Issue 6 - October 9 2008

Vol. XXXI, No: 1 October 9 – 15, 2008 - Vol. XXXI, No: 6

NOBODY CARES

Be it resolved: nobody cares the newspaper’s proposal MATTHEW POPE & ARI SIMHA Campus Politics Bureau It’s conclusive.

In our first annual, one-off, rigorous and entirely scientific student campus politics survey, the newspaper has proven what everyone probably already knows.

NOBODY CARES. Yet, it would seem that there are still various people who don’t know: campus politicians, other campus media outlets, significant others of campus politicians, roommates, immediate relatives of campus politicians and their ex’s (respectively and in descending order); no one else. It falls upon us now, the newspaper, your unofficially elected voice to inform them of this fact.

That isn’t to say that we the people, the students, hoi polloi are a completely apathetic lot. Not entirely.

In conversation the student body politic voiced several variant and recurring themes that indicated a disconnect between campus politics and their attention.

So it compels us to beg the question: If nobody cares is it really news?

In our survey, inspired by the recent controversy that embroiled the Arts and Science Student Union (ASSU), we asked students what they thought of the situation and its affect on them. A large number of respondents didn’t even know what the ASSU was, or what it does, nor could they conceive of why or how it could be

important to them.

The newspaper surveyors often found that their questions brought blank stares from respondents.

Amani said “I don’t understand the issue,” while Alex couldn’t fathom why anyone would fight so aggressively to be in campus politics. Many admitted that they wanted to care, but in reality couldn’t bring themselves to. The general awareness of ASSU and its dealings amongst respondents was, not surprisingly, extraordinarily low. It seems that people generally feel they simply have better things to do than attend what they perceive as a few small people fighting over even smaller issues.

Largely it was the perceived lack of responsiveness to real, tangible, immediate goals and issues (as well as lack of accountability) that respondents cited as primary distancing factors. If you’re reading this, and you would presume to represent students, take heed.

For the campus quotes and real graphs, look inside!

Continued page 4...

WEB EXCLUSIVE: the newspaper has an exclusive interview with Our Lady Peace frontman Raine Maida.

Check thenewspaper.ca/ webexclusives for the full story.

ATTENTION: the newspaper will be on hiatus next week...

Watch our website for breaking news next thursday!

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October 9 – 15, 2008

the inside

the table of CONTENTS

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. We want writers for politics, current events, sports, finance, arts and more! We are looking for creators to submit flash fiction, prose, poetry, photography, art, comics and anything else that falls out of your head. If you’d prefer to work behind the scene and help to edit and refine a weekly publication with 15,000 copies in circulation, then come see us.

One more important thing: we offer free food! Yes! Come to our weekly open staff meeting, THIS Thursday @ 5pm in our offices. 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 inside . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 the editorial . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 the news . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,6 the arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,6 the sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

NOW WITH 28.1% MORE AWESOME! 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.

Come see for yourself.

the end . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

www.thenewspaper.ca

the newspaper Executive Publisher Matthew Pope

News Editor

Arts Editor

Maria Ionova

Helene Goderis

Editor-in-chief Ari Simha

Administrative Assistant

Layout

Caroline George

Jeffrey Spiers

Copy Editors Cecelia DeKorne, Tayyaba Jiwani, Jennifer Spiers

Contributors Safia Aidid, Tomasz Bugajski, Stephanie Busato, Amanda Campbell, Will Campbell, Jane Iordakiyeva, Nina Manasan, Laurent Noonan, Mathiaus Poe

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Mother’s milk is best for coffee, or so Princess says.

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

I must go now.

I hear the fur-pile calling me

the newspaper 3

October 9 – 15, 2008

BEER • WINGS • POOL • JAVA SPORTS • JUKEBOX • SPIRITS EVENTS • OPEN STAGE • GAMES

the editorial I hate People

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.

Overcaffienated 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 NOW PODCASTING (from our website)

Thirsty THURSDAYS

This column is for all my hippie/beatnik friends (and their proximate wannabes). The Big Bad Starbucks is about to move into your small, narrow-minded world. Before y’all get to drum circling the demons out, let me try to put things in perspectiv.

Starbucks began humbly in Seattle in the Pike Place Market, an area not unlike Kensington market (at the time, at least).

