The Concordian volume 29, issue 17

theconcordian

life

Battle of the pies P. 6

sports

Stingers keep on rollin P. 12

Striking a chord with students

Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012

arts Get Caught with German film series P. 7

music Making music and raising money to help Haiti P. 10

opinions Time to be blunt about medical marijuana P. 13

Volume 29 Issue 17

Graphic by Katie Brioux

CSU sets March 7 as official strike vote date If passed, a four-day strike would begin March 26 Shereen Ahmed Rafea Staff writer March 7 will be the day that undergraduate students decide on Concordia’s role in the province-wide battle against tuition fee hikes in Quebec.

The Concordia Student Union has passed a motion setting March 7 as a date for a general assembly for a strike mandate expected to last from March 26 to 29.

“This is pretty much, the only card left that the students have in their hands in Quebec,” said CSU president Lex Gill at at last Wednesday’s council meeting. While Gill admitted that a strike will not be easy, she described it as a necessary step against tuition

fee increases in the province.

This week, the CSU will renew their campaign against the hikes, launching an information campaign leading up to the assembly in March about the pros and cons of going forth with a strike, including flyers, posters, booklets and speeches.

“It’s really important to us that moving towards March 7, each student is fully aware of what they are going to be voting on and what impacts it will have on them,” said VP external Chad Walcott at the meeting.

Other events in the campaign include a one week sleep-in at the library to raise awareness about the tuition increases, fax and phone jams

and F#ck Tuition Tuesdays at Reggie’s Bar in the Hall Building.

“To talk about a strike at this point, frankly if we weren’t I would be really worried,” said Gill, who reminded council that there are other student unions in Quebec planning strikes as early as February.

Walcott said strikes are proven to be effective in putting pressure on the government.

“We’re in a position to have a serious impact on our province,” he added in an interview.

During the meeting, some concerns were raised with regards to international students, and the potential consequences of their participation in long-term demonstrations. The CSU,

however, insisted that international students who choose to strike will not run risk of being deported.

Concordia’s Mob Squad is also planning for future demonstrations, and teamed up with McGill to hold a winter training camp for interested activists last weekend.

Concordia students first protested the hikes on Nov.10, joining tens of thousands of students marching against the extra $1625 worth of tuition fees proposed by the Jean Charest government. The province currently plans to increase the cost of university tuition $325 yearly over the next five years.

The next province-wide demonstration is set for March 22.

$25M academic plan

approved at BoG P. 2 theconcordian.com

news 2

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Bioengineering... and bananas?

Matthew Harsh spoke at Concordia last Tuesday about his experience as an agricultural researcher in Kenya. Scan the QR code to read the story or go to theconcordian.com.

Got a news tip? news@theconcordian.com

ConU in brief Alyssa Tremblay

>>> BOARD OF GOVER-

NORS MEETINGS TO REMAIN UNFILMED Concordia’s Board of Governors has voted not to further accommodate people interested in sitting in on a BoG meeting. The board rejected a series of motions aimed at accommodating a wider audience at their meetings last Thursday, as per the suggestion of their executive committee. The motions called for open sessions of the board’s monthly meetings to be broadcasted, a set-aside time for an open question period every meeting and an emphasis on only resorting to closed session when absolutely necessary. However, many board members expressed concerns that the increased publicity of their meetings would result in governors feeling camera shy and hesitant to talk openly. Graduate student representative Erik Chevrier presented the four motions at the Nov. 17 board meeting in an effort to “increase transparency.” His proposal became the subject of heavy debate, with the members discussing the motions for nearly a full hour. Of the four, a motion asking for meeting rooms to accommodate a minimum of 50 seats for non-board members was voted down immediately, but the remaining three were sent to the board’s executive committee for further review.

>>> ASFA BREAKS RULES

TO ALLOW AFFILIATIONS IN UPCOMING ELECTIONS In an effort to make campaigning easier, candidates interested in running in the upcoming Arts and Science Federation of Associations elections will now be able to affiliate with one another. At a meeting held last Thursday, ASFA voted to make a change to Annex A, the document used to govern their elections, to give individually-running candidates the right to support each other’s platforms. In order to make the change, ASFA also had to vote to temporarily lift Article 93 of Annex A, a rule which prohibits amendments to Annex A within a thirty days “of the nomination period for the annual general election.”

The decision to change the rule was not unanimous, some student association reps worrying that the new rule would return ASFA elections to the bullying and team-versus-team antagonizing that darkened previous elections. Now amended, the old rule, which forbade any sort of cooperation or party-forming between candidates, came as a response to ASFA’s 2010 general elections which were marked by animosity and sabotaging between slates, as well as multiple contestations. ASFA’s elections are tentatively set for Feb. 15,16 and 17.

BOG

Academic plan gets the green light Graduate students, libraries and research to receive major funding Paula Rivas Life editor The Board of Governors approved Concordia’s new academic plan by a unanimous vote at its monthly meeting last Thursday.

Spearheaded by Provost and VP of academic affairs David Graham, the plan will serve as a strategic guide for university growth. The objective of the plan is to have Concordia recognized as a top five comprehensive university by 2016 by improving research performance, teaching and academic programming.

“I feel great,” said Graham, who’s been developing the plan for over two years. “I’ve invested a lot of time and energy on it, so I am pleased to see the work that came into it is paying off.”

The presentation at the meeting broke down where the majority of the plan’s $25 million budget will go: $7.45 million for improving research

at Concordia, $6.16 million to graduate students programming, $4.5 million towards new acquisitions for Concordia’s two libraries.

The academic plan passed with two abstentions from undergraduate governors Laura Beach and Cameron Monagle.

Graham had presented the plan to Concordia’s Student Union council in November but it was turned down by student councillors, their main objection being that it was formed without much student input.

“As part of senate, I voted against it two months ago, I felt that there was more time needed, more cost questions needed to be answered,” said CSU president Lex Gill. Gill ultimately decided to vote for the plan at Thursday’s meeting.

“Even though I personally opposed the plan, Senate decided to adopt this document, and out of respect for the senate, at the BoG meeting on Thursday, as a student governor I decided to vote in favour,” she said.

Monagle said the plan represents a step forward for Concordia in theory, but he was not entirely sold on some of the more “troubling components.”

“It wobbles between the vague

“

[The plan] wobbles between the vague and the bizarrely specific. There is a flagrant disregard for undergraduate students, who despite being Concordia’s bread-and-butter, were hardly even mentioned in early drafts. I can’t support a plan funded by tuition hikes that simply cannot be implemented.

- Cameron Monagle. undergraduate governor

and the bizarrely specific,” Monagle said. “Also, there is a flagrant disregard for undergraduate students, who despite being Concordia’s bread-and-butter, were hardly even mentioned in early drafts. Most importantly, I can’t support a plan funded by tuition hikes that simply cannot be implemented.”

Looking ahead with the academic

plan in effect, Monagle said that the CSU will need to continue to work with the senate and faculty to make sure that the plan’s implementation is done in a way consistent with its broader goals.

“The CSU needs to keep a close eye on what’s happening, and pick a fight when necessary,” added Monagle.

CAMPUS

Performing arts students not feeling ‘at home’ in MB building Relocation has led to tension between fine arts and business students Joel Ashak Staff writer The university is inviting media to tour its recently-completed facilities for performing arts this Thursday, but not all fine arts students are sharing in the enthusiasm over their new premises.

“It does not feel like home anymore,” said theatre and development student Deborah Forde. “In moving [downtown] we have lost our community, our green spaces, and we are split between performers here and designers [at Loyola].

It was a much more humane community; here it has become very bureaucratic.”

Since summer 2009, Concordia University has undertaken the task of progressively moving the theatre, music and dance departments from Loyola to Sir George Williams, temporarily relocating classes to the

John Molson School of Business building for a few years until the entire Faculty of Fine Arts is moved to the Grey Nuns property.

Praised by the university for bringing students closer to Montreal’s artistic scene and offering stateof-the-art equipment and facilities, the move has left several students feeling skeptical of the advantages.

Most of all, Forde and her fine arts classmates occupying the 7th and 8th floor of the MB building, tend to feel like “invaders” in a building that often seems “hostile” to arts students.

“A good example of the friction between fine arts and business students is the door connecting the 6th and 7th floor that also leads to a lounge section and vending machines,” said theatre student Christine Bellerose. “Only business students can open the door because it is a ‘business floor’. They can come

study here when it is quieter but we cannot go there.”

In the face of such problematic interactions, theatre professor Annabel Soutar and her students decided to put on a play called Theatre___Business: Fill Us In. The play, set to run from Feb.16 to 19 in the F.C. Auditorium, is an attempt to connect with their co-tenants, tackling the real issues and conflicts that come with theatre students occupying a business building.

Some, on the other hand, are mindful that the MB building is only a temporary solution until the Grey Nuns motherhouse project is completed.

“The transition from Loyola to SGW is both an overall improvement in our lives and still very much a work in progress,” said acting chair of the department of theatre, Mark Sussman. “The final destination will be great, but we’re

not there yet.”

The MB locale also offers considerable improvements in terms of contacts with other departments, equipment and location.

“Loyola had a few more practice spaces than are now available,” said music professor Kevin Austin.

“But JMSB is on the metro and saves most students from 30 to 90 minutes a day in travel time. The downtown facilities are new, clean, bright and can be booked online.

None of this would be used to describe the situation at Loyola.”

Music student Tristan Henry agreed, saying he enjoyed having classes in spacious rooms with brand new equipment.

Built in 1871, the Grey Nuns Mother House is a major ongoing restoration project at Concordia, with an architecture and site planning competition set to launch this year.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

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3

Nation in brief Kamila Hinkson

>>> ‘TIL DEATH DO US PART?

