The Muse

The “Fund the Future” rally was held on Wednesday this week as protestors gathered around the clocktower near the University Centre at Memorial to voice their concerns regarding tuition fees and student issues. The main goals of the protestors were to reinstate the needs-based grant program for students, and to reduce tuition gradually to the point of elimination.

Plans to march to Dwight Ball’s office to deliver a manifesto in the form of around 9000 signed postcards were adjusted due to the severe cold and rain, and students instead met in the Breezeway where pizza and coffee were readily available.

There were plenty of chants being shouted by attendees and organizers, and representatives from MUNFA and MUNSU gave empassioned speeches about problems with tuition prices, occasionally calling out premier Dwight Ball by name.

Most in the crowd were in agreement, although one young student was walking amongst the protestors and voicing his dissent with the event – at one point yelling “raise taxes”. He left midway through and was mostly ignored, aside from an organizer who briefly argued with him.

The event was a success, and will likely occur in a similar fashion next year.

It has never been this close to becoming a reality. In fact, the idea has never even been proposed to the academic senate until now. A law program at Memorial may be less of a pipe dream than many believe. In an interview with The Muse, the Provost and academic Vice-President Dr. Noreen Golfman talks about about what stage the proposal is currently in, what the school could eventually look like, and how the program would financially impact students. 

According to Dr. Golfman, senate has green-lit the idea. However, this is only one of the first stages of having the program come to fruition. The Board of Regents, a body of administrators who approve or disapprove of anything which involves spending at Memorial, must now review a more detailed and cost-focused proposal and decide whether or not they are a proponent of the idea. When asked how likely it would be that the board would approve, Dr. Golfman had this to say: 

“I’m sure there will be a debate… our challenge is – my challenge certainly is – to make the best possible case. Obviously I feel passionately about this. I think the benefits are huge to the university and the province and I would hope that when I get to the point of putting that case on the table that it will be self evident”.

The tuition for the program would be “competitive”, Dr. Golfman stated. This means a ballpark cost of 14 to 18 thousand dollars (this is what the proposal is aiming for). Rumours of a 30 thousand dollar tuition cost are based on a model which includes zero federal or provincial assistance and the construction of a new building immediately. Dr. Golfman was fairly clear on this issue, saying that “there’s no way we’re putting up a law school with 30,000 in tuition”. When asked if anybody from the federal or provincial government had spoken with her about governmental assistance, she simply said that it was too early for those sort of talks.

One item of concern which many students have had on their minds is whether or not the program would offer a hyper-specialized law degree focusing on, for example, indigenous rights and environmental law, as opposed to offering a broader law education. When asked about this, Dr. Golfman insisted that students would be taught all foundational elements of law required for accreditation, with the opportunity to specialize in areas which would benefit Newfoundland specifically. 

“Well there’s a foundational piece, to get accreditation. We would have to offer the core business that all law students across Canada need in order to be called to the bar. But we’re allowed to stream specific programming and to distinguish our program once we cover those foundational pieces in various areas. So what our abilities studies came up with and what has been reflected back from all of the province-wide consultation we had was that aboriginal issues, indigenous law, and issues around land claims (a very important piece for which we need legal expertise), northern community sustainability, issues around marine law, cluster ideas that have to do with our resources and our geography here [are important] unlike anywhere else; and social justice as a broad umbrella – that really penetrates into those two other areas but also is broader. So I think it would be great if once we had approval for going forward that we would really be able to brand this law school as being progressive and different from other run of the mill [programs]… different and unique to Memorial and this province”.

On tuition for students who are not involved in the law program, Dr. Golfman stated that nothing would change. Senate had approved the proposal on the basis that the program would be cost neutral and not affect other programs. 

One of the trickier elements of the proposal is the matter of constructing a new building within which classes can be held. Dr. Golfman stated that this would have to be the case, and much of the fundraising concerns revolving around the proposal involve this issue. 

When asked for a tentative estimate on how long it would take until students could enrol in the program, she stated three years (this is based on recent examples across Canada). 

Dr. Golfman believes that the creation of this program would benefit the province, and the country, hugely. “I can tell you that the market for it is bursting. It’s interesting to note that we know there are at least over 1000 students, Canadians, studying law elsewhere in another country because they can’t study law in Canada. Because there aren’t enough places to study law in this country. And many of them want to come back. And many of them do return to Canada once they get their law degree actually so we know that filling the seats we have allocated or proposed is not gonna be a problem at all. And that goes not just for educating Newfoundlanders but it goes for providing that access to Canadians and beyond”. 

