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International Women’s Day 2023

Anasophie Vallée
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International Women’s Day 2023

Photo credit: Ehimetalor Akhere Unuabona (via Unsplash)

A brief history,

It’s been 113 years since the idea of establishing International Women’s Day (IWD) as a global movement was first recognized by the International Conference of Working Women in 1910. This annual celebration derives from a National Women’s Day held by the Socialist Party of America in the U.S. on February 28th, 1909. As a result, the celebratory day has strong ties to the women’s labour movement in the U.S.

However, it wasn’t until 1917 in Russia that March 8th gained significance as our now-set date. Russia, at the time, was experiencing food shortages, protests, and extreme exhaustion coming off of the First World War. The combination of these factors caused an escalation in tensions within the country, resulting in an International Women’s day demonstration on February 23rd, 1917, the equivalent of March 8th in the Russian calendar. 

This year’s theme,

This year’s annual International Women’s Day has been themed “DigitALL: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality” by the UN. The significance of this theme is to highlight the ongoing disparities between men and women in the tech industry. A topic that covers a variety of challenges women face in connection to the tech world, including,

  • Covid-19 virtual isolation

Many women in rural communities faced numerous challenges in the shift to online meetings and forums. Without easy access to technology and the internet, a large portion of the population was not being represented online during the pandemic.

  • Women in STEM

A report by the World Economic Forum states that by 2050 nearly 75% of jobs will be related to STEM. Yet, according to the Director General of UNESCO (the United nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), Audrey Azoulay, women are four times less likely to have advanced ICT skills, make up less than 20% of the tech workforce, and conduct only 12% of AI research. Azoulay emphasized that this year’s theme is meant to highlight “innovation and technology for gender equality.”

With the focus being on the digital sphere, the government and private sector will hopefully feel pressure to put their efforts into making the digital world safer, more inclusive and more equitable for women and minority groups. 

Showing support,

On another note, IWD is a time to highlight the incredible work done by women in varying fields within our community. While it is essential to support and promote women all year round, taking extra time to draw attention to the vital work and achievements of women from all backgrounds is to be at the forefront of our minds today. 

Use your social media platforms to highlight women that have impacted your life, participate in events supporting the women in your community, and find new ways to encourage and support underrepresented women in our society. Put a heavy emphasis on watching women-dominated films, tv shows, and documentaries. Read up or listen to podcasts detailing the current state of gender equality in our country. 

It is equally important to acknowledge the racial bias within the foundations of the early feminist movement. 

Today is not only for highlighting the most prominent and well-known women in our society but those who have been misrepresented for centuries. Racialized women, transgender, non-binary and gender-non-conforming people have all been consistently left out of the conversation, as the early movement focused on cis-gendered white women. We must continue to push for inclusion, not only today but every day, so we may continue to make progress in having all voices heard in the fight for complete equity in our society.

Local events,

International Womens Day Event
Image credit: Dr. Myriam Osorio

There will be an event today in the Nexus center SN 4022 celebrating the life and work of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, La primera feminsta de America. Readings by Students of Spanish and Live Music by School of Music Students will take place from 5-6 p.m. to support IWD.

Image credit: Quidi Vidi Brewery (via Instagram)

Quidi Vidi Brewery is also holding an event in celebration of IWD. There will be live music featuring local artists and prizes at the door. They will also be launching a new beer, Tropical Pale Ale, and all proceeds from that particular beer will be donated to the Women in Resource Development Corporation. This is a great way to support both local female artists and donate to an incredible organization creating more opportunities for women in STEM. Tickets can be bought online at the link in the post’s description.

BSA Night Gala (review edition)

Shantambi Wamunyima
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BSA Night Gala (review edition)

On the 18th of February 2023, I was privileged to attend the first Annual BSA Night Gala (in honour of Black History month) with The Muse at The Lantern on 35 Barnes Road.

It was a beautiful experience with many different outfits and music to suit the occasion. Despite the bad weather, which slightly delayed the program, it ran smoothly and catered for all the major activities indicated on the program.

BSA GALA 368

At the beginning of the event, pictures were taken at the red carpet as a way of welcoming the people to the event.

This was accompanied with snacks and drinks which was served at the guests’ allocated tables.

