The Carillon Volume 66, Issue 17

the carillon

the staff

editor-in-chief holly funk editor@carillonregina.com

executive director vacant business@carillonregina.com

production manager shae sackman production@carillonregina.com

communications amin malakootikhah comms@carillonregina.com

web + advertising manager jaedyn whittal web@carillonregina.com

graphics editor lee lim graphics@carillonregina.com

copy editor emilie wren copyeditor@carillonregina.com

news editor allister white news@carillonregina.com

a&c editor mikayla tallon arts@carillonregina.com

s&h editor kimberley kaufman sports@carillonregina.com

op-ed editor hammad ali op-ed@carillonregina.com

distribution manager amin malakootikhah distribution@carillonregina.com

staff writer victoria baht

staff writer nazeemah noorally

staff writer maren savarese knopf

news writer shivangi sharma

the paper

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The Carillon welcomes contributions.

Opinions expressed in the pages of the Carillon are entirely those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect those of The Carillon Newspaper Inc. Opinions expressed in advertisements appearing in the Carillon are those of the advertisers, and not necessarily of The Carillon Newspaper Inc. or its staff.

The Carillon is published no less than 11 times each semester during the fall and winter semesters and periodically throughout the summer. The Carillon is published by the Carillon Newspaper Inc., a non-profit organization.

land acknowledgement

The Carillon is written on Treaty 4 territory. As such, staff recognize that we are living, working, and telling stories on and of Indigenous lands. We recognize that we are on the traditional homelands of the Cree, Saulteaux, Nakota, Lakota, and Dakota peoples, along with the homeland of the Métis nation. The Carillon understands that it is pointless to acknowledge the land on which we work without demonstrating our commitment to telling stories and prioritizing voices that further the return of this land to its sacred place. the manifesto

In keeping with our reckless, devil-may-care image, our office has absolutely no concrete information on the Carillon’s formative years readily available. What follows is the story that’s been passed down from editor to editor for over sixty years.

Canadian history, gendered cleaning product qualms to speculations on cheating motivations, and much more beyond that. We have 7 issues remaining between now and mid-April, so if you’re looking to add to the dialogue on any of these topics or to raise some new points we’d be happy to work with you as a contributor!

We have four open editorial board meetings remaining where people from the university community are welcome to come talk with editorial staff in our office or over Zoom to learn about contributing. Pull out your calendar, mark down these dates, and we’ll look forward to seeing you!

-Friday, February 9 from 2-3 p.m.

-Tuesday, February 27 from 7-8 p.m.

-Saturday, March 9 from 5-6 p.m.

-Tuesday, March 26 from 7-8 p.m.

Illegitimi

a&c writer will bright s&h writer pall agarwal

contributors william bessai-saul, cassidy savard

board of directors holly funk, tayef ahmed, muhammad zuhruf, muhammad zarooq, mohammad akib hossain, and mikayla tallon

In the late 1950s, the University of Regina planned the construction of several new buildings on the campus grounds. One of these proposed buildlings was a belltower on the academic green. If you look out on the academic green today, the first thing you’ll notice is that it has absolutely nothing resembling a belltower.

The University never got a belltower, but what it did get was the Carillon, a newspaper that serves as a symbolic bell tower on campus, a loud and clear voice belonging to each and every student. the people’s friend; the tyrant’s foe

How Canada exports death

Gas masks made by Canadian-owned firm used for U.S. capital punishment

Prior to confederation, in what is now Canada, hundreds of criminal offences were punishable via capital punishment – otherwise known as the death penalty. Over time laws began to shift away from capital punishment and by 1865 only select offenses including murder and treason were considered capital offenses.

The driving force behind limiting or abolishing capital punishment in Canada began in 1914 when Member of Parliament Robert Bickerdike presented a private member’s bill calling for the abolition of capital punishment. Despite frequent submissions to parliament, it wasn’t until 1998 that the federal government completely abolished state executions.

Despite the absence of capital punishment and its contribution to the characteristics that set our country apart from the neighbouring United States, the abolition of capital punishment in Canada is still relatively new.

While in place, capital punishment was used as an extension of state control, often to secure waves of settler immigration and ‘manage’ Indigenous populations. Notably, after receiving petitions on behalf of the Métis Nation led by Louis Riel, the federal government sent 500 soldiers to Batoche where the North-West Resistance continued for two months. The Canadian government eventually overtook the Métis and Cree soldiers who assisted Riel throughout the Resistance.

On July 6, 1885, Riel was charged with treason against the State of Canada. Through the trial Riel was declared guilty and he was publicly executed in Regina on November 16, 1885. The charge of high treason that Riel was dealt has been contested in academic circles. The charge makes a claim: Riel was a citizen of Canada rather than a citizen of the Métis Nation.

Despite this, Canada has somehow managed to maintain its so-called status of benevolence, namely with the abolition of the death penalty. However, prisons continue to act as a means

of removing Indigenous peoples from their lands and kin. Renowned abolitionist Angela Davis writes: “[Prison] relieves us of the responsibility of seriously engaging with the problems of our society, especially those produced by racism and, increasingly, global capitalism.”

Recently, headlines in the news pointed to the irony of Canada’s so-called benevolence when it broke that gas masks made by a Canadian-owned firm are ex-

lethal injections. States like Alabama, Oklahoma, and Mississippi are now turning to alternative methods and have permitted the use of nitrogen hypoxia as a method for execution.

This is an untested method and differs from past methods involving gas. In the past, small cells were filled with poisonous chemicals that eventually destroyed the internal organs of the trapped prisoners. Now, this new method uses direct contact with gases and

intensify calls for its abolition in the United States of America and the rest of the world.”

This comes after the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk had previously called for a stay of execution, noting that nitrogen gas inhalation causes a painful and especially humiliating death. Experimental executions by gas asphyxiation are against international law. The UN is now calling for a ban on this method of execution – re-

half of approximately 20 million Canadian retirees, holds stock in Geo Group. Geo Group is a company known to operate private prisons in the United States. After coming under fire, the board later divested the investment, but at one point it had totaled $6.1 million.

Although Canada has abolished capital punishment, the country continues to have a hand in the death penalty behind the scenes.

ported to be used in U.S. executions. Justice advocacy groups across the country raised flags about masks made by Allegro Industries, a subsidiary of Quebec-based Walter Surface Technologies, which is partly owned by Toronto private equity firm Onex Corp, and their use in the U.S. prison system. Allegro Industries, Walter Surface Technologies, and Onex Corp have not commented on the matter.

This news comes as pharmaceutical companies in the United States are banning the use of their products for executions, in turn making it difficult for states that still use capital punishment to source chemicals needed for

poisonous chemicals via the use of masks.

On January 25, 58-year-old Kenneth Eugene Smith was one of the first to be executed via this method in the southern state of Alabama. United Nations (UN) officials have condemned his death, claiming “The use, for the first time in humans and on an experimental basis, of a method of execution that has been shown to cause suffering in animals is simply outrageous.”

In a recent statement, the UN continued: “The gruesome execution of Kenneth Eugene Smith is a stark reminder of the barbaric nature of the death penalty and a powerful moment to

minding the United States of its international obligations to the International Covenant on Civil and Political rights (ICCPR) and the Convention against Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT).

The ICCPR explicitly states that no one should be subjected to medical or scientific experimentation without their free consent. This includes prisoners. Canada also has an especially dark role through its continued investments in American Prisons.

In 2018, the Guardian reported that the Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB), which is responsible for managing $366.6 billion in pension funds on be-

“The use, for the first time in humans and on an experimental basis, of a method of execution that has been shown to cause suffering in animals is simply outrageous.”

Alarmingly, the sentiment surrounding capital punishment in Canada seems to be changing. In 2023, results from a poll conducted by Research CO found that most of the respondents support reinstating the death penalty for murder. According to the results, 54 per cent of respondents support the reliance on capital punishment for murder convictions.

