Durham Chronicle - February 6, 2017

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People were leaving on stretchers and the number of people going to the hospital kept growing and growing. Volume XLIV, Issue 10

chronicle.durhamcollege.ca

February 7 - 13, 2017

- See page 3

Trump effect? U.S. students coming to Canada

page 11

Palettes to plates

page 17

Photograph by Alex Debets

Student governor's journey

Photograph by Barbara Howe

page 19

Generals calm the Storm

page 21 Photograph by Rebecca Calzavara

Photograph courtesy of Durham College


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The Chronicle February 7 - 13, 2017

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KCAB FRONT of the

DC journalism students look at Durham College and UOIT, and beyond, by the numbers and with their cameras

What they're saying inside the Chronicle "What a great idea!!! Grew up in the Beaches of Toronto and as a kid we had four outdoor rinks to [choose] from... glad this is happening." Campus - pg. 10

"I've heard varying projections of 2,0003,000 cats."

Campus - pg. 13

"I don't let anyone leave with a really crummy looking painting. I do want you to be happy with your painting." Entertainment - pg. 17 Photograph by Sharena Clendening

Out for kicks

Cornel Jackson, a police foundations student at DC, laces up for a friendly game of soccer in the Campus Fieldhouse.

"Megan was my first friend in the volleyball scene. Although she's not the biggest player on the court, her confidence and desire to win make her stand out." Sports - pg. 22

Return of the Rrroll

Photograph by Travis Fortnum Photograph by Jenn Amaro

Tis the season to take a gamble and roll up the rim of your Tim Hortons cup. According to Tom Watt, food service manager on campus, one student has won big in recent years. The prize was a $100 Tim's gift card.

Cookies on campus Taylor Flood (left) and Lara Loze were handing out sweets and smiles on Free Cookie Day last Thursday. This was part of Student Appreciation Week.


Campus

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February 7 - 13, 2017

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Stomach bug can spread quickly Travis Fortnum The Chronicle

With student residences identified as ground zero for norovirus outbreaks at both Humber and Conestoga colleges, Durham College (DC) and UOIT are taking extra precautions to ensure students remain healthy. Marc Athanas, residence life manager, says the team has engaged a protocol from their pandemic plan to keep the nearly 1,200 students living on residence safe. “We’ve increased our disinfection of the building,” he says. “All staff at all hours are constantly doing rounds to disinfect door handles and common places people touch that can become contaminated and spread viruses.” Conestoga College is the latest to report a presence of the virus. A representative says students and staff at the school’s Cambridge campus say some students and staff have reported symptoms consistent with the winter bug. Liam Aggett is studying massage therapy at Humber, where headlines were made when more than 200 students recently became ill. Aggett lives in residence at the school and has seen first-hand the effect the virus has had on students. He says he noticed students getting sick on the night of Jan. 20. “The first thing I noticed was a lot of people on my floor were throwing up,” he says. “Later, people where leaving on stretchers and the number of people going to the hospital kept growing and growing.” Aggett says, in an effort to avoid

getting sick, he tried to carry on normally while taking precautions like increased handwashing and attempting to avoid those infected. Despite his best efforts, Aggett ended up contracting the virus himself. “When I woke up on Monday I knew something wasn’t right but I thought it was going to pass,” he says. “When I was about to leave for class it got really bad then a little later I started throwing up.” While there have not been any reports of a norovirus infection at DC and UOIT this year, Athanas says the pandemic plan includes steps on how it will be handled. “If we do receive a report,” he says. “We do have a protocol to respond. Where we’re responding with the SERT (Special Emergency Response Team) to make sure the student is assessed. If the student requires medical assistance, helping get that student to that assistance and determining if the student needs to be quarantined, sent home, etcetera.” While a campus-wide outbreak like this is uncommon, norovirus itself is not. Toronto Public Health says often it is mistaken for the flu or food poisoning. Leslie Graham, a professor in the collaborative nursing program at Durham College (DC) and UOIT, says the nature of the virus allows it to flourish in a campus environment. “Norovirus can spread very quickly in closed in areas such as universities, colleges,” says Graham, “it takes only a small number of viral particles from vomit or stool or contaminated food to make a

Photograph by Travis Fortnum

Music business management student Ronnie Auston demonstrates proper handwashing.

person sick.” Graham says symptoms for norovirus can develop up to two days after coming in contact with particles. She says it can spread by eating or drinking contaminated things, touching contaminated surfaces and then touching your mouth or having contact with someone who is ill. Graham says preventing an outbreak here on the DC, UOIT

campus is as easy as being thorough with cleaning practices, as well as sick students taking the initiative to stay home for at least two days while symptoms pass. In a recent update, Humber representative Sara Laux says that 75 per cent of the students who were ill are feeling better. Laux also says that the number of sick students has not increased considerably recently.

Should you catch the bug, feeling better is mostly a matter of time. “The treatment of norovirus focuses on preventing dehydration from vomiting and diarrhea,” Graham says. “Call the physician if you or a person you are caring for is becoming dehydrated. To prevent it, drink sports drinks without caffeine or alcohol, or oral rehydration fluids available over the counter at most drugstores.”

Forgive and forget Note 7 Samsung making right moves after faulty battery saga, says DC professor Dean Daley The Chronicle

Photograph by Dean Daley

Moya Goleski (left) and Chee Lai with their Samsung phones.

After an overheating battery catastrophe, Samsung is making the right moves to recover, says Durham College School of Business and IT and Management professor, Sam Plati. The company was in the headlines last year after faulty batteries in its Note 7 phones led to explosions and overheating. Samsung responded appropriately by recalling 200,000 phones in Canada, says Plati. Samsung didn’t try to hide anything, admitted to its mistakes and didn’t try to blame any other company for what happened, notes Plati.

Although no other cellphone company has ever had a whole line of phone explode, Plati says Samsung’s actions have kept some of its customers loyal. Plati believes Samsung’s honesty regarding its issues has set a precedent. No other cellphone company has ever recalled all its products and offered discounts on its next product, he says. Plati adds Samsung has even prevented any Note 7 that is still out there from being used, by completely disabling the function of the cellphones, what cellphone geeks refer to as ‘bricking’ them. “I don’t think any manufacturer would have done what Samsung did, not even Apple,” says Plati. Samsung’s Note 7 has been an absolute disaster since its first recall last September and although so many have been recalled the company has announced it will release the Note 8 later this year. Samsung’s mobile chief, D.J. Koh, came forward regarding the battery faults that arose with the Note 7. After explaining the causes of the Note 7 explosions and overheating battery, Koh confirmed the Note 8 will be released in the fourth quarter of 2017. Koh also announced Samsung’s eight-step plan to ensure the new

batteries for the Note 8 and Samsung’s S8 are safe for manufacturing. Plati says Samsung is making the right move with releasing the Note 8. Plati believes the Note 8 will receive some negative stigma and some consumers will wait before purchasing, but the people who love the iconic Note brand will“fogive and forget” and will purchase the new phones right away. If HTC, Huaweii or any other smaller brand of phone had the same issue as the Note 7, North Americans wouldn’t be so quick to forgive them, according to Plati. Plati believes the Samsung brand, like Apple and Microsoft, has a strong following. The Note 8 has received a good response from consumers, says Plati. After some polling in his classes Plati confirms there is some interest in the Note 8. The Chronicle also contacted several merchandisers in the Oshawa area who are reporting people seem to still have an interest in the Note 8 and the S8. Although if the Note 8 experiences a problem, Plati believes it will be the end of the Note line. “The S branding and the Note branding will be prematurely retired,” says Plati.


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The Chronicle

PUBLISHER: Greg Murphy EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Brian Legree AD MANAGER: Dawn Salter

February 7 - 13, 2017

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Editorial

CONTACT US NEWSROOM: brian.legree@durhamcollege.ca ADVERTISING: dawn.salter@durhamcollege.ca

Keep them buzzing to keep crops growing There’s been a lot of buzz lately around neonicotinoid pesticides. Bees have been on a severe decline over the last half century as neonic pesticide use increases. Canada must ban neonics to save the bees while we still can. In less than a month, Health Canada will be even closer to implementing a full-on ban of imidacloprid, one of the most widely use bee-killing neonic pesticides in the world. Health Canada already issued a federal phase-out of a pesticide known as imidacloprid in November 2016 because of the risk to aquatic insects. A risk assessment report by Health Canada that the current use of the pesticide is “not sustainable” and the levels found in waterways and aquatic environments “are

harmful to aquatic insects,” including mayflies and midges. These insects are important food sources for fish, birds, and other things. They have proposed a phase out of the neonicotinoid in 3-5 years. According to Senate documents on bee health, imidacloprid has a chemical structure related to nicotine. It works by interfering with the nerve impulses of insects, resulting in death. In June 2014, an independent group of scientists released an analysis of more than 1,100 peer-reviewed scientific articles on the impacts of neonic pesticides. According to the analysis, they found the chemicals can be “persistent and pervasive” throughout the environment. They also claimed the pesticides posed an “unacceptable risk” to biodiversity, including im-

EDITORS: Jenn Amaro, James Bauman, Logan Caswell, Rebecca Calzavara, Sharena Clendening, Dean Daley, Alexander Debets, Travis Fortnum, Tyler Hodgkinson, Barbara Howe, Noor Ibrahim, James Jackson, Christopher Jones, Frank Katradis, Daniel Koehler, Angela Lavallee, Laura Metcalfe, Tommy Morais, Joshua Nelson, Nicole O'Brien, Samuel Odrowski, Devarsh Oza, Trusha Patel, Matthew Pellerin, Asim Pervez, Alex Ross Emily Saxby, Tyler Searle, Jessica Stoiku, Euvilla Thomas, Toby VanWeston, Kayano Waite, Brandi Washington, Michael Welsh, Jared Williams, Erin Williams.

Publisher: Greg Murphy

portant species such as earthworms and pollinators- like bees. So what’s the big buzz on bees? It is often said bees are responsible for 1 out of every 3 bites of food we eat. According to a 2015 Senate report on the bee health in Canada, honey bee pollination is worth billions of dollars domestically and globally. In Western Canada alone, about 300,000 honey bee colonies are used to pollinate seeds for canola each year. As a result of the provincial and even global importance of pollinators to food and seed production, bee colony losses could be detrimental to the production of food and seed crop. Most crops grown for their fruits such as squash and cucumber, nuts, seeds, fiber (such as cotton), and hay all require pollination by

insects like bees. Canada needs to ban these neonics for the sake of the food they put on the table every day. Bees provide so much service to humans and we need to take care of them properly. Bees also provide important ecosystem services, according to the Senate report. For example, some birds depend on seeds and fruits in the forest that are directly produced through the pollination of wild plants. Most flowering plants also need pollination to reproduce, and bees are responsible for about 70 per cent of that pollination. A bee decline will therefore affect the survival of other animal and plant species. Vancouver and Montreal have already voted to ban neonicotinoids. Ontario has regulated three neonics, and Quebec is now consid-

The Chronicle is published by the Durham College School of Media, Art

and Design, 2000 Simcoe Street North, Oshawa, Ontario L1H 7L7, 7212000 Ext. 3068, as a training vehicle for students enrolled in Journalism and Advertising courses and as a campus news medium. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the college administration or the board of governors. The Chronicle is a member of the Ontario Community Newspapers Association.

