Home Blog Page 40

University transparency: An interview with President Bose

Anasophie Vallée
-
0
University transparency: An interview with President Bose

The Muse recently had the opportunity to interview President Bose, getting answers on important university affairs; with a focus on transparency in hiring processes, housing and infrastructure concerns, student activism, and the Auditor General’s report.

Presidential search

Dr. Bose has been appointed to the position of president for a two-year term or until the next president is recruited.

While President Bose is not involved in the presidential search process, as it is led by the Board of Regents, he states “As president, one of my commitments is to prioritize leadership searches for roles that are currently occupied on an interim basis.”

Filling interim dean and senior exec positions

With numerous interim dean and senior executive positions vacant, we asked President Bose what progress has been made to fill these roles.

“The search for the vice-president (Grenfell Campus) recently concluded with Dr. Ian Sutherland as the successful candidate,” says Bose, “The search for the next provost and vice-president (academic) is in progress.”

He adds, “The new Dean of Education, Dr. Pamela Osmond-Johnson, will start Dec 1. Searches for four other deans are currently underway: Social Work, Human Kinetics and Recreation, Business Administration and Graduate Studies. Four other decanal searches are about to start; their search committees are being finalized. These four are Nursing, Science, Music and Medicine.”

Housing concerns for new and returning students

A lack of housing infrastructure and a rising cost of living resulted in many students struggling to find housing at the start of the semester.

When asked how the university is responding to this growing concern, Dr. Bose says, “Memorial is aware that students across the country and internationally (e.g. Australia) are having a hard time finding affordable rentals near their university, and Memorial is no exception.”

“To respond to this challenge, near the start of this semester, the university formed a Housing Issues Management Team to resolve emerging housing needs and engage in long-term planning on this topic,” he explains, “The team consists of staff from ten units at Memorial who intersect with students, and representatives from Marine Institute and Grenfell Campus as well.”

The findings from the Housing Issues Management Team are to be shared with the President’s Executive Council this month. Dr. Bose shared the following examples of how they assist with housing issues:

  • A partnership with local hotels to help situate students until they find rentals.
  • A new graduate wing was established in Paton College to house twenty graduate students.
  • An online form connected people in our community who have a room to rent with students looking for a rental.
  • Graduate students had the option to start their programs online, and move here when they found a place to rent.
  • The Internationalization Office worked with new international students to complete an intake form before the students arrived. This includes a checklist of questions to ensure they have secured a place to stay before arriving.
  • If an international student has followed arrivals protocols, Memorial staff greet them at the airport. At this time, the greeters provide assistance to a student in getting to their accommodation and help them troubleshoot temporary accommodation needs.

Professors asked to house incoming students

At the beginning of the fall semester, Memorial’s faculty and staff were requested to consider renting their available spaces to incoming students. 

Following the request, MUNFA released a statement stating “We see this request as a blatant attempt to download the city’s housing crisis and the cost of living crisis facing students onto the backs of faculty and staff.”

President Bose states that this request was not an emergency measure specific to this semester.

“For St. John’s Campus, the Internationalization Office regularly sends that email to faculty, staff and pensioners. It’s been a practice for some time now, and is seen as a mutually beneficial arrangement. Grenfell Campus did the same this semester. The arrangement provides rental income for those with space available and rental space for students looking for something other than residences or what is available on the rental market.”

Infrastructure concerns

Concerns have been raised over the years by faculty, staff, and students regarding the worsening infrastructure on campus. Ceiling tiles that are crumbling, rats spotted on campus, and questions surrounding the fear of asbestos have persisted.

“Memorial is continually monitoring and addressing infrastructure concerns on its campuses,” states Bose.

He explains that “The following deferred maintenance projects have been approved by the Board of Regents to be funded in 2023-2024: deferred maintenance projects, and there are ongoing major and minor capital projects and a preventative maintenance program as well.”

One project mentioned is “an Energy Performance Contract (EPC) with Honeywell,” which “funds campus infrastructure improvement in 75 buildings across the St. John’s and Grenfell campuses through energy savings. It focuses on energy-efficient solutions designed to upgrade facilities, reduce operating costs, improve indoor air quality and reduce environmental emissions. This contract will see guaranteed cumulative cost avoidance to the university over the 20-year term of almost $53 million. $11.5 million has already been realized and this EPC has reduced greenhouse gases by approximately 1,634 tonnes each year since 2020.”

Rooms shut down in old science building

The start of this semester found students and faculty in the old science building confused as they noticed rooms they had previously occupied are now closed under lock and key.

“Eight to ten classrooms in the old Science building are no longer in use since the bulk of the building’s previous occupants moved to the new Core Science Facility, explains Bose, “This was a matter of operational efficiency and keeping costs down. Because most labs are now taught in the newer building, it was determined that 10 classrooms, specifically those in the least desirable condition, could be terminated as classrooms without impact.”

“Additionally, following completion of testing and swabs by Environmental Health and Safety to ensure labs are safe to use for other purposes, Facilities Management is in the process of decommissioning and cleaning labs no longer in use,” he says.

With concerns raised about asbestos and questions left up in the air, Bose affirms “There is no known cause for concern about asbestos, and hazardous materials were not a factor in the closing of any rooms in the Science building. The university has an asbestos management program to monitor the condition of our asbestos-containing materials as well as avoid disturbing them.”

Exclusion of BA students in recent career fair

Bachelor of Arts students have raised concerns following this year’s career fair stating that the overwhelming desire from employers for Bachelor of Science graduates left them feeling inferior and concerned about their job prospects following convocation.

