Vol 35 issue 26

page 2

page 5

Monday, April 6, 2009

page 9 page 8

page 11 www.mediumonline.ca

Volume 35, Issue 26

Galloway speaks at UTM ANDREW HAMILTON SMITH NEWS EDITOR

In a speech that was remarkable for its lack of controversial statements, George Galloway began by thanking Canadian Immigration Minister Jason Kenney for bringing him such great publicity. “Kenney must be sorry he started all this,” Galloway half-joked, noting that an ordinary speaking engagement is now garnering international headlines as a result of the ban.

Even though he could not speak in person, Galloway was able to simulcast his scheduled March 31 presentation to the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) via the internet from his hotel room in New York City.

On March 21 2009, the Immigration department refused to allow the British Member of Parliament into Canada, on the grounds that he has supported terrorism by supplying humanitarian relief to the Hamas government in Gaza.

“How can I be described as a terrorist?” Galloway rhetorically asked, listing the supplies he brought to Gaza on March 9: ambulances, wheelchairs, medicine, tents, blankets, and “particularly dangerous” biscuits. He explained that although he is not a supporter of Hamas, he did give them the supplies because they are the democraticallyelected government in Gaza, and that he supports democracy.

Photo/Lara Matiisen

A line up quickly formed for the Galloway presentation, which was done via internet simulcast since he has been banned by the Conservative government from entry to Canada.

Galloway attributed the ban, not to his own actions in Gaza, but to lobbying efforts by the Jewish Defense League (JDL) – “banned in the US by the FBI for being thugs” as according to Galloway.

Galloway also went on to assert that the JDL has offered their support to the Conservative government of Stephen Harper in exchange for favourable policy decisions – by far his most controversial statement of the evening, although links between JDL and the Conservative Party of Canada are welldocumented.

His only other controversial remark was when he proposed a “One-State” solution for the Israel-Palestine conflict.

In contrast to Dr. Norman Finklestein, who spoke at UTM earlier in the year and offered a “Two-State” solution, Galloway argued that Israelis and Palestinians should both live under one government, in one state, which represents both groups equally. The bulk of his presentation, however, focused on the plight of the Palestinian people – or “non-people” – under the current state of affairs.

“One of the greatest crimes of the 20th century is now bleeding into the 21st,” Galloway said, describing how after 1948, Palestinians were “exiled, hunted, and wiped off the earth; with no passports, no government or recognized representatives. “They were driven

from their land and became refugees,” he recounted. “And so for forty-two years, Palestinians have had no vote and no rights.”

Given those circumstances, he argued that Israel’s military occupation of the West Bank and Gaza is both immoral and illegal, not to mention undemocratic. “Refugees have rights,” Galloway continued. “Therefore Palestinians have rights, and one of those rights is to resist illegal occupation.” He described the horror he experienced when he arrived in Gaza after the recent attacks by Israel as particularly inhumane. “Unlike in most conflicts where civilians can flee from fighting, in Gaza the entire perimeter is

controlled and sealed [by Israel], leaving a defenseless population to be shot like so many fish in a barrel,” explained Galloway.

At this point, the organizers began passing around hats and bowls to be filled with donations, and many in the audience at the packed CCT 1080 lecture theatre donated very generously indeed. Almost $4,100 was raised through donations and ticket sales for the Gaza Coalition.

Speaking after the presentation, third-year political science student Farah Kalbouneh pointed out that she is extremely disappointed in the Conservative government of Canada and Minister Kenney. “George Galloway’s message was peaceful. He talked about a one-state solution where both Palestinians and Israelis can form a democratic government together and give every citizen equal rights. It was ironic that his message is to promote peace and yet our government has banned him.”

When opening the event, organizer Walied Khogali stressed the need to communicate to the Harper government that this ban does not reflect a democratic society. A former UTMSU President, Khogali thanked the more than seventy members of the UTM Gaza Coalition, and spoke convincingly about the kind of Canada that he knows and loves. “The great thing about UTM is the number of people with different experiences and different backgrounds that can live and work together peacefully,” he declared, to rousing applause.

“We cannot permit the government to silence us just because we are criticizing them.”

Election results approved ANDREW HAMILTON SMITH NEWS EDITOR

Photo/Matthew Filipowich

Joey Santiago in the UTMSU office before the UTSU meeting on Thursday. After much delay, the meeting saw the election results ratified.

An emergency meeting involving the UTMSU Board of Directors was held in the Boardroom of the Student Centre on March 31 in order to ratify the results from the recent Student Union election. The meeting’s agenda also included the ratification of the Chief Returning Officer’s (CRO) report on the election and the resignation of Election and Referenda Committee (ERC) Chair Saaliha Malik, who is also the outgoing UTMSU vice-president equity.

Her sudden departure casts a shadow over the recent UTMSU

elections, which has experienced more than a few problems already; though it is far from clear that any of these “inconsistencies” would call the actual results into question.

S. Malik’s primary complaint stems from the fact that the UTM Movement campaign manager hired the CRO after the original person, Bishoy Dawood, quit right before the election. The second complaint she had was that the new CRO, Omer Galvez, did not actually write the report itself.

Focusing on the CRO report and the practises related to the hiring of the CRO, Board member Marc Bressler, immediately objected to the ratification of the report – and therefore the entire election – on the

grounds that they were “masquerading an executive’s report as a CRO report,” his claim following from the premise that the CRO was “not properly appointed.”

Chairman of the board Walied Khogali, a past UTMSU president, ruled that the board could vote on the report. “There is no problem with such a hire [by President Wasah Malik] between one Board meeting and another,” Khogali stated, citing the UTMSU Constitution section 2G, which states that it is the responsibility of the ERC to hire the CRO and can do so independently if there is no time before an election.

See Ratifying the results page 3

2 THE MEDIUM

NEWS

MONDAY, APRIL

6, 2009

RUNNING INTO OR OUT OF TROUBLE

Alerting students Orphan Run goes on of trouble FIONA BUCHANAN ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

As of March 9, the University of Toronto has implemented a new Emergency Alert System (EAS) for students, staff and faculty. In the event of a crisis on campus, the new alert system will send messages to all registered landlines and mobile phones. Email communications have recently been sent to all U of T email addresses to encourage online registration in the program.

The EAS was supplied by a company called Aizan, based in Richmond Hill. The idea for this type of system originated after the Virginia Tech shooting massacre in 2007. The Crisis Management Team at U of T recently asked the Department of Faculty and Staff Communications to look into implementing it as a way to more effectively deal with potential emergency situations.

Erin Lemon, director of faculty and staff communication, explained that the EAS is an additional safety measure for students, faculty and staff to let them know what to do and where to go in the event of a crisis at the U of T. “This is a new system that will allow the Crisis Management Team to get alerts out to everyone and let them

know what to do, where to go,” said Lemon, who also indicated that alerts would be sent out in the event that a campus needed to be evacuated.

“Almost everyone carries a cell phone these days. It’s good to have an alert system that is on you all the time, especially on a campus as big as ours,” noted Lemon. Furthermore, when one registers their phone number in the online database, they indicate which campus they frequent most often, as the system has the ability to alert a specific campus affected. If there was an emergency at the Mississauga campus, only individuals who attend that campus would be notified.

“We won’t necessarily use it in every situation,” commented Lemon, adding that in the event of a fire there are already procedures that the fire department has in place to deal with those specific types of emergencies.

In the future, the EAS will be tested once a year, in similar fashion to a fire drill. “You might get a voice or text message,” explained Lemon. In addition to maintenance tests, students who have graduated will be removed from the system on a yearly basis.

“It’s a tool I hope we never have to use, but it is a good safety tool to have,” concluded Lemon.

To sign up for emergency alerts, visit http://alert.utoronto.ca/callme.

Photo Source/UTM Orphan Run

The orphan run club is organizing a run on Saturday May 23 at Erindale Park. This event is a run/walk to raise money for orphan sponsorship. Participants fundraise to win great prizes and compete in a 10 km Rally, 1 km Walk, or 4 km Run. In 2008, Orphan Run reached the $20,000 milestone while successfuly bringing together the hearts of different communities, ethnic, and religious backgrounds. You can register on our blog at orphan run.com.

UTM campus crime report March 26, 2009: 1:40 p.m.

Personal Injury A male was injured at the Recreational Athletics and Wellness Centre while lifting weights. The male was transport ed to hospital by Campus Police.

March 26, 2009: 6:30 p.m.

Theft under $ 5000.00 A female student reported the theft of her personal belongings from an unsecured locker. Total theft $ 365.00.

March 26, 2009: 6:59 p.m.

Theft under $ 5000.00/ Arrest Campus Police were contacted by staff at the Recreational Athletics and Wellness Centre. A male had been found rummaging through a locker. Subsequently the male was investigated and charged with theft by Peel Regional Police.

March 27, 2009: 10:00 p.m.

Wildlife injured

If so, you’ll want access to the Recent Graduates Employment Service (RGES) through your CC Online account. RGES allows access to full-time work opportunities and provides access to listings, programs and Career Centre services for up to two years after graduation.

To have RGES added to your Career Centre online account, attend a “Now That I’m Graduating, What’s Next?” session.

Sign up & learn more online through our Events Calendar!

UTM

A deer was struck by a vehicle travelling on Mississauga Road.

Peel Regional Police and Animal Services were contacted as the animal was severely injured.

Unfortunately the animal needed to be put down by Peel Regional Police as the injuries to the ani mal were extreme.

March 29, 2009: 8:20 a.m.

Mischief under $ 5000.00 Person(s) unknown had tossed eggs at exterior doors to the Hazel McCallion Academic Learning Centre and interior link to the Communication Culture and Technology Building.