Opening remarks were given by the BSA President, Frances Utomi as she was delighted to have everyone that showed up celebrate Black History month with the BSA.

Thereafter, there was a speech given by Precious Familusi (one of the founders of the BSA) and he was just as amazed to see how much the BSA has grown since the time he was a part of the union.

BSA GALA 405
Picture credits: @tf1n31 (instagram)

Much support and respect was shown from the audience with regards to the whole event, which can be seen in the photograph above.

There were a series of performances done by upcoming black artists which ranged from dance to singing performances. These artists included Joe (Leg’nd), Baraka Music, Staze Obinwanne and New Talent st. John’s.

In-between performances dinner was served to the guests (per table) and the cuisines ranged from Nigerian to Ethiopian cuisines. The food was sources by black restaurant owners in St. Johns to promote them as well.

Towards the end of the event, there was a speech given by the NSBE Director of Communications, Chioma Akubueze, about black engineers in relation to Black History month.

To conclude the night, awards were given to various black students, small business owners, the best dressed for the night and so on.

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Picture credits: @tf1n31 (instagram)

The BSA Annual Night Gala was a successful event in honour of Black History month, as it celebrated the history of black people with many students beyond the black community.

The support and turn-up at this event were phenomenal, and we can only look forward to what next year’s gala has in store!

Season four of Some Stutter, Luh! launching March 5th

Aleisha Meggison
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Season four of Some Stutter, Luh! launching March 5th

From large scale media productions to drive-through small talk, language fills our lives. Whether we are enthralled with the latest music, or simply picking up our morning coffee, there is no denying its presence throughout our day.

Yet, so often, the ability to communicate can be taken for granted. While many people do not stop to consider how they communicate, or even how their speech may be perceived by others, there are people – like those who stutter – who face communication challenges each day.

Some Stutter, Luh! (SSL!) is Newfoundland and Labrador’s first podcast about living with communication differences. And starting March 5th, we are launching into our 4th season!

SSL! focusses on not only educating listeners about communication differences, but also on uplifting and inspiring people who live with them, rebuilding confidence through inclusive language and themes, and instilling hope by dismantling myths, stigma, stereotypes, and barriers surrounding speech and language impairments.

With each new episode, our host Greg O’Grady is joined by a special guest (or panel of guests) to discuss topics, experiences, and to offer a perspective on what it is like to live with a communication disorder. Greg himself is a person who stutters and has welcomed many people, from various walks of life onto the podcast over the past three seasons. These guests include people living with speech and language challenges, researchers, educators, speech language pathologists, and family members.

In our latest special Valentine’s Day episode, Greg was joined by Liz Fagan, Robert O’Brien, and return guest couple Carolina and Sang to discuss the topic of dating while living with a stutter. The conversation touched upon the various challenges and triumphs that were experienced by the panel, while navigating the world of dating as people who stutter.

I believe it is fair to say that dating in and of itself is a journey that instills anxiety, uncertainty, and uncovers a deep sense of self awareness for many people. Greg shares with us his experience with dating, and along with his guests, highlights some of the challenges that can be encountered as a person who stutters. Each guest shares their sentiment on concepts such as confidence, comfort, identity, and disclosure, as well as answers questions of reflection on their own dating journeys.

I encourage you to check out this special episode to listen in on advice/strategies for people who stutter that are fearful about entering the waters of dating, or who may have stepped away due to previous hurtful experiences. Opinions of approach and what each individual would do differently looking back on their dating experiences are also shared, and special qualities that people who stutter may have when it comes to dating are discussed.

This episode, along with many others can be found at our website somestutterluh.ca, and is available in video form on Youtube. Be sure to follow our Instagram (somestutterpodcast) for weekly updates on upcoming episodes and guests. Some Stutter, Luh! is a production of the Communication Collaborative. For information contact us at info@somestutterluh.ca.

Editors note: this article was written by Aleisha Meggison, a Memorial University Linguistics and Psychology student and team member with Some Stutter, Luh!

