Author: Mina Mazumder

For many, it’s a day full of drinking and wearing green, but what is the holiday really about?

March 17 is the celebration of all things Irish, but how many of us actually know what the holiday is really about?

According to Michael Kenneally, Irish professor and principal of the School of Canadian Irish studies at Concordia, St. Patrick’s Day has become commercialized. “To some degree, [the holiday] has been hijacked by Guinness and Jameson,” he said. “It has been associated with raucous drinking, a lot of it done by students going out on St. Patrick’s Day wanting to get drunk and then the Irish community gets a bad name. There is a stereotype that the Irish are drinkers, fighters and lazy.”

Being an Irish studies student or taking an Irish class at Concordia can help students learn about genuine Irish culture, he said. “In Irish studies, part of our mandate is to counter those stereotypes by highlighting the good things, such as Irish culture and literature,” said Kenneally. “Personally, it’s an opportunity for me to connect with the Irish community in Montreal. If anything, I would be kicking back against the stereotyping of sheleighly and shamrocks, and racially negative T-shirts and hats. All of this [stuff] associated with St. Patrick’s day needs to be seen in the context of real Irish culture.”

Kenneally said the holiday is celebrated in both Ireland and around the world. It was originally a holy day for Christians where you needed to go to mass. On St. Patrick’s Day, you could have sweets, or whatever was given up during the long period of Lent. It was only about 20 years ago parades and majorettes started, Kenneally said.
Now, it’s a celebration of Irish culture, its heritage and the Irish community, he said. “In Montreal particularly, St. Patrick’s Day and the parade has really become not an essence of Irish community, but rather a commercialization [that is also] associated with the coming of spring,” Kenneally said. “It is a non-political opportunity for everybody in Montreal to come and celebrate after hibernating during winter.”

Kenneally said he strongly hopes the future of this holiday will highlight true Irish ancestry, be it through film, music, poetry, or other ways. His hope is that it will highlight genuine Irish culture and continue to downplay the stereotyping being done through the media, particularly with Guinness making money out of it.

 

For further information on the Irish studies program at Concordia, visit cdnirish.concordia.ca.

 

Concordia’s animal rights association is working with the SPCA to ban dog chaining in Quebec

Every year in Quebec, thousands of dogs are chained outside and neglected by their owners, forced to endure extreme weather climates for long periods of time, according to the Montreal SPCA. The SPCA and the Concordia Animal Rights Association (CARA) have come together to organize the “Cut the Chain” campaign, which aims to ban the long-term chaining of dogs in Quebec.

Many provinces in Canada, including Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, have already implemented laws against chaining dogs, according to the SPCA.

“Understanding animals and what they stand for can bring a sense of compassion to our own lives,” said Lara Mackenzie, president of CARA. “If you wouldn’t want to be chained outside, why would [dogs]?”

On March 18, CARA will be organizing an event that will encourage students to sign the “Cut the Chain” petition. It will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the lobby of the MB building.

“We will be there with iPads and encouraging people to sign the petition,” Mackenzie said. “It’s about getting students to take literally two seconds of their time [to sign]. Many of us have a strong passion for dogs, and I am sure people will be willing to help.”

Sophie Gaillard, a lawyer with the animal advocacy department at the Montreal SPCA, said dog chaining has become a big issue. “It’s a problematic phenomenon, because it is inhumane and unsafe,” she said. “Dogs who are chained are at an increased risk of injuring themselves by getting tangled up in their chains. They are also frequently neglected because people aren’t typically paying close attention to them, so if they are sick or injured, it isn’t quickly detected. In the winter, dogs are exposed to extreme cold and extreme heat in the summer.”

According to SPCA inspectors, people chain their dogs when they are untrained or misbehaving, but sometimes they are chained to be used as house guards to protect their owner’s property. According to Gaillard, one third of complaints from the inspection department are related to chained dogs.

Gaillard said chaining can cause psychological distress for dogs. “Dogs are social and active animals and when they are isolated, they are unable to play or exercise and they develop severe behaviour problems related to boredom and frustration,” she said. Dogs who are chained by their owners are at a much higher risk of displaying aggressive behaviour, and they are also three times more likely to bite—children in particular, Gaillard said.

