UNB’s new President speaks to the Baron about his new job.

By Rafal Szymanski

This year UNBSJ does not only welcome new first year students, but a new president for the University of New Brunswick. Eddy Campbell, age 54, has studied at a variety of Canadian post-secondary institutions including University of Toronto, Queens University in Kingston, the University of Western Ontario in London and Memorial University of Newfoundland. Prior to becoming president of UNB Eddy Campbell served as vice-president and acting president at Memorial. Campbell sees UNB as an exciting opportunity for his family and the school.

The Baron had an opportunity to have a chat with Mr. Campbell at the start of the semester. We discussed the university’s upcoming projects, ambitions, goals, and accomplishments. He dealt with issues regarding low levels of enrollment, fiscal opportunities and limitations, and the dynamic culture of university students living in the provinces largest city.

Mr. Campbell does not feel distant to the students at UNB but rather “[feels] a particular connection to the new students who are arriving!” Mr. Campbell exclaimed very early in his interview.

When asked about his responsibilities as the next UNB president Mr. Campbell was quick to get to the point. The president says that his job is to articulate the values, goals, and objectives of the community and “to help generate the resources that we need to realize our many and varied aspirations” while administering the university efficiently.

The problem of local university enrollment decline was mentioned and Eddy Campbell explained his solution. As a growing challenge in the Maritimes (where all 19 universities in our area face declining enrollment) we “have to look beyond the borders of our province and beyond the borders of our own country for students”. Mr. Campbell states that this will benefit our students and our community. As the city of Saint John is increasingly becoming a multi-cultural environment, so too must the university reflect the city in which it resides.

“We want an enriched student experience” that multiculturalism brings, he explained. The popularity and success of multicultural clubs on the Saint John campus reveals the extent to which this school is enhanced by having different points view, different cultures, and different life experiences. Our school will be able to do more “by bringing more students from away to us”. Mr. Campbell seems to know what he is doing. The celebrations taking place on our campus at the end of the previous term saw the Chinese, Spanish, African and Caribbean clubs come out in record numbers and support.

“The start of the new fall term semester is always a time of great hope and great excitement” Eddy Campbell said in his interview with the Baron, and he is eager to begin working with students and staff.

Mr. Campbell explains that although UNBSJ has had its bumps along the road, it has always continued to persevere and succeed. This year will bring very different results. Construction on our campus may become a common sight as various university building projects are planned to commence this fall. The federal and provincial government funding for maintenance programs have already helped make this year a year of progress. The Canada Games Stadium, federal and municipal funding, and the university commons project should commence later this fall. It will be a very different university experience to spend time on a campus with a fully functioning athletic center.

Although Eddy Campbell has much to offer to UNB, he is unafraid to admit he has much to learn in his new role. He sees the cooperation of UNBSJ and NBCC as a great opportunity to benefit the students of both institutions. Local cooperation among educational institutions will improve education in our community, and in this way making our students more competitive.

What the new president proposes does not stray far from the university’s current goals. We want to be a university that is “very inclusive of our students, our staff and our faculty and the communities that are around the communities”. Mr. Campbell mentions that many members of our community have already contributed to the formulation of that plan and he does not fail to acknowledge the immense effect the city of Saint John has had on the success of its university.

Although he will be living in Fredericton, he has visited the Saint John campus twice and is returning to celebrate the commencement of the UNBSJ sports teams this month. Hopefully with time Mr. Campbell will become a familiar face on campus.

When questioned about the university having to cope with the financial situation, Mr. Campbell did not shy away from the truth. He knows the history of our university, understands the lack of adequate funding of the past yet does not fail to see the efforts at growth even through these hardships. What he wants is to continue building the growing institution UNBSJ has become.

Rafal Symanski is a Baron staff writer.

Student Technology Center: Providing Campus Wide IT Service

The Baron’s technology columnist explains why the Student Technology Center is the first line of defense against computer related frustration.

By Wayne Hansen

September is here again and students have returned to campus armed with new technology and a need for technology support. The Student Technology Center (STC) has been busy all summer preparing for the Fall semester and they are once again ready to help. Whether you need to connect to the wireless network, you cannot login or you are simply looking for the closest computer lab, the STC is the place to have your questions answered.

