Home Blog Page 37

MUN Memo Reveals $7.1 Million Invested in Companies Tied to Israel’s Invasion of Gaza, Illegal Settlements

John Harris
-
0
MUN Memo Reveals $7.1 Million Invested in Companies Tied to Israel’s Invasion of Gaza, Illegal Settlements

After 43 days of their ongoing protest, student activists are one step closer to meeting their goals. MUN Students for Palestine (MUN S4P), a grassroots student organization behind the courtyard encampment and occupation of the Arts and Administration building, is pushing the MUN administration to disclose their investments and to divest from “all holdings in any entities that sponsor or are complicit in Israeli occupation, apartheid and the current genocide in Gaza.” They also call for MUN to boycott institutions and companies that are complicit in Israel’s occupation of Palestine and the ongoing invasion of Gaza.

In a statement released by MUN Gazette on June 19th, MUN committed to annually disclosing all direct investments and the names of the pooled funds managed by external firms. Their first investment disclosure does not specify the amounts invested in each company; however, in their statement, they say that 0.297% of their total portfolio is on the boycott lists provided by MUN S4P. 

DrJLokash0258 scaled e1695317739930
MUN Provost and VP Academic Dr. Jennifer Lokash (Gazette)

Memorandum Reveals MUN Investments in Companies Connected to Israel’s Invasion of Gaza and Illegal Israeli Settlements

In a memorandum obtained by the Muse, Memorial University Provost Jennifer Lokash and VP of Finance Lisa Browne reveal that $7,144,370 of Memorial’s portfolio is invested in two companies with direct ties to Israel’s invasion of Gaza and a third involved in the establishment and maintenance of illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian Territories. In January, the International Criminal Court ruled Israel’s invasion of Gaza to be a plausible genocide, and the United Nations Human Rights Office report refers to illegal Israeli settlements as war crimes.

Screen Shot 2024 06 28 at 9.34.16 AM
Table detailing investments in Textron, RTX, and Motorola (MUN Memo)

Memorial has investments in Textron, an American conglomerate that provides aircraft to the Israeli air force, RTX (formerly Raytheon), one of the world’s largest weapons manufacturers that provide arms to the Israeli military, and Motorola, a company that according to a UN Special Rapporteur is “involved in the establishment and maintenance of Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.”

On June 20th, experts from the United Nations said that the transfer of “weapons, parts, components, and ammunition to Israeli forces” put companies at risk of being in serious violation of international humanitarian law; this risk was heightened by the ICJ’s ruling in January that found that it is plausible that Israel’s invasion of Gaza constitutes a genocide.

The memo also writes that MUN is “not able to disclose” the investments in pooled accounts like the ‘Wellington International Opportunities Fund’ and ‘CIBC Canadian Bond Universe Index Pool’ but specifies that 0.152% of their pooled investments are also on the boycott lists provided by MUN S4P.

440410272 18431137963044305 3695321709610521827 n
Students lay down for 76 minutes for a ‘die-in’ to ‘represent 76 years of occupation.’ (MUN S4P Instagram)

Meetings with MUN Administration Following Student Encampment and Occupation 

Starting on May 10th with a ‘die-in’ on the steps of the University Centre, over the past month, MUN students have organized several actions on campus as part of their ongoing campaign for divestment and boycott. On May 21st, students erected an encampment that they dubbed ‘Yazans Yard,’ named after a ten-year-old Palestinian boy with cerebral palsy who died of malnutrition and pneumonia during Israel’s invasion of Gaza. Additionally, students continue to occupy the Arts and Administration building. Both protests are ongoing, as students continue to protest daily and sleep overnight at both sites.

After their first meeting with MUN Administration on May 24th, MUN S4P was disappointed with the response from the administration. However, according to MUN S4P and to MUN administrators the following meeting on June 13th yielded better results. 

According to MUN S4P, in the meeting, MUN agreed to:

-disclose their direct investments 

-review their investment policy 

-require their external investment firms to sign on to the UN Principles of Responsible Investing

-work with MUN S4P to publish a statement for peace

-establish bursaries and supports for Palestinian students 

-waive application fees for Palestinian students for 2024-2025

An official agreement between MUN and student protesters has yet to be finalized. Notably, this list does not include divestment from companies complicit in Israel’s occupation, a decision that has yet to be made by the MUN Board of Regents.

446117822 1542212242991117 1622959012191172047 n
Student activists in Yazan’s Yard (MUN S4P Instagram)

MUN ‘strongly encouraging’ Students to stop Occupying Arts Building, but Students feel ‘more determined than ever’

In a communication to MUN S4P, MUN Provost Jennifer Lokash and VP of Finance Lisa Browne wrote that as part of “good faith negotiation, we are strongly encouraging you to end the occupation in the Arts and Administration building. The university does not condone or support the occupation of any building,” but so far there is no sign that either the occupation or the encampment are ending.

Sadie Mees, an anthropology graduate student at Memorial and organizer with MUN Students for Palestine, says that student protesters are “feeling more determined than ever” and that they plan to continue their protest until MUN agrees to fully divest from the list companies tied to Israel’s occupation of Palestine.

“It’s important to us as students that our institution not be complicit in genocide. We hear horrifying and heartbreaking stories pouring out of Palestine every day, from the perspective of humanity it is just unacceptable that we would be contributing to it.”

