http://www.newbrunswickbeacon.ca Presented by St. Thomas University Journalism Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:03:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 Presented by St. Thomas University Journalism New Brunswick Beacon no http://www.newbrunswickbeacon.ca/2010/04/the-times-they-are-a-changing-2/6417 http://www.newbrunswickbeacon.ca/2010/04/the-times-they-are-a-changing-2/6417#comments Tue, 27 Apr 2010 18:27:30 +0000 Diane Cole http://www.newbrunswickbeacon.ca/?p=6417 http://www.newbrunswickbeacon.ca/2010/04/the-times-they-are-a-changing-2/6417/feed 0 It's still rock and roll to me. (Photo: Diane Cole) Music just isn’t the same as it used to be. But that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. This is my take on new music and why it’s just as good as the music from the 1960’s. Music just isn’t the same as it used to be. But that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. This is my take on new music and why it’s just as good as the music from the 1960’s. Diane Cole 3:39 http://www.newbrunswickbeacon.ca/2010/04/so-you-think-you-can-dance/6399 http://www.newbrunswickbeacon.ca/2010/04/so-you-think-you-can-dance/6399#comments Tue, 27 Apr 2010 16:46:38 +0000 Diane Cole http://www.newbrunswickbeacon.ca/?p=6399 http://www.newbrunswickbeacon.ca/2010/04/so-you-think-you-can-dance/6399/feed 0 Photo: Diane Cole Whether they’re popping and locking, or twirling and jumping, a growing number of people are taking up dancing as a hobby. Wannabe dancers are flooding dance classes and conventions, hoping to become the next big thing. So if you’ve been wondering what’s got everybody dancing in the streets, you can listen here to find out. Whether they're popping and locking, or twirling and jumping, a growing number of people are taking up dancing as a hobby. Wannabe dancers are flooding dance classes and conventions, hoping to become the next big thing. So if you've been [...] Diane Cole 6:02 http://www.newbrunswickbeacon.ca/2010/04/to-rock-bottom-and-back-again-my-journey-to-overcome-major-depression/6273 http://www.newbrunswickbeacon.ca/2010/04/to-rock-bottom-and-back-again-my-journey-to-overcome-major-depression/6273#comments Tue, 20 Apr 2010 22:20:53 +0000 Molly Cormier http://www.newbrunswickbeacon.ca/?p=6273 http://www.newbrunswickbeacon.ca/2010/04/to-rock-bottom-and-back-again-my-journey-to-overcome-major-depression/6273/feed 3 Molly Cormier lives with depression and anxiety. She spent her fourth year of university battling the illness after being hospitalized for three weeks. In January of 2010, my final semester of university began. I marked the first month by attending a concert I won’t soon forget. I’d been listening to Tegan and Sara since my first year of university, when a friend recommended them to me because of their raw, emotional lyrics. That’s me, you see. Raw and emotional. Since I was young I’ve always tried to live life to the fullest. I’ve analyzed every moment and felt the entire spectrum of emotions. My father has always said I “fire with all pistons.” But I never knew the personal quality that gave me so many great opportunities, could turn into an incurable illness that physically made me sick. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the amazing music that exuded from the two pixie-like twin sisters who make up the band, that caused me to remember the concert so vividly. It wasn’t the lyrics either; the ones that felt like they were being sung straight to me, the same  lyrics I had called upon during the ups and downs of my past four university years. I remember the concert because I was really sick. Before then, I didn’t know how sick I was. But when I realized I was unable to stand for more than one song, and I wasn’t experiencing the usual uplifting emotions I got from my favourite band, I knew something was really wrong. I shouldn’t have been so sad. “And don’t be so hard on yourself,” the twins sang, “It won’t get better ’till you’re worse.” *** According to the World Health Organization (WHO), someone in the world commits suicide every 40 seconds. In Canada, for people between the ages of 10 and 24, suicide is the second leading cause of death. The WHO says 90 per cent of all suicides are committed by someone with a diagnosable pyschiatric illness. Major depression accounts for 15 per cent of those deaths. One week before the Tegan and Sara concert, I had a hysterical episode that came completely out of the blue. It was a Sunday afternoon, and I had just returned from church. The prayers of that mass had been directed toward people with depression and anxiety, and I felt this was a nice coincidence because they were both things I had been fighting – undiagnosed and unmedicated – since my first year of university. That day I wanted to escape. Instead, I made my way to Outpatients at the Fredericton hospital where a nurse asked me what was wrong. I told her that all I knew was I shouldn’t be feeling like this and I was leaving myself