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features Crackdown on noise in Downtown Guelph
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City amends noise bylaws, aims for stricter fines Nick Hegedus Stricter noise bylaws and steeper fines for noise violations are probably the last thing students in Guelph want to hear about. However, this bylaw change became a reality last week, with an increase in fines likely to follow. On Feb. 25, Guelph’s city council voted to make amendments to its noise bylaws, which have been in place since 2000. Some of these amendments were aimed at reducing noise from air conditioners and motorcycles, problems which downtown residents considered significant enough to warrant immediate attention. But students will likely consider the most important change to be the introduction of a 24-hour ban on unnecessary noise downtown. Under the noise bylaw introduced in 2000, Guelph’s downtown was classified as an area in the “other” category. This meant that unnecessary noise such as yelling or shouting was prohibited from the hours of 11 p.m. until 7 a.m. (9 a.m. on weekends and holidays). Last week, council voted to amend the city’s noise bylaw to designate downtown as a “mixed-use” area, in order to better reflect the increasing number of residents living in the area. The mixed-use designation has several implications for the rules against
Kai Jacobson
No more “unnecessary yelling” will be tolerated in Downtown Guelph, at any hour of the day. unnecessary noise in the area. As a mixed-use area, these types of noise are now prohibited 24 hours per day, except in the case of city events and other activities. So why has the city chosen this particular time to make these changes? “A lot of it has to do with the change in dynamics downtown,” stated Doug Godfrey, manager of By-Law Compliance and Security in Guelph. “We’re seeing downtown become a lot more residential.” These changes have been a work in progress since at least 2011, a year which saw what was considered to
be a particularly raucous homecoming celebration. Godfrey said that the council felt that the old noise bylaw lacked the strength required to deal with noise during the day. The city council is also currently seeking to increase the fines attached to the noise bylaw. Currently, the fine for unnecessary noise in Guelph sits at $130, approximately half that of surrounding municipalities. Students will surely be wondering if the upcoming St. Patrick’s Day celebrations motivated the council to amend the noise bylaws at this particular time. It doesn’t seem as though
this is the case. “St. Patrick’s Day last year was amazing,” said Godfrey. “We thought it was a very successful event.” Regardless, it remains to be seen if the recent changes will result in serious crackdowns on noise during the upcoming celebrations. Fortunately, students can usually avoid being slapped with immediate fines in the event of unnecessary noise. Godfrey said that bylaw staff and police would continue to issue warnings before actually handing out fines, and that “Nine times out of 10, everyone complies.”
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170.8 ◆ march 7t h, 2013
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Are you affecting lives downstream? Toxicology symposium explores human impacts on aquatic ecosystems Emma Wilson Did you know that wastewater tests are used to determine illicit drug use? Or that human pharmaceuticals remain biologically active after excretion, and can harm humans, fish, and other animals? These were some of the fascinating topics discussed at the 27th Annual Toxicology Symposium on “Life Downstream of Pesticides and Pharmaceuticals in Aquatic Ecosystems.” Dr. Chris Metcalfe, Director at the Institute for Freshwater Science at Trent University, examined the topic, “What are we flushing down the drain?” He explored the ultimate fate of our pharmaceutical, cleaning, and personal care products once we are done using them. Metcalfe noted that many pharmaceutical products are biologically active even after excretion as they make their
way down our drains, through wastewater treatment plants, and even when they end up in the aquatic ecosystem. The products include synthetic hormones, antibiotics, psychotherapy drugs, chemotherapy drugs, and anti-inflammatories. Of interest to Guelph residents, Metcalfe has found these drugs in the Grand River area, especially when water treatment technologies have not been up to date. This leads to concerns about drinking water contamination. In most cases these drugs are not acutely toxic, but Metcalfe suggested at the conference, “If we can do something to reduce our exposure, then let’s do it.” Metcalfe’s most recent research used wastewater to determine illicit drug use in Peterborough, Hamilton, and Montreal. Substances such as cocaine, MDMA, methamphetamines, and other drugs were found. The data from this study indicated that about five per cent of people in Montreal and Peterborough use cocaine. Dr. Thomas Moon, a distinguished professor of biology and Vice-Dean Research Faculty from the University of Ottawa,
Global to Local:
was another lecturer at the sym- and animal tissue as they are posium, and presented on how resistant to environmental fish adjust to changes in their degradation. These include environment. His most recent flame-retardants, siloxanes (a exploration looked at how the natural bonding chemical that metabolic and reproductive is also used to repel water), and performances of fish are affect- phthalates (chemicals found in ed by human pharmaceuticals. plastics). Alaee’s exploration Moon explored questions such of the sources and fate of these as, “Are the intended effects of pollutants informs people of the these pharmaceuticals apparent harms of not properly disposin fish? Are there any unintend- ing of domestic and industrial ed effects?” POP waste. In humans, Moon notes that Several pairings of fourth-year serotonin-based pharmaceu- toxicology students presented ticals regulate mood, emotion, on areas related to the theme of sleep, depression, and eating the symposium. These includdisorders. He has found that ed explorations of the effects of the pheromones that drive re- golf course pesticides on aquatic production in fish are negatively ecosystems, toxic red mud from affected even by relatively small aluminum mining and its negaamounts of these pharmaceuti- tive effect on sea urchin fertility, cals. For instance, impacted fish the affect of ocean acidification will also stop eating. on plankton, and many other “Serotonin stimulates anorexi- captivating topics. genic factors – this meant that it Hosted by the Toxicology Stusuppresses feeding. This causes dents Association, the event major problems,” said Moon. drew a full crowd and fostered Dr. Mehran Alaee examined many lively discussions among persistent organic pollutants the attendees. Sponsors included (POPs). POPs are organic com- Aquatox, Wellington Laboratopounds that persist in the ries, Cantox, and the College environment, and bioaccumu- of Biological Science Student late or biomagnify in human Council.
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Students, staff, and faculty on international and national news On March 5, students in Montréal convened at what seems to be their favourite hangout location: the streets. Thousands turned out to protest the Parti Québécois’s decision to raise tuition by $70 per year as many had hoped that, after an education summit held last month, a tuition freeze would be implemented. The peaceful protests soon turned violent, and at least 50 people were reportedly arrested. The Ontarion spoke to several members of the Games Club/Flash Club to get their opinion on the often-discussed issue of tuition fees, and what this news story means for Ontario students. The Ontarion: First of all, have you heard about this news story? Rebecca Howe: I’ve heard about the stuff from before, but I haven’t heard about what happened yesterday. Sam Engstrom: I’m not surprised, I mean they seem pretty quick to take to the streets if something hacks them off. I just find it [funny] that they have the lowest tuition, but they’re so ready to protect it. In Ontario, it’s a well-known fact that we’ve got the highest tuition and the lowest government subsidization, and no one here does that. The Ontarion: Do you guys think that Ontario students should care about the news topic? RH: I think if anyone should be protesting, it should be us. Sam Titizian: We had a rally recently though. SE: It’s nothing on the scale of what they do. ST: Obviously not […] Maybe we should be protesting harder. As I said, we had the rally recently. That being said, I don’t know if rallying is the answer. I don’t necessarily want to riot. James Kelly: Probably not the best way to go about it. SE: I just feel like Ontario students are a lot more complacent. ST: That’s true, you’re definitely right. SE: I don’t think riots are the answer, but less complacency is. ST: Because you’re not actually helping your case if you take to the streets and be violent. RH: You’re just going to make people resent you, and that’s not going to help move your issue forward or get your issue respected. Thanks to the participants for this week’s interview. If you have something to say about international or national news, and would like to be contacted for future issues, or if you want to see a particular news story covered here, contact News Editor Alicja Grzadkowska at onnews@ uoguelph.ca.
4 w w w.th e on ta r ion . c om How do you define beauty? Contest seeks alternative definitions of beauty
Bowman, manager of the Wellness Centre. Interested students were invited to put together a one-page proposal, answering such questions as Olivia Zollino what will be included in the final video and why they chose to tell The Wellness Centre on campus is the particular story. No previous looking to reclaim the meaning experience was required. Funding of beauty with their latest video was contributed from SLEF, the contest. The venture is partnered Student Life Enhancement Fund. with Project ReVision and Dr. The videos are meant to show an Carla Rice, a leader in the field of alternative to the notion of what body image and the Canada Re- is beautiful. search Chair in Care, Gender, and “In Reclaiming Beauty, the idea Relationships at the University of came out of the fact that people Guelph. with body differences and dis“I thought [the project] was a abilities are rarely represented really great opportunity for stu- in media, and are not repredents to get involved and put it out sented well,” said Bowman. She to our community, for students adds, “They’re often shown as the to have a voice,” said Melanie ‘freaks,’ and [there’s] a real focus
Breakthrough study at the U of G Omega-3s and their role in breast cancer prevention Garry Go A study done by the University of Guelph found that omega-3 fatty acids have a direct link in the prevention of breast cancer growth by up to 30 per cent. It is a significant finding in that it is the first study done demonstrating incontestable evidence that omega-3s play a role in reducing the risk of cancer. “Demonstrating the linkage between omega-3`s and breast cancer in humans is very challenging due to the complexities of trying to study one nutrient amongst many in the diet,” said David Ma, a professor in the Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences at the U of G and co-author of the study. “Advances in genetic tools now allow nutrition researchers to tackle questions that we could not previously,” said Ma. He provided details on how the experiments during the research process functioned. “The novel mouse model we developed can produce its own omega-3s and spontaneously develop breast cancer. Mammals including mice must get their omega-3s from diet, which is why they are essential,” said Ma. “Using this approach, we showed that it was the presence of a foreign gene, which also happened to produce omega-3`s [that] was the driver of the beneficial effects on tumour size and numbers.” According to cancer.ca, breast cancer is “the most common cancer
among Canadian women” and “One in nine women is expected to develop breast cancer during her lifetime, and one in 29 will die of it.” Students had several opinions on the benefits of the research, related to the risk of developing breast cancer. The general consensus? We should care about these findings. “I think students should care because I know that there are a lot of people who are impacted by breast cancer,” said Lois Opoku, a first year Biological Sciences student. “And so to see that there is this new breakthrough, maybe they can contribute more to the research in a way to help develop it and get more answers out of it.” Tyler Valiquette, a fourth-year International Development student explained, “This research is highly important. Not only is it great for our own health and physical well-being, but it also makes our university look great at the same time.” Ma discussed the reactions of the researchers to their discovery, which is undoubtedly a positive step forward in the fight against breast cancer, and the notes that people should take from the research. “Our initial reaction was disbelief, because one of the potential outcomes was to observe no effect,” said Ma. “Our mouse model develops a highly aggressive form of human breast cancer, thus the cancer could have overwhelmed any potential beneficial effect of the omega-3s. Given that we observed such a benefit in an aggressive model, this gives us greater confidence that omega3s should be part of everyone’s lifelong diet.”
on their difference – being outside of what is ‘normal.’” However, the focus isn’t simply on different body types. The videos are also intended to also show an inclusion of different sexual preferences and orientations. Bowman observes the monumental lack of LGBTQ couples in advertising, commenting on how media is rather heteronormative. Ultimately, the objective is inclusivity. “We wanted to include and invite everyone around the conversation from these videos through their own narratives about difference,” said Bowman, adding that the videos are a backlash to the mainstream narrative. The contest is an important opportunity for those who feel different
news and unrepresented in the media campus. The winning students for various reasons to have a voice, will be given access to a two-day says Bowman. storytelling and video production “Media impacts all of us. There seminar, along with $50. are several television shows that Participating professors on camare geared towards perfection that pus will use the videos as teaching most of us cannot connect to.” This tools in their lessons. Rice will also need for perfection can sometimes use the videos as part of her clinimanifest into eating disorders, as cal and community talks during Bowman has observed from vari- her duration as the Canadian Reous cases at the Wellness Centre, search Chair. among other things. For Bowman, it is important “People are largely impact- not only for Guelph students but ed,” said Bowman. “Media sends everyone in general to be able to messages about the size we are “engage in conversation in an acsupposed to be and what we are ademic setting about breaking supposed to look like.” down what is beautiful and changThe proposal submissions se- ing these perspectives.” “Spending more time on what’s lected will be turned into a video, made in the REDLAB – an expres- on the inside and less on the insive arts institute and advanced side isn’t a bad thing for any of us,” high-tech multimedia lab on said Bowman.
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Students hope to make HIV/AIDS history
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Weeklong events held in the fight against HIV and AIDS
created by University of Guelph alumnus Abid Virani. The film intends to show young people how they can make a difference in the fight against HIV and AIDS. Kelsey Coughlin “The film really makes you think. The subject of AIDS doesn’t come up Worldwide, over 64 million individ- much in our area, but in other parts uals have been infected with one of of the world it is one the most present the most serious health problems and horrifying experiences imaginknown to man, HIV and/or AIDS. Of able,” explained University of Guelph that number, 30 million have already student Rebecca Arsenault, who was lost their lives. at the screening. It is because of this statistic that the In addition to the formal events Canadian charity group I Have Hope held at the university, students were In the Fight Against AIDS held edu- also encouraged to wear red all week cational events and workshops from in support of ending AIDS. NumerFeb 26 to March 1 around the uni- ous students took this opportunity versity campus. Since Hope In the to show their support and prove that Fight’s mission is to build a commu- they have hope that one day a cure nity of youth committed to ending the will be found. spread of HIV and AIDS, the events I Have Hope is an organization that were focused on communication and does not wish to simply fundraise for the sharing of information. the cause, but ultimately wants to enThe week’s events included: HIV gage and empower students and the and AIDS trivia at Brass Taps, cannon community through knowledge. By painting at Branion Plaza, live music empowering students to get involved, and speakers at the Bullring, and a I Have Hope can move one step closer special screening of Start With Us at to their ultimate goal: putting an end War Memorial Hall. Start With Us is a to the spread of AIDS. documentary about AIDS awareness Above all else, the organization is
Abid Virani
Singers serenaded the crowd during the live music presentation at the Bullring for the HIV/AIDS campaign week. determined to inspire hope in the fight against AIDS. Emily Johnston, also a student at the University of Guelph, believes that “hope is the easiest and cheapest way to educate the
community about AIDS and its detrimental effects. Without hope there would be no reason to more forward.” According to I Have Hope’s philosophy, we need a generation who
participates in all areas of work to care about HIV and AIDS, to fight against HIV and AIDS, and to ultimately end HIV and AIDS. Hope is a necessary ingredient in ending this deadly disease.
herbal medicines, foodstuffs, teas, other things of that nature that may be a blend,” said Hebert in a January interview with The Ontarion. The tests come as a response to the European horsemeat scandal that took place early last month. In France, horsemeat was discovered in frozen food packages, which had been labelled as beef lasagne. The controversy sparked an in-depth look into the accountability of the European meat industry. Due to the fragmented nature of the European food industry, and the nature of European trading, a number of countries were involved in the finger pointing. The French accused the Romanians, who supplied the horsemeat. Romania, which has some 25 horsemeat slaughterhouses, responded by assuring that all of their exported meat would have been labelled
correctly, and that the error must have occurred somewhere along the shipping line. Although clearly a case of fraudulent labelling, horsemeat does not pose any health risks. The primary concern is that if the type of meat can be unknown, what other information about the preparation of our food is being hidden? Interestingly, the scandal has caused a spike in horsemeat consumption by Canadians, curious to try the still fairly taboo dish. “People are inquisitive and they say, ‘well, what’s wrong with it? Let me try it,’” said Bill DesBarres,
chairman of the Horse Welfare Alliance of Canada. Although more difficult to find here in Ontario, horsemeat is still commonly sold in grocery stores across Quebec, with stores like Metro providing an abundance of recipes on their website. In any case, the fallout from this horsemeat scandal will hopefully result in a more transparent global food industry. Improvements in DNA sequencing technology have allowed us the ability to assess the contents of our dinner plate, which can only result in a better informed consumer.
