Vol 36 issue 13

Monday, January 11, 2010

Volume 36, Issue 13

UTM students oppose prorogation

Edward Cai/The Medium

Community members and students discuss the prorogation last Friday at the UTMSU office.

SAALIHA MALIK NEWS EDITOR

On January 6, two dozen students, community activists and concerned citizens gathered at the UTM Student Centre. They came there to help organize a campaign that aims to ensure Parliament resumes on January 25.

“Our troops in Afghanistan don’t get to take a couple of months off.

Canada’s workers don’t either.

Why does Harper feel he can?” said UTM student Walied Khogali, chair of the meeting and one of the organizers of the campaign.

During the meeting, the Mississauga organizing committee agreed to send a letter to Progressive

Conservative MP Bob Dechert asking him to join other MPs when they go back to work on January 25, almost two months before the date anticipated by Harper.

(Dechert is the only Conservative MP in Mississauga).

Moreover, a delegation will collect petitions asking MPs to resume their duties and will drop off the petitions at Dechert’s office on Monday. The committee plans to hold a rally on Saturday, January 23 at 1270 Central Parkway West, where Dechert will address his constituents.

The meetings and rallies were brought about by Stephen Harper’s proroguement of parliament, which he requested of the Governor General on December 30.

The parliament will thus be closed until March 3. This was the second time the Prime Minister prorogued the parliament in a year.

“Our troops in Afghanistan don’t get to take a couple of months off, Canada’s workers don’t either.

Why does Harper feel he can?”

Walied Khogali, Meeting Chair According to the Conservative government, the Prime Minister’s goal was to have time to consult with Canadians, stakeholders and businesses as the government moves into the “next phase” of its economic action plan amid signs of economic recovery.

Many Canadians are skeptical.

Critics accuse Harper of proroguing parliament to avoid being questioned by the House about the government’s apparent complicity in the torture of Afghan detainees.

Indeed, with the House on leave, all motions and orders, including parliamentary committees, are dissolved.

A Facebook group, “Canadians against Proroguing Parliament,” was started by a student from the University of Alberta and quickly gained nearly 135,000 members. Other splinter groups have also started up, with chapters for Mississauga and Toronto working on plans for upcoming rallies and demonstrations to demand the government to designate January 25 as the scheduled day to return to work following the holiday break.

For anyone who would like to be involved with the Mississauga

and Toronto rallies, they can contact organizing members at citizensfordemocracy.ca

U of T grad accused of falsifying degrees PAGE 3 In the kitchen with Mother Mother PAGE 6 Students on ice PAGE 7 The state of Junior Hockey in Canada PAGE 12

-6° -12°

-2°-10°

-3° -14°

-4° -8°

2 THE MEDIUM

MONDAY, JANUARY

11, 2010

NEWS CHINA AND INDIA ROCK ON

U of T establishes Indian Chair OVAIS SHAH

Last week, officials and staff members at the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at the St. George campus w o r k e d o u t a d ea l t o c r e a t e a n Indian Chair position at U of T to foster international cooperation and research between Canada and India.

The deal was partly facilitated by the Indian Council of Cultural Relations, which aims to facilitate interaction amongst world cultures a n d t o s p r e a d a w a r e n e s s o f t he diversity and richness of India’s cultures. The Council has facilitate d i n t e r a ct i o n w i t h U o f T a n d other university in the past via cultural exchanges.

The university administration set out a document outlining the protocols of intention and the process of implementation. This document, which will be reviewed by the University and government officials over the next few weeks, indicates that the term for the chair will be enforced for three years starting this month and will be open to discussion upon renewal.

The premise for the appointment of an Indian Chair was set out last November when Prime Minister Stephen Harper hinted at future educational cooperation between India and Canada on his visit to India. Harper recognized the emerging potential in India’s new generation, which can rebound the post-secondary education industry into economic success for the two

countries, and at the same time facilitate beneficial linkages in science, technology and innovation to further the international cooperation between the two countries.

This announcement is not the first step in forging a stronger relationship between Canada and India.

Currently, the U of T is home to the Centre for South Asian Studies, whose mandate is to research the political, cultural, religious, linguistic, economical and social fabric of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal and other South Asian countries.

Organizations akin to the Indian Council, such as the Indo-Shastri Institute, have also collaborated with faculty members and graduate students at U of T via fellowships and grants to provide them funding and resources to further their research and post-graduate work.

However, an ever closer relationship between ICCR and U of T will bring the added benefit of providing funds for students and faculty wanting to pursue post-doctoral work on India. A new facet of the cooperation between ICCR and U of T will be the faculty exchange program, where U of T and Indian staff can travel as visiting faculty to experience the differences and similarities in the two countries.

Ashwin Panchapakesan, a UTM computer science student, believes that the appointment of an Indian chair position serves as an “inspiration for students to see such camaraderie between India and Canada, in terms of inter-personal relations and what to look forward to in the years to come.”

