The Sheaf

University of Saskatchewan Faculty Association responds to report that says U of S professors amongst highest paid in Canada

2012-05-19T22:10:15Z

A letter to U of S faculty written by Jim Cheesman, senior professional officer of the faculty association (click to enlarge)

Professors at the University of Saskatchewan disagree with a recent Statistics Canada report that claims they are paid more than the national average.

The report, released in early May, compared the average salaries of university professors in Canada over the 2010-11 academic year. According to the report, the average full professor at the U of S earned $148,754 last year, the average associate professor made $121,339 and the average assistant professor made $105,102.

The U of S Faculty Association claims, however, that Statistics Canada overestimated its calculations of the U of S salaries.

“We wish these numbers were accurate, but they are not. The numbers cited include the salaries of all faculty, all senior administrators, as well as some clinical earnings which are in addition to academic salary,” Jim Cheesman, senior professional officer of the faculty association, wrote in a letter to faculty. The letter responded to an article published in the StarPhoenix about the report.

The faculty association calculated the average salary for U of S professors in 2010-11 as $142,251 for full professors (0.8 percent below the national average), $112,050 for associate professors (0.2 percent below the national average) and $92,403 for assistant professors (5.6 percent above average).

Cheesman wrote that the university relies on the StatsCan data to be revised by the Canadian Association of University Teachers before it can be properly compared to other universities.

Revised CAUT calculations eliminate the pay of senior administrators and exclude any units in which academic salary is inseparable from clinical salaries from the calculations. If the numbers reported by the CAUT differ by little from those calculated by the faculty association, then the faculty association will deem them more appropriate than Statistics Canada’s numbers for comparison with other universities.

U of S professors were hit with a pay cut after they were the highest-paid university instructors in the country during the 2003-04 academic year. Since then, the faculty association has been working to negotiate a raise.

Cheesman argues that competitive salaries are not only important for faculty, but for students and the university as a whole. Strong professors who can provide a higher standard of education and who can establish prominent research initiatives are more likely to come to a university with higher salaries.

The salaries of assistant professors, associate professors and full professors at the U of S are ensured through a bargaining agreement to match the 75th percentile of the average salaries of comparable benchmark universities.

“The benchmark universities have been selected based on comparative size, research intensiveness and similarity of programs. All of the benchmarks except one are medical-doctoral universities,” according to the U of S Human Resources faculty bargaining update issued Feb. 7, 2007.

From the salary years of 2006-07 to 2009-10, the average earnings of assistant professors and associate professors at the university did not meet the 75th percentile and were below the benchmark average. The average salary of a full professor at the U of S has been above the benchmark average since 2006-07, with an exception of the 2008-09 year when it was below.

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Image: U of S faculty association

Gordon Oakes-Red Bear Student Centre plan unveiled: architect Douglas Cardinal weaves features of traditional Indigenous lodges into modern design

2012-05-14T02:33:31Z

New architectural renderings for the Gordon Oakes-Red Bear Student Centre, unveiled at a special event May 9 with chief architect Douglas Cardinal (click to enlarge).

View more photos of the May 9 ceremony on the U of S Flickr page.

ARMAND LAPLANTE

The architect known for designing the Canadian Museum of Civilization and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian was at the University of Saskatchewan May 9 to unveil his official plans for the Gordon Oakes-Red Bear Student Centre.

Douglas Cardinal, who is of Blackfoot and Métis heritage, presented not only the site specifications and digital renderings of the building but also the cultural philosophy of the design.

He explained that the student centre will model traditional aboriginal lodges by placing the entrance at the south of the building, the direction that migratory animals go during the winter.

“The important thing is to have a presence architecturally for First Nations people on the campus, given there are many First Nations students here and in the future even more because of population trends,” Cardinal said at the evening presentation in the Arts Building.

“This is an amazing opportunity to bring [U of S President Peter MacKinnon’s] dream into reality because it takes a great deal of forward thinking to recognize the First Nations have a rightful place in society and a rightful place in all of our institutions.”

The building will house both the Indigenous Students’ Council and the Aboriginal Students’ Centre with additional space for learning and ceremonies.

Chief architect Douglas Cardinal speaks at a presentation on campus on May 9, 2012.

The 1,884-square-metre design features Indigenous culture and spirituality. The exterior, like much of Cardinal’s previous work, is marked with flowing curves, window walls and smooth lines. The ceiling will display a large medicine wheel — a circle painted in four colours that represent the four directions used in traditional First Nations teachings and healing.

The centre will be “a vibrant inclusive gathering place for all,” MacKinnon said.

Cardinal has designed a number of notable buildings including the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Gatineau, Que., the First Nations University of Canada in Regina and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C.

Construction of the Gordon Oakes-Red Bear Student Centre is slated to begin late 2012, with an expected completion date in 2014.

The student centre will be built along Wiggins Avenue between the Arts Tower and Murray Library. According to former aboriginal issues adviser to the U of S and recently appointed Saskatchewan Treaty Commissioner George Lafond, the highly visible site was chosen to more easily share Indigenous culture with all students.

Aboriginal students currently make up roughly eight per cent of the U of S student body — the largest total aboriginal enrollment among major Canadian universities. However, first- to second-year retention rates amongst aboriginal students at the university are as low as 55 per cent.

Another architectural rendering of the Gordon Oakes-Red Bear Student Centre.

The new student centre will provide a welcoming cultural setting for aboriginal students coming from various communities and backgrounds and will help these students integrate into the university’s learning environment.

The initiative was first considered in 1998 when NOVA Chemicals made a $1-million donation to the university specifically for aboriginal student space. In 2006, the board of governors approved hiring consultants to proceed with the design of the centre.

In October 2011, the university announced it had secured funding and would be moving forward on the $15-million project.

A rendering of the interior of the Gordon Oakes-Red Bear Student Center.

View more photos of the May 9 ceremony on the U of S Flickr page.

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Photos: Liam Richards/U of S

Confrontation between police and protestors outside Quebec Liberal Party meeting turns violent

2012-05-15T00:19:14Z

QUEEN ARSEM-O’MALLEY & ERIN HUDSON
The McGill Daily (McGill University)

Riot police loom behind their smoke grenade during the protests in Victoriaville, Quebec last week.

Over 100 people, including a busload of McGill and Concordia students, were arrested last night in the wake of a protest against the Quebec government’s proposed tuition increases.

Around 4,000 protesters travelled to Victoriaville, Quebec yesterday for the start of the Quebec Liberal Party’s general council meeting, while in Quebec City, student leaders negotiated with the government concerning the ongoing unlimited general strike.

The confrontation between police and protestors turned violent, with at least 106 arrests were reported as of Friday night.

The Liberals’ general council was originally to be held in Montreal. However the location was changed to Victoriaville on April 29. Liberal Party communications director Michel Rochette toldThe Gazette that ”Victoriaville is a much more open site. We don’t want people impeded at the doors in case there is a demonstration.”

Protestors gathered in Victoriaville late Friday afternoon where Quebec Premier Jean Charest was set to address the council at 7:20 p.m. The provincial police force, Sûreté du Québec (SQ), had secured the perimeter of the hotel by the time busloads of protesters started to arrive at around 4 p.m.

By 6:30 p.m. protesters broke through barriers — police secured the area, and the protest was declared illegal. In the coming hours, violence escalated between police and protesters.

Reports from the scene state that protesters pushed through barriers and threw projectiles at police lines. Rubber bullets, CS gas, and smoke grenades were deployed by the SQ. Ambulances were called to the scene, and at least five protesters were admitted to the hospital. Radio-Canada video footage also shows one police officer being hit by protesters. According to The Montreal Gazette, an SQ spokesperson reported earlier this evening that there were 11 injuries; 7 protesters and 4 police officers.

Around 9 p.m., Concordia campus television station CUTV ended their live broadcast stating that the protestors were dispersing. Busloads of protesters began leaving the city.

Based on reports from Le Délit’s reporter on the ground, a bus carrying McGill and Concordia students was the last to leave. The bus was escorted back to Victoriaville by police, and passengers were placed under arrest.

The passengers allegedly under arrest were unable to be contacted, but included two journalists fromLe Délit and The Link though it has been confirmed that neither journalist will face charges. Students participating in the eleventh nightly demonstration in the streets of Montreal held a solidarity sit-in on Mont Royal and St. Denis for those who were arrested in Victoriaville.

An SQ officer who spoke with The Link confirmed that three buses had been arrested. The passengers were being taken off the buses in pairs, identified and questioned. The officer said that most would be eventually released, but it could be “some hours.” He said that he believed most would be charged, but could not specify what the charges would be. Those charged, he said, would be released and required to appear in court at a later date.

There are unconfirmed reports of at least two buses returning from Victoriaville being stopped and their passengers arrested. A solidarity sit-in for those arrested occurred last night in Montreal.

The strike has lasted for eleven weeks and about 173,508 students, represented by the large temporary coalition of the student association ASSÉ (CLASSE), are currently on strike against tuition hikes set to begin this September.

Meanwhile in Quebec City, representatives from the four major student associations involved in the student strike met with the Minister of Education yesterday at 4 p.m. The student associations present included CLASSE, the Fédération étudiante collégiale du Québec (FECQ), the Fédération étudiante universitaire du Québec (FEUQ) and the Table de concertation étudiante du Québec (TaCEQ).

The government presented an offer to student leaders on April 27 which would raised tuition by $254 for seven years as opposed to the government’s planned hike of $325 over the next five years. CLASSE presented its counter-offer on Thursday morning with FEUQ and FECQ presenting a separate proposal. According to Radio-Canada, last night’s negotiations continued until this morning.

The Liberal’s general council meeting in Victoriaville will continue until tomorrow afternoon with both Premier Jean Charest and Minster of Education Line Beauchamp in scheduled to participate. Beauchamp is set to address the council at noon today.

– with files from Riley Sparks

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Photos: Nicolas Quiazua/Le Délit

UPDATED: Ben Heenan drafted first overall by Roughriders

2012-05-10T19:46:02Z

University of Saskatchewan Huskies offensive lineman Ben Heenan was drafted first overall by the Saskatchewan Roughriders Thursday, May 3 in the 2012 CFL Canadian Draft.

