March 19th – 25th, 2009 Vol. XXXI, No: 23
University of Toronto’s community newspaper Independent since 1978
1 Spadina Crescent, Suite 245, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A1 Phone: 416 593 1552 thenewspaper@thenewspaper.ca www.thenewspaper.ca
the newspaper
the newspaper
write between the lines
the news
the arts
4 Hungry for a Greenhouse burger? 5 Viral law: HIV & You 4 Evolution of a theory
6 Engineering a good time 7 Climbing the walls! 6 Wavelength at home at Dee’s
Judging Justice
Toronto the blue
WILL CAMPBELL
AMY STUPAVSKY
Social Justice Bureau
Community Events Bureau
Roger Shallow, a Toronto Crown attorney involved with the province’s campaign against gun and gang violence, filed a complaint with the Ontario Human Rights Commission earlier this year. Shallow alleges that he was treated unfairly by Toronto police in a 2007 entertainment district incident which resulted in an embarrassing curb-side strip search. The key factor determining his treatment, he claims, was the colour of his skin. Shallow’s complaint doesn’t mince words: “The unspoken message to me was: lawyer, Crown, or whatever, you’re still just a black guy – so know your place, boy.” The incident became convoluted, and the charges of assault and public disturbance laid against Shallow were withdrawn this January just as the assault charges laid against the two officers involved in Shallow’s arrest were dropped by a Crown prosecutor last week. With the thorny legal forest now cleared, it is left to the OHRC to decide whether Shallow’s allegations are worth investigating. Although the Commission has yet to reply to Shallow’s complaint, the underlying issue – differential treatment of racial minorities by the legal powers-that-be in Ontario – remains worth pondering. And while Shallow’s accusations are
On Sunday, March 22, still waters will run deep at this year’s World Water Day celebration in Toronto, which aims to wash away the layers of misinformation and myths about global water issues. Hot topics include problems of pollution, sustainability, and regulation. A collaboration between Roots & Shoots and the Rotary Club of Toronto, the event will focus on a screening of the award-winning documentary Blue Gold: World
The legal process is not black and white
Stock photo
based on what he alleges to be individual acts of racism by two police officers, the question of whether systemic racism exists in the criminal justice system is something less likely to garner
Stabbing at Con Hall? MATTHEW POPE
On Wednesday afternoon, the newspaper received an anonymous tip that there had been a violent altercation at Convocation Hall. This reportedly involved a knife or gun. Immediately the newspaper dispatched reporters to the scene but could find no
World Water day 2009
evidence of, well, ANYONE. If you have any information about the “alleged incident”, please contact the newspaper. To see what we DID find in our investigation, turn to page 7.
newspaper headlines. Headlines or not, the issue has been one of intense focus in certain arenas, both public and private. A key study in Ontario is the report produced in the wake of the 1992 Yonge Street riots, which brought to the floor black-police relations in Toronto. The Commission on Systemic Racism in the Ontario Criminal Justice System released its findings in 1995 which concluded that, as the critics had feared, there was systemic racism in the province’s police stations, courts and penitentiaries – racism that particularly targeted blacks. But does the Commission’s “Justice” - Continued on page 4...
access to clean water, not least of which is ignorance at a local level. “People generally aren’t aware of how water is being governed,” explains Kimberly Curry, a representative from Rotary Club of Toronto. “They really need to know what’s happening. These issues affect us both locally and worldwide. In Canada, we have no national policy on water rights. There is no law governing who can use our water or how it
Stock photo
Water Wars, based on Maude Barlow and Tony Clarke’s book, Blue Gold. The organizers’ goals are twofold: to increase awareness and to spur the audience to engage with the issues. “We want to give members more guidance and expose them to issues to rally around,” says Naomi Resnick, Roots & Shoots Coordinator. “We hope that people will leave the day well-informed and ready to take action in their everyday lives. It’s really about inspiring action.” For Torontonians who take their taps for granted, the event will be especially eye-opening because many of Canada’s water issues go unnoticed. There are many problems with global
should be used.” The event will take place at Innis Town Hall at the University of Toronto, 2 Sussex Avenue. The 90-minute film viewing will begin at 3:00 p.m. A panel discussion featuring Tony Clarke and members of local water groups will follow until 6:00 p.m. Audience members are encouraged to reflect on the film and propose solutions to mend the world’s water woes. General admission is $5.00, which includes free popcorn. Proceeds will go to Roots & Shoots and Rotary for water and sanitation initiatives in developing countries.
