The Dialog February 2009

George Brown College student newspaper

INSIDE

February 2009 - Free

Scene It / Hate It P.D.A

Top Break-Up Songs

Obamania

What’s Love got to do with it?

Journey to Inauguration

by Crystal Coburn Pg. 5

School of Deaf and Deafblind Studies Pg. 6

Illustration designed by: Andre Morgan

SIFE George Brown Pg. 11

Black History Month 2009 Pg. 8

2

February 2009 The Dialog

thedialog.ca

PA R T-T IME A ND SE S SION A L COLLEGE FACULT Y

take tHe Next BiG steP to a BetteR liFe at woRk...

The Ontario Labour Relations Board has ordered a certification vote to find out if part-time and sessional faculty at Ontario’s community colleges want to join the Ontario Public Service Employees Union. If you want a better life at work, there’s only one thing to do: VOTE YES! When you VOTE YES, you’ll be voting to give yourself a strong, professional voice in the workplace. OPSEU has over 40 years’ experience representing full-timers right across the college system. OPSEU is fully democratic and accountable to you.

By joining with your co-workers, you can build your negotiating power to address the inequities you face on the job, for example: lower pay for doing the same work as partialload and full-time faculty; no compensation for

ww

w.c ol

g .or s r legeworke

prep time and marking; and no job security from semester to semester.

And when you VOTE YES, you’ll be helping to improve the quality of education for all college students. Trained, experienced faculty are more likely to stay with the college when their own needs are being met.

Take the next big step to a better life at work.

VOTE YES! The vote is by secret ballot and is supervised by the Labour Relations Board.

Neither the union nor your employer will ever know how you voted.

You do not pay union dues until you and your co-workers approve a collective agreement.

Vote Details: At George Brown College, vote on THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5 at these locations and times: Room E113, Centre for Financial Services Room E421, 146 Kendal Ave., Building, 290 Adelaide St. E., TORONTO TORONTO 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. eliGiBle VoteRs MaY Vote at aNY Vote loCatioN iN oNtaRio. Vote tiMes aND loCatioNs MaY CHaNGe. to FiND oUt MoRe, Please Visit www.ColleGewoRkeRs.oRG BeFoRe YoU Vote oR Call 1-866-811-7274.

thedialog.ca

OPINION

The Dialog February 2009 3

Managing Editor’s Message

By Ashley Ward Managing Editor

Welcome to the February issue of The Dialog. This month the paper is packed with so many articles on various issues. The Dialog Team had a lot to squeeze into this issue but we did our very best to provide interesting content.

Check out this months feature on The School of the Deaf and Deafblind Studies, a program that truly is unique. For those who don’t know about SIFE George Brown, you will soon find out what an exciting venture it is really is for students and their academic careers. February is Black History month so we took it upon ourselves to provide a three page feature on African Canadians of various backgrounds who are contributing to Black History right now.

The month of February is also the month of love...

Valentine’s Day. We decided to switch it up just a little bit because we don’t want the single people to feel left out... and yes we did include an article for those in love.

Sadly, this will be my last issue that I will produce as Managing Editor for The Dialog. For all of the readers and supporters of The Dialog you might wonder why

and I am going to tell you.

Just before the holidays decisions were made by the majority of your Student Association Executives to reduce the number of hours I have to work on this paper. When you are in charge of a publication, there is a great responsibility to what is reported, what is printed and how it is put together because I am accountable and so is my staff to a number of people every month to make sure we produce a publication that is worthy of reading, and that speaks to the community here at George Brown.

I started doing this paper in August of 2008 alone, and gradually hired two part-time reporters who have been a tremendous help. I lost a number of hours in this decision, 37.5 to be exact, and that has contributed to less events within the college that The Dialog Team was not able to cover this month.

Yes, the newspaper is full but that is only because in order to complete our assignments and meet our individual deadlines, every one of us took work home.

There was no other way to produce this newspaper and get it out on newsstands to all of you on time.

As an experienced journalist, this has been extremely frustrating because many of you, students in particular have contacted me in various ways to ask if The Dialog Team could cover an event. I apologize to any of you who I was not able to respond to. We simply did not have the time. You all deserve a real student newspaper. I feel I did the best I could to provide that to all of you.

In my very first issue of The Dialog I wrote that you should never forget the people who have helped you get to where you are. I have enjoyed every minute of my time at George Brown College. I truly understand why George Brown was voted one of the top 100 employers in the country. The people are fantastic and this college is over flowing with great content for a newspaper.

I have met so many remarkable students, faculty, support staff and sources in this school community and outside the school community who made the time to allow The Dialog Team to get to know them and report great articles.

I want to thank all of you for your help in making The Dialog a fantastic newspaper.

To my family and friends ( thank you for your support) • Dialog Reporters Crystal Coburn and Jorge Midence ( you both are a pleasure to work with, you are intelligent, charismatic and fantastic people and amazing

Dialog Correction

In the January issue of the Dialog, Megan Youngs was incorrectly identified on page six. Michelle Le-Claire’s name was misspelled on page twelve.

Pam Chorley’s name was misspelled on page nine.

The Dialog regrets the errors. writers, thank you for being a part of this with me) • Ted Barris, Steve Cogan and Susan McClelland my former professors (thank you for answering my many questions and for your wisdom, you have all helped me tremendously)• Neil McGillivray, Marketing and Communications Department, George Brown( thank you supporting The Dialog from day one.) • Paul Brown, VP Casa Loma/Student Life, ( Thank you for believing in my vision for this newspaper from day one. You are the best) Andre Morgan ( thank you for everything you have done to help myself and my staff) • Yaw Okyere ( you took the initiaive and were a big help in designing The Dialog, thank you) •Neil Cumberbatch aka BURGA!! ( thank you for your support and debating with us in the Dialog office!!)• Mariatu Kamara ( thank you for sharing your story with me, you inspire me to be a better person)• Christine Wallace ( thank you for your support, thank you for being a friend, thank you for writing!) • Claudia Caine (you’re honesty and support means more than you can imagine, thank you)• Lisa Campbell ( I’m going to miss your jokes! Thanks for answering so many of my questions when I was new) • Michelle van Loy( thank you for your support)• Arl Viaje ( thank you) • Salem Ghide ( thank you for being a part of the paper!) • Merdy Calling( thank you...Wen-do!) • Cherry Ding( thank you... Wen-do!) • Karla Orantes ( thank you for your support)• Jason Beeston ( I’m going to miss your sarcasm, thanks) • Wayne, Cameron and Dennis ( thank you for helping me whenever I needed it) • Fred Perry( thank you for allowing us to write about you!) • Najib Abdul-Malak( thanks for your support) • Melanie Amadasun ( thanks for the photos!)• Andrei Ilicea ( thanks for the photos)• Yukiko Ito ( thanks for your support)• Nik Vij( thank you for supporting the paper and helping me deliver it when I couldn’t find my way) • Norin Alam (thank you)• Atif Khan( thank you)

...Continues on Pg. 4

Managing Editor: Ashley Ward Designers: Jorge Midence, Allyson Gordon S.A. Communications Coordinator: Allyson Gordon Dialog Published by: Student Association of George Brown college George Brown College student newspaper

Contact In person or mail: Room 159A - St. James Campus 200 King Street East Toronto, ON M5A 3W8 Tel: 416-415-5000 ext. 6386 Fax: 416-415-2491 Email: dialog@georgebrown.ca

Dialog Reporters: Crystal Coburn Jorge Midence

Contributors:

Andre Morgan Laura Licata Nikolai McLeod Peter Polous Murray Goldberg Leave the Pack Behind

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 Associa-

tion of George Brown College, or its editorial staff.

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 gratefully accepted. 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 dialog@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.