Caretaking Services were con tacted to clean up the damage.

The Recreational Athletics and Wellness Centre was egged by person(s) unknown.

March 29, 2009: 7:45 p.m.

Motor vehicle accident Two vehicles had collided with each other in parking Lot # 2.

Both drivers exchanged informa tion and completed a Self Reporting Collision Report. Later the two drivers also attended Peel Regional Police, 11 Division and reported the same incident.

March 29, 2009: 11:55 p.m.

Suspicious vehicle Mississauga Parking Enforcement reported a suspicious vehicle parked in Lot # 9. The vehicle was investigated by Campus Police and two students were found sleeping inside the vehicle.

The students were cautioned not to sleep in their vehicle on cam pus.

April 1, 2009: 2:45 p.m.

Uttering Threats Campus Police attended outside the Blind Duck Pub for a male that allegedly made verb al threats. The male was arrested

by Campus Police. Peel Regional Police attended and took custody of the male.

PUT YOUR DEGREE TO WORK! May 4 - 7, 2009 Graduating this year?

These special events, workshops and employer sessions will help you land a great job & start your career on the right foot. Visit our website for details!

CAREER CENTRE

learn more & register for these sessions @ www.utm.utoronto.ca/careers

SUMMER JOBS ARE WAITING TO BE FILLED! Lining up your job options for this summer? Don’t get left behind - register for a CC Online account and gain access to several summer job opportunities, including: Assistant Manager, Marketing Partnership; Student Teacher (International Opportunity); Summer Student, Canada Legal Department; Journalism Intern; Animal Care Attendant; Summer Intern: Communications...and many more!

Visit www.utm.utoronto.ca/careers and register today!

Your Career Centre is open during the summer, with all your favourite resources & services!

Sign up for a counselling appointment, register for a resume critique, check out our online job system, browse through our library—and lots, lots more—we’re here to help!

So pop by SE 3094, call us at 905-828-5451 or visit us online @ www.utm.utoronto.ca/careers

MONDAY, APRIL

6, 2009 THE MEDIUM 3

PLAYING THE POLITICS GAME

NEWS

Ratifying the UTMAC election under results: political cloud of suspicion theatre at UTM ALI KASIM EDITOR IN CHIEF

Continued from front page

Whether or not outgoing UTMSU president Wasah Malik was faced with a conflict of interest through his various roles, or whether this violates any constitutional rules, was not resolved at the meeting. His initial membership of the ERC board where he was responsible for hiring a new CRO, might be seen as questionable when later on he resigned from the ERC to serve as campaign manager for the UTM Movement ticket, the only team running in the election. In addition to that, his voting and proxy (for Board member Sarah Ali) during the ratification meeting also raised several questions between other members on both the executive board and the Board of Directors.

“It seems to be a trend that the president of UTMSU takes on the role of campaign manager of a team running the subsequent year,” noted ex-ERC Chair S. Malik. “Perhaps changing the membership of the Elections and Referenda Committee would avoid this conflict in the future.” The CRO report, written by her, contains several recommendations for the board to consider, including changes to the CRO hiring policy.

During the meeting, Bressler called for Chair Khogali to ask the ERC Chair if she thought the election process was fair. “What part of it?” she asked. “I had to do the CRO’s work; that wasn’t fair.” In the end, the board voted on the CRO report and the election results – by secret ballot – and ratified both, despite the objections of S. Malik and Bressler.

It is worth noting that the executives from UTM Movement, who also serve on the UTMSU Board of Directors, abstained from voting only when reminded to do so.

Furthermore, although W. Malik maintains that he did not vote himself, he did vote on his proxy’s behalf.

Part Two: UTSU at UTM According to the University of Toronto Student Union (UTSU – St. George) constitution, at least two meetings per year must be held at the UTM campus. As such, the decision to hold the first and only meeting of the year in the Student Centre Boardroom on April 2 was seen by some with suspicion, especially among supporters – and defeated candidates – of the “UofT Change” team.

After year-end reports were delivered by the outgoing UTSU executives, the meeting quickly came to a standstill. Seizing on errors made in the calculation of votes within the CRO report,” U of T Change” candidate Jason Marin and his associates spent the next four hours citing “inconsistencies” contained in the report, particularly the unusually high number of UTM student voters identified in it.

According to the UTSU CRO report, “the only group of students that fits this description [of being non-St. George voters] and is eligible to vote in this election are students from UTM,” and this category shows 1,549 voters. However, this calcula-

tion does not appear to take into account spoiled ballots, since no mention is made of them in any of these tables. Although the CRO report is indeed flawed, the “irregularity” of so many UTM students voting at St. George would seem to be an error as well.

Thus the entire basis of the argument presented by UofT Change candidates – mainly that it is statistically impossible for so many UTM students to have voted – disintegrated into implied suggestions of fraud and conspiracy. “It is highly unlikely, but twelve buses running over three days could easily carry 2,500 students,” defeated VP Internal candidate Mike Maher speculated, “and this is suspiciously close to the number that voted at St. George [from UTM].”

Clearly taking offense to such veiled accusations of impropriety, former UTMSU president Walied Khogali (voting as proxy) stated that the number was an anomaly. “UTM students take the shuttle bus, and UTM generally has higher voter turnout than St. George,” he commented.

Outgoing UTMSU VP External Dhananjai Kohli pointed out that over ten per cent of students at UTM identify their home as being St. George. “It was an aggressive campaign; what is wrong with UTM students voting?” Kohli asked, “So what?”

These rebuttals were met by further opposition from UofT Change candidates and supporters, who continued to insist that the problems in the CRO called the entire process in question, and should therefore be overturned for the sake of transparency. “Miscalculations of results certainly merit the board refusing to ratify this election,” declared defeated presidential candidate Jason Marin.

“These numbers should add up: they don’t. Students who voted should be able to trust the voting process,” he said at the meeting.

Such comments and objections were continually overruled by Speaker of the Board Josh Rubin, who repeatedly noted that the board was not meeting to speculate on results, and that any complaints should have been properly lodged, appealed and resolved through due process. His efforts to advance the agenda were in vain, as the same questions were raised again and again by the same small group of dissenters.

“Nothing we are looking at here allows us to even discuss throwing out this election,” a clearly exasperated Khogali insisted. “Elections are never perfect; sometimes a CRO is competent, sometimes not. These elections were fair, no provisions were violated, so let’s move on,” he concluded, supporting a motion to vote on the CRO report.

In the end, both the CRO report and election results were ratified, though Kohli was unhappy with the insinuations that were made at the meeting. “If certain individuals felt that they had conclusive proof to demonstrate that [fraud] is possible, they would have said something: they did not,” he said afterward. They tried to imply some wrongdoings, while never coming out and saying that they felt this way.”

The election for the UTM Athletic Council concluded on March 26 with more than a fair share of controversy and uncertainty. The election pitted three teams against each other – Mac Attack led by presidential candidate Yogan Sivanathan, Big Mac led by current UTMAC President Andrew Lalla, and Blue Print led by current Director of Intramurals Ashley Nguyen.

For the first time in years, a UTM based election ended with split winners from two opposing tickets – Mac Attack (3 members) and Blue Print (4 members), prompting the possibility that this year’s election is perhaps the closest electoral race in a long time. The presidential race was won by Blue Print’s Nguyen, who finished with 646 votes, a mere 67 votes ahead of Sivanathan.

However, amidst the tight affair, several issues have been raised – most notably from team Mac Attack – with regards to the process of the election. In fact, all three teams have reportedly submitted appeals to the elections committee late last week. The most significant of the complaints come from team Mac Attack, with Sivanathan claiming discrepancies in the voting, campaigning, and ballot-counting process of the elections.

According to Sivanathan, and later confirmed by parties of all three teams and the Chief Returning Officer (CRO), Safia Farouk, sixteen voters reportedly “double-voted” during the elections. The error, which according to Farouk is something that occurs during all elections every year, took place at the CCIT and South Building polling stations after poll clerks failed to mark the back of the T-cards belonging to the students who voted. Farouk and her Deputy Returning Officer (DRO), Dhananjai Kohli, discovered the error during the ballot-counting process which took place on March 27.

“It’s a human error that we can’t always prevent from happening,” said Farouk who also noted that because none of the winning margins were higher than 59, the 16 votes would not have affected the outcome of the results anyway. The 16 “double votes” were not rendered void as it could not be determined who specifically voted twice. “We [the CRO and DRO] verified the lists from all the polling stations and found that double voting did occur. This was actually a new practice put in place for the first time this year; this was the first elections where the process of double-checking the lists came into play,” explained Farouk, who went on to cite that the move was all for the purpose of a more accountable process.

Another more controversial issue raised by Team Mac Attack was the fact that more than two authorized personnel, i.e. the CRO and DRO, were involved in the counting of the ballots. “Before the ballot-count, Safia and I agreed that there would be no more than herself and the DRO counting the ballots,” explained Sivanathan. “Later on, I learned from my appointed scrutiner that she had hired a three to five people to help with the counting.”

In response to the claim, Farouk defended her actions, citing that “it would’ve taken up to five days” of counting if it had just been her and the DRO counting the votes. Farouk maintained that while she did not confer or discuss the move with Sivanathan or any

of the other candidates, she did not have to do so. “Members of the elections committee were present in the room along with the hired personnel when the ballotcounting was going on. The process was still very accountable,” insisted Farouk who added that two sets of teams were called on to go through each and every ballot – one who read, and one who verified. “We basically double-checked and verified the entire process,” declared Farouk.

