An Interview with Terena Francis

As we mark the 27th year Anniversary of Mi’kmaq History Month. Preet Banga, news section editor with the X-Weekly interviewed Terena Francis, the coordinator for Indigenous Student Affairs at StFX about her role and how she is trying to promote an understanding of the Mi'kmaq culture and traditions on the campus.

PB: Please tell us about your role as the Coordinator for Indigenous Student Affairs and some of the challenges you face?

TF: A big part of my job is to support Indigenous students to be successful with their academics, to do this we must ensure that we offer supports that have a holistic approach. I help the students navigate the campus community. I work under the Student Life Department and we are trying to work more as a team and work together to support the students, a case management style. So, this year I am referring more students to different resources within campus and help them navigate that. I also help students with filling out scholarship forms and bursaries. I offer academic supports such as tutoring and note takers. I also link the students with external supports, that would be relevant to their needs.

I want to ensure that the staff that I am referring students to, are also culturally aware and understand Indigenous issues. These are some of the challenges that I face. However, it is getting much better. We are providing cultural awareness training, equity and diversity training and those challenges are slowly going away. People are becoming more aware and understanding in how to better support the students. We need to have a holistic approach when working with Indigenous students. So, I guess my main worry is that I don't want the Indigenous students to feel that they are sacrificing any part of their identity, or their dignity, to receive an education. I try to host events -- traditional and cultural events. I try to ensure that they are continuing with their practices here on campus that they would have done at home.

In the past, I did lot of recruitment with the Mi’kmaq schools locally and within Nova Scotia. I am also a part of the Indigenous Advisors Networking group. The Indigenous advisors get together twice a year. We support each other, because we understand and can relate to the challenges we face at our universities. I also work as a liaison between community sponsors and the students. A lot of times, I help the students navigate the resources that are provided through their community sponsors as well as on campus.

Another part of my position is to educate the campus community through cultural awareness training. I collaborate with different faculty members, with efforts to host events that would support decolonization and educate the campus community on Indigenous issues. I sit on a lot of committees to try to give an Indigenous perspective. However, right now, my focus is on student success. And that's where I would like to focus this year, especially with the pandemic.

PB: What sort of counselling or support are your able to provide to the indigenous students?

TF: The most important thing is that I can relate to the students. I know where they are coming from and they can relate to me. I feel that they are very comfortable to come to me. I provide a safe space for them where they can discuss any issue, maybe in regards to racism or a

professor might have made a comment that they felt was not right. So, we have discussions here in my office where students can release fully.

The lack of knowledge and understanding about our Indigenous history creates ignorance in regard to our past and our present. As a result, there are lot of opinions out there that necessarily are not educated opinions. We are an institution of higher learning and so my hope is that the students will take it upon themselves to seek out opportunities to learn more about the Indigenous people of Canada. It is very important to learn about the Mi’kmaq people in this area.

PB: What are your suggestions to build awareness about the Mi’kmaq people and their history?

TF: One of the main reasons for lack of cultural awareness is the absence of Indigenous employees and Indigenous perspectives. I believe we need to hire more Indigenous staff. We need Indigenous people sitting at those tables to ensure our perspectives are being included. Also, the curriculum should be made inclusive of Indigenous knowledge. Thankfully, StFX is listening to our recommendations, slowly, as you know, all this is a process. I was pleased this year they hired Michelle Sylliboy, who is Mi’kmaq, her classes include conversational Mi’kmaw, along with a few other courses. This is a step forward!

We have a faculty member in the anthropology department, Jane McMillan that works closely with our Elder-in-Residence Kerry Prosper. They work well together ensuring that we are educating the campus community on issues. However, that’s not enough. Mi’kmaq History month is when we highlight some issues, but it shouldn’t only be limited to one month a year. We need more faculty to incorporate Indigenous Knowledge in their curriculum, of course being fully informed of the topics and genuine is a must. Not just faculty though, all of the campus community should know that it was Treaty Day, that the Mi’kmaw are not the only ones to celebrate Treaty Day, we are all Treaty People.

An Interview with Hunter Park, Candidate for First Year Representative

Editor-in-Chief Will Fraser sat down with each of the candidates for 2020-2021 First Year Representative.

Candidate: Hunter Park
Slogan: Let’s make this year like no other, vote for Hunter!

WF: Tell us a bit about yourself and why you decided to run. 

My name is Hunter Park. And I'm from a small island in southern New Brunswick with a population of 2500 people. And I came to StFX because I had visited here a couple times, and I love the community feel. In high school, I was co-President of Student Council. I was vice-president of my class and editor of the yearbook. So, I love being involved and I love student government. I'm a first-year business student at X and I'm staying in MacIsaac Hall, and I'm loving it here. 

WF: Can you tell us what the job of first year rep involves? 

So, the first-year rep to me is to represent the views of everyone in first year, and what they would like done. So basically, advocating for what they want as a group and being there to listen to their opinions and what they'd like to do. 

WF: What is your platform? 

My platform is based on three main points. The first one is equity and diversity. The second one is student involvement and activities. And the third one is safety.  

So, in equity and diversity, I'm openly gay. So I understand how it feels to be left out, and I understand the importance of inclusion on campus and Equity and Diversity being something that StFX strives for, I would love to stand for that as well and it would be my goal to make campus feel like a safe place for everyone. 

So, student activities. I understand there's a house point system here, but not a lot of people know how many points their house has, or what the rankings are and I would like to implement a system whether that be an app or a website, where students can see where their house is standing, and what activities there are to participate in. and saying that I would also like to have more fun activities, while maintaining safe COVID regulations.  

Moving into safety. The main thing that I've heard the students of the class of 2024 want is to reduce restrictions. So, my goal is to maintain a balance between staying safe during COVID, and loosening restrictions as much as safely possible. 

WF: If you can only accomplish one thing on your platform, which would it be? 

If I could only accomplish one thing on my platform, it would be the Student Involvement part. It would be to make it a more fun year for everyone and to listen to what activities and things students would like to do this year. 

WF: The Students’ Union has historically been criticized for being elitist. How will you make The U more open and approachable to students? 

I never had that impression personally of the U, but now that I know that that's a reputation that they have had, I would strive to approach everyone in first year and try to make them comfortable giving input and communicating with the union input in what happens with the union and communicating with me for the union. 

WF: What do you think of StFX’s handling of COVID-19? What would you change? 

I'm very happy that we get to be here in person, and I think that StFX has done a great job with creating a place where we can feel safe. However, there are a few things that I would change, such as I would remove masks in residence buildings and in meal hall, I would create eating areas per each residence house so that you're not sitting with people from different houses, that way you can feel safe in your residence and maintain distance from people within other residences.

WF: Looking at the other candidates, why should first years vote for you over them? 

I personally love all the other candidates and spent time with a lot of them and I think that we'd all be really good choices for the part. However, I as well as other candidates have had experience with student government and representing people. And I would love to represent students of '24. 

WF: If you were to lose the election, which candidate do you hope would win? 

All three candidates have advantages, specific advantages, so I can't pick one to win. 

WF: Anything else you’d like to say to first-years? 

I'd love to have this chance to represent you guys and I hope in the case that I do get elected, that you feel comfortable talking to me about anything, and I'm doing this for the class of '24. 

An Interview with Brendan Roberts, Candidate for First Year Representative

Editor-in-Chief Will Fraser sat down with each of the candidates for 2020-2021 First Year Representative.

Candidate: Brendan Roberts
Slogan: satisfying your hunger for change

WF: Tell us a bit about yourself and why you decided to run. 

My name is Brendan Roberts. I'm from Calgary, Alberta. I, you know, grew up in Calgary, but I lived in Halifax for a few years. My family still has a cottage in Nova Scotia, that we usually come back to. You know, so I do, I do have a bit of a connection to Nova Scotia and that's sort of why I came to StFX originally. I'm running because I've always really been interested in student government. So I was my high school student council president and I've always been trying to get really involved. So you know, here at StFX, I'm actually the director of academics for the Schwartz Business Society. And yeah, I'm just running because, you know, I've heard from a lot of different students just, you know, there's some clarification, I think that could be made, just regarding different policies, especially in terms of the COVID-19 policies, that maybe students aren't fully understanding and I'm not saying that, you know, we're gonna get everything changed, and it's not going to be a normal year, because it isn't a normal year, but, but perhaps maybe just asking for a bit more clarification from the university. 

