Moxie: A Review

Moxie: A Review 

By: Mallory Johnson 

Moxie is a Netflix movie based on the same name by Jennifer Mathieu, and it recently came out. I read the book in 2018 and watched the movie. The film stars Hadley Robinson (Little Women, Utopia), Lauren Tsai (Legion, Terrace House), Amy Poehler (Inside Out, Parks, and Recreation), Alycia Pascual-Pena (Chase, The Plug), and Nico Hiraga (Booksmart, Summer of 17). The movie is about an introverted 16-year-old woman who finds inspiration from her mom’s feminist past and anonymously publishes her zine that sparks anger and revolution in her high school. 

Before I go any further, I want to place a SPOILER ALERT, a trigger warning for sexism, sexual assault, racism, transphobia, and ableism. 

I like how they critiqued The Great Gatsby and classic books that are assigned in high school. The school administration bothered me because they could not help when women were being harassed. The Moxie girls made excellent points about Mitchell. I loved when Vivian discovered all her mom’s feminist things. I loved when the title of the movie came into play. I loved the feminist girl power rock music that was in the film. I loved the English teacher and showed support for Moxie, and I appreciated that the Moxie women challenged him. I loved the hearts and stars on the hand to show support. I love that Vivian got so much support and popularity for moxie, especially when her crush Seth did it too. I hated when one of the girls got dress coded but loved how they protested it. 

 I am glad that Vivian’s mom recognized her own mistakes in her activism. We must double-check ourselves to make sure that our activism is constructive.  I loved that the first Moxie meeting was done secretly at a big party. I was nervous that Vivian would get caught distributing her Moxie zines at their school, as she was keeping Moxie anonymous. The movie reminded me of Promising Young Woman a little bit. I love how Vivian organized a protest and a walkout. I loved watching Lucy and Vivian getting closer and closer. I love how the Moxie girls contested Mitchell Wilson winning the sports award uncontested. I loved how Vivian confronted her mom’s boyfriend about the American flag sticker on his car. 

I loved this movie. It will inspire people to stand up and act against oppression and assault, and maybe publish their feminist zine. Overall, I give the film a solid 10/10 and highly recommend checking out both the movie and book! The movie is available on Netflix, and the book can be found at most booksellers!

Five Netflix Shows to Binge-Watch in March 2021

Written by: Moses Aisida

Five Netflix Shows to Binge-Watch in March 2021

With the first quarter of the year almost rounding up, Netflix has continued its relentless effort to make both new and old shows readily available for our entertainment. Boasting a catalog of endless shows across several genres, Netflix is one of the best platforms to binge-watch shows in 2021. So, let’s get into some shows to binge-watch this month.

1. Bridgerton: If you have seen Shonda Rhimes’s work in Grey’s Anatomy, you should be excited to see her produce Bridgerton, a show based on the “Bridgerton” book series by Julia Quinn. This show focuses on two significant families, alongside other smaller families, during “the season,” a period where the young and unmarried children are exposed to society in the hopes of finding them suitable partners for marriage. If you are a fan of drama, romance, powerful words, and old-school English aesthetics, this show is for you.

2. This is Us: Explore the lives of a couple, and their three children, at different time frames. This romantic drama covers the intricacies of parenthood, adulthood, childhood, and life itself as a whole. The show unravels a spectrum of emotions that the viewers are at liberty to tap into and experience, episode by episode. Five seasons in and still counting, this show is a must-watch for family, friends, and loved ones.

3. You: Obsession is a dangerous tool, and Joe Goldberg wields it rather disturbingly. The story covers Joe, a New York bookstore manager, and his overly passionate display of affection towards the women he falls for. By stalking, preying, manipulating, and even kidnapping, Joe crosses the boundaries of love into a world of toxic obsession. With two seasons out and a third in the works, YOU is a show to keep you glued to your TV screen. Note: This show might be triggering and or traumatic, be careful.

4. The Queen’s Gambit: For some, chess is just a game. But for Elizabeth Harmon, chess is an addiction. An orphan, who gets exposed to chess by the orphanage janitor, checkmates her way to become the world’s best chess player in this novel adaptation mini-series. Beth battles drug abuse, alcohol abuse, emotional trauma, loneliness, and self-sabotage on her way to worldwide chess stardom. This show is more than just about chess. It is also about a young woman breaking bounds when women were not allowed to dream big.

5. Superstore: Sometimes you want to see drama and romance on your TV. Other times you want just to let out thunders of laughter, and that is what Superstore offers you. This show is set in a fictional big-box store in Missouri called “Cloud 9”, and it explores the hilarious lives of the store workers in this workplace comedy. Focusing on the inter-relationship between coworkers and the family dynamic they form in the funniest of ways, this six-season show promises endless laughs.

Importance of Labels; LGBTTQ+

Importance of Labels; LGBTTQ+

By Ronnie Kayla Neiman 

This is an article I wrote for another platform but I wanted to share it with The Quill Readers as well. 

Image by Myriams-Fotos from pixabay

There are so many possible labels and ways to identify oneself within the LGBT2QS* community.

As a quick example, the acronym is getting longer and longer. At one point, it was only LGBT that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. Society has come a long way since then. The number of labels to identify yourself can be overwhelming. There are just so many and it is something that tends to be fluid, always changing and expanding.

This article is a bit personal on my part. I went through my early life not really sure of who I was. There were always questions I asked but the questions and the few answers I found did not make sense together. A decade ago, I had no idea that there were so many labels. My personal knowledge only knew that there was gay, lesbian, and straight. I had no idea that anything else existed. It was not until I reached the second university year that I knew more than that.

In using the student services student counseling services at Brandon University, I was able to educate myself on the labels on gender and sexual identity. I have been able to label and accept my own identity and orientation. I feel that a North American Indigenous term fits me the best. 

