StFX Silence on Palestine vs Solidarity with Ukraine: Inconsistent or Intentionally Hypocritical

(This article was finished on March 18, 2024)

It's been over 5 months. 163 days.

There is nothing neutral about silence. Silence implies apathy. Apathy is the opposite of care, compassion and community. Something StFX seems to champion so heavily. Something dangles to prospective students as a staple element of the university.

Okay, fine. StFX hasn’t been entirely silent. Oh? You didn’t know? They posted the following text on their Instagram story back in October, which reads: “Recent days have brought unprecedented events in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including the outbreak of war over the weekend. The escalating conflict has brought horrifying and shocking attacks on civilians. There is deep concern within our community for those affected by the violence and loss of life. The voice of our community is added to those around the world calling for a peaceful resolution”. Posted for the 24-hour time limit of an Instagram story. Then nothing. Silence. No emails. Nothing.

“Conflict”. “War”. No mention of genocide.

Meanwhile, StFX didn’t hesitate to show its support for Ukraine in 2022 via an email sent out by university president Dr. Andy Hakin, and again in 2023 by university admin. An email sent out nearly a year ago by university admin, under the subject line “We Stand with Ukraine” reads: “The violence Russia has imposed upon the nation of Ukraine has brought immediate devastation to its citizens and threatens the country's sovereignty. As people around the world come together in support of Ukraine, we, too, must demonstrate our support”. It didn't take long either for them to hoist the Ukrainian flag, along which a flag-raising ceremony took place. But now, months into, which is evidently a genocidal campaign, a massacre of innocent civilians, which many of us witness in real time on our mobile devices, merely a peep has been heard from the StFX administration.

It begs the question: Is this silence, aka this stance of silence and so-called ahistorical “neutrality” that the university has decided to take regarding the Palestinian genocide, a mere inconsistency, or is it intentional? I mean, we can’t expect the university to speak up on every international issue, so they might as well stay silent for this one. Right? I assume that is what some of you might be thinking right now. Shame on you. I find it hard to believe that you don’t know what's going on right now. If you don’t, it doesn’t take very long to educate yourselves. Why shouldn’t StFX say something? This is a genocide happening in real-time. It is inescapable. If not the Congo, Yemen, or Sudan, why not Palestine?   

Once it was easy to numb myself to these things. But this time it was different. I found I couldn't numb myself anymore. It stares at me, glares at me, right in the face. I could no longer choose escapism, bound by my privilege. Once religious, I could no longer pray for the pain away when people are murdered by what is quite frankly, a state-run terror regime backed by countries like Canada and the U.S. Yes. Canadian and U.S. arms manufacturers are quite literally what Israel “soldiers” are using to kill innocent civilians. Babies. Children. Mothers. Men. Women. People. “If Jesus were alive, he'd be in the rubble”, I saw on a post. I was awake. Thank God. And I couldn't go back to sleep. If you are a human on this planet, you should care about Palestine. Because it could have been you. You cannot build your holy land on the mass graves of children.

It is not a “war”. It is not a “conflict”. It is a genocide.

The Israeli occupation wants to eradicate the Palestinians residing in Palestine. And they are nearly there. If they won’t get them by bomb, snipers, or by burying them under the rubble, they will get them by forced starvation. The alarm should have gone off months ago. To bear witness and not say a word is appalling. StFX, to only have an Instagram story and nothing else is embarrassing.

It is ethnic cleansing. The naming of Palestinians as “children of darkness” (whereby the Jews are “children of light”) by Israels prime minister and the terming of Palestinians as “human animals” by Israel/Zionist state military forces performing the genocidal and murderous acts against Palestinians confirms this. The complete establishment of an Israeli state implies no room for a sovereign Palestinian one, as comments made by Israel's prime minister Netanyahu indicate. 

It has been reported on in numerous articles that the Israeli occupation is placing Palestinians in a perpetual state of apartheid. Whether or not the state of Israel was created as a “safe place” for Jews, it seems rather a relentless mobilization to eradicate Palestinians and their territory, as many of us are witnessing in real-time. The argument that “Israel has a right to defend itself” has long lost any poignancy, given the mass atrocities that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) has inflicted on innocent Palestinians. It is so clearly a genocidal campaign backed by ethnic cleansing.

Since October 7th, over 40,000 Palestinians residing in the Gaza strip have been killed. Over 14,000 of which are children. Over 70,000 civilians were injured. Over 130 journalists were killed. Over 400 schools have been damaged. And the list goes on. The numbers are staggering. And, these aren't just numbers, these are people. Human beings who once had hopes, dreams, entire lives. Once again, StFX, to have said but a peep is pathetic. As a school so keen on land acknowledgements, StFX seems to have little issue letting this be another empty one.

What brings me real hope is that people are still waking up. But, to StFX I say quite frankly: It's getting a bit late. Isn't it?

As a post-secondary institution so focused on “Community”, so much that it is a selling point for many, championed by current and former students, shouldn’t we address more impactfully, as a community, the genocide we are witnessing in real time? Should we not limit ourselves to the campus community, but the global community?

Free Palestine. Ceasefire now.

References:

https://www.businessinsider.com/netanyahu-deleted-children-of-darkness-post-gaza-hospital-attack-2023-10

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/15/which-countries-have-stopped-supplying-arms-to-israel

https://time.com/6334409/is-whats-happening-gaza-genocide-experts/

https://canadiandimension.com/articles/view/direct-action-confronts-canada-israel-arms-trade

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/rethinking-israels-dependence-on-us-arms-amid-change-in-us-public-opinion/ar-BB1jzl0B

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/campaigns/2022/02/israels-system-of-apartheid/

https://www.vox.com/23924319/israel-palestine-apartheid-meaning-history-debate

https://euromedmonitor.org/en/article/6176/Statistics-on-the-Israeli-attack-on-the-Gaza-Strip-%2807-October---23-February-2024%29

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/20/netanyahu-defies-biden-insisting-theres-no-space-for-palestinian-state

What is a Seedy Sunday?

