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We asked Dal students who their favourite professors are

Lauren Anguish
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We asked Dal students who their favourite professors are

“Our favourite professor is Dr. LeBlanc. We really enjoy Dr. LeBlanc’s teaching strategies because he is very engaging and he makes learning very fun.” – Sophie and Sarah, first-year Dalhousie students 

“My favourite prof is probably Srini [Dr. Srinivas Sampalli], he was my data structure and algorithm prof, and he is just the greatest man to ever grace this campus, I think. He is always such a joy to listen to in class and he cares a lot about his students.” – Connor, second-year Dalhousie student 

“My favourite professor is my direct supervisor Dr. Alison Thompson; she’s been very incredibly supportive and a wonderful mentor to me through all aspects of my PhD.” – Emily, third-year Dalhousie PhD student 

“I have so many favourite professors. The three I can think of right now are Dr. Lexie Arnott, Dr. Georgia Klein and Dr. Tim Bardouille, who have supported me and challenged me to be the best academic I can be… I really care for them all.” – Phoebe, fifth-year Dalhousie student 

“My favorite professor is Susan Barratt, I have had her before at a different university and she taught me dance and movement, and I just really like the way she teaches. Her classes are very relaxing, [with] lots of deep breathing and helping me centre. It helps me focus for the rest of my day.” – Daniela, second-year Dalhousie student 

“My favourite I can think of is Dr. Andrew Schofield, he teaches genetics and also cell bio, and he creates a really fun class environment. He’s super supportive of students and really great at teaching material but also at engaging the class and having fun with his lessons. He has Friday live guests, which is super fun, and is just a really supportive and great teacher.” – Katelyn, second-year Dalhousie student 

“My favourite professor was Professor Tammy Crowell from the faculty of management, she taught me financial statement analysis. I just found it to be a super interesting course. She was also just extremely helpful and very informative.” – Will, fourth-year Dalhousie student 

“My favourite professor at Dal so far is Georgia Klein, she teaches SUST, and she is always just running around the college with such a great energy, and really makes our day.” – Mackenzie, fourth-year Dalhousie student 

“My favourite professor is Christopher Helland, he teaches intro to soc[iology]. I just love the way he teaches he seems so passionate about what he’s talking about. My other favourite is Cydney Kane, [she teaches] intro to law. She’s the coolest and she’s awesome and I love her.” – Olatide, second-year Dalhousie student 

“My favourite professor would have to be Sarah Chisholm, first-year calc math teacher. I love her, she taught with passion. She actually loved her students and cared about us. Cydney Kane is tied for first place because she makes me happy to be in class, like I want to be here because she’s teaching. So shoutout my two girlies” – Amanda, second-year Dalhousie student 

“My favourite professors are Cydney Kane and Isaac Saney, because they just bring so much comfort into the classroom, and they make you feel at home while teaching.” – Brya, second-year Dalhousie student 

We’re all addicted

Valerie Monterroza Prieto
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We’re all addicted

Ignore screen time limit?
Remind me in one minute.
Remind me in 15 minutes.
Ignore limit for today? 

Sound familiar? How often do you ignore these recurring screen time limits? We’re all guilty of it. So, let’s talk about screen time.

Why is it so hard to put down our phones?

With technology becoming more advanced and algorithms catering to our every whim, it can be hard to put our devices down. There’s a science behind our obsession with our phones. The brain chemical dopamine has a major impact on our phone addictions. Psychologist Dr. Scott Lyons explains in Forbes magazine that dopamine plays a key role in our behaviours. 

“Each interaction with our phones, each notification, releases a hit of dopamine, creating a feedback loop that keeps us coming back for more,” says Lyons. “This cycle can lead to a state of…constantly chasing the next digital high, leaving us feeling unsatisfied and disconnected from the present moment.” 

Are we really spending too much time on our phones?

Despite the downsides, we rely heavily on our phones as a means of connection. Online you can connect with friends or family, watch content ranging from comedy to pop culture and even learn something new. At the end of the day, humans are social beings and when life gets tough we turn inwards to our loved ones and community for support. Now, this includes online communities or connecting through a screen, for better or worse.

Setting healthy boundaries is important 

While cutting back on screen time is beneficial, it might not always be attainable when most of our everyday tasks require us to engage with our devices. As students, much of our educational content is online. Having everything accessible virtually makes it easy to study or complete assignments off campus or outside of class, but it also contributes to how much time we spend using or staring at our screens. 

It’s scary how easy it is to spend minutes or even hours scrolling the time away. I personally used to procrastinate going to bed by scrolling endlessly on Instagram and TikTok and before I realized it was much later than I anticipated, leaving me extra tired but also disappointed in how long I spent scrolling. How many hours of your life have you spent staring at your screen to distract from being present in real life? Some questions to think about are:When was the last time you ate a meal without scrolling or watching something on a device? When was the last time you went to the bathroom without your phone? Is your phone the first thing you look at when you wake up or the last thing you look at before you go to bed?

