October 15 2009

Photo Editor idles and misses shot

THE 10 COMMANDMENTS Page 5

Idler’s Glossary reviewed, one year late Page 7

the newspaper

University of Toronto’s Independent Weekly

October 15, 2009

Vol. XXXII N0. 

U of T makes THE grade

Times Higher Education report card is something to write home about “We feel that too much emphasis has been placed on statistics that can be skewed and manipulated,” says Robert Steiner, Assistant VP of Strategic Communications. “Relying on ratios does not always reflect the best.”

The rating system certainly isn’t infallible. There are indeed oddities to the list, and one needs only to gingerly scratch the surface to expose a few. The most peculiar aspect of the list, and certainly the aspect worthy of the most attention, is how the overall rank of the

A sample from THE’s rankings illustrates that strong faculties do not necessarily make a good university.

TEJAS PARASHER

ROSEMARY SULLIVAN

Shadow Maker

FREE THE C HILDREN Craig Kielburger

Roder ck McInnes

IAN HACKING

The Taming of Chance

HUMAN RETINAL STEM CEiLLS

FUGITIVE PIECES

Anne Michaels

ISOLATION OF CYSTIC FIBROSIS GENE

1827

Lap-Chee Tsui, Manuel Buchwald, Jack Riordan

STEPHEN LEACOCK

Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town

THE CITIZEN LAB

Ronald Deibert

University of Toronto Established

Northrop Frye

The new viewbook for prospective students.

Water Kohn

Brian Kernighan (contr.)

Don Tapscott (contr.)

WIKINOMICS

Surprise

MEASHA BRUEGGERGOSMAN

Jeffrey Buttle

Yoshio Masui

DENSITY FUNCTIONAL THEORY

The Handmaid’s Tale

THE C PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE

IMAX PROJECTOR

Graeme Ferguson (contr.)

Drake & Alan Brown

PABLUM Frederick Tisdall, Theodore

MARGARET ATWOOD

George Elliot Clarke

DEGRASSI SERIES

Linda Schuyler

KYOTO PRIZE FOR STUDIES IN CELL COMMUNICATION Tony Pawson

The Fly

sAsC COSMETICS M Victor Casale

Edward S. Rogers

(contr.)

The Tipping Point

ODYSSEYS HOME: MAPPING AFRICAN CANADIAN LITERATURE

Lewis Urry

WORLD’S FIRST BATTERY-LESS BROADCASTING STATION

WORLD’S FIRST SINGLE LUNG TRANSPLANT Griffith Pearson & Joel Cooper

MALCOLM GLADWELL

DAVID CRONENBERG

ALKALINE BATTERY

MUNK CENTRE FOR INT’L STUDIES Janice Gross Stein

LINDA HUTCHEON

Bertram Brockhouse

Amy Sky

Creative Class

ROBERTSON DAVIES

Fifth Business

COOL RAIN

Jeffrey Skoll (contr.)

RICHARD FLORIDA The Rise of the

Irony’s Edge

NEUTRON SPECTROSCOPY

ALLIGATOR PIE

Dennis Lee

Frederick Banting, Charles Best, J.J.R. Macleod, J.B. Collip

eBAY

ALZHEIMER’S VACCINE

Peter St. George-Hyslop

PROTEIN MATURATION PROMOTING ANTI-BLACK-OUT SUIT FACTOR Wilbur Franks

ANATOMY OF CRITICISM Persona

ISABEL BAYRAKDARIAN

INSULIN

NOBEL PRIZE FOR MEDICINE

Frank Henry & Ralph Pounsett

Joyous Light

FIRST CAR RADIO

Frederick B anting and J.J.R. Macleod

MARSHALL MCLUHAN

Jayna Hefford, Lori Dupuis & Vicky Sunohara

POEMS FOR PEOPLE

NORMAN JEWISON

In the Heat of the Night

OLYMPIC GOLD WOMEN’S ICE HOCKEY

Dorothy Livesay

LITHIUM BATTERY

Continued on page 3

Margaret MacMillan

The Sweet Hereafter

LIONA BOYD

IN FLANDERS FIELDS John McCrae

PARIS 1919

John Polanyi

Charles E. Saunders

FIRST CANADIAN TO WIN AN OLYMPIC GOLD AND BRONZE George Orton “The Global Village” Expression

NOBEL PRIZE FOR DYNAMICS OF CHEMICAL KINETICS Kay Worthington

No Logo

Lewis Urry

James Guillet

NAOMI KLEIN

Kenneth Oppel

Isabel Bayrakdarian (contr.)