“While Memorial hosts the Career Fair and welcomes employers to participate, the employers themselves identify which types of employees they will be recruiting,” explains Bose, “That said, Student Life does strive to bring a diverse group of employers to the Career Fair every year. This year, over 50 employers indicated that they were seeking to hire those with a Humanities and Social Sciences degree. With this feedback, we will continue to invite a diversity of employers to future fairs.”

Day of Action

image

On November 8th, Memorial students held a Day of Action in response to rising tuition fees.

President Bose commented on the decision made by students to rally together for more affordable education saying, “The university understands and respects its student community advocating for the best interests of students. Finding your voice and values is a vital part of the student experience.”

Transparency and accountability

With a heavy focus on transparency and accountability, we asked the President what progress has been made to ensure that Memorial’s students, staff, and faculty are kept in the loop on important university affairs.

President Bose says, “Firstly, I would say I am always happy to answer student questions through the university’s student newspaper as we’re doing here, so that students never feel out of the loop. Sometimes, people make assumptions rather than ask questions. I invite questions! I would also encourage students to check the Gazette for regular updates on university matters.” 

He cites two examples:

  • Memorial recently announced it is moving away from its use of executive search firms for executive positions. Roles within the Department of Human Resources have been redeployed to support executive searches. Moving forward, Memorial will only use an executive search firm if the search committee for a position requests that approach, and the President’s Executive Council approves it. There are currently no searches proceeding with the use of a search firm.
  • The President’s Executive Council, mentioned above, is a recent change I have instituted to foster improved and more collaborative decision making at the university. Previously, Vice-Presidents advised the president on matters, but with a newly established President’s Executive Council, all vice-presidents are more actively part of the decision-making process. You can read more about these changes in this Gazette article, which also discusses the newly formed Senior Leadership Council. The intention of these two new councils is to improve transparency, collaboration and the flow of information to the university community by involving key leaders in discussions and decision-making processes. 

Response to auditor general’s report

Following the release of the Auditor General’s report, we asked President Bose if the university is taking full accountability for the results of the report and how they will be responding to issues raised.

“The university has accepted the recommendations detailed in the AG Report, says Dr. Bose. “As President, I will continue to work with the board to ensure the recommendations are addressed appropriately and the conditions for success within the Canadian university sector continue to be met.”

“In the name of transparency, I have added a new section to the President’s website on the Auditor General report. Already, it includes recent changes at the university and additional context on the AG Report, as well as a statement in response to the AG Report.”

“Over the last several months, the President’s Executive Council and Board of Regents have been focused on enhancing transparency and improving operations. Since the audit period, there have been significant changes at Memorial, and we are already working to address the concerns that have been raised.”

These changes include:

  • An increased focus on policy development and renewal that will address the instances of overspending highlighted in the report. Since December 2022 four policies have been approved by the Board of Regents. There are currently 13 policies in some stage of the review process with several more coming through the pipeline. 
  • A new travel request approval process has been approved for Memorial’s president and vice-presidents. Travel requests for vice-presidents must be approved by the president and travel requests for the president must be approved by the chair of the Board of Regents.
  • Performance management for executives will be a priority moving forward.  Performance objectives are built into the new president’s contract. Similarly, the current president has implemented a structured review process for all vice-presidents.
  • The Budget Office has implemented a more comprehensive monthly reporting structure for units.
  • Changes in the Department of Financial and Administrative Services will ensure a more robust focus on key financial processes at both the executive and board level.  
  • More detailed financial updates will be provided to the Board of Regents to inform its oversight and decision-making.
  • Work has begun on a new budget model for the institution, with transparency at the core. This will progress over several years and will start with a tuition attribution model to academic units.

What actions will the university be taking to align with concerns raised about admin costs per student being higher than other similar universities?

“‘Administration’ also includes academic support services, including those that support online learning, graduate students and the research mission of the university,” says Bose, explaining that “there are three primary reasons why administrative cost per student looks so different at Memorial.”

These reasons are as follows:

  • Memorial is a comprehensive university with a medical school, which is an unusual structure. Most medical/doctoral universities have large overall student populations that Memorial does not have. There are high costs associated with a medical school coupled with a relatively small enrollment (about 500 students) which can skew cost per student.  
  • The Marine Institute offers diploma and certificate programs, which are excluded from Stats Canada student enrollment numbers, yet the operating expenditures for the Marine Institute are included. This skews the data. 
  • Finally, as the only university in the province, there are costs associated with maintaining a province-wide presence. 

He concludes by stating “At the same time, it’s important to acknowledge that the proportion of Memorial’s operating budget that is allocated to administration (11.8%) is similar to that of comparable universities.” 

With a continued emphasis on transparency and accountability, students, staff, and faculty at Memorial University can only hope that the university will follow through and continue to speak with and get input from the campus community about ongoing concerns and solutions being implemented.

Editor’s note: Special thanks to President Bose and the administration for taking the time to speak with The Muse.

MUN students brave the rain to protest for free and accessible education

Olivia Harrhy
-
0
MUN students brave the rain to protest for free and accessible education

“The rain sucks, the tuition sucks more,” chanted MUN students on November 8th as they protested for free and accessible post-secondary education.

Protest Image 2 1
Photo credit: Olivia Harrhy

Protesters marched from the MUN clock tower to the confederation building, rain poncho-clad, with an energy so electric the weather became an afterthought.

day of action
Photo credit: Anasophie Vallée

Students chanted against tuition fees, tuition hikes, and administrative bloat, highlighting the importance of coming together democratically to enact change.