The Muse’s request for an interview with MUN was denied. In an email from manager of communications Chad Pelley “The university is actively working with the student group on items discussed in our last meeting, and it wouldn’t be right to share any information with media before sharing it with the student group first. Additionally, because there have been no developments since the last public update, there is nothing to share in an interview at the moment.”

Circus Comedy at Arts and Culture Centre: Review

Kyle Phillips
-
0
Circus Comedy at Arts and Culture Centre: Review

Off Balance: A Contemporary Circus Comedy premiered at the St. John’s Arts and Culture Centre on June 23rd, 2023. Directed by Anahareo Doelle and Krin Haglund, the show promises to dish out “Circus Therapy” to “leave you feeling a little better.” Celebrating Canadian circus acts and Newfoundland and Labrador’s Year of the Arts, the show plants itself strongly in a gathering of offerings throughout this province.

“Hold your breath”

What should one expect when going to see a circus comedy show? Circus shows will set the stage to surprise the audience and keep them on their toes, whether through impressive athletic feats or swift arrangements. Most importantly, they seek to bring life to the stage and the audience. Audience interaction is not a given; however, the minds behind Off Balance made sure to start their show by including the audience in their act. Be a part of the community, pick a club to join, and follow along.

“I’m just here for the lost and found”

One of the most satisfying moments for an audience member is feeling the payoff of foreshadowing. One of the best tools to use in entertainment, arts, and literature, foreshadowing can make a show or play feel complete. Despite the show emphasizing the comedy aspects of circus and life, there are emotional character arcs followed throughout. Comedy proves to be a good medium for exploring complex emotions, as long as you don’t mind reading between the lines.

“We could be friends” & “The Meaning of Life”

Leave it to a comedy circus show to bring people together at the theatre while also exploring how to bring people closer as a theme through the show. I would be lying if I said the show doesn’t hint at the meaning of life along the way. It’s up to the audience whether this “Circus Therapy” show “leaves you feeling a little better,” but it had something for everyone. Come for the juggling, aerial acrobatics, dancing, music, production, audience engagement, or just to see a circus show!

Photography provided by Wonderbolt Productions.

Review: An American Hymnal

Kyle Phillips
-
0
Review: An American Hymnal

An American Hymnal – A Terra Bruce Production premiered in St. John’s last month with shows running between May 16th-25th 2024.

The show follows Father Paul Barry as he has left his home in Ireland to move to America, determined to do good. He soon encounters a jazz singer, Dinah, as she tries to make it big in the New World. Taking place throughout the ’50s and ’60s, An American Hymnal combines a soundtrack of gospel and rock & roll music that ripples through themes of love, loss, forgiveness, and hope. 

The production continues through June 21st-23rd at the Theatre Aquarius in Hamilton, ON.

The Majestic Theatre

The Majestic Theatre is planting itself in the heart of Downtown St. John’s with a constant stream of new and revamped plays, musicals, and more.

An American Hymnal is a bold addition to the company and fits well in the space. The production design beautifully blends projection visuals with practical sets to immerse the audience in the world of the Eastern United States in the ‘50s. With professional choreography mixed in, a multitude of things are happening at once, without taking away from the story.

The musical does not shy away from the darker parts of American History. Characters are subjected to abuse, addiction, adversity, and racism to name a few. Some are given the time to reflect on their capacity for change, while others provide the groundwork for differing perspectives.

The musical promotes values of forgiveness; embracing mistakes instead of running from them, and learning from others to allow oneself to grow. The performances sell the emotions, particularly concerning the reimaginings of popular songs from that era and the vocal performances of those pieces.

Luckily, I was able to sit down with one of the actors after the show to talk about the production. 

Julia Dunne

Julia is a Resident Artist from Mount Pearl, NL, with Terra Bruce Productions. She graduated from Sheridan College with an Honours Bachelor’s Degree in Music Theatre Performance. Julia plays Jessa, a sex worker who Paul encounters as he is still learning how best to aid his community.

Jessa exemplifies the depth of the characters built throughout the musical. To be human is to carry momentum always, and with that momentum comes change. 

Julia is a resilient example of how you can combine two separate passions and maneuver through both seamlessly. As an actor and lifestyle coach, I spoke with Julia about how she is able to find a balance between her creative side and her health. 

Being in the public eye means those in the creative industries are subjected to many differing opinions. Good stories are inherently vulnerable, and the reactions to the stories we tell can range drastically.

The performing arts place actors and creatives on a stage for people to see, and a bad review or lacklustre audience can be hard to handle. Julia spoke on finding the balance of being a creative individual and taking time for your health.

Musicals and plays take months -and sometimes years- of production, rehearsals, late nights, and performances. Burnout in any industry is a real problem, and understanding what you need on an individual level to keep going at a healthy pace is important to continue doing what you love. Julia’s lifestyle coaching has been built from this framework, and she continues to expand her life and others in many ways while staying healthy. 

Catch Julia and other members of the crew through Majestic’s Summer at the Majestic, to celebrate Newfoundland and Labrador Year of the Arts, 2024.