2 the newspaper
March 19th – 25th, 2009
the newspaper
the inside
Publisher Matthew Pope
THE TABLE OF CONTENTS
News Editor
Arts Editor
Ashley Minuk
Helene Goderis
Associate Editor
the front page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 the inside . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 the editorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 the news . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4, 5 the arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6, 7 the puzzles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 the end . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Diplomacy is the art of saying “Nice doggie”... until you can find a rock.
Ari Simha
Administrative Assistant
Layout & Design
Caroline George
Jeffrey Spiers
Copy Editors
Photo Editor
Elisabeth Bennet, Michelle Ferreira, Tayyaba Jiwani
Sam Catalfamo
Contributors Newton Addo, Stephan Bundi, Will Campbell, Andrew Gyorkos, Harout Kassabian, Mathiaus Poe, Daniel Portoraro, Jake Steinmetz, Amy Stupavsky
Ads & Marketing Peter Josselyn ads@thenewspaper.ca
the mission statement the newspaper is proud to be University of Toronto’s ONLY independent community news source. We look to our readers and contributors to ensure we provide a consistently superior product. Our purpose is to provide a voice for university students, staff, faculty and U of T’s extended community. This voice may at times be irreverent but it will never be irrelevant.
- Will Rogers write between the lines
CALL FOR EDITORS the newspaper will be holding its annual editorial staff elections on Thursday, April 16th, 2009 @ 5pm
the campus comment DANIEL PORTORARO
According to the latest National Survey of Student Engagement, U of T placed last among Canadian Universities on the Supportive Campus Benchmark. If you could change one thing about U of T’s campus life, what would it be?
OPEN POSITIONS: News Editor Arts Editor These are paid positions. Each requires a time commitment of approximately 20 hours per week.
Colleen - 3rd year - History
Erene - 1st year - Psychology & Semiotics
Emily - 2nd year - Drama
“I’d try to widen the range of student groups at U of T; currently,
“I would like there to be better access to university campus
“I would make events more accessible to commuters; right now,
they all seem to be sports-oriented.”
space for events regarding clubs.”
it seems like it’s only the people in residence who hear and go to them.”
Anyone who has had 3 or more articles published this year is eligible to run. A Statement of Intent and resume should be sent to thenewspaper@thenewpspaer.ca no later than April 9th. Anyone who has contributed three pieces this year has a vote and should be present on voting day to elect next year’s editors. We welcome all hopefuls and look forward to seeing you all on voting day.
Michela - 3rd year - Drama
Tyrone - 4th year - Literary Studies
Llyas - 4th year - Philosophy & Middle Eastern Civilizations
“I’d turn the field behind UC into an ice rink.”
“I would like to change the layout of the campus. Currently,
“I would place more importance on clubs. The current club
we’re spread over this huge urban centre, and I think that that
infrastructure we’re using is old and archaic. Using a new one
plays a big role in the fact that it’s hard to encourage student
would undoubtedly help clubs become more efficient and
activity.”
more prominent in campus life.”