If you can’t remember a time when you did any of the above without a screen, there are strategies out there to help you cut back.

How can students cut back on their screen time?

1. Use screen time limits! As annoying as they are, they can be useful. Most devices now have screen time limit options in their settings, where you can also find out just how long you spend on your phone in a day. For many, the statistics are alarming. 

2. Take breaks! If you’ve been spending a long time in front of a screen, be it for school or for fun, schedule yourself some breaks away from your devices. Set aside a time to move your body or do a different screenless activity like reading a book or crocheting.

3. Avoid using your phone immediately after waking up or right before bed. If you use your phone as an alarm clock, try using a physical clock or a watch that has alarm features. Try placing your phone far away from you. Having our phones on our person or directly in front of us makes it tempting to procrastinate or get distracted by notifications.

4. Replace the time you spend scrolling with something else. Instead of relying on social media to keep in touch or stay connected, make plans with your loved ones! You can also try new activities or start new hobbies. You can find a variety of groups, clubs and societies that meet up regularly both on and off campus by just walking around Dal. 

Take a break!

Alyson Moncur-Beer
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Take a break!

As Dalhousie University students settle into the second semester, many of us are dreading heading back into heavy workloads and non-stop studying. No matter what degree you’re pursuing, each one comes with its own unique set of challenges, and it can be easy to feel like you’re drowning under all you have to do. But it’s important to take breaks and find moments to relax. 

Breaks are better in the long run

Although these breaks will momentarily deter you from whatever tasks you have at hand, avoiding them altogether can be detrimental. In my degree, we are often assigned an overwhelming amount of readings. Looking at the 100 pages you have to read within the next two days can feel insurmountable. So, as a bad habit, I’ll often try to read everything in one sitting just to get it over with. This often ends with me retaining and understanding less from the reading than I would have if I had broken up into small parts. These readings are usually used for future quizzes, meaning not taking a break has directly affected my grades. 

Additionally, a lack of breaks over a longer period of time like weeks or months can easily lead to burnout, a mental or physical exhaustion caused by overworking yourself. So although hustle culture is highly regarded in our society today, forcing yourself to continue working when your body and mind is telling you to stop doesn’t make you more productive. If you don’t listen to its warnings to quit, eventually it will quit for you. 

Some dos and don’ts 

That being said, many students don’t know how to take a proper break. I have watched all of my friends, and myself, say they’re going to take a short break from their work to clear their head only to scroll on TikTok for the next two hours and stop working altogether. As important as relaxing is, how you go about doing it is just as important. There are a few guidelines I like to go by when I take breaks. It looks different for everyone, but here are my personal dos and don’ts when stepping away from work. 

DO move around. Studies.  have shown exercise correlates with your mental functioning, like improving your memory. If you’re looking to take a break, try going for a walk, to the gym or just walking around your home. The movement will likely revitalize you to get some more productive work done. Unless you think the only thing that will fix your mental exhaustion is sleep, try not to respond to your bed calling your name. 

DON’T go directly to social media. It’s trite to tell people to stay off their phones. I don’t see any harm in using your break to respond to a quick text, but phones were designed to keep you on them, so the easiest thing to do is to start scrolling social media. If you have enough willpower to watch three reels and then click off, I applaud you. But I find I get caught in an endless scroll that leaves me feeling less productive than I did when I took the break. I recommend staying on the safe side and leaving the scrolling until after you’ve finished that upcoming assignment. 

DO get some dopamine. Since I just said not to go directly to social media, do something else to get your fix! Go treat yourself to a coffee. Walk to your friend’s house. Get some food. It’s easy for studying to go from light-hearted reading to a staggering amount of work in seconds, so make sure your breaks include things that make you feel happy. 

DON’T let your work pile-up. I have been speaking mostly in the term of short breaks in studying, but sometimes a longer break is needed to get yourself back in the swing of things. However, though a month-long break sounds nice, this can also lead to your work piling up, making you even more stressed, but at a later date. Try to divide up an equal amount of listening to your body, but not procrastinating things you’ll eventually have to complete. Easier said than done!

Prioritize yourself

Remember, you are first and foremost a person before you are a student. Although working hard is an important part of achieving your goals, you have to prioritize your health and well-being too. When you take care of yourself, everything else can fall into place.

Students should leverage Trudeau’s resignation

Calvin Borghardt
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Students should leverage Trudeau’s resignation

Trudeau will resign as prime minister and leader of the Liberal party. With the Governor General suspending Parliament until March 24, the resignation has launched a Liberal leadership race.

