the newspaper The University of Toronto’s Independent Weekly
Since 1978
VOL XXXV Issue 2 • September 13, 2012
THIS HOUSE Campus police: do what we CAN’T SURVIVE ‘will normally do’ ON HART ALONE Advising students to take precautions Hart House increases student fees, limits student clubs access to west wing Sebastian Greenholtz & Mackenzie Blyth Hart House, the cross-campus centre for student programming and facilities since 1919, proposed a deficit budget for the 2012-13 school year. The calculated costs running the centre for the year have exceeded the revenue generated from student fees by half a million dollars, room rentals, and senior memberships to use Hart House. Initiatives to solve the deficit could lead to devastating reductions in services offered by the centre. Financially independent from the University, Hart House has periodically faced budget problems, with revenue falling in 2009 and again in 2011, mirroring economic crises and recessions nationally. In order to increase revenue, Hart House raised student fees for the 2012-2013 school year by 5.3 per cent, which translates to $75.43 per full time student. Even with this increase, the total revenue of Hart House dropped by $150,000. As additional revenue sources, Hart House charges any
group except campus clubs to use the centre’s facilities, including faculty conferences or seminars. Many alumni also book the space for weddings and memorial services, as the neoGothic building remains both at the literal and figurative heart of the University. Given the building’s historical significance, it is not surprising that the single largest drain on the Hart House budget comes from maintenance costs. The almost century-old building is designated as an official historic site, an honour that requires constant upkeep to ensure its habitability in the modern era. While an engineering study commissioned by Hart House concluded proper stewardship would require a budget of $2 million, the 2012-2013 budget only allocates $1.3 million for maintenance. As Bruce Kidd, Warden and Administrative Head of Hart House, lamented, “deferring maintenance” for lack of funds remains a chronic problem for Hart House and U of T in gener-
see page 3
Olga Taratuta & Jordan Harcourt
Recent sexual assaults have prompted students and residents in the surrounding area to ask what the University of Toronto is doing to make campus safer for students? According to Sam D’Angelo, manager of the Campus Police, the officers will continue to “do what we normally do” in response to the recent attacks. Their presence has proved effective in the past, most recently at Emmanuel College, where Campus Police made a timely arrest following a sexual assault in the college building. The Campus Police are dedicated to ensuring the wellbeing of their students.
Campus Police offer a variety of services for student safety, such as WalkSmart, which provides students with an escort for walks around campus and nearby TTC stops. Although WalkSmart does have hours of availability, officers are always available for a walk when students are off-duty. Emergency call centers are located throughout campus--180 such centers can be found underground, in parking lots, and throughout surrounding buildings. While it can be daunting to call in for help, D’Angelo asserts that students ought to feel confident in contacting Campus Police whenever they are not entirely confident on their secu-
the newspaper supports St. George Street pedestrianisation
see page 3
2
^
the briefs Lap dances deserve tax exemption
What can really be considered art? Nite Moves strip club in Albany, New York argued in court this week that lap dances are an art form and should be exempt from state taxes. According to the club, lap dances are “live dramatic or musical art performances,” comparing them to theatre or ballet, and should not have to pay the $124,000 owed to the state tax department. However, on Wednesday in the New York Court of a state attorney argued that the dance routines at Nite Moves were not “choreographed performances” and the club dancers had no formal dance training. New York’s top court will decide and make known its decision within a month.