WF: Can you tell us what the job of first year rep involves? 

It's obviously to represent the voices and the opinions of all first years on campus to the best of your ability. So, for me that looks like, you know, trying to try to take polls and surveys from first years. So I would definitely try and incorporate as much input from the broader first year community as I could, you know, I can, I can always just ask my friends, my personal group of friends, but that doesn't necessarily represent everyone else on campus and I know, you know, opinions vary between residences and friend groups and programs and stuff. So it's kind of just taking all the opinions of all first years on campus, and trying to decide, you know, what's in the best interest for everyone and I can obviously relate to that, because I'm a first year myself. 

WF: What is your platform? 

So, I have three main points for my platform. The first is diversity, equality, and, just inclusivity on campus. So, trying to promote kind of those three things and diversity amongst different people and also trying to promote and support the different groups and kind of programs on campus. So ones like the, different societies that support different minority groups, as well as like the sexual violence support program, I can't quite remember the name, but there is one on campus that I would like to support a little bit more and kind of promote it and make people aware that those programs are on campus, for the students to access if they need them. My second biggest point, or platform policy idea would be trying to work with the university and with the Students' Union, just to, if we are still required to self-isolate, after the semester one break during the holidays. It's trying to make a better self-isolation plan. So just, you know, taking what we learned in semester one and applying it to semester two, and just trying to, you know, maybe that's something that looks like pushing the start date of classes back another two weeks, as we did in semester one, or maybe it looks like starting classes on a normal time, but doing the first two weeks online so that students have something to do while they're self-isolating. I mean, there's a million other possibilities. So, it's kind of just taking everyone's sort of opinions and ideas and trying to collaborate with everyone. And then my third and final biggest point is just as I said before, working with the university and working with first years to help sort of provide a bit of clarification and communication between first years and the university administration just to you know, if there's policies or rules that students don't quite understand, sort of trying to voice on behalf of the administration, why things are that way, and then also voicing the concerns of first years for policies that maybe, you know, we don't quite understand and we don't feel that should be in place, voicing those concerns to university administration. So, to kind of create a bit of a two-way street there. 

WF: If you can only accomplish one thing on your platform, which would it be? 

If I had to pick one, honestly, it would be trying to promote the diversity and the inclusivity on campus just because, you know, people can live with some odd rules and restrictions in place in terms of the COVID-19 crisis but for people who are maybe facing discrimination or things like that, that's something that they're going through every day and I think that for trying to make a difference in their lives for people who have maybe been going through this their entire lives, this is probably what I would want to try and accomplish the most. But, obviously, that's not to say that I'm going to work any less hard at trying to create communication between university administration students, first year students, in terms of the COVID-19 crisis. 

WF: The Students’ Union has historically been criticized for being elitist. How will you make The U more open and approachable to students? 

You know I think that by being a first year student, myself, and not having any previous connection, or any connection at all, to the U, I think that sort of the first step here, you know, I've heard, you know, people, you know, when whenever there's sort of a bigger, sort of godlike figure, in this case, I guess you could call that the U, people will always be critical of organizations like that. But, you know, for me, I want to try and be sort of communication between the students and the U. So, by being a first-year student, by not having any connections to the U, I think that I can be a bit more approachable than, say, one of the VPs on the U. 

WF: What do you think of StFX’s handling of COVID-19? What would you change? 

Yeah, so I mean, this is obviously part of my platform, so I've spoken a bit on this already. But I think that StFX has done an amazing job. You know, in hindsight, we can talk about all the little things but, but in hindsight side effects has done an amazing job at handling this crisis, just because, you know, they, they took a world pandemic, and, worked with the community with intergovernmental organizations, provincial government with the health care system, and put in place a plan so that students could come from across Canada, and there's even a few, you know, students from outside Canada that are able to come in and study here and we're one of the only universities really, that I've heard of that is doing in person classes at all. So, I think that's a really amazing thing and it's, it's such a privilege, and I think that all the students here should be so appreciative and very lucky, 

that we're in a position where we can, you know, be a part of this. Now, having said that, you know, I do think that there's some restrictions, you know, that are maybe a little over the top. For example, you know, the other day, my dad picked me up, he was taking me out to lunch and it was, I believe is on Sunday, but I was walking out to the car, he parked a couple streets over just on campus but I had to walk in, you know, I walked with my face mask on, but I was walking alone, there's no one out. So, you know, it seems a little odd that we have to wear face masks outside, you know, especially when we're not near anyone. You know, another big thing I think, for me that I would like a bit more clarification on is, you know why we have to wear face masks when we're in our residence with, you know, a couple people of we're in our rooms and we have friends over whatever, why we have to wear masks then but you know, we can go to meal hall and, and you can have 15 people or whatever sitting at a table from all different residences, eating without your masks. So, you know, just things like that, I think, could use a bit more clarification and maybe some review from the university but in, you know, in the grand scheme of things, I think universities done an amazing job. 

WF: Looking at the other candidates, why should first-years vote for you over them? 

I think first year students should vote for me because, well, I was, at first the only candidate and I'm one of the only candidates still to have actually released a platform. You know, I have my website linked to my bio that goes into fairly good detail just about my platform, my points and my points of recommendation, but, you know, I'm still one of the only candidates to actually have released a platform at all and I'm the only one to have gone into detail about how I'm going to get things done and exactly what it is I want to try and do. I think that the other thing is, I'm, you know, I've taken a lot of time, especially just this past weekend, where I was walking around with my campaign manager, Marcel, and I was just walking around, you know, just around campus, and we went to the wheel, and just talking to people and just sitting in and seeing what their concerns were, and trying to understand, you know, because my opinion of what's important as a first year might be very different than someone else's. So just trying to understand different people's opinions, and different people's experiences. As a first-year student, I think it's sort of what sets me apart from my opponents. 

WF: If you were to lose the election, which candidate do you hope would win? 

I can honestly say, you know, all the candidates are, really good people, I don't think I could pick just one candidate. You know, I can say great things about all of them. Katia, she's a really, really kind person, she has, you know, a great deal of respect for me, she's, sort of one of those people who is, you know, she tries to see the bright in things, and she tries to work hard for what she believes in. Hunter actually released a platform a few days ago on his Instagram and, you know, he's been pretty vocal about, you know, what his, what his platform is, and what he wants to try and accomplish in the university. And Anna you know, she's also just an excellent, she's a very kind person as well, like, she, you know, she's working hard and you know, she's just overall a very decent person, a very kind person to speak to, and I think that, you know, whoever gets elected on Thursday you know, they'll have my support and I think any one of us would do a great job. 

WF: Anything else you’d like to say to first-years? 

I think the biggest thing for me is as much as I would love to have your vote, and I, you know, I will obviously continue to campaign 'till the end of the campaign period. And as much as I want to say, you know, vote Brendan and support me in my platform and, and work with me, you know, the biggest thing is just get out and vote. So, on Wednesday, students, you'll get an email to your X account, with a link from the Students' Union, just where you can log in, and you can vote on Wednesday. But yeah, the biggest thing is just vote and don't forget that on Wednesday, there's a meet and greet at the Inn and if you can show proof that you voted, you get 50% off appetizers. 

An Interview with Katia Beales-Salovitch , Candidate for First Year Representative

Editor-in-Chief Will Fraser sat down with each of the candidates for 2020-2021 First Year Representative.

Candidate: Katia Beales-Salovitch
Slogan: A voice for you. 

WF: Tell us a bit about yourself and why you decided to run. 

So, I'm Katia, I'm originally from New Jersey, but I live in South Carolina now. My mom went to X so that's what drew me to the school to begin with. I'm a business student, and I'm minoring in political science. I plan when I graduate to go into politics. So, when I saw this opportunity, I jumped at it.  