“Dogs want to be with their families in a house where there are people, and [passing the law] would greatly improve dog welfare,” said Gaillard. “Even if people do want to keep their dog outdoors, there are better ways of doing it than keeping them at the end of a chain. For example, in a fenced-in yard with an adequate dog house, maybe access to a garage.”

The petition can be signed at cutthechain.ca

Concordia’s event brings awareness to the stress and conflicts many students are facing

Concordia’s Counselling and Psychological Services recently hosted an event to raise awareness about mental health and to help students improve their overall wellness.

Psychologists were available to answer any questions students had related to stress, mental health or even about a friend who they might be concerned about. One of the psychologists willing to chat was Marc Leger, who works at the university as a counsellor.

“We want to make sure to support students with the issues they are dealing with,” he said. Bringing awareness to mental health is important as stress can interfere with our everyday lives and proper functioning, he said.

Information sheets were also available to guide students who may be facing certain issues related to stress, depression or personal relationships.

“People might feel shy to seek help [so] it is important to show that we exist,” Leger said.

Having the courage to seek help and deciding that your health is something worth addressing is crucial and a strength, he said.

Leger said that one of the main things that students come to him about are relationship issues. He also helps many students with depression, anxiety and stress.

Knowing the symptoms and being self-aware is crucial to students’ well-being, Leger said.

“The main symptom is when you are recognizing that you are feeling stressed or anxious, and your body will tell you, as well, if you are feeling a bit more tense about things,” he said. “[You won’t be] able to concentrate, [you’ll] isolate yourself or have more negative thoughts or turn to things to cope such as substances, whether it is alcohol or smoking up to numb the feeling or move away from it.” He added that lack of sleep might also be an indicator.

Leger also emphasized the importance of listening and showing support. “People ask, ‘how are you?’ but they need to take the time to listen,” Leger said. He recommended confiding in one or two friends and talking to them about struggles you might be facing. “We talk about dental hygiene but mental health hygiene [is also important] in terms of self-care,” he said.

“There is a pressure to always be happy and okay,” he said. For example, on Facebook, people might seem happy based off of the photos we see, but there is always the other side of a person that isn’t made public, he said.

The event offered interactive info sheets, including a “What’s Your Stress Index?” form as a simple way to fill-up and recognize your levels of stress. Counselling and Psychological Services are offered at the downtown campus in room H-440. The triage is a new service they offer—a drop-in brief appointment with a professional. Students can drop by Monday to Friday from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and 2 to 3:30 p.m.

Wireless power is expected to continuously grow during the year

As a generation of students that are known for constantly looking at some sort of screen, be it a cellphone or laptop, it’s only natural that we’re curious about what’s to come in the technological world. Whether it’s a new iPhone or an innovative gadget that facilitates our lives in some way, we’re all up on it. So what new gadgets will be coming our way this year?

The annual event of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) was held last week in Las Vegas and many visited from all around the world to experience and appreciate new technological releases. According to Wired, the most impressive products presented at CES included Bang & Olufsen’s BeoLab 90 speakers, Technics SL-1200 turntable, Kodak’s Super 8 camera, LG Signature OLED G6, Samsung Notebook 9, and smart glasses by Carl Zeiss. One particular technological advancement continuing to take the world by storm is wireless technology.

IHS, global market, industry and technical expertise provider reported that wireless power would rake in $1.7 billion in revenue in 2015, and it’s said to grow to $17.9 billion in revenue in 2024.

“Wireless power is about more than just getting rid of wires. It’s about helping all kinds of associated technologies transition from impractical to realistic. It’s about not having to put your devices in a specific place for a specific amount of time, or having to worry about whether your devices are charged,” Evan Ackerman, a senior robotics writer wrote in his article Why Wireless Power Is the Most Exciting Thing at CES 2016. He said that simple household gadgets will eventually become wireless in the future, including lights, surround sound speakers, and security cameras. “Wireless power would let you put these kinds of things wherever you wanted, and move them around freely,” wrote Ackerman.

Celphones are constantly being improved, too. ”Cellphones, even though [the technology] is not something new, are always expanding and always developing and possibly going to be replacing laptops, but computers will still be used for long-term assignments and programs,” said Dr. Nancy Acemian, a senior lecturer in computer science and software engineering at Concordia.

