Feb 18, 2014 Black History Month issue by The Dialog

Feb. 18–Mar. 3, 2014

VADIM HALIMOV SMASHES THREE OCAA RECORDS P.4

BLACK HISTORY MONTH Escaped slaves inspire campaign to name new GBC residence P.9 Wendy Roberts-Simpson: Athlete, mother, & mentor P.6

GBC Student Newspaper • Founded 1982

NEWS February 18 –March 3, 2014

Casa Loma students weigh in on Student Centre renovations TINA TODARO STAFF REPORTER

The Student Association (SA) wanted your ideas and now they have them. On Feb. 5 and 6, the SA held a “World Café” where students got to share their ideas for the Casa Loma renovations. “All the ideas we receive, will be compiled,” said Margot Thompson, senior consultant for Educational Consulting Services (ECS). “We will try to improve all the things that need improving based on the ideas discussed.” Four tables of students discussed what they’d like to see in the soon-to-be improved student centre, each group getting 10 minutes to share their ideas with each other. “Like the water bottle stations we already have, we should have a hot water station as well,” said Yanze Wu from the architecture technician program. Among the students who registered for the World Café, Rauoua’a Al-khanti

from the general arts and science program complained about the current TV screens, “there’s no sound and I have to read the subtitles, so I don’t pay attention.” “The games area is too noisy,” said AlKhanti. “Maybe some new games as well.” With the most obvious areas in need of improvement discussed first, Shavaughn Kerr from the computer systems technology program shared some technical input saying, “The sound system is not being used properly.” Ali Shahid, director of Public Relations for the SA suggested the possible implementation of “cinema nights.” Students felt that the existing student centre lacked comfortable seating and natural light, which were amongst the initial ideas by the SA at the Jan. 21 board of directors meeting. Existing provisions such as displays, projectors and the current metropass outlet worked well in the student centre. With all the students’ ideas being con-

sidered, Waqas Malik, planner from ECS said. “We will be looking for major themes, among the ideas, for the renovations.” Nicolas Kiriakou, Casa Loma campus director said, “It was good seeing people from

different programs not only participating, but sharing their ideas from their student perspective.” With the World Café now complete, consultants have gathered the input and will

This concrete pit, which can be seen from every floor at Casa Loma campus, may be up for renovation.

PHOTOS: PREETEESH PEETABH SINGH/THE DIALOG

THE DIALOG IS... Managing Editor Mick Sweetman News Editor Preeteesh Peetabh Singh Art Director/Illustrator Samantha Bullis Multimedia Reporter Danilo Barba Staff Reporters Alena Khabibullina Tina Todaro Brittany Barber Contributors Jason Miller Thomas Chung Cover photo by Thomas Chung. Follow us on Social Media! Facebook.com/thedialogonline Twitter: @thedialogonline

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 Student Association. 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 T he Dialog are always welcome. We request that articles be submitted as digital copies in plain-text (TXT) or richtext (RTF) format. Letters to the editor can be sent in an email message to dialog@georgebrown.ca. Images should be in EPS format as vector images or TIF format (Mac or PC).

Drop by or contact The Dialog at: 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 dialog@georgebrown.ca The Dialog newspaper is published by The Dialog Collective under the auspices of the Student Association of George Brown College. The collective 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.

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The Dialog is published by the Student Association of George Brown College

The Dialog is a member of CUP, the Canadian University Press

DAILY CHECK UP February 18 –March 3, 2014

February 18 – March 7, 2014 MONDAY

TUESDAY 18

Spotlight On Israeli Culture Various times, prices, and venues between Feb 1 and March 31 spotlightonisraeliculture.com

24 Mo Mondays 6 p.m. 279 Yonge. Motivational event with comedy. $15, $10 in advance.

3 Viola Desmond Award Ceremony 5 – 8:30 p.m. Ryerson, Podium Building, POD250, 350 Victoria.

WEDNESDAY

CBC Connects Wednesdays, 12–1 p.m. CBC Broadcasting Atrium, 250 Front St. W. Free.

Learn to Skate Various times and prices. Harbourfront Centre Rink, 235 Queen’s Quay W. Pre-register harbourfrontcentre.com/learntoskate

Ladies Night: Kings Lounge 11 a.m.–8 p.m. Kings Lounge, St. James. Come to the Kings Lounge for a fully pamper ed experience with themed drinks and free manicures

Toronto Swing Dance Society 8 p.m. Lithuanian House, 1573 Bloor W.

Etsy Shop 101 7– 9 p.m. Uniiverse, 111 Jarvis. Pre-register uniiverse.com/listings.

Casino Day: Casa Loma 11 a.m. Casa Loma Student Centre. It doesn’t matter if you’re a seasoned vet or just a beginner. There will be no money but there will be prizes.