The Seattle.gov website informs us that “because the Market is a historic district with design guidelines, the store retains its original look.” It’s nice to know change is prevented, even in Starbucks’ case, no? The real problem, of course, is that now the little community java hole has gone corporate.

Not unlike i deal (Augusta Ave. & Nassau St.), a local coffee shop that has gone corporate with 3 locations and counting. If the popularity of this shop continues, it may soon be time to protest their new locations as well.

The owner of i deal, James Fortier, was interviewed by the National Post on the subject of Starbucks’ potential Kensington shop. Mr. Fortier is quoted as saying “I don’t think Starbucks would make any money.” Being a successful entrepreneur himself, it seems our local corporate good-guy understands a few things about the world in which we live that experience should have taught you too Let’s start small.

First, some basic terminology (quick & dirty): t Capitalism: a free market that is regulated by supply and demand. t Cash flow: a measure of financial health (money going in vs. money going out) t Profitability: income is greater than expenses.

Like it or not, we all live in a capitalist system. There is no real excuse for being ignorant of the real forces at work here,

like patronage. If you don’t patronize an establishment, it will be forced to close. Campaigning to preserve the Kensington Market label you hide behind by calling in city councilors and signing petitions to block the store are misguided attempts to rectify a non-existent wrong. What could really be lost? Mr. Fortier remembers being sandwiched between a heroin dealer and a cocaine dealer when he opened his shop. The store that contributed to the cornucopia of ‘fresh produce’ in Kensington was closed by the Medical Officer of Health. The Market is far from the utopia it is purported to be.

The problem may be that even Kensington residents have admitted to drinking Starbucks, although they claim to prefer [insert indie shop here]. It is just trendy to hate Starbucks, just as it is to hang out in front of an ‘indie’ coffee shop with your Macbook. The solution is simple. Do nothing.

If you do not patronize the Kensington Starbucks, the store’s cash flow will suffer, they will not be profitable, and will be forced to close. Case in point: Starbucks announced it was closing 600 U.S. stores and cutting approximately 12,000 jobs in July. If you really don’t go to Starbucks, then keep not going.

The comments on websites like torontoist.com and blogto. com have been numerous and varied, but the most rational arguments come from those who, like Mr. Fortier, aren’t really worried. Even the National Post journalist who ‘broke’ the story, Peter Kuitenbrouwer, stated that he’s “not signing the petition.” Freedom of expression is hardly preserved by pressuring Councilor Adam Vaughan to block the store. I smell a lot of narrow-minded hypocrisy. But there are always ‘alternative’ forms of action. Pick a spot nearby to sit with some guitars and jambe drums, and smoke a lot of pot. That always works.

TGIF! (Thank Guinness it’s Friday)

FRIDAYS Live Music SATURDAYS Free Pool & Comedy SUNDAYS

thanks for writing LETTER TO THE EDITOR Please note: this correspondence is reprinted verbatim and unedited.

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:

Hi Justine [responding to an earlier communication], Sorry that your email slipped through the pile. I’m going to send you on to Ari, who works with writer development, and he will be able to offer you some better suggestions and to give you a final word as to where your column might fit in our newspaper.

-Matthew Pope – Publisher ‘the newspaper’

Thank you but I find this entire thing offensive. I do not need any “writer development” having already having a post secondary education in journalism and having obtained high marks, from persons who are well respected and have done actual work in the field.

While I understand that my column writing may not be what you consider proper enough for your paper, I find your manner of writing in emails condescending and rude.

Obviously you are oblivious to what a column sounds like, and having read your paper I am not suprised, not only do your writers resort to inappropriate language, and a lax in style but your entire paper is void of actual layout design and style.

Maybe you should stop trying so hard to be “ and underground independant” and try actually doing something real with your paper.

If anybody needs some “development” it is your paper in it’s tact, professionalism and it’s inability to produce a decent piece of journalism.

Justine

229 COLLEGE STREET

http://julietsexadvice.blogspot.com/

416/59•STEIN WWW.EIN-STEIN.CA

the newspaper is currently seeking a sex columnist.

Please visit the url above for what not to do, and then show us what you got!

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October 9 – 15, 2008

the news

the news CONTINUES on page 6

Vote for youth!

Be it resolved...