MUNL visiting professor’s job security put into question for the second time

Ally Bowes
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MUNL visiting professor’s job security put into question for the second time

Dr. Mehmet Efe Caman has been a visiting professor at MUNL since 2015, primarily in the Political Science department. Dr. Caman is a human rights activist and researcher published in numerous publications covering various topics, including authoritarianism, democratization, human rights, and Turkish politics, under comparative and international political lenses.

Most recently, he was offered a contract of employment for only four months; his past almost eight years was made up of 8-month positions with no track for tenure on the horizon and no guaranteed job security.

This isn’t the first time the status of Professor Caman’s job security was put into question; last year, he was informed that his contract with the Political Science Department would not be renewed. In that instance, students rallied behind him, and a petition was put out by the Undergraduate Society, garnering around 3000 signatures. After that, he was given a position in Law & Society, an interdisciplinary major under the roof of Political Science. We sat down with Dr. Caman to catch up and chat about his current issues, especially in the wake of the recent MUNFA strike.

The transition into Law & Society was one that came with ups and downs; according to Dr. Caman, “It was challenging because I needed to design two completely new courses that hadn’t existed before, and I was super excited and motivated to do that because it was kind of like you’re making history, you design a course, and even after you retire, you’re not on board anymore, other people can teach this course. It’s a nice feeling, and I invested a lot of time designing these courses.”

Beyond that, Professor Caman has had to redesign three additional courses that had titles but needed clearly defined goals and syllabi. Professor Caman also took on teaching most of the course offerings for this department in the Fall and Winter semesters, teaching 5 of the 7-course offerings.

Recently MUNL has come under fire for spending over $100k on a retreat to Fogo in September, when asked Dr. Caman expressed his thoughts on the retreat in the context of the MUNFA strike and his current predicament: “I know academic administrators are supposed to travel and participate in meetings and conferences… as I was able to read it on media it was quite shocking for me and disappointing at the same time, regarding lack of transparency and they [administration] are not stepping up and saying… there was a concrete goal.”

“When administration argues we are supposed to be very careful with our budget because we aren’t hiring other professors, we are not fulfilling empty spots when professors retire or go to other universities, but we can just travel around without any concrete reason… it is kind of irritating.”

Dr. Mehmet Efe Caman

Dr. Caman further expressed worries not only for himself but for other professors who are in similar positions as he is, explaining that the lack of permanence coming from numerous short-term contracts not only puts a mental strain from the constant unknown but also has effects on Professors’ careers through their ability to do research and publish, and by putting their jobs in a stalemate with no prospectives for moving forward and potential tenure.

In 2020, Dr. Caman took part in a video for a #talesfromtheroadMUN series on Twitter. He sat down with University Head Dr. Vianne Timmons to talk about his career and life as an academic from Turkey coming to Newfoundland. The video published was only a snippet of the conversation between the two, and overall Dr. Caman was led to believe there was progress.

“In that talk I had the feeling, I received that very positive perception from her side that she was aware of my existence, she was aware of the problematic [contract issues], and she was in my corner,”

Dr. Mehmet Efe Caman

Caman recounts how the university head had said, “I am supported and don’t worry about that. I will take care of it because Memorial University needs you here.” he felt as though it had been a “Big step because this is not somebody unimportant in the university administration or the decision-making process, it was the top of the university talking to me.”

Caman had chosen not to comment on it last year during the initial contract issues when students brought it to his attention; “I decided to be loyal, and I didn’t want to say anything negative about that, and I don’t know how Dr. Timmons thinks and what her frameworks are. But this year is the second time that this problem is occurring, which means last year, all the promises, all the recovery, how the Dean’s office reacted afterward, how students were protesting and colleagues were embracing me, I was sure things would change, and at the end of the day, there was an eight-month position. Still, I always hoped it would be next year [that] maybe I would get three years with continuity and perspective for a tenure track position.”

“If you really want somebody, If you think the professor is really good, students like him, he contributes positively to the to the academic environment; we can give them more job security, its called ‘Regular term appointment,’… they are more than 12 months and can be extended… they didn’t choose to go this way.”

Dr. Mehmet Efe Caman

Dr. Caman then explained the two criteria for Regular term Appointment, the first being Academic eligibility. Caman explains that he has more than fulfilled this requirement because of his numerous published academic works. The second is for the administrators to have the motivation or a reason, “I am a persecuted academic; I am an academic refugee.” He then explained and showed a document from the Scholar Rescue Fund, where he is one of the acknowledged Scholars. “Memorial University was my host university in 2017; It is their responsibility. I couldn’t go anywhere else, I was here when the persecution occurred, and I thought they would take care of my situation a little better than normal because of this award.”

