn up What sets them apart?

Then the Science Rep spoke He was quite formulaic They had success with tutorials and splits de nucleic.

The international students, Had a great meet and greet, Celebrating diverse cultures Over good food to eat.

Upper Campus celebrated the Mount’s Gloves and Mittens, While for MacIsaac’s sexy girl party us boys found no admittance While Lower campus Celebrated the Chillis/TNT cup, Burke Ball was played, The food bank, MacNeil filled up.

Off Campus raised 500 dollars from the Grinch, Which is awesome Because at least that amount he Has pinched.

Education Society elections are This week, So if you want say in who teachers, It’s now time to speak!

The councillors sat, their constituents satisfied They hoped and they prayed, There were no Students For Life To ratify.

Then the big honchos Stood up at the front, and spoke like they speak When they stand at the front!

Oh Ben, and Taylor, Nick Said With a grin, We heartfully congratulate you on your automatic win.

Rachel then stood at the front With some paper A fall study day, she said Will prevent stress much later!

Some dogs and some cats We will put in a room

And in go the students To pet and feel cool.

Pat of the Finance Then opened his mouth, A confident knowledgeable Whisper came out: We’ll lobby against increasing Tuitions And invest some more money With you guys’ permission.

Then Nick the Prez again started To speak, All the ladies in the audience felt Their knees grow weak We’ll get rid of the bottles, he Said with a grin, And we won’t produce so much Garbage, Then the earth wins.

We spoke to Athletics and started free classes At yoga, at Zumba, you can tone All your asses!

Hearing this the crowd shouted With jubilant glee, Especially jubilant, happy and Jolly ol’ me.

Then the doors closed to media as they discussed grown-up things Probably wizards, and space rocks, and tigers that sing.

Then House Prez Hiring was discussed in song.

No, not really, but it took really long.

Now that, as well, was a bit of a lie, They quickly reviewed How they choose those guys.

They should be able, and reliable, And talented too.

We have to make sure their house Doesn’t go zoo.

They must embody The core values of X Like drinking, and benders, and irresponsible sex.

That’s how I remember the discussion at least, It’s hard to get all the facts right. for these three-hour-long beasts.

At closing Nick mentioned a Study they funded, To find out if drinking was a thing We for fun, did.

Also, next year, We’re changing our group!

A Graduate Student Councillor Will enter the loop.

The Senate they, said, is artsy and lopsided Now everyone’s fairly represented, even the scientists.

Then Mariah declared with a hint of relief, that this meeting is over!

It sure wasn’t brief.

‘Til next time, she said, keep it real compadres, Make sure your constituents Know how to party.

OPINIONS

The Xaverian Weekly | Volume 121 Issue 10

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OPINIONS

How much is your privacy worth?

Privacy may be your most valuable asset. How much of it do you have?

NOELLE JACKSON | Opinions Editor

Welcome to the 21st Century, an era where you can have 200 “friends” and never see or speak to them, ever. You can also amplify the reach of your opinion magnanimously just by sending some sort of electronic bird call (also know as a Tweet) through the worldwide web for any one with access to the Internet to read. This era has made us exasperating sharers, of everything – where we are, who we are with, what we are doing and why we want or don’t want to be doing it. We share more personal information on the Internet via social networks than has ever been previously thought possible. This outpour of personal information has become such a commodity that it has been termed “The New Oil”

by Peter Hinssen, an editor of a firm that develops technological partnerships with businesses around the world. The truth is that by extension privacy, because it is slowly changing into a vanishing concept, is steadily increasing in value also. But almost everyday we discard more and more of our privacy freely without having a second thought.

Every time we sign up to another social network our names, email addresses and dates of birth are recorded. More importantly and less talked about, so is the information that we generate during our interactions with all of our “friends” or followers. Where does this information go? Who has rights to it and what do they use it for – are all very important ques-

tions we do not like to think about. Maybe we should. From a business standpoint, according to Hinssen, markets are no longer markets due to these social networks.

They have turned into “networks of intelligence”. What this means is that a Tweet is not just a one-liner about what you ate for dinner (yes it can be, but even that could have broader social implications if you think about it…). The tweets that talk about political preferences or trending consumer interests carry more value to those looking to profit from our opinions.

You want to know what an information broker is? In the strictest sense of the term, an information broker or consultant is a person or business that researches information for clients. What is the greatest

source of information on public trends?

Social networks. Facebook alone is a powerhouse full of endless streams of our personal information. Companies are actually able to collect and determine social patterns from this data so that it can then be used to their client’s advantage.

In other words, what we deem trivial tid-bits about our day goes further than we think. Its not just about throwing information out there, our information has begun to attribute utility to people other than ourselves.

This is not an article opposing the joining of social networks. There must be some advantages or else the world would not be so eager to participate. However, this is about understanding that we are,

on our own accord, decreasing the amount of privacy we have as individuals by projecting every aspect of our personal life through social networks.

And to what end? Is it not startling how ready we are to post photos of our new tattoos or the slice of pizza we’ve been craving all day just because we can?

Don’t forget the geo-tagging you probably added just to prove you are where you say you are. The result being that now 200 “friends” instantaneously know exactly where you are at any given time.

If we go back 20 years ago people had a stronger sense of self-importance and worth. There was no need to feel that other people had to be there to help you justify your actions at very moment of the day. Today our readiness to forgo our privacy for 20 ‘likes’ on a status or 50 new followers is dictating our own self-assurance. We are making ourselves insecure. We give away our personal information in the hopes of receiving attention…from people we do not know, and do not care about on a personal level. Needless to say, this is not the healthiest habit (and is probably the reason we become so addicted to it).

Privacy is something we take for granted today while the truth is, it’s slowly running out. The degrees of separation are becoming fewer and we don’t seem to care. But maybe we should.