the newspaper 3
March 19th – 25th, 2009
the editorial I hate People Pay to play MATHIAUS POE Opinion Column Bureau The Game. You just lost it. And it seems like I’m losing it all the time; in this sense and metaphorically (but I’ll get to that another time). Let’s be clear: the game to which I now refer is that of social politics and diplomacy, the framework that increasingly seems to fence in everything I do. This is the daily deception we all accept as the social lubricant that allows things to continue to move forward and helps to maintain the status quo. So, what’s the upside? If honesty is really the best policy, why are we socially conditioned to filter our thoughts and feelings through politesse and diplomatic language? The end result is complex social chess games with multiple players who are all trying to gain the upper hand. I have personally never understood the desire to hold power over People. Considering how little I think of People, this should come as no surprise. Perhaps it’s because I see no real challenge to dominating a large flock of sheep, nor do I see any accomplishment in becoming another sad little monarch of another sad little hill. Will Rogers once said that “Diplomacy is the art of saying ‘Nice doggie’ until you can find a rock” and I think that effectively sums up the nature of the approach most People have towards other People. Personally, I don’t like pretending to be something I’m not, and that includes happy to see you. I will be the first to admit that I don’t always play well with others. My kindergarten teacher knew this and little has changed in 25 years. To be fair, I have learned how to play with others better, in the sense that I understand what I’m supposed to do, but I actually enjoy it less and less every day. Nonetheless, these are the sad facts of the matter. Regardless of your take on politics and niceties, if you want to get past the burger-flipping job from junior-high, you’re going to have to start faking it. So, much in the same way that I’ve accepted money as a necessary evil, and work to mediate its role in my life, the same has become true for diplomacy. Like it or not, to get where I want to go (a place where this stuff is no longer necessary) I have to pussy-foot through the minefield of People’s egos to get there. I try to be as honest as pos-
sible without being cruel or lying, which often means I just have to keep my big mouth shut. With so much garbage to make you pull your hair out, (and my hair being at a premium), it’s fortunate that I have this column or I might just go good-old-fashioned Postal. The true salvation of my sanity has been the realization that I ultimately do not care. I do not want or care to win this game. I
just want to get through it as quickly as possible. If you really want to have this or that little shred of power or control, then you can have it. I have far better things to do with my time than try to defend a useless little sandcastle or stepping-stone. Karma Police are always on duty and in the end, you can’t take any of that superfluous notoriety with you, so gobble it up while you can. I’ll just sit back and watch the show.
In response to last week’s column, Ludwik writes: I admire your audacious editorials, which are wonderful thought provoking touchstones for discussion, but your last article was outrageous. Your article seems to strictly divide humanity into two warring camps. On the one side are Amish polygamists, farming rocky land with their bare hands because they do not believe in using any tools or technology whatsoever, let alone medicines and machines.
On the other are atheist whores, capitalizing on every opportunity to exploit anything and anyone in the name of scientific progress. Frankly, this view is offensive! Log on to www.thenewspaper.ca to read Ludwik’s entire response and join the debate!
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4 the newspaper
March 19th – 25th, 2009
the news Greenhouse burger Silent but deadly STEPHAN BUNDI Environmental Bureau Many layers of meaning have been imposed on the act of flatulence. Decorum straitjackets it for being impolite; biology classifies it as a natural and healthy expulsion of the gaseous byproducts of digestion; comedy sees it as gold. By contrast, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), according to a 2006 report, views flatulence of cows as a severe threat to civilization. According to the UN FAO report, the production of livestock – beef, chicken, and pork – is responsible for 18 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions, including 9 percent of all CO2 emissions, 37 percent of methane emissions, and 65 percent of nitrous oxide emissions. In fact, livestock production generates more greenhouse gas than some of the more commonly known culprits such as transportation, manufacturing, agriculture, and the burning of fossil fuels. Belches and farts, predominantly from cows due to their high numbers, contribute heavily to atmospheric methane, which
has roughly 23 times the globalwarming potential of CO2. To put this into perspective, producing half a pound of hamburger is equivalent to driving a 3,000 pound car almost 10 miles. Beef consumption is rising rapidly, both as global population increases and as individuals in general eat more meat. With a transition towards more processed grains and meat as dietary staples, there is increased pressure to develop new land for cattle. At the World Social Forum in Belém in 2009, Greenpeace Brazil released evidence confirming that 60-70 percent of deforestation in the Amazon – which represents half the world’s remaining rainforest – is carried out to make room for cattle ranching. Combine deforestation (itself a contributor to global warming) with the resources and energy required to put beef on your table – water and fertilizer to grow feed crops, plus transportation – and the environmental impacts become staggering. Moreover, the reality is that good
Where’s the beef? From the farm to the human feeding, beef is a major environmental concern. Photo set: Ashley Minuk & Matthew Pope
meat requires good care: the better the meat, the better the care, the more flatulent the cow. And of course, you cannot fault the juicy cows for that – they are merely victims of human supply and demand. Perhaps placing so much emphasis on excessive cow farts is myopic in terms of disregarding the environmental impact of other common food practices. But the effects of mass beef production must not be overlooked, particularly when these practices are on the rise globally.