CNA students joined MUN students in protest as they arrived at the confederation building, gathering to listen to a handful of speakers.

Day of action john
Director of external affairs John Harris (photo credit: Bruce March)

The speakers included John Harris, MUNSU’s executive director of external affairs, Sanazgoli Javanbakht, GSU’s executive director of communications, and Aiden Parsons, president of MISU.

3
Photo credit: Anasophie Vallée

Protest demands

  1. Free education for all
  2. Education justice for all
  3. Grants instead of loans
@themusenl

Do you think education should be free and accessible? #education #protest #dayofaction #mun #newfoundland #students #student

♬ original sound – The Muse – The Muse

Change

Last year, the all ‘All Out Like ’99’ protest against tuition hikes saw success with MUN eliminating the $50 campus renewal fee.

MUN students believe in the power of collective student action, hoping to enact further change through their protest efforts.

November 8th 2023: The fight for affordable education

Manan Aggarwal
-
0
November 8th 2023: The fight for affordable education

Ladies and gentlemen, grab your seatbelts because we’re about to dive headfirst into the baffling world of university finances. Education is a right, but the rising tuition fees have turned it into an elusive dream.

Image credit: MUNSU

Students from modest backgrounds bear the brunt of this financial oppression, with marginalized communities suffering even more. Indigenous and racialized students, who often hail from low-income households, are shackled by insurmountable student debt, while their academic dreams become as distant as a shooting star.

Funding the dream: A united front

Image credit: MUNSU

On November 8th, the MUN Students’ Union will join forces with public post-secondary students across Newfoundland and Labrador, rallying for an education system that’s not just accessible but also a system of the highest quality.

Students and supporters will meet at the MUNL Clocktower at 11 am to rally together and march to the Confederation Building.

The battle against rising tuition fees: A fight since 2016

Since 2016, students have been on the frontlines of the battle against austerity governments and university budgets that seem to have more loopholes than a spaghetti strainer. They want to dismantle our progress faster than you can say “student loans,” proposing to hike tuition fees for local, out-of-province, and international scholars. If this were a soap opera, we’d call it “The Neverending Tuition Saga.”

Fight the Fees campaign: A nationwide movement

Image credit: MUNSU

Ah, yes, the “Fight the Fees” campaign is a national movement. They’re fighting for three key pillars:

1. Universal Access: It’s like a game show with no barriers, no entry fees, and no final boss to defeat. Everyone should have access to higher education and skills training, without the barrier of cost, making it feel as common as your daily coffee.

2. Education Justice: Think of it as education’s own Justice League, standing up for the marginalized—Indigenous, racialized, LGBTQ+, differently-abled, single-parent families, low-income backgrounds, and anyone else facing the tuition villains. Education is the Bat-signal that mustn’t further marginalize these communities.

3. Public Education: Education is not a private party; it’s more like a potluck. Post-secondary education in Canada must be by the public, for the public. No hidden agendas or secret clubs are allowed.

Back in 1987, a report confirmed that international students added a dash of excitement to the Memorial University community. But for some inexplicable reason, they still considered introducing differential fees. Maybe they were trying to make the campus more exclusive than a secret speakeasy.

The Highly Anticipated Auditor General’s Report

Now, the moment we’ve all been waiting for—the Auditor General’s Report. It’s like an academic thriller, complete with twists, turns, and customized chocolates. This report exposes the leadership at Memorial University, showing that while students struggle with textbook prices, they’re ordering chocolates like it’s Valentine’s Day in the middle of finals week.

The report reveals an absence of oversight within the institution that’s akin to letting a group of toddlers loose in a candy store. Students and faculty have been knocking on the door, asking for transparency, but they seem stuck in a never-ending queue.

Administrative bloat has run amok at Memorial University. While executive and management positions enjoy bloated compensation, students are left feeling like they’re on a diet of instant noodles.

MUNSU is demanding the rebuilding of the university as an institution that prioritizes students, urging the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to invest in our future.

So, let’s join MUNSU’s campaign against tuition fees, and on November 8th, let’s march together to secure affordable education for Newfoundland and Labrador.

Sign up for the campaign here: https://munsu.ca/campaigns-signup

Provincial Auditor General’s findings reveal pervasive structural and governance issues at MUNL

Bruce March
-
0
Provincial Auditor General’s findings reveal pervasive structural and governance issues at MUNL

Newfoundland and Labrador’s Auditor General released a damning report highlighting widespread issues of spending, accountability and governance.

The roughly 80-page document included numerous reports of high salaries for top administrators, lavish spending, inappropriate usage of funds by Former President Vianne Timmons and very little in the means of accountability.

The report while quite extensive included notable highlights such as:

  • Memorial had the highest level of executive salaries in Canada when compared to other universities ($130,043 higher than a comparable public sector job). 
  • Memorial University enlisted the services of search firms to hire 15 management positions costing $1.1 million of which a third no longer work at MUN.
  • 11% of executive expenses were deemed ‘unreasonable’ or excessive with a notable $1,792 spent on custom-made chocolates.
  • Approximately one-third of the University’s expenditures fall under the discretion of the President and do not undergo regular assessment by the Board of Regents. 
  • The Board of Regents lacks an active role in making decisions and providing directions to the University’s 5 entities: C-CORE, Memorial University Recreation Complex Inc. (The Works), Campus Childcare Inc. (Campus Childcare), Genesis Group Inc, and Canadian Centre for Fisheries Innovation.