The Roughriders were so confident in their choice to take the 6-4, 310-pound Grand Coulee, Sask. product that team President and CEO Jim Hopson made the announcement at the Annual Dogs’ Breakfast in Saskatoon five hours prior to the official draft.

“It was overwhelming, and to be able to share this experience with 2000 Huskie supporters, teammates, coaches and my family really meant a lot,” Heenan said in a press release following the announcement.

“Although my name was the one being called out, everybody from Huskie Athletics helped me get to this point today and for that I am incredibly thankful and forever indebted to them.”

Ben Heenan on the sidelines in a game against the University of Calgary Dinos earlier this year.

The offensive guard is only the second Huskie ever to be drafted first overall in the CFL draft — safety Dylan Barker was picked first by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2008.

The CFL scouting bureau had projected Heenan to be picked first for a majority of the past year. It was only last month that Boise State defensive end Tyrone Crawford, who was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys on April 27 in the NFL draft, surpassed him in the scouts’ rankings.

In his four seasons with the Huskies, Heenan was awarded the Canada West rookie of the year in 2008, he was named a CIS All-Canadian in his last two seasons and he was one of three CIS players to play in this year’s American East-West Bowl, an all-star game featuring the top university players in North America.

The Roughriders currently have a veteran offensive line, which will take the pressure off of Heenan to come in and fill a starting position right away.

Heenan is excited to learn from these experienced players but says he plans on pushing them for a starting spot come June 1 when the Roughriders’ training camp begins.

Keenan MacDougall was the only other Huskies player drafted May 3. The Dogs’ defensive back, who sat out all of the 2011 season due to injury but put up an impressive performance at the CFL evaluation camp in March, was selected 15th overall by the Calgary Stampeders early in third round.

“The results at CFL Evaluation Camp caught some teams’ eyes,” MacDougall said in a press release. “I didn’t have much film on me after missing last season, so my results just sparked enough interest in me.”

At 6-2 and 208-pounds, MacDougall showed off his speed and jumping ability at the evaluation camp. He placed third in both the 40-yard dash and shuttle run, second in the vertical jump with a leap of 41.5 inches and first in the broad jump flying nearly ten feet eight inches.

In his three seasons with the Huskies, MacDougall put up 76.5 career tackles, two interceptions, and one forced fumble. Huskies defensive back Bryce McCall and defensive lineman David Rybinski were also eligible for selection but went undrafted. However, both players could still be invited to work out and attend training camp with any of the eight CFL squads.

— Photo: Steve Hiscock/Liam Richards Photography

Quebec student march ends in arrests across Montreal

2012-04-27T18:18:44Z

Students in Montreal's downtown clash with police over a proposed province-wide tuition hike.

LAURENT BASTIEN CORBEIL & HENRY GASS
The McGill Daily (McGill University)

MONTREAL (CUP) — Police clashed with protesters for the second time this week as negotiations broke down between provincial student associations and the Quebec government.

The breakdown came after Education Minister Line Beauchamp barred members of the Coalition de l’Association pour une solidarité syndicale étudiante (CLASSE) from participating in talks.

The Fédération étudiante universitaire du Québec (FEUQ) and the Fédération étudiante collégiale du Québec (FECQ) left the negotiation table in solidarity with CLASSE.

The protest

More than 5,000 protesters gathered at Place Émilie-Gamelin at around 8:30 p.m. on April 25 before marching through the streets of downtown Montreal.

The demonstration remained calm until protesters reached the intersection of Ste. Catherine and Guy. Demonstrators overturned garbage bins, smashed bank windows, and hurled rocks at police cars.

Riot police intervened at around 10:30 p.m. by detonating concussion grenades, throwing tear gas canisters, and charging the protesters at the intersection of Ste. Catherine and Metcalfe.

After regrouping on Sherbrooke, demonstrators marched down St. Denis and clashed for a second time with police on René Lévesque.

Beer bottles and rocks were thrown as demonstrators scattered before charging riot police.

The crowd dispersed at around 12:00 a.m.

Small altercations between police and demonstrators continued throughout the night.

Around 60 protestors were arrested at 1:30 a.m. on the corner of St. Dominique and des Pins after being kettled an hour and a half earlier.

According to the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM), a total of 85 people were arrested.

The truce

Beauchamp accused CLASSE of breaking the “truce” she called for on April 23 as a condition for negotiations. Under the “truce,” CLASSE was told not to hold any demonstrations during a 48-hour negotiation period.

Students held a demonstration on the evening of April 24 that ended in a smashed HSBC window and several arrests.

“This demonstration was announced on the site of the student association called the CLASSE,” Beauchamp told reporters in a press conference the next day.

“We cannot pretend today that they have dissociated themselves. I consider therefore that the CLASSE has excluded itself from the negotiation table,” continued Beauchamp.

Three smoke bombs were also detonated on the morning of April 25, one each in the Lionel-Groulx and Henri-Bourassa metro stations, and one in the Complexe Desjardins.

Students’ Society of McGill University vice-president external Joël Pedneault said excluding CLASSE “is possibly the worst move [the government] could have done at this stage.”

“At least in Montreal, the vast majority of student activists and people who are involved in the strike are with CLASSE and support CLASSE, so it definitely won’t reduce the amount of conflict related to the strike,” said Pedneault.

CLASSE, considered the most radical of the major student associations by the government, denounced violence carried out during the 10-week-old student strike, but refused to condemn civil disobedience or acts of self-defense.

Nadeau-Dubois responded to Beauchamp’s offer of a truce on April 23 by neither accepting nor rejecting the offer.

“Spokespeople for CLASSE — of which I am one — don’t have the power to take a position on a truce, nor to constrain the 180,000 students on strike and order them to stop mobilizing,” Nadeau-Dubois said in a press conference on April 23.

“So the truce that she has asked for is de facto in effect,” he added.

Nadeau-Dubois has insisted that CLASSE had not planned any actions this week, and, while Tuesday’s demonstration was announced on the association’s website, CLASSE was not involved in its organization.

Pedneault said CLASSE “could have taken a clearer line” on the truce offer.

“They could have rejected outright the truce and said they’re still going to be at the negotiation table, or something to that effect,”

In a press conference Wednesday afternoon, Nadeau-Dubois said Beauchamp “doesn’t want to talk about the tuition hike.”

“This decision by Madame Beauchamp is obviously another strategy to sabotage the discussions,” he added.

— With files from Jordan Venton-Rublee

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Photo: Alex Pritz/The McGill Daily

BRIEF: 2012-13 U of S tuition rates approved, will rise by an overall average of 4.4 per cent

2012-04-18T17:37:07Z

The University of Saskatchewan Board of Governors has approved the tuition rates for the 2012-13 academic year, according to an email distributed to students April 16 by the Office of the Provost.

The email outlined that for the next academic year, “undergraduate and graduate tuition rates will rise by an overall average of 4.4 per cent. Tuition level increases will vary by program, but most programs will see an increase of 4.2 per cent or less. Student fees for 2012-13 have also been approved.”

Tuition rates, which are reviewed annually by the Board of Governors, are set according to three principles:

“comparability to similar programs at other medical-doctoral universities;
accessibility and affordability, so as not systematically to exclude large groups of potential students; and,
the quality of our programs, and the need to ensure our students receive a high-quality education.”

A full breakdown of the tuition rate increase was included in the email, a copy of which can be found below.

Click to enlarge

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Image: University of Saskatchewan

Having fun with words (because everyone wants to learn more during finals)

2012-04-16T02:11:53Z

People who know me well understand two things about me: I hate coffee and I love words. Words are my trade and I take care of them. We have a very strange language with a long history, but most people do not stop to think about how it came together. So here is a brief tour of some of the more peculiar points of English.

Queer origins

With many words, it can be hard to keep track of where they came from. The answers may surprise you.

Camera. A camera is a device used for taking pictures. When a meeting goes “in camera,” it is closed off. Both uses come from the phrase “camera obscura” (“dark chamber”), which described a darkened room that allowed a tiny point of light to project an enlarged image. This concept formed the basis of the modern photographic camera.

Carnival. This word is actually related to the word “carnivore.” Its literal meaning is “putting away of meat.” It was used to describe the celebration before the beginning of the Lenten fast, when people would abstain from meat for 40 days.

Idiot. This stems from the Greek root “idio,” which indicates something personal (as in “idiosyncrasy”). An idiot was simply a private person, as opposed to one involved in public office. The word took its pejorative meaning as someone too stupid to understand public affairs when it was adopted by the Romans.

Talent. A talent was an ancient unit of currency. Its modern meaning comes from a Biblical parable in which three servants were each allotted talents. Two invested their money to make a profit but one hid his talent in the ground. The word gained a metaphorical meaning in the Middle Ages to refer to natural ability, since just like in the parable, your talents are useless if you keep them hidden.

Words of the Bard

We all took Shakespeare in high school. While you may or may not have enjoyed his plays, chances are at some point you paused to wonder what the big deal was. There are many reasons, but one that does not get much air time is just how much of our language little Will came up with himself.

If you find yourself using words like “advertising,” “gossip,” “retirement,” “traditional,” “engagement,” “glow,” “partner,” or “watchdog,” then you owe something to the Bard. But Shakespeare did not simply string letters together and declare them a words; rather he took existing words and shifted them for his own purpose. “Retire” was a word that he used to make “retirement.” “Gossip” referred initially to a loud-mouthed woman. Shakespeare made it a verb.

Additionally, many common colloquial phrases have their origins in the Shakespearean canon. Just a few of them include “cold-blooded,” “eye-sore,” “come full circle,” “shooting star,” “love letter,” “into thin air,” “never-ending,” and “puppy-dog.”

In the end, it is estimated Shakespeare coined approximately 2,000 of what are now household words. Oh, and he came up with “household words” too.

