Losing my religion (and our humanity)
Even Water Can’t Put Out This Fire
Bishop’s community marches to “Take Back the Night” in annual stand against sexual
“All for One, and One for All!”: The Musketeers ensemble stuns the Turner Stage
Ottawa unveils budget 2025 with major infrastructure push and student impacts
By Rianna Ostrosser Editor in Chief
Bishop’s University is facing significant backlash from its student body after the administration announced plans to discontinue support for the annual Rail Jam after this academic year and potentially relocate the event for the upcoming WinterFest celebration in February. The decision has raised concerns that the Bishop’s community, culture, and tradition are under immediate threat.
The Rail Jam, a central part of the university’s largest annual event, WinterFest, involves students competing in freestyle skiing and snowboarding on a temporary ramp in the campus’s Quad. According to the SRC statement released Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, the university administration cited an “internal analysis” for the decision to withdraw support, yet pro-
vided “no figures or written data” when requested to justify the decision. The SRC expressed deep disappointment with the decision, noting that it will “significantly impact student life and fundamentally alter one of the largest and most iconic events on our campus.” For the current academic year, the Bishop’s administration intends to relocate the Rail Jam away from its traditional spot in the Quad. The SRC Events Manager, Stéphanie Grégoire, stated their commitment to reversing the decision: “We are disappointed with the University’s decisions and are committed to doing everything we can to keep the Rail Jam at the heart of campus, as it has been for the last decade.” The Events Manager noted that a recent meeting with campus services, including Building and Grounds, Health and Safety, and AVP HR was productive, suggesting hope for a collaborative resolution.
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Kai Luginbuhl, News Editor » thecampus.news@gmail.com
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nnThe decision follows a pattern of heightened administrative and external oversight on traditional student gatherings this year. That includes the police-enforced shutdown of the annual Homecoming and Halloween Reed Street parties, which leads to student speculation that the annual St. Patrick’s Day street party may also be targeted. The intervention in student events suggests a calculated effort to alter Bishop’s well-established student culture and traditions. The university has long prided itself on these values, being recognized as a top Canadian university for student satisfaction for over a decade. Adding to these changes, the administration recently intervened in the planning of Orientation Week, taking charge of one day’s
activities in an event that has previously been the exclusive responsibility of the SRC to encourage early community and friendship among both upper-year and first-year students. Now, by potentially cancelling an event pivotal to Bishop’s culture and student enrollment decisions, the administration is challenging the very identity of the university. The Rail Jam is a competitive showcase of student talent and passion in winter sports, accompanied by organized, non-drinking activities like hockey and a mechanical snowboard challenge. While a bar service is provided, the event’s core focus remains on the competition and community, not drinking, with alternatives like water, hot chocolate, and energy drinks available for the entire student body.
BU Snow, the student club responsible for organizing the event, emphasizes the importance of the Rail Jam. The club stresses that WinterFest is a major factor in student recruitment, stating, “Winterfest is one of the main reasons we each chose Bishop’s. It’s how we have built one of the strongest University ski communities in Canada.” BU Snow also raised serious safety concerns regarding the potential cancellation. “We are concerned that cancelling the Rail Jam will only lead to unsanctioned, off-campus Rail Jams where fewer precautions will be taken,” the club warned. The official event has established safety protocols that unsanctioned gatherings would lack. The intended relocation away from the Quad poses logistical and security issues. The layout of the potential alternative site, of the parking
By Tallula Russell Contributor
On Jul. 1, 2028, the Religion, Society and Culture department of Bishop’s University will officially close. It will mark the end of 185 years of teaching religion in some capacity here, one of the longest unbroken chains in Canada. At its inception, Bishop’s taught Christian theology classes, the study of holy books and their doctrine. Today, Religion classes are for the academic study of religion, an outgrowth of sociology focused on the human phenomena of religious practice and belief. Religion, Society and Culture classes are interfaith and focus on the history, politics and social factors that shape and change faiths worldwide, and on how they affect the institutions and lives of practitioners and those around them.
The closing of the department will follow the retirement of RSC Professor, Dr. Michele Murray. Murray has taught at Bishop’s since 2000 and has served as the Dean of Arts and Sciences and Dean of Arts during her tenure. Murray and her fellow RSC professor, Dr. Daniel Miller have been the only two full-time faculty members since the retirement of Dr.
THarvey White in 2020. White was not replaced upon his retirement, a result of the many factors that have led to the department’s closure.
In interviews with Murray and Miller, both have articulated that a general decline in the Humanities is greatly to blame. Since the beginning of the 2000s, Miller has noticed a change in how the University itself is perceived. Expressing that postsecondary education isn’t for expanding the mind, deepening understanding of the world, or growing as a person, it’s for getting a job. The Humanities don’t advertise themselves as a means for employment, and the growing economic disparity in North America means that fewer and fewer people can afford to get a bachelor’s degree in something that won’t immediately lead to a way to pay off student debt. Religion is especially poor on this front as there are many transferable skills but not many technical ones. Enrollment in RSC has never been tremendous, but in the 2010s Murray described a marked drop-off. Low enrollment means less funding, which means less money to hire and pay a professor, full-time or contract faculty. The small student body in Religion is
a principal element of why White was not replaced, and part of why Murray won’t be.
Another factor in the lack of replacement for Murray is the financial distress the University has been put under by the actions of François Legault’s CAQ government in the fall of 2023. Legault’s government tried to reduce funding to English-speaking universities, citing it as a threat to the French language. Bishop’s University fought hard to get an exemption to the tuition hike and was successful, but the damage was done. Enrollment at Bishop’s was lower the following year, and the lowered number of international students as imposed by the federal government has shrunk the school’s budget.
When asked how he felt about the closure of the department, Miller issued a grave warning. “It concerns me. It concerns all of us in the Humanities that the Humanities continue to dwindle. In a time of great financial restraint, retired people will not be replaced. It seems the writing is on the wall. All over North America, Humanities departments are on the chopping block.”
However, Murray is optimistic
lot behind the Plex, could complicate efforts to establish secure perimeters and effectively monitor entrances, raising concerns that a relocation may not succeed.
The SRC statement concluded by thanking the Buildings & Grounds team for their dedication to the event, noting that the administration’s decision appears linked to “significant cutbacks within this department.” The SRC affirmed its commitment to preserving the tradition and is actively working to find solutions.
The SRC urges all supporters of the Rail Jam, including students, alumni, staff, faculty and community members, to share this information extensively. Let’s save Rail Jam.
that there may be a future for Religious Studies at Bishop’s. There are different strategies that could promote the humanities to other disciplines, such as expanding the divisional requirements for graduation or setting up a set of foundational classes that could make the Humanities more accessible to students. Furthermore, vested interest in the Humanities, both from faculty and administration, with projects like Humanities Fest, can make a change.
he Campus acknowledges that the land on which we operate is stolen land, the traditional territory of the Abenaki people. We live, learn, work, and play on this land, home to Indigenous peoples still living. Canada was founded through colonization, a system rooted in oppression and the abuse of power over others, continuing to affect First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities today. As a student newspaper, The Campus has a responsibility to highlight truth. We are committed to prioritizing underrepresented voices in our community and proactively highlighting Indigenous peoples’ histories and ongoing realities, including their resilience and achievements. We recognize our work plays a role in shaping public perceptions, being able to call-out injustice but also call-in action. We emphasize that we must go beyond a land acknowledgement, which is only one step towards reconciliation. It is the stories in our paper – told with respect, accuracy, and integrity – and the respect and humility we show to the land and others that is more important than what is written in a land acknowledgement. Actionable steps to go beyond a land acknowledgement include educating ourselves and others, and supporting Indigenous traditions, movements, and businesses. —The Campus Team
By Kate Puittinen Contributor
On Oct. 26, 2025, the Motionball executive team brought together Bishop’s students and local Special Olympic athletes at Optimist Park in Lennoxville for their first-ever Fall Field Day. An afternoon focused on community connection and inclusion.