FRIDAY 21

Punk Rock Bingo 9 p.m. The Beaver, 1192 Queen W.

Men’s Undies Only Yoga 5:30 p.m. Glad Day Bookshop, 598 Yonge. $20, $15 students. $2 mat rental.

THURSDAY

Queering Black History Month 5:30 p.m. Ryerson Student Centre, SCC115, 55 Gould. Free.

Casino Day: St. James 11 a.m. Kings Lounge. It doesn’t matter if you’re a seasoned vet or just a beginner. There will be no money but there will be prizes.

Toronto ComiCon http://www.comicontoronto.com/

Minimum wage to go up to $11 for workers in Ontario DANILO BARBA MULTIMEDIA REPORTER

Come June 1, the minimum wage, frozen since 2010, will rise from $10.25 to $11 an hour in Ontario. From 2008 to 2010, the minimum wage went up by $2.25 an hour, a 28 per cent increase over three years. This year, however, it won’t reach half this amount. The announcement, made on Jan. 30, brought forth considerable discussion on the chances of growth in the unemployment rate and cutting hours. On the other hand, the action compensates for the seven per cent hike on consumer prices during the last four years. “The increase on minimum wage will have immense effects on my life. Being a student who is trying to juggle a job as well is very overwhelming,” said Tiffany Jones, student of medical office administration at

George Brown College (GBC). “Although the increase won’t have a large impact on my net pay, having a minimal increase will alleviate some of the stress.” When asked what would be an effective minimum wage for her today, Jones said that based on rental prices $13 an hour would be fair. “If that’s the case then I don’t see how it would make any kind of impact in my life. Do I think it’s enough? Unfortunately I don’t think it is,” said Emilia Soza, also a medical office administration student at GBC. “The cost of living in Toronto, and I imagine in most cities in Ontario, has gone up every year along with food prices, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. I know plenty of people who struggle with just $11 an hour” Students working part-time at the Student Association (SA) will also see a pay hike.

Mohammad Ali Aumeer, the SA’s director of Education and Equity said, “Part-timers will be paid $13.75 an hour from June 1.” While labour and community groups, including the Canadian Federation of Students–of which the SA is a member–were calling for the minimum wage to be raised to $14 an hour, the SA’s policy is to pay 125 per cent of the minimum wage as the base wage for part-time staff. It does not necessarily mean more job positions will be available for students in the near future. “We want to make sure students are not only making their money, but also reaping experience while offering good services. It’s all about doing a good job,” said Aumeer, stating that the hiring will depend on demand. With the rising minimum wage, the question still remains: will a 75 cent increase be enough to lift workers out of poverty?

Mohammad Ali Aumeer, the SA’s Director of Education and Equity. PHOTO: MOHAMMAD ALI AUMEER

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SPORTS

February 18 –March 3, 2014

A triumphant Vadim Halimov is held aloft by proud teammates after a record-breaking win against Seneca, his former school.

PHOTO: BRITTANY BARBER/THE DIALOG

Halimov smashes records with a dramatic 95-94 win over Seneca BRITTANY BARBER STAFF REPORTER

Swoosh. This is the sound that George Browns’ own Vadim “The Dream” Halimov hears on a daily basis when the basketball leaps from his fingertips and swishes into the net averaging an astounding 30 points per game. This Valentine’s Day proved to be the sweetest one yet for OCAA all-star Halimov as he surpassed the OCAA all-time scoring record set by Anthony Batchelor, a former Durham College player. Halimov also broke a record that stood for 40 years for the most points in a single 4

season, formally set by George Brown player Marv Snowden in 1974, racking up 586 points so far this season. On Tuesday, Halimov broke a third record set by Centennial’s Perry Doukas in 1975 with 161 free throw points this season. A team player does whatever it takes to win,” said Halimov who proved it in Friday’s game against Seneca College, his former school, winning the game 95-94 for the Huskies on his final shot with one second left on the clock. Some may say Halimov is a prodigy while others may say he is a phenomenon. While both may be true, overall he is a leader and an inspiration.

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The mentality Halimov possesses on and off the court is outstanding as he maintains a 3.96 Grade Point Average in the business marketing program while being a strong candidate for the OCAA Player of the Year and Athlete of the Year at George Brown. The 25 year old, 6’6” guard has ranks first in field goals, free throws, overall points scored and points per game in the OCAA’s east fivision. “I visualize the game and I envision the shots I’m going to take before the game.” Halimov says when asked how he prepares mentally prior to playing. “[My record] has changed how other people play me, not how I play.” The easiest way to spot the Uzbekistan

native on the court is by his bright pink shoes and colourful mid-calf socks with a breast cancer ribbon imprinted on the back. Halimov excelled in soccer until his arrival in Toronto at the age of 15 where he picked up playing basketball to prove his friend who said he couldn’t play basketball wrong. For the future, Halimov hopes to play professional basketball either overseas in Europe or Asia or to stay to play in the Canadian league. Reaching his final year of eligibility in the OCAA, Halimov has set new records and raised the standard for points scored in a game, resulting in the Huskies never settling for anything less than the best.