The beef on beef Canadian research finds zero horsemeat in our burgers Jordan Sloggett Canadian carnivores can be assured that they’re not getting any mystery meat in their hamburgers after an investigation from the Biodiversity Institute of Ontario (BIO). University of Guelph-based BIO took a break from cataloguing DNA barcodes to use their advanced genomic sequencing techniques on a number of different frozen and fast food burgers. Six popular fast food chains were tested: A&W, Burger King, Dairy Queen, Harvey’s, McDonalds and Wendy’s. The Canadian Centre for DNA barcoding, the section of the institute which conducted the
research, announced that all of the burgers were 100 per cent beef. The Brass Taps’s kangaroo burger was also tested, and was found to be pure kangaroo. Uncooked frozen patties were also tested from the following companies: Schneiders, Lick’s, M&M Meat Shops, Homestyle, No Name, President’s Choice and Webers. The same results were discovered, with nothing but pure bovine to be found. “This testing is something all Canadians should be proud of – knowing the hamburger meat they are buying is beef with no substitutes detected or additions,” said Paul Hebert, Guelph professor and director of the BIO. The BIO has been involved in past cases of food identification. “For a number of years, we’ve been doing work on substitution in the seafood marketplace. That’s now expanding out into other areas such as
Sylvia Nayoung Han
Canadians can breathe easy knowing that Canadian burgers from multiple chains and stores are in fact 100 per cent beef.
6 w w w.th e on ta r ion . c om Shell Oil Co. pauses 2013 drilling in the Arctic Shell forced to shut its lucrative Arctic drilling for one year Andrew Donovan Last week, Royal Dutch Shell PLC announced that it would be “pausing” its Arctic drilling expeditions in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas on the northwest shores of Alaska for 2013. The temporary pause comes after a slew of violations found in Shell’s operations. Among the astounding 16 violations the Alaskan coast guard found were: a lack of permits to drill two separate wells, a violation of Shell’s air-pollution permits, and problems with the spill containment system. In an announcement to the media, Shell Oil Co. President Marvin Odum said, “We’ve made progress in Alaska, but this is a long-term program that we are pursuing in a safe and measured way […] Our decision to pause in 2013 will give us time to ensure the readiness of all our equipment and people.” Mike LeVine, spokesperson for Oceana, an environmental group in the Arctic, praised the decision, saying it was the first good decision he’s seen from Shell. He also mentioned that government
agencies are going to have to reassess Arctic oil exploration if they intend to protect our ocean resources. Government oversight was a popular speaking point for many who were worried about Shell’s high amount of safety violations. Jennifer Silver, PhD and assistant professor in the Department of Geography at the University of Guelph commented on the pausing of the project. “From my perspective, strong state-led regulatory oversight, including clear rules stipulating firm responsibility for covering the full costs of any accident, is crucial.” Clear rules and responsibilities in case of an “accident” are what many, like Silver, are asking for. With the sour taste of the British Petroleum oil spill of 2010 still fresh and an overwhelming feeling that these mega oil companies do not receive the punishment they ought to when they cause environmental disasters, it comes with little surprise that people would like to see some restitution and retribution. Shell has promised that prior to starting up their drilling again, they will make improvements to their regulation and procedures. Shell has stated that they will “develop world-class industry standards and ecological and cultural protections to safeguard the Arctic.”
news
Courtesy Peak Oil
Groups who advocated against the drilling project can take a break, for now. However, the optimism had by activists and concerned citizens alike may be short lived. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the Beaufort and Chukchi seas hold roughly 25 billion barrels of oil; at today’s price of oil, that will sell for $2.3 to 2.5 trillion dollars. It is hard to believe a resource so lucrative will go untouched forever. In fact, Shell has made it quite clear that drilling will resume in
2014 once they implement the that Shell is making. Cindy Shogan, world-class industry standards executive director of Alaska Wilthey spoke about. derness League, made it clear that “It is possible, depending on the activism will stop once Arctic the result of the ongoing review drilling has ended permanently. and the readiness of our rigs, and “If the top oil company in the frankly, the confidence that les- world has failed in its quest to sons learned from our 2012 drilling drill in the harsh and unpredictprogram have been fully incorpo- able conditions in the arctic, it rated,” according to the company. is time to assess whether any oil Some aren’t convinced by the company can safely drill in the big promises for improvement Arctic Ocean.”
Spotlight on women’s issues and empowerment International Women’s Day events promote engaged dialogue Sabrina Groomes International Women’s Day is a day to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of women, and to raise awareness about current issues regarding women’s health and rights. March 8 marks this day, and the Women’s Health Alliance (WHA) of Guelph-Cambridge held many events to celebrate. “[The WHA] believes that a full and healthy life for women involves emotional, social, cultural, spiritual, and physical well-being,” said Megan DePutter, on behalf of the organization, adding, “but issues such as poverty, sexual assault and vanessa tignanelli violence against women, reproductive health issues, childcare The Gaining Momentum with Resilience event explored the challenges faced by business women in the and transportation needs, gender surrounding communities. norms and other barriers can negatively affect women’s health and live in poverty than men, and are involved. These events were aimed an important role by “bringing access to services.” often affected by salary inequi- at playing “a role in individual awareness to women’s health isThe theme this year, Gaining Mo- ties. This issue was explored at the learning as well as in building our sues, participating in the dialogue, mentum, is directly related to the WHA forum on HIV, Pregnancy and community’s capacity to address and sharing what they learn with pressing issues concerning women Motherhood on March 5. issues related to women’s health,” peers or colleagues,” said DePutter. in society today. The WHA’s focus The week’s events were open said DePutter. On March 4, an event titled Creat the moment is economic dispari- to the public, and they encourThe University of Guelph was en- ative Flow included fun activities ties as more women at the moment aged everyone to come out and get couraged to get involved and play like karaoke and free pizza, and was
aimed at drawing in the youth of the community. The youth of today have a large affect on the future of tomorrow. “Empowering youth, recognizing youth voices and valuing their experiences plays an important role in building community capacity to challenge barriers,” explained DePutter. These barriers include stigma, racism, homophobia, and violence, among others. A few of these events took place on campus at the university such as the “Health at Every Size” workshop. As well, on March 7, there will be a presentation from noon to 1 p.m. in the J. T. Powell building, Room 207, that will focus on HIV awareness campaigns, and imagery of women and mothers in media, led by Dr. Linda Hunter. On the big day, Guelph-Wellington In Crisis and other community groups will be holding events that include “Take Action for Peace” and “One Billion Rising” at 12 p.m. Continuing the tradition, the WHA along with other community members will be at the Heffernan Street Bridge near the St. Georges Anglican Church downtown, where the group will come together to campaign battling violence against women.
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Discussing experiences travelling abroad AIESEC presents for the Better Planet Project Lindsay Pinter The University Center hosted a Better Planet Speaker Series event on March 4, featuring AIESEC (International Association of Students in Economic and Commercial Sciences), which is a student run international internship organization aiming at breaking down international barriers and preparing students to become future leaders. Founded in 1948 after the devastating impact of World War II, AIESEC gives young people an opportunity to discover and develop their potential, as well as create international connections between very different and diverse cultures. Karen Mehltretter, a second-year marketing management student at the University of Guelph and vice president of corporate relations for AIESEC Guelph, explained at the lecture that AIESEC is the “first organization in the world to have internships between democratic and communist countries, as well as the first internship organization to provide internships to the black
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community, which was huge during that time period.” Mehltretter also states that AIESEC encourages its members to strive for six major goals, including “activating leadership, demonstrating integrity, living diversity, enjoying participation, striving for excellence and acting sustainably.” “Every student that joins AIESEC makes their own experiences that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives,” said Mehltretter at the talk. The next speaker was Katrina Raymundo, an AIESEC Guelph intern from the Philippines who works for the Organizational Services at the University of Guelph Library. Raymundo discussed her personal experience with AIESEC. Ben Derochie “I wanted to experience a lifestyle and culture completely different than The presentation featured individuals who had been involved with AISEC in a variety of ways. my own, while also gaining international work experience to assist me responsibilities was very overwhelm- exchange participant who participated her perspective of the world. in the future.” She described the ing.” She soon realized that she was in a global internship program in India. “The world suddenly became a much culture shock that she experienced not alone in this whirlwind. Vandergrendt was amazed at the feel- smaller place. It’s important to make upon arriving in Canada, explaining, “AIESEC members were there for ing of inclusiveness and acceptance she connections and learn from your ex“I thought myself to be very proficient me; we became friends and I didn’t felt throughout her internship. periences, and AIESEC provided me in English, but when I landed I heard feel so alone anymore. They helped “For the first time, during that ex- with an amazing experience to learn.” all this slang and I couldn’t understand me adjust.” perience, I felt that the world could Vandergrendt added, “AIESEC is an it. That along with having to figure The final and third speaker was Carly open up its arms and include me.” She amazing organization, we are all just out living on my own with bills and Vandergrendt, an AIESEC Guelph explained that the exchange changed a big family.”
Beware the arts degree (vs. anything else) More to add to the age-old rift between liberal arts and everything else worth studying Katie Shum Imagine this: a college graduate and two university graduates have the same amount of student debt after having recently graduated from graphic design, anthropology, and biomedical engineering degrees, respectively. Moreover, all three graduates are receiving the same earnings. According to new research,
the anthropology graduate is more likely to default on their student loan than the engineering graduate, but the college graduate is most likely to default on their loan compared to the others. A new paper published by sociologists Laura Wright (Western University), Dr. David Walters (University of Guelph), and Dr. David Zarifa (Nipissing University), has shed light on choices that may vary the likelihood of graduates meeting timely repayments – or avoiding default – to their student loans within two years of graduation. The study examined the bridge between the “field of study and loan default on government-supported
student loans for graduates,” with The big question then is “why?” focus on Canadian colleges and When posed with this question, universities, as employed by the ap- fourth-year marketing student Ben plicable data from Statistics Canada’s Bickers offered his sense of the results. 2005 National Graduates Survey. “Right from the get-go [university As Walters explained, the research students] have more of a theoretical team suspected that there would be mindset and analytical mindset maybe favourable differences for university than some college students [and] as a graduates versus college graduates, business student I’m definitely at an and for applied majors versus liberal advantage over maybe an arts student arts majors, based on a number of so- – I know maybe a little bit more about ciology and economic theories – and finance and financial managing and what they found is that these odds still the job market right now.” Sarah Cordeaux, a fourth-year stuexist. Sorry, liberal arts friends. However, Walters added that when they dio art major, explained that “from controlled for socio-demographic a fine art perspective […] you want factors, what surprised them was to take the time to find a job that’s that this pattern existed regardless going to be in your sector, that’s apof earnings. plicable to what you do, that’s going
to make enough money to support your [art making] practice.” However, Cordeaux added that the balance between making ends meet and job searching is critical, and expressed concern for her peers that “miscalculate and don’t have any help along the way” heeding that they don’t fall short of their financial responsibilities. Degree programs offered at the University of Guelph give students the opportunity to choose free electives every year. Given the mounting reports of a difficult job market in nearly every sector, and statistics to back those reports, it seems as though choosing a course on personal finance should be the next big campaign on campus.
Newsology: Subway line gets too long, prompts UC riot Not really, but headlines are key Alicja Grzadkowska Since the beginning of Newspaper Time, trumped-up headlines have been used to sell print and online media. And in the technological age, where information is processed in milliseconds by audiences and computers alike, the five-to-ten-letter title of an article can either cause a stir, or help file the work into the black hole of internet news archives.
The Enquirer and The Onion can get away with over-the-top headlines for very different reasons, but when so-called serious news sources rely on them to attract people to equally exhilarating or lackluster article misrepresentations, the entertainment value for frequent newsreaders spikes dramatically. Take for instance a headline that appeared on The National Post’s website on March 4. “But by how many degrees? Kevin Bacon discovers he and wife Kyra Sedgwick are cousins” is undoubtedly eye-catching, and draws the reader in to read more about Finding Your Roots, a TV shows hosted by
Harvard professors that traces the lin- change the way toilet paper is dis- of the story, perhaps more important eage of famous people to other notable pensed” unveil the unsurprising truth than the information itself, particuindividuals in history. about the type of news people read in larly when selling newspapers during Another headline that appeared the modern day: simple, funny, fast. the Spanish-American war. Graphic on the site under the “Most Popular” But is this a huge change from the imagery like “Peace Treaty is Ratified, section claimed, “Boyfriend pushes delivery and reception of news since Awful Slaughter” and titles signifying girlfriend off Utah cliff – she ‘breaks the first newspaper Acta Diurna was the horrors of the world (physical deup with him’ on her way down,” was published in 59 B.C. in Rome? While formations, rampant murders) were another witty play on words and the the headlines from that paper might not commonly utilized to sell papers. The topic (the pair was actually participat- be available to the general public now, tactic seems to have continued into ing in a rope swing stunt for a film), the use of headlines from the period today. effectively encouraging the reader to of yellow journalism around the turn So, as long as reporters keep writing read further. of the century are reminiscent of cur- headlines like “Hungry Swedes queue With its classification as one of the rent news tactics to attract readership. up for Obama’s sausage” and “Gordon According to PBS, gazettes like The Ramsay sex dwarf eaten by badger,” most popular articles read that day, New York Journal and The New York reading the news may never go out the headline and others that appeared alongside it, like “‘TP Slider’ aims to World saw the headline as the key part of style. Take that, naysayers.
