Vol. XXXI, No: 1 September 25 – October 2, 2008 - Vol. XXXI, No: 4
Can-Can, can you cheer for Varsity?
Credits: Photography by Santiago Ortega. Copyright © 2008
Cheerleaders on top The boys lost, but the Blues girls get to shine STEPHANIE BUSATO Campus Sports Bureau So here’s the deal: last Saturday, the Blues football team played another home game at our beautiful Varsity Centre. It’s too bad that we were playing against Queen’s, because they’re pretty good. Actually, they’re very good. The Blues started out amazingly strong, with an opening drive and almost touchdown pass from Stinson to Drew Meerveld. Of course, they called it back because of a bullshit holding penalty, which had me screaming obscenities (as it did the in-crowd commentators). As an athlete, it’s very difficult to recover from a call that penalizes what would have been a touchdown. But you’ve got to roll with the punches. Queen’s did not like the tenacity of the Blues and came back with a touchdown of their own, which of course was not called back. The score was not as horrible as it could have been. 58-14 was the final score, due to Queen’s simply playing a better game than we did. “We came out flat,” said Blues first-year wide receiver Johnson. “We made a lot of mistakes and you just can’t do that against a good team like Queen’s.” Here are my thoughts: I’m so proud of cheering for the Blues this year. They have really proven themselves as a team worthy to be in the OUA.
So what if we get beaten a few times by really amazing teams? We’re still having a better season than last year (or the last 7 seasons), and that’s something to be proud of. I might be a bit harsh at times on the Blues, but it’s the prerogative of a female sports writer to be naggy and brutal By halftime, with the score as 37-7 for Queen’s, it became a reality that the Blues would possibly lose. So my attention was diverted elsewhere. Queen’s is also known for having the reigning national Cheerleading champions. For this reason, I was a little excited to see some of the tricks they had in store…but I saw none. I saw a lot of hugging each other, walking around, and doing absolutely nothing. At the end of each quarter, I saw no tosses, flips, or anything a national championship should merit. However, I did eventually see something very amusing. When a touchdown was scored, the band they brought with them from Queen’s (which, I’ve got to hand it to them, was insanely awesome) would play the same song, and the cheerleaders would... Do a routine? Nope! Do something worthy of applause? Nope! All they did was a slow can-can and that’s about it. At least when York came, they put on an impressive show of cheerleading skills. Continued on page 7...
2 the newspaper
September 25 – October 2, 2008
the inside
the table of CONTENTS the inside . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 the editorial . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 the news . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,5
ARTS EDITOR POSITION the newspaper is looking for a new arts editor. This is an paid, elected position. To stand or vote, you must have been published at least three times this year. Elections will be held October 3rd. Applicants should submit a resume along with a letter of intent. Good luck!
it’s a free-for-all! Calling all writers, copy editors and artists! Have you ever wanted to work in journalism? Would you like a chance to have you work published?
the newspaper is U of T’s ONLY independent newspaper, distributing across all 3 campuses as well as the surrounding community. This is an open call to all potential contributors. ALSO: We offer free food! Yes! Come to our weekly open staff meeting, beginning THIS Thursday (September 4th) @ 5pm in our office. We will feed your face! Awesomeness! We are on the edge of St. George campus, just north of college on Spadina. We want YOU to write between the lines.
the arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
NOW WITH 87.9% LESS SUCKAGE!
the sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
29.5% of all people surveyed said that the new, improved website for U of T’s only independent newspaper did not cause them to vomit in their soul. Exciting! It’s a website that is always growing, built to specifications and suggestions that you can send to us! Soon you can rant, discuss and get your hate on for all your leastfavourite writers! teh interwebs is Good again.
the end . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
the newspaper Publisher Matthew Pope
News Editor
Arts Editor
Maria Ionova
Moe Abbas
Associate Editor Stephanie Busato, Ari Simha
Layout
Caroline George
Jeffrey Spiers
Copy Editors Joanna Chociej, Helene Goderis
Contributors Thomas Bugajski, Stephanie Busato, Mike Egerdie, Mathew Gagne, Gary Ingleby, Jerome Paul, Mathiaus Poe, James Shortly
Ads & Marketing Ana Avner, Peter Josselyn 1 Spadina Crescent, Suite 245 Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1A1
fax: (416) 593-0552
www.thenewspaper.ca
WANTED: SERIOUS ENTREPENEURS!