Sivanathan however, noted that while this not only went against what was initially agreed, he also felt that the last minute change of process was inconsistent with the dealings of the ballot-count.

“What also puzzles me is that she [Farouk] knew about the high number of votes before the counting took place.

Why didn’t she prepare for such a measure beforehand? That way, we would’ve at least been informed,” he said.

Furthermore, he notes that one of the members of the personnel called in to aid with the counting was a member of the Muslim Students’ Association (MSA) executive board – a “conflict of interest” considering that one of the candidates on (his own) Mac Attack ticket was also a member of the MSA exec board (Fahad Tariq).

“Even though this appeared as a bias for us rather than against, the point is that the process became questionable overall,” commented Sivanathan. “I don’t want the election results changed or anything – I don’t have any ill-feelings towards the results; I just want to bring this up so that people are aware of the weak internal controls and the political aspect of the whole thing. From the start, this election has not been organized and run properly.”

Yet another internal discrepancy revealed by Sivanathan during the elections period dealt with the miscommunication with regards to the candidates’ debate scheduled for March 24 at 2 p.m. at the Blind Duck Pub, the day before voting stations opened. According to Sivanathan, his team was never formally informed, either through email or phone call, about the debate session in time.

“We were notified about it during the First Candidate’s Meeting, but the timing was never confirmed. We were told that we would be clarified of this closer to the date, but never received any notification till the day before,” explains Sivanathan.

Farouk meanwhile maintains that the candidates were “verbally” informed of the exact time and place during the weekend before. This however, is more open-ended than it seems, especially as Ashley Nguyen from the Blue Print ticket claims that there was indeed an email sent out to all candidates stipulating the time and place of the debate. “We were all there [at the pub] but no one else showed up. But I guess we were just a little more proactive than the rest – they knew about it; they just chose not to come,” said Nguyen who insisted that she knew for a fact that members of Mac Attack were aware of the details of the debate through a group email.

While Sivanathan denies ever receiving such an email, he does admit to knowing, through word of mouth, of the debate the day before. “Yes, we heard about it. But it was through the members of the other opposing teams, not through CRO herself, which should’ve been the case,” he explained. “And by the time we got the info so last minute, we couldn’t possibly rearrange our busy schedules in time to prepare for it.”

As a result of the confusion, the candidates’ debate never took place. “I’m sure the debate would’ve played a major factor in the course of the elections,” commented Sivanathan. “I think it’s safe to say that the results might have even turned out differently if it had taken place. This is just another example of the CRO’s poor organization of things.”

Nguyen and her team have also filed for appeals regarding two minor issues – none of them coinciding with any of Mac Attack’s concerns. “We didn’t ask for a re-election – there was no reason to.

Everything was run fairly and dealt with eventually from our perspective. As for the CRO, I guess she could’ve been more available, but the elections was nonetheless clearly a success; over 1,000 students votes – one of the highest voter turnouts ever,” commented Nguyen.

Farouk, herself a former elected UTMAC president, insisted that a fair election has always been a top priority for her. “This election is probably the most legit. One ticket didn’t sweep the proceedings, and I think that speaks a lot for the process and its accountability,” she said. “What’s more, we’ve had more positive comments about it than complaints.”

The appeals from all three teams, including Big Mac, have since been “dismissed on fair grounds” by Farouk and the elections committee. No members of Big Mac could be reached for comment at press time.

The election results PRESIDENT: Ashley Nguyen (Blue Print) 646 Votes Andrew Lalla 311 Votes Yogan Sivanathan 579 Votes VP ADMINISTRATION: Jasmeet Singh 76 Votes Amneet Bola 338 Votes Katie Bora (Blue Print) 586 Votes Lavan Puvaneswaran 532 Votes VP FINANCE: Fahad Tariq (Mac Attack) 615 Votes Ambrish Patel 351 Votes Richard Gonsalves 548 Votes DIRECTOR OF CAMPUS REC. & WELLNESS: Naresh Jhingan 487 Votes Andre Woodroffe (Blue Print) 603 Votes Reyaz Yahya 417 Votes DIRECTOR OF INTRAMURALS: Gen Maltais Lapointe 618 Votes Ria Patel (Mac Attack) 865 Votes DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL PRO JECTS: Julian Nieva (Blue Print) 810 Votes Ramzy Kaoukdji 689 Votes DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELA TIONS: George Bourikas (Mac Attack) 604 Votes Alaa Azzam 377 votes Anna Bediones 545 Votes

4 THE MEDIUM

OPINION

MONDAY, APRIL

6, 2009

Letters to the Editor Dear Students,

ALI KASIM EDITOR IN CHIEF editor@mediumonline.ca

EDITORIAL My Arts boy, Michael Di Leo, actually doubted me when I told him this past week that I probably reached 100 articles for The Medium over four years. Perhaps he’s right, the math just doesn’t add up – I would’ve had to write for 98 per cent of all 104 issues over the last four years to achieve that number. Nonetheless, I’m pretty close to a century. And it breaks my heart to know that I may never be published in these 12 pages again.

Yes, this is the last issue of the year. And for me, it’s the last issue of my term at UTM. I’m moving on. Finally. So you’ll forgive me if I don’t display the same rhetoric as I have in my editorial over the last 25 issues. I’m not writing about the circus-like Student Union ratification meetings. I’m not addressing the hubbub surrounding the UTMAC elections. I’m not even going to preach and write fondly “in retrospect” about my term at this University. No, this editorial is for my team of editors at The Medium this year. The same bunch of people I’ve broken new ground with, and the very same bunch of editors I’m going to leave the newspaper in the hands of for the year to follow.

After a rather emotional editorial board election that saw my devoted news editor lose out to features editor Alain Latour for the editor-in-chief position, I can only express my gratitude to Andrew Hamilton-Smith for all that he’s done this year.

Andrew, nobody can pound out 1000 words in an hour like you can. And for all the stubbornness I’ve had to put up with in the last eight months, I have never doubted the dedication and work ethic that you’ve demonstrated. I wish we could have had two editors-in-chief next year, but for what it’s worth, I hope you will keep writing for the paper. We shouldn’t be allowed to lose an editor like you for good.

Michael, I have never regretted “scouting” you last year as a last minute replacement for the A&E section. And though I’ve often lamented over your questionable choice of adjectives in your CD reviews (“dicktickler” should’ve never gotten printed), your writing has improved more than anyone else’s these past few months. Someday, you might be remembered as “The Medium’s Lester Bangs.” You certainly have the personality.

Chris, you’ve displayed enough patience and tolerance over the past two semesters to warrant an award from Job himself. You seriously can’t blame us for knocking your writing every week – your first drafts were so bad sometimes, I needed two hours to edit past three paragraphs. Here’s to you becoming a sports writer someday (somehow!). You’re a sweet kid. And I’d write off your pub receipts anytime.

Matthew, to think we could’ve hired you last year and didn’t. I’m glad though – I would hate for any other chief editor to have you as their number two before I did. I can’t possibly fit your full list of achievements this year in this small box. The website and the newspaper make-over will go down in history. Future editors will look through the archive room and realize who you are and the changes you’ve inspired. I wouldn’t have received half the compliments this year if it weren’t for you. Don’t walk all over next year’s chief now.

And finally, Alain. As I’ve said before, my best editorial decision this year was pulling you on board the editorial team. Look how it’s paid off – you end up the one I hand over the reins to. I hope you get out of this stint the same that I have gotten. It’s been a highly enriching experience, and I’m certain you will revel in the role. Good luck amigo –I’ll be sure to pass you my number in New York when you run into your first spot of bother.

In closing, special thanks go to Saaliha Malik, Samantha Berger, and Professor Penny Kinnear for all her guidance and advice.

I’ll miss all of you.

Yours,

Ali Kasim

Congratulations to the newly elected 2009/2010 editorial team: Editor in chief: Alain Latour News Editor: Saaliha Malik Arts&Entertainment Editor: Michael Di Leo Features Editor: Amir Ahmed Sports Editor: Andrew Tysiak Photo Editor: Matthew Walter Filipowich

It is almost of the end of the year! I would like to take this opportunity in thanking everyone for the support provided towards various campaigns and events.

We are on the verge of completing the contract fulfilling the promises we made to you. I am pleased to announce some of the tasks that your students’ union has completed this year:

• Provided Academic Appeals Support • Worked to Fight All Forms of Discrimination • Expanded the No Means No Campaign • Diversified the Blind Duck Menu • Organized a campus-wide Sustainability Movement • Advocated for OSAP Reform • Pressured the Government in Reducing Tuition Fees • Secured a Parking Fee Freeze

• Implemented the 3.0 FCE Drop Policy • Created a study week prior to exams for the fall academic session • Increased Club Funding by 50% • Increased Orientation Week Funding • Increase Needs-Based Bursary, Created a Book Bursary & Green Grants

It was a pleasure for me serving as the President of the UTM Students’ Union and I truly appreciate the level of support that you all provided during the year for various campaigns and initiatives.

Exam Destressors as always are also coming up soon so if you are studying at the library late during the examination period, please take

“Shoulder to Shoulder” As is often the case, while waiting for the bus, I pick up an issue of the Medium, and begin reading. On March 30th, however, a peculiarity caught my eye. Within the UCS story on the front page, written in caption was, “UTMSU has recently boarded up the UCS office and announced plans to use the site as a prayer space for Shiite Muslims. Construction is proposed to take place after the Child care centre is complete.”

