Student Research Day 2023

Student Research Day is fast approaching, with many interesting poster presentations and oral presentations scheduled, Student Research Day 2023 should be a fun one! Every year, the university hosts a Student Research Day, typically in March towards the end of the academic semester. The aim of the day is to display the research students have been conducting throughout the academic year and throughout the summer with professors. Students from any and all departments have the opportunity to present their research and their findings, either through a poster presentation or through a ten-minute oral presentation.

Students with poster presentations are asked to stay at their poster for the evening and other students, faculty members, and members of the public can come and ask them questions regarding their research. Students with oral presentations will be given ten minutes to present their research topic, findings, and all other relevant information.

For the 2022-2023 academic year, Student Research Day will be this Thursday, March 23, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The event will take place in Mulroney Hall, with presentations taking place in three auditoriums simultaneously, beginning with an opening statement by Dr. Richard Isnor. In auditorium 2030, health-related research presentations will take place. The policy and humanities presentations will take place in the Art Gallery and the science presentations will be in auditorium 3024. At the end of the evening, there will be a prize draw for all student researchers as well as closing statements by members of the faculty and administration.

In recent years, there have not been many student research days due to COVID. The last few Student Research Days have been given virtually, and it is safe to say faculty and the administration must be happy the event is being given in person this year.

After Student Research Day, students can stay in Mulroney Hall to attend Elder Albert Marshall’s talk on “Etuaptmumk: Two-Eyed Seeing.” The talk will begin at 7:30 p.m. and is to take place in auditorium 4032. The talk will specifically address Two-Eyed Seeing in the context of climate change. It is sure to be an interesting talk, and all are encouraged to attend!

For more information, you can visit the StFX website’s student research page. If you get the chance, come support fellow students in their presentations. Who knows? You might find yourself inspired to conduct your own research project!

Sources: https://outlook.office.com/mail/inbox/id/AAQkADU5MmFmZmNjLTE1NzMtNDJkNi05YWNhLTJhNTExNzhjMmJlMgAQAGMHVEhEIEpKgitsWREV7pk%3D/sxs/AAMkADU5MmFmZmNjLTE1NzMtNDJkNi05YWNhLTJhNTExNzhjMmJlMgBGAAAAAAD7wczlnG6qRplmsYsnWWCpBwCPjqD0PkZxR4warnzs%2BbPVAAAAAAEMAACPjqD0PkZxR4warnzs%2BbPVAAMqcq9TAAABEgAQACwdAGsJU%2B9Lr2tV%2BmIlIU8%3D

https://www.stfx.ca/research/student-research-opportunities/student-research-day

https://outlook.office.com/mail/inbox/id/AAQkADU5MmFmZmNjLTE1NzMtNDJkNi05YWNhLTJhNTExNzhjMmJlMgAQALW7ruyNxWtFtrXKqnyj5%2BE%3D

Interview with Cole Kennedy and Evelyn Griffin: Candidates for the Next Pair of Senior Class Presidents

Both Cole Kennedy and Evelyn Griffin are running to be your next Senior Class Presidents for the 2023-2024 school year. Voting will take place starting this Wednesday at 8am, and all third-year students, first- and second-year engineering students, and first-year education students are eligible to vote.

Cole Kennedy is a third-year Bachelor of Science in Human Kinetics student minoring in Health Sciences. Mr. Kennedy is from Woodstock, New Brunswick. He says he chose StFX because he had a teacher in high school who loved talking about StFX, specifying the awesome community and experiences that come with being a student here. In grade 12, he came for a tour and immediately felt at home in Antigonish. During his time at StFX, he has been working as a campus tour guide, as a member of the X-Medical Response Team, as a member of the Human Kinetics Society, volunteers at X-Sledge Hockey, has experience as a Lab TA in the Anatomy and Physiology Lab, has worked as a tutor with the Student Success Center, and was previously the House President of MacIsaac Hall. After graduation, Cole plans to pursue a career in healthcare.

Evelyn Griffin is a third-year Bachelor of Science in Biology student. She is from Collingwood, Ontario. Ms. Griffin says she had not heard of StFX until hours before applying. Her friend was moving to Nova Scotia and found StFX, so they both decided to apply. Once Covid hit and StFX decided to open the campus regardless, Evelyn made the decision to attend. Ms. Griffin spent the last summer in Antigonish doing biology research in an ecology lab and says she is going to stay again this summer. Evelyn, like Cole, has had experience as a Lab TA in the Organic Chemistry lab. She says that “If you have been in a class with her, you know she loves to participate and isn’t afraid to speak her mind.”  After graduation, Evelyn would like to continue doing biology research concentrating on anthropogenic-driven climate change.

The pair both lived in MacIsaac Hall in their first year, and they instantly became friends.  The partners said “many of our peers describe us as extremely outgoing, fun, and easy to get along with. This drew us together when hearing about the role of Co-Presidents. Due to our personalities, we easily collaborate ideas and regularly have the same goals. We make a great team because we both want to provide a fun, friendly final year for all.”

When asked about their favorite StFX, memory they said “it is hard to pick a single favorite memory here at StFX. We have experienced many of them together including several traditions, fun within our friend group, and being good Xaverian community members. We hope to make many more with the graduates of 2024.”

The pair's platform has four main ideas: firstly, new and old traditions, secondly, inclusivity, respect, and communication, thirdly, memorable, and lastly their slogan is “a year for you, by you.” Overall, they say “these all go hand-in-hand with our ultimate goal of creating an exciting year, with a wide variety of memorable events that are appealing to all members of our graduating class!”

The partners agree that they stand out because of the wide array of connections they have across all corners of the campus, and they feel they are extremely approachable. They continued, saying that their “degrees have created organized, time efficient, intelligent candidates that are ready to lead you into your final year. We also love to have a good time and want to see everyone do the same with us.”