“University politics are vicious precisely because the stakes are so small.” - Henry Kissinger
Open to a high opportunity
Be it resolved that none cares.
Call: 1-866-418-8173
Administrative Assistant
main: (416) 593-0552
Come see for yourself.
thenewspaper@ thenewspaper.ca
the mission statement the newspaper is proud to be University of Toronto’s ONLY independent 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.
write between the lines
the newspaper 3
September 25 – October 2, 2008
BEER • WINGS • POOL • JAVA SPORTS • JUKEBOX • SPIRITS EVENTS • OPEN STAGE • GAMES
the editorial I hate People MATHIAUS POE Opinion Column Bureau
Serving up a good time Every time since 9T6!
Weekly Events: Man vs. Martini MONDAYS Toonie TUESDAYS Open Mike WEDNESDAYS
I hate People, particularly when I find that I am People. This weekend, the realization that I had become People crept up on me like a wave of nausea as I sat on the edge of a desk behind a stranger’s mansion on a large private property in the Kawarthas. I had been invited up to the estate by a lover for a private party. I was about to be surrounded by People I had precious little in common with for an evening of pretending to like everyone. I always feel like an intruder in crowds of privileged People, but I digress. As I sat on the edge of the desk looking out over a seemingly endless expanse of clean water and lush conifers, I was struck. I thought of the glaciers that crept across this land millennia ago, dragging
debris the size of mountains across the terrain, carving out massive chunks of rock and earth. Eons later these same ice floes receded, filling the carved-out holes with fresh water and depositing minerals as they returned to whence they came. Think of how precious and limited our freshwater resources are and how we take for granted our access to it. I thought of the privilege it is to live in a country with the largest connection of fresh water lakes in the world, only to see that water surrendered or sold to a greedy neighbor that squanders theirs. People are so ignorant of the resources available (and the money and effort to purify water) that they insist on drinking bottled water. The vast majority of bottles
The views and opinions expressed here are barely those of the author and not representative of the newspaper, its parent company Planet Publications or its helpless minions.
go not to recycling plants but to landfills where, because they are generally uncompressed, they take up 90% more space than necessary, choking out what little landfill space we have and leaching chemicals into the ground that pollute the water. While some people refuse to drink that water, it damages the wildlife and crops unfortunate enough to touch on the same water table. I think of how urban centres are running out of space and how we’re ignoring the critical need for affordable housing while an elite few carve out pieces of the Great Lakes for themselves in order to build second homes on newly privatized property that used to belong to everybody. I don’t need to be a linguist to know that a word like ‘Kawartha’ is not English or French in nature. I sit on formerly native lands that were claimed in blood and deceit only to be sold to the highest bidder - the stranger that I previously mentioned. No matter
how middle class you might think you are, if your family “cottages” you are far more privileged than most. You have a second habitat that you don’t use full-time, while millions live without so much as four walls and a roof (and that’s ignoring the fact that to be middle class is a privilege in itself ). Now the only reason I was privy to this experience was that I happened to be fucking a person who got a “you plus a guest’ invite to the party. I was there for the person, not the event. Regardless, I found myself in a very privileged position, surrounded by privileged people and enjoying an environment that, while beautiful and serene, I didn’t quite feel like I deserved. Privilege is about so much more than money, and so few people realize it that it makes me sick. I avoid People at all costs, but there are persons I enjoy that are, on occasion, People. And I hate People, particularly when I find that I am one.
