The Athenaeum

Month: December 2017

  • Rev. Dr. James Perkin, 12th President of Acadia Passes Away

    Dear Students,

    I am deeply saddened to inform you that the Acadia community has lost one of our most beloved members with the passing of our former President, the Rev. Dr. James R.C. Perkin. Dr. Perkin passed away peacefully earlier today in Kentville.

    An ordained Baptist Minister, Dr. Perkin arrived at Acadia in 1969 having been recruited from McMaster Divinity College by Dr. George Levy and then President Dr. James Beveridge. During his career at Acadia, Dr. Perkin served as Head of his Department, Dean of Arts and Vice-President Academic, before being appointed Acadia’s twelfth President in 1982. He was the first President in the then 140-year history of the institution to rise through Acadia’s academic ranks to lead the University.

    Dr. Perkin was a widely respected scholar and he became known for his highly consultative approach and his focus on enhancing Acadia’s academic reputation. At the same time, he led a successful $20 million fundraising campaign, the largest in Acadia’s history to that point. Perhaps his most important legacy is the positive relationship he built with the Town of Wolfville and its municipal leaders, one of the characteristics he felt distinguished Acadia within Canada’s post-secondary sector.

    After his retirement in 1982, Dr. Perkin continued his scholarly research and writing, including publishing Ordinary Magic: A Biographical Sketch of Alex Colville which described the life of his close friend and former Chancellor of Acadia. Dr. Perkin was also a regular attendee at Convocation ceremonies where over a period of almost fifty years he wished thousands of Acadia graduates well.

    More information about Dr. Perkin’s extraordinary contribution to Acadia and our community will be published in the coming days, as will details about memorial services and celebrations of his life. The flags on University Hall will be lowered out of respect for Dr. Perkin’s passing.

    I know you will all join me in expressing our deepest sympathies to Dr. Perkin’s wife Dorothy as well as to his children, sons Russell and John, and daughter Ann and her husband, University Chaplain, Rev. Tim McFarland. Our thoughts and prayers are with them and their families during this sad time.

    Yours in sympathy and sorrow,
    Dr. Ricketts

  • Birth Control Choice Restrictions

    Birth Control Choice Restrictions

    Every day that I read the news I am convinced we are moving backwards in time. Daily, headlines reveal how our neighbours to the south are rewinding into a history we had all hoped we had passed. Abortion rights being restricted or revoked, while the insurance coverage for birth control that was previously required by law has also been pushed back. Access to birth control and abortion and fundamental rights for women, and they seem to be disappearing. It is clear that women continue to face barriers when choosing how to control their fertility. How this remains an issue in 2017 is more complex than it seems.

    With the overwhelming number of birth control options available today (pills, implants, shots, rings, etc.) women certainly have options. Women have the freedom to choose the right method for their bodies, beliefs and lifestyle; but their freedom to choose seems to disintegrate when it comes to the choice of whether or not to use birth control at all.

    When I was interviewing college-aged women about their periods and birth control usage it was overwhelmingly obvious from their stories that they were sold on birth control well before birth, or even, sex was on their radar. Essentially, they were being marketed birth control as a tool for controlling their period, with the supposed added benefit of not having to make any decisions when they finally became sexually active. The implicit assumption is that birth control is both multifunctional and necessary, an assumption that leaves women without non-medical solutions to deal with period difficulties they may be experiencing. Doctors’ are not solely to blame for this state of affairs; even feminist works such as Our Bodies, Ourselves are guilty of encouraging birth control use without discussing the freedom to not use birth control at all.

    Women everywhere are faced with challenges when it comes to making these important decisions and the current conditions of our medical system do not make it any easier. Doctors are overworked and have almost no time to read and research best practices regarding birth control advocacy. When they do have time to participate in continuing education, the information they have access to is often from pharmaceutical companies, which push for more and more prescriptions. This leaves doctors with inaccurate information and women without a trusted, unbiased source of advice. Women who refuse to take such biased advice at face value are then forced to handle investigative work themselves, reading through medical information to determine whether or not birth control is a good decision. On top of this, the cost of seeing a doctor, possibly more than once to make a well-informed decision, serves as a barrier for women everywhere.

    Women are led to believe that they have more choice today, when really it is just the illusion of choice filtered through the layers of physician and pharmaceutical influence.  This paints a bleak picture for women, and highlights the fact that there are still significant barriers to choice for women regarding their reproductive health. While the lack of choice regarding birth control is in no way as traumatizing as coerced sterilization, both situations highlight the fact that women are still not free to exist in the world without inappropriate control exercised upon them.  However, as always, they press on. Women are not left without options for navigating the maze of birth control choices. Like the women who came before them, the best way to make decisions is by learning as much as possible, and relying on those around you for their stories, ideas and advice. In a world where women are still not free from unfair and unjust treatment, we must use our knowledge to help each other avoid this treatment.

    Kate Dalrymple is completing her graduate work in Sociology at the University of British Columbia. She is an alumni of the Acadia University Sociology department and Women and Gender Studies Department, graduating class of 2016. Some of the research conducted was done so at Acadia, using students as research participants

  • HO HO HOLD-UP

    So… Halloween is over. That means Christmas is here! And it’s the best holiday of the year no matter what anyone says! Here are the reasons why:  

    #1: The Most Beautiful of Ugly Sweaters. Ok, so you may think this reason is here because you’ve got to show your appreciation for your older relative who probably made you a sweater because she has no sense of what you really want for Christmas right? WRONG! These things have become an almost iconic symbol of Christmas itself. If a relative or friend gives you one of these then thank them as that ugly sweater is now a beauty for all to see.  

    #2: Cookies, Milk, and a Gingerbread House: These Are a Few of my Favorite Things! Everyone on planet Earth loves free food, especially sweets. So while Halloween has Christmas beat in the candy department, nothing beats homemade baked goods. From brownies to gingerbread houses this is pretty good reason to like Christmas itself as baked goods fill your home. 

    #3 Santa Claus: Friendliest Home Invader Who Gives You Things Instead of Taking Them 

    For those of us now in our twenties (or closing in on them), the idea of Santa Claus now seems silly. But, I’m sure those who have a younger sibling have noticed the smile across their face when they receive a visit from their favourite visitor: Santa Claus. While this figure is a myth, this is probably the main reason why Christmas is such a joy every year, whether there is a kid or you are a kid. The reaction to the big man in the red suit is priceless.  

    #4 Presents…Presents Everywhere 

    Remember how I said that ugly sweaters were an icon Christmas? I take that back. Presents are the icon of Christmas. This is a thing that happens every year, and pretty much to everyone. Nothing more to say other than it’s awesome for getting free stuff. 

    #5 That Felling That It Happens Once a Year 

    This is probably the most important point on this list. For it’s only in December that everyone (in North America at least) gets together for this holiday. Whether it is with friends or family, this only happens once a year. So it is best to enjoy it as it only occurs on one day, December 25th.  

  • Why Free Speech and Dialogue is Important

    Let’s say you are a person with an opinion about how things should be. It could be about an argument you had with a loved one, how one should act in the world, economics, religion, politics, philosophy, and so on. As individuals, we understand that our opinions are not shared by others and that is the true beauty of diversity – the diversity of our thoughts and opinions, not in our physical identity of being a certain race or sexuality. We also know that ideas are what change the world, and change lives, whether it be for better or for worse. The only way we can truly understand and value what it means to be an individual is to believe in free speech. Free speech means that no matter how terrible the idea is, no matter the implications of what is being said, that a person can speak their opinion without fear of harm, and when done right, the person being spoken to listens attentively to the speaker. Thanks to freedom of speech/expression, the world has sure changed for the best. People like Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi lost their lives for expressing their ideals. Their views were deemed as too offensive, and if what they said wasn’t offensive, they would have lived for much longer than they did.  
           

      The reason why people have changed the world has been because they were able to engage in a dialogue of a wide range of ideas and come out on top for their more reasonable, logical, and moral stances. A dialogue is this: you have an opinion and I have mine; we argue for a bit and then we reach a consensus, whether it be that one opinion is more logical, moral, or that you at least come to an understanding about why that person has those view-points. What a dialogue also does, is give you a chance to articulate an argument which leads to either failure or success. If I have an argument that could use some tweaking, a good debate can improve upon that. Having someone point out holes in your argument can help in either making a stronger argument or begin to change your argument altogether. Engaging in a dialogue with someone lets the other person realize the flaws in what they are saying as well, which can do that person a favor because then they may be quiet on their more embarrassing ideas.  
      

    There is nothing on this planet more powerful than an individual with smart, truthful ideas, which are articulated well in writing or in speech. Having an opinion and being able to have the courage to express it gives you an opportunity to see the faults in yourself and/or the ideas you present due to the exposure to which you subjugate yourself. It allows you to be able to be clear with people on where you stand. So that you can articulate that if you are against diversity quotas, it doesn’t make you a racist. Or that you don’t believe in social programs because you understand economics and not that you don’t care for the poor. Or that your pro-life/pro-choice stance isn’t just because you don’t care for the woman or the child. It’s also important to express yourself to your loved ones, so they can understand you. In this life you can’t expect people to be able to read your mind, and as a person you must understand that you can’t read people’s minds. People are too politically correct nowadays.  They have this idea that they know exactly what you mean whenever you say anything that’s even slightly politically incorrect. This is one of many reasons that being forward and expressive is important, because if you can articulate your ideas it is like you are giving someone a look into your mind, and this could lead to an understanding. Some people are so articulate, they are able to manifest what you are thinking into words even if you are unable to, and others are so articulate they can make you believe what they are saying no matter how terrible the viewpoint.  A really good example of an articulate person with crazy viewpoints is Louis Farrakhan, the leader of the Nation of Islam.  
        