Former politician splits time between U of T and Harvard
Michael Ignatieff, former Liberal leader, took on a halftime professorship at the Munk School of Global Affairs at the U of T this month and Harvard Kennedy School in January. In addition to becoming Liberal leader in 2009, Ignatieff has written a number of books, editorials,
see page 2
2
THE EDITORIAL
September 13, 2012
Roads. Where we’re going, we don’t need roads. Let’s test the potential of pedestrian-only St. George Street Yukon Damov When UTSU President Shaun Shepherd announced during the election campaign last spring that turning St. George Street into a pedestrian-only zone would be a major plank of his platform, he was not presenting a new or revolutionary idea. If anything, he was simply dipping into the zeitgeist, signaling that he knew what is in vogue among European and North American cities. Europe is renowned for its historically pedestrian-friendly cities, but London just completed a pedestrian project and Paris is now embarking on one. Together, the cost is an es-
timated $50 million (CAD). North American cities, by comparison, have built cities centered on the automobile, evidenced by our suburbs and highway networks. There has been a slow move towards giving space to the pedestrian at the expense of the automobile. Since 2007, New York City has been at the forefront of this trend. The New York City model is a trial-and-error, inexpensive, and data-driven approach to pedestrianization. Its most famous project was to create a pedestrian plaza at Times Square. Broadway Avenue, between 42nd and 47th Streets, was closed temporarily for
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the newspaper the newspaper is the University of Toronto’s independent weekly paper, published since 1978. VOL XXXV No. 2
Editor-in-Chief Cara Sabatini
Managing Editor Helene Goderis
News Editor Yukon Damov
Design Editor Samantha Chiusolo
Arts Editor Vanessa Purdy
Contributors
Photo Editor Bodi Bold Illustrations Editor Nick Ragetli
Suzie Balabuch, Mackenzie Blyth, Sarah Boivin, Bodi Bold, Dan Christensen, Yukon Damov, Jon Foster, Sebastian Greenholtz, Jordan Harcourt, Maj Major, Christina Maravegia, Felicia Perricelli, Vanessa Purdy, Nick Ragetli, David Stokes, Fang Su, Olga Taratuta
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eight months. Oversized planters and furniture were plopped down to allow for lounging and street cafes. During the trial period, rents increased, foot traffic grew by 11 per cent, injuries to motorists and passengers in the project areas decreased 63 per cent, and pedestrian injuries went down 35 per cent. The City deemed the project successful and will commence a $45 million project to make the plaza permanent. The City of Toronto has adopted this data-driven, experimental approach (and the big planters) on a smaller scale, and it ought to use it for St. George Street. Pilot projects were implemented at U of T and Ryerson last year. While Devonshire Street failed, Willcocks Street at U of T and Gould Street at Ryerson will remain pedestrianized subject to five-year renewals. The benefits of closing St. George Street to motorized traffic between College Street and Harbord Avenue lie in its potential for symbolic and social cohesion. Out of a space formerly reserved exclusively for moving motorized traffic, students could come to enliven the street; we could dance and listen to concerts; play basketball, hockey, soccer; we could frolic and amble; we could idle and lounge; we could behold the beauty of the student populace--most importantly, we could gather in the centre of our own campus, and create in that centre the potential for unity unlike anything available indoors, even in a Student Commons. St. George campus is so wellknitted into the city’s physical fabric that its boundaries are blurred. One can enter the campus without knowing it. That same lack of definition translates into the campus’ symbolic heart, where the
centre is ostensibly St. George Street and Harbord Avenue, or Robarts, or Hart House, or University College. But none of these places are unifying as a public space for students. The pedestrianization of St. George Street could fill that void by demarcating the campus from the city. Turning the campus inwards to St. George Street would strengthen the cohesion between the East and West sides of campus and provide a place where the divisions between Faculties, Arts and Science, and Colleges break down, symbolically, at least. The drawbacks are just as theoretical as the benefits. In a city notorious for congested traffic, closing streets might only exacerbate the problem. Access to the Knox parking lot would be a problem to resolve. The loudest opponents to pedestrianisation are regularly nearby businesses concerned about losing customers. There is also the slightly parochial worry about just who, exactly, would use the space after dark. As it is, for St. George Street there are no data or figures to support any of these objections. Tuesday’s experiment proved successful. An unusual, unquantifiable, but positively vibrant atmosphere pervaded the campus. Conditions were optimal: warm, sunny weather; the draw of discovering clubs; the excitement of First Years or first week of class. Exchange the perfect weather, the clubs, and the sheer novelty of the thing for a cold winter, snow, and familiarity--what then? It’s a tantalizing prospect, whether students would bother to find creative uses for the space. An ice rink? Snowball fights? Cross-country skiing? The point is that the space would be available and intended for U of T students to determine its success or failure.
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as well as made documentaries, television programs and taught at universities faced their worst-ever election defeat, and he lost his seat in the Commons. Janice Stein, director of the Munk School, and David Ellwood, dean of the Kennedy School, praised Ignatieff and said that his experience and understanding of subjects such as politics, public policy, and human rights will benefit students. ever election defeat, and he lost his seat in the Commons. Janice Stein, director of the Munk School, and David Ellwood, dean of the Kennedy School, praised Ignatieff and said that his experience and understanding of subjects such as politics, public policy, and human rights will benefit students.
