Science Editor is a hot head Farmer’s Market still on Find out how he copes with anger on page 6
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University of Toronto’s Independent Weekly
Vol. XXXII N0.
EFUT may just get its Joyeux Noël EFUT’s funding issues are being resolved this week, as the UTSU Board of Directors meets Thursday, December 3, to review the French Club’s funding request. Funding for the club has been held up over its application, which omitted required information. Concerns were raised by the club over confidentiality issues, especially about the policy that clubs provide the UTSU with the names, student numbers, and email addresses of its members. Antonin Mongeau, EFUT Alumni Chair and last year’s President, says UTSU’s decision to postpone funding was not legitimate. Mongeau, who has had disputes with UTSU in the past, stated his involvement with the club might have been a reason that the original application was rejected. “Either the UTSU is discriminating against a minority language community, or it is exercising political revenge on me
personally by attacking EFUT for my connection to it,” Mongeau says. Danielle Sandhu, UTSU VP Campus Life, rejects Mongeau’s accusations, and says that the funding problems were caused by an incomplete application, not revenge. “All rules are applied across the aboard to all clubs,” she added. Sandhu managed to assure Sitelle Cheskey, EFUT president, that strict privacy policies will protect student information. EFUT has since complied with the UTSU’s requirements. Sandhu then called a meeting this past Monday to address the issue. On Wednesday it was agreed to bring the budgeting subject in front of the Board of Directors, and the matter now appears to be heading towards a resolution. As to the club’s Christmas party, there is still hope it can be held in December. Cheskey will be meeting with EFUT’s executives to see if it can be held before the holidays.
GREEN MOVEMENT HEATS UP!
GLENN MACINTOSH / VIDEO STILL
tom buGaJski
YOWZERS, IT IS GETTING HOT IN HERE! The U of T green movement is gaining momentum in anticipation of next week’s UN climate change talks in Copenhagen. Students from the Climate Crew Monday campaign (pictured above) stripped off their clothes in Sid Smith last Monday while chanting “Ooh, it’s hot in here, there’s too much carbon in the atmosphere.” “The Global Carbon Project just released a report saying that six de-
SALAH ABDELHADI
grees warming is now likely without urgent action,” said organizer Joanna Dafoe. “I was so disheartened by that news and the lack of action on my campus community when I know this is the an important political crisis, that I wanted to create a fun event that would capture people’s attention.” Twelve U of T student delegates are headed to Copenhagen to pressure the government to lower emissions. “We will be there to let the world know that Stephen Harper’s Conservative gov-
ernment does not reflect the views of the Canadian people or even the House of Parliament,” said climate activist Brett Rhyno. “I’m optimistic that a deal can be reached if world leaders can muster the political will to cooperate with each other and act in the interest of all the world’s people rather than a select few.” You can follow the U of T students’ progress in Copenhagen at http://www.uoftcop15.ca/.
St. George Round Table gets official dan craiG
The highly popular EFUT club rocks around the Christmas tree at its annual halal Christmas dinner.
December 3, 2009
On November 26, the St. George Round Table (SGRT) convened to ratify their new constitution. Presidents from nine undergraduate student societies attended the meeting and formalized what has been an informal group of college council presidents for decades. Members of the Round Table in-
clude the leaders of the seven college student associations as well as the president of the Engineering Society and the president of the Physical Health and Education Undergraduate Association. There are plans to extend membership to other faculties in the future. The constitution outlines the rules of conduct and the guiding principles of the SGRT. Principle number one
is “to act as the premiere forum for communication and sharing of best practices between divisions represented.” In effect, and according to the minutes from their last few meetings, the Round Table primarily facilitates the planning of intercollegiate social events, like barbeques or pub nights, as well as intramural sporting events.
