Memorial’s student-owned and operated bar, The Breezeway, is back and in full swing after a renovation period. On Friday, September 9th, MUNSU hosted “Back to the 90s” at the Breezeway—the first-weekend event since the bar’s reopening. The 90s-themed night was a stellar success thanks to an amazing crowd turnout and phenomenal musical performances from MUNL students Clare Follett and The Band Wrigley.
For those who have yet to visit the newly renovated bar, The Breezeway looks better than ever with a modern new design—featuring a sleek bar (with no shortage of beverage options), a café, plenty of tables and seating, as well as a stage and several pool tables and dart boards.
The spacious bar filled up quickly on Friday night, and soon enough, there was a line of students outside waiting to get in. Many students got into the throwback spirit by sporting 90s wardrobe staples like flannels and baggy jeans. The MUNSU staff had their hands full, keeping up with a steady stream of orders at the bar, but they did a great job keeping on top of everything while maintaining quick and friendly service.
Clare Follett, a musician, hailed by Wrigley frontman as one of the best artists in Newfoundland, kicked off the night’s performances with such 90s and 2000s hits as Alanis Morrisette’s “Hand in My Pocket,” the Counting Crows’ “Mr. Jones,” and the All-American Rejects’ “Gives You Hell.”
Next up was a stellar two-hour set from The Band Wrigley. The band paid true homage to the 90s, playing everything from alternative classics like the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Under the Bridge,” the Foo Fighters’ “Everlong,” and Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit .”To catchy crowd favourites like Britney Spears’s “…Baby One More Time”, the Backstreet Boys’ “I Want it That Way,” and a mash-up between Smash Mouth’s “All-Star” and Semisonic’s “Closing Time .”The band also played more modern hits from artists such as Olivia Rodrigo and Harry Styles when the crowd demanded an encore.
The performers did an excellent job keeping the crowd engaged. Lead singer of Wrigley, John Wadman-Scanlan, encouraged the crowd to have as much fun as possible, and it’s safe to say that that’s precisely what they did. Throughout the night, audience members sang, danced, chanted the performers’ names, waved their flashlights in the air and even, for a brief moment during Wrigley’s encore, crowd surfing.
After two years of on-and-off isolation and COVID-19 restrictions, it was great to see students gathering and having a great time together again. The night was truly an exciting and memorable event that gave a promising outlook for what this year has to offer for MUNL students.
After Friday’s concert, students won’t want to miss out on future Breezeway and MUNSU events. Check out the bar’s Grand Opening, scheduled for September 23rd.
For more information on upcoming events, visit the Breezeway webpage.
The shift to in-person classes and university life might feel discouraging for many students beginning their second and third years of study. Due to pandemic restrictions, students who started university in 2020 and 2021 could not partake in all on-campus orientation events typically offered to first-year students. For some students who began university during these uncertain times, feeling like an active member of Memorial University’s community remains challenging even as conditions revert to those of a more traditional learning environment.
In a First Year Experience Survey (FYE) sent out to first-year students in 2021, results revealed that very few students who started university online/ remotely felt they were active members of MUN society.
Sadly, only 14.9% of participants indicated that they somewhat or strongly agreed with the statement, “I feel connected to the university community.”
Not only did 2020 and 2021’s first-years miss out on the typical Memorial Welcome, but they were also very limited in their ability to join the clubs, societies, and volunteer since groups were put on pause or significantly modified following health guidelines.
Unsurprisingly given the complex and uncertain conditions of the past two years, student involvement in extracurricular activities has been very low. The 2021 FYE survey highlights that engagement with university extracurriculars was one of the most challenging adjustments for new students in 2021, as 83.7% of participants found “getting involved in university life outside the classroom” to be somewhat or very difficult. Of the students surveyed, only 10.8% joined a club or organization, while a mere 5.6% indicated that they worked with a volunteer organization on campus.
After missing out on many of the opportunities that first-year students get offered, students in their second or third year may feel like the chance to get involved on campus is too late. But this could not be farther from the case. Now is the perfect time to become a more active member of the MUN community. Clubs and societies are beginning to pick up where they left off, and they need active involvement from students to get things up and running in full force again.
How to Get Involved on Campus
There are many ways for students to become more involved with the university. Here are a few suggestions for anyone looking to try something new and become more active members of MUN’s rich and diverse society:
This general overview of how students can get involved on campus is a great place to start for students looking to become more engaged with the MUN community.
This comprehensive list of student groups highlights the wide variety of organizations students can join with so many different groups available to become a part of if students are bound to find something on this list that interests them.