The two concluded by reminding students to vote and stating that “there is no one better for the role than Evy and Cole!”  For more information about their platform, visit them on Instagram @evyandcole4classpresidents

Interview with Taylor Gorman and Abbey Mombourquette: Candidates for the Next Pair of Senior Class Presidents

This Wednesday at 8am, students can start voting for the next Senior Class Presidents. Taylor Gorman and Abbey Mombourquette are one of the pairs running! All third-year students, first-year education students, and first- and second-year engineering students can cast a vote.

Taylor Gorman is a proud third generation Xaverian and is a Public Policy and Governance student with a minor in Women and Gender studies. Ms. Gorman is a research assistant for the Brian Mulroney Institute of Government and works as one of the managers for the X-Women Basketball team. In addition, she co-heads the Our House Too society, participates in the Women in Business society, and loves getting involved with intramurals. She says she “loves how StFX is like its own little town inside of Antigonish and how close everyone is.” When asked what Ms. Gorman’s favorite memory was so far, she said there are too many to choose from but that the BurMac hockey finals were one of her favorites as this was one of the first opportunities for residences to come together and have fun! After Ms. Gorman graduates, she hopes to attend law school.

Abbey is taking a BBA in Accounting with a minor in Public Policy and Governance. She is from Sydney, NS, and has wanted to come to StFX since she attended the open house in 2019. The beautiful campus, the small-town feel like Sydney, the offer of a major scholarship, small classes, and great profs all drew Abbey to StFX. Abbey is an executive member of the Schwartz Women in Business society and as an exec, she helps with planning events, community outreach, sponsorship, and running the largest undergraduate conference in the Atlantic provinces. Abbey also is the treasurer of the Our House Too society. Ms. Mombourquette says her favorite StFX memory so far was the night before she had to move out of residence in first year when a large group of students and her rented out the Furnace (RIP) before summer break. After graduation, Abbey plans on pursuing a CPA designation and is then open to seeing where that takes her. She is specifically interested in working as an accountant for a company, in policy, or a bit of both.

The pair met in their first year living in Bishops and are great as a team because of their close relationship. Since they are so close, they are able to speak openly and critically to one another to come up with the best outcomes. The girls believe that their “unique experiences of employment, event planning, and overall involvement in student life at StFX sets us apart. We both have made plenty of connections around campus and gained practices that will give us an upper hand when planning all of the events next year.”

Taylor and Abbey's platform consists of 4 main ideas: Collaboration, Senior-Frosh Week, Prom Night at the Inn, and the Senior Awards night. They say to them “the most important part is definitely the collaboration with students and groups around campus, to make sure that our Senior year can be something everyone has input on, and everyone can enjoy. That being said, we are also SUPER excited about our senior frosh week, to make up for our missed frosh week in first year!”

They concluded by saying “we just want to remind everyone how important it is to vote! Regardless of who you are voting for, everyone should make sure that they are giving their input and voting on Wednesday. Other than that, thanks to everyone for an awesome campaign week, and we know that regardless of the outcome, our Senior year will be the best one yet!”

To find out more information, check out their Instagram page: @voteabbeyandtaylor

Ministers for the People, Among the People

On February 27th, students shuffled into a Mulroney Hall classroom to hear both Sean Fraser and Seamus O’Regan speak about their lives, experiences, and politics. The event was organized by the Political Science Society.

Sean Fraser is a StFX graduate, the federal Minister of Immigration, and represents the riding of Central Nova (our riding!). Mr. Fraser was a lawyer before he got involved in politics. Mr. Fraser is married and has both a son and a daughter. Seamus O’Regan, who is from Newfoundland, is also a StFX alumnus. He is the federal Minister of Labor and represents St. John's South riding. Before Mr. O’Regan’s career in politics, he was a journalist and worked on CTV National News and Canada A.M.

The speakers began with some advice and reminisced about their time at StFX. Sean started by saying, “this place means a lot to me, and it helped shape me into the person I am.” Seamus recalled the StFX Students’ Union election, by surprise, as the hardest election in which he's ever run.  Maybe more surprisingly, he did not win! Mr. O’Regan also praised the university, saying the “great thing about a small university is that you can meet people from different walks of life and different interests.” Both Sean and Seamus’s roles overlap significantly. Labor and Immigration intertwine, and they both agree that it is great that the two of them get along as you really need to help each other to move things forward.

Students in the classroom asked questions ranging from environmental to immigration issues and even asked how to be successful in politics.  Both politicians agreed that, indeed, Canada needs more people, and that immigration is important to both a healthy economy and labor market in our future. They also said that times are changing. You used to be able to walk down the street and say, “this house is Conservative and this one is Liberal,” but now people don’t vote the same way each election. Mr. Fraser continued by saying that an important part of being a politician is letting the people know you care because you work for them, after all. He says, “nobody cares how much you know till they know how much you care,” and that the “best thing you can do is show up when you can, be present.” On the topic of being a good politician, Mr. O’Regan stressed that these three words are the most important: affability, ability, and accessibility.

To end the conversation, Mr. Fraser gave a few hopeful words, stating that during times of inflation, there is no better country out there to weather the storm. Mr. O’Regan ended the talk by encouraging students to keep up the great work, saying, “you wouldn't be here if you didn’t care, don’t lose that!”

Forensic Psychology Program at StFX and the Annual Forensic Psychology Day

 The applied forensic psychology program at STFX is 1 of 4 undergraduate programs in forensic psychology across Canada. The program recently (in 2020) was adapted to the 4-year undergraduate program that it is today, before the only option was a 2-year concentration of forensic psychology which began in 2013. The program has grown exponentially in the last few years and is providing lots of opportunities for students in regard to practicum placements and future opportunities.

Forensic psychology is the interface between psy- chology and law. The applied part is referring to the practical skills that are also emphasized in the program. Such skills include active listening, critical thinking skills, clinical/investigative interviewing and psychological profiling.

So, what do most students of Forensic Psychology do after they leave StFX? A few students currently in the program took the initiative of tracking down previous students of either the 4-year undergraduate program or the previous 2-year concentration to find out what careers they are in now. The results they gathered indicated that the majority of students go into fields such as clinical psychology, counseling, social work, policing, and law.