Continued on page 3
U of T WATCHes amy stupavsky If you often wonder whether it is better to give than receive, the students who devote their time to Words Action Thoughts Character Heart (W.A.T.C.H.) would certainly have the answer. A student-run registered charity with over 400 members, W.A.T.C.H. has become a major community service organization at U of T. W.A.T.C.H. serves community centers and elementary schools, such as Lord Dufferin, in the Regent Park area through after school programs. They also organize blood-donor clinics at the St. George campus under the supervision of Canadian Blood Services, and volunteer at a soup kitchen. “W.A.T.C.H. gives attention to the kids that fall behind and get lost,” said Caitlin Gale, Fundraising Coordinator. “Teachers have other kids to deal with, so they can’t always focus on the ones who need it the most.” Gale also recounted her own experience volunteering at a school, and how it has made a difference in the children’s lives and her own. “The class visited the computer lab every Monday,” she explained. “This was one student’s first experience on a computer. He was very discouraged when he saw me typing without looking at the keyboard. I talked him through it and really kept an eye on him. It was the only way to get him typing and it worked.
The first day, he finished the period with a blank page. The second day, he typed three sentences. By the last day, he had a paragraph. I was so proud.” But their altruism does not end there. W.A.T.C.H. holds its annual Holiday Dinner at Hart House, an event that brings together all of the children they work with during the year. The children, who come from marginalized backgrounds, celebrate the season with music, games, dinner, and gifts from Santa. Last year, over 200 guests attended the event with over 70 volunteers. W.A.T.C.H. begins preparations for the dinner during the summer, gathering donations and sponsorships. The volunteers collect gifts from eight different toy drives around Toronto. “I think it’s such a simple gesture to invite these children into our school, just as we are invited as volunteers to their schools,” Camille Sahula, Holiday Dinner Coordinator. “It’s really important to me that kids have happy memories of caring and abundance, especially with their peers and families.” All the W.A.T.C.H. members agree that being a part of the organization has afforded them many benefits. “I believe the experiences that students gain with W.A.T.C.H. will be invaluable to them in the future,” said William Sanh, Sponsorship Coordinator, who has been volunteering for two years. “They get the opportunity to make a difference in their community while build-
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W.A.T.C.H. executive committee plans the final details for their Holiday Dinner at a weekly meeting ing stronger communication and teamwork skills. Working with these kids is an indescribable experience.” Simon Xie, who has been volunteering with W.A.T.C.H. since last year’s dinner, draws on the festive mood for his reason to get involved. “The experience may make you feel warm and fuzzy inside,”
he said. “This is good for combating the cold weather in Toronto.” W.A.T.C.H. is currently looking for volunteers to help out at the Holiday Dinner on Dec. 16. There are two volunteer shifts, 2:00-4:30 p.m. and 4:30-11:00 p.m. For more info, contact watchholidaydinner@ gmail.com or camillesahula@gmail.com.
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the news
December 3, 2009
Bench dedication round table marks 20 years since Montreal Massacre cont’d from page 1
andrew Gyorkos On Friday December 4, 2009, U of T will be holding ceremonies across all three campuses to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Montreal Massacre. The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women was established to mark the tragedy, when Marc Lépine slaughtered 14 women at the École Polytechnique in Montreal on December 6, 1989. While U of T holds ceremonies every year to mark the incident, this year the university will dedicate two benches adorned with commemorative plaques at Hart House. One bench will display a plaque about remembrance, while the other will feature a plaque about the importance of action in making change. “Hart House is proud to support the U of T Status of Women Office in leading the December 6th memorial and bench dedication ceremony in the Great Hall,” says Tara Bassett, Senior Communications Officer at Hart House. “This commemorative service is in line with Hart House’s dedication to educating and empowering the community to overcome issues related to diversity and social justice.” The significance of the plaques lies in the importance of establishing a continuing context and
dialogue about what can be done to make a difference. “In the coming years, the Ecole Polytechnique Massacre in Montreal will be older than many undergraduate students at U of T,” says Connie Guberman, Officer at the Status of Women Office. “For this reason, the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women is becoming less about merely remembering the incident and more about illustrating how issues of violence against women are still relevant, both locally and internationally. It’s about how each and every one of us, both individually and collectively, can work towards change.” Unfortunately, this year’s events fall on a difficult day. Academic pressure due to the exams and final classes of the semester may lead many people who are passionate about the cause to overlook the ceremony. Being aware of this, the Status of Women Office has placed brief tips and suggestions for those interested in the events and raising awareness about violence against women on their website at www. status-women.utoronto.ca. The ceremonies commence on Friday, December 4 at 12:15 p.m. in the Great Hall at Hart House, and at 12:00 p.m. in AA303 at UTSC and the Student Centre Presentation Room at UTM.