The idea of the Shia students lobbying UTMSU for an individual prayer space (even as a joke) has the potential of being misunderstood. Not only did such a situation never arise, the idea in the most liberal of hypothetical circumstances would never have crossed our minds. For the Islamic injunction is that any Muslim is allowed to enter any mosque or congregation centre regardless of its denomination. Furthermore, this caption came particularly as a surprise to me, who for the past four years, have been eagerly participating in the Friday Prayers at Spiegel Hall, and not at the back, but always in the front rows.

To be clear on the matter, the two major schools of thought (Madhabs) within Islam, whether Sunni or Shia, adhere to the same foundational principles of Islam: belief in one God (Tawheed), belief in Prophethood (Nubuwat), belief in the Day of Judgment (Qiyamat), and that that the Qur’an is the final Book of God as revealed by Prophet Muhammad. In addition to the Qur’an, all Muslims give special importance to the traditions (Sunnah) of the Prophet, trying to implement it as best as possible.

The issue on which Muslims differ is primarily centered around that of leadership after the passing of the Prophet. While it is also the case that the two schools of thought have their respective congregation centers, nowhere does any mosque exclude anyone as a matter of principle; meaning that anyone is able to enter and partake in the congregational activities of whichever mosque they would like.

No matter what their affiliations, mosques are to be treated with the utmost respect by all, as indicative of the Qu'ranic verse "And who is more unjust than he who denies access to the sanctuaries of God lest His Name be celebrated therein, and tries to ruin them?" (2:114).

At a time, when sectarian differences have inflamed other parts of the world, to suggest that UTMs Muslims hold this sentiment is simply absurd for the following reasons:

Among the Muslim students, Shia or Sunni, there are efforts to look beyond these differences, to open the lines of communication and work together by finding common ground, while also respecting the differing viewpoint..

In that endeavor, the Thaqalayn Muslim Association (TMA) was formed in 2001- not to compete with any other Muslim Association on campus, but as a platform to express the Shia viewpoint in an academic and friendly manner. Existing in a diverse arena replete with a multiplicity of thought, TMA finds itself returning to the era of Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq, the great grandson of Prophet Muhammad, whose university was an institution of openness and his relations with others was one of dialogue.

To this effect, TMA has partaken in many joint initiatives that foster the goal of unity for all Muslims. To name a few examples TMA was a proud sponsor of Muslim Day at Canada’s Wonderland, and jointly held a seminar on Islam’s answer to environmental sustainability with the Reviving the Islamic Spirit (RIS) organization .

There may be political differences of opinion between the two schools, but these differences have never – nor will they ever- interfere with our ability to pray together, fast together, perform the Hajj (pilgrimage) together, study together, or laugh together.

So cancel the notion of a wall construction project, and instead look towards that very real bridge of lasting friendships that have been established between the Muslims of UTM

Asim Zaidi President, Thaqalayn Muslim Association

Editor’s Note:

The Medium apologizes for the careless gesture. It was never the intention of the editorial team to create or even suggest a rift between Suni and Shiite Muslims on this campus with regards to prayer space.

We hope the letter above clears up any misunderstand ing we might have induced between muslims and non muslims alike at UTM.

a break and make sure to get free food to refresh your energy and enthusiasm for your exams.

I am also pleased to announce that Joey Santiago is the incoming President of the UTM Students’ Union and is excited to serve his term in office to ensure your academic and social success at UTM. I wish you all the very best of luck in your future endeavours.

Please remember to keep in touch.

Sincerely, Wasah Malik President UTMSU

EDITORIAL EDITOR IN CHIEF Ali Kasim editor@mediumonline.ca NEWS EDITOR Andrew Hamilton Smith news@mediumonline.ca A&E EDITOR Michael Di Leo arts@mediumonline.ca FEATURES EDITOR Alain Latour features@mediumonline.ca SPORTS EDITOR Christopher Sa’d sports@mediumonline.ca COPY EDITOR Shelley Bahorie PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR Matthew Filipowich photos@mediumonline.ca COMPOSITE EDITOR Matthew Filipowich WEBMASTER Verisha Khanam DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Ali Kasim BUSINESS MANAGER Romano Bergic ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR Fiona Buchanan ASSISTANT A&E EDITORS Ayman Saab Nives Hajdin ASSISTANT FEATURES EDITOR Karen Akhtar ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR Andrew Tysiak ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR Lara Matiisen BOARD OF DIRECTORS Christine Capewell, Isa Cunanan, Raji Aujla, Laura Gaspini, Umeimah Bastaki, Bhagyashri Bhandakkar, Julie Tyios MEDIUM II PUBLICATIONS 3359 Mississauga Road, Room 200, Student Centre, Mississauga, ON, L5L 1C6 Phone: 905.828.5260 Fax: 905.828.5402 Advertising: 905.828.5379 www.mediumonline.ca

MONDAY, APRIL

6, 2009 THE MEDIUM 5

A chip off the old Bloc Bloc Party’s drummer and bassist sit down with The Medium to discuss their newest record, touring, and Dave Grohl MICHAEL DI LEO A&E EDITOR

Popularity is not an issue for Gordon Moakes or Matt Tong. As one half of Bloc Party, one of the most widely sought-after bands in the world, these two play their fair share of shows,

both near and far.

“What’s that?”

“Canadian Music Week. You are headlining Canadian Music Week.” I hand Tong, the band’s drummer, the festival guide which features a largescale photo of their band on the front cover.

“We didn’t even know there was a Canadian Music Week, but that’s amazing,” replies a bemused Moakes while Tong flips through the handout, pointing out the Bloc Party spread a few pages in.

Not surprisingly, the two are a bit disoriented, having just completed a European tour and are currently in the process of starting on a new North American circuit. Next month they’re off to Asia before returning home to

photo/Matthew Stollmeyer

Bloc Party performing at the Kool Haus in March as part of Canadian Music Week.

England to play a few festivals in the summertime. All of this in wake of Intimacy, the band’s third record, which was released worldwide in August last year.

Dense with Bloc Party’s unique arrangements – both electronic and vocal – Intimacy retains the same fastpaced quality Bloc Party fans are accustomed to while adding a level of maturity previously unheard in BP records. Though it can be argued that the quality of song is not quite at the same level as it was on Silent Alarm and, to a lesser extent, A Weekend in the City, Intimacy is as captivating as is it encompassing, smothering the listener from the first track on.

“The one thing about this record is the immediacy to it,” explains bassist Moakes. “Whether you’re into rock music or electronic music, that’s where it wins. You put it on and it’s just an onslaught of things. It’s punchy.”

The same can be said about Bloc Party’s live shows. The sharp music is matched only by the impressive light show and disjointed electronic elements, turning the concert into rave, replete with drunken and sexuallycharged teens that are often willing to get “down.”

The last time Bloc Party played in Toronto was in September, hot on the heels of their record release, at the now-infamous 2008 edition of V-Fest.

Tong candidly recalls; “I remember watching the Foo Fighters. They headlined our day, and it was slightly nonsensical.”

When asked to clarify, Tong contin-

ued. “[Dave Grohl] just shouts crap from the stage. He got confused at one point cause he was like ‘um fuck yeah, let’s fucking do this’ and then he was like ‘I’m gonna fuck you all in the ass.’ He was just shouting all kinds of strange things.”

In all fairness, Grohl was probably high on PCP, but that makes no difference. “I kind of go through bouts thinking Dave Grohl is really great or thinking he’s just a bit of a tosser.

That was definitely one of the tosser days,” justifies Moakes.

That being said, the band does recognize that, while the Foo Fighters had a breakout year, the rest of the music industry has changed drastically. “Even from our second record to where we are now, so much is different,” says Tong. The decline in music sales coupled with the oversaturation of bands through the internet has led to an industry revolution, where bands are focused more on touring. “We don’t make any money off record sales. That’s why we tour.”

Regardless, it seems that Bloc Party is more popular than ever, staging back to back sold-out shows at the Kool Haus in March with openers Holy Fuck and We Are Wolves.

What’s next for the group?

“The greatest accomplishment we could ever manage is to at least be confident that it’s the best job we did at the time. There’s nothing worse than watching bands get old doing the same things over and over again,” answers Tong.

The two look at each other, smile, and pose for a photo.

photo/Matthew Filipowich

Moakes and Tong vogue for the camera.

Learn to Teach English with

The

A&E Editor Michael Di Leo would like to extend a special thanks to all those who contributed to the Arts section this year: Amir Ahmed Shelley Bahorie Samantha Berger Paul Castrodale Kenny Chatoor Veronica Consales Jason Corban Lucas Di Mascio Mary Dytyniak Matthew Filipowich Tenni Gharakanian Andrea Grassi Andrew Hamilton Smith Kjartan Hewitt

Katarina Ilic Michelle Johnson Ali Kasim Shaista Khan Jean Leigh Su Lyn Liew Rose Mustard Samantha Ouellette Shareen Pathak Paola Savasta Rafgay Teymourian Ryan Weir Emilia Wozniak Odilia Yim

And a very special thanks goes out to the two Assistant A&E Editors: Ayman Saab and Nives Hajdin.