I am a Two-Spirit. This means that I embody the spirit of both genders with my biologically female body. In western terminology, it gets a bit more complicated. Using those terms, I am Queer, non-binary, asexual, and lesbian. Definitely more complicated. 

The acronym LGBT2QS* is getting rather long and expansive from the original LGBT acronym. These extra letters were designed to help be more inclusive but it wasn't self-explanatory and didn't really teach about what each letter meant.

Image by Wokandapix from Pixabay 

The terms of the acronym are defined as; 

LG; stands for Lesbian and Gay. Lesbian typically refers to women's attraction to women. Gay usually refers to men's attraction to men, though sometimes it is used as an umbrella term for anyone attracted to their own gender. 

B; stands for Bisexual which is defined as someone who is attracted to people of their gender or other gender identities. It is not a way station from straight to gay, as it had once been described. It is also used as another umbrella term to describe the rest of the acronym with the exception of transgender. However, the term bisexual is also seen as not inclusive enough for the rest of the LGBT community. 

T; usually stands for transgender which is a wide-ranging term for people whose gender identity or gender expression differs from the biological sex they were assigned at birth.

Then the newer letters of the acronym add a lot more labels and definitions. Some of them are new and not many people know a lot about them. Even myself, who looks into these definitions on a regular basis. Several are used as umbrella terms which are less popular because they tend to feel less inclusive. 

T; can also describe the term trans* which has been adopted by some groups as a more inclusive alternative to "transgender", where trans (without the asterisk) has been used to describe trans men and trans women, while trans* covers all non-cisgender (genderqueer) identities, including transgender, transsexual, transvestite, genderqueer, genderfluid, non-binary, genderfuck, genderless, agender, non-gendered, third gender, two-spirit, bigender, and trans man and a trans woman. The term transsexual commonly falls under the umbrella term transgender.

2; not only stands for the multiple trans terms but also for Two-Spirit, which is what I primarily identify as. It is defined as a modern, pan-Indian, umbrella term used by some Indigenous North Americans to describe Native people in their communities who fulfill a traditional third-gender (or other gender-variant) ceremonial and social role in their cultures.

It implies that the individual is both male and female and that these aspects are intertwined within them. The term moves away from traditional Native American/First Nations cultural identities and meanings of sexuality and gender variance. It does not take into account the terms and meanings from individual nations and tribes

Q; stands for Queer. It is another umbrella term that is used for sexual and gender minorities who are not heterosexual or are not cisgender. Originally meaning "strange" or "peculiar". Originally used as an insult which included many in the LGBT community but to also describe people who were considered to be perverted. However, the term has been 'taken back' to use as a way to claim identity. 

S; can stand for sexuality or straight. Both are umbrella terms,

Sexuality can be defined as a person's identity in relation to the gender or genders to which they are typically attracted; sexual orientation. 

Straight is another word for heterosexual. It describes a person who is attracted to their opposite gender. It is a sexual identity and a gender identity where the person labeled this way follows the 'norm'.

*; the asterisk covers a lot of terms. It is an umbrella term part of the acronym and it can cover many many things. 

 Asexual; a term used for those that don’t feel sexual attraction to either sex or that don’t feel romantic attraction in a typical way.

Cisgender; a person whose gender identity and gender expression match the gender they were assigned at birth. This can describe a heterosexual person, but also a person who has a different sexual identity as well. 

Androgynous; describes those with both male and female traits.

Pansexual/Omnisexual; a similar definition to bisexual, these two terms describe individuals with a desire for all genders and sexes with more of an attraction to attributes than genders or sexuality.

Demisexual; is a term that describes a person that requires an emotional bond to form a sexual attraction.

Aromantic; Aromantic describes a person who doesn’t experience emotional attraction (feelings like love, connection, etc.) to others.

Polyamorous; A term for those who are open to multiple consensual romantic or sexual relationships at one time.

Questioning; some may feel unsure about their sexual orientation and/or their gender identity. They may describe themselves as questioning. They may be questioning until they identify with a particular identity or continue to be questioning throughout their lives.

Ally; a term that is used for and by individuals that support and rally the cause of the LGBT2QS* even though they don’t identify within the community.

Image by ELLE RITTER from Pixabay 

This is something I had to discover for myself but for a long time, I didn't know definitions or specifics. I hope that by giving you these definitions, you can find out what is the right word or words for yourself. 

Finding out which term fits who you are, how you identify yourself can be a way to heal and accept who you are as I have found out. Everyone is different but that is okay. You are fine, just the way you are, labels or not. Just be yourself.

Zoom Vs. Microsoft Teams

Zoom Vs. Microsoft Teams

By: Cedric Bell

Zoom and Microsoft teams have both been the go-to solutions to distanced interaction, whether for professional, educational, or personal use. Each comes with its own sets of advantages and disadvantages that set them apart. While they both serve the same purpose, they differ in slight ways that can make one more situationally useful than the other. Deciding which one to use can feel like splitting hairs, so this article will show off some of their key differences.

Zoom - Pros

Zoom seems to be better fitted towards personal use than Microsoft Teams is. It’s easier to just make a call and invite friends or family to a Zoom meeting than it would be to arrange a Team and meet through that. Zoom is also clearly more tailored towards personal use, while Microsoft Teams is aimed towards use for either educational or professional uses.

Zoom also offers more in the way of personalization. Backgrounds, filters, and other personal touches allow for more customization than Microsoft Teams offers.

Zoom is slightly more user friendly than Microsoft Teams, as it has a clearer range of options to use, whereas Teams tends to tuck those things away in hard to find places.

 Zoom - Cons 

Unfortunately, Zoom seems to be less stable than Teams. I have experienced more crashes and freezes with Zoom than I have with Teams, and depending on the situation, those small hiccups can be really harmful, like while taking an important test over Zoom.