In an interview, event organizer Tessa Bradshaw explained that, “[The team] wanted to have an event in the fall, and the idea of a Fall Field Day seemed like the perfect thing to try.” Bradshaw added that the team hoped to create a space where Bishop’s athletes could lead stations, interact with Special Olympic athletes and build relationships that would continue into future Motionball events.
This year’s Field Day welcomed 30 local Special Olympic athletes and 80 Bishop’s volunteers. These volunteers worked in small groups to run stations throughout the afternoon. While Motionball at Bishop’s usually
hosts fundraising events in support of Special Olympics Canada, Bradshaw stated that this event focused entirely on outreach and relationship-building rather than raising money.
Throughout the afternoon, participants rotated through six activity stations in 20-minute blocks. The activities included soccer, rugby, ultimate frisbee, dance, an obstaclecourse relay and a snack station featuring baked goods prepared by the Motionball committee. Each station was led by Bishop’s volunteers, many of whom were varsity athletes.
Motionball’s chapter at Bishop’s stands out because it blends community engagement with awareness of the lived experiences of Canadians with disabilities. Bradshaw noted that Motionball “centres our events around local Special Olympic athletes,” which helps students recognize the importance of inclusion and leadership on campus. She added that Field Day also introduced participants to the ‘No Good Way’ campaign, a national initiative working to eliminate the use
of the ‘R-word.’
When asked about the highlight of the day, Bradshaw said the athlete tunnel stood out the most. The tunnel, formed by two lines of cheering volunteers, welcomed athletes at both the beginning and end of the event. “These athletes are our celebrities,” she said, explaining that the tradition reflects the positivity and celebration Motionball aims to promote.
Clear weather and enthusiastic participation helped the afternoon run smoothly. All baked goods were finished by the end of the event, which closed with a spontaneous dance circle and a conga line.
Bradshaw emphasized the importance of events like Field Day, noting that “One in 10 Canadians live with an intellectual disability,” and that students’ words and actions have a meaningful impact. She said the event offered Bishop’s students a valuable opportunity to practice choosing inclusion in a hands-on, welcoming environment.
Motionball’s flagship event, the
Marathon of Sport, will return on Mar. 22, 2026. Bradshaw stated that the chapter aims to raise $25,000 for Special Olympics Canada and involve as many local athletes as possible. She highlighted Motionball’s hope to “continue building long-term community connections through future events.”
When asked to summarize the atmosphere of the day, Bradshaw used one word: “Empowering.”
Emilie Vadeboncoeur Director of Marketing & Communications
The “Table de concertation en violences sexuelles de l’Estrie” has recently launched a new initiative aimed at reshaping the way young people understand sexual consent. In partnership with “TransEstrie,” the campaign sets out to expand conversation beyond the traditional “yes means yes, no means no” framing. Instead, it urges the public to confront the grey areas that often get overlooked, particularly among youth and young adults.
When asked what misunderstandings about consent are most common among young adults, Nikk Raun (he/
they), spokesperson for “TransEstrie,” described how many believe that consent is simply verbal. However, consent is just as important in body language, silence and hesitation. This is why it is so important to make consent a continuous conversation. What someone may feel comfortable with can change in seconds, and it is important to make sure everyone is still comfortable and having a good time.
Raun explained that the campaign is designed as a global consent campaign, grounded in five key factors that together define what true consent involves. These factors: voluntary and informed, revocable, free of power imbalance, safety and autonomy, give people a more realistic understanding of what healthy consensual interactions actually look like.
Voluntary and informed consent means that both parties are willing, wanting and fully aware of what they are agreeing to. This also means that for a person to be fully aware, they must be sober. When someone is intoxicated or high, their judgment, awareness and comprehension are impaired. Therefore, when impaired, they cannot give fully informed consent.
Consent must also always be revocable, meaning it acts as an on-going conversation rather than a one-time
approval statement. Another important factor is the absence of a power imbalance. Power imbalances can be anything from authority, social pressure, or emotional influence. These cannot be in place in order to make a truly consensual decision. Consent must also be safe, free from coercion, pressure or bribery of any kind. Finally, autonomy, the fundamental right to make decisions about our own bodies, our identities and our boundaries. It serves as a reminder that autonomy includes the right to modify our bodies,
the right to define our gender, and the right to refuse invasive or inappropriate questions.
By confronting uncomfortable questions and promoting open conversations, the campaign invites young people to reflect honestly on their role in fostering safe and respectful relationships.
Students seeking any support or information are encouraged to explore monconsentement.ca or reach out to Bishop’s Sexual Violence Support Centre at SVSC@ubishops.ca
Anya Mullen, Opinions Editor » thecampus.opinions@gmail.com
By Lauren Root Features Editor
Being a university student has brought back the holiday joy I lost as a child. Growing up, Christmas was my favourite time of the year, just like so many children around the world. I remember the days of panicking to make sure that Santa got my list on time, and trying to stay on my best behaviour for the months leading up to Christmas. Somewhere along the way, and I’m not quite sure where, I began to lose some of this excitement. Now I’ve realized that university has brought it back.
The month of November is a disaster for every university student. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who looks forward to November (unless it’s their
birthday), but even then, I can guarantee they’re still stressed about assignments. The weather takes a turn for the worse, and winter is knocking on the doorstep. While I don’t despise snow, I hate everything that comes with snow, like the wind and darkness. It’s so hard to feel productive when the sun starts setting at 4 p.m.
Heading into the last few weeks of the semester, studying for exams and finishing term papers takes priority over everything else. You see fewer people out and about; instead, everyone is hibernating in the library or in their homes. Overall, it’s not a fun way to close out the semester.
So, enter the return of childhood excitement. Christmas time brings decorating, lights and cozy nights full of watching movies and
drinking hot chocolate. It shows you who your closest friends are, and who the people you want to cuddle with under a blanket while watching “Home Alone” are.
Going home, wherever home may be, brings you closer to the
friends and family you’ve had to leave to come to Bishop’s. It’s a good reminder that life does, in fact, expand past the Lennoxville/Sherbrooke borders, and that you have people from all over who love you and cheer you on.
As for me, one thing I really love about the holiday break is the lack of work. Even over reading week, there are always things that need to get done, like studying or writing papers. Over the December break, the only thing that needs to happen is sleep, and that’s something I’ll never complain about.
The joy of cozy nights, going home and a desperately needed break from work all bring back the childhood excitement that I took for granted, and that’s been missing in my life. With a few short weeks left in the semester, I can’t wait for the upcoming break!
By Addison Walker Contributor
Every morning, before we are even fully awake, we reach for our phones. Within seconds we are scrolling through headlines about jobs being replaced by AI, classmates landing impossible internships and yet another reminder that the future feels both wide open and completely out of reach. No wonder we are called the anxious generation; we are triggering our own anxiety before we have even gotten out of bed.
Social media might be the biggest source of anxiety today. What was created to connect us now keeps us comparing ourselves to everyone else and feeling like we will never measure up. The worst part is, half of what we are comparing ourselves to is not even real. Social media only shows the best parts of people’s lives. No one posts about being drowned in schoolwork or stuck in the library at midnight; they post when they are lying on a beach in the Caribbean with an endless supply of pina coladas. NYU psychology professor Jonathan Haidt, in his 2024 best seller “The Anxious Generation” states, “This is the great irony of social media: the more you immerse yourself in it,
the lonelier and more depressed you become.” Most of the posts online are not about connection; they are about chasing the dopamine hit from the likes and comments. Before we know it, hours have disappeared while we check and recheck our phones, waiting for that quick rush of validation.