The Globe and Mail reported Friday that Justice Minister Rob Nicholson blames the Liberal government for not filling a “legislative gap� that prevents same-sex couples from divorcing in Canada. The comment came after a federal lawyer told a lesbian couple, who were married here in 2005 but neither of whom is a Canadian citizen, that they couldn’t get divorced because their marriage wasn’t legally recognized in Canada. According to the lawyer, the couple’s marriage could not be dissolved because same-sex marriage is not legal in their countries of origin, therefore making their marriage invalid in Canada as well. The feds are assuring everyone same-sex marriages are legal in Canada, and that same-sex couples will soon be able to divorce here, too.

>>> TARGETING HEADSHOTS

ARTISTS AND ACTIVISTS GATHERED INSIDE THE BONAVENTURE METRO STATION LAST WEDNESDAY TO REMEMBER FARSHAD MOHAMMADI, THE 34-YEAR-OLD HOMELESS MAN WHO WAS SHOT AND KILLED BY MONTREAL POLICE AT THE STATION EARLIER THIS MONTH. ORGANIZED BY STEFAN CHRISTOFF AND THE HOWL ARTS COLLECTIVE, PROTESTERS SPOKE OUT AGAINST MOHAMMADI’S DEATH, DESCRIBING THE INCIDENT AS AN ACT OF POLICE BRUTALITY. DEMONSTRATORS ALSO SANG SONGS AND PERFORMED POETRY AT THE VIGIL, WHICH WAS ATTENDED BY MNA AND QUÉBEC SOLIDAIRE SPOKESPERSON AMIR KHADIR. POLICE OPENED FIRE ON MOHAMMADI ON JAN. 6 AS HE RAN AWAY AFTER STABBING ONE OF THE OFFICERS IN THE STATION. MOHAMMADI’S DEATH HAS SPARKED DEBATE IN THE CITY ABOUT THE TREATMENT OF MONTREAL’S HOMELESS POPULATION. THE OLD BREWERY MISSION ESTIMATES THAT THERE ARE NEARLY 30,000 HOMELESS PEOPLE IN THE GREATER MONTREAL AREA. PHOTOS BY NAVNEET PALL

>>> FREEDOM, BUT NOT

WANT TO BE

THAT MUCH FREEDOM

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For more information, email news@theconcordian.com.

Atlantic University Sport, the governing body for university sports in the Maritimes, has introduced tougher penalties for headshots in hockey.

Players who rack up three minor penalties for contact to the head will now receive a one-game suspension. Before this season, automatic suspensions were only given for hits from behind. AUS spokesman Phil Currie told the CBC he hopes the new penalties will cut down the number of serious injuries and the amount of class time missed by students recovering from the hits.

According to a decision rendered by an Ontario court last Thursday, freedom of expression does not mean you can be naked in public. Brian Coldin, a resident of Bracebridge, Ont., launched a constitutional challenge after being charged in various incidents involving public nudity, such as going to drive-thru windows naked.

Coldin said his nudity is a form of protest. The trial judge, however, saw his acts as nothing more than an affinity for being nude. Coldin may face a fine and/or probation.

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A Vancouver woman is upset with Facebook for removing photos that show her breastfeeding her child.

About 30 of Emma Kwasnica’s photos have been removed from the site because they violate its policies on obscenity, nudity and sexually explicit content. She told the Canadian Press that “there’s nothing sexually explicit in breastfeeding photos, nothing at all.� A representative for Facebook in Canada couldn’t comment on the case, but said a fully exposed breast violates the policy. Whether it’s in the mouth of a child or not apparently doesn’t matter.

4

theconcordian

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

World I did on my summer break in brief What Student volunteers CVAP

Kamila Hinkson

>>> GOLD STAR FOR GOOD

start preparing for humanitarian trip to Uganda

BEHAVIOUR

The U.S. Marines have begun a criminal investigation and an internal inquiry into a video that shows four Marines urinating on the bodies of dead Taliban troops. The video, released Thursday, surfaced amidst talks between the Obama administration, the Afghan president and the Taliban. A U.S. Forces general issued an order Friday in response to the video, reminding troops to treat bodies with “appropriate dignity and respect.” Indianapolis Colts punter Pat McAfee decided to throw in his two cents, defending the Marines’ actions via Twitter using the hastags “#WhoCares” and “#ThoseDudesTriedToKillOurDudes.”

>>> APPLE OMELETTES

Chinese customers and phone scalpers egged an Apple store in Beijing on Friday when the company cancelled the sale of the iPhone 4S due to the size of the crowd. The AP reported that at one point, the crowd numbered about 2,000 people. Many left after they heard the store would not open at 7 a.m. as scheduled.

An Apple spokesperson later issued a statement saying the iPhone 4S won’t be sold in Chinese mainland retail stores for the foreseeable future.

>>> THERE ISN’T ENOUGH MIDOL IN THE WORLD...

Like many women, Hazel Jones, 27, suffered from heavy periods and bad cramps when she was going though puberty. Unlike most however, she was never sure “which hole” to put her tampon in. She decided to see a doctor after her long-term boyfriend told her she was “different” down there and different, she is—Jones has two vaginas. The condition, uterus didelphys, occurs to one in 3,000 female babies in the womb. Jones, who lives in High Wycombe, England, revealed on a British morning show that she lost her virginity twice and has “a great sex life.”

>>> PRIVACY PLEASE?

Last week, a high school in North Texas removed all the doors leading from the hallways into the bathrooms. A school district spokesperson explained to a CNN affiliate they did it in order to better supervise the students. But some students are saying they did it to prevent other students from having sex in the bathroom.

Though the school denies any reports of sex on campus, the school’s principal recently held an assembly to discourage public displays of affection, which were deemed to be getting out of hand.

Shereen Ahmed Rafea Staff writer The newest group of students accepted into the Concordia Volunteer Abroad Program (CVAP) begin their pre-departure training sessions this January for their summer volunteer trip to Gulu, Uganda.

CVAP, a fee-levy, non-profit organization at Concordia, sends staff and volunteers to work on supporting community development projects in Uganda for four months in the summer, alternating for two months at a time.

They also collaborate yearround with groups such as St. Jude Children’s Home, SOS Children’s Villages, Sports Outreach Ministry and The AIDS Support Organization (TASO).

Although some students face challenges such as homesickness and adapting to the slower pace of Ugandan life, CVAP’s executive director Jamie Robinson said the predeparture sessions have undergone improvements in preparing volunteers.

“The feedback from our partners is that volunteers are ready to work with them and volunteers have more to contribute, and probably in some respect have more humility in

their approach as well, which is really essential,” she added.

Jeevan Sidhu volunteered with CVAP in the summer of 2011. “It was amazing,” she said, “the time goes by faster than you think.”

According to Sidhu, the program takes you out of the classroom and gives you crucial experiential learning.

“It’s about really just being completely immersed in a situation and learning in a different way than you would in a textbook,”she added.

The fourmonth-long training sessions, which can be taken as a fourcredit course, cover topics such as environmental impact assessment, radical approaches to community development, and critical race and gender theory.

“We really want people to make the most out of their experience,” Robinson said. “If students are well prepared then I think our community partners benefit from that preparation.”

The sessions, said Sidhu, also help deal with any anxieties the student may have. She noted how enthusiastic this year’s group is.

“I’m so excited for them because I know I had the same experience as them just a year ago.”

CVAP volunteers work on agriculture projects, health care projects, help with surveys and more.

A recent example of the work students did at St. Jude’s, said Robinson, includes a health and hygiene workshop that the students ran for the children. They “made some visuals to go up in their washrooms and other places for children to learn about hand washing,” she explained.

Robinson said volunteering helps people understand the value of their lives and their time. She cited examples such as helping a community receive health care and contributing to economic progress as being worth that time.

She believes that volunteering, no matter where it takes place, “is an expression that is worth more than money.”

Graphic by Alessandra McGovern

The Concordian is looking for a new advertising team!

We are looking to hire a team of advertising representatives to generate advertisements for the printed and online editions of our weekly newspaper. The team is expected to target local businesses and clients that will be of interest to the Concordia community. They will be working with the advertising manager and earning commission on the external ads they bring in.

Applicants must be self-motivated as the positions involve coldcalling and emailing, going door-to-door and promoting the newspaper by advertising, postering and attending university and community events.

This is a great opportunity to get involved at Concordia while also applying knowledge learned in class out in the real world (and make some extra money on the side.)

Interested candidates must send an email to business@theconcordian.com with a copy of their resume and a brief description of their personal background, as well as which neighbourhood they would like to focus on (Loyola or SGW Campus) by 11 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 20th.

The Concordian

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Follow us on Twitter: @TheConcordian

5

COMMUTING

Biking in a winter wonderland ConU students brave the elements by cycling to school in the snow Jitika Shah Contributor The sudden arrival of winter weather in Montreal means that many students have had to swallow another metro fare hike and escape into dingy metro stations to commute to and from Concordia. However, the number of bicycles waiting outside several classes point to an increasingly popular alternative mode of winter transport: winter biking.

Kelly Pennington, an urban planning student, commutes to and from her classes at Concordia by bike. Sporting lobster-claw-styled cycling gloves, she enthuses that the rewards of a brisk and refreshing winter commute to school easily surpasses any challenges she faces riding in less-than-ideal circumstances.

According to a recently published study by civil engineering and applied mechanics researchers at McGill, the amount of people using their bikes to get around in the winter per day numbers in the hundreds and has been increasing steadily over the years.

