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www.mediumonline.ca
Volume 35, Issue 11
Remembering the fallen On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month each year, we share one moment of silence out of respect for those who have died in the cause of defending this nation.
ANDREW HAMILTON-SMITH FEATURES EDITOR
In a sombre and respectful ceremony in front of the South Building last Tuesday, the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) paid respect to those who have fallen while in defence of their country. Just before the eleventh hour, the Canadian flag was lowered to half-mast – traditionally done to indicate the death of a soldier – while the Last Post trumpet echoed across the pond. At precisely 11a.m., the assembly fell silent for two minutes, a ritual that has been observed since the First Great War. Student Union President Wasah Malik performed a rea----ding of “In Flander's Field,” written by a First World War surgeon named John McCrae. His internationally recognized poem was written at a base hospital near the front in Belgium (Flanders) shortly before he died. One line from the poem in particular stands out on this occasion: “if ye break faith with us who die/We shall
not sleep, though poppies grow/In Flander's Field.” This is the ninetieth anniversary of Remembrance Day, the date and time of which relates to the Treaty of Versailles, signed on the eleventh hour on November 11, 1918, officially bringing the First World War to an end. Following the Great War, as it was called at the time because it was known as “the war to end all wars,” communities throughout Europe and North America built memorials and cenotaphs to honour the fallen soldiers from that conflict. After the Second World War, Remembrance Day came to include casualties from all wars, including the 97 Canadian troops killed in Afghanistan. “An important thing to always remember on Remembrance Day is why we celebrate it: The soldiers, both past and present. Whatever one’s views are about war in general, and particularly the war in Afghanistan, all of that is irrelevant on this day,” commented UTMSU Vice-President External Dhananjai (DJ) Kohli. Kohli went on to add that the day is not about celebrating war, but rather remembering the pain of senseless death. Ian Orchard, Principal and VicePresident of UTM, also spoke to those gathered, along with the hon-
photo/Matthew Filipowich
Amidst flags and ceremony, UTM paid solemn tribute on Tuesday to those who have fallen in defence of Canada. our guard commander, Police Services Manager Len Paris. Campus security staff and the Erindale College Special Response Team (ECSPERT) were in attendance, and oversaw the lowering of
the flag. After the bagpipes played the “Lament,” the flag was raised up the pole again, bringing the observance of the ceremony to a close. Similar such ceremonies were held across the country simultaneously,
including the St. George campus, where there is a majestic gothic tower next to an intricately-engraved wall listing all the U of T students who have died in war throughout Canada’s history.
Blue covenant: Maude Barlow on the global water crisis ANDREW HAMILTON-SMITH FEATURES EDITOR
photo/Dan Rios - courtesy of The Varsity
Recently appointed as the United Nations’ first Commissioner of Water Access, Maude Barlow spoke to a large audience last Friday in the Great Hall of Hart House about the current global water crisis. All over the world “we are seeing life and death struggles over access to clean water, and many of these can be related to the privatization of water and water sources,” observed Barlow, who went on to note that Turkey and Chile have recently announced plans to sell off entire rivers, disregarding the people who live near those w aterways and depend on them for survival. Since nearly half the world’s pop-
ulation lacks access to clean water – and glacial sources in the Himalayas that supply billions of people in China and India are rapidly vanishing – the issue of control over global w ater supplies is already critical. With too many people competing for too little water, it is not surprising that private enterprise sees this as an opportunity to make money. “However,” warned Barlow, “this is not an issue of simple economics, but rather one of human life, dignity, and rights.” “Here in Canada we think that our water supply will never run out,” added Barlow, noting that nearly twenty per cent of all fresh water on earth is located here. With such a tremendous surplus of fresh water, Canada is in a unique position to play a leading role in the
fight against global poverty, disease and suffering. However, Barlow points out that “there is no decent legislation [regarding water rights] at the federal level in this country,” and even those laws that do exist are routinely disobeyed. For example, mining operations and paper mills draw huge amounts of water from public reservoirs, and replace it with polluted byproducts, often violating federal environmental laws w hich are only weakly enforced. The Alberta tar sands are high on her list of offenders, apparently taking three million barrels of water per day from what little water exists in northern Alberta, mixing it with oil-sand. continued on page 2
2 THE MEDIUM
Monday, November 17, 2008
NEWS
CUPE stops York’s classes
Global water crisis unfolding: Barlow Continued from front page
The waste from this brew then gets pumped into huge “trailing ponds” of dangerous and cancerous byproducts, some of which find their way back into the local water table. Surrounding communities, including First Nations reserves, have reported drastically increased cancer and terminal illness rates since the tar sands began operating – yet another example, Barlow noted, of corporate interests compromising public good. It is important to realize that water is “not Canadian water or American water.” It is a global product and does not recognize national borders. “We collectively pump over four trillion liters per day out of the Great Lakes; far more than we can ever put back,” said Barlow. Undoubtedly, this practice would result in ecological and environmental damage here in North America, as well as around the world. Despite the obvious impossibility of “owning” water, a number of major initiatives exist to do just that. Under NAFTA’s Section 11 (which allows private companies to sue governments for lost profits)
and the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SAPP), which was negotiated with corporate interests and signed by North American leaders behind closed doors in March 2006, there is some legal precedent in North America for the private ownership of water. This is especially alarming considering the lack of precedents regarding public access to water, which essentially means that corporate interests have an advantage over the rights of human beings.
To put a price on such a thing is to sign a death warrant for those who cannot afford it. This is one of Barlow’s biggest fears, and she explained how, as former Chairperson of the Council of Canadians, she routinely lobbied the federal government to protect the rights of human access to drinkable water. “No one has the right to appropriate [water] when people are dying and suffering,” she insisted. In effect, the government or United Nations would be responsi-
KAITLYN WARNE
ble for protecting water supplies – in trust, not ownership – in order to ensure that everyone has access to it. After all, water is like air: humans need it to live. To put a price on such a thing is to sign a death warrant for those who cannot afford it. Barlow’s answer, and perhaps the reason the UN is asking her to develop global policy in this area, is to “have a discussion about what to do with surplus water” in order to find solutions that are sustainable, and that make life and living a priority over profits. Barlow has also published a book on the subject, “Too Close for Comfort:Canada's Future within Fortress North America” which she read from at the end of her presentation. To find out more about Maude Barlow, visit www. canadians.org.
Want to write for News? We are seeking dedicated journalists to investigate stories on campus. Contact Andrew at news@mediumonline.ca
After opposing York’s offer of a 9.25 per cent pay increase over the next three years, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 3903 at York University has been on strike since midnight on Thursday, November 6. This was voted on by the thousands of faculty members, teaching assistants and graduate assistants who are represented by the union, which is looking for an 11 per cent increase in pay over the next two years, as well as more benefits in terms of job security. Now entering its second full week, the strike has affected everyone at York, causing the closure of most of the undergraduate school and a few graduate programs. Students are the unfortunate victims of a struggle between their teachers and school administration. Domenico Labile, a first year student at York’s Glendon campus, is outraged by the way the York administration and CUPE is handling the conflict: “The Teaching Assistants at York make almost $18,000, and are the highest paid in Canada. They work ten hours a week, and get paid a very large salary. Since when is being a Teaching Assistant a full time
job?” he explains. “I work more than ten hours a week, and make nowhere even close to $18,000, so I believe that in order to make a decent living, they will need to find another parttime job. The union only cares about itself, and doesn’t take into consideration that the university is offering 9.25 per cent which is reasonable and a respectful offer.” Students at Seneca are also affected by the cancellation of classes. Many of these students are enrolled in joint programs offered by both schools and are effectively blocked from their campuses because of the picketers who have been parading outside the school property, stalling the number of cars entering the campus. This delay in classes may affect the eligibility of some students to graduate this year, which raises the question of what will happen if the strike drags on for weeks or months. It is not clear how students will be compensated by the university – how they will receive credit for the classes they are presently missing – if the strike is not resolved quickly. Several students feel that the York Federation of Students, which motioned three weeks ago that they would support the strike, is looking out for the interests of the students who are related with CUPE at the expense of the regular students.
