March Horoscopes

Aries:

March 21-April 20th

This month, you are still in your yearly personal pleasure peak, showing a happy month ahead. After the 20th, you will enter an annual financial peak where earnings will be good. However, the solar eclipse has the potential to bring financial and personal drama into your life, so be mindful of the choices you make during this time.

Taurus:

April 21st-May 20th

You will have a happy month ahead! The solar eclipse this month marks changes that will impact how you present yourself. In other words, this month sparks opportunities that will allow you to redefine yourself. Additionally, there is potential for drama in romantic and platonic relationships during the eclipse.

Gemini:

May 21st-June 20th

With the solar eclipse this month, this month has the potential to be stressful with personal dramas in friendships and issues with technology. Additionally, students can experience changes or disruptions in their academic plans, but these changes can be good!

Cancer:

June 21st-July 20th

This month brings changes to your career and to those related to your career. With the solar eclipse, your finances will enter disruptions and you may need to make corrections to how you are spending your money. However, despite these disruptions, your career is going strong, and you are achieving success.

Leo:

July 21st-August 21st

With the solar eclipse this month, there are disruptions to foreign travel and to those who are college-level students. This can lead to changes in travel and education plans, so be cautious if you are travelling this month. Furthermore, there will be positive changes in your career, removing any roadblocks as you enter your yearly career peak.

Virgo:

August 22nd-September 22nd

This month brings changes to educational plans, but positive changes. However, it is important to note that the solar eclipse will provoke changes in your income and the incomes of those around you. Overall, this month will be a month of change, but it is a chance to make new goals and pay attention to how you can adapt to these changes.

Libra:

September 23rd-October 22nd

This month, relationships will be tested, proving the strengths and weaknesses in your current relationships. Furthermore, there are financial dramas in your life and the lives of those closest to you. Despite these changes, they are happening to make room for new opportunities and goals that will become important over the following months.

Scorpio:

October 23rd-November 22nd

With the eclipse this month, there will be changes in your career or dramas in the lives of you and your co-workers. With these changes will also come dramas in your personal relationships. In other words, this month is a good time to make changes to yourself and how you present yourself to others.

Sagittarius:

November 23rd-December 20th

The solar eclipse this month will impact your career and provide opportunities for potential job changes. Additionally, there will be changes to your health routine and if you are a student, there are disruptions at school and in your education plans. However, these changes can be good!

Capricorn:

December 21st-January 19th

This month is a good month to begin new projects or ventures. There will be shake-ups in your typical routine; however, these changes can be positive. As well, friends and family may experience personal dramas, so it is a good opportunity to prepare for change this month.

Aquarius:

January 20th-February 18th

There are many opportunities for love this month; however, the solar eclipse will also test your current relationships. Furthermore, the eclipse will impact those who are students as they will be facing changes in education plans. Additionally, there will be dramas in the home and in the lives of the family members.

Pisces:

February 19th-March 20th

This month, you will experience a yearly financial peak! With the solar eclipse, there will need to be changes in your financial spending and planning. Those who are students may face disruptions in their educational plans. Furthermore, there may also be changes to your career or current workplace.

16th Annual German Day

Every year, the German 100 and 200 classes come together to celebrate German Day. The event began in the early 2000s under the guise of Professor Lade, the German professor at the university. The day consist of student-led presentations and many fun activities.

This year, German Day will be taking place Friday, March 31. The event will begin at 3:00 p.m. and will include presentations, a coffee break, and a game of Kahoot. During the coffee break, German pastries will be served for all to enjoy. The activities will be taking place in Coady’s Desmond Oval.

Many distinguished guests are set to partake in the day of festivities, including a representative for the German Embassy in Ottawa. All students are invited to attend. The German classes have spent many a week preparing for the day, which is more than certain to be an interesting one.

The day comes just on the heels of Multilingual Day, another fun day of activities surrounding language and language learning. Both events will celebrate the language courses offered at the university. For all those interested in taking language courses, the events should be informative and encouraging. If able, all should attend.