“Justice” - ...continued from page 1
The infamous Don Jail, home to a disproportionate number of minority prisoners. Photo: Simon P (Lic. under GNU)
key finding remain true today? Are racial minorities more likely to be jailed before trial, more often sent to prison after conviction than white offenders, and more likely to be treated poorly by correctional officials once imprisoned? Vashti Bo, from the U of T Black Students Association, argues that systemic racism permeates all of Canada’s institutions, and that “the criminal justice system is no exception, despite the myth
that racism does not exist [in this country].” Justice David Cole, an Ontario court judge who co-chaired the Commission, is less sure. Cole told the newspaper that he “would tend to think” that systemic racism still exists but notes that there are no recent data to support such claims. As race statistics are not kept for the criminal justice system, it’s hard to make any definite conclusions. But, he continues, “anecdotally,
the disproportionate number of people of colour appearing in court hasn’t changed. If anything, it’s probably gotten worse.” He says that those involved in the criminal justice system are “a lot more sensitive to these issues than we were back in the early ‘90s.” The Commission’s recommendations were largely ignored in the 1990s by the Harris government, and though piecemeal progress has since been made,
To date, a few alternatives have been suggested: on the micro level, a shift in diet is the most obvious; on the macro level, a move towards farming kangaroos or ostriches, for example, would require less energy to farm, without the pitfalls of flatulent emissions. In any case, it is clear that the human diet plays a significant role in affecting the atmosphere that sustains us. Equipped with this knowledge, even the average student can make informed dietary choices. On Thursday, March 19th, Trinity
College is set to sign on to the President’s Climate Initiative, joining 616 American and 13 Canadian colleges and universities in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on campus and to reduce students’ carbon footprint. One of the simplest and most healthy ways to do this is by shifting toward sustainable food practices, and one way to do that as the experts suggest, is to consider ways to reduce your intake of beef.
no provincial government has publicly accepted that the law treats blacks and other visible minorities more poorly than whites. How successful, then, was the Commission? Cole notes that the report must be put in perspective: “When we started our study there were a lot of people who said ‘oh, no no this doesn’t exist in Canada… we don’t have systemic racism in this country,’ and what our study did was to put it beyond question that there are differential outcomes [in the justice system] which cannot be explained just randomly.” He also points to recent court decisions, such as a 2006 Superior Court ruling which found that “anti-black racism, both on an individual and institutional level” remains a reality in Ontario. But have police forces, which remain the target of many racism claims, made enough changes? Toronto police spokesman Mark Pugash says the force has made great progress when it comes to race relations. He points to the improved relationship between Chief Blair and the city’s numerous racial, ethnic and queer communities made possible by the force’s Community Consultative Committees, which give minority community leaders some input into policing matters. The demographics of the police force are also becoming more reflective of the city they police,
with almost one in five officers now visible minorities – far from the nearly one-half of Toronto’s population represented by visible minorities, but more representative than the lily-white force of the past. Pugash concludes that “within the last decade this organization has transformed [the] way it looks at race and policing issues.” Yet, Pugash also admits that the force doesn’t collect and analyze statistics on which racial groups are being charged with what, and why – a restriction placed on it by the civilian oversight board. Collecting “racecrime” statistics is not something the province does either. Justice Cole notes that such data could be used to support racist (and bogus) theories tying criminality to skin colour. Although Cole’s Commission recommended that race-crime stats be kept and made available only to academics, this recommendation, like many others, was ignored by the province. Such data are kept in the United States and are used by critics calling for reform to racism in the country’s drug laws. No such data are collected in Canada, so questions about widespread racism in Canada’s justice system in 2009 simply cannot be answered effectively.
