The Dialog Jan. 25-Feb.7, 2012

Jan. 25 - Feb 7, 2013

George Brown College campus & community news since 1982

Salissou Abdoulkader can play some ball!

GBC student saves man on subway tracks

Half a million Crackdown on students’ international personal student fraud information lost

Don’t be a jerk at work!

Tips on keeping your job

2 Letters

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M O N D AY

T U E S D AY

W E D N E S D AY

The Dialog Jan. 25 - Feb. 7, 2013

T H U R S D AY

F R I D AY Jan. 25 Kings Lounge Grand Opening 1 p.m. – 5 p.m Pub night: the video party 7 p.m. – Midnight Both at Kings Lounge St. James campus.

Jan. 28 Dialog story meeting 10 a.m. - Noon Quiet Lounge, St. James (behind Subway sandwiches)

Jan. 29

Jan. 30

Jan. 31

Feb. 1

Ecofest speakers panel 3 p.m until 4:30 p.m.

Arbor Room in Hart House (University of Toronto). Come out and learn more about a diverse collection of sustainability issues and solutions.

Casino Night Kings Lounge, St. James 4 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Student Association board of directors meeting 5 p.m. room E113, Casa Loma campus. All students welcome to attend.

Weekly beading circle Noon - 2 p.m.

Constituency Community Centre, St. James Campus, Room 165B Join the Aboriginal Students’ Constituency Group every Tuesday from for a weekly beading workshop.

Iconoclast issue launch party 460 Spadina Ave Doors open at 9 p.m.

Raffle prizes!! $5-10 (pay what you can)

Feb. 4

Feb. 5

Feb. 6

Feb. 7

Black Is, Black Ain’t: A Panel on the Politics of the Black Identity 5 p.m.

Thomas Lounge, Student Center, Ryerson University

Deal or No Deal 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Casa Loma – Student Centre

Let’s talk about sex!

A peer-based workshop on all things sex!

3p.m.- 5p.m.

St. James campus - room 165B

OPT-OUT deadline for health benefits (Students who started in September are not eligible).

More info at Student Association offices. Hotline: 416-415-2443 Email: sashbasst@georgebrown. ca

SRC February meeting 5 p.m - 7 p.m.

SJ Career Center Meeting Room

Letter to the editor Re:The greates swindle in Toronto’s history (Jan. 11) If the colonial British had did in 1713 what you advocate in your opinion piece “The Toronto Purchase” and opted for mutual respect, and set aside their foremost God Greed, this country would not be having the racist rooted problems

it is having with our people today, which is costing it billions of dollars annually - great piece.

White supremacist racism is short sighted, very costly and not profitable, sharing is long range profitable for all.

- Mi’kmaw Elder, Dr. Daniel N. Paul, C.M., O.N.S.

r

Dialog Reporters: Preeteesh Peetabh Singh

The Dialog Room E122 - Casa Loma 142 Kendal Avenue Toronto, ON M5R 1M3 www.dialog.studentassociation.ca Tel: 416-415-5000 ext. 2764 Fax: 416-415-2491 sapccoord@georgebrown.ca

UP

Letter from the editor Re: Every issue of The Dialog (yes all of them!)

Thanks for reading The Dialog, I figure if you are taking the time to read this newspaper, you probably have some opinions on the articles we publish. Well, why not let us know they are? Don’t be shy, we want to hear from you and will

publish letters on topics that you are fired up about, regardless if they are covered in this issue or not. We will edit for space and won’t publish hate-speech or anonymous letters but other than that you can write us at: sapccoord@georgebrown.ca or comment on our website.- Mick Sweetman, Managing Editor

Managing Editor: Mick Sweetman SA Publications and Communications Coordinator: Mick Sweetman Dialog Published by: Student Association of George Brown College

George Brown College student newspaper

Drop by in person or send mail:

DAILY

Karen Nickel

Dialog Contributors: Joseph Destua, Ken Corbiere, Gord Hill, Micheal Stefancic, Kristine Wilson Cover photo of Salissou Abdoulkader in action by Micheal Stefancic

The Dialog newspaper is published by the Dialog Collective under the auspices of the Student Association of George Brown College.

The collective is comprised of student editors and reporters and is responsible for the overall vision and direction of the Dialog newspaper, as it coincides with the larger vision of mission of the Student Association.

The cost of producing a monthly newspaper is in part defrayed by advertising revenue and largely subsidized by the Student Association.