Editor-In-Chief: Brian Legree

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ering stricter regulations on neonics. But a complete Canada-wide ban has never been presented-until now. Health Canada launched a 70day consultation period to take public comments before it will consider a complete ban. This opportunity won’t come around again-we have to seize it now. Public comments will be taken until February 21, 2017. Health Canada needs to hear from you. How do you get involved? Go to SumofUs.org/canada-let-s-savethe-bees-for-good to submit your thoughts on the ban. The petition website will send your comment directly to Health Minister Jane Philpott. Let’s save the bees, for their sake-and our own. Nicole O'Brien

PRODUCTION ARTISTS: Brandon Agnew, Justin Bates, Zach Beauparlant, Kayla Cook, Nathalie Desrochers, Charlotte Edwards, Yannick Green, Madeline Grixti, Stephanie Hanna, Lijo Joseph, Sarah Judge, Shannon Lazo, Megan Mcdonald, Ashley Mcgregor, Josh Mcgurk, Katie Miskelly, Louisa Molloy, Jasmine Ohprecio, Alex Powdar, Olivia Randall-Norris, Kaela Richardson, Madeleine Riley, Alex Royer, Spencer Stevens, Rachel Thompson, Geroge Tsalavoutas, Alexandra Weekes, Cameron Westlake. MEDIA REPS: Rachel Alexander, Angela Bahnesli, Sarah Bhatti, Anokhi Bhavsar, Steven Brundage, Chanel Castella, Brandon Clark, Scott Cowling, Leanne Howorth, Bryce Isaacs, Erin Jones, Natasha Kowo, Samantha Mallia, Alyssa Matthew, Alexandra Rich, Bethany Seaton, Kristian Seepersad, Georgina Tsoutsos, Marisa Turpin, Rachel Wendt, Travis Yule.

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February 7 - 13, 2017

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Opinion

Comic books need diversity

In late 2016, DC Comics once again rebooted its major comic book series centring on the Justice League. This includes characters such as Batman, Superman, the Flash, and Green Lantern. Looking closely at that list, you’ll notice one character who isn’t a white male in John Stewart’s Green Lantern, and even he is overshadowed by his white predecessor: Hal Jordan. Simply put, DC, and its major competition, Marvel Comics, need to do a better job of representing all types of people in their graphic novels, not just white males. Not only do they need more characters of different cultures, genders and sexualities, they need to do a better job of representing them. DC in particular has a large number of female characters they could work with, with Wonder Woman at the forefront. There are characters in the DC Comic universe such as Black Canary, Batgirl, Batwoman and others who could help represent female comic book readers. DC also has Martian Manhunter, a Martian who disguises himself as a black man in order to blend in on Earth, and Cyborg, half man, half robot, to represent black males. However, outside of those characters, there isn’t much representation of different cultures in DC’s mainstream comics. Batwoman, a character who was on the rise with DC fans, was a young gay woman in the Justice League’s comic universe. She represented a group rarely seen in mainstream comics. However, when it came time for her to get

Chris Jones married, DC refused. DC claimed Batwoman could not get married because she was a superhero and so because of this, can’t have a true personal life due to her alter ego. In the end, the decision to not let Batwoman get married caused the team behind the character to leave DC. Marvel on the other hand has made some attempts at better representing different types of people. For example, Ms. Marvel is a Muslim teenager who has readers very excited. Her character attempts to show the world that Muslims are people too. Marvel has also announced the person taking up the Ironman mantle will be a black, female, teenager with a genius I.Q. A woman has even become the wielder of Mjolnir, Thor’s hammer. Of all the changes Marvel has made, the most significant would be Sam Wilson, a black man who was once the Avenger known as Falcon, taking up the mantle of Captain America. This is important because of current events, such as the Black Lives Matter movement, being so prevalent in the media. However, the big question surrounding all of these changes is: how long will they last? Comic book readers aren’t known for being the most receptive to change. This can be seen in the

Photograph by Chris Jones

These comic book covers reveal how male characters are more prevalent than female characters. racist response to Michael B. Jordan, a black man, playing Johnny Storm (the Human Torch), a typically white character, in the most recent Fantastic Four film. However, with DC’s new soft reboot, titled “Rebirth,” there seems to be hope as seen in Aquaman: the Drowning. In this comic series, Aquaman has a sidekick named

Jackson Hyde, who is a young, gay, black man. Once again, that one question remains: how long will this last? There’s no simple solution to this problem, but Marvel has started heading in the right direction with characters such as Ms. Marvel and Sam Wilson as Captain America. DC might be heading that way too

with “Rebirth.” The importance of diversity is not lost on many of those reading DC and Marvel. Young girls should have a realistic female superhero to look up to. Same with people of colour. In the end, everyone should have the opportunity to be able to relate to a superhero, not just white men.

The never-ending struggle of getting to campus Which type of commute is best for you? Unless you live in the college residences, most students have a hard time getting to and from classes. For those living in a house off campus, they must either drive themselves, bus or walk. Other than walking, busing takes the longest. It can change a tenminute drive into a 30-minute bus ride. As for walking, chances are you aren’t going to trek through the frigid Canadian winters unless it’s only a short half-hour walk to school. For a lot of people, driving to school may seem like the best method of commuting, but it is ac-

Alex Ross tually the most expensive as well as the most frustrating way to get to school. The most comfortable way to get to school is to drive in your own car. Of course, sitting down in a car is nice and relaxing, but for the person driving it may be a different story. For commuters in their own vehicle, driving into Durham College can be rather stressful. With only three possible entrances that only lead to two main parking lots, it gets very congested at one of the most common class times: at eight in the morning. Not to mention the outrageous prices for parking that max out at 18 dol-

lars per day for the pay and display parking lot. The next best option is to catch a bus to school. Unfortunately, unlike the TTC with over 100 different bus routes, DRT has just more than 50 different bus routes. Most of the DRT routes don’t head towards the college, but to another route that then goes to the college. This round-a-bout way of getting to school in the morning just makes the bus, packed more than a tin of sardines, all the more unbearable. A trip from Ajax can turn into over an hour of torture before class starts. Walking is something everyone should do just to stay a little healthier than sitting around all day. However, the weather isn’t always optimal, especially in the winter months. There can be a slippery walkway, cars driving by splashing slush on pedestrians or it could just

be freezing cold. Along with the weather’s uncertainty, one of the biggest problems with walking is how slow it is. Despite the health benefits and the infrequent nice weather, walking is really only possible if you live within a few kilometres of the school. The selling points of taking the bus are that it comes free with tuition, but on the other hand it can increase travel time exponentially. While walking is a healthy alternative, it can take even longer than bus rides and can be miserable in bad weather. As a common form of travel with seemingly little drawbacks, driving is actually the worst method to get to school with the price of parking stacked on top of the stressful traffic. The best way to get to school varies depending on location. For people out of walking distance, a

bus is the best form of travel, but for people with a walk under a halfhour it is the most efficient. Driving may seem to be the easiest way to get to school in the morning but there are other options depending on your geography and financial status. Bus passes come with full-time student’s tuition and most people on residence can easily get to school on foot. Although the bus routes aren’t optimal, most of the time it is a better option than driving in every morning. For people living close to school, a short walk to class isn’t a bad thing. Walking is beneficial to people’s health, it’s also a quick way of getting places without worrying about parking. As in the tale of the tortoise and the hare, the quickest way may not get you to your destination first.


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The Chronicle

February 7 - 13, 2017

Alternate teaching methods at work at Durham ginning and no end in a circle. Everyone faces each other openly. There are no barriers. For Kevin Steinbach Forbes’ class specifically, this helps students The Chronicle open up and share information about themselves in complete trust. This method gives Another side, another story, when learning a personal approach to the class. Forbes says takes a new method she learns about her students and they learn You sit down, open your laptop and get about her. ready to take notes for class. Surprise, not this time and not in this class. Put down the laptop and look up because the tables are removed and you’re in a circle facing your teacher and classmates. You can’t hide behind a laptop here. Learning takes on a new method in Peggy Forbes’ class. There are different types of learning and to better reach and teach students, instructors need to think of student needs. Peggy Forbes’ Introduction to Aboriginal Culture and Bryan Jordan’s Making Monsters class use different teaching methods. Forbes’ class uses sharing circles, hybrid assignments and self-researched presentations while Jordan’s class offers video, audio and written lectures on DC Connect. It’s a better way to engage students to learn and participate in class. Peggy Forbes, a member of the Aboriginal Advisory Circle in the Aboriginal Student Centre, teaches the general elective (GNED) Another teaching method in Forbes’ class course Introduction to Aboriginal Culture. is the student presentation. Students are asHer class is out of the box. signed a specific topic to research like Resi“We do a sharing circle in the very begin- dential Schools, or traditional justice. ning so everybody has chance to speak, say As the basis for their presentations, Forbes their name and I usually pose a question,” encourages students to read the textbook Forbes says. The first question for the sharing Aboriginal Peoples in Canada. Because the circle on the first day of class is about intro- textbook was written by local aboriginal ducing each student. Students say their name people Forbes knows, like Chris Paci of the and what program they are taking at Durham Metis Nation of Ontario, she can vouch for College. Some of the questions Forbes asks the authenticity of the information. Students are easy. “Especially at the beginning of the are also encouraged to search the Internet course,” says Forbes, “like what’s your favour- for more information. After the presentation, ite movie, something real easy and then they Forbes fills in any missing information with do get a little deeper.” a short lecture. The sharing circle is an oral tradition in “I think it’s important that people find out many Aboriginal tribes, particularly the the information themselves rather than me Mi’cmaq. It is part of the talking circle trad- giving a lecture first,” says Forbes. ition meant to solve problems. Like the name, Students can learn all they need from a the sharing circle is meant to allow everyone teacher and the blackboard, but with the presto share what they have to say with complete entations and the research they can not only freedom and no judgement. The circle sym- learn but also discover details normal lectures bolizes unity and equality, as there is no be- or textbooks wouldn’t have. This method en-

The circle symbolizes unity and equality, as there is no beginning and no end in a circle.

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Photograph by Kevin Steinbach

Peggy Forbes incorporates pieces of native culture into her aboriginal study classes to allow her students to get experience with their subject material.