Gen Z could easily be considered
to events happening in places we have never been, often without context. The constant stream of information creates an unshakeable sense of urgency and anxiety. Even the performative nature of online political or social awareness adds pressure. People repost issues they barely understand, simply following trends and opinions of people they
the most globally aware generation, but is it even by choice? Every time we open our phones, we are exposed
do not even know. The result is the constant flow of information that blurs meaning and makes everything
feel overwhelming.
Thinking about the future adds a whole new layer of stress. We’re told to plan ahead, build careers, find stability, but what does that look like anymore? AI is changing the job market faster than we can keep up, and the paths that once felt secure now seem uncertain or temporary. It’s hard not to wonder if we’re preparing for a world that won’t exist by the time we get there. The finish line keeps shifting, and with it, the definition of success.
But the anxiety most of us experience does not mean we are weak. If anything, it shows that we care that we are empathetic and deeply aware of the world around us. It also means we have the potential to channel this awareness to drive action and change in the world. By using our “fifth limb” (our phones), intentionally, we can bring attention to the world in ways that do not create anxiety but instead inspire curiosity, learning, and meaningful engagement
That said, balance is crucial. We cannot engage with the world or drive change if we are constantly overwhelmed by it. Take a break, log off and prioritize your wellbeing before it consumes you. Even a little time away makes space to think, learn and act with intention.
Anya Mullen, Opinions Editor » thecampus.opinions@gmail.com
By Reagan Russell Contributor
Every year, well before Halloween is even over, shelves in stores like Dollarama and Walmart are lined with stocking stuffers and Christmas decorations. As soon as the costumes come off, it seems that everyone is suddenly already in the Christmas spirit. I do understand that in these dreary ‘ber months, sometimes people need something to look forward to. Christmas becomes an easy outlet for this as people anxiously wait to visit family and friends, and more importantly, for the semester to finally come to a close.
That brings me to question: When is too soon to decorate for Christmas?
Growing up in Ontario, I was always told to at least wait until after Remembrance Day before putting up any decorations, but nothing major was put up until December. After speaking with friends who grew up in Quebec,
they told me how Remembrance Day is less acknowledged at times in Quebec and how Nov. 11 plays a smaller role in when they bust out their tree. Some have their tree up by mid-November, and others wait until after December 1st. For my American friends, they typically wait until after their own Thanksgiving and then move right into Christmas time.
What’s the reason for this? As soon as it’s dark at 5 p.m., is our collective seasonal depression making us so miserable that we need Christmas lights up? Or is it because Instagram and Amazon are drowning us in “Wishlist inspo” and the next decoration trend that we are immediately thrown into the Christmas spirit?
Now, I’m not saying that I’m not looking forward to the winter holidays. As I grind out paper after paper in the library, Christmas has slowly become the light at the end of the tunnel. With the exam season ending on Dec. 16 this year, Christmas parties and Secret
Santa exchanges obviously must be pushed earlier, consequently dragging the holiday season forward.
To answer my earlier question, I think it’s best to wait until the end of November before decorating. Try decorating for the end of the fall season, or the beginning of winter, before Dollarama Christmas villages are littered throughout your apartment. As we head towards the end of the semester, I invite you to sit with the seasons and the, at times, underwhelming ‘in between’ moments. Find something fun to do this winter that isn’t centered around commercialized holidays. Let the seasons wash over you instead of trying to rush to the next big thing. Try looking for beauty in the small moments between the next major holiday or event. Practice patience. Maybe the holidays will feel even better when they finally arrive, since you wouldn’t have been microdosing them for two months.
By Anya Mullen Opinions Editor
Idon’t think I’m the only student who gets stressed and overwhelmed in November and December when final projects and presentations are piling up and exams are looming around the corner. In fact, I think it would be difficult to find a student who doesn’t get stressed during this busy time of year. It’s especially hard to study when the snow falls as early as it did this year, and all you want to do is ski, or build a snowman, or get into the holiday spirit.
What always happens to me around this time of the semester is that I look at my to-do list and I see so much to do that I freeze and end up doing none of it, pushing it to tomorrow, and working on other things instead that aren’t as important or timesensitive as the things I should be doing.
This semester, for the first time in my two and a half years at Bishop’s, I think I have found a pretty good life/ school balance. It’s something I would recommend to anyone who is feeling stressed about all the schoolwork they need to do. What happened this year is that I got an unexpected reset. My friend from home was on her reading week and was visiting Ottawa and Montreal, and a last-minute decision brought her to Bishop’s so that we could spend a couple of days hanging out.
The timing was perfect. Just as I was about to hit my mental block, my freeze amidst so many assignments, she showed up, and I wanted to hang out with her. Getting to show a friend around Lennoxville, to mix up my daily life a little bit, was exactly what I needed. It gave me the ability to put my homework in perspective. I realized that always being stressed wouldn’t help me be productive.
What will help me be productive is the realization that by getting a little bit done every day and focusing on one thing at a time, everything will get finished. It’s my fifth exam season at Bishop’s, and everything got done in the other four, and life went on, and this semester will be no different. Without rushing myself to do work and just getting things done where I can, the same amount gets done with a lot less stress and much more enjoyment. I like what I’m learning at BU, but it’s easy to forget that when exams are coming up. This year, I was able to give myself the mental deep breath that I needed to have a more enjoyable month of November.
My friend came to visit, and I showed her the area. We played lots of crib, and we cooked some delicious food. I realized that it was totally fine to put off my homework for one more day, that all I had to do was calm down my anxious thoughts long
How much does it cost to be kind?
By Brian Park Contributor
Ihave a friend, and at the first opportunity, they will find a way to tease or taunt you with a multitude of mischievous methods. No longer susceptible to this friend’s evil ways, I began responding to his “ragebait” by saying, “you know it costs nothing to be kind.” However, one day he called me out and asked what exactly that meant. I then started wondering if it truly does cost nothing to be kind.
To delve into this topic, it is necessary to define what it means to be kind. To be kind is to take the extra steps past the normal social contracts we all live by. The
social contracts we live by include any laws of our society, whether it be as large as not participating in grand heists, or as small as stopping your car at a red light. To go one step beyond this would be taking actions that you are not lawfully obligated to do, but to help someone else’s day become simpler or comforting, to show someone else compassion, to keep the goodness of the human experience alive.
Now, what does it cost to be kind? Or, more so, what components of social interactions keep us from carrying out acts of kindness? Well, from personal experience and from avid people watching, fear is a large factor that may halt us from performing kind acts. Fear of being caught in a socially awkward interaction
enough to put everything into a little bit of perspective.
So, if you get the chance, make sure to sit down and do some art, play a game with your roommates or go for a walk in the snow. Look forward to both your schoolwork and what you get to do when you’re done for the day, and suddenly those hours of studying and homework might feel both more productive and more fun.
of holding the door open for the person behind you, only to see that the individual is the innocent bystander that was subject to seeing you throw up at the bar the night before. Or fear of losing your “nonchalant aura” by going out of your way to pick up someone’s fallen belongings, only to see they are already in the process of picking it up. Or maybe you just don’t want to get your roommate a glass of water, as you fear the impending comment of being called a “good boy.” Now, although it is possible that carrying out kindness may catch you in an unwanted social interaction or it may seem uncool, it should not halt us from helping someone out, no matter how small the action may be.
All in all, being kind should not be
something to fear, and it shouldn’t create an environment where you cannot have a silly goose time and tease your friends, as being kind does not contradict the latter. So go ahead, ask your friend who the 43rd president of the United States was, and when they say George W. Bush, push them into a bush. But then reach out your hand and help them up, and if they are somehow hurt, buy them a junior chicken for their sorrows. In all seriousness, however, be kind. Help the senior citizen carry their groceries home, walk that little bit faster so that the turning vehicle can stop holding up traffic, and hold the door open for the student rushing to class behind you. Be kind just to be kind; it may just brighten up someone’s day.
