APRIL 8 - SEPT 6 | ISSUE 151 - 13 3 Amina Abawajy: First January 26–February 15, 2018 Black President of DSU ISSUE 150–08 NORTH AMERICA'S OLDEST CAMPUS NEWSPAPER EST. 1868 12 Discussing identity politics 20 25 years down with the Tigers—more to come

Youth political parties on campus try to thrive Navigating the complex International students reject proposed tuition hike world of politics on campus Tuition for international students could jump by 30 per cent or more within next four years KATHLEEN JONES ALSO IN THIS ISSUE Benjamin Mowat has been a student at NEXT YEAR’S DSU EXEC CHRONIC PAIN ON CAMPUS: DAL STUDENT HEADS UP NOVA SCOTIA’S FIRST 4 LIVING WITH AN INVISIBLE ILLNESS 14 POWERCHAIR SOCCER PROGRAM 18 both the University of King’s College and Dalhousie University for two years, but he’s no stranger to politics. As soon as he graduated from high school, he began work on Olivia Chow’s campaign for mayor of Toronto, where he lived at the time. “And that was an incredibly rewarding experience, working for a leftist cause,” he says. Now, Mowat is the events coordi- nator for the Nova Scotia Young New Democrats, a group he became involved with in January of 2017. The Young New Democrats aren’t hard to get involved with—membership in the party is only five dollars. There’s also a free campus club at Dal—but it can still be difficult to bring students in. Mowat attributes the challenge to conflicting commitments and the fact that politically engaged students might be more interested in student union politics. “The student unions in Halifax take up a lot of room, and they focus a lot of

CONT’D PG. 18 3 Amina Abawajy: First January 26–February 15, 2018 Black President of DSU MON, APR 15 ISSUE 150–08 SUB WELLNESS ROOM 12 THURS, APR 18 NORTH AMERICA'S OLDEST CAMPUS NEWSPAPER Discussing identity DSU SEXTON OFFICE EST. 1868 politics Kaila Jefferd-Moore Josh Young 20 Editor-in-Chief Sports Editor 25 years down with MASSAGE DAYS [email protected] [email protected] the Tigers—more to come Rebecca Dingwell Sarah Moore News Editor Assistant Sports Editor SIGN UP ONLINE! [email protected] Youth political squareup.com/appointments/book/6959AZ323R1XY/ Matt Stickland dalhousie-student-union-halifax-ns Jessica Briand Copy Editor parties on Arts & Lifestyle Editor [email protected] [email protected] campus try presented by powered by Chris Stoodley Anastasia Payne to thrive Visuals Editor Navigating the complex Assistant Arts Editor [email protected] world of politics on campus Lexi Kuo Alexandra Fox KATHLEEN JONES Opinions Editor Page Designer Benjamin Mowat has been a student at [email protected] [email protected] both the University of King’s College and Dalhousie University for two years, but Contributing to this issue: he’s no stranger to politics. EXAM Karla Renic, Nebal Snan, Jess Moniz, Mayowa Oluwasanmi, Hannah Bing, Bayleigh Marelj, As soon as he graduated from high school, he began work on Olivia Chow’s Kathleen Jones, Gabbie Douglas, Tarini Fernando, Chiara Ferrero-Wong, Hannah van den campaign for mayor of Toronto, where SEASON Bosch, Sam Gillett he lived at the time. “And that was an incredibly rewarding late night hours ADVERTISING CONTACT US experience, working for a leftist cause,” he says. Alexandra Sweny dalgazette.com Now, Mowat is the events coordi- nator for the Nova Scotia Young New Administration and Business Assistant The SUB, Room 345 Democrats, a group he became involved (289) 879-1557 6136 University Avenue with in January of 2017. TUES, APR 9 to [email protected] Halifax NS, B3H 4J2 The Young New Democrats aren’t hard to get involved with—membership in the party is only five dollars. There’s THE FINE PRINT also a free campus club at Dal—but it can still be difficult to bring students in. The Gazette is the official written record of Dalhousie University since 1868. It is published bi-weekly during the aca- TUES, APR. 16 Mowat attributes the challenge to demic year by the Dalhouse Gazette Publishing Society. The Gazette is a student-run publication. Its primary purpose is conflicting commitments and the fact to report fairly and objectively on issues of importance and interest to the students of Dalhousie University, to provide an that politically engaged students might be open forum for the free expression and exchange of ideas, and to stimulate meaningful debate on issues that affect or would more interested in student union politics. Open til 2AM otherwise be of interest to the student body and/or society in general. Views expressed in the letters to the editor, in street- “The student unions in Halifax take (except Sat, Apr 13 ers and opinions section are solely those of the contributing writers, and do not necessarily represent the views of The Ga- up a lot of room, and they focus a lot of zette or its staff. Views expressed in the Streeter feature are solely those of the person being quoted, and not the Gazette’s CONT’D PG. 18 open til midnight) writers or staff.

This publication is intended for readers 18 years of age or older. The views of our writers are not the explicit views of Dalhousie University. All students of Dalhousie University, as well as any interested parties on or off-campus, are invited to contribute to any section of the newspaper. Please contact the appropriate editor for submission guidelines, or drop by in for our weekly office hours in room 345 of the Dal SUB. The Gazette reserves the right to edit and reprint all submissions, and will not publish material deemed by its editorial board to be discriminatory, racist, sexist, homophobic or libellous. Opinions expressed in submitted letters are solely those of the authors. Editorials in the Gazette are signed and represent the opinions of the writer(s), not necessarily those of the Gazette staff, Editorial Board, publisher, or Dalhousie University.

2 | April 8, 2019 dalgazette.com LETTER FROM THE EDITOR One last letter from this editor

From doing the bare minimum in first-year at a university across the country (Kelowna, B.C.) to dropping out for a gap year, to skipping Foundation Year Programme at the University of King’s College and basically saying “lol Byeeeeee” to caring about journalism school in favour of putting my sweat and tears and more sweat and more tears into The Dalhousie Gazette to almost not graduating … I’m finally leaving this place in the dust. I’ve been with The Dalhousie Gazette for three years now. It feels like it’s been a lifetime. I wasn’t supposed to be Editor-in-chief the first time around. It was a role I was kind of pressured into. But being able to be at it for two years has allowed me to leave a more stable foundation for the paper. It turns out I actually enjoyed the responsibility; I might have even thrived at times. There are definite accomplishments and sure failures on my CV now. Leaving both my time as an undergraduate student and working for the Gazette is a welcome reprieve. I feel a weight getting lighter as I edit the last pages and write out my last letter. It’s really weird, working toward a seemingly impossibly goal –– graduating –– far off in your future and make it there only to realize none of the fulfillment came from graduating but from the four years that got you there. I’ll always carry this damn paper around in my back pocket. The right course, right when you want it.

Make the most out of your summer by taking an online course with Acadia University. With almost 100 undergraduate courses to choose from, you can pick up credits you want for your degree program or take courses that may not be available online at your home institution. THANKS FOR READING!

• Our courses are continuous intake, • Also available: enhance your degree not term-based: begin studying and open a world of possibilities with anywhere, anytime. our online TESOL certificate. SEE YOU IN • Easily transfer the credits you’ve earned back to your institution by studying with a Letter of Permission. • Work around your summer plans: vacation, travel, or work. You set your study schedule. SEPTEMBER!

(902) 585-1222 dalgazette.com online.acadiau.ca

dalgazette.com April 8, 2019 | 3 NEWS The executive decision BY REBECCA DINGWELL, NEWS EDITOR

Before voting took place, the Dalhousie Gazette sent a similar questionnaire to each candidate in the 2019 Dalhousie Student Union election. Responses were edited for style and clarity and posted online. Voting has now passed and winners have been announced. According to the DSU, overall voter turnout was 21.7 per cent (4,113 out of 18,940 possible voters). The following is your 2019-20 student union. DSU President Aisha Abawajy Meet your new Dalhousie Student Union ey through the student bar; O-Week went $95,000 over-budget last year, so I would like to hire a student for long-term policies to Editor’s note: The DSU has not responded to multiple requests from ensure O-Week profit stability. Basically, I want the DSU to put the Dalhousie Gazette for an updated list of vacant DSU positions and if/when the Chair and Secretary may change. This is the current money right back in the hands of students by cutting executive list of vacant positions based on the March 13, 2019 DSU election and spending and increasing student employment and society grants. information available on www.dsu.ca. Another area I see the potential for change is how the DSU could improve the day-to-day lives of most students. Increases in Chair: Chris Abraham, [email protected] tuition fees, for instance, are a great concern for a lot of students. Secretary: Julia Guk, [email protected] We know that over 40 per cent of students will graduate with over $20,000 debt. We also know over 10 per cent of students work more than 31 hours per week during the school year. I am the Executives only candidate taking a strong stance on the decrease and elimi- President: Aisha Abawajy nation of tuition fees for all students which would be beneficial to Vice-president (Internal): Calista Hills all students. Vice-president (Finance and Operations): Isa Wright Food security is also a huge issue for me –– I will increase fund- Vice-president (Academic and External): Kenyan Nagy ing to the Food Bank by moving money from now-defunct levied Vice-president (Student Life): Ruby Coles societies, and I will work with Feed Nova Scotia work towards increasing the food limit so students can take however much they need. I will advocate for food services on Sexton and make a cal- Student representatives endar of all free food events on campus for students. Parking can Health Professions representative: Joshua Yusuf also be a huge annoyance for students getting to campus –– I Residence Student representative: Sandra Sunil would look at our parking regulations to see if I can free up more Board of Governors representative (1): Fatima Beydoun parking space and decrease fees. If I find that’s impossible under current regulations, I will exhaust all avenues until I find a way to Black Student representative: Claudia Castillo-Prentt get students affordable parking. Another passion of mine is making sure students are well- AISHA ABAWAJY IS THE DALHOUSIE STUDENT UNION PRESIDENT FOR THE Vacant DSU positions 2019-2020 SCHOOL YEAR. PHOTO BY KARLA RENIC equipped for the post-university world; as such, I will provide sub- Board of Governors Representative (1) sidized workshops in First Aid, Food Safe, and mental health sup- Indigenous Students Representative Dal Gazette: What do you admire about the current port that will be open to every student at Dal. DSU executives? International Students Representative AA: I really admire President [Aaron] Prosper’s commitment to DG: What, in your opinion, is the biggest issue on LGBTQ Students Representative listening to students, such as through his student survey or his 50 campus right now? Students with Disabilities Representative days of listening campaign. Vice-president [Masuma] Khan has AA: In my opinion, the biggest issue is student mental health. I Women Students Representative made this campus a better place through advocacy –– I’m think- know very few students who haven’t cried in a bathroom on cam- Faculty of Agriculture Representative ing specifically of the free menstrual products campaign she led. pus or had to skip class because they can’t face the day or missed Faculty of Architecture and Planning Representative Vice-president [Chantal] Khoury is making an unprecedented ef- meals because they’re too anxious to eat. This isn’t how it has to Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Representative fort to get students involved in the budget-making process, which be! Faculty of Computer Science Representative I really admire and want to emulate. There are root causes of poor mental health, from climate change anxiety to money problems to institutional oppression or Faculty of Dentistry Representative DG: What would you like to see the DSU do differently? any intersection of the above, and I see this group of students Faculty of Engineering Representative AA: There are a few things I’d want to see changed if I am voted struggling in unprecedented ways with a fundamental lack of in- Faculty of Graduate Students Representative President. Some of these are budget-based: I think the DSU could stitutional support. Faculty of Law Representative improve its transparency in terms of how much is spent on confer- Faculty of Management Representative ences, for instance. DG: What have you been watching on Netflix lately? Faculty of Medicine Representative I would hire a student to conduct a review of some of our spend- AA: Right now, I’m really into re-watching Brooklyn Nine-Nine! I Faculty of Science Representative ing: the Grawood goes overbudget every year, so I would like to think it’s a stress response… know how we could change our policies or practices to make mon-