SPORTS February 18 –March 3, 2014

Pyjama-clad volleyball teams raise funds for kids BRITTANY BARBER STAFF REPORTER

As you enter the Alex Barbier gymnasium, you’re greeted with rowdy fans dressed in their pyjamas. Monday, Feb. 10 marked the beginning of a volleyball tournament from Jan. 29 that was postponed due to weather conditions. The men’s and women’s volleyball teams played the Loyalist Lancers, a team ranked directly under George Brown College (GBC). This game wasn’t all about the volleyball. Donations are being collected on behalf of The Children’s Wish Foundation until the end of February to raise money for wishes placed by children who are facing a terminal illness. The wishes range from personal computers to trips to Disney World. With 19,000 wishes already granted at

approximately $10,000 per wish, the foundation accepts donations of any amount. “Kids wear pyjamas and kids always have pyjama parties and we want to wear pyjamas,” said Janelle Emanuel, GBC Athletics’ marketing and sponsorship co-ordinator. The crowd was dressed in robes and ninja turtle pants to support the event. “Most of the money collected so far has mainly come from students and staff,” said Emanuel. “My minimum goal was $500 but I’m pretty sure we beat that.” GBC Athletics posted on Facebook that $564 had been raised at the event. The pyjamas came off the players exposing their Huskies uniforms as the women’s volleyball team stepped onto the court. The players had their game faces on as the first set began. The Huskies won all three sets and their excitement showed as they highfived each other at the end of the match.

The men’s volleyball team started their matches against the Loyalist Lancers who are ranked fourth in the east division in the OCAA. Players on both teams warmed up in fleece pyjama pants and onesies. There was barely anywhere to stand on the crowded bleachers thanks to the men’s basketball team who was there to cheer for their peers during a crucial tournament game. Onlooker Michael Grasso commenting on why he came to support the team, said, “I remember when going to a volleyball game at George Brown when it consisted of cheap plastic chairs. Now they have a mascot, raucous crowd and even a touching event for Children’s Wish Foundation.” The men’s volleyball team played a total of four sets, losing only the second with a final score of 3-1. The Huskies have a record of 12-5 with their final game against Seneca on Wednesday.

Sports Score Updates

Women’s Volleyball Georgian 3 George Brown 0 Canadore 3 George Brown 0 George Brown 3 Loyalist 0 Seneca 3 George Brown 0 George Brown is in seventh place in the OCAA East and do not qualify for playoffs. Men’s Volleyball George Brown 3 Georgian 1 George Brown 3 Canadore 0 George Brown 3 Loyalist 1 George Brown 3 Seneca 0 OCAA Playoffs George Brown 3 Redeemer 1 George Brown qualifies for the OCAA Provincial Tournament held at Georgian College. Women’s Basketball Algonquin 69 George Brown 40 Seneca 56 George Brown 55 George Brown is sixth in the OCAA East Men’s Basketball Algonquin 84 George Brown 72 George Brown 92 La Cite 65 George Brown 96 Seneca 95 George Brown is second in OCAA East Women`s Indoor Soccer Sheridan College Soccer Invitational Redeemer 1 George Brown 0 George Brown 0 Sheridan 0 George Brown 0 Durham 0 Men`s Indoor Soccer Sheridan College Soccer Invitational George Brown 1 Redeemer 1 Sheridan 2 George Brown 1 Durham 1 George Brown 0 Badminton Mixed Doubles: Ching-Yung (Henry) Chen and Helen Shen 5th (one win – four losses) Men`s Doubles: Ogyen Dorjee and Kent Cao 4th – lost in Semi-finals to Humber 21-19, 21-10. Women`s Doubles Yujia (Nina) Chen and Yunji Kim 4th – lost in semi-finals to Humber 21-12, 21-9.

Huskies take to the court clad in pyjamas as part of a special game dedicated to raising money for The Children’s Wish Foundation.