While the Liberal party is selecting its new leader, Pierre Poilievre is maintaining his lead. On Jan. 19, 338Canada projected the Conservative party would win an overwhelming majority. If correct, the Liberals would lose five to one.

Carney and MacKinnon

Regardless of which leadership candidate replaces Trudeau, the Liberal party will remain unchanged. Consider Mark Carney, a candidate for replacing Trudeau, and Steven MacKinnon, Canada’s former minister of labour and current minister of employment, workforce development and labour.

During the global financial crisis in 2008, Carney was appointed governor of the Bank of Canada. Five years later, he became the first non-Briton to head the Bank of England since the United Kingdom’s central bank was established in 1694. Running a country like a business is morally bankrupt. So why would running it like a bank be any better?

In October of last year Canada’s labour tribunal said MacKinnon effectively directed the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to end the strikes and lockouts at Canadian National Railway Co. and Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd. Two months later, MacKinnon responded to the Canada Post strike by sending the labour dispute between Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers to the CIRB. 

MacKinnon was promoted during the cabinet shuffle last month.

A party that has platformed a former central banker for prime minister and promoted a strike-breaker will never prevent Poilievre’s Conservative party from forming a majority government.

Options and threats

Alternative parties such as the Green Party, cannot compete with the Liberals, the Conservatives or the NDP, who possess the political infrastructure necessary to run candidates in ridings across Canada. 

Under Poilievre’s leadership, the Conservatives have become a single issue party with their slogan, “Axe the tax,” as if repealing the carbon tax will somehow solve all of Canada’s political problems. 

Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 47th president on Jan. 20. The CBC reported that Trump “has been reviewing three options: a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian goods, a 10 per cent tariff on goods from all countries or an escalating tariff that starts low and rises over time…”

“A 25 per cent tariff would be particularly devastating to Canada,” the CBC report continued. “Experts have said just a 10 per cent levy would shave billions of dollars off the GDP and potentially plunge the country into a painful recession requiring government stimulus to prop up the economy.”

Poilievre has promised to fight Trump’s economic policies, tariffs ‘with fire.’ “The Conservative leader said his long-stated plan to eliminate the consumer carbon price, as well as cuts to income tax and taxes on foreign investments, will end the flow of investment and industry from Canada to the U.S.”

Cut taxes. That’s our prospective prime minister’s plan. Fifty years of tax cuts for the rich have failed to trickle down. 

Julian Limberg, lecturer in public policy at King’s College London, said in an email to CBS MoneyWatch that the economic rationale for keeping low taxes for the rich is unconvincing. 

“In fact, if we look back into history, the period with the highest taxes on the rich — the postwar period — was also a period with high economic growth and low unemployment.”

Right party, wrong leader

Trudeau has led his party for too long. Jagmeet Singh has led the NDP astray. Despite the “supply-and-confidence” agreement between the Liberals and the NDP, which ended in September 2024, the latter is more likely to win the next election. The Liberals’ leadership race sidelined their party while the NDP’s shifting stances have kept their party unsteady, yet viable.

The NDP could build its voter base by supporting workers and students. But to do that, they’d need to replace Jagmeet Singh with a new leader. Singh has shifted his stances, and his party’s, too many times for voters to trust them. 

In 2017, according to the CBC, there were more than 124,000 members eligible to vote for the next leader of the New Democrats. Statistics Canada reports that over two million students were attending post-secondary institutions between 2022 and 2023.

If half of those students joined the NDP and elected a new leader, then students could leverage Trudeau’s resignation in their favour. If the NDP fails to select a principled leader who will unapologetically advocate for students and workers, Pierre Poilievre and his Conservative party will be elected.

Gen Z’s current obsession with weight loss

Mia Phillips
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Gen Z’s current obsession with weight loss

As we celebrate the new year, we also face pressure to adopt new habits and make New Year’s resolutions. Some of the most popular resolutions involve living healthier lives through some new fad diet or exercise craze. Eating nutritious food and exercising are a part of maintaining a healthy life, but obsessing over weight loss is not.

Last year, we witnessed a shift in what is considered the “ideal body type,” in part due to the introduction of weight loss medications such as Ozempic marketed to young people through social media. Now, Gen Z is faced with a resurgence in the popularity of the slim physique and increasing pressure to obtain or maintain that look. But what are the consequences for young people who follow this trend?

A history of beauty standards

Beauty standards favouring ideal body types is a tale as old as time, dating back to 500–400 BC, promoting the consumption of deer livers and lion hearts by athletes and warriors for increased bravery and strength. Since then, the fad diet and diet culture has taken on new life. Instead of promoting bravery and strength, they exploit and prey upon insecurities and low self-esteem.