Owen Kitzan, Sports Editor » thecampus.sports@gmail.com
By Jon Roach Staff Writer
Following a rocky preseason, the Bishop’s Women’s Basketball team has turned it around through their first three games of the regular season. They tipped off their 2025-26 campaign at home against the University of Laval on Nov. 6 - their first taste of RSEQ competition of the year. The Gaiters opened the first quarter on an 8-2 scoring run, before the Rouge et Or rallied back to finish the quarter leading 17-12 against our Gaiters. The second and third quarters saw a mere 15 points from the Gaiters to Laval’s 36, facing the Gaiters with a 53-27 deficit entering against their first regular season opponent. In the final stanza of the match, the Gaiters fought back valiantly, outscoring ULaval 18-14 to end the game on a high note despite the 67-45 loss.
The women’s team came out of this one with room to improve on both ends of the floor. Eve Atchampone led the way offensively with 16 points and three makes from beyond the three-point arc. Laurie Lafleur and Zou Boithias added seven points respectively, and Boithias tallied four steals on the defensive side of the action.
The second matchup of the year for
the Gaiters took the team to Concordia University on Nov. 8, to seek an entry in the win column. The Concordia Stingers kept the score within five points the entire first quarter, trailing your Gaiters 19-14. The second quarter saw the Gaiters shoot a proficient 4-8 from three-point range en route to a 40-28 lead at the halfway mark; Laurie Lafleur tallied 11 points of her own in eight minutes of action. The hot shooting performance on the offensive end continued for the Gaiters in the third quarter, extending the lead to 18 points for Bishop’s. The final frame proved not enough time for a Stinger rebuttal, providing Bishop’s women’s
team their first regular season victory, winning 73-57 on the road.
The Gaiters shot the ball considerably better in their second outing of the season and racked up nine steals on defence to secure the win. Guards Laurie Lafleur (18 points, two steals) and Shaylan Greaves (17 points, three steals) led efforts offensively and defensively, while Lea Boulanger (eight points, seven rebounds) and Phania Desir (four points, 10 rebounds) battled diligently on the glass.
With the wind in their sails after their first regular season triumph (1-1), Bishop’s squared up with the Redbirds
of McGill University on Nov. 15, on the road. The Gaiters came out hot with a 13-4 scoring run to open the action, leading 17-9 after the first quarter. McGill fought back hard in the second quarter to even the 30-30 score 30-30 20 minutes of play. Bishop’s guard Zou Boithias played out of her mind in the third frame to contribute 16 of the collective 26 points in the quarter, shooting a perfect 4/4 from beyond the three-point line. After leading 56-47 through three quarters of action, the Gaiters closed out the Redbirds with a huge 75-55 victory to improve their season to 2-1.
The scoring effort in the third outing of the season was led by an exceptional performance from Zou Boithias, tallying 26 points on immaculate 8/12 shooting from the field, 5/6 from three, and a perfect 5/5 from the charity stripe. Shaylan Greaves followed up with 18 of her own through attacking the rim, getting to the free-throw line and converting 11/13 attempts. Eve Atchampone added 13 points of her own to the team’s season high in points thus far.
The Gaiters now rest at 2-1 overall, earning them a second-place position in the RSEQ behind only the undefeated Laval Rouge et Or, whom they will take on at home on Nov. 27.
By Jon Roach Staff Writer
Amidst a Fall athletic season full of Gaiters golf successes, homecoming football, lacrosse, women’s soccer and rugby, the Bishop’s men’s and women’s basketball teams have been busy with their own preseason schedules as the RSEQ basketball season approaches.
The Gaiters men’s basketball team has been quietly picking up where they left off last season. After falling short in the quarterfinal of the 2024-25 men’s basketball championship in Victoria, BC, the reigning RSEQ champions have taken the preseason competition dancing to the tune of seven straight victories, and finishing as one of only six clubs with a perfect preseason. On Sept. 6, the Gaiters opened their preseason in Halifax, NS, defeating the Saint Mary’s Huskies 82-62. They followed up with a trip to Brockville, ON, on Sept. 27, to steal an 85-83 overtime thriller against the University of Ottawa. Reigning RSEQ Defensive Player of the Year, Etienne Gagnon, led the way with a 19-point-19rebound performance featuring the game-
sealing basket in overtime. After a 2-0 start to the preseason campaign, October held five more matches, including the first pair of outings in the Mitchell gymnasium of the year. Our Bishop’s University hosted a handful of non-conference competitions on Oct. 9 and 10, featuring the University of Laval, and OUA conference teams from Queen’s University and the University of Toronto. The Gaiters were first tasked with the Queen’s Gaels on Oct. 9, where they secured a 106-99 victory. After a first half that saw the Gaels enter the locker room with a sixteen-point lead and seemingly all momentum, the Gaiters used their size to outrebound Queen’s on both ends of the floor and tally 67 second-half points to steal the game. The final triage of games found the Gaiters in the nation’s capital for the House-Laughton Tournament at Carleton, where they secured 13-and-4point victories against Saskatchewan and McMaster Universities, before toppling the hosting Carleton Ravens in a 67-42 victory.
The women’s basketball team has gotten off to a slower start, perhaps feeling the loss of key contributors from last year’s RSEQ title-winning roster. Following four straight losses, the Gaiters
have won their last two to round out preseason affairs. Sept. 20, the ladies travelled to Acadia University where they fell short in a hardfought 53-49 contest, before being bested 69-59 by the UOttawa Geegees in Brockville, ON, a week later. The Gaiters then hosted their own contest against the University of Guelph on Oct. 9, conceding another close 65-61 battle. The last preseason slate for the Gaiters was the Tindall Invitational Tournament in Kingston, ON, on Oct. 17, 18 and 19. Initially, the hosting Queen’s Gaels
defeated the Gaiters 71-56, though the Gaiters picked up double-digit victories against York University (50-39) and the University of New Brunswick (66-54) to end the preseason in the win column. The Gaiters tallied a slew of blocks and steals through anticipation and communication to ensure their two-game win streak as they enter Usport regular season action. With regular season play underway make sure to come out to your next Gaiters home games Nov. 27 against Laval University
Owen Kitzan, Sports Editor » thecampus.sports@gmail.com
By Leighton Geraghty Contributor
The second-ranked Bishop’s Gaiters have kicked off to an electric start to the RSEQ season. Tied with Concordia at the top of the Standings, the Gaiters are 6-1 in their first seven games of the season. As the Voice of the Gaiters, I get the luxury of being able to commentate on their home games, and let me tell you, this team is the real deal. Although they faced a tough off-season by losing their head coach and bringing in seven new faces to the team, everyone has bought into one another and have showcased that they are here to stay. Freshly promoted Head Coach Alexandra Boulanger has shown her trust in her team, allowing them to play a very aggressive style of play. This past weekend, on the penalty kill, Freshman Forward #27 Rosalie Bouchard went coast to coast before being stopped by the McGill netminder. She followed the shift up by netting her third goal of the season on the power play. Fellow Freshman #77 Sandrine Chouinard is off to a fiery start with nine points in her first seven games of USports action. The trust that Coach Boulanger has shown has
allowed the players to play freely.