China recognized as number one in stem cell research US and Canada lose competitve edge OVAIS SHAH

Canada and U of T pride themselves of being pioneers of medical sciences, having participated in advances as important as the discovery of insulin and the identification of stem cells. Indeed, the Faculty of Medical Sciences is often named as one of the best , both locally and internationally, and Maclean’s magazine lists U of T as one of the top three medical and post-doctoral universities in Canada.

In the 1960s, U of T researcher Ernest McCulloch discovered special c ells in the hu man em bryo that had the unique capability of differentiating from a plain nonspecialized cell into highly specific cells found in various human organs such as the heart, muscle and skin tissue. McCulloch termed these cells as pluri-potent and put Canada on the map as the leader in stem cell sciences.

2010 marks the 50 th anniversary of the discovery of stem cells.

Much has changed during these passing years. While Canadian and American researchers started off at the forefront of the field, the

years of stem cell therapy controv er sies in Canada an d th e US A under the conservative governments resulted in the two countries losing their upper edge.

President George Bush, a strict pro-life supporter, restricted stem cell harvest lines and research for almost eight years because of religious and ethical reasons. In Canada, the lack of funding and stagnant situation of stem cell American firms down-south also challenged the research sector.

According to the U of T research group in China, China has surpassed Canada as the leader in stem cell research.

Chinese scientists trained in North American and European universities as international students have published over 1,000 academic journal papers on stem cells and regenerative medicine, compared to just 37 a few years ago.

Professor Thorsteindeitter of the Faculty of Public Health on the St. George campus called China “a wild wild west of stem cell research.” Professor Thorsteindeitter was referring to the increasing number of medical tourists flocking to China in hopes of finding a

cure for their illness. Many scientists, like Thorsteindeitter, argue that western governments are not offering these novel treatments to the public due to the lack of clinical studies on stem cells therapies and restrictions on health care.

In contrast, patients who desperately seek a cure after exhausting traditional methods volunteer themselves a research subjects in trials of new stem cell treatments that are being offered by medical institutions in China.

The U of T stem cell research team in China argued that rather than focusing on a race for stem cells, ethics boards need to establish robust clinical testing criteria and regulate controversial and unethical clinics, while at the same time learning how to conduct proper research from the Chinese research centres.

Have an opinion? Tell us what you think at mediumonline.ca

Campus police weekly summaries January 1, 2010 to January 6, 2010 January 3 – 4:20 a.m.

Fire Call Campus Police responded to a fire call from an on-campus Residence. A laptop overheated, causing a small fire.

January 5 – 2:40 p.m.

Motor Vehicle Accident Campus Police responded to a fail- to-remain motor vehicle accident in the Communication Culture and Technology Building parking garage. Damage to the vehicle was minimal.

January 6 – 1:42 p.m.

Fire Call Campus Police responded to a fire alarm at the North Building. After conducting an investigation, it was determined to be a false alarm.

January 6 – 3:50 p.m.

Theft Under $ 5,000 Campus Police investigated a theft occurrence from the Communication Culture and Technology Building. A winter coat was stolen from the women’s washroom.

Campus Police notice:

January 6 – 2:40 p.m.

Theft Under $ 5,000 Campus Police investigated a theft occurrence from the Recreational Athletic and Wellness Centre. A student’s gym bag was stolen from a locker in the woman’s change room.

January 6 – 9:40 p.m.

Trespass To Property Campus Police investigated a trespass complaint from the Communication Culture and Technology Building. The skateboarders were gone upon arrival.

January 6 – 7:54 p.m.

Harassment Campus Police investigated a harassment complaint. A student was receiving harassing phone calls.

To report a campus crime, call 905.828.5200 utm.utoronto.ca/police

Make your summer a great one!

The campus police office has been moved to room 3136 in the South Building (near conference services).

All Campus Police tele phone numbers and other contact informa tion will remain the same.

DON’T MISS oUR UPCOMING jANUARY eVENTS!

Personal Statement Workshop: January 15th, 11-1pm

Jan. 13th, 10:30-1:30pm The RAWC Valid T-Card required for entry.

View participant list online!

Finding Internships & Summer Job Workshop: January 18th, 10-11 am Edward Jones Information Session: January 18th, 12-2pm Space is limited, sign up online!

FOR MORE INFORMATION , visit www.utm.utoronto.ca/careers

MONDAY, JANUARY

11, 2010 THE MEDIUM 3

FRAUDSTER STRIKES NEWS

Strike possible at Sheridan College KATHERINE LUCYNZKI ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

This week, about 700 professors, instructors, counselors and librarians at Sheridan College could end up on the picket line if negotiations and a strike mandate are not approved by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU).

A strike vote was set for January 6 but saw unsuccessful results. The OPSEU, which represents over 9,000 professors and instructors at Ontario colleges, has set a second strike vote for January 13.