In the 1920s, flapper girls prided themselves on their modern look. Known for their thin figures and flat chests, this was the ideal body type of the time. A popular attitude held at this time was that only women who weren’t desperate for food had the privilege of restricting their consumption. This went hand in hand with the war raging on during this time and American citizens were encouraged to ration their food in the name of patriotism. Fat people were demonized and considered to be hoarding food in their bodies and viewed as unpatriotic threats to America’s freedom. 

A few decades later, in the 1950s, the popularization of the nuclear family put pressure on women to have a specific type of family and home, as well as look a certain way. This led to the rise of diet pills and the multitude of fad diets, which are still popular today. Ten years later, we saw a counterculture push back against this norm when the fat liberation movement began to form. This era also saw Black women push back against body ideals, as well as make associations between diet culture and racism.

By the 2000s however, this work began to unravel with the cultural obsession with the supermodels of the time. Iconic figures such as Kate Moss ushered in an era of the super thin “heroin chic.” This was followed by the creation of the tabloids and their obsession with the bodies of female celebrities.

Riding on the heels of this decade, we saw the invention of the internet, which allowed trends to catch on like wildfire and gave like-minded people a resource to connect with one another. One consequence of this was the rise of eating disorder communities on social media platforms such as Tumblr and Twitter (now X).

Body types as trends

Today, history is repeating itself, with social media at the core. Trends involving body checking, pro-anorexia culture and Ozempic are exposing a whole new generation to a complicated relationship with food. Content creators such as Liv Schmidt make thousands by telling their young adult audience how to live a “skinny life” and promoting unhealthy habits as the ideal lifestyle.

So, what does this mean for the young people being exposed to and influenced by this content? Thinness being equated to beauty, success and health in the media poses a dangerous and difficult narrative for young people to be subjected to. It can lead to low self-esteem and encourage the use of unhealthy weight loss methods. Weight loss isn’t the only symptom of these extreme methods, as nutritional deficiencies, menstrual irregularities and bone density loss are likely to follow.

Education is the solution

The good news is, the more educated someone is on diet culture, the less likely they are to fall victim to some of its harsher consequences. Diet culture is deeply ingrained in our society, making it difficult not to engage with it, but spreading awareness on the issue and its effects is a good start to developing a healthy relationship with your body, food and exercise, allowing all of us to focus on true health in the new year.

Can I get a volunteer?

Kimberly Gilson
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Can I get a volunteer?

Not everyone raises their hand when the local magician asks, “Can I get a volunteer?”

There’s a number of potential reasons why: they’re afraid of pigeons, they think being sawed in half would be embarrassing or maybe they just can’t trust someone who can disappear so easily. Valid.

But not everyone raises their hand when the Loaded Ladle, Dalhousie’s free lunch program, sends a call for kitchen volunteers either. There’s lots of reasons why someone doesn’t volunteer, but why should they?

Forge and strengthen community

Engaging with volunteer organizations can help people integrate into their communities — or build new ones.

Post-secondary education can be isolating as friend groups scatter and students feel disconnected from their new communities. Volunteer opportunities are the solution. Volunteer-run programs rely on people who gather to accomplish a goal. Therefore, if a student wants to find like-minded people who care about similar issues they do, volunteering is the way to go. 

Through the good deeds of volunteers communities can be built or bolstered. Community centres and local farmer’s markets are just one example of groups that rely on volunteers to set-up events, schedule meetings, apply for funding and spread awareness. There are also student societies, local film festivals (like the Atlantic International Film Festival) or independent theatres (like Carbon Arc) that rely on volunteers. 

Regardless of the scale of one volunteer’s contribution, when done with others, you can create real change for everyone.

Loaded ladles and helping hands

The Loaded Ladle is an example of what volunteers can achieve in their communities. If not for the Loaded Ladle — which describes themselves as offering “a free lunch program and community programs that critically examine barriers to food sovereignty, food security, and injustice —  a lot of people in our community would go hungry.  

Regardless of your kitchen skills, there is likely a role for you — their website says, “No cooking or kitchen experience required!” Still uncomfortable in the kitchen? The creation of art, guides and educational resources are other ways to help by being a virtual volunteer. 

Put simply, a lot of vital aspects of our communities need volunteers to run: community centres, counselling services, shelter maintenance, immigrant welcoming organizations, the IWK Health Centre, the list could go on and on. Community is built by many hands, heads and hearts. Being the change you want to see is embodied in its truest form through volunteer work. That sounds cheesy, but it’s true.

There is no act too small

Even if you don’t have experience volunteering, you’ve definitely benefited from others doing so at some point in your life. Whether it was chaperones at school dances, participants in beach clean-ups or food programs at school, everyone thrives when a community is supported by volunteers.

