Wednesday, August 27, 2025
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Forget Pizza Corner: Homemade pizzas

Pizza, a well-loved party classic, is one of the most familiar flavours to a university student, outside of Blue Razz — whatever that’s supposed to taste like. 

You know it, you love it. Everyone has their favourite toppings, and toppings they can’t stand. It’s the ultimate comfort food for late-night study sessions, post-bar cravings and everything in between.

There’s charm in waiting for the delivery guy, sure, but there’s also something more satisfying about pulling a homemade pizza out of the oven, watching the cheese stretch as you take that first bite. Making it yourself means there’s no need for arguments over whether olives belong on pizza (they don’t) or whether the thought of adding pineapple is an unforgivable sin (it isn’t). Yes, I will defend pineapple on pizza. I don’t love it, but it doesn’t taste as awful as some of you seem to think.

While ordering in might be far easier, it’s more fun and special to make it from scratch. You can control the flavours, the crispiness and how much cheese you want — which is, obviously, as much as possible. 

This recipe gives you a (relatively) foolproof way to make your own pizza at home with a chewy, golden crust and a flavourful tomato sauce. It’ll be good, trust me, whether you stick to the classics or get adventurous with the toppings — there’s no better slice to enjoy than one you made yourself.

Recipe ingredients

Dough:

  • 2 cups of flour
  •  2 1⁄4 teaspoons of dry yeast (approx. one packet)
  •  1 teaspoon salt
  •  1 teaspoon sugar
  •  2 tablespoons olive oil
  •  3⁄4 cup warm water
  •  1 tablespoon dried oregano

Tomato Sauce:

  • 1 can tomato paste
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder

Toppings:

  • 1-2 cups mozzarella, shredded
  • 1⁄2 cup pepperoni 
  • 1⁄2 cup chopped bell pepper

Preparation instructions

  1. Combine one cup of flour, yeast, sugar, salt, oregano, water and oil in a medium-sized bowl. Gradually add the remaining flour, mixing until it forms a sticky, elastic dough. Set aside in a well-oiled bowl and allow to rise for approximately 30 minutes, until the dough doubles in size. While the dough rises, preheat the oven to 425 F.
  2. For the sauce, combine tomato paste, sugar, dried oregano, garlic powder and onion powder in a small bowl until the sauce is thoroughly mixed. Once the dough has risen, remove it from the bowl and spread the dough into a large circle, approximately half an inch thick.
  3. Spread the sauce on the dough evenly, then top with cheese and toppings. Bake for 20 minutes, or until the dough is golden brown and the cheese is melted.
  4. Slice and enjoy!

Michael Pacey’s poetic book of bugs

Mimesis — the imitation of life in art and literature — is a concept most often associated with hyper-realistic paintings or crime fiction that feels “ripped from the headlines.” But what if, rather than merely imitating life, art could contain life? 

This question finds an intriguing answer in the small, nearly imperceptible presence of a grasshopper immortalized in Vincent van Gogh’s Olive Trees (1889). Discovered by curators at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, Mo. while scanning Van Gogh’s painting, the insect is embedded in the paint so subtly that it can only be seen under a microscope. Despite its size, this spring-heeled creature remains a permanent fixture in Van Gogh’s work, forever basking in the painted shade of post-impressionistic trees. 

This fossilized grasshopper is the title inspiration of New Brunswick poet Michael Pacey’s 2024 poetry collection, Van Gogh’s Grasshopper. Pacey’s 50 poems invite readers to reconsider the world of insects, from the fluttering butterflies in summer skies to the carpenter ants that nest in the woodwork of homes. But Pacey does more than simply describe the bugs around him — he imbues them with life, elevating these creatures into poetic beings that are alive within the world of his poems.

For Pacey, insects aren’t just a passing fascination — they’re a deep, lifelong obsession. He grew up roaming his backyard, captivated by ants, worms and butterflies. His parents were convinced that he would become an entomologist — a person who studies insects. Little did they know Pacey would find a unique way to put bugs under a microscope. In his poem “Entomology,” Pacey describes the leap from studying insects to writing about them as being “as easy as it sounds” — from “entomology to etymology.”

What I find so striking is Pacey’s ability to reframe my perspectives on bugs. I know I’m not alone when I say that I don’t love bugs. I’ll gladly squash a spider on my wall or chase a fly around my apartment, desperate to silence its infuriating buzz. I’m not the type to pick up a worm from the sidewalk or admire the earwig that greets me right before I step into the shower. But Pacey makes me think of these critters differently; he grants them a surprising dignity. 