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March 19th – 25th, 2009
the news
cont’d
Sex, laws, and HIV Better safe than sorry ASHLEY MINUK Community Health Bureau Glenn Betteridge, lawyer and Senior Policy Analyst with the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, prefaced his presentation with the following: “You may not like the law, you may not agree with it, but that’s the law.” With that in mind, it is each person’s responsibility to be informed of what the law says, specifically criminal law, and how it may affect our lives. On March 10, Betteridge held a community forum entitled ‘HIV, Disclosure, and the Law’ at the Ramada Plaza in Toronto. “The purpose is to give people in the community struggling and dealing with HIV a better idea of what the criminal law says and how it’s been used to date for people who are alleged to have not disclosed their HIV status,” he says. Since a Supreme Court ruling in 1998, failure to disclose one’s HIV-positive status to a sexual partner can result in a conviction of aggravated sexual assault, punishable with a maximum of life in prison. To date, there have been about 75 criminal prosecutions for nondisclosure,
but, according to Betteridge, the media has not done a good job of explaining these charges in terms of what the law says and with regard to the complexity of the issue. “We’re dealing with chronic illness, sex, death and interpersonal relationships. These are all highly charged areas of people’s lives,” Betteridge points out. Although reluctant to divulge his own opinions about the Criminal Code as it relates to HIV disclosure, Betteridge insists that those living with HIV must take measures to prevent themselves from becoming a target for criminal charges. Before engaging in sexual activity – vaginal, oral, or anal – those who carry the virus should be disclosing their status in the presence of a witness, via email, or with written documentation to prove that disclosure took place prior to sex. While these legal-smart tactics might serve to hamper sexual proceedings – what better way to ruin the mood? – they are realities that those living with HIV must accept in order to protect themselves and their lover(s).
Evolution of a theory Darwin’s journey to natural selection JAKE STEINMETZ Evolutionary Sciences Bureau On February 12th, exaltation around the globe could be witnessed, and the message was clear: the survival of Darwin’s theory of evolution bears testimony to its being among the fittest. In the midst of this Darwin clamour, it’s important to understand his background, how his theories came to be, and what had to be overcome in order for their persistence to be assured. Born to a prestigious family in Shrewsbury, England, Charles Darwin initially showed few signs of academic promise. Disillusioned with school (having endured brief stints in medical school at Edinburgh and the seminary at Cambridge), Darwin focused on educating himself in the collection and categorization of wild life specimen. Much to his father’s discontent, he enlisted on board the HMS Beagle in 1831 - which was embarking on its second tour of South America – to collect specimens and keep references of those organisms he considered significant. It was on
this five year voyage that Darwin experienced the most important journey of his career – indeed, of his life. Darwin espoused the theory of natural selection to make sense of the puzzling range of species and natural phenomena he observed on his voyage. He subscribed to Charles Lyell’s Principles of Geology, which suggested that gradual processes such as erosion or volcanic activity could, over time, lead to great changes in Earth’s geology. Darwin applied the same principle to the biological world, realizing that gradual changes might similarly contribute to the evolution of living things. Darwin’s epiphany came upon reading British economist Charles Malthus’ Essay on the Principle of Population, which asserts that more organisms are born than could possibly survive. In a constant struggle for survival, every living creature must compete for limited resources. Recognizing that some individuals are better suited to