In one form or another, an assembly of presidents has been a fixture at the university for years. In the 90s the group was known as the Council of Presidents of the University of Toronto (COPOUT), and was dormant for most of the early 2000s, according to VUSAC President Catherine Brown. Last year it was reconvened as the President’s Round Table. “Our constitution will help ensure stability and continuity for years to come,” says Brown. There has been some speculation about the motivation for the newly formalized SGRT. It was reported last week in The Varsity that mix-ups during the planning of Winterfest last year led to tensions between the college student councils and the UTSU. While some tensions do exist, officers of the SGRT were reluctant to publicly cite the UTSU as a motivator for ratifying their constitution. “I think it’s safe to say that as student council presidents, we are responsible to our constituents and we will have to address whatever concerns they bring to us,” said President of EngSoc, Jimmy Lu. “If they bring up certain aspects of UTSU that can be improved then we will have to address those concerns with the best solution for our constituents.” “Our focus is on social events for now, but I think we will branch out,” said the male Head of College at Trinity, and officer of the SGRT, Thomas Pinnington. “I don’t want to get into details as to how, but hopefully that does not lead us into conflict [with other campus groups].” The UTSU has a delegate who attends and speaks at the monthly meetings, but they do not have a vote. The UTSU is not mentioned anywhere in the five page constitution. The union is able to communicate with members at the meetings, but does not enjoy full membership privileges. The next major initiative being taken on by the SGRT is Winterfest. Watch out for it on campus in January, 2010.
3 the brief the campus
UTSU is pumped about its Winterfest events that will be hosted by college and faculty councils from Jan. 4 to 9, 2010. Events may include a skating trip, pub night, pancake brunch, and campus-wide capture the flag. Keep yourselves updated!
the local
The Toronto Humane Society has decided to hire an interim executive director to review its operations after it was raided by the Ontario Society for the Prevention Of Cruelty To Animals last Thursday. Numerous animals were found in poor health, four of which had to be put down.
the world
Disney’s most recent contribution to the world of princesses is Tiana, the first African-American princess, who stars in The Princess and The Frog. “It’s probably a combination of our new president, a feeling that change has swept the land,” said Bonnie Greer, an African-American writer and broadcaster.
the weird
A woman in Methuen, Massachussetts claims that she saw an image of Jesus Christ on her iron. The vision has reassured her that “life is going to be good.” The brownish residue on the bottom of the iron slightly resembles that of a man with long hair. The 44-year-old Mary Jo Coady hopes that her story will inspire others. She plans to keep the iron in her closet and purchase a new one. -Amina Stella
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the inside
4
December 3, 2009
International Student Volunteers program provides students an experience beyond the damn library Got study-fatigue? Start making your plans and look forward to something meaningful this summer
AMY STUPAVSKY
dayna christie
It was beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the ROM on Nov. 27. As costumed Victorian carolers sang their ditties, CEO and Director William Thorsell lit the museum’s 25-foot, animal-themed tree to usher in the festive season. Adorned with plush animals, the tree attracted dozens of young fans, who also enjoyed meeting Gordo, the ROM’S dinosaur mascot.
Feel good this gift-giving season Give a gift that keeps on giving, like a goat
gord brown It is the perennial question as the holidays approach and the malls become jam-packed with shoppers: What do you get for the person on your Christmas/Hanukah/Winter Solstice/Festivus list who has everything? What do you get for your parents who have been consciously (and conspicuously) downsizing since you moved out? What do you get your fashionista friends who run out and buy what they want as soon as they realize they want it? What do you get those numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins whom you see but once a year, and, for the life of you, you can’t remember their hobbies or interests? One solution is to try to do some good with your holiday spending. World Vision is a pioneer in this respect. They offer a Christmas catalogue featuring farm animals, like goats and cows, that you can give to a fledgling village in your or a gift recipient’s name. The objective is to provide a family or whole village with the tools and resources to become self-sufficient.