An interesting look into the team’s preseason saw the sensational forward Gabrielle Santerre “struggle.” Struggle to the standard of Santerre. She was kept scoreless through the first four games of the regular season. This is uncharacteristic of Santerre.
they fell 6-2 in their first matchup on a Friday evening. That same weekend, the Gaiters battled to a 3-1 win on Sunday, against the Stingers. Santerre was the difference maker in the game on and off the scoresheet. She ended the game with a pair of goals, which is very impressive, but the part that was more impressive was finishing the game at 52 per
Although the start was not what she wanted, she still showcased great leadership, being very reliable in the DZone and putting her teammates in positions to succeed. The Gaiters’ only loss so far comes to the Concordia Stingers, where
cent from the faceoff dot. Since then, Santerre has been on a threegame goal streak with five goals over the past three games.
Bishop’s scoring comes by committee, with three players
By Owen Kitzan Sports Editor
With the hockey season now well under way the BU Club Hockey team has been busy to start the year, showing why they made it to the elite eight at nationals last year. Off to a perfect start to the season at 7-0, the team went down to Maine to take on the University of Maine in their home barn this time around.
Their first game took place Nov. 15 at the Penobscot arena in Maine, a four hour drive from Bishop’s. Looking to remain undefeated, the team turned to rookie goaltender
Nicolas Halle-Tanco between the pipes, showing confidence in their new netminder. After losing twice to Bishops when they travelled down a couple of weekends prior, Maine showed they were going to be a thorn in Bishop’s side with the home ice advantage. After three hard fought periods, no winner had been decided with the score knotted up at 2-2. In the overtime period, Bishop’s would unfortunately fall just short and lose their first game of the year, 3-2, moving their record to 7-0-1. Goaltender Nicolas HalleTanco was noted as having a stellar performance for BU in the close loss.
Following the game, the team decided to hit the reset button by going to watch the Maine Black Bears NCAA D1 team take on the University of Vermont in a rivalry game. This also gave them a chance to check out the rink they’d be playing in the next day, perhaps attempting to draw some inspiration for the boys.
Game two saw Antimmes Leudieres get a start in net as the team looked to bounce back from the day prior. With the tight-knit affair the day before, both teams decided to continue along the same path, only this time with a lot more
above a point per game and an additional seven players around .5 points per game. The depth of the team has helped them come away winning tough games, as they have been brought to overtime three times this season and have come out on top every time. Another great reason for the early success is the goaltending. Ericka Gagnon is back for her third year and has been standing tall for the team. Freshman netminder Laurence Boivin, out of Andre Laurendeau, is 3-0 with a .955 save percentage and a 1.33 goal against average. For those who aren’t hockey fans, let me reword this: “She is a brick wall!”
From top to bottom, this team has what it takes to make it back to where they were last March. After being crowned National Champs last year, everyone questioned if they would be able to do it again. The start to their season has sent a message around the country that they are here to stay. Make sure you make a trip to the Jane and Eric Molson arena and take in the action. The Gaiters touch home ice next Nov. 30 at 3:30 p.m. against McGill. Pack the crowd, and show support!
goals on both ends. BU would walk away victorious with a narrow 7-6 victory to improve to 8-0-1 on the season.
With the team now nine games into the season, they look poised to make a run to nationals for the third year in a row. Rookie defenseman Anderson Hapke and rookie forward Danev Paquin currently lead the way in points for the team at twelve each, followed closely by second-year forward Jack Knox with eleven. The team’s next home game is Jan. 17 against the Anna Maria Bobcats. Make sure to come cheer on the boys!
Lauren
Root, Features Editor »
By Megane Masson Staff Writer
On Nov. 7, the Eastern Townships Resources Center (ETRC), in collaboration with the Institute on Quebec Studies of SUNY Plattsburgh, took an impressive step and celebrated its first major scholarly book publication: “Quebec’s Eastern Townships and the World: A Region and Its Global Connections” (McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2025). The ETRC, primarily a nonprofit and English-speaking institution in Quebec, has faced quite its share of whiplash from linguistic legislation, yet has accomplished this long-lasting milestone by putting forth the Eastern Townships region.
The book launch began with a panel of speakers, with Dr. Webster, president of the ETRC, to break the ice. Then, Principal
Lebel-Grenier shared a few words of gratitude and highlighted the importance of the ETRC’s accomplishment. He stated that “the book lays a foundation for our understanding of how the eastern townships came about, and where it’s going.” Despite its small bearing, the eastern townships are connected to many other places around the world, and this book seeks to underscore the importance of this region’s key feature. As a matter of fact, while contributing to the book, each author had to address two specific prompts: “How have the Eastern Townships been influenced by or linked to global trends?” and “ Have these global trends marked the Eastern Townships and their people?” These two questions serve to showcase the Eastern Townships’ strength, importance, and large-scale impact on the global landscape.
In a nutshell, “Quebec’s Eastern Townships and the World: A Region and
Its Global Connections” is divided into four sections, respectively addressing the transformation and influence of the Eastern Townships, a case study of human mobility and engagement, followed by the roles and impact of institutions (such as Bishop’s), and lastly, how local literature and cinematography, globally connects the eastern townships.
Quite a few sections from the book, as well as contributors, have raised issues considered fundamental to Bishop’s community. This includes Bishop’s unrighteous colonial foundation upon which the university was built. The latter may not be forgotten, but learnt from and moved beyond. Dr. Jean Manore, Dean of Humanities, has contributed an essay on Abenaki Mobility in the Eastern Townships to the publication. Manore’s article neatly aligns with the recent opening of Kwigw8mna and the indigenous
By Kyra Taylor Contributor
Humanities Festival 2025 kicked off on Nov. 10 and provided a twoweek-long forum for Humanities students at Bishop’s to showcase all the things they’ve learned in classes and to gain valuable experience from guest panels and workshops.
The first event was the Music Department’s Jazz Jam, held on Nov. 11, and was actually held off campus. The event was located at the Boquebière bar in downtown Sherbrooke.
The newest edition of the Donald Lecture Series happened on Nov.12, when composer François Dompierre held a talk in Centennial Theatre. François Dompierre is a popular and classical music composer in Quebec and has worked on music for a variety of settings. He has composed pieces for television shows, films and plays.
BU Drama presented “The Musketeers,” which was adapted and directed by Nathania Bernabe and Jackie T. Hanlin. The play aired from Nov. 12 to Nov. 16 in Turner Studio.
Nov. 13 featured the event “Playwright in
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Residence: Jovanni Sy,” which was possible thanks to the collaboration between the Drama Department and the Canadian Studies department, and was located in Cleghorn Hall.
Nov. 14 held a presentation by Claire Elissalde (Concordia University), Humanities+: Articulating the Value of Humanities Skills, which was held in two parts. The first part of this event was held for faculty members, and the second part was open to students. Claire Elissalde’s presentation showed students how to make the incredibly important link between the material they’ve learned and the real world, helping them prepare for their next steps away from Bishop’s.
Nov. 17 marked an exceptionally busy day for Bishop’s, since it was the day of Exceptional Learning. From 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the Library Agora, the creativity and impact of Bishop’s humanities students were celebrated. The Bishop’s EL showcase provides an opportunity for Humanities students to share inspiring stories from their courses, internships, creative and/or research projects.
Later on in the evening of Nov. 17, a panel
was held which welcomed many speakers. The first topic, held in NIC211, was the panel on Directing and Dramaturgy in Canada. The main speakers of this panel were: Andrea Romaldi (the Director of the Playwriting Program, National Theatre School), Jill Harper (Theatre Director & Dramaturg), Pam Patel (Artistic Director, MT Space), Santiago Guzmán (Artistic Director, PARC) and Gil Garratt (Artistic Director, Blyth Festival Theatre).
Also held on Nov. 17 was a zine-making workshop held by Eloise Marseille, the author of “Naked: The Confessions of a Normal Woman.” This workshop happened in Cleghorn Hall, where Eloise Marseille discussed the political history of zines and also taught students how to make them.
