The Kony 2012 campaign mounted by Invisible Children has undeniably been a unique cyber and media storm that elevated advocacy to new heights. The “make Joseph Kony famous” campaign slogan is plastered all over countless posters, t-shirts, and banners. With all the hype, this campaign has become the modern-day version of a superhero tale where the global community, led by Captain Invisible Children, are the Avengers and the Ugandans are the people in need of saving from the evil Kony.

The hero/victim narrative is overtly depicted in the 30-minute Kony video in which Jason Russell (filmmaker and co-founder of Invisible Children) asks his young son Gavin to identify the picture of the “bad guy” who needs to be stopped.
It is without question that Kony, leader of the Lord Resistance Army, responsible for the abductions of over 30,000 children in a 26-year civil war, needs to be brought to justice. However, if or when Kony is caught, does the action-packed tale end there? Is everyone, including the Ugandans, going to return to a quiet and blissful life like we see in the movies? The reality is that no, they will not.

Although I commend Invisible Children for their activism, Kony 2012 is extremely shortsighted and purports a quick and simple save-the-world-from-catastrophe (i.e. one man) solution to a very complex problem.
Capturing a war criminal is not an easy feat and much less so capturing Kony by December 31, 2012. Though it is not an impossible task to accomplish, inter-governmental cooperation is a must as the LRA has moved out of Northern Uganda to neighbouring South Sudan, Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo. This alone presents a challenge as the tensions between Uganda and DRC has not subsided since the 1990s when Uganda occupied DRC until 2003. In fact, presently the Ugandan army is not allowed in the DRC, and the African Union has yet to establish a resolution– both of which undermine capturing Kony.

The presence of U.S. advisors to aid the Ugandan army coupled with international pressure may help speed the process of locating him, but do not count on it being a fast process attainable in a short span of nine months.
Invisible Children has virtually excluded the Ugandan government in the Kony affair, and has instead relied on the Ugandan army, which has its own fair share of human rights abuses. Solving the problems in Uganda will not depend solely on removing Kony, but also on rehabilitating a once war-torn country and working with the government to ensure the human security of Ugandans.

Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi, in a recent Youtube video response, urged the world to not only focus on the capture of a criminal who has been ousted for the last six years and whose group has been reduced to a mere 100 soldiers, but to regenerate the areas devastated by the war. Infrastructures, social services, and educational system are in disarray, though with some improvements, and the healing process for both the victims and the country is far from over.

If we want to see long lasting peace which includes reclaiming the innocence of children, we need to help the people build up rather than take down one man. Unfortunately, the Superhero Syndrome doesn’t last long enough to ensure that this happens.

Over the weekend, the Bishop’s men’s hockey club hosted U de Sherbrooke at the W.B. Scott Arena as the first of a two-game circuit to be finished on Tuesday, March 27 in Sherbrooke.

Typical of BU students, the fans who did turn out to support the men trickled into the arena slowly, after the game was already underway.
The Saturday evening game eventually garnered an impressive crowd, with many wearing bright purple and a few brandishing signs and blowing horns. However, unlike the celebratory first game which took place back in January, there was a noticeable absence of Pabst at this game, and consequently, the crowd was far less riotous.
Bishop’s forward Breandan Flynn was the first to score just over four minutes into the first period.  Nearing the end of the first, Eric Mia scored another goal, giving the Gaiters a 2-0 edge. The Gaiters held their lead throughout, with the Sherbrooke team constantly playing catch-up.
In the second period, the Vert et Or team briefly tied up the game before Chris Mathews scored our third goal; while falling from a trip he still managed to rifle it into the top corner. It was 3-2 after the second until Luc Armstrong scored a fourth for the Gaiters.
With only minutes remaining in the third period, Sherbrooke pulled their goalie as a last effort to regain control of the game. The Gaiters took advantage, Andrew Smith scoring on the open net with 1:20 left on the clock.
With only seconds left, Sherbrooke came back to score a fourth goal, leaving them with a one goal deficit. Bishop’s was able to hold onto their lead, Sherbrooke unable to muster a fifth to tie the score.
Several small fights broke out over the three 15-minute periods, hitting a tense climax by the final buzzer, which does not bode well for the follow-up game taking place at Universite de Sherbrooke this Tuesday.
Michael Coggins, one of the referees at Saturday’s game commented “it was a highly fast paced game where Bishop’s players capitalized on the power-play.” Of the goaltending, Coggins said it was “rock solid.”