If you know where your Great Aunt Gladys goes to church, many denominations have similar programs and groups that focus on Third World development. If you are determinedly secular in your outlook, there are also a lot of options. Save the Children has a list of gift suggestions, broken down by price on their website. International Justice Ministries is a non-partisan group founded in the wake of the Rwanda massacres. Its Canadian chapter is currently running a Give the Gift of Freedom Campaign. If you want to give something tangible, but still want to be a good global citizen, consider Fair Trade goods. These types of programs buy from local farmers or artisans at a premium to help bolster their businesses or work in an environmentally sustainable matter. Sometimes the prices are reasonable by cutting out middle men/brokers, and other times you have to pay a premium. (But you can’t put a price on feeling good, can you?) In Toronto, the 10,000 Villages store, which sells Fair Trade wares made by Third World artisans, has three locations throughout the city.
If the environment is your cause, there are a number of opportunities here as well. The David Suzuki Foundation website has excellent resources for calculating and offsetting carbon use. Use your imagination! Several groups, such as the World Wildlife Fund, take donations for habitat preservation. By pooling money to purchase land in exotic locations or in Canada, they preserve it from clear-cutting and unsustainable development/nasty destruction. CanadaHelps.org allows you to donate to 80,000 registered Canadian charities through one global site (if you want to support multiple charities for multiple gift recipients). You can browse by interest or search specific groups. Whatever you do, practise smart giving. Check out organizations in advance (you can Google, can’t you?). Questions to ask include whether they stress long-term development or short-term relief, and how much they spend on administration. Information on Canadian registered charities is now publicly available through the Canadian Revenue Agencies Charities Directory website.
At this time last year, I was desperately searching for some sort of travel opportunity. I wasn’t quite sure what I was looking for, but I knew what I wanted: to be involved in volunteer work while having exhilarating adventures in a different culture. While it seemed like simple criteria to fulfill, finding that perfect opportunity around campus was surprisingly difficult. Then I heard about International Student Volunteers (ISV). After reviewing what they offered, I decided that this was the perfect opportunity. In operation since the 1980s, ISV is a summer volunteer program geared towards full-time students. Last year, over 140 universities granted academic credit to ISV participants. The organization offers students the opportunity to combine meaningful volunteer projects with exciting adventure activities. Groups of eager and like-minded students travel to placement destinations in Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Costa Rica, Ecuador, the Dominican Republic, and Eastern Europe. “The most rewarding thing somebody has said to me about their ISV experience is that it had changed them as a person,” said Peter Cordell, ISV President at Guelph University. “The people they met and the volunteering/activities that they performed influenced their worldview. Many people come back from this experience with further aspirations for community involvement in their home country.” This past summer I volunteered in the breathtaking country of New Zealand, where I participated in ecological restoration work. I spent one week in
the stunning and pristine Kaimai-Mamuku forest, where we worked with the Department of Conservation doing trail maintenance. We learned about the Maori culture, and even went to a kiwi release (a kiwi is a flightless bird that is native to the island nation), which was a very special and unique experience My group then spent a week at the Tahwaranui bird sanctuary, an oceanside national reserve where we planted trees. There was even time to go swimming in wintery Pacific Ocean waves, which became truly one of the most thrilling experiences of my life. Volunteering through ISV allowed me to engage in another culture while making a lasting difference After two weeks of volunteering, we did an adventure tour that was filled with extreme activities. These included bungee jumping, skydiving, blackwater rafting, and a uniquely New Zealand experience called zorbing, which is essentially being in a human-sized hamster ball and rolling down a hill. This trip was the greatest summer of my life, and I would do it all over again in an instant. I loved absolutely every minute of it, from the people I met, to the places I saw, and all the activities I took part in. Since I’ve been home, I have thought about those unforgettable four weeks every day. I made friendships that will last a lifetime, to the point that an ISV reunion is now a much-needed monthly occurrence in my life. This year, nearly 4,500 students from over 800 universities volunteered with ISV. For further information, visit http:// www.isvonline.com/ or contact Dayna Christie at dayna.christie@utoronto.ca.
ISV volunteers from last summer’s New Zealand trip prepare for Kiwi launch.
the inside
December 3, 2009
To market, to market, to buy at UC!
