The ECMA’s in Cornerbrook went swimmingly for PEI’s Grass Mountain Hobos, a group that has only been together for less than two years. The Hobos got to play for new audiences and walked away with the award for Bluegrass Recording of the Year.
But when he returned home to his Euston Street apartment, Hobos fiddler Gordie Mackeeman found that his place had been broken into. Thankfully, Gordie had taken the fiddle he uses to perform with him to Newfoundland. However, thieves made off with another fiddle and a mandolin.
The stolen fiddle has a blonde finish and is unstrung. The inside of the fiddle has the name Percy Haines. It is handmade and is worth a lot to Gordie. The stolen mandolin is a Johnson f-shape. Anyone with information about the theft or the instruments’ current whereabouts should contact Gordie, who can be reached at gordie@nudieandtheturks.com. It is the opinion of this reporter that mandolin theft is the worst kind of theft, and that this nefarious act should not go unpunished.
In addition to his work with the Grass Mountain Hobos, Gordie Mackeeman also plays with the country group Nudie and the Turks. Both bands’ cds can be found at Back Alley Music on University Avenue.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Meet Sheep for Wheat
by Amanda Bulman
Sheep for Wheat is a local, grassroots theatre troupe compromised entirely of young, eager, twenty-somethings including Frasier Macullum, Chris Doiron, Kelesy Marie Moore, Ashley Clark, Rob Reddin, and Meghan Blanchard. The Lesson is the group’s second production (Harold Pinter’s “The Dumb Waiter” was the first), and Frasier Macullum, the director of this particular production is excited about performing the classic piece at the Guild in April “We’re going to put our own spin on it, Keith Bagole is going to be providing original musical accompaniment throughout the production, and the opening of the play will be unique and different.” Maccullum is also thrilled that Sheep for Wheat was able to support and involve other artists in the upcoming production, “Our posters were designed by Rebecca Ford, the photography was done by Patrick Callbeck, Keith is doing the music, and Jeremy Larter of Profile PEI is also doing something for me. I think it’s great that we’re able to have complete control over our production, and to be able to work with other artists”
The Lesson, an hour long one act play written in 1951 by Romanian born Eugene Ionesco, is set entirely in the office and dining room of an aging professor. This,obviously, can be quite challenging for actors as they have no intermission, no changes in scenery or sets, and no real chance to catch their breathe or glance at lines as they wait to go back on stage. Chris Doiron, who plays the aging professor agrees that this can be challenging “It’s an act of endurance, and it’s a test for actors to see if they can captivate an audience for that length of time”
The Lesson will be playing at the GuildApril 2nd, 3rd, 4th for twelve dollars
Good Lord: Lots of people attend God Debate
by Casey Dorrell and Kate McKenna
Over three hundred people were in attendance on Friday, February 27th, in MacMillan Hall to see Dr. Malcolm Murray and Dr. Joe Velaidum debate the most sensitive of topics: God's existence.
The debate was a joint presentation by the UPEI Student Union and UPEI Political Studies Society. The debate, first in a series of joint productions of the UPEISU and UPEI PSS, was impressively well-attended. Many, including organizers, were surprised at the vast numbers that came out on a Friday night. Anticipating a turnout of about 200, only 230 chairs were laid out in the room. Matthew Morrison, Vice President Executive of the Student Union, was thrilled with the turnout. "I was over the moon," he said, beaming. Co-organizer Daniel Roper was also pleased with the turnout. "We wanted to attract people from different faculties with something that we felt people would be interested in ... I think it displayed that students, given the right activity, will come."
According to Roper, the two profs were chosen based on their popularity and knowledge of the subject. Murray, associate professor of philosophy, defended atheism, while Velaidum, chair of the Religious Studies department, argued on behalf of a postmodern, monotheistic god.
Given their doctorates and intrinsic wisdom, neither professor expected to solve the problem in the given time. Murray explained afterward, “it was a chance to debate on an academic level and reflect on the issue.” The debate itself was 60 minutes long and focused on a variety of issues born of God's nature and logical probability of existence. The questions, ranging from “if an all-loving, all-knowing, all-powerful God exists, why is there so much evil in the world,” to simply, ”define existence.” were devised by the organizers, students, and other professors. Because Velaidum argued on behalf of God conceived as love, as a thing that is GREATER than a thing, it was not so much a debate (both agreed that God did not 'exist') as a presentation of differing views. Although the two were arguing on behalf of their personally held convictions, they have both batted for and against God in the past.