Despite this, the demand for teaching in his specific area, as well as the student and departmental support last year, had gone to the point of both groups meeting with the Dean and making the administration aware of their support in Dr. Caman receiving a long-term contract last year, that did not happen. Both then and now, there are questions left unanswered. “I see the same patterns, the same ignorance, deliberate ignorance; they don’t want to look in my direction as if I don’t exist if I don’t do anything for this university… Is there a reason? Maybe because I come from the Middle East, or is there another reason?”

He expressed disappointment that despite his many accolades as an Academic that MUN had a seeming lack of loyalty and value in his work. “We are not run like Mcdonalds or Walmart… they probably have more loyalty to their employees, I am sorry to say that, but they have equal pay, equal opportunities, equal chances to get promoted in their framework…”

MUNs justification for many of the employment issues raised by MUNFA is that there is no money for hiring more long-term professors. To Dr. Caman, that doesn’t make sense; “What is the reason here? Saving money? Peanut money? Because the money that they are paying to me is the minimum money that they normally pay to faculty… it’s not the case that we don’t have this money because I can see people being hired in the administrative area, a lot of people travel to Fogo Island or the UK for other events… when you talk about people with salaries like mine on the bottom of all academic personnel, it shouldn’t be a problem for Memorial.” He explained that giving long-term employment to someone in his position could save MUN money, as he would not be getting paid the same as tenured Professors but would have job security.

Ensuring longer-term, stable contracts with more potential for career progression was one of the main goals of the MUNFA strike.

Supporting local for a “Cup of Joe”

Anasophie Vallée
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Supporting local for a “Cup of Joe”

Great local businesses are pretty easy to come by here in Newfoundland. From local retail or thrift stores to restaurants and cafes, we have tons of spots waiting to be explored.

Coffee shops are a lucrative business right now. There always seems to be a new Starbucks popping up (especially on Kenmount road), and despite the temptation to go through the Starbucks drive-thru, trading your daily Starbucks caffeine fix for a local alternative is a great way to show your support for local business owners.

As university students, we all live very fast-paced lifestyles and some of our most convenient on-campus options are locally produced! While there are cheaper alternatives to buying takeaway coffee, sometimes buying it is the only option when you’re in a rush.

So, in that case, here are a few must-try local coffee shops in the St. John’s area for the next time you find yourself in need of your daily fix.

Starting strong with the on-campus staples for when you’re in a rush and sprinting between classes, the Roastery and Jumping Bean are, of course, every student’s go-tos. But if you have a bit of extra time and are looking to check out somewhere new, be sure to check out these shops:

Rocket Bakery 

Rocket
Rocket

Located in Churchill square. Just a short walk from campus, this small location is quaint and offers an array of food, coffee, and baked goods.

Moving away from campus, we have some more low-key, sit-down-and-study cafe spots:

Coffee Matters

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Photo credit: coffeematters.ca

Located on Military Rd, this is one of the best off-campus spots to grab a cup of coffee and set up a table for a good study sesh. 

The Parlour

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Photo credit: The Parlour (via Facebook)

Also located on Military Rd across from Bannerman park. While the parlour may be known for its excellent ice cream, they also offer both brewed and specialty coffee—a great place to stop after a quick skate around the loop.

Bannerman Brewing Co.

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Photo credit: Bannerman Brewery (via Facebook)

Located on Duckworth St., Bannerman brewery is known for its locally brewed beer. However, by day, it is transformed into a coffee shop. Perfect for a low-key sit-down with a friend or a relaxed workspace.

The Battery Café

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Photo credit: batterycafe.ca

The Battery Café is a small, quaint coffee shop located on Duckworth St., with the perfect Newfoundland homey vibe.

Rocket Bakery (Downtown and Mount Pearl)

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Photo credit: rocketfood.com

There are two other Rocket Bakery locations. One is located on Water St., and the other on Bannister St., Unlike the Churchill Square location, these two cafes are more spacious and have more of a sit-down atmosphere.