in the hands of doctors to decide. She said I had done the right thing. After hours of waiting in a small room, and telling my story a million times, a doctor finally told me that she was going to put me on an anti-depressant drug called Paxil. *** For one week I threw up, felt tired, and could hardly stand up. I went to the Tegan and Sara concert, despite having to run to the bathroom in between songs. And five days later I walked to the hospital again, this time in the middle of a snowstorm. I was petrified of the feelings I was experiencing. I felt like laying down in the snow banks on the side of the road and having the snow cover me. Good thing I live in an apartment building beside the hospital. I ended up spending three weeks of my final semester of university in the psychiatric unit of that hospital. I could see my apartment out my room window. But I was locked in a unit, unable to use my own phone, and couldn’t see my boyfriend until 4 p.m. There was a  pyschiatrist, occupational therapists, and social workers assigned to my case. They took me off Paxil, saying it had caused suicidal thoughts. They put me on nine new pills a day. I was confused and wanted to know: Why did this happen to me? *** My mother came to stay with me the moment I got out of the hospital. I still remember hearing her heels click as she walked down the hall to my [...] In January of 2010, my final semester of university began. I marked the first month by attending a concert I won’t soon forget. I’d been listening to Tegan and Sara since my first year of university, when a friend recommended them to me [...] http://www.newbrunswickbeacon.ca/2010/04/left-behind-three-women-wait-as-their-significant-others-are-deployed-to-afghanistan/6134 http://www.newbrunswickbeacon.ca/2010/04/left-behind-three-women-wait-as-their-significant-others-are-deployed-to-afghanistan/6134#comments Mon, 19 Apr 2010 01:39:21 +0000 Molly Cormier http://www.newbrunswickbeacon.ca/?p=6134 http://www.newbrunswickbeacon.ca/2010/04/left-behind-three-women-wait-as-their-significant-others-are-deployed-to-afghanistan/6134/feed 0 Chris King says goodbye to his son Josh and wife Rebecca before he leaves for Afghanistan. Four-year-old Josh King holds his hand out to the glass wall separating the departure lounge from the rest of Fredericton airport. His father Chris raises his hand to meet Josh’s and they briefly share a moment before Chris turns to leave and board a plane. He is heading to Petawawa, Ontario, and from there – Afghanistan. “Bye bye Daddy, bye bye,” Josh says and waves as the plane taxis down the runway. Beginning this month, five hundred members of the Canadian military will be deployed to Afghanistan from CFB Gagetown as a part of Canada’s ongoing mission in the Middle eastern country. In 2010, the military remains a predominantly male profession, so more often than not it is girlfriends, fiancees, and wives who are left behind when the men head overseas. From left to right: Chris and Rebecca King, Joanne McRae and Willis Ripley, Trisha Mowatt and Nathan Miller. These women face their own set of challenges. Loneliness and fear are not the only emotions they will experience during the seven-month tour. Chris is an LCIS Technician stationed at CFB Gagetown. His wife Rebecca is pregnant with their second child, due to be born six weeks after his deployment. They are planning to name her Chloe. In the weeks leading up to his deployment, Chris painted the nursery pink and assembled the crib. The morning he left, Chris said goodbye to an empty pink room with polka dots on the walls. When he returns to New Brunswick for his leave in late August, Chloe will already be three months old. Rebecca believes she is ready for the challenge of raising a newborn and a four-year-old without the help of a second pair of hands. “I feel strong and proud. I did not think that I could do it on my own but I have shown myself that I am, and can do almost everything that I would rely on him for,”  she says. Rebecca says she supports Chris’ decision to serve the military and go overseas, as his grandfathers did before him. “My expectations for the tour are for him to serve his country, then to come home safely and healthy and to continue our life together and enjoy our family,” she says. *** The Gagetown Military Family Resource Centre is available to military families stationed at CFB Gagetown – one of the largest military bases in Canada. The centre’s website says its mission is to “promote and facilitate community-based services that strengthen military families and communities.” On Tuesday nights, wives and husbands of deployed soldiers can go to the centre for Coffee Night. Rebecca says she will attend to have the opportunity to speak with women who are going through the same experience as her. Other women have different ways to get through the deployment. *** Trisha Mowatt and Joanne McRae find comfort in the friendship they have developed since Trisha’s boyfriend Nathan Miller