Occasionally, some advertisers, products and services do not reflect the policies of the SA. Opinions expressed in the Dialog are not necessarily those of the Dialog Collective, the Student Association of George Brown College, or its editorial staff.

The Dialog will not publish any material that attempts

to incite violence or hatred against individuals or groups, particularly based on race, national origin, ethnicity, colour, gender, sexual orientation, age or disability.

Contributions to the Dialog are always welcome. We request that articles be submitted as digital copies in plain-text (TXT) or rich-text (RTF) format.

Letters to the editor can be sent in an email message to sapccoord@georgebrown.ca.

Images should be in EPS format as vector images or TIF format (Mac or PC). We request that you submit a hard copy of your work. Originals only please.

The Dialog Jan. 25 - Feb. 7, 2013

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News 3

GBC student saves man from subway train

By Preeteesh Peetabh Singh

D

Dialog Reporter

wight Orchard, 23, a plumbing student at George Brown College (GBC) is in the spotlight these days. His heroic act at the St. Clair West subway station earlier this month grabbed a lot of praise and media attention.

It was around noon on Jan. 8 when an unidentified man tumbled down onto the tracks at St. Clair West subway station. According to reports, he seemed to be intoxicated. With the train approaching the station, the man’s fate rested on the almighty.

At the same time, Orchard was on his way to the hospital to get tested for pneumonia. As he stepped down the stairs and walked towards the platform he saw the man fall off on the tracks. Within no time, Orchard dropped his bag and ran towards the victim.

Onlookers on the platform watched in panic as the thunder of the approaching train filled the station.

They shrieked in fear and helplessness as they leaned over the platform, shouting and beckoning the driver to stop.

Orchard was already down on the tracks trying to pick the man up.

In an interview to the City News, Orchard said, “I was seeing the train coming right at us and I was like ‘Oh my god! This is not happening.’”

Meanwhile, TTC workers reacted by cutting off the power at the station hoping the train would stop in time.

Three cars had already entered the station with Orchard was struggling to pick the man up. Within seconds he picked the victim up like a baby and cradled him to safety onto the platform before pulling himself off

the track.

The train stopped after the young man had made the rescue.

“When I got out, I was shaking. It was happening so fast. The only thing I was thinking was to get him out of there. It’s a great feeling to save a life and I would do it again if required”, said Orchard in the interview with City News.

Orchard’s heroics at the station attracted a lot of attention, but instead of basking in the glory he boarded the next train and left for his destination.

Dwight Orchard in September 2012. Photo: Facebook He is hoping to complete become a licensed plumber in the his plumbing course from GBC and future.

583,000 students’ personal information lost I

t was sometime on Nov. 5 in Gatineau, Quebec, that a USB stick was lost. It wasn’t until the next day that the information on it, including the personal information of 583,000 students who took out loans, was noticed to be missing. It was a further eight days until it was reported to the Privacy Commissioner. Now, there’s a class action law suit on behalf of students whose information is, currently, at large.

The “electronic storage device”, according to the Canada Student Loan Program (CSLP), contained over half a million students’, and two hundred and fifty department employees’, personal information; including student loan balances, social insurance numbers, birthdates, and their contact information. The information contained on the USB stick pertained to student loans between 2000 and 2006. It has been determined that students in Quebec, Nunavut and the North West Territories are excluded from this breach of privacy advisory.

By Karen Nickel Dialog Reporter

The CSLP released an official statement hoping to reassure students that there is, “…no evidence at this time that any of the information has been accessed or used for fraudulent purposes…” Further, “…this incident is being taken very seriously and the Office of the Minister (of Human Resources and Skills Development, Diane Finley) has engaged the (RCMP)”.

Minister Finley released a statement on Jan. 11, seeking to assure the students and employees affected, that they will be contacted as long as the Ministry has their current information on file.

Finley wrote, “I want all Canadians to know that I have expressed my disappointment to departmental officials at this unacceptable and avoidable incident in handling Canadians’ personal information. As a result, I have directed that departmental officials take a number of immediate actions to ensure that such an unnecessary situation does not happen again”.

On Jan. 17, Bob Buckingham, a lawyer from Newfoundland and

Labrador, filed a class action lawsuit against the Attorney General.

It claims eight causes of action, including: breach of privacy; breach of contract; and negligence, among others.

Mr. Buckingham claims in his press release that he is filing “on behalf of 2 million Canadians” that he believes to be affected by this breach.

He arrives at this number by factoring in the fact that student loan forms require not only the student’s infor-

mation, but also that of parent’s financial information, as well as, partners and dependants. He claims that, “this violation is the largest known breach of privacy and loss of Canadian citizen’s personal information in the country’s history.”

