TRENT’S ALTERNATIVE PRESS
absynthe 13.4
January 2012 $4.00 CA
But only if you want
Absynthe’s Annual Photo Contest
1st Place: Submitted by Myles Clinton
2nd Place: Submitted by Jessie Passant
3rd Place: Submitted by Ryan Dube
F
irst, I would like to thank everyone who submitted to our photography contest this month! You have made it the best I have seen in my four years with Absynthe. Special congratulations to Myles Clinton for winning the First Place Prize! Myles’s awesome photo can be found on our cover, and he will be receiving a monetary prize. Honourable mention goes to our Second Place Winner, Jessie Passant, and our Third Place Winner Ryan Dubé. It was really awesome to see what the Trent community had to offer when this challenge was given, and I am pleased to say that this university is home to many talented people. January has been a crazy month; business is picking up in the Absynthe office, the government rolled out its new 30% Tuition Grant (which I have serious problems with. Check out page 35) and SOPA has been sweeping the internet. I’m not sure about you guys, but I love me some MegaVideo. So, with that I ask you to please take 72 minutes of silence for MegaUpload. For you Harry Potter fans, “Megaupload is down. The internet is fallen. They are coming.” But honestly, make sure you check out ACTA because it also involves Canadians directly and has been in the works since 2006. Caitlin Jones Editor-in-Chief
CONTENTS
The mandate of Absynthe Magazine is to encourage constructive dialogue and critical thinking within the Trent community. As an on-campus publication, Absynthe shall strive to represent as many people of the community as possible by presenting varying views on all matters that are of importance to the community and especially the student body. In the spirit of free and independent press, Absynthe shall strive for the highest degree of journalistic integrity and excellence while providing a medium for creative and alternative expression. It will actively stimulate and concourage discussion through itself or any other means available to members of the Trent community.
Hey, you! Yeah, you!! You look like you’ve got some talent in you, kid. Submit your work to Absynthe Magazine!
Submission Guidelines Absynthe is a submissions-based magazine. Any Trent student who wishes to be published can send their work to us at trentabsynthe@gmail.com. Submissions can be any length, and can be written in any style. Submissions will be subject to editing for spelling and grammar as well as verified for appropriate content. Please include your name for publication. Photos and images are encouraged, but are required to have a minimum resolution of 300dpi. Articles may be held for publication at a later date.
UNICEF Campus Club Chal- The challenge launches on college lenges Students: Help Im- and university campuses across prove Access to Clean Water Canada on January 26 and finishes up on March 22, World Water Day. Winning teams win exclusive behind the scenes trip to Working in teams of two, students UNICEF in New York City will educate their friends, family members and classmates on the January 19th, UNICEF Trent on importance of UNICEF’s work Campus has issued a challenge providing safe drinking water for to students across campus – help children and their families in more improve access to clean water for than 100 countries worldwide. the world’s most vulnerable children, and get a chance to win an Teams will then raise funds to exclusive three-day trip to New purchase water pumps – each York City to visit UNICEF head- pump provides an entire comquarters at the United Nations. munity with access to safe water. Every time a team raises enough money to purchase a water pump they also receive one ballot in the official UNICEF draw to win a trip to New York City. The more pumps each team raises, the more communities they reach with safe water and the better their chance is of winning the trip.
ucation because of the time they spend collecting water. The Student Challenge provides Canadian students with an opportunity to show their solidarity to other young people around the world in realizing their rights to good health and education,” says Susan Larkin UNICEF Canada’s Director of Community Engagement. All students, aged 18-25 are encouraged to get involved by registering their team of two at www.unicef.ca/studentchallenge. Teams can raise money through online fundraising, special events and using their own ideas. Teams are encouraged to use their own creativity to raise awareness and help support as many young people and their families gain access to clean water as possible.
“Everyday more than 5,000 children die as a result of unsafe water or poor hygiene”, says Rachael Chin-You, UNICEF Trent President. “The UNICEF Student Challenge is an exciting new initiative in 2012 for students to help improve the lives of young peoFor more information stuple around the world and gain exdents may also contact clusive behind the scenes access “Children – particularly girls – u n i c e f t r e n t @ g m a i l .com to UNICEF in New York City.” are often denied their right to ed-
E. Deshane I think we’ve all felt it before: coming into class, thinking we’re prepared and ready to talk about Big Important Things, and then someone else opens their mouth, and we’re silenced. We suddenly realize that we’ve misread the material, we’ve missed the point, or we just don’t get it at all. Basically, we’re reduced to our seven year old selves and suddenly we think that the university made a mistake when they sent out the acceptance letter and we don’t belong here at all. Okay, so maybe the universality of my claim may be a bit much, but I know this feeling. And I know I’m not completely alone. Amanda Palmer, giving the commencement speech at the New England Institute of Art, talks about the “fraud police” and how everyone has had those moments of panic when we’re worried that someone’s caught us. Caught us doing what? It doesn’t even matter - all we know is our seven year old, selfesteem vanquished selves are saying, “oh shit, they’re finally onto me” and somehow “I’m not what I appear to be; I think I have it together, but I don’t.” The take-home message of Palmer’s speech was that this sudden rush of panic is so human and common. Everyone fears the fraud police, and we’re all really just faking it and making it up as
we go along. And, more impor- Big Important Things, I’m learntantly, this is completely okay. ing to relish that silenced feeling where I become extremely “Fake it until you make it” seemed humbled and feel stupid. Feelto be the mantra that people were ing stupid, although it sometimes shoving at me in preparation for wakes me up at four in the morngoing to school. I hated the inau- ing, also drives me to keep going. thentic quality of it, and although I still kind of do, I realize now that I don’t exactly want to fake it unmaybe there is no pure authentic- til I make it because I’ve already ity in academia. A lot of stuff here made it. I’m willing to be stupid, is a performance for the most part to feel stupid, and to keep go-- most of which I like to deem ing against this in order to I can “intellectual pissing contests” have that elated, and then sudden among classes. The cohort I’m fraudulent feeling that will drive apart of is a very strong group and me. My professor always quotes everyone has their strengths (and a theorist who once said that the some people really like to show willingness to be stupid is the them). But Palmer’s message of perpetual state of the student, the fraud police makes me feel a and I agree. One of the wonderlot better than the mantra every- ful things about Palmer’s speech one insists upon. It adds a bit of is that the “police” or the higher humanity to the performance that authority that watches and moniruns a fine line between arrogance tors, doesn’t really exist. We’re and self-assurance. It casts every- all being chased by them, but they one in the same dark, four-am are not really there. We’re all stunight where you suddenly wake dents, perpetually guessing. And up and feel like a fraud, but only why would I fake being the police, because you worry so much about the authority, the expert, when I retaining that authenticity. Basi- know that they don’t really exist? cally, you realize you’re not smart - and as I’ve come to realize - this So relish being stupid, and is okay. This is actually great. feeling as if you don’t know anything at all. It’s only after I don’t want to pretend that I know that when real growth and all everything in the world - or even the interesting stuff happens. in my discipline. I don’t particularly want to engage in intellectu- Amanda’s speech: http://www. al pissing contests, and although I youtube.com/watch?v=eA8XiC3 like the feeling of being prepared m7vw&blend=2&lr=1&ob=4 ■ for class where I get to talk about
Joel Vaughan SwordQuest was a series of games by Atari in the early 1980s, unrivalled in its immersive qualities. It was primarily based on four different culturally diverse religions (one per game), and it raised the stakes beyond any other gaming experience to come before or after. When you played SwordQuest, things got real. The series was divided four ways, with each game taking place in a different world. Chronologically, the series went Earthworld, Fireworld, Waterworld, and Airworld. Each game came with a DC comic that progressed the player through the complex story of danger and adventure. What made these games special, however, was their ability to draw the player into an actual fantasy adventure, not through imagery and metaphor, but by actual engagement. Each game, with its corresponding comic, was filled with cryptic codes and secrets, both visible and subliminal. In order to make it to the next scenario, the player would have to compare his knowledge of the comic book (with secret messages hidden cleverly within the artwork) in order to solve the overall riddle that each game presented. That’s where Atari made things really interesting. Earthworld was the first game to be released, and its structure and
story were based on the zodiac. Out of everyone who played the game, there were only five thousand applicants to solve the riddle, of which only eight were correct. Atari invited these eight gamers to a showdown with a prize straight from the fantasy realm itself. Stephan Bell, a twenty year old from Detroit came home with the golden “Talisman of Penultimate Truth,” valued at $25 000 and adorned with twelve zodiac diamonds and a miniature white-gold sword. Hot damn.