The program headed by Dr. Watt is set to host the annual Forensic Psychology day at X coming up on March 10th. There will be several guest speakers coming in to give talks on a variety of different forensic psychology areas. Just a few of the speakers include Dr. Mary Ann Campbell from the University of New Brunswick, who will be giving a talk on trauma informed police interviewing. Dr. Ternes from Saint Mary’s University will be speaking on deception and lie detection. This day is something many students in the program can look forward to, the talks will surely be informative and may even give students an indication of where the Forensic Psychology degree at StFX could lead them in the future.

I personally am excited for the annual Forensic Psychology Day at StFX, I have really enjoyed being a part of the program and can’t wait to see where the program goes moving forward!

Opinion: We Shouldn’t Still Be Wearing Masks on Campus

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020, schools and universities around the country shutdown. At the time, I was in the second semester of my grade 12 year at Moncton High School in Moncton, New Brunswick. Schools closed after Friday the 13th, and we finished the year online. From half-baked zoom classes and barely any assignments, we had a socially distanced graduation ceremony. It was basically a diploma drive-through and took a whopping five minutes to get through.

During the whole of 2020, I spent many afternoons in my friend’s yard, talking and hanging out while socially distanced and outdoors. When the 10-people bubbles started in New Brunswick, my friends and I started hanging out again without the distance. Masks were not mandatory in New Brunswick until after I started attending StFX in the fall.

In the fall of 2020, I started my first year at StFX. At that time, the school required us to wear masks everywhere, even outside. After a month, we were finally able to take our masks off outside. During my second year in 2021-2022, we could also remove our masks in residence. Now, we are only required to wear masks in educational spaces. But why are we wearing them at all?

Considering the majority of students and staff choose not to wear masks outside of educational spaces, it seems somewhat unnecessary of the school to require us to wear them in classrooms. For example, a group of friends can go to Piper’s, meal hall, and to parties together, sharing food and drinks, without being socially distanced and without wearing masks. If any of them were to catch COVID, it could easily spread among the friend group and other acquaintances outside the classroom. Considering the fact that everyone is able to socialize with whomever they so choose, it seems doubtful that masks in class are a reliable source of protection from COVID. Masks in class are by no means a saving grace of any kind. Shouldn’t students then have the option of wearing them or not? Those that choose to wear them in all spaces could continue to do so, but those that do not want to wear them could choose not to, as they also do in all other spaces.

It seems that we are now at a point where individuals should be able to choose whether they want to wear masks or not in classrooms, such as they are able to choose out in the world.

The Creation of Black History Month

Though Black History Month has been celebrated in Canada for many years, many of us today may not know of its origin. Black History Month began as Black History Week in 1926. It was created by an organization that wanted to make the accomplishments of Black people widely known to the public as textbooks tended to erase the contributions of Black people from the historical record. The organization is still active today and goes by the name Association for the Study of African American Life and History.

As per National Geographic, the week chosen for this was the second week of February. Both Frederick Douglass and President Abraham Lincoln had their birthdays during the second week of February. For those who may not know Frederick Douglass, he was an abolitionist during the late 1800s.

President Gerald Ford decided to lengthen the week to the full month of February in 1976 as per National Geographic. From there, it was also officially named Black History Month. Though it started in the United States, Black History Month is celebrated in many countries around the world, including Canada.

For 2023, the theme of Black History Month was Black Resistance. Previous themes include The Black Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity, A Century of Black Life, History, and Culture, and African Americans and the Vote.

In observing Black History Month, StFX had a calendar of events for the occasion. Some of the events included the raising of the Pan-African flag on campus and an official launch of Black History Month, a discussion on determinants of health and anti-racism on February 1, a brunch and discussion with Kate MacDonald on creative writing on February 8, an African Heritage Month Dinner at Morrison Hall on February 16, and an African Heritage Month Trivia Night at the Inn on February 28.

Though this is but a brief overview of the general history of Black History Month, I would encourage all readers to do research on the topic. We have included some links below, however, there are much more out there to explore.

Sources: https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/black-history-month

https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/frederick-douglass

https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/black-history-month

https://davenport.libguides.com/bhm/themes

https://www.naccacommunity.ca/black-history-month-2023.html

StFX’s Model United Nations Society Takes on the First-Ever SMU East Coast Model UN Conference

On February 4th, StFXs Model United Nations society traveled to Halifax to compete at their first conference of the year. The event took place at Saint Mary’s University, and it was the first ever SMU East Coast Model UN Conference.

Put simply, Model UN conferences consist of students representing member states (which are countries) of the real United Nations and essentially mocking what really happens in UN conferences. Students are to solve problems with fellow delegates on different topics considered global issues. At the start of the conference, each member state gives a speech about what their countries goals are or what is important to them regarding the topic, then informally, member states form groups to work towards finding solutions to the problem at hand. As the day continues and after hours of forming groups, discussions, proposing ideas and working on position papers, member states vote on what resolutions should pass in the end.

Thankfully, at the Saint Mary’s Conference all resolutions StFX members proposed ended up passing. The topic of the conference was “safeguarding those displaced from climate change.” One of our own members of the Xaverian Weekly team, Zoey Phillips, won top delegate award. Ms. Phillips says, “I’m so happy to have joined MUN this year and so far, it's been a really great experience.” Another StFX student, Robbie Hughes won the top delegate award, three were given out in total. Overall, the StFX Model UN society excelled at the conference, serving as an indication of all the hard work they have done so far this year.

The Model UN society will have another shot at winning awards when they head to New York at the beginning of April, the conference, named NMUN, takes place in New York City. StFX will be representing Italy at the conference, they will be working and competing with universities from all around North America and even a few international universities. The society is currently regularly meeting to learn both rules and procedures, holding mock sessions and learning all things Italy to be prepared for the big day.

Those interested in politics, social issues, debate, or wanting to improve their public speaking skills should consider joining the society next year, rumor has it that a political science course may also be offered.

Interview with Christian Lejeune, First Year Representative

What made you pick X?