Sharing circles, discussions, videos, audio, hybrid assignments, used to promote interaction and engagement from students courages students to think and dig deeper into their topic. In order to make students learn more and experience what they need to learn in her class, Forbes offers opportunities for students in the form of hybrid assignments. The hybrid assignments involve information not included in class or the course textbook. The material is available through DC Connect. Some assignments involve watching videos, reading articles online or attending cultural events in the Durham Region, like the Full Moon Ceremony at Camp Samac in Oshawa. Students pick assignments from DC Connect and are required to either watch videos on YouTube or attend and experience certain events out in the region, then write a reflective report on what they’ve learned and experienced. The course also includes guest speakers such as Troy White of the Mi’cmaq First Nation and the Metis sisters Cecile Wager and Claire Kearns, who speak about their experiences as native Canadians as well as some of their traditions. Forbes considers the value of information more effective and relevant when it comes from the source. “Brought in Troy White to talk about what fasting is about, because he has experienced that and he drummed and sang,” Forbes explains. “That was just another perspective. And he talked about being Mi’cmaq.” “I’m honored to share my knowledge of the Mi’cmaq cultures and my experiences in ceremony,” says Troy, after speaking to the students in Forbes’ GNED class. Bringing in guest speakers provides authenticity: a real voice to the subject, according to Forbes. As a result, the learned material becomes more effective with the inside views of real people. Being a teacher in the Aboriginal Student Centre means creating opportunities for education that meet all different types of learning, including visual, auditory, reading and writing, as well as hands-on experience, according to Forbes, who recognizes people, especially Aboriginal people learn differently. And she wants to honor the oral tradition of Aboriginal people and give others the experience as well. There are no exams. Instead she wants it to be a positive learning experience.

While her class is more upfront and personal, she is not alone amongst teachers who use different methods to teach. With DC Connect, which many, if not all students rely on for their content, assignments and links, many GNED classes are online only. Such is the case with Bryan Jordan’s class Making Monsters. In contrast to Forbes, every week Jordan presents information in the weekly content on DC Connect. Every week it’s a new topic, such as the classic Frankenstein or more contemporary zombies. Jordan’s lectures for each topic are divided into different parts, which the students can watch on video, listen to as audio or simply read as a text document. One video lecture talks about the disfigurations of culture in contrast to actual history in the movie 300. After each lecture, Jordan includes an activity where the students share their reflections on a Discussion Board in DC Connect. On the discussion for the topic question, What makes a Monster, Roderick Richards, a general arts and science health prep student, says he had to pause and think about his answer. “A monster can be anything, or anyone. It’s usually if not always something to be feared in some way,” says Richards. “Some people fear reality, some people fear their dreams. A monster could be anything at all.” Jordan’s assignments are different each time. Students can analyze books, compare or contrast old versions of famous monsters versus new ones in movies, both old and new. Students respond well to his methods like nursing student Angela Herley. “I particularly like that there are multiple formats for each lesson,” says Herley. “I learn much better from reading something than I do from talking. But I do benefit from in class lectures. Also an important point, I hate online course. I have trouble staying on top of my work. But the way that this one is set up really worked for me.” Times change, people change and even education changes. Students learn differently and as such, different teaching methods can engage students and help them learn better.


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February 7 - 13, 2017

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Photograph by Dean Daley

Lori Roblin, a professor in the child and youth worker program at DC. Social workers are fundamental when it comes to social welfare programs.

Changing lives one child at a time

This is one in a series of conversations with faculty experts at UOIT and Durham College Dean Daley The Chronicle

Most would agree keeping children with their family should always be a priority. Lori Roblin, a Durham College professor for the child and youth worker program, thinks so too. She has been a dedicated member of the social work community for the past 23 years, and has worked at Kennedy House Youth Services and Durham Children’s Aid. Roblin helped develop the ‘Kinship Program,’ which allows children to live with extended family members when they cannot live with their parents. Roblin’s work has helped kids in Canada and changed lives along the way. What makes your research relevant? So my area of specialty in child and youth care as a social worker is primarily in the delivery of social welfare programs. So that could be helping students understand how they’re going to work with the social programs in our society that are going to better the lives of children

and families as well as my particular area of specialty which is child protection or child welfare, is about the protection of children in Canadian society. The relevance and the importance of it is just making sure that the lives of children and the families they’re living with are thriving and have the best possible outcomes as they move into adulthood. Are you working on any projects right now? I am also currently involved in a research project. It is a project where we have created a simulation video of workers in a case conference, where they are discussing a special needs child and what we use that video for is we use it in a simulated activity in our classroom with the student so they interact with the video and simulate what is also happening in the video. So what we’re looking at and what we’re measuring is the impact that simulated video activity has on student’s preparedness for going into their field placement. So we try to provide them with a simulate experience of sitting in a case conference and

I think it’s a very rewarding field if you’re able to manage. working with other professionals before sending them out into the field. So we do a pre-test with them and a post-test around how that has changed their experience. Any particular moment the most impactful? I would say the most impactful period of my career happened while I was managing within the child welfare system in Ontario. I was asked to participate and develop a new program within the child welfare system. So prior to this project what would happen is if a child couldn’t live in their family

home they would be brought into care and they would be place into a foster home or a group home. The project that I worked on is called kinship care and within that project what we researched developed and then later implemented very successfully was the notion of what’s called kinship. So children who couldn’t reside with their biological parents or their caregivers at the time we would look for extended family members for them to live with and then children would be placed with their family members in care rather than residing in group homes or foster homes. The research on that very clearly demonstrates the outcomes for kids if they grow up with family within the same communities, culture, religion, socio-economic status all of those things if it can remain as familiar and comfortable as possible the outcomes for them later on are much greater. That project went on to actually change how we do child welfare in our province, now all agencies have kinship as an option for kids when they can’t any longer live with their families and hopefully it really has impacted the lives of thousands of

kids. With social work being so challenging, what is something you can tell somebody who really wants to get into this field? I think what I would say to somebody who is wanting to enter the child and youth care or social work profession is that the rewards that come out of working in the fields and the actual engagement process with people is a reward. And to see them be successful and you’re protecting them and they’re moving on to doing successful things. It is possible in our profession to make sure you have the right supports in place by having a supportive team, a supportive workplace accessing your own supports in terms of peer groups or professional supports to make sure you stay healthy and intact so that you can work with your clients effectively. I think it is very rewarding field if you’re able to manage that. This interview has been edited for style, length and clarity.


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February 7 - 13, 2017

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Sore shoulders for a reason Travel the world differently Rebecca Calzavara The Chronicle

Attention all Durham College (DC) and UOIT students. Are you a student who loves to travel? Do you enjoy meeting new people and helping others? There is an opportunity that can give you all of these experiences. Operation Groundswell (OG) is a small non-profit organization that can provide that experience to Durham College and UOIT students. OG runs international volunteering programs focusing on social justice issues and working alongside local activists, organizations, and communities. They call the program ‘Backpacking with a Purpose’.Although the program has been around since 2006, no students from DC or UOIT have enrolled yet, according to OG officials. Fees for these programs vary depending on where you go. Although, the fees are collected in three parts. The first payment is to secure your place on the program, which is non-refundable. The second payment is the membership fee; it helps support OG for them to organize the program. The last payment covers all the on-theground costs; which covers sleeping location and three local meals a day. Justine Abigail Yu, communications and marketing director at OG, says every program provided

Photograph courtesy of Operation Groundswell

Backpacking with a purpose allows students to travel the world to help communities such as Peru.

is different and depends on what students are interested in and where they want to travel.

countries so they can determine what to do for the community while they are there.

I am forever humbled, awed and amazed by this trip. Their focus is on education, looking into the history of the country and problems that occur in the

OG which started in 2006 and also provides grants for people who can’t afford to go.

learning. “I embraced online learning and I think once students are willing to reach out and get to know what online learning can do for them, it can be a great experience,” says Johnston.

adds. “I needed an organizational change and this was a fortuitous opportunity and a personal one, too.” The new dean says Durham College is the right fit for her life. “There already is a strong team here at Durham College and I will build on that as I move forward. This is a fabulous opportunity and a step up for me in my career, I am very fortunate,” adds Johnston. Elaine Popp, Durham’s vice-president, academic, says in an email that hiring Johnston for the position of dean was the right choice. “Debbie brings years of experience and she is dedicated to this position,” says Popp in the email. Popp also says the decision to hire Johnston was based on her eight years working in business management and 15 years in post-secondary. She also spent three years at Humber College as the director of professional and continuing education. “There is a lot involved in the job of dean. There are complex issues and challenging workloads,” says

Abigail Yu says programs are filling up fast and if students want to participate they complete the application online. “People choose the program they want to go on, the application form takes about 15-20 minutes” Abigail Yu says, “we review it and we schedule you an interview.” Emily Robinson, a Dalhousie University student, went on the Guatemala trip over February break in 2016. Robinson says she would most definitely would go back if she was given the chance. “The whole trip challenged us to consider the lives of those we encountered and to strive to better ourselves in response,” Robinson said. “I am forever humbled, awed

and amazed by this trip and everything we learned.” Robinson added whether you are an experienced traveller or a new at it, this kind of trip is both ideal and challenging. “A lot of things you see and do can be more difficult than expected, mentally, emotionally and physically,” Robinson says. “But is incredibly worth it.” Backpacking with a Purpose’s mission is to change the way the world travels. “Given the chance to go and learn about a foreign country in this way, it’s real and they show you things that are really important,” Robinson said. “It is unforgettable.”

A new dean has arrived at Durham College Angela Lavallee The Chronicle

Durham College has a new dean of its School of Continuing Education. Debbie Johnston, who initially took on the position of associate dean in June of 2016, officially took over in the dean’s chair Jan. 30. Johnston replaces Director, Nancy Martin, who is now the associate in the school of Business IT Management (BITM). According to Johnston, Durham College offers 1,446 with unique courses such as Emergency Communications. There are 15,500 students registered per year in continuing education courses. Durham College offers some continuing education courses online, which is precisely how Johnston earned her MBA. Johnston began her career in the corporate world working as a vice-president at CIBC She always wanted to teach and decided she needed a change. It wasn’t until she got her degree from Liverpool University in 2008 that she realized the value of online

There is a lot involved in the job of dean.

Johnston is pleased to be taking over as dean. “Durham College is a great school and I am looking forward to doing more with (the) continuing education department,” she

Photograph by Angela Lavallee

Debbie Johnston, the new dean for School of Continuing Education.

Popp, adding Johnston is uniquely qualified as the dean of continuing education at Durham College. Popp says in Johnston’s previous role, she constantly demonstrated leadership, management and supervisory skills, academic program planning, nurturing and

sustaining relationships, organizational development and community building. Johnston says the website for continuing education is being revamped and will be more engaging for the students and will roll out soon.