“What does Remembrance Day mean to you?” “It is sad that so many people died in these wars, and it represents the mistakes that humans make.” - Daria Taiakina 2nd year biology specialist
Medium 2.0 is a multimedia version of The Medium. Composed of a series of weekly newscasts, Medium 2.0 represents the future of information sharing.
email ali at editor@mediumonline.ca or visit our office in the student centre
“The sacrifice that the individuals in my family made brought freedom and happiness to everyone else.” - Trevor Coote 1st year life sciences
“I’m wearing my poppy because I want to show that I support the fallen soldiers for what they did.” - Karan Desai 2nd year commerce
Find DIRECTION for your QUESTIONS What Can I Do With My Degree? (for Psychology Students) Wednesday, November 19 12 pm - 2 pm Council Chambers, SE3130 Wondering where Psychology can take you? This workshop will help you better understand the many options available and gain the skills and knowledge to develop your own career focus. Register online via our Events Calendar!
Our Career Counsellors can help you make sense of your future. Book an appointment today to discuss your career options, how to gain related experience, or questions about graduate school. Just have a quick job search question? No problem! Drop by SE 3094 anytime from 2 pm - 3 pm, Monday - Friday to speak with a Career Counsellor or Employment Advisor.
Give us a call at 905-828-5451 or visit us in SE 3094 to get started! TO REGISTER FOR EMPLOYER EVENTS, WORKSHOPS AND MORE, visit www.utm.utoronto.ca/careers UTM CAREER CENTRE
Monday, November 17, 2008
THE MEDIUM 3
NEWS
Campus food bank opens ANDREW HAMILTON-SMITH FEATURES EDITOR
UTM students Je-Hyeong (Jay) Hong and William Min offer free hugs on Wednesday outside the student centre, “to show people who think they aren’t loveable that they are.”
Campus police reports November 5, 2008, at 6:00 p.m. Theft Under $5000 University Police received a call from a student who reported his backpack was stolen from Kaneff Centre lecture hall. University Police investigated the theft. Total value of the backpack contents was $1300. November 6, 2008, at 6:55 a.m. Concerned Parent A concerned mother requested assistance from University Police in locating her son. November 6, 2008, at 7:26 p.m. Motor Vehicle Accident University Police investigated a motor vehicle accident on Outer Circle Rd. November 6, 2008, at 3:00 p.m. Theft Under $5000 University Police investigated the theft of a wallet from one of the day lockers in Oscar Peterson Hall cafeteria. Total value of the wallet contents including the wallet was $119. November 7, 2008, at 3:55 p.m. Trespassing/Misuse of student card University Police received a call from a staff member at the Recreation, Athletics & Wellness Centre (RAWC) in regards to trespassers. University Police interviewed and cautioned two students for misusing a student card to gain entry into the RAWC. November 7, 2008, at 8:30 p.m. Careless Driving/Speeding A vehicle was reported speeding on Residence Road. University Police investigated the incident and cautioned the driver. November 7, 2008, at 8:18 p.m. Assault/Unconfirmed University Police were advised by the Walksafer team that a female approached them and reported to them that her boyfriend assaulted her. She left the area immediately and could not be located by University police for a follow-up investigation. November 7, 2008, at 4:00 p.m. Theft Under $5000 University Police investigated the theft of a student’s laptop from the
Hazel McCallion Library. November 8, 2008, at 12:28 a.m. Intoxicated Female University Police investigated an intoxicated female. She was transported to hospital by ambulance. November 8, 2008, at 1:33 a.m. Unauthorized Activity University Police received a complaint in regards to someone smoking inside their residence: investigated and cautioned the student. November 10, 2008, at 1:32 a.m. Fire Alarm Activation University Police investigated a fire alarm at the CCT Bldg. November 11, 2008 at 2:30 a.m. Causing Disturbance University Police investigated a complaint of an intoxicated male causing a disturbance in a CCT Building computer lab. The male left before officers arrived. November 11, 2008 at 10:19 a.m. Unauthorized Activity University Police received a report of someone soliciting spa treatments. University Police identified the individual and cautioned the solicitor . November 12, 2008 at 2:12 p.m. Vehicle Tow/Fraudulent Pay & Display Parking Pass University Police received a call in regards to someone displaying a fraudulent permit. The driver was subsequently investigated by University Police. November 12, 2008 at 9:45 a.m. Theft Under $ 5000 A student attended the University Police office and reported that his laptop was stolen from the CCT Building, while he left his laptop unattended in a bag 1st level main entrance on a couch. University Police investigated the theft. November 12, 2008 at 1:00 p.m. Theft Under $ 5000 A female student reported her wallet stolen from her purse from the second floor common area of the CCT Building. University Police investigated the theft.
After being cut off from Food Path, which supplied UTM students with canned goods and non-perishable food until earlier this year, the UTMSU decided to create their own food bank. As Food Bank coordinator Rahul D'Cunha noted, the operation has encountered more than a few obstacles along the way. Faced with having to raise and store their own food donations, the UTMSU has arranged to use a space in the North Building formerly used by EPUS, which ran the campus food bank service until its merger with UTMSU last year. “We were supposed to open in October,” said D’Cunha, but the university never cleaned up the space. The Food Bank is a new organization, starting up only this year, but is filling a gap left by other providers that no longer provide food bank services on campus. After the merger of EPUS with UTMSU, the main supplier, Food Path, changed from being a supplier and distributor, to just a distributor because of financial and donation limitations. As a result, at the beginning of the year no group was responsible for or even supplying the food bank. The result is that the Food Bank operates out of a tiny club office in the Student Centre, run directly by the UTMSU, and must store everything they collect within that restricted space. Metal shelves stacked with rice, pasta, canned vegetables and fruits, along with a generous amount of Kraft Dinner tower over the doorway, leaving little room to work. On October 31, the Food Bank worked together with the UTM Meal Exchange to organize the “Trick-orEat” event. “Although the Meal Exchange is currently providing food to us, this arrangement is not
photo/Lara Matiisen
permanent, and we are looking at other partnerships that we can build in the future,” explains D’Cunha. This cooperative venture resulted in much of the donated goods which now sit in the Food Bank office, and although it was a success, it is not clear whether this arrangement will be repeated again next year.
“The Meal Plan does not always cover students, and some students run over their limit before the end of the month.” - Rahul D’Cunha The Food Bank is finding innovative ways to distribute food to needy students by developing an on-line ordering system. Students are able to place an order on the internet, using a special code, and that order is then
placed in a reserved locker in the North Building to be picked up at the student’s convenience. “This is more anonymous,” D’Cunha said, “so that students feel more comfortable using the Food Bank if they have to.” At the moment, the Food Bank is taking five to six orders per week. Despite only recently opening their offices and advertising their services, D’Cunha expects to see an increase in those numbers soon: “The Meal Plan does not always cover students, and some students run over their limit before the end of the month.” Such students are thought to be the most frequent users of the Food Bank. In addition, there are a number of students with families living on campus, and these students live on very tight budgets and are likely use the Food Bank as well. The office is open to the public on Wednesdays from noon until 2 p.m. For more information, please visit www. utmsu.ca/foodbank.