PHOTO: BRITTANY BARBER/THE DIALOG

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BLACK HISTORY MONTH FEATURE February 18 –March 3, 2014

WENDY ROBERTS - SIMPSON Athlete, mother, & mentor PREETEESH PEETABH SINGH NEWS EDITOR

PHOTO: PREETEESH PEETABH SINGH/THE DIALOG

Wendy Roberts-Simpson is a woman of stature. Starting as a placement student from Centennial, she has now been working for more than four years at George Brown College (GBC). Now the Athletic member’s service specialist, Roberts-Simpson takes care of the daily running of the facility. She hires and supervises staff, takes care of the facility, rentals, transportation and accommodation for all varsity athletes. “I love George brown, I love athletics, and the people I work with are amazing. This is a really good group to work with. We are like family up here,” said Roberts-Simpson. Ed Mark, manager of athletics at GBC says, “Wendy is really passionate about her job. It’s infectious how much time she spends here. She goes above and beyond, way more than I expect. She will do anything she possibly can to help out students with all sorts of problems.” “I was born in Trinidad but my mother left me with my aunt and uncle in St. Vin6

cent, because when I was born, her papers came for her to come to Canada and be with my dad. I came here four years later,” said Roberts-Simpson. “I didn’t know her as my mother until I was four.” Roberts-Simpson’s parents were divorced when she was young and her mother remarried when she was nine. That’s when she left Scarborough and moved to Pickering. “Was it a good life?” she reflects. “Maybe for others in my family, but I was kind off the black sheep. I became close to my stepfather only when I had my own child. My stepfather has now passed, but I am glad we had that time where we did bond. He taught be lot of stuff about life.” Roberts-Simpson was an athlete. She played every sport that was in school; crosscountry running, soccer, basketball and volleyball until she went to grade nine when her gym teacher, who was also a volleyball coach for a club team, asked her to tryout for volleyball. “After that I decided to drop all my

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sports and focus on one sport that I loved, volleyball,” said Roberts-Simpson She played for the volleyball club team until she was 23. Now 43, Roberts-Simpson says that she likes playing volleyball but she can’t play anymore. She broke her foot seven years ago while walking her dog, Milo, when he ran into her. “I can’t jump. I can’t play on the club team.” However she is getting therapy done on her foot as she aims to play in an upcoming tournament in March. One of her biggest regrets was missing out on the chance of going to university for volleyball. “I just made my friends real important for me before volleyball. It wasn’t worth it,” said Roberts-Simpson. “That’s thing I try to instill in my kids, it’s good to have friends, but when you want something don’t let anything hold you back.” Roberts-Simpson had her first daughter Shante when she was about to turn 19. She had to drop out school to focus on her kid

for a while. She also started working full time during that time. Roberts-Simpson worked with Ford as a detailer for some time. “I walked in, I said, ‘I know you are hiring, I have never done this before but I know I can do this job. Give me three months and I’ll show you.’ And they hired me.” She got laid off after a year due to the shop closing. But she was happy, as she got another chance to go back to school and finish it this time. She also worked as a bodyguard for some international tennis players like Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Roddick. “Andy Roddick is not a good man, he is very chauvinistic, full of himself and he thinks he is better than everybody around. Federer is a nice guy; Nadal is a super, super nice guy,” said Roberts. “That year, 2008, Nadal had a death threat. So we had to be very, very careful with him.” It was then, Roberts-Simpson’s life took a tragic turn. “My oldest daughter, Shante, who would have been 25 last week, was killed in a car accident,” she said breaking down. It’s been more than four years now and she is still fighting for justice. Roberts-Simpson is currently living with husband Shaun, and kids Janeal, 19; Michael, 15 and Enyce, 12. Talking about her youngest daughter Enyce, Roberts-Simpson narrates, “This Friday she called me and said, ‘mom I want to do something with you.’ I said okay be creative and think of something, not a movie. She calls me back and says, ‘let’s go out for dinner.’ I said ‘that’s not creative!’ So I took her to Baskin Robbins and then drove north, way north of Brock Road. I kept telling her that I am trying to get to a dark place.” “Finally I found a spot, it was a dead end. I pulled in. The vehicle had a sunroof. I opened it and asked my daughter to look up. She was like ‘wow!’. She loves looking at stars. So we put our seats back and spent time there looking at stars trying to find the big dipper; the small dipper.” Roberts-Simpson loves doing different activities, camping, skiing, snowboarding and fishing. “I love fishing, during summer time I drive with a fishing rod in my car in case I see somewhere I want to stop.” When her stepfather retired, he bought Robert-Simpson’s mother a hotel in St. Vincent which her mother is still running back there. “That’s my escape. When I need to escape this world, I go there. It’s called Tranquility Hotel and its very tranquil,” she says laughing. “It’s right at the beach, I wake up, swim early in the morning, swim three times a day and I eat good food.” When asked about when she was planning her next escape, she said, “Actually, I have been checking for flights on a regular basis because the winter is killing me. Not because of the cold, but I find it grey and dry. I need some salt water and sun.”

BLACK HISTORY MONTH FEATURE February 18 –March 3, 2014

African Expo recognizes the contributions of black inventors

Angelita Elliott shows an early cell phone at the All African Inventors Exhibit at Casa Loma on Feb. 3.

What does black history month mean to you?