While both sides hashed it out with gusto, there was general consensus that there was no clear winner. Ripe was an air of disappointment in the crowd as time wore on and it became clear that God would not be appearing in his defense. Both professors agreed, however, that the debate was not one where a winner could be declared (save for a surprise guest). Students were mixed on who won the debate, mostly opting to sit on the proverbial fence. "It was an intellectual debate so no one won. I know that's not what your looking for but thats all you're going to get," quipped third year Religious Studies major Robbie Saada to a Semantic reporter. Others were more supportive of a particular stance: Patrick Callbeck, a third year business student, sided with Murray. "I thought the debate went well, but I was kinda disappointed with the position Joe took. It didn't really allow for as intense of a debate as most were hoping for. In the end I thought Malcolm came out on top. I believe his arguments were more convincing, while Joe seemed to say the same thing over and over."
In Velaidum's youth, he, like many children, was resentful about his forced attendance at Sunday School in his youth and even flirted with atheism before ultimately finding God during his undergrad. "I went through an atheist phase," he said. Conversely, Murray grew up in what he calls an “uncommitted atheist family”. Later, his brother would become a devout theist and encouraged him to read the bible. “I was never a committed theist,” said Murray, “but I swapped back and forth.” The author of the forthcoming book, “The Atheist's Primer,” he has long since ceased swapping sides.
The Whiz Kid
Timothy Cullen is a young Liberal/current council member who already possesses the key ingredients of a good politician. He knows how to work the political and media arena, and has discovered the lost art of speaking like a mediator. It’s a frustrating manoeuvre because it inevitably means that a straight answer is hard to get, each phrase from Cullen’s mouth is completely premeditated. No matter how difficult, up front, or rude the question is, Cullen keeps his cool. It’s quite annoying. Still, it’s hard to ignore the intelligence implied by the ability to speak so well, so carefully, and so eloquently. Cullen also seems to genuinely care about the issues; he speaks enthusiastically about wanting to work closely with the new diversity office, suggests some innovative ways to increase school pride and spirit, and asserts repeatedly that he wants to focus much of his attention on fixing the inherent flaws of the student union.
It is Cullen’s belief that the Student Union needs a make-over with the aim of increasing student engagement in the campus community. He argues that it’s important for the SU to meet more regularly than it currently does and he understands that students also want to see action. “I would like to organize a student union that has more productive meetings, and more meetings in general. But I also realize that the majority of the student body isn’t concerned with policy. We have to move beyond the boardroom and actually put things into action.” Cullen pauses dramatically and takes a deep breathe, “what we need is a more proactive student union with more direction.”
Cullen wants to arrange the SU in such a way that the president would meet with art, science, and business reps on a weekly rotating basis. If elected, Cullen also hopes to meet with the various presidents of on-campus societies on an on-going basis in order to determine how best to help the students.
“E-mailing the various reps and on campus communities and saying, 'hey you can contact me anytime' is not enough, I would be an active president, one who really understands the value of collaboration with different on campus groups.”
Cullen points to the recent on-campus debate about the existence of God as something that good communication amongst different student groups can create. He argues that this is the type of thing that he would encourage if he were president. Also of note is his intent to make changes that would affect not just his own year as reigning president, but future generations. He says philosophically “I think it’s important to create changes in the basic structure of the student union because I want students in the future to have a government that works for them. I think being far-sighted is the best way to benefit students.”
Cullen is careful not to comment on what many consider the mistakes of presidents that have come before, steering clear of all questions regarding beepers, stolen budgets, SU members who are taking less than the recommended number of courses, and a perceived disinterest with special interest groups. He pauses and then shrugs off these questions with a simple reply of “my campaign and what I want to do is a separate issue. What I want to do has nothing to do with what past presidents have done.”
Cullen is direct when it comes to two student union thorns; he doesn’t deny that the Wave runs a deficit year after year, or that there continues to be on-going challenges with the quality of the Panther Post. “I will admit that yes, the Wave is not a money making venue. On the other hand, it provides students with jobs and a place to go and have fun. And as for the Panther Post, well, it is getting better. The problem is not the budget. The paper has enough money to produce a good publication, and I think that it will continue to get better." He pauses, and seems to rethink his last statement, “it’s about attracting good writers who will improve the quality of the paper, something that I think is very doable.”
So could the far-sighted, well-spoken, political whiz kid who refuses to trash talk, be what UPEI needs? That's for the student body to decide.
The Fallen Soldier
by Connor Simpson
Asher Fredericks is slightly delusional. He may actually be on drugs. He somehow did the math wrong and thinks that there's going to be 40 hours in a day next year. This fact is important because he's running to be the Student Union president. Yes, "Asher for Pres" does seem a little familiar. You may have heard it a lot last year, when his high-profile, scandal-ridden battle against current president, Justin Douglas, was the talk of the province. It even made Compass.