“I wanted to get away from home, just get a different scenery than Calgary and get out of Alberta- learn to be completely reliant on myself and not need my parents anymore in my life. As much as I love to have them in it, I like to be independent. I had a few family friends recommend STFX.”

What made you pick Mac?

“My gym teacher in Calgary told me that Mac’s the party residence so that’s why I had it as my top choice and I was happy when I heard I got in.”

Fastest shotgun record?

“I’m not an impressive shotgunner. You’d think with the amount that I do it I would’ve improved but no. I honestly don’t even time it, I couldn't even tell you that. But not the best.”

What made you decide to run for house council, and later first-year rep?

‘I really like getting involved in positions where you have a say in what goes.  I learned about house council before I learned about the First Year Rep Position, I just saw that I could get involved with planning stuff in Mac, and thought ‘yah, I want to do that’. Then later I found out about the first Year Rep Position, so I applied for that and somehow won the vote. And I’ve been loving it so far.”

Why do you think you got picked over Kevin Bronson and Phoebe Cesario?

“That’s tough, they were good candidates, they were good candidates, they probably would’ve done a great job in the role. I think I got it because I had most of Mac backing me up and I also branched out early in the year and met people in the other residences.

How’s working at the U?

‘It’s a super friendly group of people and it's a fun time whenever we have our council meetings. I’ve tried to talk with as many first years as possible and see what problems they may have or things they want changed; many issues people seemed to have been with residence life so I brought that up and will see if there’s any flexibility. Another thing people mentioned was more X-fest events throughout the year and lots of people were asking questions about house hockey.”

I haven’t heard much about MacBurke. What's happening with that?

“Yeah, so they’re not doing that.  Our first council meeting I asked about that.’ And we found out, that every residence gets just one game against a different residence so for Mac it’ll be against Riley. We’re not allowed to play any of the other residences and not Bishop’s. It's not tournament style either which is also unfortunate. I think that they're doing this as a stepping stone to get back into the tournament style, they hadn’t done it in the past few years because of both Covid and damages in past tournaments. They wanted to put that to an end, and this is their way of seeing how it works. If every residence has one game and it all goes well then maybe, they’ll reintroduce the tournament. I’ll be coaching the Mac team against Riley.’

Any comments on the U General Elections?

“Congrats to both for doing so well, they had a super close election. I would’ve been glad to see it go either way, I think they're both great, capable people.”

Can we expect to see more of Christian Lejeune running in later years?

“It’s safe to say yes.”

So Finally, Kenny’s or the Wheel?

“Kenny’s, I got to say Kenny’s.”

The Women’s Narrative: The Origins and Importance of International Women’s Day

With March fast approaching, International Women’s Day is right around the corner. This day is an opportunity to reflect on the influential women of our past and present and, as the Canadian government’s website puts it, “celebrate women’s and girls’ social, economic, cultural, and political achievements.” Though the day dates back to over 100 years ago, its role in emphasizing the importance of gender equality and acknowledging the accomplishments of women throughout history make it highly relevant in the modern day.

Despite its significance, many are unaware of how International Women’s Day (IWD) came into existence or why it is celebrated on March 8th. As shared by Alexandra Kollontai in her article that shares a name with the current commemorative date, the first day in honour of women’s rights took place in the United States on March 8th, 1908 and was originally a strike of “garment workers in New York” over their working conditions. The women aimed to raise awareness for women in the working class. The Social Party of America created a day honouring the event the following year. The date officially became an international phenomenon in 1911 when men and women alike attended rallies in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland. These rallies supported “women’s right to vote, hold public opinion, improve vocational training, working conditions, and end discrimination,” as shared in a publication through the University of Glasgow, written by C. Johnman, F. Sim, and P. Mackie. The date has only grown from there. The United Nations made 1975 International Women’s Year, and the day began being celebrated throughout affiliated countries from that year on.

Today, IWD has taken on a greater meaning. The Government of Canada refers to it as a day of “unity, celebration, reflection, advocacy, and action,” highlighting the many definitions that it has assumed across the world. It plays a role in honouring the women who fought for political rights, women of colour who have overcome oppression, transgender women whom society has refused to see as who they are, and all other women across the nation and globe. The day shows the necessity of commemorating all women, as stated in the government’s IWD theme of 2023, “Every Woman Counts.” The theme aims to remind Canadians that all women deserve rights and a place in society and should be given as much. Despite the progress made since the early years of the day, there is a continuing need for gender equality worldwide. On IWD, Canadians are encouraged to celebrate the impact that women have had and to support the women and girls of today.

A notable quote that is often associated with IWD is by Gloria Steinem states that “the story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organization but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights.” The women’s narrative is a collective story, with countless perspectives and experiences impacting the whole. This International Women’s Day, take a moment to consider this story and the many people who have contributed to it over the years. By knowing and sharing the history and importance of this commemorative day, more people contribute to this narrative and the effort toward gender equality.

The Role and Importance of the Black Student Peer Mentors at StFX

StFX’s Black Student Advising Peer Mentors are a dynamic group of four Black Students from both African Nova Scotian and International communities. As a division of the Black Student Advising Office, these peer mentors are on the ground with the students, giving information and support wherever it is needed. This includes academic help, assistance with scholarship applications, planning events and community building, providing support for Black students, as well as just being there if a student needs someone to talk to. The mentors hold office hours—both in person and virtual—where any student is free to visit and get the support they need.

I had the opportunity to interview one of the Black Student Advisory Mentors, a fourth-year honours psychology student named Akua Amankwah-Poku, who further shared about her experience in the role.

Amankwah-Poku is an international student from Ghana and mentioned that when she first came to StFX, she knew she wanted to be involved with the school and in the community. In her first year, she joined the BLACC Student society and attended many of their events. Through this, she was able to meet many other students and play a role in the community. In the summer of 2023, a posting was put out for the role of the Black Student Mentor, and Amankwah-Poku said this “gave [her] the opportunity to be involved in the school and do something for students.”