      If you have an argument that stands the test of logic and reasoning, express it. If you have an argument that needs some thought put into it, express it to a friend or (god-forbid) an enemy, and allow them to dismantle it and explain why your argument needs some work. If you have a problem with someone’s argument let them know why, not for the sake of your own ego, but for the sake of the ideas they may potentially spread throughout the world. If someone has ideas which are harmful but are good intentioned, let them know the implications and the potential harm they unknowingly may bring into the world and society.  

    Too many times in human history has disaster been brought upon the world with perpetrators claiming to have good intentions, and these disasters could have prevented if people spoke up. Don’t think for one second that Apartheid, or the Nazis, the slaveholders and so on, didn’t have opinions they deemed were well intentioned and were brought on through the idea that racial identity is important. Don’t think that the Communists and Socialists regimes don’t commit the terrible atrocities of the past and present, which have led to at least 100 million deaths and counting, while believing in the philosophy of the equality of outcome, helping the poor, and punishing the rich. The road to hell is paved with good intentions. But as individuals, we can prevent going to hell if we decide to be truthful and express ourselves clearly. Truth is another subject for another time, but truth cannot manifest itself without one’s courage to manifest one’s own ideas. The only way a person can come towards what is true is to engage in a dialogue. At Acadia, and wherever we are, we should be able to engage in conversation without the fear of social persecution. And if we want to have true unity, we must be able to accept the views that each of us hold no matter where we are on the political spectrum, and no matter what color, religion, gender, or sexuality we are.  
          

      Be respectful and polite, and make it clear that the problem you have is with the ideas that a person has and not the individual person. In these situations, taking the moral high ground is important. Many people are very immature, so if you dismantle their argument they will take it personally and may treat you poorly.  But if your argument is articulated well and is logical, be comforted by the fact that it isn’t because you did wrong that they reacted this way, but due to their own insecurities. You have to be stoic, so that you aren’t emotionally invested in an argument. Carl Jung, the famous psychologist, once said “People don’t have ideas, ideas have people.” It’s important to be able to detach yourself emotionally from an argument or idea. If you can’t use logic and reason alone to formulate a defense of your argument and instead depend on emotion, there’s a good chance you may get picked apart. Make sure your arguments are only based on logic and reason, that way you can be stoic and calm in engaging in a dialogue. The point I am trying to make is that dialogues should be kept civil, and if our dialogues can remain civil, respectful, and more productive, discussions will be able to take place. 

  • The Optimism Game: Level 2017

    The Optimism Game: Level 2017

    This year sucked.  2017 has been a year of political unrest, mass shootings, oil spills, and environmental disasters beyond the scope of what the world has ever seen. But for the next few minutes of your life as you read this, I’d like to bring light to some of the good things that were lost in the massive shit storm that has been the last 11 months.

    In January, a whole litter of puppies were found alive after having been buried under an avalanche for 5 full days. This discovery not only meant that a bunch of squishy, happy puppies got to live, but also gave reason for rescue workers to continue to look for the 9 less squishy but equally happy humans that were rescued shortly after the litter was found.

    In February, a village in India came together to knit gigantic sweaters for elephants in the surrounding countryside when a particularly cold weather system was passing through. Elephants, as we all know, are intelligent and emotional animals who deserve a nice sweater just as much (if not more) than any human out there.

    The following month, a blind dog was miraculously found alive and well in the woods after having been lost there for a full week. It is common knowledge that blind dogs are some of the purest creatures in existence, so it’s no wonder the mountain lions in the area didn’t want to eat him. March was also the month when the world discovered the ‘granny school’ in Thane village in India, where elderly women who had been denied educations in their young lives were given the gift of education. It goes without saying that grannies with a passion for life are also pretty high up there on the list of pure creatures. Look at how much good stuff happened before our winter was even over! Let’s continue.

    In April, university students finally got some good coverage when it was announced that George Mason University students had spent an entire year creating, fitting and refitting a prosthetic arm for a young girl in their community. The 10 year old now has a fully functional pink prosthetic arm that allows her to play the violin, among other fun 10-year-old things. And not that cute elderly people really needed redeeming, but April’s good news also gave us a 98-year-old man from Nebraska who, after losing his long-time wife, baked 144 handmade pies and sent them all over the country to funeral homes and community centers to some very thankful people.

    In May, the threatened white rhino species gained two new members when new research was released that lead to the successful breeding of two female white rhinos at the San Diego Zoo. I don’t know much about white rhinoceroses, but am I ever glad that they won’t be going extinct this year.

    Speaking of preserving wildlife, in June, another one of our wholesome elderlies, Russel Gremel, donated a whopping 2 million dollars to a wildlife sanctuary in hopes that “generations of young land stewards and bird enthusiasts” would utilize the space. OMW Russel!

    We have now made it halfway through the year and I hope your faith in humanity and cuteness is starting to return. If not, here’s some more! In July, 80 random beach goers in Florida formed a human chain to rescue swimmers who had been pulled under by a strong current. This unorganized show of kindness was totally heart-warming and resulted in all 10 swimmers being safely returned to land.

    In August, a doctor, who was at the time in labour herself, delivered another woman’s baby after hearing the patient in distress from down the hallway. Shortly after providing immediate care to that newborn, the doctor went on to have her own child just hours later. Women are awesome!!

    In September, while we were all busy happily pretending that midterm season wasn’t upon us, an angel dog named Frida located and saved 12 people buried in rubble after a catastrophic earthquake in Mexico.  Another win for the animals! Humans also did some great stuff that month: a man in California found a camera at the beach and returned it to its rightful owners, a recently married couple who had lost the camera on the night of their wedding 2 months earlier- with all of their wedding photos on it! Many of the photos were recovered and the couple were extremely grateful to the man who decided not to be the wedding version of the Grinch.

    In one of very few wins for policemen this year, October brought us a Wisconsin police officer who donated his kidney to a complete stranger. The young recipient now adorably calls Bittorf, the donor, his “best friend” and has stated that he will take “extra, extra good care of his new kidney”. Why are my eyes leaking?

    And finally, this month’s good news. This month in Iowa, a couple adopted a 69 year old intellectually disabled man. Homer Williams had spent his whole life bouncing between different forms of temporary housing but had never truly found a home in his almost 70 years of life. Michelle and Alan Vry, his new legal caretakers, explained to the news outlet that they feel privileged and honoured to be able to take the man into their home and give him the life he has always deserved.

    So yeah, a lot of bad things have happened this year: maybe you failed your first midterm, got broken up with or maybe you’ve just been feeling a little down with all of the crushing sadness that this year has brought. I’m not saying that we should ignore all of the tragedy and awful things that are happening around us, I’m just saying that everyone should make a point of not ignoring the good stuff that happens alongside all of that awful stuff. All I ask is that when you’re having a bad day, try to remember the puppies that were saved from an avalanche or think of elephants with giant sweaters on or Indian grannies learning how to spell or university students building prosthetics and that the sun will (probably) come up tomorrow. 2017 is not quite over yet, so here’s hoping that we can all pay a little more attention to the good stuff for the rest of this year and into the next one too. To keep updated on good news for the months and years to come, sign up for The Week’s free good news newsletter (http://theweek.com/goodnewsnewsletter).

  • Ask Ellen

    Does cock size matter?

    I could tell you my preference but I think that would be too personal and wouldn’t answer your question. I do, however, think most women would agree that the size of the cock does not matter.  It is more a matter of whether or not you know how to use it and the way in which it performs. Don’t judge a book by its cover is what I always say. That being said, it depends on the woman. Some women like the feeling of a larger cock, some don’t and would prefer it not hurt every time. It all comes down to the woman and what she’s looking for, talk to her and find out what she likes with regards to sex and try to make that happen for her.

    Loneliness and isolation is the most common issue amongst the student body. I feel like the small number of friends I do have here really don’t understand me the way that my friends did back at home. How can I find friends here at Acadia that I click with?

    I have had a hard time with this myself. It’s difficult when you leave somewhere so familiar with such familiar people you have known for quite a long time, to come to a foreign place where you need to start over. If you wish to find more friends and branch out, I would recommend joining something you like to do. Enjoying what you’re doing is half the battle, because if you’re having a good time chances are the people around you will too. I used to hate when people told me to join clubs and groups at Acadia because I thought it wasn’t my thing and sounded a bit dorky but look at me now, writing advice in the school newspaper. I am new to the scene but have already met some people I never would have if I didn’t join the team and I am clicking with them already. Though lonely, try going out more, not necessarily to the Vil but there’s fun trivia nights at the Axe and Main Street has some amazing little shops and coffee joints. Your people are out there and I know you will find them. There are always new and more people to meet.

    What happens when I pull the anal beads out too fast?

    I do not know from experience, and this is not a one hundred percent guarantee, but I would say you poop. This would not be a good idea to try, might hurt quite a bit, but if that’s what you’re into then by all means, pull the shit out of those anal beads. Pun intended.

    I just came here for the second question. Who the fuck is Ellen?

    I’m a student by day, and whoever you want to be at night.

    Or

    I am your daughter.

    After ending a long-term relationship year, I started seeing someone new. He’s a great guy, but over the past few weeks I’ve realized that I still have feelings for my ex. To me, this suggests that I have to work through my feelings a little more and take some time for myself to figure out what I want. How do I end things with the new guy in a respectful manner? Should I tell him the truth about why I want to break up?