SURVEY RESPONDENT COMMENTS Katherine: t “I vote when I remember [not often].” t “It [campus politicking] doesn’t affect me while I’m here, but we shouldn’t do that to the next generation.”

Or don’t... whatever WILL CAMPBELL National News Bureau If you’re planning to wait in line at the polling station to cast your ballot in next Tuesday’s Federal election, take a moment while you’re there and look at your fellow citizens queued up to vote. Odds are, you won’t spot too many of your fellow electors sporting backpacks and campus sweats.

As poor as all Canadians are at exercising their democratic right, young Canadians are even worse.

In the last federal election, just under 44 per cent of Canadians aged 18 to 24 voted, compared to an overall rate of some 63 per cent.

Though the overall turnout rate has fallen from a recent peak in 1988, the fact remains that older generations are more compelled into the polling booth.

Roughly three-quarters of those aged 45 to 75 made their voice heard in the 2006 election. The current crop of party leaders - all middle-aged boomers raised in an era when Batman battled colourful malcontents instead of allegories for the War on Terror - is a testament to the generational gap in political participation.

A recent opinion survey of young Canadians conducted by the Dominion Institute, a national charitable organization dedicated to improving canadian history education and participation, suggests that the turnout rate is unlikely to increase in this year’s election. The study found that only half of those queried say they’ll “definitely” vote next Tuesday, a decrease from the 2005 edition of the survey. The results, says the Institute’s Executive Director Marc Chalifoux, are “disheartening.”

In a time of financial uncertainty, banking on youngsters’ ambivalence towards politics seems like a secure investment.

University of Toronto political science professor Larry LeDuc, an expert on voting patterns, takes a more long-term view. He points out that political disengagement has been the rule, not the exception, for all age groups over the last twenty years. But he also says the low turnout rate among youth is “reaching the point where people start to worry about the effect on the health of democracy.”

A more immediate result, LeDuc says, is that issues “which [resonate] more with the young,” such as postsecondary funding, don’t feature at all in the current election debate. He also says that the youth voting rate

...continued from page 1

Amani: t “I don’t understand the issue.” affects how broad topics which concern all Canadians, such as the economy, are handled. A sample of the speeches made by party leaders this week supports this view: they seem more interested in saving the jobs of previous generations than creating new ones.

The low rate of voter turnout, then, is something of a self-fulfilling prophecy. If youth don’t vote, their concerns won’t be shared by politicians; if politicians don’t listen to the concerns of young Canadians, then young Canadians won’t vote. This cycle, admits Chalifoux, is “a bit of a Catch-22.”

Though 19 year olds are developmentally less mature and not so concerned with weighty topics like politics than their baby boomer parents, the problem is that the trend of lower political engagement follows them as they age. According to LeDuc, though the voting rate does increase with age, the process of political engagement is happening more slowly, and makes less of an impact than before. In other words, though today a 35 year old is more likely to vote than someone in their early 20s, they’re still voting less than 35 year olds did, 20 years ago.

With countless sources of political information available online, one might wonder how young Canadians are not, by sheer osmosis, more interested in politics.

“Technology,” LeDuc concludes, “is changing things.”

However, he says that the biggest influence on turning young Canadians into voting Canadians is still exposure to politics at home and in public school. He adds that political websites, like conventional media sources, are more likely to be sought out by those who have decided to vote than first-time voters.

Elections Canada spokesperson Ian Rutherford says increasing voter turnout among youth is a priority for the organization. He cites agency programs to provide election information to young Canadians both in public schools and post-secondary campuses. But, he concedes, there is still more to be done.

LeDuc thinks it will take a charismatic leader – a Canadian Obama – or a major economic crisis like the Great Depression to break the cycle. But making the decision to exercise your democratic right shouldn’t require either. See you in line on Tuesday.

Sean: t “Like most student elections, no one cares.” t “It’s a popularity vote, like in high school.”

Marta: t “I like campus politics, in theory” t “I’m opposed to it [biased elections], in theory.”

Amina: t “How would it [the ASSU controversy] affect my life?”

Alex: t “Why do people want this power so badly?”

Adrian: t “Student run processes are a waste of money” t “I’d rather have my money back [from ASSU].”

Zac: t “The financial taxes on U of T students need good government to change them.”