*However, if a club or society is not on the list that a student is interested in, MUNSU encourages them to start one themselves! Click here for more information on how to start an official MUNSU club or society.*
Visit the Student Experience Office
The Student Experience Office offers a wide variety of services that are perfect for students new to the Memorial community or those who want to maximize their engagement with their learning environment. The Student Experience Office is located in room 3005 of the University Centre and is open Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Photo Credit: @memorialustudents (via Instagram)
Find a Volunteer Position
Many on-campus organizations actively seek new volunteers; for a list of volunteer opportunities and a guide to choosing a volunteer position, visit MUN’s volunteer page.
Volunteer with The Muse
Speaking of volunteering, The Muse is always looking for new members. Students interested in becoming a writer for the editorial should contact themusechief@gmail.com.
Reach Out to Faculty Members
Contact department heads or academic advisors for more information on the opportunities available within the faculty to get involved in activities more specific to a particular area of study.
Keep an Eye Out for Upcoming Events and Opportunities
Getting involved with the university doesn’t have to involve a lengthy commitment. A great way to get closer to MUN society is to attend events on campus. Check out MUN’s Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram pages for updates on future events. Also, be sure to keep an eye out for flyers and posters around campus advertising points of interest for students.
Memorial’s student-owned and operated bar, The Breezeway, is an excellent place for students 19+ to spend time with their fellow students in a fun environment without having to leave the campus. After a renovation, The Breezeway is now open and looking better than ever! Many events are scheduled in the bar, including concerts and open mic nights. The bar is on the first floor of the UC. Be sure to check out the Grand Opening on September 23rd.
Photo Credit: Jenna Reid
The most important thing to remember for new and returning students is to take advantage of any intriguing opportunities around campus.
There is never a wrong time to make the most of all Memorial’s experiences.
Mary Browns is now open in the University Centre (UC) at Memorial University’s St. John’s Campus.
MUN’s Mary Browns location will be open Monday-Friday 11-6 pm and will serve various combos and sandwiches such as the Big Mary and 2-4 piece chicken meal, rather than their signature 9-30 piece feasts.
It was announced in July that MUN would welcome Mary Brown’s to its UC’s food court after the closure of Dairy Queen last winter.
Many students are looking forward to having this Newfoundland favourite on campus.
There is no word on if there will be any student specials at MUN’s specific location. However, some Memorial students hope that Mary Browns will hop on the advertising potential of using “Big Mary MUNday” instead of their traditional Big Mary Monday Campaign at MUN’s location.
Mary Brown’s is the most recent expansion in the University Centre’s food court. With some space still available, email themusechief@gmail.com about what you think should get added next.
This Wednesday, MUNSU organized its first event for the much-anticipated return of the Breezeway student bar located in the University Centre. While the official “Grand Opening” is not slated until September 23rd, this past Wednesday night’s “Open Mic Kick-Off” proved to be a major hit.
The open mic portion of the event almost seemed to be eclipsed by a very enthusiastic atmosphere that flooded the room with vocal chatter and an excited mood- introducing some new customers to Breezeway’s business while reminding other older students of life before COVID-19. Throughout the floor, longtime friends regrouped in their former stomping grounds as other frosh students made new friendships at a bar which was totally new to them.
View from a busy billiards room
As the Breezeway continues to hire new staff for its return to full operations, the event allowed for a test run of the establishment which resulted in a max-capacity turnout with a line-up extended well through the first floor of the UC.
Line-up to the Breezeway, extending into the first floor space normally used for those awaiting buses.
Excited patrons lined the bar waiting for affordable pints while baristas and bartenders worked to stay afloat with high demand from customers. Many students also spoke enthusiastically about the Breezeway’s eventual daytime plans to serve coffee and offer a social space for studying.
If this week’s energetic revival is any indication of things to come (from both MUNSU and also their student bar specifically) then there are certainly good omens for campus life and the union’s ambitions this year. The difficulties of COVID-19 and previous financial challenges do not seem to be taking any wind away from the renewed Breezeway as it sets sail this month.
On Wednesday, August 24, the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) announced the investment of more than $19 million— under its Ideation Fun initiatives, Challenge programs and the Global Innovation Clusters support program— for collaborative research projects between academic, industrial and non-profit institutions and NRC researchers. The Memorial University of Newfoundland received $217,690 from this investment towards environmental sustainability initiatives.
The Government of Canada’s Budget 2022 includes $750 million over six years for Science and Innovation to support Global Innovation Clusters. The NRC receives $36 million annually for research teams working on various projects. The government’s investment this month aims at studies related to environmental sustainability, health innovation, and cybersecurity.
