Meghan Markle and Harry Tell All

Meghan Markle and Harry Tell All 

By: Mallory Johnson

Photo Credits: People Magazine

On Sunday, March 7th, former Duke and Duchess Meghan Markle and Harry sat down for an interview with Oprah Winfrey that aired on CBS. They emphasized that the interview was happening safely, with all COVID-19 precautions taken very seriously. No topic was off the table, and Meghan and Harry did not know the questions that Oprah was going to ask. Oprah asked why Meghan and Harry left the Royal Family, and Meghan described racism, mental health issues, and lack of protection that she experienced. 

The interview started with just Meghan and Oprah, with Harry joining later. Oprah and Meghan talked about the stunning Royal Wedding, and Meghan revealed that she got married to Harry three days before the world watched her get married. Meghan also told Oprah that before marrying Harry, she did not research the Royal Family and their customs/rules, so she had to learn how to curtsey before meeting the Queen. 

Meghan and Oprah then discussed how she and Harry had rescued a dog named Guy from a kill shelter and rescued some chickens from a factory farm. They have a chicken coop called Archie’s Chick Inn, after their son’s name Archie. When Oprah asked Meghan what she is most excited about in her new life, Meghan said, “I think just being able to live authentically.”

Oprah and Meghan then addressed some of the tabloids that spun stories about Meghan around the time of the wedding, some of which Meghan had and had not heard. They discussed in detail the rumor that Meghan had made Kate Middleton cry. Meghan said that the reverse had happened and that Kate had made Meghan cry about something regarding flower girl dresses. She said, “Kate made me cry days before the wedding, but I got blamed...that was hard” and described it as a turning point. She also emphasized that she was not saying that to make anyone look bad and that Kate apologized, and Meghan forgave her. The rumor came out six or seven months after it happened. Meghan said (regarding Kate), “If you love me, you don’t have to hate her. And if you love her, you don’t have to hate me.” Oprah talked about the tabloid headlines for Kate compared to the ones for Meghan. Oprah said, “Kate was praised for cradling her baby bump, and the headline about you doing the same thing said, ‘Meghan can’t keep her hands off her baby bump for pride or vanity.” Oprah also mentioned another example about Kate being praised while eating avocados. Meghan was eating avocados, and the headline was: “Wolfing down a fruit linked to water shortages, illegal deforestation, and environmental devastation.” 

Oprah and Meghan next discussed how Meghan was “the first mixed-race person to marry into the family.” Meghan said that she was only worried about fitting in because she was made to think about that. Meghan talked about how she has always worked, valued independence, and been outspoken. She said, “I mean, that’s the sad irony of the last four years...I've advocated for so long for women to use their voice, and then I was silent.” Oprah asked: “Were you silent? Or were you silenced?” and Meghan answered: “The latter.” Meghan said, “Everyone in my world was given a very clear directive, from the moment the world knew Harry and I were dating, to always say, “No comment.” Meghan discussed how she thought she had complete protection from the institution (the Royal Family). Still, she had the exact opposite, to the extent the institution would lie to protect others while throwing her, Harry, and Archie under the bus. Meghan shared how warm, welcoming, and loving the Queen was to her while she was not being protected at all by the rest of the family. 

Meghan discussed how everyone was obsessed with how she (and the Institution) looked in the press and media, that they did not take a minute to check up on how Meghan was doing. She said, “I know there’s an obsession with how things look but have anyone talked about how it feels? Because right now, I could not feel lonelier.” She emphasized that she was not lonely with Harry. Meghan and Oprah continued to talk about Meghan’s mental health, and Meghan revealed that she was feeling depressed and suicidal, to the point where she was too scared to be alone because she felt like she was going to hurt herself. She had a conversation with Harry and said that she “didn’t want to be alive anymore.” Meghan told Oprah that she asked the Royal Family for help with her mental health, and they refused to help her. She was pregnant at the time with her first child Archie. Meghan said that she reached out to a friend of the late Princess Diana for help. She also discussed her lack of freedom, saying that she had to give her keys, passport, and driver’s license away when she arrived at the Palace. 

Meghan mentioned that her baby Archie would not receive a title (Prince or Princess) or security and that there were discussions and concern over his skin color. Meghan said, “The most important title I will ever have is Mom. I know that.” She also revealed that Meghan and Harry were not asked to take a traditional baby picture. 

Meghan said, “And I grieve a lot. I mean, I have lost my father. I lost a baby. I nearly lost my name. I mean, there is the loss of identity. But I am still standing, and my hope for people in the takeaway from this is to know that there’s another side.” She also said that life is worth living. 

Harry joined the interview, and the couple revealed that they are expecting a baby girl this summer. Harry said, “To have a child, any one or two, would have been amazing. But to have a boy and then a girl, you know, what more can you ask for?” The couple also revealed that they are only planning to have two kids. 

Oprah revealed in a voiceover that when the couple first left the Royal Family, they initially chose Canada and then moved to California. In California, they moved in with Tyler Perry, who had offered them a place to stay. He also provided them with security. They lived there for a few months before moving to their own home in California. The couple revealed that they created their own “foundation and content company called Archewell.” Meghan and Harry announced that they did not “blindside the Queen” or “orchestrate Megxit.” Harry said that his biggest concern was “history repeating itself.” By history, he was talking about his mother, Princess Diana. He said, “I asked for calm from the British tabloids - once as a boyfriend, once as a husband, and once as a father.” When Oprah asked why they left, Harry said, “Lack of support and lack of understanding” he also mentioned that he no longer talks to his dad and was cut off financially. 