Take his poem “Mayflies,” for instance. If you’re unfamiliar with Mayflies, let me paint you a picture: long cylindrical bodies, six legs, two pairs of wings, green or brown…you get the picture. You might think of them as the annoying little mites that buzz around your head; but when Pacey describes their wings as “inwrought lace” and “slick as silk; unwrinkled/as milk, full of light/like honey,” you’re suddenly not just swatting away another pest — you’re seeing the intricate beauty of something so easily dismissible. 

This brings me back to that small grasshopper forever entwined with Van Gogh’s art. According to University of Kansas paleo-entomologist Michael Engel, who studies fossil insects, the grasshopper had already died before it was embedded in the canvas. 

What once was a fleeting life has become immortalized in art.

Pacey does something similar with his poetry. He gives life to Mayflies, spiders and beetles, transforming them into creatures with a new existence through poetic phrasing and imagery. Though not all of Pacey’s poems cast insects in a positive light — he doesn’t hold back in his description of ants nesting in his walls — the care with which he translates their physical forms into vivid language brings these creatures into the literary world, giving them a kind of afterlife.

In an interview with Matt Rainnie on CBC’s Mainstreet PEI, Pacey discussed a process called defamiliarization — a metamorphosis of the mundane into something brand new. He likens it to the way children see the world, as curious investigators who are constantly amazed by what adults might overlook. Through Van Gogh’s Grasshopper, Pacey aims to bring readers back to this state of childhood wonder, encouraging us to rediscover the beauty in the things we no longer notice as adults. Pacey’s collection invites us to see the world of insects through new eyes — eyes that see more than just pests and annoyances, but complex beings with their own stories to tell. In Van Gogh’s Grasshopper, insects are more than just life imitated; they are life reimagined, transformed and preserved in the art of poetry. Through Pacey’s careful attention to these tiny creatures, he grants them a new life, one that will endure long after reading the poems.

Mat Hughes makes music about existential dread

A few years ago, Halifax musician Mat Hughes was mainly playing covers to drunk people in bars. But eventually, this became uninspiring, prompting him to switch things up and begin writing his own tunes. His songs are upbeat yet lyrically melancholic.

“A lot of my songs are about, like, existential dread of some kind,” says Hughes. 

He describes his forthcoming EP, available in May, as offering coping strategies for being afraid of the future. 

“They’re all similarly tongue and cheek,” says Hughes. 

Hughes describes “South Facing Dumpster,” a single from the EP out on March 21, as “trying to poke fun at the end of the world.”

“When things aren’t going your way, it’s just a dumpster on a hot day,” sings Hughes.

He wrote the first chorus while riding his bike towards Shearwater, N.S. Hughes finds that Halifax shapes his music; he often draws on the city for musical inspiration. For instance, in “South Facing Dumpster” he also sings, “Keep the skyline in your sight the whole time,” in reference to Halifax’s waterfront.

The Halifax music scene

Hughes, originally from Nova Scotia, lived in Gibsons, B.C. for five years. Now back in the Halifax music scene, he says he finds it more supportive and collaborative than the West Coast. 

“It feels very special to be a part of it,” says Hughes.

Hughes organizes monthly house shows with his roommate Julia Cunningham, featuring mainly Nova Scotian musicians. Hughes hosts the sessions, coined “Allan Good Fun,” in his attic on Allan Street, where he also writes his music. He finds that artists enjoy performing for a smaller, enthusiastic audience that hangs onto every note. In the event’s early stages, Hughes and Cunningham sought out musicians to participate. Now, musicians request to perform.

Collaboration is important to Hughes, and his biggest advice to students is to embrace it. 

“It’s kind of daunting to write a song with a person, but the few times I’ve done it with people it’s been really good,” says Hughes.

Unconventional themes

Hughes’s career has not been without challenges. One of the challenges he faces while making music is the cost. For musicians that don’t have a recording background, releasing music can be pricey. 

He also worries his music is too “self-indulgent.”   

“Sometimes I think no one wants to hear about this white guy’s problems anymore,” says Hughes. 

He tries to focus his writing on the bigger picture, but he says his songs still tend to be from his own perspective. He often second guesses himself, thinking his viewpoint is not unique enough.

But some would argue his worldview is what makes his music stand out. His songs often focus on topics that a wide audience can relate to. His subject matter covers a range of issues — from climate anxiety to bad landlords to being burnt out from multiple jobs.

“Flake on all of your plans, you know you overcommit. Go ahead and take the day off, or just full on quit,” sings Hughes on his song “Sick Day.”