4 THE MEDIUM
Monday, November 17, 2008
Letters to the Editor H ello members of the UTM Community,
Ali Kasim, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF | editor@mediumonline.ca www.mediumonline.ca
EDITORIAL My editorial board raised an interesting argument this week with regards to Dhananjai Kohli’s intention to write an article on tuition fees for the Features section (re: “Tuition fees: the debate wages on,” on page 9). In reference to last week’s article by Alain Latour on the same issue, they asked if it made sense for a newspaper to print an opinion one week and a direct opposite view the following week. “You wouldn’t see the Toronto Star or The Globe do that. It’s a little inconsistent,” they added. My response was that we weren’t a publication like The Star and The Globe. We’re a campus newspaper. We don’t have a full staff of writers who contribute to each and every word in the paper. Instead, we have volunteers, in its most random and diverse form. As well, if we are the “voice of the students,” as our mandate stipulates, then we need to express and demonstrate that voice for what it is – full of contrasting opinions and perspectives. The issue wasn’t quite resolved however, as it was then raised that if a reader had a conflicting view toward something we printed, he or she would usually deliver their response in the form of a “Letter to the Editor,” not another article in return. This made sense of course. I turned to Mr Kohli immediately after this, and insisted that he abstained from making any direct reference to Mr Latour’s article from the previous week. He agreed, citing that he only wanted to construct an article from the alternative view using facts and figures, much like Mr Latour had done. Earlier in the week, a professor asked me what my intentions and goals for the paper were this year. I replied, “To generate and publish as many perspectives as possible on any topic.” Considering how the ongoing and seemingly never-ending debate over tuition fees has filled our pages during the past month, I’d say that I have, to an extent, been able to satisfy just that. Fittingly, the very next day saw a letter from James Joseph Walker arrive in my inbox (re: this week’s Letter to the Editor). In it, he postulates a rather popular opinion on the subject of tuition fees, i.e. not all of us agree with the notion of dropping fees. Though I have heard this very stance from numerous other students through word-of-mouth, this is the first example I have of it in print. Despite his criticism of my editorial three weeks ago, where I “casually stated that it's hardly arguable students would benefit from higher fees,” I’m thrilled that someone spoke up, regardless of his contrasting opinion. For the record, I stand by my statement that tuition fees are currently high enough, and that the bar need not be raised any further, lest we disregard the level of student debt that is prevalent today. However, I have never argued for complete abolishment of tuition fees altogether. I, like Mr Walker, agree that it’s important we have fees, that to some extent, we do get what we paid for, and that the solution cannot simply rest upon the “government covering more.” At the same time, the issues that will arise from the deregulation of fees must not be overlooked either. Hence, my general stance – yes, drop fees. If I’m standing on middle ground here, is that entirely wrong? This is after all, a rather contentious issue. This brings me around full circle, and back to how “consistent” we need to be. Should The Medium even have a stance on any matter if it’s supposed to represent (voice) student opinion? Well, yes. Subjectivity is inevitable – it’s impossible not to have some sort of opinion. But how far should this stance take us? Do we choose not to publish a contrasting perspective unless it is in the form of a letter? Just how far can we be subjective or objective? For now, let’s just say that whatever the issue, as long as it is within the stipulated guidelines (nothing which incites blatant discrimination or libel), if you write, we’ll publish.
Yours,
Ali Kasim
THE
MEDIUM 3359 Mississauga Road, Room 200, Student Centre, Mississauga, ON, L5L 1C6 Phone: 905.828.5260 | Fax: 905.828.5402 | Advertising: 905.828.5379 E-mail editor@mediumonline.ca | Website: www.mediumonline.ca
Board of Directors Christine Capewell, Jane Ngobia, Isa Cunanan, Raji Aujla, Laura Gaspini, Umeimah Bastaki, Bhagyashri Bhandakkar, Julie Tyios
The fifth of November has come and gone. Almost 920 of you came out in support of dropping fees, and I would like to thank all of you, because without you, this campaign would have been nothing. For those who didn’t come out, I'm sure you all had good reasons. Some of you had prior commitments. Some of you disagreed with the campaign itself. And some of you had complaints with certain aspects of “Dropping Fees.” And that is something that I would like to discuss here. The 3 most common complaints I heard were: “This seems like a lot of propaganda.” “This is too vulgar.” “This isn’t going to do anything.” For the first complaint, I would like to respectfully disagree. A handful of people came up to me complaining about how when people were asked about their presence at the rally, the usual response was because they were in support of dropping fees. However, on further questioning of why fees should be dropped, there were no responses. This lack of knowledge was attributed to UTMSU’s lack of educating.
Dear Editor, I was pleased and surprised to read Alain Latour's feature in the Nov 10 edition of The Medium entitled “Eliminating tuition fees: not such a great idea.” I have seen far too much press in favour of reducing tuition fees, without any thought as to the effects such a reduction would have on the quality of the education we receive. In the Nov 3 e di ti on of Th e Medium, I was amused to find reference to the idea that 93 per cent of students s upp or te d re du ce d tuition fees. Where did that statistic come from? On the same page, the editor-in-chief, Ali Kasim, casually stated that, “It's hardly arguable that students would benefit from higher fees.” I almost choked on my coffee. Is it really true that ninety-three percent of students haven't stopped to think about this issue? When a student makes the argument to lower tuition fees, it suggests to me that they are either demonstrating an astounding level
I disagree with this because I don't see dropping fees to be a really contentious issue. Sure, it would be great if everybody knew everything about tuition fees, but the lack of that knowledge doesn’t in anyway deter somebody from being passionate about the issue. I feel that the onus instead lies on the party that respectfully disagrees to provide reasons as to why tuition fees should stay high, not on us to justify why we want lower tuition fees. For the second complaint, all I can do is apologize. And I do truly mean it. All our materials were approved by a coalition of regular students, and we tried to get as much input into the matter as possible. I am referring to the white Tshirts produced for this campaign. However, I would like to point out that even though a group of almost 40 students voted unanimously in favor of the T-shirt design, we only produced those T-shirts in a limited number, to be worn by volunteers who wanted to wear them, rather than mass produce them for everybody. As for the third complaint, there is nothing more I can do than disagree. There have been countless incidents of how students have won
numerous victories because of actions like these. There is an abundance of examples from over the years of how students have affected change through calls to action. And if you would like to hear some of them, please, do come and ask me. But as for now, all I will say is that no victory in the history of the world – from lowering parking fees to gaining independence of a country – was handed to anybody on a silver platter. It was fought for. Finally, for all those out there who are wondering, the Drop Fees campaign did not end on November 5. It has only just begun. A loud voice once in a while is easy to ignore, but a consistent scream that makes the ears bleed simply cannot be turned a deaf ear to. The students will not give up. The students have just begun to fight.
of benightedness for someone supposedly engaged in higher education, or they are possessed with that overwhelming sense of entitlement that seems to typify our generation. Or both. The bottom line is that you get what you pay for. I would rather have top notch professors, excellent facilities and equipment, and a strong administrative support community than get free education from incompetent, underpaid professors in an underfunded, understaffed institution. It is easy to suggest that "the government" cover more of our education, but in saying that you're forgetting that WE are the government and the money comes directly from our taxes. Did you vote, by the way? And no, not everyone is entitled to go to university. You have to be smarter than the average person and you have to work hard. I have a tough time sympathizing with students who whine about not having enough money to pay for university. Throughout m y undergraduate
degree, I took OSAP, UTAPS, OSOG, CMS, emergency grants and loans, student lines of credit, and at one point worked three jobs. I applied for every scholarship I could, and no, I didn't get most of them. I put myself through high school without my parents and I would be damned if I couldn't put myself through university as well. I finished an undergraduate, a masters, and am now working on a doctorate, all at U of T. I shudder when I think that my hard-earned degrees might one day be devalued by lowered tuition fees and a mass-influx of indifferent students. Stop complaining, appreciate what you have, and work to make it better.
In solidarity, Dhananjai Kohli VP External UTMSU
Sincerely, James Joseph Walker
EDITORIAL Please write to:editor@mediumonline.ca Letters to the editor will be edited for spelling, grammar, style, and coherence. Letters will not exceed 500 words in print. Letters that incite hatred, violence or letters that are racist, homophobic, sexist, or libelous will not be published. Anonymous letters will not be published. Letters and and other editorial materials reflect opinions of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, staff, volunteers, or Board of Directors of The Medium. In other words, just because we print it doesn’t necessarily mean we agree with it. Submission does not guarantee publication. Submission of materials to The Medium presumes the writer has read, and agrees with, this policy.