Community bike co-ops catering directly to students have sprung up across the city, like Le Petit Vélo Rouge at Concordia, The Flat Bike Col-

lective at McGill, Université de Montreal’s Biciklo and BQAM at UQAM. They sell and fix bikes, as well as offer workshops specifically centered around the problems cyclists may face when riding around Montreal in the snow.

Nonetheless, many winter cyclists face challenges beyond the cold weather.

“One issue is that drivers don’t see this as positive, they think it’s stupid,“ said Pennington, who also works as a bicycle courier.

She explained that long stretches of designated bike paths are often not cleared of snow during A MAN BRAVES THE ELEMENTS BIKING THROUGH A MONTREAL SNOW STORM LAST WEEK. PHOTO BY SARAH HOWELL the winter, and drivers are not only annoyed but also scared at having to share narrower roads. in front of the JMSB building, Karine Imbeault maining visible to drivers becomes even more When the snow is cleared it gets dumped mirrors this experience. She commutes from the important as it gets darker earlier so avoiding onto the sides, usually spilling over onto the bike Plateau area and says she often gets yelled at. dark clothing and affixing bicycles with batterypaths and forcing cyclists to share the streets Both Pennington and Imbeault said that the operated lights is advisable. Imbeault points out with drivers. Pennington said she gets honked at best way to deal with exasperated drivers is to that batteries die faster in cold conditions so she more during these winter months. not be distracted by the honking and name- finds herself spending more money on them durBalancing on the seat of her locked bicycle calling but remain defensive while riding. Re- ing the winter.

How do you solve a problem like the 105?

George Menexis Staff writer Commonly described by words such as “extremely uncomfortable” and “having to wait,” the 105 bus is used by many Concordia students use to get to the university’s Loyola campus in

Notre-Dame-de-Grâce.

“It makes me not want to go to school”, says Danica Bourque, a psychology student who takes the 105 bus everyday to get to class. “There’s nothing worse than a jam-packed bus.”

However, that may change in the near future as there has been some recent talk at the Société de transport du Montréal of reintroducing trolley buses in some areas of the city — and the 105 bus line is one they’re seriously considering for the switch.

Electric trolley buses roamed the streets of Montreal from 1937 to 1966, until they were replaced by diesel buses. Trolleys are generally

bigger, more comfortable and less noisy than an average diesel bus, not to mention environmentally friendly. The STM estimates the cost of converting the 105 from bus to trolley at $750 million.

“I think it’s an excellent idea if there’s more room in them, I’m tired of feeling like a sardine every morning and every night”, says Margarita Miseros, a psychology student who is frequently at the Loyola campus.

The Montreal Gazette reported that the 105, which runs up and down Sherbrooke St. west of Decarie Blvd., carries an average of 17,000 passengers per day. Concordia students and staff

alike showed their discontent with the 105 this summer by starting a petition on the Internet to ask the STM to boost service on the line.

Despite passing every three minutes during rush hour, the 105 bus line often remains crowded, a problem that STM vice-chairman Marvin Rotrand says they’re trying to fix.

“On this particular line, every time we add service instead of easing crowding, it attracts more riders,” explained Rotrand in an article by the Montreal Gazette.

San Francisco and Moscow are two of the biggest cities that still rely on tramways for their public transportation.

How do you get to Concordia?

“

It’s two metro stops between McGill and Guy-Concordia, so it’s fairly quick and easy. I like it a lot. I can wake up with 10 minutes left before class and still get there on time. It’s better than the stories I hear about people who have to come in from the West Island and have to spend an hour [to get to school].

It’s great because I walk. I have no trouble and I find it very healthy.

[Commuting during winter] is a little more challenging. Like yesterday, when the streets and sidewalks were not done, walking is tiring, but on a good day, it’s a 15-minute walk max.

My daily commute to school is a bike ride, usually, and it takes about a half-hour and it’s a lot of fun. I’m prepared to bike for most of the winter except for on snowy days like today where I’ll take the bus and metro because I don’t have a very good winter bike.

I usually take the 165 bus and it drops me right off at GuyConcordia so I just have to walk a few blocks. The bus usually takes 15 minutes sometimes 20 when there’s a lot of traffic and then it’s just a five minute walk. It’s really nice because it’s fast and close to school.

- Alix Vander Vlugt ‒ Student, film studies

- Karen Guibord ‒ Supervisor of circulation at Vanier Library

- Kevin Gascoigne ‒ Funding and outreach coordinator at CJLO 1690 AM

- Oulimata Soumare ‒ Student, political science

- By Jenna Monney-Lupert

“

Trolley buses being considered as solution to over-crowded 105 bus route

I take the 99 bus to Longueuil, then hop on the metro to BerriUQAM and then take the green line to Guy-Concordia. It’s not too long [and] I only have 2 days of school, so I’m not in a rush. I take the train at night: whenever I had to take the bus home, it would be a pain in the butt, especially in this weather.

- Simone Chartrand ‒ Student, classical civilization

life 6

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Write to the editor: life@theconcordian.com PIES

Food wars: let there be pie Aussie meat pies take on the Rockaberry sugar rush pies

cheesecakes, fruit pies, and cream pies.

Without a doubt, the smallest bite of any of their pies sends the taste buds swooning, but if we’re going to be picky eaters then we must sharpen our critiquing Marta Barnes knives.

Contributor The strawberry rhubarb, our choice from the fruit pies, “[satisfied] the desire Living in one of the food capitals for tang but was lacking texture,” said of North America means the food- creative writing and philosophy stuie in all of us lives a very spoiled dent Alexa Rochford. Depending on the life. It can be difficult to sift for mood, however, it is nicely fresh and the the hidden gems of Montreal. pie you’re most likely to scarf down in Two such gems are the lip smacking one sitting.

Rockaberry, the The mofamous café, chamisu cream and the lesser pie layers’ fillknown but ings of coffee equally mouth and tiramisu watering peaked atop a Tourtière Auswhite cake. It tralienne (Ta or cuts what would Aussie slang for otherwise be “thanks a lot”), overwhelming a cozy diner sweetness, manspecializing in aging to perfectgourmet meat ly blend flavours pies. and consistency Now between for a delectable the two, where Rockaberry’s Apple Crumble Cheesecake indulgence. would a ConcorThe winner of dia student prefer to crash after a hard the three, however, has to be the caramel day’s homework? fudge cheesecake. The cheese filling Rockaberry is of course an iconic melts in your mouth while the caramel, landmark of Montreal, boasting sinfully half-seeped into the thick fudge bottom, sweet-toothed pies that do not disapmakes each forkful undiluted decadence. point despite their hype. Priced at an Carrying on to our next savoury shop, average of $5 per generous piece, the Ta, the decision between favourite fladesserts tend to be divided between vours gets even harder.

Unlike the loud and crowded experiperfection to achieve a brilliant balance ence at Rockaberry, the relaxed atmobetween cultural dishes. The vegetarian sphere of the four-tabled Ta diner is sweet potato pie also is also very tasty— almost a relief. It offers a wide selection simultaneously peppery, zesty, and of Australian and New Zealand meat creamy, it is a surprise to the taste buds and vegetarian pies, good enough for and worth every penny. anyone missing Down Under or wanting “What a great deal for five bucks,” to try something new and delicious. The said communications student Max menu ranges from classics like steak and Bianchi. “The quality of the food far mushroom to butter chicken and curried surpassed the price.” vegetable sweet potato.

For an extra $3.95, however, you can “We tried to elevate the concept of the order the standout plate combining your simple meat pie,” said co-owner Melanie choice of pie with mashed potatoes and Des Lauriers, who started Ta with her mushy peas (both buttery and fluffy), New Zealandtopped with gravy. born husband, It is a meal made to Don Hudson satiate the biggest of in 2009. The appetites. result was a It is difficult to colourful array compare both Ta of cheerful and Rockaberry in gourmet pies, order to choose a sold either hot, winner. But while cold, or frozen Rockaberry rocks (for those your socks off, it’s who want to hard to finish their bring the love generous portions home), and in and the clamorous both personal ambiance can make portions and Tourtière Australienne’s Meat Pie basic conversation family-sized meals. a struggle. Ta is an Although common consensus is that easygoing treat that leaves you craving the traditional steak and mushroom second helpings. And with that being is best, the butter chicken’s satisfying said, Ta takes the cake—or pie. saucy filling with tender bite-sized meat pieces makes it a close runner up. It Tourtière Australienne: 4520 Parc Ave. seems strange at first to eat a flaky butRockaberry: 4275 St-Denis St. (near ter pie shell rather than with a side of SGW campus) or 5557 Monkland Ave. rice, but the butter chicken is spiced to (near Loyola campus)

Photos by Sophia Loffreda

BAR REVIEW

Time to make bar plan B your plan A Having a back-up plan never felt so good Jennifer Braun Contributor It’s Saturday night and you’re going to your favourite hangout to grab some beers and catch up with friends. But once you get there, the bar is full and you’re stuck waiting for a table. It’s been 15 minutes and tables aren’t clearing out. It’s time for a Plan B. Situated in the perfect location at the corner of Mont-Royal and St-Denis, why not literally check out Bar Plan B? With a relaxed and warm atmosphere, Plan B can be the perfect place to grab drinks and enjoy the evening with company.

Don’t expect a dance floor, as this bar is fairly small, but its cozy terrace makes it a perfect choice for warmer nights.

The decor is nothing special—a contemporary style with black leather booths and trendy mirrors drape the walls, but it creates a modern feel and charming atmosphere.

