WOMEN`S BASKETBALL RETURNS TO SASK POLYTECH

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Volume No. 28 Issue 6 - February 2016
THE RETURN OF WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TO SASKATOON CAMPUS
Stacia Selinger
Campus Council Director - Saskatoon
This year 12 women have the opportunity to
play basketball for Saskatchewan Polytechnic,
an opportunity that hasn’t been possible in
over 25 years. I had asked a few of the players
to answer some questions about how they feel
about the upcoming season.
The basketball season ends in March, with
such a short season ahead, what personal/
physical attributes do you hope to gain by the
end of the season?
“I want to gain more speed and strength by the
end of the season. I want to be a threat in more
ways than just my height.”
– Jenna Kirkpatrick 26, SCBScN
Saskatchewan Polytechnic (Saskatoon) hasn’t
had the interest or opportunity to have a
women’s basketball team in over 25 years. You
will be the first set of women to represent the
school in basketball. How does it feel to be
chosen for this role?
“I think it is important for us (the whole team)
to learn to play with each other because we all
come from different backgrounds of basketball.
I think gaining that chemistry as a team should
be a high priority goal for all of us.”
- Emma Prescesky 18, SCBScN
“Being chosen to represent Saskatchewan
Polytechnic is a great experience, not only
because they haven’t had a team in 25 years
but to be able to play the sport for a college
that gives so much to me as a student and for
furthering my future, it’s an honor to represent
this school. It’s going to be a great season”
– Rachel Murray 21, Medical Laboratory
Technology
We are all here to gain an education. That
being said, do you think being part of the basketball team will affect your grades and if so,
in what way?
“I personally cannot wait to get the season
started with this wonderful group of women.
They are all starting to rub off on me, that
being said I don’t think there could be a better
group to start up the women’s basketball for
Saskatchewan Polytechnic. It’s a really awesome feeling to be a part of this team and to
finally have women interested in the sport.”
– Meggie Hannah 18, Primary Care Paramedic
“I think they will have an enormous effect on
my grades, but in a good way. I did well last
term; however, it was extremely stressful. The
physical challenge of a competitive sport has
given my brain a break, my head is more clear
this term. It has also been a great outlet for
stress.”
–Jenna Kirkpatrick 26, SCBScN
Student Newspaper of Saskatchewan Polytechnic
Saskatoon and Prince
Prinec Albert Campuses
“I definitely think it’ll be a struggle to figure
out the balance in all of our lives. So yes, basketball may affect our grades in the beginning.
But once we get into the routine of things, I
think having the team will be a positive asset
for each of the ladies including myself.”
– Meggie Hannah 18, Primary Care Paramedic
Do you think exercise and fitness should be a
priority as a student?
Pg 8
“Definitely, I think it should be a priority even
if it’s for an hour a day. To get in the gym or
doing personal workouts at home to get your
mind off of stress in your life. It makes a huge
difference in how you and your body feel the
next day”
– Rachel Murray 21, Medical Laboratory
Technology
“Studies show that it makes you smarter and
study better, so yes. Organized programs are
such an easy way to get moving. And lucky for
us this school has many different options for
whatever you like.”
- Emma Prescesky 18, SCBScN
ASK Poly
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WOMEN’S
BASKETBALL
RETURNS TO
SASK POLYTECH
IN MY BLOOD - PASCAL DUPUIS
Pg 2
WOMEN IN TRADES
INTERVIEW #4
Pg 3
TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR EMOTIONAL
AND MENTAL HEALTH
Pg 7
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Volume No. 28 Issue 6 - February 2016
IN MY BLOOD - PASCAL DUPUIS
http://www.theplayerstribune.com/in-myblood/
I had stuffed some extra underwear into my
jacket pocket before driving to the hospital.
That was the moment when I finally stopped
lying to myself. We were supposed to be flying
to Montreal later that day. In the NHL, you
always wear a suit and tie when you travel. I
made sure I wore a tracksuit and flip-flops because in my heart I knew I wasn’t making the
trip. I knew I was going to be staying a while.
My teammates didn’t know there was anything
wrong. My wife didn’t even know.
I remember sitting in the hospital parking lot
and thinking, Okay. This is it. You walk into
that building and your career might be over.
Let me back up a little bit. In December 2013,
two days before Christmas, I suffered the kind
of hockey injury that you dread. We were playing in Ottawa, and my linemate Sidney Crosby
got hip-checked and went flying into my right
leg. When you’re on skates, there’s nowhere
for your knee to go. It’s trapped. I tore my
ACL, MCL and PCL — basically dislocated
my whole knee. Still, I wouldn’t let them put
me on a stretcher. My father had a rule about
that when I was a kid: unless both of your legs
are broken, you never lay on the ice. You skate
off on the good one. So that’s what I did.
A week later, I was at home in Pittsburgh,
waiting to have surgery and going stir crazy. I
can’t sit still for a second, so I went to the rink
to get a little sweat in on the arm bike machine.
Halfway through, I got this intense pain in my
chest. Immediately, my mind went back to
the hit, and I remembered that Sid’s skate had
come up and hit me in the chest. I just thought
maybe I’d broken a rib or torn some cartilage.
No big deal. I’d played with both before. I
finished the workout.
A few nights later, I was in bed when the
coughing fits started. My wife was officially
freaked out after a few nights of this. She
kept telling me to get checked out, but I was
like, “Babe, it’s just a cold.” I had no idea that
something very bad was going on inside of me.
Finally, I broke down and had my chiropractor
come over to the house, and told him I thought
I’d busted up my ribs. He put me on the table
like he has a hundred times before. “Duper,
something’s wrong here,” he said after about
an hour. “This isn’t related to anything structural.” He called my trainer immediately, who
had the smarts to call my primary doctor. My
doc called me right back.
“You have to go to the hospital for some tests
right now,” he said.
I’m like, “O…K? I’ve played with broken ribs
before, doc. What’s going on?”
“Have your wife drive you,” he said. “You
can’t drive yourself. I’ll meet you at the ER.”
Those are never words you’re prepared to hear.
Now, this is all happening on January 2nd.
I had family in from Quebec, staying at our
house for the holidays. My four kids were all
home on break. I’m standing in my kitchen
with kids running all around the house. I’m not
trying to freak everybody out by saying, “Hey
gang, let’s all jump in the car and rush Daddy
to the hospital!”
I hopped to the car and drove myself.
When I arrived in the ER … wow. There were
a bunch of doctors waiting for me, with a
whole room prepped and ready. As soon as I
sat down, the needles were out and the I.V. was
in my arm. That’s when I first heard “blood
clot.” They took me for a CT scan. I got out of
the big white tube and I’m sitting right by the
machine waiting to hear my fate, just thinking
… is this real?
They bring out the scans and point right to my
lung.
“There it is.”
