Vol 35 issue 7

2 Monday, October 20, 2008

www.mediumonline.ca

Volume 35, Issue 7

“We are experiencing an ecological crisis”

Photo/Matthew Filipowich

David Suzuki capped off The Green Experience with a lecture that encouraged students to get involved in the environmental movement...before it’s too late.

FIONA BUCHANAN The Students for Sustainability Campus Tour hit UTM’s CCT building on October 16, generating much excitement over headliners David Suzuki and George Stroumboulopoulos.

The tour was the product of a joint collaboration of The Canadian Federation of Students, along with the Sierra Youth Coalition, and the David Suzuki Foundation.

UTM was the halfway mark of their twenty-one stop tour over thirty days.

The goal of the campaign was to encourage students to act now in reducing waste, commodification, and emissions in order for a sustainable planet for the future.

Hosted by UTMSU, this was the final event in the three-day Green Experience. Volunteers from the UTMSU Ministry of Environment were present to help answer questions, direct people, and collect tickets.

“This is related to my [future] career and I really love doing this,” said Alexander Ramessar, a volunteer from the ministry who also co-ordinated two nature walks on Tuesday. “This [event] is probably one of the biggest things that has happened at UTM. David Suzuki is one of the pillars of environmental awareness. With the

way things are going with climate change, we are trying to get more people on board. And having people like David Suzuki come out here to UTM really brings attention and focus to the problems” added Ramessar.

Katherine Giroux-Bougard, national chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students, urged students to make sustainability a top priority.

“Over the past few years, students have been working with transit corporations, community groups, municipalities, and their own institutions to raise awareness and make a difference. But we still have a lot of work to do,” said Giroux-Bougard. “The only way we will effectively solve the climate crisis is by getting our elected leaders to implement policies and pass laws that promote a sustainable energy plan and support energy efficiency.”

UTM was introduced to the professional Ironman triathlete and two-time champion of the 50km Ultra Marathon Championships, Brendan Brazier, whose diet is one hundred per cent plant-based. Brazier discussed the harmful effects of factory faming and the impact of food choices on the environment.

“Seventy per cent of the food we grow is not for humans. It’s for animals. I found it takes seven to nine pounds of wheat to get one pound of

meat. Obviously there is a huge energy loss there,” commented Brazier.

Brazier emphasized that people have the power to make a difference by simply modifying their eating habits.

“When you feed them [cows] something that they are not designed to eat, it creates gas and methane. In 2006, a report came out that said that methane is twenty-five times more damaging to the environment than CO2 from cars.

The report went on to say that the animal livestock industry actually creates more greenhouse gasses than all transportation.”

Dr. David Suzuki was received with an enthusiastic applause but he brought an urgent and alarming message to UTM students.

“It’s not just climate. We are experiencing an ecological crisis. We are using the air, water and land as a garbage can. If we continue logging as we are now, in twenty years there won’t be any large intact forests left on the planet. If we don’t do anything [about these issues] by the end of the century, eighty per cent of mammals will be gone,” warned Suzuki.

“You’ve just watched for six weeks the federal election campaign. Have you felt any emergency about this?

We’re undermining the very life support systems of the planet, and this hasn’t even been on the Harper agenda

for two years,” he added.

Suzuki criticised the structure of the economy, saying that society takes natural resources for granted.

“It is the earth that allows us to have a living economy, but we think that we have created this thing, this economy, and that allows us to have a living.

This system that we have invented is so defective that it is inevitably destructive of the very things that keep us alive.”

The lecture closed with a message of what students can do. “How many hundreds of thousands of students are there across Canada? Do you not think you could gather in Ottawa and demand that we begin to look at sustainability within a generation and to start on all of the things that have to be done? It’s your future, please let’s get going on it,” preached Suzuki.

George Stroumboulopoulos did not attend. His agent called shortly before the event to cancel. Stroumboulopoulos had attended another event as part of the sustainability tour at the Ryerson University, but skipped engagements at UTM and York University. Suzuki’s speech however more than sufficed in inspiring the crowd.

“I love how he created options for students to voice their opinions on how to make a difference for the environment,” said student Vickita Bhatt.

Sunil Singh, a second year political science and history major, said he found the lecture enlightening. “In the political science program we don’t talk enough about economics or the environment, and I think that it should be an integral part of politics.”

Suzuki urged students to get involved to protect the planet, to preserve it within their lifetimes, and to sustain it for future generations.

“Students cannot afford not to get involved.”

UTMSU VP Marijana Josifovska was happy with the Green Experience and the David Suzuki event in particular.

“The Green Experience was a huge success and the lecture with Dr. Suzuki was an excellent way to end the week.

When word came out that David Suzuki was coming to UTM it created a lot of stir and excitement. Seeing an environmental icon was an amazing experience. To know that students, community members, staff and faculty left that evening feeling inspired to be more environmentally sustainable really makes all our effort into this event worthwhile.”

For more Green Experience coverage, see page 3

2 THE MEDIUM

Monday, October 20, 2008

NEWS

Voter turnout hits an all-time low KAREN AKHTAR

Voter turnout keeps on tumbling, and last week’s election was no exception. According to the Toronto Star, voter turnout was only 59.1 per cent, the lowest voter turnout in Canadian history. That’s even lower than the 60.9 per cent for the election of June 2004. The cause of low voter turnout remains unclear, but a few factors do stand out. “Many may have stayed home because the Conservatives seemed destined to triumph, making the contest a foregone conclusion,� said Jon Pammett, a political science professor at Carleton University in Ottawa. “Although there were some ebbs and flows of their support along the way, they were never really behind at any point. And the only question was what kind of a government they were likely to form and how big it would be?�

Other sources blamed the new voting rules for the low voter turnout. According to CTV.ca, the new voting rules, which stipulated that a fixed address and proper identification was mandatory for voting, prevented many citizens living in

rural areas, Aboriginals, and some post-secondary students from voting.

Many Canadians living in rural areas don’t have a fixed address, and for some Aboriginals, the name of their reserve is their only address, which is not considered a proper address by the government. Postsecondary students who had different home and school addresses could not vote in the election because it was held in October, before their addresses had been updated.

The election was characterized by comparative disinterest. CityNews discovered that many people were better able to identify U.S. candidates than any of the Canadian leadership candidates.

Some refused to vote because they questioned the legitimacy of this election. The federal government passed a fixed election date bill that was supposed to send Canadians to the polls on October 19, 2009, unless the House fell on a vote of non-confidence. That never happened but the election was called anyway. A group called “Democracy Watch� went to Federal Court last month to try and get the vote called off, but their appeal was rejected.

UTM Student Union exec resigns Mubashir Ali has resigned from his position as VP Part-Time, citing personal reasons.

According to UTMSU President Wasah Malik, the union is looking to fill the position by hiring a new VP before next semester.

At press time, Ali was not available for comment.

Umberto Eco draws a crowd

Photo/Matthew Filipowich

Novelist Umberto Eco talks with reporters before addressing a crowd of nearly 1,000 people on October 8 at UTM’s Recreation Athletics and Wellness Centre. Here for a lecture on his latest work, On Ugliness, Eco received a rockstarlike welcome from students, staff, and fans all around.

Campus police summary October 10, 2008 to October 15, 2008 October 10, 2008 10:45 p.m.

Theft Under $ 5000.00 Cash was stolen from a student’s purse left unattended in a residence area.

October 10, 2008 2:09 a.m. oise Complaint University Police investigated a noise complaint in the Residence area.

University Police spoke with several people who went back inside their units.

October 10, 2008 12:40 p.m.

Personal Injury A person sustained an injury in a lab and received first aid from UTM staff.

MMPA

Master of Management & Professional Accounting

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www.utoronto.ca/mmpa

October 10, 2008 12:45 p.m.

Personal Injury A person sustained an injury in a lab and received medical treatment.

October 11, 2008 2:00 a.m.

Smell of burnt food University Police and Residence Dons investigated an odour of burnt food in a residence unit. Smell was traced to a microwave.

October 11, 2008 11:00 p.m.

Personal Injury A person sustained a minor injury in a lab and was assisted by University Police.

October 12, 2008 5:30 p.m.

Disruptive Behavior Two males not affiliated with the University were investigated for kicking a newspaper box by the main entrance of the South Building. The males departed via city bus.

October 13, 2008 2:55 a.m. oise Complaint University Police investigated a noise complaint in the residence area.

Upon the arrival of University Police, area became quiet.

October 13, 2008 4:15 a.m. oise Complaint University Police investigated a noise complaint in the residence area.

University Police spoke with several people who went back inside their units.

October 13, 2008 10:42 p.m. oise Complaint University Police were contacted for a noise complaint emanating near a townhouse unit. Upon the arrival of University Police, officers spoke to and advised several people.

October 13, 2008 9:23 p.m.

Transport to hospital A residence student was conveyed by University Police to and from hospital.

October 14, 2008 12:40 p.m.

Theft Under $5000 A student’s cell phone was stolen from the Student Centre while it was left unattended for a few minutes.

October 14, 2008 5:45 p.m.

Motor Vehicle Accident University Police investigated a minor collision between two vehicles in Parking Lot 2. No injuries sustained on either party.

October 14, 2008 6:41 p.m.

Theft Under $5000 A student’s laptop was stolen from a South Building lab while it was left unattended for a few minutes.

October 14, 2008 9:12 p.m.