4 | April 8, 2019 dalgazette.com NEWS Remembering Angela Rehhorn and Danielle Moore The two Dalhousie alumni were among 157 people killed in the Ethiopian Airlines crash BY KARLA RENIC

Dalhousie University is mourning the loss of alumni Angela reads a statement from Pinnguaq, a non-profit organization that Rehhorn and Danielle Moore: both young environmentalists Moore worked with. Moore had been an employee of Canada chosen to be delegates at the United Nations Environment As- Learning Code, recently having worked in Nunavut teaching sembly in Nairobi, Kenya. children about robotics, coding and VR. “The kids knew her, Rehhorn and Moore were onboard an Ethiopian Airlines plane affectionately, as ‘the girl with the robots.’” when it crashed on March 10. The Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft Her friend, Izzy Jubinville, said Moore was born to be a teach- departed from Addis Ababa towards Nairobi and had 157 people er. “She was patient, smart and hard-working.” Moore had just on board. The travellers came from 35 different countries, in- been accepted to the Bachelor of cluding 18 Canadian passengers. There were no survivors and Education at the University of the reasons behind the crash are still under investigation. Ottawa. “It’s what she was meant to do.” “I’ve never Angela Rehhorn Moore graduated from Dalhou- met anyone sie University with a degree in “Angie always loved the ocean,” said Rehhorn’s former room- like her.” Marine Biology and Oceanogra- mate Paula Lagman. phy in 2017. The two were matched in first year at Dal and had been room- During their studies at Dal, mates up until two years ago. “She was very passionate about the Moore and Jubinville went on a four-month trip to Costa Rica, environment and sustainability.” working and backpacking. “One time when we were exploring Rehhorn was working at the Huntsman Marine Science Centre this beach on Costa Rica, Danielle found these clay deposits on and had recently been accepted to join the Canadian Wildlife the beach and got all of us to cover ourselves from head to toe Federation's Canadian Conservation Corps. with this clay,” recalled Jubinville. “She was just so much fun.” A statement from the conservan- Moore’s work with Canada Learning Code was recognized by cy said: “from the moment we ANGELA REHHORN WAS ONE DELEGATE FOR THE UNITED NATIONS ENVI- the UN, according to a CBC interview with Moore’s research RONMENT ASSEMBLY IN NAIROBI, KENYA. met her, we could see Angela was PHOTO FROM REHHORN’S FACEBOOK PROFILE “She would advisor Kim Davies. She also worked with a variety of environ- a gifted and committed conserva- mental and activist organizations in Canada, which earned her have made a tionist who was dedicated to mak- a place at the UN’s environmental conference. ing the world a better place.” difference in “I’ve never met anyone like her,” said Jubinville. “She was a Rehhorn graduated from Dal- the world.” tireless activist, so passionate about advocacy for the environ- housie in 2017 with a double ma- ment, Indigenous peoples, youth,” she said. “I just thought she jor in Marine Biology and Sus- could do it all.” tainability. Rehhorn worked and volunteered with several environmentalist organizations from coast to coast. A promising leader and a dedicated “I think she would have made a difference in the world, she was really passionate about this,” said Lagman. volunteer Lagman can recall many beautiful memories with Angela. Both Moore and Rehhorn volunteered with the Canadian Sea “She was always a happy person,” she said. “She would always Turtle Network. go out of her way to make everyone feel better.” Lagman said The organization expressed their condolences on their Face- that they even have matching tattoos with one of their mutual book page. About Danielle Moore: “She was a promising young friends, Alex. “I’m really glad I have that to remember her.” leader in the environmental world and we send our most sincere Rehhorn was passionate about many things, her former room- condolences to her loved ones.” About Angela Rehhorn: “An- mate said. “She always wanted to get better at surfing. She would gela was a dedicated volunteer during our 2016 summer season have really been good at that too.” and was an inspiring young conservation leader.”

Danielle Moore On April 20, Lagman is organizing the first annual beach Danielle Moore had “a smile that would brighten any room,” clean-up in Point Pleasant Park, in honour of Rehhorn’s birth- DANIELLE MOORE WAS ALSO ON HER WAY TO NAIROBI, KENYA TO BE A day. DELEGATE AT THE EVENT. PHOTO FROM MOORE’S FACEBOOK PROFILE

dalgazette.com April 8, 2019 | 5 NEWS Dalhousie international students reject proposed tuition hike Incoming international students could eventually pay $6,000 more in tuition fees BY NEBAL SNAN

minimum wage and some of the highest taxation At the BAC feedback session held in the Student rates in Canada. So, international students at Union Building, Balser said she will investigate Dalhousie would make much less money com- whether faculties are spending the money allo- pared to international students in other U15 uni- cated to them effectively. versities, even if they work the same hours. Shimada said Dal’s International Centre is the Shimada also pointed out that funding options only source of student support for international are limited for international students because full- students on campus, but the centre has reached time international students can only work 20 maximum capacity. According to Shimada, the hours off-campus during the waiting times for advising ap- regular academic year. pointments can sometimes Currently, the Dalhousie “It will make it even reach two weeks. Student Union offers an emergency fund for interna- harder for No regulations tional students in financial international students Although domestic tuition difficulty due to unforeseen to feel safe and be increase is capped at three THE INTERNATIONAL CENTRE IS A SPACE FOR ALL STUDENTS ON CAMPUS. PHOTO BY EVAN DE SILVA circumstances. However, the per cent annually by the pro- fund is not well advertised ready to study Tuition for international students at Dalhousie “My parents made such a huge sacrifice for me without worrying vincial government, there are University could jump by 30 per cent or more to be here, because they sold their house. And my outside of the DSU website. no similar regulations for in- within the next four years. dad is currently unemployed, and my mom is Students in their first year or about their status in ternational tuition. Shimada For the seventh year in a row, the Budget Advi- working in China,” she said. “Everything we do part-time students are not Canada.” said international students sory Committee (BAC) at Dalhousie is recom- … everything we buy we have to time it by the eligible to apply. are at a disadvantage because mending a three percent increase in general tu- conversion factor.” “If the students can’t pay they can’t affect policy-mak- ition for both international and domestic students. Although Yue went to high school in British Co- their fees on time, they won’t ing. But this year, the committee is suggesting an ex- lumbia, she chose to come to Dalhousie. be able to produce the necessary documents to “We should be protected the same way as the tra 8.1 per cent increase for international students “I thought Dalhousie has lower tuition, so that’s renew their study permit. It will make it even domestic students. Just because we are here as in all undergraduate and why I came here,” said Yue. harder for international students to feel safe and temporary residents doesn’t make it OK for the masters (non-thesis) pro- be ready to study without worrying about their school to use us for the sake of money,” she said. grams, which would be ac- “Just because we are Give us a reason status in Canada,” said Shimada. Shimada feels the university ignored interna- crued over the next four Balser said the committee is planning to allocate tional students, as they weren’t consulted in the here as temporary Teri Balser, provost and vice- years. additional funds to offset financial hardship for process of making the budget plan. The BAC has residents doesn’t president (Academic) at Dal- “When I heard the rate of international students; but these plans are still two students on the panel –– one of them used to housie, said the tuition in- increase, I thought it was make it OK for the “evolving.” be an international student, but is no longer one. crease was proposed to offset outrageous,” said Tabasa After DISA released its statement opposing the school to use us for the rising costs of running the Shimada, an international International services are proposed tuition hike, Shimada said the parent of the sake of money.” university. student and the vice-presi- inadequate a prospective international student sent her a As reported by the BAC –– dent (External) at the Dal- Facebook message. and reflected in numbers from According to Dalhousie’s operating budget for housie International Stu- “They actually said that it might stop them from Universities Canada –– international students at the current academic year, the university allo- dent Association (DISA). coming to Dal because it becomes too expensive. Dalhousie pay some of the lowest tuition fees com- cates “$350,000 to faculties and units most im- If approved, the increase would be grandfa- They said they were going to write to the Pro- pared to other U15 universities. U15 describes it- pacted by and support services related to growth thered in – only applying to new students admit- vost.” self as a “collective of some of Canada’s most re- in the number of international students.” ted for the fall of 2019 and after. Both Shimada and Yue said they hadn't seen any Shimada wants the university to stop the tuition search-intensive universites,” on its website. increase for both international and domestic stu- According to Balser, the four-year plan to in- specific support for international students within Students say increase is their faculties. dents. She said DISA is urging all students to sign crease tuition for international students will help a petition against the increase. “unfair” the university move to the U15 tuition average. “The university needs to be more transparent,” said Shimada. “It just goes into this big pot of The Board of Governors is set to vote on the Tina Yue is a first-year international student at Shimada said comparing Dalhousie to other BAC budget proposal on April 16. the faculty of science. She says not all interna- U15 universities is “unfair” because it doesn’t money when we pay, and everything gets mixed tional students can afford the increase in tuition. take into account that Nova Scotia has the lowest together.”