Every helping hand matters in volunteer-run organizations, and even a few contributions can have a lasting impact. Check out volunteer opportunities that are temporary and interest-based, like the Atlantic International Film Festival or Hal-Con which run annually. They only ask for volunteers to commit to shifts for a single week. Alternatively, there are student societies which amplify student voices and interests that require ongoing commitments in the forms of treasurers, social media leads and more. 

If there is a cause that matters to you, whether it’s local cinema, editing legal journals or playing cards at nursing homes, then there’s a volunteer opportunity worth pursuing. Building, supporting and helping our communities may not be a money-making venture, but it is crucial.

A guide to volunteering

Answer these questions to get started on your path to volunteering!

  • Why do you want to volunteer?
    • To support a specific cause or engage with a specific interest
    • To get involved with my local community
    • To make friends
  • How much time do you have to commit to volunteering?
    • My schedule constantly changes, so it needs to be as flexible as possible
    • Short term, I could volunteer a few hours for a few days/weeks
    • Long term, I could volunteer a few hours on it every week/month
  • What skills am I hoping to use, learn or grow?
    • General labour skills
    • Cooking skills
    • Financial literacy skills
    • Conversational skills
    • Visual arts skills (graphic design or other forms of art)
    • Something else
  • Now that you know what you want, where do you find volunteer opportunities?

Honouring Halifax’s legendary music man

Ellie Garry-Jones
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Honouring Halifax’s legendary music man

On the corner of Brunswick Street, a beloved Halifax music shop strums proudly in memory of its founder, Thomas Howard Dorward, who passed away on Jan. 8 at the age of 78.

Born in Denver, Colo., Dorward’s career as a craftsman and luthier began in high school. Eager to learn classical guitar, Dorward was instead gifted a steel-string guitar. Unwavering in his determination, he taught himself the skills needed to build his first classical guitar from scratch. By the time Dorward enrolled in university, he had three hand-crafted guitars under his belt. 

Dorward moved to Halifax in 1969 to pursue his graduate studies in psychology at Dalhousie University. When he wasn’t studying, Dorward could be found at his workbench, constructing various stringed instruments from guitars to dulcimers to banjos. With a knack for math, he later became a teacher at Queen Elizabeth High School — though his devotion to music eventually won out.  

In June 1971, Dorward, alongside his wife of 56 years, Marla, founded the Halifax Folklore Centre. Nestled in a unique Victorian home over 150 years old, the shop quickly became a cornerstone of the East Coast music scene — a place where stringed musical instruments are bought, sold, traded, built, repaired and played with love. For over five decades, the Folklore Centre has been a gathering place for local musicians and a pit stop for touring artists. 

Remembering a music community legend

The news of Dorward’s passing was met with a chorus of responses, tributes and condolences from musicians across the region who felt at home each time they walked through the shop’s famous red door. 

One of those musicians is Nova Scotia’s own Joel Plaskett, who credits Dorward with shaping his career. Plaskett bought his first guitar from Dorward as a teenager and has felt indebted ever since. 

“My records would not sound the same if it weren’t for the Folklore Centre,” he says. 

Halifax musicians have shared fond memories of their trips to Dorward’s shop, which he opened with his wife, Marla, in June 1971. Image via Halifax Folklore Centre.

Likewise, Halifax musician Ross Burns first crossed paths with Dorward when he was just 13-years-old. Dorward taught Burns how to restring his electric guitar and later gave him his first job sweeping floors and dusting guitars at the shop. Over nine years, Burns immersed himself in Dorward’s world — learning his craftsmanship, getting lost in Mavis Staples records and sharing a mutual appreciation for baseball. 

Burns regards Dorward as a mentor, a father figure and a profound influence in his life. 

“It was very formative to see someone who very clearly made a life out of their passion,” Burns says. “Every day he came in and did the thing he loved, and he became a master of it.” 

He remembers how Dorward would often step away from the workbench to attend his baseball games. Whenever Burns hears David Grisman’s Christmas record, he’s transported back to countless hours spent with Dorward during the holiday seasons, surrounded by his steadiness, kindness and skill. 

For Cape Breton musician Archie Rankin, a member of the folk band Villages, Dorward was the embodiment of world-class craft. 

“We use a lot of old folk guitars and irreplaceable gear. It’s always been a comfort to know you can count on Tom to repair anything,” says Rankin. “You could put a guitar through a woodchipper, and Tom would’ve brought it back to life with no problem.”

Dorward’s generosity extended beyond fixing instruments. Halifax singer-songwriter Rob Hutten purchased everything from banjos to harmonicas at the Folklore Centre. For as long as he could remember, Hutten dreamed of owning a resonator guitar, but cost always kept it out of reach. 

