Open mike at E.P. Taylor’s. See Durham Page 32.
The Claus comes to town. See Santa Page 17.
Volume XXXVIII, Issue 7
October break for students?
November 22, 2011
Movember moments
Sarah Hyatt The Chronicle
First semester at Durham College is no joke! In 15 weeks DC squeezes in a whole lot of learning, plus midterms, and final exams. “It makes the fall semester extremely intense for students and faculty,” said Judy Robinson, vicepresident of Academic Affairs. But if she had it her way students would get a break, at least during the month of October. And she hasn’t given up on the idea. The first month of school is often devoted to helping student’s transition to college smoothly.
See No Page 7
Sarah Hyatt
FLASH THAT ‘STACHE: Music Business Management students Gianna Piccioni, Monique Cluett, Trista Sotelo, Kelly Rolls and Brittany MacDonald show off their Movember moustaches.
DC student runs in Man in Motion relay Mike Pickford The Chronicle
Mike Pickford
NIKO IN MOTION: 21-year-old Culinary Arts student Niko Herold was nominated to run the Oshawa stretch in the Man in Motion relay tour.
The Rick Hansen Man in Motion tour rolled through Oshawa Nov. 3 as several locally nominated participants carried out their leg of the marathon. The tour, which started in Cape Spear, Newfoundland Aug. 24, will see around 7,000 people embark on their own individual journey before the tour ends in Vancouver, British Columbia on May 22 next year. This year’s tour comes 25 years after Hansen wheeled
himself across the world, clocking up an amazing 40,000 km as he travelled through 34 countries and four continents, all to raise awareness for those with spinal cord injuries. This garnered attention from all over the world and made the Man in Motion tour the big event it is today. One of those involved was 21-year-old Niko Herold, who suffers from cerebral palsy, and also has a learning disability.
See Charity Page 2
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The Chronicle
November 22, 2011
Campus
A LANtastic 48 hours at UOIT Brandan Loney The Chronicle
Again this year, gamers gathered in UB2080 for the longest, and biggest gaming event on campus, LAN War. LAN War started Nov. 11 at 10 p.m. with the LAN Warriors registering, and receiving a complementary LAN War lanyard. Then they set up their gaming rigs in a comfortable spot with friends and strangers. The hosts introduced themselves, and set up servers for the LAN Warriors to play on, then they joined in the games. After an hour the number of LAN Warriors reached 103 and was still growing, everyone was settled playing their game of choice. The most popular games were League of Legends (LOL), Starcraft 2 (SC2), The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (Skyrim), Team Fortress 2 (TF2) and Battlefield 3 (BF3) with a tournament held for each, except Skyrim. Although the LAN Warriors were primarily PCbased gamers, six projectors with screens were set up for anyone who brought a console. Gregory Rozdeba, one of many first day co-ordinators, was pleased with LAN War’s organization. “This time was a well-co-ordinated effort, and all parties involved did great,” said Rozdeba. Day one held the SC2 and TF2 tournaments. SC2 was supposed to play first, but because so many people wanted
Brandan Loney
NON-STOP GAMING: Jason Mackenzie, along with more than 100 other gamers, plays Skyrim at the 48-hour LAN War event at UOIT. to play, connection issues occurred for a short time because Battle.net was down for maintenance, so the hosts set up the TF2 tournament. The winning team, called Wu-Tang, won some energy drinks and a few packages of cookies. When the maintenance issues were resolved with Battle.net, the SC2 tournament went full steam ahead. The final games of the SC2 tournament were shout-casted on the projectors at the front of
the class and the winner, Kevin Roche, took home a gaming headset. The LAN Warriors stayed strong through the early morning Saturday, but some had left to get some sleep. Others remained after going to McDonald’s or Tim Hortons. Even with all the caffeine most of the LAN Warriors started to look like zombies, with big dark bags under their bloodshot eyes, and creaky joints. But as dead as they looked, the LAN Warriors
DC opens doors to prospective students Fall open house shows off campus Ashley Anthony The Chronicle
Durham College opened its doors Saturday, Nov. 12 for the annual fall open house for future students to come see the campus and talk to representatives from a range of courses. Prospective students received a passport to collect stickers at the various locations and activities. President of the college Don Lovisa could be found throughout the campus welcoming students and talking to parents. “[Durham College] ensures that we focus on the needs of the students,” said Lovisa. “Student experience comes first.” There are 15,000 students on campus in 130 programs. Twenty-four new programs have been
added this year and 12 are still under development, Lovisa said in a speech in the student services building, final stop on the campus tour. All of the programs undergo regular reviews to guarantee that they are current and relevant. Eighty-seven to ninety per cent of students get jobs after graduating from DC. “I came all the way from Sudbury to come to Durham because it was the only college that offered the program that I wanted,” said Emmalee Lovelace, a prospective Music Business Administration student. “I was surprised when I got here to see how nice the campus is and how cheap the tuition is.” Among the activities was a dress-up photo booth where prospective students could dress up in the uniform of their choice and get their picture printed on a mock student card. “All in all it was pretty informative,” said Brandon Gignack, who was finding information on upgrading so he could apply to the business management course. All the volunteers sported an “I heart DC” shirt and handed out reusable bags and biodegradable pens, promoting the greener side of Durham College.
were very much alive when the hosts played YouTube prank videos on the main screens. Every LAN Warrior pried their eyes away from a game to watch and have a laugh. Later on Saturday was the Twinkie eating contest. This competition pitted eight LAN Warriors against each other to see who could eat six Twinkies the fastest. All the participants ate as fast as they could, but Josh Mercado emerged victorious, and won himself a copy of
Skyrim for the Xbox 360 Saturday hosted two LOL tournaments and LAN Warriors had lots of time to play whatever they felt like playing. Sunday was the most difficult, with about 30 LAN Warriors still playing on. The tournaments played on Sunday were BF3, Counter Strike: Source, Super Smash Brothers Brawl and the King of Games. The King of Games tournament had LAN Warriors playing five different games across Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Nintendo Wii, and PC. Jamie Fifield, a returning LAN Warrior said, “Overall it was a great time and it seemed like they put more into it. I liked this one better, and I stayed longer.” Aries Youssefian, one of the hosts and organizers of LAN War, was pleased with how well the event went. “We got what the community asked for: more people to help, more tournaments, more prizes and screens for the projectors because last time we just used bed sheets,” said Youssefian. He would like to see a bigger console crowd at the next LAN War because he believes the organizers pushed more for a PC crowd. LAN War wasn’t just 48 hours of gaming. There was a purpose to it. That purpose was to raise money for Simcoe Hall Settlement house, a not-forprofit community resource centre in Oshawa. In total, $1,055 was raised. The next LAN War is scheduled for March 9-12.
Charity relay runs through Oshawa Continued from Page 1
Herold is a full-time student at Durham, taking culinary arts after graduating from the Community Integration through Co-operative Education program in the 2011 winter semester. After being nominated by seven people to run, Herold explained just how happy he was to be invited. “I was honoured,” Herold said. “I found out on the news and didn’t even know I was nominated. It was a little bit of a shock.” 40 friends and family showed up at the corner of Ansley Court and Rossland Road in Oshawa preparing to start his 200-metre stretch. “Thanks for showing up guys,” Herold shouted as the crowd broke out into applause as the previous participant passed the one of a kind Rick Hansen medal to Herold, signaling the beginning of his leg. The majority followed on the sidewalk as Herold shadowed the Man in Motion tour buses on the road. Upon completing his stretch, Herold passed the medal on to the waiting next participant before turning and hugging his family members. Herold was never expected to be able to walk, so this is an achievement for him. Instead he brushed it off and simply said he was happy to be inspiring others. “I feel if I push through things then it will be easier for others to do so in the future,” he said. “It’s just nice to know I’m making a difference.”
Campus
The Chronicle
November 22, 2011
Students donate to save a life at the annual SA blood drive Emily Wood The Chronicle
The morning started with hugs, tears and hopeful smiles as the Shihatas and their family friends waited patiently for the OneMatch clinic to begin. The clinic was held in honour of 19-year-old Daniel Shihata, who suffers from myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). He requires a bone marrow transplant to lower the risk of his disease becoming acute myelogenous leukemia. In his search for a match, Shihata found his way back to the Durham College and UOIT campus. Registered in the UOIT nursing program, he was only able to attend school during the first week of classes this year before it became too much. His physical condition changes frequently. He always feels best after a transfusion, he says. The event was highly publicized on campus through posters and internal e-mails, emphasizing the need for ethnical-
ly diverse male donors between the ages of 17 and 35. Shihata’s best chances at finding a match, as are anyone’s, lie in a donor of the same ethnicity. “They are considered optimal donors, providing a quality product for the patient,” said Hailu Mulatu, co-ordinator of donor management at OneMatch. Ten genetic markers between patient and donors must match for the bone marrow to be considered compatible. Anything less is thrown out as a possibility. Even in compatible matches graph versus host disease can arise in patients, where their bodies reject the foreign tissue. With slightly over 300,000 potential donors registered in the program, Mulatu says that approximately 78 per cent are Caucasian. Currently, expanding diversity is a major focus of the program. “Our mandate is to increase not only the size of the network but also the diversity of our network, so that ethnically diverse patients have also a good
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Emily Wood
ONEMATCH COMES TO CAMPUS: Hailu Mulatu, co-ordinator of donor management at OneMatch, ensured the blood drive ran smoothly for the students donating on Nov.10.
Bone marrow facts • Graph versus host disease (GVHD) can happen after a bone marrow or stem cell transplant. • Identical twins are the only ones who produce an identical genetic match in tissue. • Signs of GVHD can appear in the first three months after a transplant. • White blood cells attack the foreign tissue after transplant, so immune system suppressants are required to help prevent this. • Chances of GVHD range from 60 to 80 per cent in unrelated donors and patients. chance of getting a match donor when they need one.” Although the need for male donors was emphasized, the majority of students who registered at the OneMatch clinic were female. But those running the event were not discouraged. Marylynn Pride, patient transplant liaison specialist at OneMatch, insisted that the
purpose of this particular clinic was not to find a match specifically for Shihata. Students registering were contributing to the cause by broadening the size and diversity of the donor network to all patients in need. There are currently over 900 patients in Canada alone waiting to find a donor match. Mulatu expected approxi-
mately 100 people to register through the event, which was held jointly with a blood donor clinic in the gym at Durham College. Participating students were required to meet four basic criteria to qualify for registration. Potential donors must be between the ages of 17 and 50, in general good health and hold a valid, government-issued health card. Most importantly, registrants must be willing to donate if found as a match. Typically donors can wait up to seven years between registration and activation of their donation. According to Pride, the match for Shihata could already be in the registry, waiting to be found. Those who registered at the campus event will be able to support future patients.
Searching Ontario for a match Tyler Richards The Chronicle
Tyler Richards
SAVING A LIFE: Daniel Shihata, a former UOIT student returned to the campus for the annual Student Association blood drive in the hope of finding a bone marrow match.
Daniel Shihata returned to the campus he had to leave due to his illness to help out with the annual Student Association blood drive Nov. 10. This year was different, posters all around the school advertised the first ever bone marrow clinic on campus. The main focus of those posters was a picture of Daniel. The past several weeks Shihata and his family have been travelling to schools around Ontario, assisting in clinics and getting Daniel’s story out there. Shihata and his father Nagi were at McMaster University in Hamilton on Nov. 9. “They told me that there were 1,200 people who came out to get their marrow tested,” said the younger Shihata. Daniel’s condition hasn’t gotten worse since the last article was written about him, but it hasn’t improved either.
“We haven’t found a match yet,” said Nagi, “but we are very optimistic.” Daniel was also very optimistic, echoing his father’s words. Shihata has myelodysplastic syndrome, or MDS, which was formerly known as preleukemia, and he needs a bone marrow transplant to live. According to Hailu Mulatu, community development co-ordinator at the Canadian Blood Services, “this is a long process so it might take a little bit of time.” One thing Daniel hasn’t done is given up hope. He is confident that out of all the people tested there will be at least one match for him. But the life-altering question is, if a match is found for Daniel, will that person be willing to donate their bone marrow to help save his life? To save a life in this manner is one of the most selfless acts in the world and Daniel hopes whoever is a match for him will recognize that and give him the chance to live.
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November 22, 2011 To contact us
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Canada needs to do its part Green roofs. Geothermal wells. Electric cars. This campus has done its fair share in the fight against climate change. Durham and UOIT have had many eco-friendly initiatives throughout the years, including serving locally grown food, offering biodegradable stationery and using co-mingling recycling stations around the campus. The campus is also equipped with green roofs. Many of the buildings hold a number of plants on the roof which, by photosynthesis, reduce the amount of carbon dioxide and emit oxygen into the air. Green roofs are a simple and efficient way to clean the air we breathe and help maintain a healthy environment. The Durham Strategic Energy Alliance (DSEA) recently exhibited the new electric vehicle initiative at the Durham College Whitby Campus with the new Chevrolet Volt and UOIT electric bus – more ways to contribute to a cleaner earth. On an international scale, Australia recently introduced their carbon tax, which will charge the country’s 500 largest polluters a tax for each tonne of carbon dioxide they release into the air. Australia is currently one of the biggest emitters of carbon dioxide because the majority of their electricity is produced from coal. As of July 1, these companies have had to pay the equivalent of $24.20 Cdn per tonne of carbon gases produced. This is currently the highest carbon price in the world, but Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard be-
lieves it is in the best interest of the country and the rest of the planet. Everybody has heard of a carbon footprint and all the jargon that goes along with it, but what they might not know is how serious an issue it actually is. The easiest way to explain climate change and global warming is the 350 solution. The world’s top scientists believe the maximum amount of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere to maintain a stable environment is 350 PPM (parts per million). This means the air we breathe can safely hold up to 350 carbon dioxide molecules per million molecules of oxygen, nitrogen and other gases. Currently, earth is at 391 PPM and we as humans are slowly making it worse. Although Canada has not yet implemented a national carbon tax, Quebec, Alberta and British Columbia all have carbon reduction programs in place. Canada’s Environmental Minister Peter Kent announced recently that Canada will not renew its Kyoto commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, adding that they will only support climate change agreements that are signed by all the biggest contributors to carbon emissions. In 2007, Quebec began charging petroleum companies a little less than a penny per litre sold in order to pay for energy-saving programs. The initiative raises about $200 million each year, but unfortunately that isn’t enough and is just being charged back to consumers at the pump. In 2008, British Columbia set in motion North America’s first ever per-tonne carbon tax. The prov-
ince charged $10 per tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions, with increases each year until 2012, when the price will plateau at $30 per tonne. Although Ontario has no official climate change reduction program, our campus is working hard to make a difference in the fight against global warming. Humanity as a whole needs to work together to turn climate change around and create a safe, stable environment for generations to come. Governments around the world are beginning to realize this issue and are starting to implement procedures to cut down on the carbon footprint large industrial companies leave on the environment. But it is time for Canada to start doing their part in controlling our carbon footprint and protecting this planet for future generations. Representatives from Canada are to attend the United Nations climate change conference at the end of the month. But despite heavy pressure from nations around the world, Canada doesn’t plan on resigning the Kyoto protocol for another term. Although the Canadian government will not likely impose a carbon tax any time soon, we as individuals can help to make this planet a better place. If each person does his or her part to conserve our planet, we can make a difference. To learn how you can stop climate change, visit www.350.org.
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Opinion
The Chronicle
November 22, 2011
The more the merrier
It’s loud, funny and can be obnoxious all at once. It can make and potatoes) and celebrating Robbie Burns Day on Jan. 25. On you cry and make you appreciate your life so much more. For Thanksgiving Day all of the brothers and sisters play Secret Sansome, family is everything. ta. They put their names in a hat, which is normally a bowl and “Family life is a bit like a runny peach pie - not perfect but pick one of their siblings. This means that their family has to buy who’s complaining?” freelance writer Robert Brault wrote. Grow- Christmas presents for the sibling’s family that they chose. This ing up in a large family teaches many useful lessons that are used makes Christmas more exciting and more affordable. But by midin everyday life. It offers cooking lessons, childcare 101 and how November everyone has figured out who picked who. The Christmas pudding is a popular Scottish to bite your tongue when someone says sometreat. During the last week of November the “elders” thing that you object to. It teaches you how to of the family get together and make the Christmas laugh and how to love. pudding. They spend the day preparing one batch, A big family offers a variety of different perPatricia which is enough pudding for all the families to take sonalities and different talents. In one family one portion home. After adding the wet ingredients you can have a musician, a photographer, an DeBres to the dry ingredients, which is called wetting the artist, a comedian, a chef and a humanitarpudding, the women add a bit of brandy, pour themian and a fashionista. Every special occasion selves a glass and toast their mother for giving them brings talent shows and comedy to our house. With uncles who have eye-watering senses of humour and aunts the recipe. Then each woman takes a stir and makes a wish for who have beautiful singing voices, the children are inspired to pull their family. After five hours the pudding is complete and ready to a skit together to perform for the parents. The chefs cook up a be taken home. Another Scottish tradition in our family is the Christmas mornfeast and the taste testing begins and doesn’t end till long into the night. The night is documented with thousands of pictures and ing Fry Up. It is a common dish in Scotland, we only eat it on video footage. Christmas morning. One of the highest calorie meals you can eat, Holidays are always eventful when your mother is one of eight it is also one of the best. The meal includes fried mushrooms and children. Every year we travel as a large group to the Toronto San- tomatoes, bacon and eggs, square sausages and black pudding. ta Claus parade and take up the whole sidewalk. We leave approxi- Black pudding is a blend of onions, pork fat, oatmeal, flavourings mately three hours early just to find a big enough spot for all of us and blood, normally from a pig. It has been around since animals started being killed for food. to sit and watch the parade. “Family is the most important thing in the world,” Princess DiWith Scottish grandparents my holidays are filled with many Scottish traditions such as eating mince and tatties (mince meat ana said and many live by this quote.
