Memorial University's Student Editorial(est. 1950)

For many people, bicycling seems like a strictly warm-weather activity.

Winter is often viewed as a season for parking the bike and waiting patiently for spring. The promise of snow-covered streets, icy paths, freezing temperatures, and short daylight hours can make winter riding appear uncomfortable or even dangerous.

Concerns about slipping, mechanical problems, or simply arriving at work cold and wet discourage many otherwise enthusiastic cyclists from continuing once temperatures drop.

Yet much of this hesitation comes from misconceptions. St. John’s, and many other cities across the country, have a growing community of year-round cyclists who ride safely even through snow and cold every year.

A combination of winter appropriate clothing, improved bike equipment, and better winter maintenance practices mean that riding in winter is far more manageable than people expect.

Snow can actually create calmer streets by slowing traffic, and cold air, when dressed for properly, can feel refreshing rather than punishing.

Winter cycling can be surprisingly practical. Roads and shared-use paths may be less crowded, commute times can become more predictable, and cyclists can avoid scraping windshields or waiting for public transit delays.

Another common worry is safety, particularly due to icy road conditions. Although winter riding requires adjustments, cyclists who adapt their speed, braking habits, and route choices often find conditions predictable and controllable.

Much like walking carefully on snowy sidewalks, winter cycling becomes easier with experience and preparation. The challenge is real, but it is not insurmountable.

The Benefits of Cycling in Winter

Continuing to ride through winter offers significant physical and mental rewards. Firstly, regular cycling helps maintain fitness levels that often decline during colder months, supporting cardiovascular health and overall well-being.

Also, outdoor activity during winter can improve mood and combat seasonal fatigue by increasing exposure to daylight and fresh air. For many riders, winter cycling ultimately transforms from a challenge into a deeply satisfying routine.

Finally, from an environmental perspective, replacing short winter car trips with bicycle travel reduces emissions during a season when fuel consumption tends to increase.

Practical Advice from Winter cyclists in St. John’s

1. Dress in Layers, Not Bulk

Winter cyclist David Tourigny noted, “Personally, I wear good snow pants from the Rossignol brand so I’m never cold.” Staying comfortable begins with clothing strategy. Instead of wearing one heavy coat, use multiple layers that trap warmth while allowing moisture to escape. A breathable base layer keeps sweat away from the skin, an insulating middle layer retains heat, and a wind-resistant outer layer protects against cold air and precipitation. Avoid overdressing. Cycling quickly generates body heat, and sweating excessively can lead to chilling later in the ride. Aim to feel slightly cool when starting out—you will warm up within minutes.

2. Protect Hands, Feet, and Face
Another winter cyclist, Brent Keeping says, “I have noticed more cycling in general since COVID. I’m a commuter and I do ride off and on during the winter. My advice for any winter riders is to dress for it in layers. I especially like the handlebar mitts. They’re a game changer for me, plus face coverage due to wind chill.” Maria Lopez Gomez notes that she wears ski goggles sometimes. Extremities are the first parts of the body to feel the cold. Insulated gloves or mitts designed for cycling help maintain dexterity for braking and shifting.

Warm socks paired with waterproof footwear or shoe covers prevent numb toes. A thin hat or helmet liner under the helmet reduces heat loss, while a neck warmer or face covering protects exposed skin from windburn. Eye protection is also helpful to shield against snow, wind, and road spray.

3. Plan for Comfort at Your Destination
Think beyond the ride itself. Bringing a change of clothes, storing gloves indoors to dry, or having access to warm beverages can make winter commuting far more appealing. Dry gear makes the return trip much more comfortable.

4. Prepare Your Bike for Winter Conditions
A well-prepared bicycle performs far better in cold weather. Wider tires provide more stability on snow, and lowering tire pressure slightly can improve traction. In icy regions, studded tires offer dramatically increased grip and confidence.

Fenders are highly recommended to reduce slush spray and keep both rider and drivetrain cleaner. Maksym Masli who “cycles every day to work, no matter what weather” advises people to “have studded tires and dress for the weather,” for driving in winter. Maria Lopez Gomez added that“studded tires are a must” and recommends “an old bike that you don’t mind ruining due to salt on the road.”