It’s that time of year again. What time of year? Ah, yes. Spring. The time when sidewalks start to get a little easier to traverse on. The time when the sun shines just a little bit brighter, and when the days get a little bit longer. What a great feeling that is.

But I feel something else. Something just below the earth. Something jumping, skipping, full of energy, ready to burst. What could it be? Seeds! We LOVE seeds. Spring is the time for new beginnings, and what’s more symbolic than, a seed, from which new things grow? Are you, like me, anticipating spring and the newness it brings? Are you a seed lover, a plant lover, looking for your share of friendly flora?

Look no further than the farmers market, where Seedy Sunday will be taking place on the 10th of March 2024, from 10 am to 1 pm. I was curious to learn more about this event, so I reached out to Ethan Copp, one of the student facilitators, and a fourth year CLEN student. Here is what he had to say.

What is a Seedy Sunday?

      It is a community event designed to encourage seed swapping and selling, the sharing of knowledge, and the sharing and conserving of heirloom seeds. Swapping and selling is when people give away, trade, and sell seeds, which facilitates seed sharing and improves community access to seeds. The knowledge shared includes farmers and community members sharing knowledge on how to grow gardens, providing farming tips, and sharing knowledge about the local environment and how to save seeds. Finally, heirloom seeds have been saved and passed down through generations of farmers and gardeners. They are essential to conserve and share as they are not cultivated in conventional industrial agricultural settings today. This is essential for biodiversity and the promotion of food sovereignty, both key for the mitigation and adaptation against climate change.

Have you been to a Seedy Sunday in the past? Can you tell us a bit about it?

      I have been to the Seedy Sunday event in 2023. The event's theme was biodiversity, which was reflected in various educational materials, kids' activities, students, and vendors. It is similar to the farmers market as it is hosted at the same venue but with a different spin due to the seed focus. The atmosphere was great as my friends were helping host the event, so I got to chat. A student musician was playing, and a group of young highland dancers from McLeod School of Highland Dance did a dance demo. There is a little something for everyone, whether you are a foodie, a big plant person, love music, or are passionate about learning. I personally found out about a lot of neat groups across Nova Scotia working on biodiversity. I did some networking and swapped some flower seeds I had for herbs instead. 

 What should students expect at the upcoming Seedy Sunday in March of 2024?

      Students, should they decide to attend the Seedy Sunday event on March 10th, should expect to enjoy local food and drinks, get some houseplants or seeds to grow one, learn more about seeds and gardening, especially food production in small spaces (sprouts, microgreens, windowsill gardens, small outdoor gardens), and network with gardening related and other neat organizations from across Nova Scotia.

Why should students attend the upcoming Seedy Sunday?

      Students should come out to Seedy Sunday to network, get involved in the community and learn more about using tools for food sovereignty to address climate change. Seedy Sunday on March 10th will be a fun and great place to start a journey into the world of food sovereignty, gardening, and community in Nova Scotia. 

…

Need some tips on how to get there? Go with friends! Go solo for a challenge! Here’s another idea, ask your CAs or Community Educators if they would run a plant program! It is the perfect opportunity to get some sunlight and fresh air if the weather permits. Make a seed happy today. We hope to see YOU at Seedy Sunday.

Interview with Angus Kennedy and ALPACA

Earlier this semester, in late September, I had the chance to interview Angus Kennedy, a fourth-year Honours Biology student, who is a recognized student leader and pioneer on campus. Mainly as president and founder of the Antigonish League of People Advocating for Climate Action, a student society (ALPACA StFX) and community organization (ALPACA) at StFX and in Antigonish. He is currently working on his honours thesis and is also the Captain for the X-Men Rowing Club team. Ethan Copp (Class of ‘24), who has also been on the StFX Men’s rowing team since his first year, is featured in this article as well. Finally, I was able to reach out to some esteemed StFX alumni, Alex Cook (Class of ‘23) and Peter MacGregor (Class of ‘23), who are featured at the end of this article.

Why did you start ALPACA in the first place?

      In the summer of 2021, I was driving home from a landfill that I had been using as a site of a study I was doing. I was listening to the radio with my field partner and the CBC was reporting on the most recent IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) report. They were reporting that the IPCC found we were already past some of the climate change tipping points that they had previously warned of. I was frustrated. I knew we were not changing things as fast as we needed to. I started thinking about what could be done and I thought about activism and advocacy. I brought this idea to some friends of mine who had similar environmental inclinations, Peter MacGregor, Ethan Copp, and Alex Cook. Together we decided to start the Antigonish League of People for Climate Action (ALPCA) later changed to the Antigonish League of People Advocating for Climate Action.

Why are you still running it?

      I'm still running it because, simply, I have not yet left Antigonish, and I still feel I have much to contribute to this group and the environmental movement in Antigonish.

Why do you think it's important to keep it going?

      We need to keep going because there is still so much work to do. To be frank, it doesn't feel like we have accomplished many concrete things at StFX since our inception. We have put on events, made progress on some projects, and built momentum and organization, but we are far from the accomplishments we hope to achieve.

      Momentum can die quickly for movements at post-secondary institutions. Students graduate and then whatever project they had been working disappears. So, we need to keep ALPACA or an environmental group like it going, so that when one group of students graduate the movement doesn't need to start all over again.

Do you worry at all about it not continuing when you leave StFX? Why or why not?

      I have worried about it not continuing after I left StFX. When we started everyone involved was a part of my immediate friend group. Last year a lot of them graduated. This year though we have a good number of 2nd and 3rd years getting involved, which puts my mind at ease. I think that ALPACA will be in good hands when I leave, and I wish them the best of luck.

