What Are New Opportunities Provided to StFX Students?

 Recently, the U, the student body who works as representatives on behalf of the school’s students, is experimenting with a fresh idea to bring to the Bloomfield Centre: a site on campus which serves to ‘provide a space for those with businesses, side hustles and passion projects.’  This new idea continues to have student input as it is finalized in order to create a total student-made space.  

 The idea of the Entrepreneurship Hub first sparked as the latest service to replace Convenience for U, the on-campus convenience store  that has been suspended indefinitely due to lack of student engagement. It brings the question - what is truly relevant to students?  

I met directly with the U’s executive vice president, Alessandro D’Aquino, to attempt to answer this question. Here are the important things to know:

 The Hub is a place to sell a great range of products, from paintings, old clothes, handmade goods or even furniture. Size is typically not an issue, and carts may be provided in these cases. With little limits to consumable products and school services, essentially anything can be sold. Students can also find additional services and connections through the societies present - ways to source out, how to start businesses, what materials, and more, making it the perfect place to sell and nurture ideas. The Hub will be available in the Bloomfield building throughout the day (and into the evening), typically once a week. Transactions will be catered towards cash unless Sellers rent a table through the U’s website, and the steps plan to be as simple as that. As the U reinforces inclusivity, anyone and everyone is welcome to join. Learn how to build a business, start your business and expand it - this is the place to build experience for StFX entrepreneurs. A market on campus for students, ran by students. Here, students can find items  and societies that align with their personal interests, sell goods,and build innovation within the community.   

As the project finalizes, attention becomes focused on the future: What are the U’s next steps? Support from school professors is in  negotiation, and if approved, provides a chance to work alongside those in professional fields. Collaboration with the school regarding payments with DCB is also in negotiation. Students affiliated with payment apps may be welcome for accepting transactions via card, however, the leading mode of payment within the Hub will be cash. Additionally, local stores may be possible in the future, but not an immediate priority at this time as the Hub focuses on individual student businesses or student groups. Societies are open to become part of the market and collaborate to offer services. All in all, students are encouraged to reach out to the Student Union Board through The U’s website to learn more.  Give ideas to the board, talk about your business, build a business.

Building Prosperity: Nobel Laureate James Robinson Explains How Institutions Shape Nations

On Tuesday, October 28th, StFX welcomed Nobel Prize winner James A. Robinson as the inaugural speaker for the Brian Mulroney speaker series, which invites thinkers representing diverse points of view to examine topics and issues facing the world today.

James Robinson, a prominent economist and political scientist, opened the discussion honoring former prime minister, Brian Mulroney, “as a statesman of remarkable stature who achieved many things for Canada.”

Robinson’s scope of research focuses heavily on world living standards, from Singapore to Qatar, and income per capita, which has “enormous consequences for people’s lives, opportunities and welfare.” Building on this foundation, Robinson turned to the central question underlying his work: why some nations achieve prosperity and stability while others remain trapped in poverty and inequality.

To address this question, Robinson discussed how economists have long examined the role of technology and innovation, specifically, “the factors that make humans more productive” as a key explanation for differences in prosperity. Referencing the Industrial Revolution, Robinson states that it “ushered in the enormous inequality we see in the world today” as it brought in new technologies, the factory system and new methods of power. As he explained, “The poorest countries in the world don’t innovate very much, and they don’t allocate a lot of resources to innovation.”

On the topic of innovation, Robinson states that “the crucial thing in having an innovative society is you have to structure the rules, the institutions and the incentives so all of that latent talent can come to the top”. This is in reference to the patent system, which Robinson believes to be beneficial to those countries with thriving economies. The patent system has the property of inclusivity, meaning anyone could come forward with an innovation, file a patent and everyone must pay the same fee for the state to enforce your intellectual property rights. Having inclusive economic institutions (the patent system being one of them), is what raises productivity and living standards. “Innovation is what it’s all about”.

In explaining how these inclusive institutions work, innovation and incentive are central factors, ; however, they are not the only way to achieve inclusion. Robinson elaborates on how you can “bring innovations from outside, import innovations and you can import people also, who have skills and knowledge who can use innovations,” referencing the success Korea and Singapore have achieved economically.

Building on the idea of inclusive institutions, Robinson raised a key question: what explains the variation in economic systems, and why do some countries develop effective property rights while others do not?

The answer: politics. Having successful inclusive economic institutions requires inclusive political institutions. The two dimensions to this are having a state with capacity, and the broad-based distribution of political power.

Robinson discusses how when you have extractive economic growth, and when you have extractive political institutions, growth is transitory. He quotes Lord Acton, an English Liberal historian and moralist, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” He argues that “concentrated autocratic power always ends up getting abused at the expense of people’s welfare and also at the expense of the economy” and “to have innovation you have to allow people to do their thing, you have to allow people to just go for it, to allow them to build businesses and be entrepreneurs”.

Looking into the future, the presentation closes with an emphasis that institutions must be flexible and forward-looking to keep pace with technological change, globalization and evolving labour markets. Without adaptability, even established systems risk deepening inequality and disillusionment. By fostering innovation, protecting rights, and ensuring opportunities for all, inclusive institutions can not only sustain prosperity but also shape a future where societies thrive together.

Sisters in Action at the Martha Justice Ministry

Most students at StFX are acquainted with the Sisters of St Martha through their on-campus ministry at Wellspring. An oasis in the middle of a busy campus, it serves as a place to study, pour a coffee, and relax. However, though it often goes unseen by students, the Marthas’ impact extends far beyond their presence on campus to the broader community. Much of this work is carried out through the Martha Justice Ministry (MJM), a relatively new program through which the Sisters of St. Martha are brewing not just coffee, but change. 

First, a little history lesson. 125 years ago, the Sisters of St. Martha were established to provide homemaking services for students and priests at StFX. Since then, their ministry has developed and branched out to meet the evolving needs of the StFX and Antigonish community, including the establishment of St Martha’s Regional Hospital, local farming programs, and a maintained presence on campus through Wellspring. 

This past week, I had the distinct pleasure of sitting down with Darlene O’Leary, coordinator of the Martha Justice Ministry, to discuss some of the MJM’s projects and goals. Darlene tells me that the ministry was formed about a decade ago as a merging of the Sisters’ separate environmental and social justice programs, born, as she puts it, out of “recognizing that social and ecological justice are so interconnected.” She explains that the MJM has “identified three main areas of priority: poverty eradication, climate and ecological justice, and Indigenous rights and Reconciliation,” which they continue to work towards through various projects in Antigonish and beyond. 

Last year, for instance, the Sisters hosted a four-week series called “Healing the Divide,” to build settler awareness and share ways in which people can engage in Reconciliation. Darlene organizes and presents at events across the province, most recently in Cape Breton where she hosted a documentary viewing and workshop on integral ecology. The Sisters have also been involved in advocacy work with the Antigonish Coalition to End Poverty and are founding members of Basic Income Now Atlantic Canada, an organization that advocates for a guaranteed living income across the Maritime provinces. Recently, the MJM supported actions around Mi’kmaw land defenders on Hunters Mountain, and continues to address other local issues as they emerge. 

 On the federal level, the Sisters are members of the Office of Religious Congregations for Integral Ecology (ORCIE), an organization based in Ottawa that focuses on climate and Indigenous rights advocacy. MJM’s work with ORCIE involves lobby days, typically held on an annual basis, where the Sisters spend a day on Parliament hill meeting with MPs and working, as Darlene expresses it, “to ensure that our priorities have a voice at the federal level.” She admits that they’re “not expecting colossal changes” to result from these events, but that they are nonetheless important opportunities “to hold our federal government to account around commitments that have been made and that we expect them to keep.” 

 The Sisters of St Martha also carry their work to the international level, notably through annual participation in United Nations events including the Commission for Social Development, COP 15 and COP 26, the latter two of which Darlene personally attended. “We shared what we were learning across different networks, different faith communities,” Darlene says of COP 26. “[Our leaders] know we’re there and that we’re bringing our voices and our constituencies to that space, and then we can bring that back here when we meet with our MPs or [other] political officials and say… ‘I was at this convention. I know Canada committed to this, and we expect this to happen.’ So… it’s mostly about accountability.” 

 Ultimately, the outreach work carried out by the Sisters of St Martha and the MJM is an inspiring demonstration of the impact that a passionate group can have not only on our local community but beyond. Having started over a century ago as just a small group of courageous women working at StFX, the Sisters have built a generational legacy as a force for change, a mission that will continue as the needs of this community and the world evolve. For students, it’s a little something to think about and about and appreciate next time they head off to study at Wellspring. 

Why StFX Should Be More Transparent About Additional Fees – No Shows at the Health and Counselling Centre

With all the fees students pay at StFX, keeping track of them can be overwhelming. It doesn’t help that they are constantly changing – increased here, decreased there, that one doesn’t apply anymore, this one’s new. How are students expected to stay on top of them, especially when StFX isn’t always upfront about what the fee is for and where the money is going? 