Days of the week

Sunday and Monday have the most obvious origins, coming from Old English terms for Sun-day and Moon-day. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday are all taken from the names of Norse gods — Tyr, Woden, Thor and Frejya. And Saturday is named after the Roman god Saturn.

Words you didn’t realise were euphemisms

I don’t care for euphemisms. My reason is that they don’t really work and invariably end up being corrupted to the point of requiring a new euphemism. Don’t believe me? Let’s take a look at some famous euphemisms that you didn’t even realise were euphemisms.

Execution. Understood meaning: the death penalty. Literal meaning: any undertaken action. It was given as the most neutral and vague term that could be applied to capital punishment. While its innocuous meaning is still used to an extent today, at a glance, “execution” always carries with it the connotation of death.

Affair. Understood meaning: an act of infidelity. Literal meaning: Any sort of business. The term was useful as a conveniently vague word to cover any indiscretion (“Where are you going?” / “Oh, I just have an affair downtown.”). We still acknowledge its literal meaning in phrases like “getting my affairs in order” or titles like The Thomas Crown Affair, but for general usage it has slipped out of common parlance because of its new connotation.

Retarded. Understood meaning: derogatory term for the mentally disabled. Literal meaning: hindered in any way. “You’re not retarded; you’re just a little slow.” Whether the writer of that Quantum Leap episode understood the irony is a mystery. At this point there is no shaking the sense of “retarded” in reference to people as insulting, but it is a shame that we have lost it in all other usages as well. Talking about the retarded traffic on Idylwyld will likely give a different impression than it should.

Period. Understood meaning: menstruation. Literal meaning: any length of time. At some point in the past century, a very polite genius came up with this euphemism. Because after all, what could possibly be more inoffensive than a period of time?

Toilet. Surprised? Our household biological waste facilities have earned many euphemisms: bathroom, washroom, powder room, water closet, throne. But none can come close to the deftness of the original. Deriving from the French word “toile” (cloth), the word toilet spent a period of several hundred years referring to a woman’s dressing table, or more generally to a woman’s routine of dressing and grooming.

Word myths

Much like with ShamWows, where word origins are concerned, beware of imitators. I’m sorry to disappoint you, but the phrase “It’s raining cats and dogs” does not originate from cats and dogs living on people’s roofs in the Middle Ages and falling off during the rain. “The Rule of Thumb” actually has nothing to do with wife beating. Golf comes from the Scottish word “gowf,” not from an acronym for “Gentlemen only, ladies forbidden.” I refuse to believe anyone out there actually believes this, but “fuck” most definitely does not come from an acronym for “fornication under consent of king.”

And that’s all the space I have. Just remember, verbosity is sometimes a virtue.

Thanks to The Essential Shakespeare Handbook, Thereby Hangs a Tale by Charles Funk, and the OED Online.

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Photo: Source

Education Under Fire film to show on campus: documentary explores Baha’i education in Iran

2012-04-08T18:07:06Z

EDWARD ROBERTSON

Roya Pourjamshidi, a self-identified member of the Baha’i faith and a current engineering student at the University of Saskatchewan, applied to continue her education at Iranian universities. Her applications were denied.

For several decades, prospective Baha’i students have been excluded from Iranian universities on the basis of their religion, rather than their academic merits.

The systematic denial of education to minorities is just one of many human rights violations taking place in Iran that the United Nations has voiced concern over. Other concerns include women’s rights, freedom of expression in media, equality of religion, political freedom and children’s rights.

With a focus on education, Single Arrow Productions and co-sponsor Amnesty International produced Education Under Fire, a 30-minute documentary that profiles the growth, struggle and spirit of the Baha’i Institute of Higher Education.

Founded in 1987, the BIHE is a semi-underground university in Iran that offers education in the sciences, social sciences and arts to those who are excluded from other Iranian universities.

The school has a volunteer faculty of nearly 500, including accredited professors who assist in both teaching and research.

Since the BIHE’s inception, the Iranian government has made several attempts to close it.

On May 22, 2011, in the government’s most recent raid, officials entered homes of many of the BIHE educators by force. Books, computers and other materials were seized. Educators were arrested and placed in Iran’s notorious Evin Prison, where American journalist Roxana Saberi was incarcerated in 2009.

Education Under Fire, which will show on the U of S campus April 12, was filmed in nine Iranian cities and documents the experiences of students and teachers whose lives have been affected by the BIHE. Along with footage and photos spanning over two decades of classes, the documentary features video from within Evin Prison and personal stories that capture the essence of the university.

The goal of the film is to inspire the educational institutions of Iran to open up to Baha’i students and also aims to have more international institutions recognize degrees earned at BIHE, which are currently accepted by 60 universities internationally.

Education Under Fire will be screened in Arts 146 at 12:30 p.m. on April 12.

The consequence of losing an Oscar bet: Jack and Jill versus Bio-Dome

2012-04-07T19:16:17Z

I lost the Sheaf’s Oscar poll to arts editor Aren Bergstrom. As punishment, I agreed to compare Adam Sandler’s recent Razzie champ Jack and Jill with the eternal gong show Bio-Dome, starring Pauly Shore and one of the unfunny Baldwins.

Jack and Jill is very recent and therefore representative of the times we’re living in and Bio-Dome is the only other crappy comedy I’ve watched recently. I’m going to pit them against each other in three categories — story, performance and comedy — in order to determine which movie is less cringe-inducing.

Story

In Jack and Jill, a successful advertising executive, Jack, played by Sandler, is faced with a curious dilemma. His biggest client, Dunkin’ Donuts, wants Al Pacino to star in a new commercial to promote their drink “The Dunkerino.”

The real plot revolves around a visit from Jack’s sister Jill, also played by Sandler. Jack doesn’t enjoy her company. She’s obnoxious, racist, homophobic and horrible in every conceivable way. When Jack discovers that Pacino likes Jill, Jack conspires to use his sister to convince Pacino to appear in the commercial.

In the end Jack and Jill make up and everyone lives happily ever after.

In Bio-Dome, two dudes from the ’90s with hot girlfriends and a decent house but no jobs, enthusiasm or ambition get trapped inside a bio-dome. The bio-dome is inhabited by ingenious scientists trying to study life in an enclosed area.

Pauly Shore and Stephen Baldwin come across the bio-dome when they mistake it for a giant mall. After sneaking in they are sealed off for a year with the scientists. The dudes screw around until the head scientist banishes them to the desert where they discover a key that allows them to escape.

They return to throw a party, wreaking havoc inside the dome. Seeing the error of their ways, the dudes agree to help fix the dome. But the head scientist has gone mad and wants to blow the structure up. The scientist is thwarted and everyone lives happily ever after.

Winner: I have to go with Bio-Dome. Granted, the story isn’t handled well but Jack and Jill is handled just as poorly and reminds me of a bad sitcom idea.

Bio-Dome — 1

Jack and Jill — 0

Performace

The big hook in Jack and Jill is that one twin is Adam Sandler and the other is Adam Sandler wearing a wig. Adam Sandler is convinced that the trick to playing a woman is to speak with a lisp and wear a dress.

The movie has one saving grace in Pacino. Ever a professional, he gives his all in this performance. It’s not a good one—you pity him
— but there are a few moments when you can see that Pacino is still a great actor.

Bio-Dome has no redeeming performances. Pauly Shore is Pauly Shore, which is about as bad as it gets. The other lead is unmemorable Baldwin brother #644. The movie consists of those two going nuts with no character growth whatsoever. They just run around being their annoying selves the entire movie.

The other performances are just as bad. The villain is so cliché that you’ll want to draw a moustache on the TV. The girlfriends are completely underwritten and not respectfully treated. They are shown as uninteresting killjoys who want to change their men but seem to have no interest in lives beyond them. Abysmal.

Winner: By a Pacino (which in this case is still not much), Jack and Jill.

Bio-Dome — 1

Jack and Jill — 1

Comedy

That leaves one last category to examine: comedy. Which movie made me laugh… at all?

Jack and Jill scrapes the bottom of the barrel for its attempts at humor. When it’s not busy with confusing slapstick or reducing a family of Latinos to a border-crossing joke, Sandler brings in every celebrity cameo imaginable in the hopes that they might capture your interest long enough to get a chuckle. This happens endlessly, with the appearance of everyone from Norm MacDonald to Johnny Depp.

Bio-Dome’s comedy is dependent on the two leads. They do not deliver. They run around smacking their heads into things, making noises and annoying the scientists. Handled properly, their antics might have been endearing. However, their inanity makes the viewer want to side with the bomb-crazy villain.

In one scene, the two leads are driving to meet their girlfriends when they see the bio-dome.

“What does bio-dome mean?” one asks.

“I dunno. Think it goes both ways?” the other responds.

“I dunno but we do!” the first one replies. They then pretend to make out, and afterwards sit blankly starring. So do we.

Don’t make me do this

Winner? You’re really going to make me decide?

Pacino has one funny joke in Jack and Jill, which he delivers when Jill destroys his Oscar.

“I’m so sorry, I’m sure you have others,” she says.

“Well, you’d think so,” he replies. “But oddly enough I don’t.”

So there you have it. That kind of got a chuckle out of me.

Bio-Dome — 1

Jack and Jill — 2

Winner: Jack and Jill.

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Images: Supplied

Good riddance to the penny (if only Stephen Harper would kill these other things as well)

2012-04-06T21:17:34Z

Starting this fall, the Royal Canadian Mint will no longer distribute new pennies. This decision was unveiled in the federal government’s 2012 budget and will likely go down as one of those once-in-a-generation moments of national unity — like winning gold in hockey at the Vancouver Olympics or the adoption of the maple leaf flag.

No one disputes that pennies are useless. For starters, it costs 1.6 cents to produce each coin. The only time people are glad to have pennies is when they see a leave-a-penny dish at a cash register. Even one-cent candies now cost more than a cent. Getting rid of the penny may just prove to be the most popular thing the Conservatives do in government.

The abolition of the penny proves what most people have long suspected: Stephen Harper is the greatest prime minister since Sir John A. Macdonald. At the very least, it confirms that he’s really good at abolishing things — the long-gun registry, the long-form census and the Katimavik program.