NOW PODCASTING (from our website)
Thirsty THURSDAYS TGIF!
the news
(Thank Guinness it’s Friday)
FRIDAYS Live Music SATURDAYS Free Pool & Comedy SUNDAYS PODCASTING AS HOGTOWNCOMEDYRADIO (from our website)
All Day Breakfast and Canadian Tire Money at par every weekend! Game Room with plasma available for groups FREE WIRELESS INTERNET PROVIDED BY:
229 COLLEGE STREET
416/59•STEIN WWW.EIN-STEIN.CA
Revolutionary Ideals Encompassing change MATHEW GAGNE Campus Events Bureau “Four minutes of democracy followed by four years of frustration,” was how Chantal Sundaram characterised the democratic mockery that is the Canadian electoral system (including not only the institutional structures, but also participation). With decreasing voter turnout and less political participation, it is arguable that the system needs some rejuvenation. This debate becomes vital during the federal elections (and usually falls to the waste side afterwards, leaving a nebulous hole in its place) especially in regards to the youth vote. Needless to say voters of all ages are feeling disenfranchised. But what needs to change in order to sufficiently raise voters awareness and participation in politics? Well, according to Sundaram, who opened a one-day conference on September 20th entitled Climate Change, War and Recession: Why we need a
revolution in the 21st century, the answer is just that, a revolution. Sundaram argues that only revolutionary actions can meaningfully change the current tide of weak democratic structures and growing frustration towards the state of the country, including the ongoing mission in Afghanistan, concern regarding climate change, the fluctuations in oil prices, soaring food prices and an impending global economic slow-down, all of which are elements she claims to be interconnected. But this is easier said than done. Engagement and participation in socialist and revolutionary action is, like engagement in the Canadian electoral system, variable. One cannot simply expect disillusioned voters to participate in the so-called alternatives. Strategies need to be developed to encourage participation including transforming the theoretical
the news CONTINUES on page 5 and conceptual frameworks to incorporate conditions of the current global market that affect the circumstances under which revolutionary actions may be possible. In other words, can a revolution occur given that interconnectedness of global political and economic structures that could thwart revolution? Revolutionary politics are not set in stone, but neither have they generally been flexible in their interpretation from theory to their application in politics. If the revolution is to occur with meaningful participation, a more inclusive and flexible discourse needs to be developed based on the incorporation of contemporary political, economic and social structures. A better understanding and recognition of where the theory and reality intersect will lead
to a more realistic possibility of revolution. According to Sundaram, the fundamental question is not why we need a revolution, but what type of revolution and what it will ultimately encompass. She recognizes that no revolution occurs out of a vacuum, but that momentum has to build. For her, the issue is how to build that momentum and empower people to actualize change.