According to the Criminal Code of Canada, failure to disclose HIV-positive status to a sexual partner constitutes aggravated sexual assault because exposure to HIV poses a “significant risk of serious bodily harm.” Not surprisingly, the law remains somewhat murky when it comes to specifics: does “significant risk” persist when a condom is used? What about oral sex? Is there a duty to disclose HIV-positive status to another HIV-positive individual? Since laws regarding HIV disclosure are relatively new, these are areas that as yet remain unclear. Judging by the impressive turnout – more than 100 people attended – and lively discussion, it was clear that this sensitive issue touches the lives of many. In the end, the law is the law whether we like it or not. Criminal law is fraught with grey areas – a great way to force us laypeople to pay for legal advice. As a member of the U of T community you might be eligible for free legal advice at Downtown Legal Services, a community legal clinic operated by U of T’s faculty of law, where free legal services are offered by law students, supervised by lawyers. To make an appointment, call (416) 978-6447 or head to 655 Spadina Avenue. After all, sex and law have one very important thing is common: it’s better safe than sorry. compete than others, Darwin introduced the notion of natural selection. Rejecting the strict Biblical notion that God created humans in their present form, Darwin suggested that man was a product of chance and gradual adaptation to various, uncontrollable external conditions. Not surprisingly, this theory was coldly received by stalwart Victorian Christians and teleologists, who believed firmly that everything in the universe was designed with a purpose, as dictated by the Creator. The genius of Darwin lies in his application of the most simple and undeniable processes to explain the diversity and evolution of life on earth. Since then, the study of life – including modern genetics, paleontology, and ecology – has proceeded on the foundation of Darwin’s theory. In fact, as evolutionary biologist and Russian Orthodox Christian Theodosius Dobzhansky wrote in 1973, “Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution.” Nonetheless, 200 years after Darwin’s ideas were published, there still remain a steadfast few who have coalesced to oppose the theory. Next week, I will examine the cases that have made evolution such a contentious issue.
Freedom from denial Op-Ed HAROUT KASSABIAN Community Concerns Bureau In the March 8th issue of the Toronto Star, U of T president Dr. Naylor was quoted as saying, “Campuses are places for passionate debate, within reason, be it pro-choice and pro-life, or over the Armenian Genocide, Sri Lanka, the Middle East, etc.” University is a place where different ideas and perspectives are expressed, discussed, and challenged; however, that Dr. Naylor would choose to include the Armenian Genocide as an example of a topic open to critical debate in a campus setting strikes me as extremely problematic. Genocide is an organized attempt to destroy an identifiable group of people. The genocide of the Armenians is the first genocide of the 20th century and has been accepted as such by a large assortment of genocide scholars, historians, and professors. Yet the Turkish state continues to spread its altered version of history, denying the actuality of genocide. Providing a forum for debate on the issue merely allows its perpetrators to continue to deny their crimes. The same applies for other genocides, such as the Holocaust or the Rwandan Genocide. It is difficult to imagine the university inviting a Holocaust denier to express his or her opinion on the systematic extermination of the Jews. Nonetheless, on February 18th, Ryerson University sponsored an event on campus that brought in Turkkaya Ataov, a Professor from Turkey who categorically denies the Armenian Genocide, and who even goes so far as to suggest that it was the Armenians who attempted to wipe out the Turkish population. The university was complicit and stated that everyone’s voice must be heard; it was confident the audience would reject Ataov’s position and the truth would be con-
firmed. However, the event was blatantly one-sided, offering no opportunity for outside opinions or group discussion. In the end, Ryerson University allowed an act of disinformation to take place under blind faith that democracy and freedom of expression would prevail. Lest a similar happening occur at U of T, Dr. Naylor might consider not only the Ryerson event but the perspective of Gregory Stanton, the founder of Genocide Watch, who has identified the “eight stages of genocide,” with the last stage being denial. From this perspective, the perpetrators will carry out their mandate and rely on the complicity and indifference of the international community to get away with their crimes, fueling a vicious cycle that repeats itself far too often. “Debate” over such nondebatable facts may be part and parcel of this denial – or complicity. Dr. Naylor’s comment suggests that there is room in our campus to support the prejudice and hate that form the basis of genocide – in direct opposition to the fundamental rights we so cherish. It is time to think not only about providing an open forum for education, but also about maintaining our university’s reputation as an upholder of truth and integrity in a deceptive and unfair world.
