November 22, 2012

the newspaper Since 1978

VOL XXXV Issue 12 • November 22, 2012

KELSEY STASIAK

The University of Toronto’s Independent Weekly

2

THE NEWS

November 22, 2012

Divisive Propaganda and Israel’s Agenda Opinion: Israel’s government actively opposes a two-state solution Saman Rejali After Israel launched its military offensive against Gaza on November 14, propaganda from both sides soon spread onto social networking sites.

Most are only intended to incite anger against opposing sides, without offering any sort of objective awareness.

Yet among these posters and videos, many supporters of the Israeli side assert that Israel has always been seeking a twostate solution.

The aforementioned statement is simply not true. If we look at internal politics, it becomes clear that Israel does not want a Palestinian state.

Both the Likud Party and the Yisrael Beiteinu Party have recently emerged into a massive right-wing party, shifting the nation’s political centre with one core message: Israeli expansion at all costs. Meanwhile, the political left in Israel, which has historically advocated for a two state solution, has been marginalized both politically and socially.

As a result, we have witnessed a strategy implemented by the right-leaning, increasingly extremist Israeli government that seeks to eliminate all prospects of statehood.

The first part of this strategy is the push for settlements in the West Bank. According to

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the Israeli NGO Peace Now, Israel’s current government has increased its spending on settlements by 38 per cent over the last year. They have provided additional subsidies that significantly reduce cost of living in the settlements.

Additionally, any student living over the Green Line, (the pre-1967 boundary with the West Bank), is given the equivalent of $2 000 per year, twice as much as any other Israeli student. With such incentives, Israelis are clearly being persuaded to move to these invasive settlements.

On the other hand, the Palestinian nationals of Israel are deprived of most of the fun-

damental civil rights given to their Israeli counterparts.

They are often discriminated against for their race, their religion(s), and their political beliefs, across a range of public spheres. The purpose of Israel’s policies are clear: to displace Palestinians from homes and lands that belonged to them, and to ensure that a two-state solution does not happen, so the “State of Palestine” can gain no international legitimacy.

Israeli nationals or their allies should not be posting this kind of propagandized and inaccurate videos and posters.

Instead, they should be trying everything in their power to

give strength to a more leftist approach, which seeks to nurture and mediate effective and mutual dialogue between both groups. Every individual, no matter how small their contribution, should be working towards facilitating peace and a two-state solution. The propaganda found in these videos and posters can only divide and misinform. Every individual counts, and every individual they misinform is another one that’s not going to be an agent of peace, but an agent of division, extremism, and ultimately violence.

Letter to the Editor: ‘It’s time to replace the Indian Act,’ says Liberal Party leader Bob Rae

MONDAY TO FRIDAY, 8:30 - 5:30 SATURDAY, 9:00 - 5:00 For Appointments Call: 416-978-2431

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Dear Editor,

the newspaper

Hundreds of thousands First Nations people live in Canada and they deserve better than to be shackled by the failed colonial and paternalistic policies of the Indian Act,* which has helped deny them their rights, fair share in resources, and fostered mistrust and created systemic barriers to self-determination and success. First Nations have been adamant that we need to move beyond it, yet the government has so far refused to get the ball rolling.

Editor-in-Chief

Web Editor

Cara Sabatini

Joe Howell

The Indian Act is more than 136 years old and touches every aspect of life of First Nations. First Nations need the approval of the Minister to pass bylaws. It puts so much red tape around economic development that it often doesn’t happen. The Act is so intrusive on reserve residents’ lives that they cannot even write a will without the minister’s approval.

the newspaper is the University of Toronto’s independent weekly paper, published since 1978. VOL XXXV No. 12

News Editor Yukon Damov

Managing Editor Helene Goderis

Design Editor

Associate News Editors

Samantha Chiusolo

Sebastian Greenholtz Emerson Vandenberg

Copy Editor

Arts Editor Sinead Doherty-Grant

Photo Editor Bodi Bold

Illustrations Editor Nick Ragetli

Sydney Gautreau, Nata Guled

Contributors Yusur Al-Bahrani, Bodi Bold, Emma Burtch, Yukon Damov, Sinead Doherty-Grant, Samantha Del Frate, Sebastian Greenholtz, Shak Haq, Dylan Hornby, Charles Lamy, Sofia Luu, Zach Morgenstern, Djastin Park, Saman Rajali, Nick Ragetli, Kelsey Stasiak, Emerson Vandenberg, Rhiannon White

the newspaper 1 Spadina Crescent Suite 245 Toronto, ON M5S 1A1

Editorial: 416-593-1552 thenewspaper@gmail.com www.thenewspaper.ca

the newspaper is published by Planet Publications Inc., a nonprofit corporation.

All U of T community members, including students, staff and faculty, are encouraged to contribute to the newspaper.

Yet, as Prime Minister Stephen Harper has rightly said, the Act has deep roots and cannot simply be abolished. For decades governments of all stripes have allowed this problem to fester.

Now all parties have a chance to take real leadership on the problem. I have a motion before the House of Commons compelling the federal government to work with First Nations on a nation-to-nation basis on a plan to replace the Indian Act with modern agreements based on rights, responsibilities of the Crown, and the original Treaty relationship. With a deadline and a process, we can finally begin to resolve the many long-standing economic and social inequities that plague First Nations communities in Canada.

Yet the Conservatives said they would vote against this progress by opposing the motion. They say they want to change the status quo, but once again, this is just words.

We cannot continue to put this off. Please tell the Conservatives to vote for change.

Yours sincerely, Bob Rae Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada *The Indian Act was passed in 1876 to regulate the way Canada’s First Nations would interact in accordance with The Crown. Although amended many times, the act still determines how reserves are governed, how native bands operate and whether someone is of “Indian” status or not. Recently, the Harper government has discussed removing certain aspects of the act. Liberal Party leader Bob Rae argues that the act creates a socioeconomic barrier for First Nation communities and must be replaced with legislation drafted in consultation with First Nations.

- Dylan Hornby

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Social media rife with U of T news, both serious and silly UTSU Facebook event page generates debate and acrimony ahead of AGM Yukon Damov UTSU event pages are a particularly volatile and active corner of U of T’s social media landscape. Prior to September’s UTSU Emergency Townhall, conversation on the event’s Facebook page was preoccupied with the purported absence of former Minister of Training, Colleges, and Universities, Glen Murray, at the actual event.

Today, UTSU is hosting their Annual General Meeting and City Councillor Adam Vaughn is the guest speaker. The event’s Facebook page is full of useful information: samosas will be served as light refreshment, “John Smith and 8 other people are going,” UTSU is hosting another event tomorrow night, and, oh, proxy voting forms were due November 16.