Unlike many artists, his songs typically stray away from the topic of love. But love is not fully off limits for Hughes, as his song “Dead Flowers and Postcards” describes a missed opportunity for love.

“It was fun, and it was refreshing, because I was like, ‘Oh I don’t write a lot of love songs,’” says Hughes in reference to the song. 

Halifax’s Elton John

Hughes grew up playing the piano, which has inspired him to centre his music around the instrument.

“My go to joke is that I really hate the guitar — and I don’t — but I just like to tease guitar players,” laughs Hughes. 

To him, the piano is more novel and has a bigger sound that fills up a room. A lot of people tell him that his songs sound like showtunes, which isn’t intentional. But growing up, Hughes accompanied a lot of community theatre productions, which he thinks may be the reason. The theatrical and percussive sound is an unlikely contrast to his somber lyrics. 

But his gloomy lyrics haven’t stopped some from coining him “Halifax’s Elton John,” as seen on posters for past events.

Along with the EP releasing in May, Hughes also has several upcoming shows. Allan Good Fun takes place every month, and he will be performing at St. Andrew’s Church in May. 

As Hughes puts it in his song “Dead Flowers and Postcards,” if you can’t make it, “It’s okay, it’s just a let down.”

Dalhousie Women in Sport Society creates space for female sports fans

The Dalhousie Women in Sport (DWIS) Society provides a supportive community for all female identifying and non-binary Dalhousie University students with a passion for sport.

Society President Reagan Lindsay-Kereluik’s social media post about an idea for a new campus group was the first indication of the new society in August 2022.

“There wasn’t really anything I could find on campus that was speaking to what I wanted to do, so I decided to start my own thing,” said Lindsay-Kereluik. “Within the first couple days of posting it, we had general member interest, and we ended up with a full exec team.”

Her vision of creating a space where women who are athletes, fans or aspiring sports industry workers could come together to share their passion took off. Today the society has 200 members and counting.

Through educational panels with sports professionals, charity events, volunteer opportunities and group trips to Dalhousie and Halifax sporting events, members are offered countless opportunities to learn, grow and flourish in the world of sports.

Vice President Emma Dyer has also been involved in DWIS since its creation, and she is proud of the society’s growth over the years.

“It means a lot to see how much work Reagan has put into it,” said Dyer. “I remember a few years ago it was just a few of us, and now the executive team is about 20 girls, so it’s great to see it growing so much.”

Women’s sports on the rise

It’s no secret women’s sports are on the rise. In 2024, records were broken in attendance and viewership for professional women’s basketball, hockey and soccer. The media coverage of women’s sports is continuing to increase as well.  

The newly formed Northern Super League (NSL) will introduce the Halifax Tides, a professional women’s soccer team whose inaugural season begins on April 26. In February, Halifax hosted a Rivalry Series game between Canada and the U.S.’s women’s hockey teams. Despite Canada’s loss in the game, the turnout of 9,265 fans could put Halifax on the radar for a Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) team as the league looks to expand in the next few years. 

“I think there’s never been a better time to get involved,” said Lindsay-Kereluik, speaking on the growth of women’s sports. “Whether that means you want to try your hand at playing a sport or you want to work in it or just go to a game. We’ve never had a professional women’s team in the Maritimes, so I think that’s super exciting.”

DWIS’ involvement in the community

This year, DWIS members volunteered with Club Inclusion — a Halifax charity that provides social and recreational programs to individuals 12 and up with various intellectual, developmental or physical disabilities. Club Inclusion ran their Jays baseball program in partnership with the Jays Care Foundation.

In October, the society put a team together for the Canadian Cancer Society CIBC Run for The Cure in Halifax, raising over $4700 to support breast cancer awareness and research.

In January, DWIS hosted a Women in Sports Business & Fitness Speaker Panel in partnership with Dalhousie’s Girls That Lift Society. Lindsay-Kereluik said the society also brought in members of the Halifax Tides and the Halifax Thunderbirds. Featured speakers included; business development manager for the Halifax Tides, Ally Pedvis; head physiotherapist for the Dalhousie football club, Lisa Wilson; and communications manager and digital host for the Halifax Thunderbirds, Maki Jenner.

DWIS encourages attendance at Dalhousie home games in all women’s sports by organizing group attendance to games. They also host watch parties for various sporting events throughout the year.

The second DWIS women’s dodgeball tournament is coming up on March 23, and will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., with all proceeds going to Adsum for Women and Children. Adsum provides daily support to more than 500 people in Halifax Regional Municipality. Registration will open soon on the Dalhousie Women in Sport Instagram page.

