charlatan

the

Vol 37 - Issue 1 - May 31, 2007

charlatan carleton’s independent weekly - since 1945

Free frosh dropped First-year students forced to shell out for orientation activities this fall p 3

2 PHOTO ILLUSTRATION

BY JAMES

PARK

5

1122

Raven alum to Po s t c a r d s CFS national f r o m R w a n d a meeting coverage lead women’s b-ball

News Postcards from Rwanda

DAVID KAWAI is one of 20 Carleton University journalism students involved in the Rwanda Initiative — a summer internship program that allows students to work with various media organizations in Rwanda.

Edited accounts of the students’ African experiences will appear every month in the Charlatan.

Magnus from The New Times leads Christine Spetz and I down dark crowded roads. Vendors selling cheap shoes, clothes, popcorn, candy, fruits, veggies and pirated movies line the main street. People stare at Christine and I, the only two Muzungus — white people — in this area tonight.

This is the slum of Kigali.

Though safer than many African slums, Magnus warns us to stay close. He lives mere steps away from here and knows the area, the people and the dangers all too well.

In the darkness, the lady to my left suddenly falls hard into a twometre deep pit. She disappears for a moment and causes a small scene, but emerges with some help and without any serious physical injury.

We turn down a dirt road parallel to the main street — the prostitution strip. Here, girls as young as 15 earn a living doing sex work. We walk past small children playing on the road, none older than 10.

“All children of prostitutes,” Magnus explains.

He leads us into a small restaurant with wobbly tables and plastic chairs. We order ugali, a local root that is pounded into a doughlike blob. You grab pieces with your fingers, dip it in a liver or meat sauce, then chew and swallow.

We also have porridge — a house specialty. For the three of us, the bill comes to 1,900 Rwandan Francs, or about $3.75 US. In other areas of Kigali, meals usually cost more than that per person.

One photo I manage to take is of a butcher shop. I loved the sign and had to take it. Despite Magnus telling me there was no problem taking a photo, about five people protest and yell at me. Although they are yelling in Kinyarwanda, there is no miscommunication: the butcher holds up a cleaver, looks at me and makes a chopping motion.

We then catch a bus back to our house. Best night in Kigali so far. K For more from Rwanda, check out KATE HARPER’s postcard, exclusively at...

www.charlatan.ca 2

News Editors: Carolyn Côté and Diana Mehta • news@charlatan.ca

Task force’s final report released BY

HARMEET SINGH

After two years in the works, the first step toward improving Carleton was completed when the Task Force on Planning and Priorities released its final report early this month.

“This is just the starting point,” said Doug Wotherspoon, Carleton’s director of communication, and a member of the task force.

The report outlines recommendations and priorities in several areas, including academics, student experience, the university library and community outreach.

The majority of the task force was comprised of faculty and senior administrators, with recommendations delivered to the committee by community members and student groups.

Former president David Atkinson, who resigned last November, initiated the project in fall 2005.

The preliminary draft of the report, released in June 2006, left some students puzzled as to what the report was meant to achieve.

Shelley Melanson, president of the Carleton University Students’ Association, said she had been perplexed by the draft, which she and other student leaders found vague.

However, Melanson said, the

JAMES PARK

Interim president Samy Mahmoud presented the task force’s final report on planning and priorities to faculty, students and staff May 23. final report is an improvement. “[There has been] fundamentally a shift in understanding what the document is about,” she said,

The search is on: Carleton looks for a new president Committee to use website to gather feedback from community BY

SANITA FEJZIC

Carleton students can expect a new president in January 2008 at the earliest, according to David Dunn, chairperson of the university’s Board of Governors.

Dunn, who sits on the presidential search committee, said the hiring process is underway and search consultants will be hired in June to suggest potential candidates.

“The search will start this summer, with a goal to be in interviews starting late summer to in the fall,” he said.

“The target for installation of a new president would be either Jan. 1, 2008, or July 1, 2008, depending on the logistics of the process and how it plays out,” Dunn added.

But Oren Howlett, one of the hiring committee’s two student representatives and president of the Graduate Students’ Association, said the committee is only in its infancy, and that it will be a very long process.

the Charlatan • May 31, 2007

“This is a bureaucratic and slow process,” he said.

Howlett said he hopes to see a president by July 2008.

Shelley Melanson, the committee’s other student representative and president of the Carleton University Students’ Association, said she hopes the committee will give students the opportunity for more input in the hiring process.

The committee launched a website this month and invited members of the Carleton community to give feedback on what it wants in a president.

Melanson said she supports this idea, but added that a better way to involve students is to create a group on Facebook, the popular online networking site.

Former Carleton president David Atkinson’s severance package totaled $519,000 and included housing and car allowances.

The figure made students eager to find out who their next president will be, and how much of their tuition money will go toward his or her salary and extended benefits.

Howlett said he is concerned about the future president’s salary and what it might mean for Carleton.

“Universities are becoming big businesses,” he said.

K — with files from Diana Mehta

adding the report touches on what needs to be addressed at Carleton.

Melanson said the document is what she calls a mission statement

rather than a concrete plan. There is a need to shift from “grand, arching themes and ideas,” to tangible results in the future, she said.

The report itself recognizes that the goals and recommendations of the task force “are not intended to be exhaustive.”

Melanson added the report is a good establishment of Carleton’s vision and direction.

“If that’s the primary goal, then it absolutely serves its purpose,” she said.

The report allows the flexibility required in the wake of recent changes the university has undergone, she said.

The next step is a strategic plan, to be completed over the next six to eight months, in which all academic and administrative units on campus will define their priorities.

“This is indeed a remarkable and tremendous report,” said Samy Mahmoud, interim university president, at a presentation and discussion session held at Carleton May 23 where he answered questions from faculty and staff regarding the report.

“We’re one of the youngest universities in Canada,” he said. “But look at what we’ve achieved.” K —with files from Carolyn Côté

University scraps mandatory FYSMs MEGAN CHEUNG

benefited from their FYSM. “The class teaches students to First-year arts students at do research and write essays at the Carleton no longer need to register university level. It was worth in a First-Year Seminar (FYSM), going to,” said fouth-year student thanks to a recommendation Ashley Reid. approved by the university Senate “All my classes but my FYSM April 27. were 400 people — that can be “We didn’t want to force stu- really intimidating,” said Terri dents into Lauzon, a them.

We ‘We didn’t want to force rC ae rcl ee t no nt wanted to give them students into them.’ graduate. m o r e But stu— Christine Adam, choice,” said dents are review committee chair still strongly Christine Adam, chair encouraged of the review committee and assis- to register and reap the benefits of tant dean (first-year programs) for smaller classes, group discussion the Faculty of Arts and Social and social networking, said Sciences (FASS).

Adam.

The decision stems from a joint “Professors know you by name request for a review made this and they can provide references past fall by the deans of FASS and when applying for jobs,” said the Faculty of Public Affairs and Adam.

Management.

“Usually students have to wait The program was introduced in [for that] until third or fourth 1998 to ease the transition from year,” she said. high school to university.

Despite the anticipated decline Though its completion was in student participation, Adam never a graduation requirement, said the number of offered semiregistration in a FYSM was com- nars will remain virtually pulsory for all first-year arts stu- unchanged. dents — something that could be Every incoming student will be an inconvenience. given the opportunity to register, “It was the biggest waste of my she said. time. I can guarantee 90 per cent of “We wanted to make the place the class would not have attended more personal than large lecture if we were not marked on atten- halls,” said Adam. dance,” said Gray Russell, a “It would be a shame if that second-year student. was the only experience But other students said they available.”

K

BY

news

Students face tuition increase, again BY

THERESA UNIAC

Tuition fees increased again when Carleton’s Board of Governors passed its 2007-08 operating budget April 30.

The average increase in tuition is 4.3 per cent. First-year undergraduates will pay 4.5 per cent more and upper-year undergraduate and graduate students will see a four per cent increase.

International students and first-year graduate students will be hit the hardest with six per cent and eight per cent increases, respectively.

Lynn Collins, the board’s secretary, said universities must increase tuition when given permission.

“If the government says they

can increase by five percent, to not increase five per cent would mean five per cent is missing from the budget,” she said.

Carleton has standard increases in its operational budget and the “money needs to come from somewhere if the governments are not providing it,” she said.

Isaac Cockburn, Carleton University Students’ Association vice-president (student issues) said he was not surprised by the announcement because the provincial government announced tuition fees could rise by five per cent in February.

The board has the power to not raise tuition fees, he said, but historically, it always does.

Students had mixed reactions to news of a tuition increase.

Some, like Ayman Khedr, a fourth-year computer systems engineering student, are in favour.

“Eventually inflation catches up with the universities and the quality of the education will deteriorate [if tuition is not increased],” he said.

Khedr added the system could be taken for granted and “wasted on dropouts” if the government were to foot the entire bill.

“Students must think of postsecondary degrees as investments that pay off over time,” he said.

Others are annoyed at yet another increase.

“I think it’s outrageous and despicable, [...] I’m paying over $5,000 for my tuition and students in other provinces are paying much less,” said Nick Ramsay, a

fourth-year history student.

Collins said any student who wished to complain about tuition fees should head to the provincial government, as administration has no real say in the matter.

A survey conducted by the Feedback Research firm following the release of the Ontario provincial budget shows this is not just a student issue — 75 per cent of respondents feel tuition fees should not increase.

Cancellation of the freeze was seen by 68 per cent of respondents as a broken campaign promise by the provincial government.

The margin of error on the survey was 3.1 per cent, 19 times out of 20.