Summer at The Majestic Theatre

Student protestors told to leave Arts and Admin building

Anasophie Vallée
-
0
Student protestors told to leave Arts and Admin building

On Friday, June 7th, students gathered in the Arts and Admin lobby at MUN for a teach-in about intersectional feminism and liberation when they were approached by Campus Enforcement and Patrol (CEP). A representative from MUN Students For Palestine states, “A group of approximately 6-10 students were assembling in the Arts and Administration lobby for a peaceful teach-in about intersectional feminism and liberation. At 5:50, students were approached by CEP who instructed them to leave. Students expressed concerns at the revocation of their right to use the space for peaceful assembly.”

Credit: Memorial University Student Union (via Instagram)

CEP then locked the doors while continuously allowing other students and faculty members to enter the building. The representative says “CEP attempted to intimidate students by implying there would be consequences to their presence in the building, despite the fact it was during regular working hours.”

The students stated they then consulted a lawyer to affirm their right to remain in the building, who confirmed that their presence was permitted as students and protestors. They added, “After relaying this to CEP and reiterating our right to be in the building, they changed tact and agreed that students did have a right to be in the building, but said that they had been instructed to get students to leave.”

The student said they were not permitted to speak with the individual responsible for the decision despite their requests, as the individual was supposedly unavailable due to it being 6 pm on a Friday.

Following this discussion, a group of protestors committed to remaining in the building “to remind MUNL admin that students will not be dismissed.”

MUNL has released a statement surrounding the protest saying, “While we respect the students’ right to peaceful protest, Memorial is not condoning these actions as buildings are typically closed at night for security reasons.” Affirming that, “Memorial will continue to work with organizers to maintain their safety and security, as well as the safety and security of students, staff and faculty. The Arts and Administration building remains open for usual business.”

Meanwhile, student protestors stress, “We will continue our occupation until a genuine effort has been made to negotiate with us in good faith.”

Reactions to student protest at convocation

Anasophie Vallée
-
0
Reactions to student protest at convocation

On Thursday, May 30th, at the 3 pm convocation for engineering students, Nicolas Keough, MUNSU’s Director for External Affairs, held up a sign in silent protest behind President Bose as he gave his speech. The sign read “MUN supports Israel’s genocide in Gaza.”

Once Bose had finished his speech, Keough walked up saying “Free Palestine” into the mic. The convocation ceremony then proceeded as planned and all graduates were able to walk to the stage to receive their diplomas without disruption or intervention.

Student reactions

Following the convocation, The Muse reached out to graduates who were in attendance to provide a comment on the events that took place and give insight into the general reaction from the university community.

Both students who provided a comment stated that they felt the protest did not take away from their graduation ceremony and that they were in no way upset with how it was conducted.

One student felt that it was especially important that the protest occurred at the engineering convocation, saying “They make us learn the importance of working towards making the world a better place, as engineers specifically, and how our degree and our profession has a big impact on the world around us, so if we’re not going to do it now, now that we’re graduating engineers, when are we going to prove that we learned from our degree that we want to do better by humanity because, in the end, weapons and arms manufacturers and drones, all these new technologies that are used in wars are made by engineers.”

The student refers to the Tech Stewardship Practice Program (TSPP) as an example of the courses engineering students take on ethics. This program is described as “a professional identity, orientation and practice. As tech stewards, we continuously discuss, refine and imagine new ways to shape technology for the benefit of all.”

“I felt happier, more satisfied that it was during my convocation, that we were doing what’s right,” said the student, “we were expressing our voice to make sure that we’re standing with people who are being killed and people who are having injustice committed against them.”

When asked about the manner in which the protest was conducted, another student asserted, “It’s very harmless. They’re not interfering with the people’s graduation. As a graduate, they really didn’t, you know, bother me,” adding, “[Nicholas] just did it during the speech of the president and not during anything else which is very, you know, sensitive of him. So, I totally agree with what he did there.”

The convocations that followed

The student union released a statement the following Friday stating, “On Friday, MUNSU elected student representatives were removed from participation in Spring Convocation. MUNSU representatives have attended hundreds of convocation ceremonies over the years, standing alongside our student members to celebrate their success. MUN leadership utilized Campus Enforcement Patrol to dismiss and prevent students from entering student spaces to allow their administration to sit in comfort with their inaction.”

The university responded to this statement claiming, “Memorial University did not reduce the number of seats available to student representatives at convocation ceremonies in St. John’s. During the morning session on Friday, May 31, MUNSU representatives were told that they could not take a large sign on stage or stand up and walk around during speeches. This is the expectation for all members of the stage party. When MUNSU representatives were given that information, they chose to leave.” 

MUNSU’s Director of Campaigns, Alida Zedel, then reaffirmed in an Instagram reel that the university’s claim that MUNSU chose to leave the ceremony is not the whole truth.

“They failed to mention that when we arrived at convocation, we were told that there was only one seat reserved between MUNSU and GSU,” says Zedel. “MUNSU regularly attends convocation and often has multiple seats on stage alongside GSU.”

Zedel further explains that it was only moments before the ceremony that they were told one of the unions would not be able to have representation on stage.

“I had just been warned by Chancellor Earl Ludlow that I was not to partake in any actions on-stage,” says Zedel, adding that, “In the same conversation he implied that MUN had to remain neutral. There were campus police officers preventing any other MUNSU representatives from entering the building. Given this treatment, I left the space as I was clearly being prevented from attending.”