She voiced the impact of the student mentors, speaking on the importance of “knowing the service is available.” The role is new to StFX’s community, and Amankwah-Poku mentioned that in her earlier years at the school, she felt that she did not always get the support that she needed. With the existence of the Black Student Advisory Mentors, StFX is taking a step to establish more supports for Black students. Amankwah-Poku further spoke on the importance of knowing that this resource is in place, and how being able to be a part of it and help the students who will come after her is very impactful. The Black Student Advisory Office and Black Peer Mentors are always looking for ways to “improve and make it better for the next generation of Black students.”

In recognition and celebration of Black History Month, the Black Student Advising Office planned a calendar of events to celebrate African Heritage. Amankwah-Poku spoke on the events and said that her favourite was the Black Cabaret at The Bauer Theatre. The event took place on February 4th and featured performances ranging from live music to spoken work and poetry. The aim was to provide a safe space for students to engage in self-expression and to see what Black StFX students and community members have to offer. Amankwah-Poku had the chance to share some of her poetry and express herself through her work and mentioned that the experience was very “empowering,” both for herself and for others. She said that hearing poems from others and seeing their perspective was “impactful and powerful,” and that the experience was a “very cool and vulnerable moment.”

To close off the interview, Amankwah-Poku stated she would love to host more information sessions, including some about the research grants, bursaries, and the different opportunities that are available to Black students. Bringing more awareness and letting Black students know about these opportunities is something she feels is very important. Amankwah-Poku is passionate about her role as a Black Student Peer Mentor as well as the opportunity to build and support the community for both current and incoming Black students. She and the other Black Student Peer Mentors are always available to help any students in need.

March 2023 Horoscopes

Aries:

March 21-April 20th

This is a happy and eventful month ahead, with the potential for long-term changes happening! Overall, this month is your yearly personal pleasure peak, where love, money, creative and social opportunities are coming your way. Furthermore, there are many creative breakthroughs and possible supernatural experiences. This month also holds your independence peak, where any decisions you make should be made for you and not for others.

Taurus:

April 21st-May 20th

This month holds transformative opportunities for your career and work life. With these career changes also come changes in your social and love life. The month ahead is a social month, with opportunities to build friendships and networking opportunities in both your social circle and career circle.

Gemini:

May 21st-June 20th

This month is successful, the effort you have been putting into your work is finally paying off. Despite no major changes, this month is one of your strongest financial periods this year. Additionally, this month is social, with many opportunities to build on friendships and love.

Cancer:

June 21st-July 20th

March is a busy month! Despite this, any of the social or love-related stress you have been feeling will be reduced. This month is also your yearly career peak, with the possibility of promotions, pay increases or recognition for your hard work. Overall, this month proves to be successful in both your career and social life.

Leo:

July 21st-August 21st

Your intuition is running high this month. Specifically, you make good, focused decisions regarding your finances–this will pay off! This month presents the possibility for changes in your finances and your social circle after Mercury’s solstice–there will be a pause and a shift.

Virgo:

August 22nd-September 22nd

This month holds many changes for you! Furthermore, this month is your yearly love and social peak, but it is important to focus on the quality rather than the number of people you let into your life this month. This month is important for personal transformation and for making progress in yourself and your social circle.

Libra:

September 23rd-October 22nd

Many important events are happening this month. Specifically, concerning your family and career, there are changes. This month also holds your yearly love and social peak, having many opportunities–social and romantic. There will be new people, relationships and clarity in friendships and relationships this month.

Scorpio:

October 23rd-November 22nd

This month will provide clarity. Any issues involving health and career will become more focused and clear, allowing you to clear up anything that needs to be resolved. There will be many networking opportunities for your career, and possible promotions and pay raises in the career.

Sagittarius:

November 23rd-December 20th

There will be many changes this month. Specifically, your health, family and love spheres will be of importance and need attention. After Mercury’s solstice, there will be a pause and a shift of direction in your life and career. For many of you, this month will be a personal pleasure peak!

Capricorn:

December 21st-January 19th

This is an eventful month ahead! It is a great time to start any new projects or any tasks you have been putting off. For students, this month will bring success and enjoyment in your studies. Furthermore, there is an emphasis on the home and family life; however, there will be a success in your career of studies despite this focus on the family.

Aquarius:

January 20th-February 18th

This month, any stress you have been feeling regarding money, health and energy will be improved. Furthermore, this month will bring about a personal transformation that will last for the next several years. Additionally, you are at a yearly financial peak, which brings strong finances and success for those who are students.

Pisces:

February 19th-March 20th

This month is eventful, as you are in a yearly personal pleasure peak and financial peak! Additionally, this is a good month for love. There are many romantic and financial opportunities for you this month. Overall, the month ahead is extremely prosperous.

Sit Back, Relax, Grab Some Popcorn: Celebrate International Women’s Day from Your Screen.

March 8th marks International Women’s Day and what better way to celebrate than to sit back, relax, and grab some popcorn to watch some classics–new and old–that celebrate strong, empowering women. If you need some movie-watching inspiration, I have some favorites that will be sure to spark some form of female empowerment in your life.

 1. Legally Blond

Elle Woods proves that you can do anything you put your mind to…including Harvard Law School. This classic rom-com will have you laughing, crying, and just maybe convince you to apply to law school. Or, do anything you put your mind to, no matter who you are or where you come from.

2. Little Women

Louisa May Alcott’s 1869 Little Women novel is a classic; however, the novel's 2019 film adaptation reinforces the heartwarming and empowering story of sisters during the American Civil War. Each sister overcomes a societal struggle, but Jo, one of the four March sisters is a writer, breaking the boundaries of what is considered traditional or “ladylike.” Truly, the story of the March sisters showcases how women–whether it be in 1869 or 2023–can be the heroes of their own stories.

3. Wonder Woman

The 2017 film featuring Gal Gadot presents the epitome of an empowered, strong female lead. As Wonder Woman, Gadot attempts to stop and fights through war, understanding her true powers as a superhero and as a woman. To many, Wonder Woman has been portrayed as a peacemaker and a fighter for equality. In my opinion, what better way to celebrate International Women’s Day than by watching Wonder Woman–the superhero that spearheaded female equality on and off screen.