4

February 2009 The Dialog

thedialog.ca

...Continued from Pg. 3 • THANK YOU Vice President Eugene Harrigan • Fatima Gata • President Anne Sado • Jennet Cox • Vivek Shraya • Leon Johnson • Raiza Khan • Tami Khan • Celsa D. • Ugo Sibeudu • Osa Igiewe • Corene Kennedy • Anita Harding • Wayne Nicholson • Nancy T. Blanchard • Betty-Jean Reid • Linda Ryall • Phyllis BeatonVasquez • Judy Ercolino • Coco Roscheart • Meghan Youngs • Paul Smith • Maxine Laine • Will Beck • Shelley Ryall • Larissa Gabriel • Jeff Armstrong • Kyra Lindsey • Tammy Nopuente • Jacqui Mudrow • Laura Bryan • Maureen Loweth • Mark Simspson • Alex Theodore • Roxy Farid • Jennifer Straver • Armin Zohrahi • Zuzuki Diaz • Meiyi Jin • Chris Stecko • John Vetere • Oliver Li • John Walker• John Higgins • Hercilia Mederios • Arleen Galano • Heather Dyer • Hilde Zimmer • Doan Hong • Hai Tran • Sui-Ta • Michael Tran •

Nick Lakhan • Mobalaji Soluade • Wayne Poirier • Leonor Jiminez • James Simon • Dorothy Ward • Larry Laforet • Andy Trithhardt • Eleanor Hewlings • Mandela Johnson • Cassius Waithe • Nancy Sherman • Mary Rose Carnovale • Frances Steciuk • D’bi Young • Justin Deonarine • Susan Rhoden • Geeta Bhardawaj • Lucky Boothe • Karen Moss • Diane Diniz • Andrea Lewis • Lina Medaglia • Sharlene Tygesen • Laverne Blake • Michelle McIntyre • Shana Falconer • Shaunna McCarthy • Tonya Richardson • Shevy Palmer • Lara Sauer • Rainer Bratsch- Blundel • Michael Bezemer • Doug Laporte • Justin Goodhand • Rebecca Perry • Allison King • Laura Licata • Dion Waterman • Nikolai McLeod • Peter Polous • Mariama Fordjour • Desiree Marshall • Nicole Brooks • Jennifer Taitt • Shamelle Sutton • Sharon Kamassah • Dale Hall •

VOLUNTEERS WANTED THIS TAX SEASON Offered: Receive training from Canada Revenue Agency on how to prepare and file basic income tax returns Assist fellow students in completing their tax returns during the free income tax clinic in March 2009 using up to date income tax knowledge and training.

Earn volunteer hours and experience for your resume Earn a CRA Training Certificate Only 25 seats available for training.

To apply for this volunteer opportunity, visit your campus Lifeworks Centre in: Room 165B at St. James Room E130 at Casa Loma Deadline to apply: Friday, February 13 at 2pm

Seen It / Hate It P.D.A By: Crystal Coburn & Jorge Midence Dialog Reporters

Whether you’re in love or out of love, public displays of affection is everywhere. These are some of the things people at George Brown have seen couples do out in public that they would rather not.

“I hate all PDA.” Claudia Caine – SA Front Office Lead “People against the lockers down each others throat.”

Anonymous – BAB Accounting

“When I see people on the train or bus making out. I hate it. A little peck here and there is fine.”

Neil Cumberbatch – Special Events Planning “I hate when couples walk and smile. It’s like what are you so happy about walking and holding hands.”

Kyle Douglas – Graphic Design

“PDA is for couples to show off on single people, totally annoying.”

Anonymous - Fashion Management “I find it annoying, like who are they kidding? There is a time and place and it’s NOT in front of me.”

Chris F. - School of Denturism “I see people copping feels at church even, they shouldn’t be allowed in churches or other sacred place...”

Anonymous

“Full out making out before class. Eww.” Shasa – ASL English Interpreter Program

“I don’t mind it but when it becomes too much it, for the love of God, get a room! It becomes too much when I’m uncomfortable and feel violated.”

Peachez – Nursing

“When people are all over each other especially when kids are around.”

Anonymous – Security

“The young kids are too much. I’ve seen girls lifting up their skirts on the train. Unnecessary.”

Sasha – Nursing

“For me it’s fine. I don’t care.”

Loai – Accounting

“Ughh.”

Anonymous – Special Events Planner

“PDA is so high school... I mean, I have no problem with people who want to hold hands, but when I see grown couples making out, it doesn’t matter if it’s in the line for Starbucks or on a couch in an Ikea display because it still reminds me of prepubescent teens dryhumping against lockers.”

Gabby DaRienzo - Graphic Design

“I don’t care do what ever u desire, I’m just jealous it ain’t me getting action.”

Anonymous - Construction Engineering Technologies

“When I see couples on top of each other. There’s a limit.”

Miss D – Special Event Planning

“Two girls on the eight floor got caught going at it.

That’s too much.”

Keish – Business Human Resources

thedialog.ca

NEWS

The Dialog February 2009 5

Peace Bridge creates a Silent war By: Crystal Coburn Dialog Reporter

O

n the eve of Obama’s speech my insides were fluttering and my head was still wrapping around what I’m about to experience, as I sat on a bus heading for Washington D.C. packed with 50 other people willing to go the same distance. Barack Hussein Obama is abo ut to take the presidential oath the next day in front of millions of people and thousands of cities. This victory is global and I was about to be a part of it all. For the past year I could not go a day without hearing about Barack and his potential to be the first black American president. While I knew this time was coming it was only on the morning of the bus trip that the weight of it all was beginning to come down on me.

For me this journey was two things; one it was very different from any other I’ve taken mainly due to the purpose of it, and two, it was nothing like I expected it to be. I expected everything to run smoothly and that on the first day we would party hard into the night. I also expected that on the way back we would either be totally exhausted by the trip that the whole bus would be silent or we would still be completely amped about what we just witnessed making it impossible to shut our wide eyes. I also expected to be so close to the Obama family that they would notice me out of millions and wave just for me. Quite hopeful I must say, but on a trip like this how could you be anything but that? Your expectations are high and the adrenaline is looking for a vein to burst out of because before January, 20th 2009 Barack Obama was just a dream. Everyday after that would be our reality and THAT was the transitional moment that 168 of us were willing and ready to experience. That was our mission. We wanted to LIVE history in the making, not just ask about it, or read about, or watch it later. We wanted to be fully drenched in that moment. That was our mission. I did not want to imagine what it was like; I wanted to know what it was like.

So yes, I had expectations. But life has a funny way of doing its’ own thing that at the time feels like a slap in the face but as we all should know, things happen for a reason and for everything that happens, good or bad, there’s a lesson to be learned.

What was supposed to be a ten minute glide across the American border quickly turned into a six and a half hour disrespectful interrogation that would have most of us feeling sick to our stomachs. Once we reached the border the officers loaded the bus, which was standard when you come upon a 100 plus people trying to drive into America and asked to see our identification. While the first two buses, ( I was on the second one) made it through without a glitch the third bus was not so lucky.

The border control officers had confiscated 14 passports after instructing everyone on board to hand in theirs if you were Somalian. Without batting an eye Canadians were singled out for not being Canadian enough. That was just the tip of the iceberg.

Through the whole ordeal the border control officers acted like we were uncivilized civilians that

they had to keep behind enemy lines. They took hours to “verify” the passports, and fingerprints they took and hours to relay to us any information about our ability to leave the border. Every time we thought we were finished they threw a new miniscule task at us further delaying our plans and it became very obvious that although they knew we were harmless, the purpose of our trip bothered them the most. While I was waiting I took some time to write in my notebook every now and then.

It helped clear my head and also capture the moment as it was for a later time when I would want to revisit the ordeal. Here is one of those pieces: Jan 19th 7:44pm Fourteen people on the bus behind us had their passports taken and four people from our bus which included Tyrone Edwards, Adel ‘Future the’ Prince Nur and two girls (whose names I do not know). Everyone was fingerprinted. Everyone. At the time the only thing I was thinking of was, “this can’t be legal. It can’t be. They haven’t done anything wrong. They’re not criminals. They’re not threatening anyone. How is this possible? Why is this happening?”

At some point into the night we were ordered off the bus to have our personal items checked. Everyone groaned at the idea of it because it was just another tactic used to derail our hopes. This is the conversation exactly as I remember it when it was my turn to be searched.

Officer – “Is it just your purse?”

Me – “Yes.” He slapped my bag twice and said,

the bus. As time carried on I thought about the officer’s comment. He had said “that’s it” like taking six hours of my life that I will never get back was as swift as air passing through his lungs. Six hours spent eating snacks that did nothing for my appetite. Six hours that erased weeks of work that the trip organizer Tyrone Edwards spent doing. Six hours fidgeting and hoping that the ignorance would subside long enough for them to see the error of their ways. For six hours I wondered if I had decided to tie my hair back in a scarf for the long journey home would I be pointed out as a threat to America.

