Attending Classes

Attending Classes

by Mary Okorie

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)

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

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

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)

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)

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.

A New Day

A New Day 

By Moses Aisida

If you took a walk within the university in early April last year, the ambiance of uncertainty that lingered was visible on the students' faces. The news of COVID-19's rapid rise had enforced caution in our habits. This caution had become fear, and fear had conceived panic. You could tell, by looking at the expressions of worry on the faces of lecturers, the divide that physical distancing brewed, and the questions that escaped the lips of every single member of the university. We had gotten to a time where we had to stay apart to stay alive. This led to a suspension of in-person classes or activities, and subsequently, an entire session of virtual meetings for virtually everything.

About a year and a half later, and a series of topsy-turvy COVID-19 restrictions, the university is back to in-person learning for the most part. Yet, as one wanders the halls this new week, the masks on the faces of students and staff struggle to conceal the look of uncertainty in their eyes – perhaps the same look that was visible last year. Even after the staggered re-opening of activities in Brandon, the enemy still lurks around donning multiple identities referred to as variants. It appears that COVID-19’s hold has reduced slowly in the province, yet, one must remember that this is one virus that never shudders at the appearance of a fight. A fact that might be chiefly responsible for the cautious ambiance that greets you as you step into the university building.

From the signs on the walls to the painted arrows that lay on the ground and the several restricted-personnel numbers on the classroom doors, it is safe to say we are not fully back to normal – not yet. Underneath all the walk-on-broken-glass attitude, one can faintly smell enthusiasm and relief. For many, the thought of physical learning with classmates or friends once again is euphoric and encouraging. While for some, the mixed feelings still abound as they struggle to mix enthusiasm and safety in a familiar but atypical learning environment. It remains a mystery, what the new term brings, and how students and staff will adapt to the dynamism of COVID-19.  One thing is clear, this is the beginning of a new day,  and I, like many others, am eager to see what is in store for us.

There is No ‘Normal’ as We knew it

There is No ‘Normal’ as We knew it

By Ronnie Kayla Neiman

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.

Social Battery in Quarantine

Social Battery in Quarantine 

By: Mallory Johnson 

The term social battery is a metaphor for a person's extent to mingle with groups of people in one setting. It is an introvert's way of describing their anxiety of having to interact with large crowds. I am an introvert and I got used to having a lot of time alone in my dorm before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Due to quarantine, I am not alone as much as I want to be and have become used to being. Throughout the day, my social battery goes down, and then when I am up late on my phone by myself it recharges - it is like I am a cell phone. Unlike extroverts, I need time alone to recharge. If I want to be alone, I tend to go to my bedroom. My parents have both been working at home since the middle of March, and school was moved online. My parents going golfing after work gives me time to be alone. Having the entire house to myself is a lot different than being alone in my room. I have sensory processing issues, and because of these issues, loud conversations, music, and noises in general make me want to escape and go to my room. Listening to music in headphones can help, as it helps drown out some of the noise and gives me some control because I can choose the music. Sometimes I just need a moment in a bathroom to collect myself. Listening to music in headphones helps, because it drowns out unwanted noise and gives me control of what I am hearing. This mainly helps when I am in public. In some situations at home, all I need to do is go to another room to collect myself and recharge, just a little. There’s a few nights that come to mind, for example card games with cousins, although jammed packed full of fun and good times, drain my social battery pretty fast. Quarantine has provided some impromptu teaching/learning opportunities to learn about introverts - suggesting that quarantine life is a choice introverts make and a challenging time for extroverts. No matter how your social battery works, I hope you find the balance in your summer to stay charged.

Easter Celebrations During a Pandemic

Easter Celebrations During a Pandemic

By: Maria Garcia Manzano

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 

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/

Amazing SciFi Shows That Are Still Great To Binge Watch

Amazing SciFi Shows That Are Still Great To Binge Watch

By Ronnie Kayla Neiman

Science Fiction is an amazing genre. It is often called “sci-fi,” and it is a fiction genre where the content is imaginative but based on some degree of scientific realism. It relies heavily on scientific facts, theories, and principles as support for its settings, characters, themes, and plot-lines, making it different from fantasy.

Several SciFi shows that range from a few episodes to show’s success science fiction seems to bring out such an intense fanbase, no matter the show’s success on networks. An excellent example of that is Firefly which lasted only 14 episodes but was so popular with fans that it received its movie years later. Star Trek also has many series, and each had its range of success with the fanbase. The original series lasted only three seasons but is very popular and celebrated sixty years after it first aired.