Vehicle Tow A vehicle was towed from Parking Lot 8 due to an extensive amount of unpaid parking fines.

October 15, 2008 12:45 a.m.

Smoke Detector Malfunction University Police assisted residence staff with servicing a smoke detector.

October 15, 2008 1:40 p.m.

Hate Crime and Graffiti University and Peel Regional Police investigated hate crime graffiti found inside a North Building washroom.

Your B.Sc. Under the Microscope CAREER EXPO

Tuesday, Oct. 21 | 4:30 pm - 7 pm

Tuesday, October 28 5 10:30 am - 1:30 pm 5 RAWC Gym

What can you REALLY do with a Degree in Science?

This is it - your chance to network with reps from a wide range of www.utm.utoronto.ca/careers for participants and full details!

biology, chemistry, environment, biotechnology or forensic science, then this is an ideal workshop for you!

Make the most of the fair - attend a “Success at Expo� Prep Session on Oct. 21, 23 or 27. Register via our online Events Calendar!

Register online @ www.utm.utoronto.ca/careers

TO REGISTER FOR EMPLOYER EVENTS, WORKSHOPS AND MORE, visit www.utm.utoronto.ca/careers

UTM CAREER CENTRE

Monday, October 20, 2008

THE MEDIUM 3

NEWS

Green in Ontario Stop that train, VICTORIA POLSINELLI

Kevin Flynn, the parliamentary assistant to the provincial minister of the environment, lectured students on October 15 at UTM on acting locally to protect the environment.

As part of the UTM Student Union’s Green Experience, Flynn addressed nearly seventy students ready to make an impact in their home province.

Though admittedly clichĂŠd, Flynn urged students to step up and seriously consider their role as “leaders of tomorrow.â€? “I hope that the younger generation will take a stronger, more responsible role in preserving the environment than the previous generation,â€? said Flynn.

He was impressed by the initiative taken by students and others, citing an increased awareness of environmental issues and a new sense of importance in bringing green-awareness home. “People of all walks of life are participating in the environmental movement, and making small but real changes to their daily lives.�

The shift in attitude to more ecologically responsible thinking is necessary to maintain Ontario’s natural resources, which are already show-

ing signs of stress. “Climate change is happening right now in the Great Lakes. There is sewage overflowing into our waterways,� said Flynn.

The interrelation between economics and ecology was discussed, and Flynn reminded the audience of the importance of environmental protection during trying economic times. “Even during financial crises, we must keep the environment on the front burner,� said Flynn.

Second-year earth science specialist Rahul Mehta expressed a need for collective action. “It's really hard to change your own lifestyle if you are doing it alone. I don't feel like I am a part of something.�

As for the Ministry of Environment, Flynn described their environmental policy as cost-efficient. “We are encouraging businesses to go green because of economical results. Businesses can alter their practices and profit from it. The excess money generated can go towards labor and other overhead costs.�

Looking ahead, Flynn suggested that we learn from progressive new policy in Texas and Germany. He described Texas as a “symbol of change,� turning oil fields into wind farms.

Canadians will be inconvenienced DANIEL ROSENTHAL

Climate Project Canada’s Art Fitzgerald addressed students on October 14 at UTM’s Mist Theatre. Fitzgerald presented the claims Al Gore made in An Inconvenient Truth from a Canadian perspective.

Fitzgerald has been in the environmental research field for over forty years. His past work includes projects with General Electric, Northern Telecommunications, the World Bank, and Export Development Canada. He also helped the Chinese government pass a Cleaner Production law which resulted in improved corporate environmental responsibility.

Fitzgerald used pictures to illustrate the detrimental effect CO2 emissions have on ecology. Current photos of the earth from space were contrasted with photos of diminished ice shelves and glaciers, floods, droughts, hurricanes, and deforestation to give an idea of what may be in store.

Fitzgerald referred to www.350.org as an important resource for youth inter-

ested in climate change. 350 is the number of CO2 emissions (in Parts Per Million or ppm) necessary to sustain civilization on Earth. Currently, we are at 385ppm, a number that continues to increase.

Though Canada has many natural resources and very few people, Fitzgerald warned that we are not immune to environmental deterioration. “As the global climate situation worsens, Canada will feel the heat just as much as any other country,� said Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald was more optimistic when discussing technological innovation.

New developments in hydro, wind and solar power will help reduce our polluting effect on the world.

When asked what his thoughts were with regards to nuclear energy, he said there’s no easy answer. Although he personally believes in it, there is nonetheless “always the question of what to do with the waste.�

Fitzgerald ended on a critical note, calling on the Canadian Government to take the Kyoto Accord seriously and the United States to ratify the agreement.

I want to protest

Photo/Matthew Filipowich

MATTHEW FILIPOWICH PHOTO EDITOR

On October 13, the Canadian Pacific Spirit Train arrived at its third scheduled stop at the Cooksville Go-Station in Mississauga. The train, intended to promote the Vancouver 2010 Olympic spirit, made stops in cities across the country on its trans-Canada journey to Vancouver.

Despite the excitement over free promo-swag and concerts, the Spirit Train has received harsh criticism from activism groups such as No One Is Illegal and NO 2010. The groups argue that the Canadian government is paying corporations to build one-use only Olympic sites where they receive large profit margins, while simultaneously evicting and destroying native land to build them. Both groups have protested at Spirit Train stops since the train left its first stop in Montreal.

Before the Spirit Train carnival officially opened, around thirty to forty pro-

testers organized themselves outside the entrance to the Spirit Train parade amidst four police cruisers and countless police officers. In order to control the entrance to the carnival, officers had established a fenced perimeter around the parking lot where the carnival was to take place. The protesters, armed with pots and pans that they hit with spoons to make noise, set up banners with slogans like “No Olympics on Stolen Land� painted on them while they chanted, “This is what your democracy looks like. This what your democracy feels like.�

The protesters rushed toward the entrance when the carnival opened and were promptly turned away by the police and Go-Transit officials. After being denied entrance, the protesters decided to block the entrance way, claiming that “if they were not allowed in, no one else should be either.�

The police tried numerous times to disrupt the protesters, often by driving ambulances and police cars through the entrance and claiming that there were sick and injured people inside who need-

ed to be rushed to the hospital. They also confiscated some of the pots, pans and banners – anything that they feared could be used as a weapon.

At one point, the protesters gained significant ground and were partially through the entrance to the carnival. It took no less than ten police officers to move on them and forcefully push them out of the carnival. More officers arrived at the scene soon after, and with the use of bicycles they formed a human barricade around the perimeter of the carnival entrance. This “buffer zone� allowed families to enter and enjoy the festivities, not having to endure the crowd of protesters.

The protesters stayed at this state for another forty-five minutes, until they decided to dismantle their demonstration.

The protest lasted for another hour before the protestors dismantled their demonstration. When it was all over, one protester asked the police, “Can I have my pots back? We need to cook and eat; you don’t want to have starving protesters.�

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4 THE MEDIUM

Monday, October 20, 2008

EDITORIAL

Letters to the Editor A reminder of how we can make a difference Dear fellow students, faculty and members of the UTM Community, Ali Kasim, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF | editor@mediumonline.ca www.mediumonline.ca

EDITORIAL 397 voters. 397 students. If a lecture hall worth of students had bothered to cast a ballot, perhaps popular Liberal MP Omar Alghabra would have won. Instead, we have now, for the first time since becoming an official district, a Conservative member of parliament in legislative power.

Does it matter that Mississauga-Erindale is now represented by a Conservative candidate instead of a Liberal one? After all, politicians are obliged to serve all their constituents equally, regardless of political affiliation. So what difference does a party make, really?

For starters, a party makes different policies; different policies on student tuition fees, for example, or post-secondary education funding. A party also serves the interest of one group over the other, indirectly and directly, through public projects or tax reductions, all for the benefit of their own supporters.

Clearly, there is a distinct advantage in being on the winning team. And sitting on the sidelines, like so many of us have recently done, is one way of making sure you’re never going to win.

Elections are fought to obtain power, they aren’t just for show. And the difference between the parties can vary quite dramatically according to each issue.

This past election saw the lowest voter turn-out (59%) in a long time.

Significantly, youth voters were one of the smallest segments of the population to vote: only 1 in 5. By withdrawing from this contest for power, young people as a whole are losing out on an opportunity to affect change and influence the development of their society.

So why aren’t we voting? Really how hard is it to vote in the first place?

Why don’t students care? These questions, especially the latter have been plaguing us – as a community of students and student leaders – for years.

Student apathy is rampant on campus; just look at how many students turned up for the UTMSU All-Candidate’s debate on October 9. Forty students. That’s less than an average classroom on campus. Now think about how many turned up to hear the David Suzuki lecture last week. If these students are so concerned with the changes that we make as a country visà-vis the environment, then need to recognize that the government is the all-important middle man to help implement those changes.

By doubling their voting turn-out, students could make a major difference in elections, possibly electing leaders and parties that have little to no chance of winning (i.e. NDP or the poor Green party who got no seats). As a result, perhaps more parties would be created (Youth Party?), and maybe the big parties would change themselves to attract the new number of youth voters in order to grow their support base.

In Quebec, more young people vote than in any other part of the country. And in a dozen ridings, the Bloc Quebecois beat the Conservatives – holding them back from a majority government – by a small margin of votes.