What are some of the goals of ALPACA? Have some of those goals been accomplished?

      ALPACA's broad goals are, as outlined in our constitution: 1. To serve and protect the environmental needs of the Town and County of Antigonish, their wider communities, and the world as a whole, and 2. To promote accountability and ambition on environmental goals and benchmarks within the Town and County of Antigonish, as well as their surrounding communities.

      Those goals are a little abstract to declare as accomplished, but we do have some specific projects that we are looking at. Those projects being Divest@X, a project to get StFX fully divested from fossil fuels, the replacement of the heating plant on campus, making transit in Antigonish more efficient and accessible, and stopping Atlantic Gold's gold mine project near Archibald's Lake in Guysborough County. The only of those that is resolved is the gold mine project. I'm unsure how much you can attribute that to us, but Atlantic Gold, to our knowledge has given up there. The other projects are still being worked on.

Finally, I reached out to Ethan Copp, Alex Cook and Peter MacGregor to learn about what they are up to these days.

Ethan Copp is a fourth year Honours Climate and Environment (CLEN) student from Palmer Alaska. These days, he says that he is “working on completing my degree and doing research on air quality in Kincaid Park in Alaska”. Upon completing his degree, he intends to “go home and pursue graduate school at Alaska Pacific University in the Outdoor and Environmental education program”. Additionally, it is his final year of rowing, so he is finishing with his last few regattas as well. 

Alex Cook and Peter MacGregor have both relocated to the western side of Canada for the year upon graduating last spring. I was curious to see what they were up to, knowing that they were heavily involved as organizers within ALPACA, and remembering them as being leaders and mentors in and out of the StFX Rowing team. I asked them what they were doing now. Here is what they had to say:

“My name is Alex and I recently graduated from StFX with a Bachelor of Arts, Major in Psychology. I was a part of ALPACA for two years, as the social media coordinator and the Fridays for Future organizer with Franny [MacGregor]. I am currently taking a year off school, where I am living out West and working! I am planning on coming back to StFX in the Fall of 2024 for the BEd program. My name is Peter and I also graduated from StFX this spring! I graduated with an honours in biology. When I was a part of ALPACA I sort of helped to organize all different facets of the club, but focused mainly on our work with the Saint Mary's Association and Archibald Lake. I am living in Revelstoke for the winter to enjoy the mountains and winter there while I figure out what my next step will be!”

Laudato Si’: Does Christianity have a place in Climate-change discourse?

For those of us not fully engaged with modern religious discourse, Laudato Si’ is an encyclical, a papal letter, by Pope Francis, head of the Catholic Church. In essence, he asserts the following: "A true ecological approach always becomes a social approach; it must integrate questions of justice in debates on the environment, so as to hear both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor" (LS, 45). Published in 2015, Pope Francis instructs us all collaborate as God’s instruments in caring for our common home.

It is from Laudato Si’ that Dr. Hilda P. Koster, a guest lecturer from the Ecological Theology department at the University of St. Michael’s College, drew themes for her talk on Sunday, October 1, 2023. Invited by Bishop Wayne Kirkpatrick from the Diocese of Antigonish, she was asked to offer a feminist perspective on these issues. In the Catholic tradition, her visit took place during the “Season of Creation”, which runs yearly from September 1st to October 4th. It was also on the day subsequent to the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada.

The lecture, followed by a question period and a buffet reception, took place in Schwartz 205. Members of StFX Chaplaincy, a few curious students, and community members gathered to listen. Introductions were made by Bishop Wayne Kirkpatrick (Antigonish Diocese), University Chaplain Father Donald MacGillivray and Father Tom MacNeil, a Pastor in New Glasgow. 

Bishop Kirkpatrick described environmental and climate action as “putting an end to the senseless war against creation, by resolving to transform our hearts, our lifestyles, and the public policies that govern our societies”. He said that “[climate change] is not a purely theoretical or theological concern”, and highlighted the recent memory of floods, wildfires, hurricanes, and other climate emergencies, which caused “significant environmental and ecological damage”.

Dr. Koster spoke mostly of socio-economic issues such as Feminism and Indigenous sovereignty and how they are intrinsically interlinked with climate action. She spoke of eco-feminism, genocide, and a decolonial approach to environmental activism.

“Christianity is the most anthropocentric religion” she stated. Using this statement, she proclaimed that, therefore, Christianity is the “most destructive [religion] to our environment”. She did acknowledge that some degree of anthropocentrism was merited, given that the very definition of sustainability is to preserve resources for future generations.

She accused Pope Francis of privilege and unenlightenment when he did not specifically name the intersectionality of impoverished Indigenous women and climate change when speaking of impoverished, or the “poor” in Laudato Si’. She urged Pope Francis to take on a more “eco-feminist” approach.

During the allotted question period after her speech, I asked her whether she thought that traditional Catholicism, or conservatism, will hinder socio-economic and environmental progress in the fight against the Climate Crisis.

While she didn't specifically comment on conservatism, Catholicism or another form of traditionalist belief system, she did say that some people "enter these spaces with harmful preconceptions and attitudes".

"I went in with some hope and left with none" confessed a student after the talk. An older male colleague asked me: "Why does feminism need to be brought up in everything?”. Although I will not reveal the specific social or cultural context of our exchange, I interpret such a question to be a misunderstanding of the issues faced by all women to date, or perhaps, rhetorically, a deep-seated frustration with the virtue monologues that seem to dominate mainstream culture.

With the contents of the talk still weighing in my mind a couple of days later, I chatted in Wellspring with an International student from the United-States. During our conversation, they said that they feel America is “so behind on pretty much everything that we can’t even begin to talk about Climate Change”.  Although I won’t bore you with the details of our conversation, the Electoral College and southern evangelicals were some topics of discussion. When I inquired about the talk to a Sister of St. Martha, she said that she thought Dr. Koster was being far too critical of Pope Francis and Laudato Si’.