Credit: MUNSU (via Instagram)

Nicholas Keough then responded to MUNL’s comments surrounding his protest at the convocation stating, “On the part about peaceful protest they clearly insinuated that my protest on Thursday was not peaceful, and they said they ‘acknowledge peaceful protest’ on the issue. If holding up a sign behind the president, waiting until he finishes his speech, and then saying two words in the microphone is not considered peaceful, I think we have very different definitions of the word.”

In reference to the protest last Thursday, MUNL’s release states, “The expectations for all members of our community who are invited to participate in the stage party (including student union leaders) were clarified on Friday. These expectations include not taking large signs on stage or disrupting the ceremony,” adding that “Memorial acknowledges those who have peacefully made a statement about current violent international events.”

In response to MUNSU representatives being prevented from further protests at the ceremonies, a graduate from Thursday’s convocation stated, “I honestly think it’s pathetic. It’s not their position to say if MUNSU should have done it or not. In the end, the convocation is all about the students, it’s not about the administration and if students want to voice their opinions on any matter, regardless of what it is, they should be given the chance, they shouldn’t be stopped or prevented.”

2024 cross-Canada road trip: How much does it cost?

Kyle Phillips
-
0
2024 cross-Canada road trip: How much does it cost?

A cross-country road trip is no small adventure, especially when the country spans 10 provinces and over 7500km. How much do such adventures cost? Frankly, they cost a lot of money. But with a little planning and some special insight, there are ways to save money throughout your journey. Here is the price of a Canada-wide road trip in 2024 based on my experience. 

First, let’s break down the road trip from an overview perspective. The road trip was carried out by two people (me and my partner), we started in Vancouver, B.C., and ended in St. John’s Newfoundland. It took 17 days and 16 nights to complete the journey and we only went one way, we did not drive back. The entire trip could be done quicker or extended depending on your priorities.

Now that the overview is done, let’s start breaking down the different parts of the journey.

BeauE
Preparations

Preparations

Like every section of this article, each road trip will need different materials to meet individuals’ needs. However, for the classic highway road trip, there are a few materials that you should consider bringing to make your journey run smoothly.

Here we will look at the preparations bought for our specific road trip and how much they cost.

Flashlight$15.00
Power inverter$26.00
Window shades$7.00
Water container$27.00
Costco Bulk Snacks$51.00
Fuel$10.00
Lighter and padlocks$7.00
Book Light$19.00
Sleeping Bag$28.00
Travel Towel$14.00
Sunglasses$43.00
CD$3.00
Crib
Cribbage

Certain items on the list such as sleeping bags, window shades, and flashlights were bought to make sleeping in the car easier. Remember, if you already own these items or choose to book accommodations for yourself each night to avoid sleeping in a car, then prices will fluctuate dramatically.

As well as the listed items above, the items that came in handy that we already owned included warm blankets, sleeping socks/slippers, pillows, a coffee maker, a camping stove, utensils, a cellphone car mount, and board games.

Vehicle Information

Carr
Credit: Anna Danby

Arguably the most important aspect of a road trip is knowing your vehicle.

A long road trip done in a short time frame means you will see a lot of the inside of your car. Along with making the inside of your vehicle as comfortable as possible, it’s important to do everything you can to avoid breaking down. 

Our journey was completed in a 2016 Hyundai Veloster Base Coupe. This vehicle is front-wheel-drive and has a 6-speed manual, a hatchback to access the cargo space, and four seats. For more information on specifications or comparison information, check HERE.

Fuel efficiency for this car was on average 6.1L/100km or 38mpg, a very healthy rate for a compact car. Interestingly, the average fuel efficiency was at its best in B.C., western Alberta, and Ontario where the highway experienced many climbs and declines.

The parts of the highway that were more flat such as the prairies and the 401 section of the highway proved worse. Coasting on declines and when anticipating a stop was the likely cause of better fuel consumption in the mountainous provinces. 

The important part is that this vehicle is quite small by North American standards, and yet the car was undoubtedly big enough for two people to spend a comfortable 80 hours of driving. Our setup allowed for one person to sleep in the rear with the seats folded down, and one passenger to sleep in the passenger seat at a half recline. In other situations, the spacing and packing can be tight.

Cost Breakdown

And so, what was the total for the cross-Canada road trip?

Below is a breakdown of costs paid for along the way and a final tally of the total spent between the two of us:
*gas prices ranged from 192.5 – 132.4*