It is ironic that the rest of Canada owes it to the separatist Bloc for keeping the Conservatives retrained by minority (12 seats short; 75 seats in Quebec; 108 seats in Ontario; 45 in GTA alone). The narrow difference in these crucial battles can mean the difference between a minority or majority, or one party governing as opposed to another.

Let’s thank our lucky stars that the folks in Quebec realized this, unlike us.

Yours,

Ali Kasim

There are certain things that I promised myself I would say in the blurb every week. (No, that three-letter “F” word wasn’t one of them). And I’ve missed on including so many of them over the past few weeks. For example, I didn’t sign off with “twenty issues left” last week. I also forgot to mention Julie Tyios – something I had been doing the previous five issues. And as previously agreed with the chambers of the veterans of the psychic wars, “why am I not on the throw,” my single most favourite quote of all time, has sadly, been left out of several previous blurbs. This won’t do. And to avoid such calamity again, I have made it a point to mention them here, as early as possible. Now with all that out of the way, let’s get some other stuff off the laundry list. Two weeks ago I made an error in my editorial when I titled Dhananjai Kohli as VP Equity instead of VP External. Now as much as I’ve apologized since then, D.J has still asked (made me promise actually) that I tribute this blurb to him. That’s fine. D.J, you’re a jolly good fellow. And you’re the VP EXTERNAL. I shall never forget that. Moving on...Jules, smashing party last weekend. Too bad you got too sloshed to see it out to the end. We’re all going to another Halloween bash this week. You coming? Gotta bring Saira now. We may all dress up as the ninja turtles. Either that or I’ll dress up as that Persian. For real this time. By the way, Sam, I haven’t told you that I ran into the mofo earlier today. Actually he passed me in his car, just outside the North Building, at 70km/h at hour. Where was the speed police when you need them? Anyway, you clearly are the lucky charm for Liverpool. Four out of four. Not bad. I really didn’t think they’d come from behind and win last week. To the rest of you out there, what did I tell you about Kuyt? Two goals once again. Long may the streak live on. By the way, we’re playing Atletico Madrid this Wednesday, in Spain no less. Forget about five for five. No chance with this one. /Shift/ Whacha guys think of the new Medium? All courtesy of Matthew Filipowich aka The Renaissance Man. Nineteen issues left.......

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

I want to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving and use this opportunity to remind us all why we should be thankful.

As a student leader and former student union president, I have seen this campus evolve to something special. This is a campus bursting with involvement and dedication to initiatives that affect us all, from funding, post-secondary education, student life, social justice to the environment. We have experienced a steady rise in students participating in union elections – five per cent to twenty-two per cent in three successive years. We should all be proud of these accomplishments just like we should be critical of our failures.

This year, the student vote could have not counted more than any other year in recent memory. Our campus is located in the riding of Mississauga-Erindale, where a general election was called for on October 14, 2008. It was surprising to learn that less than forty students attended the election debate. Even more surprising however, was that out of the 1200 students that reside in this riding, less than 200 decided to cast their ballot.

It was therefore, no surprise that the incumbent Member of Parliament, Omar Alghabra who has served the UTM community well in the past, lost by 239 votes.

All students residing at UTM had the opportunity to make a difference by selecting their representative in parliament. However eighty-five per cent of

those eligible chose to stay home and not exercise their right and responsibility to vote. If you are one of the 200 students that did vote, I applaud your conviction in voicing your position, and your refusal to be silenced in this important political process. It is the government that regulates our tuition fees; if we don’t hold our politicians responsible for their actions, who will?

This month, the University of Toronto will make a formal decision by voting to ratify the reports entitled “Towards 2030: Planning for a Third Century of Excellence at the University of Toronto.”

This will shape the University’s planning and decision-making processes at multiple levels for the years ahead. The most important policy position is that of the Deregulation of Tution fees. Fees that YOU pay for.

The University will take the position to propose to the government that they can set the tuition rate at whatever level they feel comfortable with. What does that mean? Well, most of us have already experienced the four per cent ($500) increase in our tuition fees. If this proposal is endorsed by the government, expect those rates to double or triple with no government regulation. This means that most of us will have to get another part-time job, drop to part-time status, or even drop out of school for financial reasons.

I don’t think those are the ideals that our institution should be fostering.

Students should be able to access postsecondary education regardless of their financial circumstances. Education is a

right, not a privilege for the wealthy.

Canada’s innovation was driven by education and not exclusion from education by poorly thought-out policies. If you feel the way I do, then here are some things you can do.

Your student union will be holding a plebiscite on the 2030 plan by the university to deregulate all tuition fees. It’s imperative that you vote in this important referendum that will be held throughout campus buildings such as the South and the CCT. However, your vote at this plebiscite is only the beginning. If we want a change in policy, we have to work for it. We must all talk to our peers, allies, friends and professors. And on Wednesday November 5, speak “with one voice” emphasizing that education is a right that the government should be funding with taxes they collect from every one of us.

I would like to end this week’s editorial by reflecting on a quote from Senator Barack Obama: “Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” So let’s bring about change and reform to Queens Park and Ottawa. Let us stand against misguided policies and stop the deregulation of tuition fees. Let us stand up in Solidarity with each other and say “NO”, we will not sit aside and be cynical this time around.

In Student Solidarity, Walied Khogali

Student calls for more positive recognition of campus newspaper Dear UTM, This letter is in response to some of the letters published in the September 29 issue regarding the use of the three-letter "f word".

First off, I would like to say that I do not condone the use of this specific word and agree with those who think it has no place in the school newspaper, or anywhere else for that matter.

However, I think that all of the negative attention directed towards The Medium, and its editor Ali Kasim, is a little bit excessive. I especially dislike the comparison of Ali's faux pas with the deliberate and hate-filled vandalism of a student's door at Oscar Peterson Hall. I think that comparing the two occurrences as if they were on par with one another in terms of offensiveness superficially discounts the seriousness of one, and exaggerates the severity of the other. Yes, he should have exercised more discretion in what gets printed in The Medium. He made a mistake, but let's not crucify him for it to that extent.

I have a feeling that many students are

under the impression that the decision to print that specific word in the blurb was made during a leisurely, stress free afternoon, during which all the articles were submitted on time and the Medium staff went home early because they met their deadline ahead of schedule. But as any student who spends as many late nights in the Student Centre as I do can tell you, this is never the case for the staff of The Medium.

They, including Ali, spend countless nights working into the early hours of the morning to make sure the newspaper gets published on time for their fellow students. The stress they endure in their attempts of meeting their deadlines every week is palpable to everyone in the building, and it is inevitable that every once in awhile a hasty judgment call will be made. This is why every once in a while every newspaper has retractions and make corrections.

School newspapers serve a valuable purpose, especially here at UTM. On a campus that is filled with (and it pains me to say this) students who are apathetic towards anything not directly related

Editor-in-Chief Ali Kasim

Composite Editor Matthew Filipowich

News Editor Meredith Lilly

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

to academics, The Medium is perhaps the only cohesive force here on campus.

It offers those of us here at UTM easy access to all the information a student needs to be an active, contributing member of the UTM community. It offers an outlet for students to voice their concerns on issues ranging from trivial things like lewd costumes at Halloween Pub to serious concerns such as academic and equity issues here on campus.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every staff member of The Medium. Each issue is more than just a random assortment of articles and editorials. The Medium is the only historical record of all of the amazing things that students here at UTM have and will continue to accomplish.

For all that’s happen, let's not lose sight of all of the positive contributions the Medium makes to the UTM community and how great of a campus we really have.

Sincerely, Marc Cerulli

The Medium is looking for assistant editors for all four sections - News, Features, Arts, Sports. If you have been writing for us the past year or so, 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.

Monday, October 20, 2008

OPH prices under fire

APUS responds to UTMSU letter Dear UTM, This letter is in response to the one written by the VP of Part-Time Affairs at UTM’s Student Union (UTMS U ) i n t h e i s s u e d a t e d September 22, which contains inaccurate and accusatory remarks about the As s oc i at i o n o f P a r t - Ti m e Undergraduate Students (APUS).

This year, APUS celebrates its fortieth anniversary – forty years of advocating on behalf of part-time students on all three campuses. This is quite an achievement given that our members are typically busy balancing family, work, study, as well as navigating an education system which presents numerous barriers as it is built largely for younger, fulltime, able-bodied students.

We recently had a major court win, recognizing the illegitimacy of the UT M S U r e f e r e n d u m w h i ch attempted to raid our members.

APUS would like to clarify that it still represents part-time students at UTM. APUS has a fully functioning community of executive members, board of directors, class representatives, staff, and volunteers that dedicate their energy to providing services and a political voice catered to the specific needs of part-time students at U of T. This includes one of the only part-time health plans in the country, direct communication with our members through mailouts and email, the distribution of our newsletter The Voice, events, research surveys, part-time student conferences, as well as continued lobbying around part-time issues.

APUS advocates on behalf of part-time students for full availabil-

THE MEDIUM 5

OPINION

ity of financial aid, evening classes, affordable childcare and housing for part-time students. In addition, we offer a variety of bursaries and scholarships to part-time students (including a specific scholarship d es i g n at e d f or UTM students).

APUS has been successful in securing the only source of part-time student financial aid available at U of T on all three campuses (the Noah Meltz bursary).

Presently we have been advocating for all part-time students to be covered under U of T’s (UTAPS) funding guarantee, a benefit that is promised as part of rising tuition fees and seems to be “guaranteed” only to full-time students. We also continue to fight for lower incidental tuition fees and universal education because we believe education should be accessible to all.