K — with files from Carolyn Côté

Quick reference: tuition fee hikes 2006-07 2007-08* First-year arts, science, math Upper-year arts, science, math First-year commerce Upper-year commerce First-year engineering Upper-year engineering

$4882.15 $5101.84

$4861.15 $5055.59

$5299.15 $5537.61 $5259.15 $5469.51 $6615.15 $6912.83 $6394.15 $6649.91

*2007-08 undergraduate fees calculated from budget percentage increases.

Funding cuts mean no more free frosh Another resignation: Carleton Fewer options means first-year students have to pay for fall orientation

about the funding cuts because of frosh week’s ability to engage students in the Carleton community.

She added that CUSA is prepared to run at a loss on orientation in the fall.

Last year the fee for students who participated in the CUSA/RRRA frosh week was $60, a figure Melanson said CUSA wants to reduce by $20 this year.

“I don’t think it is appropriate for us to make money off of firstyear students,” she said. “This is dependent on the type of funding that we are able to access.”

In the past, the First Year Experience Office (FYEO) organ-

and the Ontario Public Interest Research Group’s (OPIRG) Radical Frosh.

The theme of this year’s EngFrosh is “Ye Olde EngFrosh,” based on medieval Europe. The event is run by the Carleton Student Engineering Society (CSES).

Main events will include whitewater rafting, a movie night at the

BY LAURA DI MASCIO Mayfair Theatre and the annual canal boat day, according to Carleton’s first-year students Andrew Harte and Kyle McMartin, may need to head to the bank if this year’s EngFrosh directors. they want to participate in frosh EngFrosh is open to any stuweek this fall. dent who wants to participate.

A cut to student services in this Harte said the fee would probably year’s university budget may be similar to last year’s $95 for ‘We certainly do not want early registration, $110 for late force the Carleton University Students’ Association (CUSA) and an additional to make money the reason registration to increase the cost of the $60 for rafting. people are not allowed to orientation program they OPIRG’s Radical Frosh will share with the Rideau River also involve some cost. participate [in frosh week]’ Residence Association “We are trying to keep [the —Shelley Melanson, fee] as minimal as possible,” (RRRA).

CUSA president said Dan Sawyer, co-ordinator “We are kind of concerned [because] we certainly do not of OPIRG Carleton. Radical want to make money the reason ized an alternate orientation week. Frosh is centred around a social that people are not allowed to parThis year however, they will justice theme. ticipate [in frosh week],” said only collaborate with the CUSA/ According to Sawyer, OPIRG is CUSA president Shelley RRRA frosh on major events such still in the early stages of planning Melanson. as Academic Orientation Day and and has not decided on any specifFrosh at Carleton is a week- Ravenspalooza, said Greg Jefford, ic activities yet. long induction into campus life FYEO campus life co-ordinator.

While CSES and OPIRG do not that helps students through the Dubbed “CU on the high seas,” typically work with CUSA and high school-university transition.

CUSA/RRRA’s frosh will have a RRRA during frosh, Melanson It involves quirky activities and pirate theme and activities such as said CUSA is always open to fun parties where students can get the traditional concert, beach day, working with the other groups. acquainted with the campus and and Rideau Canal day.

“I think it’s fabulous that we at meet fellow newcomers.

Carleton also offers two other Carleton offer so much choice to Melanson said she was upset orientation programs: EngFrosh our students,” she said.

K

Web exclusives

New deans were hired for the faculty of engineering and design and faculty of science.

KRISTEN CUCAN and ASHA HINGORANI get the scoop on their plans for the year.

Things are running smoothly at the Sprott School of Business after the abrupt resignation of former dean William Keep.

SARAH DION-MARQUIS reports.

An asbestos survey of buildings on campus is half complete, ABIGAIL GAMBLE digs up what’s been found so far.

An incident of indecent exposure occurred during spring exams.

STEPHANIE HA investigates.

A Carleton trio took top prize for their innovative PC design.

STEPHANIE Ha has the story.

For these stories and more, visit

www.charlatan.ca

The Carleton community mourned the passing of former professor James Tassie, one of the university’s founders.

PRIYA NER looks at the mark he has left on the university.

An agreement between Carleton and Le Cordon Bleu could bring new degrees to the university.

PRIYA NER finds out what’s cooking.

loses Tierney to U of C BY

SARAH DION-MARQUIS

Carleton lost yet another senior administrator this month as Ann Tierney, associate vice-president (student and academic support services), resigned to take up “an interesting and exciting opportunity” at the University of Calgary.

Stepping down on May 4, Tierney said she applied for the newly created job of vice-provost (students) at the U of C because she was enthusiastic about what the institution was doing to enhance student experience.

“It is a very unfortunate loss for Carleton,” said Shelley Melanson, president of the Carleton University Students’ Association (CUSA). “The students at University of Calgary are really lucky to have her.”

Responsible for 11 offices at Carleton, Tierney oversaw student recruitment and enrolment, academic support, and residence and student life. She also served as the university’s dean of student affairs during the 2004-05 academic year.

Tierney will continue to work in student services at her new post and will also be a professor in the university’s faculty of law.

At Carleton, Tierney worked with faculty, staff and students for more than two years to reduce the university’s dropout rate and improve student experience.

Last year she created the First Year Experience Office to help students make a successful transition to university. She also developed a peer mentoring program, career and co-operation offices, as well as exchange opportunities.

Tierney said her biggest achievement at Carleton was combining support and academic services by “putting together a fantastic team of people to provide help to students through their years at Carleton.”

Tierney will work under former colleague Alan Harrison, who resigned as Carleton’s academic provost and vice-president (academic) last year to take up the same position at the U of C.

CAROLINE MALCOLMSON

Associate vice-president Ann Tierney will leave Carleton for a new job in Alberta.

Tierney said she was excited to work with Harrison once again because of his focus on student success.

“Together, we will be able to accomplish a lot,” she said.

Although Tierney is the fourth high-level official to quit the university in six months, Melanson said she did not see a correlation between the resignations.

Athletics director Drew Love and Sprott School of Business dean William Keep stepped down last month, following former university president David Atkinson’s resignation in November.

“It was all people working for different departments and they all left for different reasons,” Melanson said.

According to Georgina Galloway, manager of International Student Services Office (ISSO), it is not unusual for senior administrators to move between universities during their career.

Galloway said the ISSO would not be affected by Tierney leaving.

“She gave us a lot of autonomy to deliver our services,” she said While an interim for Tierney has not been announced, Carleton will hold an internal competition to fill her position.

Tierney’s term in Calgary begins Aug. 1.

K the Charlatan • May 31, 2007

3

National

National Editor: Marc Roy • national@charlatan.ca

Ontarians to vote on electoral change BY

LAURA DI MASCIO

After being asked by the Liberal government to investigate electoral reform, a citizens’ assembly of 103 Ontarians recommended the province adopt a new voting system.

Nearly 10,000 letters were sent out across the province encouraging Ontario citizens to get involved in what is anticipated to become a controversial debate on electoral reform.

Out of these letters came the 103 citizens, each randomly selected to represent a particular electoral riding within the citizen’s assembly.

Christopher Doody, a journalism student at the University of King’s College, was selected to represent Ottawa-Vanier.

Doody said he wanted to bring a young perspective to the assembly because young people aged 18 to 26 are the only under-represented group in Ontario’s voting system.

In September 2006 the assembly met in Toronto and spent six weekends learning about the different electoral systems found around the world.

At the end of February, it constructed a new system to compare to the current one.

“We designed the mixed member proportional (MMP) system and thought it would do a better job for Ontario, so we’ve suggested it to the government,” said Doody.

Since the MMP system was proposed to the government, there will be a referendum question in the Oct. 10 elections.

If at least 60 per cent of voters support it, Ontario will become

ASHTON STARR

The yes campaign launch for the Ontario referendum to adopt proportional representation was held at Ottawa City hall May 24. In attendance were political figures including former Ottawa Centre MP Ed Broadbent (right) and David Chernushenko, deputy leader of the federal Green party (left). the first province in Canada to use a form of proportional representation in its elections.

Under the current system, called first-past-the-post, voters select only candidates, rather than parties. The party with the most winning candidates forms the government.

This system has often been condemned for under-representing citizens and disenfranchising smaller political parties.

In the proposed system, Ontarians would vote separately for both a candidate and a party.

The number of seats dedicated to local representatives would be

reduced to 90, allowing an additional 39 “list” seats to be assigned based on a party’s share of the popular vote.

According to Doody, these 39 “list” seats would be reserved to make sure all parties receive a number of seats that reflects their portion of the vote.

The MMP system would allow any party that receives at least three per cent of the popular vote a seat in the legislature.

But not everyone is on board with the MMP system.

Ontario’s Freedom party leader Paul McKeever released a report May 15 which slammed the proposed system for being “a hollowpoint bullet aimed directly at the heart of the Canadian values we hold so dearly.”

He could not be reached for comment.

An education campaign to inform Ontarians about the referendum has been given over to Elections Canada.

The Conservative party has denounced the proposed system, while the Green and the New Democratic parties have spoken in favor of it.

The Liberal party, which set up the citizen’s assembly, have remained a neutral party.

“It should stay neutral the whole time,” said Doody.

“That is the one thing [the Liberals] have wanted to do since the beginning, was to keep it non-political.”

Peter Black, co-ordinator of the Ottawa Vote YES to MMP campaign, said countries with proportional representation, including New Zealand, Germany, Scotland and Wales, have higher voting rates.

The ability to vote for a party independent of a local candidate will likely increase voter turnout among students, said Doody.

“If young people know that their vote is not being wasted and that every vote counts, that’ll get them out to vote,” he said.

K

Western’s student paper under close watch

BY JENNI

DUNNING

LONDON, Ont. — Student groups at the University of Western Ontario have widely supported a motion giving the university’s Board of Governors the power to take away funding and distribution of its student newspaper, The Gazette.

In fact, they helped write it.