Another disadvantage is that while organizing calls is easier, joining them isn’t. Having to manually input a code every time makes it harder to join a meeting right away like you can on Teams. Especially if you’re already running late for a class.

Zoom also has less to offer than Teams does. Not being able to organize assignments through Zoom is especially important to consider for professors and students. Most professors have gotten around this by using moodle as well as Zoom, but having the coursework and lectures separated by two different platforms isn’t very convenient.

Teams - Pros

Most of the pros of Microsoft Teams are that it handles Zooms cons better. For instance, Zoom may be better at personal calls, but Teams is more suited to dealing with professional or educational calls, and is easier to do online classes on.

Teams also offers the option to assign and hand in assignments directly through its platform, rather than having to handle lectures and assignments separately. This is more convenient for professors and students alike, and it’s nice having everything in one place.

Teams is also faster at accessing calls than Zoom. Being able to click a single button to enter a call is much easier than having to input an ID and password each time you want to join a regularly scheduled class. 

Teams - Con

The biggest shortcoming of Microsoft Teams is that it is less user friendly and customizable than Zoom. Some of the default settings it comes with are annoying, such as automatically starting on startup, and are hard to find to disable. It also just has less personalization options than Zoom does.

Which is better? 

Zoom and Microsoft Teams are both pretty similar, but they have a few key differences that make each better suited towards different situations. Zoom is much better at handling personal calls, while Teams is a better tool to use for online classes and work. While I don’t think one is objectively better than the other, I do prefer Microsoft Teams after having to use both for an extended period of time.

Zoom vs Microsoft Teams

Zoom vs Microsoft Teams  

by Kiersten Garbutt

For the majority of students, we all are close to experience a full year of online learning. By now we all have our preference on what platforms we enjoy the most. The big question however is between Zoom and Microsoft Teams, which one is more preferred by the student body. I asked 105 students which they preferred and 75 answered in favour of zoom and 30 answered in favour of Microsoft teams.

Both platforms have there pros and cons. Starting with Microsoft teams, there is an advantage of having all material accessible in one app. Professors have stated that it is easier on them to only worry about one app. Whereas, if a professor uses Zoom, they have to worry about Zoom links and a secondary platform, like Moodle, to update assignments and upload grades. Additionally, Teams comes with a chat function, where you can reach out to other students, which comes in handy during group projects or the attempt to substitute a social life. However, Microsoft teams can be very confusing for some students. In most classes it is easier to email professors assignments rather then figuring out how to submit assignments directly on the app. To conclude, Microsoft Teams has really useful functions however, most students find the platform confusing. 

Zoom is the preferred platform for many students. The main reason for this is because of how simple zoom functions. Zoom is also consistent because the link is usually the same every time. Plus zoom also comes with a chat function that students can use during class. 

Due to online learning, it is a lot easier to have all material in the same platform, and since Zoom and Moodle are the platforms that are usually used, it is tedious when there is one class that uses Microsoft teams. 

Remembering Black History Month

Remembering Black History Month

By Zach Roozendaal

(Photo Credit: Creative Commons. Martin Luther King Jr. June 30 1964)

The following is an article I did in honour of Black History Month 4 years ago while as part of the Journalism Team at Neelin High School. I dedicate this article to my late Grandfather Ralph Lambert (my Papa) and I know he’s smiling from heaven, long after he passed away in January 2004. I also dedicate this to the late Chadwick Boseman, who played the influential Marvel superhero Black Panther, as well as myself, as this is the last article I’ll be submitting before I turn 20 on the 27th of February. 

Thank you Brandon University Students and everyone else for making the first 20 years so influential, and I hope the next 20 are just as incredible.

February. The shortest month of the year, with 28 or 29 days, often remembered for being the same month as Groundhog Day, Louis Riel Day, my birthday, and most of all Valentine’s Day. However, most people forget about the significance of February. It’s Black History Month. A month dedicated to notable figures in the black community. It’s one of the few things that hasn’t been commercialized, and that’s probably why most people forget about it. 

So, let’s talk about it.

Black History Month is an important time, not just for African Americans, but for all Black people. There have been a lot of people who have broken the racial barrier to make our society diverse. Some of those people include Rosa parks, who refused to give up her seat on a bus when a white man told her to move, and she was arrested for it. Here in Canada, segregation laws were also present. But people protested them here as well. Viola Desmond, also know as Canada’s Rosa Parks, was attending a film at a movie theater in Nova Scotia, when she went and sat in the whites only section, which infuriated a white woman and the security guard who was on duty. She refused to leave, and left the that theater in handcuffs. There was also Harriet Tubman, who helped operate the Underground Railroad. And Barrack Obama, who became the first Black President of The United States. There was also Nelson Mandela, who during the Apartheid, fought for the rights of Black people, and was imprisoned, only to end up as the first Black President of South Africa. Gandhi was another historical figure that we remember during Black History Month. He stood up to British power and would lead India to freedom. Sadly, he was assassinated, but his efforts went on to inspire Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. King was known for his “I Have a Dream” speech and was also arrested for trying to protest segregation laws. In a similar way to Gandhi, he was eventually assassinated for protesting. But it was partially thanks to his efforts that segregation laws were overturned. Jackie Robinson is another notable figure, as he became the first Black Major League Baseball player. There was also another notable figure who was not only black, but had a mental disability, named Robert “Radio” Kennedy who helped lead his high school football team to victory, with help of his good friend, and the team’s coach, Harold Jones, who Cuba Gooding Jr. and Ed Harris would later portray in the film, Radio. Fictional heroes also broke boundaries. Walter Jones was the first black live action super hero on TV, portraying Zach Taylor the Black Power Ranger on Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers.  

The Black Community also had a large impact on the music industry, with rap, hip-hop and pop being created. Musicians like Michael Jackson and Prince would redefine music as we know it. 