$116 million fundraising goal for United Way Toronto
United Way Toronto announced its $116 million citywide fundraising target for 2012. The number remains the same as last year, however donations in 2011 fell short by $1 million. United Way Toronto is hopeful that they will achieve their goal this year. The money raised will provide financial aid for 200 health and social services agencies. Together, they hope to alleviate suffering from hunger, abuse, disability, and work to create communities that are safer to live in. Hundreds of supporters applauded the launch of the new campaign in downtown Toronto last week, and in line with Toronto’s longrunning history of helping the less fortunate, United Way encourages people to actively get involved and to make donations that will inevitably benefit all of us. - Christina Maravegia
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3
THE NEWS
News flash: business students get flashy new building
from “Hart House”
U of T Business School expansion is an investment in future growth
Odessa Kelebay September 5, 2012 was the grand opening of the building expansion to the Rotman School of Management. Located on St. George, just north of Harbord, the 161, 500 square foot addition cost $92 million. Construction was funded by contributions from the government and from generous independent donors including Sandra and Joseph Rotman and Marcel Desautels. The building was designed by the Canadian architectural firm KPMB Architects. Over the years KPMB has fostered a comfortable relationship with the university, this project being their sixth building on campus. They have also designed other notable expansions in Toronto such as the Royal Conservatory
of Music, Roy Thomson Hall and the Gardiner Museum. Horizontally integrated into the existing Rotman building, which was constucted in 1995, the much-needed expansion provides seven new lecture spaces (including a 500-seat lecture hall and event space) and 790 full-size lockers for students, as well as 70 new group study spaces. The nine-story building also incorporates a 19th century heritage residence, which now functions as the hub for PhD programs at Rotman. In the general press release the University of Toronto president David Naylor stated that the new building,“Will provide more of the best tools available to help ensure the success of our students. And this in turn,
through their creativity and leadership as Rotman alumni, will help ensure the success of our society.” The building earned a Silver LEED certification for its sustainable and environmentally conscious design. The use of glass allows for plenty of natural light and the building is crowned with accessible rooftop gardens. In addition, 35 per cent of the materials used in the construction of the addition were collected from local producers. The subdued black glass of the exterior of the building contrasts with its open and bright interior. Inside, a large fuchsia staircase ascends through the atrium along dramatic lines and adds a slash of vibrancy to the interior core of the building.
The hallways -- finished with sturdy materials in a crisp industrial palate -- are comfortably futuristic while the west-facing windows are sun-soaked and give high-value views of the city, allowing the space to feel open to creative and inspired outside influences. The transparency, seriousness and rigor of the architecture effectively uses the built form to reflect the consistent standards of the business milieu the students seek to join. With U of T’s business school one of the university’s fastest growing faculties, the expansion is both a functional and architectural success that should prove to be a center of innovative thinking for generations to come.
al. Several residences, including Innis, New College, and Chestnut Residences, require major maintenance not included in long-term budgeting. To avoid this pitfall, the Finance Committee for Hart House voted in 2010 to create a Deferred and Major Maintenance reserve with a minimum of $600,000 and 10 percent of each year’s budget added. Hart House anticipates that such planning will reduce the likelihood of future deficits. Kidd believes “nothing significant” will be cut, and any reductions “will not prevent, stop, or inhibit student initiatives.” However, Kidd spoke of plans to set aside the West Wing for early booking for outside groups, a service previously only open to student clubs. The plan is to “manage space strategically” to generate business without eliminating programming or services. According to Hart House’s 2012-2013 Ancillary Report, new revenue streams will come from external grants, sponsorships, and revenues from Hart House Farm. Self described as “a living laboratory of social, artistic, cultural and recreational experiences,” Hart House runs runs the risk of diminish the its capacity to fulfill such a vision if the deficit continues. Front cover photo of Hart House is from the newspaper archives.