RIG: The 41st Anniversary of the Ocean Ranger Disaster

Anasophie Vallée
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RIG: The 41st Anniversary of the Ocean Ranger Disaster

Image credit: RCAT Theatre (via lspuhall.ca)

A local tragedy,

Newfoundland has witnessed its fair share of tragedies, some of which have become relatively well-known over the years. The cougar helicopter crash, the SS Caribou… The Ocean Ranger. Devastations like these all seem to have one thing in common: the stories told, and the voices never heard.

After all, when disaster strikes, we always get rampaged with headlines and breaking news; everyone is eager to find out what happened. For a brief moment, the public is enthralled by the wreckage of the disaster. Victims’ names often get splashed on every front page in an attempt to put an identity to what happened. Eventually, those who are unaffected move on, while many are left behind voiceless and dealing with the repercussions for years to come.

‘Rig’ presented by RCAT,

Directed by Joan Sullivan and Nicole Rousseau, ‘RIG’ was adapted by Sullivan from the book “RIG: An Oral History of the Ocean Ranger Disaster” written by Mike Heffernan. Right from the beginning of the play, the audience could feel the weight of the material. Regardless of whether or not you are familiar with the Ocean Ranger disaster, the prologue at the start was meticulous in its attempt to introduce the events to the audience so we could all begin on the same footing. 

The director’s vision was clear and simple. The cast consisted of 6 actors playing multiple roles within the one piece. To eliminate confusion and create a seamless flow of events, a slide was projected at the start of every scene, introducing the cast in the order in which they would speak. Additionally, there were small costume changes throughout the play to indicate when an actor was portraying someone new.

Regardless, even in the absence of those details, the actors could indicate these changes themselves; their portrayals were compelling in that they shifted their mannerisms, tone of voice, and stance to create a proper representation of the individual they were portraying and the story they were telling. From a grieving widow to a communications employee for Mobil oil, actor Wendi Smallwood was able to shift accents and mannerisms, with the audience following along effortlessly. But that’s what’s so unique about this production; these are real stories, the actors are depicting real people that were affected by the aftermath of the Ocean Ranger disaster. 

Documentary theatre,

When adapting the play from the book “RIG: An Oral History of the Ocean Ranger Disaster” Sullivan chose not to stray far from the original material. In order to keep the stories authentic and accurate, Sullivan created a piece of documentary (verbatim) theatre to encapsulate the honest word-for-word tellings of the onshore victims of the Ocean Ranger disaster. When speaking with Heffernan and Sullivan, it was made clear that the events of the play are distanced from that fateful night on February 15th, 1982. With all 84 men lost in the disaster, there is no one left to tell the story but those onshore.

“The story of what happened to the families and the coworkers is just as important as what happened on the rig.”

Mike Heffernan, Author of “RIG: An Oral History of the Ocean Ranger Disaster”

Within this format, the play was able to bring to life the voices of those that Mike Heffernan interviewed for his book. With such a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives, we were reminded of the varying people that can be heavily impacted by a disaster like this. One particular attention-grabbing moment was when Aidan Flynn, in his portrayal of a crew member who had been onshore at the time of the disaster, explains his experience with “why me syndrome” or, as many call it, ‘survivors guilt.’ In the midst of a tragedy, we often forget about those who were left behind, and not only the family and friends of those lost but those that, perhaps with a slightly altered decision, could have been the ones to die. 

The intention behind the remount,

The remount of the play ‘RIG’ is intentional and holds special meaning as this year is the 41st anniversary of the disaster. It has been 41 years since those 84 men were lost, 56 of which were Newfoundlanders. So, why is it important to continue telling these stories after all this time?

Sullivan and Heffernan described how, at its core, this is a human story. A Newfoundland story. It is a documentation of ordinary people thrust into unimaginable circumstances in which they come face-to-face with a harsh reality. A price can be put on human life; there are consequences to treating human beings as though they have a measurable worth. Family members, friends, and colleagues are the ones who experience the true cost of those lost; their stories deserve to be documented and remembered to ensure that this kind of preventable negligence is never repeated.