There’s more than that, there’s even a personal connection as well. My Mom’s aunt became the first Black employee at the Pentagon. Here in Brandon even, racial boundaries were broken, with my Grandma and her husband having an interracial family. I am proud of my heritage, seeing my Mom’s graduation photo at school, since seeing her photo reminds me of the diversity in our society. So don’t forget talk about this event, since it’s significant. We all know at least 1 or more people who are black, whether they are friends, family, neighbours, coworkers, or employees, so keep them in mind this month.

As always, be good, thank you for everything, social distance and where a mask when possible, and please be safe. See you all later, I’ll catch up with you in the next issue. Until next time, I’m Zach Roozendaal. Take care, God bless and stay safe and well wishes to you and your peers and families.

-Zach Roozendaal.

“To All the Boys: Always and Forever” - A Review

“To All the Boys: Always and Forever” - A Review 

By: Mallory Johnson 

The final installment of the “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” movies recently came out on Netflix, and I watched it. The movies are based on books of the same names by Jenny Han. I read the first book but chose to watch the film instead of reading the remaining books. I want to put in place a SPOILER ALERT for the whole series here. “To All the Boys: Always and Forever” follows Lara Jean and Peter Kavinsky, navigating their senior year of high school, their relationship, and college decisions. The movie stars Lana Condor (BoJack Horseman, Summer Night), Noah Centineo (The Fosters, The Perfect Date), Janel Parrish (Pretty Little Liars, Magnum P.I.), and Anna Cathcart (Zoe Valentine, Descendants 3). 

           I enjoyed the movie, and I found it to be adorable. I loved the music and romance in it. All the travel scenes made me miss traveling. I watched the second movie of the trilogy last Valentine’s Day on the plane ride to Mexico, so it only made sense that I watched the third this Valentine’s Day. I was surprised this movie was set in 2021 as it did not reference COVID-19 at all because the books were all written and published before the pandemic). I loved how nicely Peter reacted after Lara Jean told him the truth about how she got rejected from Stanford. I loved watching Lara Jean fall in love with New York City and NYU. I enjoyed the family subplots for Lara Jean and Peter, and I loved how Hugh from The Haunting of Hill House played a small role as Peter’s estranged dad. The movie wrapped up the stories very well, had excellent character development, and had full-circle moments. 

           Overall, it was a great movie to watch on Valentine’s day. I give it a solid 10/10, and I highly recommend watching the whole trilogy if you are into romantic comedies!

JoJo Siwa Comes Out

JoJo Siwa Comes Out 

By: Mallory Johnson 

           JoJo Siwa, a seventeen-year-old dancer, singer, actress, and Youtuber, recently came out. She first posted a Tik Tok video of her lip-syncing to the song Born This Way by Lady Gaga, and fans started speculating. A few days later, she posted a picture of herself wearing a shirt that said "BEST. GAY. COUSIN. EVER." and captioned it, "My cousin got me a new shirt." This was her way of coming out, confirming the speculations. She then joined the Los Angeles Pride House on Tik Tok. 

           She posted a video on Tik Tok discussing how happy she is now that she is out of the closet, and I am so proud of her. Coming out is not easy, especially when you are a celebrity with a mostly young audience. She teaches all her young fans that it is okay to be LGBTQ+, and I love it. She also confirmed that she has a girlfriend and is very happy in love. They have been dating for a month but have been friends for a year. JoJo said in an interview that her girlfriend inspired her to come out, and "If I lost everything that I've created because of loving who I want to love, I don't want it." JoJo shut down a hate comment from a mom of a young fan in a significant way. The comment said, "My daughter will never watch you again," and she responded with a simple "Okay!" 

           A young fan of JoJo's posted an adorable TikTok video of her saying that she's her biggest fan and that "I'm only nine, but I know what it means to come out. It means for someone to be themselves normally." She continued, "It's especially great to see this cause I'm a kid being raised by two moms!" This video was posted on Twitter, and JoJo saw it and retweeted it. 

           JoJo being happy and brave enough to post pictures, videos and be interviewed is enormous for young kids. She is normalizing being gay, and I think that is beautiful. 

Studying from home

Studying from home

By Mary Okorie

Midterm week is close by and some students have already written some. Like fall last year, classes and midterms are online. Studying from home may not be the best way to prepare for exams but it’s the only alternative that we have. We have to look for ways to turn this situation into what works best for us. Study groups can still be formed via online apps where students that are interested set up a meeting time so they can discuss topics. 

There is also the alternative of following the restriction guidelines and inviting few people to the house to study especially if you live alone. This might work if you already knew the other students before and they all live somewhere nearby. Students also need to have good time management so that they do not feel choked up with courses. 

Studying from home seems to make students feel lazier and are in bed while listening to class, some may even prefer to sleep and miss class due to late night activities. Timetables would be a good way to stay up-top of your classes and still find time to take a break. It would also help to reduce procrastination. Students can still do well in exams even if they are studying from home if they have the right attitude and tools to achieve it.

Date Ideas: Covid Edition

Date Ideas: Covid Edition

By: Maria Garcia Manzano

Valentine’s Day: perhaps the most overrated holiday that, for some reason, everyone seems to get the most stressed out about. Do you have plans? Do you have a significant other? What are you getting them? All these questions always seem to stress us out in the weeks leading to Valentine’s Day. This year however, it is particularly stressful as the pandemic has made certain services unavailable. As a result, this year we will have to get even more creative. So, as a closeted romantic, I’m here to help you. I have thought of a few COVID-19 friendly date ideas that you might fall back on if you have nothing thought of for that special someone on this stressful “holiday.”

Prepare Dinner for Your S/O

If your significant other is stuck in online classes all day and you have some extra time on your hands, prepare a delicious dinner for them. Don’t worry if you are not a great chef and don’t try to go all out it is the thought that counts.

• Prepare some Ramen Noodles with a twist by adding some extra ingredients like veggies, chicken or other sauces.