and Joanne’s fiance Willis Ripley deployed to Afghanistan in October 2009. Both men serve as combat engineers, and Ripley is on his second tour. Because of this, Joanne is able to offer wisdom and advice to Trisha, who says she finds strength in knowing she has a friend who is going through it for a second time. “This tour in some aspects was easier than the last one, I had more friends living close to me, and know some of the other girls who are experiencing the same thing,” Joanne says. “It gives us a nice outlet to talk to other people who are going through the same thing.” McRae says it’s hard to compare the two tours, and isn’t sure whether she is coping better this time. “At times I feel like I’m the strong and brave one to be able to continue my everyday life without him. Somedays I feel selfish and guilty for going out and enjoying time with my friends and enjoying my last year of university and having fun,” she says. Trisha says she has been surprised by how well she has been doing since her boyfriend left in [...] Four-year-old Josh King holds his hand out to the glass wall separating the departure lounge from the rest of Fredericton airport. His father Chris raises his hand to meet Josh’s and they briefly share a moment before Chris turns to leave and [...] http://www.newbrunswickbeacon.ca/2010/04/a-class-directs/5915 http://www.newbrunswickbeacon.ca/2010/04/a-class-directs/5915#comments Fri, 16 Apr 2010 02:46:57 +0000 Alaina Nugent http://www.newbrunswickbeacon.ca/?p=5915 http://www.newbrunswickbeacon.ca/2010/04/a-class-directs/5915/feed 0 A class directs, St.Thomas University drama production students put on a series of play’s Saturday April 10th. A Class Directs-5 one act plays, was put on in the Ted Daigle Auditorium. The five students in the class directed their own plays. Bedtime is a play about two young sisters that talk about the confusion of life, death, and God all during the time before bed. The play was directed by Scarlett Kelly, a fourth year English literature major. The Role of Della is a devious play about one girls deceit for a role in a play. The Role of Della was directed by Andrea Hynes, a fourth year English major. Hynes is the president of St.Thomas Early English Drama Society. After graduation Hynes plans to go to London, England to pursue a Masters in Drama. Andrea Hynes says she chose her play because ” It is witty and it has a surprise ending.” Hynes says she has been taking singing lessons since she was in grade 4. “My dad taught me how to play piano, bass, and drums. That added to my love of music.” Thomas Rodriguez, an audience member said ” The actress in The Role of Della was very good, her character was very believable, the acting was well done.” Night Visits is a play about one doctor’s patient that brings him to face his emotions about his fiancée’s death. The play was directed by Marie Nicholson a fourth year Gerontology student. Playwriting 101 is a humourous play about the craft of playwriting. Two subjects are used to demonstrate human interaction, one is a man who is going to jump to his death, and the other is a man who tries to stop him. Playwriting 101 was directed by Allie Brubacher, a fourth year English major with a concentration in drama. Trevor Graham, an audience member says his favorite play was Playwriting 101. “I enjoyed the play because it was very funny, and very vibrant.” Poof! Is a clever play about the lives of two abused wives, and the strange but lovely disappearance of Loureen’s husband Samuel. The play was directed by Lee Kinney; a fourth year student working with Theatre St.Thomas.   A class directs, St.Thomas University drama production students put on a series of play’s Saturday April 10th. A Class Directs-5 one act plays, was put on in the Ted Daigle Auditorium. The five students in the class directed their own plays. [...] A Class Directs clean http://www.newbrunswickbeacon.ca/2010/04/the-mind-thief/5925 http://www.newbrunswickbeacon.ca/2010/04/the-mind-thief/5925#comments Wed, 14 Apr 2010 01:39:43 +0000 Diane Cole http://www.newbrunswickbeacon.ca/?p=5925 http://www.newbrunswickbeacon.ca/2010/04/the-mind-thief/5925/feed 0 (Photo Credit: Alyssa L. Miller) Theresa and Robert Cole’s lives changed in 2006 when Robert was diagnosed with a rare form of dementia. The following looks at the struggles that they have faced, and which thousands of families will face when dealing with this disease. Transcript here Theresa and Robert Cole's lives changed in 2006 when Robert was diagnosed with a rare form of dementia. The following looks at the struggles that they and thousands of family face when dealing with this disease. Listen here Diane Cole 10:15 http://www.newbrunswickbeacon.ca/2010/04/goodbye-to-stu/5861 http://www.newbrunswickbeacon.ca/2010/04/goodbye-to-stu/5861#comments Thu, 08 Apr 2010 20:40:38 +0000 Tammy Murray http://www.newbrunswickbeacon.ca/?p=5861 http://www.newbrunswickbeacon.ca/2010/04/goodbye-to-stu/5861/feed 0 The author at the T-ring ceremony, January 2010, photo by Ron Murray So initially this piece was supposed to be a news story about the graduating class of 2010 and the 100th convocation at St. Thomas University.  