Screenshot 2024 06 03 102203
Cost Totals
Ferry NS to NL$306.14Ferry/TollsTim Hortons$7.20Food
Banff Hostel Deposit$13.34AccommodationGas $49.18Gas
Gros Morne Cottage$276.14AccommodationGas $62.13Gas
Gas $67.66GasA&W$18.00Food
Coffee Shop$17.17ExtrasQuebec Hostel$89.26Accommodation
Banff Hostel$84.04AccommodationTim Hortons$10.30Food
Poutine$17.75FoodGas$81.42Gas
Gas $56.00GasMoncton Pub$38.27Food
Tim Hortons$13.19FoodGas$67.14Gas
Superstore Dinner$21.34FoodPEI Coffee Shop$37.00Extras
Brewed Awakening$15.59ExtrasPEI Toll$50.25Ferry/Tolls
Gas$44.00GasIrving Snacks$7.67Food
Gas$60.01GasNS Highway$4.00Ferry/Tolls
Tim Hortons$10.60FoodGas$62.22Gas
Thunder Bay Hostel$234.40AccommodationSubway$22.63Food
FreshCo$17.36FoodTim Hortons$14.48Food
Quebec Hostel Deposit$14.38AccommodationColemans$15.26Food
Gas $30.00GasGas$75.00Gas
Gas$77.30GasGros Morne Pub$60.00Food
Gas$41.27GasGas$76.17Gas
Border Toll$5.70Ferry/TollsMary Browns$9.76Food
Taco Bell$5.95FoodMadras Cafe$12.63Extras
Michigan Bridge$5.63Ferry/TollsGas$76.39Gas
Border Toll 2$4.23Ferry/Tolls

Accommodations

One of the most important considerations to make especially if you plan to sleep in your car is where to park. There are many national parks along the Trans-Canada Highway and many of those require passes to visit and use the facilities, although they do not require a pass to drive through on the highway. Check out the 2024 Guide to National Park Fees.

Each province also has different rules and regulations about overnight parking. Many parking lots have signs indicating no overnight parking, while residential streets have individual parking restrictions. In general, there are no laws banning a person from sleeping in their car on residential streets, but there are commonly municipal enforcements that will make certain zones and streets unavailable for overnight parking. 

KyleE
Banff
AnnaE
Banff

Our specific trip included:
6 Stays with Family (Vancouver, Virden, 2x London, Ottawa, Halifax)  
4 Hostel Stays (Banff, 2x Thunder Bay, Quebec City)
3 Nights in the Car (Regina, Thunder Bay, Moncton)
2 Nights in a Cottage (Gros Morne)
1 Night on a Ferry (North Sydney – Port aux Basques)

All said and done, the 6 nights we paid to stay in accommodations made up about 27% of our overall expenditure. We were very fortunate to be able to stay another 6 nights with family and family friends across the province, but accommodations are one of the more expensive portions of the road trip if you do not plan to sleep in your car.

PEIKyle
Credit: Anna Danby

Hiccups

The trip stretched just over 8000km in total. This includes the Trans-Canada Highway from Vancouver to St. John’s, a few diversions to save time or view attractions, and the odd city driving to get groceries and discover the city.

These 8000km were not without a complication or two. Here are some of the things we had to deal with, or we could advise you to try and avoid:

Car Maintenance

Inspecting your vehicle before putting 8000km on it in just over two weeks is pivotal. You can get a certified inspection for around $100-$200 and it can save you time and money.

Our vehicle was inspected, however, on the fourth day the car developed a loud scraping sound that continued to grow over the next 48 hours. This unfortunately happened on a Saturday and we decided to stay where we were until we could put the car in to get checked. 

To spare most of the details, my 2016 Hyundai Veloster had a common problem with the engine eating the oil and decreasing the oil level quicker than normal. This ended up being most of the issue, however, I was also overdue for a brake change and my front rotors ended up getting warped. Considering this is normal car maintenance, I did not include the fees in the overall total. All that was necessary to fix was the front brakes.

I had an oil change scheduled in two days in London Ontario anyway, so I was also able to get an oil change at the same time. Oil changes are suggested after 6 months or 6000km on average, but for a long road trip, you may want to change your oil more often, or pick up oil at a gas station if your engine needs a top-up. 

Data shortage (Cell Service)

Another problem we ran into was dead zones for cell service.

Unlike planning your next stop at a gas station or electric charger, it is much harder to predict where there will be reliable reception. We didn’t face any big issues when losing service, but it can prove inconvenient. Planning activities for that day or the next becomes harder (especially if you need to find a garage open to fix your car), calls can drop or be virtually impossible, and maintaining accurate directions can be difficult.

Some of the ways to help avoid problems with cell service include calling your phone carrier to determine how much data is available to you and during what period, purchasing physical maps, and letting people know it may be hard to reach you for the next while.

Heat and Sleep

Halifaxx
Halifax Citadel National Historic Site

John Sandlos in his International Novel of environmental studies mentions Canada’s 53 ecoprovinces, 194 ecoregions, and 1021 ecodistricts. This is to say Canada is BIG and diverse ecologically. Packing for different climates and weather conditions is essential.

Most people will do large road trips in the summer, but the last day of our trip resulted in snow (In Newfoundland, of course).

Sleeping in your car also demands good ventilation. If this is achieved by slightly opening the windows, even sleeping in a car will demand defending against Canadian weather patterns.

Sleep is also essential on a road trip. Most of your time will be spent behind the wheel of a motor vehicle, and it is important for the safety of all passengers and other vehicles on the road that drivers maintain focus and alertness. Change drivers when possible to rest, take breaks if ever you need to, and do not risk driving while sleep-deprived. 

Financial Transparency

To conclude, there is a lot that goes into any road trip, let alone one as big as 8000km or more. In 2024, the cost of one specific road trip was $2556 split between two people.

I kept track of and laid out where our money was allotted and how we saved where we could to give you an expectation for your own adventure. So, hopefully, you will find this helpful in your future planning!

I would also like to give a huge thanks to my partner in crime Anna for being the best road trip companion and master of the spreadsheet.