The doctor explained that I had a pulmonary
embolism. One of the branches of my lung was
clogged. The clot probably started in my calf
when my leg was immobilized on the flight
back from Ottawa. My lung wasn’t getting
blood supply and was slowly dying. The words
just kind of whizzed by me. I went to grab my
clothes when the doc explained that I had to
stay in the hospital for a few days.
He said, “Duper, listen, you basically had
a stroke of your lung. It’s serious. If this
would’ve went to your heart or your brain, it
could’ve been fatal.”
I have my Serious Guy Face on but inside I’m
thinking, Okay, whatever, when can I play
hockey again? I had to go on blood thinners, which meant my knee surgery would be
delayed. I know this sounds crazy, but I was
disappointed. That’s how you’re conditioned
to think as a hockey player. To make it in the
league as an undrafted free agent like I did, you
have to be able to go through walls. That’s not
some motivational poster B.S. You truly have
to be able to block out an immense amount of
pain, and that can have consequences.
I was on blood thinners from January to July,
while I was rehabbing my knee. I wasn’t on the
ice for six months. I didn’t tell my teammates
about the blood clot. I didn’t tell the press.
Only my family knew. In July, my bloodwork
came back fine. No clots in my legs. My lungs
were clear. I went back to business.
On the first day of training camp, they handed
me the red no-contact jersey. It killed me. I had
trained like an absolute madman to get into the
best shape of my life. My conditioning was
ridiculous. All summer, people were wondering if this 34-year-old guy would be able to get
his speed back. Can he still play on the first
line after knee surgery? Can he keep up with
Crosby? They didn’t even know what else I
was dealing with. The trainers were incredible
in how they took care of me and made sure I
was good to go. But all I wanted to do was be
out there for Game 1 on the top line with Sid
and Kuny. It didn’t happen. I made it back for
the opener, but they smartly kept my minutes
in check for the first month of the season.
Game 11 was in Minnesota. After the game, I
went to dinner with a couple of guys and had a
few drinks. The next day, we woke up and flew
to Winnipeg, and went straight to practice. I’m
standing at center ice when I feel something
go through my body like a bolt of lightning.
It actually made me gasp. Instant chest pain. I
thought, Am I having a heart attack right now?
Volume No. 28 Issue 6 - February 2016
TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL HEALTH
Afroditi Papageorgiu
President
College is a time of challenges, such as moving away from home, living with someone
new, taking difficult classes, and managing
life on your own. Along with these challenges
come emotional highs and lows. But how do
you know what feelings are normal? When do
those bad moods signal a clinical disorder?
How do you take charge of your own emotional well-being?
1. Emotional Highs and Lows are Normal
Feelings of isolation and sadness are common
during times of transition and change. Ups
and downs are a part of growth. They help
you build resiliency. Sometimes, however,
life events are so overwhelming and painful
they disrupt your daily life. For some students,
“feeling down” can be a very serious issue—
possibly a sign of clinical depression. To find
out more about depressive disorders, visit a
counsellor or nurse on campus, your doctor or
check out some reliable online sources (e.g.,
Canadian Mental Health).
2. Am I Clinically Depressed?
Depression goes beyond just feeling temporarily sad or stressed out. Sadness is a temporary
feeling, while depression can go on for weeks,
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months, or years, and someone suffering from
depression can have serious trouble coping
with everyday activities. Recognizing that you
are in fact, depressed, is a good first step—but
remember, this knowledge needs to be followed up by some sort of action. Depression is
treatable—health and counselling professionals
can help match you to the appropriate treatments. There are Counselling Services available on campus (Saskatoon Campus: Room
114, Prince Albert Campus: Room F203), for
all Saskatchewan Polytechnic students.
3. How to Improve
Being emotionally and mentally healthy is
positive for all aspects of our lives, including
grades and relationships. Be proactive in your
everyday life and seek professional support
when you need it. Spending time with trusted
family and friends, setting realistic goals, staying healthy, and doing activities that you enjoy
are all good tools.
Ultimately, change is a part of life, but the
more informed/pro active you are, the better
able you are to manage your emotional and
mental health. Stay mindful of the stressors in
your life, and take the necessary steps to manage your emotional and mental health. A great
online tool to utilize in terms of emotional and
mental health, is mywellnessplan.ca. This is an
online resource available 24/7/365 where students can access information and support available to them on their campus, community, and
online. This online tool has been developed to
assist students in maintaining a productive and
positive lifestyle while completing their studies
and is available to Saskatchewan Polytechnic
students attending the Prince Albert and Saskatoon Campuses, so check it out!
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Volume No. 28 Issue 6 - February 2016
PARKING THE BUS
Oluwafemi “Sam” Ojo
VP Prince Albert Campus
Student transportation takes two main forms;
vehicle transportation and public transportation
provided by the province or municipal government. Each means of transportation has its own
problems and restrictions that when applied to
students become a great burden.
Vehicle transportation is limited by the number
of parking spaces available to students; the
fees for each parking space, and what type of
parking is available to students, with respect to
winter plug-in parking.
Public transportation – in particular to Prince
Albert transit system – has many limitations
that make it tough on students to fully explore
the city. The difficulties faced by students
include; the timing of the buses, the number
of buses available, their interval, the number
of stops available, the routes taken by the bus
system, and the financial burden of the bus
Volume No. 28 Issue 6 - February 2016
WOMEN IN TRADES INTERVIEW #4
fare. The SPSA, in collaboration with the
City is working towards a subsidised monthly
transit fare from the Ministry of Education,
which will hopefully reduce the cost for public
transportion as a whole.
For those students who drive themselves to
school, student representatives have been
continuously working to ensure fairness and
equality in regards to the parking fee structure.
Among the SPSAs’ achievement are; working
towards a reduction in the monthly parking
pass and ensuring that there is adequate space
for those who purchase a monthly or semester
pass. While recognizing this achievement, the
SPSA is continuing to work on implementing
the monthly reduction into a semester pass and
looking at the possibility of plug in parking.
No matter where we go, we will always require
a means of transport to get us there, and eliminating a means of transport as a burden is one
of the SPSAs’ aim. For more information on
transportation; vehicle or public transit, please
see your Campus Council members.
PINK SHIRT DAY
Wednesday, February 24th is anti-bullying day.
We encourage all members of the Saskatchewan Polytechnic community to wear pink to
show support for this great initiative! If you
aren’t really a pink kind of person, you can still
show support by being respectful to your peers
and standing up to individuals who are acting
inappropriately towards others.
Bullying can take place in many forms including, but not limited to, making threats, spreading rumors, physical or verbal abuse, derogatory jokes – basically any type of unwanted
behaviour. If you believe that you are being
bullied and you would like support, Val Morrissey is the Harassment Consultant for the
institution and is a great resource. She can be
contacted at 306-775-7679 or val.morrissey@
saskpolytech.ca .