Take the Health and Counselling Centre, for instance. As many returning students noticed last year, the late fees at the Health and Counselling Centre doubled from $25 to $50. The reasoning for this change was framed as  a stronger incentive for students to attend appointments. The Health and Counselling Centre’s website requests that students cancel 24 hours before their scheduled appointment, as “[t]his allows us to offer that space to another student who needs it; please help us in not wasting any of our valuable health care resources.” This  is a fair request, as the Centre offers many services and it can sometimes be difficult to get an appointment.  

However, it is unfair to put the full responsibility of remembering appointments on students while increasing the penalty for missing them. A higher fee is not the most effective method to incentivize students to remember an appointment. Especially when they may not be aware that they have previously missed an appointment. The no show fee is applied directly to your student account, with no notification from the Health and Counselling Centre being sent to students when they are charged. There is also no block placed on students when they have an outstanding late fee,meaning only  students who are diligently checking their account balance will notice if they have been charged.  

$50 may not be a lot to some students, but for others, it may be a deterrent to booking an appointment. If they know they struggle to attend appointments and can’t afford to be charged, why would they take that chance? This can be a huge obstacle for students who are struggling with their mental health and are already having a hard time asking for help. Although the fees can be waived for certain extenuating circumstances, this requires students to be aware of a missed appointment and the applied late fee.  

Second year student and Community Advisor Hannah Whiting hasn’t been to the Health and Counselling Centre before, but with the nature of her work, she knows how crucial the Centre is. “Everything I’ve heard about [the Centre] is really great. I’ve had friends that have used it and had really good experiences. I like that [the services] are offered here without an extra charge. Yes, we pay for it but it’s not something we have to think about. It’s not like, ‘oh, can I afford to go there this week?’ And if you’re going to have mental health issues, it’s gonna happen when you’re alone with your thoughts in a dorm, so it’s nice that it’s available to everyone who needs it.” Hannah was not aware of the late fees, and after a brief explanation, she said “I don’t love that. I feel like it discourages people. If your mental health is so bad you can’t get out of bed and your first step is making this appointment and you got scared and didn’t want to go, you’re not going to try and rebook again if you’re slapped with a $50 late fee. That kind of takes away from the affordability and access, because if you’re in dire need of help, that’s just another barrier.” 

What could a better system look like? Currently, the only reminders are the emails from Pomelo – the online booking system – and no one fully understands how they work. The only confirmed fact is that it doesn’t work very well. Most of the time the email reminders go straight to your junk folder. It’s unclear how to get them sent to your inbox; whether you have to officially register with Pomelo, or just move them out of your junk folder until your email recognizes they’re from a safe sender. Not only are students penalized for missing appointments that they need to remember to book and attend, but there is currently no decent reminder system. To put it even simpler, there is currently next to no responsibility on  StFX to ensure that students aren’t missing appointments that they can then be charged for. It’s completely on the students to ensure that they will not be charged $50.  

Yes, students also need to be held accountable and encouraged not to waste valuable resources and services. However, there may be better ways to hold people accountable. The system at Saint Mary’s University’s Counselling Centre flags when a student misses two appointments in a row. Before booking another appointment, the student is required to meet with The Counselling Centre Manager to discuss the barriers that student is facing and how the Centre might be able to help. But instead of a system that  focuses on supporting its students such as the one used by Saint Mary’s, StFX has decided it is up to the students to ensure that the school  cannot charge them yet another fee.  

 Additionally, the $50 late fee at StFX is charged regardless of who the appointment is with. As common as late fees are, at other healthcare clinics – both on university campuses and off – late fees are in place to supplement some of the income that healthcare providers lose when people miss their appointments. However, most of the healthcare providers at the Health and Counselling Centre,including the counsellors, are paid a salary, and their income is not affected by someone missing an appointment. They get paid regardless, meaning that StFX is making money from the late fees. No other maritime universities have a fee for missed appointments on  mental health appointments (aside from a psychiatrist). Dalhousie University’s website, for instance, states that there is “no fee for a missed appointment with our social worker, counsellors, or registered psychologists, but 24 hours' notice is still appreciated for cancelling an appointment”. Dalhousie also specifies the fees for missing specialized appointments; $50 for a doctor, and $250 for a psychiatrist. This is common practice for the other maritime universities, if they have no-show fees at all. StFX is the only maritime university that charges a flat rate fee for missed appointments for every healthcare provider.  

Does it track that StFX is finding another excuse to charge students? Yes, but at least if the money is going to the Health and Counselling Centre it’s being put to good use, right? According to information from a source at the Health and Counselling Centre, the $50 late fee actually doesn’t go directly to the Centre or to any of the healthcare providers. The money made from the late fees goes to the Department of Student Life. This means that, in the event of a missed appointment, StFX is charging people twice for a service they did not receive. Whether the money eventually gets reallocated to the Health and Counselling Centre or not, it seems deceptive to claim that the late fees are to help support other students and the Health and Counselling Centre.   

This brings up several ethical issues, not the least of which being why StFX isn’t more transparent about what fees students are paying and where the money truly  goes. Is it fair to be charging such a large late fee for a mental health appointment? Other universities appear to unanimously agree that it is not. Is it ethical to penalize a student for missing an appointment because of their depression, when the appointment was to help them treat their depression? How is it fair for the university to be charging someone twice for a service? Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, is it not a conflict of interest for StFX to benefit from students missing healthcare appointments? 

Fortunately, the Health and Counselling Centre has recognized some of these issues. As of November 1, 2025, the late fee will only be for appointments with the physicians, to better align with the standards set by other university clinics. It will no longer be applied to other appointments, namely mental health appointments. A new text-based reminders system, that works, will be hopefully implemented  by November 5. Signs and posters will be posted in the Centre advertising these new changes. The website will also be revised to accurately reflect these new policies. A source from the Health and Counselling Centre also stated that they hope to continue to evaluate the late fees as they consistently strive to better support students and meet them where they’re at while decreasing the amount of no shows.  

Why then, is it a topic worthy of debate if the Health and Counselling Centre is actively trying to fix some of these issues? Just because there are steps being taken to implement a better system doesn’t mean that StFX can’t still be held accountable for not being as transparent as they could be. This is not the first time StFX hasn’t been aboveboard about the fees they’re charging students. In 2023-2024, StFX still applied a “Fitness & Recreation Fee”, even though the fitness centre was unusable due to the ongoing renovations. 

When asked if she thought StFX should be more transparent about where our fees are going, Hannah stated, “Absolutely. If you’re getting fined for a reason, say it’s in residence, you assume that it’s because of damage, so it’s going back to repaying for whatever was broken. And with Health and Counselling, if I got fined, I would assume it was going back to the Health and Counselling Centre because I missed my appointment.” She also said she agrees that students should try to be more aware of what fees they’re being charged. “I know it’s a greater concern for some than it is for others. And I think it’s important as young adults to know where our money is going, how we’re spending it, and being aware of how our actions affect those around us. Even if it’s $50, for some people that’s a lot of money. For others, it’s a rainy-day fund. But across the board we need to be aware of what’s happening around us and where we’re spending our money.”  

At the end of the day, StFX is a business, but if students are paying thousands of dollars for services beyond their education and continuously being charged on top of that, they deserve to know where their money is going. Students need to actively investigate and question the fees they are being charged, and StFX should be a lot more transparent about where these fees go. 

The StFX Community Remembers Father Stan

On Friday, October 17th, the campus community gathered to celebrate the life of Father Stanley MacDonald, known to most students as Father Stan.

Father Stan has long been an iconic figure on the StFX campus. I remember my first meeting with him was outside his residence of Mockler Hall as I was on my way to grab a bite at meal hall. We chatted and I learned he was once working as a priest in community that neighboured my hometown. We had departed with one of his signature fist-bumps, which he commonly used to greet everyone, and went on our own ways.

Students all over the campus have similar stories about knowing Father Stan. He was revered not only as a friend to everyone on campus but also something of an icon within StFX’s sport scene.

I asked some people around Campus about Father Stan,

The Xaverian Weekly Co-Editor in Chief, Bastien MacLean, explained, “I don’t remember meeting Father Stan- but I feel like I always knew him. I’d always rush up to meet him in meal hall to fist bump him. If there was one person who always made people on campus smile, it was him. It’s sad that he’s gone now”

Lexi Hubbard, a 4th year Forensic Psych student, talked about the celebration of life event, “It was a really lovely ceremony. It was essentially a celebration of life for all the things Father Stan did on this campus and did for this campus, all of the lives he touched on this campus. And generally, just how he made everyone around him feel, which of course was lovely. It was really nice to hear the stories about Father Stan and how much everyone on this campus loved him.”

I also asked her about her experiences meeting him, “When I was in first year, like most people I ran into Father Stan in Morrison Hall. I was new to campus and new to Nova Scotia as a whole, and sat down and chatted with him about things I missed about home, particularly my dog. There was a few times I ran into him weeks later, and he said ‘oh hi Lexi, how’s [your dog] Jasper doing today?’ We’d spoken maybe three times, and he knew my dog by name. It solidifies how he remembers things and how he really sees people.”

Lily Trudel, a 4th year English student and the SCA of Governors Hall, explained “He was like a grandfather figure, when I met him [in first year] he was the first person who really felt like a part of the campus community. If you went up to any stranger on campus and asked about Father Stan, you could have a 20 minute discussion about him.”