The Technology Center is located on the ground floor of the Ward Chipman Library Building, WCL Room 22. While often referred to as the ‘Help Desk’ the Technology Centers mandate clearly defines them as much more than a traditional help desk. Instead of simply providing Information Technology support through phone calls and work orders, the STC invites undergraduate students to drop into the center for one-on-one technology support. In addition to the service location in WCL 22 the Technology Center also provides technology support in the WCL Learning Commons, which is located on the main floor in the Ward Chipman Library.

Thanks to the dedicated technology support staff in two distinct locations, students have access to IT support seven days a week. The over-arching goal of the Student Technology Centre is to eliminate the technology barriers, or perceived technological barriers, that students face in pursuing their undergraduate degree. The main service point, being the Technology Centre, is open Monday to Friday from 8:30AM to 4:30PM. After hours and weekend support is provided within the Learning Commons during regular library hours. Both service locations are fully functional “Help Desks” staffed by both student and full time employees.

Students helping students is a key theme of the Student Technology Centre. While many universities use a one size fits all helpdesk model, staffed primarily with full time employees, the STC relies heavily on student employees to provide service to students. One of the key benefits in this model is that students know the real technology needs of their fellow students and can react accordingly. Additionally, the student staff at the STC is encouraged to be proactive and foresee small problems before they become real issues.
The STC has consistently been a major employer of students on the UNBSJ campus and 2009-2010 will be no exception. Currently there are 13 students employed for the Fall semester and the expectation is that there will be about the same number of students employed again through the Winter term.

Customer service and technology support is simply just one service provided to UNBSJ students through the STC. This diverse group is also responsible for the maintenance and upgrading of the campus computer labs, including the library learning commons. In fact, the campus computer labs have seen a significant improvement in the last couple of years. Any student that has been with us for more than a couple of years will notice a distinct positive improvement in the state of each and every computer lab. Not only are the computers now placed within a three-year replacement cycle but the physical and esthetic improvements to the lab cannot be overstated.
New furniture, new paint, new floors and new technology are all a part of creating an open, inviting and pleasant atmosphere to the computer labs. Creating this type of environment makes a real and significant difference. By creating an open, inviting and well functioning computing lab environment we are trying to give students at UNBSJ access to technology and a technology environment that is second to none.

Returning students need look no further than the Irving Hall computing labs to see the esthetic improvements made during this summer. Irving Hall 102 was refurbished with brand new furniture and had the walls repainted. This project has transformed the lab into a very pleasant computing environment. Irving Hall 105 received similar treatment with new tabletops being installed to replace the previous, badly worn, furniture. In addition to the physical improvements made in these labs, Hazen Hall 236 and 339 were both outfitted with new computers. Leather furniture was also installed in Hazen Hall 339 creating an environment in which students can collaborate and work on projects together, a drastic change from the previously sterile computing lab environment.

The STC continues to strive to provide UNBSJ students with high quality computing technology but when students do face technology issues, the STC is there to help. Many changes have been made this summer to create an improved computing lab experience, improve customer service at both service points and to provide students with high quality computing hardware and software. While there are bound to be bumps on the road, the STC continues to strive to provide UNBSJ students with the highest quality computing environment possible.

- Wayne Hansen is the UNB Saint John Student Technology Center Manager.

Baron entertainment columnist Candace Aulenback offers helpful shopping advice

By Candace Aulenback

Your heart is pounding. Your legs are shaking. Your body is tense. No you are not running a marathon you are swiping your visa card. All rationality has gone out of your brain, all you see is the purchase in front of you.

We have all been there ladies; (and gents) overspending because you just had to have that red shiny dress or those shoes that you know you bought last year, but this year they are made with new soles that are sure to get you to work faster.

You leave the store feeling thrilled at the thought of your new purchase until the end of the month when you get your credit card statement or you go to buy a an ice cream cone and your card declines. The shoes sitting on your bottom shelf aren’t looking as good as they once did. But after wearing them once for five minutes it is too late to return them now. Here are a few tricks and hints to help the over spender in all of us take a seat on the bench.