To find out if your privacy is affected, call toll free (8 a.m.- 8 p.m.

EST): 1-866-855-1866; or, outside of North America 1-416-572-1113; TTY: 1-800-263-5883.

With hundreds of jobs cut from HRSDC, who knows where the lost information is now?

4 Opinion

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The Dialog Jan. 25 - Feb. 7, 2013

Harper listens to oil companies, not Canadians

By Ken Corbiere

Special to The Dialog

S

tephen Harper is not being a leader. Harper is not listening to Canadians. Harper is not leading this country in the direction most Canadians wish to be led. Big business has his ear and he will listen to nothing else.

It has been well documented that through the two omnibus bills, C-38 and C-45, he is carving up the country for oil and gas companies to come in and extract the riches of the land with little or no regard for laws which Canadians have worked so hard to attain.

These laws ensured a place for the enjoyment and prosperity for our children and their children for generations to come.

There was no reason Harper should have been afraid to speak to Theresa Spence or the Assembly of first Nations if he had legitimate reasons for making the changes to the legislation covered in the two bills he put forward.

Greenpeace, through a freedom of information request, was able to uncover a letter from the oil and gas companies that asked the Harper government to change the laws that appeared in the omnibus bills, because it inconvenienced them! The

letter was only one year old! Meanwhile healthcare, women’s rights, Aboriginal land claims are taking years to even take a look at.

The idle no more campaign, started by four women in Saskatchewan, saw the injustices of the laws being passed in these bills and began a fight to bring attention to Canadians.

We have seen this movement grow exponentially in a few short weeks to a movement that has gone worldwide. This is a grassroots movement that has no leaders and is determined to let every Canadian know that Harper is set to damage the country we love and care for.

The Navigable Waters Act looks

tame enough until you realize that this was our only protection for our waterways and water habitats. BillC-38 essentially tore apart many of the Acts that were in place to protect our water. Now only a select few are mentioned.

And the changes to the Indian Act? The First Nations were supposed to have consultations with the government in regard to any changes that affected First Nations policy in this country. This was guaranteed by a Supreme Court ruling against the government, but Harper has all but ignored this law and pushed through his own agenda!

When it comes to gambling, taking precautions just makes sense. safeorsorry.ca Take our quiz online for a chance at a home entertainment system.

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8/7/12 9:45 AM

The Dialog Jan. 25 - Feb. 7, 2013

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Opinion 5

The campus press is a watchdog, don’t chain it

By Mick Sweetman Managing Editor

T

his week has seen the campus press making the news as much as covering it.

The Gazette at Western University is in a hot dispute with the University Students’ Council (USC) over plans to move the paper into a space about half the size of its current office, reportedly to accommodate the needs of the multi-faith room next door.

In a Jan. 16 article, The Gazette’s Editor-in-Chief Gloria Dickie outlines a story of conflict between the USC and The Gazette stemming from a “report card” that was published in April that gave the USC executives a B minus average. Not all that bad of a grade to be honest.

Shortly after publication, copies of the issue went missing from the stands.When school started up again in the fall the USC executive, perhaps taking a page from Toronto mayor Rob Ford’s media strategy, said they would only conduct interviews with Gazette reporters over email and would not do in-person or phone interviews.

The Gazette, like The Dialog, is not fully independent and is one of the few large campus newspapers that is still published by a student union.

At times this relationship can be a tense one as being a credible newspaper requires that it reports fairly and accurately on the student union that publishes it—including things that the student union might not be happy about seeing in print.

While The Gazette and the USC are still talking, the experience underlines that ultimately the campus press is accountable to its readers, who are thee students, not student unions or an institution’s administration.

Meanwhile, what is happening at McGill University strikes at the heart of the campus press’ role as a watchdog of the multi-billion dollar post-secondary sector. McGill has applied to the Commission d’accès à l’information du Québec asking for

permission to disregard Access to aftermath of the 2011-2012 student Information (ATI) requests that they protests.” McGill also alleges that are obligated by law to respond to. the respondents coordinated the reThe targets of McGill’s application quests in a “complex system to acare 14 students. What makes this quire documents and information”. application notable is the fact that To Erin Hudson, The Canadian it seeks not only to discard specific University Press Quebec bureau requests but also seeks a ban on fu- chief and a former McGill Daily ture applications “submitted by the news editor this is a familiar story. respondents or students of McGill “During the student strike some stuor student journalists of The McGill dents felt they were being labeled if Daily and The Link (Concordia Uni- they were active in the strike and versity) or by persons associated to were being monitored, there were McGilliLeaked or by persons that security files on them,” said Hudcould reasonably be linked to such requestors.”