For six hours I tried to sit in my seat calmly and during those six hours I took Tylenol for a headache that never went away. I have to say I felt beat but I was not beaten.

My spirit was not been conquered.

Finally at 8:04 pm we were allowed to leave and although we were thankful time was not something they could give back to us. Still with very little sleep, a tolerance level that was slowly dwindling and a stomach filled with snacks and processed foods, we trudged on.

Although our hearts and souls had been assaulted on the eve of a new level of liberation we would not be defeated. There was too much at stake. For six hours we were given a small view into what civil rights struggles must have been like back in the not too distant 1960s.

It was like looking through a peephole. What was in front of us was the biggest thing in sight still it wasn’t the whole picture. Had this been 50 years ago we would have been hosed down, dragged down by police attack dogs, and carted off to jail. Thank God for 2009. I now firmly believe that our struggle to cross borders was necessary for us to fully appreciate the change we were about to witness. I am now proud to say that I was a part of that struggle to get there.

“Ok. That’s it. Thank you.”

At the time I was thinking, “that’s it?

No! That’s not IT! You are it, you’re the big it, you’re the biggest it I’ve ever seen and one of the ones that is holding this country back from being at its’ best. It’s big “ITs” like you that give America a bad name and mess it up for the world! So search my bag again! I have a shank in there that I mcgyvered from an Obama pin that’s dying to burst your bubble.”

A little melodramatic to say the least but that moment had me upset and totally feeling like they were just trying to rattle our determination. So instead I said, “Thank you” and continued out the door. I don’t know why I said thank you because they hadn’t done anything for me. It was a reflex I suppose. Either way I was thankful to be out of there and allowed back on

Compliment your College Diploma with a University Honours Degree!

Learn more about transfering to the University of Guelph-Humber and advanced standing for related programs.

Transfer Student Evening Wednesday, February 25, 2009 guelphhumber.ca l admission@guelphhumber.ca l 416.798.1331

6

FEATURE

February 2009 The Dialog

thedialog.ca

School of Deaf and Deafblind Studies Produces Top Graduates at GBC

By Ashley Ward Managing Editor

Interpreted By Monique Bozzer ASL/English Interpreter for Employees and Events

T

here seems to be hidden gems at George Brown College and the School of parties is conducted in ASL. We are also expected to follow the rules and norms of Deaf and Deafblind Studies is one of them. American Sign Language (ASL) deaf culture in these classes. As some of our classes are also provided to students in and Deaf Studies program (ADSP), the ASL Literacy Instructor program ( the ASL and Literacy Instructor Program, we at times have deaf classmates. In this ALIP), the ASL- English Interpreter program(AEIP) are three programs can and other ways, every day is an opportunity to put into practice what we are learning,” be found within this centre. she said.

The ADSP program is a two semester certificate program and students are taught One of the students from the ALIP program, Shelley Ryall is a Deaf student and she American Sign Language as well as an understanding of deaf culture and social issues describes her environment at George Brown to be different than her colleagues. affecting the Deaf community. ASL is the fourth most popular language in the United “It’s been kind of confusing,” she said. “It’s been hard to sometimes find an interpretStates according to information obtained from Gallaudet University. er. I think the access here has not been very easy and not very accessible.”

Nancy Blanchard, Coordinator of the ASL Literacy Instructor program, and who When she has gone to see a peer tutor who is hearing, they have told her that they teaches in the ASL- English Interpreter cannot help her and that she needs to find program and the ASL and Deaf Studies an interpreter.

Program, who is Deaf, explained that there Go Transit is another example, all stops are verbally announced over In regards to her classes and faculty, Ryare many avenues a graduate could take all absolutely enjoys her program and the once they complete this particular program a PA system and so are arrivals and departures. professors. Studying poetry has been one such as a social service worker or personal of her favorite parts because deaf people support worker. use their hands to be creative and play Blanchard also explained that the misconwith the language. She also said that she ception with this program is that people looks up to a lot of the faculty because think that once they learn ASL they can imthey are patient and encourage students mediately interpret for a deaf person. ADSP to do things on their own. provides students with the skills to work There are some social issues that affect with deaf people not interpret for them. deaf people similar to Ryall’s example The ASL Literacy Instructor Program is that not only happen within the school four semesters and for people who are environment but outside of that as well. already trained in ASL or native users of ASL but may want to become teachers of the Wayne Nicholson, Professor ASL Literacy program, ASL- English Interpreter prolanguage. Students in this program could specialize in working with deaf children and gram and ASL and Deaf Studies program, also Deaf, explained in great detail that in their families, programs with deaf and deafblind adults and schools. the era of silent films, many Deaf people were involved in theatre. Charlie Chaplan The ASL- English Interpreter program(AEIP), is a three year diploma and the only was taught by a Deaf man how to manipulate your face to show expression. Once program of its kind in the province where students are taught the skills to work as audio was added to films that is when the, “cultural divide started,” he said. “Up until interpreters for Deaf and non-deaf. that point access was there.”

Corene Kennedy, who is not Deaf and is the Coordinator of both the AEIP and ADSP Go Transit is another example, all stops are verbally announced over a PA system and said that students are taught to facilitate communication, both linguistically and culso are arrivals and departures. turally between all parties involved when interpreting.

Students are required to do five field placements, which allow them to use what they are taught and apply it in real situations with supervision. AEIP has the most interesting statistic attached to it; one hundred percent of their graduates all find employment once they graduate.

Will Beck, a hearing student in the ADSP program is learning the language of ASL so that he can be accepted into that program next year. Beck who already knows some ASL is spending a year learning the language again and getting used to it.

In all of his classes except electives he is taught in ASL. On his first day of class there was an interpreter present and after that day everything has been taught using ASL.

“My teachers are deaf and they teach us in ASL, not English,” he said. “The environment is supportive, encouraging and people are friendly, it’s an enjoyable [program] to study.”

Thirteen full-time and part-time professors teach in all three of these programs and five of them have a combined total of 53 years of teaching experience. There are nine Deaf students enrolled and 117 non- deaf students enrolled in the three programs combined.

Judy Ercolino, Professor in the ADSP who is also Deaf, said that what is taught in the ASL Deaf Studies program are the values associated with deaf culture, identity and history.

Photo credit: Ashley Ward “The deaf community values its’ hands as well as its’ eyes for obvious reasons,” she said. “In spoken language they don’t necessarily use their hands or their eyes to comJudy Ercolino instructs her Sign 1018 ASLII class using a webcam. municate, but it is a big difference in the deaf community.”

Larissa Gabriel is a non-deaf student in the AEIP program and describes the environment at George Brown.

“In our ASL classes we follow a no-voice policy where all communication among all

Continues on Pg.7...

“As a deaf individual how do I get that?, asked Ercolino. She said that if there were visual boards where the information would be displayed that would give Deaf commuters access.”

- Judy Ercolino

FEATURE

thedialog.ca

...Continued from Pg.6 “As a deaf individual how do I get that?,” asked Ercolino. She said that if there were visual boards where the information would be displayed that would give Deaf commuters access.

Nicholson said that storytelling is something the Deaf community values and it is classified as one of the oral traditions, very much like other minority cultures.

Education has been in spoken English or an altered communication system therefore a barrier for a Deaf person.

The Intervenor for Deaf-Blind Persons is anther program under the umbrella of the School of Deaf and Deafblind Studies. In terms of access as was mentioned before this program is rare and is the only program in the world that offers a diploma after two years in the study of intervention.

Betty-Jean Reid is the Intervenor Program Coordinator/Professor and also a former graduate of the program. She is the only full-time employee and there are part-time faculty as well.

Reid said that intervention is about communication. “The important factor is if the individual is a proficient communicator, using ASL or English etc, or an emerging communicator,” she said. “Many children born deafblind do not have the ability to acquire natural language and may require intervention into adulthood that continuously focuses on developing expressive and receptive language.”

Reid really enjoys working with the students because it’s a new group of people to train, “dedicated intervenors,” to help individuals who are deafblind.