Always go shopping alone. Getting the girls together and hitting up the mall is a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon but your bank account will take a hit. People are more prone to buying something with a little encouragement. Your friends will always tell you to buy way more then you need, and to purchase the item that is a little more then you can afford. So next time go to the mall solo and you will find you are spending less then with a friend.

Do not use the mall as something to cure the insane boredom you feel. You have a day off from school or work and you don’t feel like doing something productive so you decide to go to McAllister place to waste the day away. This is a very bad idea. As you start to do your laps around the mall you buy things just to pass the time. People try things on to make the minutes fly by and after an hour, you have just spent 50 dollars all because you didn’t feel like watching Oprah this afternoon. Instead go for a run or do something that you know you should have done last week. You’ll feel a lot better about yourself and your wallet.

Go to used clothing stores. I’m not going to lie, I have always been the biggest anti-used clothing store shopper out there. The thought of going through bins of used clothes made me shiver. Then last month I got dragged there by a friend and actually found a few good things. You have to dig and you may get trampled by professional used clothing shoppers. But it is worth it in the end.

Avoid shopping when feeling any negative emotion. We have all been in sad situations and need a little cheering up. Do not turn to material possessions to find this happiness. It is only temporary and you will not be happy when you realize you just spent 150 dollars on a purse because you and your friend are in a fight. Find another way to put a smile on your face that does not take your hard earned cash flow.

Never turn to celebrities for shopping advice. We all would like to have copious amounts of money and live life rock stars but there is such thing as the real world. Celebrities have lots of money and love to blow it on foolish things. Just because you seen your favorite celebrity wearing a certain brand of jeans does not mean that you need to have them too. Buy the cheaper brand or change the channel when you see them with something that you want.

These are just a few tid bits of information to help you save on the bank account. With the many expenses that university students have, saving any amount of money is a help. Remember that the finer things in life do not cost a pretty penny and with saving all this money you are bound to do great things.

The Baron’s movie critic explains why a unique premise doesn’t excuse a movie that relies on gimmicks and clichés.

By Jonathan Scott Simmons

Even with the advantage that comes with having Peter Jackson as your Producer and the full resources of Weta Digital at your disposal, it is somewhat surprising that District 9’s production budget was only $30 million dollars. This might seem like a large number when compared to Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen’s estimated $200 million budget so it is no wonder that District 9 is considered a small fry by Hollywood standards.
It is perhaps the case that District 9 fills a void, quenching the thirst of theater goers who expect a little more from their summer blockbusters, and compared to some (such as the aforementioned Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen) it fairs well, but that is the limit of its significance. Like the encampment from which it takes its name, District 9 is an assemblage of parts, and none of them quite fit together.
Directed by first-time feature filmmaker Neill Blomkamp, District 9 introduces us to its documentary façade with an overview of the events surrounding first contact with an alien species pejoratively referred to by humans as prawns. This faux-exposé follows the story’s protagonist, Wikus Van De Merwe (Sharlto Copley), as he passes out evacuation notices to the interred aliens at District 9.
Prior to taking on this project, Blomkamp wrote and directed the six-minute Alive in Joburg (easily found on Youtube), which also featured Sharlto Copley. Blomkamp initially builds on the approach that he took with his short, but the pseudo-documentary style, while captivating in small doses, represents little more than a poorly constructed narrative device in a feature film. The result, as a consequence, feels more like a bad impression of a Christopher Guest style mocumentary than Alive in Joburg’s more somber tone.
Viewers familiar with Peter Jackson’s early work will recall his uneasy pairing of humor and ironic horror in Bad Taste. At times, District 9 bears the Jackson stamp, but The Office seems like a more likely influence. Indeed, Wikus sloppily resembles Michael Scott (Steve Carell) from the American version of the television show, which makes it difficult to empathize with him, and instead of painfully awkward comedy, we get painfully awkward drama.
By mentioning Blomkamp’s possible influences I am not suggesting that he doesn’t have his own voice, but District 9’s low budget should not distract us from its flaws. Taking a buffet approach to filmmaking, Blomkamp’s desire to impress feels at times too hurried and the final product suffers as a result. Visually, the film languishes from superfluous cutting, and the shaky-cam approach to creating a sense of realism is already a cliché because far too many films have used it as a gimmick, rather than connecting style to narrative. Children of Men comes to mind as a more successful attempt and it is less self-conscious as a result.
All of these mistakes could be forgiven, if not for Blomkamp’s laziness in dealing with his social commentary. The apartheid allegory that coldly guides us into Blomkamp’s pessimistic world is disconnected from where it eventually takes us, which could best be described as a conventional chase film. The potential here is never fully realized, not just because the allegory is more or less abandoned, but because it wasn’t handled well to begin with. Blomkamp’s short did it much better, presenting a self-contained documentary with science fiction elements. District 9 on the other hand reverses this successful strategy, instead offering us a summer thrill film with documentary elements thrown in to pump up its juvenile political pretensions.
One of the reasons District 9’s budget is so small is because it’s shot by a first-time filmmaker, produced by the now svelte looking goliath Peter Jackson, and it doesn’t feature any budget munching stars. Contrasted with the $5 million dollar Moon—a far superior film—District 9 is a poor representative of serious science fiction. Had its allegorical elements been explored further, perhaps the transition from mocumentary to traditional narrative wouldn’t have seemed as jarring, but it soon becomes obvious that Blomkamp is not confident with his material.
These failings will not impact the film’s success because Blomkamp has hit on a clever gimmick, one that easily separates his film from more bloated productions. It feels different, and even after this superficial cleverness has been forgotten, viewers leaving the theatre will remember the visceral bombardment of visual and auditory noise. In this sense District 9 is an event film not unlike The Matrix. Its tepid philosophical musings lead nowhere beyond the spray of bullets.

