ADES is 20 Years Old at BU!

ADES is 20 Years Old at BU!

By Ronnie Kayla Neiman

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As a way to mark the 20th anniversary of the Applied Disaster and Emergency Studies program at Brandon University, the department will be hosting a series of unstructured, informal, and audience-oriented Zoom sessions. On the second Tuesday of every month, students, past and present can join with other past and current ADES students to share ideas, ask your, and connect with like-minded practitioners. 

Starting on October 12th 2021, taking place each moth until May 10th 2022. The meeting will take place at 6PM central time. Zoom ID and password are available on brandonu.ca under the homecoming section. No preparation is required, RSVP is unnecessary, and there are zero fees.

For more info contact John ‘Jack’ Lindsay, Associate Professor and Chair by phone (204) 571-8555 or by email at lindsayj@brandonu.ca

Verity by Colleen Hoover - A Book Review

Verity by Colleen Hoover - A Book Review

By: Mallory Johnson

Photo Credits: Google Images

Photo Credits: Google Images

I recently read the book Verity, by Colleen Hoover, and I LOVED it! It was my first

Colleen Hoover book, and I am so glad I read it. It is an adult romance thriller and is very

intense, dark, and disturbing. I do NOT recommend it for anyone under 18 years old. Before I go

any further, SPOILER ALERT. Also, trigger warnings for graphic child abuse, death, cancer,

murder, attempted murder, abortion, choking, grief, car crashes, severe injury, self-harm, child

death, cheating, and sexual content. The book is about a struggling author, Lowen, who gets

offered the job of a lifetime: finishing famous author Verity’s popular book series because Verity

got severely injured after an accident. She accepts, and the job requires her to stay at Verity’s

home with her husband and kid. She is sorting through Verity’s office when she finds a

manuscript that she was not supposed to see that details Verity’s life….in graphic detail.

I went into this book knowing it was dark and disturbing, but no warning could have prepared

me for what I was about to read. I highly recommend only reading this book if you can handle

the subject matter because it does not shy away from difficult subjects. This is Colleen’s first

thriller book (she writes romance books typically). I really hope she writes more thrillers because

this book was a wild ride. There are twists and turns that I did not expect at all. The story

features an unreliable narrator, so you do not know who to trust, which I think is very cool,

especially in a thriller. It was interesting to me how the ending was up to your own

interpretation, and I cannot stop thinking about it. I enjoyed reading the manuscript chapters,

even though they were graphic and disturbing. Colleen Hoover has a reputation for heartbreaking

books, and Verity did not disappoint. When it was not sad, it was intense, shocking, and brutal to

read at times.

Overall, I am so glad that I read this book. I love thrillers, and Verity is definitely a new favorite.

I highly recommend reading it, but please check trigger warnings beforehand. I give this a strong

10/10 and am so excited to read more from Colleen Hoover!

Movie Review

Movie Review

By: Kiersten Garbutt

Photo Credits: Google Images

Photo Credits: Google Images

Now that movie theatres are back up and running, with, of course, a few covid related

restrictions, everyone is looking to watch the next best thing. One of the newer movies you will

find is Venom: Let There Be Carnage, brought to you by Sony and associated with Marvel.

Venom: Let There Be Carnage is a captivating, humorous, and action-packed movie. The

movie starts with Eddie Brock, played by Tom Hardy, struggling with Venom being a part of

him. Eddie and Venom have a funny dynamic, which will have you laughing every time they

argue. This leads to character-building when Eddie and Venom have to overcome their

differences to fight the story's central villain, Cletus Kasady, played by Woody Harrelson. The

film itself is very impressive, as it is true that Marvel is never known for lacking in CGI. The

special effects and Venom look very realistic, making the movie enjoyable to watch. Of course,

this would not be a Marvel movie without the post-credit scene, which is very exciting and

surprising without spoiling too much.

Overall, if you are not huge into action movies, Venom: Let There Be Carnage would be

a good choice because it is not just action but really funny. Also, you don't need to know about

other Marvel movies (besides the first Venom movie) to understand what is going on. If you do

enjoy Marvel movies and follow the timeline of movies, Venom: Let There Be Carnage is a

must-watch! To conclude, this movie is enjoyable for anyone!

Attending Classes

Attending Classes

by Mary Okorie

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Classes have resumed for fall and some programs are offering mixed classes which   is some classes are in person while others are still online. Some other programs are offering classes primarily online because of Covid 19 and government restrictions. Irrespective of how lectures are delivered, it is very important to attend classes. 