Lola Duffort, news editor for the McGill Daily told me, “What we’re really worried about is that the application is preemptive. The whole point to Access to Information laws are they impose transparency on institutions and if institutions get to decide when those laws apply to them, then those laws are nullified.”

If McGill gets its way, it will essentially be above the law. Request could be denied if McIt is easy to use Humber’s pathways Gill decides they are to turn your diploma into a degree. “overly broad”; “frivApply for advanced standing by olous or target trivial transferring your college credits into any documents and inforone of our 12 business degree programs. mation”; “similar or Your diploma does not have to be identical to previous degree-related to VIP your way into requests”; could be considered to be “asour degree programs. sociated with catego* Those who qualify will receive a one-time scholarship of $2,500; the only one of its kind in Canada. ries of documents and information published on McGilliLeaked” (entire years going back to 2007 are categories); or are “Intended to fail”.

In the application McGill tries to paint the requests as “systemic” and “abusive” and says they are “essentially as business.humber.ca/scholarship a retaliation measure against McGill in the

son, “To accuse students filing ATI requests of a conspiracy harkens back to those days.”

Hudson knows how important access to information is, an awardwinning story she wrote about security at McGill for the Daily would have been all but impossible without information from ATI requests.

Attacks on the freedom of the campus and community press are serious and for all of our sakes, let’s hope they fail.

TURN YOUR DIPLOMA INTO A BUSINESS DEGREE WITH A $2,500* SCHOLARSHIP!

6 Features

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The Dialog Jan. 25 - Feb. 7, 2013

Never idle: a history of indigenous struggle T

he name, Idle No More, unfortunately suggests that people have been idle until now; this is far from the truth. There has been continuous pressure by First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities insisting on exercising their rights to use their land, fish and hunt, but Canada has been negligently slow in recognizing those rights.

In 1969, the Liberal government released its, “Statement of the Government of Canada on Indian Policy”, better known as the White Paper. The White Paper acknowledged discrimination, and inequality, but laid the blame on the treaties. There couldn’t be a wider difference between what each side thought a treaty was.

By Karen Nickel Dialog Reporter

This direct approach, of blockading and occupying increasingly became the face of indigenous sovereignty struggles

The White Paper stated, “The terms and effects of the treaties between the Indian people and the government are widely misunderstood. A plain reading of the words used in the treaties reveals the limited and minimal promises which were included in them”.

The paper argued that treaties created special considerations which caused, “discrimination, isolation and separation” and it called for the integration of “Indians” into the dominant society, by the abolishment of “The Indian Act”; the elimination of the status “Indian”; the removal of “Indian land” from federal jurisdiction to the provinces; and “reserves” being opened to private property ownership (sound eerily familiar? It should).

The response was fast; a policy paper from the Alberta Chiefs called “Citizens Plus” also known as “The Red Paper”, summed up what they believed, “To us who are Treaty Indians there is nothing more important than our treaties, our lands and the well being of our future generations.”

The Red Paper rebutted the government’s position of assimilation section by section as laid out in the White Paper; and held that treaties were agreements with the “Crown” that could not be altered or changed. B.C. chiefs responded with, “A Declaration of Indian Rights: The BC Position Paper”, known as, “The Brown Paper”. The government officially withdrew the White Paper in 1971.

This didn’t happen in an academic bubble though.

Communities across Canada rallied and advocated for themselves.

In B.C., the President of the Indian Homemakers Association, Rose Charlie, went on two “moccasin walks” in an effort to get 140 band chiefs together (the largest assembly in BC history) to strategize how to respond to the ‘White Paper’.

In an interview on the University of B.C.’s Indigenous Foundations website, Charlie states, “I felt it was really important for the chiefs to understand, what is the true content of the Indian White Paper policy”; noting widespread discrimination against Indigenous Peoples.

Charlie helped inspire and found the Indian Brotherhood (later the Assembly of First Nations) and the Native Women’s Association of

Canada.

In the east of Canada in 1969, a different strategy was employed.

The Mohawk people of Akwesasne, (where Ontario, Quebec and the United States meet), blockaded the bridge between Cornwall and the United States. They had exhausted all avenues of getting their grievances heard and with growing frustration decided to stand up and be noticed. This direct approach, of blockading and occupying increasingly became the face of indigenous sovereignty struggles that made it into mainstream Canada’s awareness. Canada would reply with police with batons and tear gas at Burnt Church, the Canadian army at Kanehsatake (near Oka), at Ipperwash there were the OPP bullets, and at Gustafsen Lake the RCMP even used landmines.