According to the announcement, the funding received by Memorial University will get utilized for a better training simulator for the traineeship operators learning to navigate waters with unstable ice levels—a consequence of climate change. Ship operation training based on simulators is offered at the Marine Institute.
The Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, François Philippe Champagne, commented, “Supporting researchers and businesses across Canada working to innovate and build new knowledge is so important to the future of our country and society. Together, we will achieve more and create real changes in critical areas such as health care, sustainability, and technology. Through important investments like this, we are putting in place the best conditions to generate discoveries that will benefit all Canadians.”
Other academic institutions that received significant investments from the NRC include the University of New Brunswick for cybersecurity in the fast decision-making technology needed for safe autonomous transport in the future and The University of British Columbia (UBC). UBC’s funding is to develop algorithms to improve forest management practices and develop bio-based alternatives to agrochemicals to protect crops from diseases. Additionally, McGill University received funds to study possible improvements in the accessibility of transit systems for senior citizens.
According to NRC President Iain Stewart, “The National Research Council’s programs bring together NRC researchers with academic and industry partners to tackle challenges and opportunities, like climate change, health care and digitalization. The NRC Programs allow us to provide funding to our partners to enable their participation in the research activity. Today’s funding announcement provides a snapshot of examples of the exciting work underway,” said Stewart.
Image credits: Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland
On Tuesday, August 16th, the Government of NL announced the addition of 5 new seats for graduates from international medical schools to the Family Medicine Residency Program at the MUN Faculty of Medicine. Successful applicants can return to Canada to complete their residency training at Memorial University.
The Family Medicine Residency Program has 35 seats distributed across five streams— Northern, Eastern, Central, Western and Nunavut. Under the provincial government’s announcements, this system allows the program to provide a unique education to students regarding the specific communities of these regions. The five new medicine seats will be included in a new stream dedicated to international medical graduates. “Each stream in the Family Medicine residency program offers a unique rural and remote learning environment specific to the communities they serve. We hope these extra seats will help address physician recruitment and retention challenges in the province, particularly in rural and remote regions. It also represents another pathway for Canadian medical school graduates to return to Canada to practice,” commented Premier Andrew Furey.
According to the Dean of Medicine, Dr. Margaret Steele, “As the only medical school in the province, Memorial University’s Faculty of Medicine plays an important role in supporting physician recruitment and retention. This expansion of our family medicine program will provide an opportunity to give hands-on experiences to Canadian citizens or permanent Canadian residents to complete their residency program in Newfoundland and Labrador with the goal that they remain here to practice,” said Steele.
This initiative is the latest from the provincial government, targeted towards addressing the shortage of healthcare workers in Newfoundland and Labrador—especially in the province’s rural communities. As the Minister of Health and Community Services Tom Osborne commented, “Providing this opportunity for residents may increase the likelihood that they may stay in the province to practice as a family physician upon graduation. We must continue to work together on creative solutions like this one in our efforts to attract and keep health care professionals.”
“Providing this opportunity for residents may increase the likelihood that they may stay in the province to practice as a family physician upon graduation. We must continue to work together on creative solutions like this one in our efforts to attract and keep health care professionals,” said Minster of Health and Community Services, Tom Osborne.
To address the growing physician crisis, the Government of NL has introduced several initiatives to promote the recruitment and retention of healthcare professionals.
In June 2022, Premier Andrew Furey announced the addition of 5 undergraduate seats for NL students at the Memorial School of Medicine. The New Family Physician Income Guarantee Initiative and the Family Practice Start-Up Program provide financial incentives for family physicians, ensuring new family physician billing works on a fee-for-service basis. As a result, upcoming family physicians will have a minimum income equivalent to that of a salaried family physician for the first two years of their practice.
In addition, the government will provide $100,000 to new practicing family doctors who work for five years. Compensation rates for physicians working in emergency rooms in small rural communities are temporarily increased until October 31st, 2022. There is also a one-year pilot program to encourage retired family physicians to return to medicine.
The President of Memorial University, Dr. Vianne Timmons, commented, “We thank the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador for providing the support needed to increase the number of medical residents which will benefit our communities. We know that these new family medicine residents will embrace Newfoundland and Labrador as their home and stay here to practice medicine in the long term.”
Successful Family Medicine Residency Program applicants will begin training on July 1st, 2023.
Memorial University student and protestor will be the subject of an upcoming documentary: Matt Holds Up a Sign.