ROHINTON MISTRY

Frank Henry Paul B. Dilworth & Winnett Boyd Pounsett

AIRBORN

Samantha Nutt & Eric Hoskins

THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS SOUNDTRACK

A Fine B alance

Davidson Black

Alan Hudson & Sus an MacKinnon

STAPLES THESIS

Eli Franklin Burton, Cecil Hall, James Hillier, Albert Prebus

John Mighton

Daniel Hill

Harold Innis

Mark Kingwell

John Cunningham McLennan

W.G. Bigelow

Donald Sutherland (contr.)

Lorne Michaels

WORLD’S FIRST NERVE TRANSPLANT

Arthur Schawlow (contr.)

The Affluent Society

James Orbinski (contr.)

Ian Shelton

Bruce Kidd

W.T. Tutte

SUPERNOVA SHELTON

ANDROMEDA II S. Van den Bergh

Tak Wah Mak

M*A*S*H NOBEL PEACE PRIZE TO DOCTORS SATURDAY WITHOUT BORDERS NIGHT LIVE WAR CHILD CANADA TUTTE THEOREM

The English Patient

Johnny Wayne & Frank Shuster

international Viewbook 2010/11

MICHAEL ONDAATJE

BOOM BUST & ECHO

Raymond Heimbecker

FIRST BETTER LIVING COMPLETE HEART VALVE TRANSPLANT

Raymond Parker (contr.)

David Foot

U of T has launched a new outreach initiative for prospective students in the 2009-2010 academic year.

There are two new viewbooks for international and domestic applicants, and revitalized admissions websites for each of T-CELL RECEPTOR the three campuses.

GENES CLONING The Office of Strategic ComADVANCEMENT munications conducted a survey COMMONWEALTH GAMES GOLD 6 MI. JOHN KENNETH amongst high-school students THE LASER ONTARIO last year, asking them what— Continued on pageGALBRAITH 2 HUMAN RIGHTS FIRST ELECTRICAL COMMISSION if anything—they knew about CARDIAC PACEMAKER PEKING UofT, and what they would CANADA’S FIRST MAN like THE MYTH JET ENGINE COSMIC OF ABILITY to know. Based on the results, RAYS the VicePHOTOProvost’s office and TWO FIRST ELECTRON Student DEGRADABLE Recruitment compiled OLYMPIC PLASTIC MICROSCOPE IN GOLDS the viewbooks and websites.

NORTH AMERICA ROWING The layout and design were done by Kaldor Brand Strategy, a Vancouver-based private marketing firm. MARQUIS WHEAT A common objection to all such advertising initiatives is, of course, that they rarely add anything new. All-too-often, ATOM EGOYAN the same things are rehashed

Entries in the listing are chosen by an international council of big names in the contemporary world of philosophy. Last year marked the 28th collection assembled for the Philosopher’s Annual and was the first top ten WAYNE & list to include someone currently SHUSTER COMEDY employed by U of T. Other notaDUO ble winners are Ian Hacking and

POLIO VACCINE

This week, U of T’s Philosophy Department has put another trophy up on its wall of growing accolades. Vice-President and Provost, and former Philosophy professor, Cheryl Misak, has had her article “Experience, Narrative and Ethical Deliberation” listed in the Philosopher’s Annual top ten essays for 2008.

This is your last chance to see 91 St. George. The building that housed CIUT and SEC will be demolished this Friday, Oct. 16, to make way for Rotman’s expansion plans.

New U of T campaign sells

Misak scores a perfect 10 DAN CRAIG

ALEX NURSALL

Continued on page 2

NATALIE RAE DUBOIS

U of T is now the 29th best university in the world, according to the Times Higher Education - QS World University Rankings for 2009. The list, published on October 8th at www.topuniversities.com, sifts through the over 9,000 worldwide institutions recognized as universities to rank the 621 best. According to QS World University Rankings, Harvard is still the top university in the world with Cambridge and Yale at #2 and #3 respectively.

McGill continues to outrank U of T as the top Canadian uni-

versity overall. Still, all this may very well be besides the point as U of T finds pride in the hidden details of the list.

Times Higher Education (THE) compiles each top university list by considering a variety of factors and weighing the overall score against other institutions. The three critical points of interest that together account for 80% of the overall grade are academic peer review, student faculty ratio, and citations per faculty. The remaining 20% is split between employer review and international faculty and student consideration.

WORLD CHAMPION TITLE FIGURE SKATING

ANDREW GYORKOS

the news

2

October 15, 2009

U of T’s new U of T makes outreach initiative THE grade

BEER • WINGS • POOL • JAVA SPORTS • JUKEBOX • SPIRITS

continued from page 1

continued from page 1 under a veneer of self-promoting graphics and photo-ops. In this case, there is a genuine, significant improvement in the nature and quality of information presented to applicants.

Even a cursory glance through either of the viewbooks shows how seamlessly and accessibly everything has been organized; this becomes even more pronounced when one compares it to previous years’ publications.