WF: Can you tell us what the job of first year rep involves? 

The job of the first-year rep is really about advocating for the first-year reps, you know, every year, there'll be different issues and different things that come up in discussions. So, it's just making sure that you are making decisions and speaking on behalf of the class and not just you know, your personal opinions. 

WF: What is your platform? 

My platform this year is "a voice for you." and what this means to me is making sure like I said in the previous question, really making decisions and speaking on behalf of the class, far too many times this role is used as a way for, you know, someone to make their own personal decisions on what they think is best and I'm really about my platform is really about making sure everyone in our class as many as possible, you know, can really get their opinions and their ideas out during our first years, students here at X. 

WF: If you can only accomplish one thing on your platform, which would it be? 

If I can accomplish one thing, it would really be about the main point of my agenda, which is a voice for you. My goal is, if I'm elected to, to hear out as many first years as possible, whether that be in person, you know, COVID-19, it's a little hard so that'd be in person or on social media or, you know, through email or whatever. To really just get to know first-years and see what they want to accomplish this year. You know, of course, every person has a different idea. So, you know, to get a cohesive conclusion of what everyone wants to accomplish is my goal. 

WF: The Students’ Union has historically been criticized for being elitist. How will you make The U more open and approachable to students? 

Especially nowadays inclusivity is a huge deal, especially to me personally, I think that constantly working on making not only the Student Union, but you know, our class, our school and, you know, everything on campus as inclusive as possible is always a constant goal that we should be working on, and with my platform a voice for you, I think that part of that is, you know, being inclusive, not just listening to people that I personally hang out with, or see on a daily basis or have in my classes, but, you know, see the person that I normally would never come across on campus and listening to what they have, I don't want to just listen to people that have the same opinions as me. If not, you know, that would just be my agenda I want, I genuinely want to hear everyone out because I think that's the best way we can come up with ideas and goals that we want to accomplish, just, you know, sometimes other people that you wouldn't even think to talk to, you have some of the greatest ideas. And that's something that I just really want to focus on this year, and make sure that everyone's included, and not just me, or, you know, whoever wins for sure, not just us, you know, kind of thing. 

WF: What do you think of StFX’s handling of COVID-19? What would you change? 

It's a great question. So, I'm from the States. So definitely, COVID-19 is way worse there and it's not being handled the best, most of my friends are having to be sent home from college, which is not the best scenario, especially because most of my friends are first years, I think StfX is handling it honestly, so good. You know, we're one of the only schools that is in person at all, let alone we have no cases so far, which is, you know, amazing. We've all been able to, you know, still socialize, and, you know, following the COVID guidelines and all that and we've also still got to, you know, participate in all these great things, there's been so many volunteering, there's been hikes and stuff, you know, I think, I really do think X has done a great job and the only thing that I would push to find out soon is what, you know, Christmas break and second semester is going to be this year, you know, I know, that's a lot of stress on people's minds, and, you know, with plans and just, you know, the second semester in general. So, I definitely would want to find out as soon as possible, what that entails and, you know, what are what are the options for that? 

WF: Looking at the other candidates, why should first-years vote for you over them? 

I really do think all of our candidates this year would do an amazing job. They're all so nice, and, you know, awesome people that I've really been grateful to get to know, these people, like I said, I would never have talked to outside of this. So, it's really awesome that I've gotten to do that and that's exactly what I hope for of I become first-year to just meet more people just like this. I think that my experience in high school will really help me with this role. I've had a lot of leadership experience, you know, being president and being on other members of executive teams for my high school and leadership activities. I have a huge passion for this, it's not just something that is a fun thing for me, I really do love it. And it's something that I want to do, you know, this is what I want to do as my career. So, I put a lot of focus into this and a lot of time and effort into this. So, I think that although my other candidates are great, because my passion is so huge for this, I will be spending so much time and you know, my mind will really be focused on this throughout the year. 

WF: If you were to lose the election, which candidate do you hope would win? 

If I lose the election, I hope that whichever candidate people, you know, connect with the most, of course, I want to win, you know, anyone that's running wants to win, but I really do want all the first years that decide to vote to vote for who they think is best. You know, of course, everyone has friends and, you know, you know, people from this that are the other thing, but I think everyone should vote for who they think is going to do the best job and who lines up with what they want to do the best. I think everyone has their personal opinion, and I hope whoever, I really do hope whoever gets the most votes, and whoever people align with the most wins, and that will do the best job for our first year because it's my first year as well. So, I really do want any of the four of us to succeed. 

WF: Anything else you’d like to say to first-years? 

I want to say that I know this year is not the most conventional year with COVID-19. But, you know, we just got to take it day by day and you know, the stresses will go away, hopefully soon. 

And, you know, to keep their heads up and within this election, like I said, you know, vote for who you personally think will do the best for you. If that's me, great and if not, that's totally okay. My campaign is about a voice for you because I want to listen to everyone's opinions and have conversations and, you know, really make this year about all of us as it should be, you know, we're all first year it's not just me, so I hope that if I'm elected, I get to meet as many of you guys and, 

you know, have conversations with you, whether that be about student union business or not. 

But you know, please feel free even after the election to direct message me on my Instagram or Snapchat me or email me or whatever, ask me or talk to me about anything. 

An Interview with Anna Hancin, Candidate for First Year Representative

Editor-in-Chief Will Fraser sat down with each of the candidates for 2020-2021 First Year Representative.

Candidate: Anna Hancin
Slogan: Let's make this year unforgettable 

WF: Tell us a bit about yourself and why you decided to run. 

So, my name is Anna Hancin. I am originally from Lindsay, Ontario. I have had lots of experience throughout my high school career, I progressively got more and more involved in my high school years, I realized that I love to make a difference in the school community. I was a founder of our high school's mental health team. So, our goals were to advocate for mental health resources within the school and within that group, I was able to organize mental health conferences, advocate for students get some resources available. So, I feel like I am qualified for this position because of that experience. As well, as part of the mental team, I was also a school announcer, so I am very articulate, and I'm confident in my speaking. I like to advocate for others and organize events for the better of the community. I love to talk to others and listen to others, get their inputs. I enjoy advocating for others listening, and I'm passionate about what I do. When I set my mind to something, I do the very best that I can to make that happen. I'm very determined and passionate. 

WF: Can you tell us what the job of first year rep involves? 

My job is to represent first years in the Student Union. So, I am here to be your voice in the Student Union, advocate for what the first-years want, the changes that they want to see. I want to make sure that the class of 2024 is happy and is represented I am your voice. Especially during COVID, as a part of my campaign, I've made myself available using email and Instagram, and I really just want to connect everyone amongst this pandemic. We're all going through this together. So, I want to bring all of these first-years together to share their experiences. 

WF: What is your platform? 

So, my slogan or motto this year is to "make this year unforgettable." It is an unprecedented year for sure. So that's why I want to bring all of these people together, we're all going through this crazy time together and I want to make sure students are getting the resources that they need. I want to make those resources available for the students and want them to know what's available. Yeah, and I'll advocate for first year students within the mandate of my position. So my goal is to advocate for communication between the administration and the students for mutually acceptable agreements. 

WF: If you can only accomplish one thing on your platform, which would it be? 

I think that the mental health of the students is one of the most important things. Making sure they are getting the resources that are available to them to help them through this odd COVID pandemic. Because it's such an odd time so many things have been changed in our first-year university experience that I want to have some achievable goals to make sure everyone is staying well and staying healthy. 

WF: The Students’ Union has historically been criticized for being elitist. How will you make The U more open and approachable to students? 

In my position I'm here to represent all of the first-years so I my platform is open. I am willing to listen I love hearing other opinions. So, I will bring what people are asking requesting to the table, make sure that these first years get their voices heard. And yeah, we're all we're all going through this together. So, I want to make sure that we're all treated fairly and equally. 

WF: What do you think of StFX’s handling of COVID-19? What would you change? 