Along with numerous other examples exhibiting a surplus in spending, and deficit in governance. 

But some have begun to ask, how was this allowed to occur? What steps are being taken to ensure this does not happen again? and what reforms need to be implemented?

The Board of Regents, collegial governance and MUN’s democratic deficit

MUNFA and MUNSU say the report is indicative of what they have been voicing concerns about for years.

Credit: MUNSU (via X)
Credit: MUNFA (via X)

LUMUN said they were ‘Gobsmacked’ by executive misspending, comparing costs of a singular dinner highlighted in the report to what PCI’s (Per-Course Instructors) are allocated for a semester of teaching.

image

Likewise, this may be attributed to the flawed institutional mechanisms for accountability.

Memorial operates under two bodies: the senate and the board of regents. Faculty members have representation on the senate, which is responsible for decisions around academic matters.

However, faculty could not hold positions on the board of regents until May of this year, with the amendment of the Memorial University Act by the provincial government. The board of regents is responsible for making decisions regarding property, revenue and business.

The composition of the board has been said to be problematic for years, as was highlighted during the MUNFA strike. What’s more, the board at large has also been criticized as a poor system of governance and oversight.

Specifically, the university was unable to provide a policy outlining the monitoring of its non-operating funds, which includes a substantial $190 million grant from the provincial government. The audit also shed light on the fact that the allocation of these provincial funds often rested in the hands of one individual, the President, without any discernible checks or balances in place on the part of the board of regents.

In a series of tweets from Political Science Professor Russell Alan Williams, he states that the systems designed to hold university management accountable had been eroded.

Credit: Dr. Russell Alan Williams (via X)

Lessons Learned?

Since the report was released, the university administration has said that it accepts the findings of the auditor general and will make changes to its operations as well as follow through with changes already underway, such as the elimination of the usage of search firms and modifications to the VP hiring process.

In a media release, the university has said it is committed to ‘A Renewed Focus on Governance and Oversight.’

“There are lessons to learn from the auditor’s findings. As I noted, changes already implemented are improving our operations and supporting our academic mission,” said President Bose.

The administration has also announced plans to establish an “executive council” with the aim of enhancing oversight, decision-making, and financial monitoring. However, there is a legitimate concern regarding the effectiveness of this quasi-legislative body and whether it might further erode the authority of what should fall within the jurisdiction of the board of regents.

The future of governance at Memorial University remains uncertain, and only time will reveal whether improvements will come. There are concerns that the Auditor General’s Report may embolden the government to curtail the university’s autonomy. 

However, it is evident that internal restructuring emerges as the most promising path forward for an institution grappling with the repercussions of inadequate management decisions and a scarcity of effective oversight mechanisms. Transferring responsibility from one ineffective body disconnected from the wider university to another is not the solution to MUN’s problems.

On the St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival and filmmaking in Newfoundland with Brianna Russell

Julian Michalewicz
-
0
On the St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival and filmmaking in Newfoundland with Brianna Russell

Saturday, the 21st of October, marked the closing of the 34th annual St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival (SJIWFF), Canada’s longest-running women’s film festival.

It was an exciting return to form for the festival, as it was its first edition to be held exclusively in person since the beginning of the pandemic.

2023 festival highlights

This year, seven feature films and thirty-two short films played at the festival, of which 64% were Canadian films and 56% were made by BIPOC filmmakers. The lineup was full of impressive and important films, such as D.W. Waterson’s Backspot, Chloé Robichaud’s Days of Happiness, and Fawzia Mirza’s The Queen of My Dreams, which also played at the Toronto International Film Festival earlier this fall. 

SJIWFF is a fantastic opportunity for filmmakers and amateurs alike to connect with like-minded people in an accepting and passionate environment. I had the pleasure of speaking with one of the filmmakers involved in the festival – Brianna Russell, the recipient of last year’s RBC Michelle Jackson Emerging Filmmaker Award. Russell is the writer and director of the short film Poster Child, which played at the closing gala of the festival. 

Poster Child

Poster Child tells the story of an up-and-coming pianist and her efforts to take her childhood idol’s place at the National Philharmonic Orchestra. The short took inspiration from films such as Whiplash, Perfect Blue and Black Swan, as well as Russel’s own experiences and love of classical music.

“There’s something so dramatic and intense about classical music, which pairs with the intensity of the characters in Poster Child,” says Russel. As a queer filmmaker, Russell finds it important to place queer women at the forefront of her favourite genres. 

Russell values diversity on-set as much as within the narratives of her work. The production crew for Poster Child was predominantly female and non-binary, including an all-female camera crew.

“The most important aspect of creating inclusive and diverse workspaces to me is to ensure that everyone has a place at the table- and more importantly, making sure everyone has a voice,” Russell explains. “It’s easy to look around a workspace and claim that you are being inclusive, but what’s important is looking at who has the power, who has the final say.” She stresses the importance of collaboration, of listening to the members of your team and making sure you take action to address any of their concerns.

Artists such as Russell find themselves among like-minded, engaged and dedicated people at the St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival. She describes it as “electric”, unlike any other festival she’s been to. The staff and volunteers, predominantly women and gender-diverse people, work to make the festival experience a positive and productive one.

Russell describes it as “an environment in which you are free to be yourself, whomever that may be”. The festival’s Film Industry Forum connects emerging and experienced filmmakers alike, allowing them to share their stories, focusing on the aspects of their experience that may not be emphasized in other contexts.