That all changed in 2021 when a 1936 wooden-bodied National guitar appeared at the Folklore Centre. Hutten was at the top of Dorward’s call list.

“Tom knew it would be special to me and he knew I didn’t have a lot of money,” Hutten recalls. “He could’ve charged me a lot but he cared more that a special guitar was going to a guy who would use it well.” 

That resonator guitar has since become Hutten’s most treasured possession.

Halifax Folklore Centre lives on 

Tributes to Dorward have poured in from across the East Coast music community. Image via Halifax Folklore Centre.

As the East Coast music community mourns one of its most talented luthiers, the Halifax Folklore Centre will continue stringing on in Dorward’s memory. Stepping into big shoes at the repair bench is Noah Tye, who has spent the last 15 years apprenticing under Dorward’s wisdom. Devin Fox will manage the shop’s front end, while Marla Dorward will continue to strum the chords that keep everything in harmony. 

Dorward’s legacy will live on through the lives and instruments he has touched. His enduring sound will continue to be heard on Brunswick Street.  

Could Billie and Chappell Roan win big? Predictions for the 2025 Grammy Awards

Sophie Glover
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Could Billie and Chappell Roan win big? Predictions for the 2025 Grammy Awards

Gear up, Tigers —  it’s Grammys season once again.

The 67th Annual Grammy Awards are taking place on Feb. 2, honouring music released from Sept. 16, 2023 through Aug. 30, 2024. The award ceremony features a total of 94 categories, though only 10-12 are typically televised. 

From Album of the Year to Record of the Year, there’s a lot to cover. Here’s my predictions for the winners in the big four categories.

Album of the Year

Nominees:

HIT ME HARD AND SOFT – Billie Eilish

The Tortured Poets Department – Taylor Swift

New Blue Sun – André 3000

COWBOY CARTER – Beyoncé

BRAT – Charli xcx 

The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess – Chappell Roan

Short n’ Sweet – Sabrina Carpenter

Djesse Vol. 4 – Jacob Collier 

Winner prediction: Billie Eilish, HIT ME HARD AND SOFT

This cycle saw several major album releases. Taylor Swift, who won the award last year for Midnights, holds the title for most wins in this category. However —  compared to her previous works —  I found The Tortured Poets Department lacking in depth, making a win unlikely. 

Despite being the most Grammy-awarded artist in history, Beyoncé has yet to claim a win in this category. COWBOY CARTER is a classic Beyoncé album, blending family dynamics, politics and upbeat dance songs. But while its themes had potential, the messages fall flat and don’t resonate with audiences as strongly as other albums. Still, the Grammys might award her as recognition for her past works.

BRAT blends cutting-edge electronic production with relevant, poignant lyrics, exploring complicated relationship dynamics with upbeat dance sound. For this reason, I think BRAT should win in this category. However, its party-culture motif may overshadow deeper themes for some listeners.

Despite strong competition, I believe Billie Eilish will take home the award for HIT ME HARD AND SOFT. With Finneas’s production and Eilish’s elevated vocal range, the album delivers nuanced lyricism and builds on her Grammy-winning streak.

Song of the Year

Nominees: 

Fortnight – Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone

BIRDS OF A FEATHER – Billie Eilish

Not Like Us – Kendrick Lamar

Good Luck, Babe! – Chappell Roan

Please Please Please – Sabrina Carpenter

A Bar Song (Tipsy) – Shaboozey

Die With A Smile – Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars

TEXAS HOLD ‘EM – Beyoncé

Winner prediction: Billie Eilish, “BIRDS OF A FEATHER”

“TEXAS HOLD ‘EM” and “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” should not win this category. Although both are fun, catchy songs, they lack depth within their writing. Rap is often ignored in this category, and because of this I can’t imagine “Not Like Us” winning. “Die With A Smile” is a strong contender, given it seems as though it was written in hopes of securing a win. “Good Luck Babe!” could pose competition as well, though I think it is better suited to win Record of the Year. 

I see “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” winning this category. It focuses on an everlasting relationship in Eilish’s life, effortlessly capturing  the feeling of love for another, in a way that listeners can apply to special people in their own lives.

Record of the Year

Nominees:

Fortnight – Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone

BIRDS OF A FEATHER – Billie Eilish

Not Like Us – Kendrick Lamar

Good Luck, Babe! – Chappell Roan

Espresso – Sabrina Carpenter

360 – Charli xcx

Now and Then – The Beatles

TEXAS HOLD ‘EM – Beyoncé

Winner prediction: Chappell Roan, “Good Luck, Babe!”

It’s certainly possible that Charli xcx’s “360” will win this award. The record has an iconic sound, used by Charli xcx as a motif throughout BRAT — almost as a tagline. Her vocals are tastefully manipulated to fit the club aesthetic. “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” is another challenger, balancing soothing vocals with electronic synth production. Throughout the song, Eilish’s vocals are often echoed, emphasizing her delicate voice. Although catchy, “Espresso” is far too shallow to win this award.