Here’s a short list of other things the prime minister should consider abolishing.

Nickels

The nickel is the awkward middle child of the small coin family. Not worth enough to buy much but too big to be ignored, the nickel is just asking for it. Even parking meters refuse nickels, so why should we meekly accept a fistful of them in our change? Hell, nickels aren’t even made of nickel anymore; they’re almost entirely steel, with nickel plating.

Mr. Harper, tear down this coin!

Payphones

It seems pretty obvious that any remaining payphones are merely there because no one has gotten around to disconnecting them. They are relics of the past that are only useful for vandalizing. The only good thing about payphones was the phone booth, but those haven’t been standard for decades.

While Harper is at it, he should abolish all landlines. Phones are just glorified text messagers now and actually speaking to another human being using your voice is rather archaic. Oh, and all Bluetooth earpieces. Maybe BlackBerrys too.

Drum solos

Solos in general are pretty annoying, but at the bottom of the solo totem pole is the drum solo. Even the most amazing drummer in the world can’t sustain a crowd’s interest for long without some other instruments in the mix. This is why a singer-songwriter can get by with just a guitar, but why you never see musical acts that just use drums.

Drum solos also go on for far too long. If you really want to give the singer a break, how about telling a knock-knock joke? It will be about as entertaining as the drum solo but won’t cause any headaches in the crowd.

Abolishing drum solos will of course leave drumming itself intact, but anyone who goes more than 10 seconds without other instruments should get an automatic 10 to 20 years.

Wednesdays

The middle of the workweek, difficult to spell and possessing an overall shitty attitude, Wednesday is ripe for abolition. The week could still have seven days (I have a multi-year Dilbert-a-day calendar that would become completely meaningless otherwise) but we can all agree that Wednesday doesn’t deserve its place in the middle. We could add an extra weekend day, or we could just rename Wednesday to “Double Tuesday.” In addition to abolishing Wednesday, I’d also like to see the prime minister strictly enforce Hump Day in some way.

Dogs

We all know that Stephen Harper is a cat-lover — and why shouldn’t he be? They’re soft, cute and pee in a box.

The cat’s mortal enemy, of course, is the dog, and unlike their cuddly counterparts, dogs generally don’t pee in convenient places. Also, sometimes they can be big and scary and mean.

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Photo: Wikimedia Commons

BRIEF: University of Saskatchewan to reduce expenses in face of budget pressures

2012-04-06T21:13:10Z

Provost and Vice-President Academic Brett Fairbairn.

The University of Saskatchewan will be forced to trim spending over the next four years to make up for a lower-than-requested provincial operating grant.

At an April 3 public meeting, Provost and Vice-President Academic Brett Fairbairn outlined the financial repercussions of the March 21 provincial budget, which left the university shortchanged after receiving just a 2.1 per cent increase to the 2012-13 operating grant. The university had asked for a 5.8 per cent grant increase.

“Prior to knowing what our provincial grant would be, we projected a shortfall of $10 million over the next planning cycle, which is 2012-16,” Fairbairn said at the public meeting. “Now that we know what the grant is, our projected gap is more likely $12-15 million in 2012-13 and $20-40 million per year until 2016.”

As the university works to tighten the gap between revenue and expenses, administration will consider institutional priorities, but cuts are inevitable, the provost said.

According to Fairbairn, budget pressures stemming from declining provincial funding is not unique to Saskatchewan and governments across the country are slashing grants to post-secondary institutions.

Fairbairn explained that budget decisions will be guided by the priorities outlined in the university’s recently approved Third Integrated Plan.

“We need to think about what we will start doing, and what we will stop doing, but we must ensure that our solutions are sustainable in the long term,” he said.

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Photo: Robby Davis

Fight over film tax credit continues: Saskatoon producer says film industry not warned about cuts in budget

2012-04-06T02:52:30Z

Wapos Bay director Trevor Cameron on set.

When Brad Wall’s government cancelled the Saskatchewan Film Employment Tax Credit, it caught many in the film industry flat-footed.

“I was shocked,” said Anand Ramayya, owner of Saskatoon-based production company Karma Film.

“We had been in discussion with the ministry beforehand and had no indication that this was going to happen.”

The cancellation of the film credit was announced in Regina March 21 as a part of the 2012 budget. The elimination of the credit was part of an effort “to ensure provincial finances remain sustainable,” Culture Minister Bill Hutchinson said in a news release.

The tax credit entitles film productions to claim up to 45 per cent of labour costs if the money is spent in-province, and can cover up to 50 per cent of a production’s total budget.

“Those numbers are misleading because they refer to the amount of labour that you can claim,” Ramayya said. “The reality is that the amount of financing that you actually get is about 20 per cent of your budget.”

The government announced it would no longer accept applications for the FETC as of April 1, but that it would continue to honour productions that have already been approved for the tax credit.

The Saskatchewan government announced a week after the budget that it would extend the applications deadline for the FETC to June 30, but that the tax credit would still be phased out by 2014. Minister Hutchinson was unavailable for further comment.

“Eliminating the tax credit will save Saskatchewan taxpayers up to $3 million this year and $8 million once it is fully phased out by December 31, 2014,” the release concluded.

However, the culture ministry’s own documents from 2004 showed that the impact of the FETC on the provincial economy was minimal. It also predicted that as the industry continued to grow over time, there would be less “leakage” to other provinces and more jobs and money would stay in Saskatchewan.

“We want to be a good sound business investment as well,” Ramayya said, whose company produces the award-winning stop-motion animation series Wapos Bay. “Nobody wants to be perceived to be doing something contrary to that. I think when the numbers do get crunched, they always end up on our side. Basically, worst case scenario, we’re revenue-neutral. In the good years, we’re revenue-positive.”

The local film industry has claimed that since the program started in 1998, the government’s $100-million investment has generated $623 million in production.

The fight to save the FETC has drawn in various commentators, from CBC’s Jian Ghomeshi to Saskatchewan actor Kim Coates (of Sons of Anarchy) to comedian Brent Butt, whose Saskatchewan-based Corner Gas was one of the most successful Canadian productions of the last decade. CBC’s Little Mosque on the Prairie and Wapos Bay are two more examples of Saskatchewan productions that take advantage of the FETC.

“I don’t think the decade would have unfolded the same way [without the FETC] because our stories come from our communities, and if you don’t have an industry functioning in your community then… a big part of what you lose are those voices,” Ramayya said.

Ramayya’s Wapos Bay recently won Best Foreign Animation Film at the International Family Film Festival in Hollywood.

“Little Mosque, Corner Gas, Wapos Bay are all really good examples of the success stories of those indigenous stories from our community making it to the international stage and doing well.”

Far from despairing, however, Ramayya sees the government’s extension as a sign for hope. The issue seems to be resonating with the general public as well. An online petition called “Save the Saskatchewan Film Employment Tax Credit” started March 23 with the goal of gaining 5,000 signatures. Currently, it has over 8,300.

“I don’t think anyone expected there to be such a public reaction to it,” he said. “Which I think means people in the province, taxpayers, actually do value film, TV and creative industries.”

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Photo: Supplied

BRIEF: Diefenbaker centre reopens after renovations

2012-04-05T17:31:23Z

A shot of the Diefenbaker Canada Center, overlooking downtown Saskatoon.

The Diefenbaker Canada Centre reopened to the public March 30 after months of renovations.

The Diefenbaker centre is located at the University of Saskatchewan between the Education Building and the Royal University Hospital. It first opened its doors in 1980 as a place to commemorate John Diefenbaker, the 13th prime minister of Canada.

The reopening is marked by three new exhibits highlighting the former prime minister and U of S alumnus’s dedication to human rights: The Diefenbaker Legacy; The Canadian Bill of Rights; and Unity, Diversity and Justice: Canadian Approaches to Human Rights.

The renovation was funded through a partnership between the Government of Canada and the U of S. The government made a $1.33-million investment in September 2010 after a visit to the centre by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who was on campus to mark the 50th anniversary of the Canadian Bill of Rights, a precursor to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms adopted in 1982.

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Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Iran reaches for the bomb: the international community must use diplomacy to stop Iran’s nuclear program

2012-04-05T17:24:23Z

ERIC MACFARLANE

As if the world doesn’t have enough problems, Iran is intent on building a nuclear bomb.

The world’s favourite problem child has decided to expand beyond supporting terrorist groups like Hezbollah, propping up a ruthless dictator in Syria, oppressing democracy internally and thwarting Western interests wherever possible.

If this were strictly a numbers game, it might not seem like that big of deal. The United States and Russia have thousands of nuclear warheads and the rest of the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council hold hundreds. Israel won’t admit to it, but the international community knows about its arsenal. India and Pakistan are well-armed with nukes. Hell, even North Korea has one (or more). Aside from its impending violation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, should we really be that concerned if Iran obtains a nuclear weapon?

The answer is yes.

Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, undoubtedly sees nuclear weapons as a tool for survival — not only as a means to deter an attack but also to shore up domestic support. Enough national pride has been invested in the weapons program that he cannot back down in the face of international efforts to stymie Iran’s nuclear program without losing a great deal of legitimacy.

But where are the lines drawn between realism and theocracy? Should we believe that Iran will behave like other nuclear-armed states given that the regime has called for the destruction of Israel and supports terrorist entities? If Iran is already willing to provide conventional arms to Hezbollah and Hamas, might it provide a nuke or a “dirty bomb” in the distant future?

North Korea’s nukes may be bad, but Iran’s would be worse.

Another concern is the possibility of a nuclear arms race in the Middle East. Of all places, the Middle East has had enough instability and intra-regional threats. An Iranian nuke will not help.

If Iran obtains nuclear weaponry there is a good chance that at least one of either Saudi Arabia, Turkey or Egypt will follow suit. Israel might even pursue a missile defence system or decide that a pre-emptive strike on Iranian facilities is the only course of action. We should rejoice that no nuclear attacks have occurred since the end of the Second World War. Further proliferation might push our luck.