Nov. 18 brought another edition of the Robin Burns Lecture, titled “Café, Clubs, & Clandestine Cabarets: Nightlife in Montreal & the Township,” which was held in Cleghorn Hall. This lecture was held by Dr. Nathalie Cooke, who is a professor of English at McGill University, Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and also a specialist in literary food
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community’s relentless effort to regain their voices.
The launch of “Quebec’s Eastern Townships and the World: A Region and Its Global Connections” is a huge step forward for the visibility of the Eastern Townships. It is important to consider the processes that have shaped the region and led to its present form. Sometimes the culmination of events hides harsh truths, which is, in part, what this book seeks to emphasize. Bishop’s community is known for its diverse and welcoming body. Still, the foundation of a community needs to be fortified to stand tall, and this begins by understanding the very land on which we work and study.
studies and material culture.
Nov. 19 brought the Improv club event in Turner Studio Theatre, and Nov. 20 was Alumni night, happening in Cleghorn.
To close off Humanities Festival 2025, Nov. 23 held the Messe Des Morts - Le Requiem de François Dompierre with OSS (Orchestre Symphonique de Sherbrooke), held at the University of Sherbrooke.
All of the events held during Humanities Week 2025 brought Bishop’s humanities students together, showcasing the exceptional talent and creativity of classmates.
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THIS ISSUE’S CONTRIBUTORS:
Addison Walker
Brian Park
Fabrice Juhasz
Jean-Simon Rhéaume
Josef Spence
Kate Puittinen
Kyra Taylor
Leighton Geraghty
Michael Geary
Reagan Russell
Tallula Russell
Lauren Root, Features Editor » thecampus.features@gmail.com
By Lauren Root Features Editor
Last week, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Dr. Deborah Nicoll-Griffith, class of ‘81, where we talked about all things Bishop’s. Deborah, a Pointe-Claire (Montreal) native, spent four years on campus and graduated with an honours degree in Biochemistry.
While originally coming from Montreal, Deborah travelled a long way to study at Bishop’s. In her 11th-grade year, Deborah’s family moved to Indonesia due to her father’s job. For the entirety of her grade 12 year, Deborah completed correspondence school from Saskatchewan, which involved a lot of mailed lessons. It was shocking for me to hear about how Deborah completed high school, and we both agreed that Zoom would have been very helpful back then.
Deborah’s mother attended Bishop’s in the 1950s for a year before starting nursing
school. Loving her experience, Deborah’s mother heavily encouraged Deborah to attend Bishop’s, wanting a similar experience for her daughter. Coming to Bishop’s straight from Indonesia, Deborah was considered an out-ofprovince student, and her entire family was still overseas. The small community at Bishop’s helped Deborah feel safe, and she liked the vibe of the university.
While at Bishop’s, Deborah was a member of the Chemistry club, helped out in a theatre production, and was even elected to be on the Academic Affairs Committee, where she helped adjudicate students who had failed classes and determine whether or not they should be reestablished. Deborah’s time at Bishop’s was extremely academically impressive. She won the Governor General’s Award, as well as winning an additional five awards at graduation, and ended up graduating at the top of her class.
After graduating from Bishop’s in 1981, she went directly to a PhD program in organic
chemistry at the University of British Columbia, which she completed in 1986. After graduating from UBC, she went on to complete a post-doc at the University of Toronto in pharmaceutical sciences. She also completed an additional postdoc, which was an industrial post-doc where she held a research position in a pharmaceutical contract research lab.
In September of 1988, Deborah joined Merck-Frosst, which is a pharmaceutical company located not far from where she grew up in Montreal. She always knew she wanted to get into pharmaceuticals, and Merck-Frosst had a strong research center, so it was a perfect fit.
Deborah worked at Merck-Frosst for over 25 years, spending 19 years in Montreal before being relocated to Hoboken, New Jersey, for six years.
Around 2013, Deborah was offered early retirement, and so she moved back to Montreal and has been enjoying her retirement ever since. To help fill her time, Deborah has done plenty
By Jean-Simon Rhéaume Contributor
The Old Lennoxville Golf Club, known today as Golf & Ski VieuxLennox, occupies a unique place in the recreational and cultural history of the Eastern Townships. Established in 1897 on what is now the campus of Bishop’s University, the course is one of the oldest nine-hole golf facilities in Canada. Although modest in scale compared to modern golf complexes, Golf & Ski VieuxLennox’s longevity, its relationship with the university and its stable presence within the community of Lennoxville make it a compelling heritage landscape.
The origins of the club reflect the late-19thcentury expansion of British-Canadian sporting culture. Golf, introduced to Canada earlier in the century by Scottish immigrants, was becoming increasingly popular among Anglophone middle-class communities. Bishop’s University, founded in 1843 and strongly influenced by British traditions, provided a natural environment for the sport to flourish. Members of the local anglophone elite and university affiliates championed the creation of a course, eventually securing a charter from the Royal
Canadian Golf Association. By the turn of the century, the club was fully operational, offering a new recreational amenity within what remained a largely rural setting.
The original nine-hole layout, though simple, took advantage of the rolling and open terrain along the Massawippi River. Early descriptions of the course emphasize its pastoral character; wide fairways bordered by natural tree lines, with few artificial obstacles beyond the undulating ground itself. This integrated landscape became a defining element of the club’s identity. While many Canadian golf courses underwent dramatic redesigns in the mid-20th century, the Old Lennoxville course barely changed.
Throughout the 20th century, the club served dual roles. It was a social hub for the Lennoxville community and functioned as an extension of campus life at Bishop’s University. Students and faculty regularly used the grounds, and for decades the club offered a convenient recreational outlet in an academic setting that celebrated outdoor sports. This close relationship is reflected in the university archives, which hold club records, photographs and promotional material, now forming what is known as the MG-097 Lennoxville Golf Club
Fonds.
The addition of cross-country ski trails in the winter (hence the “Golf & Ski” name), further expanded the property’s role as a multiseason community space. The ski trails were integrated without altering the fundamental layout of the course, ensuring that the original 1897 footprint remained largely intact.
In the postwar period, as Sherbrooke absorbed Lennoxville and the region urbanized, the course gained new symbolic value. While much of the surrounding environment is modernized residential construction, campus expansion, or commercial development, the golf course remains one of the few open green spaces preserved in its historic form. Today, its wooded edges, frequent sightings of local wildlife and unobstructed views create a preserved ecological pocket within the borough.
The club’s heritage significance lies not only in its age, but also in what it represents: a continuous recreational tradition within a community shaped by both anglophone and francophone influences. The Old Lennoxville Golf Club stands as a reminder of the region’s cultural layering, from early British-Canadian settlement patterns to the contemporary bilingual character of Sherbrooke. Its
of professional volunteer work.
Looking back at her Bishop’s experience, Deborah believes that the liberal arts education allowed her to become more interdisciplinary, which greatly helped her in her career. The class sizes and environment at Bishop’s helped her gain the confidence in her academic career to move forward and find success elsewhere, and she carried this confidence into the workforce.
Deborah has always stayed connected to Bishop’s. One of her closest friends is someone she met in the Biochemistry department on campus.
In 2021, Deborah moved back to Sherbrooke. Coming back to Bishop’s, Deborah has been welcomed with open arms, and said she feels like she belongs within the community, which is something she greatly treasures.
Thank you, Deborah, for taking the time to share your Bishop’s experience, your experiences, and insight are truly inspirational to students!
endurance demonstrates how sports spaces can serve as repositories of local memory, quietly documenting shifts in population, identity, and landscape.
Although modest in scale, the Old Lennoxville Golf Club remains an important historical landmark in the Eastern Townships. Its story is a rare example of continuity in a rapidly modernizing environment, offering a valuable case study for heritage scholars, archivists and community historians interested in the evolution of leisure landscapes in Québec.