Editor-in-Chief Ali Kasim
Composite Editor Matthew Filipowich
News Editor TBA
Copy Editor Shelley Bahorie
Features Editor Andrew Hamilton-Smith
Distribution Manager Ali Kasim
Arts & Entertainment Editor Michael Di Leo
Business Manager Romano Bergic
Sports Editor Christopher Sa’d
Webmaster Verisha Khanam
Photography Editor Matthew Filipowich
Assistant Features Editor Alain Latour
The Medium is looking for assistant editors for all four sections - News, Features, Arts, Sports. If you have been writing for us the past few months, and want to be part of the team, let us know. Email your section editors or the editor-in-chief with your cover letter, resume, and some writing samples.
THE MEDIUM 5
Monday, November 17, 2008
Michael Di Leo, Editor | arts@mediumonline.ca
Murderous Women Guilty of monotony in the first degree SAMANTHA BERGER
Based on the novel of the same name by author Frank Jones, UTM’s Theatre Erindale began its run of Murderous Women last Thursday. The crime drama would be an obvious page turner filled with suspense, intrigue and mystery, but when mounted for the stage, bears far too much room for error in its two-and-a-half hour production. The play begins with the entire cast taking to the stage to perform an almost-in-unison series of tableaus while also reciting an almost-in-unison chant about murder. With such a large cast, this set up in a studio-style theatre made the already small space feel much more cramped. Murderous Women documents the stories of five women murderers in history, Clara Ford (played by Juel Hughes), Margeurite Fahmy (Melanie Hrymak), Betty Jones (Sydney Dunitz), Myra Hindley (Sophia Fabiilli) and Jean Harris (Jocelyn Perry). The first half allows the audience a chance to see what led to the murders while the second half delivers
the sentences for each woman. However, the play does more than that. It raises questions as to why we as society judge women murderers so differently from men. As well, it forces us to look closely at the oppression of women by not only men, but other women as well, as exemplified by the roles credited as “The Society,� three town gossips played by Kelsey Goldberg, My Anh Tran and Clare Blackwood. While doubling as the comic relief, these roles were designed specially to stress the questions of equality, gender and race. As Blackwood’s character comments, her greatest fear realized is a Negro with a hand-gun. It is common practice in theatre that if the actor cannot master the accent asked for in the script, he or she should not attempt one. This cast must have missed this memo. Accents called for ranged from Scottish to Arabic and even a little New Yorker. And with the exception of Hrymak (French) and Mark Johnson (Scottish), the accents simply failed to hit the mark, resulting in an often disconcerting tone to the dialogues. In what may be a Theatre Erindale
first, Murderous Women exercised the use of videos in the background in various scenes to show flashbacks and memories by characters on stage. However, poor sound quality and timing with the actors on stage made for a sloppy effort, which often dislodged the viewer from getting into the play. There were several salvaging points of course. Of the murderous women, the stand-out is Perry’s portrayal of Jean Harris, a former headmistress accused of killing the writer and creator of the Scarsdale Diet. Perry is the only one of the murderous women who actually takes over the character. With each of the other women, it was always obvious that they were acting a role. With each of the murderous women, the audience is the last jury member, forced to make a decision on what should happen to these women after all of the information is presented. Perry is the only one who evokes enough sympathy from the audience as her character does from the judge. Special mention must also go to Rachelle Magil, who skips onto the stage at the introduction of each of the women to recite appropriately themed nursery rhymes about each of them.
photo/Jim Smagata
The case of Marguerite and Egyptian Prince Ali Fahmy Bey at the Savoy in 1923: Melanie Hrymak and Ramon Vitug. Donning pig-tails and a huge cuckoolike smile, Magil’s portrayal was almost perfect – never off tone, or overdone. Murderous Women had an ample amount of potential. The story from Frank Jones’ novel features a great crime story that evokes several deep
and relevant themes. Unfortunately, a failed attempt at multi-modality, a couple of dropped lines, the lack of coordination in the numerous tableau scenes, and most of all, the lack of genuine emotion and depth from “the murderous women� meant that the play simply misses its target – by a mile.
Liquor is quicker, but wine is fine MICHAEL DI LEO A&E EDITOR
During one of his stand-up acts, comedian Katt Williams came to the conclusion that “people don’t care about what they drink.� While this may hold some ground at the local frat or house party, how should we act when we are in a more professional-type setting? Generally speaking, wine is the drink of choice for the sophisticated. Its many varieties and subtle differences play an important role in accentuating food, and its pairing of which is considered a culinary art. On top of that, the aptitude to select the perfect wine to fit a situation is a skill which conveys class. That being said, how can we as non-connoisseurs learn about this skill and demonstrate it in a practical setting? The answer can be found at one of Hart House’s educational evenings, part of this year’s wine series. The Hart House Wine Series is a string of four evenings dedicated to “discovering more about the fascinating & intriguing world of wine.� Taking p l a c e i n H a r t H o u s e ’ s
famous Music Room, the events are marked by esteemed guest speakers, all of whom are well-established in the world of wine. Each session consists of the presenter discussing their wine selections (laid out in front of you) and in the process, explaining different aspects of the wines and wine culture in general. Last week, Konrad Ejbich, a wine-connoisseur publicly known for his appearances on CBC Radio and his Guide to Ontario Wines, discussed the subtleties between w i ne ’ s f l a v o rs and the ageing process. To illustrate his points, he brought along a selection of wines ranging from Chiantis to Chablis. Ejbich opened the event with a discussion on the tasting process and a demonstration of the proper tasting method – consisting basically of gargling the wine so that it reaches every nook of your mouth, and then sucking in air (as if you were slurping a spoonful of soup) in order to accentuate the aromas. While the procedure seemed a tad silly it did make an incredible difference, and at once you were able to distinguish between the qualities of each wine. For example, the Chablis “Vieille Vignes,� produced by La Chablisienne in Burgundy had a slight acidity to it, which was nicely counter-balanced by a sweet hint of honey and summer fruits. The “FuZion� Shiraz-Malbec, pro-
duced by Familia Zuccardi in Argentina had an immediate effect; one could easily tell the freshness of the grapes used and its easy-drinking quality. From there, Konrad went on to explain how the ageing process affects the taste of the wines, and how certain wines fare better in time than others. To do so, he compared the same wines from different years. We began with a Riesling Spatlese from 2006 and 1991, both from Mosel, Germany. After the tasting we noticed how the 2006 had a brighter, fresher fruity tone while the 1991 had a subdued but sweeter quality. Ejbich explained how by ageing wines you are in fact performing a similar process to caramelizing or cooking the wine’s aromas. He went on to show how strong, well-balanced wines can become better with age, while other, less stable wines (such as the aforementioned FuZion) would turn into vinegar with time. To say that the entire evening was strictly educational would be an overstatement. Platters of delicious food were served and more significantly, there was a very laid-back atmosphere at hand. The session seemed to exemplify what drinking wine is all about: relaxing and s ocializing w ith friends, and having a good time. All this while learning something new.