5
tyler irving If you walk through the front doors of University College on a Wednesday afternoon, you might be surprised by what you’ll find on the other side. Tables overflow with fresh, organic produce: carrots, potatoes, sprouts, squash, cabbage, and garlic, not to mention all manner of jellies, jams, preserves, gourmet cheese, fresh baked bread, and Fair Trade Mexican chocolate. The U of T Farmer’s Market started in October 2008, when a group of vendors were looking for a new outlet for their products. During the warmer months, it takes place in the Sir Daniel Wilson Quad behind University College, but after Thanksgiving, vendors can still be found inside the stone archways of the rotunda. The market takes place every Wednesday afternoon from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Mark Trealoute of Kawartha Ecological Growers has been selling produce at the market since its inception. “It was pretty easy to set up,” he said. “We just asked for a venue and started coming. It’s a good way to reach people we would not have access to otherwise.” Besides the bounty from his own farm, Grassroots Organics, Trealoute provides distribution for about 20 other farms from the Kawartha region, including everything from Amish cabbage growers to apiaries that make fresh honey. The mar-
ket also doubles as the drop-off point for a Community Shared Agriculture (CSA) project, which provides a basket of fresh goods to subscribers every two weeks. Another vendor at the market is the St. John’s Bakery. In addition to making delicious, french-style artisan breads, the bakery acts as a place where people struggling with mental illness, addiction, or poverty can come to learn valuable skills while being nourished. “We’re here mostly in a promotional capacity,” says Steve Ball, who volunteers for the bakery. “This market isn’t our biggest money-maker, but we find it helpful in terms of spreading the word and raising awareness of our program among students.” One of the newer vendors to join up with the market is Choco Sol. This horizontal trading company has developed relationships with cocoa farmers in the Chiapas region of southern Mexico. The Fair Trade, organic cocoa is delivered to their Toronto facility where it is processed using largely renewable technology, including grinding machines that are pedal-powered. “Commercial chocolate production can be pretty impersonal,” says Choco Sol employee Mathieu McFadden. “The advantage of a market like this is that it really allows us to connect with our customers; you’re talking to the person who actually made your chocolate. Our chocolate is not only food; it’s fuel for research
DANIELLE HYDE
U of T Farmer’s market moves indoors
Consumers savour the wares at U of T’s farmer’s market. into new ways of organizing, and it’s an invitation to learn more about where our produce comes from.” Choco Sol’s wares were tempting enough for this reporter to purchase a
few, along with some organic carrots for dinner. Despite the variety and quality of the food available, the farmer’s market remains a pretty well-kept secret on campus; most customers are university
employees, rather than students who stop by between classes. Judging from the delicious sights and smells, however, this market won’t be a secret for long.
6
the science the science
December 3, 2009
Cancer vaccine leads to regression in mice Tim Ryan copes tumour study holds hope for human clinical trials
with anger
I used to have anger issues. When I was 13, after my marks slipped and I had organized hockey taken away from me. It was enough to induce a seizure-like temper tantrum. The type where you locked yourself in your room, a sobbing mess, throwing picture frames and trophies, kicking and punching every piece of furniture while repeatedly shrieking, “I HATE YOU” into the ceiling, followed by a much quieter, “Assholes.” I would always voice the latter just loud enough for my Dad (the disciplinarian) to hear, yet quiet enough to let me falsely deny it when he came flying up to my room to throw down. No? Just me? Ok, well nonetheless, I was a tantrum pro. U of T Department of Sociology Professor Scott Schieman has published new findings about the experience of anger in the upcoming “International Handbook of Anger” to be released in January of 2010. vIn his chapter,
women. Feeling rushed for time is also one of the strongest predictors of anger, resulting in low-grade manifestations equivalent to feeling annoyed. Outside of the young adult demographic, those with children in the household tend to demonstrate angry behaviours such as yelling and this is seen more so in women. I attribute this to the fact that most men do shit around the house. In addition, those with fewer years of education tend to experience more anger and are also less likely to seek proactive methods of changing their situation to one that suits them more favourably. Moving forward, Schieman looks to uncover why some people experience more anger than others and how social inequality factors into this. If you are experiencing uncontrollable bouts of rage stemming from incidents of spilt milk, feel free to email thenewspaper@ gmail.ca to the attention of Tim Ryan, and we can talk it out.