- Jonathon Simmons is movie critic for the Baron. He also appears on the entertainment and commentary radio program Tucker Park (Tuesdays at 2:00pm on CFMH radio.)

Dr. Trina’s Point

At what point in a relationship does the guy stop caring about romance? Is it the moment where he will no longer kiss her with lipstick on? Or is it when his full frontal genital scratching is unabashedly on display?

Brian, guys don’t seem to get that as a relationship matures, he needs to up the romance pleasure stakes. Sadly instead men take ten big steps back.

Accounts from many a woman found when she first got together with her guy, his daily love-emails would fill her entire Inbox. Oodles of flowers would fill her house or office. “You’re so beautiful” would be liberally sprinkled into every conversation. Of course with all of his magnificent attention she felt like a goddess and not surprisingly looked for every opportunity to have sex with her adoring man.

Only a few short months later her knight in shining armor’s romance quotient seemed to expire and his ability to woo turned into a romance no-man’s-land. No love notes, only occasional “I love you’s”, almost zero compliments (even when she made a lot of effort to get dolled up). And then there’s the whole, “I don’t like kissing you with lipstick on” knife in the romance heart.

Now I’m not saying you men need to run to your local shi-shi girly store and stock up on candles, wine and massage oil. But guys if you’re wondering why the intensity and excitement in your sex has waned, it’s because you’re not putting as much effort into making a romantic space for the two of you.

When romance goes south, her sexual confidence becomes romance deficient blah’ness. Your confusion and frustration grows as her sexual interest wanes. Bedroom ruts begin to unfold. Both men and women feel gypped they were sold the wrong bill of goods.

Women crave romance so much that any little bone you throw will send us into an appreciation hysteria. Romantic gestures don’t have to be a big deal; a dinner out, unexpected flowers, lighting some candles at supper time. Don’t wait for her to suggest it. Get off your duff and just do it.

Romantic men are considered studs. Women love, love, love the attention. Romance gives sex soulful couple connection. So if everything about romance is so gosh darn wonderful Brian, why does he stop?

Dr. Brian’s Counterpoint

Okay, okay, I admit guys could use a bit of a tune up in the romance department. The honest truth is…guys don’t ‘get’ romance. It’s not that guys don’t enjoy quality one-on-one time with their girls, because they do. A Seagrams’ study found that 73% of men would prefer to spend a romantic evening at home than a night out with their buddies.