The motion, passed by the board May 3, is a reaction to the “couple hundred” responses from students, alumni, faculty and community members concerned about unsettling content in The Gazette’s April Fool’s joke issue, said Gitta Kulczycki, the university’s vicepresident (resources and operations).

She said she met with the outgoing and incoming University Students’ Council (USC) presidents and Gazette editor-inchiefs twice in mid-April to discuss setting new guidelines.

They include creating a journalistic code of ethics, revamping a formal complaints process, equity training, obtaining faculty and media advisors and forming a study group.

4

The Gazette must follow these dened” by the board’s motion Majora Carnage,” which spoofed guidelines for the 2007-08 publish- because the paper “had no mali- Take Back the Night, a campaign ing year or the board will consider cious intent,” said Amy Bi, USC to raise awareness about violence taking away the paper’s $9 per communications officer. against women. student levy, which would greatly But she said the council is It described a fake event called limit its abilities to distribute on pleased the board and paper took “Take Back the Nighties,” in which campus, said Allison Buchin- a “solution-based approach.” men masturbated while watching Terrell, the paper’s editor-in-chief.

Although the USC owns the marching feminists.

“It would be a very serious paper and has the power to stop Floods of letters, phone calls, eaction if it came to that,” she said. its publication, they would mails and protests came shortly “We could find a way after the issue was ‘[The Gazette’s] freedom is highly published, to stay afloat [but] said obviously The Gazette Kulczycki. respected, [but] with freedom comes wouldn’t be able to “A lot of consustain itself [longgreat responsibility.’ stituents of the term.]” university identified —Ann Hutchison, that there has to be But, she said, The director of media relations, some means of ensurGazette acknowledges University of Western Ontario ing that this doesn’t it made a mistake and is ready to fix it. happen again,” she “We do recognize that there “never” do that, she said. said. “Our board members were was an error,” she said.

This sentiment was echoed by being contacted and [told they] “We felt that the motion was administration, which wants to had an accountability.” understandable [and] that they protect the editorial freedom of the The joke issue, according to the had to do it to show people that paper, said Ann Hutchison, direc- motion, was “disdainful to gays they were taking the situation seri- tor of media relations at Western. and lesbians and trivialized rape ously.”

“That freedom is highly and violence against women [...]

While the board has the ability respected [but] with freedom The response from within the to stop distribution of The Gazette, comes great responsibility,” she university community and student groups and administra- said. beyond was angry and immedition said that is exactly what they The annual joke issue, ate.” want to avoid. published March 30, raised eyeOne male protester even The student council is “sad- brows over an article called “Labia chained himself to the railing of a

the Charlatan • May 31, 2007

staircase in front of the USC office.

Women’s groups on campus also met with then-student council president Fab Dolan to voice their concerns.

Other students, faculty and community members went to a USC meeting and an April 13 town hall meeting, attended by Western president Paul Davenport, to discuss the issue, said Kulczycki.

But John McDonald, a Western student, said the annual issue was no different from past years and administration should not have taken it so seriously.

“There’s so many groups at school that tend to find problems with everything,” he said.

“I don’t think everyone can be satisfied.”

Another student, Monika Stolarz, said the joke issue was offensive but people did not have to read it if they disliked it.

“I literally opened it and thought ‘This is so dumb. I’m not going to waste my time [reading it],’” she said.

But the motion was a good decision, she said, because offensive material should not be distributed on campus.

K

national

CFS to re-address media restrictions Federation passes standing resolution BY

KATHRYN BURNHAM

In the face of criticism over restricted media access to its national general meetings, the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) adopted a standing resolution to address the issue.

At the semi-annual national general meeting of the federation, held May 24-27 at Carleton University, a motion was put forward by the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) to give all Canadian University Press

(CUP) reporters access to future meetings.

The Kwantlen University Students’ Association put forward a similar motion that would extend media access at CFS meetings to all media organizations, but it was not submitted in time to be considered.

Although SSMU’s motion was defeated, a standing resolution put forward by Carleton University Students’ Association (CUSA) president Shelley Melanson was adopted in its place.

The resolution gives the CFS national executive the authority to invite media to cover future national general meetings, and to specify which elements of the conference will be open to

observation.

Melanson said she expects portions of future meetings to be open to all media.

This decision came as the federation was under fire for the lack of media access provided during the May meeting.

The only media allowed to attend were two CUP reporters.

Member papers were able to receive stories via the CUP wire service.

Amanda Aziz, CFS national chairperson, said this arrangement was the “fairest way” to open up the meeting to media, and cited finances and distance as unfair barriers that may keep some student media from attending.

Melanson said there was concern among some international

students about being quoted in meetings where they are asked to be open about controversial issues.

She said that in some countries freedom of speech is not a reality the way it is in Canada, and problems could arise for students and their families at home because of media reports here.

Joey Coleman, a university beat reporter for Macleans magazine, said many students do not trust the CFS. “Having doors closed like this only builds on that mistrust [...] It hurts [the CFS] when the students aren’t able to know what they are doing,” he said.

He said he was told the assembly was a closed meeting of a private organization when he

asked for access.

“It’s our job to inform students on what’s going on in post-secondary education,” Coleman said.

“The more students know how their money is being spent, the better.”

At these meetings delegates vote on any motions put forward to change the federation’s bylaws and policies. They also vote on the budget.

The CFS is Canada’s largest student lobby group and represents more than 500,000 students, who are members through their student associations.

All Carleton students are members through CUSA and the Graduate Students’ Association. K —with files from Marc Roy

Simon Fraser students prepare to ditch CFS Student society president cites meddling, lack of transparency as main reasons for departure

BY JAMIE

HARKINS

The Simon Fraser Students’ Society (SFSS) will sever ties with the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) this school year because it is what the majority of students at the university want, according to SFSS president Derrick Harder.

Before attending the CFS national general meeting held at Carleton University May 24-27, Harder said students gave the SFSS a mandate to leave Canada’s largest student lobby group.

“At this point we want to leave because our membership has told us that they want us to leave,” Harder said.

“We held a referendum that was non-binding this spring that led to a 70 per cent vote in favour of leaving the CFS.” Harder said SFSS members “feel somewhat burned by our experience in this organization” and believe they could do just as well acting alone as they would as part of the CFS. He cited the federation’s overinvolvement in student elections and a general lack of transparency as main reasons of worry at Simon Fraser.

CFS British Columbia chairperson Shamus Reid said the federation will work “directly” with the student body in getting their concerns communicated to the provincial and national government despite the lack of support shown toward the CFS by SFSS. He said the SFSS is the only

elected leadership body to take this direction and that it is unfortunate because an “organized” social movement with all students working together is the only way to effect change.

“We’ll continue to work with the elected leadership there but will also be showing that where there is a breakdown in communication with the entire membership at Simon Fraser that we’re communicating with them as directly as possible,” Reid said.

Three avenues are available for a university to pursue if it wants to leave the CFS, according to the federation’s bylaws: withdrawal, de-federation and expulsion.

Withdrawal means a vote on a student association leaving the federation must be done at a national general meeting.

Another option is de-federation, which involves handing in a petition with 10 per cent of the university’s student body expressing their desire to leave the CFS, followed by a school-wide referendum on the matter six months later.

The final avenue is expulsion, in which the CFS decides to sever ties with a university itself.

“The one that we don’t have any control over is expulsion.

That’s initiated by the national executive, not us,” said Harder.

“If they’d like to expel us, we’d be happy with that, but I don’t think that’s going to happen. The other two we’re pursuing concurrently. So we’re starting a petition for de-federation and at the same time we’ve asked the national executive to put on the national general meeting’s agenda a motion for us to withdraw.”

While the motion was never put on the agenda during May’s national general meeting, Harder said the SFSS will present its petition for de-federation to the CFS in September.

A referendum will be held during regularly scheduled student body elections in March 2008. K

JAMES PARK

Delegates from the Canadian Federation of Students met in Carleton University’s Porter Hall over four days at the end of May to discuss student issues and vote on the federation’s policies.

CFS national meeting: at a glance After the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) national meeting, Carleton University Students’ Association president Shelley Melanson discussed some of the highlights.

A motion put forward by the Students’ Society of McGill University to post the federation’s bylaws, meeting minutes and standing resolutions on its website passed. Melanson said the deci-

sion was made “to make sure that [information about the CFS] was more accessible to a greater number of students.”

Member locals do not have access to lists of their members, she said, so the best way to get the information out is to post it online.

In what Melanson called “one of the most emotional moments of the entire meeting,” the CFS voted in favour of supporting the National Aboriginal Day of Action

June 21.

A member of the Ontario Citizens’ Assembly for Electoral Reform also spoke to delegates about the upcoming provincial referendum to adopt a mixed member proportional electoral system for future provincial elections. Member locals of the CFS will individually decide whether to endorse the yes campaign, said Melanson.

—Marc Roy

Web exclusives Students at the University of Alberta are protesting over the university’s choice of toilet paper.

WILLIAM H. ALEXIS finds out why.

Two professors have written a book claiming students today expect higher marks for less work.

SARA DITTA investigates.

Prince Edward Island and Manitoba recently went through provincial elections.

PHOEBE LEUNG recaps all the action.

The Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations released a report slamming the provincial government. CURTIS PERRY reports.

The University of Victoria Students’ Union received the highest fine ever for a first-time offence from British Columbia’s liquor control board. EMILY RIDLINGTON has the details.

For these stories and much much more, please visit

www.charlatan.ca the Charlatan • May 31, 2007

5

voicebox

Letters

Letters Editor: Erin McGuey • oped@charlatan.ca

BLEEP Hi, I just wanted to say that I am really jealous that Haiku girl found Rooster’s boy because I want to find Rooster’s Boy or he could be a Page Break boy.