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The benefits of a LinkedIn profile Brandi Washington

she said. Crystal Watson graduated from Early Childhood Education last year. She does not have LinkedIn. Watson said the website would assist her but she never made an account. “I still haven’t managed to get a career after graduating so I feel like LinkedIn can help me, I

just haven’t heard much about it,” she said. De Grauwe said LinkedIn is a good way to get hired. She said students who don’t have work experience should add in projects, honours, awards and certificates. De Grauwe said employers are looking for experience in programs

at school. She said adding in volunteer work is also beneficial for your LinkedIn profile. De Grauwe said when a job is posted you can apply with your LinkedIn profile directly to the posting. She said there’s no stressing or worrying over a separate resume or cover letter. De Grauwe

said once you make sure your profile is thorough and free of spelling errors, click ‘apply with my profile.' With almost half a million users, LinkedIn is growing. This year, the social media website will turn 15 and already has users from more than 200 countries. Canada is ranked the sixth highest country, with more than 13 million users. But De Grauwe says many of those users aren’t students. “I think there just needs to be more and more awareness of it,” De Grauwe said. “I think the resume is not going anywhere any time soon. But I think that it is evolving in terms of its requirements and the ability to apply for a job with a LinkedIn profile is definitely proof of that.” De Grauwe helps students navigate the website if they need assistance and said they can continue to get help from the college - forever. De Grauwe said the connection between Durham College’s alumni, career development and student diversity offices helps students and alumni be successful in the transition from campus to career. “LinkedIn is a really important piece of that,” she said. “We want students and alumni to be aware of that and get more comfortable with it as a tool.” De Grauwe said LinkedIn is not just for people who carry briefcases.

LinkedIn 101. The aim of this presentation was to introduce students to the career-networking site Durham College wants students to as well as help them improve existsucceed inside the classroom and ing profiles. out in the working world. “You can do a ton of things on The alumni association at DC LinkedIn for free,” says Anna De has launched a new initiative called Grauwe, an advisor with the CaBackpack to Briefcase (b2B). The reer Development office. goal is to help current students and It is important use social media graduates navigate college as well and brands yourself to be able to as ensure success after graduation. find employment, says Sally Hillis, The first event was called senior alumni development officer. Students can get help from the Career Development office with building their profiles as well. Services offered through the office are free for students while at college and for a lifetime afterwards as Durham College alumni. Students can book half-hour appointments with a Career Development advisor and get help and advice their profiles and how to get more out of the LinkedIn website. “It’s a lot of stuff I didn’t know especially about all the features that LinkedIn has,” said a first-year fitness and health promotion student after the LinkedIn presentation. “I found it very informative. I took a couple of notes and looking forward to utilizing them on my LinkedIn account.” B2B also presented a lecture about money management. Financial advisors from TD bank locations around Oshawa talked about how to set up a budget and stick to it. They also talked to students about the benefits of credit cards. Photograph by Laura Metcalfe “So far, the feedback has been great,” says Hillis. She says parents Anna De Grauwe is an advisor are also pleased with the help bein the Career Development ing offered to the students. She says office. they want to know their children are being taught inside the class-

room and also being prepared for the working world. There are other events coming

up for the b2B initiative, including Alumni in the Pit on Feb. 7, job fair Feb. 8, a leadership summit Feb

23-24 with keynote speaker Leslie Hughes, a DC and UOIT professor and etiquette dinner Mar. 6.

The Chronicle

Upon graduation, LinkedIn is a powerful force in getting students employed, but first they must know how it benefits them, according to Anna De Grauwe, a career coach at Durham College. She said one day everyone will know about LinkedIn. In January, she held an informational event for students who wanted to learn about the website. According to Statistics Canada, LinkedIn is most popular with middle-aged Canadians. De Grauwe said LinkedIn is now working its way into the curriculum. “You’re probably not thinking that much about LinkedIn, but more and more professors are starting to require it as some kind of assignment at some part in a program,” she said. Racquel Khalek is in her first year of Video Film Production at Durham College. She said a couple of years ago her professor encouraged her and her classmates to get on LinkedIn. In another class, students were required to have Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and WordPress. Khalek still has her LinkedIn account but admits to never using it. “It’s like Facebook for old people. I never go on it. I think it’s boring,”

Photograph by Brandi Washington

According to Statistics Canada, LinkedIn is most popular with middle-aged Canadians.

Helping students go from backpack to briefcase Laura Metcalfe The Chronicle


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Community

Photograph by Tyler Hodgkinson

Oshawa's 'Rink of Dreams' located at Brick by Brick park on John St., has been an active area for local residents.

‘Rink of Dreams’ comes to life again Tyler Hodgkinson The Chronicle

Ice skating has been a Canadian tradition for generations, however, one look around Durham Region reveals a lack of outdoor rinks. Gliding on ponds was a common practice now frowned upon, and city-funded boards are a rarity. The city of Oshawa has municipal programs allowing volunteers to build and maintain outdoor rinks. Cristan and Steve Doupe, and Dave Rout felt it was their duty to “step up” and help build an area for all to share in their hometown. The result is the ‘Rink of Dreams’, located at the Brick by Brick park on John St., just south of the Midtown Mall. It is used for both skating and hockey. Cristan Doupe says the idea came from a “love for hockey” shared by her, her husband and her son’s coach. The ‘Rink of Dreams’ was brought to the public in 2015 as part of a Gofundme page. The initiative raised $60, far less needed than to produce and upkeep the rink St. Louis Bar & Grill donated plastic for the structure.

The ice was installed, and Oshawa residents got to skate. “We were able to get a month and half of good skating,” says Doupe. Like last year, Doupe and her fellow volunteers are responsible for the upkeep of the rink. Local businesses stepped up once again this winter to help the Doupes and Rout with costs. Riley’s Pub, Justice Burger and Smoke’s Poutinerie all donated money to go towards the plastic needed for the rink. Doupe also credits the Oshawa Fire Services in the success of the ‘Rink of Dreams’. The response team was unable to use nearby fire hydrants due to city regulations, however, they did have 10 fire trucks dispense 13,000 gal-

lons of water. Despite help from the community, not all aspects about the rink have been positive. “We have had a few incidents of vandalism, which hurts the fun for everyone,” Doupe says. According to the hockey mom, some people walked across the freezing water, leaving massive footprints in the structure. The surface needed to be reconstructed. Due to safety concerns, Durham Region generally does not allow public skating on ponds. However, some areas of water, such as Elgin Pond in Uxbridge, have a flag-based system telling the public when the pond is safe enough to skate on. But if positive comments on

Smoke’s Poutinerie’s Facebook page are any indication of satisfaction, the Oshawa residents seem content with just the ‘Rink of Dreams’. “What a great idea!!! Grew up in the Beaches in Toronto and as

a kid we had four outdoor rinks to [choose] from…glad this is happening,” wrote Jason Govereau. As for the builders of the rink and other Oshawa residents, skating is a daily activity, weather permitted.


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Students leaving U.S. but not for DC, UOIT Some Canadian schools see jump in American apps, but not here Alex Debets The Chronicle

Neither Durham College nor UOIT have seen an increase in American student applications since U.S. President Donald Trump’s election in November. However, both the University of Toronto and McMaster University have seen an increase in applications since the election in November. U of T officials say applications from U.S. students are up 70 per cent this year, but suggest there is a range of factors why the numbers are up, from Trump's election win to the low Canadian dollar. McMaster's applications from U.S. students are up 34 per cent. But that growth is not reflected here. UOIT currently has three

American students enrolled, and Durham College has six. That is a small number compared to the 800 and 600 college international students at the university and college respectively. One of the three university students is Danny Elser, a centre for the Ridgebacks men hockey team. He was born in Hopewell Junction, N.Y., and has played hockey in Sweden, Canada, and the U.S. Elser enjoys being in Canada, although he wouldn’t live in Canada if it wasn’t for hockey. “I moved away from home when I was 13 to play hockey and to go to prep school,” he says, “so if I wasn’t playing hockey I would probably stay home.” Elser says he doesn’t notice any cultural differences between the neighbouring countries, except the emphasis on collegiate sports. “I have siblings that go to school back home, in the States,” he says. “I think in terms of sports it’s a little bit popular, NCAA sports.” Both schools have seen a similar number of applications over past years. For example, UOIT has steadily seen 12–16 applications over the past three years and sits at 16 for the 2016-17 school year.

The university began increasing recruitment south of the border last year, after realizing a weaker Canadian dollar could be appealing for American students. Joe Stokes is the associate registrar for the university, and says he wishes he could connect these efforts to applications, but the numbers aren’t there. “I would love to say that our little experiment last year into the United States, where we got a whole bunch of students from upstate New York, because we were there,” says Stokes, “but really they’re just coming from all over the place.” The university doesn’t focus too heavily on attracting American students. The five biggest areas of focus for recruitment are the Caribbean, China, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Latin America. But when they do apply, Stokes says, applications from the United States have “no rhyme or reason,” adding the university sees applications from Texas, New York, and California, in all programs across the board. Program preference from other countries varies. Typically, based on the country of origins economic

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Photograph by Alex Debets

Ridgebacks forward Danny Elser is one of three Americans enrolled at UOIT. state, according to Stokes. “China or Saudi Arabia, some of our larger populations, are really interested in engineering and business, but from a place like the Caribbean we see, a lot of in business as well, but a lot of social sciences,” he says. As for the college, it has not seen any significant data relating to applications from the United States, according to Aldo Mendizabal, the

manager of international recruitment. The post-secondary community in Durham sees more students from the Caribbean, India, and Mexico. Mendizabal says a college education in Canada is different than an American education, and U.S. students are more likely to apply to universities here because they align more closely with the American state university system.


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Community

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Partying to help others in Ajax Kayano Waite The Chronicle

Photograph by Dan Koehler

A feral cat in the backyard of a home near Simcoe St. S. in Oshawa.

Clawing away at Oshawa's feral cat problem Dan Koehler The Chronicle

If you live in Oshawa, or the surrounding areas, chances are you have seen a cat or two wander past your house during the night. Although you may think it’s a stray or possibly a neighbour’s pet, in reality there are wild, also known as feral, cats roaming the streets in Oshawa. Even with the amount of feral cats wandering around Oshawa, the issue is still relative-ly unknown. “Far more education needs to be done,” said Oshawa city councillor Rick Kerr. “I’ve heard varying projections of 2,000-3,000 cats.” According to the Action Volunteers for Animals (AVA), feral cats are either born in the wild and grow up without human interaction, or they are released by their owners at a young age. They often look for shelter around homes and can cause quite a mess on garbage day. These cats are social to each other and often live in colonies. According to the Toronto Cat Rescue (TCR), there are an estimated 100,000 feral cats in Toronto, but groups like the TCR and the AVA are working to get this number lower. One of the ways the AVA is working to lower feral cat populations is through a program called TNR, which stands for trap, neuter, and return. Feral cats are trapped and brought to a veterinarian where they are fixed and micro-chipped before being returned to where they were found. They also have their ears docked so they can be recognized as already fixed. “If there’s a colony of cats that are feral and can’t be adopted they (the city or residents) contact us and we will TNR them,” said Denise Harkins, president of the AVA. “You do want to be able to re-

home a lot of cats, but feral cats can’t be re-homed.” According to Harkins, the AVA starts by targeting pregnant, sick, or tame cats that have a chance for adoption. But the end goal is the same for all of them. “You can’t always get exactly who you want first but no matter who gets into your trap that’s who gets fixed,” said Harkins. Coun. Kerr supports the idea of a TNR program but thinks it should be called TNRM, with the M standing for management. “A lot of studies that say it works but there are just as many that say it is ineffective,” said Coun. Kerr. “Unless you do a number other of measures with it, it has been un-successful in as many areas as its been successful.” He wants to see residents receive certified training to start managing feral cat colonies. Managers would feed and monitor the cats while the city is able to keep track of popu-lation. Coun. Kerr supports the idea of a transport program where managers would bring feral cats to the Humane Society of Durham Region. They would then send them to the To-ronto Humane Society to be fixed before returning them to the colony manager. He also wants to see a change in City bylaws regarding feral cats. “Change the responsible pet owners bylaw to include a separate listing that specifical-ly defines feral cats as separate and different from stray domestic cats,” said Coun. Kerr. “All they (the city) have to do is enable the citizens to do what they're already do-ing with a couple of wrinkles to make it more effective and I think we have the potential for an effective solution.”Coun. Kerr hopes to bring the matter to council soon but it has been pushed back as the City deals with designated-driving services and Uber.