Elizabeth May Comes to StFX

Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green party, and perhaps the face of Climate Politics in Canada, came to campus last week for her fellowship lecture. It was titled, “The Planet Is on Fire: Can the Canadian Federation Respond or Do Our Provincial-Federal Squabbles Threaten Our Future?” It was presented by the The Brian Mulroney Institute of Government’s Distinguished Speakers Series. Her speech included several harsh critiques of Canada's environmental record, which May calls “the worst in the G7.”

May, as evidenced by the title of the speech, believes intergovernmental disputes between the provinces amongst themselves, and then with the federal government, are problematic. May points to the Atlantic Loop, a proposed project that would allow Quebec to provide the Atlantic provinces with energy as evidence. The province's publicly-owned energy utility, Hydro Quebec, sells the vast majority of its surplus energy to the United States. Some Nova Scotia politicians claim the Atlantic Loop would allow the province to shut down a majority, if not all, of their fossil fuel plants. May also talked about how the European Union, with dozens of different countries and official languages, has done a much better job at climate action and policy than Canada.

Elizabeth May strongly condemned the government of Stephen Harper for pulling out of the Kyoto Agreement, but there was another Conservative Prime Minister who received her favour. Unsurprisingly, the policies that Brian Muroney used to combat acid rain during his term received much support from May, “Objectively speaking, what [Mulroney] did worked.” She also touted his political work, “When was federalism working in this country? It was working when Brian Mulroney was Prime minister.” Evidently, what Brian Mulroney did worked.

During a Q&A with the audience, May was warm and welcoming to the diversity of questions asked. She criticized Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, as well as encouraged students to stand up for their future. A low point came when a student asked May if she would ever consider running for office, seemingly unaware that Elizabeth May is the leader of the Green Party and has been a sitting member of parliament for almost two decades. Nonetheless, May took the question in stride, did not make the student feel small, and gave an eloquent elaboration on her role in politics. The overarching message of her speech seemed summed up in her quote, ‘“We have to figure out how to think like a country.”

The day before the speech, Elizabeth May sat down for a luncheon on the fourth floor of Mulroney Hall with a selection of Political Science students. Next year's Vice President Academic, Jack Harding, told May about the work he and the Antigonish League of People for Climate Action (ALPACA) have been doing to get StFX to move towards renewable energy and away from highly polluting Bunker-C Oil , as is currently used on campus.

I was lucky enough to snag an interview with May after the luncheon. It was scheduled for 15 minutes but lasted closer to an hour.

May explained a couple of the bills she is currently sponsoring and  jointly seconding in parliament;  C-210 would lower the voting age to 16, and

C-226 would “Confront environmental racism by bringing in a program for environmental justice.”

Welcome to The Nish: Things Only StFX Students Understand

StFX has many traditions and special characteristics that make the school unique. I grew up in Ontario, where many of my friends went to larger universities and stayed within the province. When I was looking at universities, what drew me to StFX was its small classes, the small town, and the close-knit community—things that weren’t like other schools in Ontario. Truly, it sounded like a place that was the opposite of where my peers were going, and now that I am finishing off my second year here, I was right. I have come across many places, people, and things specific to this school that I know would surprise anyone who doesn’t go to X—especially students at other universities. So, here are five specific places and things that only StFX students will understand about X.  

1. X-Ring.

Most notably, the ring of recognition for completing a degree at StFX is a large contributor in making this school what it is. I cannot think of any other school that has a ring that is a milestone for students. Like most students at X, I am counting down the days until I get mine.

2. The One and Only (Literally): Piper’s Pub.

There’s a reason the Pub is always so busy: It’s because it's the only off-campus pub in town. However, there are Pub lovers and haters, so whatever your stance is I support it because I’ve had some great and not-so-great times at the Pub. Despite mixed opinions, the Pub is one of the only gathering spots off-campus and I believe it's one of the many reasons StFX is as close-knit of a community as it is. 

3. Crows.

I’ve said it before, and I will say it again: Antigonish just has a lot of crows. I know that any other school in a city would not be accustomed to the surplus of crows that swoop over our campus. Despite their high population on our campus, the crows (no matter how noisy they are) make StFX a place like no other.  

4. 4:30 Dome.