Manning In

The Denver Broncos have certainly made headlines this off-season.

After declaring that Tim Tebow was hopefully “going to be the guy for a long, long time,” near the end of February, the Broncos executive vice-president of football operations, John Elway, turned around and signed Peyton Manning to a five year, $96 million contract last Tuesday, then traded away last year’s miracle man to the New York Jets on Wednesday.

Manning, who missed all of last season with a serious neck injury that reportedly left him with limited feeling in his throwing arm, is nevertheless touted as being one of the biggest free agent acquisitions in NFL history, and Elway is not afraid to say so.

“He’s a guy who raises all boats. He already makes [the Broncos] better, and he hasn’t even met them yet. Because of the type of person he is, his reputation, and what he’s done in this league. He’s going to have a tremendous effect on the Denver Broncos, and I couldn’t be happier that he’s chosen to play for us,” said Elway in the team’s press conference.

Ever since the Indianapolis Colts released the face of their franchise on March 7, Manning had visited a few potential suitors, which included the Miami Dolphins and the San Francisco 49ers. Manning finally settled on the Broncos after spending the better part of his free agency period in the Broncos facilities.

Tebow out

The Broncos’ acquisition meant that Tebow was no longer going to be an integral part of the team’s offense. On Wednesday, the former first-round draft choice was traded to the New York Jets, in exchange for a fourth and sixth round pick in this year’s NFL entry draft. The Jets will also acquire a seventh round pick in the trade.

The Broncos were also approached by the Jacksonville Jaguars and reportedly offered Tebow the chance to choose where he would be traded, although Tebow has since denied these reports.

Whoever decided where he was heading, Tebow’s reception in New York has been as polarized as the player himself. Some fans hailed his arrival as the end of Mark Sanchez as the Jets starter—who was extremely inconsistent last season—while others scratched their heads and wondered what possessed the Jets to trade for a quarterback who has difficulty completing 50% of his passes.

Even some of his team-mates question the move. Cornerback Antonio Cromartie took to his Twitter account after the trade was confirmed saying, “Y bring Tebow in when we need to bring in more Weapons for @Mark_Sanchez let’s build the team around him. We already signed to 3 year ext.”

Even “Broadway” Joe Namath, the Hall of Fame quarterback, ripped the team for the trade: “I do not agree with this situation. I can’t agree with it. I just think it’s a publicity stunt. I really think it’s wrong. I can’t go for it,” said the former Jets quarterback in an interview with ESPN Radio. “I don’t think they know what they’re doing over there right now. They give Sanchez a new contract, they pat him on the back and then they bring in two more quarterbacks.”

As the school year comes to a close, so does the university football career of some of our fellow Gaiters. With only five years of eligibility for athletes, there are very few players that stick with their team until the end. It is memorable and inspiring to accomplish such a task, and is therefore an accomplishment that should be commemorated.

The Bishop’s Gaiters football program says farewell to three of its top players and leaders this year, who have been with the team since their first year of eligibility. Defensive assets Jermaine-Lewis Paris and Tyler Jutras, along with offensive and special teams stand-out Steven Turner.