Another student I approached gave their take on Father Stan, “I feel like his kindness was extended in the ways in which oftentimes he didn’t personally know students, but he was always too happy to see everyone and engage in conversation regardless. He was a pillar of the Xaverian model.”

In my discussions with the people I’ve interviewed, everyone seemed to hint at disappointment that the newest generation of Xavierians did not have the chance to meet Father Stan. This is saddening; however the University has made an effort to memorialize him in a few different ways. It is difficult to go about campus without seeing a Father Stan ‘GO X GO’ laptop sticker, the design of which was put up as a mural overlooking the football field from the Bloomfield Center. It is for these reasons that I am confidant that Father Stanley MacDonald will be known for many generations of Xaverians to come.

The Capstone Lecture Series: What Are They, Who Are They For?

On Thursday, October 16th, the Humanities Capstone Lecture series kicked off with Dr. Doug Al-Maini, professor of philosophy. Garnering an audience of roughly 50, his talk titled “Protagoras: Democratic Apologist,” asked the question: can the democratic and techne (Greek term meaning technique or specialization) mindsets be harmonized? While most Greek thinkers say “no,” Dr. Al-Maini believes Protagoras says “Yes.”

Dr. Al-Maini walked us through the general argument of teaching the specialization of democratic practices on a wide scale, so that the population will be more inclined to hold positions in democratic institutions themselves. The main take away for modern audiences is this: that no matter who you are — whether it be a police officer, janitor, store clerk, or teacher — you too should be an active participant in democracy, opposed to being another passive observer. Actions such as sitting on town/university committees, attending council meetings, and asking questions to those who are in elected positions, help foster a more democratic and free space for everyone.

“I totally believe that … part of the education of a good democratic citizen is engaging with other democratic citizens” says Dr. Al-Maini. “That was part of the point I was trying to make, that Protagoras thinks that everybody engages in the education of other citizens. So, it’s a thing that collectively happens.” When asked about the modern audience take away, Dr. Al-Maini said “[Protagoras’s] view of the modern world would be that right now, it seems there’s a lot of things that are keeping us from teaching each other how to be good democrats … social media would be the obvious culprit here. It has an effect of isolating people and keeping them from actually engaging with each other in a way that is conducive to participating in a democracy.”

In its own way, the lecture was a practice in democracy. During a roughly 30-minute question period which followed the talk, audience members raised questions, opposing views, and challenges about the lecture. And that, to me, is one of the defining features of the Capstone Lecture Series. By attending a talk, you get information on things you may not have known, are able to ask questions to an expert, and engage in academic traditions. Along the way you can sharpen your skills of critical thinking, public speaking, and more.

When asked about the impact of the Capstone Lectures, Quincie Grant — a third-year political science and philosophy student — said, “not only is it putting the Humanities Colloquium on the map, but I think any talks on philosophy are helpful to the populace no matter what. … The goal of the university is to create meaningfully virtuous people, and I think these talks are just a by-product of that. I don’t think StFX would be the same without them.” When asked more specifically about the talk itself, Quincie said “I agree with Dr. Al-Maini that even if you don’t feel that your contribution is as insightful as another’s, it is just as valuable … in a truly democratic society. […] I think that the values of technique and democracy have … already been harmonized through the idea of a representative democracy.”

“If we are going to have students that are educated in a liberal arts fashion, who are going to be cultivated intellectuals, then they have to see this other side of university” says Dr. Louis Groarke, professor of philosophy, “which is intellectual discussion, which goes beyond just studying for exams.”

Dr. Steven Baldner is a coordinator of the Capstone Lecture Series, and professor of philosophy. “[The Capstone Lectures] have been very successful. [They] are now really the only regular lecture series in Arts. […] We wanted the Capstone Lectures to be a kind of a social event … we wanted to show students that a public lecture is a chance to raise questions, to challenge, to get explanations. Which is a big thing for a first-year student… but every year students have risen to the occasion. It’s a contribution to the whole intellectual life of the university.”

The Capstone Lectures were started for the Humanities Colloquium and offer four educational lectures per year from experts on multiple topics covering four time periods (Ancient, Mediaeval, Modern, and Contemporary). Everyone is welcome, students and non-students alike. The next lecture is on November 27th at 7:30 p.m. from Dr. Gerjan Altenberg, professor of religious studies.

Consent Week at StFX: Power in Prevention

Statistics on sexual violence within Canada show that 1 in 3 women will experience sexual assault in their lifetime, and 1 in 4 will experience it during their time as a post-secondary student. 1 in 6 men will experience sexual assault before the age of 18, and 1 in 2 trans people will experience it at some point in their lives.

Heather Blackburn, the Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Advocate for StFX provided some statistics, explaining, “The stats I collect here are very much aligned with those same numbers.”

Annually, StFX dedicates a week of the academic year to consent awareness and education. Sexual and gender-based violence is an ongoing issue on campus, as seen in a 2023 case where a StFX football player was charged with four separate counts of sexual assault, or the 2019 report where two athletes were acquitted of sexual assault allegations. The question of student safety and presence of consent education within the campus community remains pertinent. This raises concerns about what resources are available at StFX to prevent it from occurring in the first place, and specifically, what the StFX community is doing to counteract it.

On October 6th, Visible at X, a student-run organization which provides sexual violence prevention and consent education for the campus community, kicked off consent week. It is an annual event which aims to educate how sexual violence can be prevented through consent.

Visible at X began by hosting their residence outreach events. These events consisted of games and candy as a way to ignite conversations around consent and create a culture of respect.

On Wednesday, October 8th, the Bloomfield Hub hosted Consent & Ice Cream, another fun event where participants were taught about consent through questions and games, followed by an ice cream bar where attendees were encouraged to continue the conversation.

In an interview with 4th year student Visible at X peer mentor and event facilitator Maya Bergeron, she spoke about what the main goal of consent week is. “The first thing I would say is to support survivors and bring awareness obviously. Especially with Take Back the Night tomorrow, it’s really to support survivors, and tell them that they’re not alone.” She continues, “StFX is really good. We bring the most students to participate in these kinds of activities and sessions.” She also explains “It’s easier to find support and create relationships.”

Following Consent & Ice Cream, the council chambers in Bloomfield Center hosted a Sex and Consent Education talk from Venus Envy, a Halifax-based organization who provide both in-person and virtual workshops on a wide range of topics. They also have a book shop in Halifax that supplies gender affirming services and sexual health resources. The event was hosted by Queer and Disability Justice Advocate and Sexuality Educator Rachele Manett. They spoke about a wide variety of subjects such as hookup culture, how to deal with rejection, aftercare, queer sex education, and more. The primary topic of their lecture was on consent as a practice, which means to actively identify consent, setting and respecting boundaries, and overall communication between partners.

“Consent is just ongoing communication,” said Rachele. “It starts the moment you see someone and you’re like, ‘I kinda wanna hook up with that person,’ to when your relationship ends completely.” She also stated that “Consent is always happening, as soon as a relationship starts. That relationship could be as casual or as formal as you want it to be.”

This reminder that consent applies to every aspect of every kind of relationship, regardless of how serious and established or unceremonious it may be, is a fundamental part of consent education. She goes on to say, “A lot of communication also happens non-verbally, we have to be aware of what someone’s tells are, we have to be able to read them in some way.”

Rachele places immense emphasis on communication as the basis for consent, ultimately teaching attendees that communication is the key to practicing consent.

Day four of Consent Week hosted the Take Back the Night March in the Coady Gardens. The event began with speeches from several peer mentors and education coordinators from societies and organizations around campus. Topics such as the importance of speaking up and bystander prevention were highlighted, with a focus on Canada’s missing and murdered indigenous women. A smudging ceremony was also performed by WMGS Society Co-President Maria Kahlen. This involves burning incenses of sacred herbs to cleanse one’s body and spirit of negative energy. The march then took place, which consisted of all attendees marching through campus and reciting chants.

Some of the chants included, “We are the change, we are the fight, we are the ones who light the night!” and “Wherever we go, however we dress, no means no and yes means yes!”

To conclude the march, participants were invited to gather at the Bloomfield Hub for cookies, hot chocolate, interactive tabling, and resources. This included a discussion board where guests were invited to write about how they practiced preventing sexual assault throughout their lives.

Comments such as, “I offer to walk my friends home from the bar,” and “I tell my friends to text me when they get home,” and many more filled the board. These are just some ways the StFX community has practiced preventing sexual violence from occurring and keeping other students safe utilizing the resources they have.

On Friday, Visible at X closed off consent week with FRIES for F.R.I.E.S, a common acronym in consent education that means consent must be Freely Given, Reversible, Informed, Enthusiastic, and Specific. This event consisted of fries being served to guests at meal hall, as a reminder of what consent means, and a simple way to end off the week.

In an interview with Heather Blackburn, the Sexual Violence Prevention and Response advocate at StFX, she spoke about the current policies, resources, and measures currently in place at StFX.

“Anybody can come forward and disclose sexualized violence...but if you want to disclose in a way that StFX knows, the best way to do that is through me, because I can keep that private and confidential.” She continued, “We wanna make sure people have options and choices...those are outlined in the StFX sexual violence policy.”