“Hey, want to go to 4:30 dome?” was a question I got asked throughout my first year at X. In fact, it became less of a question and more of a routine during my year living in residence. I know for myself and many others, meal hall was a place where many memories were made whether it was for “4:30 dome” or for Friday night recaps on Saturday mornings. If you ask any non-StFX students about “4:30 dome” they will probably think you are referring to The Dome Nightclub in Halifax or they will think you are crazy. Regardless, they will probably think you are crazy because no one goes to The Dome Nightclub at 4:30 pm.

5. Kenny’s vs. The Wheel

There has been a long debate over which local pizza joint is the best, but truly, they are both good in their different ways. If you ask any StFX student which pizza joint is the best, you will come across a variety of answers. But between me and you, I am (and always will be) a fan of The Wheel.

I could go on and on about what makes StFX so special and, truly, a place like no other. Because really, what other university has the third most well-recognized ring in the world, a crow population that (almost) outnumbers its student population, and has an ongoing, heated debate over two local pizza places? That’s right, nowhere. Despite discovering many of the places and things that most students at X have learned about, I am still learning about the little things that make this place unique. If you, too, are still learning, I hope this list could make you laugh, learn or that it could be a relatable source of life at X—welcome to the Nish.

The Correlation Between Exercise and Academic Success

It’s no secret to any university student that exercising is beneficial to their health. Yet, with exams approaching, essays, and final papers due, many students do not feel they can carve out time in their busy schedules for a workout.

This is completely understandable. However, what if I told you that even doing a quick 20-minute workout could enhance academic performance long-term?

As per a study conducted by the National Library of Medicine, executive functioning and brain health are basic cognitive functions that facilitate learning. Evidently, these functions are related to academic success. The study “shows that regular exercise enhances them” (Hillman, 65).

Furthermore, especially in university students that have ADHD, exercise allows for better focus on academics, therefore, helping improve performance in the long term. In addition, if a 20-minute morning workout allows for better focus throughout the day, you should make the effort to put it into your schedule.  You may focus better on your lectures and improve your overall sleep quality.

Regular exercise can also lead to a better quality of sleep, which is directly related to academic performance (Tomporowski, 297).

There are also so many options for working out on campus if this is a barrier for you. The gym in the Keating Centre is accessible to all STFX students. There are also many workout classes available. You could go for a run on the track, go to lane swim when the pool opens back up, or even do a quick workout at home. There are lots of options on YouTube for these workout classes.

Even just listening to music and going for a walk around campus is a great way to work out, especially with the weather warming up and the longer days.

With all the other obvious benefits to exercise, one that is less talked about is that exercise can improve our grades. For your transcript, as well as your physical and mental health, try to get a workout in, occasionally.

Hillman CH, Erickson KI, Kramer AF. Be smart, exercise your heart: exercise effects on brain and cognition. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2008 Jan;9(1):58-65. doi: 10.1038/nrn2298. PMID: 18094706.

Tomporowski PD. Effects of acute bouts of exercise on cognition. Acta Psychol (Amst). 2003 Mar;112(3):297-324. doi: 10.1016/s0001-6918(02)00134-8. PMID: 12595152.

Interview with Coach Tyrell Vernon, Coach of the X-Men Basketball Team on their Weekend at the U SPORTS Championships in Halifax

I talked with Tyrell Vernon, Coach of the X-Men Basketball team, to discuss the X-Men’s Basketball U SPORTS Championship that took place from the 10th-12th of March.

When asked how he would assess the way the team played over the weekend, Coach Vernon stated “Obviously, it didn't end the way that we wanted it to. But I think we put ourselves in the situation to win every single game, so now it's just kind of you know, back to the drawing board a little bit to figure out some things that we can change for next season.” He continued, saying that he feels “everybody gave everything that they had, that's for sure.”

When talking about the atmosphere in Halifax and the team's energy, he responded that it was an amazing experience to have that many people show up, and to have sold out arenas cheering for them. He says he knows the guys won’t forget it.

When discussing improvements made this year and plans for improvements for next year, Coach Vernon said the biggest area in which they improved was trusting the defensive systems and having more attention to detail at the defensive end. Next year, he wants the team to continue to evolve their approach with what works.