Cosmetics pose health risks Is there lead in that lipstick you put on every Friday night? Do you think that using it only once a week won’t be too bad for you? But what if your body wash, shampoo, toothpaste, shower gel, bath oil, hand soap and even towels—contained stuff that could kill you—give you cancer or upset your immune system? What if those ingredients could lower your thyroid or upset your liver more than your Friday night drinks would? Sure the government has safety rules that allow only a certain amount of problem-causing chemicals into each product, but what if that moderate amount is in almost every daily hygienic product you pick up at the drug store or supermarket? Di (2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate (DEHP) is a plasticizer for polyvinylchloride (PVC) and other polymers including rubber, cellulose and styrene. It is used in the production of foods and beverages as tubing and packaging materials. DEHP has 26 trade names and synonyms that allow it to be hidden among a long list of ingredients. Although there is no data on reproductive and developmental problems, the amount of toxicity that appears in rodents is relevant to humans. Health Canada advises that precautions be taken, limiting exposure especially in male newborns, infants and young children. Pregnant women should also be careful. Your Tupperware and plastic containers don’t list their ingredients, do they? The plastic bottles, pre-
packaged food containers, cosmetics containers or shampoo bottles don’t volunteer their plastic ingredients. Triclosan is another problem-causing ingredient. It’s now going back into the lab to be studied after 30 years on the market. Triclosan is an antiseptic used to destroy bacteria and fungi. It is found in hand soaps, deodorants, body washes, toothpastes and mouthwashes too. It also has more than one name, includ-
Nancy Ellis ing triclocarban, the brand name, Microban, any quaternary ammonium compounds and other brand names. Triclosan, which has been said to create resistance to antibiotics and to disrupt thyroid function, has been used in many products for years. As consumers we are put at risk, treated like science experiments and later—much, much later are told certain ingredients cause great problems. The government should be testing chemicals before they are used in cosmetics and daily products. I do believe some mistakes can be made—maybe a chemical or two were not tested as much as they should’ve been, but
at the moment no one tests cosmetics and daily products. This is unacceptable. Health Canada puts their faith in the hands of the manufacturer. Health Canada only steps in when something serious occurs. There are labeling rules, and regulations that deem the products must be made in sanitary conditions and not contain over the regulated amount of lead, mercury and other things listed on the Cosmetics Ingredient Hotlist. This list is available through Health Canada and contains ingredients such as mercury, lead and chemicals you’ve likely never heard of listed as dangerous with potential to harm. It’s an official list of prohibited and restricted cosmetics ingredients. Although the Cosmetics Ingredient Hotlist is a great help, 22 new substances have been added to the hotlist sine June 2010. Allowing manufacturers to include almost whatever they’d like in our cosmetics is harmful. This could be prevented if the government aided in regulating and testing ingredients before they are manufactured and mass distributed. What are the cumulative results of using all of these products on an everyday basis with the minimum amount of harmful ingredients? The government needs to study these cumulative affects. The effects of the products used in combination and their effects over time.
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Girls are mean Lori Marks
It’s witnessed almost every day throughout the hallways at school or online through a Facebook or Twitter status. Those famous looks and the catty remarks between the jealous and the rivaling females can be overwhelming and depressing. Now I’m sure every girl at some point in her life has had a snide remark to say about that girl she sees walking down the street. I’ve never quite understood why females more often talk behind each other’s backs than males do. I’ve actually never witnessed a male bad-mouthing another male. But this behaviour among females brings me back to the familiar yet ancient days of high school and to those who still carry that nasty trait of jealousy. It’s a common comment; females can never get along with other females, and most of the time that perception is sadly true. Why is it that if a girl is really pretty she is considered a s***. Or, if a girl even glances at another girl for a second she is automatically thought to be giving that girl a dirty look. The amount of status updates on Facebook that enter my newsfeed on a regular basis is depressing. Females have a tendency to call other girls w*****, or b****** when in reality they aren’t. But little do those girls know that is a big no-no. And half the time the targeted girl can’t even see the status update. So what’s the point? Ladies, we are all equal and beautiful.
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The Chronicle
November 22, 2011
Campus
A presidential event at UOIT
Kim Moreau The Chronicle
UOIT officially welcomed the university’s third president and vice-chancellor Dr. Tim McTiernan at his formal installation Monday, Nov. 14. The ceremony, held in the Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre gymnasium between 3 and 4:30 p.m., included guests from other universities, the Irish ambassador to Canada, community and industry partners, staff members, and of course students. It was difficult to overlook the row of students wearing blue Ridgeback jackets matching much of the decorations. Several speakers, including Bonnie Patterson, Council of Ontario Universities president; Don Lovisa, Durham College president; Pamela Drayson, chief librarian and dean of students, and Amy LaRue, Student Association president, took turns welcoming McTiernan, who began his position in July, and wishing him the best
Kim Moreau
A NEW DAY AT UOIT: Dr. Tim McTiernan became UOIT’s third president on Nov. 14 in a ceremony at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre gymnasium. in his term, as they shared their excitement at getting to know him and eagerness to continue working with him. “I look forward to working with (him) for many years to come,” said Durham College president Don Lovisa, who ac-
knowledged McTiernan in his speech as a successful leader. Lovisa shares a common goal with the new president, to embrace the closeness of the campuses and continually promote and aid students who wish to bridge from one institu-
tion to the other. Another speaker, Amy LaRue, represented the student population in her welcoming of McTiernan as she congratulated him on his new position. LaRue acknowledged him as someone supportive of stu-
dent events and initiatives and shared her excitement in having worked with him already. “I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Dr. McTiernan,” LaRue told. Most memorable of the speakers, however, was the man of the hour, McTiernan, who had guests laughing and looking optimistically at the future of UOIT. “I am proud to be a member of the Durham education community,” McTiernan began after the investing of the robes of office by Chancellor Perrin Beatty. McTiernan, a social psychology graduate, stood before the crowd in his newly donned robes of dark and light blue, yellow, and white, sharing his hopes for the future of UOIT. He hopes that UOIT, which graduated its first PhDs this year, can continue to serve educational needs and act as a bridge for knowledge transfer for students taking on roles and changing the industry of the community.
Ontario students hold the power
Bobby Perritt The Chronicle
Canadians have died for the right to go on them. They are happening right now across the country including York region and they affected services on college and university campuses across Ontario last September. As you read this they are thriving throughout Quebec. They are strikes. They have been used many times in the past by worker unions to enhance wages and benefits, protect full-time jobs from being transformed into part-time positions and to give provincial and federal employees the right to collective bargaining. Could post-secondary students use this democratic method to have their voices heard and shape policy to reflect their common interests? College goers in Ontario would pay an average of $3,300 a year to go on strike, while a year of university would cost $7,100. That is because schools are not obligated to suspend fees during a student strike, therefore reducing student bargaining power in one way. Ontario students would be lucky to find a school that does not charge late fees for missed payments – Durham College is not one of them. Sheila Bell of the School of Interdisciplinary Studies and Employment Services, is Durham College’s chief OPSEU steward (Ontario Public Service Employees Union), which represents faculty at different post-secondary schools throughout Ontario. Bell said if a prolonged student walkout occurred, the provincial government would realistically employ legislation to order students back to the classrooms, or depending on the exact course of events, the Ministry of Colleges, Universities and Training would be ordered to reconcile differences before faculty lay-
offs became inevitable. Student Association president Amy LaRue made her position clear. “I would not be comfortable orchestrating a student walkout because that’s not going to achieve the goal of why 17,000 students are on this campus,” she said. “At the Student Association we value the education that we all get there more than anything else because that’s the reason (that) we’re all here.” Last September talk of a student walkout buzzed through some Ontario colleges and universities as a provincewide support staff strike crippled student services, congested traffic and prevented some students from attending classes on over 100 campuses. None of the other schools’ student associations in Ontario LaRue spoke with supported plans to walk out. “Our focus is the students and the students’ focus here is the education,” LaRue said, adding that a strike would distract from the matters she says she was elected to handle as president. The CSA (College Student Alliance) lobby group represents 130,000 students from 12 Ontario colleges at the provincial level, with a board of six executives, elected by 22 student associations from all over Ontario. The provincial government makes most of the decisions surrounding education, and the CSA board meets frequently with many members of the government to carry the voices of the students to the policymakers. “Students are in a tough place,” CSA CEO Ted Bartlett said. Students have no collective bargaining process in place with the government to negotiate rights and fair treatment. Bartlett and LaRue don’t personally see this as rendering students powerless. The CSA encourages the use of peti-
tions and school forums to promote policy changes, according to Bartlett. “Ultimately be reasonable, be rational, be civil,” he said. “If you get enough voices behind you, people will listen – including presidents of colleges.” Durham College and UOIT offer the SVF (Students Voices First) program, where once a month at the various campuses, students are welcome to speak with an SA executive about things in the government, school or community, they are concerned about as a student. Packages with things like groceries, jackets, coupons and SA merchandise are offered to participants. The forum is available 24/7 at sasvf@dc-uoit.ca, where students can also go. On top of Your Student Asociation and the CSA, the CFS (Canadian Federation of Students) is a democratic advocacy group that speaks for 600,000 Canadian students at a national level. Along with addressing environmental and social issues, one of the federation’s primary goals is affordable postsecondary education for all Canadians. In 2008 for instance, CFS’s Grants Not Loans lobby campaign, saw the birth of the Canada Student Grant Program where the federal government budgeted $245 million and an estimated $250 million by 2012, to assist 245,000 low-income students. Roxanne Dubois, 27, is half a year from finishing her one-year term as national chairperson of the CFS. In contrast to president LaRue of the SA, Dubois said she would support any walkout or student strike that was declared democratically amongst the students as a last resort after all systems of communication had been used. “If we don’t fight for our right to education, no one will,” she added. Feb. 1, 2012 will be a national day of action for Canadian students to speak
up for financial accessibility in schools across the country. Next door in Quebec students have beat the CFS to the punch. Short strikes have persisted since April to protest a 75 per cent tuition hike over the next five years. On Nov. 10, 200,000 university and college students in over half of Quebec schools declared a day strike, shutting down campuses province-wide, especially in Montreal. Faculty at many schools struck in solidarity, refusing to cross student picket lines. A long-term student strike is still being discussed. Quebec is one of the few provinces where post-secondary students have the right to unionize. Provincial law also grants academic amnesty to students if an official strike has been called. This means that while students must still make sure that regular payments are made to the school, the importance of their right to assemble outweighs the importance of class material they miss. Any exams or missed work can be done or compensated for once a strike has concluded. A large reason that tuition fees are significantly lower in Quebec than any other province, is because of student protest which led to a province-wide tuition freeze from 1994 – 2010. British Columbian students also maintain the right to unionize and democratically declare strikes, which makes back-to-school legislation more difficult. They are still responsible for paying their fees regularly, and unlike in a trade union, there is no official collective bargaining process. There are many options for which route Ontario students could go down to increase or decrease control over their education. There are many options for getting their voices heard. The decision rests with us.
Campus
The Chronicle
November 22, 2011
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Student striving for change in the world Ashley Anthony The Chronicle
“I have waken up at 4 in the morning with people calling my phone and knocking on my door worried that their friends are dying from an overdose,” said Jessi Murray, director of the Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy Durham chapter. “Some people just don’t understand that addictions counselling, and by extension drug policy reform, is my hobby and my life.” Just having graduated from the social work program at Durham College with a Student Leadership Award for running Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy, Murray is now working on her post-graduate certificate for addictions and mental health counselling. Murray is also the treasurer of the Young NDP Association and sits on the Durham Harm Reduction Coalition. She strives to warn people of the seriousness of taking drugs and the possible outcomes. Her goal is to get into criminology at UOIT and reform substance laws.
Though hailing from a conservative family- her mother works for the Toronto Police Association- Murray has always been against the police fear and abstinence campaigns and advocates on the side of medicinal cannabis and drug policy reform. “My grandma has liver problems and is on kidney dialysis and I always try to get her to look at all the positive benefits of medicinal cannabis because the pain killers cause her more discomfort.” Inspired by the words of people like Jack Layton, Rick Simpson, Brigette DePape, Jack Herer and Mohandas Gandhi, she has become inspired to create change in the world. After an eight-month placement at Project XChange, the needle exchange service at the John Howard Society and now seeks to volunteer with downtown Oshawa’s methadone clinic, which has been the centre of many debates. Concerned with the lack of knowledge about harm reduction and drug use, she aspires to found a substance use cen-
tre on campus with the help of the criminology and addictions counselling programs and the Campus Health Centre. “So many students come to me and other members of the CSSDP for advice because they don’t know anything about the drugs they are taking, or they want to try a new drug and don’t know what to expect, or they took too much and they are worried that they’re overdosing and don’t know what to do.” Murray speaks passionately about helping people, about the issues on campus and the injustice she sees every day. “Do you know how many times I’ve got phone calls at 4 in the morning from people who have taken drugs without the necessary info and are uncomfortable with the results. I’ve had exams the next day and ended up sitting up from 4 a.m. until 10, when I actually have to tell these people I have to leave for an exam and have to refer them to the John Howard Society or the campus health centre.” But Murray explains that many students are uncomfort-
Ashley Anthony
HALLOWEEN FUN: Jessi Murray, director of the Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy, dressed as Brigette DePape, the Parliamentary page who protested by standing in the Senate during the throne speech holding a Stop Harper sign. able using non-peer based services when seeking help with substance use issues because of a fear of formal repercussions and judgment. “There needs to be more people on campus available to help. Did you know there is a drug counsellor on campus in the health centre, but nobody knows about it, and
No break for DC students Continued from page 1
Students are getting acquainted with the college, classes, teachers, and learning about what to expect for the semester and upcoming year. Then there’s setting up printers, getting laptops working, software installed and running properly, and dealing with any other technical issue that comes along. Suddenly it’s time for midterms. And after midterms comes crunch time for finals! Before you know it, students are looking more and more like Einstein ripping their hair out! Because first semester can be so gruelling, especially for fist-year students, several colleges throughout Ontario offer a midterm break. But, Durham doesn’t. “We’ve talked about in the past, and I’d be happy to move forward with a fall break,” said Robinson. But for several reasons the idea continues to get shot down. “I believe having a midterm break would help students, particularly first-year students transitioning to college,” said Robinson. “It would allow them to get caught up on as-
signments, it might give them a chance to get caught up on some sleep, and perhaps reduce stress.” In the past Robinson has suggested implementing several changes to DC’s calendar so students could have fall a break, but nothing seems to work for everyone. “I’ve proposed that midterm break could happen if we did one of two things,” said Robinson. If students started the fall semester before Labour Day for a full week, fall break would be possible. Students would start one week earlier, have a break at week seven, then seven more weeks of instruction, and then exam week. “But the Student Association voted that down,” said Robinson. “The reasons being because they felt students needed that week to either work right up until Labour Day, or to finish work early, and take that week to have a break or begin getting prepared for school.” The next solution entailed doing away with exam week. Implementing what she calls the 7-1-7. So students would have seven weeks of instruction, a break, seven more weeks of instruction, and there would be no formal exam
week. All evaluation would take place during this time instead. Several programs in the college do not have or require formal exams. Various media programs do not have final exams, nor does the Early Childhood Education program, for instance. “But obviously more programs do than don’t,” said Robinson. “And, some faculty feel as though they cannot commit to that academic schedule for a variety of reasons. So we have looked at it. It’s not something I’ve totally given up on either. Maybe it’s something we can’t move across the whole college, but I do believe that there are programs in which this could be given consideration. And I’d like to pilot it. However, we’re going to need some more willing faculty and students.” But there are some perks to having no midterm break for students. The way the academic calendar is set now allows college students to get out from school the same time as university students. So from a job market perspective, everyone is available at the same time for employment. If this wasn’t a concern for students, a fall break could eas-
ily be implemented. Students could start a little later in the winter, and finish a little later. “Our faculty is here anyways,” said Robinson. “The other question I would ask is how many teachers are teaching in that 14th week of instruction, or is it all review. And, if it’s all review, is there another way to do that? For some teachers I know they teach right up until the very last week, those are the teachers that lose Mondays because of Labour Day, and Thanksgiving. So those teachers I would guess are still teaching. But, there are probably many others who are just doing review in their 14th week. I hear a lot of students in the hallways that week say, ‘yeah we had an hour of review and we’re finished now.’” For now she’s considering pitching the idea of implementing a fall break with one of the new programs coming to DC next year, although there may be complaints of inequity. “There are a lot of factors to weigh,” said Robinson. “It’s just not as easy as saying, ‘oh let’s take or have midterm break. But we haven’t given up on it yet, we just haven’t found a way to manage all the variables that are currently challenging us to move in that direction.”
they are only here for a half of a day once a week… Who is that supposed to really help?” Murray is always striving to inform and wants to make people aware that substance use needs to be addressed as a public health concern, not a criminal justice issue. “Just Say Know!”