‘RIG’ will be performed at the LSPU hall until the 14th, at 8pm on the 11th, 13th, and 14th, and 2pm on the 12th. The 11th will include a live stream and live audio description, and a relaxed performance is available on the 12th.

As young students, our generation is far more distanced from the events of February 15th, 1982. But that is the precise reason it is so important we make the effort to remember the tragedies that have shaped our province, and take advantage of this incredible opportunity to witness a retelling of the impact that the Ocean Ranger had on our community.

**As well, it is important to note that all RCAT shows have a student and artist discount.**

It is essential that we continue to support our local artists and community. There are so many incredible productions just waiting to be experienced. Check out lspuhall.ca for any upcoming performances that may pique your interest.  

BREAKING: MUNL Reaches Tentative Agreement with MUNFA

Shreya Hande
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BREAKING: MUNL Reaches Tentative Agreement with MUNFA

Memorial University Faculty Association’s (MUNFA) strike is officially over as Memorial University and MUNFA announced their bargaining teams reached a tentative agreement.

According to the announcement released Friday evening by MUNL, details of the tentative agreement will be made public once ratified by the university’s Board of Regents and MUNFA.

In a media availability, however, President Vianne Timmons and Vice President Neil Bose assured that the tentative agreement represents a fair deal and they will work with faculty, staff, and students to ensure a smooth transition back to campus.
Students can expect to return to class next week, with details coming over the weekend.

President Timmons also confirmed that students would finish their winter semester on time, and negotiations will discuss potential tuition refunds representing class time lost.

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Photo Credit: Jenna Reid (The Muse)

This agreement comes after a two-week strike of the Memorial University of Newfoundland’s Faculty Association, which has garnered support from students and other faculty unions in the province and across the country.

Multiple student and labour groups joined MUNFA members on the picket lines and at rallies in solidarity, calling for the university to grant a fair deal to MUNFA. 

A fair deal would include the following:

  • Collegial governance.
  • Improvements to salary and benefits.
  • Better conditions for contract faculty workers in precarious conditions.
  • Investments in tenure-track faculty.

“The home pool advantage”: Memorial to host the AUS Swimming Championships

Alexandra Brothers
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“The home pool advantage”: Memorial to host the AUS Swimming Championships

2023 marks an important year for Memorial’s varsity swim team.

The Seahawks are proud to be hosting the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) Swimming Championships at the Works-Aquarena from February 10th to 12th.

The competition is free to attend, and the team welcomes support from the university community. For those who are unable to make the competition in person, all of the events will also be livestreamed at www.AUStv.ca.

See the full schedule for the competition here.

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Photo Credit: Atlantic University Sport

Swimming at home

Hosting AUS is especially significant to the Seahawks this season, as this will be the first time in eight years that Memorial has hosted the event. The University was scheduled to host the Swimming Championships last year; however, due to COVID-19 restrictions, the competition was relocated to Dalhousie.

Swim captains Max Kelly and Kathryn Stokes discussed how exciting it is for the team to be hosting the competition in their own pool.  

As Stokes explained, the current team members have only ever competed out of the province until now, so racing against competing teams at home is an amazing opportunity. Kelly also noted that this competition is likely to be the only chance these swimmers will have to compete in an event hosted in the province.

Both captains are optimistic about the impact competing at home will have on the team’s performance. According to Kelly, “the home pool advantage for the first time in a long time” will be a considerable boost for the team since more of the team members’ friends and family will be able to attend the competition.

Stokes added that “the majority of people in the stands will be cheering and encouraging [the Seahawks] and it will be a huge boost to our swimmers as they compete against the best in the region”, which “will be a complete change in atmosphere” from what the team is used to in out-of-province competitions.

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(Photo credit: Kathryn Stokes)

Overcoming challenges

The team has not been without its challenges in the past year as Kelly pointed out, when it came to “finding a balance between [their] athletic and academic commitments”. However, the captains highlighted that they were able to overcome these difficulties with support from their teammates and coaches. Kelly said that the swimmers are always ready to help each other through difficult times, and Stokes expressed the team’s gratitude for their “amazing coaches, Duffy Earle and Chris Roberts” saying that the team “really [has] them to thank the most at the end of the day for making [them] all the fantastic athletes [they] are today.”