    I am a very honest person and I always believe honesty is the best policy; therefore, with this, I would definitely tell this new guy about the reason you want to break up. The worst thing to do is hold it in. This isn’t your fault, there was absolutely nothing you could do to prevent this or bring it on. Feelings are feelings and unfortunately that is the way things go. With regards to how to end things in a respectful manner: if you really like this guy and there could be a chance that you will start seeing him again down the line I would let him know that, that way at least he isn’t fully losing you. Just tell him it was too soon and your emotions hadn’t really sunk in until recently about your ex, there’s only so much a human body can handle and you need time for yourself. Time is the most important thing, you have to feel good about yourself before sharing yourself with anyone else. If this guy is really a great guy like you say then he should understand, might be hurt, but will understand. If he reacts in a way that hurts you more or makes you feel worse or causes anger, he isn’t the guy you thought he was and is not worth your time. Good luck.

    Am I addicted to sex?

    When you are addicted to something it interferes with your day to day activities and life. For example, if sex is getting in the way of going to class, walking your dog, getting assignments done on time, family, friends, sleep, you may be addicted to it. I would recommend that you see a therapist if you are seriously debating whether you are addicted to sex or anything for that matter. I am not an expert and therefore cannot give you a definite answer.

    Me and this girl like each other but I like her more than she does me. She says she can’t promise me that we will date but I want to. Should I keep trying or move on?

    Simply put, this happens a lot. If she is worth it (and I mean really worth it to you) keep trying. If she has clearly given you clues that she is not into you then move on. But if she likes you and says she can’t promise that you will date that could be for a number of reasons. They might be valid reasons OR it might be because she doesn’t know how to tell you she isn’t into you. You have to listen to the signs. To whoever this is about, stop sucking and either give the guy or girl a valid reason as to why you won’t promise a relationship or date them. To the writer of this question, you should be able to tell from her whether or not she is interested enough to keep pursuing things.

    How do you politely tell someone to shut their face hole or at least lower their voice when they tell extremely personal stories in the lib? Usually, they want you to respond with your juicy deets and I always feel uncomfortable telling secrets in the lib because we all know you can hear each other. K thanks, biiiiii.

    If this is a friend of yours, no need to be polite, just tell them to shut up and do their work cause you’re trying to do yours. If they want you to tell them some juicy deets back, just change the subject and discuss the work you’re doing in front of you. Oh yeah that sucks, but you know what else sucks, having to write a paper on the issues in American politics. I could write shit for days but I’m not actually able to write anything right now because you’re using the hole in your face to make noise and distract me with stuff I don’t give a fuck about. Or something like that. If this is about people who are sitting next to you but you don’t know them, tell them to keep it down or move the conversation elsewhere. Or if you are a shy person then get up and move to the upper levels where there is no talking. Honestly, I usually just put my headphones in because people bug me no matter what they’re talking about. K you’re welcome, biiiiii.

    How to stay positive in hard times

    This is a question I could write an entire paper on. There is no simple answer or one answer to this question. I can say that everyone goes through hard times, that is a fact, some more than others but find comfort in knowing you are not alone with this. Depending on what kind of person you are and what makes you feel better, talking about the hard times is a way to find closure and confide in others in order to get perspective and advice. Friends and family are a huge factor in how to stay positive. They can be the reason you are going through hard times but they can also be the reason to bring you out of feeling down about them. Though it will be almost impossible to get up and do things during hard times, force yourself to at least do one thing a day that will make you smile and laugh. Do things and surround yourself with things you like to do. Surround yourself with love. Dogs help me, so does Ellen DeGeneres, she makes me feel hopeful during hard times, would 150% recommend. Hang in there, though it might not seem like it will ever end, trust me I can relate, it will definitely become more positive.

    What do you think the general protocol is for liking a cute person’s instagrams? Should it be consistent to show interest? Or on and off – hard to play hard to get/cold shoulder approach? Originally, they didn’t like my posts, then recently they consistently liked lots of them, THEN skipped on a few lately. I am leaning towards just liking their posts more than not because YOLO and I’m good for the like sooooo yeah. I also feel like I am looking WAY too much into this. Help.

    Very interesting question anon. I feel as though this is a very relevant question in our technological day and age, so thank you for this. I would have to say, why the subtlety at all? Don’t hold back, if he or she is cute then they deserve those likes. Be the bro that gives someone another like, bitches love likes and that goes for guys too. Only give likes to the deserving pictures though, if they start posting some awful shit no need to chuck them a like but if that is deserving shit then reward them. Make a move dude, slide into those DM’s if you think they’re that cute that you want to see where things go. I do however think you are thinking too much into this because your answer is simple: giv’er.

    If you are struggling with anything and need some advice from an expert or professional, please seek help. There are many ways to find this, some found on campus are at the Student Health Centre.

    Keep sending in funny, serious, dire questions about sex, relationships, school, family, life etc.

    Be kind to one another,

    Ellen

  • Axemen end season on sour note

    The U SPORTS No. 7 ranked Acadia Axemen (11-5-2) ended the first half of their season on a sour note, losing 3-2 in OT to the No. 2 UNB Varsity Reds (15-0-3).

    Acadia held the lead twice in the game, but the league’s best V-Reds answered back each time.

    The Axemen head into the holiday break with fourth place in the AUS standings.

    The first period was dominated by the Axemen, as they outshot UNB 12-7 and took a 1-0 lead into the second frame.

    Axemen forward Boston Leier scored at 6:07 in the opening period when he picked up the puck off the back boards and fired it past UNB’s goalie Alex Dubeau to ignite the home crowd.

    UNB responded with a strong second period, where they dominated most of the play and outscored the Axemen 2-1 in the period to tie the game 2-2 heading into the final frame.

    The Varsity Reds tied the game a little over three minutes into the second period, when UNB forward Stephen Anderson scored on a wrist shot in tight of the Axemen net.

    Acadia regained the lead 10 seconds later when Axemen forward Kyle Farrell scored high blocker on a breakaway.

    UNB tied the game again late in the period, with a power-play marker from defenseman Olivier LeBlanc.

    Although both teams had their chances in the third, neither were able to break the tie and so the game headed to OT.

    UNB defenseman and Subway First Star of the Game, Matt Murphy scored 16 seconds into OT to end the game.

    A dejected Axemen squad was well represented by captain Liam Maaskant’s thoughts following the game.

    “In the first period, we just wanted to get shots on net. I think we had a great first period, we came out hard. The second period is when they got their chances and took advantage. In the third period, we definitely battled back and we had twenty guys in the room who bought in for the third period. We played them hard and just a couple of bounces didn’t go our way and as a result, we just got one point,” said Maaskant.

    Axemen goaltender Robert Steeves stopped 29 of 32 shots on the night, while his UNB counterpart Dubeau turned aside 21 of 23.

    Acadia was unable to make use of their power-play, going 0-for-6 on the night, while the Varsity Reds were not much better at 1-for-6.

    The Axemen defeated the UPEI Panthers 6-3 in the first of two home games this weekend before the Christmas break. Axemen forward and Subway First Star of the Game Boston Leier scored two goals on the night to help the Axemen secure the win.

    Acadia was strong offensively in the first and held a 3-0 lead heading into the second period.

    Axemen forward and Third Star of the Game, Chance Braid, opened the scoring, lifting the puck past the left shoulder of the Panthers’ goalie Matt Mahalak, knocking the water bottle off the top of the net in the process.

    Adding to their lead, Axemen forward Boston Leier scored a power-play marker late in the period.

    Leier added another goal with 1.6 seconds remaining in the opening period, with a wrist shot over the left shoulder of the UPEI goalie to give the Axemen a 3-0 lead into the locker room.

    “We wanted to come out strong and we didn’t necessarily execute the game plan. We took a couple early penalties. It’s a little harder when you are up against the ropes right off the bat, but we battled off those penalties, got a couple of goals, which is nice and it’s always good to get a good lead,” commented Leier after the game.

    The Panthers and Axemen each added a goal in the second to make it 4-1 heading into the final frame.

    UPEI scored on their fifth power-play of the game, off a low wrist shot from Second Star of the Game, Beau McCue.

    Acadia responded with a goal in the last minute of the second from rookie forward Owen MacDonald, who was left wide open in front and made no mistake on the pass from Remy Giftopoulos.

    Both teams added two goals in the third period, with both teams scoring an even-strength and power-play goal.

    Ryan Foss went end-to-end with the puck and tucked it through the legs of the Panthers goalie for a highlight reel goal.

    The Panthers added two late goals from forward Brent Andrews and Cody Payne.

    Axemen goaltender Robert Steeves turned aside 21 of 24 shots, while Mahalak stopped 21 of 27 shots.

    The Axemen will take to the ice in 2018 in Wolfville on Friday, Jan. 5 as they host the Moncton Aigles Bleus, while the Varsity Reds host Dalhousie on the same night. Puck drop for both games is 7:00 p.m.

  • Harper showing quiet leadership for hockey Axemen

    It takes a special type of player, with a particular blend of skills, to have a real impact in Canadian university hockey today. It’s becoming more apparent by the day that second-year hockey Axeman Stephen Harper is one of those players.

    A 22-year-old native of Burlington, ON, Harper arrived at Acadia in the fall of 2016 after a solid major junior career in the OHL. The fact that he spent time with several different organizations is more a reflection of his being in demand than not being wanted or appreciated.

    A more telling fact is that Harper, who stands 6’3”, weighs 215 pounds and is a strong skater with solid hockey instincts, has had four invites to NHL training camps, most recently that of the Ottawa Senators in 2016.

    “I started out in Erie,” he said of his major junior career. “Then I went to (a rebuilding program) in Belleville, which then switched cities and became Hamilton. I did pretty well there, and I was close enough to live at home.”