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March 19th – 25th, 2009
the arts
BEER • WINGS • POOL • JAVA SPORTS • JUKEBOX • SPIRITS EVENTS • OPEN STAGE • GAMES
Skule Nite 0T9 Lady Godiva would be proud of you HELENE GODERIS Performance Arts Bureau Skule Nite (note that engineers use “metric spelling”) is the annual Engineering variety show currently playing at Hart House Theatre. The show is put on by a collective of roughly 100 dedicated students and graduates composed mainly of engineers. Skule Nite proves that setting the trials and tribulations of engineering students to song and dance equates not only to good therapy, but to a spectacular show. Skule Nite has a long and illustrious history dating back to 1921. The show started out at Massey Hall but moved to Hart House Theatre two years later, where it has consistently pulled
Photo: Newton Addo
in a riveted, sold-out audience. Director Kian Marandi began writing this year’s sketches at the start of the summer. The cast, selected in late October, is also involved in the writing process. Skule Nite alum, aka “fossils,” are brought in to aid in writing, critiquing and polishing the show. This collective effort really pays off – the breadth of sketch material is highly impressive. The show runs approximately 2.5 hours without the laugh curve. I was convinced within the first minute that this would be a solid show. What is most striking is the professional level of the production. “This year’s a lot more technical in terms of special effects” shares producer Steven Szeto. The opening of the second act is simply spectacular; without divulging any details, suffice it to say the act had the dress rehearsal audience on the edge of their seats. While the pacing of a few sketches was a bit off, these were minor hiccups in an otherwise polished show. The amount of material covered was stunning. From “Fugg” boots to the Barack Attack musical number to the Lord of the Rings expedition into the
Wavelength #454 Home at Sneaky’s JAKE STEINMETZ Music Bureau As the tight-fisted grip of winter finally eased its chilly reign last Sunday, the warmest spot in Toronto was no doubt found amidst the performances at this week’s Wavelength. DJs Amy and Graham helped acclimate the steady flow of incomers with the aid of some mellow grooves. By the time Full Speed Velocipede took the stage, the burgeoning crowd was well fired up. Led by singer Caylie Staples
and vocalist/guitarist Lane Halley, F.S.V. entertained with bizarre jazz-fusion melodies which felt likely to burst into total discord at any moment. According to their MySpace page, the band describe their performances as “being at a rock concert and at the circus at the same time.” Drummer D’Alex Meeks, a native of South Carolina, explains that this makes sense having come “from the sermonizing circus
Bahen Centre, this show really had it all. By the time the Abraham Lincoln with scalp hypothermia sketch rolled around, I was thinking – is nothing holy? The song and dance numbers rivaled a Justin Timberlake video – who knew engineers had moves? Equally impressive is the fact that most of the music is played live by the Lady Godiva Band stuffed behind the stage front. Notable cast members include Hasan Alkabeer for his nuanced performance as Frodo, and Nina Noghtrehkar for her Jim Carreylike flair. Kevin Vidal’s portrayal of such characters as goofy “Professor Nefarious” or Morgan Freeman in an Uzboolistan doctor’s office rightly earned big laughs.
Photo: Newton Addo
The subtext running underneath the sketches and musical numbers explores the stereotypes held by engineers and “artsies” toward one another. The pressures of the engineers’ course load and scarcity of sexual partners serve as fodder for jokes. While the jokes pander to engineers, they still translate well to this artsy. Ultimately, this show dispelled one stereotype for me – that engineers wouldn’t know their way around anything artistic if their GPA depended upon it. From set design to sketch writing to live music to stage presence, Skule Nite gets an A. Skule Nite shows at Hart House Theatre from March 18-21st at 8pm. While Skule Nite sells out all 5 shows every year, you can try wrangling one from a ticket holder (many of whom undoubtedly underestimated their exam season workload) through the Skule Nite Facebook group.