Each of these programs makes George Brown a special place and the faculty here agrees that it is a great place to be working. Blanchard said that she’s thankful to the director of the programs as well as the entire centre for recognizing their needs and reducing the barriers that are present to them.

Photo credit: Ashley Ward

Wayne Nicholson and students in his ASL Literature class

Photo credit: Ashley Ward

Faculty for the School of Deaf and Deafblind. on the fourth floor.

From left to right Maxine Laine, Chair of Community Services and Chair for Deaf and Deafblind Studies, Judy Ercolino, Professor of ASL Deaf Studies program, Nancy T. Blanchard (center), Coordinator of the ASL Literacy Instructor Program, Corene Kennedy, Coordinator of ASL English Interpreter Program and ASL Deaf Studies program, Linda Ryall, Professor of ASL English Interpreter program and ASL Deaf Studies program and graduate of ASL Literacy Instructor program, Wayne Nicholson (right), Professor of ASL Literacy program, ASL - English Interpreter program and ASL and Deaf Studies program.

The Dialog February 2009 7

Closed Captioning at George Brown

By Ashley Ward Managing Editor

Interpreted By Monique Bozzer ASL/English Interpreter for Employees and Events

The inauguration of Barack Obama as President of the United States drew many people to their televisions, computer screens or any form of media that was showing the historic moment that day.

The student association lounge was packed as people came in to view this moment on the projection screen. For some faculty and students in the school, lack of closed captioning did not allow them to partake in this historic moment like everyone else.

Anita Harding, Professor of ASL-English Interpreter program and ASLLiteracy Instructor program, who is Deaf, was frustrated that there was no closed captioning on the screen in the lounge that day.

Corene Kennedy, Coordinator of the ASL-English Interpreter Program and the ASL Deaf Studies program, who is not Deaf, said she noticed the same thing and that Deaf faculty and Deaf students did not have access to that information.

The book store has a television that is on most of the day but there is no closed captioning there either. Joe Bogdan who is Manager of Campus Stores is new to the college and was not aware that there isn’t any closed captioning on the television within the bookstore. He said they do have people on staff who do know ASL. Now that he is aware of it, he will look into the issue.

Anne Villahermosa, Project Co-ordinator Accessible Media and Educational Resources is responsible for ensuring that whatever media is used for a classroom or college wide event is accessible by faculty, staff and students.

“It could mean captioning, it could mean electronic text,” she said. “Eightyfive per cent of what I do is accommodating students.”

In 2006 Villahermosa said the Board of Governors approved policies that would see the purchasing policies change as well as creating captioning media and an e-text policy.

If a student needs to be accommodated in any way, a professor or disability consultant will contact her to make arrangements for that particular student.

According to Villahermosa anything that is purchased by the college must be accessible or they don’t purchase it.

“If it’s not available with closed captioning then what I do is seek permission to caption it,” she said.

She also said that if there are areas in the school such as the student lounge where this is a movie or television program displayed the Student Association is responsible for providing closed captioning.

Frederick Sam, VP of Education for the Student Association said that we don’t have anything because the cable comes through the VCR and there is no closed captioning that way.

“The inauguration wasn’t an event that we planned we just put it on for people to just watch and that’s why it was like that, we didn’t really plan that day,” Sam said. “We put the TV on CNN and the lounge was just packed.

We are working on getting closed captioning, the TV has been there over the years and it wasn’t an issue until that day.”

Jason Beeston, Facilities Support Staff, Operation for the Student Association is trying to figure out how he can provide closed captioning at St. James campus. Beeston said that they have been having difficulty finding a decoder that can provide closed captioning on the TV in the lounge. Presently there is no decoder for that TV but at Casa Loma there is a decoder imbedded into that TV in the student lounge. He is working on finding a solution to providing closed captioning here at St. James.

For more information on the captioned media and electronic text policy of George Brown College please go to:

http://llc.georgebrown.ca/llc/

8

FEATURE

February 2009 The Dialog

thedialog.ca

Black History Month 2009 To celebrate Black History Month, The Dialog Team decided to piece together a feature that looks at the lives of African Canadians from all over the GTA. We were able to take a little piece of what they do and let you know how they contribute to Black History not just for the month of February, but everyday of their lives. They are wonderful people who are doing amazing things not just for themselves but for everyone who crosses their paths. We feel honoured to have spoken with these individuals and we hope they inspire you as much as they inspired us.

Desiree Marshall Afrodelik Designs

Photo courtesy of Desiree Marshall

By Ashley Ward Managing Editor

By Ashley Ward Managing Editor

Jennifer Taitt- Community Development Assistant Jennifer Taitt describes her playtime as a child growing up, not like most kids, she could be found in the kitchen learning how to cook with her teacher or her mother at a very young age.

As she grew older she continued on that path and became a professional chef working in restaurants.

Now she is the Community Development Assistant at Warden Woods Community Centre in Scarborough and is using her cooking skills to help the community centre with Vesta Women’s Catering.

“I said to my boss Opal I think we should get a catering [company] going to help the women

Funky, fresh, vibrant and cool are some of the words that can be used to describe Afrodelik Designs, an independent T-shirt company founded by designer Desiree Marshall.

Marshall, an artist has always wanted to run her own company and now her dreams have come true. Established in late 2006, Marshall’s idea was at first to educate young kids about their culture.

“I was born here in Canada and I went to a French school from kindergarten until grade 12,” she said. “I always felt that what they were teaching me whether it was English or history had nothing to do with me as a black person.”

Once she got the company going she realized that she should expand to men’s, women’s and children’s T-shirts and to people who weren’t of her culture.

It took six months to decide what to name her business, but once Afrodelik came to mind it

and bring in extra income,” said Taitt.

Taitt loves to cook many different dishes and admits that she doesn’t really use recipes everything is in her head. She finds that Vesta Women’s Catering is helping a lot of women in the community who don’t know how to cook.

Taitt said that the women would come and try different dishes and that it is encouraging them to find employment in that field.

So far they have seven orders, one from United Way and from tenant reps who hire them to do events and office parties.

What Taitt loves the most about her job is the outreach, it is very important for her to get to know people. On Mondays and Wednesdays she helps provide a hot lunch to the homeless and on Thursdays a bag lunch.

“My role is I go in and interact with everybody,” she said. “I want to find out how their weekends went a lot of them live on the streets,

stuck.

“I knew I wanted something funky and I knew I wanted something to do with Afros because that was the era I was born in,” she said.

Marshall draws all the designs by hand and then they are screen printed onto cotton Tshirts. Her inspiration comes from the 70’s era, African art, music from the 70’s, R&B and Soul music from the 70’s and 80’s, old school hip-hop and music from South Africa and Senegal.

She has three collections, Afrocity, Afrika and Ikons each with distinct styles.

Marshall said Afrocity was easy because she loves afros. Afrocity is a combination of eight different characters, individually named with their own personalities and stories. The Afrika collection is very humble and not as detailed as the Afrocity collection and comes from her heart she explained.

“The Afrika collection is very simple,” she said. “The lines, there’s not much more on the T-shirt. I want the focus to be on the designs of the shirt.”

making sure they have enough food to eat that is very important to me.”

She recently stopped a woman from committing suicide and helped a homeless man in a wheelchair find a place to live.

“A lot of them don’t have anything,” she said.

“My part is to come in and socialize and let them know there is hope for everybody.”

Black History month is important to Taitt because she is a product of slavery herself. She teaches her seven children that their ancestors are Africans and that is what has happened to them.

“Even though we have been through slavery and bondage to me it is very important they are not forgotten, we have to do better than what they did. Their resources were very limited and now we have so many resources that we can apply ourselves too,” said Taitt.

The Ikon collection features the faces of Barak Obama, Bob Marley and Jimi Hendrix. At the moment the Barak Obama shirt can be bought online, but the Bob Marley and Jimi Hendrix as well as other icons that she is keeping a secret will be for sale on her website in June 2009.

“All of my T-shirts have a hanging tag on them,” she said. “Each tag gives you background of what you’ve just bought. So the Afrika collection will tell you this is the culture, this is where they come from. That for me is the educational part of my company. I want to educate people especially with the Afrika collection.”

Black culture to Marshall is a culture that she loves being a part of and through her business she is learning more about our history, heroes and accomplishments she said.