Nuclear disarmament is probably centuries off, if it is at all possible. After all, I can’t think of a single weapon the human race has successfully stopped using and destroyed, especially one as effective at destruction as a nuclear bomb.

Yet there is hope in the form of a number of arms control measures, which the international community should do its best to promote and uphold.

Shame on those who condemn diplomacy. Iran may not be an ideal international partner, but it has interests beyond stockpiling weapons, and a halfway point should not be ruled out between pre-emptive war and Iran achieving its nuclear goal.

But if threats, arms control agreements and diplomacy fail, can we cope with an Iranian nuke? As is often the case in a complex world, all options are poor. High-five to the human race for another senseless dilemma.

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Graphic: Samantha Braun/The Sheaf

Final two BFA shows explore empty space

2012-04-05T17:12:20Z

Gabriella Sieminska’s photo of a lone figure explores the catatonic state of isolation. (Photo: Gabriella Sieminska)

As the school year draws to a close and students worry about exams, essays and final projects, graduating Bachelor of Fine Arts students are wrapping up their final art shows. Last week, the Sheaf featured many of this year’s graduating BFA shows that appeared in the Snelgrove Gallery throughout March. This week, the Sheaf features the final two BFA shows of the term: Adam Slusar’s Smoke and Mirrors and Gabriella Sieminska’s Katatonia.

Katatonia

Sieminska’s main focus in Katatonia is her photography, but her show also features paintings, drawings and installation pieces. She uses the cyanotype process of developing prints in chemicals for some of her photographs as well as digital mediums.

It’s important to Sieminska that she doesn’t pinhole her art into a specific category.

“A lot of people say that my drawings or paintings are abstract but I would never say that about my work myself. There’s not a lot of depth or perspective within my work and it’s all about textures, lines and colours,” said Sieminska.

Her photographs are more surreal than abstract, which may be attributed to her love of surrealist painter Salvador Dalí.

“A good piece of work might not necessarily need a perspective or depth within it,” she said. “I was always taught that perspective was something that you had to have within your piece in order to make the viewer respond to it but I’ll try to prove that’s not necessarily the case.”

Sieminska created Katatonia to reflect the mood of the space she forms in and around her paintings.

“A catatonic state is basically a state of melancholy—sitting somewhere for a very long time and looking at one spot or looking somewhere in the distance and being not really here, being hidden in your thoughts,” she said. “It is described as a state of coma or schizophrenic behavior that really fascinates me.

“It’s a kind of island. A space that you walk into and you leave with your own experience. It’s a place on earth that doesn’t really exist.”

Adam Slusar’s acrylic painting combines architecture and figure.

Smoke and Mirrors

Slusar’s exhibition features acrylic paintings, etchings and wall drawings in which Slusar ties the psychological aspects of geometry into his noir-inspired work.

“My themes are mystery, deception and also bridging my interests in architecture with my interest in cinema,” said Slusar. “I tried to hold on to that while also branching into abstract territories.”

In his use of open space, Slusar activates the background so that it is as important as the subject is in setting the mood. His use of line draws the viewer’s eyes across the painting and around the picture to hint at a story only partly developed in paint while his narrative, in subdued colors, takes precedent in the viewer’s imagination.

“They all have their own colour properties and they kind of radiate a certain colour more than others do,” he said.

It’s easy to see the noir influences in Slusar’s work as the image of a lone, dark figure appears frequently in his paintings. They could easily be used as film posters from the 1960s.

“If you look at how I am adapting the photos of my work into paintings, some of them really push into the illustrative aspect and others maintain a little more abstract” aspect.

Both Slusar’s and Sieminska’s BFA shows focus heavily on narrative elements. Viewers are expected to fill in the blanks and decide for themselves what’s missing on the canvas. The shows emphasize how empty space can be just as important and thought provoking as occupied territory.

Smoke and Mirrors and Katatonia show from April 16 to 20 at the Snelgrove Gallery, with a reception on April 19 at 7 p.m.

Soccer star named athlete of the year: Barandica-Hamilton wins top honours alongside sprinter Sharai Siemens

2012-04-05T17:05:07Z

Award winners (from left) Dalyce Emmerson, Kyle Ross, Sharai Siemens, Jodi Souter, Jordan Arkko, Jerson Barandica-Hamilton.

Jerson Barandica-Hamilton came dressed in his best off-field outfit March 31 at TCU Place to accept the E. Kent Phillips Trophy for male athlete of the year at the annual Huskie Salute.

Barandica-Hamilton led the Canada West conference in scoring last season with eight goals and six assists in 14 games, breaking the previous conference records for goals, assists and points. The engineering student was also crowned Canada West MVP and named a Canadian Interuniversity Sport first team all-Canadian.

“It was very unexpected, but it feels great. Just to be considered with the rest of the nominees is a huge honour,” Barandica-Hamilton said.

On the women’s side, athlete of the year honours went to Sharai Siemens, a sprinter on the track and field squad.

Siemens captured three gold medals and one silver at the Canada West meet. She carried that momentum over to nationals where she won another two silver medals — one in the 300-metre and the other as a member of the 4×400-metre relay team.

The Howard Nixon Trophy for male rookie of the year was awarded to Jordan Arkko of the football team. The first-year offensive lineman started all nine games for the club, becoming only the fourth Huskie football player to do so in their rookie year.

The rookie of the year for women’s sport was awarded to basketball forward Dalyce Emmerson.

She played a pivotal role in her team’s run to nationals and was one of only two players in the nation to average a double-double during the regular season.

“It’s a great night to come and see everyone dressed up and to win the award is the cherry on top of the cake,” Emmerson said.

All-round athlete awards are presented to Huskie athletes who not only perform at a high level in their respective sport but also exhibit qualities of sportsmanship, leadership and academic achievement.

The female all-round award winner was Jodi Souter.

As captain of the women’s track and field team this past season, Souter led the charge for the squad’s third Canada West title in the last four years. She won a gold medal at the Canada West championships in the 3,000-metre race as well as a silver in the 1,500-metre.

Kyle Ross got the nod as the male winner in the all-round category. He captained the men’s hockey team to a Canada West championship and recorded career-best numbers last season with 16 goals and 17 assists in 28 games.

Ross’s coach Dave Adolph won the Colb McEwon award for coach of the year.

In his 19th season as head coach of the men’s hockey team he led the team back to the University Cup tournament for the first time since 2007-08.

The Salute catered to more than 900 athletes, fans and supporters of Huskie Athletics. It also acted as the official Huskie Athletics centennial reunion with plenty of alumni in attendance.

The U of S athletic director Basil Hughton commented on merging the awards banquet with the centennial gala.

“It’s outstanding to celebrate 100 years of Huskie Athletics and to combine that with this event was an opportunity we couldn’t pass up,” said Hughton.

“The opportunity to have our [current] athletes and our former athletes under the same roof and interacting is beyond words.”

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Photo: Raisa Pezderic/The Sheaf

Metro hits the streets of Saskatoon

2012-04-05T15:30:23Z

Metro boxes can be found blocking sidewalks everywhere.

Metro, a free national daily newspaper that targets transit riders, published its first Saskatoon issue on April 2.

“Saskatoon is the leading market in Canada and population growth and the economic growth indicate that the city is ready for a second [daily] newspaper,” said Steve Shrout, vice president and group publisher for Western Canada at the Metro.

Metro came to Canada 12 years ago and reaches over 1.4 million readers in 11 Canadian cities, now including Saskatoon and Regina. The paper publishes Monday to Friday. It boasts the title of being the Canada’s first national paper to be published in both English and French.

According to their website, Metro is the largest and fastest-growing newspaper in the world, with more than 55 editions published in 24 countries.

Owned by Torstar Corporation, Metro is geared towards active, young people who live within the city. Saskatoon’s demographics, with a growing student population, are the right fit for Metro right now, Shrout said.

Metro prints local articles in first few pages, and features national writers to fill the Canadian, world, sports and entertainment pages.

In addition to the print edition, Metro is available online and through mobile apps for BlackBerry, iPhone and Android.

The distribution method was customized for this particular expansion to complement Saskatoon’s bus transit system, Shrout said.

Green street boxes are spread throughout the city as primary distribution points. Grocery stores, coffee shops and local businesses will also carry copies.

Metro’s income comes primarily from national advertisers. However, the paper will incorporate local clients as well, Shrout said.

Saskatoon is already home to one commuter paper, the Verb, which is distributed predominantly on Saskatoon Transit. Although the two papers differ in terms of content, competition remains in the fight for commuter readership.

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Photo: Bryn Becker/The Sheaf

A 10-year human rights travesty: Omar Khadr’s release from Guantanamo is the least that can be done

2012-04-04T09:49:36Z

Canadian citizen Omar Khadr has been in jail since he was 15. He is now 25.

But Khadr is not in a typical jail, and he is not a typical criminal — if such a thing exists. Khadr is in the controversial American Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba. He has been there since 2002, when he was accused of throwing a grenade at an American soldier during a firefight in Afghanistan, though evidence discovered since his capture suggests that he may not have been the one to throw it.

Khadr’s name is once again in the news, this time because he is potentially about to be released into Canadian custody to serve the remainder of his sentence. As in any case that goes on as long as his has, the more complicated and damning aspects have largely been forgotten.

As much as possible, we must not forget what has happened. We must bring Omar Khadr back to Canada.

The grounds on which Khadr was imprisoned are dubious at best. Just 15 at the time of the battle that led to his apprehension, Khadr qualified as a child soldier. Both international law and decades of precedent make it clear that child soldiers should not be prosecuted.

In 2010, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict Radhika Coomaraswamy said this about Khadr’s case: “Child soldiers must be treated primarily as victims and alternative procedures should be in place aimed at rehabilitation or restorative justice.”

Khadr, who has been incarcerated in Guantanamo for the last 10 years, has not been afforded the relative luxury of rehabilitative justice. He has instead, according to his lawyers, been subject to torture and coercion during his imprisonment, and this torture led to confessions American officials used in extracting a plea agreement from him. Neither has he been exempted from war crimes proceedings. This makes Khadr the first child soldier prosecuted since World War II.