I just want to make sure that he writes me a sonnet and that we have idealist encounters together.

BLEEP

Hi Voicebox. I am just calling to let you know something about the Conservative party on campus and the annual meeting that you reported on just the other issue.

The record-breaking attendance that you mentioned might have been because that the Derek Fildebrandt guy encouraged people coming to the meeting with promises of liquor.

I just thought you might want to know that because that might have been why they had record-breaking attendance.

Right on!

BLEEP

I never see any of these hot guys.

Like where are they going? Where are these guys going?

Where are the cute boys? Thank you. Please like, please print this.

BLEEP Okay, hello it is Saturday night and this is our last night . . .(laughing).

BLEEP Hi, so we really want to get in the paper . . . so . . . (phone cuts out).

Carleton, instead of wasting your money on things like the atrium, which by the way is for birds, can you please improve the quality of elevator services on campus, especially in the University Centre? They SUCK! We have a shitty elevator that breaks down frequently that should have been replaced a long time ago and another elevator that only goes up to the third floor. What use is that?

Please Carleton, get your asses in gear and get elevators for people who actually need them. Like for people like me, who actually need an elevator because I am in a wheelchair.

Thank you.

BLEEP

BLEEP Hey Voicebox, my foot shadow looks like a weasel.

Why is this answering machine so short? And where are the hot guys?

BLEEP Hi, I have looked everywhere for the hot boys and I can’t find them, so if they are not at the bar, I am giving up on you, Carleton.

BLEEP Hey Voicebox, this is for the cafeteria. This one time they had these cool raven beaks and I think that was good, good, good school spirit.

Rock on.

BLEEP

Hi, this is a response to the person, who has no friends and wanted to reply to Facebook. We just wanted to say we are sitting here lonely and we wanted to play laser tag too.

And we like pizza! Woooo yahhhh.

BLEEP Hi, so, um I just want to say that there . . . (laughing).

Okay, what my friend is trying to say is that I always see hot guys on campus but whenever I get drunk and I go out

BLEEP Hi, in response to all of these people that say mac and cheese is all that great.

It is not all that great compared to Mr. Noodle. Mr. Noodle is really the shit in university considering it is cheaper and it tastes better.

I mean c’mon now.

BLEEP

Hello, we are sitting here.

Just chilling out maxing, relaxing just shooting some bball and we just had a question for the rest of Carleton and I am not about to stick my hand down my pants to find out.

Where is the anus located? Would you say it is at the bottom of the ass crack, midway through the ass crack or at the top of the ass crack?

BLEEP

To leave a series of drunken phone messages about the location of attractive male students, or to share your thoughts on the heavily debated anus location, call Voicebox at 613-520-7500.

Voicebox is open all summer, Carleton, so make sure to call and let us know how you are doing!

Web Designer Needed Are you an individual or company with a flair for design?

Do you enjoy working on the web?

The Charlatan wants you!

Co-ordinator wanted for... this year’s Frosh Supplement!

This is a chance for aspiring writers to create and produce an 8-page supplement introducing Carleton’s first-year students to university life in Ottawa.

Duties include: - brainstorming story ideas and/or themes - recruiting and working with volunteers - assigning stories

- designing layout - gaining knowledge with Quark Xpress - working with the photo and graphic editors

If interested, feel free to visit the Charlatan office (room 531 in the Unicentre) to look at past issues and discuss ideas. Elections will be held at the paper’s post-mort meeting, June 28, 2007 at 5 p.m.

To be considered eligible, candidates must be registered Carleton students with a valid student ID card.

They must be Carleton students for the entire 2006-07 academic year.

The Charlatan is looking for a compelling and dynamic new design to revamp their website, www.charlatan.ca.

For more information contact Kimberly Shearon at 613-520-2600 ext. 1633, or editor@charlatan.ca.

Duties include: - performing a redesign/redevelopment of the website beginning July 2, 2007 until August 21, 2007 - designing both a back-end content management system and front-end layout and design tailored to both its university and more general public audiences - creating a user-centric website, improving the information architecture, content management and public archiving and over all user experience

Interested applicants must submit a proposal, outlining their ideas, no later than June 12, 2007.

The proposal must include: - a description of your company’s qualifications and abilities to carry out the design - an estimate of fees and expenses - two front-end design proofs outlining your ideas with a brief description outlining your choices - a portfolio of past work, including photos, screenshots and links to existing websites

Looking for a job at the Charlatan?

Do you want to become part of the most awesome <-------------team on campus?

-------------->

Because you have the chance to become a member of our editorial staff!

The Charlatan is currently seeking a GRAPHICS EDITOR for the 2007-08 publishing year! If you love drawing, artwork and computer graphics or anything graphic related, get involved!

Duties include: - creating editorial cartoons - working with other editors to create interesting visuals - fulfilling graphic requests

- recruiting and managing a team of volunteers - attending post-mort and editorial staff meetings - working with Adobe Photoshop

- at least three references from past clients during the last 12 months Interviews will take place after June 20, 2007.

For more details contact Kimberly Shearon at 613-520-2600 ext. 1633, or editor@charlatan.ca

To be considered eligible, applicants must be registered Carleton students with a valid student ID card. They must be Carleton students for the entire 2007-08 academic year.

The graphics editor job is a paid position. Application deadlines and a list of eligible voters will be announced in an upcoming issue.

For more information contact Kimberly Shearon at 613-520-2600 ext. 1633, or editor@charlatan.ca.

6

the Charlatan • May 31, 2007

Opinion/Editorial

Op/Ed. Editor: Erin McGuey • oped@charlatan.ca

A little too late Though university administration generously overturned the athletics department’s decision to strip varsity status and funding away from several Raven teams, the decision to do so has come far too late.

The damage is already done.

It is no secret that the athletics department has been financially strained for the past few years, and cutting teams was the most financially responsible decision for department at the time. But the situation would not have been as drawn out as it was if administration had stepped up sooner.

Administration should have done more ahead of time to monitor the situation, and the athletics department should not have been pushed to the point where it was forced to make dramatic cuts to its varsity programming.

The cutting and reinstating of teams has damaged the university’s athletic reputation and the school as a whole.

To the outsider, Carleton athletics now appears a little unstable, and both current and prospective students have been affected by all of this flip-flopping.

The cuts were made at the end of the year, a time when current students are deciding if they will return the following year and prospective students are deciding whether or not to attend the university.

The university’s wavering stance on athletics might have scared away students who take athletics into account when deciding which university to attend.

Athletes do not want to enrol in a university where they know the sport they are interested in might be on the chopping block.

Carleton cannot afford any more negative attention, not with our president and high-ranking administration leaving and last year’s low Macleans magazine ranking bringing back the “Last Chance U”stereotype.

BY SCOTT MCLEAN Administration must understand it needs to act swiftly in the future in order to prevent Carleton from taking yet another hit of negative publicity.

K

Free the frosh Carleton’s first-year students will not have a free frosh this year. As part of larger funding cuts by administration to student services, the First Year Experience Office (FYEO)’s frosh was whittled down to only one day: Academic Orientation Day. This means that new first-year students will have no choice but to pay if they want to participate in frosh week activities.

Paying for tuition is hard enough. Shelling out an additional amount of money just to participate in the Carleton community negatively affects students already in debt.

Although EngFrosh and the Carleton University Students’ Association frosh try to keep their costs down, the fees are still high for students counting every penny. The free FYEO frosh was an option that did not empty student wallets.

Losing the FYEO frosh also impacts first-year students who live off-campus.

To join a frosh week they have to pay the same orientation fee residence students pay — even though the difficulty of commuting means they may not be able to attend every event.

The free frosh let off-campus students pick which activities they really wanted to participate in. Last year’s FYEO frosh also offered a number of events, including an outdoor carnival, rock climbing, tours of Ottawa and free meals.

Frosh weeks make a big impression on students. Getting rid of a free option does not send a positive message.

If administration wants better retention rates, they need to put student needs first. Bring back the free frosh.

K

Charlatan poll Do you think the departures of high-ranking university administrators reflects poorly on Carleton?

Vote online at www.charlatan.ca

the

charlatan

Last issue: Should athletics have increased student fees to keep up on the eight varsity teams??

Yes - 40.9 per cent No - 59.1 per cent

May 31 2007 Volume 37, Issue 1 Room 531 Unicentre 1125 Colonel By Drive Carleton University Ottawa, ON — K1S 5B6 General: 613-520-6680 Advertising: 613-520-3580

Cut teams regain varsity status . . . except for the men’s rugby squad — p 12

Voting for a change

many voices that are not being represented.

In fact during the last federal election, 650,000 Green party voters elected no one to the House of Commons.

Scott McLean is a second-year film More than 400,000 Conservative voters in Toronto, and political science student He is Vancouver and Montreal couldn’t elect a single MP. These a member of Fair Vote Carleton and are just some of the flaws with our current voting system. thinks that Ontario should take the However, hope is in sight. lead and undergo electoral reform.

The Ontario Citizen’s Assembly, consisting of 103 citizens from across the province, released a report May 15 and recommended that Ontario adopt a mixed member In the fall, it will once again be election time for the proportional (MMP) system. province of Ontario and once again, it is expected to be In October when Ontario voters go to the polls during plagued by low voter turnout. the next provincial election they will be asked a referendum In the last federal election only 65 per cent of eligible question on whether or not they would favour adopting voters bothered to show up. In 2003, barely half (52 per this system. cent) of the people living in Ontario decided it was worth it It would allow for two-thirds of the seats at Queen’s to cast a ballot during the provincial election.

Park to be elected by constituency using the first-past-theCan you blame those apathetic citpost system while the other third of izens who do not make it to the polls?