PICKERING Pickering Town Centre 1355 Kingston Rd. (905) 420-0744 611 Kingston Rd. (905) 831-9557 1899 Brock Rd. (905) 686-6558 RICHMOND HILL Hillcrest Mall 9350 Yonge St., Unit Z2 (905) 770-4433 10 West Pearce St., Bldg. B (905) 731-7318 Times Square Mall 550 Hwy. 7 E., Unit A1 (905) 882-8668 1480 Major Mackenzie Dr. E., Unit C3-3 (905) 737-8737 9196 Yonge St. (905) 764-0310 9737 Yonge St., Unit 211 (905) 770-1010 10720 Yonge St., Unit 102 (905) 884-9558 10755 Leslie St., Unit 5 (416) 221-8111 x2 SCARBOROUGH 1448 Lawrence Ave. E. (416) 757-1666 2555 Victoria Park Ave. (647) 258-0267 2650 Lawrence Ave. E., Unit 2B (416) 755-8977 411 Kennedy Rd. (416) 266-7727 x1 4438 Sheppard Ave. E., Unit 107 (416) 642-8888 1291 Kennedy Rd. (416) 752-9655 3300 Midland Ave., Unit 40 (416) 332-8383 19 Milliken Blvd., Unit U (416) 299-6006 5095 Sheppard Ave. E. (416) 646-2146 Woodside Square 1571 Sandhurst Circle, Unit 502K (416) 609-3200 5661 Steeles Ave. E., Unit 5 (416) 298-8821 1900 Eglinton Ave. East, Unit E5A (416) 266-7727 x3 665 Markham Road, Unit 5 (416) 266-7727 x4 THORNHILL Shops on Steeles 2900 Steeles Ave. E., Unit 38 (905) 482-3866 Promenade Mall 1 Promenade Circle, Unit 180 (905) 482-2733 31 Disera Drive, Unit 140 (905) 882-9777 TORONTO 1854 Danforth Ave. (416) 425-9000 471 Eglinton Ave. W. (416) 485-2757 2400 Bloor St. W. (416) 760-7450 919 Bay St. (416) 657-4400 2266 Eglinton Ave. W. (416) 784-4151 2397 Yonge St. (416) 489-2255 604 Bloor St. W. (416) 533-1656 548 Church St. (416) 644-9094 Dufferin Mall 900 Dufferin St. (416) 588-6668 421 Dundas St. W., Unit G8 (416) 351-0888 1451 Dundas St. W. (416) 588-8989 Dragon City Mall 280 Spadina Ave. (416) 979-8350 939 Eglinton Ave. E., Unit 106 (416) 467-9800 Gerrard Square 1000 Gerrard St. E. (416) 466-8200 662 King Street W. (416) 628-4000 228 Queens Quay W., Unit 3 (416) 971-9700 1821 Queen St. E. (416) 406-2355 2 St. Clair Ave. E. (416) 934-1313 1268 St. Clair Ave. W. (416) 652-2288 1350 St. Clair Ave. W. (416) 651-2000 2200 Yonge St., Unit 104 (416) 322-9079 154 University Ave., Suite 101 (416) 506-0809 9A Yorkville Ave. (416) 921-7559 386 Sheppard Ave. E. (416) 512-0012 525 University Ave. (416) 640-5998 55 Chauncey Ave. (416) 231-5310 272 Danforth Ave. W. (416) 461-1010 UXBRIDGE 11 Brock St. West (905) 862-2100 VAUGHAN 1600 Steeles Ave. W., Unit 30 (905) 695-1061 WHITBY 25 Thickson Rd. N. (905) 433-0701 WILLOWDALE Centerpoint Mall 6236 Yonge St. (416) 512-8800 WOODBRIDGE 5317 Hwy. 7, Unit 2 (905) 266-0003 200 Whitmore Rd., Unit 9 (905) 850-8505
ETOBICOKE Cloverdale Mall (416) 231-5973 Woodbine Centre (416) 798-0229 MARKHAM Markville Mall (905) 940-6510 NEWMARKET Upper Canada Mall (905) 853-1462 OAKVILLE 240 Leighland Ave., Unit 208B (905) 815-8871 OSHAWA Oshawa Centre (905) 571-6663 SCARBOROUGH Scarborough Town Centre (416) 296-9160 TORONTO Toronto Eaton Centre Kiosk (416) 977-7555 Bloor West (647) 426-4737 The Exchange Tower (416) 603-7979 Toronto Eaton Centre (416) 351-1522 Yorkdale Shopping Centre (416) 783-0675 1 Yorkdale Rd., Unit 180 (416) 785-6216 Vaughan Mills 8960 Jane St., Unit 108 (905) 760-8157
GET UNLIMITED TALK AND TEXT WITH 10 FRIENDS PLUS FREE UNLIMITED INCOMING TEXTS FROM ANYONE
MY10 MY Y10 Y 10 STUDENT PLAN TM
NOW W FROM M
1
$25/MO. 2
plus $6.95/mo $6.95/mo. $6 95/mo System Access Fee and other fees.
LIMITED TIME OFFER NOKIA 6086
$1999* *on select 3-yr plans.
SONY ERICSSON W350a *
SONY ERICSSON W580i *
*on select 3-yr plans.
*on select 3-yr plans.