An interview with artist and Muse alum Ian Foster

Anasophie Vallée
-
0
An interview with artist and Muse alum Ian Foster

Ian Foster is a singer-songwriter, producer and filmmaker, from St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. He is a MusicNL and East Coast Music Award winner, a finalist for the International Songwriting Competition and has been a touring artist since 2007. He was also previously the Arts and Entertainment editor for The Muse in the early 2000s. 

His most recent album “Nerve” came out Friday, May 31st, and is available through all streaming platforms but more about that in a bit!

Recently The Muse had the opportunity to interview Ian on our radio show, Muse News. Continue reading for some highlights from our chat on-air.

Muse News
Image credit: Ian Foster

Student years

Foster was an undergraduate at MUNL studying English and History in the early 2000s. It was at that time that he began working with the Muse as the Arts and Entertainment Editor. He explains that as he neared the end of his degree, he began debating what would come next.

“I went straight from High School to University, so I was 21 when I was graduating and I was staring down the barrel of the big world out there and had never not been in school,” he says.

“I just started thinking about when I would do like an American literature course for my English degree and they would be like ‘You can write a term paper on that era, it can be about anything,’ I’d be like, ‘let’s do the jazz age,’ like it would be music even though it was an English degree.”

He continues, saying, “Then when I would work at the Muse- I would give out the stories about various arts stuff, but if it was a musician I’d be like ‘I’ll do that story, I’ll take that as the editor.’ Clearly everything circles back to music for me- in one way or another, I was obsessed with it. And, so, I just made that decision: I’m not going to go to journalism school this year. I’m going to start playing open mics in my last year.”

Feelings of doubt

“What time is it? Yeah of course, still do,” Foster says when asked if he ever felt discouraged when first pursuing his music career.

He explains that like many artists there are always challenges and it’s important to discover for yourself what it is you’re looking to get out of a career in music, further expressing that, “setting boundaries as well as goals is a huge part of understanding your place in the world in general. But specifically, as an artist, what do you have to offer, what works for you, and what might not work for you, as a pathway”

Being a musician from NL

As a musician born and raised in Newfoundland, Foster spoke about his individual experience as a non-traditional Newfoundland artist.

He explains that at the beginning when he would see a sign saying “Ian Foster from Newfoundland” his “heart would fill with dread” not because he wasn’t proud of his heritage but because he worried his audience would be expecting a more traditional or Celtic sound.

“The issue is I’m an original singer-songwriter and I kind of veer into like rock, pop, modern music, like it’s not Celtic or traditional and I would see those signs and at the time- export-wise, people kind of only knew us for the Celtic- and, so, I would see that up on a billboard somewhere in Ontario and go: I’m about to go in and ruin a bunch of people’s nights cause they came to hear Celtic music and they’re going to get me, and I’m like, I’m sorry this is what I do, I didn’t mean to mislead you.”

However, Foster also expressed that times are changing and Newfoundland’s rich music culture is only growing.

“We’re getting a lot more artists of different genres exporting from here,” he says, “It’s not the same expectation when people come to a show, they’ve come to expect the unexpected which is nice”

NL arts community

The NL arts community has been steadily growing for awhile. Especially following the pandemic, we’ve seen a resurgence in the arts scene over the last year. When discussing the major differences between the NL arts community from back when Foster was first starting out to now, he says,

“I think we are steadily exporting more artists, which is really exciting,” adding that “Another big one, I think, has been the growth of the island in terms of being open to instrumental music”

He then recounts a story detailing the current shift and ongoing cyclical nature of the music scene,

“A story that I regularly think about is Ron Hynes playing ‘Sonny’s Dream’ in a bar and people yelling at him to stop playing those made-up songs and to play something we know,” says Foster, “And I love those stories because, of course, now I could be playing some of my songs and someone would be like ‘play Sonny’s Dream,’ you know, the endless circle of how that works and I think about people like Ron who were blazing that trail towards encouraging people to try out and take a chance on original music.”

Reflecting on the evolution of music in Newfoundland, it’s interesting to see the growth in musical exploration both in artists and audiences. Original music has always been a part of the NL music culture, and it’s exciting to see how that culture is continuing to develop.

“There are so many wonderful places to play on the island now,” says Foster, commenting on how there are “so many places that are encouraging of original music and interested in it.”

Nerve

Nerve Cover 3000px
Album artwork: Mike Gough

Foster has explored numerous different genres through his music from folk to classical, and alternative. His most recent album, “Nerve” could be considered one of his most significant shifts in sound.

“It’s named classical crossover, which is like a funny genre anyway, like all genres I mean, let’s be real, what is pop? What is rock? They’re so broad” he says. “Classical crossover is sort of the same, you could be like well it’s probably orchestral somehow but also drum synths- It could be anything.”

He adds, “It’s a pretty big shift because I just really, you know, I think every record has an evolution from one to the next- but this one was almost like a unique set of influences.”

When asked about his inspiration for the album, Foster explains “It was July 2020, I experienced this bout of nerve pain which is where the title ‘Nerve’ actually comes from. It became a chronic issue with this sort of random nerve pain in my leg and it obviously ran parallel to the pandemic- it was a very challenging time, as you can imagine, because, you know, I can remember hearing people say like ‘oh god this sucks you can’t go anywhere’ and I really can’t go anywhere, I’m like, it was difficult to walk for a period of time.”