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6 THE MEDIUM
Monday, November 17, 2008
ARTS
Paul Wong vs. The Man The Vancouver-based video artist takes Toronto and UTM by storm in honour of the Reel Asian Film Festival. MICHELLE JOHNSON
On November 10, Vancouver-based video artist Paul Wong sat down at UTM’s very own MiST theatre for an intimate talk with an audience of UTM students and faculty. Arriving on the “Wong Mo-Bile-A-Go-Go,” a few commuting audience members got to see a video specially tailored from the ill-lit corridors and tiny screens of their coach bus. The special visit to UTM was a result of a collective effort from the Blackwood Gallery, the City of Mississauga, V-Tape, and Reel Asian Film Festival. The festival itself kicked off on November 12, and included a collection of Wong’s films which were shown throughout the five-day event. With his latest work East Van: John showing at VTape and his 2005 Governor General’s Award in Visual and Media Arts, Wong has been an extremely successful and busy artist of late. Wong’s career hasn’t always been as applauded as it is now. For the past thirty years he has been fighting an uphill battle with bureaucracy. Seeing as controversy and ambivalence are the underlying themes and nature of his work, it isn’t surprising that authoritarian powers have both praised and abased him. The most
visible of these fights with the “man” was between him and the Vancouver Art Gallery (VAG) in the 80s over his work, Confused Sexual Views. The piece was deemed “not art” by the gallery’s director at the time. Ironically, Wong had the work eventually shown at the VAG in 2002. Wong’s video work seems to straddle the line between art and filmmaking, putting the artist in a realm of ambiguity that makes his pieces as fascinating as they are controversial. While speaking to the audience at the MiST theatre, he described his love for video as a medium, calling it “the bastard child of film, television, advertisement and art.” As a gay Chinese artist living in Vancouver, Wong considers himself an outsider, and has always been on the cutting edge of technology and the art of gender, race and sexual politics. His latest film East Van: John is part of a portrait series depicting the East Vancouver neighbourhood Wong grew up in. The video documents an articulate schizophrenic millionaire crack addict living amongst the ruins of his burnt house. It is a visually fascinating depiction of a truth stranger than fiction that should not be missed. Amid the humdrum of the audience’s laughs and praise, The Medium was able to speak with the
outgoing artist about media arts, technology and his video wall in the CCIT building: The Medium: Why do you think there is such ambivalence within media arts, such as video art, audio art and developing technological art? Paul Wong: Do you think there is ambivalence? M: Well, I do believe there is a real quickness to disregard it as art. W: First of all, I think that so much of the stuff being done currently as digital art ignores the history of the equivalent art being done in analog. And so much of what I see, personally, comes out of too much theoretical and academic framing. I don’t care how that noise is made; is that noise pleasant? Does that noise have a good rhythm? Does it speak to me? Is it accessible? So, I think it’s a proliferation of stuff. I mean, quite frankly I’m bored by most of it; not to say that I’ve seen all of it and have been all over. A lot of it is a one trick pony. A lot of work I actually see in exhibition doesn’t have enough layers for me. M: They’re kind of one-liners?
W: Yes, I do think the Cultural Revolution, or cultural evolution, is
really in a rudimentary stage. I think that technology is still so primitive. It’s not very smart, it breaks down, it doesn’t think fast enough, it’s not intuitive to me. So, in that sense, I think a lot of that work is the same thing, because they are relying on those tools which I think are primitive; so how can those works be sophisticated if they are the works of primitive tools?
in a Maze] (gestures to Video Wall), they’re not willing and don’t know how or can’t figure out how to adapt to listen to this (gestures to Video Wall again). So, a lot of times work is contextualized or supported by where it is placed.
M: I gathered from your talk that you feel the best art is intuitive and not based so much in theoretical thought, but is more something that feels right to you.
W: No, I think: location, location, context – proper placement of that work, and not necessarily playing to the right audience. I think [Running in a Maze] is entirely successful here. I wasn’t trying to force something that didn’t fit into the space, like [East Van: John] that is forty minutes long and requires sound.
W: Yes and no. A lot of that work can be well thought out, but if you are working with rudimentary tools that are not very intuitive then maybe you’re working against the inequalities of the medium as it is right now. You’re not talking about a square hole and a round peg. Often, I find that things feel very forced. Again, it’s in the early stages of development.
M: Do you think a lot of art work can only be appreciated in retrospect?
The video wall in question is a three minute loop called Running in a Maze, featuring young men and women playfully running in a maze constructed by Charles Rea, and can be viewed from November 3 to
M: So, do you think art goes through cycles, in which the technology catches up with it or the people discover the new technology?
Paul Wong’s East Van: John is now on at V- Tape and will be showing until November 22.
W: There is so much distraction, that to make people go from there (gestures to door) to listen to [Running
Reel Asian Film Fest hits Toronto ODILIA YIM
The twelfth Annual Reel Asian International Film Festival started off with a bang. The Bloor Cinema was temporarily transformed into a premiere event, with photographers and media stationed along a red carpet on Bloor Street. Granted a great reception by the community and city atlarge, this growing festival (voted best small film festival by ow Magazine) is not only about movies; it also encourages filmmakers in various stages of their career to gain perspective on a diverse group of films, using not only short films and feature presentations, but also industry panels and video art installations. Running from November 12-16, the opening gala film, The Drummer, gave the festival’s planners the idea to arrange a live drumming show to start off the festival. Audiences were treated with an intense performance of traditional drumming by a dazzling group of strong Asian women. With such a positive start, there were great expectations for this year’s films, and these expectations were fully met by the film on opening night. Opening Gala: The Drummer Kenneth Bi’s The Drummer delivers a dramatic film of self-discovery in a fusion of serenity, criminals, and Zen drumming. Hailed as the “Critics’ Pick” at the Sundance Film Festival, this film has already garnered attracted much acclaim and attention before its premiere at the Reel Asian – Top Five Audience Favourites, Seattle
International Film Festival, Favourite Dramatic Film, Locarno International Film Festival. The Hong Kong-born, Canadianraised director’s third feature film was a perfect and safe choice for the opening of the film festival as there was a general consensus to its relatability, despite its characters living in a society half way across the world. The Drummer begins in Hong Kong, introducing audiences to the frenzied sights and sounds of the popular Asian city as well as Sid (Jaycee Chan, son of famed action star Jackie Chan), a reckless rock band drummer and spoiled son of a high-profiled gangster. A rebellious playboy, Sid finds himself in trouble with a powerful mafia boss and is sent off to Taiwan by his father Kwan (Tony Leung Ka Fai) as a means to placate the dangerous situation. In the shadows of the lush Taiwanese mountains, seemingly a world away from the busy city life, the tranquility and simplicity of traditional tribal-like drumming is contagious. It is there where he joins the drumming group and learns lessons that will eventually transform him forever. Jaycee Chan gives a realistic portrayal of a reformed young man growing into his identity. He also shines early on as a naïve and immature drummer who doesn’t care for anything and whose only reason to do things is to infuriate and disrespect others. In many moments throughout the film, Chan resembles (literally and figuratively) a younger version of his father. He is no doubt ready to hold his own and make a name for himself in the competitive Hong Kong cinema world. Though a relative newcomer, he maintains standing with veteran actor Tony
Leung without ever being overshadowed. Leung’s performance as Sid’s father, a brutal and tough gangster who is as harsh and rough with his kids as he is with opposing tribes, is raw and authentic. No surprise that his performance in the film earned him the Best Supporting Actor honour from the Taipei Golden Horse Awards. On top of the strong and talented acting, the cinematography captures the calmness and natural beauty of the rural mountains and countryside, while maintaining a sense of hazy confusion that not only exists in the main character’s sensibility, but also in the hearts of urban audiences viewing these rarely seen landscapes. Reminiscent of the Karate Kid, the universal theme of self-discovery is emphasized with touching moments of understanding and focus. The mix of fast-paced action in the city and the peaceful clarity in the country is handled well; instead of a confusing mishmash, it delivers an inspiring story which transcends cultures. Music is a vital characteristic in the movie especially with its inclusion of the world-renowned Zen drumming group U-Theatre. The scenes with these drummers are genuine as we get a glimpse into how they live their lives with utmost dedication and commitment to their music. One of the early encounters between Sid and the drumming ensemble is reminiscent of the many battles in Drumline, but in a more refined and sophisticated form. Showing in a limited number of festivals this year, this cinematic gem may be hard to track down. But for those who may get the chance, I suggest you don’t pass this magnificent tale up.
photo/reelasian.com
The Drummer continues its stellar run at the twelfth annual Reel Asian Film Festival. Empty Orchestra Exhibition Taking a break from the movies, a feature on the festival’s schedule also included an exhibition at Hart House’s Justina M. Barnicke Gallery. Empty Orchestra (Candace Breitz, Wang Gongxin, Christian Jankowski, Karen Tam, and Iichiro Tanaka) is mass tribute to karaoke, a symbolic representation of contemporary Japanese culture. The exhibition ranged from artists planning a “karaoke lounge” where visitors can actually sing songs, to video installations of people singing. American disco balls and Japanese music filled the air in a quick-tempo multi-lighted room and is juxtaposed next to a serene Moroccanstyle haven for karaoke.