In my opinion, it seems we are in a constant, seemingly never-ending, state of virtue signaling and blame. Given the urgency of the situation, is this really our best resolve? In the end, I did appreciate the talk. It wasn't all that hopeful; the hope is in collective action and having an honest and action-based discourse on issues that still plague us to date. Dr. Koster wasn't preaching a “Second Coming” or divine salvation, as I half expected. Nor did Pope Francis in his encyclical, from my understanding. My only worry is that we will burn in this burning house because the door is too heavy, and the windows are sealed shut. Or maybe because we are stuck in a basement with our headphones in, choosing to be isolated and deaf to the crackling of the flames just outside our bedroom door. Metaphorically speaking of course.

“1, 2, 3, 4 Climate Change is At Our Door”: #EndFossilFuels Climate Action March at StFX

On Friday, September 15, 2023, the StFX campus and Antigonish community members marched for the global #EndFossilFuels movement. The event was organized by the “Antigonish League of People Advocating for Climate Action” (ALPACA), which is also a student society at X (ALPACA StFX). For context, the #EndFossilFuels movement is a “historical mobilization” that “renews and reinforces the globally coordinated efforts focused on ending the era of fossil fuels”, said in a statement on the official website (fightfossilfuels.net).

“The scale of this mobilization and the urgency of the moment underscore the devastating impacts of recent record-breaking heat, deadly floods, and increased extreme weather events”, the statement continues. Cities across Canada as well as cities in the U.S., South America, Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa, participated. Some of those cities had a large and active student population, such as Antigonish.

The event began with students, faculty and community members assembling on the concrete outside of Mulroney Hall, on the side closest to Notre Dame Avenue. At 12 p.m. on the day of the strike, some students left their lectures early, and certain professors assigned attendance of the event to their students for a grade. Students from Dr. Matthew Anderson’s class “Religion and the Environmental Crisis” (RELS 221) were asked to attend, as were students from an unspecified Climate and Environment course.

I spoke to a few students who had spent their summer on the western side of Canada, including Ontario. “At least fifty percent of our planting days were done in full smoke,” said Charlotte Watson, a third-year Biology student who spent her summer tree planting in BC amidst the ongoing wildfires. When I asked a StFX faculty member from the Sociology department why she decided to attend the event, she stated that “it was always important. But with kids, it puts everything into perspective”. She was referring to the fact that much of the environment that we enjoy now might not be enjoyable for future generations given the rapidly changing climate and henceforth long-term environmental destruction, as I gathered from our conversation afterwards. She had also brought her two young children, 3 and 5 years of age respectively, along with her to the event. They were found creating their own protest posters only a few feet away and later attended the march. Following the initial assembly, two speeches were given. 

The first speech was given by Victoria Tweedie-Pitre, a fourth-year honours Biology and Chemistry student from the North-West Territories. Victoria is an active member of the StFX community and cares a lot about her community in the NWT. She gave an opening speech highlighting the devastating wildfires, which occurred in the spring and summer near her hometown. The speech was compelling and forthright.

For today’s record (September 27, 2023), the fires are still burning and continuing to devastate communities. In rural areas such as the NWT, and parts of BC and Alberta, the impacts are felt to an even greater extent given very limited exit points and diminishing nearby safety havens.

The second speech was given by Angus Kennedy, a fourth-year honours Biology student from Antigonish County. Angus is currently working on his honours thesis, is the captain of the StFX Men’s Rowing team, and is the president and founder of ALPACA. He gave a speech highlighting the urgency of the #EndFossilFuels movement and gave a run-down of some of ALPACA’s goals as well as the itinerary for the march. An exclusive interview with Angus will be featured in another edition of the Xaverian.

When the start of the march was announced, participants began shuffling along Notre Dame Avenue. We made our way down to St. Ninian’s street, and eventually made it to Main Street. We made our first official stop in front of the building containing Michelle Thompson’s office. Michelle Thompson is the Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Antigonish, elected in 2021, and is a member of the Progressive Conservative Association of Nova Scotia. After continuing to chant words of protest prepared by student organizers, an official letter was delivered then and there to her office, addressed by ALPACA. The office of the Honourable Sean Fraser, member of parliament, and Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, was visited next. Again, a similar process occurred, and another letter addressed by ALPACA was delivered. Finally, we marched to the Antigonish Town Hall, and delivered the final letter from ALPACA to Mayor Laurie Boucher and Town Council. The letters highlight Antigonish as being especially vulnerable and urges for Antigonish to “move swiftly and boldly toward the goal of net zero”, to build resiliency, and to work with neighboring municipalities. 

Our march concluded when we returned to campus, after passing through Church Street and turning on to St. Ninian’s. I found the event to be inspiring, eye-opening, and felt a strong sense of community with other StFX students and Antigonish community members. In a heartfelt moment during the march, I spoke to a recognized Antigonish community member, Dr. John Graham-Pole, about his vegetable and flower garden. When we reached the topic of whether climate change had an impact on his crops, he told me that “each year, they grow better and better, and wider, because we love them more each year”.

The event was very well organized, and participation was strong from all who attended. Health and safety measures were taken seriously. StFX Safety and Security services were contacted in advance, marchers stayed on the sidewalks and followed traffic guidelines, and those with First-Aid training wore distinguishable bright pink caps. Students and community member marchers were respectful, conscientious, and well aware of their surroundings.

Students wishing to attend future marches and other events organized by ALPACA should join their student society, which can be found via Instagram: @alpaca.climateaction . A discord page is available as well, where most of the ALPACA society’s communication takes place. A link for the discord page can be found in their Instagram bio.