There have been so many abuses of human rights and justice in Khadr’s case that any judge hearing this as a normal criminal proceeding would have no choice but to throw it out. Many national security proponents, however, argue that this is not a normal case, that it involves a terrorist and that Khadr should be tried regardless of his age.

This is obviously what the Bush and Obama administrations felt, since they pursued charges and proceedings against Khadr. Little is known about what took place during the military commission that heard Khadr’s case and sentenced him. Aside from an edited transcript of Khadr’s courtroom statements that was published by the Toronto Star in 2010, most of the case happened outside the public eye. What is known is that Khadr pled guilty to five war crimes in exchange for an eight-year sentence.

Now that those proceedings have come to a close, the absolute least that could be accorded Khadr would be to respect the terms of his plea agreement.

The plea agreement, signed last year, called for Khadr to be returned to Canada for the last seven of his eight-year sentence.

Now even U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta is ready to release him. The last remaining obstacle between Khadr and some semblance of justice is the Canadian government, which a recent Canadian Press article alleges is in no rush to treat him any better than the American government has.

“Ottawa has been scrutinizing the application far more closely than required, looking at issues such as his parole eligibility, which would essentially be almost immediate,” the article says.

For someone as young as he is, Khadr has endured a lifetime of abuse already. It is time to do the bare minimum to ease his suffering: allow him to see his family, to serve out his sentence in Canada in a jail subject to oversight and regulation.

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Graphic: Samantha Braun/The Sheaf

Student group aspires to launch undergraduate research journal

2012-04-04T08:11:31Z

A dozen students are asking for the university’s help in starting an online research publication.

After toiling away on a research paper, it can be disheartening to have it simply graded and handed back.

A group of 12 students at the University of Saskatchewan understand that frustration and have laid the groundwork for an undergraduate research journal for the university. The journal will allow students to have their research published and peer-reviewed.

The Research Learning Community, which includes students from a variety of colleges, has met weekly throughout the year to investigate the feasibility of an on-campus undergraduate publication.

They submitted their 10-page proposal to Associate Vice-President of Research Jim Basinger last week.

Sarah Marcoux, a fourth-year rural and urban design major and co-author of the proposal, said undergraduate students are realizing the importance of thorough research and looking for a way to go beyond conventional coursework.

“Research gives you the opportunity to examine everything you’ve learned, pick out what’s relevant, seek out missing knowledge and apply it in meaningful ways based on your own curiosity,” Marcoux said.

The proposal includes plans for the appointment of a full editorial board, consisting of an editor-in-chief, a team of senior editors, a layout manager and a marketing manager.

A website would be launched to accept and publish articles. And a list of graduate students and professors who are willing to associate themselves with the peer-review process would be compiled.

Submissions would be “completely open” to all undergraduates on campus, Marcoux said.

The RLC is asking administration for monthly office space, two computers, furniture, online server space and one paid staff member.

Basinger, who accepted the RLC’s proposal March 28, said the university is continually looking at ways to enhance students’ research experiences. Although the university had not previously considered starting an undergraduate journal, he said it “fits in” with the school’s recent research initiatives outlined in the Third Integrated Plan.

Basinger said the RLC must now flesh out the proposal, essentially creating a full business plan detailing how to secure resources and how to put the journal into practice.

He said finding the resources to pay one full-time staff member will be the most important financial commitment.

“You need one person that can provide continuity year after year, and also provide the hands-on work that is required to receive papers, ensure they are processed properly and then assembled into the journal’s style,” Basinger said.

Basinger said the success of the journal will rely on the contributions made by both the RLC and the university over the summer. He will refine the proposal and consider taking it to senior administration for funding in the coming months.

“It’s really important that this not just sit on the desk somewhere. It’s key that there are people continuing to work and push this forward,” he said. “I’m not making any promises. But I feel this is a good opportunity and I would hope we are able to pull something together. This is a pretty exciting plan.”

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Photo: Raisa Pezderic/The Sheaf

Top Huskies performances of 2011-12: from wrestling to basketball to coaching, these are the Sheaf’s favourite Huskies performances of the year

2012-04-05T17:36:04Z

To celebrate the centennial year of Huskie Athletics, the Sheaf has compiled a list of our favourite Huskies performances from the 2011-12 sports seasons. Everything from wrestling to basketball and even coaching made our list.

Ward’s triple-overtime winner

Men's Huskies Hockey hosts Canada West Finals versus the Calgary Dinos, game three on March 11, 2012. The Huskies finally took down the Dinos in triple-OT.

Possibly the most intense moment of the Huskies’ year came in the 106th minute of the Canada West men’s hockey final at Rutherford Rink on March 11.

While several players on the Huskies deserve recognition for their strong performances — especially goaltender Ryan Holfeld, who stopped 38 of 39 Calgary Dino shots in the game — defenceman Brett Ward takes the Sheaf’s top mention for his triple-overtime goal.

In the sixth period of what is now the longest game in Canada West history, Ward’s point shot squeaked through the Calgary netminder’s pads and pushed the Huskies to a 2-1 win and their first conference title since 2007.

It also earned them a berth in the national tournament for the first time since 2008.

“I definitely haven’t scored the winner in a game like this before,” said Ward after the game. “Thank God it went in.”

linton goes big on first goal

Julia Flinton, a rookie defenceman for the Huskies women’s hockey team, made a lasting impression on fans and coaches on Oct. 29, 2011.

In the second game of a two-game series against the University of Alberta Pandas, Flinton pushed the Huskies to a weekend sweep by netting the first goal of her university career on a slapshot in overtime.

It was the first time ever the Huskies had swept the Pandas on home ice at Rutherford Rink.

“I’ve never scored an overtime goal like that,” Flinton said after the game. “It’s an amazing feeling and I’m just on top of the world right now.”

Flinton was nominated for the Huskies female rookie of the year after finishing second in the Canada West rookie scoring race.

Coakwell conquers UBC

University of Saskatchewan Huskies football play UBC Thunderbirds on September 30, 2011 for homecoming game. The Huskies defeated UBC 36 to 33.

Ben Coakwell was plagued with injury this season, missing three of the Huskies football team’s nine games. On Sept. 30, 2011 against the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds, however, the fifth-year running back was in top shape.

Coakwell rushed for 205 yards on 20 carries and recorded two touchdowns in a spectacular return to the field — it was only his second game of the season and first since an early-season injury put him on the sidelines for two straight weeks.

The Huskies won 36-33.

Coakwell’s rushing yards in that single game made up almost half of his six-game, 420-yard total on the season.

Towriss in a league of his own

Coach Brian Towriss was launched into the record books for his 170th career win.

The 36-33 victory following Coakwell’s dominating performance Sept. 30 also launched Huskies head coach Brian Towriss into the record books. Towriss earned his 170th career win, the most all-time by a head coach in Canadian Interuniversity Sport football.

Towriss has been the head coach of the Huskies for longer than most of his players have been alive. He took over the position from Val Schneider in 1984 and has been racking up wins ever since.

He will continue to improve his record next season as he returns for another year.

Jones drains nine threes

Duncan Jones went out in style in his last basketball game in a Huskies uniform.

He led the team to a Canada West bronze medal March 3 at home against the University of Victoria Vikes. Jones put up an astounding 40 points in the game and made nine of his 10 three-point attempts.

The career-best single-game stats tied him with two others for the most three-point baskets by a Huskies player in one game.

Myrfield unstoppable

Ryan Myrfield, the Huskies men’s wrestling captain, has consistently dominated the university wrestling circuit throughout his three competing seasons with the University of Saskatchewan. This year, Myrfield won his third national gold medal Feb. 25 at Lakehead University after successfully defending his 72-kilogram weight class title.

In 2008-09, Myrfield took gold in the 68-kilogram weight class as a rookie.

Lieffers reaches 1000 points and rebounds

Michael Lieffers broke the 1000-point mark in his career as a Huskies basketball player.

Huskies forward Michael Lieffers joined an exclusive tier of Huskies athletes this season by eclipsing the 1000-point mark in his university basketball career Jan. 20. As if that wasn’t enough, the next week he surpassed another milestone by reaching 1000 rebounds.

While Lieffers completed his athletic eligibility this season, he will be remembered as one of the greatest basketball players to ever wear the green and white jersey.

He is only one of 37 Huskies to reach the millennial mark in both categories.

Hudon scores twice in final game of career

Elizabeth Hudon rounded out her Huskies soccer career in the best way possible.

Elizabeth Hudon helped establish the Huskies women’s soccer team as a competitive force throughout her five-year stay with the Huskies.

She was especially motivated, however, in her final game with the squad.

Hudon scored twice against the Manitoba Bisons on Oct. 30, 2011 in what was an emotional final match.

“It was a good way to go out, [but] I might cry talking about it,” she said after the game.

The four-time all-star captained the team last year and holds the Canada West record for points (53), goals (44) and shots (241).

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Photos: Raisa Pezderic/The Sheaf

#Inventory: The mystery of the Sheaf office refridgerator

2012-04-04T09:40:02Z

No one knows when the fridge was installed in the Sheaf office. Some say it was 2001, some say 1918. Others say it’s been there since the dawn of time. Judging by the state of the leftovers inside, we’re leaning toward some time between the Renaissance and the First World War.

Mummified lasagna, stolen Louis’ ketchup bottles, and illicit alcohol containers are all standard fridge fare. Those brave enough to store fresh food in its chilly depths will later enjoy the taste of freon and mould infused into their meals. Quirky and/or poisonous odors aside, it’s a staple of the office environment. Where else would we proudly display our Albertan stripper magnets and expired Domino’s pizza coupons?