Dragged off the strike cliff No single person to blame in this increasingly frustrating situation SEAN McEVOY | Co-Editor-In-Chief

As I write this, we the students sit on the edge of a cliff. With every second we are being dragged closer and closer to the edge of that cliff by what could be described as a three-headed monster. A three headed monster comprising of the StFX administration, the StFXAUT, and the Nova Scotia government, all of whom are responsible in one way or for getting us to the point that we are at now. If you're looking for one specific person to blame, good luck trying to find them.

First of all, let's go back to last year when the office of former VP of Recruitment and Student Experience Keith Publicover, sent out that fateful letter that stated the university could not guarantee rooms in residence for second year students.

It triggered a mass exodus to off campus

housing for this year, creating 160 vacant beds on campus, causing significant loss of revenue for the university. All the while, plans were set in motion to build two new $32 million dollar residences.

Early in 2012, the NS NDP government announced funding cuts to university's across the province. Over the past four years, university administration states that their funding has been cut by 17%, adding to the monetary shortfall the university is currently experiencing.

The line that the university has been using repeatedly in all collective negotiations with the StFXAUT and in conciliation is that there is simply not enough money to meet the AUT"s wage increase demands.

That very well might be true, but the fact is the university hasn't done itself any favours in creating this mess. The AUT makes a valid point in that university funds may have been misused by the VP of Finance Ramsay Duff's office. Should the

university be really spending money on such projects as two new residences when Nicholson Hall is literally falling apart at the seams? Could funding be re-allocated now to help increase faculty wages? Could administrators take a pay cut? Duff must seriously reflect on his actions in his role as the chief of finances and evaluate his offices priorities and what could be done differently.

The StFXAUT is also not guiltless in these proceedings. While few would doubt they deserve better wages, benefits, job security, and working conditions, it is their negotiating tactics and negative tone overall that has turned many students off. AUT members in seemingly every interview, whether if it's with CBC, CTV, The Chronicle Herald, or The Xaverian, there has been no shortage of finger pointing and accusations. The administration is guilty of this as well, most notably with their recent passive aggressive full page ad in The

Casket outlining, "A Fair And Reasonable Offer".

So as we the students are dragged slowly off the figurative cliff this week, remember that it's not just us, but the entire university they're taking down with it. It'll forever be a black mark on the history of this facility, and will no doubt have a long lasting effect on its reputation and ability to recruit new students out of high school.

What average student would want to risk attending a university in which their hard earned money could be wasted?

I personally don't want to be known amoung my friends as the guy who goes to the university that's on strike. StFX is so much more than that, and I hope that the day will soon come when our beloved university will be in the news for something much more positive than this.

We all deserve better and hopefully all sides will come out of this with lessons well learned.

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OPINIONS NEWS

Thursday, 24 January, 2013 | The Xaverian Weekly

Letter to the Editor Don’t blame Sean Riley for the pending strike.

Dear Editor, Recently a group of StFX students organized a demonstration outside of Dr. Sean Riley’s office to show support for the StFXAUT. I am neither supporting nor condemning the StFXAUT and the students that took part in those protests. What I find perplexing, however, is how neither the protesting students nor the aforementioned union is placing the blame at the feet of the real culprits of StFX’s fiscal constraints: the provincial NDP government.

It was the NDP Government this fiscal year that announced a massive $10

million cut to university funding and it is the NDP government that has refused to rule out more devastating cuts to post-secondary funding in the future. In fact, according to some estimates the NDP has cut $100 million (adjusted for inflation) in post-secondary funding over the past three years. A Canadian Center for Policy Alternatives report now claims Nova Scotia has the least affordable post-secondary education system in Canada.

So why did the StFXAUT publish an online document entitled “Commentary: StFXAUT Response to the

Budget Presentation” on its website on January 21, 2013 without any mention of the NDP’s $100 million in cuts to post-secondary funding? In fact, the union shrugged it of, noting, “[d]ifferences in the budget amounts are not all attributable to external factors... but many are a direct result of management policy... and decision making.” I spent a solid 30 minutes sifting through the union’s website and found no mention of the NDP’s $100 million in cuts at all.

What I did find on the StFAUT website, however, was a deplorable cheap shot at

Sean Riley and Ramsay Duff.

(Commentary: January 21, 2013) I have had the opportunity to serve alongside both men on the St.FX University Senate and I think students should know both of these men care as much about this school as the members of StFAUT. Political pandering and cheap shots should play no role in this negotiation process on either side.

Now I plan on protesting myself, however I won’t be protesting outside of the offices of Sean Riley and Ramsay Duff. I will be protesting outside of Antigonish NDP MLA Maurice Smith’s office. I

would encourage the faculty and academic workers to join me outside of our NDP MLA’s office as I call on the government to cancel the $9 million it gave to Michelin and the $260 million it gave to Irving, in order to restore StFX’s funding.

Kyle Morrow Political Science Student St. Francis Xavier University

Gun control: a sensible solution Gun control a viable alternative to violence enabled by high-powered weapons JULIA BRENAN | Contributor

The recent focus on gun control within the U.S. has brought to light many questions and concerns about how our culture and society views guns and, by extension, those who posses them. The major questions we should be asking about gun control are finally being asked. It is shameful that it takes a tragedy to bring us to our senses, but, by human nature, we never seem to learn.

Within our North American context, we do not need guns to the extent we have them and what President Obama is doing to American gun laws is in the right direction for the general safety of the American people.

Guns do not kill people, people kill people, but wouldn’t it be a lot more difficult if you didn’t have a gun? Being completely anti-gun is impractical; we should always have the right to bear arms if we wish to. However, the average civilian does not require a semiautomatic rifle and hundreds of rounds for their own protection, and if you do, you might need to rethink some crucial life choices.

We currently live in one of the safest areas of the world.

Very few of us worry about going for a walk, and almost no one drives home every night to a walled in complex complete with barbed wire and a security guard. Every day when you step out of your home it is highly unlikely that you will encounter an individual with

a gun who wishes to do you harm. So why does our society insist that we require these killing machines? There were several deadly shootings last year alone, but perhaps guns are not the problem.