The first post, on November 7, was from Felicity Ni and

read, “I have class from 6-9. :( Can I get someone to proxy for me?” It was a harbinger of what would later become a controversial topic: proxy voting.

Two days later, Sam Greene posted four proposed bylaw changes to be discussed at the AGM. Without any knowledge of student politics, a reader would not recognize him as head of the Trinity College Meeting, the highest level of student government at Trinity College. He didn’t mention whether the proposals were submitted by TCM. Proposal 1 would amend UTSU “By-law III, Meetings, 4.

Proxy” to read “Proxies not permitted.”

By Monday, Nov 19, proxy voting had become newsworthy of print while the rhetoric on Facebook intensified. The Varsity published an article entitled “Opposing factions battle for proxy votes” Monday

morning.

That evening Calvin Mitchell, Trinity’s representative on the UTSU Board of Directors, posted a particularly incendiary part of the article on the event page. Allegedly, a “petition” passed around at a Hindu Students’ Council Diwali event was actually a proxy form. The students were supposedly told that this petition was countering one signed by “15,000 to 16,000 Trinity students” which called for the abolishment of the Hindu Students’ Council.

“This has to be enough to at least initiate an investigation into the UTSU,” posted Ramin Gharavi in response.

Shaun Shepherd and UTSU vice-president-internal, Corey Scott, who were linked in another response to Mitchell’s post, did not comment.

Things intensified when a photo of a text sent by Noor Baig, VP Equity, was posted and admonished for entreat-

ing a friend to come to the event “because there are a lot of randoms who are going to be there just to make a mess.”

The post garnered 139 replies. The reply that garnered the most “Likes,” at about halfway through the thread (read at 2:15 am Thursday morning), was a video posted by Benjamin Dionne: a clip of Ron Burgundy entitled, “That Escalated Quickly.”

On the same event page, Sam Greene announced Sunday evening that the next day’s TCM meeting would include a motion of no-confidence in the UTSU Executive. It would be resolved TCM would condemn the UTSU for “(i) Refusing to accept legitimate proposals for discussion at the AGM; (ii) Uttering intentionally false, obfuscatory, and misleading statements about deadlines and rules for the AGM; and (iii) Uttering intentionally false, obfuscatory, and misleading

statements about deadlines and rules for the AGM.” The motion also called for Corey Scott, responsible for these actions as VP Internal, to resign and for TCM and other campus stakeholders to present a letter of complaint to Jill Matus, U of T Vice Provost Students, outlining that UTSU has infringed upon university bylaws by its “egregious conduct in relation to the AGM.” After some discussion in the thread, Jonathan Scott, President of U of T Young Liberals and former head of TCM, replied, “btw: this passed, unanimously.”

The AGM takes place this Thursday, 6-9PM, at the Medical Sciences Building RM 3153. WIll the event page figure in the discussion? Will UTSU acknowledge the criticisms expressed on the page? Search “UTSU Annual General Meeting with Adam Vaughn” on Facebook.

Canada not doing enough to attract international students Emerson Vandenberg According to a recent poll commissioned by the Canadian Foreign Affairs Department, Canada is not doing enough to attract students from China, India, and Brazil.

In these countries, Canada ranks among the least considered educational destinations.

However, the University of Toronto rejects the idea that it is not an attractive institution to international students.

Richard Levin, Executive Director, Enrolment Services at U of T, explained “U of T is active in student recruitment across the world and attracts students from roughly 140 countries.”

Levin further stated that U of T’s “international student population has seen solid growth over the past few years, largely because of the strength of [the school’s] reputation.”

According to U of T’s own figures, international student enrolment has grown from 7380 in 2007 to 10 120 in 2011, a 37 per cent increase that represents almost 13 per cent of the total student body. Fur-

thermore, foreign students from China represent 40 per cent (4166) of those international students.

Ipsos-Reid, a leading Canadian market research company, released a poll in March that concurred with Levin’s statement, saying that “apart from a few mentions of the University of Toronto, there is little awareness of any Canadian educational establishments.”

The report also indicates that prestige and notoriety are key factors in choosing international educational destinations for foreign students.

The report states that “this lack of prominence [among Canadian schools] is a serious obstacle.” It recommends that Canada do more to promote the prestige, world-rankings and specific programs offered at its schools.

According to the report, schools in the U.K. and U.S. dominate discussions about studying abroad. This is due in equal part to the quality of the schools and their marketing prowess. British and American schools, the report suggests,

“have offices in key markets with budgets for promoting and building brand awareness.”

Advertising is necessary to fulfill the recommendations made by the report. An increase in cultural events in targeted countries, advertising in research centres, partnerships with foreign education ministries, and promoting Canada’s liberal immigration policies are some of the suggested avenues.

These conclusions come amidst encouraging data from another Foreign Affairs report released in August entitled, “International Education: A Key Driver of Canada’s Future Prosperity.” According to the report, foreign students spent over $7.7 billion on tuition and housing in 2010 (up from $6.5 billion in 2008) and generated $455 million in tax revenue. Foreign student expenditure is.

The report argues that continued efforts to attract international students will help offset skilled labour shortages projected in years coming.

NICK RAGETLI

U of T is the exception

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THE NEWS

November 22, 2012

Is print media dead?

Sofia Luu On Monday, November 19, students gathered in the Bahen Centre for Information Technology to hear industry professionals assess the vital signs of print media. Despite an agreement among the panelists that technology is to blame for the decline of print, they offered optimistic outlooks about the future of the medium.

Hosted by the University of Toronto’s Career Centre and moderated by the Centre’s own Wesley Mack, the panel discussion entitled “Is Print Media Dead?” included CNW Group’s Sales Director David Hicks, Kobo’s Director of Content Management Ashleigh Gardner, TD Bank’s Manager of Communications Natalie Jikerjian, the Toronto Star’s senior reporter Tony Wong, and the event sponsor, Rogers’s Senior Director and Digital

Publisher Ryan Trotman.

The 40 minutes allotted for the presentation was not enough time to address the totality of issues surrounding the current state of the media industry. Instead, the event was an informational session about careers within Canadian media and how innovations such as social media are changing industry practices. Reporting and delivering information to the masses were both cited as examples.

Wong has been with the Star for twenty-five years and he knowledgeably spoke of these changes, “When I started... I wasn’t allowed to take pictures but now [I’m] expected to do everything: take pictures, video, write headlines, et cetera.”

As the industry moves from analog to digital, the skills required to succeed in the industry change accordingly.