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Cabaret takes stage at War Mem Curtain Call keeps musical theatre tradition alive Nick Revington Continuing one of the university’s longest traditions, spanning 56 years, student-run musical theatre company Curtain Call Productions is staging this year’s performance, Cabaret, from March 6 to 9 at War Memorial Hall. “The show is set in 1930s Berlin. It’s about a young American writer who travels to Berlin in search of inspiration,” said Director Tim Clarke. “He’s a closeted homosexual, and it’s based on a play called I Am a Camera, which was based on a series of Christopher Isherwood short stories, The Berlin Stories, which were actually published in the 30s,” said Clarke. “The original Berlin Stories are, like most of Isherwood’s writing is, semi-autobiographical. But he left out the very major detail in the original stories that he was gay, because it was the ’30s and probably wouldn’t have been palatable to audiences of the day, publishers of the day,” said Clarke. “But then he wrote a series of revised, more truthful accounts of what his life in Berlin was like, one of which is called Christopher and His
Kind, which very plainly states that to Isherwood, Berlin meant boys.” The writer, Clifford Bradshaw, falls into the boisterous world of Berlin’s nightlife, epitomized by the Kit Kat Klub. Actor Devin Dos Santos, in the role of the club’s emcee, managed to capture this atmosphere brilliantly with witty banter and a spirited, raucous delivery. Indeed, Dos Santos’s performance was among the highlights of the show, including a humourous walkabout in the audience during the Entr’acte. “It was a period of sexual liberation; it was a few years before the Nazis came to power. The Weimar years, particularly in Berlin, it was sort of a crazy party where you could get away with a lot of things,” said Clarke. Cabaret explores this era of sexual liberation. Originally staged as a Broadway musical in 1967, the modified 1998 revival version of the show remains provocative today. Not only is Bradshaw a closeted homosexual – an aspect that was less explicit in the original – but the show also explores the themes of promiscuity and polyamourous relationships, including a catchy number called “Two Ladies.” “One of the ladies is actually a boy in drag, which wasn’t something they did in the original 1967 staging of Cabaret, but it became popular in the 1998 revival,” said Clarke.
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The show featured strong vocal performances by all soloists, including Ronald McKenzie-Lefurgey as Clifford Bradshaw and Flo Labrie as Sally Bowles, the free-spirited Cabaret singer who becomes Bradshaw’s roommate and female love interest. The dance numbers were highly evocative of 1930s nightlife, and having the orchestra visible onstage added to the illusion of being in an actual nightclub of the times. In the meantime, an incredibly minimalistic set did not hinder the viewer’s ability to understand the setting of each scene; instead it led to greater focus on the actors themselves. Particularly telling about the quality of Curtain Call’s production is not in how it captured the party atmosphere of Berlin. Rather, as is the case with all parties, the festivities came to a close with the rising specter of Nazism, and Curtain Call managed to strongly convey the sense of a society descending into darkness in the second act. Despite the darker overtones of the latter part of the show, Cabaret left the viewer with a number of catchy show tunes firmly entrenched in their head. It is certainly among the more memorable of Curtain Call’s recent productions. for web-exclusive
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Flo Labrie stars as cabaret singer Sally Bowles in Curtain Call Productions’ staging of the Broadway musical Cabaret at War Memorial Hall March 6 to 9.
Leigh Lichtenberg
Suzie Ungerleider, better known as Oh Susanna, treated the eBar to a performance on Feb. 28, sharing the stage with Birds of Chicago.
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arts & Culture 10 w w w.th e on ta r ion . c om Bob Marley’s granddaughter visits U of G Screening of RasTa: A Soul’s Journey Colleen McDonell Maybe you’ve seen the dreadlocks, smelled the marijuana, and heard Bob Marley sing about “positive vibration, yeah!” but do you really know what defines the Rastafari culture? Donisha Prendergast, granddaughter to Rita and Bob Marley, visited U of G on Feb. 28 to show her documentary on Rastafarianism, titled RasTa: A Soul’s Journey. The event, among others, was part of the Student Help and Advocacy Centre’s Black History Month on campus. The film followed the 28-year-old filmmaker as she journeyed to eight countries around the world exploring the roots and evolution of Rastafarianism. Rastafarianism began as a spiritual movement in Jamaica in the 1930s after Ras Tafari was crowned as Haile Selassie I, Emperor of Ethiopia, who many believe was the second coming of Christ or Christ’s incarnation. From then, Rastafarianism has come to incorporate the themes of spiritual use of cannabis, the rejection of Western society or “Babylon,” the repatriation to Africa for the descendants of those slaves forced into the West, and, of course, reggae music. “Reggae music is the voice of Rastafari…reggae music and Rastafari are one,” Prendergast says in the film. “You cannot distinguish one from the other.” Travelling to the diverse cities of Washington, Toronto, London, Mumbai, Tel Aviv, Cape Town, and Addis Ababa for four
years, Prendergast explored the progression of Rastafari; which was popularized by reggae’s bestknown icon, her grandfather Bob Marley. Patricia Scarlett, RasTa’s executive producer, grew up in Montreal and met Marley as a teenager. She was reminded of his legacy while working as a travel agent.
“As I traveled, my grandfather revealed himself to me” – Donisha Prendergast, on how her exploration of Rastafari helped her understand Bob Marley “Everywhere I went I encountered not only Bob Marley and his music, but I encountered Rastafarians of every culture, every nationality. These weren’t just people wearing dread locks, these were people living the Rasta lifestyle,” Scarlett said during a Q&A session. “I thought it was a big story, if you consider where it started. In a relatively short period, it has taken root in literally every continent in the world,
except Antarctica – but it’s just a matter of time.” It was clear the film did not set out to strictly define Rastafarianism, but to explore its multiple facets. Although some believers in Israel stated that, “Rasta [is] rooted in the Bible,” Prendergast later mentioned, “Rasta for me is not a religion.” She explained that it is more about positive energy and the full-time lifestyle she has taken on since she “locked” her hair in 2003. While visiting Toronto, the young traveler discussed how some people want to adopt the image of Rastafari through wearing the dread locks or the sporting the colours of red, green, and yellow, but don’t want to deal with the “burden” or politics that comes along with the commitment to being a true Rastafarian. “Rasta has been marketed a lot, to the point that the real tenets of Rastafari have been stripped away and removed on purpose for convenience, for what suits people,” Prendergast said in the film. Her grandmother Rita, the wife of the late Bob Marley, agreed: “When I see Rastafari now, it is more like a fad and fantasy.” Prendergast was born three years after her grandfather’s death, courtesy and therefore her knowledge of him and his Rastafarian beliefs The film by Bob Marley’s granddaughter takes the viewer to eight have been handed down primar- vastly different countries and explores the roots and progression of ily through family lore, music, and the Rastafari culture. the media. During the film, she mixes her exploration of Rasta- screening, Prendergast treated people all around the world, and fari with her own self-discovery. the audience to excerpts from 60 of yourself, which Prendergast ar“As I traveled, my grandfather Visions, a book on Marley’s phi- ticulated during her final message revealed himself to me,” the young losophies taken from his lyrics and at the event. “Insecurity – that is an insult to filmmaker said on the mystical interviews. moments when Marley spoke to RasTa: A Soul’s Journey is an the universe,” Prendergast said, to her through song, giving her more important film to see whether the audience composed predomifaith in Rastafari during the trav- or not you believe in the Rasta- nantly of university students. “So elling portion of the eight years fari faith; its underlying message figure out your purpose, [and] love of total production. After the was one of love, shared among yourself.”
G a ll e ry op e n i ng
The new Boarding House Gallery opened in Guelph on Feb. 28, at the location of the former Guelph Civic Museum at Dublin Street and Waterloo Avenue. Pictured is sculpture “Jalouse” by James Carl. Ina Xhunga
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Sheepman and Walrus rock Albion’s second floor Halifax imports treat concertgoers to inventive and spirited indie rock Robyn Nicholson After over a week of touring Canada’s East Coast, Halifax natives Walrus and Sheepman graced the Albion’s second floor with surprisingly sundrenched indie rock that was equal parts shoegaze, experimental, and surf-rock-infused psychedelia. Despite the small crowd, the show was a uniquely intimate experience that was well worth braving the cold and the cover charge. To kick off the evening, Walrus, composed of brothers Justin and Jordan Murphy, on vocals/guitar and drums respectively, guitarist Justin McGrath and bassist Adam LeDrew, quietly took to the stage and slowly but surely built up a swirling, reverbheavy sound which soon filled the Albion’s upper floor. Echoing fellow retro-indie rockers
Tame Impala, Walrus’s set was warmly infused with spacey floating vocals underlain with laid-back surf-rock guitar and all backed by Jordan Murphy’s impeccable drumming. Consistent variation in tempos and styles – at times sweet and at times snarling, both steady and rollicking – made for a continuously absorbing and welcoming set to start the night. Without any lost time, Sheepman had launched into their own set. While sharing shoeless – or in Sheepman’s case, sockless – singers, also carrying over to the second set was Walrus drummer Jordan Murphy, joining Harley Alexander on vocals and guitar, and bassist Adam Gravelle. The trio proved to be a powerhouse, crafting a sound much larger than they appeared capable of. Justin Murphy’s wandering and ambivalent vocal style was traded for Alexander’s more deeply set resonation, at times echoing Joy Division’s Ian Curtis. The pace continued to pick up as the set progressed, maintaining an intensely present and alive sound, at once effervescent and captivating.
the treasures
Robyn Nicholson
March 2 saw East-Coast indie rockers Sheepman visit the Albion Hotel for a show alongside Walrus for a surprisingly intimate performance. The audience size had increased, albeit marginally, and the sound continued swelling, pausing briefly for a song which was as close to a ballad as had been approached all evening. Alexander demonstrated a devastatingly emotive range, while drummer Murphy and bassist Gravelle stayed completely in tune with each other, ensuring a tightly knit, intimate sound. Alexander’s guitar work was heavily laden with effects
Andrea Connell
Folk rockers The Treasures performed a noon hour concert in the UC courtyard on March 1, much to the delight of fans of all ages.
pedals but they were not used in ex- abruptly short – mid-song, in fact. Despite the disruptive early endcess, as can be the issue with such set-ups. ing, the general feeling following On the second-to-last song, the sudden silence was jovial and Sheepman really opened up, show- sincere. The dual sets were equaling off in a freak-out of sorts that ly impressive and pretension-free. resulted in a blistering pace and an While Walrus and Sheepman would unbridled raucousness of orches- return to Halifax shortly, their imtrated noise. Unfortunately, due to pression left on the Albion and on time constraints set by the Albion’s the handful of concertgoers will reever-popular funk night to fol- main in downtown Guelph. Here’s low, Sheepman’s set closer was cut to many happy returns.
Graphic novel review: Minutemen by Darwyn Cooke Adapted series brings new perspective to old characters.
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soon to be released book is not going over well with the masked heroes he worked with throughout the 1940s. They don’t want the public to know the Comedian sexually assaulted Sally Jupiter, Hooded Justice was a psychopath, and the Silhouette was a lesbian. Cooke has added some heft to these characters, especially those who did not really get their due in
If you haven’t read any of the new series Before Watchmen, DC Comic’s homage to Alan Moore’s sensational graphic novel The Watchmen, put down that textbook and get busy. The first four of the nine titles were released in June of 2012 and the limited edition miniseries is soon coming to an end. The Before Watchmen checklist includes Minutemen, Silk Spectre, Nite Owl, Comedian, Ozymandias, Rorschach, Dr. Manhattan, Dollar Bill and Molach. Each title is the creation of different artists, but solidly based on source material gleaned from the original Watchmen. Minutemen is written and drawn by the fantastic Toronto-based Darwyn Cooke, known for his work on Catwoman, The New Frontier, and adaptations of Richard Stark’s Parker dc comics novels into graphic ones. In the first of the six-issue Minutemen, Cooke brings Moore’s The Watchmen. The story of Ursula characters to life based on the in- Zandt – the Silhouette – is of her past formation found in Hollis Mason’s, fight against child pornographers, a.k.a. Nite Owl’s, fictional tell-all busting them and saving children biography called Under The Hood. from harm. She and her lover were (If you haven’t read The Watchmen, brutally murdered as a revenge crime read it and all will be clear!) years later. Hollis Mason has retired from Where Moore gave her characmasked and unmasked crime fight- ter only a paragraph or two in the ing. He is a New York City beat cop original book, Cooke gives Ursula her by day, Nite Owl by night. Mason’s due in this rendition. Cooke adds to
the character’s depth by building on her experience as an orphan in Nazi Germany. The six Minutemen issues build into a mystery surrounding what Ursula was investigating when she died and why Nite Owl promises to finish what she started. Cooke’s art is nowhere as gritty as the original graphic novel and this may fool some into thinking the stories are also not as gritty. Not so. The gentle cartoony drawings and soft colours disguise the bloody and violent murder scenes on the page. Cooke also manages to keep the characters just as human and pathetic as Moore’s. Byron – the Mothman – is a drunk and barely a superhero. Sally Jupiter saw dressing up as a “crime fighter” as a lucrative way to boost her modeling career. She never really fought crime. Yet Cooke gives her character a twist by giving her a murderous role in avenging Ursula’s death. The thread running throughout the series is Hollis Mason’s desire to share the truth about how it was being behind the mask for over two decades. Truth is a funny thing, though. Sometimes even those behind the mask don’t quite know what their counterparts are up to. It’s hard to see what is in front of you. No spoilers here: just know Cooke brings the story to a shocking conclusion. It may be sacrilege to say but the Minutemen series has far better art and deeper characters than the original. Of course it is no groundbreaker, like The Watchmen was in 1986, but it’s a more enjoyable read.