In addition to providing services to students on all three campuses, APUS has supported Erindale’s ca m pu s p a rt -t i me organization (EPUS). With substantial funding supports from APUS, EPUS has been in existence for thirty years, d u r i n g w h i c h we have worked together on representing UTM’s specific part-time needs and issues.

U nf o r t u na t e l y, in 2003 both APUS and EPUS lost a great deal of funding when U of T unilaterally redefined part-time study (from 3.5 or less to 2.5 or less credits), giving th e fu l l - t i m e u nion, (including UTMSU) approximately forty per cent of our membership. The fulltime union did not publicly oppose this undemocratic injustice.

Nonetheless, APUS continued to transfer fees directly to EPUS to help pay for the EPUS staff and

office. That is, until last year when a very small group of EPUS executives decided to cut off services, and shut the office, despite repeated offers from APUS to send up staff to keep it open (our calls were not returned). A number of these execs were previously (or are currently) full-time student union representatives and worked to merge EPUS into UTMSU. Our extensive research shows that part-time unions across Canada are being undermined. Our members have been deeply impacted by Government cuts in transfer payments (resulting in reductions in evening classes, available and affordable childcare) and financial aid availability for our members.

APUS looks forward to the next forty years as a part-time union, which addresses the continued differential supports between full and part-time students by the University and government. If you are a parttime student and wish to get more involved on campus please consider becoming a class representative.

You will gain skills in leadership, advocacy and campaign work, and help to plan campaigns as well as fun events at UTM. Contact our office at info.apus@utoronto.ca or (416) 978-3993 to apply.

Sincerely, APUS STAFF

To whom this may concern, I am a student who lives off campus and enrolled in a program which requires me to spend large amounts of time (including late nights) on campus. During this time, if I should crave for food the cafeteria at the Oscar Peterson Hall (OPH) is the only place I can get anything better than vending machine junk.

A few nights ago I went in to the OPH cafeteria to buy a two-litre bottle of coke. It cost me $4.00 – approximately double what it would cost off campus. A tiny jar of nacho sauce almost costs a whopping $5.00. And those little horrible sandwiches – you know the ones I’m talking about, those pitiful, soggy excuses for a meal that come with rotting carrots – those cost up to $5.00. When I think about it, if I spend anymore of my money on OPH’s ridiculously priced food, I might not be able to afford my heating bill or my electricity payment.

In all seriousness, the “lack of food” situation on campus is absolutely unacceptable. I do not subscribe to the meal plan because I prepare most of my meals off campus, but that

shouldn’t mean that I get “robbed in daylight” if I want something to tide me over while I’m in my place of higher learning. These years of our lives are to be spent worrying about essays, assignments, mid-terms and the like. We shouldn’t have to worry about being absolutely robbed blind if we want some chips while we study.

By my account, everything is way overpriced at OPH, and no one seems to do anything about it. I think it’s ironic that OPH feels it necessary to rip us off, while generally, students are the ones who are always strapped for cash.

Editor and students, we need to investigate this problem and find out once and for all why OPH literally has our grapes in a vice.

Kinda hungry and wanting a snack, Andy Ingram UTM Student

EDITORIAL Please write to:editor@mediumonline.ca Letters to the editor will be edited for spelling, grammar, style, and coherence.

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6 THE MEDIUM

Monday, October 20, 2008

The Arkells usher in a new season at CFRE Michael Di Leo, Editor | arts@mediumonline.ca

RYAN WEIR

The Arkells, a Rock n’ Roll band from Hamilton, Ontario, hit the stage with ample amount of energy.

Nice haircuts, an abundance of packer hats, side burns, and coats with vintage appeal signified the journalists who seemed to encompass the entire crowd. Yet another indicator to this press-filled room was lack of motion as they were there for reviewing purposes, and dancing might have impeded on their ability to critique. But would a true professional not be able to dance and review all at once?

The Springsteenian influence came through in their sound, especially in the band’s most well-known track, “Oh The Boss is Coming.� And fans of the Constantines, The ational, and Spoon will definitely enjoy the Arkells.

The man standing next to me had grey slicked back hair, a scarf, and a black trench – a poor mafia man. He banged his head slightly off beat, stopping after the pauses, beginning after it’s started. I picture him riding away from the body he’s shot, listening to this song in the car trying to forget but not thinking that he wants to. He rocked the best he could to the beat.

He thinks he understands. Then the lyrics repeat “we’re punching in/we’re punching out.� It’s all too fitting but not for his subjective purpose. He’s the corrupt capitalist industry thinking it understands Mother Nature. Sure,

the capitalist industry is natural in the sense that it exists in this world, but it is far removed from the roots, from the soul of the matter. And the Arkells are close to the soul of the matter.

The Arkells have amazing stage presence, tons of energy, catchy songs, and some of the better Rock n’ Roll I’ve heard and seen in a while. Be sure to catch them on November 6 at The Phoenix Concert Theatre with Matt Mays & El Torpedo. And if you can’t make it to that one, it’s worth the trip to Hamilton November 8 at The Casbah.

Arkells’ full length album Jackson Square comes out in stores on October 28.

CFRE 91.9 FM – Your Campus Radio Station

That’s right, there is a radio station right here at UTM. To catch the frequencies you have to be on campus, but work is underway to expand the broadcast signal to cover all of Mississauga and some of the GTA. But for now, if you are not located nearby there is no need to fret, you can tune in online to listen live at www.cfreradio.com. It is guaranteed that there will be a program that’ll appeal to your tastes, seeing as CFRE has had a sixty-five per cent increase in new DJ’s this semester. The sounds emitting from the radio station has

Drummer Tim works the beats inside CFRE’s DJ booth. The Arkells were in last week for a special performance promoting their new album, Jackson Square.

photos/Jason Richards

Arkells played their hearts out in the little space they had.

ko + lorilee.e + cfreradio + matthew + tywchen + lorilee.e

never been so diversified. Oh, and anyone can join.

The biggest news at the station right now is that CFRE is nominated for three CMJ awards. CMJ stands for College Music Journal, an organization with over 500 stations reporting to them in North America. This year, CFRE is being considered for the following awards: Biggest Innovator – Tenni Gharakanian; Most Fun – Tenni Gharakanian; Best Use Of Limited Resources – CFRE.

Recently CFRE had Hawksley Workman drop in to discuss politics.

Sylvie is in on October 16 for a full studio session, and the Arkells were in for a two hour session on October 1. These bands and other band visits are posted on the station web site.

There continues to be a huge influx of bands and visitors which has gained the station tremendous press, so make sure to stay tuned for updates because there probably will be upcoming bands that you are interested in.

photo + collaborate p h o to + co l l a b o rate i s a n e w weekly section curated by T h e M e d i u m ’s P h o t o g r a p h y Editor Matthew Filipowich.

An assemblage of weekly photographs, photo + collaborate is your take on weekly life, seen through your eyes. comments: photos@mediumonline.ca submissions: www.mediumonline.ca/photopop

photograph by LaraMM

we need more submissions! submit your photo at www.mediumonline.ca/photopop

Monday, October 20, 2008

THE MEDIUM 7

ARTS

Deerhoof is back The Medium takes a look at Deerhoof’s newest release: the much-anticipated Offend Maggie.

MICHAEL DI LEO A&E EDITOR

4.5/5

Deerhoof is an anomaly. These days, few bands possess the creative willingness and musical temperament required to be truly unique and inimitable, let alone the technical skill to do so without coming off amateurish.

From their beginnings, playing small functions at UCLA to their current standing as one of music’s modernizers, Deerhoof has consistently spewed its own, often abrasive, concoction of harmonic dissonance,

eccentric song structures, and persistent improvisation, which has been key in developing their own dynamic style.

Their newest offering, Offend Maggie, follows Deerhoof’s course along this path. Unlike previous albums, The Runners Four and Friend Opportunity, Maggie downplays many of the electronic elements that Deerhoof fans are accustomed to, instead replacing them with thick and concise guitar parts.

The recent inclusion of guitarist Ed Rodriguez into the mix has provided the group with the ability to transcend the somewhat overly-piercing nature of the group’s previous music, prudently moulding it into a jazzier and more learned display.

Like his counterparts John Dieterich and Greg Saunier, Rodriguez has been classically trained in his instrument (in his case, the guitar). When listening to the music it becomes apparent how advanced the quartet, along with Satomi Matsuzaki, actually is.

Saunier, whom I consider to be one of the best current drummers, masters fills like no other, even while playing on a three-piece kit (kick, snare, ride).

Dieterich tends to have more fun with his playing, immersing himself in his unusual melodies and trademark disjointed outbursts while Rodriguez plays like he has infinite control over the sounds he is producing. Not trained herself, vocalist Matsuzaki is responsible for much of the tension in the music. Her childlike voice seems incongruous to the rest of the music, yet provides a soothing quality to the otherwise exaggerated and expressive playing.

Offend Maggie is proof of Deerhoof’s maturity. While Friend Opportunity provided the group with a new wave offering, its pop-inspired tracks seem almost petty to the firm

tone of Maggie. Not that Deerhoof has left its histrionic roots behind; rather, they seem to have found a subtle groove where they can focus their dynamic.

