the FREE October 6, 2016 reflector www.TheReflector.ca News New mural unveiled on Main Street pg. 2 Features MRU’s on-campus green- house holds exotic plants and projects pg. 6 Arts Peaches brings her wild live show to Calgary pg. 12 Sports Cougars hockey season about to ramp up pg. 15 News Editor Amy Tucker news [email protected] I believe you Campaign to support victims of sexual assault is back for year two Amy Tucker response to a disclosure of sexual public attitudes and public spreading among university increasingly become a priority News Editor assault. This time, the campaign sentiment towards survivors of students in Alberta. An event at Mount Royal University. Last is making its focus to celebrate sexual assault has been made in was held in Edmonton, Sept. winter, the event “Who is Frank?” Albertans who are believing just the last two years. 23, to film a video for the “I an initiative for frankly speaking Imagine keeping silent about and supporting victims of sexual “I think it’s a result of a lot of Believe You” campaign, part about the elephant on campus - a life changing and devastating assault. publicity around the high profile of AASAS. The video featured sexual violence among students, experience for your entire life “Sexual assault is the most cases that we’ve seen. The social two female hockey players was hosted at MRU. because there was nowhere safe under-reported crime in media response like Facebook supporting each other as well as to disclose. Canada” said Debra Tomlinson, and Twitter that can carry the an arena filled with people who The number of students That’s what Danielle Aubry, the chief executive officer at the voices of survivors forward,” said would show their support and affected by sexual assault is the executive director at Calgary Association of Alberta Sexual Tomlinson. love for survivors. The majority staggering according to an Communities Against Sexual Assault Services - a provincial Tomlinson also points out of the people involved were internationally recognized Abuse, challenged her audience network made up of 12 sexual the celebrity icons that have students. The video was filmed at student survey by The National to envision at the “I Believe You” assault services across the made waves in the issue such as Kenilworth Arena in Edmonton, College Health Assessment campaign kick off. province. “Even conservatively movies like The Hunting Ground an arena which can hold 325 (NCHA) - an organization which “I’d like you to think for a speaking, less than 10 per cent and Lady Gaga who at the Oscars spectators. collects data on students’ health moment about the profound of survivors report to the police. performed Until It Happens to You “We even had buses of students and behaviour. The results say isolation and loneliness that One in ten actually reach out to a a song dedicated to survivors of coming from Calgary,” said that one third of Mount Royal results from keeping a secret like helping professional.” sexual assault. Tomlinson. students had experienced sexual assault or sexual abuse,” Tomlinson says that for When the campaign initially Opening up the conversation some kind of violence in one or said Aubry. generations, victims stay quiet kicked off over a year and a about sexual violence and multiple relationships. “Think about a nine-year-old about the incident and so the half ago, it reached out to post relationship health has child experiencing ...sexual crime remains underground. secondaries across Alberta assault in their home by someone Now, victims are finally coming and was responded to with they love, who they trust and, forward. enthusiasm - today, “I Believe because of so many things, they “That’s what we want to shine You” is partnered with every don’t tell anyone.” the light on, so survivors know post secondary in Alberta. The Albertan campaign, aimed that there are lots and lots of The initiatives some campuses at supporting victims of sexual people out there who if they are taking include hanging assault, is returning for a second disclose, would give them a posters about the campaign, year after its successful launch compassionate and supportive hosting information booths on one year ago. Last year, the “I response,” said Tomlinson. orientation day and promoting Believe You” campaign aimed After over 20 years working the “I Believe You” message to educate Albertans on how in the field, Tomlinson says that through social media. The #IBelieveYou campaign returns for a second year after a important it is to give a positive the most positive change around Indeed the message is successful inaugural year. Open Studies is a good idea Worried you’re not in the right program? You’re not alone Riley Nerbas students share their thoughts not so heavy in high school “I feel that the courses I took grow as a student.” Contributor on the importance of open when she first came to Calgary. in the semester of open studies Warren spent five years at studies. Though the courses Li took helped lead the way into my Queen’s University earning a The leaves crunch under your Stephanie Nolan, a Drama were put against her major that major, identifying myself with Life Sciences degree, only to boots as you walk to campus, major at the University of the professors and students I find out after graduation that it your homework is piling up Alberta, believes that her ability would have classes with later was something he did not wish and you’re certain the student to take open studies helped “It may spark in the program,” says Li. to pursue outside of academia just ahead of you is sipping a in her decision to pursue her Matt Warren, a fourth year - a difficult realization for him. pumpkin spiced latte. The fall passion. It also helped her your interest Business Administration major When he decided to return semester is kicking off and explore other avenues that she at Mount Royal University, to University he chose open hundreds of new and returning may not have taken if she had in a field believes that if he had taken studies because he wasn’t students just like yourself are focused solely on a major when open studies right out of high restricted in the courses he grappling with the heavy plate she registered. “The benefits of that you’d school it would have lead him in could choose. of being a student - planning taking open studies is that you a different direction than what “I wanted to raise my GPA out academic careers, paving can try out different things and never thought he decided on straight out of and have some options,” says a path to eventually join the it may spark your interest in a high school. Warren. He also found the workforce and juggling tuition field that you’d never thought you’d want to “The great thing about open experience refreshing that he costs. you’d want to pursue,” she says. studies is that you are allowed could take a wide and diverse While some know exactly the Jody Li, a fourth year General pursue.” to explore classes that are course workload and figure out career path they aim to pursue, Sciences major at Mount Royal -Stephanie Nolan common to your interests,” says what he was passionate about others are justifying pouring University, said that open Warren. “Open studies helps and what he wasn’t. their dollars into tuition only studies helped her adjust build your academic experience to find out their program isn’t properly to post-secondary she knew she was going to be around what your interests are the right fit for them. So how education, helping her adjust to taking, it gave her a little bit of and helps you find out what do you pick a program? Four homework demands that were breathing room to adjust. your main interests are as you October 6, 2016 • the reflector 3 Blackfoot mural unveiled on Main Street Meet the artist behind MRU’s new artwork Nina Grossman Layout Editor On Sept. 22, the same day Treaty 7 was signed 139 years ago, Main Street lit up with indigenous drums, songs and dancing to celebrate the unveiling of Blackfoot artist Ryan Jason Allen Willert HeavyShield’s mural located between Tim Hortons and the library. After speeches from involved faculty and student volunteers, traditional chicken dancer Yancy EagleSpeaker and fancy dancer Nikkole HeavyShield performed for students and faculty who had gathered to watch. The celebration was the fruition of the “Campus Transformation Challenge,” a social innovation tournament co-sponsored by the Institute for Community Prosperity. Student groups competed with creative solution proposals for some of MRU’s challenges and Ryan Jason Allen Wilert HeavyShield, the artist behind the mural for Treaty 7, explains his work to an audience of students, in February, Human Resources staff, and faculty at MRU. Photo By: Nina Grossman Coordinator and Business Student Ravi Chung and his is still widely regarded as a engaged as an artist when he doing that, art took me off the feels strongly about helping team won the challenge with historical document promising lived on the streets with his streets.” people understand indigenous a proposal to revitalize MRU’s peaceful coexistence and father, cousin and uncles, who As HeavyShield began culture and history. campus using indigenous art. prosperity for everyone living panhandled and sold their growing as an artist, taking “I don’t know a lot, but I know Chung chose the Treaty 7 in Treaty 7 territory. original indigenous artwork classes and displaying his enough that when I speak to anniversary for the mural Because MRU is on around the city.