The defensive back/ linebacker, Jermaine-Lewis Paris—otherwise known as J-Block amongst fellow team-mates—has been a stand-out for the team atmosphere with his outgoing and motivating personality. The social sciences student plays with all his heart and leaves it all on the field, practice or game. Whether it’s in season or off-season, he always has positive criticism to provide and motivating words for his team-mates. His upbeat personality wares off on fellow peers and brings everyone up a notch to perform at a higher level. His guidance and character will be missed on the field.
Tyler Jutras is also a social sciences student who contributed many hours on the field and in the gym the last five years.  His textbook style of play kept the team in many games and forced many tough decisions for opposing offensive co-ordinators. Jutras always worked to lead by example. On the field he was very talkative and informative to the players around him to keep them up to par. Off the field he leads by always being punctual and doing his job. His mental presence will be hugely missed when the defense steps on the field next season.
Steven ‘THE BURNER’ Turner made a return to the Gaiters line-up after a glimpse at the pros to help the offense out. His career at Bishop’s could include a highlight tape for kick returns alone after being recognized as one of the country’s best returners throughout his career with incredible speed and a tough opponent to take down. His athletic abilities will be missed along with his knowledge to pass on to the younger players.
Performing for five years at this level of play for one team is an accomplishment in and of itself. When considering the fact that football is known to be one of the world’s most physical and high speed sports, these men contributing five years to the Gaiters is undoubtedly an impressive feat, worthy of recognition. Congratulations to these three players who have displayed true school spirit and perseverance putting in so many hours of practice and play to help develop the program.

Over the weekend of March 16, Red Bull Crashed Ice traveled to Quebec City to conclude its international tour with the World Championship race.

Canada’s Kyle Croxall and Finland’s Arttu Pihlainen prepared for a too-familiar battle by the end of the ice cross downhill championship tour. Arttu brought the cup back to Europe in 2011, leaving Croxall anxious for the hometown win this year.

The Mississauga, Ontario native, Croxall grew up on the ice playing hockey until reaching the Junior A level, at which time he was introduced to Crashed Ice and never looked back.
After coming in second two years in a row, Croxall put in work to finally take his place at the top of the podium in Quebec City. By the last heat of the night, Croxall had racked up enough points to only need a second place win to take the overall title for Canada.
Following his first run on the Quebec track on March 16, Croxall noted on his Red Bull athlete’s blog, “You don’t want to be battling it out with anyone. You just want to get out in front and stay out front.” But, unfortunately for him, battling it out is exactly what he ended up having to do.
After a bad jump out of the gate, Croxall fell behind the pack as Pihlainen took a strong lead. Gaining momentum through the flat portion of the race with his unmatched leg speed, Croxall managed to reclaim a close third behind his brother Scott.
Just when it looked as though the cup would be returning to Finland with Pihlainen, Scott Croxall hit a tough jump, crashing into the wall and fell to the ice. Older brother, Kyle took advantage of the opportunity, streaking past Scott to secure a second place finish.
Pihlainen claimed the win but Croxall ultimately took home the cup, giving Canada its first World Championship title. Croxall finished the tournament with 3000 points, a close 40 points more than Pihlainen at 2960.
Following the race Croxall stated, “It was awesome to have such a big win in Canada. I was second overall the last two years so finally pulling off an overall win was amazing.”
Despite his fall late in the race, Scott Croxall still secured a spot on the podium beside his brother coming in third place with 2300 points overall. Having my brother beside me on the podium is always great, and fortunately, it happens a lot!”
Following the main event, Red Bull hosted a night of celebrations for the athletes and their guests at Espace Dalhousie downtown Quebec City.
Croxall noted, “Red Bull put on an awesome event, and the after party was a great idea to have at a private venue with friends.”
This year’s event displayed some unbelievable talent that will only make Croxall’s job more difficult for the years to come. New and old talent will be back again next year with more speed and more agility to compete for the 2013 title.

In the world of college sports, March is a very important month, as it brings the annual NCAA men’s basketball tournament, dubbed “March Madness.”

Millions of people make their bracket predictions, bookies around North America take in bets, and sports channels are saturated with pre-game shows, in-game commentary, and post-game analysis of the tournament as the Madness begins.

But what people often do not see is the numbers behind the tournament. There are probably a few bracket pools on campus, with prizes close to a hundred dollars. This is chump change in comparison to the $2.5 billion that the FBI estimates is gambled illegally in the U.S. during March Madness. (That’s right, billion. With a B.) Only an approximate $80 million is done legally through Nevada bookkeepers.

In addition to the $2.5 billion being gambled this year, it is estimated that companies throughout the U.S. will pay up to one billion in salaries to unproductive and distracted workers, who will spend an average of 90 minutes a day sneaking peeks at game highlights, box scores, and analysis.