The President of the United States has recently released the legislation he would like to put in place in order to further restrict guns and protect people from harm. Among these are several very restrictive key pieces of legislation which, arguably, should have always been in place or never repealed. He plans on reinstating and strengthening the ban on assault weapons that was in place from 1994-2004 (because it is always a good idea to give the general pub-

lic access to more weapons... not). He would also like a law passed limiting ammunition magazines to only ten rounds.

If you need more than ten rounds, I seriously don’t know what kind of animals you are hunting. Banning armor-piercing ammunition for civilians also made the list. If people with guns are not supposed to be shooting other people, why would you ever need a bullet to pierce armor? Are PETA members now putting vests on moose? An incentive for hiring school resource officers and emergency management plans for school shootings also made the list.

In an interesting turn, showing that the president really is listening to the sign of the

times, Obama also wants to increase efforts to reach 750,000 more young people through Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resilience in Education), which provides programs to identify mental illness early and also contains a referral program for treatment.

These are good measures that not only address guns themselves but the mental health aspect of these past shootings.

If all of it is enacted, the ability to address the systemic issues the U.S. has as oppose to simply putting a Band-Aid over the problem areas will be more easily done.

Due to the recent shootings, mental illness is now being thought of as a threat with a gun in its hand. The problem

is that the root of the issue is not being addressed currently.

People with mental illness, in some cases, should be banned from owning a gun, but for the vast majority of people the solution is simply proper treatment. Our society is not one that easily accepts mental illness and often overlooks it as an issue in favour of things we can more easily see and identify. But when society feels threatened by mental illness, it does not know how to cope.

The best scenario would be to extend programs into schools that teach about the disease and also serve as outreach programs identifying individuals who might have an illness.

This can aid the person in getting the correct medical attention and not become another statistic. And luckily the president has taken that first step with Project AWARE. There are many reasons we do not have a healthy relationship with guns but it really boils down to the question of how far are we willing to go to protect us from ourselves and heavily regulate arms. If we do not feel safe enough in our own society to put down our arms, does this not speak to larger issues we should be addressing? Should we revamp the police program? Crack down on gangs? Making our society safe is not a one man or woman job, and a personal gun will not assist the safety of the public. We might need to take a look at the larger picture.

OPINIONS

The Xaverian Weekly | Volume 121 Issue 10

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Stop killers, talk to them On Newtown, and how we have the power to prevent dangerous loneliness.

LEWIS FORWARD | Co-Editor-In-Chief

There’s a poisoned vein that runs through many mass murders. Adam Lanza and others like him who have taken lives are often outcasts among outcasts. Could a persistent ‘hey man’ have changed the fate of Newtown?

Mass murder is an impersonal behaviour. It does not seem to be a crime of passion, brought about in a fit of rage. It is an invasive evil that is the consequence of our permitting longterm suffering, which severs the line of human connection between shooters and their victims. These killings might have been a years-long process of victim dehumanization rather than a moment of evil or hatred. The ability to silence lives and end memories might be the symptom of a man hollowed by loneliness.

Aloneness, isolation, and unsought solitude: these often-preventable maladies separate the hearts of the most vulnerable from the rest of society. I feel that we are obligated to address the aloneness of the lonely, and I feel that we have the power to do so, and make their (and our) lives better.

Mental health is not best remedied by a psychiatrist; it is best remedied by warmth and conversation. At StFX, friends are in ready supply.

When there is no string of love, warmth, or explanatory conversation between he and they, the only way this alone man can fill the humans surrounding him with an explanation of their minds and motivations is by projecting his mind into them. Lonely and dark, there is no reprieve from the courtroom of his mind, and no one offers enough conversation to change his passed verdicts. In a dark, isolated mind, innocent people can be filled with malice – warm hearts can be imagined cold, and observed friendship can be reduced to illusion.

Did Adam Lanza have friends?

No. How many conversations did he have in a day? I wonder how often he was bullied, and if his infrequent interactions with people were ruined by scorn, ridicule, and whispers. I wonder if those few, painful interactions shaped his opinion of humans in Newtown, and if the pain allowed him to dehumanize his victims enough to justify ending their many lives. What if someone had explained to him what

people are worth?

For men like Lanza, who may have had some form of Asperger’s syndrome, connecting in the same way that non-autism spectrum people do is nearly impossible. They appear distant, awkward, ‘in another world,’ or ‘off.’ Over time, faced with constant rejection, walls are built and hearts are hardened. I’ve met people who sit at different points on that spectrum.

They have trouble reaching out, some continue to try, some absorb them-

selves in activities, and some turn inwards, rejecting the outside human world. Dismantle those walls, please, brick by brick. There’s this idea that first impressions mean something.

In my experience, the impressions that emerge over time are what reveal people to me. Quiet people make strange first impressions sometimes.

Persistently try to connect to people that dwell in isolation. For the lonely, I’m sorry if I interrupt your solitude with my writing. I will only do it occa-

sionally, to show you that I love you.

What if one of us had been there to high five Adam Lanza, just once, on a bad day, at the right time? What if someone had made a constant effort to talk to him even if his replies were stuttered and awkward, and his eyes darting, following thoughts and avoiding eye contact? What if he had a positive, quiet, occasional companion?

What if a girl had spoken with him?

What if someone was brave enough to approach that gawky, kind of creepy kid in the oversized dress shirt, and had the confidence to keep the conversation going? He would feel less alone, at least.

Loneliness is nearly universal but rarely discussed. It is oddly self-replicating, isolating and silencing we who suffer from loneliness in a cascade effect. Lonely, lonelier, alone.

Instinctually, us humans crowd together. We often like like-able people.

Fair. We cluster, hang out, go to the bar, watch movies together, wander, make out, and talk. When our capacity to socialize is reduced, we get lonely. Some of us are born, or grow into, strong and persistent lonelinesses. If so, we are not often crowded around.