book, Atari was under financial stress and was forced to cancel the competition and sell the company. The true champion of Waterworld would never be known. But the story does not end here.
Though the remaining tournaments were never held, we would know to some degree how they might have resulted; Atari made it very clear from the beginning what the prizes would be. Waterworld’s champion would have won the $25 000 golden “Crown of Life” adorned with aquamaFireworld was released next, rines, diamonds, tourmalines, and was structured around the rubies and sapphires. The chamJudaic Tree of Life. This game pion of Airworld, a game which continued the theme of hyper- never made it beyond very basic cryptic codes, and extremely testing, would have been awarddifficult riddles. Gamers were ed the “Philosopher’s Stone,” a beginning to catch on, and when huge piece of white jade in a fanthe competition came to a close, cy little gold box, encrusted with fifty participants had solved the diamonds, emeralds, citrines, and riddle. Atari held a prelimi- rubies, and yes, valued at $25 000. nary round to determine the true master of Fireworld. Michael Then, in the most epic gesture a Rideout received the gold and company can muster, Atari was platinum “Chalice of Light”, en- to invite the four winners back crusted with citrines, diamonds, for one final competition. The jade, pearls, rubies, sapphires, winners of each previous tourand again valued at $25 000. nament would engage in deadly virtual combat until only one Waterworld, based upon the Sev- reigned supreme, and this winen Chakras, was the next game to ner would walk home with the be released, but financial disaster “Sword of Ultimate Sorcery”, had struck the company. Though a $50 000 gold-handled, silverWaterworld was released in the bladed, jewel speckled piece of same form as its two predeces- epic magnificence that proved to sors, complete with DC comic his parents that hours upon hours
of solving computer riddles was superior to the sacrificed college degree. Nonetheless, the wielder of Atari’s blade would go down in history until the end of time, giving Indiana Jones a run for his money. And yet, no one was ever crowned champion.
The SwordQuest series serves as an interesting example of how companies can turn their product into an art form. Atari was in a position where there really wasn’t a set formula for the adventure videogame, and they were really drawing from scratch. They cannot be blamed When the market crashed, Atari for the mediocre quality of the was sold to a man named Jack Tramiel. The SwordQuest series was scrapped, competitions along with them. Photograph advertisements prove that even the unclaimed prizes existed, and participants in the preliminary competitions claim that they were all on display during festivities. The question is, what happened to the Crown of Life? What happened to the Philosopher’s Stone? What in God’s heavenly name happened to the Sword of Ultimate Sorcery?
nical abilities beyond anything the industry could imagine thirty years ago, at the end of the day, it remains a product. Atari handled SwordQuest with much more respect, it demanded that players pay attention and immerse themselves physically in a story. In the case of a few select champions, Atari created a modern quest on par with those of its virtual world. This level of dedication cannot be found in post-post-modern gaming because from a business point of view, it’s illadvised. Atari spent $150 000 on prizes when they were not by any means financially stable, and a dip in the market killed them before they could finish giving them away.
In the spirit of art, however, Atari’s SwordQuest adventure achieved a place in the hearts of gamers who hear its tale. Earthworld’s chamSuch dedication to pion, Stephan Bell, one’s product cannot had the Talisman of be found in today’s actual games, but where they exPenultimate Truth melted down celled, they did so beyond even market of mediocre first-personand sold, save for its miniature our most adamant efforts today. shooters. The Crown of Life, sword and rumours have been the Philosopher’s Stone, and circulating for years that Jack A valid “Then and Now” compar- the Sword of Ultimate Sorcery Tramiel keeps the ultimate sword ison would be between Sword- are lost in time, and no one but in his home, hung on a wall. Quest and Skyrim. Though Atari can boast of such a legaSuch rumours have never been Skyrim has gorgeous artwork, a cy. Like Tolkien’s Unfinished confirmed, but it is encouraging beautiful soundtrack, and tech- Tales, perhaps we should be to believe that it remains intact. grateful that even pieces exist. ■
E. Deshane
On February 22 2010, singer Shakira released her fourth single “G*psy.” The song, along with her album, She Wolf, did well and received positive critical acclaim. One reviewer, however, did acknowledge the “accidental slurs” embedded within the song title, but quickly brushed it aside, by claiming, “this [the song] is charming, isn’t it?”
among many artists, are trying to embody is based on falseness and an oppressive mentality. Throughout many cultural depictions, g*psies have been represented in two ways: either mystical, earthly people who have some kind of secret occult knowledge about the world (as the Shakira song exploits) or as dirty thieves that can’t be trusted.
The “accidental” nature of this racist slur, and the very quick ability to brush it off and not speak of it again has become a prevalent attitude towards the “g*psy” word in this (North American) culture. The fact that in 2010 Shakira can make a song using this word, Miley Cyrus can have a “G*psy Heart Tour” in 2011, and other mainstream artists and companies can capitalize on this shows that although we have come a long way in the way we use language, we still have a long way to go.
“It is not just the Shakira video that this type of splitting is happening.”
Shakira said that she was trying to embody a nomadic experience with her song, and this is where the “g*psy metaphor” came in. The fact is that this “metaphor” does not exist in reality. The “g*psy” image that Shakira,
Most oppressed groups end up having their consciousness split in this manner. The most common example is the idea that women can either be virgins or whores. Texts like the Bible and characters such as Virgin Mary and Mary Magdalene act as cultural exemplars of this splitting and form the basis of the media’s depiction of women. This splitting of women’s consciousness is largely contested now in women’s studies groups and through activist circles and has generally been seen as false.