Meghan said that she was watching The Little Mermaid with Archie, and thought “Oh, my god! She falls in love with the prince, and because of that, she loses her voice. But by the end, she gets her voice back.” 

Harry and Meghan discussed how there are secret ways to get the tabloids on your side and that the Palace hosts holiday parties for the tabloids. The couple revealed that they had watched some of the Netflix show, The Crown. Meghan said that she begged the institution to keep Harry safe through letters, but the Institution refused. Harry said that he felt like he was trapped in the system and the rest of the family. Regarding their Netflix deal, Harry said, “We didn’t have a plan. That was suggested by somebody else by the point where my family cut me off financially, and I had to afford security for us.” Harry revealed that he would not have left the family if it were not for Meghan. Harry said that he has the money that Princess Diana left him and thinks that Diana saw this coming. Meghan and Harry are no longer working members of the Royal Family, and Harry’s military titles were returned to the Queen. 

The couple talked about a few of their baby Archies’ favorite words: hydrate and drive safe. Harry said that he has no regrets, while Meghan said that her only regret is believing that she was being protected. But she said that her story with the Prince has a happy ending: “Greater than any fairytale you’ve ever read.” 

Brandon Hydro Strike

Brandon Hydro Strike

By: Maria Garcia Manzano 

Photo credits: Brandon Sun

This past week if you drove down Victoria East, perhaps you saw several individuals waving signs outside the Manitoba Hydro Service Center and generating station. They are part of an ongoing Manitoba-wide strike started by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 2034 after rejecting Manitoba Hydro's latest contract offer. The IBEW Local 2034 has been working without a contract since 2018 and they represent 2,300 workers, including employees in generation transmission and distribution. 

               Last Tuesday, the strike began after the union started planning rotating strikes with customer service staff in Winnipeg staging the first walkout. Soon, similar scenes began to follow across the province. The Brandon strike started Wednesday, and the majority of strikers have staged their strike on Victoria East. In contrast, only a handful of strikers have protested outside of the Manitoba Hydro's offices on 10th Street. To minimize the disruption for their customers, Brandon's strikers only picketed from Wednesday and concluded on Friday. Mike Espenell, IBEW Local 2034 business manager, explained to Brandon Sun that this strike is the culmination of 28 months of negotiations with Manitoba Hydro. The corporation offered the IBEW members zero percent wage increases for 2019 and 2020. Furthermore, they were only offering them a 0.75 cent wage boost for 2021.

               One of the main reasons IBEW members chose to reject this offer was because, in their opinion, the offered rates are below the cost of living, making it an unacceptable proposal. Espenell further explained that they only seek not to fall behind. And that other underlying elements that contributed to this strike were the increasing number of layoffs that have, as a result, impacted their response time. Espenell also said that the union is more than willing to begin renegotiating but believes the best way forward would be through arbitration.

Reading Week 2021

Reading Week 2021

By: Maria Garcia Manzano

Having accomplished the first week back to school after the break, I figured it would be an excellent opportunity to look back and see what students did throughout this reading week. I talked to several BU students and asked them what they had done throughout this week, and many responded with the same answer "Nothing." When I asked them to verify, they all said that minimal to no schoolwork had been done and that they could not find the motivation to accomplish anything. I believe this reflects how worn down we are all with the pandemic. Given the province's current restrictions (only two visitors allowed outside of the household for indoor gatherings and max five people for outdoor gatherings), it makes sense why students are currently feeling unmotivated. 

The first student I contacted is a 3rd-year Physics Major who said their reading week had been brutal. All of their midterm exams were scheduled to be after reading week, but they refused to study because they could not bring themselves to do it. However, they said that they had used their week off to work as much as they could as they had not been working their full hours due to COVID. They also said that they had tried to meet up with a couple of friends, but their schedules had not allowed them to do so. This student reflects what many other students are enduring during this time. When we have time off, we are forced to weigh our options and choose which priority to focus on. Social life is meaningful, especially during this time where so many of us went months without seeing each other. However, when given a choice to earn their paycheck or socialize, this student understandably chose their paycheck.

The second student, a 4th-year Biology major, said that all of their midterms had been held before reading week and only had to work on the presentation due after the week was done. They said they tried to work on their presentation and managed to get started but quickly got distracted and said they would leave the weekend to work. They said they spent most of their time sleeping and going on Starbucks runs and did not visit any friends as they did not want to leave their house for social visits. They also said that this reading week had felt short as it came to an end before realizing it. This student displays what I think many students thought about this week and how it felt short and as though we could have used a couple of more days to replenish our strength. 

The third student, a 4th-year computer science student, said that even though they had several midterms exams coming up after reading week, they could not bring themselves to study and instead used a couple of days to visit their significant other had not seen in over two months. They said that while they would be stressed throughout the following week and would need to cram and do an all-nighter, taking a break was necessary as they replenished themselves and the break had been much needed and earned. This student showcases the difficulties couples are facing right now with the pandemic. This individual, in particular, should be applauded as they followed the guidelines and only visited their significant other when the province allowed it. They also display behavior that can help to replenish students' motivation. Taking a well-deserved break after sessions that require an increased amount of focus can be beneficial to the individuals' well-being. 

Overall, the 2021 reading week was different from previous years. With the pandemic's burden and the need to follow the health guidelines to ensure case numbers went down, many students felt trapped and unmotivated. Being an unmotivated university student can have severe consequences on our grades, and I encourage everyone to use the counseling services available at BU if an unmotivated state persists.