But that is a fraction of the business surrounding the NCAA tournament. CBS and Turner Sports acquired the broadcasting rights for the tournament through the year 2024 in a $10 billion deal with the NCAA. Not bad for a non-profit organization.

The reason that CBS acquired the broadcast rights for the tournament is quite simple: the $738 million generated in advertisement revenues last year ranked second highest among sports postseason revenues, the first being the NFL’s $900 million revenues for its postseason.

Student as commodity?

Through all of this, the athletes do not earn a penny, which is understandable considering that they are students. As part of the contract that every player signs as they enter the NCAA, they are unable to make any money off of their collegiate career. What people do not often know is that this clause also includes the time after they have graduated. This includes any revenue generated by the NCAA through the use of any player’s likeness in ads and video games.

So what does the NCAA do with all that money? One thing that is certain: it does not devote itself to the academic success of the athletes. Indeed, the graduation rate for the major college sports in the U.S. is less than impressive. For example, the Baylor Bear men’s basketball team graduates less than 50% of its athletes. In 2010, only 29% of the team’s African-American students graduated.

It is understood that the NCAA uses a part of those revenues to support other national tournaments such as golf and volleyball, but would it not also be beneficial to allocate a part of those funds to assure the academic success of the athletes? Is it not the purpose of the NCAA to develop student-athletes? Considering that only a minute portion of collegiate athletes make it to the professional leagues, maybe it’s time that the NCAA think more about the students.

The video has sparked considerable controversy. Every new fan of Invisible Children has a pessimistic counterpart accusing the organization of exaggeration and oversimplification. Several criticize the film for showcasing a “white man’s” perspective, which ironically is the whole point of the campaign. In 2003, Russell met Jacob Acaye, a thirteen-year-old child soldier in Uganda. After hearing how the young boy preferred death to life, Russell pledged to stop Joseph Kony, commander of the Lord Resistance Army, responsible for kidnapping Acaye and killing his brother. Kony 2012’s mandate is to motivate the typically apathetic citizens of wealthy, democratic states to care about an issue halfway around the globe that, in spite of its severity, does not personally affect them or their loved ones.

Quite honestly, I am amazed by people’s haste to write off Invisible Children. On Facebook, we spend a huge portion of our lives complaining about exams and sharing memes. For thirty minutes, we watch a video asking celebrities and policy makers to put pressure on the American government to keep troops in Uganda to search for Kony. Instead of lobbying public figures with the knowledge that nobody is perfect, we choose to sit at our computers and point out the faults of a charity whose goal is to end international crimes.
Without Invisible Children, there is no way over 100 million people would be standing up today for Kony’s prosecution by the International Criminal Court. Americans have always followed a realist foreign policy. In 1941, the United States joined a war to prevent Hitler from overtaking Europe only after Japan attacked Hawaii. Although the country didn’t mind “saving” Vietnam and Korea from Communist “brainwashing” during the Cold War, it shrugged its shoulders at Rwanda and East Timor. When 9/11 happened, roughly 3,000 people died. For over ten years, America, the controller of most major international media outlets, never let other nations forget the threat posed by religious fundamentalists and the consequential need to engage in wars in the Middle East. In contrast, the LRA has captured a whopping 30,000 children thus far.

In Kony 2012, Russell brings up the sad truth that “if this happened one night in America it’d be on the cover of Newsweek.” If newspapers and magazines can extensively cover fashion trends at the Oscars and pay $14 million for the first baby photos of the Jolie-Pitt twins, they can afford to raise a few dollars for the underprivileged and the overlooked.

Russell’s use of his son Gavin, though commonly regarded as a ploy, successfully emphasizes a child’s innocence. Given that Hitler established a league for Aryan girls and Kim Il-sung incorporated his achievements into North Korean grade school curricula, Kony is not the first leader to take advantage of young people’s impressionability. If African children grow up in fear, the continent will experience increased political and social unrest. Deprivation of love during youth leads to hardened adults who have grown accustomed to rape and murder.

Invisible Children’s campaign never claims to offer foolproof strategies. Money spent on bracelets included in the Action Kit could help build schools for Ugandans and provide psychological support for freed child soldiers. Furthermore, illegally papering streets across America might not be the most effective way to raise awareness for child soldiers.