Matthew (Matt) Barter, an undergraduate political science student, is no stranger to the public eye.
Barter claims he has been protesting tuition hikes “as far back as 2015” while also being an avid vocal critic of the university on his website.
Last winter, however, Barter made headlines when he was banned from Memorial campus’ after protesting Memorial’s tuition hikes during a news conference.
In his effort to protest, Barter rose with President Vianne Timmons and attached a poster to the podium while she was speaking. Barter then stood near her, holding a sign stating, “STOP VIANNE! No to tuition hikes and out-of-control spending.”
This act inspired the upcoming documentary, Matt Holds Up a Sign, as Memorial University banned Barter from campus for three months the day after his protesting in the news conference.
The ban allowed Barter to attend classes. However, it stipulated that whenever Barter arrived on campus, he was required to check in with campus security. While the ban has since been lifted, Barter is on a probation sentence until December 2022.
Although Barter says the university hasn’t told him what the probation sentence entails, even though it was implemented in March.
Produced by Island Horse Productions, Matt Holds Up A Sign focuses on Barter’s struggle at MUN and how the university has dealt with protestors in the past compared to their dealings with Barter.
In the trailer of Matt Holds Up A Sign, Barter claims: “they seem to want to punish me because they think I am an easy target because I have autism.”
The university administration has not verified this claim.
The official trailer for Matt Holds Up A Sign is available now. The documentary is set for release in September 2023.
Immigrating to a new country can be overwhelming- and adapting to a new routine, lifestyle, or culture takes time. This article is a quick guide for new students in Canada.
Budgeting is a very important practice. It helps one allocate funds smartly and avoid overspending. When coming to Canada, it is very important to have funds for food. Groceries for an average person in Newfoundland is $220 per month. This accounts for food, water and snacks.
Expenses for the first month can be a little higher as some people need to buy kitchen staples such as cooking utensils . Dollarama and Walmart are very common places to shop for these items without breaking the bank! Some grocery stores such as Walmart and Sobeys even give out student discounts on Tuesdays if you present your MUN ID! MUNSU also provides a free grocery shuttle for MUN students. Having a grocery list can also help with sticking to a budget.
At the beginning of each semester, students usually have books and study materials to buy. MUN bookstores and amazon are great places to find good deals. Some teachers also provide online resources where students can buy course access.
It is recommended to set aside at least $500 for such expenditures to be on the same side. MUN has a wide variety of books and catalogues readily available that can be accessed through their online website or in person by visiting the QE11 library!
Another critical thing to consider is opening a bank account. Many local branches offer student checking accounts whereby students do not have to pay monthly fees. As a student, it is important to choose a branch in close proximity since many students do not have their own transportation.
Some of the most popular banks near MUN are easily accessible to students and are within walking distance of the campus; such as the Royal Bank of Canada (located in the UC), Scotiabank (located in Churchill Square) and CIBC (located in Churchill Square as well).
https://locations.cibc.com/nl/st.-john%27s/00763
Lastly, Memorial University of Newfoundland offers a plethora of resources to newcomers. There are multiple study spots that one can book in advance! Designated help centres have been put in place as well to help students who are struggling with their respective fields of study. There is also the Internationalization Office that helps new students get settled in.
On the 21st of August, we had yet another Vintage Market at St. John’s Farmer’s Market. This event does not happen as much as many would like, which makes it all the more special when it does! With over forty vendors, there were many options, including clothes, plates, and records.
Walking in from the parking lot, vendors were selling fresh produce: part of the Double Market Weekend (with the Farmer’s Market on Saturday and the Vintage Market on Sunday), who sold some delicious vegetables and other things. On the right, we first tasted what lay ahead inside. With the very talented HennaPhilic on end and two other lovely vendors beside them, we saw racks of clothes, vintage books, magnets, and toys. After spending time there browsing, we followed the line inside.
Even at first glance, one can see how busy the market is. Dozens of people made their rounds booth to booth, often admiring the many products before moving on. Many vendors were selling vintage clothes, accessories, shoes, and cute little trinkets. This market is for you if you’re looking for anything from vintage jeans to plates and glassware!
One lovely addition that seemed new was the five and ten-dollar bins. Many vendors had storage bins filled with t-shirts, bags, hats, and other things that were all five or ten dollars each. The amount of vintage Harley Davidson shirts I found in those was incredible! These were especially nice because of the items inside; even if you don’t have a lot of money, these bins were somewhat affordable if you were looking for a shirt or two. There were also shorts for ten dollars each in some stalls.