When asked what this means for StFX and the basketball program, he responded “they haven't won an AUS championship in 17 years so being able to do that was a big monkey off our back.” He continued by saying “and, you know, to go to nationals and get the national silver, we got a bronze when I was here, and that was 2012, so it's been a while for that as well.” He believes that being in the middle of the national stage and having everyone show up with lots of energy was definitely a good thing for them.

For next year, Coach Vernon said some of his goals included recruiting and making sure they bring in some more talent (as they are losing a few players). Another goal is “to do what we can to win AUS to put ourselves in the situation to get back to that national stage.”

Lastly, I asked him who he thought personally really stepped up during the nationals. He said that “Avan Nava and David Muenkat did what they do, but they usually do.” Defensively, he mentioned that “Steven Levnaic was huge for us on that weekend.” Levnaic was able to shut down top players on other teams.

Ultimately, the discussion with Coach Vernon was great, and we are thankful he took the time to give us some insight into the team's success this season.

Interview with Lauren Dabrowski and Josie Chisholm from the X-Women's Hockey Team on their Weekend in Montreal for the U SPORTS Championships

Over St. Patrick’s Day weekend, the StFX Women's Hockey team headed to Montreal for the 2023 U SPORTS Women's Hockey Championships. The team played UBC, Nipissing, and Toronto. The Xaverian talked to Lauren Dabrowski, an assistant captain on the team, and Josie Chisholm the captain of the team, about their weekend in Montreal and their roles as leaders.

Ms. Dabrowski told the Xaverian that the atmosphere in Montreal was “awesome," saying that “the girls all enjoyed themselves… as this was our last away trip so we really just tried to embrace the moment we were in, whether that was eating dinner, walking the streets, practicing at McGill rink, or just hanging out in the hotel. The atmosphere was special, and I think all the girls really bought in.” She added that “One comment our team received quite often while in Montreal was how respectful and kind our team was, which is great to hear.” Josie also agreed that the atmosphere in Montreal was great, saying “personally, this was my first time in Montreal for an extended period so it was great to have some time to embrace the city.” She added, “In regard to on the ice, it was great to have the chance to play other teams from across the country.”

Ms. Chisholm talked about improvements the team made this year, saying that overall, the culture of the group improved and she says next year moving forward “it will be key to have a leadership group that is on the ball and present with the team.” Adding, “looking into next year I think that the girls have a very good foundation now for what a family should feel like and they can continue to grow from that.” Overall Josie says, “this past tournament was the first for the majority of this team, younger girls got a new sense of what to expect in regard to preparation and performance for national tournaments to come.” For next year, the girls believe the team is prepared and improved. Ms. Dabrowski says the team “definitely learned at this tournament that we are a competitive team in this nation and we need to continue to strive for those AUS and national titles.”

When discussing her role as a leader, Lauren mentioned how at the beginning of the year, they “really took a step back as the leadership group to assess the year and how we are going to go about it, with that we improved greatly in our team chemistry knowing that we needed to feel comfortable with each other off the ice first before the on ice chemistry came.” She says the team went on an annual trip to Cheticamp at the start of the year, and that “this was the time our team bonded the most.” Lauren says moving forward in the next season, “I think the girls are more experienced and realize how important the regular season games are when it comes to Nationals.” Ms. Chisholm also touched on being a leader, saying, “ being a leader on this team is a role that challenges you to always be the best version of yourself because ultimately you have teammates that are counting on you to do the right thing and do what is best for the team… this role helped me personally as a hockey player because I knew that I had people counting on me for guidance on and off the ice so I was constantly playing for something more than myself.”

Recently, Lauren was recognized as a U SPORTS First Team All-Canadian. When asked what it means to her to be recognized, she told me, “It just shows that all the work I put in the off season really paid off with the help from our Strength Coach and our Coaches who went on the ice with me throughout the summer. It also demonstrates how good my teammates are as I could not have gotten this recognition without them. It took a full season of hard work, dedication and teamwork to get to where I am.”