This increased three points since a prior study conducted by the group in 2022. Results also showed that support for the death penalty is highest among the prairie provinces. Highest is Alberta where 62 per cent of respondents agreed, followed by Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

It seems now more than ever is a critical time to remain vigilant around shifting attitudes toward capital punishment in Canada. We must ask ourselves why we continue to involve ourselves in this “simply outrageous” method of punishment.

Though the situation seems bleak, Angela Davis’ words encourages us to remember that “sometimes we have to do the work even though we don’t yet see a glimmer on the horizon that it’s actually going to be possible.”

URSU’s Annual General Meeting opens dialogue

Expansions, solidarity, and allegations – oh my!

shivangi sharma news writer

The University of Regina Students’ Union (URSU) held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at 12 p.m. on Thursday, February 1, 2024. The AGM, which usually precedes the conclusion of the work term for the board, was open for students to attend.

The agenda of these meetings generally includes a presentation of the work term report of URUS’s president along with the work term reports of elected executives including Vice President of External Affairs and Vice President of Student Affairs. The or-

“

cation of student identification cards, around 200 students registered, while around 100 students attended the meeting. This included some on-site registrations.

The meeting was held in the Multipurpose Room of the Riddell Centre, a space under URSU’s management. It was set to commence at 12:00 p.m. sharp, but was not called to order until 12:29 p.m. by Tejas Patel, URSU President. The panel included the aforementioned Tejas Patel; Oghenrukewve Erifeta, Vice President External Affairs; Zuhruf Zarooq, Vice President Student Affairs; and chair Barton Soroka.

The absence in-person of Birpartap Singh, Vice President of

his term report as the President of URSU. One highlight of Patel’s report included that the URSU Cares Pantry had enhanced performance, and was able to serve a larger number of students, increasing from 140 to 180 per day of operation.

URSU Cares Pantry is an initiative which was started by URSU in 2016, aiming to provide food free of cost to university students. In the 2023-24 report, which can be accessed by the students on URSU’s website, URSU claimed that, “This fall semester, we have served an average of 220 unique individual students every month through our biweekly pantry program.”

of clubs for the club fair event expressed that the clubs were not so pleased. The students mentioned that club members had trouble putting their tables together on short notice, complaining that URSU failed to inform them about the event with appropriate advance.

This complaint was not the end of concerns raised with executives at the AGM.

Dilynn Kehler, a student from the First Nations University (FNUniv) who was present in the audience, had important questions to ask the President and the panel. Kehler repeatedly raised concerns about alleged fraud taking place in the First Nations

in November 2023, and stressed that it is URSU’s duty to follow-up on formal requests made by students. Kehler was reassured that her issue will be addressed but remained unconvinced.

Kehler and URSU’s claims contradict each other, and both parties have different versions of events. Further investigation is required on the Carillon’s part; keep your eyes out for a follow-up article in the future on exactly that.

Another point of interest at the AGM was the motion which called for solidarity with Palestine. The motion was put forward by Oghenrukewve Erifeta and seconded by Nabeera Siddiqui.

While the atmosphere in the Multipurpose Room had – at the least – been tense up to this point, it shifted to goal-oriented unity while this motion was presented and discussed.”

Shivangi Sharma

ganization also generally releases their financial statements. The students in the audience are able to ask questions and, should they have any, raise concerns about the reports released by URSU as well as actions taken at least since the previous AGM.

The meeting acts as an essential means for one-to-one communication between students and their representative union while serving as an opportunity for the operating team to present the work they have done over their term as elected representatives of the students.

The agenda for this term’s annual general meeting was published on URSU’s website a little over a week before the meeting was to be held. URSU required students register before attending the AGM this year. According to the members handling student registration and on-site verifi-

Finance and Mohammad Talha Akbar, General Manager URSU, is notable.

While Singh’s absence was expected in light of URSU’s recently released statement alleging Singh’s involvement in meddling with URUS’s most recent by-elections and his ultimate resignation, Akbar’s absence remains unexplained.

The Carillon reported on Singh’s resignation last week in an online special article titled “URSU By-Election meddling.”

URSU executive reports came after the territorial land acknowledgement by the President, establishment of quorum, approval of the chairperson and of the agenda, and presentation of meeting minutes from the previous AGM and special general meeting (SGM) following the call to order.

Patel was the first to present

Citing an increase in support, URSU also stated that they are, “Delighted to announce that [URSU] will be able to open the program to 40 more students every two weeks in 2024.” In light of the ongoing cost of living crisis, this growth can indeed have a positive impact on students.

Other topics highlighted by executives throughout the AGM reports included the fall and winter Welcome Week events and the URSU Fund the Future campaign.

Fund the Future, which The Carillon covered in issue five during September, was hailed as an important initiative, though the rally itself failed to gather notable student turnout.

On-campus activities organized by URSU largely received praise from the attending students. However, one student representing the organizing members

University’s Students’ Association (FNUnivSA), an association that receives funding through URSU.

Kehler approached URSU via e-mail in November of 2023 to request an investigation into FNUnivSA’s finances, which Kehler suspected to be involved in fraudulent activities. The request seems to have gone unattended to by URSU, which was conducting internal investigations against its own executive members at the time. Kehler was displeased with URSU’s ignorance of her request.

Patel claimed that Kehler approached him only a day before the AGM. Patel went on to claim that URSU is only responsible for paying FNUnivSA the funds they are due, and that outside of this, URSU has no relations with FNUnivSA’s budget or finances. Kehler reiterated that she had requested for an investigation back

The motion called for URSU to affirm its support for the Palestinian people and their ongoing fight against settler-colonialism, apartheid, occupation, genocide, and all other inhumane practices; join the call for an immediate ceasefire; and to draft a letter by February 5, 2024 to be distributed amongst members that calls on the university administration to immediately cut any investments and ties with weapons manufacturers and other corporations that fund the genocide in Gaza. While the atmosphere in the Multipurpose Room had – at the least – been tense up to this point, it shifted to goal-oriented unity while this motion was presented and discussed. The motion was carried unanimously without a single opposition.

A general consensus stands that this year’s AGM went well in comparison to previous URSU AGMs.

Sask. teachers striking, unhappy with “obstinate” government

shivangi sharma news writer

In early October 2023, the Teacher’s Bargaining Committee of Saskatchewan declared that they had reached an impasse in their talks with the provincial government.

The Teacher’s Bargaining Committee began the process in hopes of advancing negotiations. 10 proposals for negotiations, including proposals pertaining to class size and complexity, violence in the classroom, and actionable items that supported truth and reconciliation were put forward to the government. The Saskatchewan government refused to negotiate on nine of them.

Later in October, 90 per cent of Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation (STF) members participated in a vote deciding job action against the government. 95 per cent of voting STF members backed job action. By December 2023, conciliation talks between STF and the Saskatchewan government had broken off.

“I want to be very clear that an obstinate and out-of-touch government is forcing this situation down an unfortunate path,” STF President Samantha Becotte said following the vote.

The full-day, comprehensive Saskatchewan teachers’ strike on January 16, 2024 was organized

by the STF after the breaking off of talks between STF and the government. The January 16 strike marked the first day in over a decade, and the fourth time since 1973, that the people of Saskatchewan faced interruptions in schooling due to a breakdown of negotiations. Teachers previously went on strike for three days in 2011 after a sanctions vote, also under a Saskatchewan Party majority-led government.

The Saskatchewan government, which is primarily focused on wage negotiations, has tabled an offer that keeps wages below

inflation levels for the next three years and maintains that the bargaining table is not the place to raise classroom concerns. The STF have not made their wage demands public and claims that wages are not the central issue, and that the central issue is the overall welfare of their students.