But, while thinking about it last night, lying in bed, my long-suffering husband snoring gently beside me, I thought to hell with that!  This story is about ME!  I’m the one going through an “end of degree” crisis!  One minute cursing the 5000 word paper I have yet to write, the next minute crying about classmates and profs I’ll likely never see again.  It’s been an emotional rollercoaster which my hubby has grudgingly been riding with me.  I don’t think there will be a happier man than he on May 16th. So back to my story; I needed one more to complete my assignments for the 4th year journalism class and I didn’t have any ideas.  I toyed with the idea of an informational piece on hydroponic gardening, since I’ve been lovingly watching my three tomatoes grow since Christmas.  My husband figures they’re worth about $40 each when factoring in the cost of my Aerogarden, the power bill and the distilled water needed to feed them.  So that’s what I’ll charge him when I serve up his BLT made with fresh organic tomatoes!  Anyway, I figured that was a lot more research than my overworked brain could handle at this time of the year. So I had this idea to interview some graduating students, and of course the news peg would be the 100th convocation.  I ran it past our professor Don Dickson, and he said it was fine.  So I sent out an email to our whole journalism class asking if anyone would participate.  Yeah I know; journalism at its finest!  Even classmate Tj chided me: “You’re not supposed to interview your friends you know, (he said during our interview) you’re supposed to go out and talk to real people,” or something to that effect.  I admitted it; at this point I’m just blowing off this one last assignment.  Don said I could, so that’s my story and I’m sticking to it! Anyway, I guess I just wanted to know what other students were feeling about this next HUGE step in their lives.  I remember at the beginning of the year, I was convinced I was not ready to “grow up and get a real job” but about half way into second term my attitude was shifting.  The workload was overwhelming, other life stressors were piling up and the financial pinch of two people living on one income was taking its toll.  I began to feel I had had enough of life as a student; I began dreaming about weekends in my garden, hiking with my dogs and hosting friends and family without the mountains of homework calling my name. As it turns out, my classmates are feeling pretty much the same way.  Yesterday I spent some time with Jody, Jason, Corrine, Stewart, Ayat, Gilean and Tj.  All classmates in the journalism programme, sharing similar experiences in school but from vastly different backgrounds.  You can find them all here, at the Beacon, just scroll down below the main page to the Student Journalists, or I guess after next week, you’ll find us all under Alumni!  YIKES!! *wipes tears away*  Anyway, have a listen to the audio clips below, then scroll down to the bottom for my final thoughts on saying goodbye to STU. Jody Nabuurs; Photo by Tammy Murray Jody is uncertain but excited about her future. Jason Murray; photo by Tammy Murray (no relation) Jason is feeling pretty relaxed about his future options. University chums! Stew Corbett and Corrine Frost; photo by Tammy Murray Stew is feeling a bit anxious about job prospects but is looking forward to the opportunities and Corrine is making a big move to a new city! Ayat Abed Isaid; photo by Tammy Murray Ayat is heading back to her family near Dubai, we’re all going to miss you! Tj Milburn and Gilean Watts – High school sweethearts make it through university together; photo by Tammy Murray Gilean’s starting her career off [...] So initially this piece was supposed to be a news story about the graduating class of 2010 and the 100th convocation at St. Thomas University.  But, while thinking about it last night, lying in bed, my long-suffering husband snoring gently beside [...] http://www.newbrunswickbeacon.ca/2010/03/commclass/5449 http://www.newbrunswickbeacon.ca/2010/03/commclass/5449#comments Fri, 26 Mar 2010 12:57:47 +0000 The Beacon http://www.newbrunswickbeacon.ca/?p=5449 http://www.newbrunswickbeacon.ca/2010/03/commclass/5449/feed 0 Or download it here. Or download it here. http://www.newbrunswickbeacon.ca/2010/03/assessing-the-media-death-by-suicide/4968 http://www.newbrunswickbeacon.ca/2010/03/assessing-the-media-death-by-suicide/4968#comments Tue, 16 Mar 2010 16:22:40 +0000 Tammy Murray http://www.newbrunswickbeacon.ca/?p=4968 http://www.newbrunswickbeacon.ca/2010/03/assessing-the-media-death-by-suicide/4968/feed 1 Chelsey hugs her stuffed hippo as she reads a poem; remembering her friend who succumbed to depression. Photo by Tammy Murray                 Please click on the link below to hear/view this radio documentary with slide show.  