“We had a great turnout last time, and it was a super fun day,” said Dyer. “We are hosting it again this year, coming up soon, and hope to see even more teams coming out.”

Lindsay-Kereluik and Dyer will graduate this year and leave Dalhousie to continue their pursuits. Both hope to see continued growth and excitement for the Dalhousie Women in Sport Society after they are gone.

“I hope with every year we get more people going to the Tigers games for women and more people joining the society and raising awareness,” said Lindsay-Kereluik. “I hope people can see that there’s a place for you in women’s sports, no matter who you are.”

The best of the best: politics on ice

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The world’s top hockey players came together for the Four Nations Face-off, a highly anticipated international tournament, where the long-standing rivalries between Canada and the United States, as well as Sweden and Finland, were on full display.

Announced at the 2024 NHL All-Star Game, the event featured the best talent from each country and was hosted at Montreal’s Bell Centre and Boston’s TD Garden from Feb. 12–20, 2025.

The Four Nations Face-off provided a stark contrast to the NHL All-Star Game, which had drawn criticism for its lack of competitiveness. While the All-Star format showcased individual talent through skills competitions and exhibition games, it was often dismissed as lacking intensity.

In contrast, the Four Nations Face-off certainly delivered high-stakes hockey, featuring real national pride, international rivalries and the game’s biggest stars competing for the win.

The tournament also expanded opportunities for players beyond the usual Canada vs. U.S. matchups, allowing a broader range of NHL stars to represent their countries. One of those stars was Sidney Crosby.

Crosby, Canada’s golden goal winner and captain of the Canadian team, led his team to victory and served as an idol for Maple Leafs player Mitchell Marner. 

“It was really cool to be his teammate,” Marner said in an interview with TSN.

The festivities 

The tournament kicked off with Canada vs. Sweden on Feb. 12, a thrilling 4-3 overtime victory for Canada. Mario Lemieux walked out to a deafening Bell Centre ovation with a Canadian banner in hand. Marner sealed the win six seconds into the sixth minute of overtime.

The following night, on Feb. 13, the United States dominated Finland in the third period, securing a 6-1 victory. The Tkachuk brothers, Matthew and Brady, led in points, each scoring two goals.

The tournament continued on Feb. 15, when Finland beat Sweden 4-3 in overtime. Mikael Granlund scored the game-winner — an almost impossible 22-foot wrist shot from the right faceoff circle.

“I’m glad it went in,” Granlund said in an interview with the NHL. “Obviously, it was a tight game all around. Great job for us.”

The most anticipated game of the round-robin stage was the United States vs. Canada in Montreal. Tensions were high even before puck drop, as Canadian fans loudly booed the American national anthem.

The animosity was fueled by ongoing political tensions between the two nations, led by U.S. President Donald Trump, whose tariffs on Canadian goods and remarks about making Canada the 51st state had angered Canadians and caused these feelings to spill onto the ice.

Within the first minute of play, three fights broke out, setting the tone for the rest of the game. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was spotted cheering from the stands, further intensifying the atmosphere.

Despite the passionate crowd, the United States prevailed with a 3-1 victory.

On Feb. 17, Canada defeated Finland 5-3, with Canadian Captain Sidney Crosby sealing the win with an empty-net goal.

Due to the points system of the tournament, the final consisted of a Canada vs. the United States rematch in the championship, a showdown that had fans worldwide on the edge of their seats.

Canada vs the United States for the gold medal

The championship game, held at TD Garden in Boston, saw American fans return the favour by booing the Canadian anthem.

The game itself was a back-and-forth battle, with Canada tying the score in the second period with a goal by Sam Bennett, assisted by Marner.

This type of game couldn’t end in regulation — it went to overtime. The period started slowly, but both teams started gaining chances. 

Then, just eight minutes and eighteen seconds into the extra period, Marner found Connor McDavid open in front of the net. The Oilers captain quickly took notice, received the pass and shot a snapshot past the goalie to secure the championship for Canada.

In response to Trump’s comments on Canada becoming the 51st state, Prime Minister Trudeau said in a post on X, “You can’t take our country — and you can’t take our game.”

Canada head coach Jon Cooper summed up the moment in a post-game interview with CTV News by saying, “I hope Canada’s proud.”

While the political drama added another layer to the rivalry, the tournament’s true impact was on the future of international hockey. It gave fans what they had been craving — the best players in the world, competing for their countries.