“Cellphones are getting smarter and people are relying on those things a lot more. We are paying our parking meters through our cellphones, as well as doing our banking through our cellphones. I still think that cellphones are going to evolve into more being more than just a phone and more of a computer,” said Acemian.

According to The Wall Street Journal, other products that are growing in popularity are T.V.s and other household electronics that are voice-operated—with only a simple word or two, your product is at your command.

Students choose condoms and learn about safe sex practices at Health Services’ yearly event

Concordia’s Annual Condom Giveaway, organized by Health Services, was held on Nov. 24 in the mezzanine of the Hall building, with a goal to promote safe sex and STI prevention.

The two health promotion specialists at the event were Owen Moran and Gabriella Szabo, there to answer any questions students had about sexual health.

Free condoms were available at their table in a variety of flavours, colours and styles. Students were able to choose any three they desired whether it was three banana-flavoured condoms or a variety, such as unscented or thin.

Pamphlets and informative sheets about safe sex practices and maintaining sexual health were available, including one about 16 Safer Sex Practices. Practices included using a barrier, such as condoms, during sex or participating in activities where body fluids are not shared, such as touching with clothes on. Also, the practices outlined sharing relevant information with each other about sexual history and STI status and getting tested for STIs.

“Getting tested regularly [every six to 12 months] is part of taking care of your sexual health,” said Szabo. She added that if you are experiencing any burning sensation, fluid discharge, leakage or pain around the genital area, it’s important to address the problem quickly by booking an appointment with a doctor or going to a walk-in clinic the day you’re experiencing pain. Concordia’s Health Services offer free services for STI testing, as well as vaccinations and contraceptive counselling for students.

“Communicating with your partner is important, [and] having those honest conversations about when was the last time you got tested, [is] adopting a positive attitude towards safe sex practices,” Szabo said. “These conversations should be done with no judgment, honesty and a ‘I’m taking care of your health and you are taking care of my health’ [attitude].”

STIs can be passed on by non-penetrative ways. “Things like skin-to-skin touching or body rubbing in the genitals area can transmit an STI such as herpes, so this is why barrier methods are important,” Szabo said. Oral sex can transmit STIs like gonorrhea and chlamydia into the throat and then it can be transmitted to the next partner. There is an increase in mouth cancer that is caused by HPV so some people use condoms during oral sex, get tested for STIs and get vaccinated for HPV, she said.

Students should try and develop a positive attitude towards condoms, said Szabo, as it is the best way to practice safe sex and protect your sexual health.

Your Pocahontas costume might seem fun, but it’s reinforcing cultural stereotypes ??

Halloween is a holiday where we celebrate all things spooky by dressing up and carving pumpkins. For many, dressing up can be a fun way to be someone else for a night. However, each year, many young people choose to dress up in costumes that culturally inappropriate, like the classic “indian” costume, which is really dressing up as a First Nations people, or the ever-popular geisha costume. While the intention is not usually to offend others, if you are planning on dressing up as something that might seem culture-oriented, think twice.

Karl Hele, associate professor and director of First Peoples studies at Concordia University, sees this issue as both culturally inappropriate and offensive. “It is offensive, you are not honouring me or my culture by dressing as a stereotype,” he said.

Having the excuse of dressing up as your favourite Disney princess Pocahontas is not valid either. If a young girl is dressing up as Pocahontas, “it is teaching the child that it is OK to stereotype and sexualize,” said Hele. “The parents should know better and realize the issues with the costume.”

The more important problem here is adults are dressing up as Pocahontas. The costume is often portrayed as a “sexy Indian,” which Hele said “devalues Aboriginal women and contributes to their sexualization by race. This helps contribute to the high number of assaults and murders of Aboriginal women as well as affecting Aboriginal young women and girls’ self-esteem and body image.”

Hele added that the key to changing these bad costume habits is education. “Continually remind people that dressing like an Indian stereotype is offensive,” he said. “No one dresses like a Jewish or African stereotype—although there have been recent incidents of blackface—and expects it not to be offensive.”