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Sure, it looks good now. But remember, in a month from now at 3am, somebody’s gonna be pissing on these shiny new walls. from “Sexual Assault” rity. “If you get a funny feeling, you should not be afraid to call us.” However, some locals are taking it into their own hands. Residents of the Christie Pits neighbourhood not only staged a Labour Day protest in response to the string of recent attacks in the area, but also conducted a safety audit in partnership with The Metropolitan Action Committee on Violence Against Women and Children (METRAC), and Mike Layton’s
council. After surveying the safety of the neighbourhood, METRAC will make recommendations for action and precaution, which will then be brought to city council through Layton. This successful demonstration of strong community initiative gives substance to the effectiveness of raising awareness and active protest. While a safety audit has not yet been suggested for the U of T campus, the University’s existing campaign aims to reduce the risk of violence on campus. The Green Dot--a collabora-
tive project run by representatives from such departments as Health and Wellness, the Community Safety Office, and Women and Gender studies-- offers bystander training to anyone interested. The idea is to spread a map of ‘green dots’ all over campus, representing places and instances of blocked violence. Think ‘random acts of kindness’ with a more pointed goal. This training emphasizes the three “D’s” for bystander action: direct, delegate, and distract. According to D’Angelo, the risk of sexual assault on cam-
pus is significantly lower than the risk of theft. “Crimes against persons are very low. Crimes against property are pretty high.” Nevertheless, D’Angelo advises students to take some precautions: “Know where to call, know where you are [and] walk in pairs at night.” WalkSmart is available by phone at 416-978-SAFE (7233). To learn more about The Green Dot strategy, an open event will be held at Cumberland Room, Centre for the International Experience on Tuesday, September 18th, 2012 from 4to 5 pm.
4
THE DEBATE
September 13, 2012
Online courses will change the future of education for the better A main tenet of the post-secondary education system is rigidity. The programs offered by universities, class schedules and course structures are all subject to a relatively firm set of guidelines that cater to a very specific type of learning and pace of life. So what if you happen to be an independent learner, or someone with a full-time job, or both? This is where the booming trend of online courses factors in. According to a study done in 2011 by Babson Survey Research Group, enrollment in online courses rose 10.1% from the previous year, based on a sur-
vey of 2,500 American postsecondary institutions. Online institutions offer a wide variety of degrees and courses that can sometimes be difficult or impossible to find in a traditional university setting. Online courses have acquired somewhat of a sullied reputation over their short career, with many believing that the quality of such courses is simply inferior to the traditional classroom model. Since online learning, and the internet in general, is so new, there is simply not enough research to totally refute that claim. However, a recent study on blended courses (comprised of mostly online content, with
some traditional aspects) done by Princeton University shows that, compared with students taking a traditional 3-hour statistics course, students taking a blended version of the course finished earlier, and fared better on a standardized test at the end of the study. Another criticism of online learning is the lack of professor-to-student contact. Having completed three online courses over the past year and a half through the University of Athabasca, I can personally vouch for the baselessness of this argument. Although the professor-student relationship is fundamentally altered because of the difference in
medium, it is nevertheless still very present. The opportunity to establish a working relationship - through email, Skype and even phone conversations - is there for the taking for students with enough initiative to make it happen. Realistically speaking, it is a little far-fetched to assume that online courses will completely eclipse the traditional classroom model. Their inclusion, however, will help to integrate new and returning students who simply learn differently or have a bevy of other interests, all while advancing post-secondary education with the inclusion of the ever-evolving technology of the internet.
^^ Jon Foster
At the start of every school year, new college and university students across Ontario walk into lecture halls for the first time. As they make their way to a seat next to a person they just befriended in the hallway or near someone they think is outrageously attractive, adrenaline kicks in. These students are ready to begin what will be the best years of their lives; after all, they showed up, didn’t they? According to Glen Murray,
Recently, a Stanford professor predicted there will only be 10 higher-education institutions in the world in 50 years. Ontario is moving toward a system of online education. Will accessibility take precedence over quality and jeopardize university research? NICK RAGETLI
CON
PRO NICK RAGETLI
Suzie Balabuch
Ontario’s Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, they might not have to. His staff recently compiled a set of proposals that would potentially have students taking three out of five courses online. The Council of Ontario Universities attributes the change to an ever-increasing number of students, while Murray claims there is a need to keep up with global changes towards online education. How-
ever, Ivy League schools such as Stanford, Princeton and Johns Hopkins, which have international enrolment numbers in the hundreds of thousands, offer free online courses. The Ivy League online courses do not provide accreditation, let alone internationally recognized degrees. They are simply a way for those brand-name schools to stay ahead of the curve,
presuming that the curve will entail an international switch to online education. Ivy League schools aside, there is an undeniable loss of dialogue between the students and professor with respect to online learning. In class education allows for students to engage in a collective conversation with the professor by asking questions during the lecture and raising valuable points. Real time reactions to initial exposure of course ma-
terial cannot be replaced by a discussion forum, and browsing Facebook while you await another student’s response. Online education may be a less costly alternative to teaching vast numbers of students, but it does not replace the physical and social resources of the post-secondary institution. The future of education lies in teaching innovations that will incorporate the accessibility of the online medium, but maintain the focus on physical attendance in lecture halls. After all, that is where you might meet your lifelong friend, network your way into a great job or rub elbows with the next CEO of Apple.