TESOL Certificate

Become Certified to Teach English to Speakers of Other Languages in Canada or Overseas Course recognized by TESL Canada

www.tesl.ca

Course Dates for 2009 May 4 – June 12, 2009 Monday to Thursday 9:00– 3:00 pm September 15 – December 18, 2009 Tuesday & Thursdays 6:00 pm – 9:30 pm

INFORMATION SESSION APRIL 15, 2009 @ 6:00 PM 190 ROBERT SPECK PKWY MISSISSAUGA, ON L4Z 3K3 905-949-0049 ext. 3292 tesl@tcet.com

6 THE MEDIUM

MONDAY, APRIL

6, 2009

>]bmhk l Ghm^ Mabl r^Zk p^ k^\^bo^] ho^k *)) iahmh ^gmkb^l Z\khll ma^ _hnk \Zm^`hkb^l _khf iahmh`kZia^kl Zee ho^k \Zfinl' Pbma ln\a Z pb]^ oZkb^mr h_ iahmh`kZial _khf Zee ln[c^\ml Zg] m^\agbjn^l% bm pZl Z ]b__b\nem ]^\blbhg mh fZd^' P^ Zm Ma^ F^]bnf aZo^ [^^g mahkhn`aer bfik^ll^] [r ma^ bff^gl^ e^o^e h_ iZllbhg Zg] ldbee bg iahmh`kZiar hg \Zfinl' >o^g b_ p^ ]b] ghm ib\d rhnk ln[fbllbhg Zl Z pbgg^k hk ahghnkZ[e^ f^gmbhg% ]hg m [^ ]bl\hnkZ`^] Zg] d^^i mZdbg` iahmhl'

:GG BG=>K L:GAN

Ma^ [kb`am pabm^ GbZ`ZkZ LdrPa^^e lmZg]l beenfbgZm^] Z`Zbglm ma^ [eZ\d gb`am ldr' Ma^ gb`am mkner lahp\Zl^l ma^ ]^lb`g Zg] Zk\abm^\mnk^ bgoheo^] bg mabl lmkn\mnk^'

I>M>K AH:G@

<<BM b?khla )1 pZl ma^ _bklm mbf^ B mhhd ho^k .)) iahmhl bg Z ]Zr' Fr lanmm^k mhhd Z [^Zmbg`' Bg mabl iZkmb\neZk iahmh% ohengm^^kl li^ee^] hnm <<BM hg ma^ `khng] pbma ma^bk [h]b^l' B aZ] mkhn[e^ \Zimnkbg` ma^ pahe^ mabg`% lh B kZg mh Z ab`a^k e^o^e [r ma^ ^e^oZmhkl mh mZd^ ma^ iahmh' :p^lhf^ iahmh ]Zr' <<BM !Zg] ghg&<<BM" i^hie^ Zk^ `k^Zm mh phkd pbma'

MONDAY, APRIL

6, 2009 THE MEDIUM 7

PHOTO CONTEST

I>M>K AH:G@

B ahi^ mh lahp hma^kl ma^ [^Znmr h_ lngl^ml Zm @^hk`bZg ;Zr makhn`a mabl iahmh' Ma^ ebg^l hg ma^ kh\dl k^Zeer bgmkb`n^] f^ lh B mkb^] mh [Zl^ fr \hfihlbmbhg Zkhng] bm' B k^Zeer ^gchr mabl iahmh [^\Znl^ h_ ma^ lghp mbii^] fhngmZbgl bg ma^ _Zk [Z\d`khng]' Bm _^em jnbm^ \hgmkZkr mh ma^ a^Zm hg^ _^^el ]nkbg` ma^ ^gmbk^ \Zgh^ mkbi ma^k^'

I:HE: L:O:LM:

B ebd^ \Zm\abg` i^hie^ bg ZpdpZk] [nm gZmnkZe ihl^l% [nm B Zelh ebd^ \hfb\Ze Zg] cnqbihlbmbhgZe oblnZebmb^l'x:g] he] i^hie^'

8 THE MEDIUM

MONDAY, APRIL

6, 2009

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

NOISE AND KUNG FU

A blitz of fantasies NIVES HAJDIN ASSISTANT A&E EDITOR What do Metric and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs have in common? Fiery frontwomen, New York City, and leaked new albums.

Despite meeting in Toronto, Emily Haines and the rest of Canadian indie rock band Metric formed officially in New York City, home to Karen O and her Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Both bands unfurled their debut albums in 2003 and have since continued a trend in album releases. Metric have treated us to their musical prowess every two years since Old World Underground, Where Are You ow?, while the YYYs have upped the ante with three year intervals, beginning with their debut album Fever To Tell.

Both bands are now due for a 2009 release in rapid succession, with the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s It’s Blitz! coming out on April 6 and Metric’s Fantasies the following day. However, both albums were leaked online in late February and early March. Haines, in particular, was dismayed about this.

“It’s not like we didn’t expect it to happen, but it’s still a huge bummer

when it does.” The Yeah Yeah Yeahs had similar feelings: “[We’ve] been brimming with nervous excitement in anticipation of releasing this record to the world. Leaks are no fun but it's out of our hands.”

Though the cat’s out of the bag, both albums are nothing short of exciting. Who will come out on top in 2009’s indie rock battle?

Let’s give Metric the home court advantage. Fantasies is by far their most exciting album to date, with a mysterious, charming vibe that leaves you wanting more well after the last track. Current hit single “Help I’m Alive” kicks off the band’s fourth studio album with Joules ScottKey’s short but sweet percussion solo, then builds momentum as Haines’ synthesizer skills carry the song to its climax.

“Sick Muse” is one of the album’s delightful treats, with its succinct lyrics and James Shaw’s precise guitar riffs, while the next tracks “Satellite Mind” and “Twilight Galaxy” create a very cosmic feel.

The fast pace of “Gold Guns Girls” combined with the infectious chorus “is it ever gonna be enough?” repeated throughout the song are enough to

make it stand out as one of the best songs on the album.

Slated as the next two album singles, “Gimme Sympathy” showcases Haines’ high range while the darker mood on “Front Row” displays her perfect execution of rapid rhymes that are characteristic of past albums.

Originally entitled “Lazy Dancer,” “Collect Call” is an up-tempo ballad with an airy outro reminiscent of Coldplay’s “Violet Hill.” It is followed by Haines’ lower registers on “Blindness.” It is evident that Metric intends to rev up their game with an arena-packed domination.

You say Karen O and the boys have more funk this time around? Yeah yeah yeah, you better believe it. The long awaited It’s Blitz! is quite a departure from previous YYYs albums, but its unexpected playfulness proves to be even better.

Album opener “Zero” delivers a power punch of fuzzy guitar riffs from ick Zinner combined with Karen O’s brilliant signature yelping.

The energy continues to ooze out in droves with “Heads Will Roll,” an electrifying melange of bombastic instrumental sections and cleverly crafted lyrics where Karen O advo-

cates, “off with your head/dance till you’re dead.”

“Soft Shock” takes a step back from previous tracks, but still makes an impact with its Oriental vibe.

“Dull Life” is anything but dull, as Karen O seems to project her lyrics to the listener in a direct and preach-like manner, and then delves back into singing about “the nightmare of the lies that you speak.”

“Dragon Queen” is sporadically eccentric and an obvious homage to their New York roots, and if the first few tracks of the album were meant

to excite, then the closing tracks “Hysteric” and “Little Shadow” are rock lullabies that leave you in satisfied reverie. Although Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ latest album contains a much spicier mix of songs than their previous records, there is still quite a bit of diversity that rings true to the group’s many sides.

Both bands pull out the all stops and their hard work most certainly shines through two of the best albums of 2009. So is it fair to label a winner? You be the judge because I can’t decide.

Cage Match: Metric’s Fantasies vs. Yeah Yeah Yeah’s It’s Blitz! Who will prevail?

Before Jack Black, there were real Kung Fu movies AMIR AHMED Special attention in our media is usually given to the so-called “good movies.” These films are typically well-scripted, masterfully directed and feature particularly talented actors. In my mind, however, not enough attention is given to the other sorts of motion pictures, the kind with the barely-there plots, bizarre lines and questionable motivations.

The American industry has produced gems such as Plan 9 from Outer Space and Santa Claus Battles the Martians. India has given birth to Sooryavansham, featuring random motorcycle fights and extreme, lightning-fast close-ups that take Bollywood to a whole new level.

Although these films are worth watching, a special place in my heart is set aside for the kung fu movie.

To clarify, by “kung fu movie,” I ignore the dreck produced by modern cinema. I scorn the artistic camerawork and moving direction of Fearless, I loathe the intentionally witty Shaolin Soccer and I sneer at the epic scope and touching drama of Seven Swords. Instead, I turn to the golden age of the Shaw Brothers and Co., where heroes are too manly to speak coherently and plots too mind-bendingly awesome to make sense.

Watching these films, where dialogues are mangled by bad voiceovers and ineffectual translations, where zombies, vampires, and ghosts have all learned kung fu, and where you really, really don’t know what’s going to happen next, is an experience that everyone should have at least once. In homage to the traditional medium of these films (read: pirated DVDs), herewith are

One year will get you life. ...an exciting new life in the world of law as a Legal Assistant.

Post-secondary education or business experience is all you need to get into Humber’s unique Law Firm Profile program. You’ll get classes filled with practical, hands-on applications, and we’ll place you into one of several of Canada’s most prominent law firms for 7 weeks of paid on-site training. All this is accomplished in only two semesters, so you don’t have to do any unnecessary time. Call 416.675.6622 ext. 4371 and get a (new) life.

it’s the LAW

Apply now!

Program starts in September

Ontario College Application Service #0214L www.business.humber.ca

friend’s murderers, who as it turns out comprise of a Latino man, a black man, a Japanese, and a cowboy.

The proto-Village People were some rough characters.