$2999
$3999
rogers.com/my10 0 JOIN CANADA’S MOST RELIABLE WIRELESS NETWORK†
Offer ends November 3, 2008. 1 Offer available exclusively for high-school or post-secondary school students; valid student identification required. Unlimited local calls, text, picture and video messages applicable to the 10 phone numbers designated on the MY10 list. Long distance, text to landline and roaming charges are extra where applicable. MY10 terms of service: Only 10-digit Canadian-based phone numbers are eligible for the MY10 service. Customers’ own Rogers Wireless phone number, voice mail retrieval number and special numbers such as 1-800/1-900 are not accepted. One MY10 update per calendar month is allowed via rogers.com or Rogers Customer Care or on select phones. No credit applied for numbers entered incorrectly. Excludes premium messages (roaming, international, MSN alerts and promotions). 2 A $6.95 monthly System Access Fee (non-government fee), a monthly 50¢ 911 Emergency Access Fee and a one-time $35 Activation Fee apply in addition to the monthly service fee. Local airtime over the allotted monthly minutes in the plan, long distance and roaming charges and any additional service options selected and applicable taxes are extra and are also billed monthly. Pricing is based on subscription to a 3-year term service agreement. Early cancellation fees apply. † Most reliable network claim refers to call clarity and dropped calls test results as conducted by Rogers and a recognized third-party research company in the majority of urban Canadian centres within the Rogers Wireless GSM footprint, comparing voice services of major wireless providers. TMTrademarks of Rogers Communications Inc. used under license, or of Rogers Wireless. All other brand names and logos are trademarks of their respective owners. © 2008 Rogers Wireless.
the newspaper 5
September 25 – October 2, 2008
cont’d
the news Royal Flush
the campus comment HELENE GODERIS CARSON SHERWOOD:
- Robarts 3rd floor washrooms
“Smells like a swamp in here.”
U of T washrooms deal a shitty hand THOMASZ BUGAJSKI Student Life Bureau The coffee that’s been fueling your study session is starting to work its diuretic magic and you need to find a washroom. When on campus, where’s the best place to go? Our germ-infested world can be dangerous, so clean facilities are paramount. But good hygiene isn’t all that makes a good bathroom; layout and atmosphere play an important role in the experience too. So where to go? Knowing what to avoid is the first step and as most of us know by now, Robarts is one of the worst spots. For a place that so many of us use, it’s unfortunate that bathroom quality is so low. They have ugly floors, the space is cramped, they’re not private, they lack modern comforts such as touch taps, and random graffiti covers the walls. So if you’ve got to go, I hope it’s not there. Robarts stacker Mike Green says “I feel like Robarts is my second home and feel comfortable enough to use the toilet at any time with at least 3 layers of toilet paper on it , but the stalls are generally clean if someone didn’t eat taco bell for dinner last night. At least there aren’t any homeless people camping out and shaving in the stalls like the Toronto Reference Library.” Beware of the third floor, by far equipped with the worst bathrooms in the building. Not just the dirtiest, but also the most crowded, so remember to take care of business before checking out the short-term loan library. The bathroom experience is full of contradictions. Some of our nicest buildings are home to disappointing restrooms. You might expect more from University College with its old interior and stained glass windows, but the sterile design of their washrooms is a
disappointing contrast to the rest of the building. Hart House is another case, also pristine and distinguished, but not on the issue that matters. Though their restroom in the basement is relatively new compared to others on campus, it’s still too small and messy. UC and Hart House might be nice to look at, but after that coffee, find somewhere else to take a leak. If you’ve got to go, where’s the best place? Well, this depends on what you need. If it’s privacy you want, check out the basement of the Munk Centre, offering one of the finest bathrooms on campus. It’s fairly empty and by far the cleanest. If you really want a user friendly bathroom and don’t like small spaces, don’t miss the first floor Bahen Centre bathrooms, located near the Koffler Centre. Every flush, lever and button is activated with motion sensors, excellent for good hygiene. It’s the Isabel Bader washrooms that take the cake. With automatic faucets and swinging doors that don’t necessitate touching germ-laden door handles, they’re hygienic and well-lit. English student David Topping brags that “there are few buildings on U of T campus that balance old and new better than the Bader. Thankfully, the washrooms are decidedly modern. And pretty. And clean. I can think of few places on campus where nature calls so tastefully.” My experience is limited and U of T is too big to know all the bathrooms, so there must be undiscovered ones that would be a blessing for someone in a desperate moment. If you’re aware of a spacious, tranquil and clean bathroom that I haven’t mentioned, please let the newspaper know. You’d be doing the bathroom connoisseur community a good deed.
