4
9
Monday, November 3, 2008
12 www.mediumonline.ca
Volume 35, Issue 9
One wild, memorable night PATRICK NAVAL
Halloween pub is perhaps one of the most popular and well-celebrated social events at UTM, and this year’s Halloween pub on October 30 certainly lived up to expectations with some of the wildest and most outrageous costumes. Inside the venue, pub-goers were screened by “gangster Ernie” and welcomed by the wild abandon of UTM style drinking and dancing. As soon as the bartenders broke a sweat and inhibitions started falling to the floor, Halloween at UTM had officially begun. With the DJ playing tracks like “Calabria 2008” by Enur featuring Natasja and Mims, “Dangerous” by Akon, “Poker Face” by Lady Gaga and “Put Your Hands up for Detroit” by Fedde Le Grand, even Pac-Man with his bulky and confining costume couldn’t help but bust a move or two. The variety on the dance floor was a strong factor as well, with Betty Boop rocking out with a not-so-holy Angel, and Austin Powers jamming with three girls dressed as Crayons. “Obama dancing with Hilary was pretty jokes,” laughed Jacky Leung, who dressed up as a guitar hero. The celebration’s main event was
of course, the Best Costume Contest. And in the end, it was a showdown between Pac-Man, the Austin Powers twins and senator Barack Obama. Based on the loudness of the crowd’s cheer, Pac-man proved victorious. There were several “Honorable Mentions” as well, which included The Joker in a nurse outfit, the Super Mario brothers, and Mickey and Minnie Mouse. “The costumes were amazing. Very provocative, which is a must for a costume party,” claimed Viktoria Iksanova, who dressed up as a Crayon. “The turnout was great. This is probably one of the best pubs I’ve seen. Everyone really tried with their costumes and there was a great vibe,” said Gary Li UTMSU VP associate. Tickets were sold-out at a record time, crowd volume was strong up until the final hours of the event and safety was well preserved. “Definitely the best Pub I’ve been to, everyone was getting along and I got to dance with this great girl,” said Scott Weinger. Despite the high expectations, Halloween Pub Nights continues to outdo itself year after year. Successful every year, it’s a type of celebration incomparable with any other university events.
photo/Matthew Filipowich
For more photos of Halloween Pub, turn to page 6.
Pink Hijab Day on campus MEREDITH LILLY NEWS EDITOR
The UTM Muslim Student Association (MSA) brought the Global Pink Hijab Day for Breast Cancer Awareness to UTM on October 29. People of all faiths wore pink ribbons or donned a pink hijab to support those diagnosed with breast cancer and increase awareness of the disease. Canadian students joined activists from Malaysia, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, Turkey, and the United States to raise funds for a variety of charities and to alleviate stereotypes associated with wearing a hijab. This year was the first that UTM’s MSA participated in the campaign. The initiative was very well received, with students volunteering to wear pink, sell homemade cupcakes, and hand
out ribbons. “The response from the students was phenomenal. We had previously advertised to tell people to wear something pink on Wednesday, whether it was a headscarf, a hat, a tie, or a shirt. It was a fun way to raise awareness and people really enjoyed participating in Pink Hijab Day,” said Zaynab Ahdab, MSA external relations. “The homemade pink ribbon cupcakes were also a sellout, and we had some very loyal customers coming on the hour for seconds, thirds, and even fourths. It was heartwarming to see the generosity of students and staff on campus as they slipped their loose change into the donation box, and very often gave much more than the cupcakes cost,” Ahdab continued. Men were also encouraged to participate in raising support to battle a disease that primarily affects women. “We were happy to see that along with many women, an equal amount
of men shared the same level of concern and support for the campaign, even taking the initiative to bring ribbons for their male friends. Men were seen wearing ribbons, pink sweaters, shirts, and vests, while the male MSA Execs sported pink cloth armbands and bandanas to match the hijabs,” said Ahdab. The hijabs brought a sense of unity among the student community as a symbol of solidarity with all people fighting breast cancer. “The Hijabs were for anyone who wanted to try them on, take and keep them. There were a couple of nonMuslim girls who were enthused with the idea of hijab, and tried them on with the help of Ruqayyah Ahdab, MSA’s sisters events coordinator. Muslim girls could be seen all around campus in their eye-catching pink headscarves, subtly sending a message of support for the campaign,” said Adhab. The initiative at UTM raised a
total of $235. Adhab was thankful for all of the support, and was encouraged by the community's reception. “It was an honour for our MSA to organize this Pink Hijab Day, and we
are humbled by the beautiful response. We hope that our small donations aid in Breast Cancer research and help bring about better treatment.”
photo/Matthew Filipowich
Ruqayyah Ahdab (second from left) with other volunteers of Pink Hijab Day.