To celebrate Black history month Marshall has been asked to speak to young adults at a high school about starting your own business.

For more information please visit : www.afrodelik.com

thedialog.ca

FEATURE

The Dialog February 2009 9

Black History Month 2009

By Jorge Midence Dialog Reporter

Nikki Leacock- Artist

Photo courtesy of Nikki Leacock

By Jorge Midence Dialog Reporter

Stacey McKenzieModel and Runway Coach Having heard the word, “no” in every language, model turned runway coach Stacey McKenzie has done and continues to defy her critics by having the courage to “love herself flaws and all,” and lead a successful modeling career.

McKenzie has been called “strange, ugly, and unprofitable” by many in the modeling industry, however her unwillingness to give up makes her as unique as her appearance. Born and raised in Kingston Jamaica she later moved to Canada at the young age of 13. McKenzie

Infusing a strong sense of heritage with every stroke of her brush, Nikki Leacock, a Toronto based artist and actor owes a lot of her success to her humble beginnings. Born in Peace River, Alberta, Leacock was “the youngest in an all-Jamaican family,” she said. She was always encouraged by her parents to get involved in the community as well as getting her education.

Leacock moved to Vancouver to study Art in Merchandising and quickly discovered

originally wanted to be a doctor, but “passing out at the sight of blood” on a few occasions made her think that perhaps it wasn’t something she would pursue.

“I wanted to be a model at age six, she said.

Flipping through a fashion magazine she was captivated by an image of Madonna with Jean Paul Gaultier. She insisted her sister read the accompanying article out loud to her and the rest is history. She has walked the runways of Thierry Mugler, Christian Lacroix and Jean Paul Gaultier just to name a few.

“I had to discover myself,” she said. “No one wanted to guide me”.

Having no money and no agency that would take her on it comes as a surprise that at the age of 14McKenzie was not ready to give up.

McKenzie believes that Black History month is to be shared with anyone, “who has had a struggle [and] for us to come together and persevere,” she said.

Despite her success, McKenzie feels that it is “very important” to go back to her roots whether it is back in Jamaica or her Scarborough neighborhood. She is now CEO of her successful Walk This Way workshops, giving “aspiring and established models” the tools for a successful career in modeling. McKenzie cannot stress enough to her students that “at the end of the day this is a business, and we are our own business persons,” she said. When asked what the future has in store she answers, “I have never felt more fulfilled in my career,” said McKenzie. “[I will] continue to help as long as I’m needed because I know how it feels to be out there struggling. What people tend to forget is that, “I cry, I feel and I hurt,” said McKenzie.

Just like everyone else out there.

retain many of the traditional undertones and soul she grew up with. Leacock admits that even though she loves and draws inspiration from other artists such as Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Jackson Pollock, her four-year-old son is by far her “absolute favorite artist”. Having four successful shows upon moving to Toronto in 2001, holding exhibitions in Munich to New York, Leacock feels “like she is just getting started”. She is currently working on a series of paintings inspired by her “family’s experience in Washington during President Obama’s inauguration”.

To view Nikki’s artwork please go to:

www.myspace.com/ro_we_na and

www.rowenasart.com

Photo courtesy of Stacey McKenzie

For more information please go to

Dialog Reporter

in the face of adversity. She studied Busi ness graduating with a marketing major and an accounting minor.

Jennet CoxAdvisor of Diversity, Equity and Human Rights at George Brown College

Cox said that, “having the opportunity to work with George Brown is a great place,” for her. It not only gives her the chance

for growth and learning but allows her to “give back to the community”. From her experience, she feels that “too often Black History is omitted from mainstream history.”

Jennet Cox recalls as a child her school textbooks that displayed only white families. As a Canadian of German and Bajan decent, her mother made a point to tell her that families such as hers do exist.

Unless the focus is on unearthing and reinstating Black achievements, “they will remain invisible.” Cox feels that Black History is remembered and recognized and also reminds people of the experience of colonialism and racism throughout the world.

Her parents always emphasized the im portance of understanding and academics

The Diversity, Equity and Humans Rights department is vital space for students to go for

By Jorge Midence

Photo Credit of Jorge Midence

her “creative side”. The beauty of fine arts is that it can be applied to many disciplines; Leacock fused together her love of hair and art and was a successful stylist for 10 years.

Leacock says she is “fortunate for being educated on black history” at an early age in her life.

“I remember my Mother taking me to attend an African Canadian summer school,” she said. She had the opportunity to learn about Martin Luther King, Louise Benet and her own grandmother who lived to age 99 and never stopped giving back to her community in Maypen, Jamaica.

Evoking the sunny Caribbean, you are instantly enamored by the vibrancy of Leacock’s pieces, “I will sometimes use the colour palette of the Jamaican fruit ackee,” and she has painted “images of family and friends” for her abstract portraits. Her pieces can be described as bold, modern yet

www.staceymckenzie.com

issues concerning discrimination and harassment, equality etc.

“It is an exciting time for us all,” she said, referring to President Barak Obama on how he represents hope and has shown with consistency the courage to be “all inclusive and positive” by using words such as “us” and “we”.

Discussing how much more aware she is of the affect words have on the human spirit Cox emphasizes the potential to heal but if not used wisely can really cause a lot of hurt.

Jennet Cox would like to share these links:

African Heritage Month of February http://www.georgebrown.ca/Admin/hr/hra/ AfricanHeritage_04.pdf

10

FEATURE

February 2009 The Dialog

thedialog.ca

Black History Month 2009 Nicole Brooks Television Producer

Photo courtesy of Nicole Brooks

By Ashley Ward Managing Editor

By: Crystal Coburn Dialog Reporter

Tyrone Edwards - Community Youth Mentor In the blistering cold and blinding sun I was able to make it from George Brown College to The Remix Project offices at Sudbury St. and King St. in 15 minutes by streetcar. My mission was to meet up with a man that many of us between the ages of 19 and 30 may know as T-RexXx. He’s that dude throwing the livest parties in Toronto and during any of his events you can find him on the mic motivating the crowd to drink more, and go hard on the next track the DJ is about to drop.

The definition of the word echo in the Canadian Oxford Dictionary is this; “something repeating or reminiscent of something else.”

Echo a television program on Sun TV captures the stories of people of different races, specifically Black, South Asian and Asian. There are three executive producers of these races to create content that represents diverse communities.

Nicole Brooks, Executive Producer for the show and a black woman said that the word “echo” was chosen because, “it represents the sending out of a word but then there’s also a reverberating to it,” she said.

Brooks believes that a show like this is necessary on TV because we hear the words diversity and multiculturalism all the time.

“I like to take it further, especially when it comes to our industry of film and television,”

While that part of T-RexXx is a true testament to what it takes to create a bumping nightlife, we often don’t get to see him share the fruits of his labour. Once the club lights have come on and long after the clean up crew has mopped the mayhem off the floors there is a bigger objective at hand and that is where Tyrone ‘T-RexXx’ Edwards steps in.

With the help of four of his peers Edwards has managed to turn deflated hoop dreams into an avenue where he could pass on his love of basketball through his program Concretehoops.

Concretehoops is a non-profit basketball camp, running on its ninth year that fuses basketball and life skills such as time management and conflict resolution. Along with the dedication of four other camp leaders, Edwards has been able extend his reach internationally to Brazil and Swaziland which speaks to the success of his

she said. “Not only do our stories need to be told what we’re proud of is our stories that we were able to tell ourselves.”

Echo is a thirty minute program and features people in the fields of entertainment, arts, careers and style. Featured guests have been Jeanne Lottie, George Elliot Clarke, DJ Koala, Michael Chambers, The Nathaniel Dett Chorale and Measha Bruggergosman.

Brooks who received her Honours in mass communications and film studies at Carleton University knew when she graduated that she did not want to be a critic or just study film. She wanted to make films because her voice was not being heard.

As a student she watched films by Spike Lee and John Singleton and could relate to the films but not entirely. She wondered how her own stories could matter and become mainstream content.

“What’s really tough about the industry is that mission. “I would love to be able to see some of our young people that have come up through Concretehoops over the last eight years be able to take it over and run it. I want to see something [born] from the relationships that are established through Concretehoops,” he says hopefully.