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5
THE INSIDE
Beer Week taps into city’s growing new tastes
^ ^
Toronto celebrates craft brewing all week thanks to younger generation, says owner of city’s oldest brewpub Jon Foster
The newest competitor is Bellwoods Brewery. Located on Ossington just south of Dundas, in what used to be an auto garage, the microbrewery is evidence of Toronto’s growing interest in craft beer. Bellwoods is only capable of brewing small batches up to approximately nine kegs, which enables them to get creative with their ingredients. As opposed to major labels that produce the same product each time, the inventive nature of microbreweries such as Bellwoods is what seems to draw such a crowd. The appeal of creativity is part of the TBW mission, which does not feature any major brand beer. Local breweries also provide a means to get to know your own neighbourhood; not just by stumbling upon a street you had never seen before while finding your way back (post pints), but by learning about homegrown products. As Alix
BODI BOLD
Toronto’s third annual celebration of local brewing is testament to an evolving taste among the city’s beer drinkers. Two decades ago, you would be hard pressed to come across a bar, pub or restaurant that exclusively featured craft beer. Most places served the typical major brand beers: Budweiser, Molson Canadian, Coors Light, the list goes on. Today, Torontonians find themselves on new terrain, as the city is increasingly barricaded and besieged by microbreweries. Diverting people from cheap pitcher specials is not an easy battle, especially when the customers expect to swill on student budgets. Despite this fact, young people are primarily responsible for making microbrews popular. George Milbrandt, founder and owner of Toronto’s oldest
brewpub, C’est What, has described the craft beer enthusiast transition from “Ex-pat Englishmen” to the younger generation as “…a changing of the guard.” Milbrandt explained the change at C’est What during a staff meeting about an upcoming week-long series of events known as Toronto Beer Week (TBW). Toronto Beer Week will be taking over the city with events such as Toronto Beer Quest III, a city-wide scavenger hunt of sorts, and the 24th Annual Festival of Craft Breweries. The east end will be the scene of Mill Street’s Beerology 101, a free tour of the brewery with a chance to taste some of their unreleased brews. With over 54 venues taking part in TBW 2012, there are numerous opportunities to try an interesting craft brew that has been meticulously designed by one of the 26 participating breweries.
Bellwoods Brewery, a new brewery and cafe, will participate in Toronto Beer Week.
Kempf, TBW Marketing Coordinator described, getting to know your local beers is similar to the way you get to know local food. Finding out which farm or urban garden your food came from is not so different from learning about where your beer came from and even getting to know the brewers themselves. Throughout TBW there will be several events where the Brewmasters will be present and in some cases give guided tasting and food pairings. If there was ever a time to challenge yourself to try a craft beer you’ve never had before or to check out a microbrewery down the street from your house, it’s definitely during Toronto Beer Week. Toronto Beer Week runs September 14 to 22. Check out TorontoBeerWeek.com for more information and a full list of events and participants.