In the end, though, if people put aside their condemnation and started coming up with alternative methods of improving the plight of children in war-torn countries, the future would appear brighter and social media might gain a reputation as more than a self-aggrandizement tool for the narcissistic.

Apathy: lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern (citation: my computer’s dictionary).  I’m not interested, enthusiastic, or all that concerned with being called apathetic.  Well, I guess bothering to write this means I’m mildly concerned, after several years of not bothering to argue about it.

Being judged as apathetic bores and further alienates me, instead of inspiring me to “get involved” – and was that really the goal?  Couched in discourses of apathy, a lack of involvement in activities such as voting in official popularity contests (i.e. student elections) is looked down upon.

The word apathy is used to tell us that our interests are not valuable, that we should be doing something else – something others think we should be doing.  Who gets to decide the best ways to spend time?
As we explore our own interests and values, there is a tendency to see others in terms of how they are similar or different from us.  If one person finds value in participating in various clubs and SRC-sponsored events, that’s great.  If another finds value in maintaining an active social life (read: party all the time), that’s also great.  Many activities are not mutually exclusive – you can like going to events, but also enjoy hanging out at home, far, far away from all the madness.

It becomes a problem when someone decides that their preferred activities are inherently more valuable than someone else’s.  For example, an “active” person might see more value in participation than in a quieter existence.  This active person might have more of public voice, and greater opportunity to have their opinions heard about how great their choices are.

But if you’re shy, if you hang out with “community members” (that rare and mysterious breed whose life does not revolve around the BU campus), if your interests take you away from areas visible to the Bishop’s community, there is less of a chance that your voice will be heard.
For some, campus life is not all that it’s cracked up to be. For some, lack of interest or enthusiasm in campus life might mean that they have found fulfillment elsewhere.  If we were completely unfulfilled though, we would probably leave.  Maybe some apathetic students need help to become engaged.  Maybe they’re waiting for something to matter.  Or, maybe we are just fine doing our own thing, and you just don’t see it.  Maybe you’re too busy planning things that we don’t want to go to.

It is with heavy hearts and uncertain futures that many senior Gaiters will walk the Convocation stage this May.  While some go on to grad school, others to jobs, and some to travel, the one constant is this: they are leaving Lennoxville.  They may be excited, they may be hopeful, they—in all likelihood—will find happiness elsewhere; but I defy you to find one who has regretted calling this small borough “home.”
Living in Lennoxville has more advantages than we typically take into account, so here are my top reasons why living in Lennoxville was the best decision for my studies, my social life, and my growth as a person.
No wasted time.  Living within short walking distance to classes, the gym, and the grocery store means you don’t waste time or money commuting.  It is not a time-consuming journey to get food, to check out a book at the library, or to drop in on a friend.  Being close means you can get more done, even with a hectic schedule.
Community spirit.  Like Bishop’s, everyone in Lennoxville usually recognizes each other.  People are courteous and friendly.  The best part of my day is chatting with the friendly gentleman at Provigo who helps me pack my bags, or waving to the conductor of a passing train.  Sometimes I feel like my life in Lennoxville is right out of that opening scene of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.
Plain old good looks.  You might take Lennoxville for granted now, but when you look at it through a graduate’s lenses, you’ll see that it really is a beautiful town.  Bishop’s alone is a stunning campus, but the pretty churches, green walking trails, wide river, and the adorable houses are all scenic, and that has a calming, pleasing effect on residents.  Don’t believe me?  Walk up in the quaint suburbia in the neighbourhood above Queen Street and you’ll see cute and quirky houses, lovely old trees, several parks, as well as the stately Lennoxville museum.
Easy living.  You’re a student.  Your landlord knows that.  Student housing is simpler than “grown up” housing, where you’re actually expected to pay a damage deposit, and you’re not allowed to paint the walls with the words of Raise a Toast.  Landlords in Lennoxville can be wily (wouldn’t you be too?) but in general they’re exactly what we, as first-time tenants, need.  And just wait ‘til you see what “real world” rent costs.
Safe and sound.  I feel safe in Lennoxville.  Not only is it well-lit, and patrolled on party nights by Student Safety, but I also trust the community members, and have plenty of options for getting home.  What’s safer?  A five-minute stumble home from the Lion on Saturday night, or an hour-plus walking/bussing combo to get yourself back to Sherbrooke?  And what happens when the buses stop and you don’t have cab fare?
At the heart of it all.  Distancing yourself from Lennoxville takes you away from the action.  Who wants to miss out on last-minute invites to Acoustic Tuesday, or a game of catch that just sort of sprung up on Optimist?  If it’s the rowdiness you’re worried about, just stay out of the ghetto.  Fearing a little party racket is no reason to cut yourself off from all the fun.  People think that just because Lennoxville is a small town, that they will be bored.  I’d argue that there’s just as much—if not more—going on in Lennoxville than in the big city.  There are countless free events, teams, clubs, screenings, and activities all within walking distance.  We take them for granted now, but one day we’ll look back and think “Gee, I miss the good old days when I could see Rev. Jesse Jackson speak for free!  Or when I could pay just $8 to see an amazing play.”  Don’t miss out by being stuck in the Sherb!