A year with online learning

A year with online learning

By Okorie Mary

Sometime last year was the last time students got together in classrooms, saw their professors in person and made meaningful connections and friends. Now a year has gone by and most of our learning experiences has been online. Both professors and students were forced into online education because of the pandemic. Professors who were not totally technically inclined had to learn to navigate teaching online with different sites and apps. Also, to try and curb cheating as much as possible, they had to look for alternatives such as watching students through videos as they wrote their exams. Students also were forced to learn to navigate the online environment for having classes, they were faced with technical glitches and difficulties because at some point, technological devices would always have some issues. Some students were afraid of writing exams because the exams could log them out or they would not even be able to login in the first place and some professors had a hard time keeping up with different technological complaints from students. There were also restrictions like not going back on an exam even when it was timed which would not have been the case if classes were in-person. A lot has really changed with most of learning now delivered with online mode, it has not been the easiest. Nevertheless, we are all learning to cope with it while hoping for a better future when things can go back to the way they were before the pandemic.

Anti-Lockdown protest outside Canadian Museum for Human Rights

Anti-Lockdown protest outside Canadian Museum for Human Rights

By: Maria Garcia

Photo credits: Zachary Kitchen, CTV news

Over the weekend in Winnipeg, a group called “Manitoba Movements for Change” held a rally protest in order to “raise awareness to mental health” Organized through Facebook. This event was meant to raise awareness against the strict Covid-19 restrictions the province has put in place. The regulations have been up for almost two weeks. They enable people to have indoor gatherings that include two people outside of your household and an outdoor gathering for five people outside of your family. Furthermore, the ‘only essential services and goods’ ban has been removed. People can now enjoy going for a haircut or to the gym.

However, this does not seem to be enough freedom for some people like those at the protest on Saturday who showed up without masks and signs saying, “our youth are suffering” and “isolation kills.” In their opinion, the restrictions are detrimental to mental health, and they are demanding they be put to an end. While the frustration is understandable, four UK Covid variant cases have been detected in the province. Now is not the time to be demanding ease of restrictions. For over a year, Covid-19 has impacted the lives of the entire world. Millions of deaths have resulted from this pandemic, and many more will continue to die unless we can hold on a bit longer. We must also remember why the code red restrictions came into place and how our carelessness got us to the point of three-digit deaths. I also urge the protesters to remember that we are ultimately trying to limit the spread in order to keep kids in school. Stay safe, stay home, stay healthy. We can do it!

Anti-Lockdown protest outside Canadian Museum for Human Rights

Anti-Lockdown protest outside Canadian Museum for Human Rights

By: Maria Garcia 

Photo credits: Zachary Kitchen, CTV news

Over the weekend in Winnipeg, a group called “Manitoba Movements for Change” held a rally protest in order to “raise awareness to mental health” Organized through Facebook. This event was meant to raise awareness against the strict Covid-19 restrictions the province has put in place. The regulations have been up for almost two weeks. They enable people to have indoor gatherings that include two people outside of your household and an outdoor gathering for five people outside of your family. Furthermore, the ‘only essential services and goods’ ban has been removed. People can now enjoy going for a haircut or to the gym.

However, this does not seem to be enough freedom for some people like those at the protest on Saturday who showed up without masks and signs saying, “our youth are suffering” and “isolation kills.” In their opinion, the restrictions are detrimental to mental health, and they are demanding they be put to an end. While the frustration is understandable, four UK Covid variant cases have been detected in the province. Now is not the time to be demanding ease of restrictions. For over a year, Covid-19 has impacted the lives of the entire world. Millions of deaths have resulted from this pandemic, and many more will continue to die unless we can hold on a bit longer. We must also remember why the code red restrictions came into place and how our carelessness got us to the point of three-digit deaths. I also urge the protesters to remember that we are ultimately trying to limit the spread in order to keep kids in school. Stay safe, stay home, stay healthy. We can do it!

Biden Announces Changes in US Foreign Policy

Biden Announces Changes in US Foreign Policy

The Joe Biden administration has announced to the US State Department its foreign policy goals. On Thursday, February 4th Biden initiated his speech with the words “America is back, diplomacy is back.” The new administration announced its views towards the war between Yemen and Saudi Arabia. Biden said that “the US will end its support for the Saudi offensive in Yemen.” However, he made clear that the US will continue to support Saudi Arabia. Biden’s foreign policy speech reflected America’s intentions to reinforce alliances and cooperation affected by the previous Trump administration. The Biden administration prioritizes the importance of projecting American values to the world at large. Throughout the speech, he frequently expressed values of democracy, freedom, and the rule of law as primary vehicles to guide foreign policy. 

Regarding the political crisis in Burma, Biden urged the Burmese military “to relinquish the power they have seized. Release the advocates and activists and officials they have detained, lift the restrictions in telecommunications and refrain from violence”. He urged nations to stand together and counter back against the forces of “authoritarianism.” “We can’t do it alone.. we must start with diplomacy rooted in America’s most cherished democratic values”. Contrary to Trump, which crafted a foreign policy of “America first,” prioritizing America in world affairs and cultivated nationalism values at home. 

He as well spoke about US-Russia relations. Biden aims at extending “the NEW START TREATY with Russia” to preserve the US-Russia agreement over nuclear weapons. On the other hand, he denounced the Russian government for the “jailing of opposition activists Alexei Navalny. “He should be released immediately and without condition,” Biden expressed. Regarding US-Chinese relations, Biden expressed that “we will also confront China’s economic abuses.” Still, he made clear that his administration is also “ready to work with Beijing where it is in America’s interests.” And contrary to Trump’s hostility towards immigrants and refugees. Biden touched the topic of refuges saying that for decades it has been a “bipartisan consensus” within US politics. However, he expressed that refugees and the LGBT community are part of the foreign policy agenda goals that the administration is committed to promoting American moral values.