The policy which Heather is referring to is the StFX Sexual Violence Response Policy, first approved in December 2019, and last reviewed in July 2025. The sixteen-section policy is “a really detailed policy,” she says. “Most people don’t [read it] so let me be the one to talk someone through like what parts of the policy are relevant.” Heather goes on to explain that the policy is “written from the values and guiding principles of being person centered and trauma informed, and what that means is not really thinking about the policy from a perspective of ‘what benefits the university the most’ but ‘what benefits the people who need this policy most’... that’s actually pretty unique in the post-secondary policy environment right now. But it doesn’t mean it’s perfect, it’s a policy.”

Heather also spoke about REES (Respect, Educate, Empower Survivors), an anonymous and online reporting platform managed by the StFX student union. Heather explains that “REES is the only way to be truly anonymous and still let the university know some parts of what’s happened. It does get used every year, but it’s definitely not the most frequent way students, staff, or faculty share information.” She also shares that the student union recently hired a REES ambassador this academic year, in hopes for the platform to be utilized more and hopefully better address the sexual violence that does occur on campus.

Heather also discussed the prevention training that is put in place for students and faculty. StFX provides sexual violence prevention training through the Waves of Change program and is made mandatory for all incoming first-year students at Blitz Day training during O-Week. Interestingly, varsity athletes are required to complete it twice a year.

When asked about this training and the previous cases of sexual violence from athletes at StFX, Heather said “do athletes cause harm? Yes. Are they more likely than anyone else to cause harm? We don’t have any data to support that unfortunately.” She explains that “the literature says that the best way to address campus violence is to approach it peer-to-peer, and to start and focus on the people that have social power...we can’t deny that on this campus in particular, athletes hold different power and privilege.” Heather also reveals that StFX has done “annual training with all of our athletes every year since 2018...I will say the athletics department is definitely committed to prevention education, but sexualized violence happens between people. It’s not the university that’s perpetrating the violence, so we can only prevent it if we work together as a community. It’s like a social issue.”

To conclude the interview, Heather talked about Consent Week as a preventative practice of sexual violence and its effectiveness. “I’m under no false impression that consent awareness week is the thing that’s gonna change violence, but I hope it’s the thing that’s gonna bring more people into the conversation.” She continued to say, “we try to use strategies that are evidence-based, and there isn’t a ton of evidence on how to truly prevent violence yet, what we do know is that awareness raising is part of that strategy, but it can’t be the only thing that you do.”

With events like Consent Week, alongside the many resources available and measures taken by the StFX community to prevent sexual and gender-based violence from occurring, it is clear there is no lack of resources for those who need them. However, it is a reminder that sexual and gender-based violence is happening at StFX and is a social issue that happens between students. This makes it difficult to fully recognize when and how it is occurring on campus. Knowing this, it is most effective way to approach the topic from a perspective of prevention while providing as many resources, measures, and care for survivors as possible, along with the most effective consent education for everyone in the StFX community.

A Musician's Opinion on the State of Live Music in Antigonish

Lior Wainshtein is a fourth-year music student, from Dartmouth, NS at St. Francis Xavier University. Lior plays bass and has in played in bands such as Just Friends, Penny College, and Epiphany, as well as being a member of the Townhouse Jazz Trio. I wanted to talk to Lior about his history as a musician in Antigonish as well as his thoughts and opinions on the state of live music in Antigonish.  

Harrison Stewart (HS): How did you get into playing live music in Antigonish? 

Lior Wainshtein (LW): I got pretty lucky, when I started there wasn’t a lot of bass players in the music program, and so I had a buddy that wanted to start a band, and I happened to be jamming in the space we were in. He asked me if I wanted to join and that’s how I started! We were playing at Candid [Brewing] all the way up until 2 years ago now. 

HS: How many different venues are there to play around here, and which one is your favourite? 

LW: There’s really only 2 accessible venues, I suppose 3. There’s the Townhouse, Candid Brewing, and Oak Manor. My favourite is Townhouse, I play there every Thursday, do the jazz thing. I love it there, the atmosphere is awesome there. 

HS: Do you rather playing live through the school, or off campus? 

LW: Off campus. Every school gig I had, I mean the last one I was just playing jazz for a mock casino for the Department of Commerce, and that was alright, but there wasn’t really a lot of direction there, I’ve had much more luck wit off campus gigs. 

HS: Has the temporary shutdown of Piper’s Pub affected the state of live bands in Antigonish?  

LW: Not at all. Maybe to groups like Gasper, but for someone like me who’s playing in student-run bands, with smaller crowds, it hasn’t really affected much. 

HS: Do you rather being a player-for-hire or a member of a defined group? 
 
LW: Player-for-hire I’d say. I like the idea of being in a defined group, but I much prefer playing everything. That’s what I love to do, I mean I play the jazz thing, but I love to play rock and roll, I love to play metal. 
 
HS: As a music student, how often do skills you have learned for an outside gig that translated to a live gig, or vice versa? 

LW: It’s normally the other way around, where the stuff I learn in school applies to gigs. I played last night in Saint John, New Brunswick, and so there I was trying out things I would have just learned it class. That’s how it mainly goes, you learn stuff in the classroom, you apply it outside. I’ve never had too many instances where I’m on a gig and I tried something new, and then, oh, were talking about what I just did?  

HS: Outside of Antigonish, how often do you play in other cities as a part of festivals, concerts, etc. 

LW: Festivals not too much. But I do play pretty often, I’ve become a pretty frequent member of the Saint John jazz scene, in New Brunswick. I’ve been able to be lucky enough to play with Juno Award winning artist Joel Miller. In Halifax, I’ve managed to get myself in with some STFX alumni from the Jazz Program. I played Makin’ Waves in Cape Breton. 

HS: Do being a musician in Antigonish pay well? 

LW: It’s more for the love of playing; it really doesn’t pay. Unless you’re a solo artist, you can make $100, $200 a gig, but I find with bands, especially at Candid, we’ve had some trouble making money. Townhouse as well, but you do it for the love. I don’t know very many people that are musicians and just do it for the money, because you’re never going to be successful if it’s just for the money. 

HS: A question adding onto that, would you play a gig for free, for the love of playing music, or do you believe that your skills demand reward? 

LW: I would never play a gig for free. It’s not even a thing about my skills demanding reward. It’s more so my own morals. This is my job; this is my life. I can’t do that if I’m not getting even like, if I make $10. I’d still play a $10 gig, but for free? I can’t do that. I used to, and then it messed with my mind a little bit. And you set a bad precedent, because if this guy’s going to do a gig for free, who else will do a gig for free? 

HS: Have you ever made any recordings with any of the groups you’ve been with? 

LW: I have; none have been released. I have a group, Slander, with 2 STFX alumni, Ty MacEachern and Magnus Labillois, and so we recorded over the summer a couple things and hope to release it at some point. 

HS: What was the most exciting set you’ve played in Antigonish? 

LW: Over the summer, I had a chance to play with my professor, Kevin Brunkhorst, at the Townhouse. I wasn’t expecting much, I wasn’t even expecting him to want to play the gig, and I was surprised when he said he wanted too. He gave us a set of pop tunes, we did Layla [by Derek and the Dominos], like the acoustic version, and that was by far, the most fun I’ve ever had. It was great, just 3 guys playing music, and we were having a blast. 

HS: Do you play any instruments other than bass in a live setting? 

LW: No, I’m not good enough. I like to tell people I play “composer’s piano,” I’m only good enough to write a song on the piano, I’m not really into playing it live. 

HS: Are there any upcoming gigs you’d like to promote now? 

LW: Halloween, my band Epiphany is playing at Candid Brewing.

StFX Students AI Usage: How Are You Learning?

“I could just use Chat GPT for this”. 

In a world of integrated AI technology it can be hard, if not impossible, to meet a student who has never used artificial intelligence. Whether it is the AI overview on Google, or writing a paper due in 20 minutes, the ease of access of AI has made it an unavoidable resource and temptation. And for many, the choice is simple with a schedule of assignments and lectures, tests and labs, it would be silly to not save yourself the time and effort, right? Instead of adapting and pushing through with other provided resources for studying, students have turned to AI to lessen the load. However, this increase in AI usage raises the question: how and what are you learning? And how do your professors know that you are? 

Although the rise in students' AI usage is across all disciplines, concerns tend to be focused on Arts Degrees. In a class where students’ understanding of the material is often based on writing and assignments, AI is the easiest tool to cheat with. Not only is it integrated into most major grammar checkers, but any student can simply type an essay prompt into Chat GPT and have a full paper. Although your professor can check to see if your assignment feels “human made”, there’s no one way to tell for sure with AI’s rapid advancements.  

I sat down with Rachel Hurst, professor of Women’s and Gender Studies at StFX, to discuss her feelings on the use of AI in student work. Dr. Hurst brought a unique perspective as both a professor that grades her classes mostly through written assignments and participation, and as someone returning to teaching after a yearlong sabbatical. They stated that the most important value in a classroom to them is trust, and that AI has made it harder to uphold mutual trust between members of the class. How does a teacher trust that a student isn’t using Chat GPT to write or correct their work? How can students trust each other when grades could be based on AI- created work? 