4. The Hate U Give

The 2018 film adaptation of The Hate U Give is an eye-opening, empowering story that showcases systemic racism, activism, and relations with the police in present-day America. The film shows the story of Starr Carter, a young woman of color who has been affected by racism and is now an activist for the racism that she has experienced. The film showcases the intersectionality of race and gender that makes Starr such a powerful female heroine. Ultimately, the film encompasses how anyone can become a power figure–just like Starr.

5. The Hunger Games

If you haven’t seen The Hunger Games, you missed out on a central part of 2012 pop culture. In fact, it is one of the highest-grossing film franchises of all time. If you are one of the few people who haven’t seen the series, International Women’s Day is the perfect time to grab a snack and watch the 548-minute series. Katniss Everdeen–the female lead in the films–is a strong, fearless female heroine that springboards the series to its success. Despite Panem–the dystopian world of the Hunger Games–being far from our reality, Katniss evolves into a leader by standing up for herself and everyone around her. Throughout the four-part series, Katniss sparks a flame, igniting change and just maybe inspiring you to do the same.

My Virtual Doctor

Amidst the recent student union elections, there was also discourse surrounding the vote on whether a new referendum should be approved. This referendum is called My Virtual Doctor, and fortunately, students voted it in.

It’s no secret that many students have waited hours, upon hours in the emergency room at St. Martha’s Hospital and that the Nova Scotia healthcare system is deeply flawed.  My Virtual Doctor helps to solve some of these social issues surrounding healthcare, especially for the vulnerable student population, some of whom are living on their own for the first time and haven’t yet learned how to advocate for themselves.

The referendum allows students to skip the waiting room, and is a virtual healthcare service that offers, confidential, unlimited, 24/7 access across Canada to registered nurses, nurse practitioners, and physicians. Students can choose to discuss with a healthcare professional via either texting, video chat, or phone. With an average wait time of only four minutes for a consult and access to healthcare services in multiple languages, it is difficult to find flaws in this referendum.

Additionally, what services are offered to students via My Virtual Doctor? Students can receive referrals and requisitions for labs, bloodwork, and specialists. Students can be provided with diagnoses and treatment plans and can be directed to the proper facilities. There is also delivery of prescriptions to a pharmacy of the student’s choice provided, appointments are available within 24 hours, and extension is available to eligible family members at no additional cost.

Furthermore, no Nova Scotia healthcare card or Government Canada healthcare card is needed to enroll in this service, which is revolutionary as this is a common barrier to health equity. All full-time undergraduate STFX students will be enrolled automatically. The fee is only 44.85 dollars a year as well.

My Virtual Doctor also allows students the opportunity to opt-out unconditionally each year with a full refund to their student account before the opt-out deadline. There is no barrier to opting out of My Virtual Doctor.

Overall, this referendum was voted in for a reason, using students’ voices to make a difference, and helping to solve certain issues surrounding health equity, for the vulnerable student population. This includes lessening wait times and making healthcare more accessible in general. Transportation, eligibility, forgetfulness, finances, access to a health card, language, as well as mental health, are all barriers to health equity, and My Virtual Doctor is amazing for wanting to give the right to healthcare to all students.

I know that I have waited hours, late into the night for myself and for my friends in the emergency room and have struggled to access prescriptions at Antigonish pharmacies due to the barrier of being out of province. I know that I am not alone in this and that this service would’ve been very utile for me as well as other students.

Thank you, My Virtual Doctor, I cannot wait to see how you help our students in action.

Appreciating the StFX Art Gallery’s Newest Exhibit: There is No One Story of Black Girlhood

Students looking to experience a unique and immersive display of artwork need to look no further than the second floor of Mulroney Hall.

In line with Black History Month’s desire to highlight and make space for Black Canadians, the art exhibit “There is No One Story of Black Girlhood” showcases a collection of Rebecca Fisk’s eleven self-portraits highlight the achievements, stories, and culture of African Nova Scotians.

While she was born in Calgary, Rebecca Fisk grew up just a few hours from Antigonish in Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia. Fisk’s self-portraits reflect her experience growing up in a rural, predominantly white community. In one piece, Fisk looks defiantly at the viewer and pulls apart an oreo, presumably in reference to the disparaging slang “oreo” which Fisk describes as “a term used to describe someone who is thought of as being black on the outside and white on the inside.” In another piece, Fisk is again looking directly at the audience and enjoying a bite of watermelon in a piece titled “Watermelon in the Afternoon.” Again, Fisk subverts a racist trope and calls out the tremendous social and historical weight placed on black children.

Throughout Fisk’s self-portraits, there is a theme of resilience in the face of stereotypes, racism, and isolation growing up as a young black girl in rural Nova Scotia. According to the artist, this project is “a cathartic [...confrontation] of the racial prejudice that I have experienced in a healthy way. [...] The images also confront the viewer, forcing them to question their own biases.”

Fisk received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from NSCAD in 1992 and went on to earn her master’s in fine arts from the University of Saskatchewan in 1997. Fans of her work can find it all over Nova Scotia, as it has been exhibited in the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Lunenburg Academy, and the Dalhousie Art Gallery. Interestingly, Fisk is a High School art teacher in Chester Basin, Nova Scotia.

The exhibit is being held from February 9th to March 25th in the StFX Art Gallery (located on the second floor of Mulroney Hall) during the afternoons Wednesday to Friday. There is no need to make an appointment or pay an admission fee, but visitors are strongly encouraged to wear masks while visiting the gallery.

On Thursday, February 16th, students are welcome to attend a zoom webinar and hear Fisk comment on her work and intended messaging. More information on how to access the link are available on the StFX Art Gallery website. Additionally, special thanks are due to the Jeannine Deveau Education Equity Endownment Fund and Harley and Wendy MacCaull for sponsoring the exhibition.

It goes without being said that the importance of appreciating Black artwork and artists endures beyond the month of February. By reserving a space solely for Black artists and their artwork, the community and student body gain an appreciation for the rich culture and strength of the Black community that hopefully serves as a springboard for further interest throughout the rest of the year.