The union bargaining team stated that this second vote will strengthen its position at the bargaining table.

The union is seeking changes in workloads, evaluations and feedback, as well as a new maximum salary of $109,317, a 13% increase over three years. “The union’s workload and staffing proposals would add significantly to operating costs at a time when the resources of the colleges are severely constrained, and the Government of Ontario has made it clear that colleges cannot expect any significant increases to operating revenues,� said the colleges’ bargain-

ing team in a memo.

Current negotiations, which have been taking place since last June, stalled when the union rejected the colleges’ final offer.

Jack Urowitz, communications officer for Union 244, said that �[the] union side thought negotiations were getting along just fine, as we were trying to get a revised contract to allow for better services and more input into curricula requirements, when seemingly out of nowhere management decided to take advantage of the new rule they gave themselves, when the Colleges Collective Bargaining Act was opened for other reasons. That allowed them to break off negotiations and impose their decisions.�

A memo released by the colleges’ bargaining team stated that “there was no indication in the last week of bargaining that the union would modify its position to a point where a settlement was possible.� Both sides left negotiations without a settlement.

Mary Preece, vice president of Sheridan College, reassured students that the school will continue to provide full student support during the possible strike. “Sheridan will continue to provide academic services for students to the extent

that we are able without our faculty who are members of the bargaining unit. Labs and studios will be covered by non-striking employees for students to use, where there are no health and safety concerns,� said Preece.

The only exception will be counseling services, because counselors are part of the bargaining unit. “Work placements (field, co-op, clinical, internships) will continue, with a few exceptions that will be posted on Sheridan’s website if necessary,� said Preece.

Despite continued efforts, the colleges have already begun to implement their new decisions. It is still unclear whether faculty will continue with their plans for a strike. “We hope that the management bargaining team will return to the table,� said Urowitz. “If there’s a strike, it would be in winter 2010.�

The present contract between the colleges and union expired last August 31.

The deal for the existing contract was reached during negotiations in 2006, where faculty and the college were in the same bargaining situation that is now being played out. The unresolved negotiations led to an 18-day strike that disrupted classes for students across the province.

“If you could ask Michael Ignatieff one question, what would it be?�

“I’d ask him how he’d handle the current recession better than the conservatives.�

Lavan 4th year Commerce

“How did you get involved with the government?�

Sabrina st 1 year Con education

�Is he going to drop fees?

How is he going to help us drop fees?�

Marylee 1st year Life Science

Man accused of using fake university degrees STEFANIE MAROTTA ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

Police in suburban Saanich are investigating a local man who stands accused of using fake credentials, including a PhD from U of T. Police grew suspicious after Jason Matthew Walker submitted a five-page resume for a position as an expert witness in court.

Walker’s resume included several credentials, including a Bachelor in psychology from McMaster, a Masters of social work from U of T, a PhD in forensic child abuse assessment from Smith College, U of T, a diploma of behavioural studies from Yale University and a PhD in medical studies from the University of Calgary.

Police became suspicious of the short period in which the 31-yearold had received so many academic achievements. According to his

resume, Walker had completed all the aforementioned degrees and diplomas within six years of each other.

Saanich police began the investigation by contacting his past employers.

Walker’s resume stated that he had worked as a deputy regional coroner in Victoria for a year; however, the coroner’s service revealed that Walker had only been employed there for 60 days.

Investigators sent out copies of the resume to the derived institutions to be verified. The University of Calgary and Yale University responded that the stated programs do not exist. And while Walker does have a U of T Master’s degree in social work, U of T spokeswoman Laurie Stephens announced that he does not have a PhD, nor does the University have an affiliation with Smith College.

With these false credentials and documents, Walker was able to land a job with Victoria Health Authority. He

Mississaugans can sleep safe Mississauga named the safest city in Canada for the tenth consecutive year STEFANIE MAROTTA ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

Mississauga has been recognized as Canada’s safest city for the tenth consecutive year. As the sixth largest city in Canada, Mississauga has consistently reported the lowest crime rates when compared to eight other major cities, including Toronto, Hamilton, Ottawa, Montreal, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver.

Mayor Hazel McCallion, who is currently serving her 11th consecutive term for the city, said that “the citizens are part of the crime prevention solution. They are involved, report incidents, look out for their neighbours and take pride in their city.�

Formed in 1974, Mississauga is the youngest municipality in the group.

The Mississauga Crime Prevention Association compared crime statistics from 2008 under three categories: violent crimes, property crimes and other criminal code offences.

Mississauga, with a population of 730,000, ranked the lowest in each category and reported a total crime

also lectured at the University of Victoria in British Columbia and opened his own practice. The title on his door read “Dr. James Walker.�

After months of investigation, police were able to obtain a warrant and searched Walker’s office. They confiscated diplomas, credit cards and memberships that Walker held for various associations. Walker was arrested and is scheduled to appear in court on January 21.