The older crowd (aged 25-35) and ex-

tensive drink menu qualifies this hangout as a high-end bar, and more than just a regular pub. Don’t let that intimidate you though, Plan B has a completely relaxed ambiance with studentfriendly prices.

You can find a detailed menu with a large array of alcohols featuring different types of vodka, rum, scotch and whisky.

Their exciting selection includes Hendricks gin, Belvédère vodka, and even an assortment of tequila and grappa.

Are you celebrating an occasion? Have

some shooters. Having a girl’s night out and you’re feeling fancy? Try their cocktails and martinis.

Not to mention, they have a wide range of wines to choose from—white, red, and rosé sold by the glass or bottle.

Their large and detailed drink menu can be explained by their philosophy that customers should drink quality and not quantity, as they mention on their website. Don’t arrive at Plan B on an empty stomach, however. Their food menu is comprised of simple finger-

foods such as mixed nuts, olives, and cheese platters.

While enjoying your drinks, your ears will be attuned to typical Lounge music.

Thankfully, it is played at a reasonable volume so you can make conversation without having to yell.

On a Saturday night, Plan B tends to fill up quickly, adding to the bar’s lively and vibrant environment. In my experience, the service was great; friendly waiters and drinks were served in almost no time.

Despite its key location in the heart of Le Plateau, Bar Plan B can be easily missed. Keep your eyes open for the little red “B” on top of the door or the even smaller “B” on the door.

It is sure to please students as well as businessmen after a long day at work.

Who knows—next Saturday night, it might just end up being your plan A. Location: 327 Mont-Royal East. Open every day from 3 p.m. till 3 a.m. You can also check out their website at www.barplanb.ca for more information.

Photo by Sophia Loffreda

arts

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

7

Write to the editor: arts@theconcordian.com ARTICULATE

In with the old Rebecca Ugolini Staff writer

Welcome to ARTiculate, a new column for a more informal kind of arts writing.

From bucket lists of Montreal must-sees to personal reflections on arts-related topics, ARTiculate invites readers to drop in, read on, and keep thinking once they’re done reading.

My father, the eternal trickster, often accuses me of having the ‘spirit of contradiction’: before I can help myself, I always think up a few objections, which, of course, proves his point. To his delight and my chagrin, I take the bait again and again because his diagnosis is correct. Case in point: New Year’s Eve. I believe pre-midnight follies get swept away with the old year when the ball drops, but while the rest of the world is making merry, I find myself sullen and quiet, leaving my baffled dinner companions to ply me with Bombay and finger food. As you can imagine, I’m the life of the party.

I’m also starting to think this behaviour is characteristic of born-and-bred Montrealers.

Surrounded by opportunity, we’re often content to mope. Labelled Canada’s European city, we’re indifferent to the landmarks tourists travel across the world to visit.

Given carte blanche, we’re compelled to contradict: but to ring in 2012, let’s forget our jaded ways and let ourselves enjoy the predictable, the familiar, the local. Here are three ways to go in with the old this January.

Same old story Survey the crowd of a Montreal museum: is it equal parts bored high school groups, tourists clutching Phaser-like audio guides, and arts students sketching into curly-cornered sketchbooks? It isn’t that we don’t want to go to museums, we just never find the time. Exhibit from February to May?

BREAK YOUR OLD HABITS THIS YEAR AND CHECK OUT THE MONTREAL MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS’ NEW EXHIBITS. PHOTOS BY WRITER

Damn, I’m booked solid.

In with the old From Greek to Canadian to Medieval, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts has it all.

Admission to permanent exhibits is free, and temporary exhibits, from the striking Nunavik-inspired Resolute Bay, to the pop and street art love child that is Big Bang, promise something new. Check out the Bourgie building, a new concert hall and gallery built in and around an 1894 church. (www.mbam. qc.ca) Same old story When was the last time you walked around the Old Port or got dragged to Pointeà-Callière with your history class? With its share of corny tourist traps and bad restaurants, the Port sometimes seems more appalling than appealing.

In with the old

The key to enjoying the unique architecture of the Old Port’s buildings, its stunning churches, like Basilica Notre-Dame, and cheap (and sometimes free) classical concerts, like those held at Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours, is to visit during the low season. January is the perfect time: with its second skin of snow, the Port exhibits a relative freedom from crowds and extra charm. Done walking? Slide down St-Laurent for a hot bite to eat in Chinatown, which is smaller than Boston’s or New York’s, but blessed with more ambiance.

Same old story We’ll spend a pretty penny for a decent bite on vacation, but on a busy day in our own city, we’ll more likely settle for Starbucks or food court fare than seek out local, unique, beautiful places to eat and drink.

Don’t wonder why businesses fail in the notoriously tricky restaurant industry: the

FILM

You’ve got to express yourself Montreal’s GoetheInstitut presents German Expressionism Radina Papukchieva Contributor Canadian filmmaker Guy Maddin has become a prolific director known for his passion for German Expressionism. Among his “German films” are Archangel (1991) and Careful (1992), both homages to filmmakers such as George W. Pabst and Fritz Lang, among others. Maddin’s films, however, have remained his own, receiving critical acclaim not only in Canada, but in the U.S. as well, and Germany in particular—in 2011, he was part of the International Jury of the Berlin International Film Festival. It is no coincidence then that this year, Maddin has been invited by Montreal’s Goethe-Institut to curate its Carte Blanche.

The films Maddin has chosen to present vary from long forgotten silent German Expressionist films such as Pabst’s Secrets of a Soul (1926) – an early exploration of Freudian theory – or Robert Reinert’s Nerves (1919) – a story about shell-shocked soldiers – to melodramas and film noir. Ernst Lubitsch’s Design for Living (1933), starring Gary Cooper and Mary Hopkins at the height of their fame is another gem that will be presented. Maddin’s own aforementioned films will also be featured.

This mini German film festival will open with Max Ophüls’ 1949 film Caught starring Robert Ryan, Barbara Bel Geddes, and James Mason. The movie focuses on Leonora Eames (Bel Geddes), a Denver-born girl on her way to make it big in L.A. She starts going to a so-called “charm-school” where she is to be taught etiquette and proper lady-like diction in order to be able to land, hopefully, a millionaire. Although from the beginning she doesn’t feel at ease

“

truth is difficult to swallow, but we’re part of the problem.

In with the old Think back to your dearest food memories: the vivid sights and smells which arise should convince you that food is an art form, one worth investigating on our own turf. Montreal is full of old and old-at-heart locations that combine beautiful surroundings with artful food at welcoming prices: from Sakura on de la Montagne, a 30-plus year old, traditionally-decorated Japanese restaurant with yukata-wearing waitresses and the best lunch sushi menus in town from $12 to $20, to Café Myriade on Mackay, with oldfashioned coffee decorated with foamy milk hearts, there’s more than enough to whet the appetite of your stomach and soul just around Concordia.

It is Beauty and the Beast, only with no happy ending anywhere in sight.

with her own objectives – becoming rich in order to live happily – she marries the first tall, dark and handsome magnate whom she meets. Smith Olgrich (a menacing Robert Ryan) takes his young bride to his Long Island mansion, where she is to stay up late, dressed up like Cinderella, in order to greet her husband and his colleagues, who virtually live in the mansion with them. It is Beauty and the Beast, only with no happy ending anywhere in sight. Fed up with Olgrich’s dictator-like companionship, Leonora decides to leave, and finds a job as a nurse in New York, where she meets handsome Dr. Quinada (Mason). But Olgrich is not about to let her go so easily.

Caught is a cautionary tale about the traps of money, albeit how charming it

may be at first. It is also a rethinking of a woman’s role in a marriage and in society in general—is her primary goal in life to find a rich husband to take care of her? The film has great cinematography, making Leonora’s world seem both magnificent and menacing at the same time, with wide landscape shots of her mansion and extreme close-ups of her beastly husband. It is the perfect tale to start the Goethe-Institut’s homage to lost German films.

Guy Maddin’s Carte Blanche series will take place from Jan. 19 to March 16 at the Goethe-Institut (418 Sherbrooke St. East, corner of St-Denis). Caught is showing on Jan. 19 and 20 at 7 p.m. For more details, check out the website at www.goethe.de.

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theconcordian

Tuesday, January 17, 2012 FILM

Oh man, hot damn - it s everywhere!

The thick and tangled history of beards on film

Kyle Leitch The Carillion (University of Regina)

REGINA (CUP) — Let’s face it, ladies and gentlemen: beards are awesome. They keep your face warm, give you something to stroke ponderously, and as far as Hollywood is concerned, the simple addition of a magical mane of face fuzz can turn anyone into the biggest badass walking. So, allow us to take you through the modern history of beards in cinema.

The year was 1956. Elvis Presley’s gyrating on The Milton Berle Show was doing little to soothe the fears of a vulnerable nation still fresh off of having fought the Second World War. One man understood this better than any other, and on Oct. 5 of that year, his beard came to save us all. Cecil B. DeMille’s The Ten Commandments, starring Charlton Heston as Moses, became one of the most financially successful films ever made. However, there is still debate over the content of the plot today. Since 1956, audiences worldwide have been far too distracted by the magnificence of Charlton Heston’s beard. I mean, holy hell — look at that thing! Heston’s beard would go on to make notable appearances in The Agony & the Ecstasy and Planet of the Apes, but it would never recapture the Biblical majesty it had in 1956.

All went quiet on the bearded front in Hollywood, save for the occasional blip on the radar. There were notable exceptions, such as Orson Welles’ Karl Marx-esque tuft in 1972’s F for Fake, and George Carlin’s beard in everything George Carlin did in the ’70s, but it would be a small, independent filmmaking movement that would bring the beard back. Blaxploitation cinema came roaring onto the scene in 1971, spearheaded by Gordon Parks’ Shaft. Blaxploitation offered viewers an alternative to the regular Hollywood fare. However, the beard offerings in blaxploitation were minimal at best. Once again, a lone man and his beard stepped up to save the day.