Edwards’ vision goes beyond personal gain. It extends to his peers and out to the rest of Toronto. Concretehoops is an example of what he has been leading up to with his brand 1 Love T.O. What may have started out, as a unifying idea has become a brand by which Toronto can be identified. This franchise is bigger than him and will far surpass our expectations. For Edwards the message is simple; it’s about “Embracing, empowering, and celebrating the diversity, talent, and style of Toronto.” Tyrone Edwards is undoubtedly making history and paving the way

how do you convince them that it’s also mainstream and important,” she said.

Brooks considers herself a modern day story teller and found it to be “awesome” that she could go to work and walk into a room where everyone was a person of colour.

Her most recent project is a documentary on the Honourable Lincoln Alexander, the first black man to be a member of Parliament in Canada.

She found out many producers had made attempts before her to make a documentary on him but a lot of networks had no interest in the project. She named the documentary a Link in Time and felt that his story needed to be told and that the documentary became a history lesson for her.

Brooks said that Black History month is every day of the year for her and that she is passionate about telling the stories of black people.

“Even Echo represents that it’s present history being written,” she said. “If you stick to stereotypes you only have a handful of stories.”

for others to walk.

Photo courtesy of Tyrone Edwards

Informing Ourselves on Canadian Black History

By Laura Licata

Student Contributor “We may have different religions, different languages, different coloured skin, but we all belong to one human race.”

-Kofi Annan.

The month of February is recognized across Canada as Black History month. This is the time when we can collectively and actively learn about the history and culture of black people, their experiences and their struggles throughout history. Canada played a significant role in creating freedom for black slaves, and efforts today are continuing to educate and inform us on inclusion and equality among all members of society.

Did you know that....

•Black people from Africa were initially brought to Canada as free people to help build French colonies and defend British land against the Americans.

•Shortly after arriving to Canada, black people were enslaved and had no rights.

•On August 1, 1834 the British Imperial Act was passed, ending enslavement among black Canadians.

•American black slaves knew of the free opportunities in Canada and began fleeing their country entering Canada through Windsor, Collingwood, Toronto, and St. Catherine’s. This movement was called the Underground Railroad.

•In 1850 the American Fugitive Slave Law was passed in the US enabling Americans to catch black slaves, thus creating a significant danger to the slaves fleeing to Canada.

•Although freedom was granted in Canada, segregation was prominent; therefore black people built their own communities with churches and schools that met all standards

of living.

•In 1851 Canada was declared the best place for black people to live.

•Black history month began as “Negro History Week” in February 1926 to raise awareness of the black experience.

•In 1995 when she was a member of Parliament Jean Augustine passed a motion to recognize Black History Month across Canada. She is now Ontario’s first fairness commissioner.

The city of Toronto holds many events throughout February to educate Canadians on black history and its importance. Educating ourselves on cultural history can deepen our understanding for all communities and races and encourage our generation to promote equality for the future.

Events can be found online at

www.toronto.ca/blackhistory/events.

thedialog.ca

FEATURE

The Dialog February 2009 11

SIFE George Brown Students passionate about giving back to the community

By Ashley Ward Managing Editor

F

as to the kinds of projects they were goour letters form an acronym ing to initiate. Their determination and to make up one of the most planning was awarded by placing third intriguing programs for stuthat year, because the judges liked their dents at George Brown College. SIFE, concepts. Since then the awards have Students in Free enterprise is a notkept coming. for-profit organization that encourages “Our students don’t get paid to do this,” students to help others in their commusaid Simpson. “They don’t get a credit nity by teaching business ethics, market for it, they get nothing.” economics, financial literacy, entrepreWhat a student can expect to receive neurship and success skills. The original according to Simpson is experience that program is Advancing Canadian Entrecan be added to a resume and an item of preneurship (ACE) and is divided into two programs Sife and Student EntreThis isn’t about a grade point average,” he preneur. said. “It’s about dedication, passion and enSIFE was started at thusiasm. It’s about wanting to make a George Brown in 2007 by difference.”

Mark Simpson, Professor and Coordinator Institute - Mark Simpson of Entrepreneurship and Community Innovation, Sife Faculty Advisor and former graduate and past President of Sife, Armin Zohrabi. interest that will set you as apart from the Sife started off with just Simpson and competition.

Zohrabi but has grown to 14 students.

Competitions are really intense and each This organization is all over the world. team at the nationals only has 24 minutes Teams are located in 40 countries and to present what they have done for the there are more than 1,500 college and entire year in front of a panel of 16 to 20 university students involved. judges. There is a five minute question Simpson is not only the faculty advisor and answer period after that. but also a mentor to the students that are Armin Zohrabi, Manager Program Depart of SIFE. He is affectionately known velopment for ACE graduated from the as “Dad” to some of them.

Bachelor of Applied Business Program “This isn’t about a grade point average,” at George Brown. Zohrabi’s interest in he said. “It’s about your dedication, pasSIFE began because one of his friends sion and enthusiasm, it’s about wanting was the president of the SIFE team at to make a difference.”

Seneca College.

When asked why he was chosen to men“First of all there’s a competition to tor those students and not another faculty it, that’s really cool, the second part is member he said that he has a good repthere are awards given out to teams and ertoire with students and a reputation for students who have done an excellent job getting things done. within their community, “he said.

Simpson also teaches a course named Zohrabi wanted to be involved in SIFE field based consulting which will be so that he could create opportunities for launched this year. The point of the students. program is to work with student entre“One thing I noticed at George Brown preneurs who may have an idea for a there wasn’t a lot of opportunity for stubusiness or who have a business already, dents to continue to enhance themselves but need support and advice. as individuals and as students,” he said.

“We will coach you through,” said “The Sife program allows students to Simpson. apply their education and enhance their learning outside the classroom.”

Roxy Farid, one third of the Management The first competition for Sife George committee for Sife agrees with Zohrabi.

Brown was in Ottawa, Ontario in 2007 When she first arrived at George Brown and the team had not started any projects two years ago to begin her Bachelor of at that time, but they did have solid ideas Applied Business program she wanted

“

to learn new things and was looking for “This is giving that real consulting expesomething like Sife. When Zohrabi made rience,” he said. “When you know that a presentation at her orientation in her you’ve helped somebody maybe realize first year of college she joined soon after their dream.” and hasn’t looked back.

His favorite project so far has been Mar“I just like doing work and the competiket Square where the Sife team assisted tion side,” she said. We’re competing the Community Resource Connections with other universities [and]…we’re of Toronto (CRCT), an organization that doing well.” helps people who are 16 and older who Simpson attributes that point to the fact have mental health problems. that university students and college stuTheodore explained that it was ongoing dents are very different. project to help the CRCT generate rev“The university students like to stand enue by creating a restaurant in Scarboroutside the sandbox and tell people what ough that would generate funds for the to do,” he said. “We’re in the sandbox organization. doing it.”

The project didn’t work out but TheoFarid is also the project manager for the dore said they saved them a lot of money Youth Challenge Fund which George because if they had gone ahead with the Brown is the trustee for in terms of idea their investment would be lost. providing four youth groups with fundSife has been beneficial for Theodore ing. Farid considers the kids involved to and he has recently been employed by be her “children” and she loves being a George brown as a Market Advisor part of it. She audits all the groups and for the Office of Special Projects and makes sure that they stick to the budget Community Partnerships. He describes as well as following the proper ethics. it as being similar to Sife projects and Zohrabi explains that the first project the that many of his assignments are geared Sife team did is the Start Up program toward the community. in partnership with United Way Greater “My job is to create awareness and Toronto. marketing material for these projects.

“We developed a six-week course once It’s a great opportunity that I got through a week for three hours each week and Sife,” he said. taught member agencies of United Way Greater Toronto how to develop a feasibility study or to discuss the viability of staying a non-profit organization or staying as a social enterprise,” said Zohrabi.

A social enterprise is when non-profit organization starts a for-profit business so that can fund themselves.

Alex Theodore, another Management Committee member for Sife George Brown became involved Photo credit: Rena John in Sife the same way Farid SIFE George Brown Team at the SIFE National Exposition did; attending his orienta2008 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre tion. Theodore is a second year Marketing Business student and has been on the Sife team for over a year now.