Candace Breitz’s installation simply titled “Karaoke” is note-worthy with her clever use of ten television sets placed in a circle facing each other while playing different people singing the love ballad “Killing Me Softly” on a loop. Seemingly “weird,” at first, the installation is actually overwhelming when one stands in the center of the circle and only sees the bright screens all around in a completely dark room. These artistic installations are not about understanding their meaning or what the artist strived to achieve, but rather, to be able to experience it for yourself. What’s significant in this exhibition is the creativity these artists have demonstrated in showing the facets of a pop culture craze that has overtaken Japan and the world.
Monday, November 17, 2008
ARTS
THE MEDIUM 7
Banana Boys show true colours SHAREEN PATHAK
Banana Boys: an expression referring to Chinese-Canadian boys deemed to be yellow on the outside, and white on the inside. The play too, is divided – an insubstantial script with an excellent production. Great on the outside, but very bad on the inside. Banana Boys, a play by Leon Aureus and adapted from the novel by Terry Woo explores the lives of five Chinese-Canadian friends during the year after their graduation. All five exemplify one of the stereotypes associated with typical Chinese-Canadians. Rick (Jeff Yung), the Chinese yuppie trying to rise into the new class of Chinese businessmen, Shel (Darrel Gamotin), the unassertive and romantically unlucky guy, Mike (Christian Feliciano), the pressured would-be medical student, Dave (Karl Ang), the computer geek who sees racism wherever he goes, and Luke (Byron Abalos), the flighty guy with no “real” prospects. The play begins with Rick’s death, and then follows a series of non-linear sequences delineating the events (and non-events) that got them there. It deals with the many aspects of being Canadian-Chinese, some funny, such as bad luck with women, and others not as funny, including discrimination and assimilation into the dominant culture. Director ina Lee Aquino does a fantastic job with a script that is often dry. The set is minimalist, and yet brilliantly does the trick – a screen, a gurney, four chairs, and
four tubelights creating scenes ranging from a nightclub to a bedroom to a bank. The scenes are fluid and incredibly dynamic, creating a sense of manic intensity that keeps the pace when the script tends to fall flat. Some scenes are executed excellently: Mike’s faux-surgery, the scene where Chinese-Canadians’ bad luck with women is portrayed as a mockbattle, and the mother-sumo wrestler fighting with Mike to get him to succumb to becoming a doctor. Indeed, the play is a hilarious tribute to the well-known and identifiable stereotypes of Asian males.
The scenes are fluid and incredibly dynamic, creating a sense of manic intensity that keeps the pace when the script tends to fall flat. The play veers between reality and dream sequences, and the latter is far more effective. For example, Mike, who wants to follow his dream of becoming a writer is pressured by his family to become a surgeon instead. The scenes where he is dreaming of surgery are far more effective than his friends’ discussion of his dilemma. The surgeries are successively performed upon himself, his book, and Rick. His nightmares illustrate the point more efficiently and are much more entertaining. On the other hand, Rick’s monologues, pre and post death, drag on and do not seem more than just angsty gibberish.
Christian Feliciano as Mike and Jeff Yung as Rick stand out for their performances. Both are given the meatiest characters, and the depth and struggle of their characters is really felt. Darrel Gamotin as Shel, however, deserves special mention for bringing to life a character that isn’t much more than a simple sketch. His rendering of Shel, who spends most of the play on the phone with his girlfriend in Ottawa, leapt off the stage and identified with most, if not all, of the males in the audience. The second act, which focuses on Rick’s death, is where the play begins to reveal his cracks. Rick himself is an excellently drawn character, and the dream sequences dealing with him are one of the most notable ones in the play. However, the real-life events in Rick’s life are given too much attention, and the audience’s attention began to wander during the second half. The problem with Banana Boys becomes obvious in this portion: our emotional relationship with the characters, which has to be strong in a play like this, is never really built up for us to feel their distress. Though playwright Leon Aureus writes that the play is “a story about courage, self discovery, and acceptance,” these themes are rarely communicated clearly enough for the audience to feel connected and invested in the characters. Thus, we never really understand their dilemmas. At the end of the day however, the cast and crew of Banana Boys at Hart House do an very decent job by putting an excellent skin on an otherwise very hollow banana.
photos/Daniel DiMarco
Top: The four friends look over Mike’s dead body. Left to Right – Jeff Yung as Rick, Christian Feliciano as Mike, Karl Ang as Dave, Byron Abalos as Luke, and Darrel Gamotin as Shel. Bottom: The five friends share a nostalgic moment. Left to Right - Jeff Yung as Rick, Christian Feliciano as Mike, Byron Abalos as Luke, Karl Ang as Dave, and Darrel Gamotin as Shel.
8 THE MEDIUM
Monday, November 17, 2008
Andrew Hamilton-Smith, Editor | features@mediumonline.ca
Collusion in Sudan KAREN AKHTAR I’ve been good friends with this guy for three years. In the beginning we had a thing for each other but it never worked out. We go to different schools now but we still talk to each other a lot and our mutual friends think that we should date. He kept asking me out until about a year ago but some of my friends have told me that he’s a player and that he has other girls. The problem is that now I’m starting to like him a lot and I don’t know if I should tell him. And I’m not sure if he would give up other girls just to be with someone who lives two hours away. So let me get this straight. You used to have a thing for this guy but it didn’t work out and now that you’re at different schools you’re developing feelings for him. I think I might have a few theories: 1) Have you ever heard the saying “distance makes the heart grow fonder?� It’s likely that distance is at least in part to blame for this emotional confusion. The more time you spend with someone, the more their flaws become noticeable. Distance glosses over most of the imperfection and over time, you begin to forget about the problems.
2) You might be missing his attention. You mentioned that he asked you out repeatedly after your crush fizzled out and that he stopped about a year ago. It’s flattering being chased and when it goes away it makes you want that attention back. 3 ) If you aren’t currently in a relationship it’s possible that you just miss being in one. Sometimes when we’re single we reconsider some of our discards and try to minimize their negative qualities to see if there was some way that we could have worked it out. If you tell him, what’s the worst that could happen? He could say no but you’re two hours away so you don’t even have to experience the awkwardness of running into him all the time. Or he could say yes and you guys could give it another shot and see what comes of it. If you don’t tell him then you might dwell on your feelings for him, which might intensify before fading, but later on, you could meet someone else who’s a little bit closer to you. These are things that you need to weigh in your mind for yourself. With regards to the “other girls,� that might be a part of his personality. If he is someone who is naturally
flirtatious, your jealousy of the other girls will be heightened in a longdistance relationship with him. Whether he would give up the other girls to be in a long-distance relationship with you is not a question that I can answer; it’s different for everyone. On the one hand, lots of people are in relationships with partners that live much further away. On the other hand, I’ve got friends who’ve ended relationships with their partners because they lived in different cities. Either way, make sure you think this through a little bit more before you make your final decision.
Good luck. SEC
If you have any questions that you want answered in our sex column, send them to sex.column@utmsec.ca. Please note that this column is intended for entertainment purposes.
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In war-stricken Sudan, any report of an immediate and unconditional ceasefire between the armed forces and warring factions should come as great news. Yet President Omar al-Bashir’s announcement last week, where he announced a ceasefire, failed to inspire much hope. One likely reason for this skepticism stems from the fact that he was following recommendations made by his own state-sponsored forum - the Sudan People’s Forum (which was created to give the illusion of tolerating dissent) after the International Criminal Court sought to have him arrested for crimes against humanity this past July. A recent BBC news report elaborates on President Omar al-Bashir’s crimes: in addition to ordering the killing of the Zaghawa, Masalit, and Fur ethnic groups, he has been charged with torture, rape, forced relocations, extermination, murder, pillaging, and attacking civilians. The BBC also notes that more than two million people have become refugees since 2003 and up to 300,000 people have died.