The panel provided students with a condensed and insightful overview of the media industry. They appropriately addressed the complexity of the issues at hand by providing detailed and indepth answers to students’ questions.

Wong and Jikerjian suggested that technology is largely to blame for the decline of print as the primary option for media consumption. As a result, print media is on “life support” and “in intensive care.”

Nevertheless, the panelists were optimistic about the future of media, both print and digital. They acknowledged that innovations such as social media and e-readers work to change and challenge the way users produce and consume information.

Trotman claimed that it is a challenge to find individuals who “truly embrace social

Has Darwinism evolved into scientific irrelevance?

In a lecture room on November 15, Dr. Michael Behe delivered a controversial talk entitled the “Limits of Darwinism” to more than 200 squashed students and professors. Hosted by the student club Power to Change, Behe’s talk illustrated his unorthodox views on the dominion of Darwinism.

Behe has a PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Pennsylvania and is the author of Darwin’s Black Box: The Biochemical Challenge to Evolution. In his publication he challenges the overarching claims of Darwinism, which he also outlined in his talk.

Darwinism has maintained a strong hold on academia since his theories burst onto the science scene in the nineteenth century. Most scientists believe it accounts for everything from the makeup of the cell to the origins of life. However, as scientific methods

evolve, can Darwinism still provide a substantial account for our origins, or should our thoughts be reformed by today’s evidence?

Behe is best known for his argument for irreducible complexity. He argued that although change and evolution can occur at the micro level, the same case for large, complex organisms cannot be made. Thus he asserts that Darwinism’s scientific explanations of evolution at the macro level is inadequate.

According to Behe, Darwinism can explain marginal changes in evolutionary history, random mutation, and natural selection, but it explains little of the basic machinery of life. Behe showed several studies of DNA that revealed various types and rates of mutation. He argued that some very complex biochemical systems found in cells require purposeful design.

Behe argued convincingly

media.” According to the panelists, those are exactly the type of people employers seek.

His remark immediately resonated with the students in the audience, some of whom livetweeted the event.

Despite the unpredictable future of the media, Hicks concluded that it will be one where “change is the new normal.”

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that most of the mutations that have defined the history of life on Earth have been, unlike Darwin theorized, nonrandom. He asserted that the “edge” of evolution, a line that defines the border between random and non-random mutation, lies very far from where Darwin pointed.

It follows Darwinian logic that some aspects of biology lack design and as a result could have chance mutations.

Behe attempted to show that a line can be drawn between the types of biological systems that require design and those that do not.

The idea at the heart of Behe’s reasoning is that design extends very deep into biology.

Behe’s talk illustrated the lack of unanimous support that Darwinist claims have in the scientific community.The packed house showed that, at the very least, many people find opposition to Darwinism an intriguing notion.

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THE NEWS

Students Against Sexism protest Men’s Issues talk THE BRIEFS Argue language is ‘hate speech’ and doesn’t belong at U of T On Friday, November 16, a student group called the U of T Men’s Issues Awareness Society hosted a talk given by a leading figure in the men’s rights movement, Warren Farrell. A coalition of students in opposition to the movement held a protest called the Rally Against Sexism on the basis that they find the men’s rights message misleading and its implications inappropriate for U of T’s campus.

Calling themselves U of T Students Against Sexism, the group originally formed after a campus talk given by the International Socialists entitled “Why Men’s Rights Groups are Wrong.” In an article by the same name, the International Socialists argued “manipulating men’s anxieties faced with neoliberalism and austerity, ‘men’s issues’ groups ignore the poverty, racism, ableism, homophobia and transphobia that men and women face, and instead scapegoat the women’s movement and progressive movements in general.”

Jesse McLaren, one of the organizers of the group, explained the origins of Students Against Sexism in an interview with the newspaper: “On forty-eight hours notice,

seventeen people from a wide cross-section of campus came to talk, and decided to launch a broad coalition called U of T Students Against Sexism -starting with a Rally Against Sexism, and continuing to challenge ‘men’s rights’ groups and to promote real struggles for equality on campus.”

Farrell is the author of seven books on men’s rights elaborating on the theme of men feeling left out or misrepresented by feminist rhetoric.

His speech, entitled “Boys to Men: Transforming the Boys’ Crisis into our Sons’ Opportunities,” focused on issues that statistically affect boys more than girls, such as “dropping out of school, [being] preoccupied with video games and video porn, committing suicide, and demonstrating a ‘failure to launch.’”

With less than a week’s notice, a crowd of approximately one hundred people gathered in front of the Medical Sciences building thirty minutes before the event started. Protesters held signs with messages including, “this is what a feminist looks like” and “stop rape culture @ U of T.” Farrell has published many controversial statements to which protesters responded.

In his book The Myth of Male Power Farrell wrote, “Before we began calling it date rape... we called it exciting,” to which a protester’s sign responded “Date rape is not ‘exciting.’”

A video from ABC on Farrell’s website describes an argument from his book Why Men Earn More, as “women make less because they want different jobs.” During the rally, a representative of Steelworkers Local 1998, who represents 6800 workers across several campuses, responded, “If you consider just the one issue of pay equity, you understand that women in Ontario and Canada are earning seventy-one cents on the dollar for the equivalent kind work that men are doing.”

Guled Arale, VP External for the UofT Scarborough Student Union, endorsed the rally: “What needs to happen is [men] need to become allies and take a step back, recognize [our] privilege and become allies with females...Instead of organizing around our issues, we’ve been the people building the system we’re currently in for hundreds of thousands of years, so there’s no need for that.”

Noor Baig, VP of Equity at UTSU, criticized men’s rights

groups: “There’s nothing of substance behind the claims that they’re making and the statements that they’re standing behind. It’s really important that folks come out and show their support against the very violent hate speech that they have against women, against folks of color, against transfolks, and they’re very heteronormative, sexist, elitist language that they use by trying to co-op the language of equity. …It’s really important that we show that the campus is against it. The University of Toronto Students’ Union is absolutely against this language.”

The official U of T Students Against Sexism statement on the rally concludes that they “will continue to challenge ‘men’s rights groups’ and expose how their sexist ideas threaten equality and safety on campus.” What future action the group will take remains to be seen.

Check out the men’s rights activists Equality Canada at equalitycanada.com and read the International Socialists’ article “Why Men’s Rights Groups Are Wrong” at socialistworkercanada.com/2012/11/07/why-mensrights-groups-are-wrong/

On November 15, members of CUPE 3902 Unit 4 at St Michael’s college walked away from the bargaining table and went on strike over issues of job security. Unit 4 represents all workers with less than one year contracts, including sessional lecturers, teaching or laboratory assistants and continuing education instructors; they teach 31 single semester courses and hundreds of students.