These kung fu movies don’t just feature Bruce Lee imitators; an early Jackie Chan movie, Spiritual Kung Fu (a.k.a. Karate A young Jackie Chan in Spiritual Kung Fu. Ghostbusters) will make you want to gouge your Again is yet another solid example eyes with delight. When a meteor of the Bruce Lee imitation that (aptly played by a sparkler held became popular after his death. against the film) strikes the Shaolin Bruce Lee wakes up in hell, not library, it releases five resembling his former self at all (“of ghosts, who teach course,” explains one of the devil’s Chan the secrets of consorts, “everyone changes physi“Five Fist kung fu.” cal appearance when they enter This comes in handy hell”). He teams up with Popeye, as it helps Chan beat James Bond and Qui-Chang Cain to up a girl he has a defeat the evil team of Dracula, crush on (courtship Emanuelle, Clint Eastwood, was different in those Hannibal Lector and Zatoishi the days). There are some Blind Swordsman.

Bruce Lee takes them on and other stuff like destiny and politics and promptly defeats them, leaving remorse in the movie, viewers to wonder where they go. but frankly, you’ll be Lee isn’t finished after defeating his too concerned with enemies though – he orders the king Chan’s urinating on of hell to send him back to life (preghosts to worry about sumably to film Bruce Lee Fights Back from the Grave), threatening it.

At the end of the the king with death unless he comday, both of these plies.

This movie, along with others too films pale in comparison to the greatest numerous to give credit to (Kung Fu film of them all, a Zombie, Shaolin Chastity Kung Fu, movie so magnificent Deadly Snail vs. The Kung Fu photo/ebay.ca that a simple descrip- Killers), is a must for anyone Original movie poster for Bruce Lee Fights Back tion is a joke in itself. remotely interested in martial arts or from the Grave.

The Dragon Lives wuxia films.

three reviews of the best in the genre.

Take the masterwork known in English as Bruce Lee Fights Back from the Grave, for example. Never mind that it was produced after Bruce Lee died, and that it has nothing to do with either him or fighting from the grave. The film’s protagonist, Bruce Lea, learns of an old friend’s death. He comes to collect the ashes and, for some inexplicable reason, carries them in a large box strapped to his chest. The scene where Lea sips whisky in a nightclub with his friend’s ashes next to him is worth the one-and-a-half dollars you’ll have to pay to see it.

Lea later learns that his friend was murdered, and with the aid of a girl whose accent changes from American to Standard British to Cockney in the course of fifteen minutes, seeks vengeance on his

MONDAY, APRIL

Tribute to a Math TA MARIYA BOYKO

The UTM Mathematics and Computational Science department is famous for its excellent faculty members. This year, the life of the department was spiced up with the competition for the Teaching Excellence Award. This award was created in 2003 by the Teaching Assistants’ Training Program (TATP) to reward the outstanding contributions and achievements of TAs at the University of Toronto.

Ever since Rafal was three years old, it was obvious to his parents that math was his des tiny. By the age of four, his nickname was “Little Professor.”

Every year students from all three U of T campuses vote for their favorite TA who inspires and assists them the most in their academic work. This year, one of the finalists of the competition is Rafal Drabek, Masters student and Mathematics TA from UTM. Rafal graduated from UTM in 2006 with high distinction in a specialist in Mathematics. Rafal has been a math TA for over four years and a math tutor for over eight years.

Out of 75 TAs nominated, he is the only finalist from our campus.

The UTM Mathematics Department spotted Rafal as the potential winner well before nominations began. When one of the department’s instructors was informed about the opportunity to nominate Rafal for this award he asked: “If he [Rafal] is not the best, then who is the best?” Several other instructors showed great support and enthusiasm in the nomination process as well.

Even greater enthusiasm was observed among the students. In no time, Rafal’s students from previous years started voting as well. “I don’t think I would’ve pass my proofs class if I hadn’t met Rafal. He saved me from failing and taught me an entirely new way to study productively. It was life changing” says Mary, a second-year mathematics major.

Over 40 UTM students voted for Rafal in total. Each student had their own specific motivation for casting a vote. Some students liked the way Rafal graded their tests and quizzes, some were impressed by his communications skills, and others went by Rafal’s great personality as a teacher.

The list of his attributes is endless; one can hardly find a math student who has not had Rafal as a TA or, more importantly, not receive extra help from him. “I still remember how

before the calculus exam last year, Rafal stayed at school until 10 p.m. helping us with Integration. When I told my friends, no one could believe that a TA could do something like that for free,” says a student who wished to remain anonymous.

Many students agree that Rafal’s tutorials are never boring. He makes them interesting with his sense of humour and clear explanation of the material. “My teaching strategy is very well defined,” says Rafal, “I never assume previous knowledge from students, even if it is an official prerequisite. I always try to approach the problem from the point of view of a student who is just learning the material.”

Rafal’s unique teaching style has even attracted students from other tutorials. This year Rafal has been overwhelmed with requests for extra help from students not from his tutorials. “One day a group of students came to my office and asked if they could write a petition to the Chair of the Mathematics Department asking if I can hold office hours for their course even though I am not a TA for that course. I was pleasantly surprised by this and allowed them to write the petition,” says Rafal.

With regards to the competition and his nomination, Rafal says he’s as surprised as he is thrilled about it.

“I heard about it from one of my students. When something like this happens to you, you really know that all the things you’ve done were not in vain,” says Rafal.

Rafal’s merit does not end with just academic achievements.

Showcasing his outstanding leadership skills, he has been the captain of a soccer team in the Mississauga community for over three years now.

He is also very knowledgeable on issues ranging from religion and languages to hockey and cars. Also, Rafal is a history minor. One of his greatest interests is the history of Russia and Europe in the medieval period. His other interests are chess, reading, and travelling.

Ever since Rafal was three years old, it was obvious to his parents that math was his destiny. By the age of four, his nickname was “Little Professor.” He was the top student in all his mathematics classes in high school and continued that feat at university level.

As a Masters student, Rafal is approaching his thesis and thinking about the future. “My goal is to become a professor at U of T,” claims Rafal. “I wanted to get this job since high school. For now, I am just in the middle of my Masters degree. Then I will proceed with my PhD.” There is still another round of the competition before the winner of the tri-campus competition is decided.

On behalf of all my peers in the Math department, I wish Rafal all the best in the next round.

6, 2009 THE MEDIUM 9

I’ve been seeing this girl for a couple of months now. We’ve had sex but she won’t let me go down on her. She says I don’t need to and that it makes her feel self-conscious. She’s cool with going down on me but she doesn’t let me return the favour.

It’s not just that I like going down on girls (I really do) but I just feel like it’s not fair to expect her to go down on me if she doesn’t want me to go down on her. I just want to know if there is some way I can make her feel more comfortable and not force her to do something she does not want to This situation is tough because you really need to be careful not to cross the line and ask your girlfriend to do something that she doesn’t want to do.

At the same time, so many sexual experiences can be uncomfortable at first, and it’s normal to assume that with some “practice” it will be pleasurable. I would say that in this situation you are working with at least three different barriers: 1) Smell/Taste: A lot of women are self conscious about the smell and, to a lesser extent, taste of their genitals. I mean, why wouldn’t they be? Popular culture has definitely given them a reason. The “fishy smelling vagina” is a punch-line in a lot of movies targeted at students. A healthy vulva will have a natural musky smell and every woman comes with unique “flavour.” A lot of women don’t know that.

2) Appearance: Vulvas come in a variety of designs and colors; they’re a lot like Volvos in that way. Despite this, there is a general consensus about what a “normal” vulva should look like; this includes minimal labia and symmetry.

That being said, very few women actually meet the criteria for having a normal vulva.

3) Hair: It’s really not as simple as shaving it off if you’re uncomfortable with it. Hair is typically associated with masculine imagery and a lot of women are unsure about how they feel about their hair and what to do with it.

I think your best approach is to keep these things in mind and to talk to your girlfriend about what the root of the problem is. If she’s the type of person who shies away from these types of topics, I would encourage you to make the conversation more about you. Talk about why you want to go down on her and maybe address a couple of the points that I’ve mentioned – but keep in mind that they might not be the reason that she doesn’t want to do it.

The way that you phrase your reasons is also important, i.e. “I like the taste/smell, etc” is a lot more validating than “I don’t mind the taste/smell, etc.”

Also, if it turns out that she has insecurities about her smell or taste, try using a dental dam (it’s pretty much a condom sheet). They tend to be flavoured and it will provide a barrier between your mouth and her vulva which might make her more comfortable (and it will also protect you from STIs).

Keep in mind that she might just not

photo/google images

be into it, and if that’s the case you should respect her boundaries. But I think that talking about it will be a step in the right direction.

would be in person. Also, not being in the same room sometimes makes you braver and sometimes people see the kinkier side of their partners.

I met my boyfriend this year at school. We live in different provinces, and as the year draws to a close, he’s soon leaving for home for the summer. We want to stay together but I know that long-distance relationships don’t last. We talked about having an open relationship for the summer but that seems like it probably won’t work either. I just don’t know if we’ll be able to wait four months to have sex again. What do you recommend?

2) Another thing you might want to consider, and I don’t know how deep your pockets are, is teledildonics which are sex toys that can simulate the experience of intercourse. These toys come in a variety of different designs but they provide your partner the ability to control your sex toy from a different location.

I think I read somewhere that sexual activity peaks during exam seasons. So on the plus side; it looks like you’re in for a good time this month. But when it comes to the summer, if you decide to stay together you might need to try some creative problem solving. I can offer two suggestions: 1) Cyber-sex and phone-sex tend to have a bad rep but some couples consider them a fun alternative to sex, even when they’re in the same city. This could be because cyber-sex and phonesex can last longer than sex and partners tend to be more creative than they

When it comes to the open relationship comment, it’s hard to give an answer because the only problem that you’ve mentioned is sex. To be honest, sleeping with other people over the summer with the intention of getting back together when the school year begins, seems like it might be a recipe for disaster. That being said, many couples have successfully done it.