A little over a year ago, the University of Toronto began increasing the security features on diplomas to better protect against fraud. Along with watermark paper, U of T also places a hologram on the certificate.

Furthermore, it is possible to look up the authenticity of degrees online with the recipient’s name and either their date of birth, social insurance number or student number.

Answer this question on our poll at mediumonline.ca/poll

Want to write for news?

E mail Saaliha at news@mediumonline.ca

HOODIES

Put the UofT

on you!

rate of 3,268 occurrences per 100,000 people.

Local boast that Mississauga is a lively, secure place to live. It has Ontario’s largest mall, one of the world’s largest public library systems and Canada’s largest airport, all within residents’ reach.

“The citizens are part of the crime prevention solution. They are involved, report inci dents, look out for their neighbours and take pride in their city.�

POMZ

Mayor Hazel McCallion Regardless of this top ranking, the crime rate in Mississauga has increased since the previous year.

The homicide rate nearly doubled from 10 percent in 2007 to 17 percent in 2008. There was also an increase in robberies, from 527 to 593 incidences. In addition, Mississauga was the only city of the group that reported an increase in break-and-enters.

8IJMF TVQQMJFT MBTU 0òFS WBMJE GSPN +BO UI +BO UI

U of T Bookstore t $PMMFHF 4USFFU Bookstore t $PMMFHF 4USFFU 5PSPOUP t 5FM

UTM Bookstore t .JTTJTTBVHB 3PBE /PSUI 4PVUI #VJMEJOH TU 'MPPS .JTTJTTBVHB t 5FM

4 THE MEDIUM

MONDAY, NOVEMBER

23, 2009

OPINION VOTERS’ (SHORT) MEMORIES

www.mediumonline.ca MEDIUM II PUBLICATIONS 3359 Mississauga Road, Room 200, Student Centre, Mississauga, ON, L5L 1C6 Phone: 905.828.5260 Fax: 905.828.5402 Advertising: 905.828.5379

Much ado about Harper ALAIN LATOUR EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

’ve long argued, much to the dismay of some of my North American friends, that the leaders of democracies are not necessarily better human beings than dictators. Democratic leaders do, however, face a powerful, time-honoured system of checks and balances, a generally short stint at the helm of their countries, and an electorate that’s free to vote for whichever candidate they wish to support.

These mechanisms are there for one reason: the more stuff leaders can get away with, the more they will want to get away with. Like Lord Acton once said, “Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

Indeed, there’s no telling what most of us would do if we enjoyed total impunity or could easily quash dissent—I don’t care if your name is Obama or Da Silva or Gore. Or, more to the point, Harper—as in Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada.

I am not saying Mr. Harper is corrupt or a dictator. But by suspending Parliament for the third time in two years of government, and with no good reason except to protect himself from enquiry, he has further damaged the system of checks and balances that has successfully kept Canadian politicians accountable for so long.

The backbone of this system is the Parliament, a “supreme” body that the Prime Minister and his cabinet are supposedly accountable to. Such a body makes a lot of sense in Canada, not just for the reasons stated above, but also because Canadian Prime Ministers have considerable power—they can, for example, hand-pick Senators and Supreme Court Justices, extremely influential fig-

I

ures that any U.S. President would probably sell his soul to able to choose.

Presumably, such a strong power at the hands of the Prime Minister would equate to a similarly powerful Parliament. But this doesn’t seem to be the case. In a recent Globe and Mail article, John Ibbitson carried out a detailed comparison of the Canadian Parliament, the U.S. Congress, and the parliaments of Britain, Australia and New Zealand. “Our Parliament,“ concluded Ibbitson, “has become the most dysfunctional in the English-speaking world.”

I can't attest to the truth of this statement—I am neither a political scientist nor a historian.

Nevertheless, it seems logical to conclude that by allowing the Prime Minister to end discussion any time he chooses, the Parliament will become accountable to him rather than the other way around.

To be sure, the decline of the Parliament’s role did not begin under Mr. Harper. Jean Chrétien was no stranger to proroguing government—he did it four times during his time in office, which enabled him and his government, among other things, to evade a judicial enquiry that was launched in the early 1990s to investigate the death of a Somali teenager at the hands of a Canadian Forces peacekeepers.

These precedents, of course, do not justify Mr. Harper’s actions.

146,000 Canadians have joined a Facebook group opposing the proroguement. The media have crucified the Prime Minister. Protests have been planned. It would therefore be tempting to conclude that the Prime Minister’s suspension* of the government will cost him dearly. But a skeptic might doubt that people will fume long enough (until after March 3, after the distracting Winter Olympics) and hard enough (to do more than click on a computer mouse to join a Facebook group).