He said he never thought he would be a For more information on Sife George leader and was lost when he first started Brown and Field Based Consulting school. Theodore is learning business please email Mark Simpson at experience, how to deal with people and networking. msimpson@georgebrown.ca

12

February 2009 The Dialog

thedialog.ca

Dialog Top Ten Great Anti-Love Songs By: Crystal Coburn Dialog Reporter

February is supposed to be the month where couples overindulge in each other and emphasize the many reasons why they adore the other person. Usually women are drowning in chocolate hearts, red roses and lavish dinners. February 14th has become an annual celebration for all those in love, or on their way there.

Where does that leave the broken hearted and loveless people? You’re out in the cold, anxiously waiting for Easter to roll around, while in the meantime scorning every couple with love in their eyes. Red and pink are the themed colours but are also bringing you closer to vomiting if you only catch one more person swooning from a special moment they just experienced. Here are ten songs that relay the message that all good things come to an end and not everyone is bubbling with joy on Valentines Day.

YEP.YOU’ VE GOTMUMPS GETMUMPSANDYOU’LLSPEND9DAYSINISOLATION.

Mumpsisaverycontagiousdiseasethatcancauseseriouscomplications.Catchitandyou’llhavetospend9daysin isolation.4outof5youngadultsarenotfullyprotected.Makesureyouare.Getthemumpscatch-upvaccination.

DISCLAIMER: SOME OF THESE SONGS CONTAIN EXPLICIT CONTENT Caught out There – Kelis

“I hate you so much right now! Aghhhhhhh!”

Break Ups to Makes Ups – Method Man ft. D’Angelo “You ain’t want me when you had me, now you on your third baby daddy, and you hate to see a brotha happy”

F*** It (I Don’t Want You Back) –

Eamon “I gave you all, of my trust I told you, I loved you, now that’s all down the drain”

My Happy Ending – Avril Lavigne

“And all of the memories, so close to me, just fade away All this time you were pretending So much for my happy ending”

So What – P!NK

“And guess what I’m having more fun And now that we’re done I’m gonna show you tonight”

Wake Up Call – Maroon 5

“Six foot tall Came without a warning so I had to shoot him dead He won’t come around here anymore”

Before He Cheats – Carrie Underwood

“That I dug my key into the side of his Pretty little souped up four wheel drive Carved my name into his leather seat I took a Louisville slugger to both headlights Slashed a hole in all four tires Maybe next time he’ll think before he cheats”

Heartless – Kanye West

“How could you be so Dr. Evil?

You’re bringing out a side of me that I don’t know”

Hit ‘em Up Style – Blu Cantrell

“Hey Ladies, When your man wanna get buck wild Just go back and hit ‘em up style Put your hands on his cash and Spend it to the last dime for all the hard times”

FindoutmoreatOntario.ca/mumpsorcall1-866-559-4598 PaidforbytheGovernmentofOntario

Irreplaceable – Beyonce

“So since I’m not your everything How about I’ll be nothing, nothing at all to you”

Not Gon’ Cry – Mary J. Blige

“Eleven years out of my life Besides the kids I have nothing to show Wasted my years a fool of a wife I shoulda have left your a** a long time ago”

**Bonus Song** Tyrone – Erykah Badu

“I think ya better call Tyrone And Tell him come on, Help you get your Sh*t”

thedialog.ca

The Dialog February 2009 13

Raising awareness for charities

By Jorge Midence Dialog Reporter

Coming from a background of activism and volunteerism, Toronto’s own David Katz seeks to “maintain year round engagements with the ideas of Fundraising, Activism and Volunteerism” in our community. Founder of Jack the Donkey, an organization reaching out to raise awareness and support for charities, particularly in North America, Katz shared with me the impact that giving back has made in his life.

After graduating from university, Katz spent the last ten years working for various consulting firms however “did not feel any sense of joy or fulfillment.” Katz shyly confesses that he’s a “recovering obsessive pessimist turned eternal optimist” ever since Jack the Donkey has come into his life.

Continuing his grandfather’s legacy of Toronto based activism, Katz has his eyes set on new ambitious projects.

In the midst of “our economic crisis” he came up with the idea for his “Bail Out For North American Charities” movement. As much as he “loves road trips” Katz realizes that he is “in no shape to run across the continent” or even “bike across it” to get his message across.

The success to Jack the Donkey has largely to do with the viral nature of the internet and social networking sites such as Facebook. He feels that George Brown “should get involved for many reasons”. One cannot deny the many personalities and diversity of students walking through the halls of George Brown, and knows there are “passionate people” wanting to help out.

Making a difference is easy and he encourages us at George Brown to join Jack the Donkey’s Facebook group for more information also visit online,

www.jackthedonkey.com.

WebCT Founder starts Brainify Submitted By Murray Goldberg The founder of WebCT, has announced the beta launch of Brainify.com – an academic community for university and college students (and their instructors) centered around academic social bookmarking. In addition to bookmarking, Brainify includes the ability to create groups of common academic interest, the ability to pose academic questions to the student community, and the ability to closely follow the collections, comments and questions of other respected community members. In addition, if Brainify (the company) is ever sold, it intends to distribute 30% of the proceeds of sale to community members according to their individual reputations.

According to Murray Goldberg: “Brainify is about connecting students to each other and to web-based academic resources.

There are an amazing number of outstanding academic sites on the web. If a great site exists, there is a student somewhere who knows about it. If a student has a question, there is another student somewhere who knows the answer. Brainify is the place to make those connections happen. It is about studentfocused education, academic community and peer learning.”

There exists an overwhelming number of websites with academic content. The problem for students is finding the very best site to help explain a concept or answer a question. At Brainify.com, students and instructors bookmark academic websites that they have found to be useful in the courses they are taking or teaching. When they do so, they are asked to rate, tag, and comment on the website. In addition, they are asked to categorize the website in an academic taxonomy (or hierarchy). This metadata associated with each bookmark ensures that when a new student needs a resource to better understand a course topic or prepare for an exam or assignment, he or she is presented immediately with the most directly appropriate websites. In addition, the community input ensures that the very best sites (the ones that have been of the most help to other students) are presented at the top of the list – a feature that cannot be replicated by general search engines. Ultimately Brainify will become a phenomenal resource to students – not only because of the wealth of peer-vetted content that will be found there, but also because it will house a world-wide academic community of students and professors.

always gambling, If a close friend is . lp. Learn more online he ur yo ed she may ne

ca friends4friends.

14

February 2009 The Dialog

thedialog.ca

Health Benefits

Sports Seneca Sting win against Huskies Women at George Brown College

By Ashley Ward Managing Editor

The Huskies Women’s basketball team gained momentum a bit too late as the Seneca Sting Women’s basketball team won the evening game 61 to 56 on a Wednesday night.

The first half showed a lot of energy from both teams as the lead changed several times. At first George Brown seemed to be dictating the pace of the game but Seneca took over in the last three minutes of the first half as George Brown tried to catch up.

The leading scorers at the half for George Brown were Chantal Gray and Nathalie Bagot with 6 points each. The leading scorer for Seneca was Natasha Thombs with 10 points.

Assistant Coach for the Huskies Elaine Ticzon said shortly before the second half said that they started playing well and let the game get away from them.

“Our game plan was to make

them play five on five the first half,” she said. “We had about 17 turnovers so that didn’t help. We’re going to try and get back our game plan and slow them down.”

In the second half there were turnovers committed by both teams and the shots for the Huskies didn’t start dropping until the middle of the second half. Seneca was still attacking the ball and playing more aggressive basketball and in the end they came out victorious.

OPT-OUT INFORMATION -

January start new students The Student Health Benefits Plan is a mandatory fee, as passed in a school-wide referendum and conferred by the Student Association Board of Directors and the George Brown College Board of Governors. Students who are presently covered through another plan may apply for a refund.

The form is available at: www.studentplans.ca/students (only domestic students)International students must opt-out using a manual Post-Secondary Waiver Form available at the Student Health Benefits Plan Office.

OPT-OUT DEADLINE:

February 5th, 2009 September start students are not eligible)

FAMILY COVERAGE

January start new students Coverage for spousal and/ or dependant children is also available to purchase at an additional cost by completing a Family Enrollment Application form at the Student Health Benefits Plan Office.