Events such as the Slut Walks that took place in Toronto and other areas after a cop used an article of clothing to blame a rape victim show a group of people actively rejecting this splitting of women’s consciousness and reclaiming their identity and rights to their decisions. However, there are other oppressed groups where this type of dividing and dissecting still goes on and is largely unnoticed. The splitting of consciousness by using extremes is a prominent way to disembody a group of people who are already largely systematically oppressed and have a way for them to internalize the shame they feel for their identities. The act of the Slut Walks in recent years turned this shame into a source of pride and fight against this internalized disembodiment. Gay pride also acts in this manner, taking the violence and ridicule of the Stonewall Riots and now marching proudly. This splitting also allows for the dominant group to view the oppressed however they fit. It becomes easy for men to victimize women for being flirtatious because they fit the whore mentali-
ty and are “asking for it” while at the same time claiming a women is a prude if they don’t respond to advances. This positions the oppressor as always right and the oppressed as always wrong, because there are two extreme stereotypes which switch back and forth for blame. In a similar dichotomous way, it becomes easy to blame the “g*psies” for their oppressed status in society because they are nothing but liars and thieves, and then simultaneous capitalizes on the g*psy metaphor and use their apparent mystic experience in a music video or fashion trend. It is not just the Shakira video that this type of splitting is happening. Florence + The Machine has also used the term g*psy in one of her songs (“My Boy Builds Coffins” from 2009’s Lungs) and in a recent interview with Lady Gaga she has described herself as having the heart of a g*psy. And this is just from music! We can also see the negative side of this dichotomous split within terminology such as “g*pped” -- which derives its meaning from the racist slur and the side of the dichotomy that treats this entire group as nothing but thieves, ready to rip you off. The term g*psy itself came from the false belief that the Rromani came from Egypt. In one common narrative, they were exiled from Egypt for
harbouring the infant Jesus. In reality, their roots are in the Northern Indian subcontinent and their diaspora has spread through much of Europe and the Americas. The term g*psy has been used pejoratively against them in the past and has come to conjure up all of these images in society. Much of the Rromai community consider this term as derogatory because of these connotations and do not like to be referred to in such a manner.
“It also ignores the complexity of the culture itself and their strong traditions and own languages.” Even when getting the terminology right, saying that you wish to be Rromani is still problematic because it is appropriative of an entire culture, one that has been systematically persecuted, harassed, and stripped of citizenship. The nomadic lifestyle of the Rromani people was not always by choice, and mystifying living that way completely ignores the fact that some Rromani were forced into it. It also ignores the complexity of the culture itself and their strong traditions and own languages. Making it into a metaphor or style erases individual
identity. Even if the archetype of the g*psy is not actually reflective of the Rromani culture, most people who use it are unaware of the word’s history and how it has been used as a racial slur. In slang, it is derogatory to a group of people, and changing it into a fashion trend, even if it’s “positive” is not going to erase its weight. It is also worth noting that a similar thing has been happening to the Native culture. H&M and Urban Outfitters in particular have been targeted for having promotional photos of women and men wearing headdresses and having “Navajo” style undergarments. People have been appropriating various parts of indigenous culture, such as sacred naming and spirit animals, for their own sake. Whether you’re making fun of it, or you’re claiming it as something you identify with, without understanding the history and the cultural significance behind something, you run the risk of doing damage to someone’s heritage and appropriating. People who have a lot of cultural capital such as Lady Gaga and Shakira should not be throwing around a term like that without understanding its full meaning. They should be speaking out against such trends like this and arguing for better ways to change it. Or, failing that, simply not using the term at all.■
Jennifer Freele In a dimly-lit room, with cramped quarters and a drinkonly menu, people gather to listen to others revealing their most intimate emotions and stories. This sharing becomes a form of competition, with designated audience members judging the words of those performing, but all revelling in the beauty that poetry in conjunction with orality can create. The crowd is comprised of people from all walks of life, who gather together for a night of honesty and intimacy that is created by words. Slam poetry is an emerging genre of performance poetry that has already garnered much recognition across Canada and around the world. It began in Chicago in the 1980s as a form of self-expression, with performances inspired by the oral traditions of story-telling as well as the rhythmic deliverance of beat poets. In Peterborough the slam poetry/spoken word scene, or simply slam for short, is well on its way. In just the relatively few years that slam has existed in our city, we are already boasting many talented poets, hosting entertaining and insightful events around town and boosting awareness or slam thanks to a dedicated collective of individ-
uals that work at promoting slam. share their poems with an attentive and encouraging audience. Slam is different from other forms Next comes the main event, the of poetry because much of the fo- slam, where artists take the stage cus is on the performance aspect, to recite a brief (about 3 minutes) as well as the content of the po- poem, using not only the power ems. It celebrates the rhythm and of their words, but also the meloral interpretation of each artist. ody inherent in the voice to help “You don’t just offer up words,” shape their work. No matter what explains Ziy Sah of the Peter- the content is, it is always honest borough Poetry Spoken Word and raw. After each poem is read, Collective. “In slam everyone five judges that have been chosen uses their imagination.” Poems at random rate the performance are spoken aloud rhythmically, out of ten. Once the poets have similar to forms of rap. Pauses been on-stage with two different and voice modulations are used pieces, the scores are tabulated to add emphasis where the art- and the winner receives applause, ists intend. No costumes, props, accolades, and usually a free beer. or gimmicks--just plain old poetry. The Collective is made up of a small group of people who “ Practicing in front of a are working towards boosting mirror is a good way to the slam scene around the city. start” Ziy Sah, a spoken word artist and former Trent student, has been involved in this type of poetry for several years. She says it is Slams are chill events, where, the supportive atmosphere and as Ziy explains, “people are still fresh creativity surrounding slam learning the format.” Any writpoetry that makes it so unique. er willing to share their work is welcomed with open arms and If you love to write and are anx- genuine applause. If you are inious to have your work heard, terested in what slam poetry has then a slam event is right up to offer, then you are in the right your alley. Each poetry slam or- city. The Peterborough Poetry ganized by the PTBO Collective Collective offers events every begins with an open-mic where month. Whether you are willing artists that are not quite com- to brave the stage or just want fortable competing are able to to sit back and enjoy in the au-
dience, you are bound to meet some amazing people and listen to some fantastic poetry. To get an introduction to slam, check out some YouTube videos to get an idea of what it is all about. Shane Koyczan and Beau Sia are good places to start. Get comfortable with what it is, and that can maybe inspire you to write something of your own. “A lot of peo-
ple write poetry but just don’t perform. Practicing in front of a mirror is a good way to start,” says Sah. Every person has a story and style, and slam provides an avenue for their expression. The next slam event will be on January 26th, the last Thursday of the month, at The Spill. This slam will feature a special artist from B.C.: well-established spo-
ken word poet Johnny MacRae, who will privilege the audience with a great performance. If you are sick of reading books of poetry for class but not actually being moved by what is on the page, then slam is just what you need to be able to truly appreciate the beauty of words and the raw emotion that comes from someone bearing their true story on a stage. ■
We want our East Bank bus service to be restored! A few weeks ago an email went out regarding changes to the new East Bank bus service in an attempt to make the campus more accessible. I’m fully aware of the need for a campus that is inclusive to all, but after a soul sucking two weeks of battling haphazard schedules, over crowded buses, and being left behind at stops without a second bus to follow, it’s clear to most (if not all of us) that something has to change. In a not so distant life (last semester) the East Bank schedule was easy to remember.What’s the schedule now you ask? I couldn’t tell you if my life depended on it. I do however know that the extra five minutes that was tacked on to the end of each route means that the fourth bus in the rotation is now non existent! That means that there are
more people pushing and shoving to get on the bus that actually does show up, but given the increased number of people, due to the decrease in service, not everyone can fit. It’s always great to see a bus full of people pulling away while you have to wait 20 minutes for the next one. Thanks Trent, glad to see my student fees are going to great use! The icing on the cake is that increasing the route time wasn’t actually needed. There has only been one occasion that I have been on the bus (and I do ride that route multiple times a day) when that additional time was needed. Every other instance it has just turned into a smoke/ coffee break for the bus drivers, while all of the students sit and wait (not so) patiently – some-
times for almost 10 minutes! I think the worst thing about the change is that the drivers themselves admit that it isn’t in the best interests of the students. They’ll tell any student who will listen that extra time isn’t needed, or the stop should only be at the DNA Building, which would allow the schedule to be set to every 20 minutes again. It’s time for the TCSA to start listening to what the students have to say. As our (paid) representatives, it’s their responsibility to find a better solution that doesn’t involve hoards of people being left in the cold and angry over an non memorizable schedule. Send them an email at bus@trentcentral.ca and let them know of your displeasure. ■ .