Photo: Newton Addo
training in the South.” Meeks further expounds on F.S.V.’s creative process: “We try and hold back and let the dark lord come out.” Indeed, Meeks channeled the band’s “denominational evil” with his outlandish mutterings in between songs. To add intrigue to their selfproclaimed “demonic” group, the band plans on traveling to the Republic of Georgia, to “rejuvenate and reformulate” by studying motets, a harmonyfocused practice used mainly in local Eastern Orthodox congregations. With a slightly tamer, more cohesive sound, We Take Lovers kept the fire burning bright. Despite their catchy, lulling melodies, the band is not as “together” as they seem. As Mark Meeks (lead guitar and vocals) put it: “There probably isn’t a single group that everyone in the band universally likes... It causes a lot of fights. Mostly playful fights
though.” Yet despite this ongoing dissonance, the band put disagreements aside to honor Sneaky Dee’s weekly tradition. After all, as Meeks notes, “Dee’s feels like home base... I’ve stabbed people for slagging it.” Vancouver-based duo Japandroids provided an explosive finish to the already incandescent atmosphere. Comprised of guitarist Brian King and drummer Dave Prowst, Japandroids hold firm to their mission: they “want to inspire and entertain at the same time,” as Prowst says, adding, it’s “a lot more fun when you see a band enjoy [what they’re doing].” And yes, the pair seemed to have a blast. King’s shrill vocals, summoned from the depths of his diaphragm, wailed above Prowst’s commanding drums. When the plaid-clad King finally laid his guitar to rest, the audience let out maniacal screams of acclamation. With spring steadily on the way and another satisfying Wavelength underneath their belts, fans left with their spirits uplifted – optimistic about the weeks to come, but most importantly, about the next Wavelength.
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the newspaper 7
March 19th – 25th, 2009
the arts
cont’d
Climbing the walls Some people have energy to spare MATTHEW POPE Community Bureau While in pursuit of a juicy scoop for ‘the newspaper’, I discovered this lively group of young people clambering up the side of the Sir Sandford Fleming building, behind Convocation Hall. Not one to be shy, I approached the group to see if they were superheroes in training, or perhaps just a bunch of severely ADHD kids who had gone off their medication. They are, in fact, members of a local Parkour group. A similar activity, known as Free-running, was featured in the opening sequence of ‘Casino Royale’. Ac-
cording to one member, the goal of Parkour is “to get from one point to another in the shortest distance possible� and that, unlike Free-running, there is no “showing off� involved; just get from Point A to Point B as quickly as possible. If you’d like to know more about the global Parkour community, go to www.pkto.ca The Toronto Parkour group meets every Wednesday @ 5pm in Queen’s Park, behind the north monument.
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The Toronto Parkour crew doing their thing. Photo: Matthew Pope
' #% $ ,
CRUDE CONTENT, SEXUAL CONTENT, COARSE LANGUAGE
STARTS FRIDAY, MARCH 20
Check Local Theatre Directory or www.alliancefilms.com for Locations & Showtimes.
8 the newspaper
March 19th – 25th, 2009
the end
the jumbler BY: ASHLEY MINUK
Unscramble the letters to form common words. Use the letters in the highlighted boxes to answer the riddle!
the four-word BY: ANDREW GYORKOS
Place the 12 letters provided into the grid in order to create EIGHT common four-letter words; 4 horizontal & 4 vertical.
Answer for last week’s jumbler: “I’d tap that” Solution to THIS jumbler in next week’s the newspaper
Solution to last week’s puzzle: Solution to THIS Four-word in next week’s the newspaper BY STEPHEN NOTELY