“That was sort of a dark night of the soul kind of thing,” he continues, “And I guess even just the position of sitting at the piano compared to playing guitar for whatever reason, I mean bodies are strange, it’s like it was easier to do that, and piano is my first instrument- I kind of felt like some of the best distractions from all of that came when I was playing the piano and there was comfort in that.”

“It would be easy to infer the record is kind of a painful listen because it came out of a painful experience” he says, “But I don’t think it is, I think the songs are sort of musically introspective or cathartic or they’re meditative- cause that’s kind of what I was looking for, for like a little shelter in the storm I suppose, musically, and that’s where the record came from.”

Stream Ian Foster’s new album ‘Nerve’ on Spotify or Apple Music through the following links:

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/nerve/1744157617

Upcoming events

Following the recent release of his new album, Foster also has some upcoming events to look out for!

There will be a St. John’s CD/Vinyl release at Bannerman Brewery on June 8th, with special guests Jing Xia, NCC, The Ballast Collective and Nancy Hynes at 8 pm, tickets are $20 each. Then, on June 9th, there is a ‘Nerve’ CD/Vinyl In-store event at Fred’s Records at 1 pm.

More information about the events and tickets are available here!

Editor’s note: Special thanks to Ian Foster for taking the time to chat with The Muse

    MUNSU representatives horrified following meeting with MUNL admin

    Anasophie Vallée
    -
    0
    MUNSU representatives horrified following meeting with MUNL admin

    The Memorial University Students’ Union released a press statement on Monday, May 27th, stating that students are enraged following their meeting with MUNL administration on Friday, May 24th.

    MUNSU states that “After months of little-to-no word from MUNL upper administration concerning the ongoing genocide taking place in Gaza, students took direct action on May 21 by setting up a tent encampment on the lawn in front of MUN’s Arts and Administration Building.”

    Students are demanding that the university disclose all investments and divest from weapons manufacturers and companies with ties to the Israeli occupation.

    The meeting on May 24th, saw numerous administrators in attendance including:

    • Dr. Neil Bose, President pro tempore
    • Dr. Jennifer Lokash, Provost and Vice-President (Academic) pro tempore
    • Deborah Collis, Chief Financial Officer
    • Dennis Peters, Interim Dean of Students
    • Delores Mullings, Vice-Provost (Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism)
    • Margot Brown, Executive Director, President’s Office

    The Student Union adds that “At this meeting, which both MUNSU representatives and student members attended, Dr. Bose completely refused to negotiate with students and dismissed the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people. In the meeting, students pleaded with Bose to acknowledge the overwhelming consensus of humanitarian organizations across the world.”

    Following the meeting, President Bose released a statement to the Gazette stating “We are grateful that these important discussions are occurring at our university and around the world. They have already resulted in conversations internally about our approach to investments, particularly in relation to environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations.”

    Adding that, “Memorial is open to hearing from students and other members of our community on this, or any other topic. Any decision or changes the university makes must allow time and space for collegial consultation and responsible decision-making.”

    However, in the statement released by MUNSU, the student union disputes what they say are “MUNL’s attempts to portray the meeting as productive and pleasant to the media and the broader university community,” adding that “students were horrified by the conduct of administrators and their refusal to accept the reality of the situation in Gaza.”

    MUNSU’s release further emphasizes that MUNL administration cited “concern for Israeli students” and “ignored the safety of Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim students and made outrageous claims- including refusing to acknowledge the Rwandan genocide and questioning the impact of divestment globally despite its well-documented impact on the fight against South African apartheid.”

    As of now, students are remaining committed to continuing their encampment until MUNL administration agrees to “negotiate in good faith and come to an agreement.” The student union has said they will continue to support them and defend their right to protest and “stands with Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim students who have been disrespected and abandoned by their university administration.”

    There are few solutions in sight for the student housing crisis in NL

    Hasan Habib
    -
    0
    There are few solutions in sight for the student housing crisis in NL

    The housing crisis has garnered significant attention in the current Canadian discourse on international students. Increasing difficulties for students and average citizens in finding housing has been one of the major justifications for cuts in international student numbers in Canada. Nonetheless, Newfoundland and Labrador can expect to have almost similar levels if not more students coming to its few institutions, whether St. John’s can host these students is another question.

    In a recent conversation with Mahbub Alam, the MUNSU Executive of Finance and an International Student living for almost four and a half years in Newfoundland, he shared his dismal experience living off-campus in St. John’s. Alam came to Newfoundland in 2020 and, as he recalled, there were better times.

    “As students with deferred admission started coming and MUN increased enrollments, the housing situation began to worsen,” he noted. The situation wasn’t just about a lack of houses, however, as Alam said, “Landlords began to jack up prices when they saw more options for renting out the houses. Maybe it was simple market economics but the increases were abysmal in most cases and it is still continuing to this day where rooms that we once saw for 350 or 400 dollars are now all 600 at least.”

    A sharp increase in the cost of living has not coincided with increased income and opportunity here. As a result, students are put in a more vulnerable position with landlords having much more leverage over them, especially with incoming international students who do not have enough connections in the province.