In addition to the usual info on tuition fees and residence options, both viewbooks include things like faculty-profiles, details about surrounding neighbourhoods, campus activities, and even a section called “A Day in the Life of U of T”. The website has an extensive selection of videos about the university’s history and student life, as well as virtual tours of constituent colleges.

The importance of such things to those who have no previous experience of Toronto is undeniable.

The initiative has only been put in place this year, so it is still too early to gauge its effectiveness. However, the website has seen steady traffic since being uploaded, and there was an encouraging response when

viewbooks were handed out at the Ontario Universities’ Fair last month.

Janet Hurd, U of T’s Director of Student Recruitment, is confident that the revitalized look will bring positive results: “We have really attempted to engage prospective students in a personal way,” she says. “The information that was available previously had been running in the same format for ten years.

It had become a mere recitation of details. We felt that it was time to provide a more realistic, in-depth snapshot of the university.”

Hurd adds that the initiative should not be taken simply as an attempt to increase enrollment. “The number of applicants is as robust as ever,” she says. “We just want to do our best to ensure that the highestcalibre students have all the knowledge to figure out whether they belong here.”

The viewbooks are available at various locations around campus, like the Admissions and Awards Office or the Nona McDonald Visitors Centre.

The links to the viewbooks as well as three new websites can be found at http://www.discover.students.utoronto.ca/.

universities does not necessarily offer an honest reflection of the individual broad faculties that comprise them.

U of T offers a great example of this anomaly; we’re ranked #11 in Arts and Humanities, #8 in Engineering and Technology, #11 in Life Sciences and Biomedicine, #14 in Natural Sciences, and #15 in Social Sciences, yet the whole is apparently worth considerably less than the sum of its parts considering U of T’s placement overall.

Another startling example is found in the University of California Berkeley, ranked ten spots below U of T at #39, but comfortably sitting in the top five of each broad faculty. On the other end of the spectrum is University College London, ranked #4 overall regardless of being well below both U of T and Berkeley in each broad faculty.

“U of T’s global strength is the breadth of our leadership,” says U of T President David Naylor. “Many research universities build their reputation on one or two areas of strength. That’s why it’s gratifying that academic peers rank us in the top 15 across all major fields surveyed.”

U of T takes far more pride in its individual faculty rankings than its overall position, and its students should too. Such high, balanced scores across the broad faculties are worth more than any overall position. “When a student looks at international institutions for graduate school, it is important that their U of T degree measures up,” says Steiner.

“Only five or six universities in the world consistently rank in the top 16 in every field. We’re proud to be one of them.”

Helene Goderis

Weekly Events: Man vs. Martini MONDAYS Toonie TUESDAY

Good tunes, good variety. hilarious host and free stuff@9pm

Thirsty THURSDAY (Pitcher Special)

B.U.R.P! FRIDAY

Managing Editor

(Big Ugly Rockin’ Party)

Dan Craig

Arts Editor

News Editor

Miki Sato

Amy Stupavsky

Layout Editor

Illustrations Editor

Natalie Rae Dubois

Every time since 9T6!

Open Mike WEDNESDAY

the newspaper Editor-in-Chief

Serving up a good time

Live Music SATURDAY

The best acts from our open mike take the stage @ 9pm

Mike Winters

Photo Editor Alex Nursall

Free Pool & Comedy SUNDAY

Contributors

ginger coons, Mey Fung, Andrew Gyorkos, Thomas Mantel, Tejas Parasher, Tim Ryan, Amina Stella, Stacey Upton

Toronto’s funniest people take the stage @8pm!

Business Manager Taylor Ramsay ads@thenewspaper.ca

the newspaper 1 Spadina Crescent, Suite 245 Toronto, ON M5S 1A1 Editorial: 416-593-1552 thenewspaper@gmail.com the newspaper is U of T’s independent weekly paper, published by Planet Publications Inc., a non-profit corporation.

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

the newspaper in good company

Join us!

Come to our 5pm writers’ meeting every Thursday. Free chicken wings.

All Day Breakfast and Canadian Tire Money at par every weekend!

Games Room with

the news

October 15, 2009

3

the brief the brief

Misak gets an A+ on her Philosophy paper cont’d from page 1 Mohan Matthen who were both honoured in the list before taking jobs at U of T. “It’s well known amongst philosophers,” says Misak of the list.

“Outside of the world of academic philosophy, it’s not a big deal at all.” We reached her via phone from her snowy hometown of Lethbridge, Alberta. She had just returned from Oslo, Norway, where she served as an opponent to a defending PhD candidate in what she praised as a rigorous examination.

Misak was appointed VicePresident and Provost of U of T in February of this year. When asked about how she manages to write prominent philosophy articles while juggling her administrative duties, Misak says she wakes up early and writes for 30 minutes before checking her emails.