    His final year in major junior, “I was an overager, and I was traded again, to Niagara. That ended up okay, we made it to the OHL final” before losing to a London Knights team that went on to capture the 2016 Memorial Cup.

    Between Hamilton and Niagara, Harper had 25 goals and 71 points in 68 regular season games his final season in junior, then added 16 points, including six goals, in 17 playoff games.

    Harper termed the NHL camp invites – first Philadelphia, then Los Angeles, San Jose and Ottawa – as “unbelievable, a great experience. They were crazy, but in a good way. It’s rigorous, and you’re pushed to your limit, but it’s worth it for the experience.”

    As for how he came to play university hockey for Acadia, Harper acknowledged, “during my OHL days, my focus was on signing an NHL contract. If that didn’t happen, I had to look at my future.”

    After finishing junior, he received “a couple of AHL offers,” but ultimately “decided to go to university and get a degree. I can still play hockey afterwards if that ends up happening.”

    Once he chose the Canadian university stream, Harper did his research “on the best universities for both hockey and school.” He received “multiple offers, from almost every CIS school,” but eventually narrowed his choices down to Ryerson (in Ontario), Acadia, Saint Mary’s and UPEI.

    There were “a lot of factors” involved in his decision, including scholarship funding. “I decided to come east. This looked like a really competitive conference, I was happy with what Acadia had to offer,

    and Burnsie (Axemen head coach Darren Burns) is a good recruiter.”

    As well, some former Erie teammates, notably Brett Thompson and Mike Cazzola, had chosen Acadia. Cazzola had just graduated by the time Harper arrived, but Thompson was in his fifth and final year.

    Because of attending the Ottawa training camp, Harper was late arriving at Acadia. Then an injury cost him a few more games.

    Asked if he found the adjustment from major junior to university hockey difficult, Harper said, “the on-ice part wasn’t a big adjustment. The biggest thing was being back in school. I hadn’t really taken classes since I finished high school.

    “Having classes, doing schoolwork and then having a game that night took some getting used to. Since I found the right balance, it’s been great.”

    Harper finished his first season at Acadia with nine goals and 25 points in 26 games, good enough to earn a berth on the AUS All-Rookie team. He acknowledged, “if I had been able to be in school earlier, I might have ended up with better stats.”

    As it was, he ended up with a trip to the University Cup, and was part of a U Sports national bronze medal-winning team. He had five goals and eight points in eight playoff games, and added a goal in a 4-1 win over Alberta at the University Cup.

    “I was happy with my year, but I knew I could do better,” he said. He has certainly done that. As of Nov. 23, he was leading the AUHC this season with 29 points, including 11 goals, in 14 games.

    He acknowledged, “I’m obviously happy with how I’ve done so far, and how the team has done, but I know if I put my mind to it, I can take my game to the next level. It’s about getting better each day, and getting it done in the classroom.”

    One factor in Harper’s play this season has been having Kyle Farrell as a linemate. The pairing has also been beneficial to Farrell, who had nine goals and 19 points in his first 15 games.

    “He’s a good friend off the ice, and our chemistry on the ice stems from that,” Harper said of Farrell. As well, “we’re not afraid to give each other a kick in the pants if needed.”

    The Axemen have been among the top teams in the AUHC so far this season despite losing several key players, notably fifth-year defenseman Geoffrey Schemitsch, to injury.

    “The injuries have been a challenge,” Harper acknowledged. “You can’t lose players like we have and it not have an effect.” At the same time, “we’re better than our record shows right now, and we should be right there in the second half” and into the post-season.

    Harper is committed to being a success academically as well as athletically, and believes “staying disciplined” is a key to success in both. “I’m really focused on both school and hockey,” he said, – “in fact, right now I’m overloaded academically,” which he is hoping will allow him to graduate with his Business degree on schedule, if not slightly ahead of schedule.

    “I try to take care of my schoolwork first,” he said. “When I stay on top of my classes, it helps with the hockey. In my down time, I like to hang out and chill, but there hasn’t been a lot of down time so far.

    “The key is to have fun and enjoy what you’re doing. Right now, I’m feeling pretty good. It’s a joy to come to the rink each day.”

    Asked if he sets goals for himself, Harper said he normally doesn’t. “I think I know what I’m capable of. I hold myself to a pretty high standard, and try to maintain that.”

    As for the remainder of the season, Harper says, “I like the make-up of our team.” The AUHC “is the best conference in the country. The results at nationals show that, year after year.

    “Our ultimate goal,” he said, “is to compete for the national championship. We’re one of the best teams in the country. All the guys in the room know that. Once we get everybody back and healthy, (a national championship) is an attainable goal.”

    Harper said he he takes part in team activities. “We had a Thanksgiving dinner as a team a few weeks ago, and we have a Christmas party coming up.” These kind of activities are good for team bonding. “Good chemistry off the ice makes for good chemistry on the ice.”

    Harper said he has “no real regrets” with his choice to attend Acadia, and no regrets with his decision to come east for his post-secondary education. “I don’t get to see my family as often as I’d like,” he said, but on the other hand, “I’ve been away from home since I was 16.”

     

  • Hygge & Happiness

    In the past few years, your social media feed may have been bombarded with pictures- especially during the winter, with captions including the word “hygge” to describe warmth and comfort. In 2016 for example, there were 1.5 million posts on Instagram including the hashtag #hygge. The word Hygge even made the shortlist for Oxford Dictionaries Word of the Year in 2016. So, what exactly is hygge, and how do we achieve it?

    The word hygge, is a Danish concept that can be utilized as a noun, adjective, and verb. It is pronounced as hue-guh, and used to acknowledge a feeling or moment- whether alone or with friends and family. This feeling can be achieved while at home, or out, and may be ordinary or extraordinary- as cozy, charming or special. The word is in fact, hard to translate to English as it was never meant be to translated. It was meant to be felt. The key components of hygge include togetherness, presence, indulgence, relaxation, and comfort.

    This Danish ritual involves the enjoyment of life’s simple pleasures. This has been an integral part of the Danish culture since the early 1800s.  The concept itself is derived from a Norwegian word for “well-being” including the fortification of relationships including family and friends- and the overall feeling of graciousness.

    Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) affects 4-6 percent of people worldwide, this form of clinical depression is brought on by the winter months. An additional 10-20 percent of people may experience mild SAD during the colder months. The amount of women who experience SAD is four times higher than that of the male population. This potentially explains why hygge is a largely female-driven phenomenon on an International scale.

    According to the 2017 World Happiness Report, Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, Denmark, Canada, Finland and Sweden are amongst the top ten happiest countries in the World. These countries all have one thing in common: the longest and coldest countries in the World. So why do these areas have the happiest citizens if the majority of the year is categorized by darkness, cold weather, and snow? The answer lies within the mind frame towards the winter season. By utilizing a mindfulness based approach to winter, means the acceptance of the cold- therefore finding ways to take advantage of the season like spending quality time with friends and family, taking up a new hobby, and truly focusing on self and wellbeing.

    When we think of winter, there is a very “doom & gloom” undertone associated with this time of year. It is common for individuals to retract themselves socially and spend time inside, alone and continuously watching the weather- just waiting for the first signs of springtime. This practice may increase one’s likelihood of SAD- including side effects such as fatigue, lack of motivation, unhealthy eating habits, and of course the feeling of loneliness. The overall goal of hygge however, is to ensure “togetherness” as an intrinsic part of winter time.

    By removing the overall negative connotations associated with winter- we are better able to enjoy time and take advantage of the many things that this season has to offer such as game nights with friends, cozying up and reading a book, or outdoor group activities. So, if your mood is falling as fast as the thermometer, try practicing hygge by making small lifestyle changes to help boost your spirits throughout this winter season.

  • A Message to New Acadia Students from a Senior

    A Message to New Acadia Students from a Senior

    This is a warning to students at Acadia: You will miss this place. You have no idea the value of the experiences offered at this institution. You won’t appreciate Acadia until your time here is rushing to an end, or perhaps even until you have left this school and community, and all the opportunities they provide.

    Your degree will rush by seemingly as fast as a single heart beat: 0.8 seconds. One of the reasons your time here will skyrocket by is the people you meet here. You will fall in love with your peers, professors, and everyone you encounter. At Acadia, you will come to know the names of physical plant workers who greet you Saturday morning with a smile as they clean up the mess you made the Friday night before. You will get to know the names of the vast majority (if not) all of your fellow residents if you make a point of going to residence events. You will see your professors downtown, smile at them, and be greeted with a genuine “how is your weekend”? You may even walk in on a meeting between the President of the University and Athletic Director, or other campus leader – and have them stop their meeting to chat and ask you about your studies and pursuits. You will come to recognize many faces on campus, and can get to know them well enough that they brighten your day – all by simply saying hello. You will make friends through every program and opportunity you get involved with, and many of them will be ones you will wonder how you will survive without them once your time is done here.

    Newsflash: you won’t want to leave! Acadia and the Wolfville communities are so unique that you feel as if a spell has been placed over you once you are here. The feeling is something that you have to see to believe. Wolfville provides gorgeous marshlands complete with brown red mud that is somehow breathtaking, a bright blue ocean, rolling hills, beautiful and plentiful farm lands, and something to make everyone feel at home. Walking down main street on a winter evening you may be welcomed by church bells singing proudly, Christmas lights guiding you through the town, and a bright neon blue “Acadia” sign proudly beamingly the name of the amazing institution that brought you here, and acting as a reminder of all the history and pride in the community.