• Grab some fresh garlic bread at your local grocery store or some cheese and crackers. Cut up some veggies and fruit.

• Set the table nicely with plates, forks, napkins and maybe some flowers and candles.

Have A Cookie Decorating Contest

Go to the store. Buy some plain sugar cookies, pink, red, white frosting, sprinkles and whatever else you can find and have a cookie decorating contest. While you’ll have fun making the cookies you also get to eat your creations at the end. Alternatively, you can also make your own cookies and attempt to shape them into hearts or other Valentines related items. 

Give Each Other Massages

If you’ve got yourself someone to share this Valentine’s Day with, maybe try to show them how special they are by bringing the spa to them and treating them to a nice and relaxing massage. You can pamper each other with massages, and it will be even better than paying for one.

Do A Local Food Takeout Tour

Create your own food tour for your loved one. Brandon offers some great little places that are worthy of a food tour. Make a list of all the restaurants, cafes or spots to grab a treat and create a schedule for the day. Some restaurants you might consider are Chez Angela’s, Wayback Burger, Boston Pizza, Mum’s Restaurant, etc. The list is endless. Go and discover the various cuisines Brandon has to offer. Make sure you order something from each place. This will be a fun way to experience new restaurants while having your s/o there with you. 

Go Ice Skating

There are a lot of options to go skating in Brandon, and weather permitting you should be able to enjoy a fun evening. The oval, which is all lit up with Christmas lights and therefore an incredibly romantic setting. There are also plenty of community arenas to go to. Skating is a fun way to spend quality time with your significant other. This date also does not have to end with the skating as you can grab a hot chocolate or coffee after to continue to spend time with your loved one. 

FaceTime/Zoom Date

While the restrictions have eased, and we can have up to two visitors visit. However, if you are unable to visit your s/o you can always schedule a quick FaceTime/Zoom meeting and see them that way. You can also each order some take out and stay up hours chatting away. 

These are unprecedented times, but we must remember to be responsible and careful. 

Good Time Management During Isolation

Good Time Management During Isolation

By Mary Okorie

Good time management is one of the many things students find difficult and it seems a lot worse during isolation because the whole day is spent at home. Students may feel very lazy and think that 24 hours is not enough for them anymore. They feel their time is congested with classes, projects, assignments, test and for some students work. There are a few ways students can try to manage their time effectively. Students can maintain a good bedtime and wake routine, timetables for classes, assignments, and readings, breaks in between and if work is also part of their schedule, they should work around that.

A good bedtime and wake up routine are quite essential for time management. Students should make sure to get adequate sleep but also wake up early so that they can start their day and accomplish things that day. Instead of waking few minutes before a class that starts at 12pm, they should either try to take shifts that can end around 11 or do some other productive things before the class starts. After classes, students should also note reminders on tests and assignments that are due soon and try to complete them as soon as possible. A flexible timetable for reading should be made. Within the timetable students should make sure they take a break so that they are not overwhelmed and can have renewed strength to finish up their task.

There might be no pushing force during this COVID-19 period, but we have to find a way to make sure our daily lives are not distorted or feel that time is not enough. Good time management would go a long way in helping to stay focused on whatever you decide to do.

Amanda Gorman - Making an Impact Through Poetry

Amanda Gorman - Making an Impact Through Poetry 

By: Mallory Johnson  

Amanda Gorman, a 22-year-old African American Youth Poet Laureate, performed her stunning poem “The Hill We Climb” at President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’ Inauguration Day, on Wednesday, January 20th, 2021. She referenced the hit musical Hamilton twice in her poem, and Lin-Manuel Miranda, the writer of Hamilton, watched her performance and tweeted her multiple times. Because of the successful aftermath of the performance, Amanda’s social media accounts were not working, and she could not check her notifications. She got interviewed on CNN and was surprised by a video message from Lin-Manuel Miranda praising her poem and performance. Amanda overcame a speech impediment that made it hard for her to say certain letters, including the letter R. To overcome this, she practiced by signing along to the Hamilton song “Aaron Burr, Sir.” Amanda has three books that are available on Amazon, and after her performance, her books all topped the Amazon charts. In interviews, Amanda said that she is planning to run for President of the United States in 2036. 

Her wonderful poem is here:  

The Hill We Climb 

By: Amanda Gorman 

“When day comes, we ask ourselves,

where can we find light in this never-ending shade?

The loss we carry,

a sea we must wade.

We've braved the belly of the beast.

We've learned that quiet isn't always peace.

And the norms and notions

of what just is

Isn't always just-ice.

And yet the dawn is ours

before we knew it

Somehow, we do it

Somehow, we've weathered and witnessed.

a nation that isn't broken

but simply unfinished

We the successors of a country and a time

Where a skinny Black girl

descended from slaves and raised by a single mother.

can dream of becoming president.

only to find herself reciting for one

And yes, we are far from polished.

far from pristine

but that doesn't mean we are

striving to form a union that is perfect.

We are striving to forge a union with purpose.

To compose a country committed to all cultures, colors, characters and

conditions of man

And so, we lift our gazes not to what stands between us,

but what stnands before us

We close the divide because we know, to put our future first,

we must first put our differences aside.

We lay down our arms.

so, we can reach out our arms.

to one another

We seek harm to none and harmony for all.

Let the globe, if nothing else, say this is true:

That even as we grieved, we grew.

That even as we hurt, we hoped.

That even as we tired, we tried.

That we'll forever be tied together, victorious.

Not because we will never again know defeat.

but because we will never again sow division

Scripture tells us to envision.

that everyone shall sit under their own vine and fig tree

And no one shall make them afraid.

If we're to live up to our own time

Then victory won't lie in the blade

But in all the bridges we've made

That is the promise to glade.

The hill we climb.