But we are valuable, and often great.

There is danger, though, if loneliness is left to stagnate.

For some reason, our fear of loneliness might be preventing us from approaching people that have value.

There are great lonely men and women. Solitude, also, is immensely valuable at times. But sustained isolation from society can be harmful to the soul. Why do we let people get lonely?

If someone is near us, we can act to be near to them, and offer ourselves, our conversation, or our deeds. All it takes is to ask someone about their day, and be able to get past the four or five one-word responses that might come.

If you are persistent, there are fountains of conversation that show great insight, and often surprising and independent minds – beautiful minds, in beautiful, if quiet, people. If I can make one request: when you think of it, attend to the people in your community. Bring yourself to them, and be brave. Approach the lonely, and the quiet. They’ve got lots to talk about.

Mondays at 6PM, PIZZA IN THE NEWSROOM!

Come work for the Xav! We’re hiring.

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FEATURE

Thursday, 24 January, 2013 | The Xaverian Weekly

The Xaverian Weekly | Volume 121 Issue 10

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10 CULTURE

Thursday, 24 January, 2013 | The Xaverian Weekly

CULTURE

Together, alone at the top Gunn-Doerge and Mason still enthusiastic and enjoying solo students’ union election campaign

SEAN MCEVOY | Co-Editor-in-Chief

Filling the positions of president and vice president of the students’ union is arguably the toughest student position at StFX. It takes a special type of person to be able to handle the immense pressures and responsibilities required of you, along with the criticism and spotlight that is shined on every decision that you make.

Despite this, each year different duos put themselves forth to run in an election, for the chance to represent and serve the student body at the highest level. Most year's there are multiple platforms for the students to get behind and support, but this year, students do not have a choice.

For the first time in recent memory only a single twosome has been nominated for election, creating a yes/no decision for students on this year's ballot. Benjamin Gunn-Doerge and Taylor Mason are looking to take over from current President and VP Nick Head-Petersen and Rachel Mitchell for the upcoming school year. The Xaverian Weekly recently got the chance to sit down with them to discuss their plans if elected, what makes them qualified for the positions, and how they feel about running a campaign without any competition.

“We're really excited to be doing this," says Gunn-Doerge. "Taylor and I have known each other since first year and we've worked together a lot previously. We had talked in second year about running together. No one had put in an application, so we realized this was a great opportunity to run. In saying that, we're completely invested because

we had thought about running earlier.”

"It's not like we just did it because no one else did," he continues. "We did this because we want to do this whether it's just us, or if there were six other platforms running. We love StFX and we know that we can work well as a team because we've done it before."

Mason, who has just returned from a first semester academic exchange to New Zealand admits at first there was uncertainty about whether they would throw their hats into the ring.

"I know that he wasn't sure if I was interested because

our most recent video showing our lighter and fun side."

But at the same time it's bittersweet because we feel as though students maybe aren't as engaged these days," he adds. "It's not as legit also when we win, we feel like it won't be as rewarding. That's something we want to try to improve upon next year. We want to make the students’ union more accessible to students, making it more interactive, making students feel like they have a place in the union.

It's a small school, and the reason why I came to StFX is because it's a small school, with a strong community, and a lot of passion and spirit.”

of my exchange, and I didn't know that he was interested due to his cross country.

Coming back, hearing that he was interested, that's when I started to get excited."

Upon hearing that they would be the only ones running in this year's race, both say they felt conflicted with how things turned out.

"It was mixed feelings, bittersweet," says Gunn-Doerge.

"We were able to take this campaign in a new direction and just have more fun with it, which you may have seen in

Mason believes that running alone has allowed them to run a campaign platform more focused on the needs of the students, instead of bettering a potential opponent.

"Because we're not running against anyone, we want to have an open ended platform.

We're not really running like we're trying to win against someone else. It is bittersweet because I think if we were running against someone else the students would be more engaged and passionate about it. A lot of students are

unsure about the vote, and if they even have to vote or not.

We really want a good voter turnout."

Both candidates bring a wealth of previous experiences to the table that they believe will be an asset to them in the positions. GunnDoerge notes that their varied history of activities will allow them to have a very "holistic approach" in appealing to all of the student body.

Gunn-Doerge notes his previous experience as a varsity cross-country/track & field runner as helping develop his connections to the athletics program, Vice-President of MacIsaac Hall in developing relations with the students’ union, adminis tration, and residence services, and as a Service Learning Student Leader, in developing connections with businesses and agencies with the town of Antigonish.

Mason shares her previous experiences as a frosh councillor on student council in her first year, President of TNT in her second year, and her training as a International Student Peer Mentor and a Positive Space Trainer as ways in which she can relate to numerous areas and groups on campus.

At the time of the interview, the pair had not yet released their platform, yet were asked for highlights of ideas they would be pushing to have incorporated if the students choose to vote yes.

Perhaps the biggest change would be the creation of two new VP-Exec positions in the

Mondays at 6PM, PIZZA IN THE NEWSROOM! 1st floor of the SUB.

Students Union; VP of Mental Health (similar to Dalhousie University), and VP of Athletics.

Other priorities for both include the extension of hours of the Golden X Inn. Specifically, Gunn-Doerge and Mason would like to see the campus bar open until 2 a.m. to remain competitive with Pipers Pub. To go along with this, the pair would also like to see a greater variety of programming for students under 19 years of age and more non-alcoholic events to appeal to all student needs and interests.

More ideas the two are suggesting include installation of a GPS in DriveU vehicles, an online campus clothing store, continued investigation into the creation of a co-curricular transcript, as well as wide use of the upcoming new students’ union mobile app to keep students informed and engaged about all campus events.

With the possible upcoming strike by the StFXAUT to take effect the day before student voting is due to begin, Gunn-Doerge and Mason are concerned about voter turnout and student apathy in this election.