Find a job at DC Sarah Hyatt The Chronicle
Students who missed out on October’s job fair at Durham College need not stress. Another job fair will be held Feb. 8, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Over 50 representatives from several organizations and companies visited DC’s job fair this year to inform and recruit students for future employment. “The job fair will have employers actively recruiting for a variety of positions that could potentially lead to summer, part-time, and full-time job opportunities,” said Alix Chasse, senior career adviser at Durham College. A list of employers attending the job fair will be posted on the Hired site closer to February. “This will enable students and grads to do some company research ahead of time, better preparing them for any conversations they may want to have with recruiters,” said Chasse.
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November 22, 2011
HPV vaccine matter of debate
Controversy surrounds new STD drug being targeted to pre-teens
Tracey Fidler The Chronicle
It has been controversial since the day it hit the market in 2006. The HPV vaccine. Gardasil is available to females ages 9 to 26, claiming protection against four types of the human papillomavirus: 6, 11, 16 and 18. Types 6 and 11 are responsible for 70 per cent of cervical cancer, and types 16 and 18 can lead to genital warts. Last year, Health Canada approved a second vaccine, Cervarix, marketed to protect against types 6 and 11. Now, healthcare professionals are recommending boys receive the shot as well, to protect them against genital warts and to protect their future partners. The threat is real. According to Health Canada, approximately 1,300 women contract the sexually transmitted virus every year. More than 1,500 women are diagnosed with cer-
vical cancer each year, and 400 of them die from it, making it the second most common type of cancer for women aged 20 to 44. The controversy of the vaccine lies largely with the targeted age group: pre-teens, those that have generally not been exposed to any sexual activity. Some parents are either hesitant or unwilling to vaccinate their child to protect against a sexually transmitted infection. However, most healthcare professionals advise that, with this vaccine, the younger, the better. “When you’re younger, your body can produce antibodies easier,” says Campus Health Centre nurse Teresa Engelage. As well, explains Engelage, vaccinating before sexual activity would maximize the effectiveness of the vaccine and protect against any exposure to the cancer-causing types of HPV. However, Engelage says even those who are sexually active should still consider get-
ting the vaccine. “It can still protect from the four types if you haven’t been exposed to them,” she says. Some critics have suggested the vaccine can lead to serious, dangerous side effects, and even death. Of the millions of vaccines given, the latest Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) figures report 603 cases of adverse effects, 22 hospitalizations and one death following an HPV vaccination. However, PHAC claims most effects were minor, such as pain at the injection site. An investigation into the death could not prove the vaccine was the cause of death. “I personally haven’t seen any bad reactions,” says Engelage. According to Engelage, many students, both male and female, have visited the Campus Health Centre to get vaccinated with either Gardasil or Cervarix. “I’m seeing more abnormal pap tests,” says Engelage. “We need to spread the word about HPV. It spreads very easily.” June MacDonald-Jenkins, a nurse and researcher in the Office of Research Services and Innovation, says the vaccine has “potential,” but isn’t sold on it quite yet.
“We have no idea what the post-implications are until we have a body of knowledge,” she says, referring to the relative infancy of the vaccine. She says there needs to be more testing to discover the long-term effects, as the vaccine has only been around for approximately 10 years. MacDonald-Jenkins is also concerned that by taking the vaccine, young people will gain a false sense of ‘sexual invincibility.’ “We really need to educate young people,” she says. “I’m concerned the message is, ‘If I take the vaccine, I’m safe,’ and that just isn’t the case.” There are still more than 100 types of HPV that the vaccine does not protect against, as well as other sexually transmitted diseases and infections. Both MacDonald-Jenkin and Engelage agree it is vital both men and women practice safe sex and limit the number of sexual partners to reduce the risk of contracting HPV, even if vaccinated. For women, it is important to have regular pap tests to detect abnormalities early. Ultimately, young people need to do the research and come to their own conclusions as to whether the vaccine is the right choice for them.
Campus
Canada’s diet too salty Larissa Frankevych The Chronicle
Health Canada wants Canadians to make healthier choices when it comes to their sodium intake. It is a mineral that is found in many prepackaged foods, and table salt. Canadians consume approximately 3,400 milligrams of sodium daily, twice the recommended intake of 1,500 milligrams a day, reports Health Canada. High sodium leads to high blood pressure, which can cause further health risks like, stroke, heart attack and kidney disease. Health Canada suggests that Canadians should use the nutrition facts table found on prepackaged food as a guide to making healthier choices. Canadians should look for prepackaged food that contains less than 15 per cent of their daily sodium intake.
Nursing students talk health at conference Emily Wood
orexia to prostate cancer to acute myeloid leukemia, to name a few. Student-created displays were adorned with charts, data, diagrams and models, some with informative pamphlets to distribute as well. “We picked burns because it’s something everyone deals
sen topic. All planning was left up to the students, who were reIt was 25 per cent of their quired to form a five-member final grade, riding on a threeplanning committee. They minute presentation. But secwere responsible for booking ond-year Durham College and the space for the event, decoUOIT nursing students bore rating, invitations and prothe pressure stoically. motion, snacks and prizes. “Our teacher just left it up The athletic dining hall to us to get orin the Gordon ganized,” said Willey buildLaura Jenkins, ing at Durham Everything’s working out really well. It’s a good nursing student College was accomplishment to see everything come together. and member transformed of the planning for the Health committee. Feland Healing low commitConference, Sam Contant tee member, organized and Sam Contant, held by nursing agreed. “Everything’s working students as part of their pro- with on a daily basis,” said out really well,” he said. “It’s gram. second-year nursing student a good accomplishment to see Poster boards filled the Nathalie Boucher. everything come together.” room, each sporting inforStudents presented to their The conference was also mation relating to different teachers and peers, but the used to fundraise for the Modiseases. Guidelines for the event was open to all students vember campaign happenassignment specified that the and faculty. The group shifting throughout the month of chosen diseases could be any- ed around the room to watch November. Raffle tickets were thing known to be current and each presentation individusold in support of the charity, could not be a topic that was ally, standing quiet as their covered in course material. peers provided general infor- with a chance to win a donatThemes varied from an- mation relating to their cho- ed Starbucks prize pack. The Chronicle
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The Chronicle
Remembering the fallen
Durham College and UOIT pay homage to the fallen and active soldiers Natasha Cohen The Chronicle
Lest We Forget, Remembrance Day is a day all Canadians are asked to take the time to remember all of the thousands of men and women who sacrificed their lives in military service. Remembrance Day is important to many students and staff at the college. Those who wished to pay their respects to those who gave their lives for our freedom came down to the Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre for the Remembrance Day Ceremony from 10:30-11:30 on Nov. 11. About 200 filled the bleachers in the gym for the service.
The ceremony opened with a welcome and introduction by Anthony Boland from the Student Association followed by a performance by the Oshawa Civic Band. “The Oshawa Civic Band is one of the oldest British-style brass bands in North America,” said Boland. “With an illustrated history of color, competition and citizenship.” The band played the songs O’ Canada, The Maple Leaf Forever, and Eternal Father, Strong to Save. The Last Post followed with Lieutenant Barrie Hodgins, a song often played at military funerals and ceremonies commemorating those who have been killed in war. He then held a minute of silence while playing The Rouse. Zeta Psi Fraternity sang in Flanders’s Fields. “Today we remember the thousands of Canadian men and women who sacrificed their lives fighting for freedoms and democracy,” said college president Don Lovisa, “As you pay tribute here, as you go back to your jobs and home lives today, I have a challenge for you. Think about the ways in which you can remember every day throughout the year. Think about the sacrifices, the freedoms they have brought us all, front and centre in your lives - because our service men and women have made the ultimate sacrifice for all of us. The sacrifice has brought us freedoms
and liberties.” He described how newspaper, television, and Internet coverage shows images of brave soldiers who have paid the ultimate price as Canada continues its noble efforts, and how the fallen soldiers make their way along the Highway of Heroes. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to their loved ones, family, and friends they left behind,” he said. “Last month Durham College welcomed a group of high school students here to the campus, who were fundraising for a trip to France to honour
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Today we remember the thousands of Canadian men and women who sacrificed their lives fighting for freedoms and democracy
Don Lovisa
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the 95th anniversary of the Battle Vimy Ridge. The students were impressed with how that battle and victory helped shape our country’s identity and how our country was continuing to remember.” The Battle of Vimy Ridge in April 1917 was one of the greatest battles in Canada’s history. For the first time, all four Cana-
dian divisions fought together on the same battlefield. Valor and bravery brought about a victory, not only for Canadians but also for the entire Allied Force. “Today we gather to remember our veterans and peacekeepers who lost their lives over the years fighting for freedom and maintaining peace,” Lovisa said. “Think of the empty spaces that are just beside you,” said Richard Marceau, president of UOIT, referring to the empty seats in the gym, “There are a lot of empty spaces in this room and all those spaces could be filled by the descendants of people that were a part of our family. They could have been part of our community today. I think many people have the same story I do. My grandfather went to World War 1, and his brother was a soldier. And the miraculous happened – I might not be here today if he had not come back. But he did.” The Civic band performed Amazing Grace and then the College’s Professor Rick Kerr sang and played the guitar in his version of And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda. The song describes war as a futile and gruesome affair, while criticizing those who seek to glorify it. The song is about a young Australian soldier who is maimed at the Battle of Gallipoli during the First World War.
November 22, 2011
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Goodbye fall, hello Snowball Nicole Patton The Chronicle
Winter is almost here, and with it brings a celebration for Durham College and UOIT students. The Student Association’s annual winter formal “Snowball – Frozen in Time” is returning and bringing a fun-filled night with it. Beginning at 6 p.m. on Nov. 25 and ending at 1 a.m., students will be celebrating the coming winter season in style. The formal will provide a full dinner (including vegetarian and vegan options) at 7:30 p.m., a bar (cash only!) and 90’s music to dance to all night long. “It gives students a chance to dress up,” said VP of Campus Life Derek Fullerton. “We’ve had lots of pub nights. This is a break from the norm.” Free shuttle buses will travel to Tosca Banquet Hall where the party will happen, and one lucky student will win a limo ride for them and some of their friends to get the real red carpet treatment.
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November 22, 2011
Campus
Blood sucking author takes his vitamin DC Angie Doucett The Chronicle
He’s a first-year journalism student who’s written freelance, published two books and been offered movie contracts with MGM studios, FX Network and Scott Ventures Entertainment. Mike Denault is a successful author and he’s only 20 years old. Denault has loved writing since he could pick up a pen and has been writing professionally since 2009 when he took up freelancing at Demand Media, an online resource for media, entertainment and how-to guides. Denault’s first book, Your Vitamin Guide was published in March and provides a guide to healthy living and information on essential vitamins. When it comes to fiction writing, Lemony Snickett had a huge influence on his style. “Those books made me interested in writing and I fell in love more with how you could adapt a storyline, how you could create a sort of unique reality and have the opportunity to escape into something you can create yourself,” Denault said. His second book, Stone Cold, was published in August and plays more to his creative side, throwing out the vampire
clichés. “There’s so many vampire books out there now, that are like: bite me, I’m a vampire, love me. I read a lot of those books and I didn’t like the romance part,” Denault said. “I’m more of an action and drama kind of guy when it comes to writing.” The writing process wasn’t always easy. When submitting Stone Cold to be published, Denault faced rejection letters, a baled literary agent and tough critics. Despite these obstacles, Denault pressed on. “I was rejected about 30 times before getting picked up. I printed off a few and framed them,” Denault said with a grin. “I was depressed. I had this completed piece of work that I wanted to share so desperately - I made it my mission to send at least 2 queries a day and I got started on my next book in the Stone Cold series.” Now it seems his only challenge is writer’s block. “It doesn’t happen to me as much as I thought it would, but there’s times when I’ve had the idea and it just doesn’t flow well so I have to come back to it later,” Denault said. “I had a bit of writer’s block at the end of Stone Cold because I had so many characters and so many storylines to tie up at the end.” Denault is committed to his work. Drawing up charac-
Angie Doucett
ON ALL FRONTS: Durham College journalism student Mike Denault has already published two books and worked as a freelance writer for online media. ter profiles and outlines before spending hours a day writing somewhere between 1,000 and 5,000 words on top of working as an online moderator for the NFL and going to school, Denault’s weeks are jam-packed. Stone Cold took Denault two-and-a-half months to write
and is currently facing offers from MGM, FX Networks and Scott Venture Entertainment for a possible movie or television series. The offers range from $300,000 if the series is picked up to $1.3 million if it becomes a motion picture. Currently
Denault has been working on Stone Cold’s re-launch that will serve as an uncut edition of the story, and trying to market the book’s sequels Essence and Destiny for a trilogy. Stone Cold is available in all eReader formats and in hardcopy at Canadian retailers.
Graduate satisfaction guaranteed Nicole Patton
The Chronicle Employment. Chances are it’s the reason why you are in college and/or university. Durham College and UOIT continually state that they are committed to providing their students with the education and training needed to find that dream job. To find statistics of employment for graduates, both the college and the university send out a survey called KPI (Key Performance Indicators) to recent grads and employers. The last available KPI for UOIT in 2008 stated that 93 per cent of the grads were employed six months after commencement with 85 per cent working in a job closely related to their program. According to the Durham College Hired Portal, around 83 per cent of 2010 grads found employment six months after commencement. In 2009, 50 per cent of grads were working
in a job closely related to their program. In fact, Durham College is so confident in its grads that it has guaranteed to employers that graduates will be workplace ready. As stated in the 2012-2013 Viewbook, if an employer finds that the grad lacks the skills that would normally be learned through his/her program, the college will provide them with the retraining for a course credit up to one year after graduation. This confidence comes from the Durham statistic of almost 90 per cent of employers being satisfied with graduates in 2010. Students may ask what these employers are looking for in a potential employee. “Communication skills,” said Louise Stiles, an outreach co-ordinator at Durham College’s career services office. “Strong skills with things like email reports, correct spelling and grammar.” “Versatility,” added Monica Aggarwal, manager of career services at UOIT. “Well-round-
ed, can work independently, and is innovative.” And employers are of the same opinion as both Stiles and Aggarwal. Elly Pierre from Sun Life Financial and Ann Maclsaac from the Durham Regional Police attended the Career and Education Fair in October looking for potential employees with certain traits. “They (students) should be assertive, excited and motivated,” said Pierre. “We’re looking for (students) who are motivated and ask good questions,” added Maclsaac. Although these skills and traits are attractive to employers, grads should also look at updating and fixing their resumes and/or portfolios. Help for this can be found at the career services offices at Durham and UOIT or their websites. Both offer help for things like resume and cover letter writing, mock interviews, portfolios and job searching. One-on-one appointments can be scheduled
with a career adviser who will work with you to get that dream job. “It’s never too early to start looking at career options,” said Aggarwal. “Students should attend fairs and network right from year one. However, when students don’t have a career goal it can make the process more difficult.” But sometimes grads need a little help finding that career goal or the job itself. That is why the offices at Durham and UOIT will still be open for these past students. “We offer assistance any time up to two years after graduation,” said Stiles. “We always tell them (grads) to come back.” Grads are free to use the career services for these two years, including the one-on-one appointments with advisers, the Hired Portal or Student Experience websites, and the career events on campus such as the Job Fair coming up in February. Stiles also urges students to
be mindful of their entry level salary. As stated in the Durham College 2009 Graduate Employment Report, the highest given salary was the Paramedic – Advanced Care graduate program with an average pay of almost $77,000 and the Critical Care Nursing graduate program coming in second at an average of $58,000. This matches the Ontario Colleges Employment Profile 2009-2010, which stated that those in health-related programs earned the highest average salary compared to other divisions. “You want to know what you’re looking for (in a job),” said Stiles. “Pick a few employers and start laying the groundwork some time in January.” For more information about employment and how to start your job search, log on to the Durham Hired Portal or the UOIT Student Experience Portal to search through available job listings or book an appointment with a careers adviser.
The Chronicle
November 22, 2011
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November 22, 2011
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November 22, 2011
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Gold medalists help adoption drive Mike Rice
animals mean everything to the employees, who keep a memorial to the dead animals just inside the front door of the new facility. “For most of us it’s a daily
occurrence to stop by the memorial and think about the animals,” said Karin Martens, president of the Humane Society of Durham Region. “You cry all the time. Everybody is
very close to them.” It’s easy to grow attached to the dogs, said Brenda Cameron, one of the 13 workers at the shelter, but it’s great to see them find loving homes. Cameron came in on one of her days off to be there when Bootsie’s new family came to take her home. Bootsie is one of the dogs whose adoption stories can be viewed online. Team Kevin Martin is hoping to secure homes for all these dogs, said Martin, not just from the Humane Society of Durham Region, but from all of the shelters. Qualifications for the next winter Olympics began in September, yet Team Kevin Martin will continue to find time for their work with Pedigree and the shelters. “When I was four years old we got an adoption dog in our family,” said Morris. “So you have that tie with your family growing up, and it’s something that I think everyone across Canada can really feel an attachment to pets. It’s something that we feel is close and special to us as well.” The Humane Society of Durham Region, which was over capacity the day it re-opened, is focused on finding homes for animals and welcomes everybody to come and see their potential pets.