Bill Cosby co-starred in the 1974 blaxploitation feature Uptown Saturday Night. Cosby’s beard would establish the craziness that he would be known for later on in his career. The film suffered the unfortunate downfall of trying to focus on its already flimsy plot, and thus was not well-received despite Cosby’s incredible showing of facial hair fortitude. Though it went largely ignored by cinema-goers, Uptown Saturday Night still has a resonating impact throughout bearded culture, as this was the first film to prove the beard was no longer a Caucasian monopolized device.

The rest of the 1970s were dominated by Dan Haggerty’s beard, which

Graphic by Katie Brioux

starred in the Grizzly Adams adventures beginning in 1977. As prodigious as Haggerty’s beard was, audiences had long ago be-

come desensitized to the North American beard in a plot-driven film.

Audiences were craving something much, much more. And with a mighty cry of “GORDON’S ALIVE!” they got it.

Brian Blessed’s billowing beard bellowed its way into our collective memories in 1980’s Flash Gordon.

Here, finally, was the radical difference audiences had so been craving: a film that had no discernible plot, starred a British comedian with a beard of Homeric proportions, and had a soundtrack composed almost entirely by the rock band Queen.

Flash Gordon was a brilliant film in its doltishness, and Brian Blessed’s beard would satiate the collective appetites of the movie-going public single-handedly for the next two years. But since 1981, something had been growing in the subzero cold found on the border of British Columbia and Alaska, and in 1982 it was ready to unleash itself on the unsuspecting public.

The year 1982 saw the theatrical release of The Thing, the film that marked John Carpenter’s first foray into studio filmmaking. The Thing starred Kurt Russell, and good Lord, look at that beard! Holy jumping fucking Jesus; it has attained a perfection not seen since Charlton Heston’s beard in The Ten Commandments. It has literally rendered me at a loss for words effective … now.

The later part of the 20th century saw very sub-par beard offerings. Of course, there were beards of note, but nothing could touch Kurt Russell. It seemed the magic of the beard was largely spent.

In 2009, Todd Phillips released a small comedy that became the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time. The Hangover co-starred Zach Galifianakis and, lo and behold, the beard re-emerged with renewed cultural significance. The problem, though, is that Galifianakis single-handedly caused the shift from analogizing the beard as a thing of manliness, to a thing of man-childishness.

The beard is no longer a thing of badassery, but a comedic prop, not unlike a joy buzzer or a rubber chicken.

Perhaps this is the trend that the beard will follow. Perhaps the pendulum will once again swing towards the hyper-masculine feature that the beard used to symbolize in cinema. But one thing’s for sure: the beard isn’t going anywhere. My beard and I are itching to find out what happens next.

music

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

9

Write to the editor: music@theconcordian.com PREVIEW

Anamanaguchi: New music the ‘oldfashioned’ way... Using Nintendos?

Andrew Guilbert Staff writer

More Beyoncé Buzz

Beyoncé was given an unusual honor by Australian scientists last week when they named their latest discovery, a rare breed of horsefly, after the songstress. Researchers decided on the name after noticing its giant golden behind made it “the all-time diva of flies.”

“It was the unique dense golden hairs on the fly’s abdomen that led me to name this fly in honour of the performer Beyoncé,” said Bryan Lessard, a member of the Australian national science agency CSIRO. Lessard says naming gave him “the chance to demonstrate the fun side of taxonomy – the naming of species.”

The fly, Scaptia (Plinthina) beyonceae, was first identified in Northern Queensland back in 1981, the same year Beyoncé was born.

Express yourself this way

In a new interview with Newsweek, Madonna addressed the similarities of Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” to her own 1989 hit “Express Yourself.” Recalling her first listen of Gaga’s song, Madonna said, “I thought, ‘This is a wonderful way to redo my song.’ I mean, I recognized the chord changes. I thought it was . . . interesting.”

Before anyone goes thinking this is the start of another celebrity feud, Madge also had some compliments to throw Gaga’s way in another interview, this time on the BBC’s Graham Norton Show. “When I first saw her I was really impressed by her. She was cool, she did remind me of me back in the day.”

OUGAVE75GTRS?

Guitar god Eddie Van Halen has donated 75 guitars from his personal collection to Los Angeles area public schools. The rocker collaborated with the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation to give the guitars to schools that don’t have the resources to properly fund their music education programs. “Music is the universal language,” said Van Halen. “It has the ability to transcend and convey every human emotion that exists without saying a word.” The guitarist explained the giveaway as being a way to improve the lives of others through music. “Music education and families are dealing with the economic times, and I wanted to help them. If I can help a kid discover a liking, or even a passion for music in their life, then that’s a wonderful thing.”

Now all your friends can share in your terrible taste in music!

Last Thursday marked the introduction of a new Facebook feature that will allow users to listen to and chat about each other’s music in real time. “Listen with” works in conjunction with a number of Facebook-integrated streaming services, such as Spotify, MOG and Rhapsody, and plays whatever music your friend is listening to in said service. The new feature also incorporates Facebook chat to let users join in on conversations about a particular song and can allow up to 50 people “listening with” at the same time.

Brooklyn quartet bring DIY chiptune sound to Montreal Allie Mason Music editor

U

pon listening to an Anamanaguchi track, ‘80s and ‘90s kids will hear a strangely familiar sound: the unmistakable doots, bleeps and boops of the classic childhood gaming console, the Nintendo Entertainment System. The genre, commonly referred to as “chiptune,” has been around since the ‘80s, but what makes this Brooklyn-based band unique is their live instrumentation.

“Anyone who’s been to one of our live shows can see the connection [to punk music] can become a lot more clear,” said bassist James DeVito. “We’re all very much connected to playing live music, not just electronic music.”

Their underpinnings to punk music goes beyond their fastpaced songs and high-energy live performances; the DIY mentality from the punk scene also leeched into chiptune.

“Everything comes from the community and the ability to take the hardware apart and re-purpose it and get it to do what we want it to do,” said DeVito, who INSTEAD OF GIVING UP VIDEO GAMES, THESE BROOKLYNITES MADE THEIR OLD NINTENDOS PART OF THEIR BAND. took their Nintendos apart and modified them himself in order to make them functional for their live the area. Berkman, DeVito and Warnaar mistakes in that we’ve gotten overly performances. “[In the community] evobliged, and the rest is history. excited with new songs in the past and eryone’s willing to help each other out.

Their debut album Dawn Metropolis played them all live before even releasNo one’s holding anything back to screw (2009) earned them major cred and got ing them,” admitted DeVito. “Then by over another band. Everyone’s totally them a gig composing the soundtrack the time we get to recording [the songs] there for every other band.” for Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The we end up getting kind of bored of them So to say they play video game music Game (2010). After releasing a series of and end up wanting to play even newer would be an insult to their talent. After free downloads on their website durstuff. We do have one song that will all, DeVito and lead songwriter and guiing the summer of 2011 (which are still most probably be on the new album that tarist Peter Berkman, who have known available), the band is gearing up for we’ll be playing at the shows in Canada, each other since middle school, both their Canadian tour and then buckling but we have a bunch more down the played in what DeVito calls “traditional down to start recording their next studio pipeline.” bands” since they were teens. They also album.

In fact, DeVito says the band members both studied music technology at NYU, DeVito and the boys are throwing don’t even know what to expect at each where they met fellow guitarist and L.A. around a few ideas for the new album, show. “We write the setlist generally five native Ary Warnaar, who wasn’t even including producing it in a rap album minute before we go on stage, so anyallowed to play video games as a kid. style, which means having a different thing can happen. And we get bored doThey picked up drummer Luke Silas person produce each song. And though ing the same thing over and over, so it’s through another now seemingly “vinthe ideas are all hypothetical at this pretty rare for two sets to be the same.” tage” technology—MySpace. point, they’ve already started working on Silas, also an L.A. native, sent them their vision, which DeVito says they’ll Anamanaguchi will be playing with a MySpace message after noticing that be sticking to. However, fans shouldn’t Extreme Animals and Moon King at they had recently parted ways from their expect too much of a preview at their Il Motore on Jan. 20. Doors open at 8 original drummer and said he wanted to upcoming Canadian dates. p.m. and tickets are $10 in advance or play a set with them when they came to “We’ve sort of learned from our $12 at the door.

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Tuesday, January 17, 2012

theconcordian

FUNDRAISER

Haiti needs you!

Haiti Rise Up fundraising concert, raising money for a good cause Audrey Folliot Staff writer It’s been two years already— two years since a devastating earthquake struck the impoverished country of Haiti, killing tens of thousands of people and injuring millions more.

On the morning of January 12, 2010, many people said goodbye to their loved ones for the last time, not knowing that they would never see them again. The earthquake that struck Port-au-Prince that day was the most devastating natural disaster the country has ever faced. In a matter of seconds, a whole city turned to dust. The quake left millions of people homeless, multiplying the debris in the streets, and thousands of children were orphaned. And as if that wasn’t enough already, the country was struck with a deadly wave of cholera and suffered famine in the aftermath.

Montreal has one of the largest Haitian communities in North America. So although the earthquake struck almost 3,000 kilometers away, many people here in Montreal were directly or indirectly affected by it. Many lost family members, lovers, and friends.