    There truly is an experience for everyone here. Whether it be mud sliding during welcome week, swallows putting on a show at the Robbie Tufts chimney stack, great eats from corner to corner, a pride crosswalk that screams “you are welcome here”, stunning walking trails filled with wild blackberries, acres of stunning gardens on and off campus, the opportunity for bonfires and camp songs filled with love and laughter that will warm you for months, wonderful arts opportunities including a showcase of musical talent and unique displays at local galleries, throughout town, and on campus, and everything imaginable within a five minute drive of town.

    You will find activities you enjoy here, you will grow as a person, and you will meet people you never want to leave. I promise you that. Remember, you will always be a part of the Acadia family. I urge you to get involved in everything you can, say hello to everyone on the street, and treat everyone as a friend. If you do these things, you will learn, find happiness, and flourish into an amazing, confident, and beautiful person – Acadia and Wolfville will help you find who you truly are even if you haven’t quite found yourself yet. Treasure every second.

  • A Message to Graduating Students and Students Who are Struggling

    You’re already rushed this morning. No time to eat breakfast and you’re throwing clothes on your cold body as you check the weather for today. More snow, more cold. Great…

    You already don’t feel like going to class you are also running a tad bit late, it wouldn’t hurt to miss this one. Right?

    How many of you end up in a situation similar to this? Or maybe, my friend is in class and can pass on the notes. If you’re anything like me, you might sometimes fall victim to the anxiety filled, crippling fear that is unexplained. Well, you could explain it but don’t always know why and don’t know how to tell others.

    It’s easy to get trapped in a cyclical motion during University. Go to class, study, drink, repeat, and, if you’re feeling really ambitious, you might add volunteer opportunities or even a gym routine. If you fall off the wagon or find yourself in a rut, it can be very challenging to find the motivation to feel normal again.

    Over my time at University, I have experienced the ups and downs, have been through the highs and low, and sometimes I get stuck in the lows. This is not uncommon and many people struggle in University dealing with the pressure of finding their identity. You are still going through a time in which your brain is growing and changing, so cut yourself some slack. Also, remind yourself that this could be situational and it is normal to have bad days. There were two periods during University that I went through an exceptionally hard time. Unfortunately, the most recent was before second semester of my last year.

    I was on track to graduate with a degree in Kinesiology. I attended classes and was a regular at events and well known throughout my program. I was also involved in a host of other activities that made me known throughout campus and the community. I was always very reserved and kept the majority of my struggles to myself. By doing so, no one could help me when I was failing two required courses…in my last year…in my last semester.

    What could I do?

    As you now know, I was a fourth year Kinesiology student last year who unfortunately failed two required courses which halted my graduation. After getting over the initial shock, regret and shame, a new emotion took it’s place and I was offered incredible perspective.  A question immediately popped into my mind: “what now”? It continued to plague me and I had to change my attitude towards it because this is something that is probably going through your mind as you think about the future. That being said, this question will continue to show up as you are constantly reassessing and changing in accordance to life. So what now? What can you expect from this article? Well, I’ve written it in a letter format of inspiration…I hope.

    I never thought I would be in this position. I was on track to graduate in my four years but sometimes life happens. For some reason, I didn’t take any graduation pictures, get a ring or do any of the typical things graduating students did. What I did do however, was apply to graduate and I was ready for that day in May. It was the end of April when I officially found out I wouldn’t be graduating, although in my heart, I knew this would be the case earlier. I didn’t let on how I was struggling to anyone. I never talked about it and just kept on pretending that I was on the right track. Humour is a good way to distract people from the truth. This is a deflecting method that can help allow people to relate to your situation but it is always better to be honest with yourself and those around you. I didn’t tell my professors and I sometimes felt like I was doing everything right, I hired a tutor and would try and go to class. But I wouldn’t be able to finish my school work or stay on top of what I had already started.  Heck, my parents were so sure I was graduating that they already got me a computer as a graduation gift! Whoops.

    And to make matters worse, I had no idea what I was going to do next. The different options would pop in my head and I would veraciously change my career path every day. I was super passionate about each one until another one came along. To be honest, most of my future plans didn’t have a lot to do with my undergrad degree of Kinesiology. For those of you who have yet to know what you want to “be”. Here is a list of possible occupations I have considered over my four years.

    • Teacher
    • Coach
    • Professor
    • Neuroscientist/Psychologist
    • Lawyer
    • Social worker
    • Politician
    • Minister
    • Occupational Therapist
    • Addictions Counsellor
    • Forces
    • Sport management
    • Stripper (just kidding)
    • Business/entrepreneurship
    • Peace Corps
    • Massage therapist
    • Chiropractor

    And last but not least,

    • Mayor of Wolfville (I’m not kidding, I legitimately considered this and even wrote my acceptance speech).

    Going through all the possibilities is a important thing to do. That being said, the way we view jobs is typically as a lifelong career…that is not always the case. It wasn’t until my fourth year that I truly felt as if I was coming into my own. I started to become more confident with who I was as a person and what I stood for. I felt accomplished with my skills and that gave me this incredible feeling that I will be ok. When you realize this, a lot of pressure and stress comes off your shoulders. There is no point worrying too much about the future. Everyone has a different path and no matter how roundabout it may be, you will get to where you want to go, even if you don’t know that yet. My confidence in my skill set, and by skill set I don’t necessarily mean my ability to name all the muscles in the body or the force it will take a high jumper to get over blah blah blah biomechanics. Some of you will excel in these areas and that is awesome! I, however, always had an affinity for people and trying to connect and build relationships with them. In my third year, I had the opportunity to travel abroad. I went to Scotland and I learned so much from that experience. I value things like that so much because I find it is in those times of uncertainty and adventure where we have the most growth. I am also speaking subjectively. Everyone will have a different experience and values different things. That is what makes us unique and wonderful. But, there we can always learn from others and what I have to say will hopefully resonate with some of you. These experiences I will always be grateful for because it gave me this new found confidence in my future. I felt secure. I knew that I would be successful no matter what I did.

    That being said, you might find it ironic that I am writing about success, when I failed and did not graduate successfully last year. Success is not defined by failure, rather, it is defined by the ability to grow from failure.

    It is hard to look at perceived failures and turn them into positives. Perspective is difficult to come by but can be a skill that is nurtured with practice. I’m terribly indecisive, as you might have been able to tell by the list of possible professions, and this is something that causes me a lot of grief. By changing my perspective on decision-making, I have been able to make more confident decisions as well as deal with the repercussion. Over these past years, I have learned many lessons in perspective that have always left me stronger and wiser for it. I gained perspective when I blew out my knee and needed major reconstructive surgery- costing me a year of rugby. I felt like I would never be able to look at that moment and benefit from it. Now, I can look on that day and I feel proud I endured the pain and lengthy rehab. I can get overwhelmed just by thinking of the progress I’ve made. I never thought I’d be able to move like this again. I gained more perspective when I travelled to Scotland, learning to be more independent and find pride in thing other than my athletic ability. And, I gained perspective when I failed my first course. Failing courses is not abnormal. In fact, I always looked to my older sister as the epitome of intelligence. Anything Annie did or accomplish, was the gold standard in my mind. It turns out, she failed two classes in her first two years but managed to graduate in four, with honours and is working towards her masters now. Unfortunately, I failed my courses in my last year, last semester and they were required. Little bit of advice, if you have to fail a class, try and make sure it’s not one of your core classes.

    If you ever find yourself in the situation I was, don’t panic. Ask for help immediately. You can’t wait for others to notice you’re struggling. Take matters into your own hands. Be proactive. Schedule check-ups with your professors so they know you’re on the right track- and follow through with those meetings. It’s never too late to turn it around. If you put in the effort and time, you will be able to succeed. Do your work. That being said, if all else finds. Don’t wallow in self-pity or think degrading thoughts. Instead, find that perspective. What have you learned? What can you improve on? What do you know for the next time? Whatever you are dealing with, you can overcome. If you are worried about finances, parents, grades, anything…there is always a way you can manage. Humans are made to be adaptable and if you are willing to be open, you can adapt to any situation or environment to help you succeed. Just as I did when I went back to rugby 18 months after surgery, and couldn’t believe how far I came, that same feeling will hit me when I walk down the stage at graduation. Another lesson, I took from my knee, was that it may not be the way it was, but this is my new normal.

    Adaptable humans are meant to change and be changed. Growth, success, failure, perspective, adversity and a whole host of other adjectives are the nature of change. Find your “new normal” with every opportunity. Appreciate what you have and what you are in control of.

    I want to leave you with a list of things of what I have learned at Acadia. This is all life skills that I value. Education is so much more than material, you are learning about yourself and the world around you. Never stop learning. I would sometimes think about how I wish I knew or understood this stuff sooner. I am a kinetic learning and have to do things a couple times to really let it sit in. My mom hates it, she has to tell me something five times before I really listen to her right advice. I hate that she’s usually always right.

    So you may be wondering what I’m doing next. The answer to my “what now”? Well, that remains to be seen. I’m keeping my options open and will take any opportunity that comes my way. I’ve applied for my BEd as well as sports management. I’m also looking into other programs in colleges and will even take a full time job if one’s offered. There is no rush. My father, who I think is the wisest man I’ve ever meant, would always tell me when I got stressed: “Micheala, life is not a sprint. It’s a marathon and regardless of the race and who chooses which event, everyone reaches the finish line”.

    I love to be inspired and motivated. I love hearing people’s personal stories about overcoming adversity or achieving their dreams. I also benefit from advice. I have done a lot of reflection over my years, and I have always been told I’m an “old soul” which i interpret as wise, so listen up! Here is a collection of things I would recommend.