This article will continue in part two in the next issue of The Dialog.

Ilustrations by Gord Hill.

The Dialog Jan. 25 - Feb. 7, 2013

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Features 7

The power of stigma and mental illness

By Karen Nickel Dialog Reporter

M

ental illness is caused by a personal weakness. False.

Negative stereotypes, such as this, or the more violent media representations of the dangerous mentally ill patient, can lead people to believe that this is what mental illness looks like. These beliefs contribute to the stigma experienced by persons living with mental illness and their loved ones and contribute to the way they are treated by society.

Sandra Hohener, public educator from the Canadian Mental Health Association, gave a workshop on “Mental Health and Stigma”. She explained how discrimination and

negative attitudes can lead to belittling and violence towards persons with mental health issues; a form of oppression she referred to as “mentalism”. Mentalism leads to social stigmatization, according to Hohener, that “is based on stereotypical and uninformed impressions or characterizations of people living with mental illness” and can, “lead to exclusion through individual or group prejudice”.

Negative emotions about mental illness range from fear to shame and can lead people to believe that persons with mental illnesses are dangerous, or alternately, somehow incapable. Hohener said, “one negative news story can lead to a fearful idea being implanted in

people’s minds, with each successive story adding onto that fear”.

According to Hohener, “those who have a mental illness are three to four times more likely to be victimized rather than victimize others”.

Without learning the truth about mental illness these stereotypes continue to adversely affect people’s lives.

Impacts of being labelled with a mental disorder can be devastating to some people due to this stigma.

People decide they don’t want to seek help, or they are discriminated against in areas of employment, housing and services; they often internalize the stigma and blame themselves for something they never asked for and have no con-

trol over.

Students have many pressures placed upon them; papers, exams, family, relationships and the push for high grades can feel overwhelming. The anxiety is a concern for most students as is depression.

In Hohener’s lecture, she mentioned that 30 per cent of college students felt “so depressed that they found it difficult to function”.

She stated that “one in five people develop a mental illness”; meaning in each class, you interact with at least one person with mental health challenges. Knowing that, will you treat them worse because of it? What if the person next to you treated you differently? That’s the power of stigma.

One night in a Toronto student sex party

By Kristine Wilson The Ryersonian (CUP)

E

veryone is naked.

As the DJ spins music on the first floor of Oasis Aqua Lounge in downtown Toronto, a few men in their 20s sprint from the pool to the hot tub without bathing suits. One floor above them, two women—also naked— are perched on a sex swing.

Across from them, a man — again, naked—is tethered to the wall in chains and leather binds.

These were just a few scenes from Jan. 21’s “epic student sex adventure”, an event organized by the University of Toronto Sexual Education Center (SEC).

The party invited university students from across Toronto to visit Oasis, a waterthemed sex club a few steps north of Ryerson’s campus.

The sex party was one of the first of its kind at a Canadian university. Rather than talk about sex, the event encouraged students to push personal boundaries

and explore their sexuality in a safe environment.

But would anyone show up to the sex party, or was the hype all talk? I went to find out.

On Monday night, a sea of about 200 students formed a line outside Oasis. Protesters walked up and down the line, yelling things like “God loves you!” They were from York University’s United Through Worship student group.

“I think it says something about where our society is going morally,” said Natalie Smith, a member of the group. “This is encouraging them to devalue themselves, whether its STDs or unwanted pregnancy.”

But SEC said they made sure to keep the event as safe and sex-positive as possible; condoms and packets of lube were piled in bowls across the club.

The event had a laid-back vibe; students could grab a drink at one of the many well-stocked bars and a DJ in the corner blasted beats from a turntable.

On the third floor of the club, Ryerson student Kay Poli lounges as couples have sex around him. Pornography is playing on TVs on the walls. For him, the event is nothing new. “I’ve been here before,” Poli said.

“What I like about this sex club is that it’s open to all genders, all orientations.”

In fact, Oasis has hosted dozens of student-friendly events before. According to Jana Matthews, the club’s co-owner, university students are a regular presence at Oasis. “We did the same event with [SEC] last year and … everyone that was here loved it,” Matthews said as she puffed ultra-thin cigarettes in her office.

“It was them that convinced us to have a student night, so many people were interested we started to do it every Monday and we have for the past eight months.”