FAMILY ENROLMENT DEADLINE January start new students: eligible)

February 12th, 2009 (September start students are not

LIVE DATES - March 2,2009

January start new students Live date is the date your benefits are activated. After the activation, you have to inform your Green Shield identification number to a pharmacist. The “live date” is also the day your dentist will be able to electronically submit your dental claim. As well, you can begin mailing your insurance claims for reimbursement. Please hang on to your receipts for full reimbursement till the Live Date.

HEALTH BENEFITS OFFICES: Photo Credit: Ashley Ward

The Huskies Women’s Basketball Team before game time at George Brown.

St. James: Rm -121 (Basement across Cafeteria) Casa Loma: Rm E130 (Lifeworks Centre) Ryerson: Room 614 (SHE Building) Hotline: 416-415- 5000 ex 2443 Email: sashbasst@georgebrown.on.ca Website: http://sa.georgebrown.ca/

Obamania: Coming soon to a store near you

By Nikolai McLeod Student Contributor

His face adorns coins, books, T-shirts and even...CHEESE!?!?!

Well, not exactly. The Thin Blue Line Cheese Boutique on Queen Street West and Roncesvalles Avenue proudly displayed on their storefront board just days after the election “Come in and try Obama’s favourite cheese.”

Obamania; it is the newest word among Torontonians and not just political junkies. The cities retailers are jumping on board too.

In Kensington market one can hardly escape the youthful image of the new president. His eyes pointed skyward,

with a trace of a smile creeping across his famously optimistic face stamped on a ten dollar T-shirt.

At Exile in Kensington Market they can barely keep Obama T-shirts in stock.

“People think eight years of Bush is enough,” Manager, John Macdonald says by way of explanation.

“Barack Obama. Change you can bank on,” is pictured surrounding a dollar bill on a black T-shirt in Fashion and Sports at 404 Spadina Ave. On inauguration day alone, they sold ten.

Sales clerk, Dave Girhn says, “this guy is really special based on what I see in the news... he’s half black, half white, and Christian...maybe he can unite (people).”

A recent immigrant from the Philippines, Dave (last name withheld) hopes Obama’s victory will mean an end to racism, but laments, “some people don’t

like him because he’s half black.”

Obama’s name doesn’t just grace Tshirts and food products; though, perhaps his most important contribution to the world of retail is books.

He has written two himself; The Audacity of Hope, and Dreams from My Father, but at Another Story Book Shop at 315 Roncesvalles Ave. they carry a lot more than these. Their Obama books cover all age brackets from four and up.

The titles include; An American Story: The Speeches of Barack Obama; Barack, and Barack Obama: Child of Hope. The last two are picture books.

“He’s a hot ticket right now,” says Clerk, Alex Denike. “ It’s a classic rags to riches story. The books sell any time he’s plastered all over the media” If you’re in the market for something a little classier there are always collector’s coins. You’ve seen the ads on late

night TV. They sell for $19.95; remember, only ten sets per household!

Even the Toronto Star released a special commemorative inauguration copy.

Flipping through the paper one gets the sense of a rock concert or a major sporting event rather than a presidential speech.

What is it about Barack Obama that attracts Torontonians? Do we relate to his multicultural background? Is it his rhetoric? His politics?

There’s no denying that Torontonians are impressed. His folk hero status remains intact for now. How he will fare in the next four years is an open question.

Maybe peeking into the future is best left to the pundits and their crystal balls.

These are trying times for any politician but Obama could hardly have gotten off to a better start, in this city anyway.

thedialog.ca

The Dialog February 2009 15

Arts & Entertainment Common – Universal Mind Control

BLUE DRESS BELLE blue dress belle you dance in my mind changing my thoughts changing my dreams I think of you dancing with me in your blue dress under a blue moon

By: Crystal Coburn Dialog Reporter

From the minute you press play to Common’s eighth album, Universal Mind Control, you are wondering if you are listening to the latest N.E.R.D. album instead.

This time around his music is technoinspired and resembles directions that the producers of the album The Neptunes and Kanye West would go towards. Thankfully by the second track you’re in familiar territory and it feels oh so good.

With his slippery smooth rhymes that flow like running water under medium pressure Common delivers the sense that

we have known for 17 years.

Universal Mind Control offers something we can cruise to but on tracks like Announcement you will find your head steadily bobbing to the base line in a way that makes you feel like you’ve been there before. Nostalgic. Some of the tracks tend to lean towards to the featured artist, which is the case on Make My Day with Cee-lo Green. Whether you listen to UMC from top to bottom or you just pick and choose your tracks there’s something for everyone. All together it’s a solid album. Enjoy!

The Last Temptation I am your friend You and I have been together for to long You can’t leave me this way You can’t live without me I will haunt you in your dreams Who you going to party with Who you going to drink with No one can replace me No one You will toss and turn You will get stressed And I’ll laugh because I know you will be back You will be back This is a cigarette talking to a quitter Does it sound like a friend to you I think not!

This poem is by Leave the pack behind. You can find us in the SA office. Come in anytime and ask your questions about smoking. We can help you quit, reduce or help a friend.

Submitted by: Michelle McIntyre, Shana Falconer, Shaunna McCarthy

I missed you I miss you as you walked through the doors of my soul broken on the ground I tend to myself only to find nothing left you took it all -- Peace, Laugh, and Love...

Peter

Top Romantic Movies

By Laura Licata

Student Contributor Are you lacking romance this valentine’s? Do you need to rekindle that lost flame? No need to worry. I am here to save your lonely valentines night with a list of my top romantic movies to remind us of what love is about 10- West Side Story (1961) Intense emotions of forbidden love are depicted in this adaptation of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.

9- When Harry Met Sally (1989) This classic comedy depicts love as witty and funny. It is definitely a must see.

8- Benny and Joon (1993) This movie proves that love comes in all shapes and sizes. The innocence will melt your heart away.

7- Romeo and Juliet (1996) The fashionable approach on Shakespeare’s screenplay creates a bizarre

picture. It asks the question: How far are you willing to go for love?

6- Moulin Rouge (2001) This energetic musical is a must see as the love depicted is strong, passionate, and scandalous.

5-Titanic (1997) This will forever be an epic romance that will go on and on.

4- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (1994) Can a broken heart be so painful that it should be forgotten forever?

3- Notebook (2004) They say your first love never dies, the message proven in this movie as the depicted love stays strong until the end.

2-Twilight (2008) Everyone’s talking about it. This film is action packed and sexy, quick paced and the love is intense.

1- Love Story (1970) The most romantic film of all time states an important message: that love never means having to say you are sorry.

money back

To qualify for student pricing, student must present either (i) a T2202a documenting 4 or more months of full-time attendance at a college or university during 2008 or (ii) a valid high school identification card. Expires July 31, 2009. Must also qualify for Instant Cash Back and Cash Back products. See office for details. Valid only at participating H&R Block locations in Canada. SPC Card offers valid from 08/01/08 to 07/31/09 at participating locations in Canada only. For Cardholder only. Offers may vary, restrictions may apply. Usage may be restricted when used in conjunction with any other offer or retailer loyalty card discounts. Cannot be used towards the purchase of gift cards or certificates.

08-HRB-041-BW-BE-10.indd 1

1/26/09 9:23:21 AM

TRIM: 8" X 10"

BLEED:

BW

LASER %:

DISKED:

PRINT PROD.

TYPE SAFETY: –

REV#: 0

ART DIRECTOR

COPY WRITER

CREATIVE DIR.

LIVE AREA: –

1-800-HRBLOCK (472-5625)

ARTIST: TT

come in today or call

DATE STARTED: DEC 9

and you could win $5,000 towards a road trip. visit refundroadtrip.ca

JOB NAME: STUDENT CAMPUS NWSP ADS

DOCKET/AD#: 08-HRB-041-BW-BE-8

walk in with your taxes, walk out with your money

STUDIO MGR.

ACCT. MGMT.

Excalibur Dialog Eye Opener Mike Chronicle Western News Imprint Cord Argus Opus Muse Gazette

NEWSPAPERS:

On Campus Gateway Intercamp Meliorist Bricklayer Peak Other Press Cascade Mars Hill Omega Martlet Nexus

Incite Niagara News Lance Lambda Nomad Saint Caper Times Baron BCIT Link Kwantlen Chronicle Over the Edge Navigator

fast