12 w w w.th e on ta r ion . c om Things I hate about the music scene Four things that need to stop Nick Revington My job assures that I spend lots of time engaging with the local music scene, which is great, usually. Here are the bits that aren’t so great. When bands release their album on cassette: There seems to be a re-emerging trend of indie bands releasing material on cassette. It can only be assumed that this is an attempt to come across as retro-chic or something. Except just
no. You can almost hear a group of synth-playing hipsters asking themselves, “You know what would be ironic? Putting our music in a format no one uses anymore.” Whatever novelty value a cassette tape may have is far outweighed by the fact that they are bulky, have poor sound quality, and no one ever listens to them. When people clap along to songs at live shows… on the wrong beat: This happens more than you might think, and if you do it, you’re a square. Generally, clapping should come on beats two and four in most music, which is based on a four-beat pattern. That’s called the
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back beat, and it’s what drives the – the guitarist who throws in a overwhelming majority of popu- couple licks while the lead singlar music. The reason people get it er is trying to introduce the next wrong is that beats one and three song, or the drummer who pracoften intuitively feel stronger. In tices a fill after every tune. It’s case you don’t have the music annoying for sure, but also untheory background to figure out professional. We came to see you which beat is which, your safe bet play well-rehearsed songs, not is to sync up to the snare drum, practice on stage. which usually accentuates the backbeat. You may find it help- Generic singer-songwriters: They ful to tap or stomp your foot on are a dime a dozen. You better be beats one and three to identify two an impressively innovative songand four. writer, or have a really unique voice, or be a guitar virtuoso. When one of the musicians in Preferably, you are more than the band feels the need to fiddle one of those things, but if you around on their instrument be- are none of them, just stop. As tween songs: You know the type Barenaked Ladies might say, “it’s
all been done.” As poet-musician CR Avery might say, “folk singer, you make me wish that your mom never fucked your dad.” Of course, no one can be amazing at what they do right off the bat, so if you need time to develop your solo singer-songwriter style, spend some time in a band. At least in the meantime you don’t need to rely entirely on your own ability to create musical interest. If that’s not feasible, make it your mission to develop something that sets your music and performance apart from other singer-songwriters before you book yourself shows at every coffeehouse in town. It’s not a gimmick, it’s a selling point.
Album review: The Folk Sinner – Lee Harvey Osmond Big name, big expectations, big delivery Makenzie Zatychies Be prepared to be swept away by the new album The Folk Sinner, from Lee Harvey Osmond. Close your eyes, kick back, and let the music take you through this eclectic marriage of sounds. This is the second album from the band, fronted by the distinct baritone growl of Tom Wilson, also of Junkhouse and Blackie and the Rodeo Kings. Wilson has the writing and vocal credits on all tracks, but is happy to have had the opportunity of such wonderful collaborations throughout the album, with names such as Hawksley Workman (“Break Your Body”), Oh Susannah (“Big Chief”), Margo Timmins (“Deep Water”) and with his son, Thompson Wilson of Harlan Pepper (“Big Chief”) making an appearance. As for the name The Folk Sinner, Wilson explained that as a child he
wanted to be a folk singer but wasn’t accepted by that community. These people didn’t get him, and didn’t understand what he was doing, causing him to become an outsider in that genre. Wilson said that “trying to be accepted by any group that identifies in a certain way, with its own rules is a dead end, but it pushes you to create music in your own way, therefore creating your own audience.” Wilson deemed the title an acknowledgement of his roots. Wilson didn’t end up a folk singer, but a folk sinner. Wilson said that “music is back in the hands of the people and the artists.” The idea is clearly proven when a band refuses to conform to any genre, and as Wilson said, “They sought to make folk music in a way that hadn’t been done before,” therefore creating a genre unto themselves labeled “acid folk.” It refuses to fit any mould, creating an honest sound that you can’t quite compare to other things out there, and that really comes through on the album.
This acid folk genre is a unique marriage of jazz, blues, hypnotic bass lines and folk sensibility. Like a puzzle, containing many different pieces, this album contains many components that come together to make it a great listen as a whole. “Devil’s Load” is a mix of bluesy folk, where “Easy” is psy-
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chedelic jazz juxtaposed with soft percussion accompanied by Wilson’s smooth vocals. Folk Sinner has layers and a big sound working together to create a unity, forming a complete album. Wilson attributed this to the fact that, “all the songs come from the
same roots, the same room” in Wil- Workman for or 15 or 20 years and son’s Hamilton home. we hit it off… we decided to write He said it allowed him to “cre- something and wrote ‘Break Your ate varying songs that can exist Body’ in 10 minutes.” Wilson explained how past expetogether.” A few stand out songs on the riences were reflected in the writing album are “Oh Linda,” “Big Chief” of this record. and “Break Your Body.” A great ren“We all have challenges, broken dition of a Gordon Lightfoot song, hearts and dark corners and places “Oh Linda” is very raw and cre- we’ve crawled out from, but I’m ates the perfect opening. Wilson more vibrant than I’ve ever been. penned “Big Chief” with his son, My new productivity and focus with a message. come from 14 years of sobriety. I’ve “Leadership, which does not have been given a chance to live again. to be the love of power, but leader- Saying you’re an artist and drinking ship in the hands of people who are through that statement is false, but loving and caring for fellow man, waking up and creating is an artist,” opposed to caring about money or said Wilson, adding that Lee Harvey war or religion” is what is impor- Osmond provides this outlet. tant, said Wilson. The album reflects this new life The vocals of Wilson and Oh Su- and the high note in his creative casannah elevate one another to a new reer, standing as an example of what level, creating a stunning duet. Fi- we can achieve. nally, “Break Your Body” was Wilson says, “You can only go up” written and performed in collab- and that he hopes to get better. oration with Hawksley Workman. Honest, raw, unique and pasWilson claims this is one of the songs sionate, this album – like its writer he is most proud of on Folk Sinner. – speaks from the heart. To better “I love co-writing and have co- understand the heart of Lee Harwritten with a lot [of artists] on vey Osmond, take a listen to The this album. I’ve known Hawksley Folk Sinner.
Pop Quizzical Critical hits (and misses) Tom Beedham Pop culture can be hard to wrap your head around. Operating as a sister column to Pop Machine, Pop Quizzical was born out of a general sense of estrangement that is at times brought on by the entertainment industry and its ambassadors. Come here for a round up of generally mystifying, contradicting, and alienating pop culture tidbits and revel in my frustration by reading my my lack of comprehension hidden behind thinly veiled sarcasm.
Taylor Swift goes all St. Peter Hollywood Reporter it’s probably “for that is at this point riding on a label Kanye West does(n’t) care what Instead of writing a song about it, other reasons. Mostly boring tax stuff.” stretched so thin you barely even asso- you think Taylor Swift has found another way So she probably deserves it, right? Fey ciate the brand with its programming, Because he really doesn’t care what to react indirectly to comments Tina has responded by admitting she might Much Music announced it would re- people think of him, Kanye recentFey and Amy Poehler jokingly made at take a page out of Swift’s book and “do introduce audiences to everyone’s ly took time to call up Hot 97’s DJ favourite sock puppet personality, Enuff to complain about being the Golden Globes about her prefer- a whole song” about the experience. ence to become romantically entwined What’s not recognized by most is Ed the Sock on March 13. While the placed seventh on MTV’s 10 “Hotwith famous men. As the only arbiter the alarming irony that Twist isn’t green-haired, cigar chomping, celeb- test MCs” list. West said he should of heavenly admittance that matters, really helping Fey and Poehler by rity razzing sock puppet will certainly have been in the top five, and comTaylor Swift reacted to the digs by cit- circulating this information. As one reel back Much audiences from the plained that he was probably only ing Katie Couric, who she told Vanity modestly following in the footsteps of ’90s and Ed will appear on Much pro- exempted from that bracket beFair was one of her favourite people be- Jesus, shouldn’t she try to help these grams New.Music.Live. and Video on cause the list makers didn’t like cause “she said to me she had heard a lost souls? Are her bangs doomed to Trial, Much’s decision surely comes his newest Cruel Summer album quote that she loved, that said, ‘There’s burn in a special place in hell too?! as a recent effort in attempting to get – a minor indicator of buzz deflaaway with avoiding the morality test- tion that should surely not prevent a special place in hell for women who don’t help other women.’” Poehler is Ed the Sock returns to Much Music ing task of obtaining copyrights for someone from being considered okay with the news that she is going In its ongoing bid to test our under- airing music videos, and instead airing worthy of inclusion among the to hell, although she admitted to the standing and tolerance of a channel longer blocks of house content. world’s “hottest five” MCs.
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From A to Zavitz Moonraker explores uncertainty of memory Nick Revington Nadine Maher’s show at Zavitz gallery Feb. 25 to March 1, entitled Moonraker, explored the themes of memory and the questioning of our perceptions through painting. Most of the paintings were based on memories, some recent and others more distant. Maher often used bold colours with an evenness of tone to represent memory, which the artist referred to as “imaginative logic.” “I just like to use my imagination to find what I can logically put in the painting,” said Maher. “Like if it’s a room, then I know there’s a floor, it’s not going to fade out anywhere, so I just make it all one big colour, and I’m not sure what else is on there, but I know that for sure.” Maher contrasted this with representations of memory in movies, in which images are hazy and white around the edges. A particular shortcoming of memory, of course, is that it can be
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realized that all of my drawings were not really that adequate to paint from. There were lines missing, I didn’t know what colour anything was, so I just tried to make it up as I went when I was making the paintings,” explained Maher. “So there’s some weird things and mistakes in them that I really like, that happened in all of them. All of them have a weird mistake for some reason.” Similarly, our inability to factcheck our memories was on display in the piece “Too Fast, Too Low, and Checkered.” This painting featured a white- and red-checkered silhouette of an airplane against a sky blue backdrop. After Maher and a friend witnessed an aircraft pass at low altitude and high speed, Maher’s friend insisted it had a checkered pattern while Maher insisted it did not. “But I decided to include that anyway, nadine maher because it was a weird discrepancy of memory… for all I know maybe it did, Nadine Maher’s exhibit, Moonraker, at Zavitz gallery the week of Feb. 25, represented the vagueness of memory with solid colours lacking detail rather than creating hazy edges. but I can’t go back and check it again,” said Maher. In the end, Moonraker exposes the unreliable, a trait Maher used as an choose to celebrate these flaws, such different places and drawing buildadvantage. A number of the artist’s as “Building (Red and Green)” or ings and stuff like that and bringing space between plausibility and skepworks openly engage with the un- “Building (Bailey Park).” them back to the studio and trying ticism, forcing us to draw conclusions certainty inherent in memory and “I was going around campus and to paint them. But when I got back I we can never truly verify.
What the Tech? Are we breaking the language barrier? Nick Revington In yet another example of “science fiction” becoming merely “science,” live translation between speakers of different languages is quickly becoming a reality. The concept is loosely based on the ability of Star Trek’s characters to understand the dialogue of alien cultures in flawless English. NTT DoCoMo, a cell phone carrier in Japan, has developed software that allows phone calls to be translated
between Japanese and either English, Mandarin, or Korean. It expects to increase the number of non-Japanese languages to around 10 in the near future. French phone company AlcatelLucent is developing a similar system, with over a dozen languages, and has ambitions to allow conference calls between around 10 participants to converse in as many as four different languages simultaneously. Inventor Will Powell of London, UK, has devised a prototype system that translates between English and Spanish by displaying the translation in special goggles, similar to movie
subtitles. A number of other companies and inventors are in hot pursuit, including the likes of Microsoft and Google. Most of this technology relies on identifying senones. Senones are comprised of three phonemes – the distinct sounds that make up words. English alone has about 40 phonemes, which combine for 9,000 senones. Using a computing technique known as deep neural networks, which attempts to mimic the human brain, senones are discerned from incoming sounds and allow speech to be recognized as words and sentences to be translated.
A number of problems arise in translation, however. Some words have multiple meanings, or ambiguous meanings, or may simply not have an equivalent in another language. Different languages have different syntactical rules, too. Even if you translate the words correctly, what order they go in may be different. The result is often a disjointed and unnatural sentence – potentially humourous to native speakers of that language and embarrassing to those speaking. NTT DoCoMo’s technology, for example, struggles with long sentences. Jibbigo and Google, which both
operate translation apps, work around this problem by using crowdsourcing techniques to identify the most appropriate translations for the context, for instance by comparing it to other sentences the software has encountered. Microsoft offers another approach: its translation is pronounced in a voice that mimics the actual speaker, meaning listeners are more likely to be forgiving of erroneous translations. Despite this, problems remain. Background noise, slang, and human tendency to talk over one another still present major hurdles to Star Trekstyle effortless translation.
Communications and Corporate Affairs Commissioner Roisin Lyder
You should vote for me because I am committed to defending and expanding student interests, because I have four years of CSA experience, and because I have great ideas for this position. 1. Communication Innovation – My communications strategy includes: starting a CSA radio show, recruiting student representatives from large first year classes, holding office hours in the UC courtyard, publishing empty classroom times so you know where you can study, and bringing more fun to your life with prizes, competitions, socials, and pub nights! 2. Experience that Counts – I spent two years as a member of the CSA Board of Directors and I have also worked as both CSA Outreach and Promotions Coordinator and as CSA Clubs Coordinator. In addition, I have been a longtime volunteer with many different organizations, clubs, and campaigns across campus including the Guelph Student Mobilization Committee, the Guelph Resource Centre for Gender Empowerment and Diversity, the Guelph Campus Co-op and more. 3. Advancing Student Interests – A vote for me is a vote for active CSA campaigns! Campaigns that will work for more study and social space for students, a bottled water free campus, and against tuition fee increases. Together we are stronger.
Christopher Archibald (Photo not available)
I am currently an undergraduate student in Human Kinetics and have been heavily involved in student leadership across campus, mainly focusing on Interhall Council to advocate for the rights and opinions of residence students. During my four years on IHC, I have gained valuable experience and skills to allow me to thrive in any leadership role. I have an extensive network, professional and social, across campus that can allow me to seek information and relevant stakeholders quite easily. I plan to utilize my networks to create an open and progressive decision-making body for the undergraduate population. To summarize my platform, it would be to work for the student voices. I am extremely dedicated to finding and abiding by the student voice, and I plan to actively seek out student feedback during large decision-making processes in order to best advocate for what students want. I also want to re-integrate the CSA with the rest of campus and its stakeholders by utilizing my already well-developed relationships with campus professionals. If you are a student, I represent you, and voting for me will ensure your voice is heard.
CSA GENERAL E
Q: “Why should students vote for y
From March 6 to March 8, all undergraduate students will be able represent them at various levels in the next academic yea through each student’ The Ontarion asked each candidate two questions. The first of the two the biggest areas for improvement (or complete overhaul) at
Human Resources and Operations Commissioner Kristian Adomait
1. I have experience in working well with University administration – Ombudsperson & Residence positions. The current PPP (Program Prioritization Process) has potential to create conflict between students and the administration. This year as the Ombudsman, we implemented the 100-mile restaurant because it worked to meet student desires and didn’t create issues for administration. 2. I understand budgets and realize that the money comes from students. It should benefit as many students as possible. I would act as a watchdog over your money by setting up automatic processes for evaluating the dollars spent. 3. I will help implement realistic changes. While I cannot promise to build a new 37-floor infrastructure, I can promise to work with administration to understand student space needs and to ensure existing space is being used efficiently and effectively.