“I didn’t even know what philosophy was when I first went to university,” says Misak. “I took a course in philosophy because it suited my schedule.” Something grabbed hold of her and

she majored in philosophy for her undergrad at the University of Lethbridge. She went on to get her M.A. at Columbia University in New York, and her PhD at Oxford, doing philosophy all the way through.

In her featured article, Misak recounts her experience in an intensive care unit after suffering from organ failure for almost a month. The physicians who cared for her continued to consult her and include her in decisions about the care she was receiving. After she was released from the hospital, Misak felt that in retrospect she was not in the right state of mind to be included in these discussions.

Much of her article talks about how patients in intensive care should be consulted less, but most of the article is about the philosophical reasons why doctors should listen to stories like hers. She claims that the medical community is too often more concerned with double-blind clinical trials and the results of social science surveys, and doesn’t pay

enough attention to the stories, or narratives, of patients who have experienced the fate of being critically ill.

Misak complains that narratives, like hers about her experience in the hospital, are often dismissed on the grounds that they are flimsy, exaggerated, or possibly dishonest. While narratives can have these qualities, she says, they can also be held up to scrutiny and critical analysis. Misak stresses that narratives are the only way that we can convey our experiences to each other, and are also essential to how we form ethical judgments.

“If you think the experiences that people have are not able to rationally stand up on their own, there is then no right and wrong in morals and politics,” says Misak. “Anything goes. And that is a very dangerous attitude.”

You can check out Misak’s article, along with the other nine selections for 2009, at the Philosopher’s Annual at www.philosophersannual.org.

the campus

the world

the local

the weird

U of T struck a deal with McMaster University, allowing Mac students and faculty free access to the university’s network of library resources. While U of T recently implemented a $200 annual library usage fee for academics not affiliated with the university, the agreement will promote collaboration between the two institutions and saves Mac a pretty penny.

This November at Exhibition Place, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Al Gore will be speaking at the 2009 Allstream Global Forum on how changes in the global economy are altering the environment. Proceeds from the Toronto event will be going to the David Suzuki Foundation.

Intel, one of the world’s leading microchip manufacturers, forecasts that the company is coming out of the recession.

The firm’s net income dropped from $2B last year to $1.9B this year. Intel’s CEO responded: “The momentum in the current climate, plus our product leadership, gives us confidence about our business prospects to go forward.”

Facebook foils again! A fugitive wanted for fraud by US authorities was caught after he revealed his location through a series of elaborate Facebook updates.

Maxi Sopo broadcasted that he was living it up in a Mexican resort, having a blast with his buddies. His vacation was rudely interrupted when he was arrested

by Mexican authorities.

-Amina Stella

ATTENTION FULL-TIME UNDERGRADS

IMPORTANT INFORMATION about your Health and Dental Plans.

If

you are a full-time undergraduate student at the Mississauga or St. George campus, you are automatically enrolled in the U.T.S.U. Health and Dental Plans. If you have alternate coverage (other than OHIP or UHIP) you may apply for a refund of these fees.

TO OPT-OUT: Go to www.studentplans.ca and select U.T.S.U.

DEADLINE: October 16, 2009

If you have questions please contact: dan@utsu.ca

the inside

4

October 15, 2009

the campus comment

the science

Tim Ryan pays the doctor a visit

the newspaper accosted students as they shopped for posters at Sid Smith to find out what the hell they were thinking when they walked up to those posters.

“As a mother of two, I like what this poster is hawking. In my house, I keep the JD right beside the baby formula.”

Katrina, Psychology

“If I had this in my room, guys would love me.”

Chiara, Psychology

“I really identify with Kenny Bradshaw.” [Sadly, Sex in the City had sold out by the time Andre reached the cash] Andre, European History

HELENE GODERIS

“The periodic table of mixology doesn’t have a whole lot of artistic value, but I like that it panders to a freshman’s need for constant inebriation.”

Conor, Chemical Physics

“The poster is very even-handed. It hits all religions and philosophies.”

Tejas, newspaper man

“Using a new technology on an old theme. I like the contrast between the working class and the 3D.” Ian, Phys Ed

wirelesswave.ca wirelesswave.ca

A few weeks ago I wrote a column with the purpose of deciphering the contracting information being released by the media regarding the H1N1 influenza virus. As the weeks have passed, I have continued to read numerous reports made public regarding the intensity of the symptoms of this flu virus as well as potential dates when vaccinations will be made available. I’m kind of getting tired of reading about this pandemic in newspapers. Thus, I went to my family doctor to seek answers to whether I’m screwed if I get swine flu, and to get a tuberculosis test, as it’s required to work in SickKids Hospital.

“TB stage 2?” - Doctor “Yup. How are ya?” - Tim “You know, same old.”