    • People are way more forgiving than you think/give them credit.
    • It’s never too late, too early, or the wrong time to ask for help.
    • Don’t be embarrassed or scared to share some of the things that make you feel vulnerable. Everyone is flawed, it is our perceived imperfections that make us a perfect.
    • Be grateful and take the time to say thank you especially if you REALLY mean it (a hand written note goes a long way).
    • A little kindness never hurts.
    • The people around you, especially at Acadia are here to help you succeed and they actually care about you. Take advantage of the resources offered and ask if there is something that can be done to help you out. It’s not selfish to ask.
    • It’s better to be late than not showing up at all. Punctuality is a sign of respect. It shows maturity, that you’re professional, dependable and the list goes on. That being said, sometimes things happen that make you late. How many of you are running late for class and either get too embarrassed to walk in late or figure you can get notes from a friend and don’t even bother. Don’t do that. Suck it up, most people won’t care because it is your education at risk and for those who do mind, you get called out and life moves on.
    • Own your mistakes. Reassess and see what you can do differently.
    • Ask for feedback, self-reflect and continue to keep asking questions.
    • Be proud of failure because it means you’re trying.

    Thank you for reading (if you made it this far, congrats!) and for being open to what I have to say. I love meeting new people, sharing stories and talking. If I could ever offer anyone help, it would be a privilege for me to help you sort through anything!

    Thank you again and please don’t stress. I wish you all the best in the future, I already know you’ll do great things, just because you will be an Acadia alumni. See you at graduation (and if I don’t, I’ll see you doing great things in the future).

    All my best,

    Michaela

    Email: [email protected]

     

  • Gender Inequities and Opportunities to Repair them at Acadia

    Gender Inequities and Opportunities to Repair them at Acadia

    At the undergraduate level, a glance around most Acadia classes will tell you that our university has few problems with recruiting women. Indeed, it probably comes as no surprise that Canadian universities have more women than men graduating with undergraduate degrees. According to a Statistics Canada report released last year, 56.3 % of post secondary enrollments were held by women in the prior academic year. In fact, women have held a growing majority as undergraduates in Canada since 1991. While women have held a majority at the undergraduate level for over 25 years now, they remain a minority at the higher levels of Canadian post-secondary institutions. Acadia is no exception to this and actually does worse compared to the national average and other Atlantic universities for having women in tenured positions. According to the Canadian Association for University Teachers (CAUT) Almanac, the average percentage of women in tenured positions across the country is 34.2%. The average percentage of women in tenured positions of regional comparators to Acadia are 36.5% for Dalhousie, 45.5% for Mount Allison, 33.3% for Saint Mary’s, 42.9% for St. Thomas, 36.4% for UNB and 32.5% for UPEI. Compared to our neighbouring universities and the national average, Acadia is the lowest at 31.6%.

    If you look at the numbers of appointment by gender at Acadia, there is clear cause for concern. In terms of job stability, in the contractually-limited-term (CLT) positions, there are significantly more women at 64.3% compared to men at 35.7% whereas for the tenured positions, the numbers are a near reversal at only 31.6% women to 68.4% men. At Acadia, women predominate in ranks outside of the professoriate as 63.3% of instructors and 60.0% of lecturers. It is somewhat encouraging to see that women outnumber men in tenure-track positions with 53.0% women to 47.0% men, although this is such a small number of women that it is unlikely to have a significant impact on the balance of men to women as they progress up through the ranks. There are significantly more men at the higher professorial ranks with 70.2% of the Full Professors and 71.4% of Associate Professors being male. This skewed balance by gender is significantly contributed to by the science departments where there are no tenured or tenure-track women in the Computer Science, Chemistry or Physics Departments. Even in the Biology Department, where over 80% of new students were female in 2016-2017, there are only two tenured female faculty members.

    There are many possible reasons for why women continue to be underrepresented at the highest levels of our university, including personal choice. And while women may make the choice to take time away from their careers to prioritize their families or other commitments, it remains unlikely that it is by personal preference that they end up in lower-paid and temporary positions. Due to the physical toll that pregnancy, childbirth and the aftermath can have on women, they may find themselves forced to take time off from their careers if they want to have children. In the “Publish or Perish” mentality that most academia is infused with, women can find themselves forced to have to choose between a career and a family which is a choice that men aren’t often forced to make.

    Many other factors besides family commitments play a role in the lack of women in high ranking faculty positions and STEM careers. These include discrimination, lack of mentorship, lack of support and an unfriendly environment for women among others. It is hard to pinpoint one cause as many play a role and all avenues must be explored to determine the causes.

    So, what can Acadia do to even the playing field when clearly there are gender inequities at our university? Well, Acadia could join the ranks of most other Canadian universities in having a childcare centre, particularly for very young children, as this would allow new parents to better juggle working in academia with parenting. It could also consider that women may have gaps in their careers, such as in the publishing of papers, due to family or other commitments that men do not have to contend with. They could also conduct an internal review to investigate if discrimination is playing a role.

    Already at play on our campus, is a group consisting of female students, faculty and staff, who have come together to form WISE (Women in Science and Engineering) Acadia that aims to address some of the barriers that women face in continuing to pursue a career in the sciences (where women tend to be the most underrepresented). This group was started in 2010 at an Atlantic Women in Science conference organized by Dr. Svetlana Barkanova who was at the time a physics professor at Acadia. Some of the actions that they have identified as key priorities include addressing implicit bias when writing reference letters for female students and faculty, facilitating science camps and retreats for girls and mentoring female students and faculty. They also aimed to introduce a Women in Science course which is being taught in the winter semester this year by Dr. Randy Newman.

    Due to the lack of women as professors and other professionals in the sciences, mentorship has been identified as a key factor in helping women and girls to be able to see themselves pursuing a particular career path. To provide students at Acadia with the opportunity for mentorship, WISE hosted their WISE Works event this year on Monday October 30th from 4:30-6:30 pm in Fountain Commons. Acadia students were given the opportunity to converse with female Acadia alumni in STEAM careers. STEAM refers to careers in science, technology, engineering, arts and math. It was recently referred to as STEM but has been broadened to include arts due to the increasing realization that skills and knowledge in the arts and sciences overlap in most careers. WISE is a multi-disciplinary initiative with ties to the Women and Gender Studies Department as well as to those in the sciences.

    Clearly there is a problem at Acadia in which there is a disconnect between the female to male ratio at the undergraduate level compared to our high ranking and high paying faculty positions. Women are interested in academia and, yet they are not making it in near equal numbers to men in the highest levels of employment at our university. By having women underrepresented in the high earning positions, Acadia students may feel discouraged to pursue these same careers due to seeing that there are barriers associated with their gender. Groups like WISE Acadia are helping by looking at where discrimination exists in the system and are actively providing mentorship opportunities which have been shown to be successful in helping women to pursue careers in which they are underrepresented. Additionally, however, changes within the university system must be implemented to ensure that Acadia is an equitable environment for both students and faculty. Acadia can do better.

     

    Sources:

    http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/81-004-x/2008001/article/10561-eng.htm

    https://www.statcan.gc.ca/eng/dai/smr08/2017/smr08_214_2017

    https://www.caut.ca/resources/almanac

    http://wise.acadiau.ca/home.html

    Statistics on faculty appointments by gender in 2016 at Acadia obtained from Acadia University Faculty Association’s Women’s Committee (AUFA-W) which has been tracking the status of women faculty members at Acadia University since 2007.  Access to this information is supplied to AUFA by Human Resources in compliance with Article 28.10 of the Fourteenth Collective Agreement. The data presented above are as of October 2016.

  • You’re not “Plus Sized” You’re Dying

    You’re not “Plus Sized” You’re Dying

    Editor’s note: the views expressed in this article are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official position of The Athenaeum.

    Buckle up folks. Yes, there are many healthy body types that are likely fine for most people. However, there’s a dangerous game that society has been playing and it goes by the name of “body positivity”.  

    Thebodypositive.org explains that their movement is about “creating a world in which people are liberated from self-hatred, value their beauty and identity, and use their energy and intellect to make positive changes in their own lives and their communities”. Before I begin, let me just say that I think this description of body positivity, and the movement itself, is fantastic. Unless, of course you’re using it to pretend that your weight problem is anything less than a problem. We’ve been pretending it’s okay to be massively overweight. If you’re comfortable weighing in at 300+ pounds, more power to you, that’s fantastic. I’m just tired of pretending that it’s fine for your health. Simply put, the higher your body mass, the higher your risk of a multitude of chronic diseases and premature death (all of which are largely preventable). Even WebMD is right with this prognosis – you will die early if you have a sky-high body mass, and you can counteract most risk factors for obesity through diet, physical activity, and behavioural changes.  

    DISCLAIMER:  I want to make it clear that I understand that there are a plethora of factors that contribute to obesity. Genetics is only half the puzzle, and lifestyle factors play an instrumental role in health. Some of these factors are preventable, and some can be harder for us to control. Family dynamics, inactivity, poor diet, age, sex, socio-economic factors and countless social determinants of health are all contributors to obesity. This article will focus on identifying the costs of fat acceptance when you do have some control of these preventable behaviours. I hope to encourage you to be conscientious of your decisions and what factors YOU can control in order to be healthy, and mindful of the consequences that go along with simply accepting yourself as who you are.  