It’s clear sex clubs are nothing new to university students. Toronto’s sex club scene isn’t huge, but it’s far less underground than one might imagine.

Design Exchange is pleased to announce the second annual

Connect: EnAbling Change Competition,

a provincial, post-secondary design competition.

Open to both undergraduate and graduate students, this multi-disciplinary competition seeks to explore design that is accessible to the greatest number of people, to the largest extent possible, regardless of age or ability.

For more info, go to dx.org/connect Submit by May 1, 2013

8 Sports

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The Dialog Jan. 25 - Feb. 7, 2013

Salissou Abdoulkader hopes to play in Europe

By Preeteesh Peetabh Singh Dialog Reporter

“C

ome on man, I don’t want you to put that in, people will start calling me names! Ah well, ok, I’ll tell you one of my secret locker room names; Salamander.” said Salissou Abdoulkader with his sly and mischievous smile.

Star basketball player of the George Brown College (GBC) Huskies, Abdoulkader has places to go and dreams to fulfill in his life.

Abdoulkader spent most of his childhood in Niger, Africa. When he came to Canada at the age of 11, he did not know English. He started off his education from a French school in Ontario named École secondaire Étienne-Brûlé. It was in high school that he accidently laid the foundation of basketball in his career when his friends took him for a tryout.

“I was not into basketball, or any kind of sports. I liked wrestling.”

After the tryout he started following the game, and liking it. He started getting better, practicing harder, running better and shooting better. People started noticing him. He eventually ended up playing for his school team, which was the only team that won the French tournament in Ontario at that time. He was also the MVP for three years in school.

Abdoulkader came to GBC in 2009 for a course in electromechanical engineering. It turned out to be a bad decision. “I didn’t want to do it but my dad asked me to take it, so I did.”

He switched over to general arts and science the following year and then finally got into hotel management in 2011.

He now plans to own a hotel and run it.

Showing an example of his determination, he says, “If you work hard for something that you really want, eventually it’s going to come to you.” He aims to be competitive in the hotel business by going one step further than his competitors in every possible aspect.

Abdoulkader hangs around mostly with his Huskies teammates. “Sometimes when we go to clubs, we buy a couple of beer, dance, jump around, and have fun. Basically we like to

get att e n tion”, he says w i t h h i s wicked grin.

Other t h a n getting attention he likes playing video games, driving around, eating out and reading Salissou Abdoulkader works and plays hard for the Huskies. Photo: Preeteesh Peetabh Singh / The Dialog books about money and finance. His most recently read book being 48 Laws of Power. He works part-time for the GBC athletics as a supervisor.

Shan Wilson, one of Abdoulkader’s co-workers at GBC says, “He is a very nice person. Always looks out for the best interest of others.

He helps his teammates both on and off the court.” While his friend Terril Murray says that they can always count on him.

The 22 year old has his goals set.

He reveals his plan of action. “After graduating from GBC I might as well go to Memorial University of Newfoundland for a year or two, to hone my basketball skills at university level.” He intends to play in Europe in a few years at lower pro or semi pro level.

“I am not the best, but I can certainly play some basketball. I have to build my way up gradually, and I believe that can be achieved by playing overseas.”

He finally wishes to settle in South Africa, with a hotel business, although basketball remains his first preference any day.

In his message to young budding basketball players, he keeps is simple just like his personality, “Listen to your coach and have fun.”

The Dialog Jan. 25 - Feb. 7, 2013

Sports 9

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WOLFPACKTICKER

By Jason Miller

Huskies 53 – Loyalist 36 (Kayla Higgins 13, Shan Wilson 13)

GBC Athletics

Men’s Basketball Standings - East Wins Losses Points Seneca 12 1 24 Centennial 11 2 22 George Brown 10 2 20 Algonquin 10 3 20 Loyalist 8 5 16 St. Lawrence 7 6 14 La Cite 6 7 12 Durham 3 9 6 Fleming 2 9 4 Georgian 1 12 2 Cambrian 0 14 0 Huskies 73 – Loyalist 75 (Bruno Silvestrin 17, Akai Netty 10) Huskies 69 – Centennial 66 (Salissou Abdoulkader 23, Dwayne Harrison 10) Huskies 91 – Cambrian 34 (Salissou Abdoulkader 18, Ricardo Brown 14) OCAA Stats: Bruno Silvestrin 21st with 14.3 points per game Sal Abdoulkader 27th with 13.7 points per game Women’s Basketball Standings - East Wins Losses Points Algonquin 12 0 24 St. Lawrence 9 2 18 Loyalist 7 4 14 Centennial 7 5 14 Seneca 7 5 14 George Brown 6 5 12 Fleming 5 5 10 Durham 2 9 4 Cambrian 2 10 4 Georgian 0 12 0