On “My Purple Past,” the members play off each others parts to create a curious but appealing rhythm. The track begins with a thick guitar riff, speckled by classic Greg Saunier drum rolls and pauses. Like many Deerhoof songs, it continues with a two-sided guitar verse – one guitar playing a jazzy beat and the other following Satomi’s vocals. This gains momentum until they hit the guitar riff again, each bar becoming steadily thicker and more important than the last. All the while, Saunier continues to add his accents, which are more often empty spaces than fills, and relentlessly changes the tempo. Even with minimal instrumentation the resulting effect is epic.

One of the more interesting aspects of the album was its release. Not wanting the tracks to leak prior to the official date, the group decided to release their first single “Fresh Born” to the public early in the form of sheet music.

After recording their own covers of the song (without even listening to it), fans were asked to upload their versions to the Deerhoof website. While there were some interesting takes, none match the fervour put across by the band themselves in the official version. The song takes on different aspects: Soothing jazz, hyper-strenuous choppy riffs, and call and reply – none of which go together under normal circumstances. However, the band manages to make it work, making it catchy enough to be a single.

Deerhoof’s essence is found in their process. Their unusual method inevitably leads to musical substance – something not very many groups can say about themselves.

with Michael Di Leo

Let’s take this opportunity to discuss music. And I don’t mean like how I do every week in this section. I’m talking about the nitty gritty of the whole process. Let’s also turn toward Metallica as an example for this discussion. Now, we have all heard about their new record and how it has singlehandedly jump-started their otherwise exhausted careers. But on the other hand, to many audiophiles, this record is significant insofar as it is stereotypical of the music industry’s current stand on audio compression in the mastering process – the more the better.

Most normal people don’t understand the complex nature behind recording music. After taping each instrumental track separately, the tracks are then mixed (usually performed by the producer) and sent off for mastering.

During this process, the audio waves themselves are being formatted to sound more appealing to our ears.

When recording raw music you notice certain spikes in the wave. This happens when the music gets louder (our quieter) and is perfectly natural in any recording. When mastering, these peaks are cut so that the song has a constant wave, and then the entire wave is amplified to fill the remaining space. This in effect makes the music much louder, but only while making the sound quality inferior. This is also known as audio compression.

Recently, studies have shown that people think music sounds better when it’s louder. This has caused a stir in the music industry where labels and producers are forcing artists to compress more than ever to compete for airplay.

One of the most popular albums of

the past 20 years, Californication by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, is a prime example of the effect compression has on the listener. Even those who weren’t familiar with the mechanics of music noticed the fuzzy (and at times painful) quality the songs had, not to mention how much louder they sounded on the radio compared to other songs.

Notably, this corresponds with the coming of the digital age of music. The majority of people who download music (which is the majority of music listeners) normally download songs in sub-par quality. Downloads are almost always found in the 120 kbps-160 kbps range while CD’s are generally encoded in very high quality (always over 300 kbps). When you realise that many listeners also use their cheap iPod headphones, it is clear that the common listener hears their music in far poorer quality than the original recording.

When Metallica released their album a few weeks ago, there was a public outcry from a large portion of the music community. This got to the point where scientists compared the quality of the tracks on the CD to the recording on the newest Guitar Hero. They then determined that the Guitar Hero version sounded better.

If you look back at albums recorded right after the CD was invented, you notice how producers and musicians alike take advantage of the wide spectrum of levels which were only recently recordable – here we find some of the finest mixing in the history of music. So why do we stand for this?

Should we be content with overproduction even though many of us have become used to it?

The style sartorialist: fall trends for women CORBAN CONSALES

A warm hello to all you fashion fanatics at the UTM. This week, a peek into the realm of fall fashion is in order as we take a glimpse into Ralph Lauren’s Purple Line for fall 2008, as well as a recent Dolce and Gabbana fashion show.

So what can’t be missed on the catwalk this season? That is, other than ruffles and floral prints that you are all oh so familiar with. The answer is what has been an obvious reoccurring center of attention for years now – plaid.

Tartan has taken over the catwalk this season, so now let us focus on getting some into your closet.

Haute Couture The fall fashion world offers so many different prints and colors used in extravagant ways, but there was a general agreement throughout the runway world on the use of plaid this season.

This pattern was featured in preppy tartan, as well as in the punk or grunge trend, giving it a little kick.

Ralph Lauren exhibited an array of plaids in different colors, seen every-

where from his great coats to a pair of skinny plaid pants, all the way to a plaid beret. Dolce and Gabbana also highlighted a more feminine but loud version, where a plaid ruffle was concentrated down the center of a blouse or dress. Overall, the fashion world seems to be crazy about plaid, and it’s no wonder why.

Style Tips Again, the overboard factor is of particular importance here. Plaid can be the central unifying piece to an outfit, but this can also go the other way. Plaid pants, shirts, hats, and coats must not be abused. That is, you need not drape yourself in plaid. Instead, pick one item and show it off. Maybe contrast it with an overall simple, black outfit. Be bold with your plaid, and opt for a less tightly knitted patterning. After all, we don’t want you to look like you’re wearing a high school girl’s kilt.

The Look

photos/www.style.com

A runway model shows off her plaid jacket - one of the new trends for fall.

Tops: Black, black and more black was seen in Ralph Lauren’s Purple Label for fall 2008. A black turtleneck was of particular interest this season, seen coupled most often with a skinny jean.

Also, a longer version of this was seen paired with a higher waist black legging. Not only will this piece look great as a cozy, warm piece on a cold day, it can also lend itself to being an elegant piece if accented with a strand of pearls. If you’re interested in a little luxury you can step out onto Bloor Street and find yourself a rich black

cashmere turtleneck, something that will never go out of style.

Bottoms: Let’s take a minute to distinguish between a good and bad legging, since we can’t seem to walk within ten feet without spotting a pair.

Ladies, the first thing to look for when choosing a legging is to make sure it isn’t made of a light material – forget cotton. Not only will this fade in color and stretch out in strange areas after a couple of washes, but cheap leggings are often see-through. A good, and yet potentially slightly crude way of testing their revealing nature is to bend over when trying them on in front of a mirror. Please try to get your hands on a good quality legging – it is definitely worth the extra dollars.

Outerwear: Other than the beautiful autumn colours seen in the fallen leaves around us on campus, fall also brings upon a nippy breeze. It is now time to bring out that fall coat you’ve been dying to wear.

Ralph Lauren featured some great coats, ranging from ones hitting waist length to some that almost hit the ankle.

A bold red or white and black plaid is a classic feature seen on his runway, and even more unfamiliar colors such as an emerald green print were also seen. A great big collar is essential, but also keep your eyes peeled for a doublebreasted coat as a classic piece.

Shoes: Let’s focus again on gathering key items that can be used throughout the season and kept as timeless pieces.

Another look for this season is the plaid dress. Once a classic, this outfit is slated for a comeback.

What better shoe to use throughout the season than a suede boot? Whether it’s a moccasin that hits the ankle, or a flat, slightly pointed boot with a bunching effect that hits mid-calf. This suede boot can be used interchangeably with many different bottoms such as leggings, skinny jeans, skirts, or even opaque tights. Try to opt for caramel colored suede or even a classic black; after all this isn’t a 60s recap.

Accessories: Simplicity is key here. The bold plaid is the center of attention in an outfit like the one described above.

A large, round faux-diamond earring is no stranger to the world of accessories, so give a girl’s best friend a chance to shine this season.

8 THE MEDIUM

Monday, October 20, 2008

Andrew Hamilton-Smith, Editor | features@mediumonline.ca

This is how a republic falls JAMES DELINIS

I sat on the steps of the Supreme Court on a hot, humid day in Washington, D.C. this past summer, staring in disbelief at the vile protest churning all around me. The taxexempt televangelist who had arrived in a new Mercedes Benz was on stage spewing hate at his fellow Americans, condemning the godless liberals who “have brought ruin to our great country,” who “took pleasure in murdering our babies,” and who “invite God’s terrible judgment with their godless ways.” Oblivious to the divisions this language creates, I looked around at the hatefilled faces of the people who were growing angrier and louder, and I couldn't help but think: This is how a republic falls.

Americans like to think of Washington, D.C. as a city that does not represent the heartland of America, but the truth is that Washington exemplifies exactly what America has become. It’s a city whose geography invites corruption. The eastern neighborhoods are filled with office buildings that are hard to see from the main roads making it the ideal place for businesses of a sordid nature to be conducted. Congressmen gather with the lobbyists of defense firms, oil companies, investment banks, and media organizations to discuss exactly what these Congressmen will exchange for precious campaign dollars. After the process has reached its pitiful climax, these cartels have extorted billions of your money from the public coffers, and succeeded in killing the progress of legislation meant to reform a system that has long ago surpassed the corrupt and has now entered the obscene. When you cannot trust your legislature to prevent the large scale looting of public money, the foundations of the rule of law are in jeopardy. This is how a republic falls.

Matt Taibbi, in his trademark rapid-fire style, recently observed that the United States is now essentially a massive militarized oligarchy that patrols half the world for imaginary enemies on borrowed money. Most of the country cannot be described as anything other than dead broke, yet they continue to vote for candidates who campaign to keep women in the kitchen, gays in the closet, and Arabs in Guantanamo Bay. These “representatives” approximate the worst kind of prostitutes by having the guts to stand up in the House of People and elect time and again to create and sustain massive tax loopholes that let millions of financial industry types avoid paying any taxes at all. They vote in the dead of night to kill the development of any alternatives to the multi-trillion dollar oil industry.