HELENE GODERIS
tim ryan
he examined one of the most negative emotions in society using a national survey in the United States. Overall, it was found that younger people, and in particular, those with children and less-educated individuals experience more frequent bouts with anger. These groups experience increased rage because they are naturally subjected to more “core stressors” that elevate anger levels. In the case of younger people, they are more likely to experience time pressures, economic hardship and interpersonal conflict in the workplace, a result of starting careers in entry-level, and thus, non-powerful positions. Associated with this is financial strain which affects new graduates who attempt to pay off student loans with lower salaries. Those who experience economic adversity reported higher levels of anger especially among
The study’s findings on anger really seem to strike a chord with Tim.
thiru shathasivam The concept of cancer immunosurveillance, whereby the immune system is capable of detecting and killing cancerous cells in the body, has been around since the turn of the 20th century. It was proposed in passing by Dr. Paul Ehrlich, a German scientist and Nobel Prize winner, long before a general understanding of the immune system even existed. It was not until the 1950s when the first true evidence of this phenomenon was presented. Several groups demonstrated that cancer cells exhibit tumour-specific antigens on their surface which can be recognized by cells of the immune system and thus leading to their destruction. Antigens are structures usually composed of proteins or carbohydrates. Since then, scientists have fought a frustrating battle trying to force the immune system to fight cancer. The immune system is more effective at defeating cancer cells during the early stages of disease as opposed to during the advanced stages. Larger tumours which have accumulated several mutations can actually escape detection using a variety of techniques, including suppression of the immune reaction Last week, Dr. David Mooney from Harvard University and his colleagues published their findings on a new form of cancer vaccine tested in mice. Their method effectively stimu-
lated the immune system and surmounted some of the major impediments of cancer vaccines as a viable treatment option. In their study, porous micromatrices (think of them as very small sponges) were coated with three functional ingredients and implanted into mice with cancers. The three basic components were a tumour lysate, cytokines, and DNA. The tumour lysate was essentially a puree made from tumour samples collected from mice (who subsequently received the implants) as a source of tumourspecific antigens. Cytokines were used to attract dendritic cells to the implant site. It is dendritic cells that spot the antigens and presents them to other immune cells, essentially training them to recognize a cancer cell when they see it. Sometimes, however, dendritic cells can also suppress the immune system. To ensure this doesn’t happen, DNA fragments were added to trick the immune cells to believe a bacterial infection was present, thus ensuring a strong immune response. Ultimately, in mice receiving the implants, complete regression of distant and local tumours was observed. The technology has been licensed to a biotechnology company called InCytu, and is already being developed for human clinical trials. Hopefully the results observed in mice can be mimicked in humans. A recent study by U of T researchers suggests that just because a vaccine becomes available doesn’t mean the public will rush to get the inoculation. The study’s findings are based on people’s acceptance of theoretical HIV vaccines. The efficacy of the vaccine was the factor that most influenced people’s choice. Amidst worry of botched batches of the H1N1 vaccine, that could mean some people will choose not to line up for their Swine Flu shot this flu season. Findings are published in December’s Health Services Research.
The Quick Fact
61% of Americans believe the bible’s account of creation, the Book of Genesis, to be literally true rather than a symbolic lesson. 60% believe Noah’s Ark and a global flood took place and 64% believe Moses parted the Red Sea for fleeing Jews to escape the Egyptians. Oh, Creationists. -Tim Ryan
the arts
December 3, 2009
7
Precious: Hope, without a happy ending
Brasil in Toronto for two nights only
lauren kirshner
miki sato
Precious: Based on the novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire thunders with misery and every deprivation under the sun. But that doesn’t stop you from secretly hoping that Clarice Precious Jones, the film’s impossible-not-to-love title character, will somehow triumph in a fairytale ending. She doesn’t, and this is what makes the film so powerful. When the film opens, Precious is an illiterate 15-year old girl, pregnant, and trapped in a nightmarish cycle of poverty and abuse. Repeatedly raped by her father, and blamed for it by her diabolical couch potato mother, Precious (Gabourey ‘Gabby’ Sidibe) can’t see any future for herself beyond the welfare office. When she is kicked out of school for not wanting to discuss her second pregnancy, she ends up at an alternative program housed in a run-down hotel and frequented by other wayward teens. Here she meets an extraordinary teacher named Blu Rain (Paula Patton), whose no-bullshit approach to life changes Precious’s perspective and shapes her future. Without ever making her life seem