“So, am I done if I get swine flu, as an asthmatic aren’t I at a higher risk of developing really serious symptoms or complica-

“Yeah there’s going to be a vaccine, we just aren’t sure right now of when we are going to get our hands on it. Stay in touch and I will let you know when I have a better idea. Right now there are talks of early December but even that could be moved up, we will know soon.”

“What should I do if I get [H1N1]?”

“Rest and recover like you would a normal flu, if you have any increased difficulty in breathing, or if you become very irritable, or vomiting a lot, if your fever won’t subside and gets really high then get medical assistance right away. You had the first test in your left arm?”

“Yeah.”

“Give me your right arm, look away.”

I’m generally alright with needles, I always look away, go to my happy place, and almost encourage the pain, but

“

I am not going to hide in my bomb-shelter this flu season.

tions?”

My doctor laughs, “As an asthmatic you should watch out, but it’s not that bad.”

I now have a half-joking, half-perplexed look on my face, “Why were you laughing?”

A smile fills his face, “I wasn’t laughing at you. The question just caught me off guard. And your language is so eloquent...”

I chuckle, “But seriously, how bad is this thing?”

“It is a little more severe than other seasonal flu viruses, but it’s not going to kill the masses.

The flu kills people every year, this flu will do the same, but we’ve already seen that it isn’t anything to be petrified of.”

“So, is there a vaccine I should be getting?”

”

this time it really hurt for some reason. It felt like every muscle in my body contracted, I concentrated on how hard I was curling my toes.

“That one really hurt.”

“You’ll live. See you Thursday [to read the test].”

The more I talk to medical professionals and medical students about the swine flu, the more passive they become when speaking about it. Those whom I know personally practically roll their eyes when I ask about its severity, it’s like I’m asking if the world is ending. I trust them, and so I am not going to hide in my bomb-shelter this flu season, but I am still fearful of getting it, as an asthmatic.

The Friends of the Library, Trinity College

34th Annual Book Sale October 23 – 27, 2009 Friday October 23: 4 pm –9 pm (Admission $5)

Saturday October 24: 10 am – 8pm Sunday October 25: noon – 8pm Monday October 26: 10 am – 8pm Tuesday October 27: 10 am – 8pm (no admission charge Sat – Tues)

cash · cheque · debit · Amex · Mastercard · Visa

Visit Visitlovethephone.com lovethephone.comforforcontest contestdetails.* details.*

6 Hoskin Avenue, upstairs in Seeley Hall Museum, St George Subway, or Wellesley Bus 94 to the door www.trinity.utoronto.ca/booksale

* For * For fullfull contest contest rules rules andand regulations, regulations, please please visit visit lovethephone.com/rules_and_regulations lovethephone.com/rules_and_regulations 21010391 21010391 Music_6x6.21_GAU.indd Music_6x6.21_GAU.indd1 1

9/28/09 9/28/094:49 4:49 PMPM

416 · 978 · 6750

the inside

October 15, 2009

5

It may not be the Ark of the Covenant, but the next best thing has arrived for a limited time at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM). The Ten Commandments Scroll, one of the oldest surviving copies of those biblical laws, is on view for 80 hours from October 10 to 18, as a part of the Dead Sea Scrolls: Words that Changed the World exhibit.

The fruit of the ROM’s two and a half year negotiations with the Israel Antiquities Authority, the display represents the Ten Commandments Scroll’s only international stop before it returns to the Holy Land. The scroll’s sensitivity to light and humidity explains its fleeting engagement.

“It’s a one shot deal,” said Dr. Risa Levitt Kohn, curator of the exhibition.

Arguably the most famous and influential passages from the Bible, the Ten Commandments still resonate as a moral compass, even in our largely secular society.

“The text of the Ten Commandments is so well known, even if you’re not a religious

person,” said Levitt Kohn.

“When times are tough, people turn to all kinds of things for inspiration. It shows you that people had the same kinds of concerns 2,000 years ago as they do today.”

Showcased in a separate space from the rest of the scrolls, the exhibit snakes through an informative pastiche of facts and images, situating the scroll in its historical context.

William Thorsell, ROM Director and CEO, said in his opening remarks at the scroll’s unveiling that Toronto, as a crossroads of many faiths and cultures, was the right place in the world to display the scroll and discuss its shared history.

One of the greatest archeological finds of the twentieth century, the Dead Sea Scrolls were unearthed between 1947 and 1956 in 11 caves near Khirbet Qumran, on the northwestern shores of the Dead Sea. Originally discovered by Bedouin goat-herders, the scrolls, which date from approximately 250 BCE - 68 CE, are ancient manuscripts containing some of the oldest surviving examples of biblical books, hymns, and prayers. As the earliest record of

biblical patriarchs and prophets, they represent a common link among the Abrahamic faiths.

A small and unassuming sheet of leather parchment, the Ten Commandments Scroll was uncovered in 1952 in Cave 4.