TINA TODARO STAFF REPORTER

African contributions paved the way for present and future inventors. Showcased at George Brown College (GBC) this month was the African Expo, a timeline of African inventors who have helped create a foundation for current technological advances. “This is the International All-African Inventors Museum and today we are showcasing our new exhibit called the Space Science and Exploration Exhibit,” said Angelita Elliott, owner and curator. “This exhibit showcases people who are in the Inventors Hall of Fame, The Manhattan Project, NASA pioneers, and pioneers of the computer as well as the video game.” As one of the largest travelling museums, this exhibit features over 400 inventions and contributions by African men, women and children. Elliott says this is just a small sample of the exhibit, the bigger one featuring more than 30 tables. Racism has been an on-going issue, and through this exhibit Elliott has captured the essence of those who faced racism and discrimination in the face of success. “Some of the inventors that I feature are a little bitter despite their accomplishments, because they felt that racism played a huge part in their accomplishments even though they went on and did great things,” said Elliott. “Some of them felt that they were academically cheated when they went to University.” Elliott is making students aware of the heritage behind many inventions. Travelling to offices, schools, and even jails, she teaches people about African heritage and history. Elliott believes that this generation is very into self, and selfies, and she hopes that students ask themselves, “How am I going to contribute to the world? How am I going to make a difference? And how am I going to make an impact?” As students and youth walk around using all types of technology, they fail to realize the background behind each device, those who were marginalized and discriminated against while creating the basis for future advances. “I want people to see how these men and women have touched our lives in every way,” said Elliott. “It’s our responsibility to carry on the legacy.”

Black history month is appreciated, but I don’t think it can be expressed in only one month.

– Tracy Hendrix Assaulted women & children’s counsellor/advocate program

PHOTO: TINA TODARO/THE DIALOG

CALL FOR ENTRIES

CONNECT: ENABLING CHANGE POST-SECONDARY DESIGN COMPETITION 2013 – 14

CONNECT: ENABLING CHANGE IS A PROVINCIAL, POST-SECONDARY DESIGN COMPETITION EXPLORING DESIGN THAT IS ACCESSIBLE TO THE GREATEST NUMBER OF PEOPLE, TO THE LARGEST EXTENT POSSIBLE, REGARDLESS OF THEIR AGE OR ABILITY,

It gives us the opportunity to be able to address important aspects of our history and our lives. It gives us a chance to put a lot of things into perspective in terms of who we are, where we are from and where we are going. – Hosea Sherwood Liberal Arts

ACROSS ALL DESIGN DISCIPLINES. OPEN TO ALL ONTARIO UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS IN ALL DESIGN FIELDS.

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Change is recognition of the past and faith of the present.

PRESENTED BY

– Jerome Mattison Community Worker Program PHOTOS: PREETEESH PEETABH SINGH/THE DIALOG

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OPINION February 18 –March 3, 2014

What does black history month mean to you?

Mature students should get Ontario tuition grant

TINA TODARO

For years, black Canadians have been excluded from the history books. It’s an opportunity to celebrate what it means to be a person of colour. Black history shows that black people shows a mosaic. We are not the same, we all are different. – Cleoni Crawford Transition to post-secondary education

Black history month is a great concept but it has to be diversified into other black cultures namely, black Canadians, West Indian, and black Africans; not only black Americans. – Nikee Neil Con-Ed Accounting

– Clayton Carimbocas GBC women’s volleyball coach

PHOTOS: PREETEESH PEETABH SINGH/THE DIALOG

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the next four years. Currently Ontario has the largest tuition fees, which presents a problem for students who are paying their own fees. Woods believes, “the government should actually invest the money in lowering tuition fees.” According to CFS-Ontario, less than one-quarter of Ontario students will receive the 30 per cent off tuition grant. How does this grant help students if mature students, the ones who need the assistance more so than a student transitioning from post-secondary, are not eligible? There are other grants given out for other students, but the criteria for those are also specific and will not help all students.

ILLUSTRATION: SAMANTHA BULLIS/THE DIALOG

It is one of the month I look forward to all year because it gives us an opportunity to remember the people who have made it possible for us to be in the position we are in today.