An assembly line of busy bodies worked together to pack toiletries for homeless women. This is not the usual way to celebrate one’s 40th birthday. In late January, Osmyn Reid and her husband Peter had an idea for her birthday party. They invited family and residents in Ajax to the Audley Recreation Centre not just to celebrate, but to help them. Reid, 40, had her party guests package together made more than 200 hygiene kits for homeless women. These kits included toothbrushes, tampons and deodorant. According to the Canadian Women’s Foundation, 1.5 million women live below the low income line.Reid has a degree in social work from Ryerson University, and has worked as a child advocate in homeless shelters in Toronto. She said the idea came to her after personal interactions with women who at those shelters. “Whether they were battered, recently evicted, recent immigrants, refugees, whenever they came they often didn’t have the basic hygiene necessities that were needed to carry them over for a few days,” she said. Children at the party worked on individual cards for the women in the shelters. Each card started with

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Photograph by Kayano Waite

Osmyn Reid (left) plans to send hygiene kits to 200 women in the community.

the phrase “I just wanted you to know that…” The children would then attach their own message to the women, which was given along with each kit. “All of us can give in some way,” she said. “It might not be a grand monetary way, but we all have the ability to give, once our heart is in that place to give to others.” Throughout her birthday week, Reid was in contact with several shelters such as Wings Maternity Home for Pregnant Women, Herizon House, and the Refuge. When many women enter these shelters, they don’t have the basic toiletries with them to carry over for their first few days there. Reid said it’s not just monetary

gifts that can be given to those in need, it can also be empathy.“It’s the fact that its all of our responsibility to make sure we have a healthy community and that people in that community are being taken care of,” she said. The Reid family also distributed extra packages to homeless people in Toronto. Reid said she often hears people say they don’t realize there is such a high need. She says people should look in areas in which they are passionate to help others. “Ask questions. Make phone calls, inquire on websites and I guarantee you people are going to thrilled to death that you’re going to be involved.”


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Campus

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Election for student governor upcoming this March

Cullen serves on board of governors while at Bistro '67 Michael Welsh The Chronicle

Durham College’s current student governor, Ryan Cullen, is not your average college kid. Cullen has made a name for himself at DC with all the work he does and the story that brought him here. Cullen has been actively involved at Durham College since starting here two years ago. He works at Bistro ‘67, is a member of the FastStart Entrepreneurship program, and spends a lot of time working as student governor. “A lot of sleepless nights and early mornings,” says Cullen. “I’m passionate about everything I do, so that makes it easy.” Cullen made connections with executives on the board of governors through events at the Bistro. This helped spark his interest in running for student governor. Growing up in the Durham Region, Cullen wanted to make sure Durham College continued to have a positive impact on his community. “I really liked what was going on with Whitby Campus and Durham College in general,” says Cullen. “I wanted to be a part of growing the college in my own neighbourhood. This was an opportunity to be more than just a student. Cullen completed his psychology graduate at Laurier University. When he finished his degree, more than ten years ago, he decided to travel the world. Cullen ended up living in Thailand for nearly eight years working as a teacher. Cullen lived as a backpacker in a beach community when he first

moved around the world. Once he became a teacher he started to take things more seriously. During his holidays from work, he traveled throughout Asia. These travels put Cullen on the path he is on today. “It really opened my eyes to a different lifestyle, a different culture,” says Cullen. “It gave me a real appreciation for enjoying the simple things in life. I got really turned on to horticulture and sustainable foods. I decided this is what I should be doing. Instead of going to beaches I started going to farms.” The Whitby Campus did not exist when Cullen left for Asia. It was a great surprise upon his return, to learn he could continue his education right around the corner from his house. He is currently enrolled in the Horticulture Food and Farming program at DC. Upon graduation, Cullen hopes to have his own farm. “I want to bring the rural farm back to the city,” he says. “Educate people about food, connect with them and make them feel like they are part of the community.” Cullen says he has enjoyed his time as Durham’s student governor and has a message for anyone thinking about running in the upcoming election. “Be serious about why you’re running and do it for the right reasons,” Cullen says. “Do it because you want to make life better for students at school and in the community.” Elections for next year’s student governor will be held in March. Cullen will continue to serve in the role until Aug. 30. The new governor will take over Sept. 1.

There were a lot of sleepless nights and early mornings.

February 7 - 13, 2017

Durham College student governor Ryan Cullen speaks at Bistro '67.

Photograph courtesy of Durham College

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Community

Clean air group wants Pickering nuclear plant shut down Matthew Pellerin The Chronicle

Pickering Nuclear Generating Ontatio Power Generation's Kevin Powers standing in front of the Pickering Nuclear Generating Facility. Facility’s operating licence is up for renewal in 2018, but at least one organization hopes it gets shut down. The Ontario Clean Air Association (OCAA) is petitioning to close Pickering Nuclear. “Pickering is an aging nuclear station,” says Angela Bischoff of the OCAA. “It’s already well beyond its design life.” The OCAA’s online petition to close Pickering has already garnered almost 8,000 signatures. The petition suggests any extension in production at the facility poses a risk to Durham’s population. OCAA lists on its petition that waste disposal, it’s proximity to large populations and a troubled safety history, as reasons for the closure. “The station will be 57 years old [by the end of the extension]. It was only designed to last 30 years,” says Bischoff. “When will we say enough is enough?” Nuclear power has been a staple in Durham Region and the rest of Ontario, since the commissioning of Pickering in the 1970s. In recent years Ontario has seen the closure of coal generating stations due to environmental concerns. Nuclear energy hasn’t exactly escaped unscathed either OPG says that nuclear energy is not only a clean, zero-emission source, but also vital to Ontario’s power supply. “Nuclear power provides most of the baseload power for the province,” says Kevin Powers, OPG’s director of Public Affairs. “Baseload power is the power that you need 24/7, seven days a week.” Pickering’s future will be decided in August 2018, when the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission releases its decision on a potential license extension for the aging facility. If granted, OPG says the facility will operate until 2022, at which point a partial shutdown will begin with operation ceasing entirely by 2024. OPG points out the decommission of the plant would be a multi-decade operation and could potentially employ almost 16,000 people to offset the 3,000 currently employed at the facility.

Photograph by Matthew Pellerin


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Entertainment

Paintbrush to taste buds

Barbara Howe The Chronicle

A classroom of blank canvasses was transformed into a parliament of owls at Bistro ’67 recently as Whitby artist Sarah Shaw taught a painting workshop to a group of about 40 novice artists. The award-winning restaurant located at the W. Galen Weston Centre for Food (CFF) at Durham College Whitby Campus has held similar events over the past 12 months, according to Kelly O’Brien, General Manager for the CFF. “It is very popular. It hardly took any time for the event to be sold out and we actually had to turn people away,” said O’Brien. Shaw is a self-taught artist who has her own art studio based out of her home in Whitby. She said the workshop was open to anyone, regardless of their artistic ability, “You don’t need to have any experience or talent,” said Shaw. “A lot is broken down into simple

steps, everything is understandable when you break it into shapes.” The subject of the evening’s class was a ‘Winter Owl’, based on the number of birds of prey which live around the area. Previous subjects have also been connected to the CFF’s Field to Fork philosophy, and what is grown in its garden, like cherry tomatoes, pansies and an orchard. Lynda Krechowicz was taking the class for the first time. She learned about the event through their website. “I have been a fan of the bistro ever since it opened. It’s one of the best places to eat.” Tickets cost $50 and included a two-hour art workshop which included a three-course dinner at the restaurant afterwards. Participants could take their masterpieces home afterwards. “I don’t let anyone leave with a really crummy looking painting,” Shaw assured her class. “I do want you to be happy with your painting. I want you to hang it up.” The aspiring artists donned blue

Photograph by Barbara Howe

Particitpants put brushes to canvas in an art studio workshop prior to dinner at Bistro '67. and yellow striped aprons to protect their clothing for the event. Easels, paint and brushes were all provided by the artist.

Kaitlyn Dover, CFF Service Manager said she expected to host another painting workshop in the spring. She said the event is a

great way to get customers into the restaurant and sample the menu, at the same time as having a fun evening.

Art lovers get glimpse of the greats at the AGO Alex Ross

The Chronicle Vincent van Gogh, Emily Carr and Claude Monet are some of the greatest names in art history. Now imagine an exhibit with those three artists as well as 33 other artists from around the world and you get the ‘Mystical Landscapes’ exhibit. The internationality of the artists exhibited provides a wider view of the world. Although 12 of the 36 artists were from France, it still felt as though the exhibit moved across the globe, from Europe to North America and even some sentiments from Japan. There were even pieces that some may not consider a conventional landscape, with images of space, depicting planets, stars and other celestial bodies. With six artists from Canada, most of whom Canadian students will know from middle school art class, the ‘Mystical Landscapes’ exhibit at the Art Gallery of Ontario was one of the most visually recognizable temporary exhibits for Canadians. The exotic exhibit of landscapes from around the world was full of foreign names most people would find difficult to pronounce, but there were a number of familiar names such as Emily Carr, Tom Thompson and A. Y. Jackson. Most of these familiar names belong to members and associates of the Group of Seven. Tom Thompson, Lawren Harris, A. Y. Jackson and F. H. Varley were the

Photograph courtesy of The Art Gallery of Ontario

The Sun by Claude Monet was one of the paintings on display at the Art Gallery of Ontario. artists from the Group of Seven featured in the exhibit. The AGO already has a good collection of Group of Seven pieces, but the specific works in the ‘Mystical Landscapes’ exhibit seemed to bring a different feeling to the rest of their collection. The complementary audio tour also

gave a lot of extra insight to some well-known paintings, such as ‘Isolation Peak’ by Lawren Harris. “If you’ve seen photographs of Isolation Peak, you’ll know that it is nothing like that. It’s part of a long mountain range. But here he has isolated it, taken it out of its larger context, and not only

heightened it, but turned it into an almost perfect pyramid,” says Roald Nasgaard, the narrator for the audio tour. Although five of the six exhibited Canadian artists were members or affiliates of the Group of Seven, the last one brings the art closer to the Durham Region.