The scroll is written in Hebrew and dates to 30-1 BCE. It contains the Ten Commandments text from Deuteronomy 5 and is the best preserved of all the discovered Deuteronomy manuscripts. Experts believe that the scroll may have been intended as a prayer leaflet, due to its portability and its range of Deuteronomy verses.

More than 16,000 people have seen the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit since its June 27, 2009 opening, a testament to its continued relevance.

“We hope that people will leave having learned something, not just having seen something,” said Levitt Kohn. “It really is a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

It will certainly make keeping up with the Indiana Joneses that much easier.

The Ten Commandments Scroll will be on view until Oct. 18, 2009. Dead Sea Scrolls: Words that Changed the World runs through Jan. 3, 2010.

Fragments of Dead Sea Scroll

AMY STUPAVSKY

amy stupavsky

COURTESY OF THE ROM

Thou Shalt Visit the ROM: Ten Commandments Scroll on Display

ROM Director and CEO William Thorsell welcomes the Ten Commandments Scroll to Toronto

temping in tinseltown

LA travel tip: Don’t visit Burbank, unless you want to go on a studio tour, or belt out tunes with porn stars at karaoke bars.

That being said, the pedestrianunfriendly shithole does have a few hidden gems, like Frank’s Steak House.

If word-of-mouth popularity didn’t bless this local staple, out-of-towners wouldn’t give it a second glance, turned off by its drab exterior. But stepping inside transports you to a cinematic ‘60s mom-and-pop diner: Lining the all-glass facade are table booths with scruffy, brown leather seats and scratched dark veneer tables; a defunct jukebox sits in a far corner; a waitress, who may as well be wearing a dress uniform, serves coffee and pie to patrons seated on fountain stools that surround the countertop. Much like the average patron, the atmosphere is that of a jovial geriatric whose visible scars carry countless life lessons. Hollywood has long cashed in on its film-set potential - Gigli was shot here, and CSI: Las Vegas is a regular patron. The person I was to see today chose the meeting spot, and - surprise! - He’s a film-

maker.

Javier looks and laments like every other filmmaker friend of mine; bespectacled and with a lean frame, the twenty-nine year old Puerto-Rican native talks about the age-old struggle of being an artist. The top Full Sail graduate and fledgling comedy writer/director currently works at a post-production house.

He talks about the five million dollar movie his friend almost made; an HBO distribution deal for a low-budget feature another friend almost landed. Javier works with an ex-assistant of Christopher Nolan’s. Fingers crossed, someday, maybe, hopefully, Javier will get a project off the ground with a friend who happens to be Michael Madsen’s nephew. Such stories highlight a maddening yet pervasive phenomenon that’s unique in the “biz” - the ‘Hollywood Near-Go’, if you will.

While six degrees may separate you from every person on the planet, chances are, as a Hollywood hopeful, only your boss and, say, an agent stand in the way between you and Natalie Portman’s derriere (… and her intellect, wit, and - did I

MIKE WINTERS

Former Editor Moe Abbas writes back from Hollywood

mention she has a great personality? Etc.) Exciting for celebrity stalkers, but for filmmakers, whose preferred victims are development executives and distributors, such a close proximity can induce ulcers and sudden “aspirations” of becoming an accountant. Because having connections and the creative chops doesn’t equate to a sealed deal - “breaking in” doesn’t equate to staying in - for oodles of reasons that include change of company management, stars pulling out because of scheduling conflicts, fading cultural trends/fads (e.g. the cyclical obsession with vam-

pires) that curse great ideas into unmarketable ones… In an elusive nutshell: Timing and pure, dumb, luck.

We leave our tips, and say

our goodbyes; on our way out we pass elderly storytellers, and other young diners who, perhaps, also wish to be more than shadows on a film set.

HART HART HOUSE HOUSE HAIR HAIR PLACE PLACE Finest Cutting and Style Colour and Highlights

7 HART HOUSE CIRCLE

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

EXCELLENT WORK & REASONABLE RATES

the arts

6

Students’ Union University of Toronto

October 15, 2009

FALL

2009

e c i t o N s n o i t c e El eration of Students

Local 98 • Canadian Fed

The University of Toronto Students’ Union (U.T.S.U.) is holding by-elections for positions on its Board of Directors representing the following constituencies: Position Faculty of Dentistry OISE St. Michael’s College Toronto School of Theology Transitional Year Program Faculty of Engineering (to be confirmed)

Seat(s) 1 1 1 1 1 1

For eligibility requirements, please consult the University of Toronto Students’ Union’s Election Procedure Code, Article III – Candidate Eligibility (available online at www.utsu.ca). Note that all candidates will be required to attend the All-Candidates meeting to be scheduled soon. For more information about the All-Candidates meeting, please consult the University of Toronto Students’ Union’s Election Procedure Code, Article V – All-Candidates Meeting.