I see “Good Luck Babe!” winning this award. The production perfectly mirrors the agonizing feeling of the lyrics. Roan also tastefully reintroduces an ‘80s sound with her own twist. The song ends with powerful belting from Roan, bringing the song home. 

Best New Artist

Nominees:

Chappell Roan

Sabrina Carpenter

Benson Boone

Khruangbin

Shaboozey

Doechii

Teddy Swims

Raye

Winner prediction: Chappell Roan

I believe Roan will take home the award for Best New Artist. Though strong cases could be presented for many of the other artists, Roan is the most timeless and groundbreaking choice. 

Despite Carpenter’s major rise to stardom last year, I do not think she has enough flavour to win this award. Her music style tends to feel somewhat conventional, and while many of her songs are great, they fall short of offering a distinctive sound. The same goes for Benson Boone. 

Doechii is another strong competitor  —- she has many tracks that break barriers and introduce new concepts. However, I think Roan will win over Doechii due to Roan’s substantial success on the charts and across social media.

Meet the societies shaping Dal

Ferris Kerr
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Meet the societies shaping Dal

Dalhousie University has an impressive number of societies contributing to the social fabric of its campuses. Typically, societies are groups of students united by shared interests in a particular academic field or area of study. What began as an opportunity for like-minded scholars to discuss interests beyond their coursework has evolved into a tradition encompassing fraternities, hobbies and philanthropic endeavours. 

University societies have evolved into spaces that go beyond degree-focused activities, blending academic interests with social events like trivia nights and annual merchandise drops.

At Dalhousie, societies go beyond the studiable. From book clubs to gardening, students in Halifax are bound to find their people. Moreover, students at Dal are actively encouraged to start their own clubs and societies that fit their personal interests.

Below are a number of non-academic societies from the Dalhousie Student Union’s Winter Clubs and Society Expo on Jan. 21, sharing how their groups influence Dalhousie culture and break away from the traditional university society model.

Dalhousie Epilepsy Society

Laith AlHaheed and Alaa Abu Ahmad, are the Dalhousie Epilepsy Society’s president and vice president, respectively. 

“We are raising funds for epilepsy awareness for people in rural communities, specifically in Africa,” AlHaheed says. “A lot of those communities are disadvantaged. They are resource-constrained, and they don’t have the necessary healthcare infrastructure.”

“Epilepsy, still, in Canada is very stigmatized,” says AlHaheed. “We try to do first aid seizure workshops at Dalhousie, we try to raise awareness on campus and we try to highlight facts about epilepsy. Bringing that awareness to Nova Scotia, while helping rural Mfuwe communities is very important.”

Dalhousie Taylor Swift Society

The Dalhousie Taylor Swift Society scattered friendship bracelets and stickers across their table at the Dalhousie Student Union’s 2025 Winter Clubs and Society Expo on Jan. 21, 2025. Image by Ferris Kerr.

A table scattered with Eras Tour stickers, glitter and lyrics glints, catching the eyes of a small crowd. 

“We hold events based on Taylor Swift. We study and listen to her music, have friendship-bracelet-making nights, stuff like that,” said Tori Parker, a representative of the Dalhousie Taylor Swift Society. 

They’ve run balls and trivia nights and are attempting to create an atmosphere at Dal that encourages fans to express their love.

“It’s just a way to get Swifties on campus to get together and bond,” says Parker.

Ninety Percent Society

“The purpose of this society is to raise awareness of eating disorders and the lack of treatment available,” says Grace Metcalf, the society’s social representative. “The name came from the fact that only 10 per cent of people who have eating disorders receive treatment, the other 90 per cent do not. We are here advocating for that other 90 per cent.”

The society provides resources on treatment, meal prepping and mental health. They focus on busting myths, the difficult atmosphere of young-adulthood eating and the use of social media in promoting wellness activities.

“We are trying to create a space to destigmatize it. A lot of our events don’t even surround the topic of eating disorders, instead creating a space that takes our mind off something that feels so heavy at times.”

Dalhousie Black Science Society

Steven Mata and Samantha Kieyele, two of the society’s representatives, are hoping to reconstruct the narrative of what it means to be a scientist and what constitutes science.

“Most of what you see when searching the word ‘science’ are white people in lab coats, but it’s more diverse than that,” says Kieyele. “I really believe in the philosophy that if you don’t see it, you won’t believe it. So, this society is showing Dal that different cultures can participate in the scientific community and [that Dal should] prioritize [the involvement of different cultures]. It’s encouraging representation,” she says.