This support system has allowed the team to progress with “hardly a hiccup” throughout their entire season as Kathryn said, and to successfully balance their athletic and academic commitments as is evidenced by the eight Seahawks swimmers who were recognized as USPORTS Academic All-Canadians for their academic and athletic excellence this year.

Hosting AUS at home will be a great payoff for the swimmers’ hard work this season.

Kelly and Stokes shared what they are most looking forward to at AUS.

“I am really looking forward to seeing our team’s performance at this competition. We have put in so much work in the pool this year and I am ecstatic to see it pay off for everyone. We are also hoping to add some swimmers to our USPORTS roster, as well as break some provincial records,” said Kelly.

“We are also excited to have direct support from our own athletics department and having them see what swimming is all about—with some appearances from some Seahawks Alumni as well! It is also my last competition as a varsity swimmer and I am looking forward to making the best of it at AUS,” said Stokes.

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(Photo credit: Kathryn Stokes)

Goals for AUS

The captains also gave some insight into what the Seahawks hope to accomplish in the upcoming competition.

Kelly says, “our primary goal for AUS is to show Atlantic Canada what we are capable of. To do this we aim to set lots of personal bests, provincial records, and get as many of our swimmers on the podium as possible. Considering the training that we have done this season, I expect that we will be very pleased with our performance at AUS,” he said.

“Our team’s primary goals would be to swim at the best of our ability—whatever that may be depends on the goals of our swimmers. We all work together as a team setting goals for each season and work [our] best to achieve them. We hope to have lots of personal bests, top placing finishes, and to come together as a team to get each other pumped for the competition of the season,” said Stokes.

With hope, this competition will also be a step in the right direction in terms of the Seahawks’ long-term goal of expanding Memorial’s swimming program and bringing some exposure to the team’s well-deserving athletes.

Check out the Seahawks Instagram page @munswimming for updates on competitions and to show the team some support!

MUNFA picket captain almost struck by driver

Jacob Laybolt
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MUNFA picket captain almost struck by driver

Recently, frustrations over St. John’s campus picket lines have boiled into blatant aggression as some drivers have begun to accelerate toward picketers.

The Muse has learned of several accounts from protestors where drivers actively ignored picketers’ safety.

We spoke with one picket captain and Geography Department professor who was willing to share their experience of a near-fatal incident which occurred last Wednesday, February 1st:

“I am stationed at the Elizabeth Avenue and Russell Road entrance to campus. Our picket line walks the crosswalk and due to traffic, we bring the cars forward off of the road to talk with each driver a little up from the entrance. I am standing in front of those vehicles before coming around to the side to say hello and deliver a message.

On Wednesday morning around 8:50am a red Toyota corolla with a single male driver (we also got the license plate), dangerously broke through the main line narrowly missing three faculty, headed straight for me and then skidded around me, before accelerating and also blowing the stop sign. It was clearly dangerous driving. Several of us had our adrenaline shoot up that morning for quite a while. This dangerous event also caused me to not sleep well for the past couple nights and worry about my team on the line.

The campus enforcement officers, who have been so supportive of our situation, filed a report and submitted it to RNC. CEP found the vehicle parked on campus and told RNC the name of the individual and filed the report to RNC. I have not heard from RNC and am not sure whether they have talked to the individual. We would like to see the individual come back to our picket line and fully apologize and be interested in learning more about who he is. If he is not willing to do this, several of us are considering pressing dangerous driving charges. We have always been very polite talking with the drivers and have found almost every driver extremely supportive of what we are fighting for.”

MUNFA Picket Captain, Elizabeth Avenue & Russel Road

This dangerous encounter came before a recent NEWSLINE announcement on Tuesday evening from Memorial University regarding dangerous driving on the picket lines:

“Memorial has received reports of unsafe behaviours at picket lines. Strikers have a legal right to picket. Drivers are reminded to use extreme caution and watch for pedestrians when driving near Memorial campuses. Motorists should expect delays and proceed only when it is safe to do so.

If anyone experiences a safety incident, report it using the report feature in MUN Safe. Memorial is working with the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary and reporting illegal activity. In the event of an emergency, call 911.”