I am quite impressed with how the school has set into place all these regulations and rules. Yes, it is hard for first-years to have that true university experience. But I am also really impressed and proud of how us first-years have handled it so far. I want to try and get those classic events like homecoming, house hockey things that are up in the air, we're not sure what's going to happen, I want to make sure that if those don't happen, we adapt to something within the COVID regulations. I think I want to work with the Student Union to make those events available to all first years and work within the health regulations, and the school regulations. 

WF: Looking at the other candidates, why should first-years vote for you over them? 

I am very approachable. I always take a positive outlook on life. So, I feel like listening to their problems, other thoughts, we can turn that into a positive experience, make a positive change for the better. I'm very open. I'm very passionate about what I do. So, I am going to make sure that not only that they're heard, but there will be action, there will be change. I also know that I want to make achievable goals for the first-years, and I feel like I can make those goals realistic. So that way, I'm not making any empty promises. We are working with what we have and from there, we are going to achieve our goals and make a difference. 

WF: If you were to lose the election, which candidate do you hope would win? 

I think everyone who I'm running against Hunter, Brendan, and Katia are all amazing people, they're also hard working. I would love to see any of them win and represent the first-years all fairly, equally, and take that positive outlook that I really want. 

WF: Anything else you’d like to say to first-years? 

I'll try and make the best of this COVID situation. Stay positive, stay healthy, and let's make this year unforgettable. Let's make the best of it. 

An Unsung Hero - Interview with Gail Bowles-Fraser

It is rightly said that true heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic… It is the urge to serve others at whatever cost.

In the past few months, we heard many new words in the context of Covid-19, that have become a part of the daily vocabulary. Some words such as "corona warriors" or frontline workers, stand out immediately and bring a sense of gratitude for them. However, some undervalued heroes of the Covid-19 pandemic, who really need to be recognized, are the cleaning staff, very critical to preventing the spread of the virus. One such hero at StFX is Gail Bowles-Fraser from the cleaning staff, who is a very familiar face for all of us.

Gail is always there to help the new students at the residences, sometime even teaching them how to do laundry. The past few months have been challenging for Gail, who took some time off in summer, and is now back, ready to help us.

Gail grew up in Toronto but has been working at the University for the past 16 years. She lives with her husband in Antigonish. The people are very loving and supportive, she says. Talking about mental strength, Gail said, "the students provide me strength. And my source of motivation is seeing higher year students who are close to me. That is what gives me strength."

Gail said, "students become my family.” Her husband, Paul Fraser, is also very supportive of her work. Asked if she feels safe being back at campus, Gail says "knowing that there are testing rules on campus and everyone will be tested for Covid-19 before they arrive on campus made me feel safer too." "I can't wait to see all the students back on campus!"

Gail, who grew up in a rough neighbourhood in Toronto, but her husband is from Antigonish. She found the people here very nice, and this has been her since she moved here with her husband. Gail is very well connected with other community members and during her time off from the campus in summer, she would sometimes have tea with others at the porch. She really wants to do more for the Friendship Corner and the Library in Antigonish. However, the community that she loves the most and knows very well is the campus community. "I love that summer is over and the students are coming back… I am no longer just the cleaner to them; I feel more connected to the students here at StFX… almost as if I am their honorary aunt."

Gail loves to learn about other cultures and accept them in her life. Perhaps that’s the reason she is so close to students at StFX, who come from different backgrounds. Recalling her childhood, Gail says, "it was hard for us to be a blended family because we have many different blood streams and therefore different personalities but I believe that kindness helps to win people over, and I actually learned this from my mother."

She usually visits her family twice in a year but was not able to go this year because of Covid-19. She was also scheduled to visit Australia this year to visit her stepchildren and grandchildren, but it had to be cancelled. "My dream is to see the whole world," says Gail.

Recap: Art Gallery Exposition (March 15 to 24)

Showcase of photographs by StFX student Natalie Doumkos

Photo: doumkos.com/Cityscape/

Photo: doumkos.com/Landscape/i-sMmnPhK

How and Why X-Project Began

How and Why X-Project Began

Joe Webb was a founding member of the X-Project organization on campus in 1965. While the organization became ratified that year, the origin of X-Project dates back to 1957. This document is Yanik Gallie’s treatment of notes written by Webb on how and why X-Project began. Webb graduated in 1965 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, and intended to return for a Bachelor of Education. Before he could enroll, he was offered the position of principal on a teacher’s permit at the Lincolnville school. Webb then pursued his teacher’s license during summer school for four years and continues to substitute at the age of 74.

The origin of X-Project traces back to Webb’s call for help to his friend Rollie Chiasson who was still at the university. Chiasson posted a sign in the dining hall asking for volunteers who might want to take a drive down to Lincolnville and work with some students hoping at least a couple people would show up at the designated date and time.  Much to their surprise, 13 people volunteered. At the same time, Joan Dillon and a number of friends from Antigonish were teaching pottery in Lincolnville. They too travelled in borrowed cars from Antigonish each week. The two groups joined forces primarily to share transportation. They quickly began to share programming ideas working with students and adults to promote literacy, offering cubs and beavers, providing recreational programs, and more. X-Project is one of the oldest student societies on campus and has grown to include surrounding communities Guysborough, Paq’tnkek, and Pictou Landing.

Joe Webb’s wife, Nancy Webb, inspired him to write the origin story a year ago. According to Webb, the intent behind writing the story was to preserve the society’s initial commitment to “anonymity. If you look at old yearbooks, you will not find our names, and that is a good thing.” Webb added, “I am at peace with the fact that the small seed planted in 1965-66 at StFX has grown in scope and effectiveness. Joan Dillon, Lisa Lunney Borden, and the thousands of others have provided a wonderful example of how when one group chooses to help another, both groups benefit.” Webb remembered, “the first 20+ volunteers said they got more from X-Project than they ever gave, and I know that is true for me.” 

***

1957-60

I was at Good Counsel Academy in Monastery as a student and was privileged to accompany the legendary Father Anthony Henry to Lincolnville on many occasions where he had established a community center from which he ran various programs, met many needs of this poor community, and got to know many of the folks there.

1960-65

I attended StFX and about midway through my studies Father Edo Gatto and Mr. Angus MacGillveray were instrumental in getting a university-owned building just off campus where they established Abelard’s coffee house. Many of us gathered there to play anagrams or chess and have organized a spontaneous discussion group about the social issues of our time. By the time I graduated, some of us were chagrinned that during those years of college revolts in U.S. and Canada about civil rights and concerns, our focus, including my own, were a tiddly-winks club which challenged the oxford debaters. I posted an announcement for an Apathy society and no one came to the meetings. In April of 1965, the drama society won the Dominion Drama Festival. Director Frank Canino wanted to redo the campus logo. That year, no StFX sports team went on to finals. He wanted the faces of drama rampant over a field of jock straps. So much about our concern for society while attending a university known world wide for the Coady institute and dedication to helping communities all over the world.

While speaking one day to Brian O’Connell who was upper administration at StFX at the time he commented that his twins both young with down syndrome (called Mongoloid in those days) were at a loss now that school was nearly over and there was no summer program. I discussed this at Abelard’s and along with several friends who, I hesitate to name them because I would miss most people, set up a program every evening for two hours at Abelard’s outside and inside. And, on Saturdays we went on field trips. All this while we worked summer jobs, but this was the spirit fostered at the coffee house and I have often felt since that Abelard’s had a lost to do with X-Project before the fact.

1965-66

I was waiting to go back next year for my Education degree when I received an urgent request through my godfather Mac Mackenzie from social services. A teacher from the school in Lincolnville had quit and they had no one as replacement. They arranged a temporary permit for me, and I became the principal. Please understand that no one wanted to go there in those days and the community was looked upon as a problem area. There were at least 31 organizations travelling to Lincolnville, Upper Big Tracadie and Sunnyville all with a solution for the “Lincolnville problem.” At that time, no black people lived within the Antigonish town limits. You could not be black and get supper at many restaurants. Even in Guysborough, the Nova Scotia home for colored children, it was a house of horrors and we in Nova Scotia were proud believers that we were not prejudiced. And, do not even get me started about indigenous folks.