St Michael’s has said that they will continue classes and programs as normally as possible.

TTC fare increase approved

On Wednesday the TTC board voted on a 5 cent fare increase, to come into effect in January, increasing the price of tokens and Metropasses but not cash fares. The increase will add $18 million to TTC income, however TTC chair Karen Stintz warned that there will probably be another 5 cent increase next year, to keep up with inflation.

Mayor Rob Ford’s freeze to TTC subsidy, currently at 82 cents per passenger, has forced riders to bare the costs.

-Sourced from Now Toronto

No pants, no service in San Francisco

YUSUR AL-BAHRANI

Sebastian Greenholtz

St Mike’s on strike

On a 6-5 vote from the San Francisco Board of Supervisors public nudity in the city is now illegal in public places, including public transit. Pro-nudity groups came to protest in the board chambers and about 10 people took off their clothes. City supervisor Scott Weiner launched the proposal after complaints from his constituents about pervasive public nudity. The new law levies a $10 fine for the first offense but allows for nudity in private places, nude beaches, at special events with permits, and for children under five.

-Sourced from Macleans - SABASTIAN GREENHOLTZ

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THE INSIDE

November 22, 2012

Remembrance Day protests, activism or abuse?

Motion: Free speech has its limits

Last week, several Afghan-Canadians protested during a Remembrance Day ceremony at Old City Hall. The protesters claimed that Afghans were detained, tortured and killed by Canada’s military involvement in Afghanistan. Though a peaceful protest, many have voiced their disgust at a group picketing a day of respect for Canada’s aging veterans and their families. Is this an example of free speech gone too far? Or should all forms of expression be tolerated, no matter how misguided they may appear?

Charles-Philippe Lamy When I was in Washington D.C., I visited the Vietnam War Memorial. As I walked along, a middle-aged man beside me burst into tears. The guards near the monument shook his hand as he continued forward. This scene is familiar to all who are close to veterans and their families. We like to think that war is an experience that ends with a treaty or ceasefire, but the psychological torment endures long after the last wound is inflicted. A soldier returning from war, having left part of his or her soul with fallen countrymen, should be treated with unwav-

^ ^ ^

ering respect at home.

On November 11, these psychological wounds are opened once more in the necessary and tormenting process of remembrance. For these protesters to shout insults at veterans and their families is intolerable. From a legal standpoint, the protesters should have been arrested for Breach of the Peace under Section 175(1a) of the Canadian Crimin a l

Code.

We should also examine whether protesting Canada’s role in Afghanistan is justified, only made cruel by timing. It is reasonable to conclude that at least some of the protesters were Afghan men and women who have suffered from the conflict.

Their pains are undeniable.

Although I am greatly saddened by

their pain, I am also angered by how they chose to express it. If they disagreed with Canada’s involvement in Afghanistan, why not protest our politicians instead?

Our soldiers did not start this war, nor did they ask for it. Canada asked its citizens for help, and our soldiers bravely dedicated themselves to our country.

Protesting our politicians rather than our vet-

RHIANNON WHITE

CON

PRO

and thus requires promo-

Zach Morgenstern Charles Lamy believes that Afghan-Canadian activists Laila Rashidie and Suraia Sahar should have been arrested for protesting the war in Afghanistan at a Remembrance Day service. He has justified this anti-democratic position by saying the protest was aimed at the wrong people, poorly timed, and outright offensive.

Instead of Canadian soldiers and their families, Lamy argues that the protest should have been directed at the Taliban.

erans may have removed the cruelty from the protests, but still would not have legitimized them. This war began when terrorists attacked our strongest ally and killed nearly 3000 innocent people. These terrorists committed acts of evil and were protected by the Taliban government.

Let these protesters be angry with al-Qaeda and the Taliban.

They are responsible, not us.

The war has been tragic, but our veterans should be seen as heroes both at home and in Afghanistan. They fought those dedicated to evil, and their sacrifices merit a respectful remembrance.

While these protestors are certainly anti-Taliban, they understand what Lamy does not: protesting Taliban crimes in Canada is preaching to the converted. To protest a Canadian war, however, is to fight for a cause that does not have universal support

tion.

According to Lamy, the demonstrators’ crime was a “Breach of the Peace” on Remembrance Day. Rashidie and Sahar did not pick November 11th without just cause. Not wanting their protest to go ignored as many others, they decided to hold it on a day when war is on people’s minds. They also argue that Stephen Harper has used Remembrance Day to promote the war. If pro-war ideologues can politicize Remembrance

Day, it is only fair that their opponents get the chance to fight back.

Lamy believes that Sahar and Rashidie’s protest was disrespectful to veterans. Indeed, wars cause immense physical and psychological trauma to individuals that should be remembered. The problem with Remembrance Day is that it is not a private memorial for people, but rather a public memorial for soldiers. While many consider criticism of Remembrance Day to be offensive, I would argue that it is equally offensive to assume that every soldier would like to be remembered as someone who believed in the war

they fought in.

Rashidie and Sahar’s critics ignore the veteran who stood with the pair in support of their cause. Countless other soldiers are also against the wars they have fought in. For example, WWI veteran Harry Patch proposed that “politicians who took us to war should have been given the guns and told to settle their differences themselves, instead of organizing nothing better than legalized mass murder”.

Lamy’s arguments may be based on the status quo, but that does not make them right or fair. For the sake of the people, reluctant soldiers and civilians alike, we should not only allow but encourage the work of antiwar activists.

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THE INSIDE

Toronto’s storytelling community takes centre stage

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Caplansky’s offers an intimate introduction to the city’s stories Telling a story is more than relaying facts. For many, storytelling is a way to honour a shared cultural heritage or offer an alternative perspective on a familiar topic. It may take the form of a personal anecdote or stand-up comedy routine.

Pat Bisset, an active storyteller in Toronto, says the community of storytelling has been growing in the city since the 1980s. Bisset attributes this growth to Dan Yashinsky, a storyteller who has founded both the Toronto Festival of Storytelling in 1979 and the school, Storytellers Toronto, a year later.

There are many storytelling venues and communities to get involved in. People gather weekly at 8pm in the Innis College Cafe for 1001 Friday Nights of Storytelling, a free event featuring an open mic.

Artscape Wychwood Barns, at St. Clair West and Christie Street, holds a family-oriented free storytelling tent every Saturday morning.