The reconstruction efforts continue, but there is a lot left to do. This is why Concordia’s Ralliement Étudiant HaïtiCanada (REHC), is hosting Haiti Rise Up, a fundraising show happening Jan. 20, at the Oscar Peterson Concert Hall at the Loyola Campus.

“We still have hope that things will get better,” said Josée-Sarah Cadet, REHC’s

to the show, donations can also be made at the CSU’s office, at the Dean of Students’ office at Loyola and SGW campus, and at the REHC’s downtown office at any time. There also are donation days at the mezzanine, where the REHC will be waiting with donation boxes.

All the money raised will be given to Save the Children, an organization that has been working in Haiti for over 30 years.

“Right now, REHC focuses on education in Haiti, but what that includes is also rebuilding schools, enrolling more students, paying the teachers, because without the teachers you don’t really have education,” explained Cadet. “We decided to do it that way first, because BIKO ISME-RENE REHEARSES HIS SONG “AT HOME” FOR HAITI RISE UP ON JAN. 20. PHOTO BY NAVNEET PALL. we’re a university and we know the importance of education. Secondly, it’s not VP public relations and Haiti Rise Up’s UQAM, someone from Broadway Acada short-term goal, it’s a long-term one, event coordinator. “The show is really emy in Westmount.” but we know it’s for the better.” about promoting our culture and re“It’s versatile, especially compared ally showing support for Haitians, and to last year, which was a lot more just Haiti Rise Up is taking place Friday, contributing to the rebuilding efforts of singing, and plus it was all just Haitian Jan. 20, at Concordia’s Oscar Peterson Haiti.” artists, this time we take any culture, Concert Hall at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are This is the second edition of the ananyone who wants to help and contrib$20 for students, and $25 for non-stunual fundraiser, but this year’s show ute in any way,” she added. dents. VIP tickets can also be purpromises to be quite different from the This year, attendees can expect everychased for $50 and include a cocktail last. Artists will be coming from all over thing from dancers and poets to musiwith live music display at The Hive.

Montreal to donate their time and percians and singers.

Visit www.admission.com, drop by the form for a good cause.

Last year, REHC raised a total of $5,375 REHC office at 2150 Bishop St., suite “Some of them are graduates, some of in donations. This year, the organization K-202, the CSU office in H-711, or the them are students here at Concordia,” wants to match their previous efforts.

Dean of Students’ offices, H-637 and said Cadet. “We also have people from For those who won’t be able to make it AD-121.

MIXTAPE

P

retty much everyone loves animals, and those who don’t are probably bad people. From the assistance provided by service animals, to the comfort provided by companion animals, to the sustenance provided by the animals we eat, animals are an indispensable part of the human experience.

While animals can clearly help us, they can hurt us as well. They can be unpredictable and violent. All too often, those behaviours manifest themselves in ways that harm human beings. Just as much as we love animals, we should probably fear them as well.

This mixtape is about animals; both the good and the bad. From beer-dogs to warthogs, they’re all here. Those songs that are not actually about animals at least have animal-names in the title. Enjoy.

LISTEN TO THE MIXTAPE HERE: 8TRACKS.COM/THE_CONCORDIAN/ANIMALS

Get down wit yo wild self!

Compiled by Alex Woznica Staff writer

SIDE A: Animalistic Atonement

SIDE B: Beastly Beats

1. “Church Mouse” - Nobunny - Love Visions 2. “Walkin’ the Dog” - Flamin’ Groovies - Teenage Head 3. “Too Animalistic” - VOM - Live at Surf City 7” 4. “The Way You Dog Me Around” - Andre Williams and the A Bones - Daddy’s Rockin’ Strong 5. ‘You Smell Like Fish” - Nervous Eaters - Eaterville #1 6. “Dog Style” - Viletones - A Taste of Honey 7. “Rabid Animal Detector” - Clone Defects - Shapes of Venus 8. “Beer Dog” - Vomit Pigs - Useless Eaters 9. “Rat Face” - Midnight - Slay the Spits 10. “Monkey Man” - Rolling Stones - Let it Bleed

11. “Fish” - The Damned - Damned Damned Damned 12. “Pink Piggies” - The Electrocutes Steal Yer Lunch Money 13. “Monkey Island” - 13th Floor Elevators - Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators 14. “I Wanna Be Your Dog” - Anti-Pasti - The Last Call 15. “Do the Rat Dog” - Les Sexereenos 14 Frenzied Shakers 16. “Give the Dog a Bone” - Sham 69 The Game 17. “Wart Hog” - Ramones - Too Tough to Die 18. “Cuckoo Clock” - The Beach Boys Surfin Safari 19. “Cat Eyes” - Regulations - Different Needs 20. “Wild Horses” - Flying Burrito Brothers - Burrito Deluxe

sports

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

11

Catch up on all the Stingers news on our website, at theconcordian.com/ section/sports/

Write to the editor: sports@theconcordian.com HOCKEY

Is it time to ice the language issue?

Julian Mei Sports editor

Myles Dolphin Opinions editor

I didn’t grow up in Montreal. I’m not a die-hard Canadiens fan. I don’t speak French, nor do identify with the culture. Still, though, I feel that the Francophones, especially those in the media, have the right to be upset with the hiring of a monolingual coach.

The Canadiens are not just a hockey team. They are an institution. A way of life.

They define the city more than corruption, crumbling infrastructure and strip clubs do combined.

It is reasonable for some Francophones to view the interim hiring of Randy Cunneyworth as the further “anglo-izing” of their beloved Habitants. Very few players on the team can speak French and if even the coach doesn’t speak the language it sends the message that the Canadiens are just another NHL team, who just happen to play in a French speaking city. Sure, fans may warm up to Anglo players or coaches, but there is a reason names like Richard, Beliveau and Roy resonate in ways that Shutt, Gainey and Dryden just don’t.

Of course, Montreal is a bilingual city, in a primarily French speaking province. If you want to work in any important position in this province you need to be able to get by in French. And here’s a news flash: head coach of the Montreal Canadiens is a pretty damn important position. The coach is the captain of the ship and if the majority of the team’s fans can’t identify, or even understand what he is saying, it creates strain between the team and the community that cherishes it so much.

Having an English speaking coach also makes it difficult for the members of the french media. Even though some can get by in English, if you are trying to operate in a language you aren’t fully comfortable with, it becomes difficult to build a relationship and communicate with your source so you can properly understand the stories and issues surrounding the team. At the very least, the Canadiens should use some of their riches to pay a translator to sit with Cunneyworth during interviews. However, as someone who has had to operate in such a way at times, working with a translator can also become difficult and frustrating to carry on a conversation.

An argument that is often made is that the team handcuffs itself by excluding English coaches as potential candidates. This is partially true, but it’s not as though there are no capable bilingual coaches. I believe of the remaining four teams in last year’s Stanley Cup playoffs, three had French speaking coaches. It’s not as though the team has a policy where they only hire people from Uzbekistan. There are plenty of brilliant hockey minds in this country who can function in the two official languages.

This being said, the Montreal Canadiens’ head coach’s office has had a revolving door installed on it the past few seasons. The fans and media never seem to be happy.

It is time for both sides to meet in the middle.

Fans and media need to realize the Habs’ roster this season is not very good and, regardless of who is behind the bench, if you don’t have the talent on the ice, it just doesn’t matter.

The team, though, needs to put this issue to rest at the end of the season and hire a coach who can speak French.

Like a debilitated canine on its last breath, it is time to take the Montreal Canadiens language controversy and put it to sleep.

I love the Habs. As a French-Canadian I feel close to my team and I truly believe they’re an institution in this province. I watch their games in French on RDS because it’s how I was raised; the commentators are Quebecers and I can relate to them more easily than I can to Bob Cole on CBC. I didn’t shed a single tear when Randy ‘unilingual’ Cunneyworth was chosen to coach the Habs until the end of the season. He’s respected by the players and they couldn’t care less about his language abilities (or disabilities rather). It’s embarrassing to make such a big deal about this “issue,” mostly because it’s yet another deterrent for big name players to come to Montreal.

When they acquired Rene Bourque last week, he tweeted about not being able to speak French and the fear that put into him. Reporters greeted him at the airport and asked if he planned on learning French. Do you think he cares? Is that the kind of reception he wants?

The province needs to rally behind the only NHL team it has, but instead, a few hundred separatists with too much time on their hands gather and protest in front of the Bell Centre, in the hopes of raising awareness to their socalled plight. Aren’t there enough distractions already?

The Habs are losing badly; the media circles every practice and game like vultures, star players are injured and under-performing, and some of them even fight during practice. On top of all that, they have to cater to the province’s archaic notion that a coach has to speak French? If the Habs had been winning left and right, there would be no issue—Celine Dion could be coaching and they wouldn’t care. By emphasizing that the coach has to speak French, the Canadiens organization is limiting itself to a very small pool of coaches it can choose from, and ignoring others who are equally or more qualified for the position.

Some say if Cunneyworth had said a few words in French during his initial press conference, the media would have been satisfied. So what’s the difference between speaking no French, and saying ‘bonjour’ and ‘merci’? The Habs lost yet another game last week against Ottawa in which they had the lead. The players are the ones performing on the ice and they alone can affect the outcome of a game. Habs legend Guy Lafleur said it best: “It doesn’t matter if you speak German, Russian, or whatever. The bottom line is: win the games and then make the playoffs and try to win the Stanley Cup.” The Habs actually had a string of French-speaking coaches in the past decade: Alain Vigneault, Michel Therrien, Claude Julien and Guy Carbonneau. Guess what? None of them lasted more than three years. We fire them and complain about not having the right coaches. How does that make sense? I see very little difference between Cunneyworth giving his post-game comments in English, or adding, “Now I’ll say the exact same thing in extremely broken French.”