sociological, director Lee Daniels infuses Precious’s journey with hard realism and even harder knocks. The systemic nature of poverty is shown, rather than told, and the many instances of violence against women are depicted through various characters, revealing the cyclical pattern of women’s disempowerment. Sidibe is captivating as Precious. Steering her 250 lb. bulk through dilapidated New York City streets, she so brilliantly channels her character in voice, body language, and expression, that you sometimes feel like you are watching a documentary. Yet beneath the tough carapace, Sidibe also invokes pathos, particularly in the heartbreakingly candid voice-overs that run through the film. In one, she deadpans: “My name is Clareece Precious Jones. I want to be on the cover of a magazine. I wish a had a light-skinned boyfriend with good hair. But first I want to be in one of those BET videos.” Mary, Precious’s mother, is played by actress and comedian Mo’Nique, whose performance as an abusive manic-depressive will raise hairs on the back of your neck. Additionally, celebrity guest appearances as overworked,
U of T grads take part in celebration of Brazilian music
underpaid public service workers are furnished by Mariah Carey, who strips off the glitter to play social worker, and Lenny Kravitz, whose muscles ripple noticeably under his blue nurse’s scrubs. In the second lead role as the gorgeously named Blu Rain, Paula Patton is restrained and dignified as Precious’s mentor and confidante, carrying scenes with mellow control and a seriously mega-watt smile. At times you wish the script, or director, would have allowed her to momentarily freak out of utilitarian teacher mode, if only to remind us that teachers are people too. But this is Precious’s film, after all, and Patton does right by not trying to compete with her co-star’s incontestable shine. Precious offers no easy resolutions or wish-granting fairy godmothers, which might come as a rude surprise for people who had hoped our heroine would end up on BET. However, for those who understand that dreaming about being on TV is sometimes a metaphor for wanting to be recognized as a person deserving of dignity, respect, and love, Precious is a beautiful and ultimately hopeful film, even without the happy ending.
The creators behind the wildly successful Beatles tribute, Abbey Road, introduce their latest project, Brasil. Under the artistic direction of founder Andrew Burashko, the Art of Time Ensemble - known for its contemporary twists on classic music - will present a show featuring three musical perspectives on this rhythmically abundant South American nation. The eclectic program will feature Bachianas Brasileiras #1 by Heitor Villa Lobos, presented by eight of Canada’s finest cellists, including U of T graduates Margaret Gay and David Hetherington. Bossa Nova, swing, and jazz medleys by Grammy-award winning Antonio Carlos Jobim, will be sung by smooth and sultry Canadian jazz vocalist, Emilie Claire-Barlow. Alan Hetherington, who graduated from U of T with a Masters Degree in Percussion Performance, looks forward to playing with Rio’s legendary composer/guitarist Guinga, who is famous for his work in the genres of samba, chorinho, and baiao.
Attention Egyptophiles:
the playlist: Christmas time is here
King Tut is here and he’s so big that Indiana Jones is opening for him King Tut: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs, one of the most highly anticipated exhibits to hit Toronto, opened on Nov. 24 at the AGO, its only Canadian venue. The exhibit introduces museum-goers to the culture behind the mummies and pyramids. “Our first weekend completely sold out,” said Sue Bloch-Nevitt, AGO Director of Public Affairs. “We turned away enough people to fill the exhibit twice over.” High on theatrics, the journey begins as Harrison Ford’s commanding narration welcomes visitors. Large doors usher the crowd into rooms filled with over 100 objects
and a wealth of didactic information. Visitors channel their inner Indiana Jones as they weave through a section mimicking Howard Carter’s entry into Tut’s tomb, featuring artifacts culled from each chamber. “We’re trying to broaden the definitions of art,” said Bloch-Nevitt. “It’s as much about art as it is about artifacts.” While some of the displays border on kitschy - during this reporter’s visit, a group of schoolgirls tittered uncontrollably at the Ancient Egyptian toilet seat - the exhibit appeals to a wide range of interests. The focal points are the jewelry and sculptures. A canopic coffinette, once encasing King Tut’s stomach, highlights the artistry of Egyptian
dar mustaFa
craftsmen with its inlaid golden brilliance. A larger-than-life sandstone statue of Amenhotep IV and the gold death mask of Psussennes I elicit similar wonderment. “It’s stunning to me, the mystery and myth of Ancient Egyptian life,” said Bloch-Nevitt. “In real time and in real proximity, we can see everyday objects and sculptures made by human hands over 3,000 years ago.” King Tut: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs runs through April 18, 2010. Admission is $10 for students and free on Wed. from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. Bloch-Nevitt noted that Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights are relatively crowd-free.