Sarah Hyatt
campus. “UOIT and DC are technology-based schools, we have to get people excited about engineering,” said Basel Huddad, head of public relations for the IEEE. “Our schools have great relationships with organizations like OPG and GM. I believe we’re one of the only schools in Ontario which actually offers automotive engineering too. UOIT puts a lot of focus into power generation… so we want students to know what they’ll be doing when they graduate, and what options are available. And, we’re trying to help people with that through the IEEE.” The Independent Electric Systems Operator (IESO), Ontario Power Generation (OPG) and the Ontario Science Centre are a few places the IEEE wants to take students to visit. “We want to make several trips, and make it fun for students,” said Ravindran. “We’ll also be having several guest lecturers on campus, and we would really love to see students get involved. These are good guys, professional engineers that take time out of their
days to come speak out and try to help students. They talk about how to become an engineer, how to go about becoming an electric skilled tradesperson, what you can do in the field, what your scope is, and the job market. We would really love to see Durham College students get involved too, not just UOIT students.” “In case you want to get affiliated further and directly with the association,” said Ravindran. “It doesn’t have to be you leave school, graduate, and you’ve lost contact.” To join the IEEE directly it’s regularly about $160. But students can join for a discounted price of about $35. “But, that’s only if you want to join the IEEE directly,” said Ravindran. “You can still join the student association on campus, and you don’t need to pay, and you still have all the access. It’s more so if you would like to continue on with the IEEE after school, and get the membership now at a discounted price.” Students looking for any more information can contact Ravindran at, paul.ravindran@ ieee.org
The Chronicle
Dog food manufacturer Pedigree will be donating up to $150,000 to 30 animal shelters across Canada, and will help to find homes for many shelter dogs through their adoption drive. On Sept 14, Olympic gold medal curlers, Team Kevin Martin assisted in launching the fourth annual Pedigree Adoption Drive campaign. On Nov. 10, they followed up their work, visiting the Humane Society of Durham Region where, they yet again lent a helping hand. For every view of its adoption stories videos, which can be seen at www.mypedigree.ca, $1 will be donated. “The big drive right now is to finish off the 150,000 views so that we can get $150,000 to the shelters across Canada,” said team skip Kevin Martin. The current view total sits just over 133,000. “We’ve had a great partnership with Pedigree over the last four or five years,” said John Morris of Team Kevin Martin. “It’s nice to be able to give back and to help. This is more real stuff than what we’re used to, so it’s good to see this.” Since 2007, Pedigree has raised $650,000 to help shel-
Mike Rice
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Shelter worker Brenda Cameron, curler Ben Hebert, curler Marc Kennedy, skip Kevin Martin, president of the Humane Society of Dirham Region Karin Martens and curler John Morris. ters and their dogs to find loving homes. The original Humane Society of Durham Region burned down in 2008 and about 150 animals lost their lives. The
IEEE getting students excited about technology The Chronicle
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) is back on campus, and looking to get students excited about technology! The IEEE is the largest technical association in the world, with nearly 400,000 members. The association has been dedicated to inventing and improving technologies in the better interest of society for hundreds of years. And now as of September, UOIT and DC have their own student branch. “Anyone who has an interest in electronics, engineering or technology can join,” said vice-president Paul Ravindran. “You don’t need any qualifications, and there’s no cost.” Although the IEEE existed years ago on campus, currently they’re looking to revamp the association. In the upcoming year the IEEE is placing a strong emphasis on getting students involved, and more familiarized with technology through several events, field trips, and guest speakers on
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November 22, 2011
Campus
Flatline for fans in Toronto Mike Ryckman The Chronicle
The King of the Dot hiphop event Flatline was held on Saturday, Nov 5. Drawing in a crowd of more than 500 including Canadian hip-hop star Drake, it was no surprise the event was an outstanding success, according to Travis “Organik” Fleetwood, creator of KOTD. “We brought Drake out for this event, you know. He put up three grand for this battle,” said Organik. “ We’re doing what we can for our city. Even though we’re on top we still work twice as hard for the fans and for our community.” The co-main event of the evening was between New York City’s DNA and Los Angeles California’s Dizaster. There had been a lot of animosity built up between these two artists for a year due to failed attempts to set up a battle involving both. New York’s division and the Los Angeles division couldn’t come to terms with both artists so Organik felt like it was up to him. “ I knew it was one of the biggest battles that could ever happen and never did, so when New York failed on setting it up, and LA failed on setting it up we felt it’s only right someone from the outside stepped in with some incentive other people couldn’t offer,” said Organik. The battle went exactly as Organik had planned as both artists came very well prepared and put on an entertaining back-and-forth battle for the fans. Although the battle wasn’t judged and no clear winner was decided, some fans and battle rappers believe that 20-yearold DNA from New York bested Dizaster two out of the three rounds. “The way DNA ended that third round was the best trap that anyone could place in a
Mike Ryckman
CHEQUE IT OUT: Former Durham College advertising student “PoRich” holds up his $2,500 cheque after winning the KOTD Flatline rap battles. battle, it was a flawless ending and that’s why I think he won the battle,” said Philadelphia battle rapper Uno Lavos. Tyrell Myres, a fan in the crowd, said that bar for bar DNA seemed to be better, and his concepts and wordplay made the crowd react more than Dizaster’s did. The great thing about battle rap, according to fan Nolan Buchan, is that winning and losing don’t matter, it’s the performance that counts, and getting paid. Knowing that he was a bit off tonight, Dizaster was still full of positive energy and had nothing but good things to say after the event. “I could have done better with my performance but I am…. happy with the battle, the shit’s a classic,” said Disaster. “DNA is a young cat, a talented kid. He’s going to be doing big things in the future as well as myself. I love Canada. Drake came to see my battle and paid
me almost two grand.” Speaking with DNA after the event it became apparent that the battle rappers project such a different aura outside than they do inside the ring. Most of the intensity and ruthlessness seems to die off when interacting with fans. “KOTD has definitely been showing mad love. I knew they would. they got the most unbiased crowds. That’s why I love this city,” said DNA. “ The battle was one of the best battles in 2011, in my opinion. We both had great performances. I can’t wait to see it on camera.” In the main event of the night, former Durham College student, from Whitby, Rich “PoRich” Moss partnered up with fellow Canadian, from Scarborough, Eddy Diaz to battle against two of the best American battle rappers for $5,000. Their opponents were Los Angeles, California’s TheSaurus and his partner from Portland,
Oregon, Illmaculate. Together the American team hold two first-place titles as partners in the World Rap Championships and were invited to King of the Dot to compete in a year-long tournament that led to the finals at Flatline in Toronto against PoRich and Diaz. The battle seemed to get very intense early on during TheSaurus and Illmaculate’s first round when TheSaurus let his emotions get the best of him and he physically pushed Diaz in the ring. “It was a good battle, it got kinda heated for a second,” said TheSaurus. He explained that PoRich and Diaz were talking during his partner Illmaculate’s round, a gesture that is considered disrespectful in the battle rap community. “So I shoved Diaz halfway across the ring,” TheSaurus said. Diaz stated that instead of reacting to his opponent’s physical attack with one of his
own, he swallowed all his anger and came back with a verbal rebuttal that sent the crowd into a frenzy that favored the Canadian team, a rebuttal that his partner, PoRich, considers won them the battle. “Normally we wouldn’t talk during people’s rounds, and we’ve stuck to that all tournament, but when TheSaurus started muttering things to Illmaculate we took it upon ourselves to talk a bit of trash during their verses,” said PoRich. “ This made TheSaurus crack and push Diaz, and when the ring flooded Diaz came up with this flip in his head that put the crowd on our side and made TheSaurus the villain, which in my mind won us the battle.” Walking away with two oversized cheques for $2,500 each, PoRich and Diaz managed to beat two of the best battle rappers and keep the KOTD grand prix championship at home in Toronto.
Campus
The Chronicle
Nicole Patton
THE DEN: Robert Venditti (left) and Shashank Gandhi enjoy spending time in the Den in the basement of the library
The hidden place on campus for students The Chronicle It’s a hidden place on campus. The Den, located in the basement of the library, is a casual space open to all students on campus. The Den opened late last year as a collaborative area and quiet space for students of UOIT and Durham College. With support received from the library and the Student Association, a storage space in the basement of the building was quickly transformed into a casual area. “I’d live here if I could,” said Electrical Engineering student Shashank Gandhi. “It’s my hang-out space.”
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A lesson in respecting each other every day Ashley Anthony
Nicole Patton
November 22, 2011
“It’s chill and out of the way,” said Robert Venditti, of the same program as Gandhi. “I come here almost every two weeks.” Located next to the library archives, the space invites students inside to use its many tools such as whiteboards, rolling chairs, laptop plugs and a printer. Dry erase markers for whiteboards can be borrowed at the circulation desk with the use of an ID card. The Den also includes padded seating and a vending machine for thirsty students. According to the Noise Zones of the library, the Den is considered a Green Zone meaning a regular level of noise is allowed, making it
perfect for group sessions. Other areas such as the stairwells are considered Yellow, meaning a low level of noise is allowed, and Silent Study rooms are in Red for no noise at all. However, some students believe there could be more added to the Den. “It’s convenient if you can get a seat,” said Nursing Bridging student Christine Goncalves. Her friend Kathleen Diggins of the same program added, “only certain tables have laptop plugs.” Although students believe more could be added to the Den in the future, they continue to return to the space for both relaxation and work.
The Chronicle It’s not very enjoyable to get up in the morning when it’s two degrees outside, to start the trek to the campus just to sit in class and be annoyed by the people around you. Classroom etiquette is ignored when it comes to students cell phones, laptop use, and lack of respect. Students interviewed about classroom etiquette complained most about those who speak out of turn, especially when it doesn’t relate to the topic. “I hate when people just expose their lives in the middle of class,” said Durham College business and human resource management student, Kathy Frasier. “No one really cares.” Some students tend not to like when others arrive late and cause a commotion in class, whereas others don’t like when the people in class “hate on them” for arriving a little after class starts. “I just don’t like when peo-
ple shout out in class, and their phones make obnoxious sounds. Or people that make stupid little noises and can’t stop fidgeting in their chair,” said police foundations student Justice King. Amanda Cranston, a law and security student, said “Oh I hate when the people in front of me are on their laptops when I’m trying to listen, because I can’t pay attention to anything but their screen. I just sit behind them creeping on their Facebook even though I can’t read what the screen says.” Most said their peeves are people who just don’t respect the sanctity of classroom time, who constantly draw attention to themselves and do not listen to instructions, then ask people around them about what they’re supposed to do. Then again some students biggest problems were not about etiquette but the lack of cell phone reception and wi-fi. “And the windows! There are none! I like to remember that there is still outside,” said engineering student Adam Sing.
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November 22, 2011
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Problems with procrastination Amy Valm The Chronicle
Head pounding from stress and lack of sleep, you’re into the third night in a row staying up until 3 a.m. working on projects. Hindsight tells you time management would have been a smart idea. However, surrounded by infinite distractions, procrastination can sometimes seem inevitable. “Procrastination is the delay of doing an activity that is beneficial when the delay itself causes harm,” said Brett Clayton, a Learning Skills Advisor at the Student Academic Learning Services Centre. “Maybe a little more simply, it’s when you don’t do something you should and by not doing it you’re causing harm.” Clayton spent the summer studying procrastination. He said that students procrastinate for a number of reasons, including increased workload and increased difficulty in content. Sometimes, the transition from high school to post-secondary can come with added pressure. And distractions like Facebook or other online sites make it easy to get off track. “Our technology allows us to do so many amazing things and be incredibly productive,” said Clayton. “But at the same time the other edge of that sword
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It’s when you don’t do something you should and by not doing it you’re causing harm.
Brett Clayton is a whole lot of procrastination.” Clayton works with Durham students on problems, such as time management and organizational skills. The centre has a teaching angle of focusing on learning to learn as opposed to learning or memorizing content. In the book Procrastination Equation, author Piers Steel likens procrastination to a mathematical formula. “Steel is looking at it as expectancy with a payoff multiplied by the value or the usefulness of your learning,” said Clayton who read the book. “When you divide that by someone’s impulsiveness times the delay, which is the distance between this moment and whenever that thing is due, you get the score.” As you multiply different factors into the formula, you are either more likely or less likely to be productive. If there is something valuable at the top of the equation, you are more likely to get it done. When a project has a large time span between its assignment and due
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dates, the number at the bottom of the equation is larger. Dividing the top of the equation by a larger number will create a lower score, resulting in more procrastination. “The really interesting thing about impulsiveness is that people who are impulsive tend to have a larger number on the bottom,” said Clayton “And they are less likely to be productive.” He said that students with learning disabilities such as ADHD are typically more likely to be impulsive due to their nature, and therefore procrastinate. Clayton also said that being aware and recognizing the characteristics of procrastination can help students be more diligent in their studies. To avoid procrastination, he suggests studying without a computer if possible. Or allotting time for study and break time - spending an hour and a half studying without Facebook or a cellphone being on, then taking a half hour break to check those things. Eliminating
distractions is a big help, as well as taking advantage of time between classes. Making a list of what you need to do and scheduling it in is helpful as well. By being productive you can reward yourself with leisure time. “It’s never too late to start acquiring these skills,” said Clayton. “They are skills, which means anyone can learn them. But being skills you actually have to practise to get better.” He uses an example of having golf clubs, and really nice golf shoes, but because he doesn’t practise, he is still bad at golf despite the proper equipment. Simply being aware of procrastination won’t necessarily solve the problem. Time management and organizational skills are useful as well. Creating a study plan can help you be more focused and productive. “Everything we teach in learning skills translates directly to the workforce,” said Clayton. “They’re all career skills, so they’re with you beyond graduation. It might not be easy at first but if you do it continuously and persevere you’ll see a very positive result.” Appointments to learn better study habits can be made at the SALS Centre, which is available for Durham students. It is located in the Student Services Building. UOIT students can receive help from the Academic Success Centre.
Durham Region’s got plenty to offer
Tracey Fidler The Chronicle
Durham Region isn’t necessarily considered a prime tourist destination. However, Kerri King, the manager of tourism for Durham, wants people to start thinking of it that way. “We have so much to offer in Durham,” she says. “We’ve got places people aren’t even aware of.” King is quick to point out the vast number of attractions located in the region. Parkwood Estate is one. Located in downtown Oshawa, the estate was built in 1915 and
owned by R.S. McLaughlin, the founder of General Motors, until his death in 1972. It is now a designated natural historic site. The mansion has been faithfully preserved in the style of the early 20th century. Estate tours can be arranged, and there are tearooms and a gift shop. King also recommends Tyrone Mill in Bowmanville. Built in 1846, this saw and grist mill still saws wood and grinds flour. The water-powered mill is known for its apple cider and cider doughnuts, but there are also other baked goods, gourmet sauces and seasonings. The Canadian Automobile Museum, located in Oshawa,
is another attraction unique to the region. Opened in 1961, the museum displays more than 65 Canadian and international vehicles dating from 1898 to 1981, as well as other artifacts, such as washing machines and pianos. To King, the region is special because nature is so close to the urban area. “We are a wonderful mix of rural and urban,” she says. “You can be in a downtown location, and within 20 minutes be in the middle of the countryside.” There are over 350 km of trails in Durham, including the Waterfront Trail, the Trans
Canada Trail and the Oak Ridges Moraine Trail. One can hike, bike, snowshoe, cross-country ski, in-line skate or even horseback ride. Other natural attractions include Lynde Shores in Ajax, the Long Sault Conservation Area in Bowmanville, various orchards and farms, such as Archibald’s and Pingle’s, and ski and snowboard hills, such as Dagmar and Brimacombe. King says there are plenty of inexpensive activities in the region that are good for students or those on a budget. “We have all kinds of historic attractions that you can go to and maybe just put in a dona-
tion,” she says. “We also have great live music. We’ve got amazing local artists that are performing in little cafes, and you can go and see them quite inexpensively.” She also recommends the Robert McLaughlin Gallery in Oshawa and the Station Gallery in Whitby for those interested in art. They are both open seven days a week and are free to visit. Those interested in learning what Durham has to offer can attend the Durham Tourism Summit on Nov. 25 in Durham College and UOIT’s Health and Wellness Centre, or visit t www. durhamtourism.ca.
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The Chronicle
November 22, 2011
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We’re in the Greenley at Durham Austin Rogers The Chronicle
If you’re in need of academic support services, financial aid or trying to find a job, chances are you head to the new Student Services Building. And one of the people you have to thank most for that is Margaret Greenley, vice president of student affairs at Durham College. Greenley helped make the SSB possible, and was behind the new student service model that offers a one-stop service for students, with student service representatives at front desks able to help students in multiple areas. An 11-year veteran of her position, Greenley is in charge of all student services, including financial aid, awards, disability services, academic support services, health services, athletics and more. Since taking up her position, Greenley has accomplished several goals such as implementing new student services
like the Student Life office, and helping the Student Services Building become a reality. She makes it her job to listen to students. “We need the student voice. I just respond to what I’m told,” she says “First thing you do if you’re wise is you listen to your customers.” Greenley also plays a large part in the student government, acting as liaison to the Student Association. Student Services at Durham College have been constantly evolving and adapting since the college’s creation. This year, they faced a support-staff strike that forced a serious reduction in services. But they didn’t shut down. Greenley helped out with dayto-day tasks at such areas as the Durham College bookstore, and helped the directors of student services as needed. She has many priorities in her duties, but to Greenley, like the rest of the college, “The Student experience comes first,” she says. Beyond that, Greenley di-
Austin Rogers
SUPPORT: VP of Student Affairs, Margaret Greenley, in her office at the new Student Services Building. vides her priorities into three categories; student engagement (areas such as student life and athletics), eliminating barriers (solving student problems with access to financial aid, career services, academic support and disability services) and marketing Durham College
to ensure it’s accomplishments are known. Greenley says students have no single problem, but a variety “I look at the student holistically. It’s never one thing,” she says, ““Because you get a whole person.” Joining the college 25 years
ago, she has held a variety of positions over the years, including director of Career Services, Financial Aid, and Disability Services VP Student Affairs at UOIT and Durham College, and now VP Student Affairs at Durham College. Before obtaining a director position Greenley worked as a marketing coordinator, a career officer in Career & Employment Services at Durham College (now Career Services), and a training consultant for a provincial organization. A Durham College marketing grad, she has a diverse educational background, including a degree in adult education from Brock University and a Masters of Arts in adult education from Central Michigan University. As far as career aspirations go, Greenley has reached the highest position she’d hope for, and has no desire to be president, “That’s not a role I have aspirations for. I truly do love working with students,” she says.