"With no school and students not on campus, we really just want students to get out and vote," says Mason.

"We are worried about that."

Despite the ongoing threat, it has not put a damper on the moods of these two possible future leaders.

"I think that we're extremely excited," said Gunn-Doerge.

"It is extremely important to vote because it is your right as a student. We're here for the students and we make a great team. We really want to make next year at StFX a new chapter, to bring back the student spirit and high student satisfaction rates. We are here 100 per cent for the students."

CULTURE

The Xaverian Weekly | Volume 121 Issue 10

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The top albums of 2012 Our picks for the top 10 albums from the year we were lied to by Mayans KIM LUT TICH | Culture Editor

2012 was a great year in music. Well-known names expanded and broadened their horizons, while newcomers to the scene made their mark. Here’s the Xaverian Weekly’s picks for this years top indie albums!

10. Tame Impala - Lonerism It took me some getting used to, but these Australians do deserve a spot on this list. Going from spacey and trippy to masterful psych-pop, they’ve done it right. Although perhaps they fall under a category that many approach apprehensively, Tame Impala bring rare peace to the psychedelic scene.

9. Fiona Apple - The Idler Wheel is Wider than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More than Ropes Will Ever Do As expected, Fiona Apple once again allows listeners into her head through her lyrics, showcasing an array of emotions, which, I am sure, numerous listeners can relate to. Her fourth album, though, is different from the rest, marked most clearly by the uncanny solitude of her voice. The bare minimum of instruments play while Apple’s voice carries the songs.

8. Bat For Lashes - The Haunted Man This at times dreamy and at times eerie album certainly deserves a spot on this list. Natasha Khan pushes her operatic voice further than ever before, leading an album underscored by thoughts of self-esteem, courage, and self-respect. It is not only an album that speaks to social situations, but it also preaches to every girl around, even when it seems like women in the music industry are cracking.

7. Grizzly Bear - Shields This album came about as a result of swirling thoughts of disbanding. Good thing they didn’t, because this is a true masterpiece of music for 2012, and I think it is by far their best work. Their raw lyrics combined with an array of instruments make this their most melodic work yet.

6. Best Coast - The Only Place With this album, Best Coast continues their legacy for great music making. The catchy tunes combined with a beautiful voice and an array of instrumental accompaniments make for another great album. However, unlike their previous work, which was very happy-go-lucky, The Only Place is much more melodramatic, with lyrics centred around relationship angst, jealousy, and other such woes.

5. Cat Power - Sun Cat Power’s newest album is, to say the least, very different than her last collection of originals. Nevertheless, I’d say that this is her best work yet. Her retro-soul and an introduction of subtle electronic sounds produce quite a diverse and chilled-out record.

4. Lana Del Ray - Born To Die I’m not sure where to place an album like this. It’s celebrity status surely makes it worthy of the pop category, but its contents are more fitting for the indie classification. Nevertheless, this album is, well, simply put, awesome!

Lana’s character stays true in this album, with her soul (and sass) coming to life within it.

3. Of Monsters and Men - My Head is an Animal These guys have had an impressively fast-paced year. Despite only forming in 2010, they have quickly risen to stardom both within the indie and mainstream music scenes. With their eclectic collection of instruments, and their scratchy voices, it’s not a surprise they’ve become such a hit.

2. Alt-J - An Awesome Wave I don’t know how much credit this album got, but, in my opinion, it deserves a lot! The entire album is thoughtfully put-together, each track adding onto the next one. The outcome? A beautiful, trance-like trip through the album, underscored by thought-provoking lyrics.

1. The XX - Coexist Really, places one through three should be a tie for first. Nevertheless, I chose to give the XX the coveted first place, because, like Alt-J, they have produced a musical masterpiece. Listening to the album from start to finish and considering the whole album as one song is almost better than just listening to the songs individually. Give it a try you won’t be disappointed!

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Thursday, 24 January, 2013 | The Xaverian Weekly

The million dollar promise How big of a gamble is our investment in university?

V. FARLEY | Contributor

Which news do you want first – the good or the bad?

Bad news: the million dollar promise – that a college graduate makes a million dollars more within a lifetime than his or her high school educated counterparts – can come with a million dollar price tag. Remember, all the little necessities, like food and clothes and school books and insurance, (Editor’s note: and Beer!) are part of education’s price tag.

In Nova Scotia, graduates incur one of the highest average debt loads in the country as they prepare to enter a job market not yet recovered to pre-recession levels. It’s understandable why StFX seniors might feel anxious, or think they’ve gotten a raw deal, as the student loans are pile up and news stories remind them that employers continue to cut costs, the cost of living keeps rising, and, to top it off, tuition keeps getting pricier. And then there’s the direct observation that the faculty is taking up arms over issues

that include how the university directs its funds within the campus.

The happier news is that this situation is not a tragedy, and it can be addressed. The university is performing a balancing act between quality and affordability. Using alternative revenue sources, such as renting out dorms, donations, and increased enrollment next year (Hi, New Rez!) could alleviate some of the finical burden. Necessary expenses could be regulated, but not cut entirely. To make it through each semester,

the university has to cover power for the entire campus, provide running water, upkeep for the buildings, pay the salaries of everyone providing services on campus, from the professors to

the maintenance employees to the student workers, provide sufficient security, etc.

There is no single entity to

blame the need for funding on, because the black ink in a budget has far more than one influence. The government’s tightening of their purse strings for higher education, power companies’ new rates, and the number of part-time or scholarship students all play a part in determining the university’s income and expenditure.

M o r e good news: it could be worse.

Tuition increases were capped 3 per cent by the province of Nova Scotia, keeping future price hikes in the hundreds for the next two years. In addition, StFX

students are not paying the highest tuition in the province. Also, much like StFX, Nova Scotia is not the most expensive province in which to study this year, with tuition rates lower than Ontario and Saskatchewan. Nova Scotians have traditionally paid more for their educations, because the province houses the most universities per capita. With a government revenue lower than the national average, it is not easy to cover the costs of these schools. Although the average tuition for graduate studies is still highest in Nova Scotia , X-men and women are not alone. Most universities across the country are seeing price hikes, including a 10.1 per cent increase in Quebec.