While teaching in Lincolnville at a school ingeniously built in a location so that, wonder of wonders, it was only within busable distance of Lincolnville and Upper Big Tracadie. Mattie settlement kids who were white went to the school at Monastery while there was not a single white child at our school. I discovered that the junior and senior high kids, who were bussed to Guysborough, could not get homework help there because of the bus schedule and like most other parents then and now, theirs could not help much. Here arose the founding tenet of X-Project. Instead of coming to Lincolnville with an agenda, ask what the community-identified needs are then help. I asked my Abelard’s friends and we started to go down one or two nights a week to help with homework at the school rather than the center. I got that advice from locals too, some of who were Baptists and not comfortable with the center. Soon it was evident we needed more people. I got a friend, Rollie Chiasson, to post a small notice outside the dining hall. It read, “Are you interested in helping tutor students from nearby communities and a contact person?” We were amazed. Soon, we needed extra cars to help and added more nights. We also discovered that StFX students working with the young people were getting as much from the young people as they were giving.

Spring of 1966

As the college year wore down, the students who knew I was leaving the next fall wanted to form a society on campus to continue the process and maybe expand it. I again asked Mac and several other social-service types for help to set this up. We advised and the students agreed to some cornerstone provisions for the constitution as they became a functional college organization.

No publicity, no agenda. Just ask community people what they need and try to help. Avoid thank yous and all advertising that might attract those   looking for something good to put on a resume.

So now, what do we call this club? After soul searching by one and all, we picked the name X-Project because no one would even know what it was other than those who joined and there would be nothing to gain except possibly a good feeling that accompanies a good deed. And so, it was born when I left to teach in Canso that September. We had no idea how this project would flourish. As I understand it, the university hired Joan Dillon some years later as liaison between college and the project. She had been doing pottery along with the brilliant potter May K. MacDonald at the center and knew most of the people in Lincolnville and I believe even had been involved with the students in the project. I think there were several staff involved as well, but I have only a passing knowledge of the growth of the project until Joan invited me back for a celebration. I could see that she was beloved by one and all and had given heart and soul to continue the good work begun so many years before. I was pleased to see that the students had even branched out into forums and gatherings to discuss social issues and their work within the Indigenous and African Nova Scotian communities.

If it is important at all to know our origin, I hope my descriptions herein will serve to provide a factual account of the very crude beginnings of what has become such  a wide-ranging program. May we all continue to serve one another.

X-Project: The Beginning Years

The Xaverian Weekly gets second rights to publish booklet

Lisa Lunney Borden wrote “X-Project: The Beginning Years” at Joan Dillon’s kitchen table while talking to Joe Webb on the phone in 2006. This booklet documents the early years of X-Project from the perspectives of its founders. The inspiration for publishing the booklet came when Dillon received an honourary doctorate of Laws from StFX thirteen years ago.

***

It all began in November of 1961. Itinerant Artist Gilles Gaudry was living in the school house in Lincolnville through an arrangement he had made with Father Anthony who was with the Third Order of St. Augustine at the Monastery and who had been working in the communities since 1954. At the time many families in Lincolnville were living on only $364.00 per year and Gilles wanted to help the community that had so graciously welcomed him. He would often hitchhike to Port Hawkesbury and New Glasgow to put on art classes and bring back money to the communities to help the people. One day Gilles arrived at the pottery school in Antigonish run by Mother St. Phillip, CND. He took a week long pottery course and at the end of the week Mother St. Phillip gave Gilles a pottery wheel, some clay and a small kiln. He took these items back to Lincolnville and began teaching community members how to do pottery. His plan was to get the community members to make pottery and sell it; unfortunately his dream was cut short. On November 11, 1961 Gilles was riding in the back of a fish truck while hitchhiking and the truck was struck by a train and Gilles was killed.

Following Gilles’ tragic death, Margie (Milner) Boyle, Kay (Wilmot) Cameron, and Joan Dillon who were all students of Mother St. Phillip at the pottery school offered to take his place in teaching the pottery, strongly supported by Mother St. Phillip herself. They approached Father Anthony who was reluctant at first because other groups had volunteered to work in the community but had not kept their commitments. The women convinced him that they would stay and he agreed to let them come. With the help of men from the Third Order of St. Augustine’s who loaned their cars for transportation, the three women began travelling to Lincolnville three nights a week to teach pottery classes.

When they arrived in the community they were invited to do their pottery in a center that Father Anthony had built. They worked with him to start cubs and scouts, Father Anthony’s ABC Band, in addition to the pottery. They eventually needed to recruit more volunteers and soon a group of about 30 people were coming down, along with members of the Sisters of St. Martha. They travelled each week in cars also donated by the Third Order of St. Augustine. At the time there were approximately 98 children and about 30 families in Lincolnville.

In 1965, Joe Webb, a recent StFX graduate was given the position of teaching principal in the Lincolnville school. He felt that many students in the school were having difficulty in getting their homework done, and wanted to find some way to help them. He thought of his friends who were still in university and thought maybe they would like to come down and help some of the students. He made a call to his friend Rollie Chiasson and proposed this idea. They decided to post a sign in the dining hall asking for volunteers who might want to take a drive down to Lincolnville and work with some students hoping at least a couple people would show up at the designated date and time. Much to their surprise 13 people volunteered. They borrowed cars and began travelling to the community as well. Initially they wanted to stay separate from the pottery group, but eventually the two groups decided to merge so that they could share transportation. Joan Dillon negotiated a bus deal with Dr. Remi Chiasson, Superintendent of schools who granted them the weekly use of a very large bus at a reasonable price and soon the whole group began traveling together. In March of 1966, the group sat down and wrote a constitution that formed the society now known as X-Project. The goals of this group were quite simple; they would only go to the community as long as they were invited and welcomed by the community, they would respect the wishes of the community and responds to the community’s requests, and they hoped that some day they would no longer be needed.

Over the years X-Project quickly grew to include more communities and more members. The group began to organize many community building events including the 1968 Indian Teach-In which was organized by Father Bill Burke. All the Atlantic Canada First Nation Chiefs and even the Deputy Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs attended. It was a weekend event with about 200 people in attendance. Following the success of this event in 1969 a Black Teach-In was held which was equally well attended. X-Project has held numerous Saturday programs, bowling days, swimming days, skating parties, youth leadership weekends, and literally thousands of nights in communities. Thousands of StFX students have volunteered over the past 40 years and many community members have been consistently involved since the beginning.

Letter to Xaverian Community

On the passing of Kevin Fraser

Dear Xaverian Community,

I have often thought about what to say to all those who honoured Kevin. Ironically, it was very difficult to find words to describe the effect the outpouring of support had on our family, especially since Kevin was never at a loss for words.  Although our lives have been considerably altered, there is some solace in knowing the impact Kevin had on others during his time at StFX. During this challenging time, StFX has demonstrated that it is a community of care. The number of people who donated to Kevin’s Corner, sent us messages, wrote cards and supported us, made it clear how important he was to many of you. Receiving the honorary X-ring and attending the ceremony in Kevin’s honour was something I will always remember. Knowing that he was valued by others as much as we valued him brings us some peace. Kevin truly did live the values of StFX, integrity, dignity, truth, and respect for all. His connection to the community was obvious in the number of hearts he reached and the relationships he built with many of you. Kevin had no idea the influence he had on the lives of others, which truly does make him a Xaverian at heart. We wanted to take the time to thank all of you for recognizing Kevin, supporting us, and bringing us into the Xaverian family. We will be forever grateful and connected to the university. Most importantly we want to thank you for making his time at StFX something he loved, and for being his friends.

Quaecumque Sunt Vera,

Anne Armstrong

The Armstrong and Fraser families

Local Graffiti

Culture of art

Hold Me Brother

Collected poems

“Idea”

Everywhere I go

I want you to be

not just to simply be with me

come on man, I’m not that needy

but check it

I want you to see what I saw

You might like to smell

what I smelled

touch what I touched 

feel what I felt 

it’s just a thought

just an idea

that’s how we 1st appeared

“Free”

All around me were iron bars 

till I found freedom 

untapped, untouched 

I had barely scrapped the surface of love

till deep down, you dug me out

How can I owe a debt 

to the one I love?