Some people are finding it hard to adjust back to going for in-person class especially when they have had a year of online and the weather is getting colder as the days go by. It is not easy to wake up on a cold early morning and take a walk to school and people would prefer to be at home. There are still benefits of going to class. People get to interact with each other while adhering to wearing mask. Friends and connection are made which is hard to make in an online delivered class. Attention span is also better when sitting on chair and desk rather than being in bed. It is still very important to attend online classes, especially if that is how the course material is being delivered. Professors tend to say important things and give hints in class. Sometimes there are questions asked in class that can be very helpful. Some professors also take attendance and add it to grade marks. The importance of attendance is always strong and should be adhered to. 

Also students should try to prepare before coming to class by reading class materials, preparing questions to ask in class and also having a good night rest so they are not groggy and feeling tired the next day.

Though it might be hard to attend classes online or in person, the importance cannot be stressed enough in achieving success in the semester.

Mental Health Resources

Mental Health Resources

by Kiersten Garbutt

(Image Credit: Creative Commons)

(Image Credit: Creative Commons)

With the school year back in full force. Some of us may feel overwhelmed, homesick, or just stressed out. Fortunately, Brandon university has many accessible resources for those who are seeking some extra help. Brandon university counselling is now offering WebEx, phone-in, and in person counselling appointments. Therefore, whatever your preference is, Brandon university is there to counter to your needs. 

The process of booking an appointment is super easy. You can go the Brandon University website and go to student services. There you should find where you can book an appointment for multiple types of counselling, including advising, personal, and career. It is important to remember that going to counselling is not a form of weakness of any kind. Counselling will help you achieve your goals more easily and offers a judgement free place where you can properly deal with your emotions.

The thought of going to counselling still may be scary. However, there is still many resources you can go to, without the commitment. There are many crisis support lines such as Mobile Crisis Unit (1-888-379-7699), Manitoba Suicide Line (1-877-435-7170), Sexual Assault Crisis Line (1-888-292-7565), and many more available under Community Resources on the Brandon University Website. 

Whatever it is, you are never going through it alone. If you notice another student in distress, it is actually psychologically proven, if you bring up their wellness, they are more likely to ask for help. Early indications of students in distress, and stated on the Brandon University website, may be a decrease of quality of work or physical appearance, disturbing other students, regularly expressing hopelessness, withdrawing from activities they once enjoyed, indirect and direct references to suicide, and attendance becomes irregular. 

Poor mental health can be really tough to deal with, however there are many resources, as previously mentioned, that can teach healthy coping mechanisms or offer safe environments. No matter what the struggle is, you never have to face it alone!

Back to school

Back to school

By Kiersten Garbutt

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Campus is back to its lively self since the university welcomed class sizes under 25 to be held in person. There are many new opportunities that many students have never gotten to experience before. The simplest things, such as meeting new people after class (face to face), studying in the library, going to the healthy living centre, are all new and exciting for most of us.

To succeed on campus, students should know that their ID card is quite literally the key to everything. The ID card will allow access to the library, healthy living centre, and many other buildings. Which leads us to our next topic, being on campus is nerve wracking but seriously exciting.  We should all take advantage of the resources provided here by BU.

 Instead of studying at home (like we all have been doing for the past year), study at the library! The library offers a quiet atmosphere that allows no tolerance for distractions. Tables and chairs are spread 6ft apart to allow social distancing. Additionally, masks are mandatory. This allows your visit to the library to be a safe one.

Health and fitness is very important to a good lifestyle, so why not take advantage of the healthy living centre, which is included with our tuition. When a student wants to go to the gym, they should know that to have access they will need to book an appointment online through their website. This procedure is extremely easy and fool proof. Once your appointment is booked you are good to go attend the various classes, track, or fitness centre that they offer. 

Remember to follow the guidelines the university and government have set in place to keep every student safe!  

Campus Bookstore

Campus Bookstore

By Ronnie Kayla Neiman

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At Brandon University, the campus bookstore is open to in-person shopping for your textbooks. Only a limited number of people are allowed in. Masks and hand-sanitising are required for entry of course. There are a number of employees there to help you find the textbooks you need. Just be sure you have the course number with you so that the books can be found more easily. 

Various school related supplies, and Brandon University brand clothing are available to be bought. 