Trina, I know you and your girlfriends are confused about your dude’s exodus from love notes and flowers, but guys are just following the normal phase of any intimate relationship.

When a dude is ‘in love’ he is not his normal self. He walks around in a daze, as if his lady has cast some wicked love spell on him. Guys are giddy, playful, and totally head over heels in love with their ladies when they first meet. But, this “honeymoon” phase eventually ends and they revert back to that emotionless, caveman-like persona they were taught at a very young age.

Another problem with romance is that things like flowers, chocolate fondues, strawberry bubble baths and lavender massage oils are ‘girly.’ Many guys still follow the masculinity social script. It’s hard for them to veer off, even if he really loves you.

And Trina, you and your sisters out there have probably realized that guys and girls view romance differently. Guys quite often equate romance with sex. How many women have tried to give hubby a nice relaxing massage with him trying to turn it into a sex fest?

But just because your guy deleted 1-800-SEND-FDT from his cell phone, doesn’t mean that he doesn’t love you. Guys have different ways of expressing their love towards you girls. His way might be to wash your car or get the kids out of your hair for awhile.

So Trina, I’ve compiled a couple of tips for couples to keep their relationship romantic. But, you girls better take the reigns on this one because a guy wouldn’t know a romantic tip if came up and knocked off his trucker’s cap.

Tell your partner what you find romantic and ask the same of them. Take turns planning romantic evenings or weekends together. Marking them on the calendar helps both individuals remember. Use your imagination and don’t be afraid to try something new. Long-term couples should continue going on dates. Movies, dinners, plays, sports, whatever you both like doing as a couple will keep you closer together.

And remember, romance isn’t just for Valentine’s day.

By Delsie Burke

On September 19th, 1959 a very important event happened in Seoul, Korea, Dongmin Kim was born. As a young adult Dongmin attended Yonsei University, which was the best private university in Korea. He fondly remembers cheering on his university sports teams in their annual competitions with Korea University.

The sports event was called “YONKOJUN” and was a big festival, complete with unlimited beer and food, according to Dongmin, if their team won the competition they would all “…march together to the downtown singing and dancing.” Dongmin wishes very much that our university has such an event that we could all enjoy together.

Today, Dr.Kim is a prominent professor in the Business Department, teaching courses such as Intro to MIS, Intro to EC and Management Information Systems. He is very well recieved by his students, especially in his morning classes as one of his former students comments: “I hate going to 8:30am classes, but I never wanted to miss this class. He makes morning fun! And believe me, I’m not a morning person.”

Dr. Kim’s current area of research focuses mainly on evaluation of Web user interfaces (like trust assurance or virtual model) to facilitate business to consumer electronic commerce. He has done very well in his field of research and has 17 years of IT experience even before academia. He has papers published in many journals such as Information Systems Research and the Journal of Electronic Commerce Research, and Communications of the ACM.

Dr. Kim believed that economic recession of the world economy is a concern in the world today and according to him it has huge implications like, “…higher competitions, massive lay-off, cost-cut and huge deficit of governments.” He goes on to say that this will also make it more difficult for students to find jobs.

Dr.Kim believes that “…small changes in your behaviour will change your future” and to students he would like to encourage us to use the “divide and conquer” approach to changing our futures. In conclusion Dr.Kim would like to leave all students with an excerpt he read from a book and says if we do this we will “realize that our potential is unlimited”:

1) I encourage students to have specific wishes (visions) for future career.
(e.g., working a computer professional in a reputable company, such as IBM)

2) Then assess yourself to identify what you already have and what you need to
have in order to achieve your dream. (e.g., I have interests but no computers related skill)

3) Make a small and achievable goal as the first step to move forward toward your
dreams. (e.g., receive A in a computer related course or receive an MCSE
certification) Then invest your time and effort to achieve the small goal.

Most international students have no idea what they are in for until they reach Saint John. This is just my view.

Saint John – The perspective of one international student

So when I first came here I thought,
Of new tidings and new ways,
Yet when I took my first steps in this little town,
I wondered … is this really where I want to stay?