9 9 6 3 2 8 6 5 8 7 1 4 3 5 9 3 6 4 7 3 7 8 6 9 8 2 8 1 2 7 6 5

EDITOR IN CHIEF Alain Latour editor@mediumonline.ca NEWS EDITOR Saaliha Malik news@mediumonline.ca ASSISTANT NEWS EDITORS Katherine Luczynski Stefanie Marotta A&E EDITOR Michael Di Leo arts@mediumonline.ca

Letter to the Editor Nice vacation—but what about us?

Dear Editor, Wouldn't you love to have three months of holiday vacation?

W o u l d n' t i t j u s t b e s p l e n d i d t o wake up to a duty-free day, to crashed on the couch watching the luge during the 2010 Olympics?

Wouldn't you be upset if your parents chose to do just this instead of going to work to provide you with food, heating and to cover your tuition costs?

Welcome to Parliament Hill, where there is enough dust settling on the seats in the House of Commons to compress and create a new star. At the end of December, Harper picked up his phone and asked his good friend, the Governor General, to prorogue Parliament. This means that all motions and orders, including parliamentary committees (such as the committee investigating the Afghanistan POW scandal), are dissolved. Harper then decided to let the Canadian people know that they wouldn't be able to reach their Members of Parliament for another two months via an announcement made by his PR representative.

Along with this announcement, Harper voiced his plan of action upon recommencing Parliament on the third of March. It's a hefty list comprised of three agenda items. First, completely implement the economic action plan.

Second, mend the deficit once the economy has recovered. Last, but not least, build the economy of the future. Nothing concerning social programs. Nothing concerning environmental initiatives. Nothing concerning the investigation into the POWs turned in to Afghanistan authorities to be tortured. Parliament was supposed to recommence on January 25.

On January 5, while most of Canada was tuned into the World Junior Hockey Championships, an interview was aired on CBC between journalist Peter Mansbridge and currently-out-ofoffice Prime Minister Harper.

When asked how long he would like to see the current government last, Harper responded, “I'm pre-

pared to see this government and this Parliament go on as long as it can. I want to see it be productive.

I want to see us do what we said we would do. But I don't really want to see this Parliament end early. I'm enjoying the job.” Can a fireman productively respond to fire alarms if he isn’t in the firehouse?

The Chretien administration prorogued Parliament four times over a period of ten years. In contrast, the government under Harper has prorogued 3 times since 2006. In December 2008, Harper suspended Parliament and prevented his position from being dissolved by a vote of no confidence or to bereplaced by a coalition of Liberals and NDPs. It worked last year, so why not try for another extended holiday this year as well? Maybe the Afghanistan torture scandal will be buried under the snow blown about by the Olympics.

On Wednesday of last week, about twenty hopefuls met in the Green Room of the Student Centre to plan a Mississauga rally against prorogation. Attendees shared their ideas on the best ways to spread awareness and grab the attention of Members of Parliament. The date for the Mississauga rally is set for this Saturday, January 16 at 2 p.m.

Another meeting will be held before the rally this Thursday at 6 p.m. at Room 100 in the Student Centre (the Green Room). All are welcome and encouraged to attend and participate. Volunteers are needed to assist with outreach, collecting endorsements and preparing materials for the rally.

The rally in Toronto will be held on January 23 at 1 pm at Yonge and Dundas. Details can be found at the Citizens for Democracy website.

Yours, Stefanie Marotta

ASSISTANT A&E EDITORS Nives Hajdin Patricia Figueiredo FEATURES EDITOR Amir Ahmed features@mediumonline.ca SPORTS EDITOR Andrew Tysiak sports@mediumonline.ca ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITORS Sarah Malagerio Bruno William Robertson COPY EDITOR Su Lyn Liew PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR Matthew Filipowich photos@mediumonline.ca ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR Edward Cai COMPOSITE EDITOR Matthew Filipowich WEBMASTER Matthew Filipowich DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Heather Friesen BUSINESS MANAGER Romano Bergic BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chris Cauchi, Paul Donaghue, Ali Kasim, Kristian Jurlewicz, Aly Khan Madhavji, Paola Savasta, Phoebe Leung.

COMPLAINTS Comments, concerns or com plaints about The Medium’s con tent should be directed to the Editor in Chief who can be locat ed at the email address above.

COPYRIGHT All content printed in The Medium is the sole property of its creators, and cannot be used without written consent.

DISCLAIMER Opinions expressed in the pages of The Medium are exclusively of the author and do not neces sarily reflect those of The Medium. Additionally, the opin ions expressed in advertise ments appearing in The Medium are those of advertisers and not of The Medium.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters to the editor will be edit ed for spelling, grammar, style and coherence. Letters will not exceed 1,000 words in print.

Letters that incite hatred, vio lence or letters that are racist, homophobic, sexist or libelous will not be published.

Anonymous letters will not be published.