At the end of the day it is best to appreciate
individuals for who they are, and embrace our
differences all the days of the year. It is what
makes us unique, fun and exciting and what
creates our wonderfully diverse culture.
For more information on the anti-bullying
campaign please visit pinkshirtday.ca .
Hailey Jeddry
Campus Council Director - Saskatoon
a big student loan to pay off so a trade seemed
like the best route to go.
I recently sat down with Desiree Marcotte,
a female trades student in the Machining
Program to hear about her experiences at Sask
Polytech and to share her perspective on being
a women in a male-dominated trades program.
I didn’t really know what trade I wanted to go
to school for so I made an appointment with
Student Services at Saskatchewan Polytechnic
and they were very helpful. They told me about
all the trades that they offered which really
helped with my decision.
This is my fourth interview in the series, and
you can read all of my interviews with female
trades students at www.spsa.ca, under the
Publications tab.
Q: So tell us a little about your self?
A: I am a single mom of two children, Atticus
and Autumn. One is just over a year old and
the other is five. I was born in Saskatchewan
but I moved to Vancouver for a couple years
to study graphic design. However, there isn’t a
good industry for it so I moved back here to go
to school.
Q: What made you decide to go back to
school and pursue a trade?
A: Well I was coming to the end of my maternity leave and there wasn’t much opportunity
in graphic design so that’s when I decided that
I needed to go back to school for something in
order to support my kids. I thought about going
to university, but I didn’t want to dedicate four
years of my life to school and then end up with
Q: What is it like to be a single mom while
going to school at the same time?
A: It’s definitely challenging but you do what
you have to do and that’s all you can really do.
The work load is light which is nice because
it’s not overwhelming and helps balance school
as well as home life.
Q: Is there anyone in your life that may
have inspired you to go in to a trade?
A: It was my dad when I first started to consider taking a trade. There was a lot of feedback
from people saying that it wasn’t going to be
worth my time and that I was most likely going
to experience a lot of discrimination for being
a woman. My dad was very supportive about
it and surprisingly he told me that I should
just go for it. He has some knowledge about
machining because he works as a millwright
for a living so we talked about it and he really
encouraged me to do it.
Q: Do you like machining so far?
A: Yes I do, I like the hands on aspect of it. I’m
pretty artistic, I like to paint, draw, and play
guitar. I’d just rather be moving around and
creating something useful then sitting in a cubical all day. My favorite experience so far was
making my dad a ring for Christmas. I heat
treated it to turn it a bright cobalt blue color
which isn’t something that they typically cover
in machining; it was a really neat experience
from the beginning to the end.
Q: Do you ever feel like you have to give up
or diminish your femininity because you’ve
chosen to some day work in this industry?
A: I feel like there are definitely some judgements that are made when you walk into a
shop with your make up on and your hair done.
I’ve noticed the guys eyeing me in the hallway
while I’m fixing my hair by my locker but
personally it doesn’t bother me, I’ll do what I
want but I think it’s bad enough that I feel like
I should blend in.
Q: Do you have any advice for woman who
would like to work in trade?
A: Just believe in yourself and be confident.
It can be intimidating at first and a lot of girls
think that they won’t be able to do it because
they’re not strong enough, or they don’t know
enough about it, but that’s what the pre-employment courses are for.
SUMMER WORK
Emilio Conde
Campus Council Director - Saskatoon
“It is so cold out there!” many would say. Indeed, who would not miss the sunny and warm
days and wish that summer was back. Well,
summer will be back as it is every year, but,
have you planned what you will be doing this
summer? Would you like to take some extra
classes, or would you like to get a full time
job? If you are thinking of working in summer,
you should know that in order to get a good
job, you should start planning ahead of time.
The first step in your plan is to create a wellcrafted resume. In your resume, you want
to highlight your education and prior work
experiences. If you need help, you can access sample resumes and cover letters in Sask
Polytech’s library website, as well, you can set
up an appointment with student employment
services.
After compiling a good resume, you can start
looking for a job. In Sask Polytech’s library
website, click program guides, and look for
your respective program. Once you have accessed your program you can search for different websites that offer jobs related to your field
of interest.
Finally, you will probably have an interview
that asks you whether or not you are eligible
for the job. A good piece of advice is to be
confident, so you will convince the employer
that you are a good candidate.
After completing your plan, you should know
the benefits of having a summer-job:
1. It provides you with extra cash flow. Money
that could be saved or used for expenses such
as: new clothes, food, the occasional party,
paying loans, etc.
2. It enhances your resume. The job experience
is relevant to employers.
3. If you find a summer job related to your diploma, it is more likely that you get hired after
finishing your studies.
4. It increases your skills such as commitment,
time management, customer service, teamwork, organization, leadership.
Overall, a summer job is a good opportunity
for students to increase income, enhance a
resume, and practice academic- like skills. By
starting an early search for jobs, you could find
the best companies with positions available.
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Volume No. 28 Issue 6 - February 2016
IN MY BLOOD - CONTINUED
Continued from Pg 2
The first time, the pain was gradual. Like a
soreness. This time, I felt something physically going through my body. It caught me like
a punch in the chest. Instantly, I do the math.
Come on. Not again.
I’m hunched over and guys are looking me at
me. I lied and said I must have pulled a muscle
on a shot. Call me stupid but I didn’t say anything to anyone about it. Not my teammates.
Not my trainers. Not my wife. The hockey
player in me — he’s saying it’s nothing. He’s
thinking, You just battled through eight months
of rehab for your knee. Everyone was secondguessing you. You’re 35. This is it.
I would not recommend this to anyone but the
truth is that I played five more NHL games
without ⅓ of a lung. My knee was genuinely
sore, so I asked for some anti-inflammatories,
which helped with the pain a little bit. My
training was so overboard that the blood clot
didn’t affect my conditioning. I played my best
game of the year in Toronto, a few days after
I felt the clot. We won 2-1, and I scored both
goals. It was my first game back on the line
with Sid and Kuny. That’s the line I love playing on. I’m like, “I’m back, baby!”
I was lying to myself. We were on the road.
I was away from my family, around the guys
doing what I love. It was easy to be in denial.
Then the road trip ended and we returned to
Pittsburgh. When I walked in the door and saw
my wife and kids again, that was it.
I went to our team’s head trainer, Chris Stewart. “Hey Stewie, I think I maybe felt something,” I said. I might want to go get checked.”
We were supposed to leave for Montreal.
He and the doctors told me that if I didn’t get
checked out I wasn’t coming on the trip. Our
training staff and doctors have been unbelievable. The fact that I played five games was not
on them. I’m the one who kept it to myself. As
soon as I gave them a little hint that something
was wrong, Dr. Vyas and the team were right
on top of it.
So I put on my track suit, grabbed some extra
underwear and drove to the hospital. As crazy
as this is, I was still kind of thinking, Well,
maybe the clot is small and they won’t see it.