By: Eder Leonel Torres

Valentines in Isolation

Valentines in Isolation

By Moses Aisida

“There is only one happiness in life: to love and be loved. — George Sand, French novelist and memoirist”

A season of love between two or more people set in a time of isolation seems like the perfect irony, right? Well, given how the last year has gone, the irony now stares us in the face as reality. With many major cities in the world locked down – even with Manitoba recently easing its restrictions a bit, it is nowhere near what a normal-February in the world would be. The absence of gatherings of love, romantic dinner dates, proposals at bars, etc., might put a dampener on the annual celebration of love. As this year’s Valentine draws near, it would be interesting to see how creatively people will navigate the obstacles of the pandemic, and still express affection to their loved ones.

Virtual Love

Most large gatherings, meetings, conferences, hangouts, etc., have moved to virtual platforms. Due to restrictions, people have gotten so creative in connecting with their dearest ones through virtual meetings, video calls, and even audio calls. February 14th will not be any different. A lot of people will have to resort to these virtual platforms to connect with their loved ones. Virtual dinner dates, music-sharing dates, Netflix movie parties, etc., are some innovative ways to stay connected with our loved ones on Valentine.

Gift of Love

One of the core concepts of Valentine is professing love through gifting. Even a global pandemic cannot stop people from sharing gifts with their loved ones. From buying flowers, perfumes, giving money, to even a love card, an effort to purchase gifts for someone would make the season enjoyable and keep the fire of love burning. Even if you cannot afford any of these things, loving someone and letting them know is as important a gift as any of these material things.

The Essence of Love

Isolation might keep us from physically being with other people, but we have to remember that love transcends the physical. We must acknowledge that love comes from the heart and that there are several genuine ways to display it. So, this Valentine’s day, pick up your phone and call that friend who lives in the next province, send an email to that brother who lives overseas.  Write a letter to that lover who lives two streets away, order a box of donuts for your neighbor, send lovely texts to your coworkers, host a virtual party with your family, or do anything that extends love to others. 

Even in a pandemic, there is still enough room to show love, and once we have that, we are never in isolation.

DATING IN A PANDEMIC

By Moses Aisida 

DATING IN A PANDEMIC

If you do not already know, we are in a global pandemic. The world has somehow managed to wear a post-apocalyptic look, and everyone has been forced indoors. For a species that places so much value on interactions, we have struggled in this pandemic. And like every other thing, dating in these times has also taken a different turn.

Blessing in Disguise

Perhaps, the fact that we are a digital generation with heads planted in social media platforms and quick fingers replacing our voices makes the first step towards finding love easy. Online dating platforms saw a global boost of 82% in the early weeks of the pandemic (Dating.com). Most of these platforms rolled out several features to help their users take a chance at love, and it worked – at least for the first few months.

Chat Loop

Humanity's insatiability - soon, people got tangled in the loop of chatting, and the natural crave for more began to manifest. People who were great at conversations lasted longer, while people who didn’t excel at this got bored. Dating platforms began to see a gradual decline in the number of subscribers and revenue. Another blow for genuine seekers of love.

Focus on the Positives

One thing is certain, there are lots of positives to draw this new form of dating. Virtual conversations allow you to get to know a potential partner in the safety of your personal space. The comfortability, calmness, and safety that one derives from this new format encourages choice – safe choice. Another positive is that it affords one the ability to thoroughly acquaint themselves with potential partners without the complexity that sex throws into new relationships. It becomes easier to know each person’s intentions without the mind-clouding that sexual activities present. Lastly, dating online serves to reduce or eliminate the costs that arise from physical dates. With sex and money absent, it becomes easier for genuine relationships to thrive.

Some Creative Tips

So how do you balance the boring aspect of online dating with the restrictions on meeting people? Here are a few tips that one can use to spice up the quest for love.

1. Be intentional about what you want.

2. If truly true love is what you seek, then you must commit to knowing your potential partner as best.

3. Spice up your conversations with movie dates through Netflix movie sharing, music date through Spotify, virtual dates with Zoom, or other video calling platforms.

4. Try to be romantic. Send letters through the mail, order lunch for that person, send gifts, make a playlist for them, etc. Just do fun stuff that shows your affection.

5. Pay attention to the laws put in place, and depending on the ease of restrictions, plan physical dates.

6. Do not compromise your core values for the sake of love. If someone is not on the same page as you, leave.

7. Lastly, stay safe.

"The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let it come in" — Morrie Schwartz, from Tuesdays with Morrie

Biden’s First Week as President

Biden’s First Week as President

By: Cedric Bell

Photo Source: Saul Loeb/Pool Photo via AP 

Joe Biden’s inauguration and subsequent first week as president have been thankfully pretty quiet. After the attack on the capitol building two weeks prior, a relatively routine political turnover has been a much needed break for the U.S. That being said, his first week hasn’t been completely uneventful. Biden has taken a number of steps forwards in his first weeks in terms of policy changes. These changes follow a couple of themes, such as undoing past decisions from the former U.S President Donald Trump, environmental and social policy changes, and a new Covid plan.

Some of Joe Biden’s first decisions as president have been undoing choices made by the former President, Donald Trump. Ironically enough, this is also the same approach that Trump used in his first few days as President in repealing some of Obama’s policies. The two most notable policies that Biden has reversed are the U.S’s stance on The Paris Agreement, and on the travel ban. Namely, Biden has reentered the U.S into the Paris agreement, which has been an expected move considering his stance on the environment, and has repealed the travel ban which restricted travel into the U.S from a number of other countries. There are several others as well, but these stand out as the most significant.