Jock MacDonald, the other Canadian artist exhibited at the AGO, was a member of a local group of Ontarian artists called the Painters Eleven. MacDonald was suited for the exhibit because he was influenced by the Group of Seven and had a very similar style to theirs, except more towards abstract art. The Robert McLaughlin Gallery, downtown Oshawa, has the largest collection of Painters Eleven art and has a permanent display of their work in the gallery, including some landscape paintings. Landscape paintings are easier to appreciate for people with a casual interest in art, those of us who aren’t necessarily art connoisseurs. The art of recreating a landscape is open to interpretation. If people only considered an exact copy to be perfect then it would hardly be an art, but instead a science. ‘Mystical Landscapes’ uses the ability to use self interpretation to its advantage by showcasing different styles of art that all depict landscapes. This exhibit is a true case of there being something for everyone because the styles within the tour differentiate so greatly that nobody can dislike all the different pieces. The exhibit is now being dismantled and will be shipped back to the Musée d’Orsay for their opening in the spring.


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Entertainment

Weekly movie night creates conversation Toby VanWeston The Chronicle

Film lovers from Durham College and UOIT needn’t travel far to see some of the best movies from around the world. Every Thursday, the Cinechats Film Program shows critically acclaimed films and documentaries right here on campus. The program is a partnership between Durham College, UOIT, Durham Council for the Arts, and Artsforum Magazine. John Arkelian, a film critic who writes a weekly column for Artsforum, is the director of Cinechats. Arkelian chooses the films each week, and leads a discussion after the showing. He was inspired to start the program after noticing the quality of films being shown at TIFF, that could only be seen on that venue. “It always struck me passing strange, that so many good movies

from around the world played at the film festival, but almost nowhere else,” says Arkelian. “Cinechats aims to fill that gap, by showing those films, and combining it with intelligent conversation.” Cinechats screened two documentaries on Jan. 26. Ed & Pauline is a short documentary about the marriage between Pauline Kael and Ed Landberg, who were influential in Hollywood during the 1950s. The short film documents their turbulent partnership and marriage. My Love, Don’t Cross That River is a South Korean documentary following the final moments of a 76-year marriage. The film crew documents every aspect of the couple’s day-to-day life, right up until the death of the 98-year-old husband. The documentary is a poignant look at true love, marriage, and approaching mortality. March will mark the 12th

Split has personality Trusha Patel The Chronicle

No matter the thoughts on Split’s effectiveness as a thriller, this is a movie with a surprisingly unexpected twist. In Split, James McAvoy plays Kevin Wendell Crumb, a man with 23 personalities, who is compelled to kidnap three girls in broad daylight. This psychological thriller uses the dissociative identity disorder to form the themes of fate and trauma. McAvoy’s character is split between a gay fashion designer, a nine-year-old, an obsessive-compulsive control freak, and a weird church lady, among other personalities that are not shown much light on. The director, M. Night Shyamalan, introduces these different personalities one at a time, revealing them through the eyes of the girls. Anya Taylor-Joy’s character, Casey Cook, sits in the front seat of her friend’s dad’s car, while Claire Benoit (Haley Lu Richardson) and Marcia ( Jessica Sula) sit at the back, giggling at their phones. All are waiting for Claire’s father (Neal Huff) who is putting food packages in the trunk. Looking at the side-mirror, Casey sees the food from the packages splattered on the ground. With her heart racing, she knows something is wrong. She slowly turns her head towards the driver’s side, sees a complete stranger sitting on the seat where Mr. Benoit should have been. “Hey, pardon me sir, I think you have the wrong car,” says Claire. Within seconds, both Claire and Marcia are unconscious due to the chloroform the stranger sprays on their faces. Scared, Casey slowly reaches for

the door handle. The click of the handle alerts the stranger, Kevin Wendell Crumb of what Casey is up to. It’s too late to escape. This scene in Split, introduces the three teenage girls who are abducted by a man with multiple personalities. The girls are kept underground in an undetermined location, which in the end is revealed as another twist. They try to come up with different ways to escape their bunker-like cell. Each attempt has the audience on the edge of their seats, but McAvoy’s unpredictable character always gains the upper hand. Meanwhile, there are also times when the kidnapper goes out to meet his therapist, Dr. Fletcher (Betty Buckley), who attempts to untangle the mysteries in Crumb’s head while unaware of the kidnapping. The more we learn, the darker McAvoy’s character(s) get. Though there are evidently 23 personalities, one dominates the others. Shyamalan, who has directed The Last Airbender and The Visit, keeps the audience guessing about what will happen next. In terms of character development, of the three victims only Anya Taylor-Joy’s character, Casey, is fleshed out. The film reveals Casey’s troubled backstory through a series of flashbacks throughout the movie. Ultimately, McAvoy stole the show with his ability to convey the different personalities through facial expressions and body language. Split is a box office success hitting more than $40 million on the opening weekend. It includes dry black humour, suspense, and definitely holds back many surprises. It opened Jan. 20 in Canada, and is rated 14A.

Photograph courtesy of CGV Art House

A promotional still for South Korean documentary My Love Don't Cross that River.

anniversary of Cinechats. Approximately 25,000 people have attended. Close to 500 feature length films have been screened. Of those films, roughly 20 have been North American premieres. Arkelian has gotten in contact with the film companies and producers of these foreign films, who have been pleased to have their projects seen by a wider audience. “I’ve been really pleased that, from different parts of the world,

they’ve been really delighted to send us their films and authorize us to show them,” says Arkelian. Arkelian says that quality is the most important factor when selecting these movies. He also considers diversity in cultures. The goal of the program is to not only entertain, but elicit discussions. “It’s very gently educational. It’s done in the form of conversation. And in a way that’s open and inviting,” says Arkelian.

Bradley Hogg has been attending Cinechats for years. Hogg brags that he is “one of the founding members.” For Hogg, it’s the discussion after the movie which keeps him coming back. “There’s so many different perspectives that you’ve never seen before. It’s really intriguing how many different point of views there are out there,” says Hogg. Cinechats is held Thursdays in the Gordon Willey Building.

Photograph by Judy Krajcik

Toronto nightclub The Hoxton held one final show on Jan. 28.

Last call for The Hoxton

Sam Odrowski The Chronicle

The Hoxton, one of Toronto’s most well-known clubs, had its final closing party last Saturday after six years of operation. The closing party featured Toronto born DJs Hunter Siegel, Keys and Krates, Omar Linx, Zeds Dead, as well as Sleepy Tom from Vancouver. The venue closed down because its co-owners decided not to renew their five-year lease. They say this is because the city will not allow them to renovate or expand the venue. The Hoxton has featured many big names in the EDM world, including Skrillex, Flume, Flux Pavilion, The Chainsmokers, DJ Snake, RL Grime, and Zedd, to name a few. The venue has also had many rap stars such as Kanye West, Snoop

Dog, Chance The Rapper and Travis Scott perform there in the past. “There isn’t really another club that is the same as that one in Toronto. Like there’s clubs but there more radio music,” says Judy Krajcik, a frequent clubber. The Hoxton closing may not come as a surprise for many of its beloved fans. Over the years Toronto has seen a pattern of losing great clubs such as System Soundbar, Circa and the Guvernment. In 2016 alone, Cabal, Hideout, and and Tattoo closed down. January has been no better, losing Hugh’s Room, Soybomb and now the Hoxton. Embrace, the organization that books the DJs for the Hoxton and many other clubs throughout the city, plans on booking the artists who would have regularly played at the Hoxton at nearby clubs. Zeid Anabtawi, a marketer for

the Hoxton, and other clubs, says just because it’s closing does not necessarily mean club-goers can expect to see fewer events. Instead, he says the shows will just be spread out across different venues throughout the city. “If the show is a little bit smaller, we would put it at a venue like Velvet Underground which fits 300 people. If the show was a bigger show and would have gone to the Hoxton, we would put it at Maison,” says Anabtawi. Even though Toronto’s club goers can still expect to see many of the same artists they know and love, the Hoxton still has a special place in their heart. It was an intimate venue only able to fit 500 to 600 people. The small space featured a lot of today’s biggest names in the EDM world that were, at the time, aspiring artists. The Hoxton will not relocate.


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February 7 - 13, 2017

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Fantasy novels will take you to another world

Green Arrow takes big strides Chris Jones The Chronicle

DC Comics has once again rebooted its comic series with “Rebirth.” With this comes a new line of comics ranging from Batman to Aquaman. However, with the popularity of the television show, Arrow, one of the first series to be released in the “Rebirth” storyline is Green Arrow. The first volume of Green Arrow is titled “The Death and Life of Oliver Queen.” It takes place long after Oliver Queen, the Green Arrow, has returned from being stranded on a deserted island and has long established himself as a superhero. Oliver lives with his younger half sister, Emi, who is also his sidekick and has yet to receive her superhero name. They both work with Dinah Lance, the Black Canary. The story follows Oliver and company as they investigate a group homeless people are calling “the Underground Men.” In the end, it turns out they are merely the minions of a secret, evil corporation looking to tear Oliver’s life apart. There were many positives in this volume of Green Arrow, but there was one negative that stuck out: the artist’s depiction of the Black Canary, otherwise known as Dinah Lance. While comic books aren’t new to the over-sexualisation of their fe-

male characters, it is time to move on. When one looks at Black Canary standing beside Green Arrow, there is a noticeable amount of skin showing on her compared to him. Black Canary is a character who should be taken seriously, seeing as she is there to challenge Oliver’s way of life and to show him he needs to look at the world from outside of his well-to-do upbringing. She’s supposed to show him the rough aspects of Seattle, the city that Oliver protects. Instead? She’s there for male readers to ogle. Overall, Dinah is a character who is strong on her own, as proven by the fact she doesn’t need Oliver to rescue her when she is kidnapped and used as bait to get Oliver to attack. However, while the comic has the one flaw in the character of Dinah Lance, it is a promising beginning to a series that felt stale during the previous “New 52” series. One of the biggest issues that’s been addressed in the Rebirth story arc of Green Arrow is the seriousness. The author, Benjamin Percy, has remembered Oliver Queen is a serious superhero. In the “New 52,” it felt as though this notion had been ignored, but in “Rebirth,” Percy brought this notion back. One aspect of Percy’s writing that stood out was how it felt like a horror story. When Oliver and Dinah are trekking through the sewers of

Finale in series is a satisfying end to epic James Jackson Photograph by Chris Jones

Green Arrow: The Death & Life of Oliver Queen cover.