Huskies 60 – Centennial 62 (Kara Da Silva 10, Julie Kheidr 10) Huskies 69 – Cambrian 43 (Melissa Vilar 17, Cassandra Powell 13) OCAA Stats: Shan Wilson 23rd with 11.6 points per game Aria Charles 27th with 11 points per game Kayla Higgins 41st with 8.8 points per game Melissa Vilar 42nd with 8.8 points per game Men’s Volleyball Standings - East Wins Losses Points Seneca 13 1 26 Durham 11 2 22 Algonquin 11 3 22 George Brown 10 4 20 Georgian 8 6 16 La Cite 8 6 16 Loyalist 6 8 12 Fleming 5 8 10 Trent 2 12 4 Cambrian 1 12 2 Boreal 0 13 0 Huskies 0 – Algonquin 3 (Theo Gordon 6 kills, Stephen Duong 4 kills) Huskies 3 – La Cite 1 (Edwin Sheon 13 kills, Stephen Duong 11 kills) Huskies 0 – Durham 3 (Edwin Sheon 10 kills, Richard Serote 8 digs) Huskies 3 – Loyalist 1 (Edwin Sheon 10 kills, 10 Digs, 3 aces, Theo Gordon 9 kills, six digs, 1 ace) OCAA Stats: Sheon 12th with 3.8 points per set Duong 33rd with 2.9 points per set Gordon 37th with 2.7 points per set

Women’s Volleyball Standings - East Wins Losses Points Durham 12 1 24 Cambrian 11 2 22 Georgian 11 3 22 Trent 11 3 22 Algonquin 8 6 16 Seneca 7 7 14 La Cite 6 8 12 Loyalist 6 8 12 Fleming 2 11 4 George Brown 1 13 2 Boreal 0 13 0 Huskies 0 – Algonquin 3 (Vanetta Martens 4 kills, Iris Su Wong 4 kills) Huskies 0 – La Cite 3 (Michelle Lo 3 kills, 2 aces, Averil Luck 1 kill, 1 ace, 2 blocks) Huskies 0 – Loyalist 3 (Iris Su Wong 7 kills, 7 digs, Michelle Lo 2 kills, 9 digs) OCAA Stats: Avril Luck 26th with 2.6 points per set Upcoming Home Games Men’s/ Women’s Volleyball Jan. 26 Huskies vs Cambrian 6 p.m. / 8 p.m.

Jan. 27 Huskies vs Boreal 1 p.m. / 3 p.m.

Feb. 8 Huskies vs Fleming 6 p.m. / 8 p.m.

Feb 9 Huskies vs Trent 2 p.m./ 4 p.m.

All Games held in Alex Barbier Gymnasium aka The Husky Den Men`s/ Women’s Basketball Feb. 1 Huskies vs Loyalist 6 p.m. / 8 p.m.

Feb 2 Huskies vs St. Lawrence 1 p.m. / 3 p.m.

Feb. 6 Huskies vs Seneca 6 p.m. / 8 p.m.

All Games held in the Alex Barbier Gym aka The Husky Den Twitter: Tweeting about GBC Athletics?

Use the hastag #huskynation and follow us @GBC_Huskies for all the latest news and scores.

BADMINTON . BASEBALL . BASKETBALL . CROSS COUNTRY OUTDOOR SOCCER . INDOOR SOCCER .VOLLEYBALL

www.athletics.georgebrown.ca

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The Dialog Jan. 25 - Feb. 7, 2013

Don’t be a jerk at work! Tips on etiquette

By Preeteesh Peetabh Singh

“Y

Dialog Reporter

ou are hired!”

Congratulations, you are new on the job and looking to make an impression. That is a great attitude to have but it isn’t enough. If you want to keep that job, keep a few things in mind next time you enter the office.

Conducting yourself in a professional manner is vital. You might be sent packing in a hurry if you screw up this part. Here are some of the most common bloopers at the workplace.

Daniela Mastragostino, the founder of Nove Image Consulting, recently held a workshop with George Brown students and offered some crucial tips.

Image: It has been universally accepted that visual language communicates more powerfully than verbal language. First impressions are often based on how you look. Don’t

expect your boss to accept the tattoo on your neck or a pierced eyebrow without wincing. It’s best to keep them under wraps in a business setting.