If that isn’t enough to qualify as good news, then imagine studying in the United States, where the average tuition (including expenses) is around $35,000 annually (perhaps a few grand less with the exchange rate on your side).

The Xav’s Weekly Playlist KIM LUT TICH | Culture Editor

In this part of the semester, I can still successfully complete all the fun things I’d like to do in a day, which, in my mind, calls for a good playlist. Hopefully you aren’t swamped with work yet, but either way, this playlist will definitely put a swing in your step!

1. Alt- J - Taro

3. Bastille - Pompeii (Monsieur Adi Remix)

5. Lana Del Rey - Back To the Basics

2. Harlot - Misun

4. ZZ Ward - Put the Gun Down

6. Bat For Lashes - All Your Gold

7. Bastille - No Angels

8. Frank + Derol - Barely Love You Too

9. Serena Ryder - Stompa

10. Marina & The Diamonds - Power & Control

DISTRACTIONS

The Xaverian Weekly | Volume 121 Issue 10

DISTRACTIONS LAURA O’BRIEN | Distractions Editor

WEEKLY TOP 10 HOW TO LIKE THE STRIKE Top 10 things to enjoy if the strike happens

10. The huge bender everyone will go on once the strike is announced 9. You get to see your profs yelling at admin 8. Joining the picket line so you can yell at admin 7. Spending all day with your friends 6. Catching up on all your favourite TV shows 5. Sleeping in 4. Roadtrips!

3. Ignoring all your assignments 2. It is now acceptable to drink on a weekday 1. No School!

snow winter snowflakes fireplace bundled ice

semester icicles snowboarding boots slush

mittens hotchocolate skiing cold scarves cozy forts

DID YOU KNOW?

CHEESE PLEASE! Fun facts about everyone’s favourite dairy product

-Cheese eating began as early as 8000 BCE. -Cheese can be made from any milk-producing animal.

-Moose cheese sells for about $1000/kg and is very high in protein.

-Limburger cheese is one of the smelliest in the world, and its smell is similar to that of body odor.

-Pizza Hut uses roughly 140 million kilograms of cheese per year.

-The most popular cheese in North American is cheddar.

Quotable Quotes “Love the life you live.

Live the life you love.”

–Bob Marley

“Risks must be taken “Do one thing every day because the greatest haz- that scares you.” ard in life is to risk noth–Eleanor Roosevelt ing.”

–Leo Buscaglia

“AWESOME!” –Neil Pasricha

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SPORTS & HEALTH

Thursday, 24 January, 2013 | The Xaverian Weekly

SPORTS & HEALTH X-Men fall to Axemen, bounce back with two big wins Grit, dust-ups , and a comeback for the history books by X-Men Hockey this week AARON THORNELL | Sports & Health Editor

On Wednesday night, the StFX X-men saw their losing streak extend to three games, when they were defeated 5 - 1 by the Acadia Axemen in Wolfville, NS. The game was a lopsided affair, as the Axemen outshot StFX 42 - 19, with the Xmen mustering only one shot in the first period.

Acadia took the lead late in the first period during four-onfour play, as Liam Heelis redirected a Leo Jenner shot past X-men goaltender Drew Owlsey, who was making his 11th start of the season.

Ted Stephens replied for StFX early in the second, putting home a breakaway goal on Acadia goalie Peter DiSalvo. Xmen Captain Murdock MacLellan and Gabe O’Connor drew assists on the equalizer. From then on, however, the Axemen took over. The Acadia side put away two goals before the period was out, gaining a comfortable 3 - 1 lead entering the third.

Andrew Clarke’s shorthanded goal came at the 13:33 mark, and Jonathan Laberge doubled Acadia’s lead just a minute later.

In the final frame, the Axemen picked up where they had left off in the second, as Brett Thompson added a power play goal and an even strength tally in the late stages of the game.

For Acadia, ranked seventh in the CIS, this was the second win in a row after bouncing back from a three game skid with a victory over the St. Thomas Tommies on Saturday.

The game was a penaltyfilled affair, with both teams combining for 125 penalty minutes. The majority of these were handed out in the third period, when tempers boiled over and eight 10-minute misconducts were given – four to each team, and Cole Grbavac received a five-minute major for fighting and a match penalty. Grbavac may face disciplinary action, as fighting is not allowed in AUS hockey.

On Friday, the X-men played host to a struggling Dalhousie Tigers side and were looking to return to winning ways.

They cruised to a comfortable 5 - 2 victory. However, the game was not without its fair share of drama, as a number of fights

and dust-ups erupted in the final five minutes of play.

StFX’s true test came Saturday evening, when the CIS No. 4 ranked St. Mary’s Huskies were in town. The Huskies jumped out to an early lead, and the teams went into the dressing rooms with the Huskies up 2 - 0, courtesy of Lucas Bloodoff and Chris MacKinnon goals.

The game seemed to slip away from the X-men when Bloodoff put his second past StFX goaltender Drew Owsley early in the second period on a St. Mary’s power play. However, the home team stormed back, as Brennen Wray got StFX on the board 30 seconds later. Assists on the goal came from Jason Bast and Steven Kuhn.

Kuhn and Bast would then turn goal-scorers, as Kuhn would bring the X-men within one shortly after the midway point of the second period with StFX on the power play. Bast would tally the equalizer, again with the man advantage, on a scramble goal. Wray added another point, drawing an assist along with defenseman Spence

McAvoy on Bast’s tying goal.

Early in the third period, though, things took a turn for the X-men. Late in the second, Jarrad Struthers picked up a major penalty as well as a game misconduct for hitting from behind. The Huskies took the man advantage into the third and took a four 4 - 3 lead, as Shawn O’Donnell notched his second point of the evening.