I went into the big white tube again. The doctors came to me with the results of the CT scan
again. They point to the lung again. “There it
is.”
I completely broke down. I called my wife and
said, “Babe, I think I’m done.”
My wife has been incredibly supportive, but
she worries. When I told her the whole story
about me feeling it five games before, she got
really scared about me going back. She’s like,
“What keeps you from not saying anything
again?” It’s a hard thing to answer.
It’s easy to say that family comes first. I absolutely love my my children and my wife. But
the mentality of a professional hockey player
is that you never admit that you’re human. You
never admit pain, especially if it’s pain that no
one can see.
The Penguins have been incredible about keeping me around the team while I deal with this
second blood clot. It can be a very dark place
to be away from the game. With my personality, I need to be around the guys. The coaches
have requested that I be in every team meeting,
and I’ve helped out with scouting. I travel with
the team on flights under two hours and offer
any insight I can from the press box.
Up there, it’s a 2D game. Everything looks
so easy. There’s so much room. Then you
go down to ice level and it’s a 3D game. I’m
quickly learning the limitations of my coaching
ability:
“Hey, why didn’t you see that passing lane?”
“Well, Duper, there was a guy right in my face
jamming a stick into my ribs.”
Some of the guys have started to call me
Coach Duper. I laugh it off, but it’s killing me
to wear my little suit while they’re putting on
their gear.
I’m 35. I know I don’t have much time left.
But I’m getting out of that press box prison.
I don’t care if it takes six months or a year or
two years. I will get healthy. I will play in the
National Hockey League again.
Volume No. 28 Issue 6 - February 2016
SPSA SERVICES FOR YOU, THE STUDENTS
Bryce Wilson
VP Finance and Internal Operations
Did you know your SPSA membership enables
you to access many services throughout campus? Various amenities and helpful opportunities are listed below - access as many as
possible to make your life easier!
Pre-paid Legal Consultation
In a bind? Looking into a second opinion?
SPSA members are entitled to thirty minutes
of legal consultation per academic year. To
access this service, please see the SPSA Support Centre in Saskatoon or the SPSA Office in
Prince Albert for more details.
Fitness Membership
The fitness membership allows entry to fitness
facilities within Saskatoon or Prince Albert
Campus, as well as Harry Bailey Aquatic
Center in Saskatoon or the Frank J. Dunn
swimming pool in Prince Albert. The Strength
Training Centre in Saskatoon is equipped with
free weights, weight machines, and multipurpose machines to enhance/stimulate your
muscles. Saskatoon’s Aerobic Centre features
ellipticals, stair machines, treadmills, and bikes
allowing you to take a break from exercising
your brain to exercise your heart and muscles.
Provide your student card to the front desk at
the Harry Bailey to access aquatic centre and
enjoy lane swimming, or relaxing in the hottub - an added benefit is you can bring along
Hey guys, I was just wondering if anyone feels
down during the winter months, and by down
I mean kind of depressed, lacking energy, that
sort of thing. I know winter makes me feel
that way, as it can with many people. When
you feel like this, it makes it hard to keep up
with your schoolwork or possibly to even get
to school. Here are some tips I find helpful in
beating those winter blues:
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Housing Registry
Looking for a new rental unit? The Housing Registry is equipped with an interactive
map with available student-friendly rentals in
Saskatoon and Prince Albert. Also, feel free
to utilize the registry if you are looking for a
roommate, have an extra room to rent, or renting an apartment unit of your own.
Good Food Box
Sometimes it can be difficult to find the time
to run to the grocery store and find fair prices
on fresh produce. The Good Food Box allows
you to order combinations of fresh fruit and
vegetables from a community based distribution center. Best part? You can keep your
spending at a minimal with packages from
$10.00-$30.00.
SAvivor
The SAvivor program offers students, in need,
one breakfast and one supper once a month. To
receive a SAvivor pack visit the SPSA Support
Center in Saskatoon, or the SPSA Office in
Prince Albert.
Tutor Registry
Benefiting both struggling students and those
looking to volunteer, the tutor registry intends
to enhance academic success rates. If you are
BEATING THE WINTER BLUES
Danika Schofield
Campus Council Director - Prince Albert
MEDIUM
2-TOPPER
a friend for free! For more information about
recreation in Prince Albert, please see the
Recreation Office.
Tip 1: Take a bath with some Epsom salts or
bath bombs. It is relaxing to just lay there and
close your eyes. Don’t even think about anything. Just lay there and enjoy the water.
Tip 2: Have some hot chocolate. The chocolate
will make you feel happier because there is a
chemical in our brain called tryptophan which
causes the release of serotonin. Tryptophan is
found in chocolate, and serotonin makes us
feel relaxed.
Tip 3: Its getting warmer out so go for a walk!
Exercise helps (even though I know you don’t
want to).
Tip 4: Listen to happy, upbeat music. It will
help you feel better if you don’t listen to that
sad, broken-heart stuff.
Tip 5: Get out of the house! Don’t stay inside,
get out and hang with friends.
Have any other tips? I’d love to hear them!
Email me at: [email protected]
in need of extra coaching in a class, use the
registry to find a tutor to work alongside you
and develop work patterns and better class
understanding. Meanwhile, if you feel like you
are excelling in class material, volunteer your
time to assist other students.
Student Advocacy
If you have any concerns or complaints regarding your academic standing, request a meeting
with our Student Advocate, Tara. She is knowledgeable in policy and process at Saskatchewan Polytechnic. Her role is to assist, advise,
and advocate on behalf of students.
To learn more about these services and other
services offered to you check out the SPSA
website www.spsa.ca or stop by your SPSA
office.
If there are any services you feel would benefit
the student body, email me at spsa.vpfinance@
saskpolytech.ca with your idea!
STUDENT ADVISORY
COUNCIL NEWS AND
NOTES - JAN 2016
Another large turnout attended the monthly
Student Advisory Council meetings at Kelsey
and Woodland Campuses respectively. Plenty
of valuable discussion is taking place ensuring
that your SA is working for its members.
Some of the discussion highlights relevant to
both campuses included:
• Recruitment of members to sit on various
committees
• SPSA Elections
• Update on Parking fees
• Cafeteria Food Prices
SAC meetings are held monthly with the next
meeting taking place on Thursday, February
25, 2016. The Woodland meeting is held in
Room 254 of the Academic Centre at 12:00
noon while the Saskatoon meeting will take
place at 4:00 p.m. in Room 128. If you are
interested in becoming a part of SAC, please
contact Joseph Kiunga in Prince Albert ([email protected]) or Perry Meier
in Saskatoon ([email protected]).
5
4
Volume No. 28 Issue 6 - February 2016
IN MY BLOOD - CONTINUED
Continued from Pg 2
The first time, the pain was gradual. Like a
soreness. This time, I felt something physically going through my body. It caught me like
a punch in the chest. Instantly, I do the math.