Let’s face it, unless you seats would be elected by people votI can’t. ing strictly for their party of choice. vote for the winning Seats would be assigned proportionWe are lucky enough to live in a country that gives us the opportunity to the amount of votes each candidate your vote has ately to vote, but this does not mean our party receives. For example, if the no influence Green party receives 10 per cent of the voices are heard. And our current electoral system does not help. votes they would receive 10 per cent Let’s face it, unless you vote for the winning candidate of these seats. your vote has no influence.

The MMP system needs to be adopted. It will give In our current first-past-the-post system, which is used smaller parties more opportunities to get their members in every province in Canada, and also at the federal level, elected and voters a chance to vote with their conscience candidates often win a riding with fewer than half of the and not just for who they think will have the best chance to votes. win.

This means that the majority of voters would rather have Mainstream parties may not favour this MMP another party elected but because they voted for the losing system because they will no longer be able to win a majoriparties, their votes don't count. ty government with only 40 per cent of the popular vote.

This system needs to improve, and here is no better time However, the MMP system is a much more democratic than now for a change to our electoral system. system, and will help prevent parties from receiving a The environment is on the verge of a meltdown, wars are disproportional number of seats. being fought for lost causes, accountability in government In 2003 the Liberal party won almost 70 per cent of the is plagued by scandal after scandal, and it seems as if all seats at Queen’s Park, even though it won less than half of politics consists of is meaningless partisan bickering. the popular vote. The MMP system will also force parties to People deserve to have a say in these important issues. It work together and form coalitions, to keep governments isn’t very democratic for one party to have the majority of running. the power despite not owning a majority of the votes.

Ontario has the opportunity to take the lead in this There are many viewpoints that are not being heard and country. We need a change.

K

Editor-in-Chief Kimberly Shearon editor@charlatan.ca

Features Editor

Photo Editor

Chris Hannay

James Park

Opinions/Editorial Editor

Graphics Editor

Production Assistant Kristen Gentleman

Erin McGuey

Megan Leduc

Perspectives Editor

Radio Co-ordinators

News Editors

www.charlatan.ca charlatan@charlatan.ca

Carolyn Côté and Diana Mehta

Circulation: 3,000

Marc Roy

Katherine Ellis

Arts Editor Liz Snell

National Editor

Sports Editor

Shannon Parsons

Contributors: William H. Alexis, Kathryn Burnham, Meghan Callaghan, Megan Cheung, Kristen Cucan, CUPfuls of gratitude, Laura Di Mascio, Sarah Dion-Marquis, Sarah Ditta, Brier Dodge, Jenni Dunning, Sanita Fejzic, Michael Freethy, Abigail Gamble, Stephanie Ha, Haeree Han, Jamie Harkins, Kate Harper, Sarah Hartwick, Asha Hingorani, Shewit Kalaty, David Kawai, Phoebe Leung, Caroline Malcolmson, Scott McLean, Tanya Miller, Dennis Molnar, Priya Ner, Curtis Perry, Neill Perry, Nana Quainoo, Emiliy Ridlington, Alisha Rosenberger, Chris Roussakis, Joni Sadler, Tara Shapransky, Ashton Starr, the return of Dave Naylor’s Charla-pop, Theresa Uniac, Tricia Van Der Grient, website redesign (finally!), Samantha Whittle

Simon Martin

The Charlatan’s photos are produced exclusively by the photo editor, the photo assistant and volunteer members. The Charlatan is Carleton University’s independent student newspaper. It is an editorially and financially autonomous journal published weekly during the fall and winter semesters, and monthly during the summer. Charlatan Publications Incorporated, Ottawa, Ontario, is a non-profit corporation registered under the Canada Corporations Act and is the publisher of the Charlatan. Editorial content is the sole responsibility of editorial staff members, but may not reflect the beliefs of all members. The Charlatan reserves the right to edit letters for length and grammar. The Charlatan’s official most mortifying moment of May 2007 goes to CFS-Prattgate. Contents are copyright 2007. No article or photograph or other content may be duplicated or reproduced in any way without the prior written permission of the editor-in-chief. All rights reserved. ISSN 0315-1859. Subscriptions cost $42 for individuals and $52 for institutions, businesses and corporations. GST not included. National advertising for the Charlatan is handled through Canadian University Press Media Services Company (Campus Plus), 73 Richmond St. W., 4th floor, Toronto, Ontario, M5H 1Z4: (416) 481-7283.

the Charlatan • May 31, 2007

7

Features

Features Editor: Chris Hannay • features@charlatan.ca

The music battle: physical versus digital Shewit Kalaty looks at the continuing impact of downloading on the music industry, and whether physical media have outlived their usefulness Music is love, and the more it’s shared the better — no matter what form it comes in.

MP3s and downloading have changed music, and the fight between CDs/vinyl and digital music is more than evident, from both the consumer and collector’s perspectives.

If you want to collect music and build a kick-ass collection, is it better to go physical or go digital?

In today’s market things are continuously changing through technology, and now there are unlimited resources people can use to access music.

The primary advantages of digital music are accessibility and portability. You can fit your entire music collection on a single device and access it whenever you want.

These devices can be hooked up to your network or carried in your shirt pocket.

Clement Ndegeya, a fourth-year Carleton anthropology student, who has 40 gigabytes of music, says it is great to take your music collection around with you.

“Digital music is so popular because it fits into anyone’s lifestyle,” Ndegeya says.

“If you’re going to the gym, it’s easy to take with you — or if you’re traveling. The advantages outweigh any cons.”

Rima Fikak, a student at Algonquin College with a little under 100 CDs to her name, disagrees.

“I would have to say it’s better to go physical because personally I prefer quality to quantity,” she says.

“I find that with physical you can get a better feel, literally and figuratively, for the music,” she says. “You can see who wrote and co-wrote the song and who participated with the specifics of the album. Knowing things like that helps me appreciate the work that went into the music.”

The primary advantages of older media such as vinyl records and CDs are durability. CDs have a nice life expectancy.

The problem will be finding a phonograph or CD player 20 years from now.

JAMES PARK

CDs are a physical storage medium for music. But some people believe that, with the advent of downloading and digital music files, CDs are quickly becoming irrelevant.

Digital data, without Digital Rights Management, is easy to copy and move from one platform to another. If anything happens to your MP3, you still have your CDs to fall back on.

Pierre Chrétien, keyboard player for an Ottawa band, The Souljazz Orchestra, says he believes that with an album you can express yourself visually and more permanently.

“You have an actual product in your hand, and with digital, there is a mass consumption and you lose value,” he says.

“With digital you get exposed to different kinds of music and that’s always a good thing.”

With CDs, you learn more about the

artist because their style is displayed in how they chose to share their music.

But CDs are usually more expensive than digital music files. Often CDs are between $15-20, and rare disks can be even more expensive. Also, you might not be able to find exactly what you are looking for if you are not in the right area.

CDs are also not as convenient to carry around in your day-to-day life as MP3 players, such as iPods, are.

Fikak says she misses the exhilaration of buying CDs. “[Downloading] takes away from the excitement of running into the music store to buy your favorite album.”

She also says many errors can be made when downloading songs. “A lot of the time it’s being shared amongst people who might make a mistake with the title of the song or the artist when uploading it.”

There are several small and privately owned stores that sell used CDs, which can save you a lot of money. But these stores are not usually the best place to go when it comes to buying newly released albums.

It’s easier to share digital music with other people, but it is not always the most legitimate way. You are also not guaranteed good service from peer-to-peer programs, though they can be very convenient.

If you want to be sure that the music is

coming from legitimate sources, then online stores that license songs from artists (such as iTunes for big acts and eMusic for small ones) are the way to go.

“Vinyl still dominates as far as DJs are concerned,” says Chrétien.

“But you have to get with the times and make it available to people. There has been a huge shift from albums to singles as far as digital music. We’re back in the 50s and 60s as far as singles as concerned, when they were much more popular than albums.”

Ndegeya agrees.

“People will only download a whole album if they really like the artist,” he says.

He says when faced with more choices people are pickier about the songs they download.

“When a person is scrolling down a list of song titles they will download songs that seem like they’d be good based on the title.”

But Fikak says she believes this to be contradictory.

“The essence of music is all about having an open mind and not judging a book by its cover.”

Chrétien says in the end, it’s the music that matters.

“I hope that regardless of the way people get music that they continue to take it seriously.”

K

The retailer’s side of the story

JAMES PARK

Music is a popular form of expression all over the world. CDs and digital music files may differ in their sound quality.

8

the Charlatan • May 31, 2007

Retailers and store owners are an important part of the physical versus digital debate.

But Brad Powers, manager of Sunrise Records at Ottawa’s Bayshore Shopping Centre, says CDs are better to collect.

“I buy CDs because I like having a collection or a piece of the artist,” he says.

“I like having something real to hold, and they are as easy to use, if not more so, as [digital music files.]

“I think downloading is good if you want to ‘try out’ the band and decide

whether or not you like them, but then you should get the CD.” Powers also says he thinks it is important to support artists and bands.

“You have to put money into the band in order to get more out of them,” he says.

“They won’t be able to make more music that you enjoy in the future if you don’t buy their stuff now, giving the band [and its record label] the money now to make something later.”

—Tara Shapransky

Perspectives

Perspectives Editor: Katherine Ellis • perspectives@charlatan.ca

Despite struggles, MS patient living her life BY

TRICIA VAN DER GRIENT

Elizabeth (Beth) Button can laugh about getting a spinal tap on Valentine's Day — just don't make her shove a needle in her own thigh.

Button, 25, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) Feb. 15, 2006. It was a Valentine's Day present she will never forget.

But Button, who blogs about her experiences, says she just "keeps living."

The MS Society of Canada's website describes multiple sclerosis as the most common neurological disease among young adults in Canada.