It would be beneficial for mature students to be able to receive the tuition grant of 30 per cent through Ontario Student Assistance Plan (OSAP), but when considering post-secondary education, many of them won’t even be eligible. Students entering post-secondary education from high school may need the extra cost assistance, but what about students who are already in college or university struggling to pay for their education? Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and University (MTCU) states that the 30 per cent off tuition grant is to help students make a smooth transition from high school to post-secondary. The 30 per cent off eligibility wizard quiz at www.ontario.ca had three questions: 1. Are you an Ontario Resident? 2. Are you a Canadian Citizen? 3. Are you taking part-time or full-time studies? It not enough to determine the eligibility of a student considering that the criteria is intensive and there is a lot more to it than just these three questions. Students should be asked about their current employment status, expenses and whether this grant could be of assistance. “In regards to eligibility, for college students in post-secondary this is not a good grant,” said Alistair Woods, chairperson of Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario. “I think that our position, the money that is used for the tuition grant can be used in a more beneficial way.” You are eligible if you’re transitioning from high school to post-secondary and if you have been out of high school for up to six years with a permanent disability. But according to MTCU if you’ve been out of high school more than four years but less than five years and you are in the final year of a co-op program, then you may be eligible. George Brown College (GBC) allows students to apply for mature student status if the student is 19 years or older, but once the student doesn’t include their parents on their OSAP application, they are no longer eligible for the grant. Mohammed Ali Aumeer, director of Education and Equity for the Student Association (SA) at GBC said, “There is another budget meeting coming up. It’s going to be another year of this 30 per cent off tuition grant that

is not benefiting enough students.” The pressure students face is high, with living in the city being expensive on top of all other expenses, this 30 per cent off tuition fees is not nearly benefiting as many students as it was planned to. “It’s the same pressure for all of us,” says Aumeer. “Even being fortunate enough to work full-time it is still hard to make ends meet, with the cost of living in the city, tuition and mortgage fees, so I believe the pressures we discuss at CFS meetings and that students discuss in the hallway, we’re all facing that really high cost of living.” On March 28, 2013, the Ontario government gave the OK for institutions to increase tuition fees by three to five per cent a year for

BLACK HISTORY MONTH FEATURE February 18 –March 3, 2014

Event ignites indigenous and black student activists at George Brown College

What does black history month mean to you?

TINA TODARO STAFF REPORTER

The Community Action Centre at George Brown College (GBC) hosted Ignite on Feb. 12, an event to celebrate black history and to raise awareness among students on issues surrounding different cultures. Mahlikha Aweri, an artist and activist working with indigenous and inner-city youth; with GBC graduate and author of The Flip, Francis Atta spoke about inspiration and motivation through their personal stories. Shana Kealey, a Student Association campaigns staff member said, “We wanted to offer a cross section of speakers, so we wanted to speak to intersections of social movements with the use of art as a vehicle for youth activism.” The event included tours, resource displays, Toronto documentaries showcasing black empowerment as well as Caribbean food. “You can’t create history if you don’t know your own history,” said Aweri. Black and Aboriginal cultures were discussed with the students, incorporating newcomer experiences, intersectional views and perspectives from both women and men. Ignite also saw participation by children which was important according to Kealey as

It’s inspirational to know that those before you have accomplished great things even with obstacles in their way and limited resources. We should aspire to remember them, while carrying the torch to the next generation.

Left to right: Coty Zachariah, Nik-Keisha Moodie, & Shana Kealey with her son

– Abdul Mustafa Q-reception, student services PHOTO: TINA TODARO/THE DIALOG

they represented the next generation. “There’s a lot of events that have taken place at the college since the start of February, but we as the campaigns staff felt that there wasn’t an event that tried to touch and inspire students,” said campaigns staffer NikKeisha Moodie. “We felt there was a start,

but no continuation.” Planning on hosting other events at the college, Moodie said, “things always pop up in the community that we take into account.” Through Ignite, GBC students, along with getting motivated and inspired, were informed about different community issues.

Escaped slaves Thornton and Lucie Blackburn inspire campaign to name new GBC residence couple made their way to Canada. Upon arrival in Toronto in 1834, the Blackburns became prominent and successful The future at George Brown College (GBC) throughout the community. Thornton worked begins with the plan to have a fully functional as a waiter at Osgoode Hall when he had a student residence by 2016. The residence will vision of a taxi service. Once he obtained the be located at Front Street East and Cherry blueprints from Montreal, the plan was in motion as they commissioned construction. Street in the Pan Am Games Village. Once the building is successfully con- The cabs, known as ‘The City’ were red verted into student suites after the Pan Am and yellow boxed cabs, colours that now repGames, some students and community resent the TTC, drawn by a single horse to groups are campaigning that building be carry up to four passengers. The City quickly named after Lucie and Thornton Blackburn. became the first of many cab companies. The Blackburn’s legacy begins in Ken- Mohammed Ali Aumeer, director of tucky where they were slaves in the 1800s. Education and Equity at the Student AssoThey escaped but were captured by slave ciation of GBC is an advocate for naming hunters and imprisoned in Detroit in 1833. the residence after the Blackburns. Aumeer Fellow members of the African American has in high hopes of the residency helping, community broke Lucie out of jail by disguis- “connect with the community from inside the college walls to outside the walls.” ing her as a visitor and smuggling her out. As for Mr. Blackburn, a protest began George Brown’s desire to abolish slavery outside of the prison allowing for Thornton resulted in the North American Convention to make his dramatic escape. Having suc- of Colored Freemen being held at St. Lawcessfully escaped slavery a second time, the rence Hall in Sept. 1851. Thornton Blackburn BRITTANY BARBER STAFF REPORTER