1. GETTING SAUCY: One-third full, oddly discoloured Louis’ ketchup bottle: $0

2. PROBABLY ALCOHOLIC: A fermented banana: $0.60

3. DOUBLE-DARE YOU: “Dip,” or the condiment formerly known as dip: $2.70

4. PSYCHEDELIC: One-thousand-year-old baking soda: your soul

5. KILL IT WITH FIRE: Lasagna with one-centimetre thick coating of mould: priceless

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Fridges photo By Raisa Pezderic

#The Educator: Peter MacKinnon’s odd rise to the top

2012-04-04T09:52:21Z

by Mattael Darson

Peter Mackinnon (Fridges photo by Raisa Pezderic)

On a warm spring afternoon, Peter MacKinnon paces in his office at the College Building. He suns himself in the large windows of his office surrounded by years of personal trophies. The office speaks to the character of the man. As an avid hunter and lover of the chase, the walls are lined with the pelts of his many prairie safaris. In a corner far from his desk, a garbage can is topped with a small basketball hoop, the floor around it littered with crumpled and discarded office memos.

In a few months, MacKinnon will be retired and likely forgotten by most people, but for now he is simply worried about getting through the last spring convocation as President of the University of Saskatchewan. And although few on campus are aware of him, this little-known administrator looks back fondly on his career, which started at the most humble position.

“I started as a dishwasher at Marquis Hall in ’68,” MacKinnon remembers fondly. “I just knew I wanted to be part of the university community, and that job was the proverbial foot in the door.”

MacKinnon impressed his superiors and soon moved up the ranks. Before long, he had a long resumé that included groundskeeper, janitor, library assistant and waterboy to the Huskies football team for three weeks during the 1972-73 season.

Mackinnon’s big break came in 1975, when the Dean of Law, D.A. Schmeiser, overheard him arguing with a group of Louis’ patrons. MacKinnon was a waiter at the time, and it being the Christmas season, his table chatter centred around the holidays. “I remember Peter’s words exactly,” Schmeiser would write in his memoirs. “He insistently and pointedly told those young people, ‘If I were the prosecution in Miracle on 34th Street, Santa would be rotting away in a mental institution.’ ” Impressed, Schmeiser offered him a faculty position, assuring MacKinnon that his lack of education or experience in law was, if anything, an asset.

“There was a legal revolution in Canada,”wrote Schmeiser, “and what the U of S needed wasn’t another vapid egghead. We needed someone with grit, passion and determination. And Peter proved very capable at forging the necessary documents.”

MacKinnon still chuckles at the framed PhD he supposedly received from the World University of Earth. “Those were simpler times,” he says wistfully. “In those days all you needed was a song in your heart and a working understanding of calligraphy and the whole world could be yours.”

Schmeiser’s intuition proved to be flawed, however, as it soon became clear that MacKinnon was gobsmackingly incompetent as a professor of law. “His first lecture was 15 recitations of the Webster’s Dictionary definition of the word ‘law,’” wrote Schmeiser. “The students all did well on the quiz, however, so we allowed him to stay as he was single-handedly raising our average GPA.”

Despite his deficiencies as a professor, MacKinnon did display an uncanny knack for making friends.

“One thing I do remember about MacKinnon, or Professor Pete as he asked us to call him, is that he was always so considerate,” says James Reilly, a member of the ’86 class of law.

“He wasn’t like most professors. There was always an apple waiting on our desks at the start of class, and he never forgot a birthday. And sure, his loosey-goosey teaching style may be the reason I got disbarred and now work at RONA, but I don’t hold that against him.”

In time, MacKinnon’s friendly demeanor and general popularity at the College of Law made him the natural candidate to become dean when the position opened up in 1988. That was also the first and only time the dean was chosen by popular vote.

After a decade at the College of Law, MacKinnon would find himself elevated to an even greater position of influence. In 1999, with then-President George Ivany stepping down, recruiters from the U of S turned their eyes toward MacKinnon. “George was one of my strongest supporters,” Mackinnon says, his hands behind his head, his feet up causing his running shoes to drip mud onto the fine oak finish of his desk. “The thing that really set me apart from the rest of the candidates, at least according to George, was my vision for the future. When I was Dean, the law college was the only one that was prepared for the Y2K disaster. We had the biggest stockpile of water and canned goods of any of the colleges.”

Ivany, being a man of both considerable political weight and unrestrained paranoia, insisted that the visionary MacKinnon be the one to succeed him in order to better allow the university to weather “the technological dystopia of planes falling from the sky and calendars reverting to the year 1900.”

With Ivany’s support, MacKinnon ascended to the presidency, where, for the first time in his life, the former dishwasher was finally addressed as sir. Surprisingly enough to his critics, MacKinnon proved to be a very effective administrator. Board of Governors meetings, which had a longstanding reputation for being a raucous and disorderly affair, were tamed by the new President’s introduction of a Speaker’s Conch, of which he had sole possession.

President MacKinnon’s personal philosophy is that being at work doesn’t have to mean you can’t have fun! (Fridges photo by Raisa Pezderic)

Public opinion of the new president was still favourable. Never one to disappoint his friends, MacKinnon followed a policy of signing whatever came across his desk, leading to the unrestrained campus construction boom of the last decade.

“Peter is an easy man to work with,” says Richard Florizone, the university VP of finance and resources. “You walk into his office with a piece of posterboard and say the words ‘good fiscal policy’ and you walk out with a multi-million dollar construction budget.”

MacKinnon says he’s proud of the legacy he will leave at the university. “Looking back,” he says, “I’ve built a lot of buildings and handed out a lot of papers to students in fancy dresses.”

He strokes his chin thoughtfully and adds, “I wonder who the new guy is going to be.”

#Outside the Lines: Colour Me Kony

2012-04-04T09:41:34Z

Each week Brianna Whitmore creates an illustration meant to capture the small moments in life.

Readers can colour the picture, have a photo taken with the finished product and email it to Fridges at fridges@thesheaf.com. One winner will be chosen each week and receive whatever we goddamn please.

#New Music Festival aims to reinvigorate Saskatoon scene

2012-04-04T09:40:26Z

by Mattael Darson

A new musical age is about to dawn in Saskatoon.

While the Saskatoon indie music scene has traditionally been dominated by a tight-knit cabal of musicians jointly making up a handful of bands, a new music festival — aptly dubbed the New Music Festival — aims to bring new Saskatoon talent to the fore.

Fridges photo by mattbraga/Flickr

The festival charter mandates that all bands be composed of members who have not performed together in the past. The organizers stated that this was to prevent the festival from falling prey to the “disgustingly incestuous nature of Saskatoon’s music scene. Really, it’s gross. Cut it out, you guys.”

Denver Sampson, who plays bass in about a dozen bands in town, says news of the festival hit the music community like a ton of bricks. “It’s just so unfair, you know,” says Sampson. “The same five guys and I bust our asses trying to put together the best six bands in Saskatoon and these goons, this musical Gestapo, comes in and tells us that we’re getting stale?”

Luckily, the enterprising and spotlight-hungry artists that comprise Saskatoon’s music scene have found a loophole — or rather, they have found a makeup artist.

“It’s genius,” says Marky Jack, another ubiquitous Saskatoon musician, his left eye cleverly disguised with an eyepatch, his right with a Ziggy Stardust lightning bolt. “These dumb idiots think they can stop us? No one can stop the rawest dudes in town from playing the sweetest beats and dropping the freshest rhymes,” he continues, as his stylist sizes him for a prosthetic Bieber bob and bedazzled eyelashes.

Festival organizers, so far, appear not to have caught wind of the devious scheme.

“This is great. This is exactly what we wanted: a whole new crop of Saskatoon bands coming out and getting some exposure,” says Jason Schreuers at the New Music Festival office. “We have The Sheet Hogs, Shy Business, We Were Brothers, Chad Reynolds and the Czechs — I’ve never heard of any of these acts!”

“These dudes look like rockstars too,” says Schreurs. “Did you see that one guy who was wearing a crocodile’s head on his arm and a tiger mask? I don’t know how he’s going to drum like that but it’s going to be wild.”

However, the clever tactics of Saskatoon’s musical veterans have had consequences for actual new musicians wanting to take part in the event.

“We tried to sign up last week,” says Greg Smith, the bassist for a new local group called The Ratfuckers. “But they said they’d already filled all the slots.”

“If the young guys want to join in, we’re open to that,” says Sampson. “My band could always use a chick on the tambourine or a roadie with a strong back.”

#Study Style: Sandra Peters makes the grade

2012-04-04T09:40:10Z

In the middle of finals, staying stylish can be a chore. Sandra Peters does her best to strike a balance between being comfortable and staying on-trend as she settles in to study for hours at a time.

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Fridges photo by Raisa Pezderic

#Campus Crappers: Shining stools amid the squalor of campus architecture

2012-04-05T15:24:22Z

by Aren Bergstrom

The bathroom in the lower levels of the Physics building looks right at home in a Harry Potter book.

Who? Randolph Scheisse, Head Custodian of the University of Saskatchewan’s washrooms division.

What? Campus washrooms at the U of S.

When? “The washrooms division of the U of S custodial staff has been around since Hurricane Katrina, so 2005.”

Why? “The washrooms have been an ignored sector of campus maintenance. While we could’ve gone the route of making everything spick-and-span, we felt that a luminescent sheen says very little to the quality of the people on campus. What makes the people of the U of S special? Their down-to-earth quality. Their used clothes. Their ever-present scent of feces. We felt that nothing speaks of the lived-in feel of the campus more than sitting on a warm seat that has a shared history to it. This was why the washrooms division was started.”

How? “After the washrooms division was started, we stripped the rooms down to their bare bones: toilet bowl, sink, drain in the middle of the floor. We then brought in conceptual artists to virtualize the used feeling of a washroom. What does a used washroom look like, smell like, feel like? How does your spirit move when you hear a splunk in the next stall? After we got the basic mood down, we had to decide how to implement it. We took out classified ads — in print. The custodial staff at the U of S doesn’t support Internet marketplaces like Kijiji — and four individuals were selected based on their aptitude for this particular skill-set. We divided up which washrooms each volunteer would be responsible for, and then installed them in their units for two-hour blocks where they would naturalize the areas. Finally, the custodial staff brought in some necessary toiletries — not too many, mind you, and nothing above two-ply, we don’t want every washroom to have an abundance of soap and sanitary napkins — and the process was complete. We had actualized used washrooms across the campus. And the beautiful thing is that we don’t have to do anything to keep them in their used state. The students on campus are more than willing to keep the toilet seats warm, so to speak.”