Nothing can ruin a Christmas music buzz like eight consecutive years of working in holiday retail. I have consequently become notoriously picky with my seasonal tunes. Here’s a sampling of some songs I can still tolerate: 1. Christmas Wrapping The Waitresses The horns make me need to dance. And the rest comes close to (rhythmically and lyrically) mimicking the madness of the season, which is sometimes such a whirlwind you can barely enjoy it. 2. Do They Know It’s Christmas? Band Aid Those first few dramatic notes chime in, and I still get giddy. This song taught me to appreciate the indulgent Western culture I was lucky enough to be born into, and also about how a group of UK-based musicians will always PWN a group from the US (e.g. the god-awful We are the World). 3. O Holy Night Sufjan Stevens This song first captured my heart during a redemptive scene in Home Alone. In search of the definitive version, I stumbled upon Mr. Stevens, and fell in love all over again. His rendition is so true to the spirit of the tradition; lush and operatic enough to catch me off guard and deliver the chills I was after. 4. A Charlie Brown Christmas - Christmas Time Is Here Vince Guaraldi Trio It sounds as comforting as the first soft snowfall of the season, when your bed is warm, the sky is gray, and you can go back to sleep.
COURTESY OF AGO
amy stupavsky
“[Brasil is] a varied program with both solo and ensemble perfomances,” said Hetherington. “Some of it is very low key and ballad-esque, and some is very high energy with a lot of percussion. It’s as diverse and varied as the country itself.” Hetherington, who has been drumming for over 30 years and has studied throughout South America and the Carribean, loves Brazilian music because it contains “lots of percussion”. He teaches the musical tradition of samba at Escola de Samba de Toronto and the Royal Conservatory of Music. Though most of us will spend the daunting chilly first days of December in Toronto, the sun-soaked sounds and energy of Brasil will surely thaw you out and warm you up. Brasil runs December 4 & 5 at Enwave Theatre, Harbourfront Centre (231 Queens Quay W.) Tickets are $19-$49 (discounts for students) and can be purchased from Harbourfront Centre Box Office: 416-973-4000 or at www.artoftimeensemble.com.
5. Let Me Sleep (It’s Christmas Time) Pearl Jam Maybe it’s my obsessive history with this band, but I think they have managed to transcend the insincerity of so much 90s Christmas rock. The sparse, distant-sounding instrumentation screams of past emotions; the kind that Christmas always promised to soothe as a kid, but turned out to only intensify with age. It’s actually much more enjoyable than I just made it sound.
8
December 3, 2009
the crossword
ANDREW GYORKOS
Across 2. Toss 6. Turn over 7. Hint 8. Mould 9. Morons 11. Definite Article 13. Make a mistake 16. Noodles 17. Bitter 18. Actor Nick ___ 20. Perfect 22. Took a seat 24. Punk/rock band 26. Aim for 27. Tribulations 29. Melody 30. Firebug 31. It follows the evening
Down 1. 60 of them make an hour 2. Trench 3. Regret 4. Daydream 5. Compliment 10. Speak out 11. Seizes 12. Occasion 13. WWII Bomber “ ___ Gay” 14. Diameter’s halves 15. False gods 19. Slackens 21. Hires 23. Rocky’s wife 25. Fail to remember 28. Large
Last week’s answers are posted on our website, thenewspaper.ca. First complete crossword gets a free drink on us!
“ the campus comment ”
“I’d like a nice holiday job.” Luigi, 4th year English
“I’d like to get out of the country.” Milca, 3rd year Poli Sci
“A 4.0 GPA.” Ben, 3rd year Life Sci
“I wish I could go visit my friend in Korea.” Jonathan, Life Sci grad student
“I want to go to Blue Mountain to snowboard and drink.” Hancock, 2nd year Math
MIKI SATO
“Money to pay off my tuition fees.” Amina, 3rd year Life Sci
MIKE WINTERS
the newspaper asks what’s on your holiday wishlist.