Another option is Caplansky’s, a quaint, warmly lit deli nestled in the College and Spadina neighbourhood. New worlds have been born in this small venue every Sunday evening since last winter. Patrons spring from their seats or are encouraged by the jovial M.C., Marilla Wex, to tell their stories in front of the intimate group.

At five after eight, a man in his early 20s is in the throes of a story about his high school days. The atmosphere seems to

radiate collective warmth and understanding as he recounts heartbreaking memories of his school experiences and a teacher who got him through tough times.

He is called into the principal’s office to discuss his infractions with a police officer

times tragic moments of life.

Yet the audience is respectful, perhaps realizing how hard it would be to expose one’s most intimate experiences in front of total strangers. It is impossible not to be in awe of those who can do it without a single ‘ah’ or ‘um’.

most are 20-somethings and the mood of the stories range from raucous comedy to bittersweet tragedy.

Stories of human folly entertain the audience: a failed November journey into Algonquin Park, the pains of taking care of a senile parent, a young

SINEAD DOHERTY-GRANT

Sinead Doherty-Grant

Caplansky’s Deli hosts their storytelling event each Sunday at 8 pm. and his unilingual Vietnamese parents. An amusing situation ensues and the first story ends in laughter.

This familiarity among strangers is new and unexpected within the often anonymous environment of Toronto.

A storyteller is vulnerable, revealing foolish, silly, and some-

While the stories this Sunday were anecdotal, Wex stresses that all kinds of stories and performers are welcome.

Poetry, comedy, and traditional tales are not uncommon. Anyone who signs up before the evening starts can participate.

The venue includes storytellers of all ages, too, though

man’s sixth sense for handling aggressive muggers in the city, a lost leopard print thong, an adventure into the murky depths of online dating.

Though these are lighthearted anecdotes, some stories are quite poignant. A man speaks of unrequited love with a mixture of humour and gen-

uine heartache that leaves the audience chuckling softly in recognition.

An unexpected story emerges when a man, stood-up by his date for the night, walks to the mic to tell an impromptu story. Wex tells some quirky stories of her own, artfully bridging the gap between a sombre tale and an upbeat narrative.

As the storytellers become more animated, Gina, a waitress at Caplansky’s, jumps in to tell us of her friend’s experience dog sitting. This was the oddest and funniest tale told that night.

After the show, Gina shares her experiences with these events: “I work almost every Sunday and it’s a lot of the same crowd. We get people coming in to eat and then they want to tell a story and we also get regulars. There are a lot of people from Toronto but then you get people who are not from here, too. They really like it when the wait-staff go up to tell a story. It’s familiar.”

The participants appear relaxed and sociable as the night wraps up. A diverse group of people have come together to share unique life experiences.

Drop by Storytelling Toronto’s workshops at the Artscape Wychwood Barns. The 35th Annual Toronto Storytelling Festival runs from March 21 - 24, 2013.

Visit thenewspaper.ca to listen to this week’s podcast on storytelling in Toronto.

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November 22, 2012

GRADUATE STUDENTS’ UNION, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO 2012 Financial Statements

Grant Thornton LLP Suite 200 41 Valleybrook Drive Toronto, ON M3B 2S6

Independent Auditor’s Report

Contents

We have audited the accompanying financial statements of Graduate Students’ Union, University of Toronto, which comprise the statement of financial position as at August 31, 2012, and the statement of operations and changes in net assets and statement of cash flows for the year then ended, and a summary of significant accounting policies and other explanatory information.

Page

Financial Statements

Independent Auditor’s Report

Graduate Students ’ Union, University of Toronto August 31, 2012 1

Management's responsibility for the financial statements Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these financial statements in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles, and for such internal control as management determines is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

1

Statement of Financial Position

2

Statement of Operations and Changes in Net Assets

3

Statement of Cash Flows

4

Auditor's responsibility Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards. Those standards require that we comply with ethical requirements and plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free from material misstatement.

Notes to Financial Statements

5-8

Schedules to Financial Statements

9- 10

An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The procedures selected depend on the auditor's judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control relevant to the entity's preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity's internal control. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements.

2

We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.

GRADUATE STUDENTS’ UNION, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO

GRADUATE STUDENTS’ UNION, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO

Opinion In our opinion the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Graduate Students’ Union, University of Toronto, as at August 31, 2012, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles.

Statement of Operations and Changes in Net Assets Year ended August 31

Statement of Financial Position As at August 31

2012

ASSETS Current assets Cash and cash equivalents Short-term investments (note 4) Accounts receivable Loan receivable (note 5) Prepaid expenses

Property and equipment (note 6)

2011

Invested in Property and Equipment

$ 680,865 500,000 6,786 3,600 10,105

$ 412,938 100,793 35,902 4,800 9,341

1,201,356

563,774

46,450

58,050

$ 1,247,806

$ 621,824

Revenue Fees (note 9) Sundry and interest

$ 587,041 161,932

Net assets Invested in property and equipment Internally restricted for specific purposes (notes 3 and 8) Unrestricted

$

$

-

70,377 187,079

Excess (deficiency) of revenue over expenses

748,973

257,456

46,450 133,812 318,571

58,050 142,812 163,506

Net assets, beginning of year

498,833

364,368

See accompanying notes

$ 1,247,806

$ 621,824

$

2012

2011

Unrestricted

-

$

6,124,808 33,418

Total $

Chartered Accountants, Licensed Public Accountants (License Number 18393) Toronto, Canada November 14, 2012

Total

6,124,808 33,418

$

5,746,545 27,601

-

6,158,226

6,158,226

5,774,146

-

-

5,354,884

5,354,884

5,055,850

13,188

9,000 -

414,385 226,213 -

414,385 226,213 9,000 13,188

493,961 197,751 7,000 13,721

-

-

6,091

6,091

5,364

13,188

9,000

6,001,573

6,023,761

5,773,647

(13,188)

(9,000)

156,653

134,465

1,588

-

Interfund transfer

Net assets, end of year

Internally Restricted (note 8)

Expenses Grants and fees (schedule 1) Salaries and benefits (schedule 2) House (schedule 3) Donations Amortization Restaurant and bar (schedule 4)

LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS Current liabilities Accounts payable and accrued liabilities Deferred income (note 7)

58,050 $

(1,588)

142,812

46,450

$

133,812

-

163,506 $

318,571

364,368 $

Audit • Tax • Advisory Grant Thornton LLP. A Canadian Member of Grant Thornton International Ltd

GRADUATE STUDENTS’ UNION, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO Notes to Financial Statements Year ended August 31, 2012 3.

$

On behalf of Council:

499

Building Fund

-

The Building Fund was established to finance capital improvements to the facilities of the Union.