Today’s crisis has culminated after over a decade of history of unrest in the education sector of Saskatchewan. According to a January 16 article in the Conversation titled “Saskatchewan teacher strike: It’s about bargaining for the common good,” there

has been a 10 per cent drop in per-student funding since 201213. In 2017, the Saskatchewan government announced a $22 million cut in public education funding while student enrolment increased around the same time. These funding cuts have had impacts including a decline in classroom support. These ongoing issues had previously pushed the teachers to a collective bargaining dispute in 2019, however, their attempts were interrupted due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Teachers’ morale has been in a crisis post-pandemic, and the

Student awards a success story for Singh

government’s reluctance to reach an agreement with the STF has been less than helpful.

Speculations that the oneday strike would extend into a longer protest were confirmed in early February. Teachers in Saskatoon and in a number of northern school divisions walked off the job in the second round of rotating one-day strikes on February 7, 2024. According to CTV, approximately 4,300 teachers and 65,300 students were affected by the latest strike.

On February 5, the STF gave 48-hours notice of a one-day provincial withdrawal of supervision over the noon hour on Thursday, February 8. A statement from the Board of Education of the Regina School Division reads, “Without having an adequate number of supervisors, schools cannot safely have students in the building over the lunch hour.” Elementary students will be expected to leave at noon, while high school students will be dismissed at 1 p.m. after sitting through five 50-minute classes between 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m.. Schools are essential for a functioning society, and teachers are vital to their operation and success. Teachers, students, and Saskatchewan residents alike wait for the Saskatchewan government’s response to the STF’s labour action.

Entrance awards applications still open for new students, spring continuing awards opening soon

With a month of the winter semester already complete at the University of Regina (U of R), the campus is abuzz with activity. Fresh faces are navigating their way through campus life, acquainting themselves with courses, and forging connections, while returning students are fully immersed in their academic pursuits. Amidst the myriad of orientations, syllabus reviews, and club registrations, the reality of tuition fees looms above all.

The university’s Student Awards Management System (SAMS) stands as a beacon of opportunity, offering financial support and academic recognition to domestic and international students at the U of R. The U of R scholarships housed in the management system serve as a support for students by offering a comprehensive range of financial aid options that cater to the U of R’s diverse student body.

To apply for awards students

must first create an account by visiting uregina.ca/cost-aid/ funding/undergraduate-scholarships/tips-and-help.html or emailing safa@uregina.ca. Once all required information is submitted, students can utilize the platform by selecting ‘’Awards currently accepting applications,’’ using the filters, and searching for awards that match their eligibility criteria. Some awards are program-specific, while others are open to all students.

To apply for a scholarship, navigate to ‘’View my application’’ to fill out the required information. Be cautious not to submit applications until supporting documents such as a personal statement, financial disclosure, and references are attached.

The Circle of Scholars is one of many scholarships found in SAMS. The award is one of the U of R’s signature automatic entrance scholarships, presented annually to the top-performing high school graduates from 10 regions across Canada and three regions from around the world who have applied to study at the U of R. Each scholarship is worth up to $20,000. $5,000 is given in the first year of studies, and the scholarship is renewable for three additional years based on the students’ maintenance of excellent academic standing.

The Carillon spoke with first-

year computer science student Satyam Singh, one recipient of the award. Singh is among 35 U of R undergraduate students who received Circle of Scholars scholarships for the 2020-21 academic year. He emphasizes the significance of this scholarship in shaping his academic journey and career aspirations.

“As an international student, we already pay a lot more than domestic students, and on top of it I wanted to do a lot of different activities, work full-time as a software developer, and explore various opportunities. It is a bit difficult to do so when we are living off-campus because we have to commute in harsh weather,” Singh explained.

Living on campus, which was facilitated in part by the UR Circle of Scholars award, proved to be a game changer for Satyam Singh. He highlighted the convenience of having university facilities within a short distance, allowing him to engage in campus life.

Reflecting on the aspects of the UR Circle of Scholars Scholarship application, he says “The university’s UR Circle of Scholars Scholarship, providing $5,000 annually, proved to be a significant contribution towards my fees. Since I arrived in the fall, I was automatically eligible, eliminating the need for a separate application.”

Singh goes on to say that his executive activities, work experience, and participation in various events before university, along with his outstanding academic ranking in his home country, were key elements that made his application stand out. “Those were things that helped me to achieve it and on top of it, even before I came to university, I was part of one of the most active clubs for CS students over at the [U of R],” Singh explained.

Given the competitive nature of scholarships, the importance of applying early cannot be understated. If you’re unsure about any part of the process, the Student Awards and Financial Aids Office, located in the Administration-Humanities Building at Room 108, is your go-to place. They offer workshops to guide students on how to write a compelling personal statement and address any other application-related issues.

For prospective students seeking to apply for future scholarships, the Fall 2024 entrance awards deadline is Mar 15, 2024. The deadline for winter continuing awards has passed, but spring applications will open on May 1.

arts & culture

Bethel Church or Bethel Cult?

belief system, ideology, and practices as the Truth, as law.”

When we imagine cults, we imagine the robes, the cyanide-laced Kool-Aid, the worshipping of one great leader. We imagine everyone wearing the same colour, sitting in a circle. We think about Jonestown and everyone killing themselves. We think about Charles Manson or Heaven’s Gate.

Bethel Church is a mega-church located in Redding, California that is considered to be a non-denominational neo-char-

You may immediately assume that the leader is God, but it’s not. It’s very rare that the pastors at Bethel actually read from the Bible. Instead, they say that the words they are preaching are directly from God to them.

They take from the Bible and twist words, like the time Senior Pastor Bill Johnson said that in the word ‘repent’ from the Bible, the ‘pent’ part is like a penthouse. What they teach is not actually the Bible so the people aren’t following God, they are following the Pastors.

tongues, which is a language that the Holy Spirit is supposed to give to you.

Next point is “the leadership dictates, sometimes in great detail, how members should think, act, and feel.”

Their website has a large section on how members of the church should only marry the opposite gender, it outlines how members of the church should act and behave sexually. They encourage their congregation on who to vote for in elections.

Specifically for the students of the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry (BSSM), they had

may cause conflict with the wider society,” is Langone’s next point and one that is fairly clear to see. One of the largest goals of Bethel is to “expand the Kingdom of God,” which means converting people to their religion. They speak of wanting revival which, in my experience of being in similar spaces, means converting as many people as possible in a certain time span. If there wasn’t an us-versus-them mentality, there would be no need for revival.

Other points are based on bringing in money and new members. The first thing you see when

Those aren’t all of Langone’s points of being a cult, but I want to bring your attention to one event in particular that might make you think of the cultic behavior I mentioned earlier.

On December 14, 2019, Olive Heiligenthal died in her sleep. She was two-years old. Her parents were Kalley and Andrew, who worked for Bethel.

Bethel Church went into overdrive, praying for this little girl to be brought back from the dead. Using the hashtag #WakeUpOlive, the Bethel community around the world was praying for Olive to be resurrected.

“ If there wasn’t an us-versus-them mentality, there would be no need for revival.”

Will Bright

ismatic church, but they follow Jesus and their ideals are similar to that of Pentecostal churches.

They have over 11,000 members. You might know them for their catchy worship songs. They believe strongly that God can heal you.

So, what makes Bethel a cult?

Dr. Michael D. Langone, Executive Director of the International Cultic Studies Association, has a list of 15 characteristics that are associated with cults to analyze if a group is similar to studied cults.

The first points states that “the group displays excessively zealous and unquestioning commitment to its leader and (whether he is alive or dead) regards his

The next point I want to bring up is “mind-altering practices are used in excess and serve to suppress doubts about the group and its leader(s).” Bethel has quite a few of these.

One of their biggest and most controversial is called Grave Sucking. You lay down on the grave of someone that was considered a great in their faith and ‘suck’ the anointing out of them.

Another thing was ‘gold dust,’ where God would allegedly make gold dust appear from nowhere. As someone who grew up in a church highly influenced by Bethel, I watched people spend hours praying for this gold dust to appear. They practice speaking in

strict ways they were supposed to act. A former student stated they were told to go around Redding and do chores for the townspeople as a way to get them to open up for prayer.