6 | April 8, 2019 dalgazette.com OPINIONS When ‘self-care’ becomes junk food and Netflix Biological stress responses may be working against you

BY JESS MONIZ

I officially entered the breakdown phase of student The study found that the reactions and coping life the moment I ordered a coffee just to stay up- methods used by college students were emotion- right. based, such as getting upset at friends and family or I was wearing the hoodie I’d power-napped in all sharing emotions to seek support. These were used week. My dollar donut felt like a splurge. I drank the more often than approaches like re-examining emo- coffee and fell asleep anyway. tions or stepping back from feelings to evaluate the I swore it would never come to that again, but it situations. became just how things normally are. My life is con- As a result of these results, researchers proposed sidered normal –– lucky, even –– but that’s not the students do workshops to reduce stress. They hy- point. pothesized that workshops facilitating positive sup- Most of us don’t think it’s abnormal to live in a tired port and bonding would alleviate stress from social and over-caffeinated state. We spend weekends with interaction, as well as promote self-reflection, rather friends binging booze or alone, huddled around a than the emotional outburst-based coping adopted laptop binging TV. Ubiquitous with academics is by many students. salty caramel Starbucks, exam beards, sweatpants and instant ramen. Zooming in to the micro Junk food, binging digital media and lack of sleep Normal maintenance suffers when we have other isn’t considered healthy. Our #relatable student life- things to do, which explains wearing sweats and style jokes aside, we may internalize the idea we are exam beards. And the crippling lack of sleep. collectively failing at #adulting by living this way. Our health may suffer because this is the first time But the way we live is symptomatic of the condi- some of us are completely in charge of it. Some of tions we’re in. our habits are direct results of the fact we’re still In other words, we’re doing what’s good for us giv- PHOTO BY MELANIE KENNY learning to manage ourselves, and that’s impor- en what we have to work with: stress, limited re- emotional budget. That’s why on a daily scale, digi- tant, but some of your unhealthy decisions may be Self-care that doesn’t cost you sources and the midterm wolves (I’ll return to that). tal media is nice. So we unwind by enjoying a sea- your body trying to cope with stress at a micro lev- You’re doing better than you think. We cut through daily hassles with mindless social son’s worth of content. el. media scrolling. Beyond the “millennial screens ob- If we’re doing our best, or at least what comes natu- Our inability to achieve a balanced diet –– in fa- The science of stress session,” social media also allows us to tune-out rally, why do we feel so bad about it? vour of sodium and sweet treats –– is affected by stress, socialize with others on our terms and ex- We think self-care should take be set aside as a one Psychology research on college-level stress report- the amount of cortisol released in our bodies. Nor- press ourselves. task activity and organized, usually with the use of ed 80 per cent of students to be moderately stressed mally, cortisol is released in the body when you Video games, social media and Netflix don’t seem products. It should involve consuming specific re- based on a standardized questionnaire. Other re- need to break down stored components for energy, as refined as hobbies or sports that satisfy our need laxation industry items like bath bombs and lotion or search found that stress affects students’ attention it prepares your body for action. Respiration and to include a workout, skill or mental training to our meditation apps. and concentration, physical health and mental heart rate increase, as well as muscle tension. Blood activities. To be able to relax in an hour in comfy pants you health. This may seem obvious, but in the science is directed toward vital organs. Having the time, energy and money to develop a already own seems lazy. Doing it “properly” re- world, nothing is real until verified by randomized If it seems like an over-reaction, your hypothala- hobby is a privilege. quires rose petals and the silk robe. Yoga classes, control trial. mus is pretty sure it’s wolves –– not that you’re fail- Stress from fatigue is obvious. There’s also burn- walks in the woods, and long luxurious baths aren’t A 2006 study researched the types of stress students ing the thermodynamics section of your course. out. We are made to feel guilty for relaxing instead accessible to everyone. Same thing with health food. were experiencing. One hundred sixty-six students A preliminary study on 89 stressed women found of maximizing employable skills. We can’t spend all But you still need to relax and eat. self-reported stress levels for each stressor on a five- they were more likely to go for higher-fat foods our time volunteering and networking. The pres- When we’re coping in nonideal circumstances, re- point scale, in which (5) indicates “extremely stress- when stressed or avoid healthier foods like dried sure to stay productive is a constant cloud over the member to hold our habits to realistic standards of ful” and (1) indicates “not stressful.” fruit –– even if they were offered. The cortisol life of a student. self-maintenance. We’re all just human. Results found the highest stress came from social makes you crave food that’s fattier or more sugary. But you don’t need to buy into this. Sometimes All we can do is buy what we can afford, manage interaction and “daily hassles” like not finding park- So you aren’t a food slob; it’s because cooking is your wellbeing, your friends and family or other what we can, do what we have energy for and try our ing, waking up late and traffic. They found these hard and your body wants to buff you up with Lil’ needs take priority. best to take care of ourselves. And if the best you can stressors to be more stressful on average than stress Debbies. No reason to guilt yourself. do is chug some frothy beverages and blaze through involving family, finances and academics. Our activities can’t tax our monetary, physical or a few hours of Bloodborne so be it.

dalgazette.com April 8, 2019 | 7 OPINIONS Bing bam exam cram Should be studying? Start here, with tips to maximize your time

BY MAYOWA OLUWASANMI

paragraph or subheading will be far more useful ing. Every time you get distracted, work another 50 that regurgitating sentences. Writing five or more minutes after that. These mechanisms allow us to sentences about a concept you understand is better be more productive with our time, instead of wast- than trying to remember sentences. ing days half-working. To skim, always read the first sentence of each paragraph. Take notes of repeated words and al- 4. Talk to your professors ways read the chapter summary. The syllabus can Professors are often willing to go into detail if you be used as a checklist for your studying. ask. The only thing worse than studying is studying Google is your best friend during exam time. irrelevant material that serves only to clog your Complex terms and language can be easily learnt brain and weaken your answers. Like skimming, by a quick internet search or YouTube crash being able to dissect a large syllabus into a smaller course. checklist is a necessary skill. Noting down key jargon can also be beneficial for If your professor gives you an outline, follow it. If multiple choice exams. Keep in mind what you the exams are multiple choice: don’t study for essay will be expected to recall during testing. Will you questions. If the exam is cumulative: study every- need to know dates? Or perhaps you only need to thing (you won’t remember the stuff from the mid- know the order of events, then draw out a timeline term, trust me.) to get the general gist. For essay questions, focus on It’s easy for students to create a divide between summaries of topics and any key terms used. their freedom and their education. Who cares if Skimming is beneficial as it reduces the time GETTING THROUGH EXAM SEASON MAY SEEM DAUNTING. THESE TIPS SHOULD HELP EASE THE STRESS. you’ve sent your TA five emails? Don’t feel bad. PHOTO BY SNAG EUN PARK ON PIXABAY spent studying without reducing the importance of Universities provide several resources for us to get In the wake of exams, you may find yourself knee way first. Then figure out if you have enough time stuff. Time is money during exam season, and ev- academic help when we need it. Your instructors deep in coffee, highlighters and breakdowns. Reso- for the giant ones. Only do what you can possibly ery hour you spend at your desk has to be produc- are there to make your academic career more suc- lutions to be more organized have slowly eroded do, then move on if there’s time. tive. Stressing over every minute detail is a waste of cessful, despite exam worries. through the months. April awaits, panic lies ready You can do a lot in a week. You can also do a lot time and energy. With half the effort, skimming What topics should you focus on? Is there any to pounce. in two days--as long as you know that you can’t do allows you to learn what’s relevant. Ten points for point to studying both sections? Make sure to get all It is doable. And you will get through it. Here are everything. Exam cram is a gamble, and don’t al- you. some tips to maximize your time in this awful pe- ways bet on the big stuff. you can out of your professors beforehand. Armed with some knowledge of what's ahead, studying be- riod. 3. A day distracted is a day wasted 2. SKIM! comes a more achievable task. 1. Know when to stop –– but make Spending two hours on your phone after 30 min- Across the globe, a universal symbol of scholar- utes of note taking isn’t real studying. Self-sabotage 5. Eat real food it practical ship and academia is readings. Assigned readings, will lead to poor grades. There’s no sugar coating Most of us know eating a diet of whole grains, lean Look at you. short readings, assisted readings, suggested read- this. If you tell yourself you're going to achieve a protein, fibre and vegetables will lead to a healthier Now look at that 20-page academic journal that ings, extra-credit readings; it’s a prerequisite of task, you need to put in the work. mind. Our bodies crave escape from tense environ- was assigned five weeks ago that you never opened. university life that you read. On the flip side, spending all day in bed doesn’t ments and food is a great way for us to disconnect The Brightspace topic complete bar is white and It takes forever. The sheer volume of readings as- mean you can’t work. The night is young and any- from reality. It allows us to take breaks in between unread; mocking you. signed to university students is onerous and im- thing is better than nothing. furious notetaking; and the more snacks we eat the There’s no shame is not being able to do it all. It is practical. As students, we know the horrors of be- Studying on your bed isn’t practical, no matter more distracted we can be. an essential life skill to know when to give it up. It’s ing overwhelmed by readings, especially when what we tell ourselves. Studying with your phone Instead of harping on about health, here’s a list of two days before the final –– that 50-page reading is there’s little time to do them. How do you tackle out or Facebook out isn’t practical, despite what we foods that help boost concentration: coffee (duh), not worth your time. There’s nothing worse than readings for exams--especially when time isn’t on tell ourselves. If you have to plant yourself in the dark chocolate, mixed nuts, carrots, peanut butter, having five hours left before your exam with five your side? Wallace McCain to get through those seven chap- bananas and other fruits. Despite pizza bringing chapters left to read. Attempting to properly read Skimming is a method of reading where you ex- ters — do it. much-needed comfort, oily processed food makes and learn it will most likely leave you stressed and tract the main ideas in a body of work, without fo- A useful method would be to take short but regu- the body feel sluggish. Nourish yourself, please. confused. Just leave it. It’s easy for students to obsess cusing on the details. Skimming is an art. Much lar breaks. That means with every hour, take five Your stomach and your wallet will thank you when over remembering every last detail — especially like pouring skim milk into your 12th coffee of the to 10 minutes to get up, get a snack, water, walk it's over. when there’s not much time left. day, skimming is an essential part of studying. around (preferably something non-electronic.) In Good luck! Get the shorter, manageable readings out of the The ability to understand the central idea of each total, 50 minutes of the hour should be spent work-