Facebook has come a long way since its inception, from a social media network to a global village with the ability not just to share stories but also to save lives. Recently, the site has taken steps to care for the well-being of its users--over 800 million of them. Last year, Facebook made changes to the way cyber bullying was reported and introduced tools that addressed fake profiles and offensive content, aiming to make Facebook a safer socialnetworking site. As of December 2011, Facebook launched a program that allows users to report suicidal postings or statuses by clicking on a link next to the comment. Once reported, an e-mail is immediately sent to the inbox of the person who posted the original suicidal comment, providing the phone number to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and a clickable link that offers them the opportunity to instant message or “chat” confidentially with a crisis counsellor. The hotline and the chat link are services that both operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so that no cry for help goes unheard. Time is of the essence is these cases, and the instant availability of an encouraging voice may make all the difference. Lidia Bernik, associate project director of Life-
Juliana Johnson line, says, “The science shows that people experience reductions in suicidal thinking when there is quick intervention. We’ve heard from many people who say they want to talk to someone but don’t want to call. Instant message is perfect for that.” Websites like Google and Yahoo have listed the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline as the very first result if someone uses the
search engine for the word “suicide” for many years. What Facebook is doing through this program, however, is a step beyond providing access to the Lifeline itself. Because it is not the site itself or a computer algorithm that detects suicidal posts (which could easily misconstrue postings as suicidal when they are song lyrics, for example) but the friends of users, it is more likely that anyone needing help will be heard. The public policy manager at Facebook, Fred Wolens, told The Associated Press at Time
Magazine, “The only people who will have a really good idea of what’s going on is your friends so we’re encouraging them to speak up and giving them an easy and quick way to get help.” Suicide accounts for 24 percent of all deaths among 15-24 year olds in Canada and is the second leading cause of death for Canadians between the ages of 10 and 24 (Canadian Psychiatric Association 2002). Each year, on average, 294 youths die from suicide, and many more attempt it (Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care). This is a tragic issue that affects many people, and over the past few years, movements and organizations, such as To Write Love On Her Arms and The Trevor Project, have been born to raise awareness and bring hope to people struggling with depression, self-injury or thoughts of suicide. There have been incidents of suicidal expressions on Facebook in the past. In July, a man in Pennsylvania was committed to a hospital after his friend notified the Police about a distressing Facebook post. The Police believe that they, along with the friend who reported the post, were able to prevent this man’s suicide. Often, thoughts of suicide are a desperate attempt to rid oneself of the pain or emotions they are feeling, sometimes paired with mental ill-
ness. The Youth Suicide Report put out by the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care states that eight out of ten people who commit suicide gave some, or even many, indications of their intentions. With our society’s increasing reliance on technology and social media sites like Facebook, students and teenagers who live their lives online may benefit from this program that provides help with the click of a mouse. However, some people have shown concern about the program, because the users are the ones patrolling the site. Dr. Darcy Santor, professor of clinical psychology who studies adolescent mental health at the University of Ottawa questions that the program is based on inferences, and asks, “Do we really want to put average people in a role of making a very complex, difficult decision that should frankly be left to individuals with training?” Sometimes, it may be a difficult thing to discern between a cry for help and a post about a bad day, but at least Facebook is providing the opportunity to link people with instant access to support if they so need it. If the program saves even one life, wouldn’t it be worth it? ■
If you or someone you know is in immeadite danger due to suicidal thoughts, do not act on your thoughts, and please do not hesitate call 911. Please stay on the line while you wait for help to arrive. If you or someone you know is not in immeadite danger but is suffering from suicidal thoughts and would like to talk about it, please do not hesitate to contact any of the following organizations. Four County Crisis (705) 7456484 or 1-866-995-9933. The 4 County Crisis Intervention team provides 24/7 telephone crisis intervention and support directly to members of the community through access to a local and toll free line. Crisis Intervention Workers provide supportive counselling, intervention and referral to community resources, as appropriate. Please do not
hesitate to call. Canadian Mental Health Association, Peterborough Branch (705) 748-6711. The CMHA is a national, nonprofit, charitable organization that works with individuals, families and community partners in providing services to promote and enhance the mental health and wellness of those living within the communities we serve. Services include seminars on stress management, suicide awareness and intervention, and more. Peterborough Regional Health Centre Crisis Nurse (705) 7432121. PRHC offers counseling, group therapy, crisis intervention, psychological testing and more. Crisis consultation is available in the Emergency Department seven days a week. Crisis Nurse in the Emergency Dept. is available:
Mon. - Fri. 8:00am - 10:00pm Sat. & Sun. 8:00am - 4:00pm Telecare Distress Centre (705) 745-2273. Open 24/7, the Telecare Distress Centre offers someone to talk to who really cares. Additionally, Trent’s Counselling Centre is free for students so please consider visiting them. www.trentu.ca/counselling/ If you are elsewhere in Ontario or anywhere in the world, please considering seriously consider visiting www.suicide.org. This website offers suicide prevention, awareness, and support. Special features include the relationship between various mental illnesses and suicide, bullying and suicide, how to talk to someone who is suicidal, lists of suicide hotlines, success stories, and much more. As well, please consider talking to your family doctor. ■
As if Trent students needed another excuse to party. Well, we got one on our return from the holidays. Frost Week was a new initiative by the Trent Central Students’ Association (TCSA) this year to help students, still in holiday mode, reconnect with their friends and community through a series of events that spanned 10 days. Headed up by Dani Dhliwayo, TCSA’s VP of Membership and Services, Frost Week was created in conjunction with all the colleges and offered a wide-variety of events all across campus to welcome winter and embrace the start of the second semester. At a glance it appeared to be somewhat similar to Introductory Seminar Week that happens in September for incoming students, but it has some major differences. “Frost Week is different from ISW because Frost Week is geared to all Trent students and not just first-timers,” notes Dani of the TCSA. “It’s geared at bringing both first-year and upper-year students together.” Perhaps the 10 days of festivities can help fill the bitter hole that the reduced 3-day ISW left this past year. On the schedule this January was
Jennifer Freele new and imaginative events that drew a crowd every time. From an opening bar night at the nowdeceased Trasheteria, to a comedy show in the Wenjack theatre hosted by the hilarious and almost definitely offensive Second City conservatory comedy troupe, the first weekend of Frost Week proved entertaining for all the
students who came out. Later on in the week, students were given the chance to embrace our beautiful Canadian winter weather for some events such as Jib on the Hill in GC Quad, the Milk Run where participants had to brave the spinal-injury inducing Drumlin, the Great Race at the snowy AC field, and the West Bank versus East Bank hockey game. These competitive events fostered teamwork and reignited lighthearted rivalries between colleges that usually die out a week or two into September. I mean, who does not enjoy a good cheer-off?