was an associate of the anti-slavery leader and helped former slaves settle in Toronto. Thornton and Lucie Blackburn are buried next to George Brown in the Necropolis Cemetery in Toronto. Aumeer gave insight to the background of the college and the role of Black History Month, “[George Brown] is about supporting and representing the community and the history of our neighbourhood. We don’t live in a bubble here at George Brown. We are interwoven in the downtown community.” According to Jodi Salem, corporate communications manager at GBC, “It appears City Councillor Pam Mcconnell has submitted a proposal to name our upcoming residence after the Blackburn family. The proposal will be considered, along with other options, but it will likely be some time before a final decision is made.” The discussion over naming the residency is still ongoing.

If used correctly, I think it can be very positive, empowering and educational.

– Angela Dakpo Huskies basketball player

The black history month is a way of bringing the black culture to be recognized so that people can be aware. We are looking to stand up and fight for equal Human Rights. – Sangau Ahmad Student life ambassador PHOTOS: PREETEESH PEETABH SINGH/THE DIALOG

The Dialog • dialog.studentassociation.ca

Personal Credits Notice

If you received a Common Experience Payment, you could get $3,000 in Personal Credits for educational programs and services. The Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement. The healing continues. Since 2007, almost 80,000 former students have received a Common Experience Payment (“CEP”) as part of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement. CEP recipients are now eligible to receive non-cash Personal Credits of up to $3,000, for either themselves or certain family members, for educational programs and services. What are Personal Credits? Personal Credits may be used for a wide range of educational programs and services, including those provided by universities, colleges, trade or training schools, Indigenous Institutions of Higher Learning, or which relate to literacy or trades, as well as programs and services related to Aboriginal identities, histories, cultures or languages.

of multiple CEP recipients can be combined to support a group learning activity. How can I get Personal Credits? Each CEP recipient will be mailed an Acknowledgement Form. If you do not receive an Acknowledgement Form by the end of January 2014, please call 1-866-343-1858. Completed Acknowledgement Forms should be returned as soon as possible and must be postmarked no later than October 31, 2014.

How do I redeem my Personal Credits? Once approved, you will be sent a personalized Redemption Form for each individual using Personal Credits at each educational entity or group. Once the Form is received, provide it to the educational entity or group listed. The educational entity CEP recipients have the option of How much are Personal Credits? or group must then complete and mail back sharing their Personal Credits with Adequate funds are available for each CEP the Redemption Form postmarked no later certain family members, such as: recipient to receive up to $3,000 in Personal than December 1, 2014. Credits, depending on your approved • Spouses • Children educational expenses. • Grandchildren • Siblings What happens to unused Personal Credits? The value of unused Personal Credits Which educational entities and groups are will be transferred to the National Indian included? A list of approved educational entities and groups has Brotherhood Trust Fund and Inuvialuit Education Foundation for been jointly developed by Canada, the Assembly of First Nations educational programs. and Inuit representatives. If an educational entity or group is not on the list, please consult the website for more information. For more information, including how Personal Credits can be Will I receive a cheque? No. Cheques will be issued directly to redeemed by certain family members of CEP recipients that are deceased, visit www.residentialschoolsettlement.ca or call the educational entity or group providing the service. 1-866-343-1858. Who can use Personal Credits? CEP recipients can use the full amount themselves or give part or all of their Personal Credits The IRS Crisis Line (1-866-925-4419) provides immediate and to certain family members such as a spouse, child, grandchild or culturally appropriate counselling support to former students who sibling, as defined in the terms and conditions. Personal Credits are experiencing distress.

1-866-343-1858 • www.residentialschoolsettlement.ca

PUZZLES & FUN February 18 –March 3, 2014

ADVOCACY IN ACTION BURSARY 2013 - 2014:

THIS YEAR’S WINNERS ARE: TERRIL MURRAY, HVAC/R, second year ANNIE CHU, Denturism, second year THIEN-VAN STEVEN NGUYEN, Culinary Arts/Chef Training, first year CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE WINNERS ON BEHALF OF THE STUDENT ASSOCIATION!! To be considered for an Advocacy in Action Bursary applicants had to answer the following question: What is advocacy and what is its role in achieving academic excellence? The Academic Advocacy Program was pleased to offer three bursaries of $500 to three students who demonstrated a strong understanding of advocacy in action.