Come on. Not again.
I’m hunched over and guys are looking me at
me. I lied and said I must have pulled a muscle
on a shot. Call me stupid but I didn’t say anything to anyone about it. Not my teammates.
Not my trainers. Not my wife. The hockey
player in me — he’s saying it’s nothing. He’s
thinking, You just battled through eight months
of rehab for your knee. Everyone was secondguessing you. You’re 35. This is it.
I would not recommend this to anyone but the
truth is that I played five more NHL games
without ⅓ of a lung. My knee was genuinely
sore, so I asked for some anti-inflammatories,
which helped with the pain a little bit. My
training was so overboard that the blood clot
didn’t affect my conditioning. I played my best
game of the year in Toronto, a few days after
I felt the clot. We won 2-1, and I scored both
goals. It was my first game back on the line
with Sid and Kuny. That’s the line I love playing on. I’m like, “I’m back, baby!”
I was lying to myself. We were on the road.
I was away from my family, around the guys
doing what I love. It was easy to be in denial.
Then the road trip ended and we returned to
Pittsburgh. When I walked in the door and saw
my wife and kids again, that was it.
I went to our team’s head trainer, Chris Stewart. “Hey Stewie, I think I maybe felt something,” I said. I might want to go get checked.”
We were supposed to leave for Montreal.
He and the doctors told me that if I didn’t get
checked out I wasn’t coming on the trip. Our
training staff and doctors have been unbelievable. The fact that I played five games was not
on them. I’m the one who kept it to myself. As
soon as I gave them a little hint that something
was wrong, Dr. Vyas and the team were right
on top of it.
So I put on my track suit, grabbed some extra
underwear and drove to the hospital. As crazy
as this is, I was still kind of thinking, Well,
maybe the clot is small and they won’t see it.
I went into the big white tube again. The doctors came to me with the results of the CT scan
again. They point to the lung again. “There it
is.”
I completely broke down. I called my wife and
said, “Babe, I think I’m done.”
My wife has been incredibly supportive, but
she worries. When I told her the whole story
about me feeling it five games before, she got
really scared about me going back. She’s like,
“What keeps you from not saying anything
again?” It’s a hard thing to answer.
It’s easy to say that family comes first. I absolutely love my my children and my wife. But
the mentality of a professional hockey player
is that you never admit that you’re human. You
never admit pain, especially if it’s pain that no
one can see.
The Penguins have been incredible about keeping me around the team while I deal with this
second blood clot. It can be a very dark place
to be away from the game. With my personality, I need to be around the guys. The coaches
have requested that I be in every team meeting,
and I’ve helped out with scouting. I travel with
the team on flights under two hours and offer
any insight I can from the press box.
Up there, it’s a 2D game. Everything looks
so easy. There’s so much room. Then you
go down to ice level and it’s a 3D game. I’m
quickly learning the limitations of my coaching
ability:
“Hey, why didn’t you see that passing lane?”
“Well, Duper, there was a guy right in my face
jamming a stick into my ribs.”
Some of the guys have started to call me
Coach Duper. I laugh it off, but it’s killing me
to wear my little suit while they’re putting on
their gear.
I’m 35. I know I don’t have much time left.
But I’m getting out of that press box prison.
I don’t care if it takes six months or a year or
two years. I will get healthy. I will play in the
National Hockey League again.
Volume No. 28 Issue 6 - February 2016
SPSA SERVICES FOR YOU, THE STUDENTS
Bryce Wilson
VP Finance and Internal Operations
Did you know your SPSA membership enables
you to access many services throughout campus? Various amenities and helpful opportunities are listed below - access as many as
possible to make your life easier!
Pre-paid Legal Consultation
In a bind? Looking into a second opinion?
SPSA members are entitled to thirty minutes
of legal consultation per academic year. To
access this service, please see the SPSA Support Centre in Saskatoon or the SPSA Office in
Prince Albert for more details.
Fitness Membership
The fitness membership allows entry to fitness
facilities within Saskatoon or Prince Albert
Campus, as well as Harry Bailey Aquatic
Center in Saskatoon or the Frank J. Dunn
swimming pool in Prince Albert. The Strength
Training Centre in Saskatoon is equipped with
free weights, weight machines, and multipurpose machines to enhance/stimulate your
muscles. Saskatoon’s Aerobic Centre features
ellipticals, stair machines, treadmills, and bikes
allowing you to take a break from exercising
your brain to exercise your heart and muscles.
Provide your student card to the front desk at
the Harry Bailey to access aquatic centre and
enjoy lane swimming, or relaxing in the hottub - an added benefit is you can bring along
Hey guys, I was just wondering if anyone feels
down during the winter months, and by down
I mean kind of depressed, lacking energy, that
sort of thing. I know winter makes me feel
that way, as it can with many people. When
you feel like this, it makes it hard to keep up
with your schoolwork or possibly to even get
to school. Here are some tips I find helpful in
beating those winter blues:
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Housing Registry
Looking for a new rental unit? The Housing Registry is equipped with an interactive
map with available student-friendly rentals in
Saskatoon and Prince Albert. Also, feel free
to utilize the registry if you are looking for a
roommate, have an extra room to rent, or renting an apartment unit of your own.
Good Food Box
Sometimes it can be difficult to find the time
to run to the grocery store and find fair prices
on fresh produce. The Good Food Box allows
you to order combinations of fresh fruit and
vegetables from a community based distribution center. Best part? You can keep your
spending at a minimal with packages from
$10.00-$30.00.
SAvivor
The SAvivor program offers students, in need,
one breakfast and one supper once a month. To
receive a SAvivor pack visit the SPSA Support
Center in Saskatoon, or the SPSA Office in
Prince Albert.
Tutor Registry
Benefiting both struggling students and those
looking to volunteer, the tutor registry intends
to enhance academic success rates. If you are
BEATING THE WINTER BLUES
Danika Schofield
Campus Council Director - Prince Albert
MEDIUM
2-TOPPER
a friend for free! For more information about
recreation in Prince Albert, please see the
Recreation Office.
Tip 1: Take a bath with some Epsom salts or
bath bombs. It is relaxing to just lay there and
close your eyes. Don’t even think about anything. Just lay there and enjoy the water.
Tip 2: Have some hot chocolate. The chocolate
will make you feel happier because there is a
chemical in our brain called tryptophan which
causes the release of serotonin. Tryptophan is
found in chocolate, and serotonin makes us
feel relaxed.
Tip 3: Its getting warmer out so go for a walk!
Exercise helps (even though I know you don’t
want to).
Tip 4: Listen to happy, upbeat music. It will
help you feel better if you don’t listen to that
sad, broken-heart stuff.
Tip 5: Get out of the house! Don’t stay inside,
get out and hang with friends.
Have any other tips? I’d love to hear them!