It affects vision, hearing, memory, balance and mobility. The disease has various levels of severity and there is no known cure.

"A lot of people think that MS is something that older people get, but it's mostly people my age," Button says.

And no words can describe her shocked reaction to her diagnosis.

Word about her condition spread quickly through her small hometown in New Brunswick.

"Luckily someone won the lottery a few days later," says Button.

"So [. . . ] all the attention wasn't on me anymore."

The support from her friends and family has helped her through the past year. But some just didn't know how to react, says Button.

Reactions varied from a nonchalant 'it could be worse' sentiment, to outright shock and worries that she would be

disabled. Some, she says, did not even acknowledge her life-altering diagnosis.

"You really find out who your people are," says Button A month after being diagnosed Button followed her doctor's simple advice to go live, and decided to participate in the Walk for MS, a program which funds research towards a cure.

She threw herself into the cause and founded the Buttons and Beaus team, which raised $13,000 during the walk.

She says she was astounded by the response she got from the Ottawa community during her fundraising drive.

"I had people join my fundraising team who didn't even know me," she says. "At the end of the walk it was pouring rain and there were still people cheering. I [now] have a little more faith in society."

Button has become a public figure and writes about her daily struggles in her online journal, which she keeps updated with anecdotes about doctor's visits, needles and everyday life.

"You wouldn't know by looking at me that I have MS so it was a decision that I had to make: will I keep it hidden or will I speak out and be public about it?"

As a young, single woman and aspiring teacher, she says it can sometimes be difficult to share details about her condition.

"Being open about my MS scares me," she wrote in her blog, Buttons and Beaus. "Is it scaring off potential boyfriends? Is it scaring

PROVIDED

BY

CAROL BUTTON

Beth Button was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis last year at the age of 24. off potential employers? Perhaps, but maybe not . . . I will not be silenced. I will not walk on eggshells because people are afraid of it."

Another entry, titled "Lemons," details the trials she faced during one particularly trying week.

"Sometimes we have good days. Sometimes we have bad days. Sometimes life hands us lemons, and according to the saying, we make lemonade.

Sometimes life comes out of nowhere and runs you over with a

lemon truck leaving you lying on the ground with no idea how to get back up. It has been that kind of week," she wrote.

Eating well and taking care of her health is at the top of Button's list of priorities.

"Having MS is more of a mind game than anything else," she says.

She says she does not focus on statistics, such as the fact 80 per cent of people diagnosed with MS suffer severe symptoms, including paralysis, within 10 years.

Instead, Button keeps busy with her job as a special education teacher and has become more involved in advocacy, not only for MS but also for the children she teaches.

"I never thought I would be able to handle something like this," she says. "But I've learned that I'm stronger than I thought and I've learned that people are willing to help.

"I'm confident that a cure for MS will be found in my lifetime."

K

NGO founder educates Kenyans in AIDS fight BY

SARAH HARTWICK

Upon meeting Mike Mutungi, the easy timbre of his voice camouflages his passion and commitment to battling the HIV/AIDS epidemic through education in his native Kenya.

The child of one of his close friends found a blood-soaked cotton-ball and placed it in his mouth while playing outside, says Mutungi.

This simple act could have exposed the child to the virus and altered the course of his life.

Luckily, he received post-exposure prophylactic treatment, a series of medications that lower the chances of contracting the disease if taken within hours of exposure.

But even in the most HIV/AIDS-stricken regions of Africa, few people are aware of this information, says Mutungi, the founder of the Kenyan AIDS education organization, I Choose Life (ICL).

The number of people infected with HIV/AIDS is still rising steadily in many African countries.

The Sub-Saharan region alone has been estimated to have more than 25 million people living with the disease. Millions more contract it each year.

UNICEF estimated in 2005 that among Africa's young adults, less than half really understand HIV/AIDS. Less than 50 per cent of sexually active young males said they use condoms while only 25 per cent of females said they ask their partners to use condoms.

In the face of such staggering numbers, Mutungi began educating university students after his own graduation.

He says he realized it was time to force students to address HIV/AIDS. “People become infected because they lack information,” says Mutungi. “We needed to develop a response.”

Founded in 2002, ICL creates supportive communities within universities.

Now set up in six Kenyan universities, the non-governmental organization helps students make responsible choices about sexuality.

It also offers support for those living with HIV/AIDS, or who have had their lives touched by the disease.

“I began to realize that they were all either infected or affected,” says Mutungi, when people began to discuss the disease in these communities.

Most students had experienced

the loss of family and close friends.

Mutungi himself has lost two sisters, a brother and their families to AIDS. In its infancy, the group struggled due to a lack of funds from the local government. But in 2003, they received funding from American and British interest groups.

Mutungi then enlisted the help of Brent Hanson, an HIV/AIDS educator from the United States, who helped train the organization’s peer educators.

They now train 100 peer educators per year at each university.

The network has grown in popularity, and now collaborates with other African organizations to promote a three-tiered system: abstinence, faithfulness and safe sex.

“The issue is not if you’re a virgin,” says Mutungi, “It is about progress. We say to them, ‘You certainly do need to think about safer sex.’”

Lowering the risk factor is key: if a student has not had sex, then they should consider not starting.

If they have one partner, they should stay faithful.

“If they have 10 partners, then maybe try nine, and then eight,” Mutungi adds.

He says too many students are

KATHERINE ELLIS

Mike Mutungi, founder of I Choose Life, a Kenyan non-governmental organization, spoke at Carleton University May 18. still unaware of the many options available to them.

To further an understanding of HIV/AIDS, he sifted through the scientific jargon of several reports on AIDS and rewrote them in an effort to demystify the virus.

In the years ahead, Mutungi says he wants to expand ICL to other countries in Africa as well as to the non-student population.

Eventually he says he would like to expand the community of

safe sex education and HIV/AIDS support to the entire continent in hopes of making his dream of an AIDS-free Africa a reality.

But for now, he is busy learning the new skills it takes to run an organization.

“This is the way I see it: I wasn’t interested in starting an organization, so it is a learning curve,” he says.

“If I can make a difference in this, anybody can.”

K

the Charlatan • May 31, 2007

9

Arts

Arts Editor: Liz Snell • arts@charlatan.ca

Cliks play Zaphod’s gig amidst controversy

BY JONI

SADLER

The Cliks have a score to settle with those who think rock and roll is strictly for boys.

The Toronto-based quartet, which is comprised mostly of females, is clearly not content to let guys have all the fun when it comes to playing energetic music.

Even upon first listen to the band’s latest album, Snakehouse, it is nearly impossible not to recognize the group’s sense of grit and vigour.

Though the band has garnered support from audiences and critics alike, the Cliks’ show at Zaphod Beeblebrox May 23 drew attention to the group in a whole new manner.

The band, comprised of Lucas Silveira on lead vocals and guitar, Morgan Doctor on drums, Jen Benton on bass and Nina Martinez on guitar, found themselves in the middle of a conflict between local commercial radio station Live 88.5 and Eugene Haslam, owner of Zaphod’s.

Haslam argued Live 88.5’s refusal to co-promote the Cliks’ show for free went against local practice.

“We just kind of got sucked into it. We’re not 100 per cent sure what happened,” Silveira said.

While the controversy seems to have resolved itself over time, there was a definite sense of tension surrounding the concert.

However, Silveira claimed the debate itself did not impact or damage the band.

“Actually, it’s interesting to see these kinds of things happen,” he said.

The band’s musical passion is clearly visible during its live show.

With a stage presence that is selfdescribed as uninhibited, the group managed to capture the full attention of the audience at their Zaphod’s show.

The band played to a packed club and the crowd loved every minute of their lively performance.

The quartet exuded a sense of unabashed enthusiasm without sacrificing their tight musical sound, bringing an additional sense of urgency to the strong tracks on Snakehouse.

Judging from the group’s musical influences, it comes as little surprise they have picked up on this raw, yet passionate quality.

Silveira grew up listening to Black Sabbath and the Pretenders, acts which influence the Cliks’ sound and image.

Silveira claims the Pretenders’ lead singer, Chrissie Hynde, is an

A Capital Idea!

New summer indie music festival set to stir up Ottawa music scene in June BY

NANA QUAINOO

Summer’s finally here and along with the good weather comes the various music festivals Ottawa is known for. But if Bluesfest and the Jazz Festival just don’t do it for you, this year, there’s an alternative.

From June 20-30, the Capital Idea! Festival will play host to well-known indie acts such as The Walkmen, Girl Talk, Destroyer, Xiu Xiu and Frog Eyes in Ottawa’s best clubs and music halls, including Barrymore’s and Zaphod Beeblebrox.

Capital Idea! is the brainchild of Carleton film and philosophy student Calum Marsh and his company Mocking Music.

While Mocking Music often pulls in different bands to perform in Ottawa throughout the year, this is the first time it will be put together a 10-day festival.

Marsh said the idea for the festival came from a desire to see the bands himself.

Though Ottawa is not known for its indie music scene, “Ottawa’s the best place [to hold the festival] because it needs it the

10

most,” said Marsh.

In past years Mocking Music has been able to get indie acts, such as The Clientele and The Books, to perform in Ottawa between their Toronto and Montreal stops.

Still, many bigger bands skip past Ottawa altogether.

So far the response to Capital Idea! has been enthusiastic, said Marsh.

Though it seems like a difficult feat to gather multiple bands in Ottawa at the same time, Marsh said he simply started with a dream list of bands, contacted their booking agents, and luckily booked all the bands.

He said his success is due to “persuasiveness and luck”.

Ticket sales for the festival have also been encouraging, said Marsh.

Sales through local record stores have been small in quantity, but steady.

“The good thing about indie music is that you don’t really need a huge market,” said Marsh.

He said he hopes to make Capital Idea! an annual festival.