Can I be 

Appreciative 

of the way you inspired me?

I’m greatly moved 

I fly free

“Black Artist Boy”

You have subtitles that come across so strong

your imagination and sense of feeling 

Is it with you I belong? 

Your world I long to enter 

yet I am 

Scared 

to be surrounded by your strength 

My, my, my

you could swallow me 

Would you dare use it on me?

You are everything 

I want 

Black artist boy 

Feel

Think

Move 

Create 

Can I be myself before it’s too late?

Will I see what is in front of my face? 

Black artist girl

don’t be foolish

be with him 

Imagine

build a world 

Black artist boy 

Down Home Christmas

A Christmas spent “up the lane” in Upper Big Tracadie, Nova Scotia

Tara Reddick is a third-year student at STFX, she grew up in Antigonish.  She is a playwright, her play “The West Woods” toured Nova Scotia and was also  featured at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa in 2017. The following story is a little look into her childhood during a Christmas spent “up the lane” in Upper Big Tracadie, Nova Scotia. Upper Big Tracadie is a rural African Nova Scotian community about 25 minutes from the town of Antigonish.

***

My mother and father always did the best they could at Christmas. I never really asked for anything. What I received, I received. It was always about the spirit of Christmas and never about gifts.  I never bragged to my friends after Christmas break, I had nothing to brag about. I tell you though, I can remember every Christmas like it was yesterday. I miss my Nanny especially at the Holidays, she died the day after Christmas; I was there when she took her last breath and I think about her        everyday. Nothing will ever come close to a Christmas spent at my Nan’s down home. She was our matriarch, she was our rock.  Her name was Dorothy Daye and this Christmas marked the third year of her passing.

Go Tell it on the Mountain 

Christmas eve, mom and dad pack up the few gifts we have and the 6 of us load up our Dodge Omni meant for 4. Lorraine and Wilfred, two boys and two girls rowdy unruly brats. Mom says, “Let’s wake up Christmas day down home kids.” Do we have to mom? Off to Nanny and Granddaddy’s we go. Folks are home from Toronto, Montreal and Halifax. Aunts, uncles and cousins alike. Nintendo show downs, penny hockey, snakes and ladders. Checkers too, but we can’t find all the pieces.  Sliding down the stairs on our bums. Carpet burns and playing school, “I want to be the teacher this time.” The wood furnace is burning, uncle Barry got it wide open I tell yah! Nan is baking, molasses cake, corn bread, brown sugar-squares, lemon, apple and blueberry pie, “Did anyone take out the turkey yet?” Better take out a big one. It is still early in the evening, now it’s time to get out Mahalia Jackson’s Christmas album.  The needle on the record player isn’t the best, but it plays. Granddaddy fell asleep in his favourite chair. Just a few hours before he had it rockin’ and the kitchen turned into a wrestling ring. WWF legends, Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Roddy Piper.  “ Get em, that’s it, pin him, come on pin him, give it to him.” He smokes his Export A’s and sneaks a little drink and the sweat is pouring. “How much wood did Barry put in that furnace anyway?” The kids are tearing the house up, playing hide and go seek, finding places we never knew existed. 

Nan cleans houses in town and the families she works for always give her chocolates. Me and cousin Geneva eat them before she even knows they are open.

Later in the night, Nan just wants her daughters to stay in and pray in the Christmas day, but my aunt’s got other plans. They go down, down the lane to Mrs. Cunningham’s and over to Rear Monastery to visit aunt Evelyn. They come back laughing and telling stories and I listen, I always listen.  Nan is asleep at the table she was waiting up. Now all 20 of us cousins have found a spot to sleep. On the floor, we take beds on the coach, even in the hallway, in every corner all of us sleeping, close as close can be. The house is warm with love and we are happy the furnace has died down, but don’t dare let that fire go out cause it’s cold tonight. 

Morning, Nan is first to wake up she is at the stove. She starts in on breakfast. Two cartons of eggs, two pounds of bacon, fresh biscuits and beans.  The aunts are tired, “See I told you fellas’ to stay your ass home last night, out running the roads.”

I wish I could go back in time, there was so much love and I had my Nan.

The Straight One

Short story

There is something eerie yet peaceful about cemeteries. Especially on a day like today. The air is crisp, and the leaves have started to turn colour like the ripening of an apple. The light is bouncing off the polished gravestones, and of course, my friend’s laughter is tickling my ears. I wonder if dead people throw parties? Do they mind having us on their graves? Do we have some ghosts just chilling beside us? I couldn’t tell ya, but I like to think so. 

 I plop myself down on the blanket, immediately there’s dirt on my jeans. 

“What’d I miss?” I ask. 

“We’re talking about our coming out stories.” Ruth says with a mouthful of rainbow chocolate chip cookies. 

They talk the way the wind blows, around me but not necessarily to me. Ruth goes on about how coming out is a continual constant. You never stop doing it. She’s still in the process of telling her family she’s pan. Before you make the joke, no pansexual doesn’t mean she’s attracted to pans it means she’s attracted to anyone, gender is thrown entirely out the window. She doesn’t admit it, but I totally think she likes women and non-binary people more than men. But, don’t tell her I said that. 

“Aw fuck!” Alice drops a cube of cheese on the ground.

She’s bi, not the same as pan but similar and, as she loves to tell everyone, she’s our local raging feminist. My ears twitch right in time to hear Alice say the most badass sentence, “I’m not straight enough for the straights or gay enough for the gays. I’m 100% gay and 100% straight.” Seriously Alice. Put that on a t-shirt. 

“Yass Queen, preach!”

There he is. My favourite guy, Sean. If you couldn’t tell from the “Yass Queen,” Sean’s gay. He’s sugar in black coffee. Sweet, yet strong and a total teddy bear. 

Then there’s me, Kali, the straight one. I adore these people. They are the embodiment of pure sunshine. They get pushed behind dark clouds and have to fight through leaves, but they always manage to shine. I wouldn’t say the same about me.  

“Helloooo, Kali. You still with us?” Alice snaps me back to earth.

“Yeah, yeah. what were you saying?”

“Remember we’re going out tonight. Meet at 7, our place.” Sean pipes up.

“Gotcha. I’ll be there. I’m not square.” I say with a wink and some major finger guns.

  It looks like the Tasmanian Devil just tore through my room. Slashes of red sequins, denim skirts, heavy wool, and black dresses are in every nook and cranny. There is nothing in my closet to wear. I know that sounds like the most melodramatic, stereotypical girl thing to say, but I mean it. Every sleeveless top shows the inflamed pimples on my shoulders. Every skirt makes my thighs look like jiggly tree trunks. Every crop top makes me look like a bloated pregnant woman. It’s horrifying. I knew I shouldn’t have eaten that bowl of cereal this morning. I see the scale in the corner, it’s begging me to step on just to laugh at me with the number. Just the thought of that number makes my stomach clench so much that a little vomit crawls up the back of my throat. 

I have to put something on, seriously, I can’t go out in my bra and underwear. That would be even worse. I go full Narnia and find a black halter top and a green button-up skirt in the back of my closet. It’s good enough.

I make my way to the bathroom even though it feels like I’m walking through tar. I look in the mirror, and all I see is an ugly, worthless girl, who doesn’t fit in anywhere. My nose is huge and round, and my cheeks are like chipmunks. I open my makeup bag and pick up my foundation brush. I start painting my skin, making it even. Mixing and blending colour after colour around my eyes, adding glitter, making their blueness pop. It’s like getting lost in living art. I contour out the hollows of my cheeks and the sides of my nose. I’m creating a miracle on my face. My nose is slim and cheeks defined. I love that about makeup, I can look however I want. Manipulate whatever I want. I finally get to be pretty. I lean in close to the mirror and apply the final touch. I carefully swipe on a terracotta red lipstick. I don’t like much about my face but, I can at least say, I have very sexy lips.