This time is different: Halifax Hoopers to bring professional basketball back to Maritimes

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Four years after the Halifax Hurricanes folded from the National Basketball League of Canada, the Halifax Hoopers look to revitalize the basketball scene in Nova Scotia.

The Hoopers will play their home-opener in front of hungry fans at the Zatzman Sportsplex on April 18, 2025. Halifax will play in The Basketball League, a 37-team league which plays throughout North America in cities who traditionally do not have NBA teams. Head coach and general manager of the Hoopers, Augy Jones, said the league is one step below the NBA’s affiliate G League. 

Jones and management looked back at lessons learned from the failed basketball teams of the past, and made sure this iteration of professionals will feature more local talent. Jones said the Halifax Windjammers brought in 10 to 11 Americans when they debuted in 1991. This recipe, Jones said, fails, as international professional teams are predominantly made up of regional talents. 

Players from Atlantic University Sport (AUS) such as University of Prince Edward Island alumnus Tyler Scott make up the roster of the Hoopers, along with players from Toronto like Shakwon Barrett. 

“We started to build chemistry and character,” Jones said. “That’s been our number one thing. Having character[ful], mature, professional guys has been our focus.” 

Building on Halifax’s basketball community

While the Halifax Hurricanes and Windjammers weren’t able to keep their doors open, it’s not because there are no avid basketball fans. The AUS basketball championship garners a large crowd of diehard basketball fans cheering on student athletes. When the U SPORTS men’s basketball Final 8 championship returned to Halifax in 2023, attendance reached a record with more than 40,000 fans packing the Scotiabank Centre. 

When looking at the community, the Hoopers wanted to focus on the next generation of basketball, with Jones saying that it is a responsibility of a professional team to make sure the young people find their way to the gym. So they partnered with Basketball Nova Scotia and Metro Basketball Association to bring youth basketball teams to see their product. 

“We want young kids to dream and see it,” Jones said.

The Hoopers held an identification camp at Dalhousie University with more than 30 players giving it their all, hoping to make the roster. Jones said some players told him they were just happy to have the opportunity to try out for a professional basketball team, and get a chance to show off their game.

“At the highest level you want to be a franchise who is open to local dreams and local abilities,” Jones said. “We’re going to continue to do that.”

Jones said they approached local, one time NBA players Nate Darling and Lindell Wigginton, as well as Dalhousie University standout and European professional player Keevan Veinoit, with the goal of having an authentic Nova Scotian team. 

Jones’s resumé speaks for itself, with nine years of coaching at the U SPORTS level and back to back national championships with St. Francis Xavier University. But he said the reason why he is the person to lead Halifax basketball is because he is a mentor beyond the court. He said it is his connection to the community and his mentorship of young men which make him the man for the job. 

“The role of the basketball coach is blown out of proportion,” Jones said. “You’re not that important and your x’s and o’s aren’t that important. It’s how you relate to the gentlemen that you’re bringing in.” 

Shakwon Barrett

Shakwon Barrett was a standout in highschool at Tech Academy in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. where he was recruited by the likes of the University of Michigan and the University of Arkansas. However, he elected to continue his basketball career at Tulane University in New Orleans. The guard averaged 3.9 points per game in two seasons before finishing his college career at Tennessee State University. 

Barrett said it was all a build up to playing for the Hoopers.

“Playing division one basketball was a dream of mine,” Barrett said. “It was a learning experience that helped me prepare what’s going to come and what we’re going to do in Halifax this year.”

He said he just felt a connection to the team and was pitched to build something long term, something he was excited to do in setting a new team’s culture. He said the experience so far has been family oriented, calling it “all for one and one for all,” which echoed coach Jones’s sentiments. 

“I had childhood teammates who came to Halifax and told me about the love and the passion this city and town has for basketball,” Barrett said. “I’m just excited to be a part of the rebirth.”

Five-straight wins catapult Thunderbirds to third in the NLL   

Thunderbirds defenseman Colton Armstrong said on Jan. 18 after a loss to the Rochester Knighthawks that the Thunderbirds 2-4 start, while not ideal, was what they needed to build team chemistry. The Thunderbirds are now 7-4.   

At the time, this didn’t sound too convincing. Jake Withers, dubbed MVP of the NLL last season by his teammates, was struggling. Both Warren Hill and Aidan Hutchison looked shaky between the pipes, Captain Cody Jamieson missed multiple games due to a family matter, and Tyson Bell got suspended for seven games after a violent incident with Colorado fans…   

Still, Armstrong seemed much more focused on the team’s “goals against” improvement from their previous game against Rochester, allowing only 10 goals (18 the week before). He credited the defense’s film session as what allowed the Knighthawks’ eight less goals.   