All photos of Sharon Fawcett provided by Sharon Fawcett and used with permission.  All other photos in the slide show by Tammy Murray. Assessing the media: suicide         Read the full transcript(click here) How can we produce graphic stories about war, murder, earthquakes and other catastrophic events but we can’t report the news about a lost soul choosing to end his own life? http://www.newbrunswickbeacon.ca/2010/03/taking-the-fight-out-of-hockey-keeping-the-fights-2/4999 http://www.newbrunswickbeacon.ca/2010/03/taking-the-fight-out-of-hockey-keeping-the-fights-2/4999#comments Sat, 13 Mar 2010 21:29:25 +0000 Matthew Robertson http://www.newbrunswickbeacon.ca/?p=4999 http://www.newbrunswickbeacon.ca/2010/03/taking-the-fight-out-of-hockey-keeping-the-fights-2/4999/feed 0 “…Hits targeting the head are becoming the biggest problem in hockey today.” These words were uttered by The Sports Network (TSN) hockey analyst Bob MacKenzie in February of 2007. In hindsight, they seem to be almost seer-like in their accuracy because of the rash of violent incidents in both professional and amateur levels of hockey over the last several months. It took all of these incidents to open the eyes of people around the game of hockey to see that changes needed to be made. From Rouyn-Noranda player Patrice Cormier’s elbow to the head of Mikael Tam that sent him into convulsions on the ice, to Matt Cooke’s blindside hit of Boston Bruins’ star Marc Savard that knocked him unconscious (see violent hits in video), these hits sent a message that something had to be done. On Tuesday, March 9, the General Managers of all 30 NHL franchises elected eight of their members to work on a rule change that would cut down on hits to the head and excessive violence in the game of hockey. The rule change would lead to stiffer penalties for dangerous hits: “A lateral, back pressure or blindside hit to an opponent where the head is targeted and/or the principal point of contact is not permitted violation of the above will result in a minor or major penalty and shall be reviewed for possible supplemental discipline.” That supplemental discipline could include anything from suspension to possible review from a panel of law enforcers. The recent rash of violent hits have forced NHL general managers to change the rules to reduce injuries. Jason Cassidy is a third-year hockey player for the St. Thomas Tommies who has come up through the junior ranks playing for Brampton and St. Mikes in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). Throughout his career he has sustained at least five concussions (that he knows about) from taking violent hits to the head including one in February that shut him down for the remainder of the season. (To hear more about his most recent concussion, click below to listen to an excerpt from The Sportswire’s interview with him). He says that the game of hockey has started to change and lean more towards violent hits. “I think head checks are something the game needs to address,” said Cassidy. “Because players, the culture of the game right now, is to hit players to hurt them. It’s not a matter of hitting to separate the player from the puck anymore, it’s now hit that player to take them out of the game. It’s definitely dangerous, but it’s a big business, hockey is, and when there is a lot of money on the line, players are fighting for a paycheck.” (click below for full interview) As much as the problem has become more of a hot button issue recently because of the 24/7 cycle of sports news and discussion, this isn’t a new problem; players have been throwing dirty hits for years, they were just addressed differently. Mike Eagles played in the NHL for 16 seasons, and just finished his eighth season as the bench boss of the St. Thomas Tommies hockey team. He says that the way the game used to be played, players policed themselves but in recent years, rule changes have altered the way the game is played. “It used to be that if you threw a dirty hit, you had one coming right back to you, that’s just how it was,” said Eagles. “But now, with the crack down on fighting in the league, guys are more hesitant to drop the gloves because they don’t want to get suspended or an instigator penalty. So now, a player on another team can throw a dirty hit and not have to worry about the repercussions of someone coming after him.” Eagles also pointed to a couple more reasons why the injuries have started to pile up: changes in the way interference penalties are caused, and advancements in equipment technology. The interference rule changes made by the NHL in 2005-2006 no longer allowed players to impede an incoming player on defense. With that change, offensive players are allowed to be at [...] “…Hits targeting the head are becoming the biggest problem in hockey today.” These words were uttered by The Sports Network (TSN) hockey analyst Bob MacKenzie in February of 2007. In hindsight, they seem to be almost seer-like in their [...]