Photography by Sam Catalfamo
MATT HOWE (3RD YEAR PHILOSOPHY): - Gerstein basement washroom “There used to be a sign reading ‘Do Not Masturbate, Trust Per Honesty Policy.’ It’s gone now and that’s probably a good thing.”
Photography by Sam Catalfamo
ROBIN HATCH (3RD YEAR ENGLISH):
- Isabel Bader washroom
“We take pride in our cans [here]”
MATT KYTE (CAMPUS ELECTRICIAN):
- Hart House washroom
“They’re dirty” Photography by Sam Catalfamo
Photography by Sam Catalfamo
6 the newspaper
September 25 – October 2, 2008
the arts
Punk off Class commentary falls short Grade: C-
MIKE EGERDIE
Walk the crack Judith Thompson hits home JEROME PAUL Play Review Bureau As the lights slowly fade back in to signal the intermission, a dozen or so of the modest audience do not get up, but keep staring at the spare, constricted stage, waiting for the visceral fugue of abuse, addiction and psychomania to dissipate. In the darkened landing above the main stage, a massive bearded figure in a dirty black beanie and a dirty black trench-coat lumbers about in a careful approximation of a drunken stupor. A man sitting next to me turns to his partner and remarks quietly, “I thought this was a comedy...” He is joking, of course. Judith Thompson’s play has been praised for many things, but one can be sure that no one has yet talked about its abundance of humor. And still the writing never gets so pessimistic as to be repulsive, the characters never so vile as to preclude our sympathy, and the situations (except in regards to one character) never so hopeless as to become an exercise in nihilism. This is where the true magic of Thompson’s play lies. She expertly captures the unique rhythms of speech and culture among people whose idea of the good life is to drive an 18-wheeler and live in Calgary. The play follows two couples who eke out a meagre existence in the wrong side of Kingston, Ontario. ‘Theresa’, played by Marie Jones, is the first character introduced. She is a mildly cognitively impaired young woman who turns tricks on gay men and relates her sexual misadventures with an innocent glee. Her boyfriend ‘Alan’, portrayed by an excellent Rick Jon Egan, works as a dishwasher and begins the play as harmlessly delusional. His slow unraveling into dementia and psychosis is instrumental to the uncomfortable and traumatic climax. ‘Sandy’ and ‘Joe’, played by Hannah Miller and Craig Pike respectively, are the second couple followed. Their relationship, while toxic and abusive, ends with some measure of hope for those that are left standing. The titular Crackwalker, an unrecognizable Simon Paabor, is a native man beyond all measures of civility. He shambles and lurches in the background, occasionally mumbling incoherent invective and bringing a sharp contrast to these painful lives. One gets the sense that although the world the
Book Review Bureau When the Shit Hits the Housewife, from Philadelphia’s own Johnny Ostentatious, is a detective style story following the exploits of Marie Dougherty, whose plastic fantastic suburban lifestyle is turned upside down as her husband disappears under rather mysterious circumstances. Enlisting the services of a wacky “punk as fuck” friend from high school, Nick Marsh, they gradually unravel a terrible conspiracy grounded in class warfare that leaves Marie questioning whether the life she chose is better than the life she left behind at high school…I think. You see, it was kind of hard discerning a story, as the book is mostly a vessel in which the author tries to throw in as many band references as possible. These references really don’t have any bearing on the story as a whole, other
than to illustrate the fact that the Nick character apparently spends most of his time going to shows and avoiding books at all costs, which is evident from his cut and paste understanding of the sub-culture he adheres to. The humor is crude, in some cases slightly homophobic (how punk rock), and serves more of an annoying distraction than anything else. Witticisms, snappy one-liners, popular socialists slogans and the like are assembled in bizarre circumstances and often come off more sloppy than clever. All in all, think back to that one kid in high school who was always talking about how punk rock he was, pretend everyone you knew agreed and encouraged him and you’ve got yourself When the Shit Hits the Housewife.