    I won’t claim to be an expert in what body positivity is, but from what I’ve read it seems to be a movement that surrounds doing away with the idea of the “standard body” and instead celebrating the differences that can be present in these bodies. Or as some may define it, “It’s deciding what feels good and healthy for you personally, and letting other people do so for themselves. It’s understanding that you deserve to live in your body without receiving the prejudice of others”. It encompasses far more than just weight, but for our purposes I think it deserves a more focused analysis. I understand the need for people to be body positive I think that the girl that is twenty pounds overweight should be able to feel as good about herself as the twelve-year-old boy that feels like he could gain twenty pounds. However, “This is what feels good and healthy for me” should not be used as a way to ignore the effects of being obese or morbidly obese. But, if you haven’t realized already, obesity isn’t a cosmetic issue –   What is perhaps most frustrating about the body positivity movement is that it has created yet another “privileged” class of individuals, those who are “thin”. I won’t touch on privilege here but I do think that “thin privilege” is a really funny way of spelling “exercise and healthy eating”. What is alarming about blindly accepting obesity is that our choices impact one another, and pretty soon we have a whole society that is naïve to an increasingly important issue. It is well documented that parental behaviours influence children, and with more and more parents becoming obese (⅔), more and more children are likely to follow in their footsteps – having two obese parents was related to greater weight gain and lower rates of physical activity. What is concerning, is that parents of overweight children greatly underestimate their children’s weight, and this reinforces the issue with the body positivity movement. We cannot forget that obesity is not just a social condition, but rampant disease.  

    Obesity is defined as having a body mass index BMI over 25 kg/m^2. While there are limitations to the BMI classification system, being accepting of obesity is something that is less than positive, and at least, in my opinion, is nearly akin to enabling someone with a harmful addiction. In fact, obesity has become known as “New World Syndrome” – which speaks to the magnitude of this modern, largely preventable epidemic. In fact, obesity rates have increased by as much as 25% in the last decade.  Obese people have an increased risk of morbidity and mortality relative to those with ideal body weight (Figure 1). The effects of being overweight are obviously varying and come at different degrees of severity. Obesity is associated with diseases and conditions such as:  

    Hypertension, Coronary heart disease, Cerebrovascular disease, Varicose veins, Deep venous thrombosis, Sleep apnoea, Hypoventilation syndrome, Hyperlipidemia, Diabetes mellitus, Menstrual irregularities, Fatty liver disease and cirrhosis, Haemorrhoids, Hernia, Colorectal cancer, Gallstones, Breast cancer Endometrial Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Cervical Cancer, and Osteoarthritis. Obesity can affect quality of life by also causing issues such as: Depression, Disability, Sexual problems, Shame and guilt, Social isolation, and Lower work achievement. 

    Yes, you read those right – those are just a FEW conditions linked to obesity affecting various systems in your body. Canadians with a BMI over 30 kg/m^2 are four times as likely to get diabetes, three times more likely to have high blood pressure and 1.5 times as likely to have some form of heart disease.  

    This doesn’t scare you? Maybe the story of Tammy Mackinnon will help. Tammy stressed the pressure of the body positivity movement: “I almost feel sometimes like we’re supposed to glamourize being overweight, or our plus-size bodies.”. She went on to explain that: “I want people to feel confident in their bodies … but the reality is being overweight rarely is healthy.” Tammy herself had a wake-up call when she was diagnosed with a heart condition and type 2 diabetes – and was bluntly told by her physician “lose it or [her] conditions would get worse”. Dr. Christine MacNeary supports the movement, but emphasizes that ‘when people start to suffer …. the health consequences of the obesity … that they’re unlikely to embrace this body positivity movement’.

    So what can we do? Well, if you’re in the position to make change (which you likely are if you’re reading this article, and paying $8000 a year for tuition), then taking steps such as changing lifestyle behaviours can make a huge difference. Diet, exercise and reduced sedentary behaviour are all great steps to take to lose weight.  A modest weight reduction in the range of 5–10% of the initial body weight leads to improvements in a multitude of co-morbid conditions.  Additional treatment options include behavioural therapy, pharmacotherapy, and consulting your family physician can help you find something that works for you. 

    We here in Canada are not immune to the obesity epidemic societally, and pretending it’s “okay to be fat” is only making it worse. If you’ve decided that you’re okay with ruining your own life, then consider the implications of your choice on the rest of Canadians (yes, that includes ones who are disadvantaged and CAN’T control their weight due to burdens in their life).  According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI, 2016), an estimated $228.1 billion was spent on health care in Canada in 2016. This is equivalent to a whopping 11.1 percent of Canada’s economy, or $6,299 per Canadian. It’s estimated that obesity in Canada costs the economy nearly seven billion dollars a year, or to put that in perspective, just enough money to pay off the current Canadian federal budget deficit in four short years. A 2010 study found that the costs of obesity and being overweight counted for 4.1 % of Canada’s total health care budget, and this does not include losses in productivity, tax revenue, psychosocial costs, and undetected co-morbidities resulting from obesity. The costs of our aging population, the obesity epidemic, and astonishing rise in chronic disease prevalence is leaving our health care system in a dire place – so dire that Duncan Sinclair, former Dean of Medicine at Queen’s University, bluntly testified that “if [the Canadian health-care system] were a business, it would be out of business.” The aforementioned, and covered, $6299 would sound super sweet if we were forced to go to a non-universal health care model, or other alternative, and this is something we will have to consider if current spending trends continue.  

    To conclude, I understand that the sentiments expressed in this article are unpopular. There is no mistaking that. However, the idea that society should stop ignoring that you’re unhealthy because it hurts your feelings is absolute unfettered trash. There is an absolute plethora of medical science that would suggest that there is indeed something very unhealthy about being overweight, obese, or underweight. Myself and the kinesiology student who wished to remain anonymous have presented those things here. There is a reason you don’t see 300 -pound 70 year olds walking around, and it’s because they weren’t “plus sized”, they were dying. I’m not vying for a war on the overweight or a ban on trans fats, I’m asking that we stop denying medical science in the name of people’s feelings. So I suppose you could say, I recommend a little “body realism” to solve our problem. You may argue that ‘we all die’, but I raise you some questions: At what age? With what degree of suffering? With what degree of preventable illness? (Nancy Krieger; Harvard University’s School of Public Health). The answers to these questions are largely up to you and your attitudes towards health. The JOINT REPORT FROM THE PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCY OF CANADA AND THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH INFORMATION states that “there is unlikely to be a single solution that will reverse the rising prevalence of obesity in Canada … rather, a comprehensive, multi-sectoral response may be needed”. Now I challenge you to think about your attitudes surrounding body positivity, and the role you can play – you may just make a difference in your life and those around you.  

    Disagree with us? Write for the Ath.

    Sources:  

     https://www.buzzfeed.com/norawhelan/body-positivity-101?utm_term=.qmBlGgEV#.wnalLvqw 

     https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/08/02/body-positivity-everywhere-but-everyone/525424001/ 

     http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/11/08/twinkie.diet.professor/index.html 

     https://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-katz-md/chewing-on-the-twinkie-di_b_782678.html 

     https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/life/health-and-fitness/health/conditions/obesity-costs-economy-up-to-7-billion-a-year/article583803/?ref=http://www.theglobeandmail.com& 

     https://www.thebodypositive.org/ 

     https://openi.nlm.nih.gov/detailedresult.php?img=PMC421736_1475-2891-3-3-1&req=4 

     http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-body-positivity-tammy-mackinnon-christine-mcnearny-1.4068138 

     https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/obesity/symptoms-causes/syc-20375742 

     https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Donald_Brand/publication/8999382_Childhood_Obesity_Do_Parents_Recognize_This_Health_Risk/links/0deec52cb0a857bc8a000000.pdf 

     https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3671382/ 

     https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK278973/ 

     https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK278973/ 

     http://www.obesitynetwork.ca/obesity-in-canada 

     http://www.canadianbusiness.com/business-strategy/the-worst-run-industry-in-canada-health-care/ 

     https://www.fraserinstitute.org/sites/default/files/sustainability-of-health-care-spending-in-canada-2017.pdf 

     http://www.nutritionj.com/content/3/1/3).  

    https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/reports-publications/health-promotion-chronic-disease-prevention-canada-research-policy-practice/vol-32-no-2-2012/weight-management-experiences-overweight-obese-canadian-adults-findings-national-survey.html 

     http://www.cmaj.ca/content/174/2/156.full?sid=4a368b26-4d01-4065-89c3-4f7973869e9c 

     OBESITY IN CANADA: A JOINT REPORT FROM THE PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCY OF CANADA AND THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH INFORMATION 

     http://www5.statcan.gc.ca/cansim/a26?lang=eng&retrLang=eng&id=1050501&pattern=obese&tabMode=dataTable&srchLan=-1&p1=1&p2=-1 

     

  • Sugar is Nice for the Right Price: An Interview with a Sugar Baby

    Sugar is Nice for the Right Price: An Interview with a Sugar Baby

    A few days before this interview took place, I was complaining to a friend about my current financial situation as students so often do. But instead of joining in, as students so often do, she turned to me and instead said “You could always be a sugar baby. Worked for me”. I had questions. Questions that she has agreed to answer and let the good people of Acadia read.  

    For reference:
    SB=Sugar Baby
    SD= Sugar Daddy
    Sugar Bowl=Sugaring lifestyle
    STA=short term arrangement
     

    I know you’re a little nervous about this interview. Just know that it is completely anonymous, and you are under no obligation to answer anything you feel uncomfortable with. First, tell me why you felt compelled to do this interview with me.  

    I mean, when I shared with you that I’m sugar baby I did it because I know you’re a very accepting person. So, for one, I feel comfortable with you. But I also thought it would be a good way to clear up some stereotypes of what a sugar baby is and what they do. I’m not like ashamed of it.