Image Credit: wall.alphacoders.com 

1.Stargate SG1

A show that followed a low-budget film from 1994 simply titled; Stargate, which starred Kurt Russel, and James Spader. A movie where a ring-like object nearly two stories tall was found in Egypt and allowed an air force team accompanied by an archeologist to another planet inhabited by humans lorded over by an alien species that looked human on the outside. The show changed the casting but kept the original premise of other-worldly travel through a wormhole, saving humans and other species from a race of aliens that portrayed themselves as gods. The series follows a team called SG1, the primary team for the Stargate program, as they travel to other worlds, make allies and fight their enemies. 

The team remains essentially the same for the entire ten seasons of the show, though lead Richard Dean Anderson left at the end of season eight but continued to make guest appearances for the rest of the series and one of the movies that followed. 

The series lasted ten seasons and had two movies and two spin-off series.

Image Credit: Creative Commons 

2.Stargate Atlantis

Stargate Atlantis is the first spin-off series related to Stargate SG1. This show was initially supposed to follow right after Stargate SG1 as a series, but the other show continued, and Atlantis aired simultaneously with the last few seasons of SG1.

This show followed the primary team of Atlantis. It focused on running the City of Atlantis, a technologically advanced city designed to sit on the surface of a massive body of water with the ability to sink under the surface would also function as an enormous spaceship.

This series only lasted five seasons and sadly had no movie to follow, though a third series, Stargate Universe, followed the year after the cancellation of Atlantis. It was much less successful than SG1 and Atlantis.

Image Credit: art.alphacoders.com 

3.Battlestar Galatica (2003)

Battlestar Galactica was remade from its original series that aired in 1978. The show was remade shortly after the horrible events of 9/11. This show focused on many political, economic, and human rights issues of a group of people trying their hardest to keep their species alive while being chased by the enemy that destroyed their colonies. Battlestar Galactica is a three-hour miniseries starring Edward James Olmos and Mary McDonnell with an ensemble cast.

The series follows immediately after the destruction of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol by the Cylons, a race of mechanical beings that developed the ability to have human-like Cylons. The survivors of humanity search for their original home, Earth, while being chased by the Cylons and dealing with numerous issues that plague the fleet. 

The pilot was a two-part mini-series followed by four more seasons and two prequel movies titled Razor and The Plan. This series is placed on many most-watched lists because of the issues the show dealt with, including abortion, domestic terrorism, and election stealing. It received large amounts of awards for its special effects, storytelling, and acting.

Image Credit: wallpaperaccess.com 

4.Star Trek: The Next Generation

This series was the spin-off to the original Star Trek series, though it was over twenty years after the Original Series aired. As with the original Star Trek, TNG was still very much about exploration, "boldly going where no one has gone before.” Similarly, the plots captured the adventures of the crew of a starship named the USS Enterprise-D.

One hundred seventy-eight episodes produced over seven seasons, making it the longest-running Star Trek series to date. The crew’s adventures continued onto the big screen in four movies.

Image Credit: wallpaper-house.com 

5.Star Trek: Voyager

This star trek series was aired when Star Trek Deep Space Nine was half-way through their series, though finished years after that series had finished. Voyager was the third spin-off to the Original Series. Star Trek: Voyager (VOY) focuses on the 24th-century adventures of Captain Kathryn Janeway and her crew aboard the U.S.S. Voyager. Voyager’s team combines forces with the staff of a destroyed Maquis ship to find their way home. Stranded over seventy thousand light-years from Earth, the crew tries to make the journey home while also adhering to the doctrine of exploration that Starfleet prides itself on. 

Due to its great distance from Federation space, the Delta Quadrant is unexplored by Starfleet, and Voyager is truly going where no human has gone before. Voyager is fast and powerful and can land on a planet’s surface. It is one of the most technologically advanced vessels in Starfleet, utilizing computer circuitry that incorporates bio-neural circuitry. 

Voyager aired 172 episodes over seven seasons from 1995 until 2001. While it didn't run for as many episodes as TNG did, Voyager discovered numerous new alien species and was better balanced with its gender ratio, with a female lead and several strong supporting female characters. 

Image Credit: wall.alphacoders.com 

6.Warehouse 13

A unique series is considered Science Fiction, but it is also described as a dramatic comedy and supernatural. The series follows U.S. Secret Service Agents Myka Bering and Pete Lattimer when assigned to the secretive Warehouse 13 for supernatural artifacts.  As they go about their assignments to retrieve missing artifacts and investigate reports of new ones, they come to understand the importance of what they are doing.

It is somewhat of a short-lived series with six seasons, but only 12 episodes in season 1, 13 in both seasons 2 and 3. Season 4 was its most extended season with twenty episodes and just six episodes in its fifth and final season. 

 These are only six possibilities of different Science Fiction shows to watch. There is always more to find, more to watch, and many more to love. As Warehouse 13 is described, "Welcome to Endless Wonder."

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.