Nature Newfoundland and Labrador (Nature NL) is a not-for-profit charity environment conservation organization committed to promoting the protection of wildlife and the natural habitat of Newfoundland. Formerly called the Natural Historical Society of Newfoundland, Nature NL has been involved in environmental conservation in this province for decades.

Nature NL kicked off 2019 with their first public lecture entitled ‘Mushroom 101’, given by Dr. Faye Murrin. Taking place at the Arts and Administration building on the 17^th of January, 2019, the public talk was well attended by people of different ages and extraction, with a love for nature being the common denominator.

Dr. Faye Murrin is a mycologist, fungal biologist and ecosystem ecologist. She has been studying about mushrooms, which are biologically classified as fungi for over four decades. She began studying about mushrooms as an Undergraduate and proceeded to masters and PhD research still in mushrooms. She later worked at Memorial University, in the department of biology, teaching and researching about mushrooms (fungi) until her retirement in 2017. Her work with mushrooms has culminated in several scientific publications, presentations and awards.

Her research focus, which was highlighted in the talk is on a type of fungi which are linked to mature and disturbed balsam fir within the Terra Nova national park. This fungi, called ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) forms produce mushrooms (fruiting bodies). EMF and other fungi are pivotal to the maintenance  and protection of the ecosystem, hence their importance. In her talk, Dr. Murrin highlights how mushrooms play role in  protecting  the ecosystem, by acting in different biological capacities. In the course of her research on mushrooms, she collected several thousand mushroom samples from the Terra Nova National Park and identified many species of EMF which interact with the Balsam Fir within the boreal forest. Results of her data will be key in quantifying the effects on environmental stress and disturbances on the stability of the ecosystem within the park.

In a nutshell, Dr. Murrin took attendees on a journey (through her engaging talk) that showed that mushrooms are not just plant’s undecided cousins, but important players on the ecological and sustainable food fronts.

More about Dr. Murrin’s research on mushrooms can be found at https://www.faculty.mun.ca/fmurrin/ResearchMurrin.php.

Nature NL holds similar ‘environment, ecology and conservation focused’ talks every third Thursday of the month. These talks are free and open to the public. More information about Nature NL can be accessed via the links below:

http://naturenl.ca/
https://mobile.twitter.com/nature_nl?lang=en
https://m.facebook.com/naturenl/

This interview was held with Dionne King, Cheerleading Coach, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

How do you feel about winning  third place in the world cup?
We feel that for us, it was a huge success. This was our fourth time participating at the University World Cheerleading Cup Championships and overall it was a wonderful experience from the beginning. Placing in the top 3 representing Canada and especially Newfoundland was a really proud moment for us.

What are some of the challenges the team typically faces along the way?
I think one of the biggest challenges for our athletes is the financial situation. We are talking about the full-time university students who also have to pay to be a part of the program. They have to pay for everything, starting from trips to uniforms and everything in-between which is actually a significant cost. Therefore, that usually tends to be a big obstacle. We try to help the members of the team as much as we can through community fundraisers, we try to make as many affordable choices as possible. We are really lucky to have MUN as our associate, who provides student merit grants and standard support through MUNSU ratification and Budden Law & Associates as our sponsor whose financial assistance enables our training sessions and expense affordability. Despite the extensive assistance, the financial situation continues to be a hurdle and I think this factor deters some people from the program simply because they are unable to afford the associated costs.

Moving forward, what strategies are being put to work to maximise success?
I think we have developed a great program over the years. We were able to build a program where athletes keep returning year after year, we have a great following of supportive young athletes who aspire to become a part of the MUN Cheerleading. We try to build a network based on it and create a dedicated team with people who enjoy working together in a wonderful atmosphere. We train hard and we bring in instructors to train our team but the foundation really lies in the team spirit.

What was the most memorable moment in this adventure?
We performed twice when we went to Florida and on the second day, we gave our best performance. In that moment, I felt that the team was very confident and comfortable on the floor. They put on quite the show and they really gave their absolute best and that’s truly the best feeling. When they walked off the floor, it didn’t matter what position they placed because it felt as if they had achieved their goals.

My next question is for you- was becoming a cheerleading coach a lifelong dream or did it happen by chance?

Actually, when I was a cheerleader in high school, I really did dream about being a coach. Then I coached high school cheerleading for 7 years and when I got asked to join the MUN coaching staff, alongside other really incredible coaches, it was like a dream come true and now I have been here since 2011. I do at times feel like I am living the dream, especially when I have the opportunity to take them to the world stage and watch them perform so well. I get to work with two other amazing coaches Ashley and Angela.