StFX Launches New Strategic Plan: “Building Our University the Way it’s Meant to Be”

On February 28, StFX released its new 2023-2028 strategic plan “Building Our University the Way it’s Meant to Be.” The plan’s mission is to endow engaged citizens empowered by purpose and connection.

StFX has a rich history of social justice, and so this invites students to use the plan to further their roles as leaders of social justice, social responsibility, and engaged citizenship. In 1897, StFX became the first-coeducational Catholic university in North America to grant degrees to women. In the 1970s, students drove societal change. And in 1996, StFX implemented Canada’s first Service-Learning program. Drawing upon this history, students are invited to think strategically, creatively, and ambitiously about how they aim to shape the future.

The plan is built on three operational plans: The first is The Academic Plan, the second is The Research and Creative Works Plan, and the third is The Student Experiences and Opportunities Plan. All students are called upon to embrace the plan and to bring their ideas, intellect, creativity, and commitment.

The plan’s success will be measured using the following sets of metrics:

a) Academically Driven

• Student retention (1st to 2nd-year retention rate) and academic averages

• Admissions profile (undergraduate & graduate)

• Total program enrolment (by faculty)

• Number of new academic credentials introduced and associated enrolment

• Satisfaction with quality of education and teaching

b) Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility

• International student enrolment/retention—visa students, full-time, part-time

• Indigenous student enrolment/retention—full-time, part-time

• African Nova Scotian student enrolment/retention—full-time, part-time

• Student Satisfaction (e.g. Incoming Student Survey, focus groups)

c) Community • Total enrolment • Proportion of graduate enrolment

• Total number of alumni and geographic distribution

• Proportion of first-year/senior students participating in High Impact Practices

• Number of Employees and Employee Satisfaction

d) Responsive

• Annual number of graduates

• Value of research grants received (federal, provincial & other)

• Local and provincial economic impact

• Investments in student services, including investment in services that support intellectual, cultural, social, and spiritual growth of students

• Total value of scholarships, bursaries, and prizes

e) Sustainability

• University long-term debt

• Total annual ($) giving to the University

• Proportion of funds from annual giving allocated to institutional areas (ex. history and culture, anti-racism, accessibility, wellness, and well-being, etc.)

• Endowment fund balance

• Total carbon emissions

• Campus energy use and costs

Meet a Make your Mark Fund Recipient: Awele Oye Onwuka

Awele is a third-year business student from Nigeria majoring in Management and Leadership at StFX. She is a CA in Riley Hall, Vice President of Community Outreach at the Schwartz Business Society, and a campus tour guide. She is also involved with the Women in Business (WIB) society as co-Director of Events, sharing that “[she] got involved with the Women in Business Society last year after being a member and observing all the amazing work the society does.”

Awele is among those to have received the “Make your Mark” award in 2022. The “Make your Mark” Fund provides Schwartz Students with the funding and resources they need to bring their creative and innovative ideas for campus or community initiatives and programs to life (schwartzwomeninbusiness.com). Awele is partnering with the daycare centre at StFX and Antigonish Kids First to plan an event for children and parents to promote mental health. She stated that her goal with the event is “to bring awareness to child mental health and promote healthy techniques for parents regarding their children’s mental health.” She continued to discuss her plans, sharing that “since the event had to be rescheduled, there are so many ways I can take this project, and I am excited to keep working on it. I don’t have concrete plans, but once this event is successful, I would love to host more in the future.” She stressed the importance of recognizing that we are children before we are adults, saying that she doesn’t “think people understand how much children grasp as such a young age–they’re picking up on everything, they’re building tools for their future”.  Awele also worked with the Antigonish coalition to end poverty, giving students the opportunity to donate non-perishable items to the Antigonish community fridge.

We concluded our discussion with a note on the business program at StFX, as well as some words of encouragement for women entering the program. “The business program, especially professors—shout out to Mark MacIsaac and Jennifer Alex—as well as WIB have been great at providing tremendous support and resources to help along my journey. This is the great thing about StFX, people care about each other and are ready to provide the encouragement and support needed to succeed–I have been very lucky in that sense.”

Awele encourages others to pursue their goals, addressing all “the women entering, or thinking about applying to, the business program at StFX,” and saying she “wants to let [them] know that [they] will be supported and looked after. Schwartz is more than just a business school; I do feel as though we are a family. I also want to encourage them to get involved–your voice and opinions matter and this is the place to get your thoughts and ideas out there! We are all rooting for each other and want to see everyone succeed.” In Antigonish and at StFX, “there’s always an opportunity for everyone to get together,” and Awele closed by sharing: “I enjoy what I do, especially when I can get the community involved.”

Fighting for Freedom, Fighting for Women’s Rights: StFX’s Office of Internationalization Hosts Booth to Raise Awareness of Violence Against Women in Iran

“When one of us is in shackles, none of us are free” - unknown

The Office of Internationalization and Visible @ X teamed up to hold an information booth on the 8th of the 16 Days of Activism campaign. The booth was set up on 2 December from 2-4 pm on the third floor of the Students’ Union Building. I spoke with Lubna Rahman and Dr. Mahasti Khakpour, the organizers and facilitators of the event.

Dr. Mahasti Khakpour is an assistant professor at StFX. She teaches in the Interdisciplinary Health Program, with classes such as “Global Health, Equity & Innovation,” “Foundation of health,” and the Honours Health thesis class.

Lubna Rahman is an International Student advisor at the Office of Internationalization. She advises and supports international students here at StFX.

The booth was part of a global action “Women. Life. Freedom” (Zen. Zendegi. Azadi.) campaign “in solidarity with Iranian women and girls who are courageously demonstrating peacefully for their fundamental human rights” - WomenLifeFreedom.Today.