The Thunderbirds have won five of their last six games.  

In that five-game win streak, the Thunderbirds averaged 8.6 goals against. In their first six games, they averaged 11.3 goals against. After their match against the Philadelphia Wings on Feb. 15, Hill said “we’re a family back there. We don’t get down on each other.”   

Two-way game, two-way solution   

The defense had the Wings locked down for most of the game. But without a seven-goal surge in the fourth quarter against Nick Damude (first in total saves), the Thunderbirds would’ve come up short. Cody Jamieson was also interviewed after Halifax dropped to 2-4, and said the offense needed to get back to the drawing board to make sure their fourth quarters became their strongest quarter.   

Like the defense, they’re now working as a cohesive unit — against the Desert Dogs (3-9) on Mar. 1, the Thunderbirds had eight different goal scorers.  

Two-seed Saskatchewan up next 

With six games left in the NLL season, all is calm in the nest — in the Thunderbirds’ locker room at least. The Scotiabank Centre is, of course, the rowdiest pre-game on the east coast.  

Halifax lost 15-12 to the Rock last Friday, a team that’s been struggling all season and currently sits at 3-8. Also, on Feb. 25 they traded Nick Rose, their starting goaltender since 2013, to the Roughnecks for a 2026 first round draft pick, defenseman Robert Hudson and goalie Gowah Abrams. This shake-up was fresh, and Halifax should’ve run up the score. The Thunderbirds ran into penalty trouble with Withers alone picking up three — this is one of the team’s biggest problems, so it was a little concerning to watch. 

But the Thunderbirds were due for a lapse in their stellar play after a five-game heater, and it shouldn’t speak to their ability to contend for the NLL cup this season. Their game on Mar. 14 against the second seed Saskatchewan Rush (9-3), however, should tell fans whether Halifax is in the hunt against the Rush and the Bandits.    

Dal Outdoors Society urges students to vote for funding increase in DSU election

The Dalhousie Outdoors Society wants students to vote in favour of increasing its levy from 50 cents to $1 per full-time student in the DSU election on March 6 and 7. 

The society is managed by a team of 55 unpaid volunteers and is Dal’s largest student-run society, with 1,300 members. Last semester, they ran 60 trips to connect students with their peers and the outdoors. 

“We offer services for all students, no matter your level of experience in the outdoors,” said Dalhousie Outdoors Society President Megan Cooper. “So we try to diversify the things that we offer to better serve the student community. I think that’s kind of at the heart of what we’re doing right now with our levy.”

The society’s current levy is 50 cents per semester for full-time students and 25 cents for part-time students. The levy has not increased since it went into effect in 2015 and is not adjusted for inflation.  

“All of the trips that we offer are subsidized [by the levy],” Cooper said. “It makes it a lot more affordable for students to get out of the city. We find that the biggest barriers are transportation costs and equipment. So we offer all of those things so people can get outside of this 30-minute Halifax bubble and actually see Nova Scotia, which is a huge draw for people in coming to Halifax.”

The society also operates an outdoor gear library from which students can borrow equipment for free. Cooper said the gear library’s 200-piece inventory is fully booked during the summer months, and up to 400 people access it during the school year. 

In the fall semester, the society collected over 1050 student signatures to get the levy increase on the DSU election ballot. The DSU approved the bid to go on the ballot but denied the society’s request to adjust the levy for inflation. Ten per cent of Dalhousie’s student body needs to vote in the DSU election for it to be valid, and over half of voters need to vote yes for the Outdoors Society’s levy increase to pass. 

“Most of that money is going straight into our trip subsidy budget,” Cooper said. “With the increase in subsidy, most of our trips will basically be free. So it makes all of these activities way more accessible and just gets more people outdoors.”

Megan Cooper and Tristan Seely pose with snorkel masks in the Dalhousie Outdoors Gear Libray in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Monday, March 3, 2025.

Outdoors Society treasurer Tristan Seely has been handing out flyers and going into classes to campaign for the increase. 

“[The levy increase is] super important for us so that we can run trips super cheaply for everyone,” he said. “It would mean that students who can’t pay for the more expensive trips, like skiing or multi-day stuff, would be able to do that.” 

Cooper wants students to know that even if they signed the petition to get the increase on the ballot, they still need to vote in the election on March 6 and 7. 

“Even if you aren’t outdoorsy, increased resources for students that are organized by students are a benefit for everyone at Dalhousie,” Cooper said. 