The St. Mary’s side thought they had sealed the win when they put another goal past StFX goalie Drew Owsley. The goal was called back though, as the goal-scorer, O’Donnell, was seen to have interfered with Owsley and was sent to the penalty box, giving the XMen a 5-on-3 power play. The first penalty expired, but before the second did, StFX was able to knot the game at 4 - 4.

Michael Kirkpatrick put the puck past Huskies goaltender Anthony Peters with under five minutes to play in regulation.

Jason Bast assisted on the goal, picking up his third point of the night, along with Ted Stephens.

The teams ended regulation at four goals apiece and went

into a 4-on-4 overtime, which proved nothing. The teams then went to a best-of-three shootout. The home team shot first, but X-man Bronson Maschmeyer was unable to beat Anthony Peters. Drew Owsley also stopped St. Mary’s first shooter, Gerrad Grant. Ted Stephens broke the deadlock, beating Peters on a slick forehandbackhand deke. This would prove to be the winner, as Owsley would shutout the two remaining Huskies shooters, capping a miraculous comeback by the X-men in front of the home crowd.

With the four points on the weekend, the X-men were able to hold onto their fourth-place position in the AUS division, and brought them within two wins of Acadia. They face fifth-place UPEI in Antigonish in a key matchup this Friday, as UPEI is only two points behind StFX. They will have their work cut out for them once again on Saturday night, when they travel to Fredericton to battle the CIS No. 3 ranked UNB Reds, who are leading the AUS division.

Study warns of smartphone addiction Canadians may have more trouble putting down their smartphones than we think DARRYL GALLINGER | The Lance (University of Windsor)

A new survey suggests Canadians are becoming addicted to their smartphones; good news for those in the business, but phone dependency is a real problem.

On behalf of Canadian cell phone provider, Wind, Vision Critical recently conducted an online survey of 1,501 Canadians to determine what they would give up in order to keep their smartphones.

“The response to pets was the most surprising,” said Alexandra Maxwell, a spokesperson for Wind. The survey shows that 17 per cent of smartphone users would give up their pets. “I just didn’t see that coming, but I guess some people just love their phones more.”

According to the survey, 40 per cent would give up video games, 28 per cent would give up alcohol and 23 per cent would part with coffee rather than give up their smartphone.

“Surveys are a great way to

check the pulse of consumers.

With more and more Canadians switching to smartphones, we wanted to see just how much Canadians loved them,” said Maxwell.

“I’d feel pretty weird without my phone,” said Hanna Bellacicco, who wouldn’t give up her pet in exchange for her phone but would cut out coffee to stay connected.

“It has to be near me. Even when it’s charging it has to be near me.”

Ken Hart, a psychology professor at the University of Windsor, was surprised by the results of the survey and said it could indicate an addiction trend.

Hart defined addiction as a loss of control. “The person feels a compulsive need,” he said. “This overwhelming urge to engage in the behaviour is very strong, and the person is unable to restrain themselves.” “[Addictions] cause your life to become smaller and narrower, because other activities

in your life are being displaced by this,” said Hart. “Important life goals that you’re trying to achieve don’t get accomplished, so you start becoming unhappy.”

A Pew Research Center study of 2,200 Americans last March indicates that about 10 per cent feel they use their phones too much, suggesting people are becoming aware of potential abuse.

“I use my smartphone every day,” said Allisa Oliverio, who admits to feeling like she’s addicted to the device. “Without it I think I’d be lost … It’s always with me; it’s always in my hand.”

Oliverio said that she sets boundaries with her use, such as avoiding using it when she’s hanging out with friends since she views that as rude behaviour.

Other countries are already struggling with smartphone addiction. According to the Toronto Star, South Korea has started a program to help chil-

dren with their addiction to the internet through various gadgets, including tablets and smartphones. The South Korean government estimates that 2.55 million of its people are addicted.

Mohsan Beg, clinical director at UWindsor’s Student Counselling Centre, has not yet encountered issues of smartphone addiction among students. “We do see some internet addiction,” he said, adding that patients typically have issues with video game use. “[Students] engage in the technological world to escape the real world,” explained Beg. He said symptoms of depression are often tied to internet addiction and people often resort to escapism by playing video games to cope.

Hart said that improper smartphone use draws people’s attention away from the current task at hand, be that studying, driving or holding a conversation.

“As an instructor, I see stu-

dents use smartphones in class, even when they’re not supposed to,” said Hart, adding that despite his policy against mobile phones, students violate it regularly, even after seeing him confiscate phones. “It can be dangerous in the sense that it can harm their academic well-being.”

Hart said he was unaware of a program to treat such an addiction, but said that he could see an increased need for one in the future.

“The larger problem is being distracted … maybe they’re addicted to distractions,” said Hart. “On the other hand ... feelings of depression and loneliness can be alleviated by the smartphone, which is an outlet for social engagement.”

Hart uses the internet mostly for work and engages in social media sparingly. He only uses a landline and doesn’t own a mobile. “I don’t need one,” he said with a laugh.

SPORTS & HEALTH

The Xaverian Weekly | Volume 121 Issue 10

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The A Tale Of Two Orgies High fives and handshakes in the land of fruitful group sex CONNIE LINGUS | Sex Columnist

YOLO, the more the merrier, the bigger the better. These are my words to live by! Sure, sex with one person is great, but sex with a bunch of people, ever greater. Why have one when you can have them all? Sure, there’s only so much a girl can handle, but that’s what hands are for.

Life is busy enough in the daytime, with emails, meetings and phone calls to deal with, but that’s not to say I like to go home to a quiet evening. No no, I’d rather end my day in a loud and bumpy way. I love walking into my house to that familiar smell of sex and sweat, its intoxicating. Well, at first it’s a little nauseating, but you get used to it.