Email me at: [email protected]
in need of extra coaching in a class, use the
registry to find a tutor to work alongside you
and develop work patterns and better class
understanding. Meanwhile, if you feel like you
are excelling in class material, volunteer your
time to assist other students.
Student Advocacy
If you have any concerns or complaints regarding your academic standing, request a meeting
with our Student Advocate, Tara. She is knowledgeable in policy and process at Saskatchewan Polytechnic. Her role is to assist, advise,
and advocate on behalf of students.
To learn more about these services and other
services offered to you check out the SPSA
website www.spsa.ca or stop by your SPSA
office.
If there are any services you feel would benefit
the student body, email me at spsa.vpfinance@
saskpolytech.ca with your idea!
STUDENT ADVISORY
COUNCIL NEWS AND
NOTES - JAN 2016
Another large turnout attended the monthly
Student Advisory Council meetings at Kelsey
and Woodland Campuses respectively. Plenty
of valuable discussion is taking place ensuring
that your SA is working for its members.
Some of the discussion highlights relevant to
both campuses included:
• Recruitment of members to sit on various
committees
• SPSA Elections
• Update on Parking fees
• Cafeteria Food Prices
SAC meetings are held monthly with the next
meeting taking place on Thursday, February
25, 2016. The Woodland meeting is held in
Room 254 of the Academic Centre at 12:00
noon while the Saskatoon meeting will take
place at 4:00 p.m. in Room 128. If you are
interested in becoming a part of SAC, please
contact Joseph Kiunga in Prince Albert ([email protected]) or Perry Meier
in Saskatoon ([email protected]).
3
6
Volume No. 28 Issue 6 - February 2016
PARKING THE BUS
Oluwafemi “Sam” Ojo
VP Prince Albert Campus
Student transportation takes two main forms;
vehicle transportation and public transportation
provided by the province or municipal government. Each means of transportation has its own
problems and restrictions that when applied to
students become a great burden.
Vehicle transportation is limited by the number
of parking spaces available to students; the
fees for each parking space, and what type of
parking is available to students, with respect to
winter plug-in parking.
Public transportation – in particular to Prince
Albert transit system – has many limitations
that make it tough on students to fully explore
the city. The difficulties faced by students
include; the timing of the buses, the number
of buses available, their interval, the number
of stops available, the routes taken by the bus
system, and the financial burden of the bus
Volume No. 28 Issue 6 - February 2016
WOMEN IN TRADES INTERVIEW #4
fare. The SPSA, in collaboration with the
City is working towards a subsidised monthly
transit fare from the Ministry of Education,
which will hopefully reduce the cost for public
transportion as a whole.
For those students who drive themselves to
school, student representatives have been
continuously working to ensure fairness and
equality in regards to the parking fee structure.
Among the SPSAs’ achievement are; working
towards a reduction in the monthly parking
pass and ensuring that there is adequate space
for those who purchase a monthly or semester
pass. While recognizing this achievement, the
SPSA is continuing to work on implementing
the monthly reduction into a semester pass and
looking at the possibility of plug in parking.
No matter where we go, we will always require
a means of transport to get us there, and eliminating a means of transport as a burden is one
of the SPSAs’ aim. For more information on
transportation; vehicle or public transit, please
see your Campus Council members.
PINK SHIRT DAY
Wednesday, February 24th is anti-bullying day.
We encourage all members of the Saskatchewan Polytechnic community to wear pink to
show support for this great initiative! If you
aren’t really a pink kind of person, you can still
show support by being respectful to your peers
and standing up to individuals who are acting
inappropriately towards others.
Bullying can take place in many forms including, but not limited to, making threats, spreading rumors, physical or verbal abuse, derogatory jokes – basically any type of unwanted
behaviour. If you believe that you are being
bullied and you would like support, Val Morrissey is the Harassment Consultant for the
institution and is a great resource. She can be
contacted at 306-775-7679 or val.morrissey@
saskpolytech.ca .
At the end of the day it is best to appreciate
individuals for who they are, and embrace our
differences all the days of the year. It is what
makes us unique, fun and exciting and what
creates our wonderfully diverse culture.
For more information on the anti-bullying
campaign please visit pinkshirtday.ca .
Hailey Jeddry
Campus Council Director - Saskatoon
a big student loan to pay off so a trade seemed
like the best route to go.
I recently sat down with Desiree Marcotte,
a female trades student in the Machining
Program to hear about her experiences at Sask
Polytech and to share her perspective on being
a women in a male-dominated trades program.
I didn’t really know what trade I wanted to go
to school for so I made an appointment with
Student Services at Saskatchewan Polytechnic
and they were very helpful. They told me about
all the trades that they offered which really
helped with my decision.
This is my fourth interview in the series, and
you can read all of my interviews with female
trades students at www.spsa.ca, under the
Publications tab.
Q: So tell us a little about your self?
A: I am a single mom of two children, Atticus
and Autumn. One is just over a year old and
the other is five. I was born in Saskatchewan
but I moved to Vancouver for a couple years
to study graphic design. However, there isn’t a
good industry for it so I moved back here to go
to school.
Q: What made you decide to go back to
school and pursue a trade?
A: Well I was coming to the end of my maternity leave and there wasn’t much opportunity
in graphic design so that’s when I decided that
I needed to go back to school for something in
order to support my kids. I thought about going
to university, but I didn’t want to dedicate four
years of my life to school and then end up with
Q: What is it like to be a single mom while
going to school at the same time?
A: It’s definitely challenging but you do what
you have to do and that’s all you can really do.
The work load is light which is nice because
it’s not overwhelming and helps balance school
as well as home life.
Q: Is there anyone in your life that may
have inspired you to go in to a trade?
A: It was my dad when I first started to consider taking a trade. There was a lot of feedback
from people saying that it wasn’t going to be
worth my time and that I was most likely going
to experience a lot of discrimination for being
a woman. My dad was very supportive about
it and surprisingly he told me that I should
just go for it. He has some knowledge about
machining because he works as a millwright
for a living so we talked about it and he really
encouraged me to do it.
Q: Do you like machining so far?
A: Yes I do, I like the hands on aspect of it. I’m
pretty artistic, I like to paint, draw, and play
guitar. I’d just rather be moving around and
creating something useful then sitting in a cubical all day. My favorite experience so far was
making my dad a ring for Christmas. I heat
treated it to turn it a bright cobalt blue color
which isn’t something that they typically cover
in machining; it was a really neat experience
from the beginning to the end.
Q: Do you ever feel like you have to give up
or diminish your femininity because you’ve
chosen to some day work in this industry?
A: I feel like there are definitely some judgements that are made when you walk into a
shop with your make up on and your hair done.
I’ve noticed the guys eyeing me in the hallway
while I’m fixing my hair by my locker but
personally it doesn’t bother me, I’ll do what I
want but I think it’s bad enough that I feel like
I should blend in.