Frost Week ended in a Winter Wonderland SnowBall at the Venue, a classy and delectable way to spend a Friday night. Complete with a gourmet 3-course meal and a ballin’ after-party, this night amongst fellow Trent students was a great way to wrap up a successful 10-day stretch. Trent students loved coming back to school and to these events for the first time ever. “[Students] have been really supportive,” says Dani. “There seemed to be a huge interest in getting involved.” Tickets sold quickly and feedback from the events was overwhelmingly positive. With all the cost associated with the events being either free or just $5, they were accessible for even the cheapest of Trent students. Having inventive and original things happen at Trent and around Peterborough throughout the school year helps to keep students engaged and interested in the community. So after such a successful first run, will Trent Frost Week be something students can look forward to seeing in future years? As far as the TCSA is concerned, yes. Photos by :James Morgan (The Milk Run)
Submitted by: Brittany Snowden
Submitted by: Rae Briard
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Saturation is a word that gets thrown around a lot in reference to the gaming industry, especially in regards to shooters. It’s hard to ignore big names like Halo and Gears of War, especially when the Xbox360 built its brand with these types of hard-hitting platform exclusives. Now, turn the clock back about four years. The Call of Duty franchise had always been a player in the shooter market, but not always the inexorable and prolific one that they have come to be known as today. Ever since the success of Call of Duty 4 and its subsequent sequels (for lack of a better word), shooters have tried to emulate aspects of the game in one-way or another. Reach had pre-loaded classes before spawning, as did Gears of War 3. Almost all shooters have adopted the progressive style of in-game ranks that COD4 championed (Halo 3 and Gears of War 2 even altered theirs weeks after launch). Unless you live under a rock, it’s hard to escape the influence of Call of Duty. Mothers have been neglected, girlfriends ignored, papers turned in late
or not at all and many a nights wasted in the pursuit of ‘one more game’. It is this pervasive quality that demands I talk about Call of Duty, even though this is a review of Battlefield 3. ‘Shit-storm’ couldn’t have been a more appropriate word for the events of this past summer in the shooter community. The upcoming release of Gears 3, despite coming out before Modern Warfare 3 and Battlefield 3, was almost completely overshadowed. The communities of the two respective combatants were relentless, BF3 being revered for its attention to technical details and MW3 still riding the COD brand like a surfer atop a tsunami. The Montague/Capulet style standoff resulted in domain name pranks and huge long lasting arguments (but /v/ never could agree on anything). When it was confirmed that the launch of the two games would coincide, it began to look like a bit of a horse race. Battlefield 3, published by EA and developed by DICE is a first-person shooter available on X360, PS3 and PC. You play as
Sergeant Blackburn who is being interrogated by a man strongly resembling Phillip Seymour Hoffman, flashing back to past events and replaying the missions ODST style. Save a few choice missions, the campaign was pretty unremarkable. The ‘Generic FPS: Modern Military’ pictures floating around on the ‘net, jamming the ‘shooter culture’ by combining a bunch of different FPS box arts sums up the campaign nicely. You shoot people (usually of a different ethnicity), a couple of ‘role reversal’ missions and are given a neatly wrapped conclusion; you’ve heard this story before. In the third mission however, you are led to the deck of a large navy carrier somewhere in the ocean. At first I thought I would have to Metal Gear my way around the deck of the ship, kicking ass and taking names, but instead I was led to a jet. I flew around in the sky, performed sweeping runs and got engaged in very intense dogfights. Thinking back to how cool and refreshing that level was, I began to think of what permitted such a mission. Along
with Call of Duty’s other aspects, a sense of ‘realism’ has been adopted by a number of high profile shooters. Call of Duty still has ridiculous ‘perks’, Gears of War still has muscle men running around chain sawing bugs in half, Halo still has you saving the world from aliens and Battlefield still lets you revive allies that just got the shit blown out of them by an RPG. But having said this, Halo and Gears have taken a more stoic and solemn attitude ‘story-wise’; Modern Warfare and Battlefield continue to sport this ‘modern military’ bravado, all of which attempts to convey a sense of realism. In terms of technical realism, BF3 excels, and this is what allows you to truly immerse yourself in the multiplayer. The game is in its dying seconds and your team’s spawn tickets are dwindling. You check your sights as you crest over the hill. Yelling into your headset for air support as you work your way to the bombsite, cappin’ bitches as you go. While you cover your squad mates who are planting the bomb, you can hear the cry of the FROGFOOT overhead, followed closely by the boom of the bombing run that just took place. The charge has been armed; you and your squad take up strategic positions overlooking the bomb while your man in the jet doubles back to mark advancing tangos. You’re calling out and firing at the impending forces, the jet is screaming overhead, explosions are going off, your friends are yelling for health and the
in-game music is getting louder, deeper and more intense. Then the bomb explodes and you hear two rapid high-pitched clicks. You lean back into the couch and relax, the team’s spawn tickets have been replenished and you get to do it all over again.
“One step too soon and you’ll get blown to bits by a mortar, or one second too late and the MCOM will blow.”
Rush is one of the more popular online multiplayer modes in BF3, the offense blowing up pairs of M-COM stations in order to advance while the defense attempts to deplete the opposing team’s spawn tickets. Nothing is more intense than a tight game of Rush, but what makes it intense is both the realistic technicalities and the focus on teamwork. In Battlefield, a player who goes 2-10 can still rack up a nice point total despite their poor KpD. This can be performed through spotting and marking enemy soldiers, repairing vehicles, healing teammates and doling out ammunition. Within each team are smaller squads of up to four players. Squads allow players to: communicate, coordinate, support and spawn amongst each other with ease. If I see someone blinking ‘low ammo’, I can choose to spawn as a medic class and help them out, allowing
them to die another day and earning more points for myself. With everyone doing this in his or her squads, the whole team aspect gets even more pronounced. One new addition to BF3 is the ‘suppression bonus’, allowing players to earn points by simply shooting in the direction of an enemy who soon after gets killed by a teammate. Additionally, while being suppressed your screen gets fuzzy and indiscernible, making it difficult for you to react. The technical aspects of BF3 shine in the multiplayer, adding to the aforementioned realism and turning the game into a challenging and entertaining experience. Unlike other shooters, bullets won’t always go where you want them to in BF3. After recently unlocking the 12x scope for a sniper rifle, I found myself missing almost all my long-range shots after equipping it. After a lot of head scratching, it dawned on me that I had to now compensate my shots for even more distance. In BF3 the bullets will drop depending how far they travel, this aspect becomes especially critical in long range rifle fights, or sniping. With bullet drop sniping becomes a fine art; players able to earn headshot bonuses equivalent to whatever their total distance from target is while sniping. Normally a kill nets you anywhere from 100 to 150 points. But with a headshot from over 400m away, you’re looking at some serious points. From detailed weapon customization to bullet drop, it’s the little things
that come together to craft a great experience. It’s these same technical details that turn BF3 into a game of inches, making online play truly intense. One meter too far or too close and the shot won’t quite make it. One step too soon and you’ll get blown to bits by a mortar, or one second too late and the M-COM will blow.