“I was able to talk to so many amazing filmmakers that I would have been much too afraid to approach at larger festivals around the world,” Russell admits. She expresses gratitude for everyone who attended the festival, and describes the conversations that were had during the many panels at the festival as “healing, nurturing and necessary”.

As a local filmmaker, Russell appreciates the opportunities the province provides for emerging filmmakers, and the encouraging atmosphere in the local filmmaking community.

“Everyone wants you to succeed, and is willing to help you achieve your dreams,” she assures. “Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there.”

When asked about the challenges faced by filmmakers in Newfoundland, she mentioned the weather — the lack of sunlight creates difficulties in shooting — but otherwise emphasized the positives. “Of course, we face similar challenges as the rest of the world — there’s never enough money, ideas are too large, and you’re always racing against the clock.”

Russell encourages aspiring local filmmakers to reach out — to other filmmakers, and to local organizations. She recalls her start in the film industry, working as a PA on short films made through NIFCO’s PictureStart program. “It’s scary, but it’s so rewarding,” she says. 

Russell’s film career is only starting. Moving forward, she hopes to continue working with other women and gender-diverse filmmakers. She feels inspired by all the artists she’s been able to meet at the festival, and honoured by the opportunity to stand in the same room as them. “I envision a world in which we can create together, collaborate together, and change the world together,” she says. 

More to come

Although the amazing St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival is over, opportunities to get involved in the local filmmaking scene abound. The horror film festival Fogfest will be happening November 16-20, and the Nickel Film Festival is organizing a short film challenge for filmmakers under 19 from November 10 to the 18th, submissions for which will be shown at the Nickel Youth Film Fest from November 17-19.

Furthermore, anyone interested in fun and exciting short film challenges can sign up for a mailing list available on the Nickel Film Festival website and be notified of any upcoming opportunities. It’s never a bad time to get involved in film in St. John’s!

RCA Theatre Company presents Supper Club

Katherine Crummey
-
0
RCA Theatre Company presents Supper Club

Food, life, connections. These ideas are at the core of ‘Supper Club,’ a play by Willow Kean and directed by Nicole Rousseau, performed at the LSPU Hall last weekend and now touring the island.

The play is a comedy about the intersections of friendship, food and women. It follows five women over the course of five meals, all hosted in their respective homes, as they learn about each other and their lives.

The wide cast of characters, a 20-something vegan, a hockey mom, an anthropologist, a Cuban artist and a doctor, each prepare a meal reflective of themselves as they explore life through food. Kean and I sat down at the LSPU Hall to discuss the play, the collaborative process and great meals.

Food

Kean and I discussed the importance of sharing food and how it is represented in the play. “I don’t want people to come to this thinking that it’s a play about food snobs,” says Kean. “There are people in the play who are food snobs, but it’s not a play about fine food.”

Mashed potatoes, veganism, duck breast, each character is represented by what they serve. “It’s all about comfort and what brings you comfort and like what you’re bringing to the table, might not be what this person cooks, but it’s still quite good.”

We talked about exploration through food, “I was kind of late to my food discovery,” explained Kean. “So, you know, I grew up in Lab West, and, you know, the food selection there wasn’t what it is now.” She recalls the first time she tried cilantro, at the now-closed Sultan’s Tent in Calgary “It was a meal that kind of made me go, Oh, there’s so much more out there,” she says, “It was the first time I ever had cilantro. And it was just a little like marinated tomato salad. And I was like, what, what is, what does that taste? And everyone’s like cilantro, you dork!” 

Friendship

For Kean and Rousseau, the play comes from the heart. The pair have been friends for nearly 30 years, and much of their friendship has been defined by shared culinary experiences and curiosity.

The pair met in 1994 and became fast friends the following year while studying at Memorial’s Grenfell campus.

Kean spoke about their early days and the food exploration they would take part in, saying, “Maybe it wasn’t until we went to Harlow together in our fourth year that we both were kind of like, ah! London and food and curry and kebab! She kind of brought me out of my shell in terms of different foods, like when we were in London or when we were in Harlow, I ate Indian food for the very first time with Nicole, and, I was with her the very first time I ever ate lamb.”

Since then, the two have continued to bond through meals, “So we really bonded over food, and we really love food, it’s such an important way to bring people together.” Kean said that Rousseau is the perfect partner for this project. Rousseau, Artistic Animateur of the RCA Theatre Company, has years of experience directing and creating. 

Women

With an entirely female cast and a majority female crew, the play explores the complex intricacies of women’s lives. The characters in the play come from different backgrounds, have different lifestyles and are different ages.

A wide spectrum of womanhood is represented in the play, clashes and all, “the point is that it’s all these women who are like, in theory, like very diametrically opposed, even in terms of their food habits,” says Kean.

On the ages of the characters, Kean said, “The ages are all over the map, right? twenties to fifties. You know, that was something that was really important for me in writing this, bringing the generations together. It’s important as a young woman to have older women in your life. And it’s really important as an older woman to have younger women in your life.”

Kean also talked about the lack of roles for older women on stage and screen, “It’s better than what it was, but we need to see more of it. That’s part of why I’m really proud of this play.”

Though it is a female-centric story, Kean says that it is for everyone, not just women, “some people are like, you know, it’s not a play for me because I’m a dude or whatever, but it’s not that. I don’t want people to think it’s an anti-vegan anti-men play.” Everyone can enjoy the play, it’s a fun comedy about life and all the different ways of living it. 

This is the second run of the play. It first premiered in November 2021 and was the first play at the LSPU Hall able to operate at full capacity following the COVID-19 pandemic. Three of the original actors are reprising their roles, while two new actors join the fold.