For any candidate to get elected into any federal office, he has to swear by these machines or risk himself being targeted and destroyed by these forces. Mounting any campaign for a Congressional or Senatorial district requires millions of dollars that can only be raised by cozying up to the regressive lobby

groups. They can choose to become friends of our extorting overloads or risk being destroyed by million-dollar ad campaigns that these gangsters conjure up. When you cannot trust the electoral process of your democracy, that is when a republic falls.

The numbers are staggering: $800 billion a year for the defense budget and supplementary bills for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and $9 trillion dollars in federal government debt, mostly to foreign investors such as China. Consumers, corporations and families are borrowing almost $1 trillion a year to buy consumer goods that they desperately need to keep up an appearance of affluence.

We now have a situation where in a span of three weeks the political, economic, and media elite steamrolled the public into accepting $700 billion in deficit spending to be paid to private organizations. Of the members of congress and in the Bush Administration, how many of these people held shares in the financial companies that were tanking? How much of Bush family wealth, or Pelosi family wealth, or McCain wealth, or the wealth of the members in the banking committee, was tied to the fortunes of these financial firms? Is this not the biggest conflict of interest imaginable – politicians acting not for a noble purpose, but simply bailing out their own private portfolios?

These “representatives” approximate the worst kind of prostitutes by having the guts to stand up in the House of People and elect time and again to create and sustain massive tax loopholes that let millions of financial industry types avoid paying any taxes at all.

This tragedy, this raping of a beautiful idea, has to come to a climax, which may take the form of international investors demanding higher interest on the massive loans currently keeping the United States economy afloat. This would trigger a run on the banks and a collapse of the dollar, and two things may follow – either the people will turn to genuine reformers who pledge the hard but necessary work to rebuild the country into what it was always meant to be.

Or, as history shows is entirely possible and in some ways probable, a clever political leader will arise and manipulate the fears of the people. He will lie to citizens and try to turn their anger at what has transpired into violence, and coup to turn what was once a beautiful Republic into a despotic Empire. A violent empire of people who were once the most prosperous of the world and who will be willing to do anything or kill anyone to get that prosperity back. These are the days that we are living in, and this is the fate of the Rome of our time.

Because this is how a republic falls.

photo/http://www.sonofthesouth.net

I’ve been with my girlfriend for 3 years and I really love her. I recently ran into one of her old friends and found out that she had a reputation for being easy in high school. I feel horrible for feeling this way, but my entire opinion of her has changed. I haven’t been able to look at her the same way. Before this I looked at her as this sweet girl and now I don’t know what to think of her. What should I do? Should I tell her that I know?

You’ve been dating this girl for 3 years, this one rumor comes along, and you start to doubt the entire relationship? I don’t think that’s fair to her.

Also, it’s entirely possible that the rumor is completely untrue. Maybe you should give her the benefit of the doubt. However, let’s pretend that the rumor is true and that your girlfriend was a little promiscuous in high school: 1) Does that really change who she is currently? The three years of experience that you’ve had with her should be a better indicator of who she really is than whatever you found out from one of her old friends.

2) What does “easy” really mean anyway? In my high school, the girls who were labeled “easy” tended to be considerably less promiscuous than some of the people who were spreading the rumors. And while we’re on the topic of promiscuity, isn’t that just another word for experience? Girls like to have sex too but there is often a double standard imposed on them.

That being said, it’s understandable that you feel confused. And I’m sure it felt awful hearing someone say that about your girlfriend.

Whether or not you decide to talk to her about it depends on how much it bothers you. And should you choose to do so, keep in mind that the issue might be embarrassing for her. Before

discussing this with her, try this exercise: Think of something that you’ve done in your past that you don’t do anymore; something that you’re not proud of in retrospect. Now imagine how you would feel if your girlfriend found out about it. How you would want her to react in that situation?

Decide how accurately or inaccurately someone could make a judgment of your personality based on this one action. It’s a complicated situation; give yourself time to think about how you feel.

I’m sleeping with someone who doesn’t like to use condoms. He says he doesn’t like the way they feel and to be honest, I don’t really like the way they feel either. I’m thinking about going on the pill but when I went on it before I gained a lot of weight.

What should I do?

If I could have a dollar for every time I heard someone tell me that they didn’t like using condoms, I’d have…11 dollars. Alright, I guess that’s not very much but if it’s at all proportionally representative of the general population then it looks like we’ve got ourselves a problem.

When used properly, condoms are the only contraceptives that protect against most STI’s. The pill and other contraceptives only protect against unwanted pregnancy and a lot of couples tend to choose them instead of condoms for the same reason as you.

So while your alternative is a popular one, I think you should consider certain things first: 1) You haven’t specified that you’re in a monogamous relationship, which means that you may be more susceptible to STI’s (because there are more people in the mix). STI’s are a risk because some of them are asymptomatic, which means that there are no

visible signs that either you or your partner have an STI. To reduce the chances, I would recommend getting tested before having sex without a condom. If you aren’t exclusive, I recommend more frequent testing.

2) Perhaps the reason that neither of you like using condoms is due to the types of condoms that you have been using. It’s possible that your partner doesn’t like using regular condoms because they are tight on his penis. I would suggest using larger condoms because they are roomier and would feel less restrictive. Also, using ultra thin condoms could allow more sensation during intercourse. As well, the latex-like feel of a condom can be decreased when an ample amount of lubrication is used. If you’re interested, the SEC office has lubrication, along with XL, ultra thin, and other specialty condoms that you can get for free.

3) If you’re interested in using the pill again, make sure that you speak to a nurse or a doctor about your previous experience with it. It’s possible that switching to a different brand of pills will lead to reduced side-effects, like weight gain.

Most importantly, make sure that you are communicating any concerns that you might have with your partner.

It’s important to get all the facts and that both of you are aware of the risks, so you can make an educated decision regarding contraceptives. Researching common sexually transmitted infections online can be a useful reality check.

Good luck, SEC If you have questions that you want answered in our sex column, send them to us at sex.column@utmsec.ca.

Please note that this column is primarily intended for entertainment purposes.

Monday, October 20, 2008

THE MEDIUM 9

FEATURES

Banking on destruction: war profiteering in Iraq KAREN AKHTAR

Imagine being kidnapped from your home and imprisoned without receiving any access to a fair trial.

You are forced to live in a sweltering, overcrowded cell with no access to daily showers or air conditioning, and you develop skin sores as a result of your living conditions. You are also sexually abused by your prison guards. This is the nightmare that 16-year-old Omar Ali, and thousands of others like him, has to contend with everyday.

Iraq’s interior ministry special forces kidnapped Ali and his brother in 2004. They came back for his father a week later. All of them remain imprisoned, according to Jonathan Steele, writing for The Guardian, a U.K. newspaper. He interviewed Ali while he was reporting in Baghdad on September 8, 2008.

For people like Ali, the current war in Iraq has done nothing to improve the conditions of his country. Despite this, there are some people who simply refuse to face the facts about the American conquest of Iraq. Those people most likely work for companies like Halliburton, a corporation that has now become practically synonymous with greed and corruption. Despite all the scandals that have exposed Halliburton for what it is, the company maintains that it is still an ethical company to conduct business with. According to its official website, Halliburton “pledges to be welcomed as a good corporate neighbour in our communities; to do no harm to the environment; to provide demonstrable social and economic benefits through sustainable relationships.� Does this describe Halliburton’s activities in Iraq today?

Research conducted on war profiteering suggests that the opposite is true. According to William D. Hartung, director of the Arms and Security Project at the New America Foundation, Halliburton was supposed to be responsible for Iraq’s oil infrastructure and maintaining the Army’s non-combat needs, but ended up exploiting these industries for its own benefit. Hartung charges that the following crimes have been committed by Halliburton in providing for the Army’s non-combat needs: charging $100 for doing a bag of laundry, leasing SUVs for its employees at $7,000 a month, charging the government for three times as many meals as it actually served the troops at several of the bases it runs, and overcharging by more than a dollar a gallon for fuel shipped into Iraq from Kuwait. The aim of Halliburton is painfully clear: to take advantage of the chaos in Iraq so as to make enormous profits.

Unfortunately, Halliburton isn’t the only company cashing in on the spoils of the current Iraq war.

Bechtel, a company that is supposed to be responsible for repairing Iraq’s schools, has also developed a notorious reputation for abusing their contracts. According to Professor Ismael Hossein-Zadeh, a professor of economics at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, “Bechtel has been given tens of millions to repair Iraq’s schools. Yet many haven't been touched, and several schools that Bechtel claims to have repaired are in shambles. One ‘repaired’ school was overflowing with unflushed sewage.�

Clearly, Bechtel has no interest in helping the Iraqis rebuild their coun-

photo/www.fatu.us

Soldiers patrol Iraqi highways, part of a war effort that costs the United States hundreds of billions of dollars each year. Many US security details include civilian “contractors� who work for private companies - a growing trend towards the privatization of military services. try – they’re amassing a fortune from Iraq’s destruction. To confirm this, UNESCO and the Save the Children foundation have proof that “twentytwo per cent of Iraqi children are not attending school, and girls are particularly affected� by threats from militant groups.

The aim of Halliburton is painfully clear: to take advantage of the chaos in Iraq so as to make enormous profits. Unfortunately, Halliburton isn’t the only company cashing in on the spoils of the current Iraq war.