For those who work for Bethel’s school for children, they are not allowed to text on their phone during the school day, only email. In the BSSM student handbook, it outlines exactly how students should behave, including not being allowed to miss services, outreaches, or conferences, leave class early, start a relationship before talking to the school, or have alcohol.

“The group has a polarized us-versus-them mentality, which

you open Bethel’s website is ways to join the church either online or in-person. Scroll down a bit and it says “there’s a place for you.”

There’s a whole section on their page about giving them money claiming “generosity is a form of worship.” There are almost unlimited ways to give money: credit cards from anywhere, by mail, by wire transfer, stocks, cryptocurrency...the list goes on.

On their website is a prayer saying that after you give them money, God will give you money in return. In December of 2023 alone, Bethel was given 1.8 million dollars. The total amount of donations they received in 2023 was 32.6 million dollars.

Those videos are reminiscent of the classic cult, the groups of people standing in front of leaders, asking for something. They sang out, “In Jesus’ name, Olive, come out of that grave,” over and over again.

Many people online questioned if she was in a coma or on life support, but no. She was dead. She had been declared dead by doctors.

On December 20, six days later, Olive had still not been resurrected and instead, the family set up a GoFundMe, asking for $100,000 for the funeral and the family.

By all standards, Bethel is a cult. It’s just Jesus – or so they say.

Courting

Remember Lauren the Mortician? The girl with the blonde and pink hair, the cool glasses, always talking about death? A lot has been going on with her lately.

Last time we checked in on our dear friend Lauren the Mortician was in early December. I told you about her social media, her beef with child passenger safety technician Jamie Grayson, her interactions online with far-right creators, and a little bit about the wellness check she called on fellow TikToker @caffinatedkitti.

Now we’re all the way in February and a lot has happened, so let’s introduce our key players.

Propson is in Wisconsin, Day is in Missouri, KC is in Georgia , Marston is in California, and they didn’t specify where Smiles is located.

Propson and Braun are asking for a minimum of $75,000.

In the “Background” section referring to the defamation case specifically for KC defaming Propson, it mentions how KC posted a video calling Propson a “TERF,” meaning Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminist, for content she liked on Instagram. There was a list that KC had posted with a series of links to content Propson had liked by a transphobic creator, but it claims in the lawsuit that none of the content attached was transphobic.

The content creator in ques-

ti-2SLGBTQIA+ laws in Florida and mentioned “mutilating children,” a clear reference to transgender children. Propson liked this post.

Propson also liked one of @ conservativeant’s videos talking about a tweet. The tweet mentions “transgender totalitarianism” and, in the video, @conservativeant rants about being pissed that saying negative things about queer people could cost people a fine. In March, @conservativeant uploaded a video making fun of people’s pronouns. Propson liked this post as well.

While liking posts from transphobic creators does not necessarily make you transphobic, the lawsuit claims that she did not like any transphobic content, which is

the specifics of each count, it states the four main points Propson and Braun are saying are false: “Ms. Propson is transphobic, Attorney Braun is unethical, Attorney Braun files false copyright claims, and Attorney Braun is a rogue attorney.”

Count one is Defamation against KC by Propson and specifically talks about KC’s claims that Propson is transphobic. Point 107 in the lawsuit claims that KC’s actions “harmed [Propson’s] ability to earn future sponsorships and followers.”

That’s not entirely true. While Propson likely did lose some sponsorships, she still ultimately has others. Propson posted a paid partnership video with Pair Eyewear on Jan 25, 2024;

First: Lauren Propson, aka Lauren the Mortician. Followed by her attorney, Jeanette Braun, known sometimes as Janet on the internet, owner of Braun IP Law. For this article, we will refer to her as Janet as well. Basically, she’s a trademark lawyer.

Next, another familiar face: Kitti, who I’ll refer to as KC for the rest of the article, villain lifecoach and TikToker.

Next is a person I cited in my last article, Bekah Day, another TikToker who talks about general internet drama.

Finally, our duo Lily Marston and Jessi Smiles, hosts of the “Do We Know Them” podcast, which also talks about internet drama.

What do all of these people have in common? They’re in a lawsuit together!

Propson (aka Lauren) and Braun (aka Janet) are suing KC, Day, Marston, and Smiles for a total of sixteen charges amongst the four of them ranging from defamation to emotional distress.

Let’s break down everything in Lauren’s lawsuit.

tion is @conservativeant, who Propson currently follows. On Twitter, he has posted several transphobic things including calling transgender identity “the trans mental illness,” stating “there are no trans kids,” and using the hashtag “#GaysAgainstGroomers” in the same post.

In June, Propson liked a

simply false.

Next, there’s a big section about KC and Day in regard to Braun, where KC and Day state that Braun filed a false copyright claim which Braun disagrees with.

In the section about Smiles and Marston defaming Braun and her law firm, there are two

she is still getting sponsors.

Counts two through four are all defamation against KC, Day, Smiles, and Marston by Jeanette about them claiming that Braun’s copyright claims were false.

Counts five through eight are all False Light, claiming that the four defendants purposely painted Braun and Propson in a false

ference with Contract against KC by Propson, stating that Propson had a contract with a documentary channel, but because of KC claiming that Propson is transphobic, Propson lost the contract.

Count 14 is Tortious Interference with Existing and Potential Business Relationships against all four defendants by Braun and Braun IP Law. It states that the defendants’ actions have lost Braun clients.

Count 15 is Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress against KC by Propson, claiming that KC meant to cause “severe emotional distress” to Propson and lists all the things Propson has been struggling with resulting from KC’s actions.

The final count, count 16, is also Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress by Propson but against Day, which essentially claims the same things as count 15.

The big question now is: was Janet filing false copyright strikes? The answer, allegedly, is probably. Anything that talks about Braun or Propson has been copyright struck by Braun. Braun herself claimed on her Instagram that she submitted 94 copyright strikes for at least the first half of January.

At least three creators have had their social media pages taken down entirely because of the amount of copyright strikes. One post by a creator Braun copyright struck read, “If anyone knows a lawyer specializing in tort litigation in Tennessee, please email me,” and then linked the creator’s email.

The post had nothing to do with Braun or any of her clients, nor any copyrighted material, but was struck anyway. In an upload by Smiles and Marston of their podcast, they talk about a previous upload where they included a video of Braun speaking, but despite the clip of Braun’s content only being in Smiles and Marston’s video for 20 seconds, Braun struck them for using an hour and two minutes of copyrighted content.

Right now we’re in lawsuit limbo, waiting for more information. Meanwhile, Propson is still

“ While liking posts from transphobic creators does not make you transphobic, the lawsuit claims that she did not like any transphobic content, which is simply false.”

Will Bright

posting on her Lauren the Mortician TikTok page, showing off the funeral home she allegedly works at and how things work behind the scenes, all while ignoring the lawsuit publicly. will bright

For starters, the lawsuit is set in Illinois where Braun and Braun IP Law are based. Meanwhile,

video from @conservativeant making fun of inclusive language, which could be considered transphobic. In April of 2023, @ conservativeant posted a video on Instagram talking about an-

points about them calling Braun “Janet” instead of her name, Jeanette, which makes it seem like calling someone by a false name for a joke is defamation.

Before the lawsuit gets into

light, harming their reputation.

Counts nine through 12 are all Trade Libel, claiming that the four defendants lied or misled people about Propson and Braun.

Count 13 is Tortious Inter-

L’histoire Canadienne-Française et le but de La Cité

Looking at why La Cité matters by observing history

cassidy savard contributor

Born and raised in Saskatchewan’s sister province Alberta, my exposure to French was limited. In the public school I attended, we had mandatory French classes for a couple of years. As a result of these classes I was able to request permission en français to go to the bathroom and get a drink of water.