What sets his festival apart from others in the capital region, he said, is its fan-driven approach and independent spirit.

“As a music fan, I think it reflects well if something’s coming from actual fans, from peer,” he said. “I mean Bluesfest is a multimillion-dollar event. It’s fueled by corporations, and it’s very commercial whereas this is more indie.”

K

the Charlatan • May 31, 2007

especially strong icon for the band. “[Hynde] and the Cliks share a sense of passion, a little sexiness,” he said.

Despite how busy the band has been lately, the Cliks are not ones to rest on their laurels. On the contrary, they have even bigger plans for the coming months.

Their Zaphod’s gig was the latest in a string of recent highprofile shows for the Cliks.

They were invited to play at the MIDEM festival in France, as well as at the SXSW festival in Austin, Texas.

“It was fun, but it was so overwhelming!” said Silveira.

During the summer, they will join the True Colors Tour, along with big acts such as Cyndi Lauper.

Silveira said this is an especially valuable opportunity for the band, not only because of the tour’s high-profile nature, but because it will allow the Cliks to play in support of a political message that fits with the group’s liberal views.

Though the Cliks have endured several line-up changes, controversy and an exhaustive tour schedule, Silveira maintains a positive attitude about his role.

“There’s something karmic about having really bad things

LIZ SNELL

Lucas Silveira (right), lead singer of the Cliks, plays alongside bassist Jen Benton during their performance at Ottawa’s Zaphod Beeblebrox May 23. happen because really good things tend to follow,” he said.

And after all, what fun is music

if you take yourself too seriously?

“Hey man, we’re just a rock band!”

K

Corsets, self-portraits and more on display BY

TARA SHAPRANSKY

From early drawings on cave walls to Picasso and Andy Warhol, the perception of what art is has evolved.

So too has technology changed, and with the invention of photography has come a new understanding of how the world can be represented.

Currently on display at the National Gallery of Canada is Modernist Photographs, an exhibit which showcases over 100 of the best photographs taken by various artists during the 20th century.

The exhibit is on display until Aug. 26.

Upon entry into the exhibit, there is a photograph that jumps right out at you.

“Boulevard de Strasbourg 10th Arrondissement, Paris” depicts a corset store in 1912 and was taken

by Eugene Atget, a French photographer.

It is beautifully done and eyecatching, and is reminiscent of a past time and a former way of life.

The exhibit starts at the beginning of the 20th century and moves through to present time.

The size of the rooms of the exhibit gradually increase and here, you become slightly overwhelmed by the immensely large white walls, which are covered in photographs.

As you look at each photograph, it becomes clear this exhibit is not simply about different types of photography It is also about the photographers and what they were doing

PHOTOS PROVIDED

BY THE

NATIONAL GALLERY

OF

CANADA

(Clockwise from top left) Ilse Bing’s “Self-Portrait in Mirrors,” Horst P. Horst’s “Mainbocher Corset” and Herbert Bayer’s “Metamorphosis” are just a few of the photographs on display in a new exhibit at the National Gallery. or experiencing at a particular moment in time.

Many of these photographs were taken at a time of great sorrow and depression when money, food and work were scarce. These images of the past remind us of our present state.

“White Angel Breadline” by American photographer Dorthea Lange, accomplishes this. It shows a man waiting in line to get food during the Great Depression.

The image could easily be

super-imposed with images of soup kitchens and the homeless or poor within our own society.

It is easy to see that little has changed in society, and the exhibit shows this well.

Many of the photographs displayed in the exhibit have the power to make you contemplate life, both past and present.

This is an exhibit that makes you think and want to stay as long as possible.

It’s a definite must-see.

K

arts

Hanging up dirty laundry for a cause BY

SAMANTHA WHITTLE

Dozens of Ottawa women took a stance on abuse May 26 by airing their dirty laundry in public as part of the Clothesline Project, an initiative organized by the Carleton Womyn’s Centre.

The event aimed to raise awareness about the issue of violence against women and children.

Many were drawn to the event by the sight a few hundred T-shirts fluttering in the wind, all pinned to clotheslines strung across Minto Park on Elgin Street.

Brittney Bos, administrative coordinator of the Womyn’s Centre, played an integral role in organizing the event.

“If we can just bring about awareness to one person, we’ve done our job,” said Bos. “Even if one person leaves today changed, we’ve done something.”

The T-shirts were big, small and baby-sized, varying in colour.

They were black, white and brightly coloured, and were adorned with stories, poems and pictures with messages of hope, survival and recovery.

Each shirt told the story of a woman who has survived abuse.

The Clothesline Project began

in 1990 in Cape Cod, Mass. A local women’s group was searching for a way to raise awareness and artist Rachel-Carey Harper came up with the project’s concept.

To date, there have been more than 250 Clothesline projects in cities around the world.

Bos said the group thought putting up clotheslines sent a strong message, as doing laundry is traditionally considered a woman’s job.

“This event is about saying ‘We don’t care if it’s going to be exposed,’” said Bos, who added that many abuse victims are pressured to keep their stories to themselves.

The T-shirts carried powerful messages against abuse.

Some had heart-wrenching stories or poems written by the survivors of domestic abuse, sexual abuse or rape.

Others had pictures representing the emotions women felt about their experiences.

Some of the pictures drawn were of handprints or faces asking for help, while others were adorned with intricate artwork.

“The shirts had very powerful messages, especially when you know it came from one person’s reflection,” said Bos.

Gore Verbinski Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End Jerry Bruckheimer Films

JAMES PARK

Carleton Womyn’s Centre administrative co-ordinator Brittney Bos stands surrounded by hundreds of T-shirts during the day-long Clothesline Project event May 26.

In the organizers’ minds, one goal of the day was to try and initiate change.

“It is the 21st century, and not much has changed, unfortunately,” said Bos. She said the centre received a great deal of positive feedback, and many people even asked how they could get involved with the

next event.

Denise Dowdy is one of the many people who stopped by the event.

She said seeing the T-shirts made her want to find out more about the issue of violence against women.

“I think it’s a good message,” said Dowdy. “It’s important.” K

f!ghtf!ghtf!ght: ‘We just kept jamming’ BY

TANYA MILLER

Good things come in threes for f!ghtf!ghtf!ght, an Ottawa-based indie band notorious for their infectious beats.

Band members Jameson Bevington, Sebastien Dupont, Kelly Shinkaruk and Etienne Sylvain said they have big plans for the summer.

Though they were scheduled to play at Zaphod Beeblebrox’s May 17, they were forced to cancel the show in order to direct their full attention to recording the followup to their debut EP Paper Cranes and Building.

They will hit studios with a line-up of fresh material for their second release, which f!ghtf!ghtf!ght promised will reflect the band’s growth and hook listeners with better-crafted songs.

The group intends on releasing its latest product this summer, and will play in the Capital Idea!

Festival and Bluesfest.

Shinkaruk said the group also hopes to tour in late summer for one week, and will travel to the east coast and back.

However, talk of a line-up change may hinder future plans.

“Things are happening in our lives that may affect the band,” said Bevington.

In the summer of 2005, the members of f!ghtf!ghtf!ght realized they had the potential to form a band.

While easing into the transition from moving from Edmonton to Ottawa, Shinkaruk said she wanted to do something for herself by pursuing her musical interests even further.

PROVIDED

BY F!GHTF!GHTF!GHT

Members of f!ghtf!ghtf!ght stand together, but it might not be for long.

“I was always involved, but never in a band,” said Shinkaruk.

“I mainly stuck to writing a zine.”

At the same time, the collapse of Sylvain’s former band and differences among Dupont’s ex-band mates sent them in search of another opportunity.

“We jammed the next day and then we just kept jamming,” Sylvain said.

Pleased with the results, but curious to explore their options, they discovered Bevington.

Sylvain said the group went through a number of auditions before Bevington, but were ultimately impressed by his quick thinking and ideas, as well as his willingness to commute from Toronto.

By adding more flair to the mix with keyboards and riffs, f!ghtf!ghtf!ght distinguished their music from mainstream bands.

Exploding with energy and enthusiasm, they wasted no time touring Ontario.

“We played about every 1.7 weeks,” said Dupont.

Shinkaruk said f!ghtf!ghtf!ght entertained at local nightclub Zaphod’s so frequently that it were mistaken for the house band.

“When they let us headline a Saturday night, I think that’s when we really proved ourselves,” said Shinkaruk.

With Bevington and Shinkaruk on vocals, keyboard and guitar, Dupont on bass and Sylvain on drums, f!ghtf!ghtf!ght continues to deliver upbeat melodies.

“This is our creative outlet,” said Shinkaruk.

She mainly writes lyrics to the “heartbreak songs,” but Bevington said they are all responsible for each song’s overall composition.

The band also administers, schedules and broadcasts their music without any external direction or management.

Due to extensive exposure to a variety of influences ranging from Superchunk to Fugazi,

f!ghtf!ghtf!ght finds it difficult to classify itself.

Whether seen as indie, powerpop, punk, electro or prog-rock, f!ghtf!ghtf!ght is more concerned with its journey in a competitive industry in which critics are quick to compare them to other acts.

“There are always references to bands like King Crimson or Metric,” said Shinkaruk. “But I think we have more edge than them.”

Bevington, Dupont, Shinkaruk and Sylvain each bring their own musical endeavours and accomplishments to the table, something which has helped shape f!ghtf!ghtf!ght’s identity.

“Like all of us, I have diverse musical interests,” said Shinkaruk.

“I could play with 10 different types of bands all with a different sound.”

Despite the complications that might arise with as a result of a potential line-up change, Shinkaruk said f!ghtf!ghtf!ght is certain about one thing.

“You can snap your fingers and bop your head to our music, but we can’t be compared.”