Santa Claus touches down in Pickering Lori Marks The Chronicle
The joyous Christmas season is officially here as Santa and his magical reindeer flew into Pickering on Nov. 12 for the Annual Santa Claus Parade. The streets were filled and the sun was shining as excited and smiling, spirited children and adults of all ages watched as the parade of festive floats made its way along Glenanna Road towards the Pickering Town Centre. From firefighters and police officers to marching bands and community groups such as Beavers and Montessori Learning Centre, this year’s parade had Pickering residents amped up for the upcoming holiday
Lori Marks
HOLLY JOLLY: Santa waves to his fans during the annual Santa Claus Parade in Pickering on Nov. 12. season. “I must admit the parade is much better than it used to be in past years,” said Ashley Logiacco a Pickering resident for 26 years. “This year we saw a lot more of a variety
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of floats, and not just a tractor with hay I was impressed. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.” As Santa’s elves and cartoon characters dressed in costume handed out candy
canes, children excitedly stuck out their hands for a treat. “I love coming to the parade I always get so much candy,” said five-year-old Emma Morton. “I also love Santa.” Although Santa was much anticipated by kids, parents were able to enjoy the array of floats as well. “I think the Shriners train would have to be my favourite float,” said Melissa Whylie, mother of Morton. “It was different and all the guys were so happy to be there.” The Shriners red train float represented the Newbeaver Shrine Club. Shriners hospitals aim to help children with orthopaedic conditions. On board the train were men enjoying the Christmas cheer, dancing, singing and waving to the children
below. “I think the parade gets everyone in the Christmas spirit, it means Christmas is coming,” said Whylie. As Santa rode up in his sleigh with his nine reindeer screams from children could be heard as they all called for his attention. “HO, HO, HO, Merry Christmas,” Santa shouted to all the smiling children. Following the one-hour and 40-minute parade Santa made his way into the Pickering Town Centre, where he sat on his comfy chair in his colourful house to meet his biggest fans for pictures. Santa will remain at the Pickering Town Centre from now until Dec. 24 before he heads out on his biggest journey of the year.
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November 22, 2011
Campus
Smokers STOP on campus Larissa Frankevych The Chronicle
Smoking can cause throat cancer, lung cancer, chronic lung disease and heart disease, to name a few. There are 37,000 tobacco-related deaths in Canada every year, according to the Durham Region Health Department. But with all the information about the dangers associated with smoking, Canadians still struggle with kicking the habit. “We know that many smokers in Durham Region are interested in quitting,” said Shelley Simic, a public health nurse with the Health Department. “An ongoing health department survey indicates that approximately 20 per cent of adults in Durham Region currently smoke, and of those, about 60 per cent plan on quitting within the next six months.” In September The Tobacco Products Labeling regulations (cigarettes and little cigars) required tobacco companies to change their packaging labels. The new regulations required that a graphic picture cover 75 per cent of the front and back of smoking packages,
Larissa Frankevych
SMOKING STILL A PROBLEM: There are over 37,000 smoking-related deaths in Canada every year, despite the common awareness of the dangers. a phone number to a registered quitline be placed on the cover and that a toxic emissions statement be included on the packaging. The graphic messages are intended to strike an emotional connection between the consumer and the possible consequences of smoking.
One tobacco product features a dying woman with no hair and her hands desperately grasping a breathing tube. “It’s very disturbing to have a graphic of someone dying with lung cancer. One day that could be me,” said Trevor Hubbard. “But I still smoke, even if I
bought a pack of smokes with a disturbing picture.” Hubbard is a first-year Mechanical Engineering student at Durham College, and has smoked for the last four years. This past year the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health launched the Smoking Treatment for Ontario Patients pro-
gram, also known as STOP. This program was designed to help smokers quit by using nicotine replacement therapy. There is no fee for enrolment into the six-week course. The program is led by a registered nurse, and provides education and support on tobacco use and helps quitters stay smoke-free. “Sometimes people are reluctant to quit smoking because of the cost of nicotine replacement therapy. With our program we eliminate the barrier to treatment and enable people to begin the quitting process so they may be able to prevent the onset of serious illnesses brought on by smoking,” said Dr. Peter Selby, clinical director of addiction programs, and principal investigator of the STOP study. “In addition to eliminating cost, this project will allow us to help people along in the process and monitor which quitting methods are most effective. This way, we will be able to better treat people in the future.” Anyone interested in more information about the program can contact the Durham Health Connection Line at 1-800-841-2729.
Campus politics and absent youth
The YNDP asks for awareness Bobby Perritt The Chronicle
Has politics become a nonissue at Durham College and UOIT? The only political student club on campus, the Young New Democratic Party Association (YNDP), attracted one participant to their annual general meeting on Nov. 11. The Young New Demo-
cratic Party (YNDP) campus club urges politically motivated students to take part at its second meeting on Nov. 22 at 3 p.m. in the SA lounge above E.P. Taylor’s. Every year the YNDP looks for students interested in promoting more socialist-based, labour-oriented politics on campus and in the community. Concerns about the alleged mismanagement and landlord-tenant concerns in north campus residences, was a substantial issue the group wanted to tackle this school year. President of the club Jesse Cullen, 26, a Criminology and Justice student at UOIT, proposed organizing monthly
meet-and-greets with advocates of social justice and NDP political representatives, including Ottawa Centre MP Paul Dewar. YNDP vice-president Kaitlynn Gambier, 20, a Commerce student at UOIT, stressed the importance of attending provincial council meetings held in Toronto four times a year. The club will soon be using Twitter, at @uoitdcyoungNDP, and possibly a website, which Cullen suggested they launch. The Young New Democrat (YNDP) campus club’s annual general meeting was set to arrange fundraiser ideas, outline club events, and establish individual responsibilities such
as secretary and treasurer. The low turnout prevented the group from making thorough decisions, but didn’t restrain a brainstorm of general ideas. Former regional director of the young communist league, Mitchell-Lawrence Buck, of Whitby, was the only person to come out to the meeting in the SA lounge, hosted by Cullen and Gambier. According to SA rules, four additional executives are needed for the group to maintain club status. The YNDP is the only politically based club at DC and UOIT. “I’m gonna admit, I’ve been getting a little discouraged lately,” said Cullen in wake of
the turnout. He compared Ontario students’ political motivation with Quebec students, who have been marching by the tens of thousands on various days throughout the year, against rising tuition fees. “Keep your ears open,” he reminded Gambier and Buck. He told them to approach people on campus with financial, educational and public service concerns (from laptop fees to bus routes) and tell them, “New Democrats care about these issues.” Cullen has a record of charitable work in Durham Region and campaigned for provincial NDP candidate Mike Shields earlier this fall.
Campus
The Chronicle
November 22, 2011
Learning to balance time Work-study employment opportunity Austin Rogers The Chronicle
Balancing your schoolwork with your social and home life is a difficult task. When you throw in a part-time job it can get even harder. The work-study program at Durham College allows students to work up to 12 hours per week on a flexible schedule while earning income that won’t affect their OSAP. Even these hours can be too much for some. “Twelve hours is a little too much for me,” said Pat Withers, work-study student in the Student Life office. “I generally work nine hours a week and I find it might be because I have a two-hour commute. If I didn’t have that I might be able to work the 12.” However most organizations, such as the Student Life
and Career Services office work with their students’ schedules. “If you have busy weeks and you can only work eight then you can either make up that work the following week or at some events at night,” said Justin Bartlett, another workstudy student in the Student Life office. “That being said, 12 hours isn’t that much so it’s not too bad.” Student Life director Lucy Romao Vandepol is willing to help. “Students’ top priority is their school work and if a student has an exam or test to prepare for we can work around their schedule,” she said. Working 12 hours per week still requires scheduling to fit in classes, homework time, gym time for some, and time to relax. “I use all of my spare time between classes and on weekends to finish assignments and limit the amount of time I spend with my friends on weekends,” said Emaline Saylor, work-study student at the Career Services office. On top of this many students engage in extra curricular activities such as sports teams, DC Crew and other Durham College events.
“I am a part of a lot of things outside of school and work,” said Bartlett. “Two of the big ones are the DC Crew and SEAT (Special Events Auxiliary team),” Withers is also a member of DC Crew and other projects. “I also am involved with a lot
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I used all of my spare time between classes and on the weekends
to finish assignments Emaline Saylor
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of first generation initiatives which includes being a peer mentor. I’m also an executive on a student club called The Firsts.” Withers and Bartlett both agree that the best way to effectively manage your time is to use your agenda. “I document everything that’s coming up and I write it all down so I don’t forget because if it’s not written down, there’s a chance it’ll float away,” said Withers. “I would be absolutely lost
without my agenda. Last week I thought I lost it and I had a minor panic attack,” said Bartlett. “So if I didn’t have my agenda I’d lose track of everything and be extremely unorganized,” The work-study program carries other benefits besides the additional income and flexible work schedule. “Working for the Student Life office is a great way to make contacts on campus,” said Bartlett. “You’re in communication with many members of the Durham College community. That’s one benefit. It actually works out really well. You get to meet other people and also get involved in other programs they might be running.” “The benefits are the people you meet and also the behindthe-scenes things you learn about Durham College and all the information you get about the college you wouldn’t get otherwise it’s great,” said Withers. Applying to be a work-study student is as easy as submitting your student financial profile. When you receive a confirmation that you’ve been approved you can then apply for any open jobs on campus.
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Discover pathway night to UOIT Nicole Patton The Chronicle
Calling all students who are looking to change that college diploma into a university degree! The 2011 Pathways Information Night is coming to UOIT with all the facts you need to further your education. On Nov. 30 at 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m., the atrium of the Energy Research Centre at UOIT’s north Oshawa location will be crowded with representatives who are eager to share information on everything from the application process and admission requirements to courses and career opportunities. “Turning a diploma into a degree blends theoretical with practical,” said Monica Aggarwal, manager of UOIT career services. “It’s the best of both worlds.”
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The Chronicle
November 22, 2011
Professor helps us promote peace before war
His mother was a “war bride”—a woman who marries a man whom she Nancy Ellis The Chronicle met while he’s in the service. His mother was part of the British Services and his father a member of the “It seems every year there is a differRoyal Canadian Air Force. ent group in the audience with tears in “They met and moved to Canada,” their eyes,” said Durham College proKerr said. fessor Rick Kerr. “It’s the ones that are Kerr, who played at still living the sacrifice” the Remembrance Day (living with blindness ceremony Nov. 11, said The living injured, and lost limbs) that people approached him the wives and chilwe need to remember, afterwards with tears in Kerr said. “The living their eyes, and that some- dren are the ones we injured, the wives and times that brings tears to should remember and children are the ones his eyes too. we should remember And the Band Played what they are living without. and what they are living Waltzing Matilda was a without,” Kerr said. touching part of the cerThe Oshawa Civic emony. Band performed O CanKerr performed the Rick Kerr ada, The Maple Leaf song last year and “peoForever and Eternal Faple seemed to really like it…you’re almost encouraged to do it ther, Strong To Save. Steve Harrison performed with the again,” he said. “It’s such a powerful song,” Kerr Oshawa Civic Band and Lieutenant Barsaid about why he chose And The Band rie Hodgins performed The Last Post. The Zeta Psi Fraternity recited In Played Waltzing Matilda. The song is about an Australian Flanders Fields. Durham College president Don Loviman’s experience with war. Kerr has Australian friends, and both sa and UOIT president Richard Marceau spoke and gave their best wishes. of his parents were in the military.
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Nancy Ellis
REMEMBRANCE DAY CEREMONY: Durham professor Rick Kerr touches hearts at this year’s Remembrance Day ceremony.
Don’t let your career sneak up on you
Sarah Hyatt The Chronicle
Help is right around the corner for Durham College students. Career Services is conveniently located right on campus. Whether you’re looking for help with job searching, or graduating this year and looking to take that first step in building a career, you can make appointments with an advisor anytime, no need to wait around for the next job fair. Shane Christensen, from the Protection, Security and Investigation program sure isn’t. A trip to Career Services started out as a school project, but Christensen admits, jokingly, that soon they may boot him out. “They really make it easy for students to use their services,” said Christensen. “Plus it’s free, and readily available. I mean last night I was on the DC website and made an appointment to meet with an adviser next week. It took 30 seconds.” He originally met with an advisor to help him with his résumé and cover letter, but says he plans to continue to use the services offered to excel. “I was impressed with my
résumé afterwards,” said Christensen. “It was a great experience, and didn’t require a lot of time. I was in a trade for 30 years. I had three interviews during that time. All specific to my trade, I always knew I could ace them. But now I’m in a whole different industry. I don’t know what I’ll be doing, and the interviews I’ll be faced with will be a lot different. I’ll be completely out of my area of expertise, and I will require a lot of direction, and advice, so I’ll continue to visit Career Services.” He suggests more students take advantage of the services offered. Services are free for students while in school, and up to two years after graduation. “Not all students know about us,” said senior career advisor, Alix Chasse. “I think it’s something that if they did know, they could make use of sooner, rather than waiting until they graduate, or going two years in a program that isn’t fitting.” Career and employment advisors meet one-on-one with students to help with job searching, internships, career goal planning, résumés, employment writing, interviewing skills, portfolios, career research, assessments, and more.
“As a team, we advise and guide students,” said Chasse. “Students who may be unsure if they’re in the right program, we can help. We might do a career assessment to see where their fit is, for instance. We make suggestions in terms of looking at future labour market information, and provide clarity for students. Another large part of what we do is helping students and grads job search, get resumes up to speed, as well as help with interviewing skills. For example, we do mockinterviews that are about an hour long. We go through and actually interview students as if we were the employer, giving them a sense of what to expect, and feedback on how they’re doing.” The Career Services team also brings employers on campus for students to connect with, holds events like the job fair, visits classrooms, and delivers seminars. Currently, Durham’s Hired Portal has nearly 4,400 employers using the site. The portal was created about six years ago, and is another way Career Services helps students find employment and enhance career opportunities. “Again, we find a lot of students don’t know about the
portal,” said Chasse. “It’s not until they get to graduation or maybe field placement, and all of a sudden they’re thinking ‘I need help.’” The Hired Portal allows students to search for full-time, part-time, and summer employment, as well as posts volunteer, and internship opportunities. Specific to each program or major, the portal offers grad stats, interesting readings, lists companies who’ve hired students, as well as educational pathways available. Job searches can also be narrowed by field as well as by geographic area. Career assessment tools are available through the portal too. Career Cruising and the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) offer assessments that can provide aid and insight for students, which may be helpful in career choices or pathways. For instance, the MBTI tool looks at the way someone might prefer to work, or what type of work environments they flourish in. “It considers how people take in their information, and how they take in their energy… are they someone who thrives in an environment with lots of people, or does that type of environment drain them,” said Chasse. “So, it looks at types
of preferences more or less, and what careers could match based on those preferences.” Career Cruising is a free tool, but the MBTI tool costs $30 as it is a licensed assessment. In 2009, nearly 2,000 students met with a career advisor. “It’s absolutely a competitive market today,” said Chasse. “Students need to get themselves prepared. It’s also about awareness. Students have an expectation of what they’re going to be doing when they graduate. They need to know what the reality is for the market they’re getting into. Is that market easy to get into, are there jobs in the Durham Region, should they look broader, across Ontario, out of province. It’s about gaining an understanding of what the labour market is like.” From first-years, to soon to be graduates, students are encouraged to start meeting with advisors now. The Career Services office is located on the second floor of the Student Services Building, (SSB212) and is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Students interested in booking an appointment should call 905-721-3034.
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The Chronicle
November 22, 2011
Time for some new treads This season, stay in control with winter tires Philip Petrovski The Chronicle
With winter closing in, it’s time to steer away from danger and prepare your car for the season. Winter driving can be unpredictable. Most drivers eventually experience a winter scare like hitting black ice or floating snow. But whatever the road conditions are, there are steps driver’s can take to be fully prepared. One of the most important debates of winter driving is what connects you to the road.
The tires you choose to use for the winter will affect how your car accelerates, handles and brakes. Transport Canada highly recommends you use winter tires for a safer driving season. According to the Ministry of Transportation, even at lower speeds of 40 kilometres per hour, winter tires can stop you up to 11 metres earlier. Most winter tires are designed with a specific tread pattern, so mixing winter tires could decrease traction. Ensuring you have proper tread and tire pressure provides optimum
control for winter driving. John Bertrand of Bertrand Tire in Toronto understands the importance of winter tires, “Winter tires are specifically designed for winter and all-seasons are not, so the safer choice is obvious,” said Bertrand.