When talking about goals for the team next year, Josie talked about striving to be a national contender again, saying “moving forward this team has the goal of being a national contender again. They have what it takes to do so as long as they work as one cohesive unit.” In regards to herself, Josie said  “personally, I have no set plan for next year. After this season, my love for the game is still strong and my goal is to continue my career in some fashion with hopes of gaining a new experience along the ride.”

It was great hearing from Lauren and Josie, and StFX cannot wait to watch the team again next year!

How to Help Student Stress and Mental Health

With final exams and assignments getting close, the amount of stress being placed on students is increasing. Severe stress is one of the leading causes of mental health issues, so it is important that students take the time to care for themselves and find the right balance between their schoolwork and personal life. With Nicole Chevrier of the Mental Health Commission of Canada reporting that around “three out of four mental health problems start by age 24,” the necessity for students to take care of their mental health becomes even more clear.

For students who may be struggling, the university offers a variety of options that can help, including the Health and Counselling Centre and the Peer Support Program (PSP). The PSP offers help to those seeking it through their student volunteers, such as Julia Baniak, who shared some information on the program and gave tips to students about taking care of themselves during the most trying time of the term.

For any students who have limited knowledge on the PSP, they may first be interested to know that all volunteers have the necessary qualifications, having what Baniak estimates to be at least 20 hours of training, including running through various scenarios. They also recognize that some students may just be looking for someone to talk to, “especially someone you might not know that can lend an ear to listen.” Baniak says that the main reason they are there is to listen to whatever issues one may have and to help in anyway possible, even if all a student wants is a small piece of advice. Their willingness to help ranges from “advice on a paper to relationship issues”—they are there for anything a student may need. As such, students should not hesitate to take advantage of the program and to use it to its full capacity.

The PSP is located on the top floor of the Bloomfield Center in room 147. Any students searching for it just need to follow the sign for TheU and search for the office with the PSP label. Other than the volunteers, Baniak shares that the office also includes “sensory tools you can use” for any students who may be in need.

Baniak also offers advice for what students can do outside of the PSP in order to take care of their mental and physical health. She highly encourages students to participate in physical activity, citing the science that states that activities, such as going for a walk, helps serotonin levels. Similarly, she shares that getting outside also assists in improving one’s mental state. While it may seem difficult with an increased amount of papers or the pressure to study, Baniak expresses that students should take time out of their day to do some sort of activity. She also shares that she finds it beneficial to slow down at the end of her day and have a set routine for the night, as it “helps to take the stress away” and “having something that you practice every day” provides stability.

Though it can be challenging, Baniak affirms that “in order to do better, you need to take time for yourself too.” Balancing life between school and personal time is greatly beneficial, and having what she refers to as “buffer room” can allow for less stress and a more reasonable pace to one’s day. She strongly encourages planning ahead, if possible, to allow students to have set expectations for their upcoming day or week. The PSP recognizes that exam season leads to greater stress levels and will be available all throughout this time for anyone in need of its services.  As the end of the academic year approaches, students are encouraged to care for themselves, and to make use of the programs provided to them. In doing so, students have the best foundation to maintain good mental health throughout one of the most stressful times of their year.

StFX Launches New Strategic Plan: “Building Our University the Way it’s Meant to Be”

On February 28, StFX released its new 2023-2028 strategic plan “Building Our University the Way it’s Meant to Be.” The plan’s mission is to endow engaged citizens empowered by purpose and connection.

StFX has a rich history of social justice, and so this invites students to use the plan to further their roles as leaders of social justice, social responsibility, and engaged citizenship. In 1897, StFX became the first-coeducational Catholic university in North America to grant degrees to women. In the 1970s, students drove societal change. And in 1996, StFX implemented Canada’s first Service-Learning program. Drawing upon this history, students are invited to think strategically, creatively, and ambitiously about how they aim to shape the future.

The plan is built on three operational plans: The first is The Academic Plan, the second is The Research and Creative Works Plan, and the third is The Student Experiences and Opportunities Plan. All students are called upon to embrace the plan and to bring their ideas, intellect, creativity, and commitment.