What would be your advice for the aspiring athletes who are looking to join the MUN cheerleading team?
Anyone who is aspiring to be a part of the program, I certainly encourage you to get in contact with us. We can let you know exactly what is required to be a part of this program , we will walk you through all the insights, the requirements, the costs and everything else. Generally, we look for someone who would like to be a part of the team who has a willingness to learn. If there is someone who is interested in cheerleading in general, we can also refer also refer them to resources which are not just limited to MUN cheerleading. There are lots of great cheerleading programs within the city where aspiring athletes can get involved in. We can be reached on our Facebook page as well as through email.

The Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra hosted elementary school students from far and wide at the D.F Cook Recital Hall this Tuesday in an event which gave them the opportunity to perform under the tutelage of a professional conductor.

Schoolbusses began to arrive at around 10:00 A.M, with the music building here on campus quickly becoming occupied by nearly 250 young music students.

As they took their seats at the recital hall (segregated into groups based on which instrument they would later play), NSO executives made opening statements before a string quartet played some beautiful classical music for the children. Following this, Music Director Marc David took the stage.

The students had been practicing sections of the classical song O, Fortuna (the theme of Carmina Burana), thanks to sheet music supplied for free to local music teachers via a dropbox link that the NSO provided them with. After each individual school had practiced pieces with their music teachers in preparation for the event, Marc David was now responsible for conducting all of these students from across the city in a performance of the song.

After a few practice runs and tips from the Music Director, the recital hall was filled with the sound of O, Fortuna as students sang, struck drums, and performed on various wind and string instruments in harmony and unision.

We had a chance to discuss the event with the CEO of the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra, Hugh Donnan.

MUSE: “What sort of impact are you hoping that this event has on the kids that came here today?”

DONNAN: “It’s a great impact because if you think about music and music education, while it starts in school, some people cotinue that as a hobby for their entire lives. Some people wil go on and study music. So it’s really great to, while they’re in school, get a chance to try an instrument like a recorder or a clarinet or a violin, so this event really is an opportunity for these students to come together with other students from across the city and with the NSO to see what it sounds like to be apart of a largegroup of musicians who perform (like the NSO performs all the time)”.

MUSE: “How long did it take to prepare for an event like this?”

DONNAN: “What we do every spring is when we are planning our new season, we look at our masterworks concert series and we find a piece of music which we can use with the students and which we can arrange for them. So last year for example we did the ode to joy, this year we’re performing Carmina Burana march 22^nd, so we picked out the main theme from that piece of music (O, Fortuna). So then what happens is that over the summer months our student arranger, Timothy Brandon, who does all the arrangements for us, he put together a variety of arrangements for schools so it could be for bands, flute orchestra, string orchestra, a voice arrangement or a quarter arrangement… we had a whole batch of arrangements ready. We put those online on a google drive and then schools across the province are able to access those for free, and either print them off or use them for class and learn that music.”

The event was a success and details on further NSO projects can be found at www.nsomusic.ca.

For a second year in a row, Memorial University Student Experience Office organized a leadership development conference, aimed at helping students identify and harness their key strengths and competencies for the achievement of set goals.

The conference is designed in such a way as to allow participants understand and unlock their “superpowers” (unique combination of special abilities and talents that defines us). One of the highlights of the 2019 edition of the Superpowers conference 2019 was the free access to the Gallup StrengthsFinder assessment https://www.gallupstrengthscenter.com a tool for discovering one’s natural strengths and abilities and leverage them for success.  

SUPERPOWERS 2019 which was held at the Bruneau Centre on January 12th was divided into several sections, including an opening keynote speech by the administrative chief of Mi’kmaq Grand Council, Saqamaw Misel Joe. After that, participants were offered concurrent section blocks A to D, focusing on topics pivotal to self development and improvement. “Self-reflection”, “goal setting”, self-efficacy’ and “problem solving” are instrumental elements of a well-rounded and accomplished leader and each of these mini discussions were chaired by different student facilitators including Emily Laite, Emily Webb, Erin Couch, Maddie Hache, Katherine Sue-Ping, Sam Hoddinott, Taylor Ivany and Drake Holt.

“Learning what your key strengths are is a positive thing to do”, said Amy Bateman, a third year student majoring in Linguistics and Psychology and one of the atendees.

She was quite satisfied with the Gallup quiz/assessment, which in her opinion was a very useful tool that helped her get a more accurate understanding of where her core competencies lie. She got a score of five, meaning she is a includer, positive, developer, consistent, and relatable. The explanations that come along with the score are just as valuable and Amy can’t wait for the next superpowers event on February to continue building on and developing her leadership potential.