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Driving habits also affect your winter driving too. But you have to be able to know how to react, and winter tires will definitley help with that.
John Bertrand
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While people commonly debate the use of winter or all-
seasons, winter tires are statistically safer. “Any winter tire will be better than most all-seasons. As far as the compound of the tire and the tread pattern, it’s more important that the tire has enough tread,” Bertrand said. Improving your driving in winter conditions and equipping your vehicle for the weather appropriately will keep you safe this winter and for winters to come. “Driving habits also effect your winter driving too. But you have to be able to know how to react, and winter tires will definitely help with that,” Bertrand says. Having a vehicle prepared for the weather and a driver in control will optimize your chances of steering away from trouble in the winter.
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Choosing a phone plan is no easy call Austin Rogers The Chronicle
The American Bell telephone company use to ask us to “Reach out and touch somebody.” Nowadays college students are finding out just how expensive that can be. Students have to deal with whatever carrier they get their long distance with and it’s never cheap. Through Rogers home phone you get a standard 15-cent per minute long distance rate. To get that 15 cent plan through Bell you’d have to pay $6.95 a month on top of your home phone plan. Other long distance carriers such as Primus offer $5 unlimited long distance, however all the plans mean paying that price on top of whatever home phone package the student has. These packages can be cheap or expensive depending on the carrier and plan. Some students have tried other ways of reaching people on the phone. “At first we used calling cards, which got very expensive,” says first-year Durham College student Kris Cuaresma “But sometimes I wouldn’t have any cards, but I’d call anyway and think I’d only talk for a little while. At one point I got a phone bill that was $400.” Cell phones are a different story. Long distance mobile plans are more expensive but there are options like “My5” or “My10” plans in which you can have five or 10 numbers that you can call anywhere, anytime, for as long as you want. “I have a Fav10 plan so I don’t need long distance and I changed my number to an Oshawa number,” said first year Durham College business administration student Nicole Shaubel. Besides talking on the phone, other ways to communicate over long distances include instant messaging on such sites as Facebook, and video chatting on applications like Skype. While Facebook and Skype are free services they experience frequent downtime and are therefore not as reliable as simple telephones.
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November 22, 2011
Zellers plays secret Santa for elders in senior care Robynne Henry The Chronicle
It seems like Santa does exist for the residents of Home Instead Senior Care, who are given gifts from secret Santas who buy gifts from participating Zellers around Canada. For the last three years, the Zellers in the Five Points Mall has had a tree in the front foyer with names of older people who have no family but still deserve to receive a gift at Christmas. “It’s from a company that arranges those names, and they are delivered to the different senior homes to elders that don’t have any family,” said
customer service representative Susan Dobbin. The program is anonymous, with fake names put on the tags and the gifts saying they are from Santa.
The Home Instead Senior Care takes care of everything, only asking the workers at the service desk to keep an eye on the tree and gifts. “You pick a name off the
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You pick a name off the tree, and you bring the gift back to the service desk in a bag.
Susan Dobbin “The names that are on there aren’t really people, because the company doesn’t want people to know who is in need of getting a gift,” Dobbin said.
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tree, and you bring the gift back to the service desk in a bag,” Dobbin said. “Not wrapped, the company wraps them later on, with the tag attached, and the
company comes at least two to three times a week to pick up the bags.” The company fills up the tree with tags every time they visit, and the tree tends to become bare within a few days. “It was full the other day when they first put them there, and now only has a few tags left,” Dobbin said. She went on to say that she was impressed with how quickly the tree became bare, and she is happy that it is a success. Anyone can come into any participating Zellers and buy a gift for an elderly person. Most gifts aren’t more than $20. The gifts range from pajamas to slippers to coffee.
Campus
Trading your food for clothing
Angie Doucett The Chronicle
Village Union public school offered a warm welcome to those needing to bundle up this season. The 23rd annual Food for Clothing exchange welcomed more than 200 visitors from Oshawa on Nov. 5 to pick from more than 11,000 clothes items. Participants in the exchange were asked to donate a food item if they were able for their pick of donations, but the exchange turns no one away. After a month of collecting and a night of sorting with the help of over 25 volunteers of all ages, the Food for Clothing exchange was a success. Jim Fergusson, who’s been in charge of the exchange since it began in 1988, said he was pleased to see such a great turnout. “This year we have more winter coats than ever before,” Fergusson said. “Our biggest challenge is getting people to come out. It’s a great feeling when we can really help someone in need.” The line-up reached halfway across the schoolyard and guests were welcome to free Tim Hortons doughnuts and coffee to warm up. Emily Carter, a Grade 9 student who attended Village Union last year, has volunteered for the second year in a row. “Last year I remembered seeing bags of clothing in the gym and seeing how grateful people are,” Carter said. “No one is pushing anyone out of their way to get free stuff. Everyone is really goodnatured.” Articles that are not picked up by participants are spread out to help a wide variety of people in need. Some women’s and children’s clothing is sent to Denise House, a shelter for women in abusive relationships, while men’s clothing is donated to the YMCA. Good Neighbours in Peterborough and Oshawa’s Seventh-day Adventist church also receives a large batch of donations. Food items received were given to Simcoe Hall food bank is Oshawa.
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Local creativity at its finest Meghan Wels The Chronicle
A variety of music and poetry filled the room in the quaint and cozy Cocoa and Joe café downtown Oshawa on Thursday, Nov. 10. The acoustic and poetry night hosted, by 20-year-old Yumna Sawnya, drew an eager crowd that packed the tiny café from wall to wall. You could hear a pin drop as creative young writers and local musicians shared their talent. The acoustic and poetry show consisted of four poets, including Sawnya, and seven musical acts, including local alternative bands Viva Mars and The Kennedy Swing. “All the poets and bands are pretty unique,” said Sawnya. “There is a good variety.” The evening kicked off around 7 o’clock with an acoustic set by local band Watershed Hour. The crowd grew larger as the night went on and eventually the café hit full capacity by the time Viva Mars hit
Meghan Wels
ACOUSTIC AND POETRY NIGHT: Jerry Hruby and Theo John of Our Summer Silhouette covering Love Story by Taylor Swift.
the stage to close the show. Sawnya called the show a success and looks forward to fu-
ture events. “It’s a good atmosphere,” said Sawnya. “People are interested and
actually listen to the poetry as well as the music.” She hopes to promote local al-
ternative musicians and poets through monthly shows like this one. “There are not many places in Oshawa for poets and alternative musicians to play shows,” says Sawnya. “Slam poetry is big in Toronto but there isn’t really anything like that here.” As a writer, Sawnya is a big poetry fan and is dedicated to helping fellow local poets and songwriters get their work out there. “I just want to try and bring some of that culture to Oshawa,” she says. The Cocoa and Joe Café makes a perfect setting for the show. The small but welcoming atmosphere is a great place for people to gather and enjoy a night of music and poetry. The café is very healthy and specializes in gluten-free and diabetic products. It also serves healthy homemade baked goods and a variety of coffees and teas. The Café recently received its liquor license. Keep an eye open for more events hosted by Sawnya at the Cocoa and Joe Café.
Girls Inc. helps girls think Hillary Di Menna The Chronicle
The United States spends more on advertising than 80 per cent of countries own. Fifty per cent of girls between the ages of eight and 18 have a television in their room. Yvette Nechvatal-Drew, executive director of Girls Incorporated of Durham (Girls Inc.) says, “That is 5 million channels sending messages 24/7 and they have a captive audience.” The documentary Miss Representation was shown at The Regent the evening of Nov. 4. Dr. Molly Dragiewicz was part of the panel-led discussion following the screening. What she said sent chills and evoked anger from people sitting in the 400-plus crowd. “Making women feel horrible about their bodies sells product.”Jennifer Siebel-Newsom’s documentary discusses the message that a woman’s worth is based on beauty in the media.Famous faces included Gloria Steinem, Katie Couric and Margaret Cho, who said, “The media treats women like shit.”Dan Carter was the MC of the event and referred to a fact unveiled in the film that the human brain is not fully developed until the age of 24. “Young adults are the most vulnerable class,” he said.
Hillary Di Menna
GIRLS INC.: Girls Inc. is dedicated to helping young girls realize their full potential. News clips were shown where anchors attacked female politicians. Fox News anchor Bill O’Reilly asked author Marc Rudov what the downside to having a woman in the oval office would be. “You mean besides the PMS and the mood swings?” was the response.New York Magazine’s headline regarding Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin read, “The Bitch and The Ditz.” “The question I was most frequently asked [when running for public office] was, ‘Who’s going to be taking care of your children? And, of course, it’s one of those questions I don’t think a man has ever been asked when he runs for office,” said Californian Congresswom-
an Nancy Pelosi in the film. The documentary interviewed teenage girls who shared stories of self-mutilating their bodies as punishment for not being perfect. Newsome herself spoke of her own history of anorexia. Nechvatal-Drew reported her findings through Girl Inc.’s program Do You Think I’m Fat? Girls in Grade 7 and 8 skipped meals while girls as young as six were worried about their weight. Weight insecurities are on the minds of eighty per cent of girls of average weight and height. The majority of films do not have a female protagonist. Those that do show a woman trying to get the man or fighting in a skimpy outfit.
Within the past decade the number of cosmetic surgeries on those 18 and younger has tripled. Actress Daphne Zuniga recalled having collagen injections, wanting to cry as the blood trickled down her face. The film showed stats connecting the increase of violence in media and reality. Because of so many media outlets shocking content, such as a woman’s corpse being shoved in a shopping bag or lying bloody on the ground, is used to get attention. Stories of women make up 20 per cent of media coverage and the majority of these stories are violent. One in three girls is sexually abused before the age of 18 and every six days a woman is killed by her hus-
band or boyfriend. Magazines geared toward teenage girls have 12 per cent of their content about school and careers, with the rest about beauty and sex. The average reader of Seventeen magazine is 11 and the average Teen Vogue reader is 10. Nechvatal-Drew asks why covers of these magazines don’t feature headlines such as, “How to conquer the world.” “Women are shown as catty and vindictive in the media,” she added. Statistically women consume more media than men. Our youth consumes six hours of media a day on average through television, magazines, sides of buses and more. Advertisers want more men between the ages of 18 and 34 to buy their products so they produce content appealing to this demographic.Director Paul Haggis shared his thoughts with Miss Representation,“Now we really like to put people in boxes. As men, we do it because we don’t understand characters that aren’t ourselves, and we aren’t willing to put ourselves in the skin of those characters. Women, I think, terrify us. We tend not to write women as human beings. It’s cartoons we’re making now. And that’s a shame.” Girls Inc. hosted the screening. The group has been in Durham Region for over 25 years. Their goal is to help girls realize their full potential.
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The breast of the breast Aaron O’Toole The Chronicle
Bridget Leslie was told she had a critical illness five years ago. She went through breast cancer treatment for a year and a half at the Peterborough Hospital, where she now works. During her treatment her life went through many changes. “I was lucky to have lots of friends and good family support,” said Leslie. “I also took care of myself really well.” When she finished treatment in 2008 she decided to open a new business. “When I was trying to find a name for the business a friend of mine asked, ‘well which breast did you lose?’” She opened her store named My Left Breast 3½ years ago. Her customers often feel comfort in knowing she understands exactly what they are going through. “I understand where they are at,” she said. “Many come in right after a diagnosis.” Prior to cancer treatment Leslie had worked in social services for 22 years. “Helping people, mainly kids, with special needs.” Leslie recently started presenting at Hearth Place Cancer Support Centre in Oshawa. She chats with the lymphedema support group and the newly diagnosed breast
Aaron O’Toole
MY LEFT BREAST: Bridget Leslie’s store ‘My Left Breast’ carries a variety of products for breast cancer patients. cancer support group. Hearth Place Cancer Support Centre began January 1997 and it is located on 86 Colborne St. W. My Left Breast serves Peterborough and the Kawarthas and is located at the Peterborough Clinic. The clinic is next to the Peterborough Hospital, 26 Hospital Drive.
My Left Breast carries bras, mastectomy prostheses, wigs and a variety of carcinogen-free products. These products can offer relief for someone in grief. Her products can provide cancer patients help with their own personal concerns. If they are starting to lose their hair, Leslie helps to find the perfect fitted
and coloured wig. For someone who has just had a lumpectomy, which is the removal of a cancerous lump in the breast, My Left Breast offers bras designed for comfort around a surgical wound. These bras also have pockets that can be filled with artificial breasts that feel real to even out the weight of a woman’s breasts. Many of her other products offer relief from cancer-causing agents. Leslie told me that many products today have what are called hormone disruptors. Young women say they use about 17 products a day and most of those products have ingredients that are linked to hormone disruptors. People are at risk “if their hormones get disrupted and they have a cancer gene that could turn on,” said Leslie. Hormone disruptors are found in shampoos and in different types of make-up. She recommends that people check the ingredients in the products they use.Leslie managed to create connections with suppliers from Kingston and Oshawa while she was fighting cancer. Her suppliers taught her exactly how to use and maintain all of her products. She offers knowledgeable help on these products, breast cancer and lymphedema.
The Backstreeter is back Lori Marks The Chronicle
The crowd was fired up for Nick Carter’s sold out concert at The Living Arts Centre on Nov. 4. Fresh off the tour known as NKOTBSB with his fellow band-mates the Backstreet Boys and ‘90s trend-setting boy-band New Kids on the Block, Carter brought his solo act I’m Taking Off back to his devoted Canadian (mostly female) fans, with Mississauga being his first stop. Shawn Desman, Canadian solo artist, started the night off playing a beautiful acoustic set, consisting of six songs including Shiver, Shook, Get Ready, Something Stupid, Electric, and Night Like This. Desman amped the crowd up by evaluating each side of the venue to see which side had the loudest set of vocals. By the end of his set the crowd was ready for the man of the night. The girls were swooning and on their feet as Carter entered the stage in a stars and stripes space get-up and space helmet and broke into his first song of
Lori Marks
NICK CARTER: The Backstreet Boys heartthrob hits the stage in Mississauga to give his fans a ninety’s flashback. the night, title track off the album, I’m Taking Off. Adored for his young boyish looks and voice, Carter sang live vocals throughout the show, proving to screaming fans and critics he’s still got it. A backup band consisting of drums, pianist and two guitar players accompanied him on stage.
Carter teased the crowd numerous times throughout the show with lines such as “this is the part of the show I call the sexy time,” “you’re a bad girl,” and “if you don’t have anybody to kiss you can kiss me.” Carter who once kept everything hidden beneath his clothes even stripped down to nothing but
his space pants and a tank top in a seductive manner eliciting screams of excitement from all the ladies in the audience. During his song Special he even made his way into the audience while girls threw themselves at him, but only one girl was lucky enough to be serenaded by Carter himself. Along with singing songs off his sophomore album, Carter also performed songs from his first solo record, Now or Never, which was released in 2002. I Got You and Do I Have To Cry For You (a Jon Bon Jovi style song) were among the songs he performed. Carter also gave the crowd a special treat and had them all singing along to his classic Backstreet Boys hits Larger Than Life and Incomplete with an electric guitar in hand to show just how talented he really is. Although the show ended with him putting back on his space helmet and exiting the stage, making for a confusing situation for his fans about whether or not he would return for more songs, he proved his solo credibility with an outstanding performance.
Durham rocks an open mike Kamesha Horne-Simmons The Chronicle
The Music Business Management program hosted their open mike event at E.P.Taylor’s Nov. 16. The event contained lots of talented musician, singers and song writers showing their talent on the stage of E.P. Taylor’s. One of their performers and opener for the open mike was James Hand from Hamilton. He performed two original songs he wrote called Your Way and The Attitude. Hand is starting a band in Toronto but for now he is a solo artist. “I never miss out an opportunity to play at an open mike.” When asked about his band he said, “It’s very hard to start and put together a band, because I’m travelling back and forth from Toronto and Hamilton.” Rachael Bestard and Hunter Devolin, students from the music business program, were the ones who put together this event. “It sounds like it started a few years ago before we actually came here, but it’s for our music business program that we have here on campus. We have a whole music industry on campus. So there’s a recording studio, a record label and an open mike committee for the students in the program to use and get experiences with,” said Devolin. Bestard talks about the artists they recruit for the open mike. “We do talent scouting, check out different open mikes around the Durham Region, and we also get sign-ups from artist around Durham College and UOIT. But we always see the acts before they actually perform on stage.” She is also the one who recruited James for the open mike. “He’s from Hamilton and I’m also from Hamilton, so we’ve been friends for a few years now because we’re both from the music scene.” “Open mike is a really great way to show your talent because we do it every other Wednesday,” said Bestard. “ It’s a really fun time! We get lots of great performers and always try to find different performers with different styles,” said Devolin.
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The strength of a good laugh
Mahmoud El Bayrakdar The Chronicle
“Learning to say Yes,” a night of lessons learned on the road through cancer. Accomplished Canadian comedian and actor Neil Crone (the television series Little Mosque on the Prairie, and recent series Really Me) came down to the Simcoe Street United Church Saturday, Oct. 29 to speak of his experience with colorectal cancer. Crone’s list of performances isn’t limited to television, however. He also has an impressive list of movie and stage credentials, especially his experiences with actor Al Pacino and actress Meg Ryan. Crone has always stuck with his passion for stand-up comedy. You can even read some of Crone’s work in his humour column in the Durham Region’s Metroland newspapers. The night began at 7 o’clock. Like the best stand-up comedians Crone started off with hilarious anecdotes about his journeys and past experiences, not forgetting the content was
Mahmoud El Bayrakdar
NEIL CRONE: A special visit from a great comedian and a strong human being. based on cancer. Although a sensitive topic for Crone, he loved sharing his experiences with something
that, he says, changed his life forever. “Cancer is a very powerful and persuasive teacher,” he
said. “So much survival of cancer is a mental and spiritual thing. Our bodies are miraculous creatures.”