Q&A with DSU presidential candidate Bianca Morelli

The below snippets of the Gazette’s interview with Morelli were edited for clarity and grammar.

Have you been involved with the DSU before?

I have. I actually have three years of DSU experience in my back pocket, so I know policies like really no one else on campus. I started off as resident representative for two years, then was internal commissioner to the VPI [vice president internal], and now I am the current vice president internal. I work all the internal administrative duties, so I’m doing the ratifications, I’m doing the bank letters, and I’m also trying to be as student-centered and student-focused as I can, so getting out to society events, connecting with students, being that forward-facing person for societies.

Why did you decide to run for DSU president?

There are a lot of things that I think you don’t really know about the role until you’re in it. I kind of worked my way up through the DSU, and I feel like it’s the next natural progression for me. I do think that there are some things that can change. I admire the work of the DSU execs in the past few years, but I do think that the three years have given me a good amount of experience to be that relentless leader that everybody needs. My platform is basically all advocacy for affordability on campus, and that’s something that’s really important to me, so I just want to push forward with that change. 

Why do you think you’re the best person for the job?

I will point back to my experience. I feel like the students need someone who knows the way that the union operates inside out. I have really good connections with the university administration. I’ve been pushing for the sexualized violence policy, the discrimination policy, accessibility and accommodations for the past three years so I’m really intertwined with that aspect. 

Over the past year, I’ve done a lot of work as the VPI. We had SnoFest, which brought Loud Luxury here, which was really exciting. We also launched our first-ever EDIA [equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility] society training in person and online. 

I also know student issues. I hear about them every day; I have a million students always coming to my office telling me what’s going on on campus and telling me ways to improve it. I’m always looking for criticism on what I’m doing and welcoming those uncomfortable conversations with open arms. I’m ready to take risks. I’m ready to fight for the students, and I think that’s what people need on campus right now. 

Could you talk about some of the key points of your campaign?

I have three main points. My first is definitely the affordability aspect, so that’s tuition (domestic and international) and more co-op opportunities with fair and equal pay. I know that’s a huge struggle, especially for the computer science faculty right now. Housing affordability is another one, both on campus and off, and food insecurity. We have amazing resources here; we have the food bank, we have Beet Street Market, but I’d love to do more for those issues. The next main point is society support, because, obviously there is a special place in my heart for societies. I think they’re the pinnacle of student life, so I would just want to increase bigger campus events, cultural events and make sure that specific cultural societies have their space. I guess lastly is overall awareness for mental health resources and more accessibility resources, so working with the accessibility office, the accommodation center to make sure that people are actually being recognized. I know there is a huge backlog, so I really wanna ease the process for people to access resources. 

How is your platform different from what you’ve worked on with the current administration?

It’s extremely different because right now, as internal [VP], I’m really on the back end of things. I do sit on a lot of task forces and policy review committees, but I don’t really get to be front-facing, or an advocate on the board of governors, or the Senate. I don’t really play a role in that right now. So I think it’s entirely different from what I campaigned on last year. Obviously, that was more society-focused, but now I’m hoping to touch on the broader campus community. 

The DSU recently ran a concert in the Quad called SnoFest — were you involved in its organization?

I was, yeah, I was involved in that. It was a lot of work. We got a great response from that concert. A lot of it was sponsored, so there were a lot of people involved, but it was a hit. We almost had 2000 people on the quad. It was the first event of its kind that we ran in a long time, and a huge part of my campaign is pushing for larger events like that, just because after COVID, there’s been such a disconnect on campus in terms of our community.

Word on the street is the union lost a lot of money on the event. Is that true?

No, that’s not true. The union didn’t lose anyone’s money. There were no student fees harmed or anything like that. Like I said, there were a lot of sponsorships for that event. A lot of people saw our vision and wanted to make it happen, so the union did not lose any money and going forward, there is not going to be an increase in student fees or anything because of that. Another part of my campaign is trying to connect with community partners to host more big events like that without having to increase student fees. 

Are you planning on continuing the current administration’s initiative of pushing the board of governors to divest from Israel?

Yeah, honestly, what I will say is that I think the president is a spokesperson of the Union; they’re here to advocate on behalf of whatever society comes to them and asks them to. So, 100 per cent, I will be. I think I made that known in the debate as well. I even asked the other candidate about that. I basically asked my opponent if they were willing to carry on that motion, to which they said that they don’t know and they would go with whatever the majority goes for, and I don’t necessarily agree with that. There were also a few other students in that meeting who were wondering the same thing. I just feel like you need to know these things, you need to have a straight answer and you need to do your research. 