Kean talked about the exciting process of revisiting the production with the fresh perspective of the new cast members. “It’s great to be in a remounted production because you have two new cast members who just bring new, new things to the table, different ideas and different dynamics.”

Kean also said, “Some moments have changed completely from the last iteration,” bringing new moments to the story while staying true to the original. Kean says, “This is conflict, it’s a play, it’s life, but at the end of the day, everybody enjoys everyone’s company. Everybody walks away in good shape, and the friendships are still intact.”

Don’t miss out!

‘Supper Club’ was performed at the LSPU Hall in St. John’s on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and is now going on a cross-island tour with performances in Gander on November 1st, Grand Falls-Windsor on November 3rd, Corner Brook on November 6th and Stephenville November 9th.

Visit lspuhall.ca for St. John’s tickets and artsandculturecentre.com for all other dates.

Supper Club poster
Image credit: RCA Theatre and LSPU Hall

Protest against no-fault evictions on Saturday, October 28th

Olivia Harrhy
-
0
Protest against no-fault evictions on Saturday, October 28th

A protest against no-fault evictions is happening on Saturday, October 28th at 2pm, located at 10 New Gower Street, and The Muse recently had the opportunity to speak with protest organizer Rowan Theriac to learn more about the cause.

Protest background

Theriac was originally planning a protest against Airbnbs. However, she was made aware that the city had already begun enacting Airbnb regulation legislation, so it no longer felt necessary. With the momentum she had built, Theriac then decided to tackle the issue of no-fault evictions. 

She came across the story of Shirley Cox, an 82-year-old woman who was no-fault evicted from city housing earlier this year. Cox was forced to get rid of all her belongings and relocate to an emergency shelter in the middle of the harsh Newfoundland winter. 

“No-fault evictions are archaic and horrible,” she says. “Imagine you are a single mother, you have pets, or you work full time just to make ends meet, then your landlord evicts you without reason, and there is nothing you can do about it. It would be absolutely devastating.”

Theriac began further research into no-fault evictions and realized they were a major grievance for residents of Newfoundland and Labrador. A majority of the negative posts she was seeing online were in relation to these evictions, making it imperative that she tackle the issue.

“There is also no central authority to help people find housing in Newfoundland, it’s all mutual aid, DIY and grassroots stuff,” she claims. “There is very little oversight for this kind of thing.”

Motivations

“I understand that this is just a small drop in the bucket and a small means of protesting a very large and complex issue,” she says.

Theriac’s main motivation is to raise awareness. Most of the people she has spoken with since starting this initiative were not aware that no-fault evictions existed, even some who have lived in Newfoundland and Labrador their entire lives.

“These people have never read the landlord-tenant act, and I don’t blame them,” she says. “It is intentionally obfuscated with legal jargon that is really inaccessible to the average person, making it so they cannot advocate for themselves.”

“I care that people know what their rights are, and I care about increasing protections for vulnerable populations,” she says. “People tend to talk about the homeless as if they are another species, like it’s their fault, but the vast majority would never choose to be homeless. Anyone is at risk when you can be evicted at any time, for no reason.”

“In Newfoundland, you are only 90 days away from homelessness,” she claims, as three months is the only notice required before a no-fault eviction can occur.

“That is terrifying. We pay for the government to exist through our tax dollars, and to have no protection from the people who we pay to protect us is ludicrous, disheartening and upsetting.”

Goals

The end goal is to put pressure on government officials to change this legislation and eradicate no-fault evictions. 

“I would love for our elected officials to ask what they can do to make things better for people who have on-ground experience with homelessness and the housing crisis,” says Theriac. “This is a way for us to get our foot in the door, if they listen to this, perhaps we could begin to reduce homelessness or violent crime, more of the things that affect these demographics. Maybe then they will start listening to us.”

Personal experiences

Theriac is a renter and says that the possibility of a no-fault eviction is a threat looming overhead at all times. 

“No-fault evictions are an added stressor that do not need to exist for an entire demographic of people that are already stressed about so many other things,” she says. “This change is a minor thing that would improve the lives of so many people.”

Theriac also recounted a story of a friend who recently faced a no-fault eviction. She had signed her lease and was preparing to move in when her landlord rejected the damage deposit, sent back the first month’s rent, and then re-posted the listing on Facebook at a higher price.

“There is nothing she can do about it,” explains Theriac. “There is no recourse, because this counts as a no-fault eviction, and this has wreaked havoc on her life.”

Theriac also claims that two of the protest posters she put up were ripped down a few days later.

“I guess this is bothering somebody…” she says. However, Theriac remains persistent and passionate in her activism, as well as for the outcome of this protest.

Everyone is welcome

Anyone and everyone is encouraged to attend the protest against no-fault evictions on Saturday, October 28th. Bring friends, family members, and signs so as to amplify voices and create a greater impact.

For more information, check out Rowan’s interview with CHMR-FM: https://shows.acast.com/64ff22624e4e3000110e5af5/episodes/65316c5ca1d9fe001220b7e8?

Questions and concerns are welcome, you can contact Rowan at rowantheriac@outlook.com.

Unlocking safety: MUN’s free SafeWalk and SafeDrive

Manan Aggarwal
-
0
Unlocking safety: MUN’s free SafeWalk and SafeDrive

The clock strikes midnight, and you find yourself on campus, needing to get to your destination safely. It’s dark, and you’re unsure about walking alone. But wait, there’s a shining beacon of hope at Memorial University – MUNSU’s SafeWalk and SafeDrive programs. These student-run initiatives are here to make your evenings safer and more convenient. 