At the same time, Dr. Hurst shared that she empathized deeply with the students who use AI as a shortcut. “Chat GPT scares me, because I can see how it would be easy to rely on it”.  They continued, “I’m sure there are some students who use it to write entire essays, but most probably use it as a way to package their ideas together”. After speaking casually throughout the week to other students and teachers about using AI, this idea was common. Students feel overworked and out of time, consequently working with AI as a time and stress saver, and a way to easily gather and write out thoughts. Tteachers, however, fear that AI limits key skills and comprehension of the information being taught.  

The solution that most professors lean towards to solve these problems is a change in how they assign work. Some, like Professor Hurst, have started creating in-class written assignments, with the work only being accessed by students during class hours. Others use AI checking websites and hope that they remain accurate. Though the rise in AI is only just beginning, the worry persists that more advanced uses will be developed, and in turn more complicated solutions created to combat them.  

Ultimately, whether a student chooses to use AI for their work is a personal decision, and there is only so much a school can do to stop it. A university is here to give you the tools and information you need to succeed in your education, but you decide what to do with those tools. I do, however, urge every student to consider their options before reaching for AI, and to ask themselves: “What am I learning from this? And how does it benefit me?”.  

AI Cheating and the Undergraduate Experience

The rise of students cheating using AI is having a disastrous effect at StFX and in the academic field by fundamentally changing the way people experience university education, the goal of which is to get good grades in order to get a good job.  Some students use AI to keep their academic workload light. To them, even if it is cheating, it's justified; they're doing what they need to do to succeed. I interviewed a business student who admitted to using AI to cheat. When asked if they believe cheating makes the class experience worse, they argued that using AI to summarize readings allows people to engage in conversations they wouldn’t otherwise participate in, which improves discussion. However, they also said that students should not be allowed to pass off AI writing as their own. “I feel like you should only be able to use it as a reference” they said, adding that “anything over 25% [written by] AI is quite bad, and not professional, not beneficial to you or the school … if its more than that, I’m gonna feel bad about it”. They later added that when it comes to writing, “authenticity is important”. 

Professors argue that AI is damaging to the university structure and that cheating restricts the development of key practical skills that students must develop. For Dr Steven Baldner, professor of philosophy, one of these important skills include “writing, being able to understand a problem independently, explain what the problem is and give a solution to the problem in a clear and coherent way”. The student I talked to argued that AI makes the university experience easier and described AI as “so beneficial … especially for time saving”. They also said that “sometimes the way professors explain things is so advanced because they're so advanced and AI can really dumb things down”. But they did not hesitate to say that cheaters should be punished: “If you're getting an assignment and 100% generating it with AI and handing it in, then you should be punished, that’s not how school works”.  

Professors argue that cheating erodes their relationship with students by affecting their ability to trust them. Dr Baldner believes that “if you forbid the use of AI and a student has done that, it’s a real rupture in our relationship, and I have had that experience already, sadly. Its upsetting”. It is not hard to imagine that a lack of trust inevitably strains the professor-student relationship because reliability comes from trust; if you don’t trust your students, then the way you treat them changes - and likely for the worst. When asked if good prof-student relationships improve the class environment, the student answered that it makes the experience “just incrementally better” but that AI should not be seen as a form of betrayal. “I would say it's kind of the opposite of a betrayal, I feel like a betrayal would be me listening to the prof, not understanding what he says, and also never trying to understand … but AI allows me to - if I don’t understand something, actually dive deeper into it and care about what the prof is saying”. These two views on AI are incompatibly different, yet it is not difficult to sympathize with both opinions. 

In our conversation, Dr Baldner mentioned that AI falls short as an academic tool because that’s not what it was designed to be: “I don’t think it's intelligence … it is just a very elaborate way of producing word association and I think for that reason it will never achieve what the human author can do”. AI can produce relevant answers with proper grammar but is not concerned with truth or argumentative quality. It is not hard to see how AI could be helpful; in our conversation, Dr Baldner said that AI “certainly has a lot of very helpful applications in a number of fields,” but was clear that he is concerned about AI use among undergraduates.  

Dr Baldner used an analogy of a tennis ball machine to explain his view on AI; these machines are used to practice, not to compete. Dr Baldner said, “The point is for you to learn how to hit…we don’t put the machines in the game”. ChatGPT might be able to show you how to use a semicolon or what a good use of the exclamation mark is, but it’s production cannot be passed off as the work of a student. This is because the student didn’t participate in the generation of the arguments, often the most important part of an essay. The school considers AI to be plagiarism, not just because it generates sentences that are not one’s own, but because they also do not belong to the AI model. An AI database is not created by the machine; it is fed to it. AI results come from compilations of human data, and a student who uses these results is plagiarizing work from that database.  

Cheating is dishonest, and this alone is often seen as bad in and of itself. But that is not where the problems stop; professors at StFX are compelled to implement preventative measures to stop cheating. These measures take different forms, such as not allowing technology in the classroom, or in-class exams replacing take-home essays. But these changes also negatively affect students by stopping them from learning how to do take-home assignments or prepare research papers. In addition, in-class essays disfavour certain students. Dr Baldner recognized this by mentioning that certain “students have anxiety in those quiz situations”. In-class essays also take away from lecture time, resulting in either rushed examinations to fit a lecture in afterwards or missing topics that should be included in the teaching of a subject. “You're actually cutting down the amount that you can accomplish”, as Dr Baldner told me. These consequences come from trying to prevent cheating, something that has to be done to retain classroom equality, but the preventative measures negatively impact certain students, which also disrupts classroom equality.  

The ‘real world’ and the careers we are preparing for at university are competitive and complex. To excel, you will need to be trained and prepared for them. When a university does not set students up for success, then a good transcript becomes the sole purpose of their education. Many see a university diploma as an expensive addition to a job resume, so why not make this addition as easy as possible? During our conversation, the student told me that if there was no risk of punishment for AI that they “would use it always”. Being able to do your future job well is not common sense; it has long been the role of universities to prepare students for this transition, but now it seems that AI can do this. The problem is that AI does not provide its users with an education, only the answering of prompts. The job of AI is not done alongside a user, but for them, cheating them of the opportunity to learn how to do tasks themselves moving forward. When preparing for the job field, it is either education or reliance on AI.  

More Than History: Understanding Treaty Day as a Living Commitment

On October 1st, 2025, the Sociology 329 class on Climate, Truth and Future held a presentation for Treaty Day at the Antigonish Public Library. Treaty Day in Nova Scotia is to recognize the Peace and Friendship Treaties signed in 1752.  

The presentation began with a land acknowledgement, recognizing that we are in Mi’Kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq people. Then, an explanation on what it is that Treaties truly means and why it’s important.  

The British Empire signed a series of treaties with various Mi’Kmaq, Wolastoqiyik, Abenaki, Penobscot, and Passamaquoddy peoples living in what is now known as the Maritimes,  the Gaspé region in Eastern Quebec and parts of New England. The treaty, signed by Jean Baptiste Cope, the Chief Sachem of the Mi’kmaq and Governor Peregrine Hopson of Nova Scotia, was intended to make peace and promised hunting, fishing, trading and land-use rights.  

The Peace and Friendship treaties are constitutionally protected by Section 35 of Canada’s Constitution Act, which recognizes and affirms existing Indigenous and treaty rights. These precedents mean that when governments or companies try to restrict or criminalize Indigenous hunting, fishing, land access or natural resource use, Indigenous groups can invoke the treaties as legal backing to challenge these actions.  

This is particularly significant, as highlighted during the presentation, because on September 23rd the province introduced the Protecting Nova Scotians Act. The bill promises to keep forest access roads open and allow the removal of any structures that threaten public safety or block lawful use of Crown lands, without prior notice. Mi’kmaq land defenders have been on Hunters Mountain, located in the Cape Breton Highlands, for a month with a checkpoint and a cedar line. They are not blocking the forest road or access to the mountain, as locals are welcome to visit the mountain. From their perspective it’s an act of self-governance to protect their lands, waters and rights from damaging logging operations. The clear cutting of trees is threatening the moose population, the land’s medicinal properties and the destruction of habitats.  

A large section of the presentation discussed what it means to be Treaty People, emphasizing how the existence of every home, business, and even St. Francis Xavier University is possible because of treaty agreements. All Indigenous and Non-Indigenous residents of Treaty Land are Treaty People.  Treaties are grounded in the values of mutual respect, peace and shared responsibility which we as Treaty People should carry with us everyday.  

Dr. Riley Olstead, the professor who teaches Sociology 329, also researches settler colonialism and decolonization. At the event she sparked a thoughtful conversation after the presentation discussing how climate change is what initially inspired her to integrate Indigenous teachings and knowledge into her course.  

She explained how two-eyed seeing, a framework for understanding and problem-solving that combines the strengths of Indigenous ways of knowing with those of Western perspective, allowing both perspectives to guide how we see and act in the world, can offer a more balanced and understanding path to addressing the anxiety that many of us experience regarding climate change and how unsustainable we as a society have been living. 

Dr. Olstead shared that what led her class to focus on Treaty Day in Nova Scotia for their presentation was a part of a “relational invitation for students to step into their place within our binding agreements (to the Peace and Friendship Treaties) and to better understand our relationship to the land.”  