Being Indian I was so used to noise,
Is it just me then who finds this place quiet,
The food here is another matter,
I was unwillingly put on a diet.

So the classes here are just about perfect,
They are so nice and small,
Makes it so much easier to make friends,
To pick you up every time you fall.

Slowly my love for Saint John grew,
Now I love it to the core,
I’ve learned in the few years I’ve been here,
Saint John is for me evermore.

By Darryl Sequeira

Professor Profile
By: Delsie Burke

On December 26th, 1953 David Charles Flagel was welcomed into the world. Oshawa, Ontario didn’t realize that they had a Philosopher in their midst. When he was a young boy, Dr. Flagel fondly remembers the day that he found out that there was no Santa Clause, which according to him meant that he could be “…as mischievous as [he] liked.”

Today, Dr.Flagel is a well known professor in the department of Philosophy. He teaches many courses such as, the History of Philosophy, Bioethics and Philosophy of Science. Dr. Flagel is also very well received among his students this is quite evident as Dr. Flagel ha been awarded the Allan P. Stuart Award for Excellence in Teaching. He is epecially well recieved among his introductory philoophy student, According to them Dr. Flagel “…really does care that you do well, and will help you if he can” and “He obviously cares deeply about the subject, and his students.” He is also well known among his students for his use of the chalkboard over computers: “NOBODY uses the blackboard like this guy does! He must go through a stick of chalk per class.” It is easy to see that this Professor is loved and respected by his students. Apart from being a full time professor, Dr. Flagel is also involved in the research of the area of Research Ethics.

When asked what, in his opinion, is the most pressing world issue today, Dr Flagel responds by saying that “Apart from the worldwide economic collapse, global warming and the Avian H5N1 bird flu virus, I am unduly troubled by the fact that I have never seen a baby pigeon.”

What message does Dr. Flagel have for UNBSJ Students? He reminds us that when we are Facebooking in class “…at least have the courtesy to sit near the back of the room and occasionally look up and nod approvingly at what the professor has just said.” He would also like to add that “All knowledge has an application, but not all applications are equally good.”

In conclusion, Dr. Flagel would also like to leave us with an old French proverb:

“Doubt, and you’ll not be deceived”

Dr. Brian’s Point

Ah, women. For once couldn’t you just drop your prim and proper ways, throw us men onto the couch and take advantage of us? Rumour is that men are getting a little tired of always initiating sex. In fact, this isn’t just a rumour. Studies show that men initiate twice as many times as women.

You know, us men are all about equal opportunity, especially in the bedroom. Men understand that way back when, women were supposed to be subservient to their men. Today, it’s a different story. We’d love to see you take charge in the bedroom. In fact, one of the top male sexual fantasies is seeing their partner turn into a tigress in bed.

Men generally don’t mind making the first move, especially when it results in a jolly ol’ romp. However, they wouldn’t mind if you jumped them once in a while. When men want sex their signals are pretty obvious – if you get my drift, nudge, nudge, wink, wink. You women are much more subtle. You might hug, kiss, or cuddle, but you leave the sexual advances up to your man.

So why don’t you initiate sex? Studies have found women don’t jump their man because, quite simply, they don’t have to. You know men are horny enough they’ll take the horizontal dance to the next level. Another reason you gals don’t initiate sex is because of the social stigma attached. You all don’t want to be considered too slutty. With men, there is neither shame nor remorse for trying to get some action.

Ladies: when your guy always initiates he doesn’t really know when you DO want to have sex. He might even think you accept to please him, not because you want to get it on.

A common myth is that men are always horny and therefore ready for sex. Though this may be true for an18 year old boy, it is not true for adult males. It may be hard to believe, but men refuse sex with their partners at the same rate as females. Rejection is hard for either gender. One can become gun-shy if they are rejected one too many times.

Trina, please express our concerns to your female readers. If you girls start to initiate sex we’ll think it’s hot, not whore-like. It’s your move!

Dr. Trina’s Counterpoint

What century were you born in Brian—my grandmother’s? Sisters are doing it for themselves! Only about 12 percent of women never initiate sex.