Photo Credit: Jenna Reid
My favourite vendors were probably Cecilia Amber Adornments and Dreamy Thrifts due to the amazing conversations I had with them and the items they were selling. One of the most notable vendors was [NOSIGNAL], who had handmade clothing and other vintage pieces with negotiable prices and amazing quality. And, as always, we can always count on Cheddar’s Café for delicious food and coffee! As well as Fatima’s Indian Food and The Jam Lady for the fabulous refreshments, food, and jam!
Overall, while there were some fantastic finds, a lot of the clothes were overpriced, with some fetching almost $90 on the price tags. Were some of these prices justified? I think it depends on the item; if it were a vintage designer dress or jacket, I could see that price being fair. If it were for a pair of vintage jeans? Maybe less so, primarily since I could’ve found cheaper pairs of the same brand for $30 at other vendors.
This market is definitely worth going to, and I would highly recommend everyone who loves this type of thing to go to the next one. I was delighted I was able to make it a second time.
The tension between the French and English has been a part of Canadian history since our nation was first established. Particularly in Quebec, there has always been an underlying fear for many francophone Quebecers that their language and culture will eventually be drowned out by the influx of anglophones in their province. While Quebec is the only French province in Canada, our country is still bilingual, and so there are many residents who speak English either as their first or second language. With tensions continuing to build in the province throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been some nervousness amongst many English-speaking Quebecers that their right to speak their language would be taken away from them. Due to the recent amendments made to the French language charter and, more specifically, Bill 101, many anglophones in the province feel that their worst fear has come true. But this is only one side of the story, the controversy surrounding this topic is intense, and the division between the two cultures is only getting worse.
The adoption of Bill 96
On May 24th of this year, Bill 96 was officially adopted by the Québec legislature. It was adopted as an update to Québec’s original language law, Bill 101, which was passed back in 1977 by the René Lévesque government.
What has the Bill changed?
The intention of the original language law, Bill 101, was to protect the French language and culture in Quebec. They aimed to reinforce the right of the French residents to speak and receive services in their own language. As well as, to protect Quebec’s french heritage and status as the French province of Canada.
The amendments made by Bill 96 have proven extremely controversial within the province. Especially for English-speaking and international CEGEP students, which has resulted in many of these students forming walkouts and protests.
Photo Credit: Consortium of English Language CEGEP (via consortiumquebec.ca)
The frustration from English CEGEP students has resulted from the Bill’s aim to put a new cap on enrolment levels of English-language CEGEP colleges. Making it much more difficult for students to get accepted into these institutions.
Further changes were made for English-language CEGEP colleges, including,
The introduction of a french-language exam that students must pass in order to graduate.
The requirement for students to take certain core courses in French
Unilingual English students now being required to take more courses in French, in order to learn the language
For many francophones, these changes are seen as minor adjustments that in no way infringe upon the rights of the students. The belief is that as an English Quebecer, it is your responsibility to make the effort to learn the official language of the province and promote the French culture.
The Bill’s effect on immigrants and international students
The most controversial topic that has been raised by the Bill is its effects on immigrants and international students moving to the province. Bill 96 has made it so that all new immigrants have six months to learn the French language. After six months, all government services will be provided to them in French only.
The controversy surrounding this topic is due to the fact that many immigrants entering the province only speak a foreign language and perhaps a bit of English. So, they will then have to rely on their knowledge of the English language to learn french. On top of that, they are more than likely moving to the province to find work and will have little time to commit to learning a new language, all within six months.
The opinion of some is that it is more than understandable to expect English-speaking Quebecers to learn French when growing up in a French province. Where they believe the Bill has gone a bit too far is its 6-month requirement placed on immigrants.
While it’s true that there are many other provinces that English-speaking expatriates can immigrate to. We must also consider that many people are not given a choice when trying to give their family a better life.
Can you be against Bill 96 and still for the promotion of French culture?
It’s difficult to say. There are so many divided opinions. Quebec Liberal leader Dominique Anglade has stated that her party is not against the Bill in its entirety but is opposed to certain components. Her belief is that people can be against the Bill and still be for the promotion and protection of the French.
Even Prime Minister Justin Trudeau himself has stated that he will be closely watching the effects of the new Bill to see how it plays out.
On the flip side, many other government officials and lawyers within the province have continued to reaffirm that all Anglophones in Quebec will continue to have access to healthcare, Cegeps, universities, and hospitals in English.
It’s difficult to predict how the introduction of this new Bill will affect the province of Quebec and its residents in the long term. But it’s safe to say that with the divide between the French and English growing already, there is going to be much more to come.