MONDAY, JANUARY

11, 2010 THE MEDIUM 5

Michael Di Leo, Editor | arts@mediumonline.ca

Anatomical art

Gunther Von Hagens’ Body Worlds exhibition at the Ontario Science Centre sparks interest NISHA STEPHENS

For the past two months, Gerstein Library at U of T’s St. George campus has been home to more than stressed students and medical books. The Library has also housed the “6 Meter Man,” a specimen from the Body Worlds exhibition on display at the Science Center. Prominently displayed in the lobby, the “6 Meter Man” is a real human body cut into thin cross sections, providing an expanded view of the body from head to toe. Given the enormous controversy surrounding the exhibition as it travelled to different museums across the world, it was surprising to see the specimen so blatantly displayed on campus.

The full Body Worlds exhibit at the Science Centre provides an in-depth view of real human (and other animal) bodies, allowing visitors to explore the intricacies of the body and understand what health and illness actually look like on the inside.

It features over 200 human specimens, including whole bodies (with their hair, muscles, organs, and bones intact), individual organs and transparent cross sections.

These whole bodies do not lie sombrely in glass cases. Rather, they are artistically displayed either with their internal organs moved to unconventional places (such as on top of their heads), or in action poses as figure skaters, gymnasts and skiers that illustrate the human locomotive system in extreme and lively situations. Exhibit organizers explain that having the bodies in familiar positions make them more relevant to the public.

insidethemiddleeast.com photo

The creator of Body Worlds, Gunther Von Hagens, is an anatomist and physician who developed plastination, the process that prevents the body from decomposing. After death, the deceased’s internal fluids are removed and replaced with special chemicals that minimally alter the appearance of the body. Prior to death, written consent must be obtained from individuals wishing to donate their body to the project. More controversially, guardians can also provide consent for their children to be displayed in the exhibition.

Although all the bodies on display have been obtained legally, free of solicitation or monetary reward, the exhibit has faced protest in North America, Europe, Asia

and the Middle East. It does not take a genius to understand why displays of plastinated pregnant women, foetuses and couples positioned in intercourse would stir up tremendous turmoil. Critics say that the exhibit lacks respect for the dead and argue that deceased bodies should be treated with reverence, not sliced open and positioned with props for the public to see.

In response, Hagens says he hopes the exhibit will educate visitors and foster a deep appreciation for the body, its adaptability, strength and complexity. The displays provide insights that no textbook can (after all, a picture is worth a thousand words), and makes such information accessible to people beyond the medical

field. Anyone, from seniors to elementary school kids, can be seen walking around the exhibit, all highly engaged and interested in the material.

Everything is to scale; the textures and colours are vivid. One can’t help but feel a sense of awe at the human body.

Today, in a world so technologically saturated, we often find ourselves running into such ethical dilemmas. Science and technology has on many occasions given us the tools to explore what society is not morally comfortable with. Just because we can dissect, preserve and study every inch of the body, does that mean we should?

The exhibition, while definitely interesting and educational, blurred the boundaries between right and wrong, the living

and the dead, and science and education from art. One display depicted a man on his knees holding his heart in his hands, almost like an offering. Next to the display was a poster titled “Heart as the Habitat for the Soul,” detailing how the Aztecs, Egyptians, Christians and Jews revered the heart, and believed it housed a person’s soul.

While the display was striking, thoughtprovoking and extremely poetic, it seemed ironic that the habitat of the soul had been dissected, chemically infused and put on display. Cartesian dualism long ago polarized the mind and body.

But should we accept this theory and continue to view them in separate spheres completely independent of the other just so we can dissect and explore the body free of guilt or a moral conscious?

The latest exhibit at the Science Centre was noted most not for pushing social boundaries, but rather the towering plastinized giraffe which stood at a staggering 5.6 metres. The display is similar to the one in Gerstein Library, with transparent cross sections of a giraffe organized from head to hoof. The reconstruction took nearly two years to build. It has provided scientists with insights to the cardiovascular system, and answered the mystery of how the heart of a giraffe can pump blood all the way to its head.

Regardless of controversy, Body Worlds has had much success during its second visit to the Science Centre, having already surpassed half a million visitors. The exhibit will move to Singapore, Germany and Switzerland in late February. Who knows what new displays Hagens will unveil there?

WAYS TO SAVE @ U of T Bookstore

www.uoftbookstore.com

1) The Bookstore has dropped the price of the most popular and expensive textbooks. Check online for savings!

2) Take advantage of educational pricing on computers, including Apple & PC products. Students can save hundreds of dollars, even compared with big box stores.

3) Educational pricing on software for U of T Students, Staff & Faculty too. Huge savings – don’t buy your software before contacting The Computer Shop.

4) Students can buy textbooks used! U of T Bookstore has increased the volume of used textbooks and more students are buying used than ever before. You can find them online when you search by courses.

5) Students can sell their textbooks back to the Bookstore for up to 50% of the original price (not the used price). Books can be sold anytime of the year, leaving more cash in your pocket.