In 2007, David H. Brooks, former head of DHB Industries, a bulletproof vest company, was arrested for corrupt business practices. According to Sarah Anderson, who is a fellow of the Institute for Policy Studies, the U.S. Marines recalled more than 5,000 DHB vests in May 2005 after they failed military testing.

Inspectors had earlier raised concerns about the vests’ deficiencies, but Pentagon officials ignored them.

Yet another 18,000 DHB vests were recalled by the Marines and Army in November 2005. On top of this, Brooks has also been charged with pocketing $185 million through tax evasion, fraud, and insider trading.

Furthermore, he has been found guilty of using company money to pay for personal expenses, such as spending more than a million dollars caring for his horses. The military and government leaders should definitely be questioned about their apparent support of the head of a company that is this corrupt and careless.

Aegis Defence Services Ltd., a British corporation contracted to be responsible for security in southern Iraq, has also been found guilty of corrupt business practices. According to Sue Pleming in her article for CorpWatch, Aegis’s work in Iraq was so bad that even U.S. investigators have criticized it, especially after discovering that Aegis had

failed to ensure its potential employees were not a security threat. Aegis was also found guilty of not providing the proper documents needed to prove that its employees were even qualified to use weapons.

CorpWatch provides the following figure just to illustrate the extent of Aegis’s corruption: “In a sample of 20 records of 125 Iraqis employed

by Aegis, six had not been interviewed, 18 had not had police checks and no records existed at all for two of them.� With such an abysmal lack of business standards, the case of Aegis should make you wonder how they were allowed to provide services in Iraq in the first place.

If only that were the end of the list. CorpWatch also notes that many people have slammed Aegis’s main shareholder Tim Spicer, a former British army officer, for a number of human rights offences, such as attempting a coup in Papua New Guinea in 1997, engaging in an arms deal with Sierra Leone in 1998, thereby breaking a U.N. embargo.

With such an unscrupulous personality supporting Aegis, it’s no wonder the company thrives on corruption.

The case of CACI and similar companies working in Iraq, make it painfully obvious that they have no intention of liberating Iraqis, despite what the mainstream media wants us to believe The insanity continues. On September 26, 2008, David Dishneau, writing for The Seattle Times, reported that CACI, a defence contractor working in Iraq, is fighting for immunity. CACI has been found guilty of torturing prisoners at Abu Ghraib by using degrading techniques such as holding prisoners naked on leashes. CACI argues that they were simply following government guidelines.

The case of CACI and similar companies working in Iraq, make it painfully obvious that they have no intention of liberating Iraqis, despite

what the mainstream media wants us to believe. What is especially sickening about these companies, particularly the case of CACI, is that they show absolutely no remorse for their actions; they insist that they were simply “following orders.�

What is also despicable about the issue of war profiteering in Iraq is that it is not just a case of “a few rotten apples� bilking the troubled Iraqi

system for their own benefit. The people out there who still believe that the current war in Iraq is from “humanitarian intervention� should ask this question: If the American government really cared about the well-being of Iraqis, why would they hire corporations that show blatant disregard for human rights, and whose main objective above all, is profit?

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10 THE MEDIUM

Monday, October 20, 2008

FEATURES

The decline of democracy in Canada ANDREW HAMILTON-SMITH FEATURES EDITOR When faced with the simple reality that a lecture hall’s worth of voters for popular local Liberal MP Omar Alghabra would have saved him from electoral defeat last Tuesday, it is hard to understand why many people claim that their votes don’t matter.

This election I must’ve heard every excusethere is – from apathy to outright antagonism (the system is corrupt and must be destroyed) – for not casting a ballot. Apparently even halfmeasures such as vote-transferring or mixed-member systems with some form of proportional representation would not persuade many non-voters to rejoin the political process. Does it matter that forty percent of Canadians refuse to participate in their democratic system this past election?

A common refrain is that the “democratic process” is not all that democratic. After all, the Conservative Party just obtained almost half of the seats in the House of Commons with just over one in three Canadians casting a ballot for them. The process of even electing representatives – while an unavoidable necessity in the days of horse and carriage – just seems, a bit antiquated in the modern age of instant communications. The original model for democracy, Athens, did not rely upon representatives, but rather direct participation by all citizens. As nations grew from city-states to vast geographical empires, the inescapable impossibility of direct interaction over such large distances necessitated the delegation of power to representatives.. Perhaps if it were possible to offer citizens a more direct way to be involved in the process of government again, it might lead to renewed public interest in democratic principles and

photo/Wikipedia.com

Today the Senate consists of 105 members who are appointed until the age of 75 by the Prime Minister, who fills each vacancy as it arises. Replacing this body with a SenNET-model direct democracy would dramatically transform the way that Canada functions, and might improve the perceived legitimacy of the government in the eyes of disaffected voters and improve participation rates. participation.

There is a new variation of government being discussed among political scientists: Network Democracy, using

This network could consist of kiosks and booths set up in public places - with such a voting infrastructure, citizens would have a secure way to add their input to the democratic process. instant communication technology to allow citizens to play a larger role when making laws. Referenda are one example of how this could be accom-

plished, but the major hindrance to online voting is the lack of security offered by the World Wide Web. However, if the various levels of government in Canada worked together to build a secure and separate voting network nationwide, this obstacle would be significantly reduced. This network could consist of kiosks and booths set up in public places such as shopping malls, community centres, and public transit hubs. With such a voting infrastructure, citizens would have a secure way to add their input to the democratic process, thus allowing us to revolutionize the way we all think about democracy.

With this in mind, it is worth considering the practical application of

MEDIUM

Like going to church, it is possible that in a few decades Canadians will simply stop going to the polls altogether, and after a long enough period elapses, our great grandchildren will one day ask why people voted on things.

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such an innovation within an existing political system, such as Canada’s.

For years the Senate has been a prime target for democracy reform advocates, particularly because it is an unelected body whose members are appointed until the age of seventyfive. The sole function of the Upper House is to approve or reject legislation passed by the lower House of Commons, a purpose that is curiously similar to that of a referendum. If there is a need for greater democracy in Canada, perhaps the hundred and fifty-odd Senators could be replaced by a “SenNET” consisting of all Canadian citizens, who would have the power to veto – collectively – any legislation proposed by their elected representatives. This would be a radical step toward the Athenian ideal of democracy, by incorporating the ability of all citizens to vote on all plans put forward by their leaders.

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This SenNET proposal would need to limit citizens to simply approving or rejecting laws passed by their representatives - if every citizen were able to propose legislation, the system would be flooded. The government would quickly end up log-jammed with every sort of inane and absurd law imaginable (i.e. “ducks will be forbidden to wear long pants”).

The House of Commons and our representatives generally do good work on behalf of their constituents and provide a useful filter and facilitation role when drafting potential laws.

Turning the Senate over to the people themselves while maintaining an elected lower house means that direct democracy will trump the old partisan, special interest system, but without becoming completely confused, bogged down, and useless.

Would such a major move towards

greater democratic openness actually encourage more people to vote however, and should we even be trying to do so? There are differing views about whether or not democracy functions best with maximum participation.

Australia for example enforces mandatory voting laws, whereas it could also be argued that citizens should have to earn the right or privilege to vote and certainly not be forced to vote if they don’t want to.

There are also concerns about what may be lost if we begin tinkering with the Senate in order to embark on a grand sociological experiment.

As it is, Canada’s Senate is considered to be the chamber of “Sober Second Thought,” and provides regional representation that is not found to the same degree in the House of Commons. However, who can say that the second thoughts of the Canadian people as a whole will not be as sober as the Senate’s, or that regional representation cannot be promoted through Cabinet appointments? By waiting for a perfect solution – which may not even exist – we are undoubtedly hurting ourselves.

This generation in Canada sees little value in voting or considering all points of view equally. The faith in democratic outcomes, the electoral habits that come from voting, and the curiosity about domestic and foreign affairs that is crucial for any wellinformed citizen are not held in esteem

by Canada’s youngest generation. Like going to church, it is possible that in a few decades Canadians will simply stop going to the polls altogether, and after a long enough period elapses, our great grandchildren will one day ask why people voted on things.

If we need to change our system in order to renew our society’s belief in democracy, by all means let us start today. In these crucial times, it is better to have messy dialogue and make clumsy mistakes while moving boldly forward, than it is to do nothing and allow our society to perish in perfect order.

If you have any comments or rants regarding this article, log on to The Medium’s blog at www. mediumonline.ca/blog and tell us what you think.

Give Andrew a piece of your mind.

THE MEDIUM 11

Monday, October 20, 2008

Christopher Sa’d, Editor | sports@mediumonline.ca

The Majors are showing a little more this year CHRISTOPHER SA’D SPORTS EDITOR

After a disappointing lost in the first round of last year’s playoffs, the Mississauga St. Michael Majors have had a long and hard summer camp.

To instil more leadership and cooperation, the Majors named three-year veteran Jesse Messier as captain and brought in a host of experienced players. The eventual goal is a place in the OHL Cup finals. But is that a reasonable goal for this team?

The Niagara Ice Dogs got rid of the Majors in four straight games during last year’s postseason. Brutally onesided, the only consolation was defenseman Cameron Gaunce and centre Casey Cizikas gaining a spot on the 2008 OHL All-Rookie team.

