[Image-1] The recently-launched “Sexual Assault and Harassment” phone line at Dalhousie will operate until the end of the academic year thanks to additional funding from the university. Dalhousie will provide an additional $30,000 to the phone line, which originally launched September 6 as a six-week pilot project. “The Dalhousie Student Union is excited that we […]
Violence
Posted inNews + Opinion
Police wives and stories of domestic assault
[Image-1] Alex Roslin has been writing about this topic for a while. In 2004, his stark portrayal of the murder of Lucie Gélinas by RCMP constable Jocelyn Hotte was nominated for a National Magazine Award. Several years ago he met Susanna Hope (not her real name)—a survivor of 20 years of domestic abuse from her […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
The ongoing fight against on-campus rape
[Image-1] A young woman walks through campus at night. She cuts across a parking lot and behind the Howe Hall residence at Dalhousie. There, she sees a group of male students—about five, or maybe six. She’s a student at King’s, adjacent to Dal, but these men are not familiar to her. One locks his eyes […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Scenes from growing up gay in small-town Nova Scotia
[Image-1] In the opening scene two fairly fit, athletic, working-class boys from New Glasgow (but it can be any small town in Nova Scotia) are caught holding hands out in the local park by a group of local toughs, and are accused of being “faggots”. The group of boys are furiously homophobic. They set upon […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
What are Columbiners?
[Image-1] Since Friday the media and public have been grasping for the motivations behind a planned mass murder spree that thankfully never came to fruition. The accused shared “dark” imagery online. They were white supremacist neo-Nazies. Depending on who you ask, they were bloodthirsty terrorists or “murderous misfits.” At the very least, they were Columbiners. […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Boys aren’t boys at Dalhousie dental school
[Image-1] The ceaseless cascade of gross inhumanity that is 2014 just won’t let up. Dalhousie University’s school of dentistry is facing a lot of questions today after CBC broke the story of a misogynistic Facebook group of students. At least a dozen male students belonged to the now-defunct Class of DDS 2015 Gentleman group, according […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Delays and frustrations with the always-on stalker
Remember the story of Kim and Nicole? The two women who used pseudonyms to go public with allegations that an ex-boyfriend was harassing them with revenge porn? The women who complained local police mishandled their case? Halifax police confirmed last week they have handed Nicole and Kim’s case to police in Pasco County, Florida, […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Ghomeshi’s history of violence
[Image-1] Eight women, including local actor Lucy DeCoutere, have now come forward in the media with allegations of physical violence by Jian Ghomeshi. How many more stories are still out there, remain to be seen. Last night, the Toronto Star updated their investigation into the ex-CBC radio star and his alleged history of sexual violence. […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Murder at the Halifax Club
Recently, I was lucky enough to attend a function at the Halifax Club. The swank Hollis Street space has been where the city’s most distinguished gentlemen (and, since 1986, women) can meet to toast their successes and discuss whatever it is the upper classes discuss behind closed doors. During this event, the assembled crowd was […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Raymond Taavel killed on Gottingen Street
Developing story Raymond Taavel, a long-time and respected fixture in Halifax’s gay community, was killed last night outside Menz Bar on Gottingen Street. As of this writing (noon on Tuesday), Halifax police have only issued one statement, saying that a 32-year-old man is in custody. A CBC news report, however, describes circumstances that suggest Taavel […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Don Clairmont comments on swarmings
[image-1] There has always been violence on the streets of Halifax, but from about 2005 to 2007, there was a disturbing spike in the level of unprovoked attacks on innocents, culminating with a series of swarmings in and around the Halifax Common and the murder of American sailor Damon Crooks on Argyle Street.
Posted inNews + Opinion
Meeting violence with LOVE
Six thoughts on the recent rash of attacks on the streets of Halifax. 1) If you believe in community and profess to be a member of the Halifax community, then you also believe that these kids are our kids. They were raised in our community, they have attended our schools, they have accessed the services […]