ADVERTISE HERE, REACH STUDENTS If you want to make the most of your local business, contact our ad department ads@thenewspaper.ca
6
THE ARTS
September 13, 2012
Funny business fights dirty Toronto’s Comedy Brawl finals draw first blood
Vanessa Purdy What do you get when you mix hundreds of aspiring local comedians with the bloodthirsty tactics of a high-stakes match? The answer: the Toronto Comedy Brawl, an amateur stand up competition, now in it’s fourth year and founded by Toronto comedy mentor Ian Atlas. Atlas, a Vancouver native, moved to Toronto in 2008 and began running stand up rooms in the city. By the next year, he’d noticed a significant increase in the “dismality” of the summer turnout, and the idea for the Comedy Brawl was born. “It started as a way to keep the rooms alive through the summer comedy lull. There’s
such a small window of summer in Canada, and people would rather be on a patio than in a dark room listening to jokes,” said Atlas in an interview with the newspaper earlier this week. The competition, set up like a round-robin tournament, pits amateur comics--for some, their first performance ever--against each other with a $1000 prize at stake. Alternately hilarious and heartbreaking, the competition has brought out some of Toronto’s best, and also the blurst. “We’re not the biggest contest in Toronto, but we hurt the most feelings,” explained Atlas....fighting words indeed. The number of contestants has nearly quadrupled since
the first year, with this years finalists having beaten out 270 challengers. And while it’s an amateur contest by nature, it’s been the stomping ground of some up-and-coming heavy hitters, such as K. Trevor Wilson. Wilson is a two time Brawl winner, who went on to win Just For Laughs Homegrown competition, and is featured in JFL42 coming up next week. Hosting the finals this year is Jason Blanchard, marking his fourth time doing so. “I can’t say enough great things about Jason, he’s a phenomenal host,” said Atlas. For his part, Blanchard, an ex-paratrooper, seemed quite enthused by the prospect. “There is elevated excitement & enthusiasm from the performers. This is not just
another show for the comics participating,” he said. “This is where the future stars of comedy can be found... years from now when one of these comics have hit it big you will have a great story of how you saw them when they were just starting out. And it really will be a great show.” For Atlas, the most rewarding part is to see the new comics honing their technique and developing their talent. “You get to see comics you wouldn’t normally. Every year there’s always a dozen surprises; this year’s been no different...and many of them made their way to the finals,” he said. According to Atlas, if you’ve never seen a stand up show in Toronto, an important thing
to remember is that the Brawl “...is still an amateur contest show, and there’s a lot of great talent in Toronto.” Humble words for the guy who has pretty much singlehandedly created a literal battle of wits tailored to an eager Toronto audience of comedy appreciators and performers alike. This year will feature Nile Sequin (you may recognize him from This Hour or the McDonald’s sponsored comedy webseries Originals) as the closing act. Comedy Brawl Finals take place at 918 Bathurst Culture & Events Centre on Saturday September 15th. Tickets $15, show starts at 8:00pm but come early, it’s almost sold out.
Don Amero puts his heart out on his sleeve Canadian musician shares his stories with Toronto Felicia Perricelli Who doesn’t enjoy a story with adversity, struggle, following one’s passion, dedication and finally, success? Canadian, singer-songwriter, Don Amero shared his own tale with us, and soon the rest of Canada on a cross-country tour releasing his fifth album, Heart On My Sleeve. Don Amero grew up in the notoriously tough North End of Winnipeg where he encountered poverty, drugs, gangs and violence. Five years ago he left his job in Winnipeg installing hardwood floors to pursue music, and he was uncertain of what would come, but that not knowing allowed him to thrive. “I was in my glory,” he shared with the newspaper earlier this week. “I spent a few weeks booking a fall tour ... it was like I was for the first time spreading my wings. I am pretty sure I broke even on that tour, but to me that was success. It was enough to keep me going and from there on there was no turning back.” Since his first tour, Amero has produced five full length albums earning him four
national and international awards, including Best Folk Recording (2011 Native American Music Awards), and Aboriginal Songwriter of the Year (2009 Canadian Folk Music Awards). Amero is kicking off his tour this Thursday at The Sister on Queen St West. As for what you’ll hear, Amero said, “It’s more folk sounding than my last two, with a touch of country and pop. I feel that this may be my most honest performance and stories yet,” he said. As for this album as a whole, Amero described his intentions: “I really wanted the listener to feel that I am right there with them in the room. My hope is that people will (...) grab a cup of something warm, sit by a fire or near a window and just listen to the stories in the songs. If you listen [to the album] straight through, it tells a complete story,” he added. Amero’s good nature and sincere sweetness play out both in his emotional pop, and his concern for social welfare. As a World Vision Artist, Amero was inspired to make change at home. He now supports