As students, understanding the accountability and obligations we are held to as Treaty People reminds us that reconciliation is not just a national project, but a daily responsibility rooted in respect, learning and action. 

Decolonising Institutions: StFX Observes Truth and Reconciliation Day

On September 30th, 2025, StFX University hosted a ceremony for Truth and Reconciliation day in Mulroney Hall. The event was packed with people from the campus and community attending the ceremony, with a crowd so large it appeared as a sea of orange from above. Orange Shirt Day was recognized in Canada in 2013, a result of activism that sought to raise awareness on Indigenous human rights issues and the legacy of residential schools specifically. Orange Shirt Day was later renamed Truth and Reconciliation Day in 2021, with the ceremonies being held at StFX ever since.  

Savannah Paul, President of StFX’s Indigenous Student Society, opened the event.  After a land acknowledgement she invited Kerry Prosper, StFX’s Elder-in-Residence and the former Chief of Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation. From the StFX website, Elder Prosper ‘'works with StFX students on their projects and subjects that deal with Indigenous issues’’ as well as serves “on anti-racism committees and other campus initiatives”. 

Elder Prosper commenced a smudging ceremony, which involves burning incenses of sacred herbs (such as sage), the smoke of which dispels negative energies from a person’s body and spirit. He explained, “Smudging is a way of preparing ourselves for gatherings or ceremonies, it puts your mind in a good place,” He followed it with a prayer, reminding the audience that we must look out for each other. 

Elder Prosper was followed by Toby Condo, an Indigenous spiritual advisor for correctional services and a sun dancer. He was asked to do a performance for those in attendance. His song echoed loud throughout Mulroney’s halls, and it appeared that the natural lighting coming from the windows brightened in response to his music.  

StFX’s president, Dr. Andy Hakin was invited up to speak. He thanked Elder Prosper and Toby Condo for the moving prayer and song. 

“Today, we come to an event, in the spirit of truth and reconciliation, this ceremony is about responsibility. It is about reflection, and importantly, it’s about ongoing action.” 

Dr. Hakin spoke of action with reconciliation, how it is not enough to simply recognize the past, and how we must also work towards a better future. He spoke to the importance of Truth and Reconciliation Day, about listening and learning, and about reconciling with the country’s dark past.  

“Action, not words” he spoke. 

After Dr. Hakin’s address, Judith Banman Jansen, an Indigenous woman and honours student from the Anthropology department, was invited up to read the Cobra Collins poem “Wild West”. The poem is about Truth and Reconciliation, and a reminder about what happened at the Residential schools in not-so-distant history. 

StFX’s chair of the Faculty Commission on Reconciliation, Dr. Erin Morton, spoke on how we can engage with Truth and Reconciliation and what individual students can do to help. She said that we can start by tracing our own family histories and seeing what side of Canadian history they were on. All Canadians who are not Indigenous come from a family that immigrated during colonisation and understanding when and how they got here can help us put together our history as a whole. 

Kaisan Stevens, an Anthropology student from Eskasoni First Nations, gave a Mi’kmaq perspective on Truth and Reconciliation and spoke of decolonisation in our institutions and daily life.  

The closing speaker, StFX’s Indigenous Student Advisor Cynthia Sewell, read literature on Truth and Reconciliation and provided the attendees with a song to end the ceremony. She gave a history of Truth and Reconciliation Day and invited everyone to participate in the ribbon tying ceremony. 

 The crowd was invited to view the Alan Syliboy and the Thundermakers concert that was happening in the Schwartz Auditorium, a staple event of StFX’s Truth and Reconciliation Day ceremonies. 

Pipers Pub Sparks Wave of Student and Town Solidarity

Early in the morning of September 22, Pipers Pub, a staple in the Antigonish and StFX community, caught fire. Thick black smoke was seen and smelt throughout campus, as fire crews rushed to contain the damage. It has been said to the fire reportedly started in the kitchen, but no further information has been released to the public. But after the initial shock of the event passed, what was more surprising was the absolute support from both students and the community alike.  

Everyone from students to staff to local community members stepped up to show their support. A surge of kind words flooded the Pipers Facebook and Instagram accounts, and the talk around campus focused on one thing - when would Pipers be open again? With Homecoming coming up, one of the biggest events of the semester, it suddenly put into perspective how important Pipers is to StFX and Antigonish as a whole. It also reflects the priorities of the student population. 

It seems like everyone has memories at Pipers, and every weekend a line stretches out the door. It’s natural that the community would want to support the Pub, as shown with the Pipers Pub fundraiser hosed by The Golden X Inn last Saturday. But what makes Pipers Pub such an integral part of StFX? Is it the lack of other options? StFX’s drinking culture? Or is it simply the legacy it holds?  

Who better to answer that question than the students? I asked Jenna, who along with her friends goes to Pipers semi-regularly, “Pipers will be deeply missed. Without the pub open, wing night and other events, especially on Saturday will not be the same”.  After asking some more students around campus, from Piper’s regulars to only special eventgoers, it can easily be said that Pipers provides a unique university experience that no other space in Antigonish does. Live music, frequent theme nights, a night-life atmosphere and a dancefloor to live out the fantasy. Pipers brings an escape from the outside world. And while the other options provide versions of this idea, Pipers executes it.  

But Pipers Pub has the tide on their side. They may have a monopoly within the town, but what truly keeps them afloat is one thing: StFX drinking culture. It is no shocker to any that StFX is known as a party school, and Pipers is the go-to bar in a party town. It’s no wonder the students are flocking there. But is that all?  Is it simply that students need a place to drink together and Pipers provides it? Or is legacy a factor? 

Pipers Pub has been around for decades, and even longer when it used to be the Triangle. Is it the legacy of returning students, or Post grads who pass down memories of Pipers, that turns what would be a simple bar in town into this special place? It is possible. Because Pipers brings in the StFX students, but it also brings in the town. When the fire happened, many, if not majority of voices on social media were from full-time residents of Antigonish and past graduates. It seems StFX and Pipers Pub are linked in their wants. 

Whether it be from Pipers providing the StFX population a place to let loose, or from the allure of memories, Pipers Pub is a staple in Antigonish and StFX’s hearts. Without its doors open, this Homecoming will not be the same. But without the pub, where do students turn? While the priorities of the students and the town are clear, Pipers provides and escape, a place to drink have fun, and contribute to one of the most cannon events at StFX. I reached out to Pipers Pub for their perspective, but I was unable to get a quote from them on the fire and its impact.  Who knew it would take a fire to make a town realize how much a pub means to them! 

Federal Justice Minister Sean Fraser Hosts Q&A at StFX

Canada’s Justice Minister and Attorney General Sean Fraser stopped by StFX last Monday, giving a short lecture during Prof. Adam Lajeunesse’s Public Policy & Governance 101 class. Fraser, a StFX alumn, is the Member of Parliament for Central Nova, which covers all of Pictou County as well as parts of Antigonish County and the Eastern Shore, located north of Halifax.  

The speech started 20 minutes late as Fraser was on the phone with Prime Minister Mark Carney. In the meantime, StFX President Andy Hakin said a few words about StFX’s politics and public policy. ‘’Government is a big entity, and whether you do that or something else, there is a place for a myriad of skills within public service’’, Hakin said to the class. ‘’We’re trying to ensure that our country, through you, goes forward to do the things that are right for the population’’.  

Fraser began with a short introduction, then opened up the floor for a Q&A session. I asked him about the new Hate-Speech bill he announced on September 19. Bill C-9, the Combatting Hate Act, has been criticized by several human right’s watchdogs such as the Canadian Civil Liberties Association.  

The proposed legislation would make it a crime to commit an offence and show a sign or symbol associated with a listed terrorist entity, as well as Nazi Symbols. I asked Fraser if the law was in place 35 years ago, would it have been a crime to protest Apartheid in South Africa with a poster of Nelson Mandela. Mandela was a leader in the African National Congress, which is now widely celebrated for its key role in ending apartheid, yet at the time were proscribed as a terrorist entity.  

Fraser defended the Combatting Hate Act, saying it criminalizes the willful obstruction of “the ability for people to go to a place of worship”.   In addition, it “addresses what’s being treated in the media as a ‘symbols ban’, but there’s more nuance to that’’. Fraser said that it wouldn’t be illegal to raise a Nelson Mandela poster because “the law doesn’t criminalize the display of any symbols, it criminalizes the willful promotion of hate through the use of those symbols’’. Since the willful promotion of hate is already a crime, using a symbol in the exercise of hate would be ‘’an additional layer of criminal responsibility over and above the criminal responsibility for promoting hate against an identifiable group’’.  

When asked about violence against Indigenous women, Fraser replied “In my view, [it’s something] we will need a whole of society effort to overcome centuries of discrimination to a group who’ve been here since time immemorial’’. More broadly, “What justice means more broadly, from my part, I think it’s hard to say that you can address justice vis a vis Indigenous People in Canada if you’re dealing with a community that doesn’t have access to clean water, or affordable housing, or is dealing with overcrowding and the related spread of diseases that may come with it, in addition to whatever challenges you may have on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, in addition to what challenges you may have with under policing or over policing, whatever the case may be’’.  