Important Dates: Election Nomination Period

Election Campaign Period Election Voting Period

Friday, October 16 at 09:00 to Wed, October 21 at 17:00 Monday, October 26 at 12:00 to Thurs, October 29 at 18:00 Wednesday, October 28 at 10:00 to Thurs, October 29 at 18:00

Nomination Pick-up & Drop-off Times & Locations:

The U of T Students’ Union represents all full-time undergraduates at St. George and Mississauga campuses.

U.T.S.U. provides important services such as Health & Dental Plans, book bursaries, clubs funding and discounted TTC Metropasses. Your Students’ Union also represents students to the central U of T administration and government, advocates for students’ rights, and connects students across all campuses to work on common goals, campaigns and social programming.

University of Toronto Students’ Union 12 Hart House Circle Monday - Thursday, 09:00 to 17:00 Fridays, 09:00 to 16:00 Weekends: CLOSED

For more information, visit our Students’ Union website at www.utsu.ca or contact the Chief Returning Officer at cro@utsu.ca Please note that, at the time of this publication, “University of Toronto Students’ Union” and/or “U.T.S.U.” refers to the Students’ Administrative Council of the University of Toronto, Inc. (”SAC”)

the arts

October 15, 2009

7

Sex, drugs, and Rochdale The ‘60s was about free love, free spirits, and free...education? Rochdale College first opened its doors in 1968 amidst the age of peace, love, and happiness. The eighteen-floor apartment building on the corner of Huron and Bloor was once an experimental studentrun co-op, offering alternative education. The concept for the building involved students and teachers living together, able to share their knowledge in a democratic and structure-free environment. The building was divided into rooms that were adjoined by a communal washroom, kitchen, and living room.

Due to the government regulations at the time, Rochdale was also a legal location for the use of marijuana, hash, LSD, and mescaline.

As North America’s largest free university, Rochdale College did not subscribe to any of the traditional techniques of teaching. The school even offered “non-degrees”, where a “non-B.A.” cost $25.00 and just required that you say something; a “non-M.A.” was $50.00, requiring that you to say something logical; and a “non-Ph.D.” cost a measly $100.00 and asked that you say something useful. The school

closed in 1975 due to financial and legal issues.

Coach House Press was closely associated with Rochdale College. The Press, located behind the building on bpNichol Lane on the outskirts of the University of Toronto campus, was founded just years before the school. In 1965, the Press gave students the opportunity to print works, such as yearbook advertisements, Draft Dodgers, and diplomas. The Coach House Press was known for its support of progressive writers who challenged convention.

The Press had been deemed by students of Rochdale as “a refuge for the refused, an asylum for the aesthete, a sanctuary for the scribe.”

University of Toronto Art Centre (UTAC) is hosting an exhibit on Rochdale College until October 31. The exhibit outlines the carefree nature and progressive educational techniques of the school. It allows us to question what the school, a creation of radical hippie idealism, means to us today.

Relax in comfortable leather seats in the UTAC art lounge while watching ALT, a two and half minute film by Paul J. Kneale, depicting scenes of audiences--some clothed and some not--enjoying music festivals in the ‘60s. Other attrac-

tions include “The Riddle of Poetry: a labyrinth video-lecture on experience and other things”

by Jol Thomson, a lecture accompanied by kaleidoscope images. Glass enclosures feature original Toronto Daily Star newspapers from 1968 that include such headlines as, “Everything From Zen to Sex & Jazz: a search for sudden insight” and “Rochdale: The College Where Student Power Runs Everything.” Before completing your tour through the exhibit, gaze into the sinister eyes of the Mona Lisa remake.

If the historical elements of the college do not catch your interest, the psychedelic colours and opera music may do the trick. You will leave the exhibit dreaming of a time when you were expected to leave school high.

For a full listing of events and free classes offered during the exhibit, visit www.utac.utoronto.ca.

Rochdale College looms over Bloor.

ALEX NURSALL

STACEY UPTON

ALEX NURSALL

UTAC revisits Rochdale in this month’s exhibit

Visit UTAC to take a trip down memory lane.

The idler’s review Ohbijou a jewel Just over a year ago, Joshua Glenn and U of T’s own Mark Kingwell came out with The Idler’s Glossary. In the spirit of idling and procrastion, we decided to wait until now to release this review.

Kingwell’s introduction proposes that a lax way of living is superior to its stressful alternative, while Glenn compiles words and expressions associated with this lifestyle of freetime and leisure.

These fanciful notions appeal to many of us students with hectic schedules wish were a reality. I read The Idler’s Glossary on the train en route to an appointment, while at the same time, idly noting down points of interest. Those wondering if it is a feasible read - the book is only 132 pages, and illustrations (by cartoonist, Seth) are dispersed throughout. I tested it to be a perfectly suitable length for a round-trip train ride within the city.