Mark: t “I don’t know. I’m stuck in the Vic bubble.”

ASSU WHO? QUESTIONS Q.1: Have you heard about the conflicts with ASSU? Q2: Do you care about this issue?

Q3: Do you vote in ASSU elections?

Q4: Do you pay attention to campus politics?

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October 9 – 15, 2008

the arts

the arts CONTINUES on page 6

For more arts, visit: www.thenewspaper.ca

White night, good night U of T pales at Nuit Blanche HELENE GODERIS Community Events Bureau

Nuit Blanche is like riding on a subway car - you get to rub elbows with a grab bag of Torontonians that wouldn’t assemble under normal conditions; and droves of people came out last Saturday to see our cityscape transformed with the 155 exhibits that comprised Nuit Blanche.

The most popular exhibits were either interactive or somehow transformed the space. I’m thinking of Stereoscope - the interactive light installation at City Hall where windows were flooded with lamps that the public could control via phone, internet or on-site controllers or the undead carousing about College Park.

Nuit Blanche provided the opportunity to go big and it seems like U of T missed the boat. I would have liked to see something along the lines of a rave in a Robart’s reading room. This year was tame in comparison to past years; anyone remember how bewitching Philosopher’s Walk looks whilst bathed in fog?

People milled about the back campus streetscape exhibit from Atom Egoyan’s film, “Adoration”. This

Kenny Holtz (Kenny vs. Spenny) got chiefed at Hart House.

installation of video screens embedded within the 2D streetscape felt flat. “I don’t know what it is, but it’s art,” said 4th year political science student Dan Craig, tapping into the general ennui toward the exhibit.

The pieces at Hart House seemed a bit restrained and pretentious. One onlooker, hoping to interact with the evening’s art, made a snow angel in the rectangular patch of candy exhibited in the East Common Room; curators frowned upon the candy angel shenanigan and explained the seriousness of the exhibit.

The most interactive show turned out to be “Vehicle”, situated in the UC quad. The exhibit featured a video game where bystanders could race around the streets of a virtual Toronto. Nearby, a curator invited bystanders to sit inside another car that was equipped with video screens flashing the kind of inner monologue that appealed to the point dexter inside us all.

Statements like “it’s easier to stay at home and think that things are perfect” hit home for OCAD student Alicia Nauta, for whom the exhibit was “reminiscent of

Atom Egoyan’s streetscape on back campus

this teenage nostalgic feeling of sitting in the back seat of a car and feeling all those things.”

So did Nuit Blanche make good on its promise of a fun night of engaging art? Depends on how much you were able to see. One obstacle to having a good time was the quandary of co-ordinating a group of friends. Especially if certain friends would rather get wasted at the campus bar than continue to explore the city. U of T student Rachel Lissner said her night was disappointing “because I did more walking than art-seeing, I wanted to cycle but opted to be a pedestrian to stay with my group of friends.” The scope of the event was overwhelming for many students who were anxious about making the most of the night. For the few who planned ahead and saw what they wanted to see, Nuit Blanche served its purpose. But for the majority, the vastness and awesomeness of Nuit Blanche was just too much to handle.

Photography by Sam Catalfamo

A zombie catches up with student Beth Kotierk

Serious comedy Ghost Jail captures audience AMANDA CAMPBELL Community Improv Bureau Every Sunday night, the back room of popular student haunt Clinton’s on Bloor Street transforms into a magical place where anything might happen. Ghost Jail is “the comedy show that won’t make fun of you for coming.” And it’s true. There is an ease to the performances that dissolves the worry that things might get scary, awkward or dead Ghost Jail’s mandate is to “present quality, professional work in an inclusive environment fostering new talent.” The company is made up of Ian Rowe (Artistic Director), Caitlin Howden (Artistic Director), Tim Daugulis, Michal Grajewski, Alana Johnston, Kayla Lorette and Fraz Wiest. The show starts with the selection of a text from the audience and a theme is chosen which connects the ensuing scenes and monologues. On either side of the stage is a notebook on a chair. Scenes are improvised and monologues are written while the scenes are performed. They are then read aloud when the perfect moment becomes apparent. The scenes connect to one another, stories and characters spring to life, punch lines become recurring jokes, and the audience watches in awe as an hour of improvised shenanigans circle around and fit perfectly like pieces of a hysterical, marvelous puzzle.