Seattle to find their enemies and interacting with the Seattle underworld, it feels much more dangerous than previous Green Arrow stories. However, when looking at a graphic novel, one does not only look at the writing. One must also look at the art. The art for Green Arrow, as drawn by Juan Ferreyra and Otto Schmidt, feels like the art of a graphic novel. However, it also

manages to maintain the darkness of the series. It does not forget what it is while also managing to maintain the seriousness of the series. Overall, the “Rebirth” Green Arrow is a well-written, well-drawn graphic novel that really only suffers from the same flaw that almost all graphic novels do. The Life and Death of Oliver Queen is a promising start to a new Green Arrow series.

Oshawa author combats bullying Nicole O'Brien The Chronicle

Memory can be a powerful thing. An Oshawa author named Ryan Doyle is putting his to good use. He is using his memories to combat bullying, the very thing he has faced his entire life. Doyle became a published author in March last year. His book, “Tears of Loneliness: The Angel Within,” is a memoir which chronicles the bullying Doyle went through from childhood to the present day, and it is also a self-help book for those falling victim to bullying. “I wrote this book because I want to help the bullying victims of this world,” says Doyle, who studied two years at Durham College in the social services worker program before becoming a writer. “I’m aware I’ve been able to overcome bullying myself so I’m very confident that my book can help other victims,” says Doyle. Doyle breaks down the book into parts. The first 41 pages explain his experiences with bullying, starting from his childhood and all the way into present day. The remaining 65 pages are designed to helps victims of bullying. Doyle gives tips for those who have experienced bullying, helpful suggestions to parents who have children who have experienced

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bullying, and also provides a howto on being a supportive friend to someone who has been bullied. According to BullyingCanada.ca, approximately one in 10 children have bullied others and as many as 25 per cent of children in grades four to six have been bullied. But Doyle says cyberbullying has become an everyday issue. “The most common harassment is cyber-harassment,” says Doyle. According to Prevent.ca, one in three children have reported they have been cyberbullied. Doyle hopes his book will encourage those to report bullying when it happens. “A lot of it goes unreported,” says Doyle. The 106-page memoir is available on Amazon.ca, but this won’t be the last time you’ll get a chance to read a book written by Doyle. He has a second book in the works which will be a fuller memoir. Doyle also has a third book in the works, titled “The Bright Future,” which will help victims move on and live fuller lives. “I just want to grow as much as I can as a writer,” says the 29-yearold. “And I want to write for the sole Cover courtesy of Ryan Doyle purpose of helping others.” Doyle’s memoir is also available for purchase through Amazon and Tears of Loneliness: The Angel Within was published in March. the publisher’s website at www. xlibris.com.

The Chronicle

The Chaoswar Saga is the final trilogy in the epic-fantasy series known as The Riftwar Cycle. A 30-book long series depicting the lives of the citizens of the worlds “Midkemia” and “Kelewan”. Raymond E. Feist wrote the first book of the series, Magician, in 1982. The last book, Magician’s end, was released in 2013. Feist has started a new series The War of Five Crowns, another high fantasy novel series. The first book in the new series, King of Ashes, was released in 2015. The Chaoswar Saga starts off with the Fifth Circle of the demon realm being consumed by a mysterious darkness. Back in the world of Midkemia, a minor lord’s sons, Martin and Brenden, hunt with their father and the house of another lord unaware of the conspiracies of the outside world. While their elder brother Hal is in a neighbouring country for the “Masters Tournament” to determine the greatest swordsmen in the world. What follows is a story of magic, murder, mayhem, mass destruction, and romance. But is it good? In short, yes. But the long answer? The Chaoswar Saga is the finale to a long series so it has to up the stakes, which is difficult. One of the main characters destroyed a world in one of the previous books in the series, which leads to a problem. Starting The Riftwar Cycle at The Chaoswar Saga is like starting The Song of Ice and Fire at A Dance of Dragons. You miss out on many of the intricacies of the story, but still get the major plot points. The books themselves are great. They have everything you would expect from a fantasy story; big magic battles, big bad monsters, and a complicated map that is needed to figure out what is going on. The writing is the combination of the old-style of world building like Tolkien, with the new style of writing. The story rarely becomes boring or drags on. When it happens, it means something is about to go very wrong. Feist worked for 35 years to create a complicated fantasy world that everyone can read. You will get sucked in.


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February 7 - 13, 2017

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February 7 - 13, 2017

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Sports

Make some noise for mental health Noor Ibrahim

A lot of athletes won’t come out as having a mental disability or having something wrong with them,” he said. “If they have depression or something, it’s hard to come out especially when you’re an athlete because you don’t want to be taking time away from your

[sport.]” One in five Canadians suffer from mental health issues, according to Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. According to a University of Toronto survey of 113 student-athletes, 18 per cent of the athletes suffered from depression while 17 per cent had anxiety. Kaminski says mental health issues with athletes is understandable. “Playing sports, practicing, games - that takes you away from your everyday life,” he said. Kaminski was a spectator at the game. He said the game was effective in creating conversation. “It helps the athletes see that they can come out and have more courage because people are there to support, listen, and be there for them,” said Kaminski. Dennis agrees. “It gets people talking about mental illness. That’s the whole point. So that someone who is suffering from that is not alone and is not afraid to come out with it,” he said. The campaign was one of the many events, recently featured at the Lords games to boost spectator numbers. However, according to Dennis, this event was much more important than the others. He hoped spectators walked away with more than just entertainment, but with information about mental health. The female Lords were undefeated that night while the men’s team couldn’t knock off the Grizzlies with a final score of 2-3.

available to an athlete who walks in and requires treatment, they are also on scene for every home and away game Durham or UOIT has in case of an injury or emergency on scene. “We also do the on-field assessment as well, so we’re responsible for home game coverage, and we send students away as well, to provide any therapy or emergency management for any injuries that happen on the field or on the court,” said Behrman. Players who are injured on the field must be lead through strict protocols to determine if the injury is serious enough to warrant a pull from the game, Behrman said. Athletic trainers must follow these protocols to ensure the safety of the individual and prevent further injury. “They are trained…so if someone got hurt on the field we have protocols to do an on-field assessment…is it safe to move the person? There’s no more of a serious injury like a fracture or an urgent situation, then how is it that we are going to get them off the field? Then if it’s safe

to get them off the field we would do what we call a sideline assessment,” said Behrman. Athletic trainers have the unique job where they get to interact heavily with their patients; they can form long-term bonds with students who receive their treatment. "I love working with the athletes here, I think they are all at a really cool age where they still are competitive, but they’re also students, they understand just your everyday life…they want to learn and they want to understand what is wrong with them and how to fix it,” said Jessica Thompson, a third year athletic therapy student from Sheridan who is working as an intern with Durham and UOIT’s athletic training unit. Cassie Charette, a goaltender for the UOIT Ridgebacks women’s hockey team, credits the athletic trainers for helping her stay in the game. “They’ve helped me so much, I’ve had a recurring hip problem since my first year and I’ve honestly come here probably once a week,” said Charette.

The Chronicle

There was something louder than cheering at the Durham Lords men and women’s volleyball games against the Georgian Grizzlies. On Jan. 26, spectators filed into the bleachers with some unexpected objects in hand - pots and pans. The banging from the pans could be heard from outside the gym. But this wasn’t just for fun. The commotion was part of the Make Some Noise for Mental Health campaign started three years ago by the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology’s athletic team, the Trojans. The campaign made its way to Durham College only one day after Bell Let’s Talk day. It is also backed by the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). The point of the campaign is to create as much noise as much possible during athletic events to spread the word about mental health issues and create conversation. While anything from air horns to bells to thunder sticks is acceptable, the theme of this game came from the kitchen. “What better way to make some noise than with pots and pans?” said Scott Dennis, Durham College’s Sports Information and Marketing Officer. “They’re pretty loud.” Dennis and Chris Cameron, special events coordinator with DC’s athletics department, decided pots

Photograph by Noor Ibrahim

Chris Cameron (left) and Scott Dennis of the athletic department and varsity basketball star Lindsay Panchan show their noisemakers for the women's volleyball game on Jan. 26.

and pans were a fit when they saw it at another school. This is the campaign’s first year at Durham. Even though it targets athletes, Dennis said many students struggle with mental health. “All students have to juggle things with part-time jobs, with

their studies, and families get involved as well,” said Dennis. “Being a student is tough. So it’s important to talk to people if they have problems.” Lords soccer player Daniel Kaminski said mental health issues affect athletes in a big way.

Generals triumph Durham's athletic therapists over the Storm get athletes back into the game Rebecca Calzavara The Chronicle

Despite some significant changes to their roster, the Oshawa Generals continue to find ways to win hockey games. The Generals travelled to Guelph and left with a 6-2 win against the Storm at the Sleeman Centre Jan. 27. The Generals traded captain Anthony Cirelli to Erie and defenseman Mitchell Vande Sompel to London at the OHL trade deadline on Jan.10. The Generals picked up forward Allan McShane, 16, and defenseman Ian Blacker, 17, and several draft choices in the deals. Since that date, the Generals have posted a 4-4 record and remain near the top of the Eastern Conference standings. According to new captain Joe Manchurek, this was the first time that the Generals have won on the road since Dec.2. “It was a good team effort, we got a couple goals early which was pretty key,” Manchurek said.

Manchurek said he is adjusting nicely into the captaincy and believes the team has come a long way since the trades were made and everyone is fitting well together. “It was pretty tough at first, they were two guys who have been here a while but we’ve come along way with the new guys” Manchurek explained. “We are showing them how we play so I think we are all fitting pretty good and I think we just got to keep playing.” In Guelph, Medric Mercier opened the scoring for Oshawa. Not shortly after that goal the second came from Manchurek. Later in the first period, with the teams playing four-on-four, Kenny Huether made it 3-0 . The Storm started off the second period strong, but the Generals didn’t hold back, ending the period with two more goals. With ten minutes left in the period, Domenic Commisso scored the final goal for the Generals making the score 6-1 .The Generals will be playing the Windsor Spitfires on Feb. 9.