My limited French ability is layered in irony, considering I am Métis. With historical ties to the Red River and marked with a French last name, I am a mere representation of Indigenous and French assimilation.

However, my ability to only speak English as a form of irony went unacknowledged by me for most of my life. Growing up in the prairies as an anglophone, it is easy to overlook French. Growing up in the prairies as a francophone, on the other hand, means it is impossible to disregard English.

However, to overlook français-canadien – as a culture and as a language – is not only disregarding the inception of Canada but also a continuation of historical assimilationist attitudes.

Canada today encapsulates many cultural identities. Historically, Canada’s inception was also born out of cultural diversity.

Canada.ca, the official website of the Government of Canada, provides the article titled

“Discover Canada—Canada’s History,” which details the events leading up to our modern cultural and political climate.

In the article, we begin by learning that in 1604 the first European settlement was created in what is now Nova Scotia by French explorers Pierre de Monts and Samuel de Champlain. Later, in 1608, Champlain would create a settlement in what is now Québec City.

the Battle of the Plains of Abraham and the New France colony was renamed the Province of Québec. To govern the French majority, the Quebec Act was passed in 1774, ensuring French civil law and religious freedom.

An article first published on Sept 30, 2007, by Claude Couture titled “Quebec” in the Canadian Encyclopedia describes the history of Quebec under the section “History: From New France to

pedia grants us a look into the past in the article “Rebellions of 183738,” published on July 15, 2013, by Andrew McIntosh. In the article, we learn that Upper Canada and Lower Canada would each have their rebellions against the Crown between 1837 and 1838.

These rebellions of Lower and Upper Canada lead to the Durham Report, in which Durham recommended Upper and Lower Canada should merge

For years the French and the Indigenous would work together in the fur trade.

It wasn’t until the 1670s that the English started to become a stronger presence in Canada, even beginning to outnumber the French colonies, which were collectively dubbed as New France.

It was in 1759 that the British defeated the French during

Confederation.”

Couture describes that the Province of Québec would be divided into Upper Canada and Lower Canada as a result of the Constitutional Act (1791). Upper Canada was primarily English-speaking and Protestant, while Lower Canada was primarily Catholic and French-speaking.

Again, The Canadian Encyclo-

and be given responsible government. Durham also argued that the French-speaking population should assimilate into the English-speaking culture to progress democracy.

In 1840, Upper Canada and Lower Canada merged, becoming the Province of Canada, according to the article “Discover Canada—Canada’s History”

Out of This World thrift experience

A review of YQR Vintage Market’s themed event for FROST Regina

Located at 1279 Osler Street is YQR Vintage Market, and they extended their hours to partake in the FROST Regina event. They called it an “Out of This World Thrift” and it took place on January 26 and 27, and February 1-3 from 4-8 p.m..

The YQR Vintage Market is a huge place. In this one location you can find two floors of goodies. There are all kinds of different items and each has their uniqueness.

YQR Vintage Market includes 27 different vendors. The market is split into sections where each vendor gets their area of

which items they would like to hold and have for sale. The vendors of this antique market work hard to make going to the market a really enjoyable experience for people of all ages.

The YQR Vintage Market wanted to make their market an “Out of This World” experience for the FROST Regina event, and they definitely accomplished it! They created an area that made you feel like you had fully stepped out of this world with aliens, glow lights, and photoshoot opportunities.

With the idea of space, where could you possibly go wrong?

The answer: you can’t! Truly, the YQR Vintage Market is a place where you can play a real-life game of I-Spy. There’s just so much to look at, you can spend a long time looking through everything and never get bored. If you want to see the set-ups, check out their Instagram at YQRvintiquemarket or #FROSTRegina.

As you walk through the building, you may see items such as vintage glassware, bowls, plates, and kitchen utensils. I even saw some vintage kitchen appliances like stoves and fridges.

Depending on your imagination, you could create an amazing

from Canada.ca

The bilingualism that exists today can be best explained by the appropriately titled article “Bilingualism” by Celine Cooper from The Canadian Encyclopedia published July 5, 2019. In the article, Cooper explains that the Official Languages Act (1969) became a “cornerstone of institutional bilingualism,” permitting English and French to have equal status in Parliament and federal bodies.

However, Cooper also addresses that it is ultimately up to the provincial powers to respect the Canadian bilingualism policy.

According to a June 21, 2023 article on Statistics Canada titled “English-French bilingualism in Canada: Recent trends after five decades of official bilingualism,” the reality of bilingualism is represented in data: English-French bilingualism was at 9.5 per cent outside of Quebec in 2021.

For French continuity outside of Québec, these findings may not be the most optimistic. On the other hand, I’d say it exemplifies the need for institutions like La Cité. According to the “History” section on their site, La Cité was only officially formed as an autonomous academic institution in 2015.

It is at La Cité that I have taken French courses, and it is here that I consider taking their “French as a Second Language” program. Learning French is a way to ensure cultural continuity – for my own heritage and Canada’s alike.

play area for your kids by getting some of these items or get them for your home to add some old-fashioned character to your home. Plus, if you are a person who has a record player and likes to dig through bins of vinyl, this place is definitely the location for you. In the middle of the main floor, there are some very large tables of vinyls to spend lots of time searching through.

When I was going through some, I saw options such as Elvis, The Beatles, classical music, Christmas music, and so many more. Speaking of music fans, this is the place for you to find music-related decorations in the future as well.

An additional part of the market that I found interesting is on the second floor. I found some containers of paint. In one of the booths, they had a wide variety of paints that were “Fusion Mineral Paint.” It would be unique if someone was looking for a creative DIY (do-it-yourself) project and they were able to bring it all to life in this location. If you are a person who craves and loves DIY projects, I highly recommend you check out this market.

Maybe you’ll find the items that you have been seeking for

months, or maybe you’ll find something spontaneous in this space. This is the place I think you could find the thing you are looking for, or even the thing you didn’t know you were looking for. There are so many items you could find and see at the YQR Vintage Market, I could not list them all. But it is 100 per cent worth your time to go take a look around. The best part is that you still can! The YQR Vintage Market is open regularly on Tuesdays-Saturdays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.. When attending the store, you can pay with cash, debit, and credit. Oh, and one last thing! While I was walking around the store, I came across one sign that stated: “Enjoy your find.” That is the truth and soul of the YQR Vintage Market.

Take that sign as your sign to go and explore the market and look around, feel fabrics, play with typewriters, and let your imagination and creativity come to life.

victoria baht staff writer

WEDNESDAY

PROGRAM GUIDE

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

sports & health

Curling, Canada’s great winter sport

A fun sport for all ages, with free options approaching

victoria baht staff writer

According to the Nigeria Curling Foundation website, Canada is the country where the “curling people” live. Why is that?

Curling is a very popular sport. There are multiple ways to play curling with many different components involved, so it is a game everyone can play. Curling is a game that continues to grow in Regina, Saskatchewan.

Curl Regina is a non-profit organization here in Regina that works to grow the love of the sport. According to the Curl Regina website home page, they are dedicated to supporting the members of the community by promoting the growth of the game and making it available to all levels and age groups in Regina.

In fact, Curl Regina has a big event coming up soon. The 2024 Montana’s Brier is just around the corner! You can buy tickets online at Ticketmaster for the Brier and watch some curling from March 1-10.

They have a great deal of ticket options. You can choose to buy tickets on Ticketmaster, which has a wide range of ticket

options available on their website. You can choose to buy a single-draw ticket starting at $24, depending on where you would like to sit and who is playing. Alternatively, you can go all-out and buy a full event package starting at $486. I think it’s safe to say that anyone buying a full event package is a true curling fan.

When purchasing your ticket, keep in mind that the event will be taking place at the Brandt Centre in Regina. A single-draw ticket, as stated on the Montana’s Brier 2024 webpage, is a single round when two teams compete against each other. You can choose which draw to attend based on the playdown results. Check out their website at curling.ca and find tickets on the drop-down menu under “Tickets & Events” then “Tickets.” At the end of the ticket list will be Frequently Asked Questions for common questions on the tickets.