Thesis Cabinet Fund The Thesis Cabinet Fund was established to finance the costs associated with the Union’s Thesis Cabinet, including thesis reproduction expenditures.

364,368

Directors’ Liability Fund The Directors’ Liability Fund was established to protect the Directors of the Union in the event that the Union ceases operations.

Accessibility Fund The Accessibility Fund was established to finance accessibility-related improvements to the facilities, communications, and services of the Union.

GRADUATE STUDENTS’ UNION, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO

Health and Dental Insurance Administration Fund

Notes to Financial Statements Year ended August 31, 2012

6.

The Health and Dental Insurance Administration Fund was established to offset the administrative costs of the increased demand on the health and dental plans.

Student Services and Resources Fund

Property and equipment Cost

Jeffrey Andrus Finance and University Governance Commissioner

Renovations, furniture and equipment Security system Computer equipment

4 7.

GRADUATE STUDENTS’ UNION, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO

2

Operating activities Excess of revenue over expenses Item not involving cash Amortization

Net change in non-cash working capital items Accounts receivable Prepaid expenses Accounts payable and accrued liabilities Deferred income

$

13,721

147,653

14,220 8.

29,116 (764) 516,664 (25,147)

(8,598) 8,037 897 21,705

519,869

22,041

Cash flows from operating activities

667,522

36,261

Investing activities Short-term investments Loan receivable Purchases of property and equipment

(399,207) 1,200 (1,588)

(100,793) 1,200 (3,900)

Cash flows from investing activities

(399,595)

(103,493)

267,927

(67,232)

Net change in cash and cash equivalents during the year Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year Cash and cash equivalents, end of year Cash and cash equivalents consist of: Cash Term deposit

412,938

480,170

$ 680,865

$ 412,938

$

40,651 2,172 3,627

$

48,740 4,757 4,553

$ 180,992

$ 134,542

$

46,450

$

58,050

Balance, beginning of year Amounts received Amounts disbursed and recognized as revenue

$

1,626 -

Balance, end of year

$

1,626

Fund Balances Beginning of Year Building Fund Thesis Cabinet Fund Directors’ Liability Fund Accessibility Fund Health and Dental Insurance Administration Fund Student Services and Resources Fund

$

5.

Fees

Total

$ 185,453 160,306

Total

$ 187,079 160,306

(185,453) $ 160,306

21,341 1,000 40,000 40,000

$ 142,812

Expenses

Fund Balances End of Year

$

-

$

$

$

-

$

9,000

24,000 7,471

9,000

$ 133,812

As a not-for-profit organization, the Union is exempt from income taxes under Part I of the Income Tax Act. 2.

Financial instruments

Schedule 1

Recommendations for new property and equipment purchases are discussed by the staff and the Executive and noted in the annual operating budget. Expenditures from the internally restricted funds are discussed by the Executive and are approved by the Union Council.

Property and equipment purchases in 2012 relate to computer equipment for the Union’s office.

Health insurance administration Professional fees Handbook Student conferences General council meetings Travel and conferences Duplicating and printing Orientation Insurance Office and general Sub-committees, caucuses and sundry Photocopying Elections Telephone Repairs and maintenance Campaigns Communications Gym Social events Small equipment Security monitoring Bank charges and interest Women’s caucus

11. Financial instruments

2011 $ 4,494,683 232,702 106,085 88,360 66,137 39,682 13,228 13,228 1,745

The Union’s financial instruments are comprised of cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, accounts receivable, loan receivable and accounts payable. Cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate fair value due to their short-term maturities. The loan receivable is recorded at cost.

$ 5,354,884

$ 5,055,850

Property and equipment is recorded at cost and is amortized on a straight-line basis over its estimated useful life as follows:

Cash equivalents consist of high interest term deposit savings accounts.

Property and equipment

Schedule 2

Renovations, furniture and equipment Security system Computer equipment

2011

$

252,691 85,349 76,345

$

323,767 80,673 89,521

$

414,385

$

493,961

$

The Union follows the deferral method of accounting whereby externally restricted contributions are deferred and recognized as revenue in the period in which the related expenses are incurred.

Fees are recognized as revenue in the fiscal year to which they relate.

2011

98,746 23,746 17,696 13,250 8,685 8,061 6,849 6,313 5,856 5,805 5,450 5,153 5,037 4,513 2,514 2,298 2,158 1,366 1,072 757 400 188 300

$

226,213

$

Fees received from the University of Toronto for insurance premiums are shown gross of the related insurance premium expenses. The fees from extended or family insurance premiums are presented net of the related insurance expenses.

89,858 14,456 19,619 11,425 7,509 7,134 4,858 5,975 5,622 5,498 3,614 5,153 3,953 3,652 1,843 2,726 2,835 990 221 300 472 38

9 Schedules to Financial Statements Year ended August 31 Restaurant and bar

Schedule 4 2012

Insurance Sundry Repairs and maintenance Contract rebate

See accompanying notes

12 9

5

GRADUATE STUDENTS’ UNION, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO

197,751

See accompanying notes

10 years 10 years 5 years

Revenue recognition

Schedule 3

$

11

The Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants provides a choice for financial instruments disclosure and presentation and the Union has chosen to apply Section 3861, Financial Instruments - Disclosure and Presentation, in place of Section 3862, Financial Instruments - Disclosure, and Section 3863, Financial Instruments - Presentation.

7

$ 4,790,088 223,989 110,780 92,317 67,880 40,728 13,576 13,576 1,950

2012

The internally restricted net assets have been set up for specific purposes from the unrestricted net assets. The unrestricted net assets represents the accumulated annual operating surpluses not otherwise internally restricted. The Union is not subject to any external capital requirements.

Summary of significant accounting policies

Use of estimates

House

The Union’s capital consists of net assets invested in property and equipment and internally restricted and unrestricted net assets. The Union invests in computer and other equipment as required and in building improvements to improve the office and student areas of the building, which is owned by the University of Toronto.

Nature of the organization The Graduate Students’ Union, University of Toronto (the “Union”) is incorporated under the Corporations Act (Ontario) as a not-for-profit organization. The Union was established to meet the needs of and provide services to the graduate students of the University of Toronto.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

2012

It is management’s opinion that the Union is not exposed to significant interest, currency or credit risks arising from its financial instruments.

1.

8

Staff Executive officers Benefits

$ 6,124,808

6

Notes to Financial Statements Year ended August 31, 2012

21,341 1,000 40,000 40,000

Salaries and benefits

10. Objectives, policies and processes for managing capital

Loan receivable

6

(163,748) $ 187,079

2012

4

$ 100,793

The statements have been prepared by management in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles, the more significant of which are outlined below.