Another student asked about the difference between having Carney as Prime Minister instead of Trudeau. “It doesn’t take a rocket scientist’’, said Fraser, “to figure out that after ten years in office, people want to see new perspectives emerge’’. Under Trudeau, if cabinet ministers wanted to explain “the emotional connection to an issue they or others may have had, they were always given that space. You would be finding yourself occasionally in meetings beyond the scheduled end time because people wanted to air all of their thoughts on the issue, and there’s value in that, but it’s different now’’.   

With Carney, “the meeting starts when the second hand hits the top of the clock... to the extent you have questions, you know what they are, and you’re not just making conversation. It got to a point during one conversation early on where a few colleagues were saying things like ‘I’d like to build on what so and so said, I’d like to echo the argument my colleague made’ and the Prime Minister literally stopped the meeting and said ‘folks, this is a meeting, arguably the most valuable two hours anywhere in Canada this week, and I want you all to know that speaking is for people who have something new or useful to say’. And when you hear that once, you make sure you are not the kind of person who is going to fill time with your thoughts on an issue unless it’s essential to the decision being made”.  

President of the StFX Liberal Society Kash Richards thought “it was a very good talk, he was a very good speaker’’. He met Fraser during the federal election campaign, saying “the impression I got from him... is that what you see is what you get. He’s not putting on a thick mask. He’s there because he cares’’. Richards, a second year English Major, said he’s “always aligned’’ with the Liberal Party. ‘’I’m more of left-wing person, I believe the role of government is to take care of people’’.  

How YOU Can Vote in the Upcoming Federal Election

It is an exciting time in Canadian politics, as the federal election is scheduled to be held Monday, April 28th 2025. Here is how you, yes YOU, specifically, can have your voice be heard and exercise your foundational democratic right to vote.

At minimum you must be a Canadian citizen and at least 18 years of age to vote in any election within Canada.

Voting in the federal election is a little different than voting in a provincial election. In the latest Nova Scotia provincial election, you could vote anywhere in the province ahead of the election date and have your vote count in your home riding. This is not so in the federal election. As noted on the Elections Canada website, you must vote at your assigned polling station.

However, so long as you are able to prove residency in the riding of Cape Breton–Canso–Antigonish (the riding StFX is located in), you can register to vote in this riding for any of this riding’s candidates. You must be able to produce TWO forms of ID to vote in the Cape Breton–Canso–Antigonish riding, one of which must contain your current address within the riding.

Acceptable forms of ID include but are not limited to: A driver’s license or any other official identification issued by a Canadian government (federal, provincial, or municipal), your student ID, a bank statement, a piece of official correspondence from the university about your residency, a utility bill, or a lease or sub-lease. An exhaustive list can be found on the Elections Canada website. Students who live on campus can request a proof of residency letter from the Residence Office.

As confirmed by the university’s President’s Office, there will be advanced polling open April 13th and 18th in the Keating Centre Hospitality Suites from 7am-10:30pm, open to StFX students only. General advanced polling, which will be open to the town as well, are scheduled for April 18th and 21st from 7am-10:30pm in the Bloomfield Mackay Room. Election day polls will also be open in the Bloomfield Mackay Room.

You can also apply to vote by mail. The deadline to apply for mail-in voting is 6pm, April 22nd. Deadlines still apply, so you must take that into account the time it takes for your ballot to reach its destination. You will receive a voting kit and instructions on how to cast your ballot. Once you opt to cast you vote by mail, you will be prohibited from voting in-person, so keep that in mind.

You could cast a special ballot at an Elections Canada office by 6pm on April 22nd. The nearest Elections Canada offices are located at 74 Main Street, Guysborough, NS, and 811 Reeves Street, Port Hawkesbury, NS.

It must be noted that you can only vote in one riding. Voting in any more than a single riding is illegal. The penalty for voter fraud could be up to five years in prison, or a fine of up to $50,000.

StFX Hosts Former Deputy Premier and Current Cape Breton-Canso-Antigonish Federal Conservative Candidate Allan MacMaster for Discussion: Where Are We Going Next in Canada?

For transparency's sake, I am a member of the XPCs.

On Tuesday March 18th, the StFX Political Science Society sponsored an address by former deputy premier and current federal Conservative Party of Canada candidate Allan MacMaster at Mulroney Hall, promoted by the Xaverian Progressive Conservatives. It boasted a full classroom of around 45 attendees including members of the town, county, and student body. The Cape Breton native opened with a speech then transitioned into a question period.

He began by stating that during his time working for the Bank of Montreal, they would look to whether a stock market was being driven by fear or greed. Today, he said, the markets are driven by fear.

MacMaster reiterated worries many Canadians have about the United States' aggressive tariffs threatening to stagnate an economy that is already struggling, but also noted the opportunity that has arisen for us to take a step back and ask ourselves if free trade is really working for the Canadian people in the best way it can.

Early on in his speech he begged the question, does free, globalization of trade always make our lives better? He noted how it leads to cheaper, more disposable goods that negatively impact the environment, not to mention the pocketbooks of those who have to purchase them again and again. Planned obsolescence was a constant theme.

MacMaster emphasized that the growing push to buy local was our chance to create a market reaction that could encourage businesses to start producing in Canada, but that the government has a place in setting the standard. Some interesting ideas that he suggested from a regulation perspective were minimum lifespans for consumer goods, and something like a right to fix your own products, referencing the fact that Samsung stops manufacturing parts for some of its products only a few years after release, forcing you to buy an entirely new product.

However, the former Inverness MLA insisted that localization only works if we produce high quality products. In response to a question on whether it was feasible to bring industry to a relatively unproductive province like Nova Scotia, he acknowledged that investment is crucial to improving productivity. It’s not that Nova Scotian’s are any less hard working, they just aren’t equipped to produce at the same level as their American counterparts.

After taking a question about the future of the economy from a student, MacMaster related it to similar concerns people had in the 80’s when interest rates were upwards of 20%. Eventually things cooled down and the economy got better. His advice for students was this: focus on your studies, get a job you enjoy, start making money and put a little aside if you can. In 5 years, you might be looking at a very different world.

Antigonish Puts Students at Risk of Large Fines with “Nuisance Party By-Law”

Some extra-perceptive students may have noticed receiving a suspiciously vague email prior to this year’s St. Paddy’s day celebrations. This email—sent on behalf of the school—contained all the usual (and often ignored) warnings: don’t hold a street party, keep your celebrations on campus, etc, etc. However, an important note was snuck in amongst these messages, warning students of Antigonish’s “Nuisance Party By-law”—a semi-recent embodiment of the community’s crack-down on student partying culture. This recent edition puts students at large risk of receiving significant fines for partying-related offences. The specific details are outlined below:

On October 11th 2023, a special meeting of the Antigonish town council approved the new “Nuisance Party By-law.” In simple terms, this new by-law gives enforcement officers a substantial amount of power to act against party hosts and party goers, allowing them to hand out offence tickets and large fines to anyone attending a gathering that is considered a “nuisance.”

The by-law outlines the penalties for any offence or failure to comply as “not less than four hundred dollars ($400.00) for a first offence, not less than six hundred ($600.00) for second offence and no less than nine hundred ($900.00) for a third and any subsequent offences.”

The bill defines a “nuisance party” as “a gathering on property which, by reason of the conduct or any one or more of the person(s) in attendance, is characterized by any one or more of the following elements:

a) Public intoxication;

b) The unlawful sale, furnishing, or distribution of alcoholic beverages or other controlled substances;

c) The unauthorized deposit of litter on public or private property;

d) Damage to public or private property;

e) The obstruction of vehicular or pedestrian traffic or interference with the ability to provide emergency services;

f) Sound that is unusual or excessive, or that is likely to be unwanted by disturbing to persons, as described in the Town of Antigonish Noise Control By-Law;

g) Unauthorized open burning as described in the Outdoor Fire By-Law;

h) Public disturbance, including confrontations or violence;

i) Outdoor public urination or defecation; or

j) Use of or entry upon a roof not intended for such occupancy.

To be clear, any gathering that meets even one of these elements will fall under this new by-law. Hosting or attending a so-called “nuisance party” is all the riskier, as enforcement officers have significantly more power than in previous years.

For instance, upon receiving an order to discontinue a party, it is expected that every non-resident leave immediately and for the party to cease. This is outlined in section 5.1 and 5.2 of the by-law. Failure to comply may result in a first offence ticket ($400.00). However, section 5.3 goes on the explain that this order must only be given within a “reasonable amount time” following the violation. This specification means that a party may be classified as a nuisance without the host being made aware for an unspecified amount of time. Under these conditions, it is possible for a person to receive multiple offences without realizing they have already been issued one, resulting in large fines stacking atop each other (up to $600.00, $900.00, or more).

Further complications emerge in section 7.4. This section makes clear that the offence of a nuisance party is attached to the property, not the residents of the property. This creates cause for concern for students, who switch in and out of rental properties every few years. If tenants in the previous year received an order to discontinue a nuisance party, any offences on behalf of the new tenants (within a 2 year timeframe of the original order) would be treated as a subsequent (second, third, etc.) offence, even if it was their first. They would. As a result, be “subject to higher fines.”