The plan’s success will be measured using the following sets of metrics:

a) Academically Driven

• Student retention (1st to 2nd-year retention rate) and academic averages

• Admissions profile (undergraduate & graduate)

• Total program enrolment (by faculty)

• Number of new academic credentials introduced and associated enrolment

• Satisfaction with quality of education and teaching

b) Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility

• International student enrolment/retention—visa students, full-time, part-time

• Indigenous student enrolment/retention—full-time, part-time

• African Nova Scotian student enrolment/retention—full-time, part-time

• Student Satisfaction (e.g. Incoming Student Survey, focus groups)

c) Community • Total enrolment • Proportion of graduate enrolment

• Total number of alumni and geographic distribution

• Proportion of first-year/senior students participating in High Impact Practices

• Number of Employees and Employee Satisfaction

d) Responsive

• Annual number of graduates

• Value of research grants received (federal, provincial & other)

• Local and provincial economic impact

• Investments in student services, including investment in services that support intellectual, cultural, social, and spiritual growth of students

• Total value of scholarships, bursaries, and prizes

e) Sustainability

• University long-term debt

• Total annual ($) giving to the University

• Proportion of funds from annual giving allocated to institutional areas (ex. history and culture, anti-racism, accessibility, wellness, and well-being, etc.)

• Endowment fund balance

• Total carbon emissions

• Campus energy use and costs

Reading Breaks in Antigonish

Being in Antigonish during the breaks can be a strange experience. With the majority of students going home, campus has a different feel too normal. Residences are quiet, many places are shut, and meal hall hours are limited. Without a car, it can be difficult to travel very far. However, reading breaks can be an opportunity to explore Antigonish better, as well as relax with very few distractions. Here are a few ideas for international students (and other students who are staying) for ways to make the most of your reading weeks.

1.     Actually study- for people with midterms after the break, it can be easier to study when on campus. The library is pretty much empty, and residence lounges are silent, making it much easier to focus.

2.     Catch up on sleep- there are no parties happening.

3.     Try an escape room- Lost Realms (close to Tims and Needs) has escape rooms that can be fun to complete in groups. It is open until 5pm everyday (4pm on Sundays.) Since the semester can very busy, reading week is an ideal time to try this.

4.     Pick up extra shifts at work- since most students go home for the week, there should be a lot of extra hours.

5.     Go to the gym when it isn’t packed.

6.     Watch movies- Monty Python is great if you are wanting something funny.

7.     Residence and Bloomfield Hub activities- check your residence Instagram for activities happening during the week. Bloomfield Hub also offered craft nights and therapy dogs during the November reading break, which I really enjoyed.

8.     Exploring Main Street- there are some really cosy cafes there, which can make a nice change to study in. Also, the thrift store is cheap!

9.     Going on walks- I really enjoyed having time to walk around Antigonish during my break. If you can find a ride, Beaver Mountain Provincial Park, the Arisaig beach and Antigonish Landing are beautiful spots to visit.

10.  Visit Antigonish Farmer’s Market.

11.  Check and see if there are any performances happening at the Bauer theatre on campus- this is located just behind Mackinnon. Tickets are normally discounted for students, so reading break is a good time to see what is on offer!

12.  Use the ice rink during the free skate sessions- free for students.

13.  Cook with friends in my kitchen- since meal hall is so quiet during the breaks, it is a good time to make use of the space and try some new recipes.

14.  Start a new book- I'd recommend the Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo (Taylor Jenkins Reid) or Daisy Jones and the Six (by the same author.) Daisy Jones also has a TV show on Amazon Prime now!

15.  Call friends and family back home- I find it hard to call often when things get busy, so make the most of the free time.

I hope this list helps make your next break in Antigonish more enjoyable!

StFX Cheerleaders Win in Competition for the First Time in Eleven Years

When hearing the words ‘StFX cheerleaders’ the first group that comes to mind is likely the team that cheers on StFX’s athletes. This is the ‘blue team,’ and what many students may not know is that StFX has a second cheerleading team, named the ‘white team.’ Instead of performing at sports games, the white team competes around the province against other university cheerleading teams. On March 4-5, they took on their first competition of the season in Truro, NS, winning the first-place medal for the first time since 2012.