Canada’s Feed The Children organization, with a portion of ticket and album sales going to the project. “I really wanted to be part of something that was affecting the problem right here in our own country,” Amero explained. “Sometimes we are so focused on hunger issues abroad and don’t realize people right here are suffering due to malnourishment,” he
added. And that’s just the beginning of his mandate. Amero is of Metis/Acadian heritage, and found much of his identity in his Aboriginal roots. As he sweeps the country with sound and story-telling, he also aims to inspire; “One major thing I hope to do is empower a new generation of aboriginals to take hold of their future and
break the chains of the past.” For more up-close with Don Amero, join him tonight at his Heart On My Sleeve Album Release. Don Amero & Red Revue The Sister on 1554 Queen St. W Thursday, Sept. 13 @ 9pm. Admission $10
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THE ARTS
No D-ice for The Iceman, even if Michael Shannon is killin’ it
Mafia contract killer biopic saw red carpet screening Monday at TIFF Dan Christensen Where other true crime films make an attempt to let us into the often complex emotional life of the terrifying criminal, The Iceman makes it a project to keep us out. It seems as if all this man ever did was kill. The first thing Richie Kuklinski (Michael Shannon) does after the film starts rolling is slit a man’s throat in cold blood for suggesting that his new girlfriend wouldn’t put out. How’s that for wanton? He’s protective of his loved ones; we get the point, okay? Usually we get to see the killer ease into their new dark life through a moment of selfloathing, confusion, and sheer terror at his or her own action. Macbeth offers the most classic example of this. But Charlize Theron as Aileen Wuornos in Monster also capitalizes on this device, as does Walter White in the first few episodes of Breaking Bad. However, with a murder this frivolous as the film’s opening gambit, Kuklinski’s character gets locked in, and the audience gets shut out. It’s near impossible to steer the ship back around to a place where we’re willing to see him as the kind of man we could relate to, much less the kind of man we could forgive. Roy DeMeo (Ray Liotta), a mobster kingpin, needs a new hitman, and Kuklinski turns out to be just the man for the job. DeMeo has Kuklinski kill a homeless man in broad daylight to prove his dedication. Overnight, his days of porn editing in the basement are over, and the bodies start rolling in. Eventually Kuklinski sees his daughter in a witness to one of his murders and lets her go free, forcing DeMeo to fire him. Fresh out of hits to execute, Kuklinski is forced to go into business with “Mr. Softee,” (Chris Evans), another contract killer. They’re raking in more cash on every kill without DeMeo to call the shots, but when DeMeo finds out “the Polack” (an affectionate nickname for Kuklinski)
is still working, it turns into a classic case of mo’ money mo’ problems. Michael Shannon simmers so close to a boil throughout the picture that when he finally snaps in a moment of road rage, taking his screaming family hostage while tearing the wrong direction down a one-way street, the audience too are seized by abject fear. Without saying a word, Shannon manages to emanate raw power. We get the feeling that his multifaceted performance, teeming with terrific subtleties, is trapped within a script determined to give Kuklinski’s character only two distinct, conflicting dimensions: he’s a cold blooded killer and he cares about his family. Shannon may as well be begging for the screenplay to offer more psychological depth. Instead, this depth is traded for emphasis on all too familiar mobster plot points. Of course, even such well worn territory has the possibility of popping off the screen with the right director, Martin Scorsese naturally being the example par excellence. Unfortunately, Ariel Vromen’s visually tight and consistent direction in The Iceman – the attention to changing styles in each time period was especially well done – doesn’t add enough to the crime cliches to set The Iceman apart. James Franco, who had been originally slated for the Mr. Softee role, turns up in a smaller supporting role, as do Stephen Dorff and David Schwimmer. The film’s first TIFF screening was Monday, with all of the main cast walking the red carpet. It’s been picked up for distribution by eOne in Canada, for an as-of-yet unspecified 2013 release date. Even if the film ends up being a rather typical exercise in biopic and crime-drama, the lesson we take away from The Iceman still bears repeating: if you love your family, don’t go around killing people. At least that’s what I learned.