The exhibit “There is No One Story of Black Girlhood” is a testament to the importance, beauty, and uniqueness of Black artwork. If you happen to have even thirty minutes to spare between midterms, be sure to check it out.

Boygenius Are Back: A Review of Their Three Song Sampler

If you happen to follow Rolling Stone Magazine on any of their social media platforms, you likely experienced an onslaught of promotional images of the music supergroup “boygenius”, comprised of members Phoebe Bridgers, Julien Baker, and Lucy Dacus. The band was featured on the cover of the magazine in February, and the images that plastered the internet might have been familiar to those who were around in the early nineties, or are otherwise avid fans of the band Nirvana, as boygenius recreated their 1994 Rolling Stone cover and aesthetics of the famed photoshoot. 

While many fans viewed the photoshoot as a fun way for boygenius to reinterpret the famous cover, some of the comments on the Rolling Stone’s accounts were negative. One common theme being that many people are still unfamiliar with the band, and with just the one EP under their belt, some felt that their comparison to such a famed band as Nirvana was unjustified. Perhaps many readers do not know who boygenius are either. Well, you’re in luck. The group has just released a three-song sampler in lieu of their first full-length album, “The Record”, and now is the perfect time to start listening to their music.  

For some background, the band is democratically constructed without a distinguishable frontwoman, but the most recognisable name of the group may be Phoebe Bridgers, who has permeated the cultural zeitgeist the most significantly. Her dreamy indie-pop songs infused with raw, and often depressing lyricism have resulted in sold-out arena tours around the world, and collaborations with the likes of Taylor Swift, SZA, Paul McCartney, and the 1975.  

In 2016, Bridgers befriended artists Julien Baker, an indie-rock musician known for her confessional songs with themes of addiction and religion, and Lucy Dacus, a folk-rocker armed with brutally honest depictions of heartbreak, and who, inevitably, has become a mainstay on Spotify’s “sad girl starter pack” playlist. This friendship resulted in their eponymous EP in 2018, which harmonized their three distinct flavours, and secured them into a “supergroup” status. Now, five years later, the band has reunited. Boygenius are back in town. 

The first of their new songs, “$20”, further confirms the group’s nineties alt-rock influences. With its energetic guitar riffs, and imagery of all-night drives, motorcycles, and running out of gas, time, and money, this is the anthem for going on a road trip with your best friends. The track demands you yell along with the Baker’s vocals in unison, and the climax even more so: a satisfying scream from Bridgers, asking “CAN YOU GIVE ME 20 DOLLARS?” Add this song to your summer playlist now, you’ll thank me later.  

Boygenius takes a melancholic turn with their second single “Emily I’m Sorry”. As the title suggests, this Bridgers-dominant track is apologetic and directed at a former lover, Emily. The lyricism represents the frantic negotiating that comes with a failed relationship: “Just take me back to Montréal / I'll get a real job, you'll go back to school / We can burn out in the freezing cold / And just get lost”. Dreamy and repentant, this track ultimately weeps over the kind of love that one gets lost in, for better or worse. 

Rounding out the sampler is the Dacus-led “True Blue”, a term that can be defined as one who is staunch and faithful, and this is the kind of love that is celebrated in the song: “I remember who I am when I’m with you / Your love is tough, your love is tried and true-blue". With ethereal guitars and harmonies from Baker and Bridgers, the composition evokes a sense of peace. The imagery of heat, sun, and summer, especially in opposition with the cold: “You say you’re a winter b**** / But summers in your blood”, thaws out the melancholy of the previous track and makes this depiction of love even sweeter. Boygenius’ “The Record” is out March 31st.  

Meet a Make your Mark Fund Recipient: Awele Oye Onwuka

Awele is a third-year business student from Nigeria majoring in Management and Leadership at StFX. She is a CA in Riley Hall, Vice President of Community Outreach at the Schwartz Business Society, and a campus tour guide. She is also involved with the Women in Business (WIB) society as co-Director of Events, sharing that “[she] got involved with the Women in Business Society last year after being a member and observing all the amazing work the society does.”

Awele is among those to have received the “Make your Mark” award in 2022. The “Make your Mark” Fund provides Schwartz Students with the funding and resources they need to bring their creative and innovative ideas for campus or community initiatives and programs to life (schwartzwomeninbusiness.com). Awele is partnering with the daycare centre at StFX and Antigonish Kids First to plan an event for children and parents to promote mental health. She stated that her goal with the event is “to bring awareness to child mental health and promote healthy techniques for parents regarding their children’s mental health.” She continued to discuss her plans, sharing that “since the event had to be rescheduled, there are so many ways I can take this project, and I am excited to keep working on it. I don’t have concrete plans, but once this event is successful, I would love to host more in the future.” She stressed the importance of recognizing that we are children before we are adults, saying that she doesn’t “think people understand how much children grasp as such a young age–they’re picking up on everything, they’re building tools for their future”.  Awele also worked with the Antigonish coalition to end poverty, giving students the opportunity to donate non-perishable items to the Antigonish community fridge.

We concluded our discussion with a note on the business program at StFX, as well as some words of encouragement for women entering the program. “The business program, especially professors—shout out to Mark MacIsaac and Jennifer Alex—as well as WIB have been great at providing tremendous support and resources to help along my journey. This is the great thing about StFX, people care about each other and are ready to provide the encouragement and support needed to succeed–I have been very lucky in that sense.”

Awele encourages others to pursue their goals, addressing all “the women entering, or thinking about applying to, the business program at StFX,” and saying she “wants to let [them] know that [they] will be supported and looked after. Schwartz is more than just a business school; I do feel as though we are a family. I also want to encourage them to get involved–your voice and opinions matter and this is the place to get your thoughts and ideas out there! We are all rooting for each other and want to see everyone succeed.” In Antigonish and at StFX, “there’s always an opportunity for everyone to get together,” and Awele closed by sharing: “I enjoy what I do, especially when I can get the community involved.”

My Truth

Growing up in a dominated white society has opened my eyes to many truths.