SafeDrive – Your Late-Night Ride Home

SafeDrive is the free ride service that every student dreams of. It’s available during the Fall and Winter semesters. Here’s what you need to know:

  • Operating Hours: SafeDrive operates from 7 p.m. to midnight, Sunday to Thursday, with extended hours during exam periods. Need a ride home after that late-night exam? SafeDrive has you covered.
  • Where to Catch It: The adventure starts from the base of the clock tower, just outside the Queen Elizabeth II Library. And guess what? The van departs every hour on the hour.
  • Stay in the Loop: To access this service, all you need to do is follow MUNSU SafeDrive on Facebook or send an email to safedrive@munsu.ca. They’ll keep you informed and ready for your next ride.

SafeWalk – Walking Together

CEP stressed that “SafeWalk is all about fostering a sense of community and ensuring that no one feels vulnerable when walking after dark,” making it clear that SafeWalk’s mission goes beyond the act of walking – it’s about companionship, support, and unity.

Students and staff in need of assistance can simply call (709) 864-6464 or download the MUNSafe app to have a SafeWalk volunteer meet them and walk them to their on-campus destination. 

I had the privilege of speaking with a member of MUNSU management, one of the coordinators for SafeDrive, to uncover more about this free ride service.

MUNSU management emphasized the importance of creating a safe and supportive environment for students. SafeDrive is a student-run initiative that offers accompaniment to students, faculty, staff, and guests of the university a free and safe ride home.

MUNSU management shared that the impact of SafeDrive has been substantial. It safely drives around 20 students home almost every day. “Your safety is our top priority,” she assured.

Now available

As of October 1st, 2023, SafeDrive is now active, offering safe and convenient rides home after an evening of adventures.

Campus pick-up schedule

  • Monday to Thursday: 7 p.m. to 12 a.m., hourly rides to get you home safely.
  • Friday and Saturday (Closed): Your trusty SafeDrive takes a well-deserved break.
  • Sunday: 7 p.m. to 12 a.m., because Sunday nights need some love too.

Please note that SafeDrive takes a rest during the Spring semester, so plan your rides accordingly.

How to reach MUNSU

For any general inquiries about MUNSU or its various student services, you can contact finance@munsu.ca. They’re here to help.

Location:

MUN Students’ Union

1 Arctic Ave

UC – 2000

St. John’s NL A1C 5S7

Info Desk: (709) 864-7633

Info Desk Hours:

– Mon-Fri: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

– Sat: Closed

– Sun: Closed

And there you have it – your campus guardians after dark. So, the next time you find yourself on campus after hours, remember that MUNSU’s SafeWalk and SafeDrive are here to make sure you get home safely. It’s a brighter, safer world with a little help from your friends at MUNSU.

Memorial University addresses Auditor General’s report

Sanuda Ranawake
-
0
Memorial University addresses Auditor General’s report

The Auditor General’s office released a report this morning about spending at Memorial University. Among many issues mentioned in the report, financial irresponsibility, overspending, extremely high executive and administrative pay, and lack of oversight and rigid procedures were the key highlights.

Former President spends excessively

The report highlighted Former President Vianne Timmons’ overspending through a long list of examples. Key highlights being:

  1. $2,700 spent on a table and chair at President Timmons’ residence.
  2. $9,880 was spent on a 24-day province-wide tour of Memorial’s facilities by Timmons.
  3. $1,792 spent on custom-made chocolates as Christmas gifts.

Many more issues to be addressed

Among other examples of misspending was $1.1 million spent by the university on third-party recruiters for the hiring of executive and administrative staff. Five of the 15 staff hired no longer work at the university.

Another issue identified was a lack of accountability, particularly concerning a member of the Harlow Campus board who was also hired to be a consultant despite there being a clear conflict of interest.

The university held a media availability this afternoon where important announcements were made.

President Bose and other leaders talk about change

Chair of the Board of Regents Glenn Barnes stated that he has full confidence in Dr. Bose and his team will continue the “careful and thoughtful stewardship” in bringing about necessary change and continuous improvement for the university.

President Bose claimed that the university is constantly listening to students and staff, while also mentioning that several changes have been brought about after he took over office.  

Changes mentioned included the establishment of the president’s executive council, and renewing and stabilizing the leadership team through aggressive recruiting of vice presidents and deans, while not using executive search firms. The search for the VP of the Marine Institute was said to be starting immediately.

Dr. Bose claims that autonomy is a very important aspect of being a democratic university, and states that autonomy in thought, and research must be maintained.

Dr. Bose also announced a tuition attribution model, where tuition collected from a specific academic unit would stay within that unit.

Dr. Bose did not commit to merging duplicate administrative positions in different departments.

Health Explored: MUN Med professor’s docu-series airs October 2023

Anasophie Vallée
-
0
Health Explored: MUN Med professor’s docu-series airs October 2023

Dr. Mike Wahl, professor of BioMedicine at Memorial University, has officially announced season 2 of the WAHL Show, a 12-part docu-series that explores health and wellness as it relates to Newfoundland.

The upcoming season, now titled “Health Explored,” aims to take viewers on a journey exploring health and wellness across multiple countries, including New Zealand, India, Bhutan, Japan, and the USA.

monastery himilayas wahl
Image captured of a monastery in the Himalayas (Credit: Braeden King)

While the first season was titled “The WAHL Show,” with WAHL standing for ‘Wellness and Healthy living,’ the same as his radio show, Wahl says they opted to call the second season ‘Health Explored’ because “[He] didn’t want people to think it was about [him] when it’s not.” 