8 | April 8, 2019 dalgazette.com OPINIONS Hallowed DSU council is hollow Council seat vacancies aren’t vacancy of student interest BY HANNAH BING AND LEXI KUO

The Dalhousie Student Union Council is composed of the executive, faculty repre- sentatives, community representatives as well as reps for the Dalhousie Board of Governors and Dal senate, and members- at-large. Council members represent various con- stituencies of the university. They act as a liaison between the community and coun- cil, a way for community members to bring their concerns to the DSU. In council, members are responsible for consulting and advocating for their group’s interests, as well as contribute to the general gover- nance of the DSU. For the 2018-2019 year, 10 council posi- tions were vacant: reps for communities of Aboriginal students, residence students, students with disabilities community, wom- en students, as well as faculty reps for agri- culture, architecture and planning, com- puter science, dentistry, engineering, and health professionals. That’s 10 empty seats purpose of council and the election of rep- Despite the importance of council repre- out of 28. consult with students, and for community resentative positions. When’s the last time sentatives, they also serve as a scapegoat Council rep vacancies are a long-standing constituents, this isn’t happening. you heard about council by-elections? for the DSU. Having these community rep problem. This year is not an outlier. Perhaps it’s that the DSU has failed to ad- These positions are important to student positions allows the DSU to “check” the Council elections are not prioritized as vertise these positions to students. Perhaps communities, who may require an advocate box for consultation, glossing over ques- they should be. DSU policy states that con- no one is quite enthralled with the idea of for them in bringing changes to the DSU, tions of whether students are aware of their stituent representatives must be elected sitting around a table for a few hours a faculty and the university. Council mem- community rep or whether the community during the DSU general election period. week, which might only be one hour if it bers also provide a re- reps are being heard Council positions left vacant following the weren’t for all the formality. Perhaps stu- source for student com- within council. general election may be filled by a by-elec- dents just don’t care; although judging by mittees, providing The DSU may also use tion prior to November of the following This year, ten council the social media babble, that’s probably not guidance on navigating these positions to divert school year. Otherwise another member the case. concerns and when con- seats were vacant out responsibility. They may who meets the eligibility criteria shall be Making space is more than creating a for- cerns should be brought of 28. claim that they have cre- appointed to the duties of the vacant posi- mal position. For the DSU, this might mean to council or faculty. ated the space by making tion. providing resources for students for learn- Students who lack their these council positions, These positions may be vacant because ing how council works, live-streaming community council representative do not that actually filing the seats is the responsi- students and the union focus on executive council sessions, overall, making DSU ac- have an accessible contact for communicat- bility of the communities themselves. Di- positions while not much is said or adver- tivities more transparent and accessible for ing their concerns and needs to the student verting responsibility is a distraction from tised about community council members. students. Students are not properly informed on the union. the main point, that DSU council serves to

dalgazette.com April 8, 2019 | 9 ARTS & LIFESTYLE International Centre provides space to learn languages Language Spot events encourage language exchange

BY BAYLEIGH MARELJ

Once a month the Dalhousie International Cen- tre hosts a Language Spot; a safe space for local and international students to practice their linguis- tic skills. The program was started last year in order to provide a new way for international students to practice their casual English. “To have that safe spot for people to practice their languages without judgment is very important,” said Dolly Mirpuri, engagement coordinator for the International Centre. She said it’s often a lack of confidence that holds people –– including herself –– back from speaking in a language that isn’t native to them. Though the primary focus of Language Spot is on English, the organizers from the International Centre encourage students and volunteers to share knowledge of other languages. The idea is that there can be an exchange of culture between vol- unteers and attendees. DALHOUSIE UNIVERSITY’S INTERNATIONAL CENTRE HELD AN EVENT CALLED LANGUAGE SPOT SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE YEAR. SOCIAL EVENTS TOOK PLACE AT THE “There is no ‘one-is-a-coach, one-is-a-student’ INTERNATIONAL CENTRE WHERE STUDENTS COULD PRACTICE LANGUAGE SKILLS WITH OTHERS. PHOTO BY KARLA RENIC aspect,” said Mirpuri. “They are learning from what subset of these students don’t speak English as that, “framing it as a Language Spot acknowledges According to Statistics Canada, in 2011, 20 per each other. It’s peer-support.” their first language. that someone having a first language that isn't Eng- cent of Canada's population reported speaking a Each Language Spot event is a different recre- The university also says its students represent over lish is multilingual and that's really cool.” language other than English or French at home. ational activity. Last month the Language Spot pro- 115 different countries. MacDonald has conducted training sessions with MacDonald believes the way we speak about gram hosted their event at the Emera Oval. Accord- With this kind of claim comes a commitment ac- the Language Spot volunteers in order to give multilingual students’ needs to change. ing to Conrad Pratt, a volunteer, it was below -10 C. cording to Jennifer MacDonald, Head Teacher for them more insight into how to facilitate language “We tend to define them by what they are lack- “We had like six participants show up. It was a Dalhousie’s ESL program. exchange. ing. That they are lacking English skills as opposed good way not only to interact in English but also a "If a university or an institution is admitting a According to her, many of her own EAP students to looking at it like 'this person is adding to their good way to get more familiar with Canadian cul- very linguistically-diverse student group then they attend Language Spots alongside admitted inter- linguistic repertoire.” ture.” kind of have an obligation to provide the resources national students. She believes that this so-called ‘deficit framing’ is Pratt was inspired to volunteer for Language Spot so that everyone can be successful,” said MacDon- inaccurate and discouraging for monolingual and after he spent last year teaching English in South ald. ‘No one’s mother tongue’ multilingual people alike. Korea. “When arriving at university all students need to MacDonald teaches in the English for Academic On March 28 the International Centre hosted a “You kind of take basic things for granted when learn new linguistic conventions.” Purposes (EAP) program. A program in place so Language Spot in partnership with the Indigenous you are living in your home country, like being able “It is part of the responsibility of the institution to students can improve their English and gain ad- Student Centre. They taught a workshop on the to speak to people in grocery stores,” said Pratt. “It ensure an equitable academic experience for ev- mission to Dalhousie. tradition of tobacco tying. makes you feel isolated, especially when you are erybody,” said MacDonald. “No matter their lin- Although she believes the university could be pro- “We find it a great way to integrate international first arriving.” guistic background, making sure that everyone viding more resources, she is happy with the im- students into Canadian or Nova Scotian culture can succeed.” proved support she sees coming from the Interna- which is the Mi’kmaq culture,” said Dolly Mirpuri Dalhousie’s Role Adapting a quote from historian Jacques Barzun, tional Centre. ahead of the event. according to MacDonald “academic English is no According to Dalhousie’s website, 20 per cent of “In the past, it was framed as an ESL conversa- “We tend to forget that Indigenous people don’t one’s mother tongue.” its students are international students. It’s unclear tion group – which is fine,” said MacDonald. But always have English as their first language either.”