5. Maintain Your Bike More Frequently
Winter riding exposes bicycles to water, grit, and salt that accelerate wear. Cleaning the chain regularly and applying lubricant designed for wet conditions keep components functioning smoothly.

Checking brakes and tire condition more often than in summer prevents small issues from becoming safety hazards. Even a quick rinse or wipe-down after rides help prevent corrosion caused by road salt and moisture and can extend the life of key parts. If you’re choosing a winter bike, consider one with an aluminium frame. In addition to being lighter, they don’t rust like steel, but should still be washed.

6. Increase Visibility
Winter brings shorter days, overcast skies, and reduced visibility. Bright clothing and reflective materials make it easier for drivers and pedestrians to see cyclists.

Front white lights and rear red lights should be used not only at night but also during daytime conditions such as snowfall or fog. Keeping lights charged and lenses clean is especially important when roads are wet or slushy. Maria Lopez Gomez recommends reflective gear. Similarly, Brent Keeping recommends that “a taillight really keeps vehicles away from me at night – even more than I get in daylight.”

7. Ride Smoothly and Predictably
Winter riding rewards calm, deliberate movements. Sudden braking, sharp turns, or rapid acceleration can reduce traction on snow or ice. Brake earlier than usual and apply pressure gradually, especially when approaching intersections.

Corner slowly and keep the bike more upright when turning. Choosing a lower gear helps maintain steady control and reduces wheel spin when starting after a stop.David Tourigny noted, “The wind sometimes is a lot, but I just make it into a fun moment and take my time to not fall on ice or whatnot.”

8. Choose Routes Carefully
Not all streets are equal in winter. Roads that receive regular snow clearing or are frequently travelled tend to provide more reliable riding surfaces. Shared-use paths, protected bike lanes, if they have been ploughed, and quieter neighbourhood streets are often safer options than busy arterial roads.

Allow extra travel time so you can prioritize safer routes rather than the fastest ones. Give some thought as well to where you’ll lock up your bike at your destination. MUN has over 60 bike racks throughout campus, of which 17 are sheltered.

There are also bike lockers on the St. John’s, Signal Hill, and Marine Institute campuses. Chris Cordova told us, “I bike commute from Georgetown to MUN about once a week and I’m lucky to have a park trail, small streets and walkways to get there without traffic. I also fat bike in Pippy Park most days when there isn’t a storm.”

David Tourigny had similar advice, “If you’re a good cyclist, it’s feasible, unless it’s a particular day with crazy weather. You just need to know your safe route, stick to it and be more attentive than usual.”

9. Stay Aware of Changing Conditions
Winter surfaces can vary dramatically within a single ride. Packed snow, loose snow, wet pavement, and hidden ice (or “black ice”) may appear in quick succession. Watch for shaded areas, bridges, and intersections where freezing occurs more easily. Listening for tire feedback and adjusting speed accordingly helps riders respond before losing control.

Brent Keeping recommended, “that riders be careful of black ice along the road edges resulting from daytime snow melting at this time of year. Riding more to the centre of the lane is safer in my opinion, not only for black ice but because the snowbank takes away manoeuvring room.”

What next?

If you’re interested in joining others for a winter ride, contact the MUN Bike Hub to see what’s going on and who’s up for a short ride or an out-of-town excursion on the weekend. If you’re interested in winter outdoor activities in general, contact the Graduate Outdoor Society, no need to be a graduate student, to see what activities they have planned.

Winter cycling may initially seem intimidating, but with adequate preparation and realistic expectations it becomes both achievable and rewarding. Many of the concerns that discourage riders can be addressed through proper clothing, equipment, and riding techniques.

The benefits of winter bike riding go beyond just maintaining mobility. It also supports physical health, mental well-being, and environmental sustainability. Rather than viewing winter as the end of cycling season, more and more riders are discovering that it offers a different and often quite enjoyable way to experience the journey by bike.

In the summer of 2024, I hosted a yard sale. The sun beamed on me as I ate a frozen treat while chatting with the friendly folks who stopped by.

I was gleaming when someone picked up an armful of my clothes, shoes, and accessories. We both agreed they’d give me $20 for the multiple articles of clothing, and happily parted ways. The items served me no good anymore – didn’t fit, style changed, you know the drill.