While you might think that this new trend is considered ‘fun’ or a celebration of a culture, it does the opposite. “It affects individuals of the culture, being viewed as stereotypes. It devalues a culture by showing its members that they are nothing more than a stereotype,” Hele said.

The idea doesn’t just apply to First Nations-related costumes. If you are planning on dressing up as a any kind of cultural caricature, stop and think of what implications your costume could have. It is always important to get background information on your Halloween costume before you make the decision to dress up. A costume might seem like a mundane thing to most people, but it could be reinforcing stereotypes.

Strong evidence shows that liquid water is present on the surface of the red planet

On Sept. 28, NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) confirmed strong evidence of liquid water on the surface of the planet Mars.

Researchers discovered hydrated minerals on hills where dark streaks are seen with the help of an imaging spectrometer, according to NASA. These streaks are noticeable during warm climates, flowing down steep slopes of mountains, canyons and craters, while fading during colder seasons. According to NASA, they appear in regions where the temperature is above minus 23 degrees Celsius.

These streaks, known as recurring slope lineae (RSL) are possibly linked to liquid water, according to NASA. Just like road salts on Earth causes ice to melt, the hydrated salts have the same effect on a liquid brine, NASA said. Scientists said it is probably a subsurface with adequate water to explain the darkness. NASA’s MRO spectrometer found hydrated salts only in areas where the darkening was wide enough to detect.

On NASA’s website, astronaut and associate administrator of NASA’s science mission directorate in Washington, John Grunsfeld, said that their quest on Mars has been to “‘follow the water’ in our search for life in the universe, and now we have convincing science that validates what we’ve long suspected.”

Lyle Whyte, professor of environmental microbiology at McGill University, who specializes in polar microbiology and astrobiology, said that the source of this water is the bigger question. Whyte gives us three possibilities as to where it may come from.

“The salts are essentially sucking up water out of the atmosphere. Concentration gets high enough, and we see these streaks like desiccation,” he said.

Adding to that is the idea there is an aquifer where “water from that aquifer is seeping up to the top, or then coming up from the sides of these craters on these RSLs from salty water,” he said. “There might be byrd glaciers melting and then the water seeps onto these streaks,” he said as a third possibility.

“A mission will probably be launched in 2025 with the sole purpose of going to those RSL landing areas and sampling them to tell us if they have any microbes there, or in other words, life,” he said. Until then, ExoMars 2018 and Mars 2020 are both upcoming Mars missions.

Does water necessarily mean potential for life? His answer was neutral. He said that salty water in Antarctica, however, holds an active microbial ecosystem.

“Microbial life can potentially exist within a similar, very cold, salty ecosystem on Mars,” he said, based on what he knows about microbial life on Earth. Within our solar system, liquid water is also present in Europa (sixth closest moon of Jupiter) and Enceladus (sixth largest moon of Saturn), he said.

With a few ingredients you can whip up a refreshing and healthy drink

Smoothies are such versatile drinks and can be consumed at any time of the day. All it takes is a few fruits, sometimes some veggies, some juice, a blender and you’re golden. Here are smoothie recipes that will keep your energy up during the day. You can even make these the night before to save time, and then refrigerate them so they’re ready for morning.

Morning berry blast

Want a quick smoothie to compliment your breakfast? If so, we’ve got a recipe for you. Oranges and bananas are great breakfast fruits. Top them off with blackberries and you’ve got a smoothie rich in taste and antioxidants.

Ingredients:

– 2 clementines or 1 orange, sliced
– 1 banana
– 2 cups of wildberry juice
– 1 cup of washed blackberries

Start your day right with berries and enjoy it on the go!

Green lean post-workout

Try this amazing post-workout smoothie. I got the recipe from an episode of The Doctors but made it even simpler.

Ingredients:

– 1 cup of washed watercress
– 1 cup of green grapes
– 1/2 cup of washed green apple
– 1 banana

Enjoy something healthy and yummy after hours at the gym!

Strawberry mango dessert

Make yourself a delicious after-dinner smoothie. If you’re a dessert lover and are looking to spice things up, this is the one for you. It may not be the healthiest on this list, but let’s face it, it’s better than eating a piece of cake. The chocolate ice cream gives this smoothie a certain je ne sais quoi.