Cheerleading competitions run over the course of two days, with a performance of a pre-existing routine on each day. For this competition—named Maritime Meltdown—each performance constituted 50% of the team’s final score. A university cheerleading routine normally consists of a school cheer, multiple stunt sequences, a pyramid, a jump section, both running and standing tumbling, as well as a dance portion near the end—though this is optional as it no longer contributes to the final score.

On March 4th, the cheerleaders met in the Keating Centre before heading off to Truro. Once there, the athletes had time to finish getting ready, explore the convention centre, and watch other’s performances. Cheer competitions feature teams of various ages competing at all levels and provide an opportunity not just to compete and show all the hard work put in throughout to year, but to connect with others in their shared community.

After a quick warm-up and run-through of their routine, the StFX cheerleaders ran out to take their places on the competition mat. They were cheered on by family, friends, members of blue team, and even next year’s Student Union President Sophia Fabiano, a former cheerleader herself. During their performance, the athletes hit one of their best routines of the season, a success that was closely followed the next day. Though confident in their routine, the team would not know their final scoring until the awards ceremony Sunday afternoon.

Because of Covid-19, there has not been an in-person competition since 2020, right before the pandemic hit. This meant that the competition setting was new to a lot of first-time cheerleaders who had only started the sport in university. Amber Thibodeau, a third-year student, and second-year athlete, mentioned that “it was super great to have finally cheered in person after competing online last year.” The new environment was exciting, but combined with the knowledge that StFX hadn’t won a competition since 2012, pressure was at an all-time high. However, the hard work of the athletes pulled through and they heard their names called as the champions of their level, walking away with first-place medals in what one athlete, Hailie Sock, called an “exciting moment.”

The StFX cheerleaders surprised many judges and coaches in the crowd with their high-level skills, and Emily Hubbard, one of the team’s captains, called the experience “amazing…especially knowing that no one was expecting us to show up the way we did.” Hailie Sock echoed this, saying that their performance was “reflexive of all the hard work we put in over the year.” The team practices three times a week, and many members balance a job and a full-time course load on top of this. Their dedication proves the love they have for their sport and their team. Ashley Howe, a second-year athlete, expressed her excitement about “making history for StFX cheerleading.” She continued, saying that cheer “pushes me to keep going for the future of the sport and for the university.” The team was indeed making history as the last win had been eleven years ago. As Howe put it, they are “breaking boundaries and proving to everybody that we aren’t just a student-run club, and we can do big things.” This win could be the start of a new future for StFX cheerleading, so keep an eye out and continue to cheer on your cheerleaders, both in games and at competition!

The team’s coaches, Claire Schofer, Wynona Farrell, and Kaitlyn Anderson, all expressed how proud they were of the team, with Schofer making this closing statement:

“I am incredibly proud of my wonderful athletes and their performances at Maritime Meltdown! We dealt with various adversities this school year, but the team had a continuous desire to work for something we thought was just a dream. The coaching staff has been working a lot behind the scenes for this to happen, but at the end of the day, our athletes won this for themselves and for each other. Many people complimented our performances and our athletes’ conduct at the event which was incredibly rewarding. Several young girls approached us, expressing their admiration for us as university cheerleaders. I sincerely hope our program can continue to grow and succeed for years to come. This win breaks a long streak of losses and I hope it sets a standard for our program.”

Interview With Derin Derici

This week, I sat down with student Derin Derici to discuss some fundraising efforts she organized for Turkey. As most know, Turkey and Syria were hit with 7.8 and 7.7 earthquakes on February 6, 2023. The damage has been severe, and the people of Turkey and Syria need our help.

When beginning the interview, I asked Ms. Derici to introduce herself. Derin Derici is currently in her fifth year at StFX. She has already completed a degree in Marketing last year and will graduate with a degree in Economics this year. Originally from Bolu, Turkey, Ms. Derici has been very involved in the campus community. She works for Convenience U and X-Patrol. She has given campus tours and been the International Representative for the Students’ Union. Furthermore, Ms. Derici has acted as an off-campus leader as well. Currently, Ms. Derici is also the Marketing Director for the Schwartz Business Society.