N. Charles Hamilton (Photo not available)
Where are the jobs? Why isn’t there more space? What are these people doing with my money? These are questions I’ve heard continuously over the past five years. We deserve greater outreach and promotion for student jobs, a long-term commitment and solution to student space, providing adequate financial training to CSA clubs, and increased transparency with the CSA’s budget. I promise to bring this to you. I have been involved with the CSA in many capacities, advocating student space and a bottled water free campus. I’ve worked closely with the current HRO Commissioner and I am very aware of the major tasks that will face this portfolio in the new academic year. As the current CSA Clubs Coordinator and VP of Finance for the CBSSC, and through my involvement with Residence Life Staff, Interhall Council, Hospitality Services and the Central Student Association, I believe I am well qualified for the job and ready to work from day one. My name is Charles Hamilton, vote for me for Human Resources and Operations Commissioner.
External Affair Dominica McPherson
I believe in a strong student union a vocating for your rights and interes The CSA should act as your resourc uniting student voices and efforts f positive change. Being in this positi has awarded me with the experien and skill set necessary to take it to new level. I have been a strong voice for great tap water access and for the stude demand to end the sale of bottled w ter on campus. I’ve heard from stu etary needs, affordability, etc. – is s committed to facilitating a task forc your concerns. With Ontario having the highest tu portant to me to continue the figh strong lobbying efforts to the unive secondary education on their prior to be involved! This year, I have learned about how campuses a safer space. Next year, culture on campus that prevents dis ing with you to take action for a saf
Local Affairs Commissioner Kara Bonis
There is only one thing I love as much as the University of Guelph and that is the City of Guelph. It is my home, and that is not even a cliché answer. I have lived in Guelph for over 20 years. I have been on campus and attending events since elementary school. I was around before the Begging Bear existed! I have the perspective of both a student and a resident to bring to this position. I have seen the changes in transit and housing over the years; what the issues are and what has worked or not. I have also worked at the CSA for the past three years and have organizational knowledge so that the learning curve will be shortened. I can begin working for the benefit of students right away. I won’t need the same amount of time to learn the ropes so I will begin immediate discussions around student issues this summer when the campus is a bit quieter and there is more time to devote to your benefit. A vote for me is a vote for knowledge, immediate action and results.
Tyler Valiquette
My name is Tyler Valiquette and students should vote for me for three reasons: improved campus safety, municipal engagement and enhanced transit. The University of Guelph campus is a great community. However, there are issues that should be addressed. Sexual assault is a reality and we need to make the services for survivors more apparent and accessible. I will publish sexual assault pamphlets in first year orientation packages so students have better access to information. There are political happenings at the municipal level that students need to be aware of. Residential licensing and the nuisance bylaw are examples. If approved, these will directly impact students. I plan to keep students informed through my experience in media. I am the videographer at the cannon, I sat on the board and wrote for The Ontarion and I have a news show at CFRU. I know how to engage students. The cost of transit continues to increase. The quality of service must increase with it. I am going to create a student survey to acquire student feedback in order to better present our thoughts to city officials and the transit board.
ELECTIONS 2013
you in the upcoming CSA elections?”
to vote in the CSA elections, choosing the five commissioners who will ar. Voting is done through email, and the ballot is available ’s Gryph Mail account. o is printed here. The answer to the second question, “What do you see as t the University of Guelph?” are available at theontarion.com.
rs Commissioner
adsts. ce, for on nce oa
ter ent waudents that food issues – waste, disomething that you care about. I am ce on campus food issues to address
uition fees in the country, it’s imht against increases. This requires ersity and governments to see postrity lists with multiple ways for you
w other student unions make their I plan to be proactive in building a scrimination and violence by workfer campus.
Academic and University Affairs Commissioner Peter Miller
I have and will always be actively supportive of the campaigns that the CSA runs. These include campaigns against budget cuts, campaigns against tuition fee increases, and campaigns that fight for more study space. Beyond volunteering countless hours to help campaign for the CSA, I have also been an elected representative on the CSA’s Board of Directors. That experience has given me a lot of insight to how the organization is run, as well as the different dynamics within the board. This past year, I have worked diligently on the Guelph Student Mobilization Committee, organizing over 40 presentations at classrooms these last two semesters alone that encouraged you to get engaged. If elected, I promise to continue the current CSA’s work in campaigns that fight for students’ demands on campus (i.e. Tap-In/Aqua, Freeze the Fees, student space, etc.) while also bringing other important issues to the table. I think it is vitally important to constantly remind ourselves that the CSA is only as strong as its best campaigns. If you vote for me, I vow to spend every minute of my day working to make your voices heard and working to make CSA campaigns stronger.
Julia Forster (Photo not available)
I believe students should vote for me because, if elected, I will actively work towards representing the entire undergraduate student body through offering an unbiased opinion and remaining non-partisan. I promise to fight for and defend your academic rights, advocate for students self-identified as having a disability, and expand campus sustainability. I plan to assess the viability and demand for a Fall semester reading week/long weekend, increase awareness of CSD services, and advocate for phasing out of bottled water on campus. I will work WITH administration through previous ties rather than against it in achieving measurable outcomes.
16 w w w.t h e on ta r ion . c om National hockey team in yellow? The women’s national hockey team will soon be sporting Livestrong uniforms Chris Müller “It still has the Canadian logo, but it means just a little bit extra,” explained Jayna Hefford, a member of the Canadian national women’s hockey team on the team’s new black and yellow alternate uniform. The uniform, to be worn on April 2 in the world championships in Ottawa next month, is a joint effort between the Livestrong Foundation and Hockey Canada, joined together by the all-powerful Nike Inc. The “little bit extra” that Hefford mentions should be what concerns fans of Canadian hockey. One might think that in some idyllic perspective of national sports, the country on the uniform supercedes whatever alternative motives are in play, be
they charitable or not. And then, my idyllic perspective returns to the 21st century. The hockey Canada logo, the one that sits front and center in our collective memory of our place in international hockey, has been visually desecrated to include the Livestrong yellow stripes on the sleeves and other jersey elements received similar treatment. The decision comes just weeks after Lance Armstrong, the founder of the Livestrong foundation, admitted to doping and lying about it for the duration of his career as an acclaimed cyclist. I think the limits of our Canadian forgiveness are being pushed here. That’s not to say that the Livestrong foundation itself is operating under bad intentions: the foundation has helped make great strides in cancer research and awareness. However, in light of recent events, the general public still associates Livestrong with the man who founded it, and this is unlikely to change for the foreseeable
future. So how on earth did the team buy into this? Are we comfortable as a country in our association with this man, who is neither Canadian nor relevant in any way to hockey? Is this the face we want to put forward on the international stage, that we are shameless in our promotion of this maligned public figure? It reads like a canary-yellow sign that we’ll do anything for a little publicity, including endorsing an athlete who’s effectively been ripping people off for over a decade. It’s nothing short of a tragedy of our national identity. If they wanted an alternate jersey, why not let aboriginal imagery dominate the design? Why not tap in to Canada’s rich hockey-uniform heritage? In case you were not yet convinced that this is an example of corporate shenanigans at work, Livestrong-Canadian hockey branded apparel will be available at Sport Chek. I think I’m going to be sick.
sports & Health
courtesy
Find out why yellow on the women’s national team’s jersey is an affront to your intelligence and a crime against our Canadian identity.
CIS Championship Update Fitzgerald golden in wrestling; CIS finals for hockey and basketball on tap Chris Müller Even without the Gryphon presence, the national championship season is full of excitement for fans of Canadian university sport. In the lone CIS event with Gryphon participants, John Fitzgerald, Jade Papke, and Kesley Gsell represented the Gryphons with pride as each medaled in their events in the wrestling national championship on March 2. Papke earned silver in the
51-kilogram weight class and Gsell took home the silver in the 82-kilogram division. John Fitzgerald, the imposing 130-kilogram division wrestler, was the lone Gryphon to earn gold, taking the match with 3-0 and 2-0 scores. Mathieu Deschatelets suffered a torn ACL in a semi-final match and was forced to withdraw from the event. Deschatelets finished fourth, and rookie Navrit Wirach impressed by finishing seventh in his first year at the national championship. Women’s hockey is set to start the March 7-10 tournament that will crown the nation’s best hockey program of 2013. Looking to earn the top spot will be Montreal, St. Francis Xavier, Queen’s, the
University of British Columbia, the University of British Columbia won on March 10 will be broadcast on hosting University of Toronto, and their sixth straight national title the Score. Track and Field is set to partake the Hayley Wickenheiser-led Cal- on the women’s side, beating the gary Dinos. Alberta Pandas 25-13, 25-23, and in the CIS Championships March Men’s hockey will begin their last 25-18. Laval beat McMaster for 7-10. The Gryphons will travel to tournament of the season on March their fourth national men’s title, Alberta for the three-day meet. The 14 when the round robin begins but the first on their home court. OUA-winning Gryphons have their to crown a CIS champion. Before Host Laval won with set scores of work set out for them as the Windthat however, St. Mary’s and the 26-24, 22-25, 25-22, and 25-21. sor women are looking to win their The teams for the women’s bas- fifth straight team victory, and University of New Brunswick will square off in game three of the At- ketball final are not yet set, but the University of Western Ontarlantic University Sport conference the men’s tournament is set to io Mustangs are hoping to repeat on March 7. The OUA final will pit happen on March 8-10 in Ottawa. last year’s success. The Gryphon the Université du Québec à Trois- Carleton’s search for a three-peat women haven’t won the title since Rivières against Waterloo for the won’t come easy, as they’ll be con- 2007-08 and the men haven’t won last entrance spot into the national tested by Cape Breton University, since 2009-10. Given their success tournament. the University of Ottawa, the Uni- at the OUA championships, the Both divisions of volleyball have versity of British Columbia, Acadia, time could be now for the Gryconcluded the CIS finals; the cham- McGill, Lakehead, and Victoria. The phons to reclaim their place at the pionship ended on March 2. The semi-final on March 9 and the final top of the national pack.
Athletic department goes online for job fair Potential employees encouraged to browse available positions in streamlined, online format Chris Müller The University of Guelph’s athletic department has opened several work positions that they are looking to fill with students and alumni. The jobs themselves are what you might expect for an athletic department: Fitness Centre Staff, Athletic Facility operator, Client Service Representative, Lifeguard, and other related positions are all looking to be filled by March 15. Instead of hosting a traditional job
fair that could take up both time and efficient, and saves applicants and facilities, the athletic department has recruiters time,” explained Sinead opted for a more modern approach, Irvine, the Marketing and Website Coposting the available jobs through a ordinator for Co-operative Education virtual job fair facilitated by Co-op- & Career Services. The website also erative Education & Career Services, allows the user to upload documents an on-campus facility available to as- such as resumes and cover letters as sist students in career planning and well as a calendar where upcoming finding part-time jobs. events and workshops are posted. The intent is to provide a more ac“This innovative, free online recruitment event connects our tal- cessible job fair for students that might ented, enthusiastic students with shy away from the intimidation of prominent employers without the face-to-face interviews on repeat for line ups and the ‘meet and greets’ of a few hours. By setting this up as an typical job fairs,” states the online online endeavour, the costs associated release of the program. with holding a day-long event are disGiven the reach of the Internet in sipated, not to mention the logistics a university’s student daily life, it of having all the associated personnel makes sense that the job fair be held on site at the same time. online. For students, the idea of an online job fair isn’t so far-fetched. “The virtual job fair [is] paperless,
“I can see the benefit of moving it online,” suggested student-athlete Jeremy Snider. “I’ve been to job fairs in the past where it’s a bit of a mad scramble, this sounds like a much more streamlined system.” While efficiency is important, the human element remains critical in the eyes of others. “Making [job fairs] online will fully depersonalize the entire job search experience, and candidates won’t have the opportunity to display their charisma and confidence that they otherwise would,” explained student Erica Mills. Regardless of personal preference, the online environment opens the positions up to a larger audience of people, effectively giving the
athletic department an opportunity to reach students outside of the athletic community. The fair is meant to be the first point of contact for potential employees, but a face-toface interview process will correct the missing human element of the online experience. Even if you’re not interested in applying for anything right away, it’s worthwhile to see what kind of jobs are being posted – a paid internship in Mumbai might appeal to the adventurer among us. Check out https://www. recruitguelph.ca/cecs/dept-athletics-virtual-job-fair for more information on the athletic department’s job fair and other services provided by the Co-operative Education & Career Services.