If only we dare

It's because being American is more than a pride we inherit,

it's the past we step into

and how we repair it.

We've seen a force that would shatter our nation.

rather than share it.

Would destroy our country if it meant delaying democracy.

And this effort very nearly succeeded.

But while democracy can be periodically delayed

it can never be permanently defeated.

In this truth

in this faith we trust

For while we have our eyes on the future

history has its eyes on us.

This is the era of just redemption.

We feared at its inception.

We did not feel prepared to be the heirs.

of such a terrifying hour

but within it we found the power

to author a new chapter

To offer hope and laughter to ourselves

So, while once we asked,

how could we possibly prevail over catastrophe?

Now we assert.

How could catastrophe possibly prevail over us?

We will not march back to what was.

but move to what shall be.

A country that is bruised but whole,

benevolent but bold,

fierce and free

We will not be turned around.

or interrupted by intimidation.

because we know our inaction and inertia

will be the inheritance of the next generation.

Our blunders become their burdens.

But one thing is certain:

If we merge mercy with might,

and might with right,

then love becomes our legacy.

and change our children's birthright.

So, let us leave behind a country.

better than the one we were left with.

Every breath from my bronze-pounded chest,

we will raise this wounded world into a wondrous one.

We will rise from the gold-limbed hills of the west,

we will rise from the windswept northeast.

where our forefathers first realized revolution

We will rise from the lake-rimmed cities of the midwestern states,

we will rise from the sunbaked south.

We will rebuild, reconcile, and recover.

and every known nook of our nation and

every corner called our country,

our people diverse and beautiful will emerge,

battered and beautiful

When day comes, we step out of the shade,

aflame and unafraid

The new dawn blooms as we free it.

For there is always light,

if only we're brave enough to see it

If only we're brave enough to be it”

Sober Driving Message For Students Goes Virtual As MPI And MADD Canada Deliver Anti-Impaired Driving Education Program Online

Sober Driving Message For Students Goes Virtual As MPI And MADD Canada Deliver Anti-Impaired Driving Education Program Online

OAKVILLE, Ontario, Jan. 25, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Manitoba students will participate in a new virtual and interactive program about the risks of impaired driving, as MADD Canada and Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) take the School Program online.

The School Program educates students in Grades 7 -12 about the risks and consequences of impaired driving, and empowers them to make safe and responsible choices. Traditionally delivered in an in-person assembly format, it has been adapted this year for virtual delivery, complete with an interactive participation portion, to meet the online-classroom needs of schools amidst the pandemic. (The in-person format option is still available to schools where permitted.) 

“The presentation format has changed this year, but the purpose and the message is just as important as ever,” said Dawn Regan, MADD Canada’s Chief Operating Officer. “With the ongoing partnership and support of MPI, middle and high school students across the province will continue to learn about the dangers of impaired driving, and how they can help prevent it. “ 

MPI has been a Provincial Sponsor of the School Program since 2001. This year, MPI is directly sponsoring 128 online presentations of the School Program, ensuring the delivery of the crucial sober driving messaging to thousands of Manitoba students. The online presentations begin today and continue throughout March. They are hosted and facilitated by a MADD Canada School Program Field Representative, and are supplemented by an Educators’ Guide to help teachers continue the sober driving education throughout the school year.

“We are proud to partner with MADD Canada to deliver this education program in a virtual format that meets the current safety protocols of schools, while giving students a powerful and realistic look at the devastating results of impaired driving,” said Satvir Jatana, Vice-President, Employee and Community Engagement, Manitoba Public Insurance. “The message students take away from this presentation is that they each have the power to make the right decision and hopefully prevent an impaired driving collision.”

The 2020-2021 School Program is titled The Wish. It tells the story of Rudy, who is struggling with trauma, guilt and depression after the death of his sister in an impaired driving crash four years prior. On his high school graduation day, which is the anniversary of his sister’s death, he recounts the day that changed his life forever. Rudy’s story unfolds in compelling flashbacks, with students following him on his search to make some kind of peace with his loss, and his quest to fulfil a wish that he and his sister shared. Following this powerful fictional story, students see emotional, first-hand accounts about the devastation of impaired driving, as told by real-life victims and survivors.

This year’s program features a new, interactive short drama, which places students in a situation where impaired driving is happening, and gives them case scenarios to decide the best course of action. The presentations in Manitoba also include statistics which provide students with a stark and sobering look at the rate of impaired driving in their province.

Canadian youth are significantly over-represented in alcohol and/or drug-related crash deaths, both as drivers and as passengers. More than 50% of all road crash deaths among 16 -25 year olds involve alcohol and/or drugs. With the help of committed sponsors such as MPI, MADD Canada is able to produce and deliver a new School Program to students each year to educate them about the risks of impaired driving and how they can protect themselves. 

Surveys show MADD Canada’s education efforts resonate with young people. In a 2017-2018 survey about that year’s School Program, titled The Pact, students said: the program effectively delivered the sober driving message (66%); it motivated them to make the right decision when it comes to preventing impaired driving (74%); they had or planned to have conversations with family and friends about impaired driving (73%); and they supported having a similar presentation at the school the following year (97%).

To see a clip of the new program, visit the School Programs page on the MADD Canada web site at: https://maddyouth.ca/school-program/

For more information, please contact:

Dawn Regan, MADD Canada Chief Operating Officer, 905-330-7565 or dregan@madd.ca. 