Health insurance fees Graduate Students’ Union Course Union Head Grants Canadian Federation of Students’ fees - National Canadian Federation of Students’ fees - Ontario Ontario Public Interest Research Group fees Downtown Legal Services fees Bikechain fees Women’s Centre fees Special grants

(160,769) 150,862

24,974 25,777 50,042

Loan receivable is from a non-related party, is due on demand, repayable in monthly instalments of $100 and is non-interest bearing.

$ 165,374 185,453

(185,453) $ 161,932

Revenue

24,000 16,471

$ 412,938

Deferred fees received from University of Toronto, current year Deferred fees received from University of Toronto, prior year

-

GRADUATE STUDENTS’ UNION, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO

$ 680,865

$ 3,496,672 1,926,069 515,433 26,392 119,061 51,088

2011 $

2011

Internally restricted funds

Grants and fees

6,134,715

2012 $ 500,000

$ 500,000

2012

-

$ 161,438 251,500

Fees received from University of Toronto are as follows:

Short-term investments

Alterna Savings GIC, 1.60%, maturing February 22, 2013 Royal Bank GIC, 4.75%, maturing December 7, 2011 Royal Bank GIC, 4.30%, maturing December 12, 2011 Royal Bank GIC, 1.81%, maturing December 14, 2011

3

Fees

September 2011 January 2012 March 2012 May 2012 June 2012 July 2012

4.

Deferred income

$ 324,635 356,230

Notes to Financial Statements Year ended August 31, 2012

10

81,716 23,670 29,156

Schedules to Financial Statements Year ended August 31

GRADUATE STUDENTS’ UNION, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO

9.

The Student Services and Resources Fund was established with the remaining funds from the 2007/2008 Peer Review levy. A student services and resources working group will make recommendations on the use of the funds.

Net

GRADUATE STUDENTS’ UNION, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO

See accompanying notes

7

Net

$

Thesis Cabinet Fund

499

13,188

2011

$ 122,367 25,842 32,783

2011

$ 134,465

2012 Accumulated Amortization

Deferred income received from University of Toronto and graduate students consists of:

Statement of Cash Flows Year ended August 31

2012

Net assets internally restricted for specific purposes The Union has set up internally restricted funds to support the following activities:

363,869

498,833

1

3

5

See accompanying notes

Brad Evoy Internal Commissioner

T +1 416 449 9171 F +1 416 449 7401 E NorthToronto@ca.gt.com www.GrantThornton.ca

To the Members of Graduate Students’ Union, University of Toronto

2011

$

6,080 1,000 496 (1,485)

$

6,568 1,000 424 (2,628)

$

6,091

$

5,364

www.thenewspaper.ca

9

THE ARTS

‘Commercial nightmare’ of Ossington Strip pushes artists west XPACE and other like minded galleries find new frontier on Dundas Street West

GET NOTICED. NATIONWIDE. Submit your fiction, poetry, and visual art to

THE HART HOUSE REVIEW XPACE Cultural Center, currently located at 58 Ossington Avenue, will hold its last event on the trendy Ossington strip on November 24, as they prepare for their move to Dundas Street West and Lansdowne Avenue. Attributed to a climax in desirability, XPACE’s current location is rapidly becoming a stylish neighborhood for new condos, chic restaurants and bars, and inevitably skyrocketing rent prices, making it inaccessible to artists and designers that require affordable studios, living quarters, and commercial spaces.

XPACE is a non-profit, artist run center, supported by the Ontario College of Art Design Student Union. The cultural center serves as a platform for young artists and designers to be represented as professionals, rather than as students or artists in training.

XPACE is not the only Toronto art collective in the midst of a move. In the past year galleries including TPW, MKG127, and Art Metropole have all moved out of the Ossington neighborhood and headed West to join galleries such as Cooper Cole, PM, Loop, and Meredith Keith on Dundas Street West.

“Ossington has become an annoying, commercial, nightmare so people are leaving,” said Xenia Benivolski, an artist and curator in Toronto.

Rent is certainly a driving factor, with many like-minded organizations following each other for the mutual benefit of a shared audience. However, XSPACE Director Amber Landgraff explained, “Rent prices aren’t the only reason for moving. It’s partially rent, but also longer term leases, or at least leases where you have more control over what you can do, larger spaces,

and also being in a close vicinity to other people.” “[The move] is only going to be positive” for XPACE, Landgraff assured the newspaper. “We found a place where we were able to negotiate a much longer term lease, so we are going to be able to go into this spot and make a lot of strategic decisions that are going to best support the students” says Landgraff.

Program Coordinator at XSPACE Cameron Lee echoed Landgraff’s optimism. Lee explained that the move allows for a critical evaluation of the collective’s position in the city and the potential changes that could benefit its audience.

Toronto is a young city that is constantly shifting and changing. Not too long ago areas such as Queen Street West and Yorkville Avenue were comparable to Kensington Market. They were lined with independently owned cafes, bars, shop, galleries, and affordable rent spaces. Today, Queen West and Yorkville are dominated by commercial shops, expensive restaurants and bars, and condo spaces that most Torontonians cannot afford.

“The core is gentrified, it’s hard to live here. So people migrate to new areas and then those get gentrified too.

The gentrification follows the artists, so in a way we’re expanding the core,” said Benivolski.

It remains to be seen how the pattern of gentrification will shape Toronto’s increasingly sprawling landscape.

XPACE’s last event, a Zine Fair, will be held at its current location, 58 Ossington Avenue, on November 24. The collective is scheduled to move to Dundas & Lansdowne in December.

by January 13th, 2013

www.harthousereview.com

KELSEY STASIAK

Sam Del Frate

10

THE ARTS

November 22, 2012

European Union Film Festival : The Fatherless exposes paradox of freedom

EMMA BURTCH

Austrian film suggests festival’s success

Emma Burtch On November 14, the European Union Film Festival (EUFF) returned to Toronto to kick off its eighth year celebrating diversity and excellence in European cinema. Hosted by the Honorary Consul of Denmark for Canada, this year’s festival marks the first year the EUFF is showcasing films from all 27 member countries of the EU, with 29 films in total.

On Friday, November 16, Austrian filmmaker Marie Kreutzer’s Die Vaterlosen (The Fatherless) screened at the Royal Theatre. This richly woven, dark, and at times humorous family drama offers a glimpse into the fascinating and harrowing life histories of four siblings who were born into a “free love” hippie commune in rural Austria. The story follows the complicated reunion of the siblings, who have all returned to the commune following the death of their father, the former “free love” leader of the nowdefunct compound.