Can a government who commits these sorts of atrocities be trusted to bring justice to its own people? The situation isn’t getting any better. In October, Human Rights Watch noted the following about the current situation in Sudan: “According to local sources, government-backed "Janjaweed" militias attacked more than 13 villages and settlements around Muhajariya, eighty kilometers east of Nyala, the capital of South Darfur, killing more than forty civilians, burning homes, and stealing livestock. Witnesses told Human Rights Watch that armed Janjaweed on horses and camels surrounded villages and were followed by government forces in vehicles mounted with weapons.� Can a government who commits these sorts of atrocities be trusted to bring justice to its own people? According to Eric Reeves, a professor at Smith College and an expert on Darfur, the genocide started in February 2003 and the victims are not limited to the nonArab or African tribal groups of Darfur, as reported by the BBC, but also include the Dajo, the Birgid, and the Tunjur, along with others. These groups have been economically and politically disadvantaged for years, and this has been compounded by the National Islamic Front regime endorsing Arab militias, such as the Janjaweed, to raid villages in Darfur. Access to land
photo/www.mtholyoke.edu
South Sudan, Palotaka Boys School during an air raid drill. and water has also been a key issue in the conflict. Even more disturbing is evidence of the involvement of Western businesses in maintaining this brutal status quo. According to a 2003 report from the India Resource Center, an organization that challenges social injustice, oil companies like the Swedish Lundin Oil A B a nd the Can adian Talis man Energy Inc. have been found guilty of building transportation routes to help the government attack civilians in Unity state (Western Upper Nile). After being chided by human rights groups for their actions, Talisman pulled out in late 2002, followed by Lundin in June 2003. Foreign involvement is not limited to private companies. In July, the Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy, an organization representing the exiled Massaleit from Darfur, reported that Belarus sent a shipment of Russian-made MIG-29 combat jets to Sudan, violating UN Security Council Resolution 1591 that outlaws the sale of weapons to Sudan. Morever, Syria, India, Germany, Iran, Switzerland, and China have been found guilty of sending more than $25 million worth of armoured combat vehicles and tanks to EastAfrican nation. It would seem that any progress towards the implementation of international law has simply vanished when it comes to the genocide in Darfur.
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Monday, November 17, 2008
THE MEDIUM 9
FEATURES
Tuition Fees: the debate wages on Last week,The Medium published an article arguing for the benefits of tuition fees. This week, we present the flipside of that coin. DHANANJAI KOHLI
The fifth of November is a day that will not be soon forgotten. On this day, thousands of students from across the GTA rose up against increasing tuition fees. Students stood up, believing that education is a right, not a privilege, and called on the government to restore funding for post-secondary education. However, there were and are opposing voices that argue tuition fees should exist, for a multitude of reasons, from “We are making an investment in ourselves” to “We will have to pay higher taxes”. Education is a right. However, I would like to make clear that that assertion does not mean that the role of academic qualifications should be discounted. Rather, what is referred to as a “right” is the recognition of the goals and benefits of post-secondary education, and the right of citizenry to equal access to society’s core services. The alternative vision is that education is a privilege. And as such, it matters not that there be equality of access, nor, it could be argued, should it be subsidized by the government. As with most privileges, the marketplace can determine access to education. From this perspective, it is necessary to determine who has access to this dispensable service. Canadians know intuitively, and statisticians know empirically, that there are substantial benefits to postsecondary education. Perhaps to the dismay of some economists, the answer to the question “who should pay?” cannot be solved by one complicated formula. Rather, the degree of adequate public funding for social programs is firmly rooted in subjective political perspectives. In 2006, a thorough review of the literature on positive social and personal outcomes related to various education levels was conducted. Among the more noteworthy findings are that university graduates not only contribute more to the tax base than those without a degree, but graduates are also far less likely to draw on public transfers to individuals, such as social assistance. Higher education levels are also correlated with higher civic participation, such as voting and following current events. Although university and college education is virtually a pre-requisite for meaningful participation in the labor force, some organizations have attempted to exaggerate the private rate of return on post-secondary education as justification to raise tuition fees. One common refrain among university presidents is that degree holders earn, on average, one million dollars more over their lifetime than non-degree holders. However, a closer examination suggests that one should be skeptical of this figure. First of all, it is an average inflated by the inclusion of a compound interest element. In other words, when inflation is factored out, the “net present value” or “additional
potential earnings” of a university education is only $148,000. However, it is an average of the increased earnings for university degree holders. The vast majority of post-secondary graduates are average income earners. The “one million dollar” communications tactic attempts to place an overly narrow frame on the discussion on how to best pay for public post-secondary education. There are both private and public returns to high levels of participation in university and college, but the “one million dollar” tactic draws attention to a false glut of individual future earnings on which to raise funds from the student, ignoring such instruments as the progressive income tax system. The weakness of this claim is evinced by economist Hugh MacKenzie, who demonstrates how variable the personal “investment” in post-secondary education can be. MacKenzie found that for one-quarter of all university graduates, the net value of a degree is negative. That is, for 25 per cent of all university graduates, annual earnings are less than that of the average earnings of those with only a high-school diploma. The myth of the wealthy graduate who can pay more tuition fees is clearly not supported by the facts. Hence, the idea that decreased tuition fees will decrease quality is an absolute untruth.
was an easy target for these funding cuts. Because universities and colleges were funded through a combination of both federal and provincial grants plus user fees, governments were able to cut funding by forcing students and their families to subsidize the difference. Between the early 1980s and the early 1990s, average tuition fees at Canadian universities more than doubled. In 1995, the federal Liberal government announced a further cut of $7 billion in public funding to provincial programs, including postsecondary education, health-care, housing, and social assistance. These post-secondary education cuts were directly passed on to students, resulting in the largest tuition fee increase in Canadian history. Today’s high tuition fees are symptomatic of the significant cuts to funding for post-secondary education that were made by the Government of Ontario and the Government of Canada during the last decade and a half. If they had risen only by the rate of inflation since 1990-1991, average undergraduate tuition fees in Ontario would be $2,490, less than half the current cost. It would take 40 years, up until the academic year 2048-2049, for inflation to catch up to the average undergraduate tuition.
Canadian Tuition Fees, 1994 - 2004
photo/Matthew Filipowich
So when we are asking for a drop in tuition fees, we are not asking for a reduction in the quality of education. Rather, we are demanding that the government take back the responsibility of funding post-secondary education. 76 per cent of jobs available today require some form of post secondary certification. It could even be argued that universities and colleges are the new high school. If I were to ever have kids, I would hope that they live in a society where their ability to gain knowledge, vital knowledge, is not
measured by their cheque books, but rather their academic qualifications. That’s where we seem to be heading – a society where one goes to university not because they deserve it, but rather if they can afford it.
I would hope that [we] live in a society where our ability to gain knowledge, vital knowledge, is not measured by our cheque books, but rather our academic qualifications. Universities operate from two major sets of revenue. One comes directly from us, the students, in the form of tuition fees. The other is government funding in the form of subsidies for each student. In the year 1987-88, tuition fees made up 19.1 per cent of the universities operating budget. 80.9 per cent came from the provincial government. Fast forward to 2004-05, and we see tuition fees now comprising 44 per cent of the operating budget, with the provincial government only contributing 56 per cent. Following the Second World War, the federal government began directly funding universities. By the mid1960s, nearly all funding for Canada’s universities was provided by the federal and provincial governments. This allowed for tuition fees to be reduced to a token amount. Not surprisingly, post-secondary education enrollment exploded, with Canadians from all backgrounds gaining access to higher education for the first time. This era represented a time when Canadian governments not only recognized the social and economic value of mass post-secondary education but also invested public funds to reflect that commitment. In 1976, the Canadian government signed on to the United Nations’ Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, promising to gradually introduce free education at all levels. In the early 1980s, a value shift began to take root in governments in Canada and most other western countries, as most jurisdictions began cutting funding for public programs. Post-secondary education
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10 THE MEDIUM
Monday, November 17, 2008
Christopher Sa’d, Editor | sports@mediumonline.ca
David versus Goliath Ex-WWE star prematurely finds his way up the ladder into his first championship bout Joe “Daddy” Stevenson (34-8). Florian, who called out lightweight Champion BJ Penn sitting at ringside during the match, proved too much for Stevenson, and the latter submitted in only the first round after a chokehold from behind.