Review: Sennheiser G4ME ONE PC gaming headset SAMANTHA BULLIS ART DIRECTOR/ILLUSTRATOR

Sennheiser recently sent The Dialog its G4ME ONE PC Gaming headset to take for a test run. What I found was that while the headset provided beautiful sound and incredible comfort, its designation as a gaming device wasn’t quite on target. The construction of the headset is probably its greatest asset. It’s surprisingly light and extremely comfortable compared to many high-end headsets. The earpads go completely over the ears and sit much more comfortably than on-the-ear varieties of headset. Additional padding on the headband is firm enough to hold the plastic band away from the head while still remaining soft enough to provide a comfortable cushion. They are also ventilated to prevent discomfort during long gaming sessions. I spent long stretches using them to listen to music while working and found that these vents worked well; I experienced no uncomfort-

able warmth as I sometimes do with my usual headset. A volume wheel on the side of the earpiece allows for quick volume modifications without having to pause your game. The flexibility of the body is another strong point. The headband is made of flexible plastic which seems well-suited to easier removal when needed. The neck of the microphone has a similar flexible centre, allowing the wearer some peace of mind while using the mic by giving it enough give that it can withstand some bending and heavier use without snapping. The earpieces also flex independently on a hinge, allowing for a close, custom fit on the head. When it comes to sound, however, the G4ME ONE falls a little flat as a headset specifically designated for gaming. Make no mistake—the sound quality for music is superb as it always is with Sennheiser’s equipment. The headset provides excellent, full low range and is a pleasure to listen to. I tested with some dubstep and bass-heavy metal and found it to play

more dynamic bass than my usual mid-range headset. On mid and high range sounds like punk, indie, and folk music, it didn’t make quite the same impression but was nonetheless still a pleasure to listen to. For listening to music, this is an exceptional headset. For in-game audio, sound definition is equally excellent. Gunfire and loud action are a little more viscerally exciting with the rich low end, while more delicate sounds and in-game music remain clearly audible and distinct. The sound feels quite realistic. However, this is also a bit of a drawback for this product. While many other gaming headsets in a similar range often come with special sound features (for example, amplification of speech—great for multiplayer games and listening to in-game characters), this set doesn’t offer any features other than clear, rich sound. When playing with a friend, I had no particular difficulty hearing his voice, but also didn’t find the headset to enhance my gaming experience in terms of multiplayer audio. Equalization options

would have been a useful addition. I had a musician/audiophile friend weigh in on the mic quality as well. The box boasts its “pro noise cancelling microphone”, so I asked him to listen to the mic audio. His thoughts? “Not great.” While the mic audio is better than many built-in mics, it doesn’t seem to offer anything particularly special. The G4ME ONE provides beautiful audio, particularly for music, and is extraordinarily comfortable. But when it comes to PC gaming, the product doesn’t seem to provide any particular benefits that justify the $349.99 pricetag as a device specifically for gaming. I’ve been very pleased with the quality of Sennheiser products I’ve used in the past, and this headset is no exception. However, this quality isn’t enough on its own to warrant a recommendation as a PC-gaming specific device.

The Dialog • dialog.studentassociation.ca

SPRING 2014 ELECTIONS NOMINATIONS PERIOD: MARCH 3 - MARCH 14 PICK UP YOUR NOMINATION PACKAGES AT THE FOLLOWING STUDENT ASSOCIATION OFFICES BETWEEN 10 A.M.  3 P.M.

ST. JAMES CAMPUS - 200 King Street East Room. 147 CASA LOMA CAMPUS - 142 Kendal Avenue Room. E100

RYERSON CAMPUS - SHE Building 99 Gerrard St. East Room.614 WATERFRONT CAMPUS - 51 Dockside Drive Room. 033

DEADLINE TO SUBMIT YOUR COMPLETED NOMINATION PACKAGE IS FRIDAY, MARCH 14 @ 3 P.M.

VOTING BEGINS MARCH 24

CHECK OUT WWW.STUDENTASSOCIATION.CA FOR THE FULL ELECTIONS CALENDAR FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE EMAIL THE CRO AT SACRO@GEORGEBROWN.CA

VACANT POSITIONS:

EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS EDUCATIONAL CENTRE REPRESENTATIVES (ONE VACANCY FOR EACH POSITION) (ONE VACANCY FOR EACH POSITION) Director Student Life Arts and Design Representative Director Education and Equity Business Representative Director Internal Affairs Community Services Representative Director Finance and Operations Construction and Engineering Representative Health Sciences Representative Director Public Relations Hospitality Representative CAMPUS DIRECTORS Liberal Arts and Preparatory Studies Representative (ONE VACANCY FOR EACH POSITION) Waterfront Campus Director CONSTITUENCY REPRESENTATIVES St. James Campus Director (ONE VACANCY FOR POSITION) Casa Loma Campus Director Aboriginal Representative Satellite Campus Director American Sign Language Representative International Representative LGBTQ Representative Women and Trans People Representative