In my discussion with Ms. Rahman and Dr. Khakpour, I was first made aware of the ongoing situation in Iran. We then explored how a university campus can create awareness and spaces for people to learn about international issues, as well as how important these spaces are for international students and those with close ties to the places impacted.

The situation in Iran

“It has been at least four decades [that] Iranians [have been] fighting for equity for women in Iran,” said Dr. Khakpour. As the Islamic Republic came into power during the Islamic Republic Revolution in 1979, the hijab was deemed compulsory for women living in or travelling to Iran, regardless of faith, religion, or beliefs. This, along with discriminatory laws against women, has resulted in decades of civil unrest and sanctioned acts of violence against women in Iran.

“Apart from the violence against women, and all the discriminatory laws against women, the compulsory hijab was a sign, an obvious sign [of discrimination against women],” Dr. Khakpour stated.

“The Hijab itself isn’t the issue,” pointed out Ms. Rahman, “it’s the compulsory component that makes it discriminatory.”

Dr. Khakpour stated that, “about a decade ago, the One Million Signatures campaign was run by activists in Iran, requesting the basic and equal rights for women to their male counterparts. The rights requested for women during the campaign were the right to divorce, the right of equal custody of children, as well as the choice of where they want to travel, both internally and abroad.” She continued, saying that “in Iran, it is mandatory that the male figure of the family, whether it is the father or the husband, sign the travel document for women to be able to travel abroad.”

The signature-campaign started in 2005, and although it was a form of peaceful protest, it was met with retribution from the government. This only resulted in more civil unrest.

“Alongside this civilized way of requesting and demanding equal rights, there was a lot of arrests and imprisonments among the women activists in Iran. So, every single movement that was happening was being shut down by the government without giving the rights. In its own turn [the arrests and imprisonments] turned into new waves of the protest” said Dr. Khakpour.

In response to the continued discrimination against women and judiciary violence enacted on civil protesters, Iranian women started publicly removing the Hijab on certain days of the week. In 2017, “White Wednesdays” was launched, where Iranian women would wear white scarves instead of the compulsory Hijab or would remove their head covering completely. “It became a rather known movement,” detailed Dr. Khakpour. Women activists across the country were participating and posting on social media with the hashtag white Wednesdays.

Mahsa (Jina) Amini, a then 22-year-young Iranian woman, was met with Hijab police when travelling through Iran with her brother in early September of 2022. Mahsa was arrested and taken into police custody when the police deemed her Hijab inappropriate. In less than 24 hours of being in police custody, she was brought to the hospital, having suffered severe injuries to the head and falling unconscious.

“Her Hijab, like honestly when I saw those photos, was something that many of us wear. She had a scarf on head, a long dress on, so there was nothing revealing about Masha’s situation, that caused this conflict between the moral of the police and Mahsa and brother” shared Dr. Khakpour.

Mahsa’s story and a photo of her in hospital was shared by a female reporter and photographer, Niloufar Hamedi, who had happened to be passing from the same hospital ward as Mahsa. Mahsa had been non-responsive and brain-dead, before passing away two days later.

“As mentioned by her brother, Mahsa repeatedly asked the police to let her go as she did not know anyone in the capital city! We now tell Mahsa and her family, that the world knows about you. Everybody now is repeating your name, associating your name with woman, life, freedom, remembering that you were a woman who could not put trust in government, in police who were supposed to protect [you], and they were the ones who attacked you. As the epitaph says on her grave says “Jina, dear! You will not die! Your name will turn into a symbol,” ” said Dr. Khakpour.

The journalist who had photographed and shared Mahsa’s photo and story, Niloufar Hamedi, was arrested. The government started arresting anyone who passed on the news or talked about the news of Mahsa’s death.

“[The arrests of people going on the news or talking about the news of Mahsa’s death] made people “angrier and angrier,” and “people started coming to the streets,” stated Dr. Khakpour. She continued, saying that, “the movement continues because more people have been killed. About 19,000 people are in jail right now. More than 400 people have been killed, among them about 72 children have been killed. These are deaths that we are aware of. Many we are not aware of. The government of Iran has threatened killing all the 15,000 people they have arrested. This is a real danger to those people because they do execute people without courts and without the presence of an attorney.”

“The whole chant of “Women Life Freedom” became the big chant used in Iran, by repeating Mahsa’s name all the time as well as the names of the people who are being killed,” said Dr. Khakpour.

“Every day my news feed is telling me about a different young person, 19–20-year-old, protester who has been executed without due process and without informing families. The families are just being told where the graves are, and they’re dead, that’s it,” said Ms. Rahman.

The International Student body at X

Lubna Rahman, who worked with Dr. Khakpour to bring the “Women Life Freedom” booth to fruition, brought up the significance of the event to the Iranian community at X, the larger international student body, and the campus community as a whole: “Among the 16 days of activism, this was the only booth that was reflecting an international experience, which I think was very important, not just for the Iranian community, but also for our own community here to learn about something that’s happening beyond our borders. It’s so relevant to our own lives, and I think that was the biggest thing, is that isn’t just something that’s happening far, far away.”

Ms. Rahman also spoke about the international student experience and “authenticity”: “In terms of authenticity, international students are more than just people of different color, people of different language, people with different food…there’s so much more to it than that.”

“The other thing that was really beautiful that came out of this international representation is other international groups of students were saying ‘I love that you did this, and I’ve never felt seen on this campus until I saw that we could talk about what’s happening in our own places. And not just the beautiful parts of culture, where we want to share the food, the dance, but there’s so much more to who we are and where we come from. And there is pain that we want to share.’” An international student from Delhi, India, remarked, “events like these are what really go beyond the formalities that are often characteristic of big institutions like universities in the public eye. I know that I and I think that a lot of international students feel this way.”