Ingredients:

– 2 cups of two per cent milk
– 1 cup of washed strawberries
– 1 cup of mango slices
– 2 scoops or tablespoons of chocolate ice cream

These are just a few ideas; remember that the possibilities are endless! Change up your fruit combinations to create recipes of your own. Add some carrots for a sweet flavour, an avocado for a creamy texture, or some cilantro to add some kick.

Step one: take a deep breath

When a new semester begins, we always tell ourselves that we will do better than the last. Most of the time, that doesn’t work out and we end up falling behind in our school work. Here are five helpful tips to stay on top of your game as this new semester unfolds.

1-    Avoid procrastination

We’ve all been there: we tell ourselves that we still have time to write that assignment that is due tomorrow but we end up putting it off to the last minute. In order to break the cycle of procrastination, it is important to change a few daily habits and maybe even your environment. According to Life Hack, a website specializing in productivity and lifestyle, it is important to break an assignment into little sections, which makes your work seem less overwhelming. Sometimes your environment can affect the way you work. Try studying and doing assignments at the library instead of at home where you know that there are many distractions. If you have an agenda from the CSU, page 21 goes into detail about how to deal with procrastination.

2-    Get enough sleep

On average, adults need about seven to nine hours of sleep each and every night, according to the National Sleep Foundation. While many of us as aware of this, we never seem to abide by this rule. Sleep is vital for students since it helps the body rest and recover from a long day while the brain works on regenerating cells. Getting enough sleep can actually help you retain information from studying or class lectures. According to Healthy Sleep, a resource from the Division of Sleep Medicine at Harvard Medical School, sleep has an important role in memory, which is crucial for taking in new information. Some great tips given by the National Sleep Foundation include following a consistent sleep schedule, since that helps to regulate your body’s sleep patterns for a good night’s sleep, practicing a relaxing night routine away from lights and electronics, exercising daily to relax muscles, and avoiding alcohol before bed.

3-    Have an agenda

You might have heard this a million times but using your agenda is important in staying organized, because you can easily keep track of what assignments are due and which ones should have priority. Complete assignments that are due sooner before diving into the ones due later. If your agenda comes with a  full-size calendar for each month, use different coloured pens for each class and write in when all of the semester’s assignments are due as soon as you receive a course outline. This will help you see your entire semester in terms of work, and you can determine the busy weeks from the quieter ones. Make sure to check your agenda regularly; make it a daily habit.

4-    Never skip class

You might think that class lectures are redundant and time-consuming because the course content given by your professor is available in the textbooks or online, but studies have shown otherwise. According an article in the Economics of Education Review, studies have found that there is a positive correlation between class performance and a student’s attendance. Statistics show that a student who regularly attends class performs significantly better during mid-terms and final exams when compared to a student who voluntarily missed several classes. Making a habit of attending class puts you on the right track.

5-    Stay motivated

Feeling lost? Ask your professor questions—he or she won’t bite. Don’t let any doubts block your way to success. The clearer an idea you have of what to study or what to write for your assignment, the better you will score. Creating goals for yourself is also a great idea to feel motivated to do better this semester; tell yourself that if you do well on an assignment, you’ll buy yourself dessert or go to the movies with friends. Write down a list of assignments, and next to that, write what rewards you will give yourself when they are properly completed.

While these five suggestions might be hard to maintain throughout the semester, make small goals for yourself, and you will see results as you go. A little progress is better than none at all.

New study reveals body image stress as a leading cause of eating disorders

According to a study conducted by the Journal of Adolescent Health, 15.82 per cent of transgender college students are diagnosed with an eating disorder compared to only 1.85 per cent of cisgender heterosexual women. Cisgender refers to people who identify as the gender they were given at birth.

The study included data from 289,024 students from 223 American universities to analyze student’s eating habits. According to the study, “qualitative research suggests transgender persons may be at increased risk of body dissatisfaction, which may predispose them to disordered eating.” Many of them also face high amounts of discrimination, which is significantly linked to poor mental health within the population, the study said.

Only one study has investigated a link between gender identity and disordered eating using transgender and cisgender groups, according to the Journal of Adolescent Health. That particular study explored “conflicted gender identity” and found that women who had conflicted gender identity scored higher in a test designed to check for eating disorders than their counterparts who were cisgender.