Revealing or inappropriate dress is a common blunder which people make. Deep cut tops and printed shirts with rude slogans are a big nono. Mastragostino said “It’s amazing how many interviewers have given me this feedback that candidates wear inappropriate clothes which attracts unwanted attention on the clothes and not on the person. It’s a big turn off.”

Weak handshakes, poor punctuality and a lack of a business card can make you seem timid. It reveals no confidence, no commitment and lack of conviction. Scribbling your name on a napkin is just not done in a professional environment.

Follow the dress code and be aware of what is allowed—it depends from one workplace to another. Casual

Friday is not a Halloween party; you are still working dress appropriately.

Build up confidence by making eye contact and offering firm handshakes that are less than three seconds long.

Offer your full name instead of your twitter handle and get into the habit of exchanging business cards and not Facebook friend requests.

Behavior: Unnecessary chatting/ texting/surfing on that smart phone, poor eating habits, lack of respect of a co-worker’s personal space, swearing to make yourself heard or getting intimate with a co-worker are some of the behavioral mistakes which people often commit.

Most phone calls are unnecessary, period. They can be avoided. If you really have to take the call, speak quietly or excuse yourself. Otherwise voicemail should do the trick.

Do not speak with your mouth full while eating and chew discreetly.

Other than that, give space and respect to co-workers and interact

from a distance. Don’t be too touchy or pushy.

Conversation: The way you converse with others at office is vital for your credibility. Don’t indulge in taboo topics, gossip, and office politics. Bosses like employees who are willing to take initiative and responsibility. So do not let them guide you everything step by step, in short don’t ask too many foolish questions.

Discussing personal matters, religion or sex is off limits in a workplace. It might end you up in trouble with possible harassment charges.

Inappropriate office jokes are not acceptable, think before you speak.

Remember that you are at work not with your buddies.

Finally, try to be aware of the working culture around you and adapt to it, taking cues from co-workers around you. These common etiquettes will take to a long way in the professional world.

Crackdown on international student fraud

By Preeteesh Peetabh Singh

S

Dialog Reporter

tudents from all over the world come to Canada every year for higher education. According to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), this number is close to 100,000 per year. It might not be the case anymore.

CIC has proposed regulatory changes which will limit study permits to international students starting January 2014. This crackdown is a result of poor quality programs running in some institutions, which allow entry entry of foreign nationals into Canada.

Immigration fraud is rampant is Canada these days with inclusion of unlicensed agents and lawyers, who exploit students by creating a way for them to enter the country through legal means but with illegal intentions.

Nikhil Gulati, International Student Representative at the Student Association said, “I encourage people who come to Canada just

to work, to come as foreign workers but not as students. These student are not only affecting their future but also the future student of George Brown and other colleges and universities by taking a seat which is more deserved by other international or domestic students.”

This issue had been building up since 2006 when a report was released by Canada Border Services Agency (CSBA) – Pacific region, stating that some of the students were linked to organized criminal activities such as drug trafficking, smuggling and prostitution. The CSBA evaluated that student related fraud is a great risk to immigration program’s integrity, public safety and national security.

Currently, study permits can be issued to students attending any type of educational institution, even if it is not accredited, governed, supervised by the ministry or held liable to a standard body. The legal process involving the verification of students slows down processing of

valid applications.

Students, who drop courses, do not register or not attend classes, can still remain legally in Canada until the expiration of their study permit.

During this time they have full access to the Canadian labour market, which often results in illegal work.

According to Canada Gazette, the official newspaper of the Government of Canada, the proposed amendment places firm insistence on high-quality study permit applications and quality education. The changes include: • Limiting study permits to students attending school in designated learning institutions.

• Establishing new study permits conditions requiring all students to enroll and actively pursue a course or program of study after arrival in Canada.

• Allowing issuance of removal orders in circumstances where students are not complying with their study permit conditions.

• Limiting access to international

student work permit programs to eligible study permit holders attending a designated educational learning institution; and • Authorizing international students attending designated institutions to work part-time during their studies providing they hold a valid study permit and are enrolled full-time in academic, vocational, or professional training program of duration of at least six months.

“Canada is on the way towards being anti-immigrant, following countries like America and Europe where it is harder for a student to stay and work.” said Alena Khabibullina, an international student from Russia studying marketing at GBC, “We as students do want to work in the country to get some exposure by applying our knowledge which we learn in school. There is no point going back to our respective countries after finishing our studies. If a student is talented why not give them a chance to stay?”

The Dialog Jan. 25 - Feb. 7, 2013

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