In terms of environmental and social policy, Biden’s first week has been very productive. So far, he has signed three different executive orders that focus on environmental research and infrastructure support. Controversially, he has also halted the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. While this is good news for the environment, it is economically harmful, especially for Canadians. Whether the good outweighs the bad here remains to be seen as the government weighs climate change activism against the economy.

For social policy, not much has been acted upon yet, however Biden has two plans in motions that could be a big deal. Firstly, he is intending to increase the minimum wage to 15$ an hour, which would be extremely helpful in lessening the disparity in income in the U.S. His other big plan is to push a “Buy American” policy that would encourage the U.S to focus on stimulating its own economy. Once again, while helpful to them, this could prove to be problematic for Canada, as our economy is heavily reliant on our relationship with them.

His proactive approach to handling the COVID-19 pandemic is a welcome change of pace, as in his first week he has made three major steps towards handling it. Firstly, he has put forwards a mandate that requires federal workers to wear masks while on federal lands, i.e. while working. Secondly, he has put a Covid board together that will focus on how covid has disproportionately affected certain minority groups, rapid testing, tracing, and communication with the public. Lastly, his plan in dealing with Covid is currently being examined, and is apparently generally receiving support.

Biden’s first week as president hasn’t been catching headline after headline, but has been focused and productive. After undoing many of Trumps’ controversial and backwards decisions, Biden has focused on putting forward legislation to support the environment, guide the U.S through Covid, and stimulate their economy. While this is good news after how destabilised the U.S has been over the past few years, these decisions are going to have a huge impact on Canada, in both negative and positive ways.

White Supremacy at Capitol Hill

White Supremacy at Capitol Hill 

By: Mallory Johnson 

On Wednesday, January 6th, thousands of Trump supporters stormed the United States Capitol building in Washington, DC. They did this because United States President Donald Trump tweeted to his thousands of supporters that he did not support the results of the runoff election that was held the day before in Georgia. Trump and his supporters still believed that he won the election, even though Joe Biden won fair and square. 

           At this violent white supremacist protest, most of the attendees were not wearing masks. Five people died, including a police officer. Items were stolen from inside the Capitol building, including Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s laptop. Some arrests were made. There was a huge difference in the reaction from the police at this protest than the Black Lives Matter protests that happened in 2020. The only police officer seen defending the Capitol building was a black man. 

           This attack was premeditated; Trump tweeted, “JANUARY SIXTH, SEE YOU IN DC.” Also, there were attendees wearing shirts that said, “Civil War: January 6, 2021” and a Tik Tok video posted by a Trump supporter before the protest that said, “Wait till liberals find out about Jan 6th.” This changes the charges that the attendees would get (if they are charged at all). 

           There was also a major lack to call the violence what it is, which is terrorism, and this might be related to the fact that the attendees were majority white people with Nazi flags and Nazi shirts on. This was the first time a confederate flag had ever been in the Capitol building. 

           Many attendees traveled from across the country during the current COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in them being put on no-fly lists, because of their potential COVID-19 exposure and their terrorist actions. 

           Trump inciting this violence resulted in him and his ideologies getting banned from many social media websites and apps. These include Twitter, Tik Tok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, Shopify, Spotify, Pinterest, Google, Reddit, Twitch/Discord, and YouTube. Also, a few White House staffers resigned following the violence. There were calls to impeach Trump, and Democratic politicians are currently in the process of impeachment. Joe Biden is inaugurated on January 20th, 2021.

Covid-19 and Death Rates Decreasing

Covid-19 and Death Rates Decreasing

By Mary Okorie

Last year was quite terrible and many of our daily activities were disrupted by the appearance of Covid-19. There were a lot of cases and death rates kept increasing. People lost friends, family, and loved ones due to this virus. 

Research lab scientists and pharmaceutical companies tried very hard to come up with vaccines so that the world can slowly go back to the way they were. Toward the ending of last year and the beginning of this year, vaccines have been produced and distributed. This has given us quite some hope on going back to our life. The vaccine has been shipped to Canada and has been distributed among provinces so that health personnel and other residents can take the vaccine. So far there has not been any bad news about the vaccine, instead, there have been reports of death rates reducing. Here in Manitoba where many health workers have gotten the vaccine, our death rates have reduced, and slowly we are moving from code red to a much safer code. By the end of this year, the government plans to vaccinate as many people as they can and also curb the spread of the virus.

This is like a light at the end of a dark tunnel, giving us hope that one day we might be able to go to class and connect with our fellow classmates and professors and for other people to go back to their former daily activities. We have to keep safe until Covid-19 is under control.

Two More Weeks at Home: Code Red Restrictions Extended

Two More Weeks at Home: 

Code Red Restrictions Extended

By: Maria Garcia Manzano, AEIC of The Quill 

Manitobans patiently awaited the scheduled January 8th 12:30 pm conference call held by Dr. Roussin. During this conference call Manitobans would learn whether the code red restrictions first put in place back in mid November of 2020 would be extended further. As we came to learn the code red restrictions have been extended for an additional two-week period and are set to expire on January 22nd. The restrictions were extended as a result of the unknown impact the holiday season will have on the test positivity rate. 