MPI Media Relations Unit, 204-985-7300

Trump and the “Globalists”

Trump and the “Globalists”

By Eder Leonel Torres

During campaign on a variety of speeches, Donald Trump denounced the American “establishment” for sending away factories that employed thousands of American workers. He spoke about issues that most Americans in lower classes are concerned about, employment, illegal migration, crime, and poverty. Although it is evident that Donald Trump did not represent a workers’ movement. His antiestablishment speeches during the 2016 presidential race encouraged many Americans to believe he represented the American working class. Many people in the United States liked that Trump denounced the political establishment’s corruption and weakness when making trade deals with China. Moreover, Trump’s speeches denounced the actions of American economic and political elites. In the United States neoliberal capitalism as an economic system supports corporations to stablish operations in states like Mexico. According to industry week “in the first decade of this century, America lost 56,190 factories, 15 a day”. These numbers are alarming; however, under neoliberal capitalism corporations are free to invest and exploit resources in other states without major governmental restrictions. Therefore, it is not surprising that many workers disappointed at the American political establishment supported Donald Trump to win the election.  

On the political spectrum workers feel that traditional parties do not offer viable solutions to their economic problems. Instead, workers not only in the United States but in many “democracies” find fascinating that leaders present themselves as “outsiders”. They prefer that the “outsiders” express anti-establishment rhetoric and nationalism. To get elected Trump expressed a type nationalism that politically attacked “globalists” like the Clintons and Barack Obama. Although not expressed in the liberal media, social issues like poverty, illegal migration, and massive incarceration derive from the global economic system of neoliberal capitalism. Although I do not suggest that these issues did not exist before neoliberal capitalism was stablished but rather to reflect that in most democratic states political and economic elites rely on neoliberal capitalism to empower and enrich themselves at the expense of millions worldwide. Leaders like Donald Trump that expose “the globalists” for their corruption encourage working class Americans to hope and dream under the US national flag. Nationalism encourages people in lower classes to feel secure since they associate their well-being in connection to the state.

Old Mathematics Textbooks Versus New Mathematics Textbooks

Old Mathematics Textbooks Versus New Mathematics Textbooks

      Perhaps one of the key factors to success in a mathematics-based course is the textbook. Why the textbook? I say the textbook because it contains the methods and the practice problems necessary to develop skills in mathematical reasoning. The hard truth to getting “good” at mathematics is that simply reading a maths book does not help you improve much. Solving many problems is the reality of getting good at mathematics. The best way to compare the old versus new textbooks is to look at the pros and cons of each. Ideally having both is superior to having one or the other, but this is not always possible as one shall see from some of the cons. 

      The first thing they should be of note is that when I use the word “old” I am referring to maths textbooks from before at least 1970, and thus “new” will refer to any material after 1970. One of the first sorts of pros of the old maths books is that they tend to contain what I call “hidden gems” in them. I found from reading maths books from before the age of calculators that for certain areas like trigonometry, mathematicians had to use a bit more algebraic manipulation to get the same answers as opposed to after the 70s one would just use an algebraic calculator or calculator to solve. This can be beneficial because this gives a few more alternative methods of solving problems that would not ordinarily be available. For example, in trigonometry, vers(θ) was historically considered the most important trigonometric function, and yet the probability of a maths student knowing what that is quite low and is pretty much zero if you are trying to find a student that can tell you what is hav(θ). Another pro about old maths textbooks that I have also noticed is that they tend to have much harder exercises in them than the new textbooks. Having harder exercises in the context of maths is a benefit to the student because by solving difficult problems one’s problem-solving skills become much stronger in less time and fosters outside the box thinking. If one is used to difficult problems by the time the test comes around the test will feel like a review. Another one of the pros of old math books is that the cost of the books is often not as expensive as some of the new textbooks.  

      Now it is time to look at the cons of old maths books. The first con is that if one is not used to reading old maths books the wording can be quite tricky and takes some practice to get decent at reading. This con will, however, disappear as one gets comfortable reading them. So, this con is that old maths books are a slow start. The next con and probably the most notable con of old maths books is that old maths books may not contain the most up to date theory in that branch, but I think in the case of first timers knowing the latest breakthrough in that branch of mathematics is not going to help with learning the branch and it is unlikely a first timer will understand the modern advancements anyways. Unless of course one of the modern advancements is a new and more efficient way to solve a problem by not using computer assistance. Another con of the old maths books is accessibility. They can be quite hard to get access considering most of them are not getting reprinted anymore.  

      Overall, I would say ideally get an old maths textbook; the older the better, and a new one and use them to complement each other, but if I had to pick, I would choose the old textbook. Of course, if a certain textbook is required for a course one should invest in that textbook.  But if the option is available, getting an old textbook will be of great benefit. 

N. Monk, Futurist d Philosopher

Movie Review- Escape Room

Movie Review- Escape Room

By: Kiersten Garbutt

The movie Escape Room, directed by Adam Robitel came out in 2019, was recently added to Netflix! If you are looking for a good psychological thriller, this movie might just be for you! 

The movie starts in a nerve-wracking situation to get you on the edge of your seat. Leaving you on a cliff-hanger from the beginning scene they introduce the main characters. Starting with Zoe, who is a very smart university student, however, struggles with some anxiety. Next, they introduce Jason, who presents himself as a hotshot businessman. To complete the trio, they introduce Ben who is the stereotypical social outcast. The three of them get invited to an escape room. While they are in the waiting room, we meet three other characters. The tough and mysterious Amanda, happy and welcoming Mike, and finally Danny, the nerd. 

The six individuals work together to complete several puzzles in several rooms to hopefully win the promised $10,000 cash prize if they finish the escape room. What started as a friendly fun game became a twisted and sadistic competition. The movie is a bit predictable and the characters all follow their stereotypical roles, but the movie is still exciting and full of plot twists. It is definitely worth the watch! 