The media needs to grow up and realize it’s always been about winning. The Habs have enough problems of their own. Laissez-les jouer.

Graphic by Sean Kershaw

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Tuesday, January 17, 2012

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BASKETBALL

UQAM leaves Stingers hive with no honey Citadins coach frustrated with another loss

Julian Mei Sports editor

After Concordia’s 68-63 victory at home on Saturday afternoon, the UQAM Citadins’ locker room ranked somewhere between the dentist’s and your in-laws’ house, for places you’d want to be.

The Citadins’ second straight loss in as many games against Concordia, drew the ire of their head coach Olga Hrycak, who could be heard from the hallway berating her team for the lackluster performance.

“When we give a game away I’m not very happy, and I mean that, because we can play 10 times better than we did,” the frustrated Hrycak told reporters afterwards.

Offensive rebounding was a specific area of disdain for the fuming coach, who saw her team out-rebounded 17-9 on the offensive glass.

“Concordia killed us on the offensive boards; they certainly didn’t kill us with their three-point shooting,” she said, alluding to Concordia’s ugly night beyond the arc, making only three of 18 three-point field goals.

Hrycak did commend Concordia, though, for being able to prevail in another tough game. “They have that killer instinct and we just don’t right now.”

The game’s start was also delayed over two hours after Concordia’s Sheldon Moore channeled his inner Shaq in warmups and shattered the glass backboard with a dunk. Unfortunately, the RSEQ is not the NBA, and replacing the backboard was not a quick job, delaying the start of the game over two hours. “We’re not really sure why it took so long,” said Stingers coach John Dore.

While the delay affected both

JAMES CLARK (22) REJECTS ALEXANDRE BERNARD IN CONCORDIA’S FIVE-POINT HOME VICTORY. PHOTO BY NAVNEET PALL

teams, Stingers forward Kafil Eyitayo believes the wait played a part in the Stingers slow start. “To try and get our focus back and then start the game was a little bit hard,” he said.

Concordia looked sloppy in the first quarter, trailing by six into the break. However, the Stingers went on a 10-0 run midway through the second quarter, and took a four point

lead into halftime.

In almost a mirror image of last week against UQAM, though, Concordia let the Citadins back into the game by committing several fouls.

The result was a 15-point lead getting whittled down to four in just over three minutes.

“It seems like every time we play UQAM we have a big stretch where we just put them on the free-throw line for five minutes straight and all they do is (score points) with no time going off the clock,” said Stingers guard Kyle Desmarais, who scored a season low seven points on the night.

The Citadins were able to hang around, trailing by six in the game’s final minute, before an Evens Laroche jump-shot sealed the victory for Concordia. Laroche led the Stingers in scoring with 17 points and has been arguably their best all-around player the past two games.

Another factor Moore’s dunk had on the game was that the net was not regulation height, after it was improperly installed when the glass was fixed. The rim was 10 feet two inches high for the game, which is two inches higher than regulation.

The officials conferred before the game with both coaches and agreed that the game would be played regardless.

“It’s something both teams had to deal with,” said Dore. “But if you look at how many first foul shots were missed at that end of the floor it was a tough adjustment for the players to make.”

The video of the dunk has already made its way on to YouTube and has created some buzz.

“I had some people from Laval who had heard about it, calling me,” said Dore. “It’s good that it has created some conversation about our team.”

Dore is hoping the proper adjustments are made in time for the Stingers’ home game against McGill next Saturday.

The Stingers’ next game is on the road Friday Jan. 20 at 8 p.m. against Laval.

HOCKEY

Hockey teams make trips across the ponds Stingers travelled to Europe and Asia for once-in-a-lifetime experiences Daniel J. Rowe Staff writer It wasn’t just the Flyers and Rangers playing under the open sky this holiday.

The Concordia Stingers men’s hockey team played an outdoor classic of its own on a recent holiday Euro-trip.

The team was in high spirits as it came back from Switzerland and Italy, acting as school ambassador in a series of European games. The men played outdoors in St. Moritz, Switzerland before jumping the Alps and playing in Italy.

“We were driving up to the top of the Swiss Alps in a snow storm, on a one lane highway,” said coach Kevin Figsby. “With a snow bank on the right side, and a 3,000 ft. drop on the left side, and the guys were asking if it gets

any better.”

Figsby said that the experience in Europe inspired the Concordia hockey players, who can draw on a history of graduates who play professional overseas.

Figsby said in the past 13 years, Concordia has put more players in pro-hockey in Europe than any other university in Canada. There are currently 19 former Stinger players playing in Europe. There are three graduating players on the current roster, who have a real possibility of playing overseas within the next two years.

The trip highlighted for the players the real possibilities aside from the NHL for those with the skill to play competitive hockey professionally.

“We had an absolutely fabulous trip,” said Figsby. “I thought our players did a tremendous job as ambassadors for our university.”

The experience is one that will stay with them forever, and they hope to keep the inspiration and experience going into the winter semester.

It is a young team with nine first-year players and 14 second-year players, and the team needs to tighten up and stay competitive in the

tough second half, according to Figsby.

“If we continue to build and take the positive experience from Europe, I’m expecting an exciting second half,” he said. “We’ve got a pretty good chance to finish in the top half of the pack in the second half.”

The high-flying duo of George Lovatsis and Michael Stinziani look to continue their explosive ways as the team finishes off their season.

Concordia has four home games coming up in the next two weeks, all at the Loyola rink.

Their next game is Wednesday night, Jan. 18 at home against UQTR. The women also did some jet-setting during the holidays, but they went across the other pond.

The women travelled to a country known for bento boxes, kendo sticks and... hockey?

The Stingers’ trip to Japan gave them innumerable cultural experiences that they can call on for inspiration in the winter term.

They played the Japanese national team in Sapporo, and then, in Tokyo, played a number of club teams.

“We embraced the culture and had a won-

derful time,” said coach Les Lawton.

The experience is one that the women can use moving forward in the season. The samurai spirit will need to be fostered on the young team as they fight for a positive end to the season.

Concordia’s women’s hockey team needs to move in one direction heading into the second half of the season: up. They struggled in league play at the end of December.

Lawton acknowledged that his team is relatively young, but hopes that his players will use the experience they learned in the first half of the year and improve.

“We have to bring a little more intensity to our games,” said Lawton.

He is looking to Alyssa Sherrard, and the young goaltenders to pick up their games in the second half.

The tough veteran defensive pairing of Meghan George and Alynn Doiron will be leaned on as both players head into the tail end of their university sports careers.

The women’s next game is Friday, Jan. 20 at Université de Montréal at 7 p.m.

opinions

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

13

Write to the editor: opinions@theconcordian.com EDITORIAL

BoG ruling hurts Concordia as a whole TV crews and question periods not to become the norm at board meetings Concordia’s Board of Governors shot down a series of audience accommodation motions calling for broadcasted meetings, a minimum required amount of seating for the general public, open question periods, and less closedsession discussion at board meetings.

All four motions that were presented by GSA representative Erik Chevrier in November in an effort to increase the board’s transparency, as suggested by an External Governance Review Committee report following the ambiguous departure of former Concordia president Judith Woodsworth, have now been rejected, following the recommendation of the board’s executive committee.

Why were the GSA’s motions the cause of so much debate when all they seemed to do was make official what already happens at board meetings? In some ways, Concordia is

light years ahead of the rest of Canada. Our board meetings are both open to the public and, in some ways, already televised: it’s common practice to set up an “overflow room” in an empty classroom where extra people can sit and watch a live feed of the meeting projected on a screen.

As it stands, interested individuals have two options if they want to be filled in on what’s happening at a BoG in real time: come to school at 8 a.m. and try to find a seat, or go on Twitter.

Student media, university public relations people, and even governors themselves, type out constant streams of tweets while attending BoG meetings. If the idea of someone taking a video recording of a board meeting and using it out of context is worrisome—a fear that was brought up in the original debate around these motions—compare it to the reality of seeing the complex workings of a BoG meeting being reduced to 140-character snippets. A live broadcast provides at the very least both a firsthand account of the meeting and a record which could be used to debunk false claims and the occasional mis-tweet.

It’s also worth noting that this decision to not take measures to increase audience accommodation was made at a meeting last Thursday where seats for non-board members were unavailable do to the small room size.

Adopting the motions would have in fact allowed the board to create rules and a framework to allow all of Concordia the opportunity to witness board meetings and the decisions the governors make through their own eyes, rather than secondhand accounts.

According to documents provided by the executive committee, surveys were conducted with other Canadian universities regarding their own board room practices. Of the 14 Quebec universities listed, only Concordia, McGill and Bishops University checked ‘yes’ when asked if “any portions” of their board meetings were “open to the public.” Meanwhile, across Canada there are more university boardrooms that appear to be open to the interested observer, but not one of them videotape their meetings on a regular basis.

The idea of documenting board meetings is approached by different degrees of severity.

The University of Alberta was casually noted

as having observed student media taking photos and filming during open session. On the complete opposite end of the spectrum, Queen’s University not only prohibits their audience from using electronic recording devices or cameras, but makes a point of noting that their own audio recordings are “destroyed after approval of minutes.”

In addition, the fact that Concordia would have been one of the first universities in Canada to take such measures in regard to the transparency of their board of governors meetings should have been encouragement to proceed.

As Provost David Graham put so well when discussing the new academic plan, the strategic outline of the university’s goals for the next five years, Concordia does “not aspire to be McGill or U of T.” When compared to others universities both within Quebec and across the country, our school is relatively progressive and should therefore not shy away from further defining ourselves as different.