“...MW3 beat the shit out of BF3 in terms of hours logged and total sales, proving that COD is king.”. Quite possibly the most entertaining ‘little thing’ is the dog tags. With hundreds of combinations to choose from, and the awesome assassination animation involved, they quickly become a sought after prize. I have ‘appeared offline’, snuck into my friends’ games, skulked around and slit their throats just to embarrass them and collect their dog tags. Correspondingly, I have dived across rooms to shut off my 360, making sure they don’t re-
turn the favour in-kind. My personal feelings aside, MW3 beat the shit out of BF3 in terms of hours logged and total sales, proving that COD is king. Deep down, even back in the summer, I knew it was going to win, and I’m sure everyone did in some respect. But if that’s the case, how did the huge feud even begin? The devil is in the details, and in this case we are referring to the technical proficiency of Battlefield. The game comes across as clean, crisp, well-cut and intricate, where as MW3 is that drunken but awesome life of the party kegstanding douche that we all love to hate but still love at the end of the night. Modern Warfare’s draw comes in the highs; the hills always outweighing the valleys and the ends always justify the means. Battlefield’s appeal lies in small victories; that warm feeling of satisfaction, like when you snipe the shit out of that annoying motherfucker who keeps peeking his face over the tip of the hill. The heart pumping intensity of arming the bomb and defending it single-handedly, or that slow grind with your team for half and hour, with all the right moves in
all the right places, leading your team to victory. It’s these little hit or miss, do or die moments that make Battlefield an incredible online experience, and one of this year’s best shooters. Would I say that Battlefield 3 is better than Modern Warfare 3? Absolutely. I’ve scored it high, but I didn’t blather on about all the other shooters for no reason. I stand by my earlier statement that the market has become increasingly over saturated with shooters that all begin to feel like ‘more of the same’. Usually with shooters I make a point to beat the campaign before I go try the online multiplayer, but I haven’t done so since Reach. Maybe that says something about shooters today and the contrived story that gets retold over and over again. These days it seems a medium that used to be dedicated to forging fantasy and wonder is bent on taking us to places we have been before. Because of this, I have included both a score for the multiplayer, and the game as a whole. 7.6/10
[OVERALL]
9.5/10
[MULTIPLAYER
He’s a wise mouse.
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A red, juicy apple Suspended from a branch Dangles in the warm air, Unpicked. Its smooth, supple skin Glistens in the sun. A prism of ruby reds Creates a mosaic in the light, Unobserved. Time slips away, The light fades. And the apple remains. Its rotted, bruised skin Is dull in the sun. A kaleidoscope of browns Creates a palette in the light, Undesired.
She stood, silently staring In agony, Down the strip of paved road, Watching as the car disappeared. It wound around the corners, Rain Gill And vanished behind the trees. Its destination was permanent; There would be no return. Tears streaked her weathered face, Tracing the lines of wisdom that creased her skin. Divets of pain now joined those lines. She would smile no more. Her hand hung in the air, As she waved good bye To her husband of sixty-three years. Pain wrung out every ounce of life Left in the old woman's heart. She clung tightly to all that remained: Her memories.
Gusts of wind howl Through the creaking and moaning trees. They cry in protest as their bare, brittle limbs Are broken. Splintered. Shattered. They collide with the icy, snow-covered ground. Crunch. The forest hears their cries of torment. Lamented agony. But no creature stirs. They are buried beneath the frigid snow. Seeking shelter from the harsh winds, And glacial temperatures, They hid. Are now frozen. Statues. Figures in an intricate design. The trees point to them With their broken branches, And cackle.
Irises, rising beautiful and cool on their stalks, Like pastel water momentarily frozen. In a splash: light blue, mauve, velvet and purple in the sun. There is a sense of buried things bursting upwards, Heavy with scent; languid. Light pours down from the sun; Heat rises from the flowers themselves. To walk through peonies and carnations makes my head swim. The willow is no help, with its insinuating whispers. The summer dress rustles against the flesh of my thighs; Metamorphosis run wild. Did the sight make him light-headed, faint? I let him pick me, as if I'm a melon on a stem.
Poppy Valentine In my mind, it is common sense for humanity to work together as a universal body. By sharing knowledge we can progress much faster. An international collection of scientists are working on getting to Mars (of course I think there is yet room for much progress here on earth and that it is very important). This is just one example of an international group coming together to accomplish something colossal. Replication of studies is important for establishing reliability... however, sometimes, very similar studies get repeated over and again by parties around the world, oftentimes not in communication. If we share intellectual insights and knowledge on a global scale I believe that we can accelerate scientific and cultural growth. Imagine humanity working together to detoxify the water and soil that has been polluted by mass consumption. I do believe that we have talented minds on this planet that together can bring innovative change. The names of states and countries are merely useful for indicating location. Labels are purposeful for the communication of ideas and for expanding knowledge, though they add nothing to the elements in themselves, they merely provide a lens through which oth-
ers’ minds will view the stimulus (which is why negative labels are detrimental, especially when totally unfounded). Couldn’t we improve the education of geographical location by enhancing the latitude and longitude curriculum and render divisively labelling people by countries obsolete? Knowledge is the cure for all ignorance. We, homo sapiens sapiens are forsooth one species all on this earth at this time together.
“We are all on this planet together, each one with a unique combination of knowledge and talents” If one person poisons the ocean, it spreads around the world. I believe that nationalism creates a sense of difference for human beings and that this may not be beneficial for humanity’s psychological well-being. Without nationalism to divide places and acceptance with the reality that we are all human, I believe that we stand chance to reduce the “us vs. them” mentality. I will share some words with you that were communicated to me from a brilliant intellectual and professor named Antonio Cazorla-Sanchez: “Nationalism is like a fart-
relieving for the person that dealt it, but hell for his neighbours.” There will naturally be cultural differences around the world due to different environments (personally I’m interested in seeing more differences, I’m tired of driving city to city only to see the same retailers). We are all humans and need not think of people that are different from us as belonging to different nations, races (I learned in Sociology in first year university that race is actually a myth), genders, etc. We are all on this planet together, each one with a unique combination of knowledge and talents. I believe that differences add to richness and diversity in life for all. As people from different language backgrounds come together, new words care shared that add to linguistics. I do believe that there are far too many relativistic words and that, due to the connotation being open to subjectivity, the door to misunderstanding is opened. Relativistic tangent aside, I do believe that through fusion comes beauty. If we were not ever exposed to something new, we would never change. Our awareness grows with experience and knowledge. Why put up barriers when we can open up to potential growth?■
Caitlin Jones
By now most students have seen, or heard about, the 30 per cent Tuition Grant that the Premier rolled out this January. The introduction of this grant was a major campaign promise made by the Liberal Party that has finally come to pass, however, what was not mentioned during the campaign is that the grant only applies to a small portion of students. For students who are eligible, this grant will give $800 to university students and $365 to college students. That amount is expected to double in September 2012. Currently 310, 000 students qualify, and this number is expected to grow annually. However, to put that in perspective there are approximately 600, 000 students in Ontario.
many students who genuinely need aid are not eligible, and on top of that unable to receive the Textbook and Technology Grant which was slashed in order to create the funding for this new grant. The mature/transfer/ part-time students are not the only ones losing out; the Queen Elizabeth scholarship program, for students straight out of high school, has also been phased out.