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Fridges photos by Raisa Pezderic

#The Murray Library: No rent, just late fees

2012-04-04T09:40:28Z

by Holly Culp

Catering to students and life-long bachelors, the Murray Library is a little-known neighbourhood that is rapidly growing.

Felix Larson has lived in the Murray Library since December of 2010 and has witnessed first-hand how fast the area is growing. He cites the Place Riel renovation as a massive draw to the area and feels more and more people are becoming aware of this blossoming community.

Larson feels as though he has access to everything he needs in the Murray Library.

Q: Why did you move to the Murray Library?

A: Out of necessity, mostly. I was hanging out here all the time anyway, and I asked myself, ‘Why not just live here?’ So I packed my backpack and I’ve been living here ever since.

Q: Do you have everything you need out here?

A: There are babes and washrooms and places to hide and really excellent IT support. What else do you need?

Q: What was the deciding factor in your decision to move here?

After over a year, Larson has become an expert at dodging library security.

A: The babes. Plus, I got in a fight with my mom.

Q: In 2010?

A: Yeah, I haven’t really been back since. This is my home now. So screw you, mom.

Q: How has living here affected your love life?

A: Just living here is like having a one-stop date shop. I’ll take her to the Cove for a slice and once I destroy her at air hockey, she’ll be demoralized enough to come back to my pad — which is subject to change at any moment. It’s definitely made for some exciting sexy time but also some nasty run-ins with the custodial staff.

Q: How do you like your neighbours?

A: Most of my neighbours are less like neighbours and more like comrades-in-arms. We keep each other posted on events where there’s free pizza and keep each other in mind whilst riffling through the Free Box. Things can get a little sticky if some noob hones in on your territory though.

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Fridges photos By Raisa Pezderic

#Announcing Fridges, a Sheaf Community Newspaper

2012-04-04T18:59:45Z

It may be the end of the semester, but it’s the beginning of something very #special.

The Sheaf Publishing Society is #thrilled to bring you the first issue of our new community newspaper, Fridges!

At @FridgesYXE, we’re going to keep things #fresh and #cool.

Open up a copy and we’ll cast a new light on the University of Saskatchewan #community, redefining what people have to come to expect from student journalists. We set ourselves apart from the rigorous all-work and no-play attitude at the Sheaf by getting up close and personal with the #spaces, #neighbours, and good #eats that make this campus #unique.

You probably noticed that we use a lot of #hashtags at @FridgesYXE. There’s a reason for that, and it’s #simple: we want to #engage our community on multiple #platforms through the #Internet and #socialmedia. It’s a whole new world of journalism and to keep things #crisp you have to stay in touch. Now more than ever #you, our readers, can get #involved.

So follow us on #Twitter, #Tumblr (for bonus Fridges goodies), and all the other hip #social #networks. We’re #bridgingthegap between the #media and the #community.

#LinkedIn!

You can read all of the articles from Fridges at thesheaf.com/Fridges, or check out the PDF edition below.

Open publication – Free publishing – More bridges

Iranian Oscar winner A Separation sheds light on other world

2012-04-04T08:16:57Z

rating: ★★★★1/2

Simin (Leila Hatami) and Nader (Peyman Moadi) plead their case regarding divorce to the judge in the opening scene of the film.

If only all dramas were as compelling as A Separation.

The latest film by Iranian director Asghar Farhadi won Best Foreign Language Film at this year’s Oscars, but it should have been nominated for Best Picture.

It is honest and realistic in a way only a select few dramas ever manage to be. Yet its realism does not rely on any meandering or purposeless filler in an attempt to replicate everyday life. There is nothing that feels contrived about this film and it completely avoids being boring, something American mumblecore films cannot achieve.

The film begins with Nader and Simin talking to a judge in a small court office. Simin wants a divorce so she can leave the country with their daughter Termeh. Nader refuses to leave since he cares for his father who suffers from Alzheimer’s. Both love each other and want to remain married, but they are at cross-purposes regarding what’s best for their family. The judge doesn’t find enough warrant in Simin’s complaints to justify a divorce. The couple leaves the office frustrated and Simin goes to live with her mother.

The rules of the entire film are established in this opening scene and the dynamic between the husband and wife takes centre stage. We never see the judge they are addressing. The scene is a long take with the camera taking the place of the judge. It is as if the characters are addressing us and entreating us to take their side. Both characters have justifiable reasons for their positions on the issue at hand and throughout the film the viewer will likely waver in sympathy between the characters.

In the absence of Simin, Nader seeks to hire a maid to care for his father while he is at work. He hires a poor and deeply religious pregnant woman, Razieh. Razieh comes during the day with her little daughter to clean and make sure Nader’s father doesn’t wander off or hurt himself. She is there without the approval of her husband Hodjat but compromises her strict religious beliefs because she needs the money.

Razieh proves an inattentive caretaker, however, and one day Nader returns home to find his father tied to his bed and Razieh nowhere to be seen. When she does appear, Nader fires her and forcibly ejects her from the house. She falls down the stairs and has a miscarriage. When Hodjat finds out, he charges Nader with murder, and the characters become embroiled in a legal battle over who the guilty party is.

Much of what makes A Separation fascinating is the look behind the veil of Iranian society. It is strange to see people constantly swearing on the Qur’an and to have a woman call a religious hotline to ask whether it is a sin to change the soiled pants of a senile old man. Yet there is an abundance of universal truth here. These characters are good, intelligent people trying to make the best choices they can, but their feelings keep getting in the way of making the right decisions. No language or cultural barrier can stop these characters from being relevant and fascinatingly honest portraits of humanity.

The film is superbly written and it is a testament to Asghar Farhadi’s skill as a writer and director that all the characters come across as sympathetic and real. The actors are all wonderful, although Peyman Moadi as Nader and Sareh Bayat as Razieh are the most dynamic. Though their performances are often understated, their work never falls flat.

The filmmaking is personal and keeps the film’s focus tightly on the characters. The entire movie was shot with a handheld camera, which gives the film an intimate feel. However, despite the camera being handheld, the shots are composed with clarity and the cinematography still makes the ordinary beautiful.

The film clocks in at slightly over two hours but feels very fast-paced. It is gripping cinema. A Separation is personal, profound and insightful in how it understands the incapacity of the law to take into account personal feelings and experiences.

A Separation is currently playing at the Roxy Theatre.

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Photo: Supplied

Brown captures historic win: 2012-13 USSU President will be the first aboriginal student to lead U of S undergrads in the school’s 105-year history

2012-04-05T17:36:13Z

Next year’s USSU president Jared Brown hugs Marylou Mintram seconds after the election results were called at Browsers.

Jared Brown edged out his competition to become the first aboriginal student to lead University of Saskatchewan undergraduates in the school’s 105-year history.

Brown, who identifies as both First Nations and Métis, is studying sociology and has spent the past two years as an Indigenous Students’ Council representative on University Students’ Council.

Brown’s campaign was backed by the ISC and the Aboriginal Students’ Centre but also had wide support across campus.

His election strategy revolved around a handful of small-scale reforms — ideas he dug up while navigating other students’ unions’ websites, he said.

Integrating artwork into Place Riel, installing additional phone-charging stations, implementing a union-wide Ecofont that promises to cut down on ink costs and setting up a bookstore webcam feed were among suggestions that Brown endorsed.

“I think there are some very tangible things that I put forward,” Brown said. “They are not big changes… but absolutely I think I can get them done.”

The week-long race for union president was unpredictable and well-fought from beginning to end. Minutes before the final results were called, as candidates huddled with their supporters late Thursday afternoon at Browsers, there were no indications of a frontrunner.

Ultimately, Brown’s 819 total ballots pushed him past runner-up and third-year political studies major David Konkin by just 29 votes.

Trevor Paschke, a fifth-year engineering student and president of the Engineering Students’ Society, received 622 votes to place third.

Brown credited the win to those who initially encouraged him to put his name forward and kept him focused during election week.

“I had my family, my friends but I think what put me over the edge was Marylou Mintram,” Brown said, referring to her assistance throughout his campaign.

Mintram, a fellow ISC member, served as Brown’s running mate.

Mintram ran for vice-president academic affairs, but fell several hundred votes short of her opponent, longtime U of S Students’ Union Safewalk Co-ordinator Ruvimbo Kanyemba.

Steven Heidel, a third-year computer science major, defeated Edwards School of Business councillor Jenna Moellenbeck for the position of vice-president operations and finance.

Alex Werenka, current USSU Help Centre Co-ordinator, ran unopposed for the position of vice-president student affairs.

Sixteen per cent of the student body cast an online ballot — double last year’s total.

Brown said that after talks with previous USSU executives, he expects a steep learning curve as an entirely new team takes office May 1.

USSU General Manager Caroline Cottrell said the incoming executives will go through a detailed orientation process over the course of their first month in office.

“It involves them working with a variety of individuals [familiar] with governance… who come in to give them a particular perspective on certain components of their job,” Cottrell said.

To further ease the transition, the outgoing executives will be required to work closely with their successors early in their term, she said.

Cottrell said the election of the first aboriginal USSU president is meaningful, but pointed out that the union is gender, race, culture and religion neutral, and represents all undergraduate students.

Brown recognizes the historical significance of his election, but does not want it defining his presidency.

“In the long run, students aren’t going to care that I’m aboriginal,” Brown said.

“Don’t get me wrong, this is a huge barrier broken. But when it gets down to the nitty-gritty, how I handle myself in everyday interactions, that’s going to define what has happened here.”

Last year’s vice-president student affairs Leon Thompson was the first aboriginal student to serve on the USSU executive.

Click here for a breakdown of the votes per candidate, election turnout, and information about the executive as a whole.

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Photo: Raisa Pezderic/The Sheaf