Heading out to the 2024 Montana’s Brier will surely be a good time from the sidelines. However, they are still looking for some volunteers. On the 2024 Montana’s Brier website under the “Get Involved” tab, click “Volunteer.” Here, you can find all the details on how to get in-

volved.

According to their website, “Being a part of Curling Canada Championship behind the scenes is a one-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and it is one you can take advantage of! You’ll play a role in the success of an event and get access that ticket-buyers DON’T get!” Be sure to check out their website if this is something you are interested in.

Let’s say you attend the Brier and now want to try curling. Well, Regina has a lot of options for you to give curling a shot. First, you should attend Curl Regina’s Learn to Curl event.

Curl Regina is hosting a free opportunity for people to learn and try out curling for themselves. Check out their Facebook page for all the information, but they are offering curling sessions on February 10, 19, and 24 to learn how to curl. There is a link provided on their January 22 post to register.

Their post says, “Don’t miss this incredible FREE opportunity to try Curling! Bring all your friends and family to see if you have what it takes to play the greatest sport in Canada!” Go register now before all their slots fill up!

If you know how to curl but do not know where to play, it is time to look at programs and leagues.

Under “Youth Programs” on Curl Regina’s website, curlregina. com, you can find a wide range of youth programs to choose from. These include “Curl 4 Kids” for children in grades 4 to 8, and the youth leagues “Juvenile” and “Novice.” The Juvenile Youth League is for those aged 18 and under, and the Novice League is for 15 and under. These leagues are mixed-team, and offer the opportunity to register as an individual, small group, or complete team.

Curl Regina also offers the Viterra Blizzard program which is for children aged 5-8, grade 6 school programs, and high school programs. Check their website for all the details to ensure you enrol in the right one.

If you are looking for an adult league option, the Highland Curling Club is one option for you. Recently, the Highland Curling Club set up an online booking system, making it easier than ever to book a time to go curl. Their calendar is found in the dropdown menu, so you can find a free timeslot on the calendar and book a time. They have lots of

“

options, including Monday night Ladies Leagues, Wednesday night Ladies Leagues, Thursday Men’s Leagues, Friday night Fun Open Leagues, and a University of Regina Curling League. Currently, their leagues run from October to March. Hopefully, you can enroll next season.

Even though leagues are currently in action, that does not mean you don’t get an opportunity to enjoy the game. On the Highland Curling Club website, you can click “Book Ice” and they have a booking system that may work for you. All members and non-members of the curling club can book the ice for any reason such as practice, hanging out with friends or family, or maybe an event.

The booking system for booking ice at the Highland Curling Club appears quite easy to navigate. There are easy-to-read instructions on their homepage to follow for booking times. When booking, you must book for at least an hour and the fee is $20 an hour for one sheet.

Curling with friends or family is sure to be a good time. Who knows, maybe one day you will join a league and be a part of your own bonspiel!

Curl Regina is hosting a free opportunity for people to learn and try out curling for themselves. Check

out their Facebook page for all the information,

but they

are offering curling sessions on February 10, 19, and 24 to learn how to curl.”

Victoria Baht

Cheating: what is it and why is it wrong? Cheating should not be a solution, so here are other solutions

pall agarwal s&h writer

Cheating has increased with the introduction of apps that utilize artificial intelligence (AI), like ChatGPT. Universities in Canada have noticed a rise in academic misconduct cases, and have seen that some students are misusing AI for their coursework.

Western University has created a cheating task force for their students to ensure academic integrity is maintained in the institution. The stories do not stop here, however, and the country has noticed much more.

During their university lives, students may feel the urge to cheat to get through their schooling to minimize things like emotional distress, how overwhelming their to-do list feels, or to try to guarantee higher grades with lower effort. This then begs the question: how is quality of education impacted when the quantity of effort put in to learn is lowered?

Students may cheat when they believe failure is never an option, yet that without cheating they may fail by their own or others’ standards. This mentality leads one to take steps that do not add to academic productivity. They are also sometimes worried about the consequences of not passing a course. Failing a class could result in a negative impres-

sion on their transcripts or parental disappointment, jeopardizing future opportunities, and other unknowns that could be difficult to undo or cope with.

Recently, the University of Regina (U of R) opened investigation on 50 cases of suspected cheating among nursing students. According to a CBC News article, “Out of approximately 1,200 nursing students who wrote an estimated 4,800 evaluations in December of 2023 – investigations have opened into around 50 cases or just over one per cent.” This number is higher than in previous years, and according to university

all faculties.

Students can appeal the decision within 30 days to the Council Discipline Committee, but there are different penalties that students can face. These include a loss or required repayment of scholarships, awards, suspension, expulsion, withholding of a degree, and/or a failing grade.

Having a strong support group that aligns its values with academic integrity has been found to help one fight the urge to cheat. Students can form study groups to get through coursework

Campus chlorine gas leak

together and learn from each other. Study groups offer a supportive environment and connection between students to build healthy study habits that can prevent the urges to cheat. Since the urges may come from stress associated with exams, studying with others can lessen the impact of stress among the study group members by boosting confidence and understanding of the material. Universities should also clarify what cheating is and isn’t, as there can be confusion among students. There are different university resources to provide basic information, like the current U of

An FYI on what all that commotion was about on January 28

The University of Regina’s (U of R) Aquatics Centre closed for repairs after a chlorine gas leak was found and reported on January 28, 2024. The Aquatics Centre is primarily intended for student and University swimming team use, but it offers daily public swim hours and programs.

The pool is on the main floor of the Centre for Kinesiology, Health & Sport (CKHS) building. The CKHS and attached Education building were evacuated after the leak was detected. The evacuation order was played over campus speakers but did not specify the nature of the emergency, potentially causing unnecessary anxiety about the situation. U of R Student Affairs sent out an email at 6:56 p.m. that night to inform the student body of the situation.

In this email, students were informed of the leak, assured that no injuries were reported, and told of the precautions taken to ensure safety. It states: “No injuries were reported as the pool was not being used at the time. Only one maintenance worker was on site and they were wearing a respirator and other protective equipment. The leak was contained and ventilation and air testing efforts were undertaken. The area has now been declared safe and the evacuation order has been lifted.”

R Undergraduate Calendar on page 48 which covers academic misconduct. Professors may mention that making use of online resources is not a bad thing as long as the information is able to be properly referenced. Speaking with instructors can help clarify what counts as cheating and relieve students who are anxious about unintentional academic misconduct.

Students are desperate to score well to proceed to the next chapter of their lives and sometimes they do not fight the urge to cheat. Students might find the subject difficult to cope with or feel that they do not understand the topic well enough to have confidence writing an exam. This pressure puts students at risk for cheating, for academic misconduct. The pressure to meet academic requirements leads them to seek shortcuts and paths that do not align with university rules, and that are unsustainable and ultimately unhelpful in the long run.

The act of cheating in students is a complex phenomenon driven by several factors. As students continue to navigate the academic landscape, it is important for them to embrace the importance of ethical conduct, resilience, and the pursuit of knowledge for themselves and for the betterment of society.

One of the Carillon’s writers, on campus at the time of the evacuation, reported that the alarm started around 11:05 a.m., and informed the Carillon staff at 11:34 a.m. that the university’s emergency alert website and app said nothing about the emergency. The Student Affairs email was sent out at least seven hours after the emergency evacuation was issued, from this information.

Although students who were in the CKHS building or using the Fitness and Lifestyle Centre on the second floor before the evacuation may be anxious about a chlorine leak, it should be noted that chlorine gas does not rise.

According to Chemtech International, “The molecular structure of chlorine gas makes it very dense, which means it will displace the air at a low level when it is released into a space. It will collect close to the ground, and spread rapidly across the space.”