Moon me In psychedelic rock country JAMES SHORTLY
Grade: A-
Music Review Bureau
As far as neo-psychedelia goes, it has this This is evident on songs like “Heart Is Pinned funny way of either leaning towards the heavy To Your Sleeve”, which thrusts its indie pop conside of things (optimized by bands such as Dead ventions to the forefront, while also sounding Meadow) or to a more pop-influenced sound. ever so slightly like early–era Radiohead. The The High Dials are very much a member of the juice, however, comes when the band decides latter grouping. On Moon Country, they demon- to shed those conventions and goes all out soncharacters inhabit is brutal and ically. This is best represented in the epic “Open without relief, there are unknown strate an affinity for melodic, conventional pop, augmented by tasteful and subtle keyboard Up The Gates”. It’s on tracks like these that the depths still beyond. band reveals its true strength as an excellent Produced by young company arrangements, which have a way of weaving in and out of songs, giving them a decidedly jam band, capable of hypnotizing their listeners Staged and Confused, who’s founder Micheal Murphy also dir- dream-like quality. Taking queues from the likes into a furious psychedelic stupor. Moon Country by The High Dials will please ects and is incredibly passionate of Pink Floyd and the Stone Roses, the band about the opportunities that have conjures a vintage yet distinctly modern sound, fans of both modern psychedelia and pop music. While it doesn’t break any new ground, opened up for new talent redis- complete with jazz and rock influenced drumit’s definitely something that would be worthcovering classic Canadian plays ming, distorted vocals and a lot of reverb. The while to check out. that are, for whatever reason, not guitar work is simple but effective, heightening being done. It also gives a chance the mood of a piece rather than dominating it. for a younger audience not familiar with the Canadian theatrical ‘canon’ to experience landmark plays. Many of the crew were not familiar with the original productions, and have sought to bring a fresh, highly contemporary vision to these dusty gems. “Shut the window, shut the OMSAS www.ouac.on.ca/omsas/ window!” the Crackwalker cries Ontario Medical School Application Service towards the end, as if the mere act of watching is too painful to September 15, 2008: Last day to register for online applications bear. We hear much about social October 1, 2008: Application deadline workers and irate employers, but never actually see them. The long www.ouac.on.ca/olsas/ OLSAS arm of society becomes an invisible crane that is indifferent and Ontario Law School Application Service ultimately impotent against the November 3, 2008: Application deadline – First year suffering we witness. May 1, 2009: Application deadline – Upper year This is not to say that the production is flawless. There are moments when the action veers TEAS www.ouac.on.ca/teas/ offtrack and strains credibility. Craig Pike’s ‘Joe’ is the weakest Teacher Education Application Service link, his swaggering onstage November 28, 2008: Application deadline comes across as insincere. We don’t completely buy the menace he is supposed to convey. Yet www.ouac.on.ca/orpas/ ORPAS the story propels us. Ultimately, Ontario Rehabilitation Sciences Programs Application Service the most compelling character is Theresa. Hers are the first and (Audiology, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy/Physiotherapy, Speech-Language Pathology) last lines of the play, and it is her January 9, 2009: Application deadline fragile innocence that we hope will never be broken.
Tomorrow’s Professionals Apply Today!
Apply Online!
The Crackwalker plays at the Theatre Passe Muraille back stage untill October 11th. www.stagedandconfused.com
170 Research Lane Guelph ON N1G 5E2 www.ouac.on.ca
the newspaper 7
September 25 – October 2, 2008
the sports Bringing it on
...continued from page 1 I was shocked and confused, to say the least, at the so-called national champs. I suppose they are saving the impressive stuff for nationals, but this makes no sense to me because cheerleaders are known and famous for cheering at football games. Instead they were a worse spectacle to the audience than U of T’s own cheerleaders. (No offence girls, but get some choreography). I guess the point of my opinion is that although U of T lost the football game, I think its safe to say that this time it was our cheerleaders who finally won something. Good job girls for at least doing something rather than just standing there knowing that you’re the best but never attempting to prove it.