Q: Do you have any advice for woman who
would like to work in trade?
A: Just believe in yourself and be confident.
It can be intimidating at first and a lot of girls
think that they won’t be able to do it because
they’re not strong enough, or they don’t know
enough about it, but that’s what the pre-employment courses are for.
SUMMER WORK
Emilio Conde
Campus Council Director - Saskatoon
“It is so cold out there!” many would say. Indeed, who would not miss the sunny and warm
days and wish that summer was back. Well,
summer will be back as it is every year, but,
have you planned what you will be doing this
summer? Would you like to take some extra
classes, or would you like to get a full time
job? If you are thinking of working in summer,
you should know that in order to get a good
job, you should start planning ahead of time.
The first step in your plan is to create a wellcrafted resume. In your resume, you want
to highlight your education and prior work
experiences. If you need help, you can access sample resumes and cover letters in Sask
Polytech’s library website, as well, you can set
up an appointment with student employment
services.
After compiling a good resume, you can start
looking for a job. In Sask Polytech’s library
website, click program guides, and look for
your respective program. Once you have accessed your program you can search for different websites that offer jobs related to your field
of interest.
Finally, you will probably have an interview
that asks you whether or not you are eligible
for the job. A good piece of advice is to be
confident, so you will convince the employer
that you are a good candidate.
After completing your plan, you should know
the benefits of having a summer-job:
1. It provides you with extra cash flow. Money
that could be saved or used for expenses such
as: new clothes, food, the occasional party,
paying loans, etc.
2. It enhances your resume. The job experience
is relevant to employers.
3. If you find a summer job related to your diploma, it is more likely that you get hired after
finishing your studies.
4. It increases your skills such as commitment,
time management, customer service, teamwork, organization, leadership.
Overall, a summer job is a good opportunity
for students to increase income, enhance a
resume, and practice academic- like skills. By
starting an early search for jobs, you could find
the best companies with positions available.
7
2
Volume No. 28 Issue 6 - February 2016
IN MY BLOOD - PASCAL DUPUIS
http://www.theplayerstribune.com/in-myblood/
I had stuffed some extra underwear into my
jacket pocket before driving to the hospital.
That was the moment when I finally stopped
lying to myself. We were supposed to be flying
to Montreal later that day. In the NHL, you
always wear a suit and tie when you travel. I
made sure I wore a tracksuit and flip-flops because in my heart I knew I wasn’t making the
trip. I knew I was going to be staying a while.
My teammates didn’t know there was anything
wrong. My wife didn’t even know.
I remember sitting in the hospital parking lot
and thinking, Okay. This is it. You walk into
that building and your career might be over.
Let me back up a little bit. In December 2013,
two days before Christmas, I suffered the kind
of hockey injury that you dread. We were playing in Ottawa, and my linemate Sidney Crosby
got hip-checked and went flying into my right
leg. When you’re on skates, there’s nowhere
for your knee to go. It’s trapped. I tore my
ACL, MCL and PCL — basically dislocated
my whole knee. Still, I wouldn’t let them put
me on a stretcher. My father had a rule about
that when I was a kid: unless both of your legs
are broken, you never lay on the ice. You skate
off on the good one. So that’s what I did.
A week later, I was at home in Pittsburgh,
waiting to have surgery and going stir crazy. I
can’t sit still for a second, so I went to the rink
to get a little sweat in on the arm bike machine.
Halfway through, I got this intense pain in my
chest. Immediately, my mind went back to
the hit, and I remembered that Sid’s skate had
come up and hit me in the chest. I just thought
maybe I’d broken a rib or torn some cartilage.
No big deal. I’d played with both before. I
finished the workout.
A few nights later, I was in bed when the
coughing fits started. My wife was officially
freaked out after a few nights of this. She
kept telling me to get checked out, but I was
like, “Babe, it’s just a cold.” I had no idea that
something very bad was going on inside of me.
Finally, I broke down and had my chiropractor
come over to the house, and told him I thought
I’d busted up my ribs. He put me on the table
like he has a hundred times before. “Duper,
something’s wrong here,” he said after about
an hour. “This isn’t related to anything structural.” He called my trainer immediately, who
had the smarts to call my primary doctor. My
doc called me right back.
“You have to go to the hospital for some tests
right now,” he said.
I’m like, “O…K? I’ve played with broken ribs
before, doc. What’s going on?”
“Have your wife drive you,” he said. “You
can’t drive yourself. I’ll meet you at the ER.”
Those are never words you’re prepared to hear.
Now, this is all happening on January 2nd.
I had family in from Quebec, staying at our
house for the holidays. My four kids were all
home on break. I’m standing in my kitchen
with kids running all around the house. I’m not
trying to freak everybody out by saying, “Hey
gang, let’s all jump in the car and rush Daddy
to the hospital!”
I hopped to the car and drove myself.
When I arrived in the ER … wow. There were
a bunch of doctors waiting for me, with a
whole room prepped and ready. As soon as I
sat down, the needles were out and the I.V. was
in my arm. That’s when I first heard “blood
clot.” They took me for a CT scan. I got out of
the big white tube and I’m sitting right by the
machine waiting to hear my fate, just thinking
… is this real?
They bring out the scans and point right to my
lung.
“There it is.”
The doctor explained that I had a pulmonary
embolism. One of the branches of my lung was
clogged. The clot probably started in my calf
when my leg was immobilized on the flight
back from Ottawa. My lung wasn’t getting
blood supply and was slowly dying. The words
just kind of whizzed by me. I went to grab my
clothes when the doc explained that I had to
stay in the hospital for a few days.
He said, “Duper, listen, you basically had
a stroke of your lung. It’s serious. If this
would’ve went to your heart or your brain, it
could’ve been fatal.”
I have my Serious Guy Face on but inside I’m
thinking, Okay, whatever, when can I play
hockey again? I had to go on blood thinners, which meant my knee surgery would be
delayed. I know this sounds crazy, but I was
disappointed. That’s how you’re conditioned
to think as a hockey player. To make it in the
league as an undrafted free agent like I did, you
have to be able to go through walls. That’s not
some motivational poster B.S. You truly have
to be able to block out an immense amount of
pain, and that can have consequences.
I was on blood thinners from January to July,
while I was rehabbing my knee. I wasn’t on the
ice for six months. I didn’t tell my teammates
about the blood clot. I didn’t tell the press.
Only my family knew. In July, my bloodwork
came back fine. No clots in my legs. My lungs
were clear. I went back to business.
On the first day of training camp, they handed
me the red no-contact jersey. It killed me. I had
trained like an absolute madman to get into the
best shape of my life. My conditioning was
ridiculous. All summer, people were wondering if this 34-year-old guy would be able to get
his speed back. Can he still play on the first
line after knee surgery? Can he keep up with
Crosby? They didn’t even know what else I
was dealing with. The trainers were incredible
in how they took care of me and made sure I
was good to go. But all I wanted to do was be
out there for Game 1 on the top line with Sid
and Kuny. It didn’t happen. I made it back for
the opener, but they smartly kept my minutes
in check for the first month of the season.