    Thank-you! Yeah, no judgements on my end. So why do the interview anonymously then if you’re unashamed? I know that sounds like I’m attacking your motives, but I’m definitely not. Just want to get the entire picture. 

    Oh, for sure, no worries. Honestly, I just don’t want my professors or employer to find out. I can take criticism from peers, but when stuff like this starts becoming an issue in other parts of your life like with school or your job, it really isn’t worth it. I want to be evaluated on my work ethic, not my uh other work ethic. That was a weird way of putting it, but you get it right? There are stereotypes that come with being an SB, and I don’t want those stereotypes popping up at my job or in class. 

    Yeah, there are definitely some negative connotations associated with the sugaring community. Let’s chat a bit about the most popular one being that people would think you are essentially a prostitute.  

    Okay well I don’t think of myself that way, but I can understand why people would. I’m not here to argue about why I would or wouldn’t be considered one because once people hear the words sugar baby, they have already made up their minds. Nothing I say will change that, and it really isn’t any of my business what other people think of me. All I can do is say what I need to say and not dwell on it. And what I have to say is that sex work is valid as long as it is safe and a consensual situation. With that being said, I actually haven’t had sex with my SD.  

    Would you mind elaborating on what you do with him? 

    Yeah, we go on dates and just hang out a lot. We meet for drinks, dinner, plays, whatever we are in the mood for that day. He recently surprised me with concert tickets. We have fun together, and I am in no way obligated to sleep with him. The topic of sex hasn’t even come up. It’s been 4 months of just seeing each other. 

    What you just described to me sounds like what I do with my friends. Would that be a fair comparison? 

    Absolutely. Only, I get paid for it. Don’t get me wrong, there are many arrangements out there where there is sex involved. It would be dumb to think there isn’t. But for me, and a lot of others, it’s just platonic.  

    Speaking of getting paid, do you mind sharing how much you typically make from being a sugar baby? 

    That depends on how many times I’m able to see him. We both have busy schedules, but we try to make time at least twice a month. So, on those months I’m making around $500. If I see him more often, I get more money.  

    Wow, that’s pretty good money for just spending time with somebody.  

    Oh, I know girls who are making thousands a month. 

    Is the money what attracted you to the sugar bowl? 

    Yes, and no. I don’t need to tell you what life for a poor student is like. Of course money was the reason. I have bills to pay, loans to pay, and sometimes I like to buy groceries. I was getting by, but I was working 40 hours a week at 2 part-time jobs while also doing 6 classes. It was shit. Absolute shit. I could either do well in school or have enough money to get by, but not both because it was too much to juggle. Then I found out about being a sugar baby, and it felt like the best solution for me. I was able to quit one of my jobs and now I have more time to focus on school. Let’s be real, who wouldn’t want to get paid for just hanging out with somebody? I think a lot of people would. They just won’t because of the stereotypes. 

    Let’s talk about the no. You said “yes, and no” to the question of whether money lead you to becoming a sugar baby.

    Well money was the first thing on my mind, but I also liked the idea of socializing with a man knowing that sex isn’t an issue. No strings, no pressure. He wants to spend time with me obviously, because he is paying me for my company. It’s weird though because I have to always remember that there is a line between friendship and business, you know? Plus, he actually likes to do fun things. All anyone ever does here is get drunk, go to The Vil or wherever, hook up with each other, and repeat. It’s sad. And boring. It’s expensive. This way I can get out of Wolfville and do fun things, meet interesting people, and I’m not breaking my bank to do it. 

    Do you ever feel shallow for just hanging out with somebody for their money? 

    I used to, when we first started. But then I reminded myself that this is a consensual arrangement. I’m not like, leading him or anything like that. He wants to spend money on me. It’s a business arrangement. I’m providing him with a service he needs, and I’m getting compensated for it. It is what it is. 

    I’m going to repeat something I heard recently, and I would love your honest reaction. You cannot be a feminist and be an SB. 

    Yeah, I call bullshit. Who is anyone to tell me what I am and what I can’t be? My body, my life. I am a sugar baby and, yes, I am a feminist. Just because I get paid for what everyone does on a daily basis means I’m not? So dumb. If anything, it’s unfeminist to say that I can’t be a feminist for choosing what to do with my life, finances, and body.  

    I guess an argument supporting that you can’t be a feminist comes from the idea that you are participating in a culture that perpetuates the sale, sexualization, and oppression of women. What do you think about this? 

    I’m not being sexualized, and I’m sure as hell not being oppressed in the arrangement. I don’t think a lot of people realize that I’m the one calling the shots here. I get to choose what I’m comfortable with and when to walk away. I’m not trapped. I’m not being used. And there are tons of males who are sugar babies, so that argument doesn’t even make sense. As for the sale of women, technically we’re all for sale. We all get paid for something, there’s something about each of us that has been sold, and it isn’t gender specific, you know? Some people sell their manual labour, some people sell their music, some people sell clothes, whatever. I’m doing the same thing, only I’m selling my companionship. Take it how you want, I really don’t care. Doesn’t change the fact that I’m making money and paying my bills just like everyone else.  

    Is that how you spend your SB money? On bills? 

    Yep. As soon as he pays me, I go through my list of bills: rent, WiFi, power, phone, loans. If I have anything left over, groceries. After that, whatever I do with the rest of my money is my business. What’s nice about my arrangement though is that I get paid on top of what he gives me. So sometimes he’ll give me a gift of buying my groceries for the week, and then I still get the same amount of pay. It really takes some stress away. 

    Besides myself, do any of your friends or family know what you do? 

    I’ve told a few people, and I usually get the same kind of reaction. Shock, a little bit of a lecture, and then either acceptance or straight up verbal attacks. I’ve learned to not tell people anymore. It’s funny because if my friends ask where I go all the time I just say that I’m dating somebody. Then they ask where I got my new clothes or whatever, and I say that the guy I’m dating bought it for me. They’re like “oh wow so lucky, I wish a guy would buy me things”. But then if I were to say that he also pays me to spend time with him, all of a sudden things change and I get a lecture about my safety or some shit. 

    Have you ever been concerned about safety? 

    No, not at all. If I ever feel uncomfortable at any point before actually meeting the guy, I bail. If I ever get weird vibes at all, I bail. I went through what you could call an interview process with at least 7 men before finding one who vibed with what I wanted out of this.  

    I mean, obviously you’re safe but you have to admit that there is a risk with this kind of thing. 

    Oh, absolutely. 100%. I’m not saying it isn’t dangerous, because it is. I’ve heard some horror stories from other women for sure. But if you really think about it, is it any less dangerous than online dating in general? Tinder maybe? Same thing, I’m just getting paid. 

    Fair enough. Is there anything else you would like the readers of The Ath to know? 

    Sure. I’m not on social assistance, I do in fact have a real job, and no I’m not spending all my money on drugs. This is an STA so I can get through my undergrad without being homeless.  

    Are these some of the judgements you’ve been met with? 

    People end up thinking of me the same exact way Hollywood thinks of prostitutes but trust me, I’m fine. People are quick to judge, but at the end of the day I’m paying off my line of credit while they’re giving me dirty looks. It’s whatever. They think I don’t have self-respect but the funny thing about self-respect is that it is a personal thing and no one can define it for me but me. 

    And on that note, I would like to thank-you sincerely for doing this interview with me. What do you think the Acadia community response will be to this interview? 

    Some will love it, some will hate it, some will think it’s stupid. I bet a lot of readers will look up some Sugar websites though.  

  • Trump Recognizes Jerusalem as Israeli Capital

    Trump Recognizes Jerusalem as Israeli Capital

    President Trump, in a move widely condemned by the international community, has announced that the United States will officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. This decision has been met with a wave of disapproval from adversaries and allies across the globe.  

    Trump has approved the move of the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, which makes the United States the first country to officially recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.  

    Jerusalem is a city with a long history of conflict, running all the way back to the Crusades nearly a millennium ago. Currently, Israel is the only country that recognizes Jerusalem as its official capital, as it occupies the western half of the city. All foreign embassies are currently in Tel Aviv.  

    East Jerusalem is the major point of contention for many amongst the international community. Israel annexed the eastern half of the city from Jordan in the 1967 Six-Day War. In 1993, as part of the Oslo Peace Accords, the final status of the city was meant to be discussed later.  

    Palestinian representatives have told the BBC that the changes to US policy of Jerusalem spell a “kiss of death” for the two-state solution peace process.  

    Some worry that the American recognition of Jerusalem as the Israeli capital could validate Israeli settlements in the West Bank, which some have said violate international law as they are in Palestinian territory. This would also compromise America’s position as an honest and fair peace broker. 

    The United Nations has reiterated its position that to achieve lasting peace in the region, a two-state solution is necessary, with East Jerusalem as the Palestinian capital, and the city declared an international city under jurisdiction of the UN. East Jerusalem is home to 330,000 Palestinians, as well as some of the most sensitive sites in Christianity, Islam, and Judaism.  

    Israeli reaction has been positive. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that “[Israel’s] historical national identity is receiving important expressions everyday”, as he and President Trump have a better relationship than his predecessor, former President Barack Obama.  

    In a speech outlining the shift in American policy, President Trump noted “We cannot solve our problems by making the same failed assumptions and repeating the same failed strategies of the past”. No timetable has been set for the move.  

    Canadian policy has not changed as its embassy will stay in Tel Aviv. The Canadian government’s policy on Jerusalem has not changed either, noting that the city’s status can only be determined as part of the peace process.

    Countries and organizations around the world have expressed concern about the move, including Palestine, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the Arab League, Iran, Jordan, the Vatican, the European Union, Russia, the United Kingdom, China, and Lebanon.  

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