"I learned many things from last year," He explains, "The main thing is that you have to be prepared for an election. It's something that Justin taught me, and I respect him so much more for it. He was so well-prepared, ... you can't just run on your name."
With a platform supported by a foundation of accountability and student engagement, Asher has produced a laundry list of ideas that he thinks are going to improve our school. An underlying theme in his platform concentrates on improving communication between you and I, regular students, and the SU executive. He's promised not to eat his lunch in his office, not once. Instead electing to eat in the SU cafeteria, and even the cafeterias around campus!
On a more serious note, he intends to make a Wave Appeals and Investigations Committee. If you get banned from the Wave, or just have a formal complaint about something that happened there, this would create an opportunity for you to defend yourself. "Even students who get expelled from UPEI have an appeal opportunity, so why should The Wave be any different," he asks.
Asher has proposed giving away one of his three free credits that he would receive upon becoming elected. The lucky winner would be decided in a raffle at a Student Appreciation Night held at the Wave at the start of the year. The Student Appreciation Night would feature local bands from UPEI students, with performances from UPEI Music students as well. The SU executive would be present and interacting with the students, hearing concerns and welcoming questions at the event.
Asher also feels very strongly about giving residence students a little more freedom when it comes to food. He's got a detailed plan to help them be able to take an apple or muffin from the school's cafeteria, a freedom currently withheld from our comrades in Bernie, New Res, and the other one.
The oppressed apples and muffins are one of many injustices that a proposed new committee would oversee. The Residence Commitee would look into altering current rules for residence students to make their life a bit more normal. He acknowledges Resnet as a serious issue that has to be dealt with, both for youtubic and academic importance.
Societies are a big component for Asher too. "What the Union needs to do is work more with these societies. I propose to cut certain expenses in different places where [the Union] is spending money on [themselves], and give more to these societies," he explains. He plans to help enable these societies do more. If a society needs funding for an event or trip, like the recent God debate at the Wave, he wants it to become reality rather than a broken dream.
"If you run once, and you lose, your ego is out of the equation... If I lose again, its happened before this. I was at the lowest rung, there was no going down further." He's back again, a little more mature and a lot more prepared. You can check out his full, extremely detailed, way too meticulous to be healthy, platform at his website, www.asher4prez.webs.com. If he accomplishes half of it, it'll be a busy year for him. He's put way too much thought into it. He's setting the bar for himself pretty high. This kid needs a hobby.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Obama is in and the crowd goes wild!
The Semantic's Second take on the American Inauguration of last week.
January 20th was a momentous day for the United States and indeed for the rest of the world.
Where was I when Obama gave his inauguration speech? I was sitting at the bar at the Wave looking on past a dusty Molson Canadian Beer Tap drinking one of Mr. Keith’s finest. Truly a magical moment in my personal history.
It was a wonderful ceremony full of lots of pomp and circumstance and lots of other stuff too. John Williams composed a piece that was played by some of the world’s greatest classical musicians. I was really excited when it started because I always loved montages with his best themes. Lord of the Dance is great and all but I was pumped for ‘The Raiders March’ (The Theme from Indiana Jones) or perhaps a rift of some Superman or Star Wars. It was good, but it could have been better John, seriously...
Aretha Franklin sang a tune in their as well. ‘My Country, ‘Tis of Thee’ which is a rewritten version of ‘God Save the Queen’ set to 1800s America, which was ok I guess, but I was totally hoping for ‘Respect’. That would have been awesome! I mean why she wouldn't just cover Triumph (the greatest band EVER) is past me. Which brings up the question of why people even bother making music once Triumph hit the airways? Seriously folks, it is not necessary, you’re wasting everyone’s time.
Obama’s speech was great! It was the first time I noticed him being really hard hitting and powerful against terrorists and America’s enemies. While I was watching I couldn’t help but think about ‘Team America: World Police’, “America, F**k Yeah!” It was a powerful speech with some great lines. But seriously why he didn’t just sing an excerpt from ‘Freedom Isn’t Free’, which is most definitely the greatest song about Freedom in America ever written. “Freedom isn’t free, now there’s a hefty f**king fee... and if you don't throw in your buck 'o five. Who will?” Powerful stuff.
Ok so Obama is in Bush is out. That’s all done with, but honestly folks this is all overshadowing the fact. The fact is that the new Indiana Jones movie was terrible. Honestly... George, Steve WTF? Aliens? Leave those for James Cameron.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)