Game 11 was in Minnesota. After the game, I
went to dinner with a couple of guys and had a
few drinks. The next day, we woke up and flew
to Winnipeg, and went straight to practice. I’m
standing at center ice when I feel something
go through my body like a bolt of lightning.
It actually made me gasp. Instant chest pain. I
thought, Am I having a heart attack right now?
Volume No. 28 Issue 6 - February 2016
TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL HEALTH
Afroditi Papageorgiu
President
College is a time of challenges, such as moving away from home, living with someone
new, taking difficult classes, and managing
life on your own. Along with these challenges
come emotional highs and lows. But how do
you know what feelings are normal? When do
those bad moods signal a clinical disorder?
How do you take charge of your own emotional well-being?
1. Emotional Highs and Lows are Normal
Feelings of isolation and sadness are common
during times of transition and change. Ups
and downs are a part of growth. They help
you build resiliency. Sometimes, however,
life events are so overwhelming and painful
they disrupt your daily life. For some students,
“feeling down” can be a very serious issue—
possibly a sign of clinical depression. To find
out more about depressive disorders, visit a
counsellor or nurse on campus, your doctor or
check out some reliable online sources (e.g.,
Canadian Mental Health).
2. Am I Clinically Depressed?
Depression goes beyond just feeling temporarily sad or stressed out. Sadness is a temporary
feeling, while depression can go on for weeks,
PRINCE ALBERT
RECREATION
HAVE FUN, GET FIT
BOOT CAMP
MODERATE TO INTENSE WORKOUT
BODY WEIGHT EXERCISES
INTERVAL AND STRENGTH TRAINING
PUSHING YOUR BODY HARDER THAN
YOU’D PUSH IT YOURSELF!
Continued on Pg 4
Join us for an awesome workout
that will leave you feeling great!
SIGN UP FOR ONE
OF OUR SESSIONS
MON/WED/FRI
12:00 - 12:30 PM
JAN. 11 - FEB. 29
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months, or years, and someone suffering from
depression can have serious trouble coping
with everyday activities. Recognizing that you
are in fact, depressed, is a good first step—but
remember, this knowledge needs to be followed up by some sort of action. Depression is
treatable—health and counselling professionals
can help match you to the appropriate treatments. There are Counselling Services available on campus (Saskatoon Campus: Room
114, Prince Albert Campus: Room F203), for
all Saskatchewan Polytechnic students.
3. How to Improve
Being emotionally and mentally healthy is
positive for all aspects of our lives, including
grades and relationships. Be proactive in your
everyday life and seek professional support
when you need it. Spending time with trusted
family and friends, setting realistic goals, staying healthy, and doing activities that you enjoy
are all good tools.
Ultimately, change is a part of life, but the
more informed/pro active you are, the better
able you are to manage your emotional and
mental health. Stay mindful of the stressors in
your life, and take the necessary steps to manage your emotional and mental health. A great
online tool to utilize in terms of emotional and
mental health, is mywellnessplan.ca. This is an
online resource available 24/7/365 where students can access information and support available to them on their campus, community, and
online. This online tool has been developed to
assist students in maintaining a productive and
positive lifestyle while completing their studies
and is available to Saskatchewan Polytechnic
students attending the Prince Albert and Saskatoon Campuses, so check it out!
8
Volume No. 28 Issue 6 - February 2016
THE RETURN OF WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TO SASKATOON CAMPUS
Stacia Selinger
Campus Council Director - Saskatoon
This year 12 women have the opportunity to
play basketball for Saskatchewan Polytechnic,
an opportunity that hasn’t been possible in
over 25 years. I had asked a few of the players
to answer some questions about how they feel
about the upcoming season.
The basketball season ends in March, with
such a short season ahead, what personal/
physical attributes do you hope to gain by the
end of the season?
“I want to gain more speed and strength by the
end of the season. I want to be a threat in more
ways than just my height.”
– Jenna Kirkpatrick 26, SCBScN
Saskatchewan Polytechnic (Saskatoon) hasn’t
had the interest or opportunity to have a
women’s basketball team in over 25 years. You
will be the first set of women to represent the
school in basketball. How does it feel to be
chosen for this role?
“I think it is important for us (the whole team)
to learn to play with each other because we all
come from different backgrounds of basketball.
I think gaining that chemistry as a team should
be a high priority goal for all of us.”
- Emma Prescesky 18, SCBScN
“Being chosen to represent Saskatchewan
Polytechnic is a great experience, not only
because they haven’t had a team in 25 years
but to be able to play the sport for a college
that gives so much to me as a student and for
furthering my future, it’s an honor to represent
this school. It’s going to be a great season”
– Rachel Murray 21, Medical Laboratory
Technology
We are all here to gain an education. That
being said, do you think being part of the basketball team will affect your grades and if so,
in what way?
“I personally cannot wait to get the season
started with this wonderful group of women.
They are all starting to rub off on me, that
being said I don’t think there could be a better
group to start up the women’s basketball for
Saskatchewan Polytechnic. It’s a really awesome feeling to be a part of this team and to
finally have women interested in the sport.”
– Meggie Hannah 18, Primary Care Paramedic
“I think they will have an enormous effect on
my grades, but in a good way. I did well last
term; however, it was extremely stressful. The
physical challenge of a competitive sport has
given my brain a break, my head is more clear
this term. It has also been a great outlet for
stress.”
–Jenna Kirkpatrick 26, SCBScN
Student Newspaper of Saskatchewan Polytechnic
Saskatoon and Prince
Prinec Albert Campuses
“I definitely think it’ll be a struggle to figure
out the balance in all of our lives. So yes, basketball may affect our grades in the beginning.
But once we get into the routine of things, I
think having the team will be a positive asset
for each of the ladies including myself.”
– Meggie Hannah 18, Primary Care Paramedic
Do you think exercise and fitness should be a
priority as a student?
Pg 8
“Definitely, I think it should be a priority even
if it’s for an hour a day. To get in the gym or
doing personal workouts at home to get your
mind off of stress in your life. It makes a huge
difference in how you and your body feel the
next day”
– Rachel Murray 21, Medical Laboratory
Technology
“Studies show that it makes you smarter and
study better, so yes. Organized programs are
such an easy way to get moving. And lucky for
us this school has many different options for
whatever you like.”
- Emma Prescesky 18, SCBScN
ASK Poly
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WOMEN’S
BASKETBALL
RETURNS TO
SASK POLYTECH
IN MY BLOOD - PASCAL DUPUIS
Pg 2
WOMEN IN TRADES
INTERVIEW #4
Pg 3
TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR EMOTIONAL
AND MENTAL HEALTH
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