How to get textbooks for winter semester

How to get textbooks for winter semester

By Mary Okorie

Winter session has started and many of university courses require textbooks. This may be hard for students to access due to various reasons such as cost, time to be delivered and availability. The university bookstore has most of the textbooks but because of the pandemic they only offer the service of delivery or curb side pickup and due to the amount of students’ order, getting the book might be delayed. There is also the option of renting for the whole semester or buying the book depending on what students want. The option of bookstore might be an expensive option for some students but there are also alternatives. Facebook market has proven to be a nice medium to get used textbooks for a very reasonable price. There are always people willing to sell, students just have to use filters so that they are buying from people around their location. We also need to consider students that are not currently in Canada and may have no means of accessing the bookstore or facebook market sellers that are  within their area. There is an option of ordering the textbook online to the place of location. There is also a cheaper way but that would be an online version instead of paperback textbooks. Students have these various options to choose from to access textbooks for this semester. We have to find ways to adjust to the way things have become.

2021: A Year for Normalcy?

2021: A Year for Normalcy? 

By: Maria Garcia Manzano, AEIC of the Quill

The end of 2020 has come and a new year begins. The beginning of 2021 was lackluster in celebration as due to the Code Red restrictions placed on Manitoba, gatherings outside of one’s household were not allowed. Many welcomed the year alone or through a series of Zoom calls with family and friends. We may ask ourselves, what can we expect with this upcoming year? Is there anything to look forward to? Well, vaccination against COVID-19 has started in Manitoba and Dr. Roussin hopes that by the end of the summer all Manitobans will be immunized. Right now, due to the limited quantity of the vaccine only priority individuals are being given the vaccine. These are individuals who, work in critical care units; work in long-term care facilities (born on or before Dec. 31, 1974); work in acute care facilities (born on or before Dec. 31, 1974) or were assigned to a COVID-19 immunization clinic or testing site. More information regarding the vaccine can be found: https://www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/vaccine/index.html 

The vaccine will undoubtedly allow us to participate in activities we have not been able to do so in a while. However, we cannot expect this to happen in a single day. As said by Dr. Roussin, the complete immunization of Manitobans will take time and we must be patient as this process is taking place in order to ensure everything is done correctly. Therefore, while normalcy may be achieved this year it must be done following the correct process. As university students we have now adapted to online learning and this upcoming winter semester will bring back that sense of normalcy we lacked during the holidays. Furthermore, on January 8th, depending on how well Manitobans followed the Red Code restrictions, they may be removed and we may regain some of the privileges we lost such as visiting friends who were part of our bubble, shopping for non-essential items etc. But, in case they are not lifted again, I ask you to be patient. I understand we are bored; I understand we want to see other people, shop, eat out, go to the movies, the list is endless. But we must realize that by acting irresponsibly we are putting the lives of others at risk. 

2021 perhaps is not the year where normalcy is retuned but rather the year where a new sense of normal will be achieved. 

Furthering Awareness of Alzheimer's disease

Furthering Awareness of Alzheimer's disease

By Ronnie Kayla Neiman

January is the start of another new year, and it is also the month set aside to spread awareness about Alzheimer's disease. 

The first thing you should know; what is Alzheimer's disease? Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible, progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and, eventually, the ability to carry out the simplest tasks. 

The most known risk factor for dementia is age. The older you become, the greater the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia. This disease tends to affect people over the age of 65 and becomes more likely after the age of 85. Women also tend to be diagnosed with and suffer from Alzheimer's disease due in part that women have a longer life expectancy. Some of the factors that can further increase the risk of developing the disease is diabetes, cardiovascular risk factors and brain injuries. 

What are some of the possible symptoms someone can experience? Symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease include loss of memory, difficulty with day-to-day tasks, and changes in mood and behaviour. Other symptoms include a loss of vocabulary, poor and irrational decision-making, the lack of the ability to learn and relearn skills. Some may think these symptoms are part of normal aging, but they aren’t.

Is there a treatment or a cure? Sadly there is no known cure at this time and while it is not possible to restore function to brain cells damaged by Alzheimer’s disease, there are treatments and strategies that can help both the person with the disease and the person and/or persons caring for the patient. Current approaches to treatment tend to focus on helping people maintain mental function, manage behavioral symptoms, and slow down certain problems, such as memory loss.

What to do if someone close to you has this debilitating disease or if you are the caregiver? Caring for a person with Alzheimer’s disease can have high physical, emotional, and financial costs. The demands of day-to-day care, changes in family roles, and decisions about placement in a care facility can be difficult. 

Becoming well-informed about the disease is one important long-term strategy that provides emotional and mental well-being for the patient and the family. 

The UN Announces Famine

We Will See Famines of “Biblical Proportions” UN Nobel Agency Warns.

By Eder Leonel Torres

David Beasley, head of the World Food Program has warned world leaders that 2021 may see famines of “biblical proportions”. The Nobel UN Agency emphasised that the Covid-19 pandemic may increase the number of people starving. People living in states engaged in civil wars like Syria, Yemen, and South Sudan are already facing a humanitarian crisis; however, Covid-19 will likely make it worse and increase the number of people dependable on humanitarian assistance. People that were living on the brink of starvation before the pandemic are now facing a crisis, making them most vulnerable. The agency has communicated that “it is getting worse out there[…] our hardest work is yet to come”. Moreover, the pandemic is severely affecting low income states, preventing them from recovering economically and socially. The number of people in need of humanitarian aid transcended to the millions across different areas of the developing world. On the other hand, the world is encountering the threat of terrorism. Terrorism transcends borders as ISIS, for example, has established into different areas of Africa and spread its ideology across the globe. 

In parts of West Africa, state authority has been replaced by militias or armed groups. Robert D. Kaplan, in his article “The Coming Anarchy”, writes; “Sierra Leone is a microcosm of what is occurring in West Africa, and much of the underdeveloped world: the withering away of central governments, the rise of tribal and regional domains, the unchecked spread of disease, and the growing pervasiveness of war”. In fact, many people migrate or seek aid for reasons of security, shelter, violence and climate catastrophe. Climate change, Covid-19 and terrorism are the challenges to the post cold war world. 2020 is almost over and in the developing world, people in need of humanitarian assistance is rising to the millions.