In case you have forgotten what the code red restrictions entail here is a reminder. During the code red phase, gatherings outside one’s household are not permitted with the exception of individuals who live alone and are allowed to have one designated visitor. All nonessential businesses are closed, and all nonessential items cannot be purchased in store. Thus, meaning that everything deemed nonessential by the province must be purchased online and shipped or arranged for curbside pickup. These will all remain in place until the 22nd, however just as during the holiday season a few changes were made in order to accommodate for the Christmas spirit, there were a couple of changes to the restrictions to accommodate hockey fans and hockey parents. Hockey practices and games will be allowed to take place. This received mixed emotions with many individuals complaining and becoming angry at the unfairness of the restrictions and the favouritism the province placed on hockey. Many complained that small businesses could not afford to be closed for another two weeks as they risk going under and that province was making a mistake by considering hockey as an essential. The anger and disappointment felt by individuals is understandable however this anger will not get us anywhere and we must not let our impatience and anger get the best of us. 

While we cannot partake in any indoor activities nor can we visit any friends or family there are a variety of outdoor COVID-19 friendly activities we can do. Ice rinks have opened, and sledding hills have also become available for public use. Furthermore, dog parks have now opened to allow our fur friends to interact with other dogs as this is much needed. Another outdoor activity that we can do is hiking at the Brandon Hills, the weather has been beautiful throughout this first week of January and a nice hike through the Brandon Hills will prove to be beneficial to your health. 

We hoped the restrictions would be taken down and we would be able to see friends and gather outside of our household however due to the irresponsibility and foolishness of those who have disobeyed the orders and visited friends, family and significant others throughout the holiday season have essentially ruined it for the rest of us. However, anger will get us nowhere and all we can do is hope that in two weeks our numbers have decreased significantly in order for those of us who have waited to see our family and friends. 

Brandon University did not extend the winter break

Brandon University did not extend the winter break

BU Student

2020 was a year unlike any other, and the first semester (virtual term) was a difficult challenge for all students, staff and professors. University is stressful as is but when online schooling was added to the mix, the stress level of university drastically increased. Many of us had to learn to use new tools and deal with the stress of online testing and examination. Finding the motivation to wake up and turn on our computers to attend classes and hand in assignments was a struggle and took a big toll on our mental health. Many universities like the University of Toronto, University of Manitoba, Waterloo, Wilfred Laurier and others extended winter holidays by 1-2 weeks because they understood that the students, staff and professors needed extra time to recuperate. Other universities like University of Saskatchewan and Macmaster extended their winter holiday break by 1 week after the students at the universities successfully petitioned.  

So, what about Brandon University? 

Brandon University held a senate meeting back in October to discuss the potential of extending the winter break, but it was decided against due to a clash with deadlines at the end of second term (virtual term two). They were unable to come up with a plan to extend the break and meet the deadlines. 

A Brandon University student started a petition in hopes that the university would listen to the students. The petition quickly gained popularity and amassed over 700 signatures, which is roughly 25-30 percent of the population of Brandon University, the same percent of students that signed the Macmaster petition (which got approved). The following is one of the many comments on the petition, David Winter wrote: “As a faculty member on sabbatical, I stand in solidarity with my colleagues in the teaching trenches and students who are enervated and exhausted. Please extend the holiday break during these unprecedented times.” This just goes to show that not only are the students in need of a break but so are the staff members and the professors. According to students there was a rumour going around that the petition was brought up in a senate meeting but according to the BUSU president in a Facebook comment “it was discussed earlier in October and was decided against as it would not benefit all students and faculty in the greater context. No more discussions have taken place at senate since the decision in October.” 

In the defence of Brandon University, the extended break would’ve caused delayed graduations, delayed grades and given the professors a shorter term to fit their material by 1 week, roughly 2 classes. Online classes were an unforeseen situation that no one could’ve been prepared for, but Brandon University could’ve worked out a plan to work out these issues. 

 I due realize that this article is a bit late and that nothing can be done now, I just wanted to inform you of the disregard Brandon University had on the petition, them not bringing it up in the senate meeting held in December goes to show how much they cared about the petition [students]. There isn’t anything we can do now, but these decisions are made by the people that we elect for BUSU and the senate. This goes to show how important voting is. 

I wish you all a good luck for 2021 and second term. 

Stay safe and healthy.

Long Distance Learning Continues

Long Distance Learning Continues

By Mary Okorie

The holiday is coming to an end and another online semester starts. Many students are not eager to start school because of how lonely learning online can be but there is not much of a choice. We all have to look for what works for us and move forward. Some of the students attending this winter session are not even in Canada because of denied visa or their visa is still in the process. They have to study in their country in the midst their family members and distractions. With nothing we can do about the current situation, we have to make this semester a success. Students should be prepared for this semester, make sure the have a working electronic device for learning and Wi-fi. They should have also seen where they performed poorly in the last semester and identified the cause and look for a possible solution so that they can perform better this semester. Students should also try their best to look for ways to make this long-distance learning fun, create groups with other students and find solutions together. They should also make sure to attend their classes no matter what and avoid distractions. We should all try not to be stressed out and do our best to keep healthy, both physically and mentally. It is really hard to study without knowing fellow classmates and few to no friends. We hope for a better year and that things can slowly start going back to the way they were. Happy new year!! And I wish everyone a wonderful semester.

What the COVID-19 Vaccine Means for Canada

What the COVID-19 Vaccine Means for Canada

By: Cedric Bell

Photo Credit: sciencemag.org

With news of the recent authorization and purchase of COVID-19 vaccines, it seems like the Government of Canada is taking a proactive approach to bringing Canada out of the pandemic. With that being said, there is still a lot of speculation surrounding the topic, and a lot of different information to understand about it. So here’s a breakdown of some of the most important facts about the vaccine, its progress, and what it means for Canada.