Despite the number of students who qualify there are plenty who do not. For a student to qualify they must be enrolled full-time in Ontario, be in a program that can be applied to straight out of high school, be no more than four years - or six for students with disabilitiesout of high school, and their family may not have a gross income of more than $160, 000 per year. What this means is that
According to the Canadian Federation of Students’ website they are “...concerned that the tuition fee grant will exclude students who need it the most, is inadequate at assessing need, will be expensive to administer, will be difficult to implement at an institutional level and will fail to bring more access to the sector in the way that the government intends.” The CFS states that the $423-million grant could have been used to cut tuition
“What this means is that many students who genuinely need aid are not eligible”
costs for all students in Ontario, rather than specifying a certain group of student to receive this grant, especially when they make up such a small portion of students. (The graph on the next page breaks down the numbers.)
“...all the while continuing to live on a diet of Ramen noodles and KD.” The CFS goes on to explain the students who are most impacted by being excluded from the grant including independent students, students in a “secondentry” program, graduate students, students who fall from good standing, students who are studying out-of-province, international students and students whose parents make more than $160 000 combined annually. One of the most distressing groups is the students who fall from good standing- which they largely define as students who are required to work throughout the course of their education. These students feel pressured to support themselves and have the ability to fall below the line in their studies based on the expectations of the current job
market. Many students believe that in order to be marketable they need to not only do well, but also have extra-curricular activities that set them apart from their colleagues.
for rising tuition and levy costs, which may soon include a Student Centre we willl like never have a chance to enjoy, all the while continuing to live on a diet of Ramen noodles and KD.)
Students who are not eligible for the grant believe that it is unfair. They state that students who have been out of school for a longer period time have more debt, more expenses and less financial support. (What this means for Trent students is that we will continue to pay
In early January many of the students who will not be receiving the grant took to Facebook, and Twitter, to express their displeasure about the way the government has chosen to distribute these funds. Students who have been out of high school longer are usually forced to
work through their education. To combat the unfair distribution of money that could possibly help all Ontario students rather than half the CFS has arranged a National Day of Action on February 1st. Students who choose to take part in this Day of Action in Toronto will be given academic amnesty, thanks to VP Student Issues, Brea Hutchinson. If you believe that every student has the right to a 13% decrease in their tuition fees this rally is the perfect place to have your voice heard. â–
Nora Grant-Young While in Ontario, Premier Dalton McGuinty has recently taken a firm stand against bullying, certain states in the United States of America, including Michigan and Tennessee, are taking legal action that may actually encourage bullying in the name of ‘religion’ and freedom of speech. Mc Guinty’s initiatives have bipartisan support and are aimed at ending bullying whether based on appearance, economic and social status, race, gender or sexuality. These recent American responses seem to wish to protect the right to bully LGBT youth. Influenced by the recent suicide of fifteen year old Ottawa boy, Jamie Hubley, Premier McGuinty introduced anti-bullying legislation on November 30, 2011. The legislation introduces stricter punitive measures in schools such as the possibility that bullies be expelled rather than merely suspended. Following along the lines of the successful “It Gets Better” campaign on the internet, the legislation promotes the establishment of gay-straight alliance clubs that promote tolerance. While some Catholic schools banned these groups, McGuinty feels that it is “important to have supportive groups”. As McGuinty told CBC News , he and the Liberal Party “are determined to take the next step to ensure that in our schools we send a very clear, strong, and direct message: we will not tolerate bullying of any kind, at any time, for any reason”. In contrast, on December 6, 2011, Michigan’s Republican led senate
passed “Matt’s Safe School Act”, which was strongly opposed for its wording which allows a loophole for, and ultimately encourages bullying while deferring punishment. The law allowed an exception to the anti-bullying law for “a sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction of a school employee, school volunteer, pupil, or a pupil’s parent or guardian”. As Democratic Senator Gretchen Whitmer said the naming of the law was “sad, sick and ironic” as it was named after fourteen year old Matt Epling who committed suicide due to bullying in 2002.
“the belief that it is “okay to hate” Senator Whitmer gave a scathing address to the Senate in which she argued that the law is “worse than doing nothing, it’s a Republican license to bully [as it] explicitly outline[s] how to get away with bullying”. In Whitmer’s words, the law “has set us back farther by creating a blueprint for bullying” in which Republicans “claim to be protecting kids but are actually putting them in more danger”. Whitmer argues that the law “wouldn’t have done a damn thing to save Matt”. Kevin Epling, Matt’s father, responded similarly identifying Matt’s Safe School Act as “government-sanctioned bigotry” in the Detroit Free Press. In an interview with ABC News, Epling stated that he was “ashamed the lawmakers added the special language at the last minute”.
Following Matt’s Safe School Act, Tennessee has drafted Senate Bill 0760 (House Bill 1153) with similar wording. Despite the recent suicide of high school senior Jacob Rogers who, as Huffington Post describes as being “tormented at his high school” by anti-gay bullying, the bill allows for students to speak out specifically about homosexuality without punishment as long as there are no threats of harm or damage to property. Tennessee Equality official Chris Sanders responded to the bill suggesting it influences the belief that it is “okay to hate” and even gives “religious sanctions” to do so. The Family Action Council of Tennessee (FACT) endorses this bill claiming it protects freedom of speech and religious expression. Unlike Canada, the United States of America Constitution protects the freedom of speech without agreed upon limitations. Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms (Section 33), also known as the notwithstanding clause, attempts to put reasonable limits on rights and freedoms. In the case of bullying, the freedom of speech (section 2) is limited as it imposes upon another person’s right to equality (section 15). The legislators in Michigan and Tennessee have effectively championed a particular type of religious based bullying as part of a homophobic agenda, and in so doing they have given a blueprint to all potential bullies. The message they are sending is also “clear, strong and direct”: homophobia is acceptable if it is couched in the language of free speech and freedom of religion. ■
Anthony P. Gulston If you are going to do something wrong, do it right. Canadian Conservatives like Brad Trost of Saskatchewan or our very own Mean SelFatso have appropriated the term “pro-life” without following it to its moral ends or considering its ethical basis. Jainism, an ancient Indian religion that was popularized by Mahavira in the 5th century BCE, is pro-life. Popularized then, but Jains hold true that Jainism has always existed and always will, no creator fits into their cosmology. Jains are strict vegetarians and pacifists in the highest degree, traditionally carrying brushes so they do not have to kill bugs even. Ghandi was inspired by the Jain principle of ahimsa, non-violence against all things, including some non-living things. This overlapping of the physical and metaphysical is quite clear and is also the basis for the Jain notion of reincarnation, where one becomes transcendent by detaching themselves from material things and therefore lives on in all things. This is a uniquely human achievement. Since this spiritually derived metaphysical framework encompasses the physical, that means that it encompasses the ethical, and that means it encompasses the political. So spiritual reasoning has lead Jains in India
to taking action against abortion legislation and Jains are known for their animal rights activism. Both of these political practices can be come to via other forms of reasoning (instead of spiritual arguments) derived from a more traditional western metaphysical framework, but are not in the case of Jains. My gripe with the aforementioned politicians is that their reasoning is muddled. Half-baked Christian meanderings combined with a half-baked reading of scientific research leaves the ground their arguments stand on rather shaky.