Unsung heroes of sports

Joshua Nelson The Chronicle

Saul Behrman doesn’t wear a Ridgebacks jersey or don the Durham colours, doesn’t coach or manage, but is a critical member of the varsity sports community on campus. Behrman is an athletic trainer at Durham College and UOIT’s training unit and plays a crucial role in the rehabilitation of injured players. Behrman makes it his primary goal to prevent injuries and help players from more than 21 UOIT and Durham College teams get back in the game. “After someone gets hurt, we would bring them into the clinic, and myself, or we have two other certified ATs (athletic trainers) here as well, or some of our students, we would supervise them in doing assessments and rehabilitation for those injuries,” said Behrman. The athletic trainers are not only


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February 7- 13, 2017

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Romain sets up v-ball team Logan Caswell The Chronicle

Megan Romain sets the ball into the air. Her five teammates on the wood floor shout in an uproar as one player smacks the volleyball over the net. Both teams rally the ball back and forth. Supporters stand in awe as Romain jumps up and blocks the ball from flying over the net. Her teammates erupt in joy as the starting setter celebrates winning the set with her team. “It all started when I was ten and playing for the Durham Attack. The funny thing is they actually cut me the first time. But they ended up feeling bad for the players who didn’t make it and they ended up making another team,” says Romain. “My mom actually coached the other team.” From one team to another, Romain bounced between two different teams before starting at the OCAA (Ontario Colleges Athletic Association) college level. “I played three years above my age group so I started playing competitive with the Durham Attack during the under 13 years of age season to the under 16 years of age season, went to the Scarborough Diamonds the next year, returned to the Durham Attack the year after and finished my last OVA (Ontario Volleyball Association) season with the Diamonds before joining the Durham Lords for the 2015-2016 season,” says Romain. Durham Attack, one of the OVA teams, is where Romain found longtime friend Jayden Kennedy. Kennedy is now a member of the San Diego Toreros in California and played her under-15-years-ofage season with Romain as teammates on the Attack. The two have been best friends ever since. Kennedy played three seasons with Romain for the Durham Attack during their under 15 to under 17 years of age seasons. “Megan was my first friend in the volleyball scene,” says Kennedy. “Although she’s not the biggest play-

The Chronicle

Despite trading away their top two players at the deadline, the Oshawa Generals’ fan base remains very loyal. Just ask any of the close to 6,000 spectators who filled the Tribute Communities Centre Jan. 29 to watch Oshawa fall 4-0 to the London Knights, the second-ranked junior team in Canada. “There is not a bad seat in the house,” said Deb Smid, a long time Generals fan who grew up in Schumacher, Ont. While she likes the arena, she is not a fan of its recent name change away from its original moniker—the GM Centre. “We hate the name Tribute. It’s a backwards and insignificantly lame name. We still call it the GM.” Despite a full house at the game, the crowd wasn’t too lively.

Alex Debets

'Backs need to work on reducing number of penalties Photograph by Logan Caswell

Megan Romain (15) sets up her team against the Seneca Sting.

er on the court, her confidence and desire to win make her stand out.” Romain had a great first year as a Durham Lord. She went on to be awarded “Rookie of the Year” in her first season with the Lords. In 18 matches played, she averaged 6.91 assists per set with a 0.59 hitting percentage. A positive role model has helped Romain as she grows her volleyball career. Her mom, Lesreen Thomas, a former player for the OVA’s Centennial Colts, has been a huge influence on her volleyball career and coached her daughter during the 2011 summer season. “I was and still am a volleyball player,” says Thomas, who, in her free time, still plays the middle position recreationally and also played at the same level her daughter is right now. “I had them with me all the time while I was in the gym so all my kids picked it up at a younger age,” says Thomas.

Now, age 20, Romain is in her second year of eligibility for the Durham Lords. She is studying in the Human Resource program at Durham College, and has made an impact on her team on and off the court. In her second year, Romain has taken on more of a leadership role and is helping other players, such as Camille Lefaive, adapt to new roles. “She’s an awesome person. Always has such a positive spirit and that’s important because I’ve switched roles into setting. Taking on a new position is tough so she has really become my support system,” says Lefaive. “I consider her my sister.” Tony Clarke has coached Romain for the past two seasons. During that span, Romain’s team has only lost one OCAA regular season game going 19-1 last season before losing in the bronze medal game. So far the team has been perfect this season with a 15-0 record. “She is small and plays big,” says Clarke. “Some people underesti-

mate her because of her size but out of no where she’ll come up with a big block at the net.” Romain continues to draw praise from those around her. “There is still so much growth with Megan. She works hard and has a great work ethic,” says Clarke. “She wants the best for the team and everyone around her.” As Romain continues her volleyball career at the college level, she’ll continue to block opponents at the net and make sure her teammates have that perfect set to kill over the mesh. With only two games remaining after last Thursday’s game against the Canadore Panthers, Romain has hopes for her team throughout the rest of the season. “Hopefully I can help my team win a gold medal. We haven’t won one since 2002.” The ball is in the air for the Lords but with Romain getting used to her role on the team, the road to the finish for Durham looks to be promising.

“General fans are very quiet,” said Bob Nelson. “There’s a lot of people sitting on their hands here.” This was true, as the fans needed to take direction from the scoreboard to make some noise. Despite the relative silence, the Oshawa Generals have had loyal fans over their 80 year history. With junior hockey being limited to players under the age of 20, franchises constantly have to shuffle and retool their teams to come up with new stars every season. However, this often means tough decisions have to be made. Shannon Bulgeo, who has followed the Generals for 25 years, was devastated to learn that the, “heart and soul,” of the Generals, team captain Anthony Cirelli and top defenceman Mitchell Vande Sompel, were traded to the Erie Otters and London Knights respectively earlier this month.“When my hus-

band came home and told me the news, I wanted to send my tickets back. They were traded on the same day. They got to play one last game together." Although many fans, including Bulgeo and her daughter, were displeased with the trade, but they understood why it was done. The Generals’ management is looking towards next year in hopes of creating a team that is strong enough to compete and host the Memorial Cup. Oshawa, wants to prepare their team as much as possible for next year, and have deemed this year lost. “London is just too good,” said Bulgeo. “Though we might have played it better with those two players. Management are aware that even though we are strong in the east, we will be defeated by the west.” The Generals got draft picks

from the deals, as well as centre Allan McShane and defenceman Ian Blacker. Bulgeo also said that the Generals’ will also need a new goalie for next year. Their starting goalie, Jeremy Brodeur, is an average player in his final year of OHL eligibility. She said that Kyle Keyser, Sunday’s starting goalie, simply isn’t good enough to carry a team. These are some of the major issues faced by OHL teams. Regardless of the decision, the one common thread that ties them all together are loyal fans. “It’s the history,” said Nelson, who has been attending Oshawa Generals games since the days of Bobby Orr in the 1960s. “I’ve been to all their Memorial Cup runs... It’s a true saying they have. ‘Once a General, always a General’. And that’s true for the fans as much as the players.”

Fans still love the Generals Tyler Searle

Sports

Men's team is playing man down too often

With three losses in their last four games, the Ridgebacks men's hockey team is looking very different from the team we saw go 5-0 in October. Currently, the Ridgebacks sit sixth in Ontario University Athletics’ (OUA) Eastern conference and have pretty much secured a playoff spot with only six games left in the regular season. Arguably, the Ridgebacks are set up for their second post-season run in program history, and the record doesn’t matter if they make the playoffs. The Ridgebacks do have a monkey on their back, and it’s their penalty issues. While nine wins and three losses at home isn’t bad, only five wins in fourteen games on the road are concerning. The problem that is plaguing the Ridgebacks bench is not goal scoring, it’s not washy goaltending, and it’s not fatigue. It’s penalties. More specifically penalties on the road. You cannot win games playing a man down, especially in a league as competitive as the Canadian Interuniversity Sports league (CIS). A win in this league is never secured, until the game is over, and the Ridgebacks have learned this lesson multiple times, like in their back to back games against Lakehead. While the team managed to hold down a 3-2 win in overtime on their first game, the following was met with 18 minutes of penalties, and a 2-7 loss. This has been the trend in the 2016-17 season for the Ridgebacks. To ensure they do not run themselves out of the playoffs, the team needs stop taking so many penalties on their last two games. The team doesn’t have an easy run to the playoffs now either, with games against the Eastern No. 2 Queen's, and the team that swept them last year in the playoffs - UQTR. It’s not all rainclouds though, this is one of the best teams the Ridgebacks men’s hockey program has seen. But if the team wants to carry the early success of the season into the playoffs they need to eliminate penalty minutes on the road.


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Photograph by Logan Caswell

Lindsay Panchan, a guard for the Durham Lords, powers up the court against the Seneca Sting.

Hoops teams shooting for playoffs Women sitting in playoff spot, men in hunt for berth Logan Caswell The Chronicle

The Durham College men’s and women’s basketball teams are wrapping up the regular season, making for an interesting race to the finish. Only the top six advance to the playoffs. It’s been an up and down season for the men, who currently sit eighth and two points behind the St. Lawrence Vikings for the sixth playoff spot in their conference. With a win-loss record of 5-7, the men started the season strong, going 3-1 out of the gate. However, second-year forward Joseph Douglas has been out with an undisclosed injury all year, which is a huge loss for the Lords as eight of the roster’s 13 players are in their first year. The men have lost three straight games to George Brown, Loyalist and, most recently, Seneca. Lords coach, Desmond Rowley, says he needs more out of his

players, and knows they don’t have much time to get their game together. “It’s been disappointing. We’re not doing what we should be and we aren’t where we should be. We still have eight games to figure it out, we need to change a lot of stuff,” says Rowley. First year players such as Jeremy Hinckson Jr. and Brandon Halliburton have stepped up in Douglas’ absence. Halliburton leads the team’s scoring with 17.8 points per game. Meanwhile, Hinckson Jr. is right behind him, scoring just over eleven points per game. With the men struggling to make the playoffs, the women have put themselves in a stronger position for playoff basketball. Durham is chasing undefeated St. Lawrence by six points for first in their conference and has put together a strong season to date, sitting in second with an 8-4 record. Through the final weeks, teams such as Seneca will be chasing Durham and St. Lawrence for the top two spots. Seneca sits two points behind the Lords. Women’s second-year player, Kaydian Owusu, says her team is focused on getting to the playoffs

and wants to have success for the fifth-year seniors. “Were just focused on getting to the OCAA championships,” says Owusu. “Players like Lindsay Panchan and Kayla Marshall, it’s their last year so we want to leave them with a good impression. The most important thing is getting there.” The women have an experienced team. Players such as Lindsay Panchan, Kayla Marshall, Brittany Walters and Charr Genadyne are all in their last season of eligibility. Only two players, Raquel Clayton and Victoria Brody, are playing in their first-year of eligibility. Women’s head coach, Heather Lafontaine, says she is happy when her team is on a roll, and hopes her players can bring the same play every night come playoffs. “For us, it’s a matter of running our stuff. When we’re rolling, we look really good,” says Lafontaine. “It’s a matter of finding that and making sure we can do that every game. Come playoff time, hopefully we’re at the top end.” The women have five games including a match up against the AlPhotograph by Logan Caswell gonquin Thunder on Feb. 3. The men have seven games left after DC's Brandon Halliburton weaves through a Seneca player. their game against Canadore.

Games in your backyard

Men’s Volleyball: Feb. 12, Durham vs. Canadore, 3 p.m., Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre (CRWC) Women’s Volleyball: Feb. 12, Durham vs. Canadore, 1 p.m., CRWC

Women’s Basketball: Feb. 7, Durham vs. Loyalist, 6 p.m., CRWC Men’s Hockey: Feb. 10, UOIT vs. UQTR, 11 a.m., Campus Ice Centre

Generals: Feb. 12, Oshawa vs. North Men’s Basketball: Feb. 10, Durham vs. Bay, 6:05 p.m., Tribute Communities Centennial, 7 p.m., CRWC Centre


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The Chronicle

February 7 - 13, 2017

chronicle.durhamcollege.ca


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