There is still the option for online shopping of textbooks and certain supplies. You can just enter your course number on the website bkstr.com/brandonustore/home and find the textbooks that way. The order, once in can be picked up in person at the store or other arrangements can be made.

Just be sure to ask for help at the bookstore should you need it. The employees are very kind and helpful. 

Winning Shot Contest

Winning Shot Contest

by Ronnie Kayla Neiman

(Photo Credit: Creative Commons_ ccpixs.com)

(Photo Credit: Creative Commons_ ccpixs.com)

With the fall semester starting up again and the campus being reopened, as well as the newly added vaccination requirement to art rend in-person classes and to use the various student services, getting vaccinated is high on the list of things that need to be done now.

Brandon University is offering an incentive for those who have been vaccinated and for those who will be. Introduced with the caption “Get fully vaccinated as soon as you can, and we’ll be back together, faster.” 

Plus now you can win your share of more than $10,000 in valuable BU prizes!

There is a give away of Grand Prizes of $5,000 towards your tuition or other BU expenses, plus 35 other prizes. Faculty and staff can enter to win too. 


Due to the university creating a vaccination requirement so close to the beginning of the semester, the deadline to enter the contest is October 31 2021. 

To apply, visit the Brandon University homepage. There is a direct link to the application page. It is quick and very simple. A good contest to create more incentive. 

Brandon University Co-op Program

Brandon University Co-op Program

by Ronnie Kayla Neiman

(Photo Credit: Creative Commons_ C.O.D. Library)

(Photo Credit: Creative Commons_ C.O.D. Library)

Co-operative Education is a structured approach that will formally integrate a student’s academic studies with relevant work-related experience. It alternates student study terms with work terms. Co-op is a partnership between the university, the employer, and the student. All three parties work together to enhance students’ employability skills and contribute to their intellectual, professional, and personal development.

Whatever your career goal is, Co-op can help you gain knowledge, and insights that will give you a competitive edge for your future. Co-op will help you clarify what you want to do after graduation. For some students, they go right into their career, whereas others prepare for further studies like graduate school or professional programs. The Co-op program can help those choices.

A student can apply for this program prior to joining the university, or once they are a student. The application page is on the Brandon University website. Potential employers can even directly link to the website to find employees. 

If you have any questions contact Cora Dupois, Co-operative Program Coordinator at  204-571-7848 or dupuisc@brandonu.ca.

There is No ‘Normal’ as We knew it

There is No ‘Normal’ as We knew it

By Ronnie Kayla Neiman

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A discussion that is becoming quite common lately is talk of going back to normal or creating a new normal or making the world normal again. It may be a cynical point or somewhat pessimistic to state that there is no such thing as going back to normal because that normal no longer exists. 


More than a year ago, the world as we knew it changed. A virus was sweeping across the world. People just saw it as another virus, like the flu or H1N1. Something that made people sick but was rarely if ever even deadly. COVID-19 was just another virus to us. It came into our country and began to seriously harm people infected. In an attempt to curb the most deadly aspect of the virus, our prime minister and provincial premiers imitated quarantine. We were locked down. 


Schools were closed down and teachers, professors and students rushed to create a stable online distance learning to continue classes. Many retail businesses and restaurants closed down, only open to delivery. Some restaurants and other businesses closed permanently. People couldn't go to the park, the winter and summer fairs were cancelled. We thought it would be over soon, maybe a month, maybe six months. We didn't expect it to last more than a year. That was when our normal was completely altered. 


Another winter and summer fair cancelled. Some restaurants opened back up to the public. Some parks reopened. Though with some major restrictions. Schools have improved the online learning system, though many still struggle with the different types of learning. The Quill also had to adjust to this new world state. We would publish a print copy of each issue of the newspaper and distribute them throughout Brandon University campus bit that changed with campus lockdown. It was also a question of safety for the students who distributed. We moved to a completely online platform and it may stay that way for the time being. It would be good to go back to print issues as well as continuing the online aspect of the student newspaper. However the campus lockdown would need to be lifted and students back to being at the school for the distribution to make sense. It could be that the Quill has a new normal as well. It has it's good and bad points but it's a matter of keeping people as safe as possible.