Because of the pressure from his cancer treatments every day he was turned him to more spiritual remedies, such as the power in saying ‘yes’. “We begin by saying ‘Yes’. I jumped on every healing bandwagon that was offered to me,” he continued. Crone believed that reaching out was the only way he’d be able to get the spiritual help he wanted. “I believe in love. Love brought me together with the people around me. When I’d send emails to friends, I’d receive ten-fold what I expected back.” Crone was not at all discomforted telling his scariest ordeals with cancer, and says his condition has brought him closer to those around him, but he’ll never forget what his condition means to him. “Because it’s always going to be there. I am always aware of my own mortality.” The entertaining Neil Crone was both hilarious and sentimental in his performance. People interested about learning more about Neil Crone can visit his website at http:// www.neilcrone.com/
Off the pages and on the screen
Emily Wood The Chronicle
Opening with a shot of a small plane soaring over the waters surrounding Puerto Rico, the film itself never quite took off. The Rum Diary was directed by Bruce Robinson, who also adapted the story for the screen from Hunter S. Thompson’s original novel, but it fell like someone after a long night of drinking. Hard. Paul Kemp, an American journalist played by Johnny Depp, follows his work to San Juan where he writes for a local newspaper. In an attempt to escape the insane perspectives of privileged Americans he finds himself amidst their cocktail
parties and fancy hotels even in Puerto Rico, and somehow manipulated to promote the lifestyle. The separation of rich and poor, whites and non-whites, is the only theme from the original book properly explored in the film. Depp portrays a man who, despite his constant state of drunkenness, is able to clearly see the nonsense within the ideals of the privileged. The set and characters were elaborate and colourful, providing a tangible feel of life in San Juan. Characters ranged from the permanently drunk lowlife, played by Giovanni Ribisi, to a “hermaphroditic oracle of the dead”, to a bedazzled pet turtle, teasing the audience
with interest, as the trailer did, without the follow through of a decent plot. Not that it didn’t promise one. The deconstruction of events from the novel was at first understandable as a method of speeding up the plot. But it was transformed into nothing more than a disheveled tale of a drunk reporter’s life. The ending, also different from the novel, left nothing resolved. That is, it wouldn’t have if not for the conveniently written explanation that flashed on screen, summarizing what happened to each significant character. With a run time of two hours and one minute, most of that time is spent waiting for
something to happen. For an hour and a half, Depp’s character follows others aimlessly around San Juan before suddenly deciding to take charge and make something of his life. And then nothing happens. But the plot, however anticlimactic, did not reflect on the acting. Performances by Ribisi, Depp, and up-and-comer Amber Heard (who plays Depp’s love interest, Chenault), were unique and seamless. Though not the perfect embodiment of Thompson’s original depictions, they were believable. Aaron Eckhart, who played the businessman Sanderson, did so with incredible focus, able to show every aspect of
the privileged white man that Thompson described in his novel. But his character was combined with another from the book, perhaps to keep things concise for the audience or to keep to the budget. The camera work was well done, varying between steady and moving shots that allowed the audience to get an authentic feel of life in San Juan. Although the illusion was shattered when the overhead microphone dropped into the frame four separate times. The occasional car chase or riot did little to cover an overly simplistic plot that never fully develops. Save yourself the cost of overpriced tickets in theatres, and have a rum ball instead.
Miranda Lambert on the record Ashley Bain Chronicle Staff
With the release of her new album Four the Record Miranda Lambert is opening up to her fans. The album, which came out Nov.1, is filled with an old
country sound with a mix of rock n’ roll. In the past Lambert has been quoted as saying that she doesn’t need to keep a journal because her albums are her journals and Four the Record is just that. With the song Over You,
Lambert expresses the pain brought on by the death of her husband’s older brother. Lambert shows her mature side with songs like Safe, about how honest and open her relationship is, and her vulnerable side with Same Old You, about a second chance gone wrong.
Four the Record shows Lambert’s growth into adulthood after her previous albums Kerosene, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and Revolution. Newly-wed Lambert opens up about her relationship with fellow country artist Blake Shelton in Easy Living and will
shock fans with a new sound in the song Fine Tune, that has an electric sound that’s different from the Lambert we’re use to. After her last album Revolution put Lambert on the map two years ago, one thing is guaranteed; Four the Record will be keeping her there.
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November 22, 2011
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Musical zeal bonds brothers Amanda Darrock The Chronicle
Some people love music. For Hollowick, music strengthens not only their love of music but also the bond between brothers. With a new album on the shelf for only three months now, the band formally known as Rides Again is focusing on touring and enjoying the fan’s reactions. Growing up in Durham Region, brothers Chad and Nathan Peyton, were introduced to music at a young age. “It was a slow process,” said Nathan. “We just kind of picked it up. My dad always had guitars laying around the house. Neither Chad or myself have had any formal musical training.” About 10 years ago the brothers decided they wanted to make their music into a career and went at it hard. They found a drummer and soon turned their musical passion into a rather successful band named Rides Again. Under this title they opened all over Canada for popular bands such as Three Days Grace, Theory of a Deadman, The Trews and Hedley. Unfortunately, due to personal reasons, the drummer decided to leave the band, leaving the former three-piece group as a band of two brothers with three-quarters of a new album finished. It strengthened their bond as brothers as they worked as a duo. “The typical case for broth-
Amanda Darrock
LAID-BACK BROTHERS: Chad Peyton (front) and brother Nathan Peyton from Durham Region band Hollowick admit they just make music that they like. ers is you grow up, you go your separate ways and you never see each other, said Peyton. ”Although, being in a band together we pretty much see each other every day. We’re past that, we’re like adults living as little brothers.” The Peyton brothers continued to work on their album until they met Luke LeDeux and Frank Goere, who shortly after joined the brothers on drums and guitar.
In an effort to make this band completely new, Peyton decided to change their name. After brainstorming and comparing names with his brother, it came to Peyton while driving on the streets of Oshawa. “We had five pages of random names written down, Chad’s name is Chadwick, and I wanted to include the wick. Well driving it hit me, Hollowick. So I text Chad and he loved it.” With the two new mem-
bers to Hollowick came new additions to the former Rides Again album. “We had this almost-done album before the drummer left. Luke added the solos after he joined the band,” said Chad. With the new album Beautiful People which hit stores June 14, Hollowick has now entered into touring. With a tour route that takes them all through Ontario, the band hopes to gain more popularity.
“We just hang out before a show, we get relaxed but we have fun, said Peyton. “We practise before, get our fingers warmed up on the guitar, I yell out funny things to get my vocal cords warmed up. The crowd has fun and we have fun.” Hollowick is a band that just goes with the flow and enjoys each moment. Even with the sound of their music, they are extremely laid back.” We started off as pop-punk, we were young and just sort of directed their sound towards that,” said Peyton. “Over time we just evolved into what we are now without even realizing it. We don’t set out to sound like anything in particular. We just make music we like.” They draw their musical inspirations from bands such as the Foo Fighters, Nickelback, Muse, and Jane’s Addiction. In their spare time when they are not rocking out, Nathan works as a graphic designer and photographer, and Chad works in web and graphic design. “We have no formal education, it’s all trial and error due to the band,” said Nathan. They do these side jobs as not just a means to make extra cash but as their hobbies. They also enjoy going to open microphone nights and play for on-lookers for free. As a band they are focusing on touring, getting their record out to more people, and starting work on a new record.
Filmmaker hopes girls Alice Cooper recognize self-worth Derek Morton The Chronicle
Hillary Di Menna The Chronicle
Jennifer Siebel-Newsom started her career as a Hollywood actress at the age of 28-years-old. “My agent at the time told me to lie about my age and take my Stanford MBA off my resume,” Siebel-Newsom said in an interview with The Chronicle. She ignored their advice and went on to create Girls’ Club Entertainment. The production would put a focus on films with complex characters, not the trophy wives and sex symbols Siebel-Newsom had been continually offered. “Women hold only 3 per cent of clout positions in mainstream media. That means that 97 per cent of the decisionmaking around what we read, hear and see is from the male perspective. It’s not wrong; it’s just not democratic.” Her recent documentary
Miss Representation is cele- came pregnant with while brating great success. The film shooting, and a son she had looks at the portrayal of females after the film’s release, were in the media and how their a huge driving force for her. The 2008 US value is only presidential camseen in their My agent at the paign bothered youth, beauty and sexuality. time told me to lie the filmmaker. “I looked at “Miss Repreabout my age and take the statistics sentation is my my Stanford MBA off around women’s attempt to right my resume. representation this wrong and in the highest put our culture echelons of busion a path that recognizes ness and governJennifer and empowers Siebel-Newsom ment, I started to make a conw o m e n nection between and girls. the under-representations Women can no longer be portrayed as second-class and misrepresentations of citizens but rather as equals to women in positions of power men with equal opportunities and influence in our country.” She describes witnessing to succeed in life.” horrific sexism directed toward The film came to be through Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin. several inspirations, her expeSiebel-Newsom hopes womrience in Hollywood being one en and girls will recognize their of them, though she says the documentary barely touches self-worth after seeing the on her experiences there. Her film and leave with the knowlchildren, a daughter she be- edge that their voice counts.
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Alice Cooper will be sharing his nightmare with concert goers at his Dec. 7 show at the General Mo-
tors Centre in Oshawa. Canadian Metal Legends Anvil will back the shock rocker for the show. Ticket information can be found at the General Motors Centre website.
Lamplights help create a Victorian feel Nancy Ellis The Chronicle
The Lamplight Tour, hosted by the Oshawa Community Museum and Archives, takes place on Dec. 10 from 6 to 8 p.m. The tour gets its name from the lamplights that will be lit all over the grounds. The display of lamplights
will illuminate the houses like traditional times. The tour includes details of Oshawa’s history and the history of the individual houses. Regular admission is $3 for adults and $2 for students. There is no need to reserve a place. Just show up. The museum is located 1450 Simcoe St. S. in Lakeview Park, and is open all year.
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Entertainment
November 22, 2011
The 20 Amps of Soundchild
Music that saves the boobs
Amanda Darrock The Chronicle
Chealse Howell The Chronicle
E.P. Taylor’s invites Durham and UOIT students and their friends to come help support breast cancer awareness, while having a good time. On Friday. Dec. 9, 8 p.m. until 10 p.m., the band 1985 will be performing songs from their album These Are My Friends, along with Heavy Traffic playing their newest hits to help fundraise for breast cancer. Following the band’s guest DJs – DJ Q and DJ – First, spinning all the greatest hits all night. This is a 19-plus event. The doors open at 8 p.m. and the party doesn’t stop until 2 a.m. Wear pink and get in free or you can also donate your cover to the charity. There will also be great prizes given out to the best-looking ladies wearing pink.
Photo by Nancy Ellis
ANNIE: Actors at the Oshawa Little Theatre perform their lines for their rendition of Annie.
Yes,the sun will come out tomorrow
Nancy Ellis The Chronicle
The musical Annie opened Nov. 17 at the Oshawa Little Theatre. The story of adorable orphan Annie who is living during the depression era and is determined to find her parents who abandoned her years ago. The adventure revolves around Annie trying to escape the clutches of the cruel of Miss Hannigan, head of the orphan-
age. Annie eventually finds a home with billionaire Oliver Warbucks, his secretary Grace Farrell and dog Sandy. This production of Annie is being produced by Ted Sellers, who won best production for the musical Les Miserables in the 2009/2010 season. Annie is playing at the OLT Nov. 24, 25, 26 and Dec. 1, 2, 3, 8, 9 and 10 in the evening at 8 p.m. and Nov. 27 and Dec. 4 at 2 p.m. as matinees. Tickets are $25.
Writing dozens of names on papers, and seemingly endless brainstorming to find a name, is a common occurrence for expectant parents. For local Oshawa band 20 Amp Soundchild, this signified the birth of their band.Though the method of acquiring their name was almost by accident, the chemistry of all four band members is more destiny. This four-piece band is set to play at EP Taylor’s pub later this month and with their new EP, The Others, which was produced by Mike Turner of Crash Karma, (hitting sale numbers of over 750 to date), Nick Vieira, Justin Lant, Dave Hughes and Ryan Walker see bright things ahead. Growing up in the same area of Pickering, all four guys had a love for music. Though they learned to play their selected instruments in different ways, they have merged together to create a band, which they describe as rock. “We all grew up in Pickering, around the same block,” said Hughes, the bass guitarist.“I grew up with Nick, went to high school with Ryan, and Justin just lived down the street from me.” Walker, the band’s drummer, learned his craft at age 14. Hughes, the bassist, began playing in his early twenties after seeing a Primus show. The next day he went out and bought a bass. As for Justin Lant, his musical inspirations came earlier. “ I always liked music and started playing a guitar when I was 13,” said guitarist Lant. Vocalist Nick Vieira began playing at a young age on drums. He learned from his dad, who was a percussionist, and then went on to master the guitar. “The guitar I started out with only had three strings, so I learned all the bass notes,” said Vieira.“After that I learned the full guitar, then went on to work on my vocals.” Though all four members played in previous bands, the past experiences have only helped them achieve their success as 20 Amp Soundchild. The name of their band came as a collaboration between ef-
fort and a fluke. “By day, I’m an electrician, so I was putting in a breaker and they were all 15 amps then they’re was a 20 in the box which wasn’t supposed to be there,” said Hughes. “ It stood out and that’s what we were trying to go for in the music scene.” The band has performed in such local venues as the Junction,HorseshoeTavern and Thirsty Monk. When they are not working on their music or practising in the Rehearsal Factory in the heart of Oshawa, they also work different jobs. Hughes is a full-time electrician, which is how the band got part of their name, Lant works as a landscaper, Walker is a video game tester and Vieira works as a butcher in Whitby. These jobs help push them as a band to make their music a career. “In five years we would like to be touring and doing this as a living,” said Vieira. “To be touring, not be rich, but make enough off this to live, and travel for free. I have always wanted to travel.” Their favourite part of performing as a band is the performance itself. “We really pay attention to rhythm and melody, so that everyone can get into it,” said Walker. “There is a freedom in performing. We are very driven by the crowd. It’s a total adrenaline rush.” As they draw their inspirations from performers such as Primus, Green Day, Jimi Hendrix, Radiohead and U2, they also create their songs based around their own lives and musical ambitions. “We just play what we like, add our different parts to it,” said Vieira. “If it has legs we work on it. The best songs are the ones that just come naturally, not forced. Most of our songs are about people in the band. It’s a lot of personal stuff. A lot of people try to write catchy pop songs. Our music is literally about people and experiences.” As their Nov. 29 show at EP Taylor’s approaches, they prepare to amaze fans. “We put a lot of energy into our shows,”said Lant. “We go really hard and go all out and make our shows really intense.”
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November 22, 2011
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November 22, 2011
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Cheering team turns Fierce RISING TO THE TOP: DC-UOIT Fierce cheerleading team at their Sunday practice.
Chealse Howell
Chealse Howell The Chronicle
When people hear the word cheerleading, they think about the image of a snobby goodlooking cheerleader portrayed on television. Many people don’t know how much hard work and time is put into competitive cheerleading. The DC-UOIT Fierce competitive cheerleading team knows all about the hard work and time you have to spend to achieve your goals. Although there have been many attempts to create cheerleading clubs on campus, they have never come as far as Fierce. Fierce cheerleading was created two years ago only for students who are enrolled at Durham College and UOIT. In hopes of making this more then a one-year club, the team decided they needed a coach. After getting in contact with Travis Stirrat, a cheerleading coach with 11 years of experience of coaching and performing, Stirrat decided to take on team Fierce. Stirrat started cheering in Grade 9, when he learned his
love for the sport and has continued it ever since. He started coaching his high school team in Grade 11 and continued cheering and coaching the varsity team for University of Western Ontario in his second year until he graduated in his fifth year. Stirrat has many favourite aspects of cheering but he has one favourite part of coaching. “Being able to take an athlete that knows nothing and teaching them the trick so they know it opposed to just doing it, is my favourite part,” said Stirrat. He is also looking forward to many great events this year but most of all seeing how much everyone grows as individuals and as a team. With 25 members, six being men and 19 women from both Durham and UOIT, team captain Kaitlyn Degroote has high hopes for the team this year. Degroote has been apart of Fierce since the very beginning but has recently been promoted to captain. Degroote has been cheering for four years and loves every aspect of it. She says her favourite part of being on the team is to making good friends.