A couple of weeks later, a friend and I ventured into a downtown boutique, hoping to find some trinkets. While browsing the clothes, I stumbled upon a couple of articles of the same clothing that I had sold just weeks before. One blouse in particular was priced at $45. I originally thrifted for maybe $7.

From that moment, I had a bit of an epiphany about the realities of secondhand shopping and how unfairly overpriced it had become. This goes for any second-hand shopping as well – thrifting, yard sales, boutiques, the works.

Before I delve into the goods, I do want to highlight the major difference between reselling something because it did not fit, versus reselling something because you want to make money off someone who may not know any better.

Second-hand shopping is meant to be affordable and accessible. It is used items, for god’s sake.

Sure, it may have a brand new tag on it, or you can call it “vintage”, but that does not mean you need to, or should resell it for an insanely high price.

If I’m being honest, the pure greed from these people makes me sick. And it’s not because I could have sold that shirt for $45, too. That isn’t my goal here. I thought I was giving this person a good deal for multiple items of clothing and accessories, just for them to resell them and scam other people.

It’s very common to see a piece go from the thrift store to Facebook Marketplace, a consignment boutique, or Depop for usually triple the price.

It sucks the soul out of second-hand shopping for those, like myself, who love doing it. And in turn, these prices absolutely skyrocket. It’s a never-ending cycle that I am just beyond tired of. I’m seriously thinking I might need to take a loan out when it comes to thrifting a pair of jeans now.

For context, the overalls down below were being sold at $60 PLUS shipping.

Yes, I understand Carhartt is a reliable brand, and no, a couple of paint splatters or rips won’t affect the overalls’ durability. But this is a prime example of how and why the prices in the second-hand shopping industry unfairly increase.

A 2025 study by Retail Insider stated that 77% of adult Canadians who were surveyed said that they purchased at least one pre-owned item in the past year. The article highlights the supposed newfound novelty of second-hand shopping while merely stating why individuals are resorting to these money-saving methods.

I understand the hardships of today’s climate, I really do. Money is tight. I can acknowledge and understand that reselling is how some people get by. Though I do have an issue with the surge of resellers that will greedily leave these places bare, limiting options for people who are in need of clothing, toys, furniture, and so much more.

This is why individuals like myself, and many, many others, turn to thrift stores, or other means, to buy ourselves something nice that won’t cost as much as the stores in the mall.

I’m not saying I am in need by any means, I recognize that I have a privileged background. But folks like myself should also be able to thrift without resellers looming around like ghosts up and down every aisle. You seriously can’t escape them!

MUNSU has recently announced that after surveying students about their use of MUNSU-run services, its executive committee unanimously voted to recommend the discontinuation of MUN’s campus and community radio station, CHMR-FM. 

The motion is intended to address MUNSU’s nearly $300k deficit. 

This is to be voted on at a Board meeting on April 1; however, I believe this decision to be a reckless cop-out and in direct opposition to the union’s commitment to cultivating a positive, well-rounded student experience at Memorial. 

I must first acknowledge my unique position regarding this matter as Managing Editor of The Muse. I cross paths with CHMR frequently; we have a show on the station called Muse News, and I have worked with its full-time staff before as well. 

Because of this, I have unique insight into CHMR’s operations and the value they provide to our campus and larger community. 

This all being said, I do contend that CHMR could be doing more. 

They could have better outreach, adapt to changing media consumption habits of students, and more student involvement both on campus and around St. John’s to drum up interest.

An enthusiastic, unavoidable community presence is necessary for any university organization to flourish, especially considering the steady decline in broadcast radio, but that can be extremely difficult if you don’t have the resources to do so. 

I caution the MUNSU executive against voting in favour of the station’s closure, a decision that would be anti-community and based on insufficient evidence. 

Insufficient survey sample 

The first, and most glaring issue with MUNSU’s recommendation is their student survey. 

The Membership Advisory, posted to Instagram, states that “this recommendation comes after prolonged consideration of MUNSU’s current financial and operational capacity, with an assessment of membership utilization suggesting a lower level of utilization compared to other student services.”