10 | April 8, 2019 dalgazette.com ARTS & LIFESTYLE There’s no place like the Bus Stop Theatre A place to call home for arts in Halifax could be gone soon

BY KATHLEEN JONES

What they’ve heard so far is that officials like there aren’t good memories, but because so the project but might not be able to come up many exciting things have happened there. PHOTO BY EVAN DE SILVA with the funding this year. “It’s really incredible to me when different “And of course, the first step in our project is communities’ cross paths here,” he says, add- the purchase of the properties, because if we ing that festivals like the Fringe Festival are don’t manage that, then everything else is examples of that. The drag queen group, moot,” he says. Queens of the Glamazon, will also now be per- forming at the Bus Stop, so that their perfor- Filling a gap mances will be more accessible. “It really is an important community, as well The Bus Stop is one of the only professional as cultural space.” theatre spaces left in Halifax, after the shutting Whatever kind of performance you’re looking down of local theatres The Living Room and for, you can probably find it at the Bus Stop: it The Waiting Room. Neptune is the only other houses everything from contemporary dance major professional theatre, and their produc- to improv to musical theatre. tions are big-budget. The Bus Stop is more of a space for local creators, who can try on new Saving the space ideas for size. Labelle says that other professional theatres in Labelle and Eastwood both hope the Bus Halifax haven’t always made it because, simply Stop can be saved. put, “producing theatre is expensive.” When “This space is why I’m in Halifax, and I you add on the expensive venues that have to be think it’s the reason a lot of people are in Hali- rented for the show to go on, it’s often more than fax,” Eastwood says. She says the audiences AUDREY EASTWOOD’S WEDDING TOOK PLACE AT THE BUS STOP THEATRE. SHE’S THE VENUE MANAGER FOR THE THEATRE. PHOTO BY AMY MCCONCHIE artists can afford. that come and see the shows are a core part of “And so that’s why it’s really important to Halifax’s theatre community. Audrey Eastwood hung up umbrellas from Eastwood moved to Halifax with the goal of have spaces like the Bus Stop Theatre that are The Bus Stop, says Labelle, is a space where the ceiling and filled them with fairy lights at working at the Bus Stop. Now, the Bus Stop is affordable; that can allow small independent Halifax artists can premiere their work before her wedding so they would look like chande- in trouble: after nine years of holding onto the theatre companies to establish themselves and taking it across the world. liers. Her mom went to Value Village and got a building, the owners, Walk-eh Enterprise Lim- flourish,” he says. He says the Bus Stop shutting down would be china plate for every guest; she made her own ited, have put it up for sale. They can no longer The Bus Stop is about to get busy again going “really devastating” because it plays a huge wedding cake. afford to keep it running. into April and the space is entirely booked for role in Halifax’s arts scene. It could also poten- Eastwood’s wedding wasn’t in a church. It “And so of course, everybody is very con- the month of May. The lack of other theatre tially make North-Enders, who are already took place at the Bus Stop Theatre on Gottin- cerned about the future of the Bus Stop The- spaces has led to even more bookings at the Bus dealing with redevelopment, feel even more gen Street, where she’s the venue manager. atre,” says Sebastien Labelle, the theatre’s ex- Stop, and the theatre is often being booked a alienated. “It’s such an amazing space, because you can ecutive director. year-and-a-half in advance. As for Eastwood, it’s the Bus Stop that keeps transform it to look like whatever you want,” On top of buying the building, employees of But being busy doesn’t mean being profitable her here. she says. Eastwood was also proposed to in the the Bus Stop are also trying to build a second — as Labelle says, theatre is expensive. “It’s a space where you can create and not theatre; her now-husband knelt in a spotlight performance space in the empty lot behind the have to worry about what you’re doing,” says on centre stage. building. A space for artists Eastwood. “It was just a super amazing experience to get They’ve started fundraising, and currently, “I think I would leave if it wasn’t here.” married in this building that means so much to they’re in the midst of approaching all three Labelle can’t name his favourite memory me.” levels of government to secure funding. from his time at the Bus Stop — not because

dalgazette.com April 8, 2019 | 11 ARTS & LIFESTYLE Hurricanes, smog and corruption – do you fear the world is coming to an end? Apocalyptic anxiety is brought on by fear of the world ending BY GABBIE DOUGLAS

PHOTO BY SKEEZE ON PIXABAY

12 | April 8, 2019 dalgazette.com ARTS & LIFESTYLE

Wildfires are raging and ice caps are serves to be wiped out,” he says. mate understanding that the world goes ety. melting. Superpowers are rising and econ- These feelings are different from group through cycles, and there would be a near “There are many conversations I have to omies are falling. Our world is coated in to group. It depends whether people are extinction of human beings, much like tend to avoid but a lot I feel very passion- plastic and ecosystems are dying. Threat trying to escape the apocalypse and sur- what happened to the dinosaurs. It was in- ate about,” says McGugan. “I’ve left res- of nuclear war is looming on the horizon. vive, or trying to come to terms with their evitable, and there was nothing I could do taurants before because I can’t talk about These events can cause some people to destruction, running towards it as it may to stop it.” this.” feel panicked, fearful and anxious; it can lead to a better form of existence, says Today Smith lives and works in Toronto McGugan has trouble viewing her future be characterized as apocalyptic anxiety. Vance. and is stable with the help of medication and must ground her thinking in the pres- Apocalyptic anxiety isn’t a defined medi- and years of seeing a psychiatrist, thera- ent. cal diagnosis. According to Psychology pists and a caseworker. “I got through it.” “I have to kind of censor myself and be professor Margo Watt at St. Francis Xavi- When fear takes over like yeah, the apocalypse is pending, but er University, there hasn’t been empirical David Smith (who asked for his real name it’s about right now.” research on this topic. not be used, to avoid the stigma associated An anxious world “It’s similar to existential, doomsday or with sharing his story) found himself deep nuclear anxiety,” she says. “There is no Some would argue we’ve been living in in conspiracy theories and apocalyptic The power of fear diagnostic category for ‘apocalyptic anxi- the age of anxiety for decades, Vance says. anxiety in September 2009 at the end of ety’ although such concerns could fit with “We’re in a state of perma-anxiety, which Fear, anxiety, panic and paranoia are en- his studies in performing arts in British and/or feed into other types of anxiety, means intense panics are relatively easy to emies of rational thought, says Vance. Columbia. The Peterborough, Ont. native such as generalized anxiety disorder.” trigger.” “Fear is what allows the irrational re- said it was brought on in part by heavy Today there are many reasons to be anx- Apocalypticism, today, ebbs and flows sponse to win out. And it’s more likely to cannabis use. ious; the current world order makes some through the World Wide Web quickly and win out, if everyone around you is freaked “I was high for two years straight.” feel like the apocalypse is one of them. efficiently. The mass media spew messages out at the same time.” Smith also experimented with other from all directions. Sometimes good, Fear is powerful. Fear convinces you that drugs MDMA, ecstasy and magic mush- sometimes not. Bad news sells. Good news you can’t do anything. Excessive fear or rooms. When Smith’s paranoia developed, Doomsday status: pending is less interesting. panic is negative, especially when we di- he got into the unending realm of online “We know more than we ever have before rect our fear to the wrong thing. The potential of an apocalypse dates conspiracy theories. about everything,” says Vance. “We are People have been paralyzed by fear of back thousands of years says Jonathan Years before, when he was a small child, surrounded by communication media that terrorism in North America for years, and Vance, a professor at Western University Smith remembers walking into a corner make it much easier to spread falsehoods billions of dollars have been spent to di- who teaches a course called Zombie Apoc- store somewhere. and to spread panics and to spread lies and lute this anxiety. alypse: Panic and Paranoia in Human “There was a rag tabloid news at my eye to spread untruths.” Vance says to not let your rational mind History. level with a picture of Jesus and lightning For example, it’s common knowledge that be sidelined by fear. “The year 1000 generated a huge with a huge caption of the world ending. Winston Churchill, the 1940s British “Don’t build up this mental image of amount of anxiety because it was sup- That was years ago, but it stuck.” Prime Minister, famously said, “a lie some shadowy middle-aged terrorist who’s posed to be the second coming of Christ Then came Y2K, then 9/11 and the con- makes it halfway around the world, before going to lay waste to your town. Direct and was supposed to be when the world spiracy theories started to make sense. the truth gets out of bed.” Even though he your energy in a proper way,” he says. “If was going to end,” says Vance. “And so Smith says at the time he had been con- never actually said it. you look at what’s being spent on the war since then apocalypticism and its anxiet- sumed by paranoia. He came to this idea People who suffer from this kind of anxi- on terrorism because people are freaked ies are almost a constant” says Vance of there was a small, select group of powerful ety often find it difficult to picture their out, imagine what would happen if you western cultures. bankers and politicians that were planning future and retreat from discourse around spent that money on mental health or can- In the modern era, there are many differ- a mass genocide to reduce the population current events. cer research.” ent sources of a potential apocalypse and by 90 per cent, via vaccines, poison in wa- Emma McGugan is a student at the Uni- When turning fear around, fear can mo- there are so many different ways we could ter and food, chemtrails and eventually, versity of King’s College and has apoca- tivate us to act. Fear can organize mil- imagine human civilization coming to an concentration camps. lyptic anxiety. She says a lot of people are lions of people around the world to strike end. “Total Hitler-style Holocaust on a global predisposed to this sort of thing. for climate inaction and demand change. The year 2000 became known as Y2K scale. And yes, I’m talking Illuminati, one “When I was really young I had a lot of “In apocalypse anxieties don’t let your and conspiracies explained the world world government, new world order,” he fears surrounding myself and my family fear that it’s all coming to an end con- would come to an end at the start of a new says. dying. I used to go around every night vince you that you can’t do anything and millennium. He checked into a psychiatric unit where when I was younger with my mom and convince you to withdraw from meaning- On Dec. 21, 2012 many believed the doctors identified this is as psychosis or a make sure the stove was off, and the doors ful discourse in society,” says Vance. apocalypse was impending, according to psychotic break/psychotic episode, which were locked. I did that every night –– ev- “Maybe it’s going to come to an end, may- the Mayan calendar. doesn’t define the patient as a psychopath. ery morning. It started when I was proba- be it isn’t, but go down fighting at least.” Conspiracy theories have always been “I had an isolated episode where I bly eight.” Thoughts such as these can be over- popular because they allow us to see a couldn’t distinguish fact from fiction. Over time these fears caused McGugan whelming and debilitating. Having con- complicated situation in simplistic terms. Luckily, I got over it because I almost took insomnia. versations about intense anxieties is a first Vance says some psychologists would say my own life.” “At first I was scared of being murdered step. If you think you may suffer from our fascination with the apocalypse is al- After many years indulged in conspiracy at night and then as I started thinking apocalyptic anxiety there’s support and most hardwired into our brains. theories coupled with heavy drug use, that’s not reasonable, it turned into more services such as psychological counsel- “One of the more common suggestions is Smith believed the earth was coming to an what was reasonable, and I was like oh the ling, mindfulness and online resources. that western societies tend to have a re- end. apocalypse –– that’s reasonable.” Ementalhealth.ca is an online resource, flective self-loathing, so we’re fascinated “I was 23 at the time, which made so McGugan says things such as nuclear which guides you to counselling services by the apocalypse, and frightened by it, much sense,” he says. “You know, 23? It all warfare, the environment and corrupt pol- within Canada. but secretly we believe our society de- pieced itself together to fabricate this ulti- iticians cause feelings of panic and anxi-

dalgazette.com April 8, 2019 | 13 ARTS & LIFESTYLE Chronic pain on campus Living with an invisible illness BY TARINI FERNANDO