When asked about her fundraising efforts, Ms. Derici said that “When the earthquake first started, we did fundraising tables.” These were up from reading week until mid-March. Before the fundraising began, Derin Derici had also set up posters around campus with QR codes so students could send direct donations. She said that Elizabeth Yeo and Susan Grant helped in the process of the posters as well. As we discussed the posters, Ms. Derici explained that 50 million people have had to migrate because of the earthquakes in Turkey. Of other activities Ms. Derici said that “the Inn on the Wednesday Wing Night, both [Sean Ryan and Shawn Kieley], they gave permission to give half of the cover fees to the earthquake fund.”

Ms. Derici has also been involved in off-campus fundraising. She is a member of the Turkish Society of Nova Scotia’s marketing board. The Turkish Society of Nova Scotia has also been raising funds for relief efforts. They are to host a ceremony for Turkey in Halifax, including the raising of the Turkish flag. Ms. Derici is currently working with the society virtually, though she is excited to go to Halifax to be able to continue her efforts physically within the society. Elizabeth Yeo and Susan Grant also “made a huge website” for the fundraising efforts. As per Ms. Derici, they have been very diligent about updating the website for each new fundraising event. The Turkish flag was also raised on the university campus and Morrison Hall has been illuminated with red lights to represent the Turkish flag as well.

It is not to say that fundraising has been a walk in the park. Certain events that were to take place could not as there were not enough students available to organize tables around campus simultaneously.

When asked about the amounts raised, Ms. Derici said “so far, the fundraising table, we raised $758, I’m assuming.” The Inn also raised an additional $400 for the fundraiser by splitting the Wing Night cover fees. As for other planned events, Ms. Derici mentioned that all donations made at the Schwartz Business Society’s end of year banquet will be given for Turkey. As per donations at the event, Ms. Derici explained that “With the Schwartz Business Society, we are expecting $1000 approximately in the end of March.” Jars had also been set in each residence on campus and the donations from said jars will be collected soon as well. As for the Turkish Society of Nova Scotia, Ms. Derici stated that “they raised $20,000 so far and then that’s only the first round of fundraising.” When MPs Sean Fraser and Seamus O’Regan came to give a talk earlier in the semester, they offered their support and any help they may be able to give.

Ms. Derici has a link in her Instagram bio where students can directly donate to non-governmental organizations. Ms. Derici also suggested students visit AHBAP.com, as it “is an earthquake fund for Turkish organizations.” She also mentioned that Red Cross Canada has an earthquake fund, too. Ms. Derici also informed us that the Turkish Society of Nova Scotia shares all fundraising events on their social media platforms and has links on their platforms where anyone can donate.

I then asked Ms. Derici if there was anything else she would like students to know. She stated that “An earthquake like this, it’s gonna take 5 years to repair the whole cities.” She said that multiple rounds of fundraising over the next few years will be necessary to help repair the cities. If students can donate more than once over the span of this time, it would be extremely helpful to the people of Turkey. There are also ongoing efforts to bring Turkish families to Canada and Turkish students in Canada trying to reunite with their families as well. She urged students to continue their support and to keep donating, when possible.

The Modern Languages Department Presents Multilingual Day

On March 30, 2023, the Modern Languages Department is hosting the first-ever Multilingual Day. The event was organized to highlight the different language courses offered at the university as well as to demonstrate the advantages of knowing multiple languages. Multilingual Day was organized by Dr. Paz-MacKay, the current Chair of the Modern Languages Department.

The event is scheduled to begin at 12:45 and will take place in Coady 120. A lunch will first be served, consisting of pizza and other refreshments. At 1:15, students will then engage in games and other activities relating to language. The games will be followed by a coffee break at 2:00. There will then be a discussion from 2:15 to 3:00. Student presentations will follow, concluding the day. With such fantastic programming, the day is sure to be a fun one!

This event is a great way to showcase the different languages students can learn at the university and is sure to bring awareness to the language programs offered at the school. All students are invited, and especially students interested in languages should make the effort to attend. The event is a great way for those interested in language courses to learn more about those offered by the department.

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