170.8 ◆ march 7t h, 2013
sports & Health
From the Bleachers Home-plate collisions, a thing of the past? Chris Müller
a means of entertainment or action it’s out of place in a way. I played catcher growing up, and in five or six years of playing, I was in one home-plate collision. I was 11 years old, and I’d never known that kind of excitement. It’s a simple matter of
I think playing catcher in professional baseball is one of the hardest jobs in the world of sport. There are so many minute things going on in a baseball game: the defensive positioning, working good pitch counts, setting up out pitches, and controlling oddball pitchers. Be it a 75-mile per hour knuckleball that floats away from the catcher’s glove, or a 108-mile per hour heater from Nolan Ryan, you’ve got to be a little nuts to want to squat and Charlie Riedel catch. So it’s surprising that baseball is This week’s From the Bleachers discussing the possibility of remov- investigates the excitement and ing the home-plate collision from the potential for catastrophe when game. A collision at home plate gen- the base runner and catcher erally occurs when a runner attempts collide at home plate. to advance from third to home, but when the throw is ahead of the runner defending a small patch of earth a little and the catcher stands in front of the bigger than a laptop, and it is withplate to secure the out and protect the out fail the great visual descriptor of run, the runner can choose to barrel what happens when an unstoppable through the catcher and attempt to jar force meets an immovable object. It’s the ball loose in order to score the run. incredible, and the only rival for exIt’s an incredibly violent moment in citement in baseball is stealing home a sport that doesn’t require violence as – which coincidentally can cause a
home-plate collision. potential harm of the home-plate colHowever, as research yields more lision, it’s simply a part of the game. If you’re not inclined to agree with insight into the potential harm a violent collision can have on the brain, that, then consider this: down by a run perhaps it’s time to reconsider the in the bottom of the ninth with one home-plate collision in baseball. out, and you’re the runner on third. Catching equipment hasn’t gone The batter swings and puts it back at through any fundamental changes in the warning track in center field. You the last few decades, and only now are concussion-preventative helmets experiencing widespread use in the major leagues. Health of the catcher aside, the base runner is essentially unprotected, with nothing more than a loose-fitting batting helmet to protect his cranium. Maybe there’s weight to this argument after all — there’s a lot of room for injury here. In the lone collision of my amateur career, the runner broke his arm. I don’t take responsibility for it; he disregarded a fifty-pound weight disadvantage and dropped his shoulder. I dug in and protected the plate. In hindsight, our parents must have been terrified. But in that brief moment of violence, there’s a reminder that all sport is potentially harmful. Athletic endeavors are fundamentally a test of the human body’s limits and injuries are bound to occur when we participate in these events. As much as I can recognize the need for an investigation as to the
17
tag up at third and wait for the catch, prepared to tag up and run home. The throw from center field comes in before you reach the plate, and the catcher bends his knees slightly and braces for impact. You’re running full speed, trying to send the game into extra innings and give your team a
18 w w w.t h e on ta r ion . c om sports & Health Potentially harmful nanoparticles found in ‘tire crumb’ The rubber material used in modern artificial turfs may cause asbestos-like symptoms Chris Müller Modern playing surfaces used as alternatives to natural grass are becoming the norm in the northern parts of North America. Climatic challenges, labour costs, and athletic preference have led to the installation of many artificial surfaces, the majority of which use pulverized car tires as a padding
and grit material in the new surfaces. The use of this “tire crumb” might initially seem beneficial – an avenue for recycling old car tires by chopping up the rubber material and spreading it over the new fields. The university’s soccer complex, field house, varsity field, and alumni stadium all sport these artificial surfaces. Car tires are 30 per cent carbon black nanoparticles, which are not in themselves harmful, so long as they are firmly attached to another material. However, many of these particles are found as carbon nanotubes, a human-engineered material that groups carbon particles in such a way as to produce
nanotubes, or minute cylinders that increase the strength and rigidity of the rubber it’s being manufactured with. A carbon nanotube is 10,000 times smaller than a human hair, and structurally ten times stronger than steel. These nanotubes, now in more contact with the atmosphere based on a massive increase in surface area (like say, a football field), could yield a higher release of these nanotubes into the atmosphere. Disturbing the particles on the playing surface, as is natural to most athletic endeavors, yields a higher potential for these nanotubes to enter the atmosphere. New research out of the Queen’s
Medical Research Institute at the University of Edinburgh and the MRC Center for Inflammation Research in Scotland suggests the potential danger of these particles. The nanotube possesses a structure that mimics the structure of asbestos, a material formerly used as an insulation product in building construction. Dramatic exposure to asbestos, like nanotubes, can lead to serious health concerns. The shape of the nanotube allows for clean entry into the body’s major systems, but the shape is also large enough that the immune system cannot fight it off. Essentially, it becomes trapped in the body and the particles accumulate. The accumulation of those particles can lead to
trouble breathing, scarring of lung tissue, and the possible development of cancerous cells. Since the size of the nanotube is so small, the potential exists that the particles could move from the lungs into other organs of the body, causing havoc on the body’s lifesupporting systems, according to Peter Gehr of the University of Bern in Switzerland. While more research is required, the reach of findings such as these could be huge, given the number of artificial playing surfaces in use. Just something to think about the next time you see those little black dots spray up from behind an athlete on the field.
Blame it on the city-planners Time awards researcher for establishing link between obesity and urban geography Chris Müller Cities, and the people who design them, are created with special interest as to how people will get around in the physical space. Most cities respond to this concern by addressing the roads, highways, and freeways that connect locations and allow for the fluid and effective movement of citizens from one area to another. But there’s something else to keep in mind the next time you boot up SimCity – particularly if you want healthy citizens. Research by the innovative James Sallis addresses how the environment we live in affects our levels of physical activity. It’s not so simple as to suggest one city is more active than another, but rather that the location of critical resources for citizens could influence how they get around and subsequently how they maintain a healthy lifestyle. Sallis noticed that in low-income
neighborhoods (a typical hotbed of inactivity), very few parks, recreation centres and fitness clubs are available. In some instances, sidewalks are in a state of disrepair or do not exist at all. Some extreme cases suggest the neighbourhood itself is too dangerous to go outside for any extended period of time. This led to Sallis investigating his observations, eventually writing over 500 studies in 30 years that address the issue of how we can make cities healthier and more activity-accessible than they had been in the past. At the crux of Sallis’s work is the concern of how to motivate people to become more active if there are few chances in their environment to do so. Fundamentally, Sallis believes that the construction of cities that promote alternative means of transportation to the car, such as public transit, cycling, and (dare-I-say) walking goes hand in hand with the construction of more parks, athletic fields, and recreational facilities. For his efforts, Time magazine recently dubbed Sallis an “obesity warrior.” Sallis was also recognized by being awarded the Bloomberg Manulife Prize for the promotion of Active
Health, accompanied by a $50,000 award through McGill University. “People living in communities where schools, stores, and recreational facilities are accessible by foot or bike are leaner and healthier than those who travel by car,” according to Sallis. Unlike other areas of health research, Sallis’s findings suggest expensive repairs and reconstructions of activity-devoid neighborhoods. Given the cost of such undertakings, cities are instead looking to improve existing facilities and introduce alternative transportation options like bike lanes on previously unadorned roads. Current and future city planners are taking his work into account, and new neighborhoods are focusing on accessible services that are not outside the reach of a good walk or quick bike ride. The old-regime of car-oriented cities presents a resistance to the greener, healthier alternative being proposed by Sallis. Sallis notes several experiences of citizens attempting to lobby city councils for improvements, but are met with unwavering anger by those who don’t want car traffic affected. Pedestrian walkways are important
Mumbling Nerd
Is the urban environment making it difficult to get healthy? Research by James Sallis investigates the healthy-living potential of urbanized areas. to Sallis, who recognizes that those in disrepair are not used as often as their well-maintained counterparts. Makes
you wonder how many might walk to school if the cowpath wasn’t covered in four inches of ice in the winter.
19 Brew Review: My goodness, my Guinness This Week in History 170.8 ◆ march 7t h, 2013
life
Chris Müller
found variety of Guinness is Guinness Draught, which is most commonly available through the
The iconic black liquid and foamy off-white head makes a Guinness one of the most immediately recognized pints on the bar. In fact by 2007, 10 million glasses of Guinness were enjoyed each day, and the brew was sold in over 150 countries. In 1759 Arthur Guinness signed a 9,000-year lease for the site of the first brewery – St. James Gate in Dublin, Ireland. A century and a half later in 1914, the brewery produced three million wooden barrels full of the delicious beer annually; the wood barrels remained part of the brewing process until 1963. Despite bans on luxury exports during WWII, Guinness’s local markets kept the business alive. Continued emphasis on marketing and brand innovation has kept Guinness as not only a staple in the beer world, tall cans at the LCBO, and at but a staple of the Irish economy draught taps throughout Guelph. as well. The secret to good Guinness is the Today, the most commonly introduction of nitrogen into the
“The taste is unique, and the roasted barley is finely paired with a mild sweetness, notes of walnut, and a light hopping...”
beer during the pour. This creates the smooth, uniform head that is desirable atop any pint, and contributes to the smooth mouth-feel and fine carbonation of the brew. The result is the drinker’s access to the finer roasted flavours of the beer, a result of the impeccably regulated and contract-grown barley that is unmalted but roasted to exact specifications. Nitrogen injection occurs through an in-line system at the pub, but draught cans, another of Guinness’ innovations, feature the widget – a small plastic ball that traps nitrogen, carbon dioxide, courtesy and beer. When the pressure in the can drops (from opening) the Learn about the unique history widget flies around, effectively of Guinness and the 254-year agitating the beer and producing old brewing tradition that goes the smooth head. into every pint of this delicious The taste is unique, and the dry Irish stout. roasted barley is finely paired with a mild sweetness, notes of mood for a drink this month, walnut, and a light hopping that reach for the beer 250 years of doesn’t steal from the brew’s in- brewing has crafted, and realize tention as a dry Irish stout. why you too will soon be saying, “My goodness, my Guinness!” So if you find yourself in the
The right way to volunteer How can genuine volunteer involvement lead you to a career? Wayne Greenway Many career advice sites talk about the benefits of volunteering for career job seekers. Amy Neumann, in a blog for Yahoo! HotJobs, cites five ways that volunteering can be helpful: you can develop new skills; meet new networking contacts; impress employers with your ambition; fill in employment gaps; add experience and boost your confidence with “that extra spring in your step.” On paper, it seems quite straight forward. Volunteer in the right area and you will receive these benefits, but in real life these are secondary benefits that come from a genuine desire to volunteer to make a difference in the lives of others. Second Harvest Executive Director Jo-Anne Sobie describes this well in a 2011 charity village blog. “If they’re just volunteering to get something on their resume and move forward, that’s probably not going to do them well. And that will probably come out during their volunteer period… The risk is they won’t get a good reference.” As long as your motivation to make a difference in your community is genuine, then there are also two more benefits seldom highlighted by career advice sites. Firstly, volunteering can give you the opportunity to create
accomplishments in a job area that career. this throughout your volunteer you are passionate about. SecondSo how does volunteering tie work and your career. The more ly, it will help you in conducting into this field research? Most of you can add to the organization, the field research that is critical- our clients are uncomfortable get- the more meaning and happiness ly needed for a successful career ting started in this kind of field your role will bring you. transition. research, but once they get underSometimes opportunities come Once you have gained a strong way, they find it very interesting through just doing what you are understanding of what you want and they are amazed by how their asked to do and doing it well. Such and don’t want next in your life, as questions improve after about 15 effort is always appreciated and well as an idea of a zone (consisting interviews. Job seekers who are it demonstrates your reliabilof many careers) where your in- volunteering in an area related to ity and commitment. More often, terests and strengths intersect, you the type of work they want to pur- truly adding value to a company are then ready to do field research sue often discover a “gold mine” or organization involves taking to narrow down the specific jobs in getting started with their field on more responsibility, as well as that you would like to target in research. They can start by just leading part or all of a project to your search. observing the role of people in pos- achieve success. It can also come Field research is done by se- itions they might like to pursue in from seeing a way to make an lecting job titles that are of interest the future to see how they might improvement or streamlining an to you and then investigating them “fit.” Then they can ask to inter- existing system, asking if suggesto find out what they would be like view the person doing this role tions would be welcome, and then, as a career. You can do this by con- within the organization or com- giving concrete positive strategies ducting web research or talking pany where they are volunteering. for how the change could made. with professional associations in If you have done a great job as The challenge for some volunthe area, but the most important a volunteer, your supervisor will teers is that they don’t like to ask component is interviewing people likely be happy to meet with you for more responsibility. This fear who are currently in the position. and introduce you to others in often comes from a mindset that These informational interviews the field. With this type of inter- says it is wrong to ask for what you serve a number of purposes. They view, you are not seeking a job but need or want, or from thinking will help you to understand exact- wanting to learn about how the that, “if they wanted me to take ly what the job is about, give you interviewee entered the field, the on leadership, they would ask me”. more information about the field, core job skills, and ideas for how The trouble is that the supervisor help you to develop a list of core you could get started in the field may be thinking, “ they are doing skills needed for the job, find out and more contacts to interview. so much I don’t like to ask them about upcoming opportunities in Your timing of this request is to do more.” the field, and get you contacts for important. If you have made a Once you have proved yourself valuable contribution to the oras a reliable volunteer, start lookmore interviews. The most imganization over the past school portant benefit is becoming known ing for ways to be more helpful in the field and in the commun- year, then your request and the and sit down with your superity, where you are searching for a interview is likely to be warmly visors and let them know that position. If you leave every inter- received. you would like to do more. Once viewee thinking that “this person For some people, the process of you feel that you have made some asked great questions” you are determining how to be more valu- progress, start your field research. going to hear from one of these able as a volunteer can be puzzling. You will be surprised at how many people about a way to start your It is important to know how to do doors open for you.
“God Bless You,” Is Cried as King Inspects Slums in Glasgow As Italy was bombing Ethiopia in an air attack, King Edward VIII paid a visit to the tenements of Glasgow, where he had actual conversations with the people subjected to living in the overcrowded and dirty spaces. The reporter wrote that the King spoke to a young boy in a pretty casual tone (for those times at least), replying to the kid’s question of “Are you really the new king?” with “Yes, little man, I am.” His Majesty visited six flats, and in a likewise casual manner, knocked on the door of each one to speak to the tenants about the issues they were experiencing living in the slums. According to the article, the King arrived in the city in a special carriage attached to a regular train, which reflected his principles of modesty, despite his monarchial title. (The Globe and Mail – March 6, 1936) Ghana celebrates independence In the first step to rid Africa of colonial rule, Ghana declared independence from Britain on this day, 56 years ago. While the day was marked with celebrations and included speeches by the Duchess of Kent, British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan, and the country’s first Prime Minister, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. Political instability persisted in the country through to 1992, when a referendum was held to introduce a multiparty system, according to The BBC. Jerry Rawlings was elected president during this time, and was attributed with “leaving a legacy of democracy.” (The BBC – March 6, 1957) Hunger Causes Petrograd Riots Rioting by the Russian people in Petrograd (now St. Petersburg) began the February Revolutions in the country on this day. A dispatch sent to The New York Times detailed the damage done to shops and factories in the city, and noted “the excitement” of the crowds, some of which simply stood by and watched “other people make trouble.” According to the report, “The people have cheerfully endured every manner of inconvenience throughout the long Winter in obtaining food supplies […] however, there has been witnessed the phenomenon of [bread] shortage in certain quarters of the city of the staple food of the common people.” Besides the hunger, the loss of faith in Czar Nicholas II as a result of mass government corruption, the failing economy, and Russia’s involvement in WWI helped spark the revolution, which culminated in his abdication of the throne on March 11. (The New York Times – March 8, 1917) Compiled by Alicja Grzadkowska
20 w w w.th e on ta r ion . c om Love/Sex/You: The Myth of the Slut C.R. La Croix
somehow dirty, somehow lesser despite the fact that men face no If someone asked you to define similar repercussions. “slut,” what would you say? Slut: To understand what a load someone who has a considerable of nonsense this is, let’s talk amount of sex. Slut: someone about some basic biological “easy.” Slut: she dresses too sex- facts, mainly that upon havily, her skirts are too short. Slut: ing penetrative vaginal sex, the she wears too much makeup, she hymen does not disappear. looks like a whore. Slut: she’s ask- Once again, the hymen does not ing for it. Consider this a love letter disappear upon having penetrato all those who have been told to tive vaginal sex. You don’t lose go change, to close their legs, who anything upon having sex. The have been told to dress sexy but hymen is something that can not “sluttish,” who have had their stretch along with the rest of you. sexuality used against them, and Breaking or tearing the hymen to all of you who are sick of these during sex is due to a lack of prepthings being said to your sisters, aration, and should not happen. your cousins, your friends, and However, even then the hymen your lovers. can heal and bounce back, good as Slut shaming starts early, new. The notion that you get rid of around the same time that girls something upon having penetraand boys get wind of this notion tive sex is ancient and outdated. of “purity” – that if you have sex, Once the whole outdated cherry your “purity” will be tarnished, poppin’ notion is gotten rid of, sexused up, and ruined forever. It’s uality is no longer something that violent language, made to make can be used against anyone. You’re girls back away from sex and sexu- not a different person because you ality in order to somehow preserve had sex – you are no better or worse themselves. This extends rapidly than anyone else. If that is the case, to their wardrobe, to their actions, then why would the number of to how they view themselves, to partners you have make any difhow they view others. Sudden- ference? Sex is an enjoyable act, ly they can’t act in certain ways and so long as the two parties are or do certain things or they’ll be willing and it is understood, casual
sex can be a great way to relieve stress. As long as the parties involved use proper protection and keep up with their health – and contact each other if an STI comes into play – it’s pretty safe as well. Slut shaming is nonsensical in this light, but still persists within everyday life – cat callers objectify women’s bodies, but baulk when these women decide to take charge of their own sexuality. A 16-yearold girl gets harassed online because she chose to wear a top that exposed her midriff. She is punished for her confidence, for her choices, for her pride and her body. Why? It’s not wrong for women to be sexual, or to be confident, or to make their own choices without regard for the male gaze. A woman can dress herself how she wants, when she wants, and there’s nothing wrong with that. She is autonomous. She deserves respect. We, as a modern society, should do away with notions of women as property and virginity as an object to be lost, given away, or taken. It is necessary for all peoples – not just those bestowed with a vagina – to act out against such dehumanising practices such as slut shaming, and embrace the fact that other people exist independently of what occurs
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Clas Thomas Svensson
Movements like SlutWalk have responded to a deep enculturation of slut shaming by reclaiming the word “slut” in an effort to render its culturally accepted definitions nonsensical. within the bedroom. Stop cat calling, stop sexual harassment, stop thinking others are “asking for it” or that dressing in a certain way means you can ignore autonomy in favour of focusing on what has occurred between a person’s legs.