CAM for chronic pain but has particularly Photo by Grace Mason-Par- focused on qigong. kinson “Qigong comes out of traditional Chinese medicine,” says Sawynok. “It has a long history of a couple of thousand years.” Sawynok says qigong and the more well- known practice of tai chi fall in the same category of meditative movement. This differs from physical exercise which in- volves strength, flexibility and aerobic fit- ness. Practicing qigong (pronounced “chi- gongh”) is about “cultivating qi,” says Sawynok. It’s difficult to translate and un- derstand what exactly qi (pronounced “chi”) is. Sawynok describes it as “a myste- rious word that comes out of Chinese prac- tice.” But the meaning of qi isn’t necessarily what’s important. PHOTO BY GRACE MASON-PARKINSON “The point is,” says Sawynok, “when peo- For some students at Dalhousie University, ple undertake these movements to culti- would sometimes not take her pain serious- cology department describes it, persistent dealing with chronic pain is part of their vate qi, you can actually sense this dimen- ly. pain, as the name indicates, is a kind of daily lives. There’s no easy cure for it. sion to how the body functions.” Over time, a weird resentment started to pain that “persists, but in time it resolves.” Drue MacPherson, a fifth-year Dal stu- Sawynok collaborated with clinicians to build up and some [friends] thought I was She gives surgical pain as an example of dent, says her chronic pain started after an publish a trial in 2012 that tested the ef- full of crap,” she said. “I also found it was this. injury that occurred when she was 13. Dur- fects of qigong on a group of 100 patients very frustrating having to tell professors “There’s a major physical trauma to the ing a softball tournament, she tore a liga- with fibromyalgia, a syndrome that causes [about the pain] because it sounded like body,” she said. “But that resolves over ment in her ankle. pain throughout the body. Because of the bullshit excuses that they’d heard often.” time. You know what’s causing it, so reso- From 13 until age 20, MacPherson had on- positive results of the trial, the pain man- MacPherson says doing years of physio- lution takes place.” going pain and inflammation in her right agement unit at the Queen Elizabeth II therapy helped in the long-term to rebuild Chronic pain, on the other hand, is a ankle. And while the physical pain was bad hospital has started offering qigong as a strength in her ankle. The treatment she long-term pain that lasts for more than 12 enough, what made things worse was not complementary treatment for patients with felt gave her the best immediate results was weeks and “persists beyond when tissue being able to do the activities MacPherson chronic pain. acupuncture, a traditional Chinese prac- healing occurs,” says Sawynok. loved. Sawynok says that practicing qigong tice of stimulating parts of the body with With chronic pain, central sensitization “The only sport I’ve ever been fairly good takes time and commitment, but it’s some- needles to relieve pain. occurs in the central nervous system at is tennis and at that age, I was trying to thing people are willing to turn to when “It made such a huge immediate signifi- (CNS). As Sawynok explains, this is when prepare to really take it on and go to na- medical care like physiotherapy and drug cant difference,” MacPherson says. the pathways in the CNS that signal the tional championships,” said MacPherson. therapies only prove to be limited in their Luckily for MacPherson, her pain did pain are modified and will continue sig- “I really wanted to dedicate myself to the efficacy. eventually go away, but says she still feels nalling even after the stimulus that origi- sport.” “That’s part of why people turn to com- “a lot of anguish reflecting on a lot of the nally caused the pain is gone. MacPherson had to quit playing because things [she] didn’t get an opportunity to plementary and alternative practices,” of her pain. do.” says Sawynok. “They’ve only gotten par- The pain continued for years, and when Complementary and tial efficacy from the current approaches alternative medicine she got to university, MacPherson found What is chronic pain? that they’re using; and they want to ask: ‘Is many daily functions difficult. Like MacPherson, many people with there something more I can explore to “Just getting up to go to meal hall was so Chronic pain is distinct from acute pain chronic pain will turn to complementary augment that efficacy?’” gruelling to think about,” she said. and persistent pain. Acute pain occurs be- and alternative medicine (CAM) to use Although MacPherson says she’s always cause of a specific injury or disease; this alongside standard medical treatments to A student life with chronic had a good support system at home, it pain should go away after an injury is deal with their pain. pain didn’t help that her friends and professors healed. Sawynok has studied different types of As Dr. Jana Sawynok of the Dal pharma- For Breanna Ching, a Dal student in her 14 | April 8, 2019 dalgazette.com ARTS & LIFESTYLE first year at the School of Social Work, managing her chronic pain involves physio- therapy, massage therapy and medication. “I grew up with pain and I thought it was a normal human experience to go through until I was 19-years-old,” says Ching. Read This! It was at this age that Ching was diag- nosed with a rare genetic condition called Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. The name refers to a group of connective tissue disorders Pond by Claire-Louise Bennett that result in many joint dislocations and joint pain. BY CHIARA FERRERO-WONG AND HANNAH VAN DEN BOSCH “I find it difficult to keep up with house- work, to clean and to cook,” Ching says. “I find it difficult sometimes to get to class, to sit in class –– my lectures are three hours long.” For Ching, talking to the Student Acces- sibility Centre at Dal and getting accom- modations was integral for her in figuring out how to manage her pain during the school day. “One of my accommodations is that I’m allowed to go for frequent walks [during class] to lessen the strain of my muscles just sitting for a long period of time,” says Ch- ing. According to Quenta Adams, the director of the Accessibility Centre, there are many accommodations the centre can provide for students with chronic pain. When a student requests for accommoda- tions, they meet with an advisor at the Ac- cessibility Centre to come up with an ac- commodations plan. Adams says these accommodations can include, “deferred exams, assignment extensions, note-taking, [and] priority access for parking.” Adams says the Accessibility Centre can also work as a kind of middleman between students and their professors, letting their instructors know what accommodations STILL LIFE PHOTO “FAIR IS FOUL, FOUL IS FAIR.” PHOTO BY MARGRIET SMULDERS they need without disclosing the student’s identity or health condition. at the same time, she has her own unique colours, clutters and imperfections that “We try to both advocate for the student “The ratcatcher woke me, I and fascinating tone. Bennett writes of. but also coach the student to develop their knew he was coming, but I’d Pond is about the daily life of an unnamed We can’t say for sure how Bennett feels own self-advocacy skills,” Adams says. had three overflowing beers the woman living in a coastal village. about the cover of her book; but we feel At the end of the day, living with chronic Bennett’s construction of the book offers that when you pick up Pond, you immedi- pain is a reality that students like Ching night before and I’d slept brief glimpses into our protagonist’s life –– ately have an understanding of the imagery will have to face for years to come. Al- through the rat and I wanted as if opening a window in her cottage and used in Bennett’s short stories. though there might not be a simple solution to go on sleeping.” peeking in. What’s incredible about this The way that Bennett has written these for the pain, Ching aims to look at the book and what we found so enticing is Ben- short stories allows them to be read on and bright side of her situation. –– An excerpt from the nett’s ability to spin the mundane into off, out of order, and many times over. She “I’ve definitely grown to accept that chapter titled “First something unusual –– something quirky, writes almost without any sense of time, comical and brilliant. She takes ordinary [chronic pain] is a part of my identity and Thing” in Claire-Lousie making each story easy to read, while at the I’m reclaiming it as part of my positive events like preparing for company or buy- same time leaving you with a lot to think identity,” says Ching. “Yes, I am Breanna. I Bennett’s book Pond ing a tapestry and revitalizes them. The about and consider. This quality makes it a am a lot of things, including having a way she reveals the protagonist’s unfiltered good book to have on the go while in school. chronic illness.” thoughts and speculations lets readers Reward yourself with a story from Pond Ching doesn’t want people to look down You would never guess that Pond is learn how comical, and at times childish, after completing an exam. on her because of her illness. “Don’t pity Claire-Louise Bennett’s debut book by the the protagonist can be. Pond can be found at the Killam Memorial me because I can’t do what you can do,” she way she expertly crafts her stories. Her Margriet Smulders’ painting Fair is foul, Library at Dalhousie University, at the says, “celebrate what I can do with me.” writing style is similar in feel to authors and foul is fair was chosen as the cover for Halifax Public Libraries, as well as local like Virginia Woolf and Anne Carson, but Pond. It quite accurately materializes the bookstores.