We also reached out to some members of the organizing committee to get their perspective on the importance of providing a platform to MUN students to assess and bring their leadership skills to a new level. “The conference is about helping the participants find out their superpowers and the supervillian against those superpowers”, Shane regular said.

Ashley Hammond (another member of the committee) pointed out that the highlights of the conference include learning and defining your superhero strengths and how to overcome any challenges that may arise, as well as learning how to apply the identified strengths for reaching your goals and getting the desired results.  

Reporters: Modeline Longjohn and Alanna Harriot

Patty Hajdu, the Honourable Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, made an announcement regarding federal funding for social programs in St. John’s on Tuesday (January 29, 2019) during a press conference at the Choices for Youth Centre in St. John’s, Newfoundland. At the event, Patty announced a funding increase for social programs in St. John’s aimed at helping young Canadians who face challenges in obtaining consistent employment.

According to the announcement, the government of Canada is providing 6.6 million dollars to the Choices For Youth not-for-profit here in the city, through the Skills Link program. The program is designed to provide skill development, education and housing opportunities for approximately 450 at-risk youth in St. John’s.

The briefing saw the executive director of the aforementioned program take to the podium to speak about social issues relevant to the area, and also saw Nick Whalen (an MP for St. John’s East) praise social programs and the work of Patty Majdu.

Speaking on the importance of programs aimed at assisting at-risk and financially challenged youth, the cabinet minister stated, “Our communities are healthier and stronger when everyone can fully participate. Supporting youth as they transition into the workforce and giving them the training they need to succeed benefits all of us by growing our economy and strengthening the middle class.”

This interview was conducted with Dominik Loncar, an entrepreneur-in-residence who provide mentoring to applying entrepreneurs, as well as conducting webinars and hosting several interactive workshops coming to Newfoundland in March.

What is your organisation’s mission?

Our mandate is to help young entrepreneurs between the ages of 18-35 launch their business with the help of a loan and a mentor.

How long have you been operating?

We’ve been operating for over 20 years. Originally, we were known as Canadian Youth Business Foundation, but we changed our name to Futurpreneur Canada about four years ago

Do you have any upcoming events?

We have several webinars available, the next one premiering next Wednesday (January 30^th) at 4pm Newfoundland time.
Next March, I’ll be hosting a 3 hour “boot camp” interactive exercises, which are open to everyone, of how to put together a good business plan and the process of starting your own business. These will be hosted at the College of the North Atlantic campus’ in St. John’s, Grand Falls, and Corner Brook.

Can you tell us some of the businesses your organisation has supported? Is there a specific type of business that seems to be prevalent?

We don’t have specialization or any prevalent business we support, we get all kinds of different businesses applying for our assistance, although they are usually one-person operations. Most of our applicants are small business, larger ones like restaurants may require extra fund. We assist with professional services, product/food businesses, online businesses, etc. Our mandate is to help someone get up and running in the first year.

Is there a criterion that applicants must meet in order to be approved of?

The main criteria are to submit a polished business plan and that the applicant have a relatively good credit rating. Many of our resources are available free online for anyone.
We provide interested applicants with access to our webinars and mentors, as well as the ability to create their own business plan. People are able to create and save their business plan through the Business Plan Writer on our website at www.futurpreneur.ca, as well as a cashflow template.

What tools do you use to support entrepreneurs in starting their business?

Our main resource is our business mentors which help the applicants figure out the next step in their business plan. Also available are the webinars which are available on our website. We also host interactive workshops throughout the year, and in Newfoundland we have a business involvement manager named Scott Andrews who’s more than capable of mentoring local beginning entrepreneurs.

How many applicants on average apply for your support?

We receive about 1000 business applications a year for funding and mentors.

Any advice you might give to an entrepreneur who’s interested in getting support from you?

My biggest suggestion is to stay focused and find your niche. It’s not enough to have an idea, you need to figure out your starting point, and then find your execution, what are you going to do next for your business. Futurpreneur is more than willing to provide assistance to up and coming entrepreneurs, but some businesses require more experience, and applicants need to be open to feedback.
For example, if you were to open a bookstore, you’d need experience working in that same environment, you’d need to find the right location, figure out what kind of books you’d like to sell. In these early stages there’s not much point in applying, applicants need a clear image of a business, feedback from potential customers of what’s the best thing to sell. After that early stage, they need to move from the idea stage to development to prelaunch, for example doing the necessary research of what niche the business can fit.