Of course, it definitely helps owning a king size bed. We always stick to the bare minimum for sheets, but my friends would definitely agree that you can never have too many pillows– who knows where your head might end up? We got rid of the carpet a few years ago, there came a point when the stains just wouldn’t come out.

I find that when you love orgies as much as I do, having regular sex just doesn’t cut it anymore, one person becomes too “vanilla”. With experience, there comes a point when you’re surrounded by so much nudity that it feels wrong to put your clothes back on. And they certainly make the best staff bonding parties, everyone knows that no one really wants to go to a paint-your-own-

PHIL ACCIO | T he Other Sex Columnist

pottery class or glow-in-the-dark mini-golf anyways.

Once you get the hang of it, orgies can be a beautiful thing. However, there are a few downsides, especially being a lady. For starters, there’s that terrible squelching sound and the occasional queef can make things awkward. I’ve also noticed that the bruises on my knees have never really gone away. And then of course, I never really get to have sex with my husband anymore, someone else is always occupying his and my time. Not that I truly mind, I’ve certainly had much better sex with others than I ever had with him. There was also the one night the dog got into the room, but we don’t talk about that. Beyond that, everything is fun, fun fun.

Let me tell you, those students at U of T are on to something with their new “org y rooms,” even though I’ve been calling my bedroom that for years now. There’s no better way to get to know someone, and if you put a camera in just the right place, they’ll be yours forever. I’ll bet the U of T admin is all over the camera business, if their students get in high places in the future, they’ll be sure to have excellent patrons for years to come.

So if and when the opportunity arises, or perhaps if you take a vacation to the U of T campus, give yourself a YOLO pep talk, a quick shave, a shot of tequila and jump in.

Tweet us! We’re looking for advice on sex! Tips, tricks, wild things to feature on the back page, and funny sex-related names. Give us a shout! @XaverianWeekly

Athletes of the Week

X-Women track and field short-distance runner Eilish MacQuarrie was named the StFX Female Athlete of the Week for the week ending Jan. 20, 2013.

Eilish, a second year Human Kinetics student from Antigonish, NS, ran two personal best times at the Athletics NS Open meet this past Saturday in Halifax. Eilish won the 600m race with a PB time of 1:38.17, and she finished second in the 300m dash, clocking a personal best of 42.18s. She is off to a successful start to the 2013 indoor season, picking of first place finishes in last week’s meet in Moncton in the same two events.

X-Men hockey forward Brennen Wray was named the StFX Male Athlete of the Week for the week ending Jan. 20, 2013. Brennen, a fourth year Science student from Moose Jaw, Sask., picked up five points in two key weekend wins for the X-Men. In Friday’s 5-2 win over Dalhousie, Brennen was the player of the game, scoring two goals and assisting on another. In their 5-4 shootout victory over CIS No. 4 Saint Mary’s on Saturday, Brennen scored one goal and also had an assist on the game-tying goal. He is currently second in team scoring with 17 points on the season (6 goals, 11 assists).

“But what if he sneaks up behind me?” It’s thoughts like these that prevent free love. Orgies are a little freaky. The idea of being out of control, wandering in a room full of people you know, sort of, like that neighbor down the street, Marianne, and that guy who works at subway, Hanif. But instead of a mingler or a cocktail party, we’re all butt naked.

Butt naked. Stark naked. If you fart, it doesn’t hit undies. That naked.

I like the feeling of wandering around in my good old nature suit. It’s liberating.

I get off work, close up my MacBook, get home, check my email one last time, then wander down the block to the swingers’ party. Why not? I’m only living once.

I remember the first time I got curious about orgies. I was in the midst of some heavy romance with my neighbour, a nice woman who lived alone and came home from work bored.

We got into it, really heavy. She was good, she was a creature of passion, as they say. We moved around her house from place to place, countertop to bed to couch to loveseat to chest of drawers to dryer to washing machine, reverse piggybacking our way to glory.

We were at it for a while, when the door downstairs opened. She whipped her head around towards me. “What night is it?”

I looked down the stairs. “Wednesday.” I was leaning over top of her over the railing that was above the curve in the stairs. I could see down them, right into the front door. Four, five, maybe six people were taking off their shoes and calling her name. She turned us both around, pressing me against the rail, and seemed frozen in her stare for quite a few seconds.

I wondered why she didn’t run to her bedroom to change. It was just down the hall. The railing must have been made

of ice. My man cheeks were pressed between the posts. She continued to look at me. She looked excited. She didn’t make any move towards the bedroom, just pulled me tighter. I looked downstairs. If these people looked towards me, they’d see me, naked. Why didn’t I mind?

I figured some kind of anxiety response would kick in and I’d move, or she would. Neither of us did. I started to think that she might have invited these people over after she invited me over to do things to her. She knew they were coming. I looked at her again, she had a small grin on her face.

Finally, a beefy guy who had just taken off a brown coat looked up the stairs.

When our eyes met, I’m sure my face turned as pale as the sun deprived parts I had on display. “Jesus, Joanne, I can see his ass. I CAN SEE HIS ASS.” He turned to the small redheaded lady beside him. “Don’t look upstairs Suzie.” He threw his jacket over her head.

She pulled it off before it had landed.

Joanne pulled me down towards the room, as I was walking I heard the small woman downstairs whisper excitedly “Brian, oh, there it goes,” like it was some sort of creature of legend she’d never see again.

As I was getting pulled down the hallway by this woman, I realized the crowd downstairs didn’t bother me at all. I imagined Suzie and Brian walking up the stairs, just as naked as I, giggling and roaring with laughter, putting things in places; sliding, squatting, thrusting, tossing and getting thrown. The other four, hearing our excitement, would throw down their clothes, and run upstairs, minds full of filthy enthusiasm. I bet we’d high five. God, why stop at the four downstairs. I’m inviting the whole office.

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Thursday, 24 January, 2013 | The Xaverian Weekly