dalgazette.com April 8, 2019 | 15 ARTS & LIFESTYLE Dalhousie Professor wins Robert Merritt Legacy Award Susan Stackhouse celebrated for her years of acting and teaching excellence BY ANASTASIA PAYNE away from her home province. Four years later she was nominated and won the After finishing her acting degree at Dalhousie, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Award for Stackhouse jetted off to the National Theatre Teaching Excellence at Dalhousie. School in Montreal. There, she outperformed ac- Colleague Jure Gantar, who nominated Stack- tors and actresses from all over Canada, gaining a house for the Award for Teaching Excellence, was spot in one of 12 seats open for that class. She at the awards gala when she received the legacy completed a three-year program there before award. landing a job with the Shaw Festival where she “I was seated at Susan’s table with her family,” worked for 16 seasons, beginning in 1983. says Gantar, “But her family is so supportive that “I was really fortunate,” says Stackhouse. “I was I didn’t clue in that they must have had some kind one of the few that actually was making a living, of prior warning [about the award].” year-round acting and rarely had to do anything “When she came [to work at Dalhousie] it was a else.” breath of fresh air, someone we could all trust and Despite this she began to worry her good fortune admire,” says Gantar, who’s worked with Stack- wouldn’t last. house since she began teaching at Dalhousie. “Something just struck me while I was at the Stackhouse has built a thriving career in Nova Shaw Festival and I thought, ‘I’d better get a back- Scotia, while continuing to travel and teach all up plan,’ because this is so fortunate what’s hap- over the country, including at the National The- THEATRE NOVA SCOTIA HELD THE ROBERT MERRITT LEGACY AWARDS ON MARCH 25, 2019. pening to me and I can’t plan on it lasting forever.” PHOTO PROVIDED BY THEATRE NOVA SCOTIA atre School where she studied, The Citadel/Banff Having always been complimented on her Susan Stackhouse tears up as she gives a heart- Born in Middleton, Nova Scotia, Stackhouse Centre Professional Theatre Program, Royal speaking voice, she decided to apply to the Cen- warming speech about the support of her parents moved to Ontario with her family in middle Manitoba Theatre Centre and Theatre New tral School of Speech and Drama in London, and the community vibe of professional theatre in school. They relocated several times over her Brunswick Halifax. youth because her father was in the military. England. She received the Chevening Scholar- Stackhouse won the Robert Merritt Legacy Regardless of where she lived, Stackhouse got ship which financed her year of study. A deserving legacy Award at Theatre Nova Scotia’s annual awards involved in drama club –– even when the school Stackhouse was off to England to get her M.A. Christian Ludwig Hansen, a second-year acting gala on March 25, 2019. she attended had no drama While in London she man- student at Dalhousie, was at the Merritt awards According to Theatre Nova Scotia, the legacy club. At one point, Stack- aged to see 52 shows at some when Stackhouse was presented the award. award “honours outstanding contribution to pro- house’s father drove her an of the local theatres. “In this entire room “In this entire room of 300, 400, 500 wonderful fessional theatre in Nova Scotia.” hour each way to an amateur “On the weekend I would people, no one deserves this award more than she “It’s just a little bit embarrassing,” says Stack- club because there was no of 300, 400, 500 go to all the theatres that does,” he says. house. “For me it’s all about the work.” drama club at her school. wonderful people, no there was to offer,” says Hansen is just one of hundreds of students she’s Stackhouse has played an active role in Halifax’s “Drama always helped me Stackhouse. “Sometimes one deserves this taught. Many of whom now work in the Halifax theatre community since she moved back to Nova make friends. I had a place, you could see three shows in award more than she theatre community and to whom she continues to Scotia from Ontario in 1996. As a professor at the kind of a club to go to wher- one day if you timed it well.” be a source of mentorship mentorship and advice. Dalhousie University Fountain School of Per- ever I was,” she says. does.” When she returned to Can- Friend and former colleague Robert McClure forming Arts (FSPA), she’s shaped and influenced Unsure of what to do after ada, Stackhouse went back says, “I know the legacy award has to do with hundreds of students, many of whom now live high school Stackhouse was to work at the Shaw festival community building and mentorship and edu- Halifax and work in its theatre community. ambivalent about university, that is, until a guid- and landed a teaching job at George Brown Col- cation and I think Susan is tops in all those Stackhouse says receiving the award is “a great ance counselor at school told her about Dalhou- lege. She spent the next six year building a vibrant fields.” privilege,” her voice shaking as she gives her sie’s acting program. career in Ontario’s theatre community. While many were surprised by the announce- speech. Countrywide and worldwide Coming back home ment of her award, none were more shocked than Stackhouse herself. A lifelong love It wasn’t until the birth of her daughter that she experience “I just didn’t think that I would ever be a position and her husband decided to move back to Nova Her passion for theatre stretches as far back as Today Stackhouse is an award-winning profes- that I was in last night,” says Stackhouse during a Scotia where they could be supported by family. childhood. By the first grade she’d already won an sor and actress, in addition to a voice and speech telephone interview following the awards gala, “It When they returned to Nova Scotia in 1996, award that sent her to drama camp over the sum- coach. Despite being a Nova Scotian at heart, she was really overwhelming.” Stackhouse got a job teaching at Dalhousie. mer for her acting in a school play. spent much of her education and early career

16 | April 8, 2019 dalgazette.com SPORTS Q&A with Tim Maloney Dal’s executive director of athletics and recreation talks about the season, new Dalplex and his past five years on the job BY JOSH YOUNG, SPORTS EDITOR

The 2018-2019 Dal athletics season is over. It’s been a successful year with nine out of 16 varsity teams winning conference championships, and women’s curling winning a national bronze med- al. Six out of 15 club teams won regional champion- ships as well. Tim Maloney, Dalhousie Universi- ty’s executive director of athletics and recreation, talks about the season. The interview has been edited for style and clarity. Dalhousie Gazette: Another year has come to a close, what are your thoughts on this athletic year? Tim Maloney: It’s been an exceptional year. I think to for nine out of our 16 teams to win confer- ence championships is something for us all to be excited about. I was really pleased on how the Fi- nal 8 went and hosting a national championship, which is no small undertaking. Our team per- formed and to get to their third national semi-final in four years was another bright spot. In addition to that, I was really thrilled of the support from our students, alumni and community in general.

I think the other thing I’m exceptionally proud of TIM MALONEY HAS BEEN DALHOUSIE UNIVERSITY’S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS AND RECREATION FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS. PHOTO BY JOSH YOUNG is for a second-year in a row that one of our stu- dent-athletes is named a top-eight Academic All- classroom in a space that quite honestly it's beauti- TM: There are slow-moving developments; and it DG: This is your fifth year as athletic Canadian in the country. And 98 of our student- ful and I think we’re really lucky to have a facility is being discussed on our board level about how we director at Dal, what has the past five athletes achieving Academic-All Canadian status; like this. can go forward, but there are not any concrete years meant to you? which I think really rounds out what we’re trying plans in place. There is a significant fundraising DG: About the hockey teams: unfortunate- Well I feel really privileged to be able to hold to be here. And is proof that our student-athletes component if we were ever going to get the go- TM: ly, neither of them made the playoffs this this role and work with the people I do on campus are excelling in the classroom and their respective ahead and that is what we would need to tackle year. What needs to happen for them to be and in the community. My role is not just working sport while finding time to do things in the com- first. playoff teams? with varsity athletes; it’s working with another munity. TM: I think both men’s and women’s AUS confer- DG: The club teams had a lot of success 1,000 student-athletes that play club sports and DG: It’s the first school year since the ence are incredibly competitive and no one seems this year too. What do you guys do to almost 5,000 that participate in intramurals. Dalplex and Sexton gym renovations took to be getting worse, so it is really us finding ways to support the club team? I enjoy playing a small part in trying to provide place. How has the first year gone? close those gaps. Not having a rink certainly doesn’t TM: (The clubs) are very self-sufficient in a sense students with an exceptional experience through TM: It has been amazing, we obviously have lots help (they play at the Halifax Forum) and poses sig- that they find their coaches and they manage their athletics and recreation. It has been exciting to to learn, and there are some wrinkles we’re ironing nificant challenges on a couple of fronts, recruiting operations, but we do provide a number of services have some success with our varsity athletes. The out, but the usage rates from our students and fac- being one. But it is trying to get some key players in in house and financial incentives to let them run, as addition of the fitness centre and renovations to ulty and staff have increased significantly. the door that we can build around and I think we well as finding them facility time to train. the field house have been fun to be a part of and I truly believe the expanded version of the Dal- have some of those pieces on both teams to move I don’t think people understand the commitment really see the impact athletics and recreation can plex and soon to be finished Sexton are going to be forward. level those student-athletes bring to the table. They have in a community. I’m privileged, I love my job, and I love coming destinations on our campus where a couple of DG: I haven’t heard of anything about a take their sports very seriously, they represent our to work. years ago it was not that. Now it is a place to come possible new hockey arena in two years. school with great pride, and they’re competitive. I be active, be social, to engage in outside of the Are there any developments on that? think it’ an important engagement opportunity.

dalgazette.com April 8, 2019 | 17 SPORTS Parasports progress Dal student heads up Nova Scotia’s first powerchair soccer program BY SARAH MOORE, ASSISTANT SPORTS