“DO YOU LOVE ME (LIKE YOU SAY YOU DO)” BY LEE FIELDS AND THE EXPRESSIONS

GO TO MEDIUMONLINE.CA/SONGOFTHEWEEK TO LISTEN

6 THE MEDIUM

MONDAY, JANUARY

11, 2010

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT MOTHER MOTHER’S MILK

SHOT FOR THE MEDIUM AT THE COOKBOOK STORE, TORONTO, DECEMBER 2009

IF YOU CAN’T STAND THE TWEET, GET OUT OF THE KITCHEN

couple years ago, during Canadian Music Week, I watched a group on the cusp of stardom. They were playing postBenjamin Gibbard pitch-corrected power pop for a room full of screaming, gooby 16-year-olds.

This was the beginning of a movement in pop that would lead to the Owl City single I hear everywhere I go today. Everyone in the room talked about how this group would be the next big thing, but today I don’t remember who it was. I stood by the bar during their set, nodded my head, drank my Molson 50 like an old man and plotted my exit. It was the next band to play that really caught my attention.

Mother Mother took the stage.

Intrigued, I decided to stick around.

Two blond women on either side of the stage backed this tall, foppish lead singer with a blond pompadour.

Besides just having an interesting look, something about them popped out at me. The harmonies, the guitar fills and the lyrics. It was so fucking clever. There are a million songs with the same three chords that spout out something relatable (rhyme “girl” with “world” and you’re set. They usually are enjoyable, because those three chords sound nice together.

But this was something beyond palatable pop music. What I felt was the exhilaration of witnessing good ideas, musical and otherwise, refined by talent and presented with rehearsed perfection. I know that just sounds like a long compliment that may not mean anything, but by the time they played the song “Verbatim,” I was really enthralled.

Taking in a live performance of a group I’ve never seen before can often be boring, tedious even. I won’t even like a song until I’ve heard it a few times. With Mother Mother, my interest was peaked. The way they moved through a song was like watching Joe Orton play, so quickwitted and sharp that you’re left gawking and wondering what else

A

the players can show you within the confines of one room. I got hold of their album “Touch Up” as soon as I could after the show. I would push it on whoever would listen, forcing it on anyone in the car with me, the same way I would The Library Voices when I heard them the following year. It’s one thing to share the things you enjoy with your friends, but sometimes I take a gross kind of pride in knowing about a band my friends will like before they’ve heard it. I kept that album in the car for months.

Two years and an album later, we got to catch up with lead singer Ryan Guldemond, pompadour intact, in Toronto before their appearance on MTV live. Toronto was the last stop on their six-week tour supporting Matthew Good at Massey Hall. A calm, deliberate Guldemond shared a bit about his experience over the last two years, his band’s new album, their next album and Twitter.

So what’s Matt Good like?

He’s nice. He’s a little incognito, but the chances that we have with him are fun and down to earth and, yeah, he’s been nothing but gracious to us.

He’s a funny guy, got a good sense of humour.

Yo u w e re to ur in g wi th Sa m Roberts before that. Do you pre fer having a headlining tour?

It’s nice to throw your own party, but at the same time it’s advantageous to be in front of people you normally wouldn’t be. There’s an element of needing to be cautious of an environment that isn’t yours when you open that might not be ideal in every sense, but there’s a tradeoff for that when you’re opening for someone who has a bigger fanbase than your own.

Wh en c an we ex p ec t a ne w album?

We’re writing and planning the recording session, which will take

place in spring 2010. Hopefully, a release will follow in the fall.

Will you be working with produc er Howard Redekopp (Tegan and S ar ah , N ew Po rn og ra ph e rs ) again?

We’re not this time. We’re going to try to branch out. Not sure just how that will all… unfold.

Have you chosen a producer?

No, we haven’t. Sort of just in the young stages of speculation and consideration.

In your album “Touch Up,” it was obvious you’d written the album on a guitar. Where as “O My Heart,” you expanded the sound w ith a ll th e sy nth a nd st rin gs .

C a n w e e x p e c t a sh i f t i nt o t h e m ore el ect ric or o rche str al wit h the new album?

More electric and less orchestral. We really want to make an album that symbolizes what the band is capable of doing, and not really go beyond those means. With “O My Heart,” we treated each song as a blank canvas and infiltrated any instrument in order to realize the music. With this album, we want to make it more of a band effort. There’s voice and drums and bass and guitar and synthesizers and keyboard… That’s an interesting pallet of sounds that we kind of want to delve into each of those chasms.

So when the band plays live, it’s a true representation of the record.

S o w h en yo u p ut th e s o ng s together, is it a concerted effort?

Or is it something you’ve built and then presented to the band?