Labour Relations, Memorial University – Feb 7th, 2023

In another separate interaction, a recent Tik Tok from a MUNL student who was leaving to attend an appointment received significant attention.

They reported experiencing anxiety and discomfort from an “angry” and “furious” picketer who stopped traffic, put their hand on the top of their car and repeatedly warned them of the danger of crossing the picket line.

@makennajackson21

Please watch if you know about MUNFA. #memorialuniversityofnewfoundland #memorialuniversity #mun #foryoupage #canadianuniversities #university #makennajackson21 #foryou #fyp #stjohns #newfoundland #munfa #strike #protest #student #universitystudent #picketline

♬ original sound – Makenna Jackson

The picketer repeatedly asked, “Do you know how dangerous it is to cross a picket line?” In the context of the above incident on February 1st and the recent statement by MUNL- it may not come as a surprise that picketers are concerned about danger on the picket lines.

Road conditions and inadequate salting of sidewalks and pavement have only increased concerns about vehicular safety for picketers.

This incident garnered extensive discussion about the picket lines impacting students who live on campus and cannot leave without possibly crossing the line. However, others noted that reducing traffic while spreading awareness of the strike is inherent in the picket lines’ main function and goals.

Furthermore, the recent reports of tension between drivers and picket lines may contribute to the anxiety on the street. This is to say: drivers may become more frustrated in response to more defensive picketers who are increasingly confronted by impatient drivers attempting to scare them off the road rather than waiting.

There also appear to be many strike-supportive students living on campus who had wished there was a method of entering and exiting without interfering in MUNFA’s picketing. Measures are enacted to resolve this concern as yellow scarves have been distributed to some, signalling a wearer’s strike support with an important reason to enter campus. Signs are also being distributed to display in car windows.

Other pedestrian students can choose to wear buttons or pins, which are available throughout the campus and distributed by MUNSU.

Regarding to broader transportation impacts from the strike, a bulletin from Metrobus has announced their severance of service to the Arctic Avenue stops on campus.

Due to the current labour dispute at MUN, buses are not able to service Arctic Avenue.

Metrobus Transit – February 6th, 2023

In response to this development, some concerned individuals on Twitter shared their thoughts:


Fourth-year MUNL nursing students resume clinical placements today

Shantambi Wamunyima
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Fourth-year MUNL nursing students resume clinical placements today

Many fourth-year nursing students graduating this May are apprehensive about their graduation being delayed due to the MUNFA strike.

The nursing students do not blame MUNFA for going on strike. On the contrary, they fully support their actions because they understand that their needs were not met during negotiations with the administration.

Many nursing students spoke up about their perspectives, with Maddison Bailey as one of the students that spoke on behalf of her classmates, saying, “we’re definitely being affected the most by this.”

Mackenzie Lomond mentioned that,

“All these faculty members have played an integral role in getting [them] to this point,” and “It’s important that [the students] still support them.”

And another nursing student says,

“I think the biggest message I want to get out is that we are still supporting MUNFA and will continue to show our support on the picket line.”

Despite the students showing support for MUNFA, they are still worried that if the strike goes on for too long, it will jeopardize their graduation dates, the jobs they have lined up, and the healthcare system overall.

As a result of these concerns, discussions took place between faculty and administration about clinical placements resuming today, Monday, February 6th, at 7:30 am. This was confirmed through a recent Media release sent out by Memorial University.

IMG 2118
Retrieved from Memorial University Media Press
image 2

The situation of the fourth-year students is also being considered by the provincial government, as Premier Andrew Furey says they are working on a quick solution to the problem at hand.

Many are in support of nursing students resuming their work term so they can complete their programs by May.

Picture credit: CP24 News

On the other hand, Donnie Calabrese points out that Memorial University (MUNL) and Cape Brenton University (CBU), two Atlantic Canadian universities, are experiencing similar situations with their nursing students because of their striking faculties. This raises suspicions about what exactly is happening in the Atlantic region.

Image credits: Donnie Calabrese via Twitter

Overall, the duration of the MUNFA strike has caused much panic for the fourth year nursing students as it threatens their graduation and career paths. With a new implementation aiming to have students carry on with their clinical placements, we can only hope that they are not heavily affected by the consequences of the strike and can graduate on time.

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