India wahl
Photo captured in India (Credit: Braeden King)

He says he wants it to be clear that the focus of the show is the exploration of wellness and healthy living.

Early career

Wahl originally got his master’s in Applied Exercise Physiology at Memorial and then pursued a PhD in endocrinology and epidemiology with MUN’s Faculty of Medicine.

While completing his PhD, Wahl started a wellness company training executives who later approached him asking if he would consider doing corporate wellness.

His company then transitioned to working with clients in heavy industries like mining, construction, and oil & gas. Eventually, as the company grew, it was approached to be acquired by large-scale Canadian medical company the ‘Medysis Health Group’ and then by Telus as well. 

Before the company was acquired, Wahl bought out his business partner and later decided to go back to MUN and teach. 

“I’ve only been a prof full-time for about three years,” he explains, “but I’ve been teaching at the university for twenty.”

Research

While the majority of his research has a heavy focus on community outreach, including his radio show and TV series, Wahl recently completed a study surrounding cannabis impairment and how long impairment lasts. 

“I did the first of it’s kind cannabis impairment trial on humans— we did that this year,” says Wahl. “When I was in industry, they had all these rules around cannabis impairment on the job site, and they had these rules like you can’t have cannabis in your system at all, and you know cannabis lasts for about a month. We were looking at how long impairment lasts, so we had our first study on that. But most of my work is community outreach.” 

Wahl also chairs the undergraduate Human Physiology course and does a lot of teaching in the undergraduate medical program. 

surf therapy new zealand wahl
Surf therapy in New Zealand (Credit: Braeden King)

The WAHL Show podcast

His podcast, “The WAHL Show,” began back in the first week of COVID. 

“I was planning on travelling to Costa Rica to record my first podcast episode with this big sustainability guy,” explains Wahl. “But COVID happened, so I had my associate dean Mike Grant and a couple of other experts on and talked about COVID and what it was. So, that’s when I first started, we’ve done 156 episodes since then, and that’s quite a few. It’s been going pretty solid for almost three and a half, four years.”

Wahl says his interest in starting the podcast stemmed from having met numerous incredible people during his time working with his Wellness company, and his desire to share everything he had learned from them. 

Adding to that, he says, “When I worked in corporate wellness in particular, I realized there’s a real lack of health literacy, so why not do topics on all sorts of diseases or mental health or physical health or just good things happening in the community. Most of the stuff we do is positive, and I don’t get into anything controversial or any pseudoscience. It’s community health.”

After having spent a lot of time working with the general population, Wahl says he began to notice the look of confusion on people’s faces when an expert was explaining a particular concept. His podcast and TV series enable him to act as a translator, to interpret what experts say and make it more digestible for the public.

He then worked with Braeden King, photographer and founder of There Media— who later became the Director of the docu-series, to film a promo video for the podcast.

Wahl says that once the video was released, “People saw it and were like, ‘That’s really nice, way better than you’d expect’”

From there, he got the idea for the upcoming season, saying, “We didn’t really think too much, we just went for it, and we ended up finding the right people, like you would— and we put together a pretty good program. That’s how it started. We started with the radio show and then saw what the visuals with the content could look like and were like, this could really work.”

Biggest challenge

Wahl says the biggest challenge while filming the TV show was making sure the topics were relevant to everybody and then finding out how they could be applied here, locally, to their viewing audience, as well as figuring out all the logistics.

sky diving james braedan
Director Braeden King and Director of Photography James Mckinnon skydiving (Credit: Braeden King)

“We had 33 days, and we had morning and afternoon shoots minimum every day,” says Wahl. “So, every day was ‘get up, drive, interview, go to the next one, go to the next one,’ we had to have all the questions ready to go and send them off, plus organize and coordinate spots.”

Health Explored

By visiting New Zealand, India, Bhutan, Tokyo, and Okinawa, and interviewing various experts, Wahl and his team were able to explore the meaning of health in different countries and cultures.

Of all the episodes filmed, Wahl says one of his favourites is the one focused on happiness.

“My dad told me to find happiness before he passed away, it was his last wish for me,” he explains.

Prayer flags Bhutan wahl
Prayer flags in Bhutan (Credit: Braeden King)

He was then inspired to travel to Bhutan, where they study Gross National Happiness (GNH), rather than Gross Domestic Product (GDP). On their way back from Bhutan, Wahl explains they got stuck in Montreal and had to drive to Fredericton before flying home to Newfoundland.

While in Fredericton, they made an impromptu stop for an interview.

“While we were there, we interviewed my mom,” he says, “and my mom told the story of how before my father passed away, he wanted me to find happiness. Now she’s the main guest of the happiness episode. So, sometimes things just happen, and it comes off being much more organic.”

Advice for students

When asked if there is any advice he has for Memorial students, Wahl emphasizes the importance of following something that really gets you excited, saying, “That’s the only way you’re going to be able to really achieve and grow.”

“In Okinawa, they have what’s called Ikigai, and Ikigai is when you do something you love, do something you’re good at, do something you get paid for, and do something the world needs,” says Wahl. “If every student could find their Ikigai and get paid to do something they loved, something the world needs, and something they’re good at, then they would be very fortunate in life.”

Editor’s note: Special thanks to Dr. Mike Wahl for taking the time to speak with the Muse, and congratulations on the new season.

1...394041...97Page 40 of 97