However, the plus side to the summer without sex is that it’s the safest sex you can have and you’ll save loads on condoms.

Message from the SEC Office: Speaking of wrapping it up, we just wanted to thank everyone for reading this year. Feel free to submit questions over the summer.

SUMMER JOBS COLLEGE PRO PAINTERS

is presently looking for responsible / hardworking University or College students for:

Full-Time Painting Positions May - August No experience required, we will train you to paint.

Positions available in your area.

If interested call 1-888-277-9787 or apply online at www.collegepro.com

10 THE MEDIUM MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2009

FEATURES

Creative Corner

Talk English, Teach Good JOE TICAR

Min Hyung, the secretary from Ivy, calls me on Friday morning and asks if I can teach an SSAT Reading Class on Saturday.

Before I can rub the sleep out of my eyes Min Hyung passes the phone to Terry.

“Hello Joseph. You can come in Saturday for young student? You teach them SSAT Reading.” I can see Terry in my head, leaning over the beat up computer desk that sits in his office.

The desk is riddled with scratches, dents, and small splinters jab that at your skin if you run your hand over it.

“Why can't I just teach regular English?” I ask.

Terry sighs. “SSAT for assessment.

You teach English good to them so

they go to UTS.” He takes a long slurp from a coffee cup. His desk is cluttered with crushed coffee cups, crinkled Korean newspapers, and empty packets of Marlboro cigarettes.

“What's UTS?” I stretch and try to stifle a yawn, pushing my blanket off of my legs. The red digital numbers on the clock beside my bed say 8:45.

Another (louder) sigh. “UTS University Toronto Schools, very hard school to go. Private.”

“Private what?”

“Private school.” Terry says thickly, over the crackle of interference from that cheap plastic phone that sits on his desk.

“Oh,” is all I can say while I try to swallow another yawn.

“So Saturday you come in and teach SSAT English,” Terry tells me. “You have grade 6 student. ” “Well, I…”

Click.

I spend the next two hours on the Internet researching UTS. UTS is a private school (for grades 6 and up) founded by the University of Toronto in 1910. Admission is limited: entrants need a grade in the top five percentile of the national SSAT. Most UTS students score in the top three percentile.

UTS graduates move on to the University of Toronto, or to one of the Ivy League schools in the United States. It costs money to attend UTS: tuition runs about $16,000 a year.

I pull my bicycle from the cluttered storage room in my backyard and spend 30 minutes biking to Chapters to look for a book on SSAT testing.

When I get to the bookstore, I stand in the doorway, staring at all the books.

At 11:00 on a Friday morning, Chapters is deserted except for the staff. The smell of freshly brewed cof-

Your path to becoming a teacher is just over the border…

Still accepting applications for May and September 2009

Medaille College of Buffalo, NY has been helping students from Ontario reach their dream of becoming a teacher for over 25 years. Last year alone, over 600 Ontario students attended Medaille’s Teachers College programs.

M.S. in Education: Elementary Education (grades 1-6) NEW! Adolescent Education (grades 7-12) Earn your degree in as short as a year Attend classes twice a week: weekday or weekends Complete your student teaching in Ontario Cohort program allows you to carpool with other students from your community

www.medaille.edu/canada

For information or to speak with an admissions counselor, call 1.888.252.2235 or email alison.wilcox@medaille.edu

fee wafts from the attached Starbucks.

The SSAT testing books are hidden in the “Education and Learning” section.

I take the books into Starbucks and sink into an overstuffed leather chair.

The SSAT is a comprehensive test, assessing mathematical, verbal, and written skills. The math section confuses me. What does (1.654)6 equal? I can't even get the right answer with my cell phone calculator. The written section has essay questions like, “is imagination more important that knowledge?” (I imagine so?) and “is laughter the best medicine?” (No... because it doesn't cure cancer). The second part of the written component tests the stuff I teach at Ivy: grammar, vocabulary, figures of speech. I flip through sections on analogies (Wisdom is to understanding as fire is to___ – I don't know), grammar identification (Circle the gerund – what's a gerund?), and definitions (Define Usufruct – Usufruct? is that even a word?).

Many of the grammar questions stump me and I turn to the back of the book for answers. My level of ignorance makes me wonder how I ever got into university at all.

Saturday comes. In the living room, I pick at the eggs and rice that my mom made for breakfast. She walks to the table, wearing her house shirt and yellow slippers. Dad's still sleeping.

“Bakit hindi ka kumakain?” Mom asks. Why aren't you eating?

“Because I don't know how I’m gonna teach a test that I would probably fail if I took it now.”

“Anak, don't worry, you're a good teacher. These kids should feel lucky they have you. Eat your eggs.” Mom sips her coffee and picks up the TV controller, switching the channel to a rerun of Dr. Phil. Dr. Phil is trying to talk sense into some moron who is morbidly obese – “Big is beautiful,” the fat guy says arrogantly. Yeah, right – and on the verge of death.

“I dunno mom, I never thought I'd be teaching something like this. I just thought I'd be teaching them how to write.” I get up from the table and bring my dishes to the kitchen.

“Listen anak,” she calls from the living room, “marunoong ka sa Inglis.”

You're good at English. Am I? I wonder. My only qualification is that I was born in Canada.

“Yeah, I guess,” I say. “Anyway, I gotta go mom, I'm gonna be late.” I grab my keys and wallet. Mom slips me a folded twenty for gas.

“Ah, sigi, God Bless,” I lean down and kiss my mom on the cheek, “and don't worry about those damn kids!” she says as I run out the door.

At Ivy, parents mill around the tiny lobby, muttering “hello’s” in Korean.

Mothers stand in clusters, making small talk. Fathers stand alone, glancing at their watches and cellphones. As the heavy metal door clicks shut behind me, Min Hyung nods without smiling. Usually she smiles and says hi, but Terry's here early (for once), so there's no smile. Terry gestures at me and says something in rapid fire Korean.

The parents look at me with frank curiosity, probably wondering if this kid wearing a pair of flip-flops, surfing shorts, a hoodie, and a t-shirt that says MR. PERFECT can really be the teacher of their future doctor/lawyer/engineer. The fathers are dressed business casual: brown khakis, dress shirt unbuttoned at the collar, expensive wristwatch, Bluetooth receivers held to an ear. I've seen their

pictures in the Korean newspapers.

They own foreign car dealerships or dental offices, or medical practices.

I tug at my sweater, trying to hide my MR. PERFECT t-shirt. Terry grabs my elbow and ushers me to classroom E. Nine students sit at their desks, staring at me. I grin and give them a quick nod. There’s ten minutes left before class starts.

“Joseph, this is SSAT class.” Terry says. He's wearing a velvet blazer, black pinstripe pants, and shiny patent leather shoes. Dressed to impress, Terry style. He flashes a smile at the parents who have followed us to the classroom. They stand uncertain, not sure what to say to me. I usually smile and nod politely when parents approach me to speak about their child’s progress in my class. When Min Hyung isn’t around to translate what they’re saying, I try to avoid the lobby entirely. If I have to go to the washroom, I keep my eyes locked on the threadbare carpet while I powerwalk my way through the lobby to the men’s room.

“Uhh...are you sure you want me to teach this class?” I ask Terry.

Terry winces and smiles at the parents, making sure none of them hear what I just said. “You go university,” he whispers, leaning in towards me. I can smell the pungent stink of Marlboro’s and coffee on his breath. “...Yeah, I do, but I’ve never taken an SSAT and I never went to UTS either.”

“Then you good English. UTS very hard to get into.” Terry whispers again.

He puts a hand on my shoulder and says it loud enough for the parents to hear, “You teach students good English so they pass test.” He leans on one leg and taps a patent leather shoe on the worn out carpet.

“Yeah, pass test, big deal, whatever,” I say.

Terry weaves through the crowd, crossing the dingy lobby and retreating to his office. He closes the door.

I start walking into the classroom, pushing the hollow door open. A woman strides up to me. She's looks about 35. Her face is caked with makeup and she's wearing big, white-framed sunglasses, big hoop earrings, skinny jeans, Juicy Couture sweater, and high heels. I’m guessing that she’ll head to Yorkdale in her Lexus and spend a small fortune on more clothes, more jewelery, more makeup. She stands in the doorway, so I can’t close the door.

“You, English?” she asks.

“I’m…Canadian?”

She nods at me like I’m an idiot.

“English.”

I sigh. “Oh. Yeah. English. Yeah, English.”

She points at one of the boys in the class and says, “My son.”

I look over and see a little boy who's a walking GAP ad, dressed in clothes that probably cost more than mine. He doesn't make eye contact with his mother. He sits frowning at his hands “Must get into UTS,” the woman says. She fixes her son with stern eyes, jerking her thumb at me. “Teach English, you learn good.”

I close the door.

The boy looks up, his eyes darting between me and the white board, his fingers flipping a pen back and forth.

He’s just as confused as I am.

“Okay,” I say, opening my copy of the SSAT guide, the one with the answers penciled in. “Let’s see what we can do.”

MONDAY, APRIL

6, 2009 THE MEDIUM 11

Spotlight of the great home-opener ANDREW TYSIAK ASSISSTANT SPORTS EDITOR

The Toronto Blue Jays are set to open their season against the Detroit Tigers on Monday April 6 and it is no secret that both teams have little to no reason to show optimism this year.