    Leverages are becoming more and more obvious with the way sudden rent increases are being applied. Alam continued with his experience,

    “We had a landlord change and the new landlord, a MUN faculty, decided to jump up the prices and we didn’t have any options of moving out immediately. Sometimes amenities such as the washer were not working for months and the landlord didn’t take steps to repair anything for that time. Our rent increases were served abruptly and we had to pay for parking as well, which was not charged for previously.”

    This kind of situation is all too common now in student housing around MUN, with students having little control over the situation owing to their precarious housing conditions and sometimes a lack of awareness of the rights accorded to them. 

    As we go through the summer session, Paton and MacPherson College will not be available for students and many international students, like myself, will need to find off-campus housing in this expensive market or consider an even more expensive flight home.

    While the situation is slightly better outside of town in Mount Pearl, Paradise, Torbay etc, there aren’t nearly enough public transportation services available connecting them to the city, making it a tough option for students. This increases the pressure on the St. John’s housing market especially in the summer, leading to more students living in precarious housing conditions such as room sharing and even homelessness.

    I had the opportunity to speak with Professor Mehmet Efe Caman from Memorial’s Political Science Department on the relationship between the international student cap and the housing crisis. Professor Caman was quite candid, saying, “I believe that implementing caps on international students and related measures may yield some short-term statistical adjustments, but they will not address the underlying structural issues contributing to the housing crisis. Canada’s focus should instead be on bolstering its construction sector and implementing effective regulations in the housing market to assist prospective homebuyers.” That focus is very much missing here in Newfoundland and Labrador.

    With the pressure of increased tuition in the university, the options for university students to be able to live a normal life will continue to shrink unless the government and the private sector can work to revive the construction sector and support students in offsetting their costs for studies rather than burdening them with more expenses every step of the way.

    For students, the situation might seem a bit bleak but knowing your rights can often go a long way toward ensuring housing security. You can find more about your rights here at https://www.gov.nl.ca/dgsnl/landlord-tenant/ and https://www.stjohns.ca/en/living-in-st-johns/resources/Documents/Your-Rights-and-Responsibilities-as-a-Tenant.pdf.

    Sweetland

    Anasophie Vallée
    -
    1
    Sweetland

    The film “Sweetland” Directed by Christian Sparkes and adapted from the novel of the same name by Michael Crummey follows the story of protagonist Moses (played by Mark Lewis Jones) as he grapples with the resettlement of his outport community Sweetland in Newfoundland and Labrador in the 2010s. Moses is a retired fisherman struggling to accept the fate of his town. His outright refusal to accept the resettlement package from the provincial government antagonizes him against some of the other residents of his community, later isolating him as a result.

    Sweetland premiered at the Scotiabank Theatre in St. John’s, Newfoundland, on Friday, May 3rd to a sold-out audience. With a red carpet just outside the theatre, audience members and media gathered around emanating excitement over the screening of the film. Sparkes, Crummey, and producer Allison White were all present for the screening and Q&A that followed.

    premiere

    The audience erupted in applause when the line of credits began to roll, bringing the screening to a close. You could feel a sense of pride and appreciation from having been immersed in a cultural experience that feels somewhat close to home. As Newfoundlanders, we have begun to see more and more representations of our culture and history in cinema, nonetheless, there will never be a group of people more proud to witness artistry highlighting the lived experiences of their own.

    While both the novel and film follow a clear storyline centred around the provincial resettlement program that began in Newfoundland back in the 1960s, Crummey explained during the Q&A that as he was writing the novel he realized during the second half that there was more to the story than just resettlement— further stating that his father’s battle with cancer had an impact on his writing and influenced how the story progressed; saying that “resettlement became a metaphor for the terminal diagnoses that we all face.”

    Without giving away any spoilers, the theme of mortality does become clear in the film during Moses’ time of solitude and isolation.

    When discussing the differing meanings that Crummey, Sparkes, and White have all taken from the story, Sparkes explains that the novel is a “beautiful elegy to this place and [he] just wanted to do it justice”— which he most certainly did.

    In contrast to the novel, the film does differ slightly from the original storytelling. Sparkes stated that the many flashbacks present in the novel to explain Moses’ past had to be cut from the film. The film focuses more heavily on the relationship between Moses and a young boy named Jesse (played by Cail Turner).

    moses and jesse 1
    Image credit: Sweetland publicity

    Crummey said, “The heart of the movie captures the heart of the book and I’m really grateful for that.” Adding that he will no longer be able to picture the character of Moses without seeing Mark Lewis Jones.

    In a similar vein, White said that the film and novel are “different creatures,” but “cut from the same cloth.” In other words, while the story in the film may differ slightly from the original, the essence and overall themes remain the same.

    Taking the time to go to the theatre and watch an independent film such as Sweetland is integral to showing your support for the local film industry. Independent films are not shown enough in our local theatre or are often overlooked by audiences. The more that we show up for these incredible films while they are in theatres, the more presence they will continue to have in the cinema long-term.

    That said, it’s not too late to take yourself on this immersive experience. Sweetland will be in theatres until May 9th and you can use the following link to book your seats for one of the upcoming showings. It’s a film you won’t want to miss.

    Book your seats now for one of the upcoming showings: https://www.cineplex.com/movie/sweetland

    1...363738...100Page 37 of 100