The improv is consistently laugh-out-loud funny. Their timing is impeccable and

scenes never run too long or turn stagnant. You are also able to watch the “offstage” actors’ reactions to the comedy being done “onstage”. It feels like watching the behind the scenes blooper reel for a very funny TV show. You also never know when an actor will fall into a scene unexpectedly.

Ghost Jail Theatre is funnier than anything on television. It is cheap. It is inspiring.

It is fun. There are drinks and the cast members hang around after the show to hobnob. You really can’t go wrong. So, you should come. You will laugh until you hyperventilate. Seriously.

Ghost Jail’s all-new show “Ghost Jail’s Doing It” begins Sunday October 13th, 2008 at 7:30 (sharp). They welcome special guests Ron Pederson, Naomi Siekus and Kirsten Rasmussen. Ghost Jail Theatre has a new show every Sunday night at Clinton’s Tavern. 693 Bloor Street. Doors open at 7:00. Tickets are $6.00 or $5.00 for members. For more information visit www.ghostjail.com

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October 9 – 15, 2008

the news

cont’d

the arts

cont’d

Who grades the graders? Travel chronicles Rating Ontario universities

Finding humour in Burma

SAFIA AIDID

LAURENT NOONAN Book Review Bureau

University Life Bureau The Globe and Mail’s annual University Report Card for 2008 is set to be released on October 23rd. This report is done in conjunction with The Strategic Counsel and Educational Policy Institute.

Over 43,000 students in 53 universities across Canada participated in last year’s report, making it the largest comprehensive survey of undergraduates in the country.

Students rate their experiences in over 100 different categories, ranging from class size and academic reputation to wireless internet access and school spirit. Though the University of Toronto had strong showings in factors such as overall academic reputation and leading-edge research, students ranked the school’s lack of scholarship availability and poor meal options as its greatest weaknesses.

While a variety of newspapers and magazines publish university rankings annually, they have become controversial in both Canadian and American post-secondary institutions. U.S. News & World Report, perhaps the most famous of the annual university rankings in the United States, saw university participation in its survey drop to 46% after a number of institutions pledged not to participate. A number of Canadian schools followed suit and in 2006, 25 universities including the University of Toronto, boycotted the annual Maclean’s rankings, widely seen as the Canadian equivalent to the U.S. News rankings.

In a 2006 letter to Maclean’s signed by 11 university presidents including U of T president David Naylor, the universities expressed “considerable reservations” about the publication and described their data as “compiled in ways that we regard as oversimplified and arbitrary.”

The methodology in question involves various sets of data being averaged to arrive at one overall score. In an op-ed written by Naylor in the Ottawa Citizen that year, he wrote that the ranking system had “little scientific merit because it reduces everything to a meaningless, average score.” Aggregated rankings, as they are called, ignore and diminish the different strengths of different universities.

The Globe and Mail argues that the main difference between their survey and Maclean’s is that they rely on responses from students themselves, while Maclean’s uses data provided by universities. However, this system has also prompted concerns over the methodology used to compile the report, such as the ability for anyone who logs into the website to participate in the survey.

Now in its 7th year, the Globe and Mail University Report Card still provides a useful, albeit rough, measure of the undergraduate experience. And while many universities have turned a cold shoulder to Maclean’s, they remain curiously silent about the much younger Globe and Mail report.

Quebec-born cartoonist Guy Delisle’s latest illustrated travel-book, Burma Chronicles, returns to his familiar style of finding humour where you’d least expect it.

The same author/illustrator who brought us his accounts of time spent in North Korea, Pyongyang: A Journey in North Korea (2003), and China, Shenzhen: A Travelogue From China (2000), writes this time around of his year-long stay in the military-led country of Myanmar.

As he did in his previous books, Delisle doesn’t try to tackle politics or history unless they relate to his direct experiences. In fact, much of the account is centered on his day-to-day attempts to make himself comfortable in a country that is plagued by frequent power outages, a steamy climate and a heavily censured media. “Wow, another great day in Burma,” the narrator jokes while perusing a local newspaper.

What helps carry this account’s lack of suspense is that Delisle is a damned good observer, finding and pointing out the cultural oddities that surround

him. His account evokes the Burmese landscape, whether he’s describing a monk shopping for cookies at the grocery store, the Betelnut juice stains in apartment building hallways or the porn-ridden Internet café’s search history.

