February is the month of love, the month of reading week, and — in my opinion — the last real month of winter. Some of you will scoff at the bookends of that sentence, but Valentine’s Day is here whether we like it or not, and March is a crapshoot when it comes to what we can expect from the weather.
Yes, of course, we’ve got an ode to love in this month’s issue. Check out what love means to Virginia Dowdell in this month’s Final Thoughts. Of course, whether or not you’re in love, you might be looking for physical connection. Thankfully, the MacEwan Sexual Health Club has a variety of inclusive sexual health information and materials for you. Check out our Q&A with Ashley Hlewka, the club’s president.
If you’re over all the V-day hoopla, we’ve still got plenty of non-romantic, non-sexual material for you this month.
Ana Holleman caught up with Elder Rick Lightning, one of MacEwan’s Elders in Residence, to discuss the final report from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and what it means for Canada.
If you take a quick stroll through downtown, you’ll quickly come across a handful of hookah joints. This month, Alyssa Grams discusses the social aspect of smoking shisha.
Technological savvy is a requirement for many jobs, and coding is becoming integral to many fields. If you’re interested in dipping your toe into the waters of coding, check out Anna McMillan’s story.
If you’re all about empowering women, queer and transgender folks — and I really hope that’s your jam — you need to check out Stephan Boissonneault’s interview with the organizers of Not Enough Fest. The group supports marginalized musicians by providing gear, workshops, jam space and music showcases.
Have you ever wondered what the future holds for you?Even if you don’t believe in fortune-telling, it can certainly get you thinking. Check out Marc Kitteringham’s description of having his tea leaves read.
Of course, for some of us, the future isn’t so mysterious. If you’re in prison, you’ve likely been sentenced to serve a specific amount of time. But that isn’t the case for prisoners in solitary confinement, who often have no idea how long they’ll be kept there, with limited human contact. Find out more in Kyle Muzyka’s story about the effects of solitary confinement.
This issue of the griff is really about connection, which takes so many different forms.We feel connected to our partners when we’re in love, and we feel physical connection when we hug, hold hands, or have sex.
We connect with our communities when we attend events together. Our histories inextricably connect to our present, and we must recognize the effects of the past in order to reconcile our future. Technology, and the internet in particular, has provided myriad new ways for us to connect with people. Music connects people. Sadly, segregation doesn’t allow for connection, and, without human contact, people can experience a variety of mental health concerns.
This month, I hope you get to connect with people — whatever that looks like for you.
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