Social change begins with you, the reader. If you have a question you’d like answered by Love/Sex/You, send an email to oneditor@uoguelph.ca with “L/S/Y” in the subject line.
22 w w w.th e on ta r ion . c om Ask before petting They may be cute but these puppies are on the job Carleigh Cathcart If you are a student at Guelph, it is highly likely that you have glimpsed me around campus, and guaranteed that you thought, “Aww, so cute!” when doing so. Alas, it is not me you have been adoring, but my canine sidekick, Abner. Abner is a four-month-old yellow lab in training for Autism Dog Services – a wonderful organization, I might add. And people, believe me, I know as much as you do that he is absolutely adorable – I hear his handler’s not bad lookin’ either... but I digress. Before you come running up to us with both hands eagerly out, please keep a few things in mind. If his vest is on, he is working. It doesn’t mean you can’t pet him, but it does mean you should ask. I know different organizations have different rules (there are three main training groups on campus), but for us, it is left
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to the discretion of the handler. up to greet you/eat your backThe general consensus is that our pack/pull at the leash, but for us, dogs can be pet once they are it actually isn’t okay. Honestly, sitting down and focusing on us. we don’t mean to be fun-sucking This means they must wait for our leeches, but every little incident permission, so please do not just that makes the dog learn somecome up and maul them (easier thing is ‘okay’ contributes to a said than done, no doubt, with a harder job for us in the long term. face like that). While your excitement is most If they are lying down, the same certainly appreciated, so is your etiquette applies. I’d say my big- co-operation. gest pet peeve, no pun intended, is Don’t get me wrong, we love when Abner is sleeping quietly at meeting people and explaining my feet, while I’m studying, and what we do and how/why we do some well-meaning but over-en- it. It’s a part of our job, and somethusiastic person comes running thing we know comes with the towards us screeching “Puppy! territory (I generally take an earPuppy! Puppy!” It jolts him out lier bus for class to permit time for of his sleep, makes the hair on my Abner’s plentiful inspections and neck stand up, and leaves me with admirers). But you truly make it the ten minute task of settling him so much easier for us by taking down again after you leave. You the simple step of just asking first. wouldn’t purposely rouse a new- Ninety-five percent of the time born baby that had finally fallen we’ll say yes, and the other five asleep, would you? One should per cent we’ll only say no because dread the day they must face the it would interfere with something wrath of a sleep-deprived mother. we’re trying to work on with the Another mistake that people dog. make in public is shrugging off I hate to be a party pooper-scooor enabling ‘bad’ behaviour. We per – really, I do – but just like know they are cute enough to say, you wouldn’t (or shouldn’t) in“oh no, it’s okay,” when they jump terfere with another’s parenting,
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Undoubtedly adorable, guide dogs in training are working puppies, and students should understand the associated boundaries. you shouldn’t assume we’d be okay with it either. We’re honestly a lovely group of people, if I do say so myself, and take pleasure in mingling with others and
educating them about our program. So it makes sense for all of us if you contribute to that training in a positive way. It’s a woof-woof situation for everyone.
Inordinate Ordnance Chris Carr After hosting the Oscars, Seth MacFarlane came under fire for his sexist and offensive jokes. Every time this happens – I mean every time inept viewers put down their cans of frosting long enough to make a blog post about a comedian that went too far – I feel we are de-evolving as a species. Let’s consider “taking offense.” What does this mean? It means that you felt something someone (in this case a comedian) said wasn’t satisfying. Either you didn’t think it was funny, it was rude, or it was oppressive. Make no mistake – MacFarlane took his place among the oppressive machine that belittled women; his jokes were oppressive to women. But what happens in these incidents is that the joke tellers and writing catch the brunt of the angry backlash. I argue that this is exactly the wrong thing to do. MacFarlane’s “We Saw your Boobs” song is taking the most heat over the controversy. In the catchy tune, he outlines all the movies in which the viewer can catch a glimpse at the breasts of prominent actors (in the Jodie Foster sense of the word). Personally, I thought it was hilarious. I took part in the oppressive machine; I am part of the problem? Not really. We firebomb MacFarlane’s performance, but swoon at the
pageantry of the red carpet. We put these same women – whose breasts were in admiration in the song – and make this stand a pedestal so we can rank how they look on a scale from one to Charlize Theron. This is okay? Frankly, some of the comments about women’s dresses are downright mean, but a song about how much MacFarlane loves their bodies is met with so much scorn. What’s going on here? Comedians or anyone who writes comedy at a professional level are only mirrors. They are paid to say the things that we cannot say in normal company. They act as magnifiers to the ephemeral problems that create the aforementioned oppressive systems. But still, we act in the name of “the offended” to stop these criticisms. I’ll have early onset crow’s feet because of the amount of times I furl my brow at people who claim to be “offended.” I don’t know what this means. For some, this is some sort of defense against bad words, or blue comedy. So you’re offended, so what? What comes from that? Usually, nothing. Sometimes, reform. Sometimes, a comedian says something that we disagree with so badly, we do something to change the paradigm. Humour is a criticism. MacFarlane’s joke about Rihanna and Chris Brown was a criticism about domestic abuse. His sexist
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Seth MacFarlane came under fire for sexist jokes after hosting this year’s Academy Awards. jokes were a criticism of the entire sexist milieu that is the Oscars. Comedy is self-defeating when it comes to bad jokes. If a joke is so outrageous, racist, sexist, etc., it will fall flat, and likely, won’t be told again. Your silence is more threatening to a joke than your cries of offense. If a joke is sick enough to upset people, maybe they should concern themselves with the society that allows such an oppressive standard, not the court jesters who bring it to the forefront.
What worries me the most, and why I feel that every joke—yes, every and any joke—should be free to be told publically is that once we begin to stifle these freedoms, it may never stop. Either everything should be made fun of, or nothing should be (the latter of which is certainly fucked up on an Orwellian scale). Once again, if you’re offended, good. Do something about it. Change the way women are utilized (I chose that word for a reason) in main-stream media.
What we should not be doing is getting rid of the people that force us to think about such problems in the first place. Chris Carr is Editor-in-Chief of The Cannon. “Inordinate Ordnance” publishes every Thursday in The Cannon and in The Ontarion. The opinions posted on thecannon.ca reflect those of their author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Central Student Association and the Guelph Campus Co-op, or The Ontarion.
170.8 ◆ march 7t h, 2013
opinion
Vote YES in the CSA Referendum Drew Garvie – Communications & Corporate Affairs Commissioner The CSA is your undergraduate student union. In order to fulfill our mandate to the best of our ability and increase our capacity for advocacy, programming, and services, we are requesting a $2.50 increase to the CSA membership fee. From March 6 through Friday March 8, all undergraduates on campus will be able to vote in the CSA elections. Students will be voting for their next Executive Commissioners (full-time representatives of students) and Board of Director representatives. Through this election you have the chance to determine the direction and mandate for your student union for the next year. The ballot will also have links to the candidate profiles/platforms so you can read up easily before casting your ballot through your U of G email. On the same ballot there will also be a referendum question. The CSA is currently running a
“Vote Yes to Better Your Student allow us to better pass on savUnion” campaign. ings to students. This is done As the student body has grown through increased advocacy, for considerably over the last 10-15 example against tuition fee inyears, the CSA has grown with creases, which currently rise it. We now find ourselves with $200-$300 a year for most stu40+ student staff hired each dents. Your CSA also offers a year. Unfortunately our Human variety of cost-saving services Resources structure has not kept to all undergraduate students, up with overall growth. The for example the free student Executive Committee still su- “survival guide” day planner, the pervises all the CSA staff and cheapest printing on campus, this is taking up a larger propor- the cheapest ATM on campus in tion of time, taking away from the Bullring, Ink refill services the ability to do outreach, pro- and more. motion, events, campaigns and Through the increased revadvocacy. enue the CSA hopes to fund a The current CSA fee is $15.50 new full-time human resources per full-time student per se- staff member in order to relieve mester and $4.85 per course, per the Executive Commissioners of semester for part-time students. duties involving staff superviAll undergraduate students pay sion and internal administrative the CSA fee as at the same time responsibilities. This will allow as their tuition fees. This ref- the Executive to focus more erendum passing would mean on student issues such as acthat the CSA fee would be set cessibility, sustainability and at $18.00 for full-time students inclusivity on our campus and and $5.63 per course, for part- in our community. As a result time students. there will be more campaigns, The CSA feels that a mod- more outreach, and more social est increase in its membership and educational events. The adfee (still below most student ditional operating dollars will unions and many student or- also increase resources and HR ganizations on campus) will support to our services like the
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Douglas Racionzer
Bike Centre, SHAC, FoodBank, SafeWalk and the Bullring. The CSA is also in the process of creating new student positions: an “Environmental Sustainability Coordinator” and an “Outreach and Promotion Coordinator.” These new positions will provide
e m pl oy m e n t fo r s t u d e n t s , strengthen our connection with students, and make the CSA a leader on campus with a commitment to sustainability and advocacy on environmental issues. This March 6, 7 and 8, vote yes to better your student union!
Liaison Officers
24 w w w.th e on ta r ion . c om The other “P” in PPP The Program Prioritization Process: a how-to guide on privatizing a university Denise Martins The last couple of months we have heard a lot about the Program Prioritization Process (PPP). I would like to stand back and applaud our university for yet again finding an inventive way to present budget cuts. In past years, when the university proposed a cut, one at least had an idea of what they wanted to cut and one could strategize accordingly. However, what they have managed to achieve through this round of cuts (a.k.a. the PPP) is the pitting of departments, non-academic and academic alike (kudos to Alastair Summerlee and Maureen Mancuso), against one another. Following the completion of a form by each department (from Athletics to the Zoology department), their value to the university will be ranked from 1 to 600. So now, instead of organizing against the $35 million dollars of cuts, as we have in the past, we are forced
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Program PP rri oi vr ii zt ai zta ti oi onn Process
to partake in a process to prove that our department deserves to be saved. In this fending-for-ourselves strategy, many have lost sight of what we have all given up. This begs the question: does it have to be this way? The answer is a definite “no.” One doesn’t have to start investigating our university’s budget to figure out that our sisters and brothers in CUPE 1334 (Trades, Services, and Maintenance) are already stretched incredibly thin, especially considering the fact that enrolment has increased. One doesn’t have to go too deep to realize that we are paying more year after year and getting less. Paying more for larger class sizes; paying more for less TAs per class; paying more for less overall one-onone time with professors. We are already on a tight budget. You can see the effect of this very clearly in workers’ faces and in students’ desperate eyes searching for a place to just sit down and breathe. learning to year-round university There has been a push this past schooling. year by the provincial government When did it come to this? When to restructure education – an analysis did it become a race to see which of how to standardize research and department doesn’t get the boot? learning. They have recommend- When did it become just a number ed everything from more online crunching exercise? We don’t have
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to play the game of competition between departments, but need to question the fundamental direction of our university. In 2004, when the university called for cuts totalling $8.43 million, people at this university organized and put up a fight. They
didn’t put up their hands in defeat, nor did they point at their colleagues as possible targets. We need to do the same today; strategize for a united front against the cuts and stand up to the big bully upstairs.