CHRISTOPHER SA’D SPORTS EDITOR
He’s the “next big thing”, the new Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight champion, and the biggest man in his weight class. This past Saturday at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Brock Lesnar overpowered Randy “The Natural” Couture in front of thousands. “He’s one of the most exciting fighters to enter the UFC... ever!” UFC President Dana White said of Lesnar during a pre-fight segment. UFC 91 was filled with blood and pure adrenalin-fused entertainment. Along w i t h t h e L e s n a r - C o u t u r e final bout, another notable matchup was between lightweight Kenny Florian (12-3 win-loss record) and
“I can’t believe it... I just believe in hard work and it pays off.” - Brock Lesnar, UFC Heavyweight champion During the post-fight interview, Florian pointed out Penn and the championship title as his next step toward MMA supremacy. But first, Penn has to find a way past UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre on January 31, a bout many critics have billed as the “fight of 2009.”
But, first the “fight of 2008,” David versus Goliath, the new versus the old, Lesnar versus Couture. During the first round of the main event, Lesnar and Couture unleashed on each other in a tug-ofwar for strength. Couture tried to push the fight on the floor with a game plan to expose Lesnar’s susceptibility to submission moves. The plan never materialized though with Lesnar ‘s 6-foot-3 and 265pound frame proving too much for Couture. Lesnar finally caught “The Natural” with a punch to the head in the second round as Couture immediately collapsed to the ground with his legs up, trying to block Lesnar from a ground and pound, but that didn’t stop Lesnar from unleashing a fury of hammer punches to the side of Couture’s head. Moments later, the referee called Couture out of the match. “I can’t believe it,” said Lesnar after being awarded the championship belt. “I just believe in hard work and it pays off.”
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Lesnar pounding on Couture during the second round. The road to Lesnar’s title-win did not go without controversy. Lesnar jumped into the Championship fight with a 2-1 win-loss record, numbers which hardly resemble a worthy contender. Meanwhile Couture, who holds a 16-8 record, made public his desire for a fight with “the most dangerous man” Fedor Emelianenko who constantly brags about his 26-1 record in the ring. So how did Lesnar land a title shot so easily and quickly? Many speculate that this has much to do with the rift between White and Couture. Ever since their dispute over a contract renewal, it’s been no secret that UFC President White has had it in for Couture and since Lesnar is already a star, why not raise some eyebrows from the wealthy viewers. Emelianenko fought most of his career in the Pride Fighting Championships (now a partner with UFC). After a failed attempt to sign Emelianenko, UFC’s higher power then paired up Couture with Lesnar, who White believes to be a better figure and representative for UFC. With Lesnar’s World Wrestling Entertainment stardom, pure business-sense pushed him up the ladder. There is more money at stake with Lesnar in the octagon than veteran Emelianenko attempting to retain his title and respect in the ring. It seems UFC is following into WWE’s footsteps as an organization concerned mostly with profit
and worldwide recognition—a road you wouldn’t expect such a sport to follow. With Lesnar as the new face of UFC, the question of whether Emelianenko will ever be coming to the UFC still remains. Everyone knows that White wants to but is having trouble signing the feared fighter. If the signing does happen, it will be interesting to see if Lesnar will be able to handle the fire from the Russian bear—well after his contract with Affliction is finished or cease to exist. Emelianenko took down former UFC heavyweight Champion Tim Sylvia in twenty-six seconds and beat former Interim UFC heavyweight Champion Antonio Noguiera twice in the past decade. Clearly, he’s not a man to be reckoned with. Lesnar is slow to react with open opportunities when his opponents are down – he’s lucky to have a punch that can rattle a skull. Emelianenko on the other hand, is quicker, agile, smarter, more experienced than and arguably as strong as Lesnar . While Lesna r wou ld probably think a fight with Emelianenko as a “dream match,” many would argue that he isn’t ready for it and his trainers probably think the same way. White probably knows this, and will more than likely wait it out a while before pairing his new champion with someone deadlier and more consistent than Couture. Let him ride the glory train a little longer. Meanwhile, there are also several questions surrounding Couture. With two more fights on his contract, it’s anyone’s guess who he’ll fight next. Is White going to destroy Couture’s credibility and respect with two undercards? We’ll see what happens. The Lesnar and Couture fight has shown a new face and direction for UFC. Competition is growing between fighting affiliates with a new generation of fighters “cutting the line” (a la Lesnar) for the big bout and the culture of MMA corrupting in front of our eyes. It’s not about style anymore; it’s about power and size. Back to old UFC habits?
photo/cagepotato.com
Coutre (left) and Emelianenko: The fight that would probably never happen, but at least they had a photo shoot together.
Monday, November 17, 2008
THE MEDIUM 11
SPORTS
Champions at last UTM Women’s Soccer breaks 13-year jinx with a well-deserved win SARAH BRUNO
On Sunday November 9 the UTM Eagles Women’s Soccer team raised the cup with a 2-1 victory over their rivals the UTSC Raccoons in the Division 1 final. The championship also marked UTM’s first women’s soccer championship since 1995. The powerhouse team, led by new coaches Rob Brown and Rafiq Hakim, stirred up the championship game with a forceful and confident winning recipe – be the first to the ball, go in hard, and shoot at net, always shoot at the net. And of course, everything went according to plan. At the fifteenth minute mark, Lloyd received a give-and-go pass from midfielder Sarah Bruno that allowed Lloyd to blaze past the UTSC defenders, pulling them far into the corner and releasing a left-footed shot that curved into the net. Soon after, the Raccoons were awarded a free kick just outside UTM’s 18-yard box. UTM goalie, Christie DesRoches, leapt to make an almost impossible save to keep her side’s onegoal lead intact. But the game began to nose dive for UTM after that with some questionable calls from the referees and a fortuitous equalizer from the Raccoons. Earning a corner kick off a counter attack, UTSC tied the game when the kick from the corner flag somehow snuck into the net.
Ironically, after the goal, UTSC lost all momentum in their attempts to produce any offence, allowing the Eagles to grow in confidence in defense. Throughout the rest of the half, Larissa Viel and veterans Rochelle Perera and Jaimee Ogilvie fused their talents with newcomers Erin Doane, Mikaela Logdberg and Dina El Kadi to control UTM’s D-zone with no shots on net allowed. This defensive solidity led to the winning goal from Lloyd, her second of the game, with a strike that whipped by the goalie in the seventieth minute. From this point, there was nothing to stop UTM from finishing the match as champions. Solid midfield performances from rookies Brittany McNamee, Amanda Giatti and Sarah Bruno and veterans Diane Fric and Nicole Frankovic prevented UTSC
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from providing any threat in their attacking half. Meanwhile, returning forward Nicole Dinardo allied with first-years Rashmi Benawra and Lisa Spring to deliver suspenseful breakaways and rack up UTM’s shot count, making it a restless game for the Raccoons goaltender. The play of the game fell to UTM defender Ogilvie’s sensational slide tackle which prevented a golden opportunity to equalize late in the game. “I never slide tackle,” said Ogilvie, showing the bloody scrape on her knee. “But it was well worth it, especially for our team’s victory.” “My job becomes pretty easy with such a solid team in front of me,” said goalkeeper DesRoches after the game. “The team dominated Scarborough, giving them very few chances on net.
We had a great season and definitely deserved the win." “I was showing off the (champions) t-shirt on Monday when I got back to school,” said Brown. “I’m proud of all the girls and what they’ve accom-
plished this season.” In order to keep the same winning record for next season, UTM also hopes to keep the same team. Let’s hope it doesn’t take UTM another thirteen years to win another championship.
UTM Ball Hockey Champions... Ron Vogl Dream Team
Congratulations by winning your UTM Championship t-shirts photo/Jack Krist
12 THE MEDIUM
Monday, November 17, 2008
Wednesday, November 26th, 08. 5pm- 7pm at Council Chambers SE3130. Refreshments will be provided.