“If the argument is spiritually based, say so and if so, you are anti-military, anti-meat, anti-police, antiviolent crime and anti-pesticide, amongst other things.” To start with, Trost claims abortion is a “civil rights issue” as a way of vaguely alluding to MLK. But Sam Harris is “convinced that Jainism is a better guide than the Bible to become a nonviolent activist, like King Jr was. The Christian claim over King Jr as a moral, socially engaged Christian is ironic because he was directly influenced by Gandhi, who was
strongly influenced by Jainism.” If the argument is spiritually based, say so and if so, you are anti-military, anti-meat, anti-police, anti-violent crime and antipesticide, amongst other things. And if you are taking the path of science to base your assertions about life, then you are imbuing the scientific method with semantic powers it does not have. This lack of consistency suggests that there is no rational basis for most Conservative anti-abortion arguments. But human action is guided by way more than reason alone and it should be acknowledged that there is a very strong emotional component that at least Dean is willing to bring to the table. If you’re going to act on someone’s behalf though, you should at least indulge in trying to understand some other perspectives. Since Jainism has no dogma, you can still be a Jain and be pro-choice. Some Jains advocate for a shifting of priorities in the legal system to prevent rape, and abstinence instead of birth control or abortion. So if we are going to let religious and psuedo-scientific reasoning shape political policy, maybe we’d do better with Jainism rather than Christianity. Like Sam Harris said: “Had the Bible contained the teachings of Mahavira as its central precept, perhaps we would be living in a different world.” ■
18) Go to the grocery store, buy Aquarius (aJantube20 -ofFebcookie dough and eat it to your
hearts content. Your partner will still love you when it settles on your ass.
Feb 19 - Mar 20) You’ll get the Pisces (urge to dare devil your way
through the month. Make sure you stay away from the Otonobee. Falling through the ice is never a glamourous way to go out.
will Aries win a million You dollars (Mar 21 - Apr 19)
this month. That will buy you a lot of jelly beans and Jones rootbeer.
Apr 20 - May 20) Remember that time your mom told you that you were perfect? Taurus(She lied. She also lied about the Tooth Fairy and Santa being real. Moral of the
story? The people you love will always lie to you.
Gemini
(May 21 - Jun 21) Hide your credit card. That shady man selling knock off purses
on the street is shady. He’ll steal your information if you let him.
- Jul 22) Time travel is in your future! The government is going to recruit you Cancer(forJuna 22secret space and time exploration program they have. Maybe you should have
taken that astronomy class first year, and physics, but really it’s not a big deal. They want you because you’re secretly the long lost child of a distant planent’s benevolent ruler.
(Aug 22 - Sep 22) You’re going (Jul 23 - Aug 22) Refrain from using a tray from Leo the cafeteria to go sledding on campus. You’re Virgo to become a Youtube sensation! not coordinated enough to steer around the trees, or
the people, or the small woodland creatures. Better to do what you’re best at, and sit in the library. Where the worst injury you’ll get is a paper cut.
Someone found that video of you calling your first grade teacher ‘mommy.’ Awww.
(Sep 23 - Oct 22) Your search for a significant other is soon coming to an end. Just
Librabe wary of knights in tin foil armour. It’s in the stars, you’re going to have to go on a couple more dates to find the real knight in shining armour... he’s out there, but because he’s a man he’s too stubborn to stop and ask for directions.
(Nov 22 - Dec 21) You’re 23 - Nov 21) You’re going Sagittarius Scorpio(Oct going to battle dragons, to get a strong urge to punch
steal from Lords, and climb mountains. That’s right! The stars see a lot of Skyrim in your future.
somebody. Do it.
Dec 22 - Jan 19) Stay far away from the Chemical Sciences Building this month. Capricorn (There’s an accident waiting to happen and it’s has not only the skull and cross-
bones symbol on it, but also your name. Stay far, far away. Unless, you know, you like dying a horrible death due to poisonous and infectious materials.
Help me, Tyra! It’s the new year and I haven’t kept up with any of my resolutions. What should I do? - Unchanged Dear Unchanged, Sieze the day, dollface! Sure SOME time has passed but there’s no time like now to make your life fab-U-lous! Tyra what should I do about Valentine’s Day? I’m single!!!! :( Lonely Gal Dear Lonely Gal, Chin up, girl! Maybe get together with your other single friends for V-Day for a night in and then go out on the weekend to prowl! Stop waiting for him to come to you! Be fierce and find love. Want advice from Ty-Ty?! Send your questions in and she would love to respond. Email: trentabsynthe@gmail.com We at Absynthe feel that you should check out this amazing youtube video. Also, be sure to check out this area of the magazine every month, ‘cause chances are, one of the staff members has stumbled across another video gem that should be shared with the world... Okay, so just Trent’s population that reads the mag...anyways...
Shit Nobody Says! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-x8t0JOnVw
Hey Champlain! Bon Temps weekend is quickly approaching! Make sure to talk to your College Cabinet.
Maureen Heffernan This holiday break I humiliated myself by having a brief fainting spell at the Athletics Centre (the staff and other people in the weight room were incredibly helpful and I’d like to thank them again for their help). It occurred only 10 minutes into my workout, two hours after waking up, filled with breakfast, and I was properly hydrated. Why did I faint? It turns out that I was anemic due to a vitamin B12 deficiency. With the help of a daily B12 supplement, I have been feeling better than I have felt in months. Vitamin B12 is one of the eight B vitamins and it is vital to function in the brain and nervous system, as well as the formation of blood. It is involved in the metabolism of every cell, the creation of DNA, and energy production. In short, this vitamin is pretty damn important. The main symptom of a vitamin B12 is anemia. Anemia itself has various symptoms such as fatigue, rapid heart rate, pallor, yellowing eyes, dizziness, shortness of breath, muscular weakness, difficulty concentrating, and even personality and memory changes. In severe cases fainting, chest pain, angina, and even heart attacks may occur.
Anemia, which has several other causes such as an iron deficiency, is even more prevalent and is the most common blood disorder. Vitamin B12 deficiency is common because it can be difficult to receive the recommended dietary intake. B12 comes from bacteria and these bacteria lives in the gut of animals. As such, B12 is naturally found in higher amounts in animal products such as eggs, milk, and meat.
“Vitamin B12 may be deficient because of impaired absorption of vitamin B12” For those living a vegan or vegetarian diet, it can be especially hard to reach the daily recommended value for B12 as they choose to not to eat eggs, milk, and meat. In order to get enough B12, it is recommended that vegans and vegetarians seek it through other sources such as fortified foods. Some foods fortified with vitamin B12 include cereals, soy products, energy bars, and yeast. If these foods are not practical then they should try taking a vitamin B12 supplement either daily or weekly, depending on their deficit.
Additionally, Vitamin B12 may be deficient because of impaired absorption of vitamin B12 due to gastric intrinsic factor deficiency, a glycoprotein that helps with the absorption of B12. It is very possible that someone may have enough B12 in their diet but are unable to absorb it because of gastric intrinsic factor deficiency. There are two main treatments for vitamin B12 deficiency but the most common is taking B12 supplements. Additionally it is possible to have B12 injected into the body however this method is less popular next to the painless oral pill that one can take. While my fainting experience has left me embarrassed and afraid to return to the chest press machine (the last machine I used before the dizziness, spots, and weakness struck), I’m sharing my experience and knowledge. I’m hoping that this information reaches somebody who can prevent their own vitamin B12 deficiency. Maybe someone reading this realizes that the symptoms of B12 deficiency are happening to them and decides to do something about it, like getting a doctor’s appointment or tracking their daily B12 intake. If either things happen, the cons of embarrassing myself will far outweigh the positives. ■