Volleyball girls get spiked Lords fall 3-0 to Huskies in a one-sided affair Tyler Richards The Chronicle
The Durham College Lords women’s volleyball took on the George Brown College Huskies last Tuesday night. It wasn’t their night as the women fell three games to none. It marks the women’s third loss since the season began on Nov. 5. With a shortened bench, the Lords five missing players was a factor in their losses. The women started off the first game strong, taking an early lead, but lost the serve allowing the Grizzlies to rack up 10 points before it was won back by a huge play by Jenn Sheehan, who ran almost all the way to the back wall to save the ball and put it back in play. Solid serves by Kirstyn Vavoulis and hard return spikes by Laura Plahuta put the Lords on the offensive, but it wasn’t enough to regain the lead aa theylost the first game 25-15. A solid tip over the net by Melissa Semeniuk gave the Lords their first point in the second game, but the women
couldn’t find their rhythm, losing serve after serve to the Grizzlies, who seemed to be putting in some of their second line players to take advantage of Durham’s weakness. On the other side of the court was Allison Doris, former player for the Lords, and sister to assistant coach Mandi Doris. “She’s happy over there,” said Doris. “She didn’t play bad for us last year, but the atmosphere she’s experiencing at her new school makes her play just that much better.” The second game ended with the Lords barely making it to the double digits of the scoreboard falling 25-10. With a renewed attitude the women game back in the third and fought hard. Great plays by Alexis Roddau, the Lords’ setter helped get the women back into it, but it just wasn’t enough as Durham fell again 25-15. “It’s the same thing as the last few games,” said coach Shayne Christopher. “We just weren’t getting there. It’s not that we played bad, we just need a little more work.”
“We all act like family and support each other,” she said. Degroote is also looking forward to going to the competitions and seeing how much the team grows and how much they have accomplished by the end of the year. With competitions on the rise, Fierce is hitting the gym every chance they get, practising three nights a week as a team, then any spare time on their own, Fierce is going to be more than ready. Fierce has three big competitions already in play for this year. Their first stop is PCA (Power Cheering Athletics) which is a competition coach Stirrat has been going to since he cheered for Western. PCA will be held Dec. 2, 3 and 4 in Brampton. The second competition is the Big East Blast, being held Feb. 4 in Kingston, and the third is Provincials, taking place March 3 and 4 in Kitchener. Although this is only the second year for Fierce, they are showing they have what it takes with already, moving up from a level 4 to a level 6 at competitions.
Durham serving their way to the top
Aaron O’Toole The Chronicle
Tyler Richards
READY TO ATTACK: Kirstyn Vavoulis spikes the ball as Laura Plahuta(left), Jenn Sheehan(centre) and Alexis Roddau(right) ready-up for a return spike during their 3-0 loss to the George Brown College Grizzlies on Nov. 15
The Durham Lords men’s volleyball team defeated George Brown Huskies 3-0 (25-15, 25-20, 2522) on Nov. 15. Durham now holds a conference record of 3-1 and an overall record of 9-5. David McMann and Jeremy Hoekstra led the team with 11 and eight points. The Lords are one win short of first place in the eastern region of the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association. The team’s next home game is Nov. 24 against the Trent Excalibur. It is going to be held in the College Recreation and Wellness Centre at 8 p.m. Thursday night.
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November 22, 2011
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Another golden year for Nemish Robynne Henry The Chronicle
After coming off his 23 successful season as head coach of the Durham Lords women’s fastball team, and getting Durham’s sixteenth medal in team history, Jim Nemish has a lot to be happy about. The 2011 women’s fastball team won a gold medal in the OCAA tournament, and has numerous awards to show for the teams’ hard work. As a coach, Nemish has become a legend in his own right. He has led the team to a provincial medal almost every year. Nemish is considered one of the OCAA’s top winning coaches, and he reached his 300-career win milestone in 2007. Nemish has enjoyed coaching for Durham, for a number of reasons ranging from his assistant coaches and players, to the support staff who make things a lot easier for him. “This is a great place to be as a coach you have a great support, from the president of the college to the support staff in the athletic department,” Nemish said. “It makes our jobs as coaches so much easier,
so we can just coach.” All of the bookings for buses, hotels, and fields are done for the coaches, so they can concentrate on coaching. The support staff is a major reason why Nemish has come back for so many years, and he wouldn’t have it any other way. “I’ve been here going on 23 years, and if I didn’t like the atmosphere, I wouldn’t have been here for as long as I have been,” Nemish said. Dave Stuart, Durham’s former sports director, sought Nemish out when the past head coach of the team wanted to retire. Stuart was a big baseball player, and played with the Oshawa Tony when they were one of the top senior mens teams in Ontario and Canada. “He asked me if I would be interested in taking over,” Nemish said. “ I said: ‘sure, why not?’at the time I said I would do it for a year or two. And here we are, 23 years later.” Nemish leaves a lasting impression on the players he works with, showing his love of the game through his coaching. “He puts in a lot of hard work that people don’t notice,” said student-athlete Shannon
Robynne Henry
GOLD MEDAL: Head coach Jim Nemish gives a signal to a player at the OCAA tournament where the women’s fastball won gold under Nemish.
Galea. “He puts a lot of extra time and hours if the player is willing to put extra time in.” Assistant coach Rosie Theriault, has been a coach with Nemish for eight years, and enjoys her time coaching with him when she isn’t coaching
summer ball. “He’s very very good, he’s knowledgeable if the girls listen,” Theriault said. “The team wouldn’t be the same without Jim as a coach.” The majority of the players share the same views as The-
Farrugia breaking through the barriers Ashley Bain The Chronicle
When you turn on the local sports television station you’re used to seeing the panel of male broadcasters’ faces. But don’t be surprised as you start to see more and more female sport reporters on your screen In an industry that was once known for being male dominated, it seems that female sport reporters over the past few years are finally getting their foot in the door and they plan on keeping it that way. Michelle Farrugia is one of those female sport reporters paving the way for other women who want to follow in her footsteps. She was recently hired by Maple Leafs Sport and Entertainment as the new InGame host of the American Hockey League (AHL) for the Toronto Marlies. Farrugia is also the host of the Oshawa Generals Hockey (OHL) and Brooklin Redman Lacrosse (MSL) on Rogers TV. Farrugia worked onair for the OHL while working towards her Radio and Television Arts degree at Ryerson University. After graduating Farrugia has gained industry experience working for networks like CBC, TSN, Leafs and Raptors TV and Rogers TV working behind the scenes, working her way up to her “big break”. Sport broadcasting has always
been close to Farrugia’s heart. She was involved with a variety of sports growing up and decided to put her love for public speaking and sports together. “It was around Grade 10 and 11 that I pieced the two together and decided a career in Sports Broadcasting was my true calling,” says Farrugia. In high school Farrugia, a Whitby native, was chosen as Rogers’ ‘Fan in the Stand Reporter’ for the CHL (Central Hockey League). The job allowed the 18 year-old to receive airtime on one of the biggest franchises in the CHL. The fact that it was a volunteer position didn’t bother her. “Although it was a small TV gig, I still acted professional,” said Farrugia. “I guess my hard work paid off because the same season, I was asked to fill in as the TV host for a few games here and there which led to an immediate hire.” Farrugia has had the privilege of witnessing a few Oshawa General milestones in her career. From interviewing John Tavares at his prime in the OHL before he became the first overall pick in the 2009 NHL entry draft to hosting the Bobby Orr Jersey Retirement Ceremony. But it was being awarded alongside the likes of Roger Lajoie and Mike Luck for the 2011 Rogers TV Impression Award for “Best On Air Team” that Farrugia describes as
“pretty amazing.” She has interviewed some of the biggest names in OHL and NHL hockey over the the last few years, giving her a chance to speak to some of the fastest rising stars in the sport. “I got to interview guys like John Tavares, P.K. Subban, Ryan Ellis and Steven Stamkos who were at the prime of their OHL careers,” says Farrugia. Farrugia knows how lucky she is and doesn’t take anything for granted. “I have been very blessed to have been exposed to some pretty major events and accomplished quite a bit for my age.” She does have advice for future female sport reporters. “This industry is very competitive as it is, and when you mix a female into the equation it makes it that much more difficult,” says Farrugia. “Attractive females think that they can rely heavily on their looks to carry them through. However, it takes much more than beauty to land you your dream job.” And as for the myth that only males can succeed as sport reporters, Farrugia has her opinion on that. “I feel that now-a-days females are encouraged to seek positions that were once held solely by men. We’re seeing more and more females prove this myth wrong.”
riault, understand completely the affect a coach like Nemish has had on the team. “He’s a great coach, he puts in so much of his time,” said student-athlete Kristin Servinis. “You can just tell by how successful the team is.”
Veteran Vatri scores 50th career goal Zak McLachlan The Chronicle
Although the Ridgebacks men’s hockey team dropped back-to-back games against the Windsor Lancers Josh Vatri shed a ray of light on the dismal weekend. Vatri scored his 50th career goal as a Ridgeback in a 10-2 loss to the Lancers on Nov. 12. The assistant captain is in his fourth year as a Ridgeback, with 88 regular season games under his belt. Vatri was named Ontario University Athletics (OUA) West rookie of the year and has been named to the West allrookie team in 2009. Josh Vatri Head coach Marlin Muylaert is happy to see his top scorer getting back into the kind of form he had shown in his earlier years. “It was good to see him score in back-toback weekends,” Muylaert said. Vatri has had a slow start to the year with only four goals and four assists in 11 games this season, but has recently started to pick up the pace with two goals in the last two weekends. With 17 games left on the regular season schedule, the Barrie native is on pace to hit 100 career points as a Ridgeback.
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November 22, 2011
Sufferland is ready to roll Hillary Di Menna The Chronicle
Being in her first year of Graphic Design and working at both McDonald’s and Isabella’s you would think this Durham College student would have her vintage designed plate full. Yet she spends her Monday evenings in roller skates practising to become an official Durham Region Roller Derby girl. Keefer is a small-framed selfdescribed girly-girl. “Ninety per cent wardrobe is all dresses.” With her pixie-like hair and ’60s starlet eye make-up it is hard to imagine her being a threatening physical obstacle for anyone, especially after disclosing she had a history of being picked last in gym class. As her derby alter ego, Keefer Sufferland, she has been practising in the league’s Fresh Meat training since late September. After completion of her ten weeks training she will take a physical and written WFTDA [Women’s Flat Track Derby Association] test. Part of the physical test is being able to skate 25 laps in five minutes. She will then be put in one of the league’s two teams: The Atom Smashers or Motor City Madams. “There’s almost a bad-ass factor to being a derby girl,” Keefer said. She began training last spring, however the time-consuming sport did not work with her schedule at the time. The time spent last year is now seen as practice, in addition
Hilary Di Menna
ROLLER-READY: Keefer Sufferland, a student at Durham College is ready to strap on the blades for the season. to skating around her hometown of Courtice with her dog Abby. She changes the wheels on her roller skates to her outdoor wheels, which she said have more bounce. The roads in the suburbs are new and smooth but she doesn’t mind practising on the rockier roads, where she used to long-board until breaking a few bones and getting screws in her legs. Though she said her mom would kill her if she began boarding again, she has her parents’ support, sort of. “My dad thinks I’m crazy. My mom is worried sick every time I go to practice. My friends think it’s really cool.” Keefer practices at Coachlite where she enjoys being around
a group of women with big personalities. “Everyone’s watching but everyone is cheering you on,” Keefer said of practice. The league has girls of all body shapes and ages, many with creative professions such as hair stylist, photographer, make-up and tattoo artists. Keefer is 19 and hopes to one day move to a big city like Montreal or Toronto, where she frequently visits to make trips to Kensington Market. She hopes to be doing something she loves, like designing packaging, working with typography, “living a creative life, with derby.” Keefer already loves travelling. She dreams of going to
Iceland. Her love of travel suits the sport as the team travels to different locations in Canada to play. For now the only travelling necessary is taking the 402 city bus to practice. When the first whistle blows in a derby bout the teams begin to skate around the track. When the second whistle blows the “jammer”, one from each team, starts skating. Every lap the jammer does around the track is a point. The remaining team members, who are called a pack, are there to create obstacles for the opposing jammer while protecting their own. The pack is allowed to link arms to create barriers, or push and pull their own jammer to give them speed. Despite what movies like Whip It or television shows portray, there are rules to derby in regards to violence. There is a penalty box and a 50-page rulebook for players and referees to know. Keefer stays back in the pack where “you got to keep it together, you got to keep it tight.” She said she does indeed feel nervous before every practice but added, “As soon as I put on my skates I’m ready to go.” Keefer believes the uniforms, occasional body paint and derby names allow players to transform and have a new identity, an outlet to release any of life’s frustrations. “Derby is something that is great exercise and extremely fun ... I just got hooked on it. It’s addicting.”
Ridgebacks make first trip to nationals Tyler Richards The Chronicle
For the first time in its almost decade-long existence UOIT has sent a sports team to a national championship. The Ridgebacks women’s heavyweight eight team, consisting of Meaghan Jones, Allison Ng, Allison Demaiter, Sheila King, Angela Dares, Gillian Beckette, Christie Attwood, Kelsey Sargent and coxie Monica Mak was in Welland, Ontario Nov. 5 and 6 to row in the Canadian University Rowing Association championships.
Tyler Richards
RIDGEBACKS PUMPED UP: Ridgebacks rowing are the first uoit sports team to make an appearance at nationals. The women placed fourth out of the six teams in their
division and placed in the top 10 in Canada, a significant
achievement for a UOIT sports team. “It was good pressure that was put on us,” said Christie Attwood, captain of the entire team. “They were really close races,” said Attwood. “We were only six seconds behind the first place boat.” “when you’re a young school it’s all about milestones.” says Athletic Director Ken Babcock. The Ridgeback’s are done for the year, but that won’t stop them from training for their next big race, which isn’t until April at the Icebreaker Regatta at Trent University.
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Lords athletes awarded Mike Pickford The Chronicle
The OCAA all-star list for soccer was released Oct. 27, including two members from each of the men’s and women’s teams. Jelani De Jonge was selected for the second successive year, along with freshman Duncan Mitchell, as both impressed in what was a largely disappointing campaign for the men’s team. Stan Bombino, the coach of the men’s team, said it was a great reflection on the team that two players were selected even though the team didn’t perform as well as it could have done. “I’m very proud of Duncan and Jelani,” Bombino said. “They both performed really well this year. Jelani has the biggest heart of any player I’ve seen and Duncan has the maturity and leadership skills which could lead to him becoming a future captain of this team.” The women’s team, which enjoyed a superb regular season before a narrow loss to Fanshawe in the OCAA quarterfinals, also had two members of their squad in the all-star team. Veteran Jenn Sheehan, the East Region OCAA scoring leader with nine goals in seven games, made the team once again, along with defender Chelsey Rogatinsky, who was also voted the best defensive player in the league. The championship banquet marked the end of the 2011 outdoor soccer season, with those participating in the indoor season already looking forward to the winter.
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OCAA Men’s Basketball East Division Algonquin Centennial George Brown Durham Fleming Georgian Loyalist St. Lawrence La Cite Seneca Cambrian
OCAA Men’s Volleyball
W L Pts 4 0 8 4 0 8 2 1 4 2 1 4 1 1 2 2 2 4 2 2 4 2 3 4 1 3 2 1 3 2 0 4 0
Upcoming Home Games DC v. George Brown DC v. Loyalist DC v. Fleming DC v. Centennial
Dec. 2 Dec. 6 Jan. 13 Jan. 31
OCAA Women’s Basketball East Division George Brown Seneca Loyalist Durham Algonquin Georgian Fleming Centennial St. Lawrence
W 3 3 3 2 1 2 0 0 0
Upcoming Home Games DC v. George Brown DC v. Loyalist DC v. Fleming DC v. Centennial
Scoreboard
November 22, 2011
L Pts 0 6 0 6 1 6 1 4 1 2 2 4 2 0 3 4 4 0 Dec. 2 Dec. 6 Jan. 13 Jan. 31
East Division Algonquin Seneca Loyalist Georgian Durham La Cite George Brown Trent Boreal Cambrian Fleming
W 4 4 3 4 3 3 1 0 0 0 0
OUA Men’s Hockey L Pts 0 8 0 8 0 6 1 8 1 6 1 6 4 2 3 0 4 0 4 0 4 0
Upcoming Home Games DC v. Trent DC v. Seneca DC v. Boreal DC v. Cambrian
Nov. 24 Dec. 7 Jan. 14 Jan. 15
OCAA Women’s Volleyball East Division Cambrian Loyalist George Brown Trent Georgian Algonquin Seneca Durham La Cite Boreal Fleming
W L Pts 4 0 8 3 0 6 4 1 8 2 1 4 3 2 6 2 2 4 2 2 4 1 3 2 1 3 2 0 4 0 0 4 0
Upcoming Home Games DC v. Trent DC v. Seneca DC v. Boreal DC v. Cambrian
Nov. 24 Dec. 7 Jan. 14 Jan. 15
West Division
W
Western Laurier Lakehead Guelph Brock Waterloo UOIT Windsor York
20 3 5 45 15 7 6 36 16 9 3 35 15 10 3 33 13 9 6 32 15 12 1 31 12 12 4 28 12 12 4 28 10 6 2 22
L OTL Pts
Upcoming Home Games UOIT v. Waterloo UOIT v. UofT UOIT v. Ryerson UOIT v. Lakehead
OUA Women’s Hockey L
Nov. 24 Dec. 2 Dec. 3 Jan. 13
W
Laurier Brock Guelph Queen’s Windsor Toronto York UOIT Western Waterloo
24 2 1 49 22 5 0 44 17 7 3 37 15 8 4 34 15 11 1 31 14 11 2 30 11 16 0 22 7 15 5 19 6 20 1 13 4 21 2 10
Upcoming Home Games UOIT v. Guelph UOIT v. Brock UOIT v. Guelph UOIT v. Brock
OTL
Pts
Nov. 25 Jan. 8 Jan. 20 Jan. 21
The Chronicle
November 22, 2011
47
48
The Chronicle
November 22, 2011