The survey results indicate that CHMR is the third least-used MUNSU service among students at 13.1%. However, if you zoom in, at the top of the page, you’ll see a very tiny “n=84.” 

This means that only 84 students responded to the survey.

MUN’s St. John’s campus has approximately 12k students enrolled. This sample size amounts to about 0.7% of the student body at the St. John’s campus.

Basing the decision to close an entire organization on less than 1% of the campus population would be irresponsible and would not accurately reflect students’ true feelings or metrics of MUNSU service use. 

Lack of funding for media

The second issue concerns the lack of funding allocated to media services. 

Both The Muse and CHMR are funded through a $4 media levy included in your annual tuition, meaning that each on-campus media organization receives $2 per student per semester. This fee has not been adjusted for inflation since 2001. 

For example, The Muse’s 75th Anniversary print issue was entirely funded by generous external organizations and individuals who purchased advertisements in the magazine. We did not make any money from it. Our base funding does not have the bandwidth for regular print publication, and this, combined with our now-digital culture, has spurred our heavy social media presence. 

This funding must cover employee salaries and operating expenses, and leaves little, if any, left over for additional initiatives. 

Outlined in MUNSU’s Constitution, the Station Manager’s salary is exempt from this and is instead paid by MUNSU’s regular budget, and the CHMR Board of Directors is welcome to apply for additional operating grants. 

MUNSU’s Membership Advisory outlines that an additional $23.8k is required to “modernize the service,” however, this fails to disclose that CHMR received external grants from national community radio organizations, meaning that MUNSU would not actually incur this expense.

In addition to this, a former Station Manager retired last year, meaning that the station currently has 2 full-time staff members instead of 3, saving on salary expenses.

If MUNSU were to fund student media sufficiently and avoid scapegoating the arts to amend their own financial issues, perhaps CHMR would have the financial means for increased community outreach, programming, and marketing, or even a wider station broadcast range that extends beyond St. John’s city limits.

Taking away professional development and skill-building opportunities for students

This province is home to some genuinely incredible journalists, many of whom got their start at The Muse or CHMR. Memorial’s media organizations have long been an incubator for journalists to learn skills to aid them in their careers, especially since MUN does not have a journalism program.

Countless notable alumni have taken to social media to voice their concerns.

Newfoundlanders and International Students wanting to pursue a career in the media industry deserve to have opportunities available to them as students. 

Coupled with continuous course cuts, removing more student services will potentially drive students away from choosing to attend Memorial – why pay the same tuition as another university for fewer opportunities? 

The National Community and Campus Radio Association (NCRA) has over 120 members nationwide. It’s not ridiculous to expect student unions to maintain their campus’s radio station. 

Closing CHMR would be an anti-community decision

If you didn’t know, CHMR-FM is a community radio station in addition to a campus one. 

This means that any St. John’s resident can avail themselves of their services and start their own radio show.

While stations like HOT 99.1, OZFM and K-ROCK provide value and cultural contributions to Newfoundland and St. John’s, there is so much humanistic value in a radio station that isn’t privately owned. Most of the music played on CHMR is from independent artists, local acts, or alternative genres.

It is imperative to preserve this channel for students and community members in St. John’s to learn broadcasting skills, have a voice, a platform to discuss issues, and to share in a love for music.

Musings

As far as I know, MUNSU did not engage in productive discussion with CHMR to explore other potential options instead of closure. Reported by Abby Cole with CBC, the staff appears to have been completely blindsided by discussions that were occurring.

Surely other solutions could have been reached – perhaps MUNSU and CHMR could have worked together to at least try to increase involvement before deciding to vote on its closure.

I completely understand there are cuts that need to be made, but as a student union, MUNSU should recognize the value in facilitating community and platforming student voices. 

MUNSU repeatedly criticizes the immense administrative bloat seen in Memorial’s upper administration and vehemently opposes their decisions to reduce courses, programs, and services within the university. GSU has recently come under fire for similar issues.

However, MUNSU seems to be following a similar path, reducing student services to amend their debts while voting to retain their own course reimbursement perk, which incurs an annual cost of up to $35k. 

I strongly urge MUNSU executive to listen to journalists’ concerns before making this decision, be more collaborative and transparent going forward, and conduct more comprehensive surveys that accurately reflect the student body.