The location of the leak is not specified, but the phrasing of the email sent out to the students suggests that the leak was found in an employee-only section of the facility and dealt with safely.

Additionally, the use of chlorine gas in swimming pools should be explained. Chlorine is used to disinfect swimming water, and the “smell” of indoor pools comes from the chloramines that form when reacting with sweat and

urine. This is why pools have the rules of “no peeing in the pool” and “shower before you swim.”

However, it may seem uncommon for pools to use chlorine gas, given the stronger risks associated with improper storage, maintenance, and leaks. According to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, “chlorine usually comes from ‘chlorinating agents’ that release chlorine when they are dissolved in the water. Chlorine gas may be used in large pools. The chlorine-based disinfectants may be called ‘chlorinating liquid’, ‘dry chlorine’ or ‘liquid chlorine.’” Dry chlorine refers to chlorine in a powdered form; liquid chlorine is a solution of chlorine gas and water. Chlorine gas is yellowish, heavy, and smells like bleach. Exposure to chlorine gas can cause eye irritation and abnormal breathing, with skin irritation following higher concentrations.

The Carillon has reached out to the Aquatics Centre for further information on the situation, repairs, and safety measures put in place to prevent another gas leak.

kimberley kaufman s&h editor

Learn to manage your time to make more time for things you love

pall agarwal s&h writer

With the midterm season in full swing, students face many issues struggling to manage their time and schedule their days to accommodate classes and studying. That said, it is important to note that managing time is a life skill that comes with a lot of trial and error. It can be something for first-year students to navigate throughout their university life as embarking on this new journey comes with its own set of challenges.

Navigating coursework, assignments, and extracurricular activities demands a structured and well-thought-out approach

party coming up but have an assignment due the next day. Should I go clubbing and figure out the rest later?” This dilemma could be simply answered with an effective priority list. One can finish off their assignment first, delay gratification, and feel the fun is well deserved and achieved when it’s finally time to engage in that stress-free fun. This conviction to choose the less desirable option takes practice and strength to overcome the urge to procrastinate, but even if it is implemented once, the possibility of taking it further is there.

Students can also make effective use of their time by time blocking. University students have a lot of deadlines in addition to

“ With midterms upon us, students need to make sure that they plan their days effectively to minimize distractions. This comes with practice and focus.” Pall Agarwal

to ensure short- and long-term success. There are many ways to manage time effectively with a million things to do outside coursework and maintaining a full-fledged life too.

One idea is for students to make a mental list of their priorities. While students may feel energized, it is very important to manage their time to prevent burnout and unneeded stress. This means one needs to make a list of what is most important for them to do first, and this can vary from semester-to-semester – or even dayto-day.

For example, “I have a club

days effectively to minimize distractions. This comes with practice and focus. If one can prioritize their tasks and block off time to do those tasks during their day, they will effectively have everything planned for their day.

Pareto’s Principle, or the 8020 Rule, is a useful tool that could help students when studying for exams. The principle states that 20 per cent input can create 80 per cent of output. When applied to something like time management, spending 20 minutes of your time on the most important task will lead to a greater chance of success in those tasks, instead of spending that same time doom-scrolling on social media.

time but count only 20 per cent towards the output. Similarly, during exam preparation and to stay on top of coursework, one should stay away from sandboxes that waste time, and focus on pebbles to fulfill the boulders. This includes doing assignments on time and being present in classes for lectures and quizzes. This also includes segmenting study preparation strategies to focus on those topics that cover 80 per cent of the exams.

Taking effective breaks can make or break a person’s productivity. To be productive, one needs to make time to recharge throughout the day. Breaks can include going for a walk on cam-

could be other distractions that could hinder people from focusing on academics, including personal activities that do not cater to one’s long-term goals, the boulders. Distractions and procrastinating will delay one’s process of attaining their goals.

As the list continues, it is worth noting that these approaches are just a few of the many ways to manage your time. People may have their own way of coping with time management and staying on top of their coursework. Mastering the art of time management is not merely a skill but a cornerstone of academic success. Refining this process is an ongoing process and there will be a lot

any other extracurricular commitments. It is important to block off time immediately for studying time. Time blocking can be used for deep work too.

Deep work means work that requires complete concentration, with no distractions, for a short period of time. Deep work helps a person reach peak productivity, and in this way one can complete a task in less time than by working on it continuously for hours.

Planning your day during exam season is another way to manage your time. With midterms upon us, students need to make sure that they plan their

In essence, spending your time on the most important tasks will help you out the most.

Hugh Culver, in his book Give Me a Break, described boulders, pebbles, and sandboxes that could be related to the Pareto principle and implemented successfully to manage time and ace midterms. Culver described the boulders in one’s life as the long-term goals that take time but count towards 80 per cent of the output produced. Pebbles are those small, short-term tasks that are required to fulfill the boulders.

The sandbox is the activities that take 80 per cent of the

pus or spending quality time with friends doing activities that do not involve discussing academics. Students also often do recreational activities on campus by using the amenities provided by the University of Regina, like the gym and pool. These are great resources for someone to revive from the exam stress and unwind. While there are so many things to do, there are also things you should not do. Minimizing your distractions can help prevent procrastinating. This includes distractions like social media, which can take up time otherwise planned for coursework. There

of unlearning and relearning. One will fail, while others might succeed, but it is all about picking up from where you left off. The commitment to effective time management will not only empower you to conquer your schoolwork but also instill valuable skills that could be transferred to any aspect of work, including working style and personal life. For first-years, it could be something that will take time, but it is an essential foundation to set oneself up for success.

op-ed

Canada, your home away from home

International student life in Canada is in flux

nazeemah noorally staff writer

For the past few weeks, news headlines have been talking about the introduction of reforms and policies surrounding international student permits for Canada. The Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Marc Miller has been at the forefront of the initiative, and has informed the public of a comprehensive set of changes, with the primary objective of stabilizing growth over the next two years.

These changes include, but are not limited to, an immediate implementing of an intake cap on study permit approvals, as of the announcement on January 22. According to the announcement, there will be a 35 per cent reduction from 2023 to 2024 in the number of study permit applications approved.

This cap is a nationwide cap that will be divided among provinces and territories. There are many pros and cons to this policy.

mixed emotions. There is a sense of understanding about the need for measures to manage the influx of students and to alleviate the pressures on Canada’s resources. At the same time, there is also a pressing concern about the sudden impact these measures will have on the accessibility and diversity of educational opportunities.

There was already a sense of cutthroat competition for education opportunities in Canada, and this reduction in study permit applications adds yet another layer of stress about the competitiveness of the admissions process and the availability of seats in Canadian institutions.

Further, the redistribution of the cap among provinces and territories introduces another layer of complexity. While the policy aims to address regional disparities and create a more equitable distribution, the impact on individual students’ choices and academic trajectories is likely to come under some degree of uncertainty.

On the surface, the goal of more uniform distribution seems to be commendable, with the objective perhaps to ensure

“ International students are vital to Canada and enrich our communities. As such, we have an obligation to ensure that they have access to the resources they need for an enriching academic experience.”

The Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

On one hand, there is a need across the country to rein in unsustainable growth, acknowledging the strain on housing, healthcare, and other services. On the other hand, there is also the need to recognize the contributions that international students make to Canada’s cultural, social, and economic situation. As articulated by Minister Miller, the goal is clear: to find a balance that fosters a thriving international student community while ensuring the sustainability of the Canadian education system.

As an international student myself, the announcement of these changes brings

dents may have to reconsider their initial preferred locations based on the available quota and perceived competitiveness in securing admission.

There are also set to be changes to the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWT) criteria as of September 1, 2024, further impacting the long-term career trajectories of international students. The PGWP has historically been a substantial component of Canada’s appeal to international students, given how it offers a well-defined pathway to gain valuable Canadian work experience after graduation. With the expected changes, the eligibility criteria will exclude international students enrolled in programs under the curriculum licensing arrangements. This will directly impact those who attend private colleges licensed to deliver the curriculum of associated public colleges.