I rush out the door and into what appears to be a light show. The sun is setting, and the sky is a wash of rosy pinks and vibrant oranges. I love this time of day. Right when the day begins to turn night, almost as if the world is switching persona just like the rest of us. My heels click on the hard pavement. I can already feel my feet getting sore around the toes. This might be a very long night. I stand to wait for the walk symbol to come on and spot a cute guy on the other side of the road. Long hair, tight shirt, very Jim Morrison and totally my type. I make a mental note to find him in the club later. I finally cross the street and walk a little further and get to my friend’s front door. I just go in, there’s no need to knock. The house is a bundle of energy. Sean is in the kitchen mixing what appears to be Malibu and Coke. Ruth is fussing about the music, “Shut up and Dance” by Walk the Moon is bumping away.

“Has anyone seen my other earring?” Alice calls out while coming down the stairs. 

“Did you check the bathroom?” Sean yells back. 

“Oh, hey Kali. Yeah, Sean, I checked there.”

Holy shit. Alice looks great. She’s in a skintight, sky-blue dress. It shows every curve, from her rounded shoulders to her firm thighs. She’s like the Goddess Venus just stepped out of a painting, round and soft. Wait, what am I thinking? I’ve never had such a thought about a girl, sure as hell not Alice. I think I need a drink. 

We pregame hard. The drinks are flowing almost as much as the laughter is. Sean keeps bringing us drink after drink. I swear that boy thinks he’s a professional bartender. We’re up dancing on the couches, the room is swirling with pure, unadulterated joy. I don’t know how the club could be any better than this. 

“We should get going if we want to get in, it’s getting late,” Ruth says. I look at my phone, it’s 11:30. The time has just slipped away, I guess that’s what happens when you’re having fun. We stuff some money and our ID’s into our bras and head out the door. The club is literally a block away, so I won’t bore you with the details of the walk. Long story short, we giggled a lot and stumbled even more. 

The club is going ham. The music is blaring, the bass is going like a hammer pounding a nail. “Anyone want shots?” I scream over the music, but my friends can barely hear me. They all throw their hands in the air which I guess means yes. The bar is swarming with people. Sean goes to the bar, throws some hardcore elbows and manages to get through while the rest of us go grab a table. I look out at the dance floor and it’s just a sea of people. I bet if there wasn’t any music, they wouldn’t look like they were dancing and look more like skankily dressed potatoes fighting.  

A few minutes later Sean comes over with four hot pink shots. Leave it to Sean to be utterly extra and utterly predictable. I count down “One, two, three, GO!” We all down our shots and immediately get twisted expressions on our faces. That was like biting into a lemon. Ruth shoots up, grabs my hand and pulls me onto the dance floor. Everyone else follows suit, and we join the mass of fighting potatoes. Something catches my eye. It’s Alice’s hair. It’s shining as the strobe lights pass over and bounce along with the beat of the music, just like Alice. Something is pulling me closer and closer to her. I’m all of a sudden stone cold sober. I just so badly want to be near her. She’s smiling, and it’s radiant. My heart’s pounding and our eyes meet. I just go for it. I kiss her. She kisses me back. The music fades into the background. The whole world seems to stand still. Her lips are soft and tender, and she kinda tastes like cherries. It feels so right. Then boom; it hits me like a brick wall. I pull away. Everything floods back. The music is deafening. I look around at my friends, and they’re dumbfounded. They look like someone just killed a cat in front of them or something. My heart’s racing and not in a good way. My hands are shaking like a baby’s rattle, and my breath is stuck in my lungs. I have to get out of here. I can’t stay. I need out. Then I’m running. Running. I’m freezing to death and burning alive at the same time. The streets become a blur, and somehow, I’m home. 

I’m standing in front of my mirror and still shaking beyond belief. Get a hold of yourself, Kali. Don’t be such a wimp. I splash cold water on my face. I don’t recognize the girl staring back. Her face is dripping with black mascara. Her lipstick is smeared at the edges. I reach for my makeup wipes, slowly pulling one out of the container. Breathing heavy I rub at my eye, it stings a bit. Then I do the other eye and finally my lips. Barefaced with slightly stained lips I see myself. For the first time, I really see myself. My breathing has slowed down, and I’m still. Really still. But, I’m the straight one. I can’t be… I… maybe I’m not so different after all. Maybe.… maybe. Am I gay?  

Bachelor of Education Students Host Music Recital

I entered to drying coats, I left to drying eyes

After Danielle Richard and Jessica MacLean closed out the Bachelor of Education music recital with “Musical Theatre Boys,” I left and dug for a cigarette - whatever’d calm my nerves. I understand speed-walking out of St. James United Church a little after 8pm while fumbling with a lighter isn’t a good look. So, I decided against it. But after an hour straight with my hairs standing up, I needed a comedown.

The setting made sense. A cold and wet November 3, we huddled in the pews to keep us warm. Bunches of Education students mixed with family and friends. A few sniffles, mumbled chatter, jackets unzipping, awkward half-smiles to strangers.

“When’s it going to start? Isn’t it at 7?”

They appeared almost on cue, single file and well-dressed. Silence, a single sniff. Joseph Goodwin stood while the other three took their seats in the front row. Pianist sits, everyone’s silent. A stifled cough, “Oh jeez, I’m so sorry.” Silence again. Goodwin began.

Goodwin opened with Handel’s “Lascia ch’io pianga.” I’ve run out of adjectives for his baritone or the control he has over it. Jaw-dropping’s cliche, but accurate. And I sat full mouth mouth-breathing, everything about his work with the National Youth Choir of Canada and garnered acclaim made sense. As he hits notes beyond us, we just sit breathless.

Second, Lauren Siteman. Her frankness refreshes us. Siteman introduces her first piece simply, “It’s a love song.” Siteman’s talent too, is direct. Every note hit perfectly, every dynamic switched on a dime. I need to address something. Siteman, whether she knows it or not, sings honestly. I’m not sure how to describe it yet, but everything she sings I believe. It was a love song. Because for three minutes I somehow knew who and how she loved.

Third, Danielle Richard. In her second year of education, this was her first performance. Her voice control was absolutely terrifying. Goodwin and Siteman had each of us nodding, smiling, and gasping, but Richard had us looking around at one another with an awed, “Are you seeing this?” sort of face. 

Nothing surprises me about her background in musical theatre. The way she carries herself on a stage speaks for itself. I should note here as well that Danielle’s performance of “I’ll Be Here” brought a few people to tears. But not me though… absolutely not… not a chance. We’d always been told Danielle is incredible, then we heard her for ourselves and know it to be true.

Fourth, Jessica MacLean. Her stage presence is an extension of herself. Most of us cling onto some drab sense of self importance. Jess tosses all that trash out. She moves around the stage with intent one second, vulnerability the next. Whatever the piece calls for, she clicks into her performative nature and disappears. 

MacLean only returns after she’s sung the last lines of “Don’t Rain On My Parade,” once the applause begins, there she is. How she stays so expressive and fluid while hitting even the hardest notes perfectly, I’ll never understand.

A fifth member of the Education Recital, Stacia Findlay, was slated to perform but unfortunately pulled out due to an illness. Rumours are she’s an internationally renowned monster in her own right. I’m looking forward to her performance.

Another recital is in the works. Go see it. Whether it’s an email or poster, plan around the date you read. I entered to drying coats, I left to drying eyes.

International Student Speaks Out about Recruitment

An inside perspective into the life of an international student

I want you to use your imagination for a second. Imagine leaving your home, the country you were born and raised in, to gain a higher education and pursue a bright start to your future. Imagine saying goodbye to your family and friends and packing up two bag-loads of your life to take with you as you travel alone to an entirely new continent with which you are not entirely familiar with. Imagine arriving at your destination and failing to see anyone in the distance who remotely looks like you, and then later discovering that this will be the setting of the next four years of your life. 

When I was recruited by Saint Francis Xavier University, I was quite literally sold the Canadian dream. With promises of a diverse, peaceful culture that embraces and celebrates other nationalities, of renewable bursaries and opportunities for work that would “reduce the cost of my tuition tremendously,” there were hopeful stars in my eyes as I pictured my future at this university. I was going to make tons of new friends with whom I would share my culture as I equally experienced theirs, and I would perhaps even return home with a Canadian accent after a few months. 