Got an opinion? Send your letters or opinion piece pitches to editor@themuse.ca

There are certain things a person signs up for when they first start dating someone. The butterflies? Yes. The late-night conversations? Absolutely. But no one talks about what follows when they call it quits; the sudden urge to look up your ex online “just to check.”

If you don’t know what I’m talking about, congratulations. You are probably one of the most emotionally stable people on the dating market.

But if you do know what I’m talking about, then you’ve probably typed their name into a search bar at least once… purely for research purposes, of course.

Let’s call it what it really is: the post-break-up ritual of stalking your ex online (and just online…don’t be creepy).

We tell ourselves we’re “just checking.”

Checking that they’re okay.

Checking that they’re miserable.

Checking that they haven’t suddenly developed a personality.

Or even the dreaded confirmation that they have moved on and are now dating someone who laughs at all of their bad jokes, and isn’t as hot as you.

It almost always begins innocently. We click their profile. We scroll a little. Then, oh no, a photo we haven’t seen before. Who took that picture?

Before we know it, we’ve scrolled through their entire photo gallery, accidentally followed one of their friends, and are now debating if looking through their mom’s profile is “too far.”

Spoiler alert… it is.

Of course, online stalking isn’t limited to just one platform; people have gotten surprisingly creative, and some treat stalking like their own personal application for the F.B.I.

The options MUN students reported using were endless, with a few methods commonly recurring.

I was told of the classic Instagram scroll, carefully checking posts, stories, and religiously scrolling the “friends” reels, trying to see how they’re doing based on their liked videos.

Others take the Spotify route, casually glancing at playlists to see if their ex is suddenly into sad music or suspiciously romantic love songs.

Snapchat detectives can be found stalking snap scores to see how much they have increased in the last hour, while others rely on the tried-and-true method of gathering intel through mutual, but not always reliable, friends.

And then there are the truly dedicated investigators who go the extra mile with a fake account, just to take a look without leaving any evidence behind.

Whichever way it’s done, the goal is usually the same: a quick peek into a life you technically aren’t a part of anymore, whether you want to be or not, or really not…depending on the ex.

Checking up on an ex is something that most of us do, even if we pretend it’s not true.

Sometimes it’s curiosity, sometimes it’s nostalgia, and sometimes it’s just to confirm that their questionable life choices have caught up with them…if dreams do come true.

When I asked MUN students their opinion on stalking your ex, the responses were… mixed, to say the least.

Some were quick to point out the downsides; it’s emotionally draining, keeps you stuck in the past, and can sometimes spiral into an unhealthy obsession, hoping for karmic retribution. Others, however, joked that it’s basically free entertainment, like watching a reality TV show starring someone you once knew way too well.

It’s clear that for some people it’s no big deal, while for others it’s better to take a step back and move on.

So what’s the right approach? Honestly, who cares?

If you block your ex and move on peacefully, gold star for emotional maturity. But if you decide to keep scrolling, make some popcorn, enjoy the show, and follow the tried-and-questionably-true rule, “be careful, don’t like that post.”

My first thought, when I learned of the current financial situation of the Graduate Students’ Union, was ‘Not again.’

Then I remembered that the GSU, like many other organizations, has been in, and out, of debt for much of its history.

And while the history of the GSU’s debt in the late ‘90’s may be buried in papers collecting dust in Feild Hall, I remember when the union sold the original Grad House downtown and signed the long-term lease of Feild Hall … and how that turned out. 

At that time, the GSU Board’s intention was to make the organization much more visible on Memorial’s St. John’s campus, and thus be better able to serve the growing number of graduate students.

The terms of the lease between the university and the GSU included significant renovations to the building at the GSU’s expense. The renovation plans included the creation of graduate student housing and Bitters pub, both of which were to eventually generate additional revenue for the GSU.

Thus, the GSU began spending the proceeds from the sale of the Grad House, and then some, to renovate Feild Hall.

Unfortunately, this endeavour was, in my opinion, poorly managed, and ultimately plunged the GSU into debt. By the time Feild Hall reopened its doors, the GSU’s accounts were near empty, and the organization was in debt to the university and the bank for more than $100,000. 