Team spirit on the ‘other side’ GARY INGLEBY Campus Sports Bureau Sometimes in life we are not really aware of what were doing. We might find ourselves sitting back in a chair, dead in our silence. Perhaps we have a drink in one hand and a smoke of some sort in another and we think about a memory from our past and are lost in that moment of thought for hours. Most Canadians can reminisce about the High School days, but fewer have the pride of their University degrees and recollections of past wild escapades at their fraternity or college residence. For myself seated up in the press box at the Varsity Centre last Saturday, taking in the football game between the Varsity Blues and the Queen’s Golden Gaels, the memory that I took home was not of the game that played-out on the field. Rather it was of the school spirit brought to the field and the stands by Queen’s Golden Gaels Cheerleading Squad from the sidelines. The traditional cheer at Queen’s was written in 1898 by a student named Alfred Lavell. “Queen’s College Colours�, more commonly known as “Oil Thigh� was written, coincidentally to inspire Queen’s football team after a loss to the University of Toronto. Now after every Golden Gaels touchdown, “Oil Thigh� is sung and performed with a can-can dance. To wit: Queen’s College colours we are wearing once again,
Credits: Photography by Santiago Ortega. Copyright Š 2008
Soiled as they are by the battle and the rain, Yet another victory to wipe away the stain ! So, Gaels go in and win ! Chorus: Oil thigh na Banrighinn a ‘Banrighinn gu brath ! Oil thigh na Banrighinn a ‘Banrighinn gu brath ! Oil thigh na Banrighinn a ‘Banrighinn gu brath !
For everyone out there who doesn’t understand the Gaelic, the chorus translates “The College of the Queen forever.� A new tradition, started 5 years ago has the Cheerleading squad doing 7 pushups after every touchdown. On Saturday, with the Golden Gaels beating the Varsity Blues 58-7, the men and women on the squad rotated after every touchdown, meaning that 196 pushups were executed during the course of the game. Perhaps the two sections of Queen’s supporters felt bad for the troopers as several women from the bleachers came onto the field after the final score, to be raised by the guys and lifted like they were doing bench presses. University education comes at a high price, but those memories of that game are real and priceless. Don’t forget the reason why you’re attending University but once in a while, step out and look around and smell the roses. After all the best things in life are free.
Blues’ suckage up Footballers Fail rate at 96.1538%
www.athabascau.ca/standout
8 the newspaper
September 25 – October 2, 2008
the end
The Bard Graduate Center M.A. and Ph.D. Programs BY STEPHEN NOTLEY
Studying the Material World
Open Houses: October 13 & November 3 December 7 presentations begin at:
6 p.m.
11 a.m.
T
he Bard Graduate Center is a graduate research institute focused on studying the cultural history of the material world. The BGC was founded in 1993, and is committed to the encyclopedic study of things, drawing on methodologies and approaches from art and design history, economic and cultural history, history of technology, philosophy, anthropology, and archaeology. Our central project has been to establish a coherent field of historical study that sees in the material remains of the life of the past—from works of the greatest virtuosity to the everyday and ephemeral—a significant form of social-, cultural-, and art-historical enquiry. Students enrolled in the M.A. and Ph.D. programs work closely with a distinguished permanent faculty of active scholars in exploring the interrelationships between works of art and craft, design, places, ideas, and social and cultural practice in courses ranging from the Ancient World to the Twenty-First Century.
Areas of Special Strength: Modern Design History Renaissance and Early Modern Studies New York & American Material Culture History and Theory of Museums Arts of Antiquity, Asia, and Islam
Application deadline for full-time and part-time students is January 15, 2009. Fellowships and scholarships are available for qualified students. For more information: Tel: 212.501.3019 Fax: 212.581.8266 The Bard Graduate Center for Studies in the Decorative Arts, Design, and Culture e-mail: admissions@bgc.bard.edu Office of Admissions: 18 West 86 Street, NewYork, NY 10024
web: www.bgc.bard.edu