“I think this is going to snowball into something really, really beautiful and create a campus that is more inclusive where people from different places can be here, are a part of our community and we can witness their pain and their difficulties along with the things that they bring to our community and the beautiful cultures that they bring into our community,” continued Ms. Rahman, “I think that in creating a campus where people can authentically be themselves, this is a really big step forward.”

After being approached by other groups of international students wanting to do something similar to talk about the issues that are happening in their own countries, Ms. Rahman is working to make this come true. “I am working towards creating a more permanent installation of at least once a month having an international booth in Bloomfield and I’ll be working with the Student Union to make that happen,” she said.

Ms. Rahman commented on the emotional strength required to bring attention to this issue here in Canada and at StFX, as well as the success of the booth.

“Even the event that we had the other day for the 16 days of activism was such an emotional labour for all Iranian students and for you Mahasti to bring [the situation in Iran] to the forefront, but it was important to do it. We had pictures and stories of the people who had lost their lives, at that time, in the peaceful protests to put faces to the numbers, because it’s so important that we do that, that this is not just an arbitrary number, these are young people who are losing their lives, literally risking their lives, to make this story known, and we wanted to acknowledge their bravery and their lives. We had their pictures and stories pasted on the walls behind us, in addition we had a few opportunities for people who didn’t have any idea what was going on to learn about what was happening. We were intentional about creating a space that is a non-judgemental space to learn and acknowledging that not everyone would be aware about what’s happening in Iran,” said Ms. Rahman.

The success of the booth can be attributed to the high level of engagement from the campus community, and the conversational learning that took place. Along with the photos and brochures of stories of the people killed during peaceful protests in Iran, the booth had other opportunities to engage. In other parts of the world, women have been cutting their hair to show solidarity with the women of Iran. At the display in the SUB, a jar offered the opportunity for anyone who wanted to participate to cut a piece of their hair. “Many women and men who came by the booth did [cut a piece of their hair],” mentioned Ms. Rahman. There was also an opportunity to write hand-printed messages to the protesters at the booth, “We saw messages like ‘we see you’ and ‘we hear you’ commemorating the bravery of the peaceful protesters [who] are risking their lives out there.”

“We had such a good turnout. We met lots of people who didn’t know at all what was happening in Iran and had people who were intentionally coming out to support, because they knew what was happening, and they are interested and wanting to be more [involved] in the movement for Iran.”

The Women Life Freedom booth in the SUB was one of many 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence events at StFX. The international campaign was started in 1991 and has since received a large amount of support from the global community, including the UN and other bodies like UN Women. Although Iran was voted out of the UN Commission on the Status of Women by the General Assembly due to its non-compliance with basic women’s rights, the UN and countries around the world are continuing to act in solidarity with the people of Iran.

hopes for the new year

what if children are just short people, whose opinions really matter

what if their dreams were realized, instead of being shattered

what if young trees are helped to flourish, old ones cherished for their wiseness

what if we enter every home, with good intent and kindness

what if we turn off all our faucets, for those who need a drink

what if each one of us were cautious, to reduce our carbon stink

what if sharks, snails, and elephants were all treated with respect

what if humanity was mostly good, and not always a threat

what if everywhere, everyone could grow old, roam, and live freely

what if we sought friendship in every person, regardless of their being

what if people from other places weren’t stuck with uneasy feelings

what if those who came before us were revered for their teachings 

what if we let people be people, regardless of the labels

what if we love our home and one another, without the need for tables

what if we share with others knowledge and hope that they may not have

what if in 2023 we come together,

I think that would be rad.

Community Spirit at StFX: Kevin’s Corner Food Resource Center

The Kevin’s Corner Food Resource Center (KCFRC) has been a campus staple since its humble beginnings under MacKinnon Hall. It has since moved to the second floor of the Students’ Union Building, across from the Inn. The campus resource is run by student volunteers, who welcome all students, both on and off campus, to stock up on food supplies. The food items are generously donated by the Antigonish community and through purchasing by the U. Julianna Drake, a second-year student at X, is the Student Food Resource Center Coordinator.

I spoke with two student volunteers at KCFRC, Dana Morrison and Liam Wilde, who are a part of a group of 40+ student volunteers who help keep this amazing and essential resource going.  

Liam Wilde is a fifth-year student and X-Men athlete. He has been volunteering at Kevin’s Corner since his first year in 2019.  

Dana Morrison is a second-year student completing her third semester at StFX in the business program. She has been a volunteer at Kevin’s Corner since she started at X in January of 2022.

I was able to speak with both students about what it’s like being a volunteer at Kevin’s Corner and the role of the resource in students’ lives.

“It’s cool because, you meet people, and then like the other thing is, you feel like you’re helping the community in a positive way.  Even though you may not be doing much if you’re just sitting around on your shift, but like just helping, helping people if they need it, you get a good feeling from that,” said Liam.

“I’ve noticed that way more people are starting to use the food bank than before. When it was under MacKinnon, barely anyone came in, but now people are always coming in, grabbing stuff, and I think it takes a bit of pressure off students financially, because of how expensive groceries are” he continued. “I also think there’s some sort of comradery in the people that volunteer here, you know, we’re all helping, chatting, getting to know each other”.

“It’s became a more of a popular spot to go, people are more comfortable coming here,” said Dana. Speaking of being a volunteer, she added that “It’s an exciting place to be”.

The Kevin’s Food Resource Center is a prime example of the community spirit here at StFX. When Hurricane Fiona hit in September of 2022, it was the KCFRC that fed students fruits and snacks to help them get through the impact of the storm. In the context of rising food prices, more students are using the resource, and the center continues to support all students. Kevin’s Corner Food Resource Center is a campus staple and an example of how StFX goes above and beyond for its students.

Oh, the Places You’ll Go: The StFX Career Studio

It’s time to change your tires. It’s time to switch your gears. It is IndeedTM that time of year. May the StFX Career Studio FSWEPTM you off your feet and find you that LinkedinTM that will get you to where you want to be.