When I joined the GSU Board as a departmental representative that fall, I investigated the debt situation. I asked a lot of questions and reviewed what records were available to me. In the end, I did not discover some hidden financial malfeasance on behalf of any members of the GSU Board.

Rather I learned that there were few financial controls with respect to who, within the organization, was authorized to make decisions, including approving expenditures related to the renovations and the creation of Bitters.

In the end, I concluded that the entire debacle was the result of inexperience, exuberance, and an unfettered vision of how outstanding the GSU’s new facilities would be, as no expense was being spared. 

The following spring, I joined the GSU Executive and decided to put the turbulence of the recent past behind us so we could focus our efforts on three key roles: Advocacy, services, and restoring financial solvency for Memorial’s graduate students’ association.

There was one aspect of the graduate student experience, however, to which I limited my involvement and that was the growing call for collective representation of graduate student teaching assistants.

While I, as a TA myself, agreed that we needed coordinated efforts to improve the working conditions of TAs, I also thought that there needed to be a separation between the overall graduate student life at Memorial and graduate student work.

In my opinion, we needed to maintain a line between the work the GSU did on behalf of all graduate students and the need to represent and negotiate for those grad students who also happened to be teaching assistants and research assistants.

And despite “union” being in its name, I tried to lead the GSU as an association representing and serving all graduate students at Memorial and not a labour union representing graduate student workers.

In fact, more than once I suggested changing the GSU to the Graduate Students’ Association of Memorial University, in order to clarify this separation.

While I tried to provide support, encouragement, direction, and advice to the graduate students who were laying the groundwork for TAUMUN, I focused my efforts on advocacy and services for all graduate students at Memorial, and getting the GSU out of debt. 

During this time, our advocacy work brought about student course evaluations, the proposal for a University Ombudsperson, which unfortunately failed to pass, enhanced health and dental coverage for graduate students, and the Graduate Research Integrity Program (GRIP).

We also negotiated increased funding for historically under-funded graduate programs, and graduate student travel for research and conferences. 

On the services side, we restructured our operations board, which focused our efforts on potential revenue generation from our businesses in Feild Hall.

We invested in our student housing facilities, graduate workspaces, and Bitters pub, which lead to a full residence upstairs, and our pub becoming the premiere destination for a working lunch on Memorial’s campus.

We also negotiated revised terms for the Student Development Fund, the origin of which is an entire story to itself, that included an agreement that balanced long-term debt repayment to the university and investment in graduate student life. 

The rest of our executive team’s time was spent restructuring our finances so that the GSU could continue providing effective advocacy and sustainable services to our membership and reducing our debt.

When we were unsure about how to best achieve our goals, we consulted with, and learned from, those who knew more about such matters than we did. Being surrounded by experts is one of the benefits of being part of a university community, and we took full advantage of this fact.

And while the GSU debt we inherited in 1998 was not fully resolved when I stepped down from the GSU in 2001, we had made a significant dent in it. Two years later, while I was working up the hill, I received a phone call from the GSU’s General Manager, who informed me that the measures, which we had put in place five years earlier, had finally led to the GSU becoming debt-free once again. 

I’m sharing these memories with you because I think that knowing the GSU’s history can help to put its future into perspective. Yes, the GSU is in debt again, but the creation and implementation of sound financial measures can lead the organization out of debt.

It has been done before. This should be the focus of the current GSU Board and those to come. Figure it out. Learn from those who know how to achieve this goal. Put measures in place and adhere to them.

Most importantly, as I learned back then, accept that the efforts you make now will mostly benefit those who have yet to arrive. The GSU is more than any one of us and must continue to represent all Memorial’s graduate students, those there now, and those who will come. 

Yes, the GSU may be an imperfect association, and it has a history of financial mismanagement, but it is, in my opinion, still worth keeping.

Just fix it again. 

Lastly, I suggest that TAUMUN remain focused on the distinct needs of its membership, and I encourage its current leadership to support the entity from which it emerged.

Lend your power to the GSU to help lift it back up, rather than giving it the boot. 

I wish you all the very best during this challenging time. Perhaps there will be a time when I share my memories of the many times MUNSU was in debt. 

Launch forth, 

Darren S. Newton, MA Sociology, and President of the GSU from 1999-2001