It is unclear that the by-law has any large restrictions against the power of enforcement officers. The by-law seems to give the right to act to any officer who believes on “reasonable grounds” that an offence has been committed—which could be as simple as attending a party that has a few stray cans lying around. Even in these circumstances, the party could be considered a “nuisance,” something that is up to the discretion of a singular individual.

Other offences in which a ticket may be given include, but are not limited to: hosting a nuisance party, allowing a nuisance party on their property, failing to leave after having been directed to leave, standing or sitting upon a roof, hanging a poster or banner with “offensive language” in a public place, or “promot[ing] the unsafe consumption of intoxication substances.” The full list can be found in the linked PDF at the bottom of this article.

Whether or not the by-law will be followed in the strictest sense (for example, receiving an offence because there are a few stary cans around the property), remains to be seen. Because the decisions are largely left to the discretion of individual officers, a lack of consistency on what is deemed a nuisance is likely. Rather than a strict guideline outlining how students will be charged for specific acts, the bill acts more like deterrent. Officers may not take all the actions they are permitted through the ambiguous wording of this by-law, but the important part seems to be that they could.

A PDF copy of this by-law is linked here.

An Explosion of Societies: The Result of a Harsh Job Climate

It seems that every year there are more and more societies to take part in during the school year. This may seem strange as there are plenty of societies that fit almost identical niches. From multiple societies focused on respective disciplines such as marketing or engineering, to event-based societies that spend the entirety of the school year counting down to one large event with several fundraisers leading up to it. This is all fine of course; it is even encouraging to routinely see student leadership on campus, as these societies provide great opportunities for students to operate within a functional organization. There does, however, seem to be a case to be made about some societies stepping on other’s toes, so to speak.

I have one theory as to why this may be happening—a theory that is rooted in the conditions of the post-grad world. Today’s workforce demands excellence more than ever before. As sad as it is to see in the formally industrial towns across this province which we call home (at least during the school year) automation and outsourcing have replaced much of Nova Scotia’s—and even Canada’s—manual labour jobs.

If you are uncertain about the validity of the claim that the trades are dying out in Nova Scotia, you need not look further than the recent legislation allowing NSCC, the province’s community college system, to grant degrees. This decision marks a clear move away from the trades.

Throughout my life I have routinely bashed the extreme entrance barriers universities have in place that prevent low-income high school graduates from attending university. However, we must look at what a massive influx in degree holders could look like for the job market. When automation first began, a degree became the way to guarantee a stable income and retirement. Now though, a degree may not be enough. It may even be worth less in the near future. Notably, I want to mention that this problem results solely from the increasing number of degree holders; I fully trust NSCC’s educational capabilities and their ability to compete with Nova Scotia universities. And yes, I am biased as a community college graduate.

So, how does this relate back to societies? What the explosion of societies offers over a degree is a named position to put on a resume, with the position held in the highest regard being that of the society president. With fewer societies, there is less opportunity for students to have the honour of this title on their resume as they enter the workforce post-graduation. But with more societies comes more presidents. An unintended result, however, is the potential for society overlap. Currently, many societies fill similar niches despite being unrelated. And this is all so students can compete in a brutal job market. I do not blame students for doing this at all—these actions are made solely to adapt to our ever-changing world. We are already seeing the results of today’s changing market, and this is even without mentioning other factors like the rise of artificial intelligence or wages that haven’t risen to meet inflation.

If I were to compare this problem to anything we’ve observed before—and bear with me here because this may seem like a stretch—I would compare this to the extinction of the dinosaurs. This may sound absolutely insane, but please hear me out and keep me away from a padded room. After the mass extinction event, in which we are looking at the extinction, or at the very least a decrease in manual labour and entry-level jobs, mammals were met with a very harsh world and greatly diversified in order to survive in a brutally competitive environment. One such occurrence that happened was convergent evolution, where two unrelated species adapted in the same way and filled the same niche. We see the exact same thing in several of StFX’s societies: they are unrelated but fill the same niche. Am I comparing the current competitiveness of the job market to one of the most devastating times in our planet’s history? Yes. Am I also comparing the explosion of student-led societies to that of one of the largest explosions of life and biodiversity in our planet’s history? Also, yes.

As absurd as this comparison may seem, it exemplifies the dire struggle of students entering a workforce in which a degree may not be seen as enough—where four years of school and student loan debt are not enough. When this happens, we adapt as we always have.

The Importance of Charity in Sport

The world of North American professional sports is the world of one of the most profitable industries in the Western world. Star athletes (and State Farm commercials) appear on the nation’s biggest stage, with many signing massive multi-million-dollar contracts funded by the combination of billionaires, ticket sales, lucrative TV deals, and so many sponsors. It may seem like a foregone conclusion that these athletes have an image to keep up, and as a result, stay away from charity donations. But I believe that it runs deeper than that. The move to support charities isn’t just a public relations move but a value ingrained into the very fabric of sport. With sport, there must be sportsmanship, and charity is the ultimate form of that.

The inspiration for this article came from the recent Pucks for Purpose hockey games, an excellent display of student leadership, charitable community efforts, corporate sponsorships, event planning, and entertainment. Even though AUS athletes do not have the wealth present in professional sports leagues, their participation in the event brought about the perfect marriage of charity and sport. More importantly, these games show that charity can flourish regardless of the level of funding. No matter how much wealth a person does or does not have, sportsmanship is founded on respect for peers in the sport. It isn’t hard to see how that can be extended to respect for the community and viewing us as all on the same team.

One of my personal favourite charitable organizations run by an athlete is Craig’s Closet, run by the Pittsburgh Steelers' Cam Heyward. Cam, being the recipient of the 2023 Walter Payton Man of the Year award—an honour bestowed upon the most charitable NFL player of the season—named this organization after his late father who could not afford a proper fitting suit growing up. The organization allows young men to have formal attire that they would otherwise not be able to afford.

My own experience working at Tip Top Tailors makes this specific charity dear to me. While working there, I saw young and older men alike struggle to afford formal attire for events. The young men stick out to me particularly clearly, as the Cape Breton Regional Municipality (my home county) has one of the highest child poverty rates in all of Nova Scotia. It was always difficult to see a mother come in for her son’s prom and not be able to afford a suit because so many other expenses needed to be covered just to survive. Seeing an athlete, with who knows how much money between contracts, various sponsorships, and other business ventures, be recognized for his charity directly addressing a problem that hit so close to home for me made me and the struggles I witnessed daily feel seen.

With this, I cannot stress enough how impressed I am—and how impressed the rest of the student body should be—with an event like Pucks for Purpose. Going beyond sport, it is an amazing charity project that takes an insane amount of coordination to pull off successfully. And the respect that sportsmanship brings through something like this, even though I can’t even ice skate, reminds us that we are all part of one team in our small, college town community.

Craft Breweries, Cafes, and Antigonish’s Third Spaces

With the advent that was the smartphone back when most of us were just toddlers, there came into existence a new pastime: scrolling. I’m guilty of it, and don’t tell me you aren’t guilty of it—everyone and their grandmother is guilty of it. After hours of Instagram Reels and TikToks, we have that same sinking feeling as drinking on a Monday night. You may ask yourself: “did I really just do that?” before coming to terms with your lost hours. With the rise of technology and passing the time through endless scrolling, we often find ourselves needing excuses to get out of the house. This is where the third space comes in.

A third space is a place away from our traditional first two spaces, those being home and work/school. This is a place in which we can be present with our friends and acquaintances without the comforts and distractions of home but with new comforts and distractions of social interaction. It’s not news that humans are social creatures. Indeed, left alone on a deserted island and we may even start talking to volleyballs to keep us company. But by having a spot to catch up with friends and maybe do some schoolwork off campus, we revitalize ourselves with a necessary de-stressor. Antigonish has two clear favourite forms of third spaces: craft breweries and cafes.

Craft breweries often make great event spaces. Lively evenings with local musicians playing their hearts out always make for a great night out with friends. While I do love our own Inn, there is something a bit more quaint and rustic to a night out at Candid or Oak Manor, and playing trivia against the locals rather than just other students is always a treat. It is obvious that other students feel the same way given the number of events held by different societies at these breweries. Often the connection between the students and these breweries runs deeper than just enjoying their beer and a nice night out on the town. These breweries offer amazing job opportunities to students, and it’s hard to visit one without seeing a fellow student working the tap. The best part is that you don’t even have to drink when you go to these places if you don’t want to. You can simply enjoy the vibe, but just don’t be too surprised if one of your friends has had a little too much and needs to be walked home later that night.

Cafes are on the quieter side compared to breweries and provide great opportunities to work on assignments and fill up on caffeine. Places such as the Grindhouse and Tall and Small offer different brews that are great for a little afternoon pick-me-up. The sandwich selection at both places is only another bonus. I recently had just gone to Tall and Small with a group to discuss the game plan for a group assignment. It was a lovely relaxing atmosphere, and quiet enough to discuss the plan without any voices being drowned out.

If you need some time away from your phone and all the various apps designed to distract you, I highly recommend finding yourself a third space. I’d also recommend enjoying a local place and rewarding them with your patronage. As much as we all enjoy our campus’ Starbucks, it is important to support local when we can.