U of G has duty to protect students Photo releases further victimize women Eileen Watson, President, College of Social and Applied Human Sciences Student Association; Matthew Pecore, Chair, Awareness of Sexual Assault and Prevention Committee; Shailagh Keaney, Guelph Resource Centre Gender Empowerment Diversity; Dominica McPherson, CSA External Affairs Commissioner On Jan. 3, a man was arrested in connection with a series of oncampus voyeurism incidents that happened in 2012. His house was then searched and pictures of women taken on the University of Guelph campus between Sept. 2011 and Sept. 2012 were found on the man’s phone and computer. On Feb. 7, campus police brought forward a proposal to student leaders wherein they hoped to display the pictures they found in the University Centre courtyard, and identify the victims with the help of the campus community. Student leaders were horrified and gave many suggestions to Brenda Whiteside (Assistant Vice President – Student Affairs) to be passed along to campus police, including that the pictures should not be displayed
publicly and that there needs to be morning’s consultation meeting. counseling referrals and resourc- These pictures, along with a request es provided for women who view for information (to help with the the pictures. The response was that investigation), were made availthe relevant administration would able on Facebook, Twitter, and the take these suggestions into consid- University of Guelph police website. eration and come back to the table It was an incredibly poor choice with a different proposal. to publicize these photos. While we A second proposal was brought to understand that it is the city postudent leaders on Feb. 25, which lice pushing for the release of the outlined the campus police pro- information and not the campus posal to send an email to all women counterpart, this school has an obon campus with a link to a website ligation to support and protect the that would include limited sections women who attend. Nowhere in of the original pictures, such as a these publications are there offers handbag or a piece of a shirt along of support to women who feel they with a written description of the are in these pictures, know somewomen so that they may be iden- one in these pictures, or feel that tified. Student leaders remained these pictures are triggering in any wary of this, due to the fact that way. The only option presented is this form of communication could to call Campus Community Police, result in an even wider dissemi- an option not everyone would be nation of the pictures than simply comfortable with. To publish these displaying them in the University pictures not only re-victimizes, but Centre. This new proposal also re- does so in the most public manmoved the opportunity to have a ner possible. Despite claims from support person available to those campus police that the number one viewing the pictures. These student concern is the safety of the women leaders were told their feedback involved, this action does nothing would be taken back to campus to protect their safety and dignity police and that an alternative solu- and serves only to publicly identify tion would be worked out amongst them for the purposes of city police the different parties involved in the investigations. An action such as investigation. putting the pictures online in fact That afternoon, campus po- further removes the agency of the lice, in conjunction with the City women in this situation, as people of Guelph police, went ahead and may choose to come forward on the released the partial pictures and women’s behalf without consulting descriptions, which unbeknownst them, thinking they are doing the to student leaders had already been right thing. created for distribution before the We call, first and foremost, for the
removal of these pictures from all online outlets. We also call for these pictures to only be made available to women at their discretion should they choose to see them, and that extra support be made available to anyone affected by this incident. Sexualized violence occurs on our campus more frequently than we would like to admit. We encourage the university to be proactive in creating a culture of prevention around these issues. We also want to make students aware of
Rafaela é,
the supports available to them on campus. A complete list can be found by accessing the Sexual Assault Guide, which can accessible through searching that phrase on the university homepage.
The views represented in the opinion section do not necessarily reflect the views of The Ontarion nor its staff.
170.8 ◆ march 7t h, 2013
editorial
Fat chance at tackling obesity Ontario is considering banning companies from marketing junk food to children, stopping stores from building displays of the stuff near checkout, and having restaurants print calorie counts on menus. These changes are among 23 recommendations in a March 4 report on eliminating childhood obesity, and are part of the government’s larger goal to cut long-term healthcare costs. Treating obesity-related medical problems, such as chronic conditions that include diabetes, costs the healthcare system $4.5 billion a year.
“The major changes proposed underestimate consumers’ knowledge of the contents of innutritious food, and likely will make little difference in slimming down the province’s obese children.” It’s becoming “a very expensive problem” Health Minister Deb Matthews told reporters. Matthews has pledged to act on the recommendations of the 63-page report. Although exceedingly more proactive than the Ontario Medical Association’s formerly proposed
The Ontarion Inc.
junk food tax or “fat tax,” the major changes proposed underestimate consumers’ knowledge of the contents of innutritious food, and likely will make little difference in slimming down the province’s obese children. The Healthy Kids Panel presents us with compelling evidence that food companies need to make changes to create a healthier society. Alarmingly, over the past three decades, the prevalence of overweight children in Ontario has grown by 70 per cent. Already in Canada there is a voluntary program in the food and beverage industry that avoids targeting children under 12 with junk-food commercials. However, under the new agreements, junk-food superstars such as Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, and General Mills will be required to only advertise healthy foods during 4boys2luv children’s programming, or not run ads during those times at all. The government’s plans to ban companies from marketing junk The goal is to take kids’ minds food to children, among other changes, will not be very effective in off of “high-calorie, low-nutrient curbing childhood obesity. foods, beverages and snacks,” read the report. Furthermore, we all know by now advertising on cigarette boxes – Yet, will eliminating the Ring-Pop that a Big Mac scores close to nil on the smokers have continuously heard and Fruitopia ads on television really healthy scale. Documentaries such as the horrors of cancer and the addicchange what kids consume? Par- Supersize Me and Fast Food Nation tive dangers of nicotine, but they still ents, not children, are generally the have sparked the public’s awareness might opt for that puff whether or not ones with available income and are of the problems in the food and bev- the image on the front has a picture the decision-makers in the house- erage industry, especially the lack of of a blackened lung. That being said, efforts by the govhold. Therefore, the focus should be nutritional content of our beloved more on targeting adults for health- burgers and fries. By proposing that ernment and companies to cut down ier options during their prime time restaurants should be required to on obesity are not futile. Just as smokviewing, whether or not their chil- print calorie counts on menus, the ing has been banned in particular dren are drooling at the images of government is suggesting that people public areas and airliners, the availLunchables in between episodes of are unaware of what they are putting able fast food in our culture should be Dora the Explorer. into their body when they order. cut down. Several countries in Europe Matthews also wants to ban “pointPeople generally know – or at least have already started on this initiative, of-sale” displays and promotions at have some sort of idea – of what the and so has New York City, which has checkouts — starting with sugar- junk food they are buying is, and what a ban on the selling of pop and other sweetened drinks. This “out of sight, it contains. You don’t grab a Bacona- sugary drinks in sizes above 473 milout of mind” strategy could be an ef- tor with the impression it will make lilitres taking effect within days. fective deterrent for some who too you healthier (or feel better). You purImplementing a strategy on the easily grab a Coke after paying for chase the burger – which contains healthier foods in advertisements their gas or groceries. However, if the 980 calories and 1960 milligrams of – not censorship – and decreasing products still exist in the store, those sodium – to satisfy a hunger pang portions of junk food could be more who want them will still find them, and a craving for something cheesy effective on curbing childhood oberight? If you’ve been eating Oreos for and salty. sity, and increasing the overall health dessert since first year, you’ll be sure Simply put, consumers often of the province. After all, we all like a to hunt them down regardless of their choose to ignore the warning signs. little indulgence once in a while withimmediate visibility in the store. The same situation comes with the out warning signs in our faces.
letters
Why no two ply? Guelph has consistently ranked among the top universities for many years, but maybe the key to becoming number one is being over looked daily by everyone on campus. I’m not talking about classes or food or buildings. I’m talking about a staple in cleanliness, that’s right – toilet paper. You are not alone if you’ve ever been unsatisfied by the quality of on campus toilet paper. It isn’t even one ply, not even sure if it would qualify at quarter ply. You can actually read this article of
The Ontarian through the toilet paper – yes I tried. You’re not alone if you’ve strongly considered grabbing the brown crinkly hand paper for drying your hands on your way to the stall. I wouldn’t blame you if you tore out this article and used it instead of subjecting your rear end to that torture any longer. As a world-renowned university we host many important guest speakers but yet they’d probably prefer to use the paper they’re presenting for other
purposes after reaching for the university’s TP. We also strive to be more environmentally friendly but when it takes ten feet of toilet paper to make something useable, are we really saving the environment? What about those poor first-years living in residence who have no escape from the cruelty? All we are asking for is to be able to wipe in comfort. A comfortable wipe would allow for less stress and therefore improved study habits and
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increased grades. Students could sit easier in class knowing their rear end is clean and paper cut free. We students are the voice of the university, we pay our hard earned dollars to come here so it’s time we stop flushing away this issue and demand change! If the thing you look forward to most on weekends is some Cottonelle or cashmere wipes, make your discomfort known. – Q. Buis
University Centre Room 264 University of Guelph N1G 2W1 ontarion@uoguelph.ca Phone: 519-824-4120 General: x58265 Editorial: x58250 Advertising: x58267 Accounts: x53534 Editorial Staff: Editor-in-chief Tom Beedham Arts & Culture Editor Nicholas Revington Sports & Health Editor Christopher Müller News Editor Alicja Grzadkowska Associate Editor Colleen McDonell Copy Editor Stacey Aspinall
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Denise Martins Dominica McPherson Robyn Nicholson Q. Buis Matthew Pecore Lindsay Pinter Natasha Reddy Katie Shum Jordan Sloggett Abid Virani Eileen Watson Emma Wilson Ina Xhunga Makenzie Zatychies Olivia Zollino
The Ontarion is a non-profit organization governed by a Board of Directors. Since the Ontarion undertakes the publishing of student work, the opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the Ontarion Board of Directors. The Ontarion reserves the right to edit or refuse all material deemed sexist, racist, homophobic, or otherwise unfit for publication as determined by the Editor-in-Chief. Material of any form appearing in this newspaper is copyrighted 2011 and cannot be reprinted without the approval of the Editorin-Chief. The Ontarion retains the right of first publication on all material. In the event that an advertiser is not satisfied with an advertisement in the newspaper, they must notify the Ontarion within four working days of publication. The Ontarion will not be held responsible for advertising mistakes beyond the cost of advertisement. The Ontarion is printed by the Guelph Mercury.
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crossword 36- Fleur-de-___ 37- Sign up 38- Vessel built by Noah 39- Head of France 41- Nabokov novel 42- 1980 Dom DeLuise film 44- Building 46- Throughout this document 47- Greasy 48- Caucus state 49- Yellowish brown pigment 52- Prince Valiant’s son 53- Actor Lugosi 57- Prefix with plasm 58- From head ___ (2 words) 60- Romantic couple 61- Salon offering 62- Merits 63- ___ girl! 64- Deuce topper 65- Swift 66- Capone’s nemesis
bestcrosswords.com
Across 1- Vamp Theda 5- Stop up a hole 9- Auto pioneer 13- Son of Zeus in Greek mythology 14- Governed 16- Oscar winner Patricia 17- Ceremonial act 18- Foolish 19- Mozart’s “___ kleine
Nachtmusik” 20- Pie nut 22- Swore 24- Pioneer 27- Bog 28- In truth 29- Potential to get around 33- Author Jong 34- River in central Switzerland 35- German Mrs
Down 1- Ingot 2- Shipping magnate Onassis 3- Emeritus: Abbr. 4- Sterile 5- Expensive 6- Pertaining to the moon 7- ___ Bator, Mongolia 8- ___-X 9- Ego 10- Hula hoops? 11- Hamlet, for one 12- Hill toy
sudoku & comic 2
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15- Acoustic power unit 21- First name in jazz 23- Altdorf’s canton 24- Slender 25- More strange 26- Sad 27- Stupid person 29- Sausalito’s county 30- Steamed 31- Foot bones 32- Klondike territory 34- Harass 37- Shave 40- Thrifty management 42- Not many 43- High-spirited horse 45- Metal, often used as a container 46- Not disposed to cheat 48- Removes wrinkles 49- Equinox mo. 50- Champagne bucket 51- French 101 verb 52- Gillette brand 54- Novel ending 55- Permits 56- Latin 101 word 59- Bumbler
Last Week's Solution
Congratulations to this week's crossword winner: Amy Ritsma & Laura Doddsttebron. Stop by the Ontarion office to pick up your prize!
SUBMIT your completed crossword by no later than Monday, March 11th at 4pm for a chance to win TWO FREE BOB’S DOG’S!
p e t of t h e w e e k
difficulty level: 15
natasha reddy
At the moment his name is Rob, but this is always subject to change again. This dwarf bunny loves to lick people’s hands (who doesn’t?). He understands that he needs to go into his cage when he’s thirsty, but doesn’t yet understand that he needs to go into his cage to go to the bathroom. Perhaps his confusion is linked to his lack of a sure identity.
170.8 ◆ march 7t h, 2013
community listings Thursday March 7 Stratford Shakespeare Lecture Series @ Your Guelph Public Library. The GPL and the Stratford Shakespeare Festival present four thought-provoking lectures based on this season’s plays. Each evening lecture features local Shakespearean experts. 7pm, Main Library (100 Norfolk St.). March 7, 14, 21and 28. Admission free. www.library.guelph.on.ca Thursday At Noon Concert Series. Concerts start at 12:00p.m. Thursdays in Mackinnon room 107 (Goldschmidt room). Admission free – donations gratefully appreciated. Everyone welcome! www.uoguelph.ca/ sofam/ International Women’s Day Event –‘Representing Women and HIV: Conceptions and Misconceptions’ with Dr. Linda Hunter, Assistant Professor Department of Sociology and Anthropology. Noon in JT Powell, Rm 207, U of G. www.gwwomenincrisis.org Seventh Annual Creative Music Symposium March 6th – 8th. The three day annual event presented by the Music Students’ Association, Music Department, and School of Fine Art and Music showcases student performances, interdisciplinary forums, keynote speakers, guest artists, and open classes. www.uoguelph.ca/ sofam/music/symposium. Free. Interested in being a veterinarian? Animal lover just interested in learning more? OVC
Mini Vet School every Thursday in March (March 7-28) offers 2 lectures a night on topics from animal welfare to anatomy! Register at www.ovcminivetschool.ca
Friday March 8 International Women’s Day -Women on the Bridge- 12 noon, St. Georges Anglican Church, 99 Woolwich St. ONE BILLION RIS
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ING. Come on your own or as a group. Bring banners or dress in organization colours. Information: wiceducator@gwwomenincrisis.org OR www.gwwomenincrisis.org.
classifieds COMMUNITY EVENTS THE GUELPH RECORD and CD SHOW - Sunday, March 10th. 10:30am - 4pm at the Royal Canadian Legion. 57 Watson Prkwy S. 25000+ Records. Over 30 vendors. Admission $4. For further information contact: 289-689-2734. Guelph Field Naturalists Meeting, 7:30pm at the Arboretum Centre. All welcome. Dr. Alex Smith of University of Guelph speaking on Biodiversity. SERVICES NEED ESSAY HELP! All subjects, research, writing and editing specialists, toll free 1 888 345 8295 customessay@bellnet.ca. Join our advertising team and make great commissions by placing posters around campus. Details: 416-280-6113. VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Volunteer with the STAR LAB from the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) as it comes to the West Willow Woods neighbourhood group Saturday March 9th, 6-10pm. A mandatory training session for volunteers will take place Thursday March 7th from 7-9pm. Email projects@dosomuch. ca for more details.
All EDITORS are responsible for providing volunteers with skills in journalism, in the form of individual consultation and workshops with regards to content, format, style and editing. Editors will participate in the Ontarion’s move towards an increased online presence. Proven written and editing skills are required along with experience in volunteer management. HOURS 24-28 PER PUBLISHING WEEK The Ontarion’s Employment Equity Policy is a proactive measure to recruit qualified people from a variety of ethnic, religious and class backgrounds, lesbians, bisexuals, gays and transgendered people, people of colour, Aboriginal people, people with disabilities and women. Members of the previously identified groups are encouraged to self-identify.