Each month the Journal produces at least 4 weekly papers on issues pertaining to Saint Mary’s University, Halifax and even the world. During October we witnessed many new things and discussed many different issues pertaining to us as students.

Students started off the month looking over their shoulder as they walked home due to the fact that there was a stalker terrorizing hapless ladies in the South End area. This simply goes to show the extent that people take to receive a little human interaction. Fortunately there have been no reports of anyone being harmed. Students are asked to make sure they take the necessary precautions and to stay safe by locking doors and traveling in pairs at night. Safety is a serious matter that not only applies to walking home from the brand new SMU Atrium from a good night of studying but also when practicing good hygiene.

October was also the month of the dreaded swine flu hysteria. If you haven’t completely caught up by now on the current state, then you should start washing your hands three or four times a day. Practicing good hygiene by washing hands and cell phones frequently decreases the risk of catching the H1N1 influenza. Not only has there been a recent outbreak of swine flu on campus but we now are fortunate to finally have the vaccine issued. However, if you haven’t received the vaccine as of yet, it may not be because the media has lead you to believe that the vaccine makes you walk backward but because presently there is only a limited supply at hand.

The best form of protection against virus is also a healthy immune system. Keeping the body healthy and maintaining a steady diet can improve our immune system preventing future contaminations. The cafeteria now has a brand new set up with a brightly light modern dining hall that feels more like a buffet style restaurant than a school cafeteria. However, students are introduced to a buffet style meal plan that instead of the older plan where you paid for each meal individually. This change allows for students to receive a larger variety of foods such as pasta and even vegetarian dishes. Even though the prices per entry are kind of steep, it makes sure that students aren’t malnourished and a healthy appetite supports the waistline.

I’m pretty sure if anybody appreciates the all you can eat style of the cafeteria, it’s going to be the Husky football team. A complete meal is what gives all of our athletes the energy needed to represent our university and instill that Husky pride in all students. October was also a big month for our sports teams, with each department producing great results. Most of the attention went to the football team however, when they beat St. FX in a huge game a few weeks ago. The cold weather that night seemed to drive both teams but possibly because of the home field advantage (and skills of course); the Huskies came out on top!

When considering arts and entertainment, Halifax has exploded in the previous month. Halloween allowed for Haligonians to express their inward child and dress up in their most extreme fantasy. The past weekend costume stores made a huge profit with deranged serial killers and fairies running wild all over down town Barrington Street. One of my fellow editors even made a comprehensive list of the top zombie thrillers. If you didn’t go out to actually rent any of the movies it’s a good chance you caught one or two on television. Halloween seems to be a scheduled date of the year when people go out and enjoy themselves; even the SMU pub had its huge attendance of spooky characters. My building supervisor reported approximately four parties in my building that Saturday night, I feel his pain. The big event that weekend however was in support of Halifax’s own DJ Skratch Bastid this past weekend at the Cunard Centre, who performed with DJ Jazzy Jeff.

Its obvious October was an interesting month this year; unfortunately for us October babies (me included) all good things come to an end. Now we can look forward to see what new and interesting things November holds for us.