The results from the Journal of Adolescent Health study also reveal that transgender students were at greater risk of using diet pills in the past month, vomiting episodes and laxative use than heterosexual cisgender women. Studies also show that transgender students who were unsure about their sexual orientation had greater rates of past-year eating disorder diagnosis including self-induced vomiting and use of diet or laxative pills compared to heterosexual trans-students.

There are many reasons why eating disorders affect transgender individuals the most, according to the study. According to one of the authors of the study, Dr. Alexis E. Duncan, a potential explanation for the high number is because people who are transgender use eating disorders as a way to suppress certain ‘gendered features’ such as transgender women wanting to lose weight in order to conform to societal ideas of feminine slimness.

Sam Dylan Finch, a transgender writer and queer activist from the San Francisco Bay area, has expressed thoughts on this issue. “As a trans person, I experience body dysphoria. This means that I have pretty significant distress around certain parts of my body because I associate them with a gender that I don’t identify with,” he said in an article on Clap Way.

These studies are only the beginning of further investigation between disordered eating and gender identity and/or sexual orientation. According to the Journal of Adolescent Health, mental health professionals must be aware their transgender patients are at a higher risk of eating disorder behaviours and should take action for proper screening practices to help these individuals.

Event strives to show that acne isn’t just for teenagers

At this very moment, nearly five million college and university students are struggling with acne in Canada, according to The Acne and Rosacea Society of Canada.

Acne, which is often thought to be only common during teenage years, is also reoccurring among adults. To shed light on this important topic, The Acne and Rosacea Society of Canada is introducing the nation’s first Acne Awareness Week taking place from Sept. 14-20.

According to the Acne and Rosacea Society of Canada, about 22 per cent of women suffer from adult acne, compared to only 3 per cent of men. More women suffer from adult acne due to hormonal influences that occur during their menstrual cycle. Common signs of acne include red bumps and pus-filled pimples that appear near the jawline, on cheeks, chin and neck. For some, acne can also appear on the back or chest.

As many of us have experienced, acne can have a negative effect on one’s self-esteem and emotional well-being. About 10 per cent of individuals face depression due to acne while more than 40 per cent of students and workers have reported poor concentration due to their acne, according to a study conducted by the Acne and Rosacea Society of Canada. Many adults struggle with this issue for years, and genetics can play a strong role on the severity of their problem.

Dr. Benjamin Barankin, a spokesperson for The Acne and Rosacea Society of Canada and Medical Director & Founding Dermatologist at the Toronto Dermatology Centre, said that while stress and diet can aggravate acne, it is mainly due to hormones and genetics.

There are many ways to treat adult acne, he said.

“Try some over-the-counter products that contain ingredients like benzoyl peroxide and/or salicylic acid,” Barankin said. “Use a mild cleanser once or at most twice a day, apply sunscreen every morning and consider exfoliating once or twice a week. If after three months you are not seeing sufficient improvement, go see your doctor and if possible, your dermatologist.”

Other treatments include prescribed creams and pills, laser treatments, chemical peels, facials and microdermabrasion, said Barankin.

Specific types of makeup can also help, he added.

“Try to wear mineral makeup that [is] labelled non-comedogenic,” Barankin said. “Ideally we can clear your acne so that you can wear makeup for as little time as possible. There are no particularly harmful ingredients in makeup.”

Acne scarring can also be a problem. Barankin said it is best to consult a dermatologist to determine the type of scarring that you have, which will then determine the best treatment. Scar treatments include medical-grade chemical peels, laser resurfacing, subcision, filler injections and microneedling, he said.

“It’s also very important to get your acne treated and under control as there’s no point treating scarring if you’re still developing acne, which can lead to new scars,” he said.

There are many myths about acne that some might have heard: “You just have to get through it” or “acne will go away on its own” or “nothing can be done about acne.” Acne Awareness Week was created to bring awareness to those struggling with this common skin condition, but also to promote the facts.

“We need to get the facts out in order to improve the lives of those with acne,” Barankin said of the importance of Acne Awareness Week. “For example, if acne is affecting your life, there is no need to suffer through it. Acne can be successfully treated in virtually every case.”
For more information, visit acneaction.ca