The audience accommodation motions presented an opportunity to set a precedent at Concordia University, but ultimately, that path was not taken.

MARIJUANA

It’s high time for marijuana law reforms Health Canada needs to listen to its patients’ pleas Benjamin Heazle Contributor

W

hen dealing with a subject that has the extensive social and moral implications of medicinal marijuana, it is important to have a very open and honest conversation, especially in a country which still enforces prohibition of medicinal marijuana. It isn’t just about the ill; it raises several uncomfortable questions about the validity of prohibition in the first place.

For many, the suggestion that marijuana might have any medicinal benefits is often met with skepticism, or at the very least, discomfort. The truth is that cannabis is one of the fifty fundamental herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine and all parts of the plant, from the seeds to the dried flowers, have proven medicinal uses. Further research shows that 66 of the cannabinoids contained in marijuana can serve a remarkable number of medicinal purposes. These include antispasmodics, analgesics, anti-psychotics and antiemetics (which prevent vomiting and nausea). Medicinal marijuana is used to treat epilepsy, depression and insomnia among others.

AIDS, cancer and multiple sclerosis patients have been reported to use it as well.

What about the dangers of marijuana? It should be noted that the lethal dose of marijuana is ten thousand times higher than Valium, and most prescription drugs. A person would have to smoke 1,500 pounds of marijuana in under 15 minutes to achieve a lethal dose (not that it would matter; by then you would have suffocated). That’s even less toxic than our drinking water. Furthermore, marijuana also comes without a list of negative

Graphic by Phil Waheed

side effects associated with most prescription drugs.

Despite all of this information, getting a medicinal marijuana prescription in Canada is becoming increasingly difficult. Instead of

being able to discuss the matter publicly, proponents of medicinal marijuana have been told to sit down and shut up. It is a national embarrassment that instead of opening doors for discussion, we stop listening to the users

themselves, who have continually praised the plants’ ability to help them cope with pain.

The safe and natural aspects that medical marijuana offers are being neglected because of a stigma that politicians have attached to it.

The result is that patients are prescribed with medications like Valium, which have a high chance of addiction and can cause long term biological damage. If we care about the safety and the well-being of patients who can benefit from this plant, it’s time we stop ignoring this important subject and re-open the doors of conversation.

Instead, the plea goes unanswered and the conversation never happens.

It is important for Canadians that we cast off the decades of fear mongering, misinformation and ignorance that has characterized our public perception of marijuana and examine the facts as they are. Health Canada should model its medicinal marijuana laws on those of a few U.S. states, such as Washington and New Jersey, who in 2010 “joined the growing list of jurisdictions where patients can legally obtain medical marijuana,” according to the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services. In fact, New Jersey opened six alternative treatment centres that were approved by 86 per cent of the state’s population in a poll.

Moreover, in traditionally conservative states such as Texas, delegates at the 2010 Democratic Convention voted in support of a resolution to legalize medical marijuana. The resolution pointed out that medical marijuana can ease the symptoms associated with certain medical conditions and treatments, and that taxing the revenue from the sale of the marijuana could help balance the books. If Texas can embrace it, why can’t Harper?

14

theconcordian

Tuesday, January 17, 2012 POLICE

Keep your gun in your holster Police need to alter strategies when dealing with mentally ill Shaimaa El-Ghazaly Contributor

omeless people are not scarce in Montreal. From 1994 to 2007, the population of homeless in Montréal rose from 15,000 to 30,000 according to the Montreal magazine l’Itineraire.

Some of them suffer from mental health and substance abuse issues. They require special care and treatment. They normally keep to themselves but sometimes, they become threatening. However, are the police dealing with these situations efficiently when they arise?

The Montreal police’s methods of dealing with homeless people led to Farshad Mohammadi’s death, after he was shot three times in the back while attempting to run away from the police. He had attacked a policeman with an X-Acto knife. The officers had the right to protect themselves and the public but their means are questionable.

The police aren’t qualified to deal with people on the streets, but they should be. This is the second time in the past seven months that a man has been shot dead by a police officer. In the June 7, 2011 incident, the homeless man was slashing garbage bags with a knife and throwing trash onto the street. When the police opened fire at him, an innocent bystander was killed by a stray bullet. Both incidents happened at busy locations, one in a metro and the other on Ste-Catherine St. The police should use better judgement when de-

Photo by Navneet Pall

H

ciding whether or not to open fire in crowded areas. They are defeating the purpose of protecting civilians from a threat by endangering them with stray bullets.

The police officers could have used other means of stopping the threat, such as a Taser gun to try and incapacitate Mohammadi. Even if the policemen claim to have acted by the book, there are other self-defence alternatives that they could have used on him; their guns should be used as a last resort.

As per the current Quebec standard regarding police shootings, an outside police force (Sûreté du Québec) is required to investigate whenever a police officer is implicated in an

incident where any individual, who is not an on-duty officer, is seriously injured or killed or when the officer has used their firearm during an intervention. However, civil rights groups argue that the transparency of these investigations are questionable due to police solidarity.

I find it hard to believe the Sûreté du Québec would be impartial to officers from the same province.

This shooting at Bonaventure station puts the focus on Bill 46, which is an act concerning independent police inquiries. Proposed by the Public Security Minister, Robert Dutil, the bill suggests having a civilian oversight bureau, which would administrate investigations and

make sure they are conducted impartially. The bureau would be composed of civilians who were never part of a police force and a director who is (or was) a judge or a lawyer who has been practicing for at least 10 years. This bill would mark an improvement in impartial investigations and perhaps deter police officers from using their firearm as a first resort.

More resources should be dedicated to helping homeless people manage their mental illnesses and substance abuse issues. It is no doubt an issue that the health care system should intervene in. The under-funded police have to find a way to prevent these kinds of altercations from happening.

What did you think of this issue?

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opinions@theconcordian.com before Friday at 4 p.m.

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The Etcetera Page ACROSS

1- Filth; 5- Artful; 8- Soprano Gluck; 12- Cop _ ; 14- Cancun coin; 15- London jail; 16- Hackneyed; 17- Language of Pakistan; 18- Cornerstone abbr.; 19- Consist of; 21- Prepare to eat, in a way; 23- Classified items; 24- Bingo!; 25- Leb. neighbor; 26- French form of kick boxing; 30- Actress Woodard; 32- Beethoven dedicatee; 33- Act of impelling; 37Cover; 38- _ and the Night Visitors; 39- Emaciated; 40- Disease of rabbits; 42- Gravy, for one; 43- Prehistoric chisellike tool; 44- Beginning; 45Attorney’s org.; 48- Spar; 49- Dada pioneer; 50- Bog; 52- Astonishment; 57- Against; 58- Civil disturbance; 60Tall and thin; 61- Parody; 62- Buck follower; 63- First name in cosmetics; 64- Achy; 65- Mohawk-sporting actor; 66- Makes a row?

Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012 Vol. 29 issue 17

JACQUES GALLANT

Editor-in-chief editor@theconcordian.com

KAMILA HINKSON

Managing editor managing@theconcordian.com

CHRIS HANNA

Production manager production@theconcordian.com

ALYSSA TREMBLAY

Interim news editor news@theconcordian.com

PAULA RIVAS

Life editor life@theconcordian.com

SOFIA GAY

Arts editor arts@theconcordian.com

ALLIE MASON

Music editor music@theconcordian.com

DOWN

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JULIAN MEI

Sports editor sports@theconcordian.com

MYLES DOLPHIN

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30- At full speed; 31- Convocation of witches; 33- Mingle; 34- Markers; 35- A single time; 36- Russian no; 38Airmail letter; 41- Bumpkin; 42- Flexible; 44- Bruins great Bobby; 45- Ac-

cumulate; 46- Swindle; 47- Moving; 49- Car; 51- Bird of prey; 52- Smoke deposit; 53- Impetuous; 54- A big fan of; 55- _ -Ball; 56- Baby blues; 59Discount rack abbr.

Opinions editor opinions@theconcordian.com

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EDITORIAL OFFICE

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The downside to having a two-party political system is that you’re stuck with only two options. Perhaps Americans enjoy the simplicity, but when you have someone like Newt Gingrich campaigning to lead one of those parties, you’re in trouble. Recently Gingrich, who spent some of his teen years living in France, attacked GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney on the latter’s ability to speak French.

What is it with that language that creates so much controversy?

Romney for speaking French proves my thesis that America views intelligence with suspicion

@NickXHall : Tell you what -- Mitt Romney

may speak French just like John Kerry, but Newt Gingrich is six feet tall - just like Muammar Gaddafi. @getsmitted: Does anyone else think Newt

Gingrich looks like an old Eric Cartman?

@NotBillWalton: Newt Gingrich said he

didn’t serve in the Military but his daddy did.The GOP Debate continues to be the best hour long dramedy since MASH. @TheFakeCNN: Poll: 78% of Americans cant

tell Newt Gingrich from a suit filled with mashed potatoes.

MELISSA KATE GAGNON

Business manager business@theconcordian.com

BRENNAN NEILL EMILY WHITE CINDY LOPEZ RUBEN BASTIEN

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STAFF WRITERS AND CONTRIBUTORS

Shereen Ahmed Rafea, George Menexis, Jenna Monney-Lupert, Joel Ashak, Jikita Shah, Marta Barnes, Jennifer Braun, Radina Papukchieva, Rebecca Ugolini, Audrey Folliot, Andrew Guilbert, Alex Woznica, Daniel J. Rowe, Shaimaa El-Ghazaly, Benjamin Heazle, Sean Kershaw, Phil Waheed, Alessandra McGovern, Sarah Howell

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