The new policies do have some bright sides, though. The announced policy changes are supposed to align with broader initiatives aimed at enhancing the overall

tial decrease in number of new students, which will hopefully help address localized pressures on resources and services that we have been seeing in the recent past.

The Minister has also expressed the belief that these policy changes, while primarily in response to ensuring more stable and sustainable growth, are also likely to benefit the international students who will continue to come into Canada. “International students are vital to Canada and enrich our communities,” said Minister Miller in the announcement.

that the benefits of international students are not concentrated solely in certain regions. This can have the desirable effect of promoting a balanced distribution of resources and opportunities across the nation.

Yet, the challenge will lie in the unintended consequences for individual students. Certain provinces may be more attractive to international students due to academic program offerings, cultural environments, or other factors. The cap at province and institute levels is likely to alter the dynamics of these choices, potentially leading to limited choices. Prospective stu-

experience for international students coming to Canada. Notable among these initiatives is the update to the cost-of-living requirement for study permit applicants, effective January 1, 2024.

This adjustment reflects a commitment to the true cost of living in Canada, offering incoming students a more accurate financial expectation and reducing the vulnerability which has come to be associated with potential exploitation of students who were given an inaccurate perspective on living costs in Canada. Provinces that have been experiencing the most pronounced unsustainable growth may witness substan-

“As such, we have an obligation to ensure that they have access to the resources they need for an enriching academic experience. In Canada, today, this isn’t always the case. Today, we are announcing additional measures to protect a system that has become so lucrative that it has opened a path for its abuse. Enough is enough. Through the decisive measures announced today, we are striking the right balance for Canada and ensuring the integrity of our immigration system while setting students up for the success they hope for.”

Thus, as the policy takes a multi-faceted approach, combining measures to manage growth by capping the number of new international students being allowed, we will all have to recalibrate our expectations and strategies for building a professional future in Canada. As we navigate these policy changes, we will undoubtedly witness the transformations in opportunities that lie ahead for the international student community.

Scrub Mommy, your scrubbing tool of subtle oppression

How products are marketed can perpetuate stereotypes

maren savarese knopf staff writer

The pink inconspicuously smiling Scrub Mommy sponge is the latest in mass pink-cutesy product marketed towards women for the purpose of domestic labour.

Product descriptions for the Scrub Mommy sponge include anthropomorphic descriptors or, in other words, those that attribute human forms. Scrub Mommy is double-sided and can be soft or hard depending on the water temperature and, while she scrubs your plates, she features an always smiling pink face.

Scrub Mommy is nothing new. Pink products have been studied at length by social scientists who describe normative assumptions about consumers (that is, that women and girls are targeted through deeply embedded ideas surrounding gender roles and ideals) and they, in turn, shape the consumer. Of particular interest are products developed for domestic labour, like Scrub Mommy, that idealised contentions about who is expected to perform this type of unpaid labour.

More recently, researchers have taken an interest in the ‘cutesy’ aesthetic. Daniel Harris, author of Cute, Quaint, Hungry and Romantic: The Aesthetics of Consumerism, suggests that cuteness has become widespread in consumer culture, from cherubic figures “patting their peepers on Charmin toilet paper to teddy bears frozen mid-embrace, the stubs of their pawless arms groping for hugs.” Moreover, researchers Clive Nan-

carrow, Pamela Nancarrow, and Julie Page have suggested in their paper “An analysis of the concept of cool and its marketing implications” that consumers exist within a ‘cuteocracy” where the cutest person, place, or product wins, and marketing draws on this reality.

According to researchers studying the material culture of ‘cute,’ the aesthetic gives consumer goods warm and cheerful qualities. Further, cuteness might function to lend personality and presence to products otherwise often regarded as being used for the ‘invisible’ labour of domestic responsibilities. In this sense, cutesy consumer goods might make them more attractive to consumers who are involved in the performance of invisibilized domestic labour.

Invisible labour is a term coined by Arlene Daniels in 1987 to describe the unpaid work that goes unnoticed, unacknowledged, and unregulated by sociology. If you find yourself to be the person picking up all the household chores, that’s essentially the performance of invisible labour. Invisible labour impacts a wide range of demographics sitting within the margins, and the fact that their labour is invisibilized required a form of marginalization.

Most notably, invisible labour usually includes household maintenance and child-rearing, activities commonly attributed to women who are primarily cisgender and in heterosexual relationships. However, invisible labour extends beyond this definition and is not solely performed by cis-gendered heterosexual women. However, products like Scrub Mommy offer a critical entry point to interrogate the connec-

tions between pink marketed products for domestic labour and the way that labour is in turn made invisible.

Others have described cute products to involve a degree of “cultural amnesia” where societies forget their problem by consumption of cuteness. From this perspective, cuteness might offer a kind of cultural distraction from deeply embedded boundaries and social problems.

However, the aesthetic of cuteness must be seen through a frame of “yes, and” meaning that while it might offer a

Reflecting on grad school applications

How do we wrap an entire life into an application essay?

While applying to graduate programs is clearly a confusing task, I’m finding that my confusion is not coming from the more logistical end of things.

It isn’t the demanding application requirements, or the need to output all

your documents in specific file formats, or a nebulous and generic request to include a writing sample with no specific content guidelines that have me puzzled. Instead, now that some of the offers have begun trickling out into the world where obsessive

students can refresh GradCafe and Reddit looking for the latest updates, I am confused about how I should feel about where I have ended up.

I have read dozens of statements on forums from grad school hopefuls recounting how if they don’t get into their dream school, “it was all for nothing.” And I find myself curious about why I don’t feel that way. About why I can’t say something like that, and why it doesn’t feel that way to me.

The stakes feel high for me – I applied to competitive programs in a very desirable area. I want to research and write. I am a wildly impractical person, the only place I really make any sort of sense is in academia. But to come to the conclusion that five years of my time spent learning and growing, building things and tearing things down, and messing up and doing better could somehow become null and void seems a bit against the spirit of all the work I just put in.

Graduate school forces you into a position of reflection. You are asked to sum up who you are, what you’ve done, and what you’d like to do. Sometimes in 300500 words.

You ask your professors to vouch for your work, to offer testimony as to why you should continue to have the privilege of learning and growing, of building things and tearing things down in this context. You try to guess what these people may say about your work, or how they might talk about the kind of person you are. You think back on countless trainings and workshops as you try to pad your CV. Form fields in application portals ask, “Is there anything else pertinent to your application that you

distraction from the often-exploitative nature of invisible labour, it might also offer a platform for empowerment through the reclamation of ‘cute.’ Like anything that offers empowerment, this is a deeply personal process and one often wrought with contradictions and nuance.

However, whether or not you resist the lure of the cute aesthetic used to market domestic products or you find value within them, the interrogation into autocracy remains one of value.

would like to tell the committee?” and you weigh your options.

I wonder if they should know about the work I’ve done between classes and research and jobs. Becoming a better version of myself, taking along anyone else around me who wanted to come. Do I tell them the story of the world that was built here in this place that helped countless others figure out who they were?

I feel like it could be vitally important for the committee to know about all of those nights we spent trying to figure out how to make other people care just as much as we do. My application depends on the hours and the people and every single painfully on-the-nose impossible coincidence that popped up in my path. How I asked the questions about the world that I had and how I bore the answers that I received while here is pertinent to my application. And the committee should know.

Every available inch of space and time in my undergraduate work has been taken up by chaotic confetti. All that esoteric noise jamming itself between the margins of my degree requirements is why the work I did here cannot possibly be for nothing. The degree was just the rough structure I used to interpret my time here – classes as lenses. There is no writing off my efforts despite what happens without betraying who I am.

Good luck to all those who have applied.

shae sackman production manager

Bird People