The world has changed. We have changed in the way we have approached certain situations. Some places have decided to completely change how they do things because of the working from home aspect of the pandemic quarantine. The economy has also greatly suffered during the pandemic due to businesses closing, people being laid off due to restrictions, and increase in students fees at universities. It has been something that has made things even more difficult. It has made going back to some sort of normal more difficult because everything has changed so much. That normal is gone forever. Now we just need to readjust our lives and figure out how we turn this chaotic time into something better, heal from it and create a new normal.

Easter Celebrations During a Pandemic

Easter Celebrations During a Pandemic

By: Maria Garcia Manzano

Photo Credits: Google Images

Photo Credits: Google Images

This year Easter will look a little different. With the current public health guidelines set to expire on March, 25th revision is underway. However, we can expect household gathering rules to remain. The only visible change done to the guidelines may be about theaters and casinos opening at a limited capacity. As a result, Easter will be different, and celebrations may be limited to within your household and designated visitors, but this does not mean you and your loved ones cannot still enjoy the holiday. Here are six different ideas you can do with your household and designated visitors.

  1. Rethink Easter baskets and gifts.

    The pandemic has taken a financial toll on everyone, and perhaps this year, giving out overflowing waster baskets may not be possible. So instead of filling it up with store-bought treats, pull out a cupcake, muffin, or cookie recipe and fill them with homemade sweets.

  2. Order in for Easter lunch or dinner.

    Pre-pandemic Easter lunch and dinner usually took place at a family member's house, and everybody arrived and celebrated together. This cannot be the case this year, and instead of worrying about what to cook and stressing out, order takeout. Support local businesses and call around to see which restaurants are open on Easter Sunday and if they are offering takeout services. Brandon has a variety of delicious restaurants.

  3. Focus on small-scale Easter games.

    A bunny hop race or Easter egg toss may not be possible this year if you don't have the supplies, numbers, or space (or all three). Focus on games—beyond the egg hunt—your household can play together, such as guess the number of jelly beans or Easter egg basketball, even if there are only two of you in the house. Furthermore, you can also bring out your board games and enjoy some friendly competition.

  4. Have a Picnic!

    This last week, the weather has been beautiful, and if you don't want to stay cooped up at home, and weather permitting, go out and have a picnic. The Discovery Centre is one of my favorite places to go for picnics. Pack up some sandwiches or pick up some subway and head down with a picnic blanket, some snacks, and enjoy yourself. 

  5. Small egg hunts are the way to go.

    Whether you have children in your household or only university students, the idea of looking for chocolate treats is appealing. Therefore, whether you live in a house or an apartment, buy some chocolate treats from Dollarama and hide them. Get another person to hide some goodies for you and then have a race to see who finds the most chocolate. 

  6. Adjust your expectations for Church services.

    If your Easter celebration includes a religious component, it may be different from prior years. There are limits on gatherings, and many congregations have adopted their restrictions to keep their members safe. If your church does hold a service, consider if attending is the safest option for you and your family (and others attending). You can stay connected with your church on Easter by checking to see if it's hosting a digital service: Many religious organizations have been offering online services, so do a little research online to find one you can stream.

Spring & Summer Courses Being Offered

Spring & Summer Courses Being Offered

By Cedric Bell

Photo Credit: brandonu.ca 

Photo Credit: brandonu.ca 

The BU Senate announced the courses that would be offered over the spring and summer sessions, with registration for these courses having opened on march 8th. These courses can be looked at and registered for on the BU website in the 2021 spring/summer registration guide. The announcement of these courses is especially significant because the previous spring/summer session occurred right at the start of the COVID pandemic, and as a result had in person courses cancelled or switched to online delivery.

This year’s spring/summer session seems to have more courses being offered because of the extra time to prepare that the school has had. The spring courses on offer include classes in sociology, history, politics, geology, nursing, philosophy, as well as offering graduate courses, co-op courses and work experience terms. There are less courses being offered in the summer, but still a good amount to choose from in religion, gender, education, anthropology, english and history courses.

These courses are mostly being delivered online, with some containing in person requirements. They are being delivered in online synchronous, online asynchronous, and online blend formats. Online synchronous classes occur online and have regular meeting times, while asynchronous classes don’t have set meeting times. Blend courses contain a mix of online instruction and on campus instruction when necessary.

The spring session runs from May 3rd - June 17th in two separate terms, and the summer session will run from July 5th - Aug 23rd, also in two separate terms. Registration is already open, so if you’re interested, give it a look here: https://www.brandonu.ca/registration/2021-spring-summer-session/

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

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 

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 

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.