Bishop’s community marches to “Take Back the Night” in annual stand against sexual violence
By Eryn Costello Junior copyeditor
On Nov. 13, the Bishop’s University community gathered for the 8th annual “Take Back the Night” march, an event led by the Students’ Representative Council’s Sexual Culture Committee (SCC). The global movement – with roots stretching back more than half a century – aims to reclaim public space after dark and empower survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. This year’s march drew an estimated 150 participants, making it one of the SCC’s largest turnouts to date.
The evening began at Optimist Park shortly after 7 p.m., where speakers set the tone for the event – these include a land acknowledgement from Mirana Iliza, SRC Vice-President, and powerful speeches by student leaders Tessa
Bradshaw, Jessie Graddon and Justin Belanger.
Each touched on the importance of hope, community responsibility, and the ongoing work of past SCC leaders. Senior Chair of the SCC, Olivia Woods, closed the speeches by reflecting on the committee’s progress and the culture shift she has witnessed during her five years at Bishop’s.
“My time here has been full of pride for what we’ve accomplished,” Woods said. “But it’s also shadowed with grief, knowing that people I love have felt unsafe in our community.”
The SCC expanded this year’s event with clearer sound equipment and free hot chocolate, snacks, hand warmers and printed sexual violence support resources. Red Bull also partnered with the committee in providing drinks for participants. The march itself was escorted by Sherbrooke police for safety, and
moved through the streets of Lennoxville with students chanting from handouts provided upon arrival before ending in the Quad around 8:20 p.m.
Woods emphasized that the purpose of the event is both symbolic and practical. “By attending, individuals are saying they stand with survivors and that sexual violence is not tolerated in our community,” she explained. “Rape culture relies on silence. Events like this remind us that these issues aren’t happening ‘elsewhere’ – they’re here, and our community plays a role in ending them.”
While most attendees were Bishop’s students, they were joined in great numbers by university faculty and staff, as well as local residents. Athletic teams, both club and varsity, once again made up a strong portion of the crowd, a tradition Woods described as “so lovely to see.”
As the crowd dispersed, Woods said she hoped participants left feeling connected and energized. “Everyone has a role to play in creating a safer campus,” she noted. “When people show up – whether to march, to make a sign, or simply to walk alongside others – it reminds us that change is something we build together.”
By Michael Geary Contributor
This Nov. 12-16, Turner Studio Theatre opened and closed the Fall Drama production “The Musketeers.” The show was directed and adapted by Affair of Honor’s Nathania Bernabe and Jackie T. Hanlin, who previously directed “She Kills Monsters” in Centennial in 2023. Keeping to their company’s mission, “The Musketeers” offered dazzling stage combat alongside a fresh take on the famed work of Alexandre Dumas that put women in the spotlight roles and offered a comedic edge to each slash of the sword. Alongside a brilliant set and beautiful costumes, it is no wonder the show managed to sell out night after night!
Among the show’s many strengths, “The Musketeers” stands out among many other Bishop’s Drama productions as a true ensemble piece. Almost every actor, excluding those portraying the “three musketeers” themselves (Porthos, Athos and Aramis) was wearing multiple hats, both literally and figuratively! In larger scenes, the whole cast made an appearance at one point or another, and in some cases played multiple roles in those scenes while juggling both fight and dance choreography. “This experience has been one of the best shows I have had the honour of partaking in,” said Kate Raycraft, a second-year Drama student with a concentration in Musical Theatre. She had the chance to portray
D’Artagnan while taking part in the ensemble. “It was my first leading role, which obviously came with quite a bit of stress, but I knew I had so much support behind me to ensure I did the best I could. Jackie and Nathania were sure to support and give me tips on how to do the best I could.” She found that the environment of the show helped her find acceptance in failure and her own ability and was thrilled to share the end result with the Bishop’s community.
“This was only my fourth show on the Turner stage and is the first time I’ve performed to a sold-out audience at Bishop’s. It was really exciting and cool
to know that I was a part of something that had that much of an impact.”
A chief experience provided by “The Musketeers” was the intense focus on stage combat. From flashy swordfights to barroom brawls, physical action was never more than a scene or two away. Directors Jackie and Nathania encouraged a sense of play among the cast while working on making sure all fights were safe, creating a magnificent spectacle that had audiences on the edge of their seats. Thanks to her leading role, Kate experienced many of the more complex choreographies firsthand. “Taking on
a new skill such as stage combat was daunting at first, but was one of the most fun things I’ve ever done… I found the stage combat aspect left me with such a sense of ‘Wow, my body can do these things’ that I will never forget.”
Due to the physical demands and timeline of the production, the students involved were thrown into a production much more akin to the professional experience than what is usually conducted at Bishop’s. Romina Recalde, a fourth-year Music Major with a concentration in Musical Theatre and a Drama Minor, returned to the role of Stage Manager at Bishop’s for “The Musketeers” and found that while her past experience had armed her for the task, it was not the same. “Being the SM and a full-time student was a challenge. The production itself demanded way more rehearsal time and paperwork than previous productions. I learned a lot in the process.” Romina also found that working with a much larger technical crew offered a lot for her to learn from. “I learned to be gentle and generous with my knowledge in a way I can teach all of [the Assistant Stage Managers] while not falling into the chaos.”
With the curtain now down on a historic debut for Affair of Honor’s flagship run of “The Musketeers,” it is clear that the Bishop’s community is as passionate for the arts as ever. After a well-deserved holiday break, a number of the cast will return for the Winter musical, and we can only hope the buzz will keep going!
By Tallula Russell Contributor
composer Francois Dompierre gave a very charming Donald Lecture on Nov. 12 in league with this year’s Humanities Fest. The talk was part interview, part performance and part open choir rehearsal for the BU singers. The lecture led up to the university choir working with the Sherbrooke Symphony Orchestra and the University of Sherbrooke choir to perform Dompierre’s Requiem on Sunday, Nov. 23, in Salle Maurice O’Bready. The conversation and rehearsal were a fascinating and enjoyable glimpse into the process of creating such momentous pieces of art.
Francois Dompierre’s interview with BU Choir Director and music professor Fannie Gaudette was both playful and insightful. Dompierre answered questions about his start in music, the nature of composition and his process. Dompierre discussed how he was a “lazy” student and would not memorize pieces, but instead improvise in the style of whoever he was tasked with playing. When asked to describe his composition process, Dompierre got up and went to the piano on the other side of the stage and started improvising a piece right there on the spot. He said he gets a rhythm in his head, makes a simple melody to go over it, and then continues from there.
He added that composing an orchestra piece is much like composing a pop song at the start, but that one takes a simple melody and then “builds a big house out of it.”
Interspersed in the interview were two beautiful performances of his pieces “Phil’s Fill” and “Pavane Solitaire” performed by Gaudette on piano, Mathieu Désy on double bass and Philippe Dunnigan on violin. The interview wrapped up after an hour, and the open rehearsal for the BU Singers began. Over one hundred singers took to the stage as Sherbrooke Symphony Orchestra Conductor JeanMicheal Malouf stepped up onto the stage alongside the Orchestra’s Pianist
Carmen Picard. They rehearsed around half of the twelve-movement piece, stopping here and there to sharpen up certain spots.
The choir has been working on this piece since the beginning of September, and the most difficult sections are sung by small groups rather than the whole 140-person choir.
The evening ended with a surprise rendition of one of Dompierre’s most famous pieces, “L’âme à la Tendresse”, performed with solos from Gaudette and students Laurence Groleau and Romy Pelchat and recent graduate Maude Zulauff. The entire showing was a beautiful and informative evening of music composition.
By Abigail Epstein Layout Editor
Atransition takes place from Nov. 21 onwards, moving the interior outward and forward through the world. Take this as an invitation for the spirit of lights to guide you past this exam season.