The reality could not have been any more different. In all of the dreamy tales fed to us in the large assembly hall of our high school, it seems that the university recruitment team simply forgot to mention that the tuition at StFX was going to be hiked by 6% every year for the next three years because the university is in so much debt, and that this would actually translate to a 12% increase for international students, since they pay double the tuition fees compared to Canadian students. 

The lovely recruiters also had a little ‘slip’ of memory and neglected to inform us that the total cost of residence for the year does not include or cover the two/three-week Christmas break during December, and that all students are required to evacuate their rooms and expected to independently find alternative accommodation for themselves over this period. Of course, mentioning these vital factors to potential students was not of great importance at the time. As long as they managed to successfully rope in and recruit a couple of us, the rest would figure itself out. After all, the university is kind enough to perform favors such as providing alternative campus living arrangements for those international students who are unable to go home for Christmas, all at a little charge, of course! What is an extra one or two-hundred dollars to someone who already pays $30 000 to be here?   

 My question is, why, oh why, then, would StFX continue to recruit a large number of international students, if they constitute most of the debt carried by the university? Is their solution to this problem, therefore, to hire a debt-collector masked as an International Student Advisor, who will deceive international students into a trap of sharing their financial struggles, only to add them to her ‘blacklist’ of individuals to monitor and watch out for? The international population is truly better off not having an Office of Internationalization, if it houses individuals who intentionally advocate against them. The very students whom she is purposed to be a support for (at least, according to her job description), are the ones whom the university has mandated her to take a strong position against and, quite frankly, get rid of. 

Moreover, university administration made it very clear that 2018 would be a year of change and uncompromising rule. Whereas the university was previously quite understanding and lenient towards international students, and permitted them to construct plans for payment that would still allow them to register for courses so long as they had been making some steady payments to their accounts during the year, this policy changed overnight. With an ironclad fist, the university denied access to course registration to all international students whose student accounts were anything above the new threshold of $5 000. Lo and behold (and this should certainly not come as a surprise to any of us), this new policy was not transparently communicated to any students, nor was there sufficient notice given prior to implementation of this new practice. 

So, when July came around and it was registration time, many unsuspecting international students received devastating emails from the Accounts Office that informed them that they would not, in fact, be able to register for classes, and they essentially would have about one month to miraculously decrease their balances owing to $5 000 if they wished to continue their enrolment with the university for the upcoming year.

I’ll ask you to again to imagine being an international student on the receiving end of this news; having traveled a long way from your country to this foreign land for an education, which, so abruptly, was snatched away from you. Imagine being halfway through university at this point, and being unable to join your peers as they progress into the year ahead while you remain behind, a balance of $10 000 or worse, $50 000, standing between you and your future, as you work tirelessly to reduce it just so you can catch up. 

Worse off, the concept of government loans or assistance to students is virtually non-existent in many of the countries from which StFX recruits its international population, and most parents are paying 30 thousand dollars straight out of their pockets, in economies that are not half as stable as Canada’s. Yet, international students are being held to the same merciless standards as Canadian students who have these privileges.

This is the unfortunate reality of several international students who attend(ed) St Francis Xavier University. Unexpected, uncommunicable costs are constantly flung in their direction, and they are expected to just bear the increments and tough it out, with no compromise on the part of the university. Just this month (on November 8 2018), StFX residence services sent out an email regarding accommodations over the Christmas break for internationals who are unable to go home, indicating that they would be placed in FX Hall (formerly Coady MacNeil Hall) for the break at a daily rate of almost $30 for a single room, totalling a hefty $600 for a three-week stay. How it could be possible that a student who is probably unable to afford a trip to go home to begin with, be able to afford to pay $600 - for such poor living conditions - is beyond me. This also comes as a huge slap to the international community, who, just last year, fought to be placed in a more livable building because the present condition of Coady MacNeil Hall is dilapidated and unbearable, suitable only for its current use as a storage facility for janitors’ cleaning supplies. Thus, after begrudgingly moving internationals into Power Hall for the December 2017 holiday, the university administration turned around and decided to not only revert back to Coady MacNeil as the building allocation for Christmas this year, but to hike the cost of stay by over $400 without any warning or any explanation for the increased rate. 

Amazingly, one of the universities strategic goals is “Increased enrolment by under-represented students, including international students,” a statement bleeding with irony, contradiction, and deception. What the university really wants is more students to manipulate and deceive as they demand double the tuition for half of the deserved services. 

The message here is clear: we, the international students, are unwanted and useless, and our comfort/sanity while we are halfway across the world from home, is not a priority. While many other universities place their international population at the forefront of every decision, acknowledging the fact that they are so far from their homes and their families, StFX treats their international students as inconveniences whom they are doing a favor by inviting onto this campus. You can count on the fact that we as international students will not make any recommendations to our peers in our home countries for Saint Francis Xavier University as a choice for higher education. 

I wish StFX all the best as they try to achieve their strategic goals in future years, because for as long as they continue to treat international students like the butt of the joke and some good-for-nothing cash cows, the reputation of this university and how it really treats its international students will spread and always stand to reflect the truth which their recruitment team fails to speak.

The Meaning of X-Ring

Why the piece of gold jewelry means so much

Every December, excitement fills the air as graduating StFX students wait to receive their coveted X-rings. As soon as they receive theirs, the countdown begins for the next year of eagerly awaiting X-ring recipients. But, why is a piece of silver, gold, or platinum metal worth all the fuss?

Like many, I came to StFX in my first year fascinated by the gold ring that I would get years down the road. I had admired them since the application process to StFX, and the intrigue surrounding them only grew as I saw a few fourth-year classmates proudly show theirs off. Who wouldn’t admire a ring that supposedly could connect you to other alumni through a quick glance at their right hand?

Since first year, the meaning behind X-ring has changed quite a lot for me. No longer is it a mystery, but a symbol of four intense and rewarding years at StFX. All the late nights, piles of assignments, and early mornings suddenly seem worth it, even though throughout the process of getting to X-ring, it sometimes seemed like an insurmountable task.

X-ring is more than just the academic achievements behind earning it. It’s also about the friends, faculty, and members of the community that become a proxy family during your time at university. For many of StFX students that come from across the country, or from abroad, X-ring represents the home away from home that we create during our years in Antigonish. To have a constant reminder of that sense of family and lifelong friends gives a lot of significance to the ring.

For many receiving their X-ring this December, it is meaningful because it connects them to family legacies. Some recipients come from a long line of Xaverians, and getting the X-ring is the final step in joining the family ranks. For others, like myself, we are the first members of our extended family or friends who are getting X-rings, which makes it all the more special in our eyes; however, no matter if you’re tied to a family legacy or not, some of us will hope to see other family members or our own children be able to get their own X-rings in the future.

There’s also the question behind every X-ring about the legacy we’re leaving behind at StFX. With hope, the impact we made through societies, athletics, the community, or by sticking up for important issues on campus, will live on long after we leave campus. Especially this year, issues such as bringing changes to the sexual violence policy or the revitalization of campus through buildings like the Mulroney Institute may be on the minds of many, as X-ring recipients may not be around to see the final outcomes of those projects.

X-ring signals the beginning of a shift in our relationship with StFX as well. Perhaps, farther down the line, we’ll give back through donations, come back for homecoming, or stop wearing our X-rings altogether if we feel that the university isn’t acting proactively enough on important issues. There’s no question that we’ll think about keeping up to date on what’s happening at StFX and staying in contact with the friends that we made while here every time we glance at our rings.

Lastly, what X-ring means for many is that we’re one step closer to our goals, whether they be personal, academic, or career oriented. As much as receiving an X-ring can set off the existential panic about what our futures should be or where to go next, at least we can say that we’ve got one thing done. Hopefully, the lessons and experiences from our time at StFX carry forward for the rest of our lives.

This December 3, when seniors finally file through the Keating Centre to receive their X-rings, know that there is a lot of meaning behind the smiles and excitement of getting one ring. And for those who still eagerly await their rings, some food for thought: how will you make your X-ring mean something to you?