The Blue Jays starting rotation, which was one of their few strengths last season, has weakened considerably. Not only did they lose starting pitcher A.J Burnett to the New York Yankees, which signed him to a five-year $82.5 million deal, but they also will start the season without rising talents Dustin McGowan and Shaun Marcum. To make matters worse, it appears that both pitchers’ injuries are far more serious than originally diagnosed.

Dustin McGowan won’t pitch until the beginning of spring training in 2010 due to a frayed labrum in his pitching shoulder, despite undergoing season-ending surgery last July.

Marcum had reconstructive surgery on his right elbow late in September and is not expected back until next spring, but has at least progressed much faster than expected.

As for the Tigers, last season they were the poster boy for overblown expectations. This off season they really did not do anything to improve their team, and recently showed a lack of class by releasing future hall of famer Gary Sheffield who was one homerun shy of reaching the 500 mark. Luckily for him, the Mets took their chances and signed him to their roster.

The Tigers are able to score runs with all-stars Miguel Cabrera and Magglio Ordonez leading their lineup, but how will they prevent runs from being scored on them? Their pitching rotation was horrendous last year and they seem to ride on the hopes that many of their starters, such as Jeremy Bonderman and Dontrelle Willis, will have comeback seasons. Baseball fans shoudn’t expect much to change for the Detroit Tigers this season.

Looking past the American League, the most exciting aspect this season will be the race for the CY Young Award. Cliff Lee of the Cleveland Indians is an obvious candidate after winning the award last year. He could, however, hold the “one hit wonder” award if it doesn’t work out. Three other pitchers in the

AL might step up and give Lee a run for his money: C.C Sabathia of the New York Yankees, Roy Halladay of the Toronto Blue Jays, and Josh Beckett of the Boston Red Sox. C.C Sabathia clearly will have a lot of pressure on him this season after signing a massive contract with the New York Yankees, a team based out of a city that eats, sleeps and breathes baseball. New York fans will not put up with any mediocrity from Sabathia, and if this season starts on a slow note, it won’t take the Yankee faithful long to start the criticizing.

As for his attributes, Sabathia’s intimidation factor is his biggest quality. His ability to change speeds effectively and throw a fastball that reaches the high 90s will have hitters shaking their heads at the plate.

He is also noted as a clutch performer, able to work himself out of jams. The question marks facing him are his lack of endurance and the amount of pressure that he will endure to perform effectively. As long as he can stay healthy, he should overcome all the obstacles facing him.

Roy Halladay has an advantage over the other two candidates.

Considering the rough expectations placed on his team, he has little to no pressure on him to perform. With all the excitement surrounding the other AL East teams, he will once again fall under the radar as he usually does. On the mound, Roy Halladay is an absolute workhorse with incredible endurance and durability. He usually ends up having more complete games pitched than any pitcher in the MLB. Not to mention his nasty knuckle curve that makes right-handed batters look bad at the plate.

The question marks facing him are his disappearing strike-out skills and the velocity on his fastball. He is no longer the dominant strikeout pitcher he once noted himself as and will on many occasions have to rely on his defense to get him out of innings. He also needs to stay focused when there are runners on base, as he does get distracted pretty easily.

These flaws are minor and Halladay has always shown he has the ability to overcome any obstacle that he faces on the mound.

Halladay will perform exceptionally well this year with the Jays as he has arguably been the most consistent

pitcher in the MLB over the last couple of years.

Josh Beckett has a disadvantage that the other candidates do not possess. He is the only pitcher to come off a sub par, injury riddled season.

Last season, Beckett has been unable to maintain his form that made him CY Young in 2007. He finished the 2008 season with a 12-10 record, 4.03 era, and only 27 starts. But he is on arguably one of the most wellrounded and consistent teams in baseball. He also has tremendous strikeout abilities with his mid-90s fastball and his knee-buckling curve.

Josh Beckett is also a tremendous and passionate competitor with an incredible work ethic. Considering this, his chances of redeeming his CY Young form seem to be more likely than not. As long as he can stay healthy and avoid injuries that seem to restrict him almost every season, he should be able to compete with the best.

Excited yet? Once the first pitch is thrown, all bets are off. The 2009 MLB season will surely not disappoint and may in fact exceed your expectations. Just relax, watch some baseball, and enjoy your summer vacation.

12 THE MEDIUM MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2009

SPORTS

MAJORS IN DYING NEED

Majors in deep trouble CHRISTOPHER SA’D SPORTS EDITOR

Do you remember the old cliche “you can’t win them all?” If it was only this simple for the Mississauga St. Michael Majors.

The Majors played the third game of the second round of playoffs against the Brampton Battalions on Sunday, breaking the series lead to 2-1 for the Battalions, leaving the Majors on the edge of elimination.

It’s a battle of the two netminders, the Battalions’ Thomas McCollum and the Majors’ J.P. Anderson, who have single-handedly brought their teams this far. But can the Majors shove the Battalions and their allstar scoring lines out of the playoffs?

Notwithstanding their mid-season drought, the Majors had a strong start, winning four of their first five regular season games. The early acquisition of forward Jared Gomes gave depth to the team’s offensive line – Gomes came in third in points, only behind forward Mike Pelech and star defenseman Cameron Gaunce.

Casey Cizikas returned to the lineup, hoping to boost the team’s scoring while rookie Devante SmithPeely joined in a strong push for the division title. However, Swedish forward William Wallen left the season after three games with only four points and an off-ice brain aneurism which delayed his return until the end of the season. With the loss of defenseman Mike McGurk, who was dealt to the Owen Sound Attack, all of sudden there was a new team skating in the Hershey Centre.

The Battalions have always threatened the Majors and have crashed the party on more than one occasion – the Majors have only won once against Brampton in the seven games played against each other during the season.

The Battalions’ front line featuring captain and Vancouver prospect Cody Hodgson, New York Ranger pick Evgeny Grachev, 2009-draftee forward Matt Duchene, and Detroit Red Wings goalie prospect McCollum have all kept the Majors against the boards and away from

the net.

During game three at the Powerade Centre in Brampton, the Majors were able to hold their end of the rope in the proverbial tug-ofwar, managing to survive with a 5-1 win. Anderson was instrumental in supporting the Majors, saving 35 shots, almost double of McCollum’s total.

Pelech scored a goal and two assists, taking the second star of the game, albeit with help from forward Kaspars Daugavins who had three helpers. But it was a full team effort with goals from Wallen, defenseman Brett Flemming, forward Kale Kerbashian, and center Jordan Mayer, not to mention a few crucial hits given by Gaunce.

But will this new team spirit and spurt of confidence help the Majors advance to the next round?

It’s important to remember that there is no one player holding the spotlight like there used to be.

There’s no Hodgson, John Tavares, or Ryan Ellis to control the zone or shadow, instead what we have is a well-balanced St. Mike’s Majors.

Unfortunately for them, they are playing the favourites in the Eastern conference.

It’s not a question of how well they did during the season or their goals-against in the last ten games, it’s the team’s momentum from the bracket – Brampton still has the upper hand after defeating the Peterbrough Petes in four straight games. But at the same time, we can’t take focus off the Majors and their successful run against division rivals, Barrie Colts.

Each line on the Majors is as valuable as the next. Coach and General Manager Dave Cameron expects a few points from the blue line, especially from Gaunce whose gritty attitude and hard shot from the point gives the Majors their strong backing. But it’s expected that, Gomes, Mayer, Messier, and Wallen will help push the Blues past all obstacles.

Unfortunately, it’s not an easy road as the Majors’ future depends on whether Anderson can hold up after another 30 shots per game.

They failed to keep the Battalions away from the net and against the boards in the first three games, leaving Anderson to keep the team above water.

If Anderson can outplay McCollum again, the Majors will have a shot in the quarter-finals.

Farewell to all my fans! from Christopher Sa’d I would like to thank all my volunteers and subjects that I wrote about and slandered. It’s been fun cover ing UTM sports, the 2009 World Junior Hockey Tournament, the Toronto Argonauts and Mississauga St. Michael Majors. I will not return and graduate for a different life. Thank you, Andrew Tysiak, Steve Kahn, Sachin Mohan, Robert Silva, Kyle Whitney, Sam Lane, Matt Sabucco, Joel Fernandes and my editing staff.

Thanks guys, it’s been a blast!

TFC'S EFFORT ‘ A DISGRACE’: CARVER Toronto (CBC.ca) There wasn't any smoke coming out of John Carver's ears.

He didn't stomp his feet, kick any trash cans, or pound his fist on the table.

It was a calm and composed Carver, someone who was in complete control, who fielded questions in the media room at BMO Field following Toronto FC's 2 0 loss to the Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday.

"I thought it was a disgrace," Carver quietly responded when asked to characterize his team's overall effort”

2009 MEDIUM SPORTS AWARDS Best NFL team: Oakland Raiders Best NHL team: Pittsburgh Penguins Best Soccer club: Liverpool FC Best MLB team: Toronto Blue Jays Best NBA team: Toronto Raptors (for getting rid of Jamario Moon)

UEFA Champions League telecast at UTM The UTM Soccer Club would like to invite you to catch all the Champions’ League quarter-final action at the Student Centre Presentation Room on Tuesday April 7 and Wednesday April 8.

Admission is free.

Bring your soccer buddies. And your M&Ms.

THE MEDIUM IS CURRENTLY LOOKING FOR AN ADVERTISING MANAGER FOR 2009/10 ACADEMIC YEAR. THE JOB REQUIRES YOU TO ACQUIRE LOCAL ADVERTISING CLIENTELE FOR THE NEWSPAPER - BOTH ONLINE AND PRINT. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE POSITION, OR TO SUBMIT A COVER LETTER AND RESUME, EMAIL ADS@MEDIUMONLINE.CA