First, I learnt little about my rich African history and heritage
Slavery started in the year...
And Martin Luther King was a... Were the only topics that I remember
Black History, my history-what history?
Nothing deeper, just the same recycled lessons taught over and over again.

Second, I think people sometimes forget that it is still wrong to make assumptions
Like when I speak up and people think I shouldn't because they think I’m not Black
Or when teachers assume that as the only Black student, I’d be okay representing the mass.

Wait, what did you say in class again?
Slavery started in the year...
And Martin Luther King was a...
Because anyone can repeat that; I learnt nothing.

Third,
And the most important truth
Is that I have to keep keeping on
So even though
I still have to deal with racial slurs and racism at school

And I still have to deal with
Sorry
You’re too Black for the white kids
And
You’re way too white for the Black kids

I cannot; I will not be silent
My voice matters; I matter
And it stops mattering the day I become silent
I will continue to walk on the path to my destiny I will continue to live my truth.

Grab your Dancing Shoes!

Over the next couple of months, Antigonish residents can expect several dance recitals and competitions in the Antigonish community. For those looking to check out some local talent, the Antigonish Creative Dance Association will host its annual student choreography showcase on the 25th of February. Expect ballet, hip pop and contemporary pieces and mix of solos, duets, and small groups.

The dance team recently competed in the Atlantic Collegiate Dance Competition. This event was their first dance competition in over three years, since Covid prevented previous competitions from taking place. The event was hosted at the University of New Brunswick, with dancers from across the Atlantic region competing at the university level. The StFX dance team performed both solos and group pieces, with both Isabelle and Makayla winning awards in their solo categories. The dance team also performed a halftime dance at the X-men's basketball game.

If you happen to be staying over the summer, be sure to check out the annual Highland Games happening July 2nd to the 9th. Last year’s festival included parades, dance championships, kilted golf tournaments, Gaelic language and tradition workshops, and tug-of-war competitions. This year’s events are not yet finalized. The dance competitions will be at the pre-premier, open premier, and open championship levels, with the youngest category being 10-12, and the oldest at 19 and over. One of the annual competitions is organized by the Antigonish Highland Dance Association (AHDA), an organization with the goal of promoting and preserving highland dance in the town, they have been hosting annual competitions since 1863.

Visitors can expect performances of the Highland Fling, the Sword Dance, the Seann Tribuhas, and the Flora Mcdonald’s Fancy. Awards like the Mary Dundas Memorial Award, New Zealand’s Pre-premier, Wilena Macinnis Penny Award, and the Florence Macmillian Memorial Award are all up for grabs. If you are interested, the festival will be looking for volunteers to help run the Games. Last year, there was also a youth artwork and writing contest for children aged 5-13. Winners of the contest won a free family pass to the Games.

An Awesome Wave

The band alt-J’s debut album, An Awesome Wave, is a musically beautiful representation of European music at that time combined with the unique sound of the growing indie and alternative music genres. Probably stemming from this album, alt-J has a reputation of making scatter-brained music that is not always received positively by listeners. However, each song on the album makes for easy and entertaining listening and regardless of the variety from one song to the other, they still manage to all meet in the middle for a matching aura on the album. Another characteristic of the album that I found very interesting is the cover art. For a little background information, alt-J is the computer key shortcut for delta. While facing a deadline for this album, the band went to google images to find some album art that related to their symbol/logo, the delta. The image on this album cover is the world's largest delta, located on the border of India and Bangladesh. The psychedelic appearance of the delta comes from overlapping three different images taken at different times over the same area. The keyboard player loved the idea of this psychedelic cover art because it was fitting to the style of music they were producing and when looking at the album cover, it was hard for most people to figure out what it actually is. This matched how they viewed their ‘hard-to-pin-down’ abstract style of music.

 The lead off on the album is “Intro”, a majority instrumental track that gets heavy into the drums and guitar chords right off the bat. One lyric from this song goes on about a ‘nod to the canon’ and summarises the idea of this song that it is a ‘nod’ or an acknowledgment of all the musical influence we encounter in our lives. “Tessellate” is about trying to get over a girl by meeting a new one and ‘tessellating’ with her. Leading off with a morbid-esque piano intro that goes into some hard drumbeats, this song stood out to me because of the story and how well it cooperates with the sounds. The singer then goes on to say, ‘triangles are my favourite shape, three points where two lines meet’, talking about the conflicting love triangle he finds himself in as he tries to forget the first girl. My two favourite songs on the album, and easily my favourites by alt-J are “Breezeblocks” and “Ms.” “Breezeblocks” is actually based off of the children's book ‘Where the Wild Things Are’ and plays a part in why I enjoy the song so much; this was a consistent bedtime read when I was growing up and when the movie adaptation came out, really, traumatised younger me. The main premise of “Breezeblocks” is loving someone so much that you want to hurt them, ‘Please don’t go, I'll eat you whole. I love you so.’ Similar to the book and the movie, this song starts off nice and soft, slow, but builds to a heavy and percussive chorus that repeats the same thoughts over and over, like getting stuck in the climax of your emotions. This is interesting to hear because it creates the same sensation, I feel watching the movie as well. “Ms” is one of my personal favourites because it is an easy listen and presents a beautiful collaboration of the singer harmonising with a warm guitar and drum pairing. This song is about not wanting a relationship to end or losing feelings for this person in your life but realising you must let go of these feelings you once had.

Overall, this has been and will continue to be music I have on my daily listening mixes. The storytelling alt-Jbrings to their discography is so refreshing and has made me develop an appreciation for musicians that fight against the mould of typical song writing. I relate to many themes over the course of the album An Awesome Wave, which in my opinion gives listeners a deeper understanding and admiration for the artistry that was put in. It is interesting how the tempo of the songs as the album goes on, moves like a wave; starts calm but is still moving, increases into a heavy, energetic rise that may begin around “Breezeblocks”, a peak of energy at “Fitzpleasure” and then finds itself sinking lower again back to sea level. I choose to give alt-J the benefit of the doubt and believe they built this musical tide on purpose for their magical debut album, An Awesome Wave.