The Situation

As of right now, Justin Trudeau and the federal Government of Canada have purchased and authorized the use of a COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine is being made by the Pfizer/BioNTech companies and has shown promising results. The vaccine was approved by Health Canada on December 9th and is being bought in bulk and brought to Canada. This is following a similar decision made by the UK about a week beforehand. 

The Plan

Once the vaccines are in Canada, they are going to be administered across the provinces to varying degrees. The primary focus for vaccinations right now is to target at risk groups of people, such as healthcare workers, long term care residents and staff, and senior citizens. The idea behind vaccinating these groups first is that it would protect those who face the most significant threat from the pandemic; this means those working closely with it, those who stand to spread it the most, and those in groups that COVID-19 has the highest mortality rate in. The vaccinations are also being distributed more heavily in the provinces with higher populations and concentrations of people.

The Timeline

The first vaccines are set to be administered as soon as next Tuesday in some provinces, with most set to start immunizing people sometime next week. The exact details of when and how the vaccines are set to be used varies from province to province but follow the same relative trends; the first round of vaccinations are set to be distributed from January to March, focusing on at risk groups first. Most provinces are expected to start giving the vaccine to the general populace around April.

The Limitations

The production of the vaccine is facing several problems right now which are impeding the speed of its delivery. For one thing, a successful vaccination requires two doses, meaning that we can only vaccinate half as many people as the amount of vaccines we have. Another is that the contents of the vaccine have to stay in extreme cold, so they have to be administered wherever they’re in storage, and not from facilities. The last is that manufacturing them takes time, and even at their fastest pace, trying to provide enough for Canada as well as the rest of the world will take time. Finally, there is the possibility that the vaccines can cause allergic reactions in certain people. The UK recently faced this issue, as two people seemed to have had bad reactions to the vaccine, but whether or not this will be an extensive issue or not is still being investigated.

What does it mean?

While progress is being made, it is important to note that the new acquisition of the vaccine isn’t a be all end all to the pandemic, at least not for now. There is still time to bide before they become widely available, which means that at the moment the pandemic is still something to contend with and will be for another couple of months, or more. Still, the fact that these vaccines are successful and starting to be rolled out is exciting news, the progress of which will be seen in the coming months.

Vaccines for COVID-19 in Development

Vaccines for COVID-19 in Development

By Kiersten Garbutt

Perhaps the most exciting news from this year is the possibility of an effective vaccine fir COVID-19 becoming available early in the new year. Canada has signed contracts with two companies. The first, Pfizer and BioNTech, stated that their tested vaccine is at a 95% effectiveness. The second company, Moderna, has stated similar results of 94.5% effectiveness. These vaccines are shown to be safe because they went through vigorous testing. Since the vaccine is new, it will still be monitored, but so far, the results from these vaccines have been positive. Dr. Brent Roussin stated that even with the vaccine, disruption of the vaccine will take a while; he stated that “early signs show that they’re safe and effective, but there’s certainly going to be low quantity at the beginning of next year. We’re going to be dealing with this virus for many, many more months, another year, but it’s certainly optimistic results that we’re seeing with these vaccines”.

 According to the Government of Manitoba, the vaccine will be free and hopefully will be available to anyone who wants to be vaccinated. It is stated, by Canada’s deputy chief public health officer, that all Canadians could be vaccinated by the end of 2021. Having a vaccine will lesson the stress on health care workers, limit the spread of Covid-19, and protect the health of immunocompromised individuals. However, even with a vaccine it is still important to stay home when sick, wash your hands regularly, and continue wearing masks. 

Getting Ready for Another Online Semester.

Getting Ready for Another Online Semester.

By Mary Uchechukwu Okorie

The end of the semester is around the corner and the Christmas break is fast approaching. Students are getting ready for their final exams while also preparing for Christmas. Some students are also curious and eager about how next semester online classes will be. This Christmas break should be used to prepare for next semester while also having some rest from the first term. 

Online learning may not be the best way to deliver education, but we do not have much choice given the unprecedented circumstances and next semester will be the same. To prepare for another term of online learning, students should acknowledge any strengths and/or weaknesses discovered during this first semester of online learning; they should reflect on their grades and determine where they need to perform better. Students also need to think about why they did not do well and what could be a possible solution to it, so that they can perform better next semester. The upcoming holiday should not just be about resting and celebrating. If possible, students should go over some materials before school resumes so that they have an idea of what they are about to learn. They should also make sure their laptops, or any electronic gadgets needed for online learning are working well and that their Wi-Fi plans will do the job. Students should also check their emails regularly during the holiday to make sure they are updated and do not lose out on information from the university communications committee or their professors.

Not many students were excited about having winter session online, but we have to keep moving. Making sure we are well prepared for another session of online learning will be to our advantage. We need to use our Christmas holiday wisely!

Big Day for Joe: Former VP Biden Declared 46th President of The United States

Big Day for Joe:

Former VP Biden Declared 46th

President of The United States

By Zach Roozendaal

If you’ve been following the US federal election like many people have been, one thing was for certain; this election wouldn’t be the typical elections we have come to know. Instead, COVID-19 drastically changed the way Americans are used to voting. While some liked to attend rallies without masks, not have any social distancing and blatantly disregard health and safety, there are those who decided to stay at home and show support from there.

            This year was going to be tough as Donald Trump is like Apollo Creed in Rocky II; Rocky needed a lot of help and preparation to overcome his greatest rival, and Joe Biden knew it was going to mean getting out there and being with the people when possible, and ‘training’ in his own way. He did just that it seems.