The Major’s star centre Matt Piva has moved on with his career by transferring to the Ice Dogs – do you see the irony? Piva scored 35 points in 47 games last year, making him one of the leading contributors of last year’s mediocre campaign.

To mix it up, the Majors brought in centre Jared Gomes to replace Piva and made room to include a couple of rookies to possibly help win the division title.

During the last three seasons, Gomes played with the Sarnia Sting and only tallied half a goal a game.

However, the Majors saw him as a pos-

itive veteran influence who would not only produce on the ice, but help the young crop of rookies grow. So far, he has 8 points in 9 games played.

This year, first-round pick and centre Devante Smith-Peely and Swedish left-winger William Wallen impressed enough during training camp to earn a spot in the already young team.

Wallen’s quick hands have helped him amass 3 points in 4 games so far.

Pressure is on a few of the NHLdrafted players entering their second and third years with the Majors. Right winger Zac Rinaldo, drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers for his aggressive play as a momentum changer, needs to start hitting more to add a few more points on the score sheet before Philly decides to send him in minor league training.

Gaunce, drafted in the first round by the Colorado Avalanche, has already had 8 points in 8 games, showing perhaps a little more than expected.

Gaunce is already on the way toward becoming one of the highest scoring defensemen this season, but the Avs are looking for a young physical presence in the backend.

And then there’s defenseman Tim Billingsley, picked up in the seventh round by the Phoenix Coyotes as an improving leader who can rack up some points from the blue line.

Billingsley can only get better as he matures in his OHL career.

The Majors are going to need more than just leadership this season to be successful. They need better production from their forwards in scoring more goals – the team has tallied the least amount of goals scored in the division. Thankfully, they have a stingy defence to keep them in games.

Nonetheless, the wins are going to get harder to accomplish, especially when John Tavares comes to Hershey Centre. Goaltender Chris Carrozzi cannot be depended to save them throughout the year.

With a reasonably high winning percentage, it’s a reasonable to predict that the Majors would make the Cup finals.

Keep in mind though that they have yet to play the dreaded western swing; the team has Kitchener, Sarnia, Windsor, London and Guelph to look forward to.

In their last game, The Majors lost to Brampton in a 1-0 game, dropping to fourth in the Central division. They do however, have a few games in hand.

With still a few holes to patch up, this seems to be one of the Majors’ better teams in recent years. If they keep up with the positive attitude and the wins, we might not see a repeat of last year’s heartbreak.

photo/Matthew Filipowich

The Majors defeated the Sue St. Marie Greyhounds on October 5.

Flag on the play STEVE SINGH

Under a tandem of coaches, the men's division 1 flag football team is flying out of the nest. The Eagles, co-coached by Jeremy Wong and Tabish Knot, lead the team midway through the season.

“We've been 3-0 before and going undefeated got in our heads. Last year we lost in the playoffs in a game which we should have won. This year it's [going to be] one game at a time and playing our style [regardless],” said Knot.

Last week, it was Knot making an interception to set up a drive for quarterback Sagar Sharma to make a winning pass completion to win the game.

“Sharma has been strong at quarterback. Last year he played in a different system, whereas this year we've tailored it to his talents and the skills of our receiving core,” says Knot. “His ability to read defences and make adjustments at the line is his strongest asset.”

With “team” being the operative word, Knot says that the chemistry on and off the field is integral toward success.

Focusing on trust and discipline are what he and Wong instil on both sides of the

ball during practice and game time.

In the first two games, the Eagles defence held teams scoreless while putting up 38 points on offence.

Returning players in Yassar Abdelkader and Frank Malfara, coupled with Varsity standouts Matt Di Paola and former Acadia X-Men, Will Doe, pose match-up problems for any opposing teams.

“With Frank and Yassar in the front alongside Matt, we have the strongest front three in the league. Having Will in the backfield as our safety helps tremendously because of his experience and his ability to help on plays on either side of the field,” observes Knot.

The lights also shined on first-year player Kevin Lee, who has 7 sacks in 3 games, shattering the previous record of 3 in a season held by Rafiq Hakim.

“He is probably the fastest guy in the league and is a staple to our success," says Knot.

With a renewed vision of winning, Knot and Wong look to easily overcome Phys-Ed and UTSC to end the regular season. The goal, like every team in any sport, is to win in the Championship final.

Knot says this team has all the tools to do it.

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12 THE MEDIUM

A sad start and end for the Argos SACHIN MOHAN

The Toronto Argonauts are sinking down the CFL east standings after a dismal September. After losing seven consecutive games, they have continued the trend into the first two weeks of October.

Makes you question what the change in staff since the beginning of the season was for?

The Argos now currently stand at a 412 win-loss record in the east and have allowed the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to take over sole possession of second place, behind the Montreal Alouettes who continue to hover over the east standings. The losing streak has severely endangered the prospects of a playoff berth for the Argos, as the gap between them and the last placed Hamilton Tiger Cats is now only two-points in the CFL east standings.

The streak can be attributed to a porous defence, an area the Argos should focus on. The defence alone has allowed over 162 points, nullifying Toronto's reputation for having a stingy, tough and physical core. The offence has also lacked rhythm, particularly with the early quarterback trio of 2007 MVP Kerry Joseph, former Argo Michael Bishop and sophomore Cody Pickett.

The Argonauts offence has just not been able to keep up with opponents, and they have only put up 327 points for during their losing skid.

It appears that the attempt to revamp

Monday, October 20, 2008

SPORTS

the Argos offence has not produced what’s expected. The big offseason acquisition was Joseph, running back Tyler Ebell and former NFLers-wide receivers David Boston and Bethel Johnson, all of whom, for various reasons, have not fallen through with pre-season expectations.

Boston opted for surgery on his right foot and has missed all but one game this season.

Johnson only accumulated 189 receiving yards in seven games so photo/reuters far, and Ebell, who was Argos quaterback Kerry Joesph (right) getting sacked. brought in from Edmonton to boost the The tumultuous 2008 season has seen run game, has also succumbed to longthe likes of rookie head coach Rich term injury.

The Argos traded two-time CFL all- Stubler fired, veteran safety Orlondo star cornerback Jordan Younger for Steinauer released and quarterback Ebell and sent offensive tackle Glenn Michael Bishop traded. And in keeping January to Saskatchewan in the Joseph with the trend of other Toronto sports deal. Prospect cornerback Leron franchises, the Argos brought in a piece Mitchell was subsequently traded for of the past with Don Matthews, who running back Jamal Robertson to cover came out of retirement to take over the for Ebell’s absence. Nine-year CFL vet- coaching helm for the third time in eigheran linebacker, Michael Fletcher, along teen years.

With this losing streak, the Argos with defensive back Chuck Winters have also been scratched from the start- management team has to re-evaluate ing line-up. A ton of rash decisions has some of their offseason transactions. The left everything mixed up and nothing rebuilding phase – a term, not lost amongst Leaf fans – has already begun. accounted for.

A rumble in London SUZANNE CARTE-BLANCHENOT

UFC ‘89 this past weekend took place in front of a packed audience in Birmingham, England. The crowd was thirsty for only one thing, Manchester’s own Michael Bisping. The local boy did not disappoint and walked away with a unanimous decision over the “Crazy” Chris Leben.

Was there any question that if it went three full rounds that their resident talent would not be granted the win? No, but leave it to “The Crippler” Leben to go out in style as he dropped his hands in the last 10 seconds of the bout, sticking out his chin and taunting the English machine to take one last shot at him. A little stunned, Bisping threw a few playful jabs that didn’t cause any damage.

It was a night of stand up fights with almost every bout stopped at one point by the ref due to consistent “accidental low kicks.” Nottingham welterweight Dan Hardy won a split decision against Akihiro Gono after a heated exchange of powerful kicks and punches.

Newcomer Paul Taylor wasn’t able to get his third octagon win as he was outscored by veteran Chris Lytle, while light heavyweights Keith Jardine and Bradon Vera duked it out to avenge their own reputation. “The Dean of Mean” Jardine walked out of that match with much-needed career-boosting win.

While sounding like a fantastic night of raw aggression and entertainment,

the event gradually fell flat as it went on. Makes you wonder whether the Zuppa Corporation has used up all of its tricks and has resorted to pumping out the shows solely for maintaining the interest of its newly acquired fans. The phenomenon may have reached a peak of global consumption and has ceased to cultivate and develop a wider audience than it has now.

So how does UFC sustain fan interest?

Well, UFC president Dana White is borrowing a page from wrestling entertainment and providing a strategic plot line. UFC 91 will lead with a freakshow pairing of what the organization is touting as the “biggest fight in mixed martial arts history.” Three-time Heavyweight champion Randy “The Natural” Couture returns to the octagon after an overly publicized departure. He puts his title on the line against 265 pounds of sheer intimidation, wrestling powerhouse Brock Lesnar. Good vs.

Evil. Old vs. New. The story alone will draw a much-respected crowd of eager fans.

Meanwhile, thousands of riled devotees will be glued to the television on Saturday October 25 to witness the grace and accuracy of Anderson “The Spider" Silva at the next UFC. The infallible Silva is taking on the brute force of Canadian Patrick Cote.

Routing with national pride, I will be watching and waiting for Cote to utilize his famous KO power, but I think we all know what will come of that fight.

BLOOD DONOR CLINIC U of T Mississauga Tues, Oct. 21st, 2008 10am - 4 pm Student Center