Is there anything else that you wanted to add or would want the student body to know?

Honestly, I will say I just feel like the students need someone who is experienced, who is ready to advocate on their behalf, no matter what comes forward. The president and the union as a whole are supposed to advocate for student interests, and it is not really about doing what they feel is right, but it’s more so doing what is right for the students, not for themselves. I just feel like I’m ready; I’ve been ready for the past four years. I have a lot of experience, and I’m super passionate about these issues on campus.

Q&A with DSU presidential candidate Matt Lawton

The below snippets of the Gazette’s interview with Lawton were edited for clarity and grammar.

Why did you decide to run for DSU president?

I thought it was an interesting role. I think not a lot of people know about what the DSU does. I kind of found out my first year and started looking into it. I thought there should be someone who’s open to what the students want and wants to represent their needs, and I thought there’s a lot that could be done on campus. A lot of things people talk about never get thought about or implemented, like having the Grawood be a fun spot for students. I think everyone thinks about that, but no one’s ever taken action to make it happen. 

Why do you think you’re the best person for the job?

I’m pretty heavily involved in the Dal community through sports, academics, research and in the Halifax community in general. I’m the captain of the Dalhousie football team, and I’m part of the Dalhousie Epilepsy Society. I do a lot of volunteer work at various places, including the Hope Cottage Soup Kitchen, and I have a pretty good track record of success in almost all my endeavors. I get things done, and I think that’s a good quality for someone to have, especially someone who’s integrated in the community and understands what students want.

Have you been involved with the DSU before?

No, I haven’t. I’m involved in societies and sports teams and a lot of other areas at Dal but I haven’t been directly involved in DSU, which I think is a good thing, having an outsider coming in. They help inspire change and not just keep things on the trajectory they’re on. 

Could you talk about some of the key points of your campaign?

I want to make the Grawood a spot where students can hang out again. A lot of maritime universities and universities in general have great campus bars, whereas our bar is losing money for the school because no one goes. That could be turned around. It’s ridiculous how expensive stuff is. It’s essentially a luxury bar, but students are never going to go to a luxury bar on campus. If you cut prices in half, you’d have way more customers, you’d make way more money, and people would have a spot to go on campus that everyone can go hang out at. I think it’s not a very difficult change, and you benefit everyone because right now we’re just wasting a beautiful space. 

Another thing is, we wanna try and improve the parking situation. Obviously, that’s a hefty goal, but I think there’s a lot that can be implemented short-term, medium-term and long-term, even just logistics-wise. Like trying to acquire some off-campus parking for students who commute so that the Dalplex isn’t full of people who are staying there all day and people can use it if they want to work out or if they have to go to class. There are short-term things that we can do logistics-wise to ease the burden on students and then get long-term plans in motion that can increase space. 

How do you propose implementing changes, like the price cuts, at the Grawood? 

I mean, talking to the people who run it and then making more advertising around it, like throwing events and just cutting prices. If you say you cut prices, you go to who sets the prices and you cut the prices; that’s how it works. You can’t expect to sell to students at a luxury price. Most bars in Halifax are cheaper than the Grawood. There’s no reason that should be the case. You’re gonna make way more money if you sell more at a lower price than selling nothing at a high price. No one can afford it. 

One of the key points of your campaign was that you want to limit construction during study hours so it doesn’t bother students. How are you planning on implementing that?

I think it’s more about being proactive about when things happen, trying to make sure it’s not at heavy exam times and making students aware of other spots they can go where construction isn’t happening. Of course, construction has to happen, you’re never gonna cut all construction. You know, make people more aware and trying to be more proactive about where it’s happening, when it’s happening, what’s the best way that we can limit it, how can we make most of it happen over reading week, or in the summer when there’s less students on campus. Just trying to make it as easy as we can for people. You’re never going to limit everything, but I think you could significantly cut it down and ease the burden. 

Are you planning on continuing the current administration’s initiative of pushing Dalhousie’s Board of Governors to divest from Israel?

The war is a horrible thing, and if there’s anything, even a small part, the DSU can do to stop it, then it should be their responsibility to help. So, whatever that means, and whatever the best way that can be implemented. 

Is there anything else that you wanted to add or would want the student body to know?

I think it’s important that everyone votes. I think a large majority of Dal has never voted, doesn’t know when the vote is, and has no idea what the DSU does. I think any organization is stronger when all the members are involved. So, yeah, get out and vote. If you never have before, it’s very easy; just click the link in your email.