Kreutzer is a masterful storyteller, allowing the family’s unconventional history to unfold like a patchwork quilt. With the use of intriguing and revealing flashbacks, Kreutzer provides carefully measured glimpses into the siblings’ vastly different childhood experiences who grew up “forced to be free,” as one boy describes it. The film highlights the paradox of a collective that appears to provide limitless freedom, while simultaneously exercising extreme control - physically, at times sexually, and always mentally,

through the father’s cult-like control over the group’s “collective” decisions. In turn, the story invites the viewer to assess the complex dynamics of love and power in every family.

Leena Koppe’s dream-like camera work, which won Best Cinematography at the Austrian Diagonale Film Festival in 2011, captivates the viewer.

The use of off-balance, soft focus shots and extreme close-ups on the siblings adds to the near-dizzying emotional complexity of the family’s history. Kreutzer’s vignette-style flashback narrative is beautifully paired with Koppe’s ethereal cinematography, providing an intimate look at the individuals’ personal lives.

The family’s history remains as much a mystery to the audience as it is to the hippie commune members themselves, who struggle to gain some understanding of their collective past. While the experience of growing up in a commune is an unlikely coming of age experience for most, the film invites its audience to assess the complex dynamics of love and power present in our own families.

The Fatherless, like all of the festival’s films, is only screened once. However, if this film is any indicator of the quality of the EUFF’s other offerings, the rest of the festival promises to be a success.

Following each film, viewers can use their ticket stub to vote for their favourite movie. The film with the most votes will win the European Union Film Festival Audience Award.

The EUFF runs November 14-27, at The Royal Theatre, and offers a unique opportunity to see award-winning films for free! Show up early to get a ticket and good seating. date

FINE ART

NOV. 26 - 28

FANTASY

place

Sidney Smith Bldg.

WILDLIFE

GIANT-SIZED POSTERS

hours

MUSIC

9-8 last day

FRAMES & HANGERS

9-5

PHOTOGRAPHY 1000S OF POSTERS

THE

POSTER SALE

FILM

www.thenewspaper.ca

11

THE ARTS

Man-eating musical leaves viewers hungry for more

UC Follies’ Little Shop of Horrors puts on brilliant horror/comedy/musical stole the show with their completely uninhibited and comedic performances.

Sampa’s rich, enveloping voice seduced the audience with her first sly murmur of “feed me” followed by her

SHAK HAQ

On Saturday, November 17, UC Follies put on its final production of Little Shop of Horrors, a 1982 off Broadway musical with a 1960s flavour. Unlike the 1986 film which features the man eating plant, Audrey 2 as a giant green structure, UC Follies uses an actress, Jaymie Sampa, dressed in leaves to personify the plant. A terrifying realism is achieved when Sampa emerges from the green mouth of a paper mache plant to take her next victim. The set is simply designed with a raised level above the flower shop and a door at the side indicating the shop’s entrance.

When the pathetic geek, Seymour, accidentally pricks his finger into the mouth of the plant Audrey 2, personified by a female voice and body, she murmurs her satisfaction and cries out hungrily for more and Seymour makes a habit of impaling himself on a daily basis to feed the growing plant which thrives solely off of human flesh and blood.

As Audrey 2 demands larger

chorus girls were charming as early 60s doo-wop gals, singing angelically throughout the most grotesque and horrific events with a practiced detachment akin to that of a tragic Greek chorus.

(clockwise from left) Audrey Two (Jaymie Sampa), Ronette (Elyse Roy), Chiffon (Meredith Free), Crystal (Zena Gopal) and Seymour (Mark Ferrari)

“

line Foley was lovably ditzy as Audrey and Mark Ferrari played Seymour as a perfectly tormented geek. The three

Although the hero and heroine of the story were solid actors, Jaymie Sampa, as Audrey 2, and James King, as Orin,

booming rendition of “Suppertime.”

Audrey’s sadistic dentist boyfriend, Orin, played with mad

the campus comment

Last week, several Afghan-Canadians picketed Remembrance Day ceremonies.

fervour by James King, managed to induce both laughter and terror in the audience as he sung of the thrills derived from wrenching out the teeth of his patients with giant antique dental equipment.

At one point, King glides onto the stage in a fur coat and white kitten heels with a regal allure that was not the slightest bit hindered by the presence of his hairy legs, peeking out from under the skirt of his coat.

All in all, UC Follies put on a memorable production. One question: is the giant man eating Audrey 2 really an embodiment of female sexuality and the terror it seems to induce?

Whether or not that’s the case, one thing’s for sure: Audrey 2 sure has a voracious appetite and her meals are quite the catch.

UC Follies next production, Girl In The Goldfish Bowl will be opening on December 6 at The Glen Morris Studio Theatre and will run until February 9, 2013.

“

amounts of flesh to satisfy her hunger, this innocent, quirky tale soon becomes a comedy of horrors.

The acting was strong all around, each actor exuding a palpable energy.

Made-

Sinead Doherty-Grant

the newspaper asked: Is this an appropriate use of free speech on such a solemn day?

CLAIRE 4th year, Women & Gender Studies “I think memorial services are a good place for that kind of political discussion. Questioning the way things are going is appropriate, even at something that is as solemn as Remembrance Day.”

MOSEM 1st year, Engineering “No, it is not justified because we’re not remembering just their war, it’s something that happened to all of us.

If you’re going to voice your opinion, do it before or after, not during the actual ceremony..”

TERRY 4th year, Statistics & Geography “I think it’s fair because people have the freedom to protest. It doesn’t matter if its on Remembrance Day or any other day.”

XIAOYI 2nd year, Cinema Studies and Art History “I don’t think so because Remembrance Day is a day meant to remember and be respectful of our veterans. They should protest on a different day..”

THALIA 2nd year, Environmental Ethics and Studies “I think everybody has the right to free speech. At the same time, I don’t think the protesters understand that the ceremony is respectful, rather than something that glorifies war.”

BODI BOLD

JACOB 4th year, Sociology & Philosophy “I think this is a very appropriate use of free speech. In addition to Afghans expressing their concerns over this war, there are veterans themselves who also use this opportunity to speak out about their treatment by the current government.

12

November 22, 2012

DOWNTOWN MOTOWN in a s s ociat ion wit h L aid Ba re: Cur at ions a nd O t her Concerns

a fundraiser for THE NEWSPAPER, U of T's independent weekly

live motown performance by

THE MIDNIGHT SOCIETY

november 30

th

2012

MAY CAFE 876 DUNDAS WEST doors at 10pm , concert at 11pm $5 cover