Yes you fellows initiate more. Instead of sulking about it, what you should be asking yourself is: When I initiate does she seem enthusiastic or half-hearted?

Plus men, every time your lady touches you is not necessarily an invitation to drop your pants. Sometimes she just needs soothing touch. It’s a huge turnoff for us when you jump the gun and go for it when we just want to cuddle.

And if you men could stop your whining for just one second, I can tell you the real issue. Surveys show couples believe both partners should initiate sex with equal frequency. However things go sideways when couples form a bonding pattern of one initiating more than the other. They get stuck in an initiating rut, resentment builds, power struggles ensue and sex starts to really suck (and not in a good way).

Brian, couples need to stop blaming each other and start focusing on what type of initiation rut they have created.

So guys, if you want your gal to initiate more here are some tips to pass on. Even though you want her to be straight forward and simply say, “Let’s jump in the sack…NOW”, it doesn’t work that way for women.

Instead, encourage her that a hug and lingering kiss are an excellent first start. Next, tell your gal how you would like her to initiate. Yes, yes, I know that means some thinking on your part.

What do you like? For her to tell you in the morning she can’t wait to make love that night? Tempting you to join her in a bath or shower? A sensual massage? Stripping off your clothes one piece at a time? Sexing you up with words, moans, screams or other sexy sounds? Stimulating all of your senses with scents, music, food, sexy lingerie, and satin or good cotton sheets? Stripping for you because you love to watch her undress?

There are so many fun options that being creative is half the fun of creating new initiating habits.

Brian, if men want us women to initiate more you must cease the nagging. Instead, let us know how you want us to initiate and you might be surprised at how we surpass your expectations.

By The Books
Professor Profile on Dr. Miriam F. Jones

By: Delsie Burke

Miriam Frances Jones was born in Hamilton, Ontario and according to her, her “…fate was sealed early on”. From an early age her fondest memories are of reading, although she admits that this is a “…hokey thing for an English professor to say.” She fondly remembers spending a lot of her childhood in the library – according to Miriam it was a glorious 19th century building. As a child she spent most of her allowance on comic books, a love that she remembers sharing with her father: “He was disappointed the one time I broke with my tradition of DC superheroes and bought a romance comic, so that was one potential bad habit nipped in the butt.” Most of the books in her childhood home were kept in boxes in the cellar and while recalling this Miriam paints us a fantastic picture of herself sitting on the cellar stairs, nose deep in many books, “…poring over old pocketbooks with crackling yellow paper, trying to decide which Edgar Rice Burroughs novel to read.”

Today Miriam Jones is Dr. Jones of the English department at UNBSJ. She teaches English literature with focus on eighteenth century British literature, speculative fiction and women’s writing. Dr. Jones has an excellent rapport with her students; she is described by former students as a “great professor, mentor and role model”, as well as “professional, respectful and very compassionate.” Right now Dr. Jones’ area of research is in literary culture, print culture and street literature. At the moment she is working on two projects, one in representations of gendered violence in street literature and the other in representations of the urban space.

Dr. Jones says that it is difficult to pick out just one pressing world issue as they all work together. She says that although our planet is being poisoned (beyond repair) we cannot address this issue without addressing the economic crisis between people and countries. She goes on to say that these problems that we face together can make us seem powerless, but Dr. Jones sheds some light on the situation and encourages us to take some responsibility to tackle the small things in front of us: “Is someone trying to privatize a public park near you? Work to stop them. Is someone polluting a creek in your area? Shut them down. Is someone trying to gut our children’s education to save some money, or deny local university access to a populous region at the behest of vested interests? Fight back.”

Dr. Jones wants students to know that they should follow their interests and instincts. She goes on to tell us to take this valuable time in our lives, explore and read. She advises us that “The world is full of forces that want to shape you into a consumer, or a passive voter, or a subdued worker, and these forces are relentless and often beguiling. Learn how they work. Question everything.”

In conclusion, Dr. Jones would like to convey to the campus community how proud she is to be a UNBSJ professor. She goes on to say that it is a unique and special place, something we all agree with you on Dr. Jones. She proudly says that this community has persevered and that “… a chance for education, real education, is too important to give up easily.”