It’s that time of year when students start to think about summer jobs, the next chapter of their lives, their careers after graduation, and the journey they want to take. As a student, it’s often difficult to focus on anything other than academics, sports, and extracurriculars. This is where the Career Studio can help. It was put in place to help students workshop their careers and ease them along the job application process.

In early October, the StFX Career Studio hired three new peer mentors. I wanted to know more about this program, as well as the people who ran it, and had the opportunity to speak with two of them: Lidet O’Connor and Patrick Bowen. Lidet is in her fourth year in the Women and Gender Studies honours program, and Patrick is in his second year of a post-grad diploma in Artificial Intelligence.

First, I asked the peer mentors: “What is the Career Studio, and what can you offer students?”

Patrick replied, “The Career Studio is a room located in Schwartz 183 that students can drop-in anytime during business hours. We have a team of peer mentors here to help students with all things career related, whether that be resume tips, or deciding what they want to after graduation.”

“We help students regardless of their position on campus,” added Lidet. “If you are a first-year student, or a graduate student, or anything in between, we are here to help you.” Students from all programs are welcome to benefit from the services provided.

On a personal note, I asked both Patrick and Lidet what their motivation was for working with the Career Studio, given the other job opportunities available on campus. Patrick replied that, “there’s been times in the past where a peer or someone a few years into a field offered great advice. It was often a small but deciding factor on whether I got the job or connected with the right people. I see great value in doing that for other students as well”.

Lidet also finds the job quite rewarding, and mentioned that during her time at StFX, “people with a little more life experience have been very supportive, and have mentored me to the place I’m in today. I wanted to pay that back to other students.”

The StFX Career Studio is expecting an influx of students in the new year. Jane MacDonald, the manager of Student Career Services, spoke about the ways the Career Studio can help senior students graduating in May 2023 to think about potential “next steps after X,” whether that is “finding employment, [taking a] gap year, or discovering various jobs that might be of interest”.

It’s a one stop shop, free for all students. It’s normal to feel nervous about getting into a job, and the prospect of a “career” might seem far-fetched and a little intimidating. Whatever you need, the peer-mentors at the Career Studio are eager to help.

During my visit, I took the luxury to sit on one of their comfy leathers couches and browse through some summer jobs available in my field under the light of the table lamp. In the dreary winter months, I will find myself here again, dreaming of potential summer jobs and the places I’ll go, and each visit be greeted by friendly, helpful peers.

X-Oceans Outreach: 9th Annual World Oceans Day and Interview with X-Oceans Outreach Director

The 9th annual World Oceans Day celebration at StFX took place in June of 2022. It was a Saturday and a day off for most, but the J. Bruce Brown building was alive, well, and bustling with the crowd. The annual celebration began in 2009 when the United Nations General Assembly officially declared the 8th day of June as “World Oceans Day”. StFX caught up with the celebrations in 2013. It was World Oceans Day from which X-Oceans Outreach was born.

X-Oceans Outreach is a program that is run throughout the year through the biology department, whose director, coordinator, and nurturer is Regina Cozzi. As an avid supporter of the program, I thought this the perfect opportunity to conduct an interview with Mrs. Cozzi.

The first question I asked was: “What are your roles at the university and how did you become involved with X-Oceans Outreach?”

Mrs. Cozzi replied: “I’m a Senior Laboratory Instructor for the first year Biology courses, Bio 111 & 112, and the X-Oceans Outreach Director. X-Oceans evolved from our annual World Oceans Day event hosted by the biology department. Every June since 2013, schoolteachers who attended the events would ask us if we could visit their classrooms to promote marine biodiversity and ocean concepts to their students. So, we started visiting schools with live marine organisms, and it all snowballed from there. We now have a reputable program promoting ocean literacy to youth in rural schools and communities.”

Next, I inquired: “Has X-Oceans evolved from previous years? How so?”

She responded: “Yes, absolutely! The program has evolved tremendously in the last few years, thanks to funding contributions from Fisheries and Oceans Canada and NSERC PromoScience. We’ve developed a strong team of outreach coordinators and hire over 20 student facilitators annually.

We serve 4 neighboring rural counties and reach over 4000 youth per year. Our program was recently endorsed by UNESCO IOC (Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission), which is a wonderful achievement!”I wanted to know, considering how active the program is, if she saw X-Oceans expanding in the future. To this she replied: “Yes. I see it expanding to additional geographical regions in the near future. The demand is certainly there, the requests for school visits keep coming in.”

Finally, I asked her: “Is there anything else you’d like to share? A fond memory? A favorite touch tank animal?”

She answered: “I have many fond memories… here’s my latest: Last month, at the end of one of our school visits, one of the kids asked this as we were leaving: “When are you coming back?”. That was very heart-warming. X-Oceans outreach truly has a lasting impact on our youth.”

Indeed, it has! Many of the X-Oceans student facilitators feel a similar way about X-Oceans. “I’ve grown lots of valuable friendships and lots of connections and new knowledge,” says Tyler Reed, an X-Oceans student facilitator in the biology program who was hired this summer. “It was joining X-Oceans that made me realize how fun biology is”, he says. He also tells us about a cool field work job he acquired through the connections he formed at X-Oceans.

The program is not limited to biology students and hires students from a wide range of programs. Over the summer, there have been students from Human Kinetics, Earth Science, Education, PGOV etc. who have made a lasting impact and contributed greatly to the X-Oceans Program by devoting their time and energy as student facilitators and volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering during the school year or are looking for a summer job, send a message to x-oceans@stfx.ca.

PS. Mrs. Cozzi has yet to reveal her favourite touch tank animal. Perhaps you should join X-Oceans to find out!