            While many may be quick to criticize Donald Trump’s decisions while in office, people make mistakes, and no one is perfect. However, Americans and people around the world are celebrating this big win for Biden. Dancing in the street occurred, so I guess the invitation from across the nation from Mick Jagger and David Bowie was finally accepted.

            People also lit fireworks, hoisted flags high and proud, and were finally rejoicing over the win of Biden. But not everyone was happy as Trump supporters believe that the Democrat’s victory is absolutely false, and that Joe Biden stole the election. Trump has also sued several states in what some are describing as a last-ditch effort to cling to power.

            For some, this might be the highlight of 2020, and for others, it’s a low point and a conspiracy. Say what you will, but just as the nation and the world had to come to terms that, like it or not, Donald Trump would be the President following the 2016 election, they’ll have to do the same about Joe Biden. Some wonder if Joe Biden plans on running for a second term as well, although given his age, I’d say likely not.

            Kamala Harris is also making history as the first female Vice President of the United States, and the first ethnic minority to hold that position as well. SNL didn’t pass up the opportunity to weigh in on the current state of affairs either, with Alec Baldwin’s Donald Trump just as upset over the turn of events as the real President. Jim Carrey and Maya Rudolph were also back as Joe Biden and Kamala Harris respectively, and they were just as excited as everyone else. Sadly for Baldwin, it looks like his portrayal of the New York born billionaire is about to hit the road. Perhaps the biggest moment on the show came from host, Dave Chapelle who was hosting for the first time in over 4 years (he also hosted all the way back in 2016 following that election). Chapelle weighed in on how he felt and with this election things seem better in his opinion.

 Meanwhile, Donald Trump has seemed to have some difficulty coming to terms with the results of this election. It’s definitely a lot to process, and although he may only have a few months left before his successor takes office, it seems that Donald Trump will not give up without a fight. Watching this all unfold feels like Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame because, just like the Avengers, tons of people expected Hillary Clinton to win, but then Donald came like Thanos, snapped his fingers, and half of America felt dead inside as their hearts turned to dust. Years later, Joe Biden with his team of democrats would try and collect all of the electoral votes and revive hope. Now it’s at the moment where Trump’s about to do the 2nd Thanos snap, and is telling us “I am inevitable” before finding out he’s actually not, and the only thing inevitable is him having to pack up his things as Biden sits there, like Iron Man, having given it all he’s got.

            Democracy is divided, but nothing is beautiful because it’s perfect, it’s beautiful because we can see past the imperfections and appreciate what we have anyways.

Thank you all for reading and stay safe out there. Wash and sanitize your hands often, stay at home unless it’s absolutely necessary for you to go out, don’t hold gatherings, take care of each other, social distance and wear a mask in public, and hold out hope that tomorrow things will be brighter.

Until then, this is Zach Roozendaal, signing off. Goodbye for now!

Who is the Most Affected by Natural Disasters?

Who is the Most Affected by Natural Disasters?

We live in a society where social class shapes the life of the individual. Our destinies are based on the income we have and the efforts we put to maintaining our sum of wealth. Social class also frames our experiences with natural disasters. The position one occupies in the social ladder could influence if we survive or die during a crisis. Of course, this varies depending on where one lives, considering geographical locations affected as well the intensity of the disaster. Areas such as Haiti have been severely devastated after an earthquake in 2010. Consequently, places that are poor are severely more devastated by natural disasters and often take longer to recover. For Haiti, their weak state institutions made them less likely to recover economically and socially. However, in the United States, hurricane Katrina emphasizes that social class and race influence the experience of disasters. During Katrina, poor Afro-American communities were the most affected. The experience of Katrina may tell us that being poor and belonging to a minority group decreased the chances of being rescued; according to Barbara Lee USA representative of California 13th congressional district, “the disparities in which different communities, and neighborhoods, and individuals experienced the effects of Katrina were driven by a history of racism and inequality in the region”. Similarly, a catastrophe like the Chicago heat wave that killed many low-income seniors during an intense heat wave in 1994 reflected a similar situation where many poor African American seniors died. Eric Klinenberg stated, “a key reason that African Americans had the highest death rates in the Chicago heat wave is that they are the only group in the city segregated and ghettoized in community areas with high levels of abandoned housing”. In both situations government failure to respond efficiently and income inequality reduced the chances of African Americans surviving the crisis. In 2020 Covid-19 has not been the exception; even here in Canada our experiences of the pandemic are shaped by the social class to which we belong.  

When Covid-19 started, celebrities tweeted about their experiences being in quarantine and a group of them made a video singing “Imagine” by John Lennon. They tried to symbolize global unity and that “we are all in this together”. However, they communicated solidarity through their social media from their expensive houses. Of course, quarantine may be experienced differently living in a luxurious mansion comparing to many of us living in small houses or tiny one to two-bedroom apartments. Many of us with little space to move around may not have felt joyful being in lock down for weeks and many working people lost their jobs or were laid off with no savings, hoping to receive government assistance. The wealthy have more advantages to contain the virus. They can sustain themselves financially and have more traveling and shopping options, therefore avoiding possible contact with the virus. Those that are not wealthy become more dependable on government aids for their survival. Our experiences with Covid-19 may be different depending where one is located and the income one possesses. Therefore, being aware of our position in the social ladder gives us an insight that, during this global health crisis we are not in this together; at least not all in the same way. Based on social class the pandemic experiences are not the same for everyone.   

By Eder Leonel Torres