I sat down with Professor

Mark Kingwell, associate chair of U of T’s Philosophy Department, to get some insight on his playful philosophies. Underneath his humour is a seriousness in his adherence to an idler’s truth: “Idling can be a normative away from work.”

While Kingwell promotes the idea of shaking off the obligatory feel of a 9 to 5 by adopting an idle attitude, he also acknowledges that such a lifestyle is difficult to defend, especially since it isn’t (or rather, doesn’t seem to be) an option for many.

Kingwell believes that many of us could spend more time idling, even while coping with a surge of papers and midterms.

According to Kingwell, “Even work can be idling, when you love it from the inside.” If we look about it that way, idling just might be the solution to dealing with all those assignments.

Kingwell gave the newspaper the scoop: A sequel to The Idler’s Glossary, titled The Wage-Slave Glossary, is in the works, and planned for release Spring 2010.

GINGER COONS Ohbijou is the soundtrack to you first high school romance.

Their sound is powerful but tenuous, both passionate and uncertain. With sweet vocals, delicate xylophone and a driving underlay of cello, their music manages to feel monumental and personal all at once.

On Oct. 8, disciples in skinny jeans, white shoes, and ironic haircuts packed Hart House’s Arbor Room, eager to hear the sweet strains on offer. The concert was one of a series put on by the Hart House Music Committee. While the music of Ohbijou is more at home to sitting with a good beer and good company than getting up and dancing, feet were tapped and heads bobbed. The occasional finger dance could even be seen.

The band--led by Brantford, Ont. native Casey Mecija--has just finished an international tour and is gearing up for a trip across the country. In the last year, Ohbijou has played such high profile events as the Virgin

Festival and Montreal’s Osheaga. When asked about her venue preferences, Mecija proved even-handed, but professed, “We love basement shows.

There’s an intimacy there.”

Embarking on a national tour, Mecija stressed the importance of playing in diverse cities: “There’s a perception of being Toronto-centric, that the world, our province, revolves around Toronto. You get so consumed in your scene that you forget you need to tour.”

Despite her Brantford heritage and zeal for touring, Mecija has a soft spot for Toronto: “I love Toronto. It’s such a beautiful city. I think some people from Toronto are scared to say they love it.”

Though critically acclaimed and highly respected, Ohbijou can’t help but attract certain descriptors. “We’ve been called cute, twee [a word synonymous with sweet, often attached to British Indie].” Nevertheless, Mecija takes it all in stride: “We don’t object to being called anything. We take it with a grain of

salt.”

Having just released Friends in Bellwoods 2, a collaborative album featuring such other indie notables as the Acorn and d’Urbervilles, Mecija isn’t stopping, using concerts to spur sales of the album, the proceeds of which go to the Daily Bread Food Bank.

Ohbijou will be playing The Montreal House in Peterborough on Oct. 16 and Dublin Street United Church in Guelph on Oct. 17, before moving on to Quebec and the Maritimes.

ginger coons

MEY FUNG

the backpage

October 15, 2009

the crossword Across

Down

1. Snoopy’s comic strip 3. First book of the bible, or Enlish rock band 6. Intriguing 9. Penny 11. Fewest 12. He wrote 8 Down 16. US slang for a $10 bill 18. Picks up on 19. Paddle 20. Digs out 21. They speak louder than words 23. Classify 24. What 7 Down often is 27. Ancient instrument 30. Altoids are curiously strong ones 31. Day of the week 32. A braid of tightly woven hair

1. Sons of kings 2. Beatles song “ Back in the ____” 4. Film genre 5. Long steps 7. Frozen water 8. “____ Amatoria” 10. January 1st marks its beginning 13. Conquest 14. Seethes 15. 2009 movie “___ of Play” 17. Tiny Greek island in the Western Aegean Sea 18. Gun lover’s club 20. Analyse 22. Unique 25. Spike or Ang 26. URL ender 28. Ubiquitous Music Player 29. Hurdle

MIKE WINTERS

ANDREW GYORKOS

8

Answer key for 10/8/09 ACROSS

DOWN

1. CELLAR

2. ENIGMATIC

4. RETRO

3. LAPSE

9. BLIMP

4. REACTIONS

10. THREATENS

5. TRENT

11. COMPETE

6. OBSCENE

12. POTATOE

7. ABACUS

13. SATED

8. TRIP

15. ALLFORONE

10. TEEBALL

18. ROCKSOLID

14. DESPARATE

19. SANER

16. LADDERS

21. PROCEED

17. ORNAMENTS

24. EXHUMES

18. RAPPERS

26. ENTRANCES

20. RASCAL

27. MANIA

22. OTTER

28. SPREE

23. DUCK

29. THRASH

25. HOMER