April doesn’t just mean the end of classes gear, advertising and coaching participants for Madison Campbell. The fourth-year ki- once the 10-week program starts. nesiology student is also the coordinator “It’s pretty tireless what she’s been doing,” for Nova Scotia’s first-ever powerchair soc- says Tingley. “I think her capacity to bal- cer program, and it officially starts on ance everything is pretty extraordinary, so April 3. that’s what separates her. I think she’s not “It’s really important because I want ev- afraid to take the risk in doing something erybody to have the same opportunities that’s unknown.” that I had growing up to play sports, no The process hasn’t been without challeng- matter what abilities or disabilities you es. have,” says Campbell. A metal “guard” is attached to the bottom She first got involved in parasports — of the chair around a person’s feet. That’s sports for people with a disability — in what players use to control the ball, which 2017, when she volunteered at a multi-sport is about the size of a beachball. The guards, summer camp for kids with disabilities. however, are only manufactured in the Paul Tingley, Sport Nova Scotia’s paras- United States, says Campbell, and cost port coordinator, first met Campbell there. about US$500, not including shipping, for “Throughout the week, one. she just kind of stepped Campbell has partnered up to be like a leader “I think her capacity with Mad Secret Lab and among the volunteers,” metal shops in Burnside he says. “She was there to to balance everything to manufacture the really help and make a is pretty guards locally and avoid difference and she really extraordinary, so high program costs for set herself apart.” that’s what separates participants. About a year and a half “If this is your only op- ago, Tingley floated the her.” portunity to play a team- idea of starting a soccer based sport and you can’t program for people in afford to play it, like that power wheelchairs. Across Canada, only would just be awful,” she says. British Columbia and Quebec have a simi- The other major challenge was finding a lar program. The game consists of two place to play. MADISON CAMPBELL IS A FOURTH-YEAR KINESIOLOGY STUDENT. SHE’S ALSO THE COORDINATOR FOR NOVA SCOTIA’S FIRST POWERCHAIR SOCCER PROGRAM. PHOTO BY SARAH MOORE 20-minute periods and it’s played with four “You need to have a place that’s close to players –– three players and a goalie. public transportation because these athletes all the different challenges. “I just love doing it,” says Campbell. “I Campbell was immediately interested. a lot of them just use public transportation “She’s very poised,” he says. “There’s go- don’t want to get paid for that.” She played soccer growing up and is heav- because they need accessible vehicles and ing to be ups and downs along the way, and Moving forward, Campbell has applied to ily involved with volunteering and coach- things like that,” says Campbell. she keeps a level head through it all and just physiotherapy programs once she graduates ing for the United DFC Soccer Club in They also needed a facility with storage: keeps going forward towards that end from Dalhousie this spring. She wants to Dartmouth. along with the rest of the guards, they have goal.” stay involved with powerchair soccer, she Before the powerchair program, Camp- four extra power chairs donated by Easter The program costs $50 for each partici- and Tingley aim to have a 10-week program bell had experience organizing family fun Seals. pant or pay what you can. The fee covers a running every fall, winter, and spring. runs in the Dartmouth community, but this The solution came with the renovation of different skill every week, like ball control, “If you have an interest, you should be was a much larger task for the 22-year-old. the renamed Zatzman Sportsplex in Dart- passing, shooting and team tactics. Any ex- able to pursue it no matter if you have dis- As the coordinator, she’s responsible for mouth, which opened at the end of Febru- tra funding is put back into the program. abilities or if you’re an able-bodied person,” applying for grants to get funding for the ary. Coordinating everything is a volunteer says Campbell. program, getting partnerships, organizing Tingley says Campell has adapted well to position.

18 | April 8, 2019 dalgazette.com SPORTS Wearing the maple leaf Dal women’s hockey defender, Natalie Stanwood won a silver medal with team Canada at the 2019 winter universiade in Russia BY SAM GILLETT league. Other AUS players on the team are Cas- sandra Labrie and Katryne Villeneuve from Université de Moncton and Abby Beale from Mount Allison University. “As much as we had conflict playing against each other on different university teams, when we were on the same team we didn't have any issues on or off the ice,” she said. On the ice, the team dominated the early rounds of the tournament. Canada opened with a 10-0 win over China. They won six games and lost one before the gold medal game, outscoring their opposition 30-7. Canada lost 2-0 to Russia in the gold medal game. It was not surprising though; Russia had 11 players who played on the Russian women’s hockey Olympic team at the 2018 Winter Olym- pics. “It was bitter-sweet, obviously playing in the gold medal game, with the anticipation of work- ing so hard for the gold,” says Stanwood. “But knowing that we had played the best game of our tournament there and that we all played for one another, I don’t think any of us have any re- grets.” While Stanwood says she didn’t want to assume NATALIE STANWOOD WAS CHOSEN TO REPRESENT CANADA AT THE 2019 WINTER UNIVERSIADE IN RUSSIA. PHOTO BY SAM GILLETT how many minutes she would play, she was an important player on the team playing on the Natalie Stanwood always dreamed of playing Sean Fraser let Stanwood know she was select- past season she was tied for third on the team power play and penalty kill. hockey for team Canada. Until February, she ed, she had less than a month to prepare for the with 12 points in 28 games. She is also solid de- “I was just very grateful to have made the team never thought that would be a reality. trip. fensively; she can read the play well and is usu- in the first place, and I didn't have any expecta- “I heard I was going to be playing for team “It was a surreal phone call,” says Stanwood, ally in the right position to break-up an attack. tions how much ice time I was going to have as Canada, and I got a chill through my entire who is from West Vancouver Even with her success, compared to [playing] at Dal,” she said. body,” says Stanwood. “That’s something I B.C. “It was a phone call I’ll Stanwood was surprised to Stanwood was gone for two weeks, but she used have always dreamt of, and I didn’t know it was never forget.” “It was the honour be named to the team. reading week to catch up on work. Luckily most going to be a realistic dream for me in the near Fraser followed all the “It was something I defi- that every time I was of her midterms were completed before she had future.” games through live webcasts nitely didn’t see coming, I stepping out on the ice to leave. She also had three days of travel to get The fourth-year Dal Tigers defencewoman from Halifax. He wasn’t sur- didn’t know that I was on in and out of Russia, so she had a lot of time on was chosen to represent Canada at the 2019 prised when he heard Stan- that I was representing the radar for something that the plane to study. winter Universiade in Krasnoyarsk, which is a wood was selected for the big,” says Stanwood. myself, my family, Dal Stanwood’s silver medal will serve as a remind- city in Siberian Russia, the winter Universiade team. The team was made up of and our entire er of her time as a team Canada player — a feel- is a sports tournament, which gathers top stu- “She’s a highly-skilled play- top players from Canadian ing she says will stick with her for a long time. dent-athletes from around the world for what is er,” says Fraser. “And she’s a country,” Universities. Three of Stan- “It was the honour that every time I was step- essentially a Winter Olympics for university stu- leader on and off the ice.” wood’s team Canada team- ping out on the ice that I was representing my- dents. It is held every other year. Stanwood was Dalhousie’s mates are her rivals in the self, my family, Dal and our entire country,” she After Dalhousie women’s hockey Head Coach best defender over the past two seasons. This Atlantic University Sport women’s hockey says.

dalgazette.com April 8, 2019 | 19 SPORTS Learning curve Inside the rise of the young men’s basketball team BY JOSH YOUNG, SPORTS EDITOR

The Dalhousie men’s basketball team hit a major growth spurt between Jan. 26 to March 10 –– going from a good basketball team in the Atlantic region to a national championship contender. On Jan. 20 Dal had a record of six wins and six losses in Atlantic University Sport, it was a mediocre record and not one they wanted as hosts of the national champion- ships. Then they went on a fantastic run, winning 12 straight games capturing the AUS championship and losing in bronze medal game at nationals. For a team with most players being before their fourth year, it was a big jump for the program. “We have grown a lot and what is really good about it is we lose three players, and so we’re coming back with the same core, so we’re expecting to make even more damage than we did this year,” said sec- ond-year player Keevan Veinot. Veinot is one of three second-year point THE CARLETON RAVENS WON THE GOLD MEDAL AND THE CALGARY DINOS ON MAR. 3, THE TIGERS WON THEIR FOURTH AUS CHAMPIONSHIPS. TOOK HOME THE SILVER MEDAL. PHOTO BY EVAN DE SILVA THEY BEAT THE SAINT MARY’S HUSKIES 65-55. PHOTO BY EVAN DE SILVA guards on the team along with Xavier Ochu and Jordan Brathwaite. Those three were felt confident, so they were playing better “I think [Veinot] started to realize his team- and a higher level of emotion, intensity, critical to the turnaround of the team. Point offensively. When they were losing, Dal mates looked up to him,” said Plato. “You and physicality against Carleton, going to guards control the offence, they bring the only scored above 70 points once and only need someone to drive the bus, everybody just play Ryerson the game after was tiring I’m ball up the floor, call the plays, and make once they were unable to hold the opposi- can’t be along for the ride, somebody has to not going to lie,” said Veinot. “After the the first offensive play with the ball. Their tion to under 76 points. Their defence was take the bull by the horns,” said Plato. first few possessions I personally was decision-making is crucial. As second-years, always great, but everything came together The next weekend was the national cham- gassed, and it was a battle of both basket- the young trio had some growing pains in once the offence got going. pionships. Dal’s first game was against the ball and physical demand.” the first half of the year about knowing “Keevan, Xavier and Jordan, they’re go- University of British Columbia, and Dal Dal is losing Cedric Sanogo, Kevin Du- when to make the right play. ing to be scary,” says Plato. defeated them 74-65. ong and Mike Shoveller. “You have to go through experiences you Dal’s next game was Sanogo was the only have to make mistakes…knowing the plays Needs a sub against the top-ranked Even the sweetest starter, so the young core and what you’re looking for out of a play In the AUS playoffs, Dal defeated Memo- Carleton Ravens. Dal tasting apples need is still intact. With the maturing of the guards and all those factors, and it just takes rial University and the University of New played great and was some time to ripen up. time,” said the team’s Head Coach Rick Brunswick in their first two games. They leading by three points and forwards Alex Car- Plato. “Even the sweetest tasting apples came up against the juggernaut Saint heading into the fourth son and Sascha Kappos need some time to ripen up.” Mary’s Huskies in the championship game- quarter. However, Car- having another year of Veinot played only one game in January SMU only lost one game all year. Still, Dal leton took control and won by 11 points. experience as the top scorers on the team. and was out because of tonsillitis, that defeated them 65-55 and won their fourth They played Ryerson for the bronze medal Dal should be a powerhouse next year, and meant Ochu and Brathwaite got more play- AUS championship in five years. Veinot game but lost 84-66, by that time they had Plato expects them to get to the national ing time and experience. By the time Vei- was named playoff MVP. nothing left. championship game soon. not came back at the beginning of Febru- Plato thinks Veinot has developed into a “After playing an emotionally high-level “We’ll be there, it just a matter of time ary, everything had clicked. All the guards leader on the team. game against B.C. and getting that win, with this young team,” said Plato.

20 | April 8, 2019 dalgazette.com