K

Web exclusives

NEILL PERRY checks out a truly Canadian art exhibit at CUAG. MICHAEL FREETHY finds philosophy in Timbaland’s latest album.

CURTIS PERRY is loving GrantLee Phillips’ latest album.

Johnny Depp and the rest of his pirate crew are back for more swashbuckling action in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, the third installment of the blockbuster trilogy.

Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) is joined again by Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightly) and Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) in a journey to save the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow (Depp) from Davy Jones’ Locker. ` New pirate lords are introduced and ally against the East India Trading Company in an epic battle to the death for pirate freedom.

After being banished to Davy Jones’ Locker at the end of the second film, Sparrow finds himself in a barren wasteland with nothing but his ship, the Black Pearl.

This is where the film takes a confusing turn, as we watch Sparrow spiral into insanity from being in Davy Jones’ Locker for so long.

The confusion continues as the story jumps back and forth between the characters at the East India Trading Company, the pirates in Singapore, Sparrow, Davy Jones and his crew on the Flying Dutchman and the other group of pirates with Turner.

The story lacks substance and new elements to keep it entertaining. The characters have nothing new to them. It is the same cake with different icing. Sparrow’s jokes are recycled and Depp’s performance is forced and over-exaggerated.

The movie regains some of its credibility in the last action sequence where we see the pirates band together to fight the East India Trading Company for freedom on the seas. This half-hour long sequence is filled with a multitude of special effects including explosions, computer-generated sea creatures on Davy Jones’ ship and even a giant maelstrom in the water.

The sword fighting and extended battle bring excitement back into the film but it is not enough to make up for the past two hours of bad acting.

Somewhere in the process of trying to recapture what audiences loved about the first two installments, Sparrow’s humour and the interesting pirate storyline were lost.

The film is interesting enough for pirate lovers, but not a necessary addition.

There is just one word I could think of coming out of the theatre — overdone.

For all this and more, see

www.charlatan.ca

— Meghan Callaghan

the Charlatan • May 31, 2007

11

Sports

Sports Editor: Simon Martin • sports@charlatan.ca

University reinstates seven varsity teams Administration reverses decision to cut teams but coaches say process may have hurt image of Carleton sports BY

DENNIS MOLNAR

Outpourings of public support and appeals from coaches and players have helped seven of the eight Carleton teams axed in early April regain varsity status.

The announcement came April 30.

Coaches with teams on the brink said they appreciate the decision, but added that the whole process made them shake their heads.

Kurt Herman, men’s and

women’s rowing team coach, said dollar signs and budget discussions aside, he and his team are just excited to get their funding back and will strive to achieve the best results possible during the 2007-08 season.

Herman said although the near future appears stable, incidents such as the cutting and reinstating of teams might damage the image of athletics at Carleton.

“If I was going to university I would question a program where athletics is waffling on funding and stuff like that,” he said.

“It just doesn’t show the house is in order and that there are certain undercurrents that are moving right now.”

Lynn Marshall, coach of the Carleton men’s and women’s swim teams, said the moral support swimming received helped the teams’ appeals.

Carleton swimmers were supported not only by their fellow students, staff and alumni but also by members of the swimming community from as far away as

the United States and England.

Marshall said two online petitions created by the swim teams garnered nearly 3,000 signatures, demonstrating the sport’s importance in the community.

The reinstatements will allow the swim teams to compete in Ontario University Athletics and Canadian Interuniversity Sport competitions, which are only open to varsity teams, she added.

But, she said, the entire incident might hurt future recruitment.

“The 13 men and 13 women who were considering Carleton for swimming [next year] may not have been 100 per cent sure about coming yet anyway,” said Marshall.

“But if I was in high school and wanted to be on one of those eight teams that they were projecting to cut, I would definitely rethink my choice.”

The university restored varsity status to the men’s and women’s rowing, golf and swim teams, and the women’s field hockey team.

The men’s rugby team is the

only cut team not reinstated and will have the option to become a competitive club team next season.

The reinstatements are a near complete reversal of the athletic department’s original decision to cut the teams.

Jennifer Brenning, acting athletics director, said the department was slated to lose approximately half a million dollars, $200,000 of which was specifically tied to the university’s varsity programs.

Brenning said after the university’s executive considered public outcry, official appeals made by teams and expanded their list of criteria for sport reviews, it decided to act and return varsity status to the seven teams.

“There wasn't any one single fact that swayed the decision,” said Duncan Watt, Carleton’s vicepresident (finance and administration).

“We had a discussion about the advantages and disadvantages for each team and the decisions were made from there,” he said.

“A big part of it was financial

and the university decided to provide more money for athletics.”

In addition to supplying enough money to cover the budget deficit, the university executive will provide an extra $150,000 to fund varsity sports.

“Everyone on the team is happy that funding and varsity status has been reinstated,” said Marshall.

“This is the third time swimming has gone through an appeal [1996, 1999, 2007] and I think things are definitely on stable ground for now.”

K

Extended coverage How does Carleton’s renewed commitment to sports funding compare to other universities in Ontario?

JAMIE HARKINS has the answers.

Check out this story the rest of your sports news, only at

www.charlatan.ca

Rugby team left Raven alum ready to right the ship out in the cold BY

Players respond to being only team actually stripped of varsity status

BY BRIER DODGE Seven of the eight teams cut from Carleton athletics’ varsity programming in early April have been reinstated — but the men’s rugby team is not one of them.

This leaves the burning question: why not?

“Everyone felt pretty let down for sure,” said player Luke Sedgewick.

“We wanted to celebrate our 20th year as a varsity team,” he said.

“To get cut like that is pretty brutal.”

The team finished the 2006-07 regular season with a 5-3 record.

The Ravens also appeared in one playoff game, a loss.

Rugby was not reinstated as a varsity sport because of existing competitive opportunities highlevel players already have in the Ottawa area, acting athletics director Jennifer Brenning wrote in an e-mail interview.

“High-performance rugby players are choosing to stay with their club rather than compete for Carleton, which is understandable given their year-round commitment to their club team and the high level of competition the club system offers,” she wrote.

Players, however, disagreed.

12

“I don’t think that’s a very good reason,” said Sedgewick.

“I think that there must be something else behind it. Maybe there was something to do with the head coach,” he said.

“We just had a new change room put in two years ago — the long-term plan was to keep us around. Maybe there was some infighting.”

The team’s head coach, Rob Lockwood, could not be reached for comment.

“I think we should have been given the same consideration as the other teams,” said player Jordan Kasasa.

Women’s rugby is currently a club level sport at Carleton, but members of the men’s team said they are unsure if they will come back and play at that level next season.

“It’s kind of a slap in the face,” said Sedgewick.

“It’s six practices a week. It’s not something that you just do for a club team with no support from the school.”

“I’m not sure if we’ll come back and play,” said Kasasa. “I don’t know if that works for me.”

Sedgewick said the Ottawa rugby community is “pretty tight.”

Both players emphasized how disappointed they are with Carleton’s decision.

Some considered Carleton’s rugby players to be troublemakers, said Sedgewick, but he said they were just a team that enjoyed being together outside of practice.

“It’s more like a team of frat brothers,” he said.

“It’s a party team, but more of a brotherhood of rugby.”

K

the Charlatan • May 31, 2007

STEPHANIE HA

The sporting world has a temperamental climate. When a team is winning, there is nothing better.

But when a team starts losing, change is imminent. The Carleton University Ravens women’s basketball team is about to undergo such a change.

The department of athletics named Taffe Charles, a former Carleton basketball star, as the team’s new head coach May 7.

“I always aspired to be a head coach and I feel fortunate enough to get the opportunity,” said Charles.

Jennifer Brenning, acting director of athletics, said Charles was a leading candidate from the start.

“He’s been with Carleton for a number of years and is loyal and committed to the university,” she said. “He has a connection to the women’s program and has had success with the men’s. He also has a huge connection with the community and alumni.”

Charles replaces Christie Lauzon, who was fired as head coach in April. Lauzon spent four years as the team’s head coach, but was only able to muster a 27-61 record.

In 2006-07, the squad posted a 5-17 regular season record.

According to Charles, significant adjustments need to be made to add to the win column.

“Changes in the mentality in terms of what’s expected and not expected, and in terms of winning and losing will be key,” said Charles. “It essentially starts from square one.”

Charles added that making practices more competitive will be important. He also said recruiting out of Carleton’s own backyard is essential.

“We need to get out in the Ottawa community and recruit

HAEREE HAN

Taffe Charles, star player for the Carleton men’s basketball team in the early 90s, was named as women’s basketball team head coach May 7. kids here,” he said. “It’s important in terms of establishing long-term ties.”

Charles began his coaching career in 1995 as part of Carleton’s women’s basketball program.

Three years later he joined the men’s program and rose to associate head coach under Dave Smart and has been a part of all five men’s basketball national championship runs.

Smart has taught him several tricks of the trade, said Charles.

“I’ve learned how to build a program,” he said. “You have to get the alumni and community on board if you want to get a program on track.”

Charles donned the Raven jersey as a player from 1990-95 and said he understands the pride associated with Carleton basketball. He said he feels confident he can bring his experience as a player to his coaching.

“As a player, I kind of had a

chip on my shoulder and I hope the team will adopt some of that too,” he said. “It’s that ‘us against the world’ mentality.”

Brenning said the department has several expectations for the team this upcoming season.

“We obviously want to see an improvement in the team record and want to see the athletes have a positive experience,” she said.

“We also want continuity in the program and want players to want to come back.”

Brenning said she realizes the squad is in a rebuilding phase and expects the team to be competitive within three years.

Charles said he has spoken to the team and knows they want to get better.

“The women’s team wants to do well and be respected,” he said.

“They all want to be better and want to be the best at what they do.”

K