They are hoping to establish a safe, welcoming community for students to network, connect and conduct outreach.

Dalhousie-Kings Crafting Society

Sarah Johnson, an events coordinator with the Dalhousie-Kings Crafting Society, sits surrounded by yarn, markers and a small but eager line of participants contributing to a massive colouring page blanketing her table. Her society remains true to its name — they craft.

“Anybody who is open to learn a craft, or work on their own craft … That’s what we help supply with our weekly open craft nights,” says Johnson. “School can be so hectic. So, having these BYOCs to relax and socialize are really important to do.”

The Society focuses on the impacts of art on mental health, connection and self expression. By collaborating with residence groups and other societies, they’re expanding crafting beyond their cozy corner.

The girl’s magical thinking—a love letter to Stevie Nicks

Maryn Rice
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The girl’s magical thinking—a love letter to Stevie Nicks

This semester I have embraced my obsession with the representation of women in writing as an academic pursuit. Consequently, my days are veiled in a mystic philosophical daydream coincidentally aligned with the subjects I explore in the Councelle. Namely, the mind of the girl. 

One of the texts I have studied so far this term is an infamous chapter from the so-called “feminist bible,” The Second Sex, in which philosopher Simone de Beauvoir explains girlhood as a tumultuous period in which puberty eventually robs the girl of her freedom. In Beauvoir’s view, this loss of freedom inflicted by the female body (ie. menstruation, tender breasts, emotional variability, etc.) imposes an alienating effect on the girl, restricting her ability to play with other children. 

It also makes her a liar. 

What starts as hiding menstrual products and writing in diaries evolves into a much larger structure of secrecy embedded in the girl’s mind, birthing a rich inner life of fantasy and daydreams. And this observation still manifests 75 years after Beauvoir wrote it. Stevie Nicks transports us to this state of reverie in many of her songs, painting a relatable picture of her inner world as that of an elusive gypsy illuminated by the sights and sounds of powerful storms. To prove the relatability of this idea, here is an anecdote I think a lot of you will relate to.

It’s middle school. You’ve just returned home from a long day in the thick jungle of insecurity and pubescent hormones. The only light on your horizon has been the promise of re-entering your “cave” as your dad unironically calls it, and whipping up the most thrilling scenario in your head to fall asleep to. As much as we can all criticize middle school, you have to admit, these perfect little moments you shared with your crush of the week in the safety of your mind were pretty epic. 

Beauvoir philosophizes this “magical thinking” as a characteristic of girlhood misdirecting our natural inclination to act away from engaging with inequalities in public life. Despite her magical descriptions of the girl’s rich inner life, her outlook is ultimately negative. Since the dream world I crafted for myself got me through a particularly challenging phase of life, this conclusion just doesn’t sit right with me.   

Instead of perceiving the girl’s daydreaming as merely a trivial escape from the confines of patriarchy, I like to think of her magical thinking as a kind of superpower that can extend to womanhood if one lets it. Here are a few reasons why. 

1. Horoscopes and other appeals to the universe

Women typically know their zodiac sign. Hell, a lot of them know their whole astrological profile. What’s that about? The Second Sex tells us this is a misdirected attempt to regain a semblance of control, and I don’t entirely disagree. However, in applying my optimistic feminist philosophy, I have a slightly more uplifting take. 

We’ve all seen the trope in movies or TV shows of the horoscope-obsessed woman who makes life decisions based on how their shaman tells their fortune. I’m thinking of Rose Weissman in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. However, I have not met one woman who seriously practices this. In today’s world, I think horoscopes have become a catalyst for community among women. I could even pull up a text I received today from my sister about the return of her Saturn. I was just happy she reached out.

What I have seen practiced by other women, and even occasionally partake in myself, is manifestation. Writing down what you want to happen in your life and putting it out there to the powers that be in less metaphysical language is just believing. When you believe, you are likely to act subconsciously in favour of that outcome. What’s misdirected about that? 

2. Stevie Nicks

This homage to Nicks is really paying tribute to my grade 10 self who needed her guidance, but Nicks could be swapped with any female artist whose lyrics instill a sense of belief in you that things might turn out okay. Thank you for your beautiful words and mystic imagery Nicks, your magical thinking served me well.

3. Transforming objectification into self-love 

Stick with me here. Beauvoir says that in puberty, the girl comes to terms with her objectification in society, which results in what she calls “narcissism,” and what I call self-love. Remember those rare blissful evenings in middle or high school when you happened to not be drenched in self-loathing, and danced around your room in moody LED lighting, entranced by your own body’s appearance in the mirror? That right there is the recognition of your body as an object of your own desire. Embrace it. 

*This article was edited to fix a spelling error. The article initially spelled the word “swapped” as “swamped.”

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