Dear Suzie
Love from afar: How to keep a long-distance flame burning Dear Suzie, I have a very committed relationship with someone far outside of Toronto. How do I stay connected while I’m at university? Yours truly, Long-Distance Love Dear LDL, First of all, establish a time window. Think of it this way: you are running on a treadmill with no time goal set. You quickly get annoyed and discouraged at the clock slowly ticking away, and you give up. This applies to your relationship: what is the concrete date in the future that the two of you can make realistic steps to actually physically be together? Will it be after university? Will it be during an international exchange to the same city so you can study together? Make this clear. Secondly, accept that you both have lives away from Skype and BBM. Don’t get jealous if your honey can’t talk for two hours tonight because of soccer practice. Maintaining hobbies and a social life play a key role in overall happiness. Not only are they distractions for when you’re lonely, but you’ll have stories to tell when you do get around to that Skype talk. Thirdly, see each other as often as you can. Go out a little less and save your pennies for plane tickets. And don’t get all mopey about not having a lot of time. Out of love and admiration for this person, you agreed to give the long-distance thing a go, and you should go into it with the most positive attitude you can muster. Absence can make the heart grow fonder, but it can also make the heart grow up real fast. If none of this ends up working, just remember that love is always a learning experience, no matter the distance. I’m rooting for you, Suzie
Got a question for Suzie? Submit it anonymously at the newspaper.ca in the blue box
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THE END
September 13, 2012
We’ll miss the hits
Record store Hits and Misses takes a hit in the face, no come back
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MAJ MAJOR
After five years in Toronto, Hits and Misses, the only punk and garage music specialty record store in the city, announced its final operating hours last week. Along with the disappearance of an all-ages punk venue, the closing of the store raises questions about the future of the punk scene in Toronto for at least one young punk fan. On September 5, owner Pete Genest wrote on the Hits and Misses blog that the landlord has sent him a breach of contract, which contained the final warning that the store must vacate the premises in 14 days. Genest was unable to convince the landlord into leasing the store until the end of October. “The landlord has been nice and patient as the rent was late for most of the store’s twenty-two months here,” Genest said. “But he wanted to have another renter that can pay on time.” Hits and Misses, then known as Roundhouse Records, first opened in Portland, Oregon, in 1992. Throughout the 1980s, Portland laid fertile ground for the hardcore punk scene to develop, and local band Poison Idea emerged to become one
Hits and Misses owner, Pete Genest, rolled with the punches for 5 yrs, will close shop this Friday. of the greatest American hardcore punk groups. The guitarist, Tom “Pig Champion” Roberts, was so large that sometimes he had to play shows sitting on a couch. Upon Robert’s death in 2006, The New York Times remembered him as a “guitar virtuoso and a cult hero, revered by some of the biggest bands of the 1990’s.”
In 1984, Poison Idea released a 12” record entitled “Record Collectors are Pretentious Assholes.” The cover photo displayed Robert’s sizeable vinyl collection. When Roberts encountered personal troubles later on, he sold approximately one thousand LP’s and 45’s to Genest. For one young Hits and Misses customer, 17 year-old Macken-
zie Burgess, the store’s closing is a disappointment. “I was super bummed out,” she said. Perhaps it is one more fateful sign for Toronto’s declining punk scene. Burgess was also unhappy that Siesta Nouveau, an all-ages theatre space which hosted punk concerts, closed earlier this year. One might question the business decision to move Hits And
the campus comment
Misses to beside Rotate This!, one of the most popular record stores in the city. Pete explains that his intentions were, by clumping similar businesses together, the stores might get more traffic. “If you visit a shoe store, you’ll visit the other one, and it should work on paper, but it didn’t.” When asked about future plans, Genest expressed plans to move the records into a storage for now, and if Hits and Misses were to open again, perhaps he would approach it differently, such as combining the business with partners, or as a consignment.
Visit our website for coverage of RiotFest
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Maj Major
thenewspaper.ca
the newspaper asked: Hey International students! What was your first impression of Toronto and/or U of T when you first moved here?
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MALSHA Life Sci, 2nd year “Friendly people and clean neighbourhoods.”
NAZ Life Sci, 2nd year “The language was a problem at first, but now it’s okay. Everyone was very helpful.”
PETER Rotman Commerce, 3rd year “The city is extremely cold, but the people are very warm.”
RESHAM Mathematics and Physical Sciences, 1st year “It’s a multicultural place that doesn’t stare just because you’re wearing a skirt or the like.”
DINA Political Science, Book and Media Studies, 2nd year “It’s cold. It takes a while for your body to acclimatize, and it could be a big shock coming for people from a hotter country.”
MAJ MAJOR
KEVAN Civil Engineering, 4th year “I was impressed by the physical size of the university, as well as its facilities.”