Sometimes it’s worth leaving the Bubble. Whether to live, or just to take a nice break from the sometimes claustrophobic-feel of a small town. It’s with pride I call Sherbrooke home, and as much as I love the feeling of the small town charm of Lennoxville, city living has its benefits, moreso than many might expect.

Beauty in Brick

Some may see it as the remnants of an industry town, but there’s something elegant about the number of brick buildings in downtown. Brick comprises most of the downtown streets of Wellington and King West, and onwards up the road. The architecture in general can be pretty hit or miss without question, but the downtown has a nice comfortable feeling to it. I’ve also never seen a town that honours their war dead with a memorial smack dab in the middle of downtown. The angel is classy and timeless. Big fan.

Culture

Don’t get me wrong. The Lennoxville library does some great work and has an incredibly kind staff. Beyond the library however, the only other real cultural institution outside of the university itself is Uplands. While the language barrier so often irks many visitors, I don’t have anything to say in opposition to downtown Sherbrooke’s Maison du Cinema, other than sometimes they go a tad too blockbuster in their English selections. Aside from the theatre, the art gallery up the road is in a breathtaking building with equally great rotating exhibitions that feature artists here and abroad. Aside from that, huge murals that show the history of the city adorn old buildings throughout downtown. Sure, some of them are a bit corny, but they’re just as equally endearing. Waking up to a parade of student protestors or celebrating Christmas is also pretty nifty, and going to bed while watching fireworks is pretty cozy.

Accessibility

The first excuse most people have for failing to venture out of Lennoxville is the bus system. If not for that, it’s the concern of getting home of a night of drinking, after the bus stops running at the ridiculous hour of 11pm. Yes, the bus is overpriced and not completely efficient. But in terms of a night on the town, a taxi ride for four people from downtown Sherbrooke would cost about the same as bus fare. Or, simply take the bike and walking trail across the BCS bridge for a nice riverside jaunt into town. It’s only seven kilometres; suck it up. A night at the Lion has rarely prevented me from getting home safe and soundly.

Services

The whole notion of one overpriced and limited selection grocery store –“the Prov”- to do all of my grocery shopping disturbs me. While Maxi certainly isn’t the most high-end, the fact that a grocery store with a moderate selection is still in the center of a city is extremely useful.  For specialty spirits, the IGA up by the Lac-Des-Nations has a great selection of local wines and ciders, and a great vegetarian section to boot. The added fact that the downtown contains a number of bakeries within walking distance is pretty neat, and the random Coaticook cheese outlet store up the road. You learn to embrace pretty quickly a warehouse price on bulk cheese curds. It fits well with the close proximity of an SAQ, as Lennoxville residents would probably agree with…

Lakeside Luxury

It’s rare to get a city that not only has numerous lakes running through it, but a river that also produces a large lake in the middle of town. The Lac des Nations provides a beautiful walk any time of year, or a good skate along the mile-long skating promenade that opens each winter. The Marché de la Gare also is situated just off the lakeside pathway and has some incredible –though expensive- local delicacies, including sauces, pates, and more cheese.