Aries: A bigger picture is becoming apparent to you. Direct your inner passions towards this sketch. Treat gradients with generosity, and trust in the inevitability of synthesis.
Taurus: You are invited into unlit caves, with a promise of portraits on the walls. Perhaps now is a time to develop your own, away from the scrutiny of the present. Look for lessons from the archive.
Gemini: Hard to put in a box, but easy to buy gifts for –keep lighting up the whole spectrum. Endeavour to speak to your opposite this season. Collect and contain every multitude.
Cancer: If you feel shallow at this stage of the show, hold your breath and dive deep with abandon. There is a generational map which calls you home: your mother has the sheen of a pearl.
Leo: Give generously in the tune of your destiny – once you recognize your hue of luminosity. Who you become around those you admire is as sure an image as a lamp post.
Virgo: Take a tour around your town and play “I Spy” with your newest neighbour. You are tasked with what’s evaded you in the context of tradition revived.
Libra: Open your mind to the depth of a difference, beyond just the scale of its scope. Let rest the dramatics of wine and dine and spend some more time over milk and cookies.
Scorpio: How you satisfy meaning in the face of endless choice is a poignant meditation right now. You may take an annihilatory stance towards Amazon. Lean towards green, and your heart will grow thrice.
Sagittarius: Shake hands with old acquaintances, and open doors for fresh faces you find. Think of every action with the exuberance of silver bells and golden candles. It is a gift itself to shine.
Capricorn: You may feel rather singular in your quest for the divine to ring through the excesses of glitter. There is no longstanding harm in fanciful attribution; what is true will twinkle, no matter.
Aquarius: If it interests you, investigate narrative structures. What tools build or break reliability? Splice a clause, see who notices.
Pisces: You have an eye on a faraway star, and an inclination for bridges through time. Arrange a legacy like a cheese board. Pair it with borrowed chardonnays and merlots.
For you to take with as many grains of salt as there are stars in the sky.
By Fabrice Juhasz Contributor
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By Josef Spence Contributor
On Nov. 4, the Minister of Finance and National Revenue, the Honourable FrançoisPhilippe Champagne, presented the federal budget in the House of Commons. It is entitled “Budget 2025: Canada Strong,” reflecting the Liberal government’s narrative of the need to invest in the building of a strong Canada. However, the Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Mark Carney, declared that this will require Canadians to make “sacrifices”; critics argue that many Canadians are not currently in a position to do so.
This budget has been modeled by its proponents as “generational,” highlighting its particular investment in infrastructure and impacts for youth and students. The budget promised $214 billion in spending over five years on major, nation-interest infrastructure projects. This includes various natural resource exploitation projects and the construction of high-speed rail from Quebec City to Toronto. The start of the construction of the latter project
was advanced from eight years to four. It will greatly increase the efficiency of travel in the Quebec-Windsor corridor, a path many Bishop’s students take when they go home, when completed.
The budget also commits $51 billion in spending over the next 10 years for improving and maintaining local infrastructure, including roads, bridges and water/waste management facilities. $81.8 billion has been earmarked for spending on defence matters over the next five years, helping Canada to meet its NATO commitments for the first time in 35 years.
The budget provided for the permanent establishment of a national school food program to provide food in primary and secondary schools across the country. Post-secondary students should see an increase in summer employment opportunities as nearly 24,000 new jobs are expected to be created or subsidized through increases in funding to Canada Summer Jobs. Similarly, the budget introduced funding for a student work placement program that will fund work-integrated study programs. As it stands, this could impact the education program at
Bishop’s University, but little else.
However, this increase in work opportunities for students is contrasted by new restrictions on students’ eligibility to receive the Canada Student Grant and plans to decrease funding to federal grants for students from lowto medium-income households over the next five years. The budget also establishes a policy to further reduce the number of international students approved to study in Canada from 305,900 in 2025 to 150,000 in 2028. The Principal of Bishop’s has noted that this decrease in international students has a significant adverse impact on the financial and cultural position of the University.
Critics across the political spectrum emphasized the insufficiency of the strategies in the budget to address the livelihood and cost of living concerns of Canadians, some highlighting the elimination of taxes for the purchasing of luxury vehicles, even while the taxes on food remain the same. Critics have flagged unusual accounting practices used in the budget, such as the counting of the Canadian Pension Plan as an asset that the government owns instead
By Olivia Norby Senior Copyeditor
When Brenan Priest graduated from Bishop’s University in 2024 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance, he left Lennoxville with more than a degree. He left with a toolkit of lessons in perseverance, communication, and balance; skills sharpened in classrooms, on the rugby pitch, and through countless late nights juggling school, work, and extracurricular commitments.
Rugby, in particular, shaped much of Brenan’s approach to life after Bishop’s. Competing for three years taught him to be competitive and collaborative, to push through challenges, and to work toward shared goals. Managing rugby practices, a part-time job, and committee work alongside his coursework demanded time management and organization, skills that now serve him daily in the professional world.
The small class sizes and tightknit community at Bishop’s also played a big role in his development. Close relationships with professors and involvement with the Students’
Representative Council (SRC) created an environment where he could learn to lead and communicate effectively. Those interpersonal skills, he says, have been the most valuable in his transition to the corporate world. They gave him the confidence to build meaningful connections and approach new challenges head-on.
Moving from the Bishop’s bubble to the working world brought new realizations. Brenan quickly discovered that learning doesn’t stop after graduation. Finding a field he was passionate about made that ongoing learning exciting rather than exhausting. “When you find an industry that you want to work in, the homework doesn’t stop,” he reflects. “You’re constantly improving your craft.” That mindset has shaped how he approaches professional growth; seeing every new task or obstacle as a chance to learn.
Among the biggest surprises was how much there still was to learn, even after years of business courses. Rather than discouraging him, this realization encouraged his curiosity. It also reinforced something Bishop’s
had already taught him well: don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone. Embracing discomfort, asking questions, and staying open-minded became guiding principles for him as he navigated the early stages of his career.
It was in Terry Eyeland’s real estate class that Brenan found his spark. The course ignited an entrepreneurial drive that eventually led him into investments and real estate. He even bought his first rental property before graduating and co-founded the Bishop’s Real Estate Club (BREC) to connect other students with the same interest. His first job didn’t come through the usual online applications or job fairs but through persistence and creativity. He started cold-calling leaders in industries he admired. “It made me comfortable with rejection,” he says, “and it helped me stand out.” Those conversations with seasoned professionals provided insight that no textbook could match and helped him make informed decisions about his next steps.
Today, Brenan’s career goals reflect both ambition and purpose. He hopes to
of a liability that the government needs to ensure gets paid, as a means for the government to understate its deficit. The proposed deficit for 2025-26 is $78 billion, though some Members of Parliament estimate the deficit could be over $100 billion if the accounting practices conformed to the international standard. This puts the total deficit of the federal government well over $1 trillion, about $30,000 of debt for each Canadian.
Despite the criticism, the budget passed in the House of Commons on Nov. 17 with 170 votes in favour and 168 votes in opposition.
continue identifying undervalued assets and building ventures that create both financial and social value. Alongside that, he’s working on establishing an alumni network for BREC to help students find internships and mentorship opportunities.
His advice to current business students is simple but powerful: stay curious. “Learn to love learning,” he says. “Ask why, embrace new tools like AI to boost productivity, but always protect your critical thinking.” He also emphasizes the importance of mastering the basics: Excel, data analysis, networking and learning to focus deeply on what truly excites you.
What stands out most to Brenan, even after graduation, is how unique the Bishop’s community remains. The sense of connection and generosity he experienced as a student continues long after leaving campus. It’s something he plans to pay forward by mentoring and supporting future Gaiters. “The Bishop’s community is special,” he says. “It gave me so much, and now I want to help others find their own path.”