Surprisingly, some of the more memorable moments are completely unrelated to Burmese culture. Delisle’s attempt to dry himself without a towel and his resolution when he can’t find milk for his coffee come to mind.

The narrator’s casual personality and simple drawing style helps draw readers into his world, as though he’s sharing his experiences with a close friend. But perhaps the same simplistic style that works so well to illicit laughter is too simple to convey some of the darker moments of the novel, such as his visits to some of the aging and bedridden Burmese who share their true feelings regarding their home country.

Despite all its quirks, the dry and witty Burma Chronicles is a cutting account and worthy follow-up to Delisle’s previous work.

Homelessness exposed

Twin primed WTF

THOMASZ BUGAJSKI

NINA MANASAN

U of T exhibit to raise awareness Community Events Bureau Amid the bustle of the busy first floor gallery of Metro Hall, artists and activists organized an event that they hope will draw more attention a burning issue.

The event, titled “Homelessness: solutions from lived experience through arts-informed research”, showcased exhibits that provide students information on the major problems facing the homeless in Ontario. The event was organized by U of T’s Faculty of Social Work as well as others like Ryerson and York. The collaborative project offers an especially unique perspective on an issue that is often ignored.

As one of the main organizers of the event, Catherine Moravac (a clinical research coordinator at St. Michael’s Hospital), explained the exhibition hoped to “breakdown the stereotypes people have about poverty and homelessness...a lot are looking at problems related to substance abuse and alcohol… often those things aren’t issues, they are for some people, but it’s not an accurate way to describe homelessness.” Moravac’s personal philosophy emphasizes the stories of ordinary individuals stuck in unfortunate situa-

A-

tions by fate not choice.

One exhibit, “Street Health Stories”, mixed images with audio to explain how the homeless take care of their health.

Small booths offered headphones that played intimate interviews with people who had experienced homelessness while simultaneously projecting portraits of the interviewees on screen. This powerful exhibit was put together by Jess Maher, who herself was homeless at one point in her life and found a way to communicate her life story using art.

She was finally able to deliver her experiences to the public after collaborating with Catherine Mora. “Our work can help a lot of people nation-wide,” Maher explained, “even having been a homeless person myself, [our project] has given me a different perspective…we hope people see these issues.”

All in all, the exhibition was a brilliant way to bring the general public in more intimate contact with the issue of homelessness. The hope is this will spur on more concerned and active efforts to address this problem. For those interested, a short segment of the exhibition is available at www.streethealth.ca.

This Gravity pulls you down

H+

Music Review Bureau There have been few times in my life when I found myself utterly speechless and dumbfounded. There was the algebra test in grade 10 and the time I signed up for a history course and ended up with a sexual diversity one.

But generally speaking I am able to make sense of things and tend to shy away from the awkward and befuddling.

However, I seem to have struck another point where the only thought that pops into my head is “I don’t get this!”

This time, the source of my confusion is Gravity Wave’s, “Twin Prime Conjecture”. This 7-track album offers a strange combination of techno dance beats, repetitive base lines and a whole host of other random sounds. At times the

songs sound like they have been mixed and recorded on one of those minikeyboards from the 80s. You know, like the one Ross had in that prom episode of Friends.

Kenneth Farrell’s voice is haunting, to say the least, and his lyrics leave little to the imagination, but I must admit, the music does eventually grow on you. It has a kind of infectious and hypnotic quality about it that would most likely attract a curious mind. However, for this overworked U of T student, Gravity Wave’s latest album is just a little too weird to handle.

the newspaper 7

October 9 – 15, 2008

the sports Varsity variety More to Blues than meets the eye STEPHANIE BUSATO Campus Sports Bureau I am a sports fan-aholic. The Varsity Blues’ website has become a pseudo-Facebook for me because I check it so often. Anything that has the potential to bring a sense of pride and excitement to a community is all right in my books. However, this pride and excitement has been lacking in the past at U of T. It is no secret that the Blues have not been dominating in ‘popular’ sports such as football. But I began to think, what about the other sports? Football is of course a university pastime for most universities and colleges in North America; however, it is not the only sport offered. Football is an amazing game, but not everyone likes it.

I’ve also noticed that I have concentrated on football thus far. I realize there are many other sports that U of T has to offer!

On the Varsity website, I find games and event listings at the beginning of each week. Unfortunately I cannot possibly make it to every game or event on the Varsity schedule. Things like essays, readings, etc. get in the way. It’s great that I can simply

browse the week’s events on the website. It’s fun, fascinating and keeps me up to date on all the things I wish I could attend.

Then, this morning, I had a revelation. I scanned through the list of events and realized that there are a lot of games that I am missing. Bear in mind they are being held in other cities and gas is pricey these days, so it’s hard to transport myself to all of them. The fact remains that there is such an array of sports to choose from for those fans who might not particularly like football. They may not like hockey, swimming, rugby, lacrosse or even soccer. That’s okay, there’s still field hockey, rowing, cross country, baseball and volleyball. If you think I’m not going to list them all, well you’re wrong, because that is in fact what I’m going to do. Truth be told, the Varsity website does not have many avid viewers. If I can inform even one person with this article and that person goes out to a game to cheer for the Blues, then my job as a fan-aholic journalist is done. There is badminton, tennis, fast-pitch, golf, fencing, water polo and basketball. There is also track and field, squash and wrestling. There are a ton of sports to choose from, so choose one!

You don’t have to be a fan-aholic to attend a game. Just choose one, go out and have some fun! Stand up for the Blues and join a community of sports lovers. There is no greater feeling than shouting out “GO BLUES GO� on any field, at any time, to anyone. Join us, won’t you?

A federal general election is taking place on October 14, 2008.

For information on where and when to vote, check your voter information card.

It tells you where and when to vote. You’ll get through the voting process more quickly if you have it with you.

You will find the voting hours for your polling station on your voter information card or at www.elections.ca by clicking on “Voter Information Service�.

New identification rules to vote

If you haven’t received this card, you are probably not on the voters list. To register, all you need to do is go to your polling station on election day, where you must prove your identity and address.

For the list of acceptable pieces of identification authorized by the Chief Electoral Officer of Canada, please see the pamphlet you received by mail from Elections Canada or visit www.elections.ca and click on “Voter Identification at the Polls�.

When you vote, you must prove your identity and address.

To vote, you must: 7 ! ) % ) %/%5!)

7 ! / '! ./ 4! -. *' *) !'! /%*) 4 7 prove your identity and address

Vote. Shape your world. www.elections.ca

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8 the newspaper

October 9 – 15, 2008

the end

BY STEPHEN NOTLEY

Op-Ed: Flick off Banking on the environment JANE IORDAKIYEA Environmental Opinion Bureau

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www.athabascau.ca/standout

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The environment is a huge deal. You know it. Your friends know it. Your mom knows it. And you know who else knows it? Corporate giants. The same corporate giants who pollute the environment unrelentingly now parade as the bulwarks of conservation, using the cause of environmentalism as just another means to capitalize. RBC is the latest Canadian corporation to jump onto the environmental bandwagon, or rather the environmental train.

RBC’s environmental rescue movement “FLICK OFF�, which launched last year, has recently been accelerating its efforts. It now promises a four-day tour that will travel to four Ontario universities for a live concert and rally. The initiative boasts cool Canadian bands and experts like David Suzuki who will encourage “kids� to be more environment friendly. Sounds like a great idea, right?

Yeah, if you are the biggest bank in Canada invading the U of T campus and slyly feeding its students a truckload of bullshit. Don’t get me wrong, I like participating in efforts to save the natural world as much as any other girl, but I refuse to buy every single initiative every corporate giant tries shoving down my throat - “Attend the rallies, sign our petitions and join the FLICK OFF movement.� That doesn’t sound too bad. Did I mention that this is just another opportunity for RBC to plug itself, thereby associating its name with grassroots environmental initiatives in the hopes of creeping into our consciousness as the “good� and “eco-friendly� bank.

So you know who I’d like to flick off? RBC itself!

I don’t drive. I don’t buy useless crap. I don’t eat imported food. I probably have a smaller environmental footprint than David Suzuki himself. Perhaps instead of telling me to ‘flick off’, RBC should do something truly effective and tell major pollutants that it is in fact they who need to cut down on environmental exploitation!