It works both ways. With this new batch of songs, it’s been a concerted effort to allow the songs to take shape by way of collaborations within the band. So essentially I will reserve my conceptualizing until we all get in there and start handling the direction. That’s kind of what we’re going for.

In s ong s l ik e “ Tou ch up ,” “B all Cap, ” and “Body ,” th ere’s a lot o f p h y s ic a l i m a g e ry . I g et th e sense of an esthetic preoccupa tion, both male and female. How did that come about?

Those words are phonetically pleasing. There’s so much imagery and symbolism in anatomy and emotional subject matter. The heart represents love, or hate, you know, if it’s broken. And, blood and bones, I mean, all this stuff is very metaphorically useful and handy when even touching on the simplest of emotional topics. You just get drawn to it. It’s not really premeditated.

You’ve got a lot of dark content se t a ga ins t r ea lly ch ar min g, ca tc hy m us ic. D oe s t ha t re fle ct any personal philosophy?

I think that could speak of an element of cynicism. To paint a picture of our… you know, not to take the melancholy too seriously. By dressing it up with something very opposite, I think, almost accentuates the sadness, instead of being really dark through and through.

You told The Pulse in Niagara that yo u’ re so m uc h ab out Twittering…

Not so crazy about twittering.

C an yo u r el a te th a t to s o m e of t he “ Co u nt ry B o y” i ma g er y in songs like “Dirty Town”?

I grew up on Quadra Island. That song is just a metaphor for getting away from a place that isn’t necessarily healthy. It’s also, I don’t know, a bit of a shout out to more traditional living and approaches. I’m a bit of a ludite, and I also think that much the technological craze that is happening and has happened is not completely necessary. I think that there’re some human qualities to our society and interactions that are kind of being wiped out by this rapid evolution of technology and computers and accessibility.

Like with Twitter?

I don’t know if it’s a realistic extension of people’s true characters. I think that there’s a fabrication of persona that takes place in that cyber realm, which is incongruous to what is actually going on with those people.

Do you thi nk i t’s se lf s erv ing or egotistical to have that wide and constant and output?

I just find it somewhat fraudulent. I think it’s good to extend yourself as an artist or a band. But it’s nice to keep in the theme of what you’re doing in the first place, which is making music. I don’t know why so much of a spectacle needs to be made of our personas in order to have a career.

There’s so much emphasis placed on that. If you want to go far, become a caricature and tweet about it. I don’t know, it just doesn’t make sense to me. It just feels unnatural, unhealthy and displaced against what I set out to do to begin with.

Art and honesty have to go hand in hand?

Yeah, you have to be honest with everything that you do. Otherwise you’re going to go to bed guilty.

Maybe that isn’t the case for some people. I’m just fairly sensitive that way. I just feel like I’m letting myself down if there’s something dishonest in any facet of what this band is doing.

Can you think of any bad cooking puns for this article to go with the pictorial?

Cooking puns? Um, no. Mother Mother’s milk? I dunno. Mother Mother Wok on the wild side (laughs) as in “W, O, K” like a wok.

The wok pun has been done a lot.

There was even the show, do you remember that show? Where he always had an apron with a different wok pun?

That sounds awful.

Yeah (laughs).

MONDAY, JANUARY

11, 2010 THE MEDIUM 7

Amir Ahmed, Editor | features@mediumonline.ca

Students on ice

The U of T writers co-op

65 high school students explore the Antarctic to study climate change EMILY ACHESON

On December 26, 65 high school students from around the world embarked on an expedition to the Antarctic as part of the award-winning Students on Ice program.

Th e p r o g r a m a i m s t o e x p l o r e ways for the young to spearhead efforts that contribute to societal action. It celebrated its tenth anniversary in 2009, having lead a total of over 1,500 students and experts from 40 countries to both the Arctic and Antarctic. Founded

by Canadian adventurer and environmentalist Geoff Green, the organization joins students from nine countries with 25 international experts.

Polar scientists, educators, artists and musicians will accompany the students. They will also lead workshops and research activities to investigate the effects of climate change on the delicate Antarctic ecosystems. The voyage is no relaxing cruise for the students. Lectures, workshops and hands-on research exploring marine biology, history, earth sciences, environmental issues and sustainable development will keep the students busy.

Students will gain experience in diverse areas such as wildlife recognition and observation, technological research, including Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping, nature interpreta-

tion through journal writing and photography, youth forums on sustainable development, ecological footprints and much more.

Madison Miller, 16, and JeanPaul Renaud, 17, are two high school students from Toronto currently on the Students on Ice program. Both students emailed directly from the ship in Antarctica to talk about their experiences so far. “The prospect of being on a team with some of the most recognized polar experts on the planet was just too good to pass up,� said Renaud. “ H e r e , I a m s u r r o u n d e d wi t h adults who have a true passion for what they do,� said Miller. “They have inspired me to take my passi o n s s e r i o u s l y and to consider them as possible careers, as opposed to hobbies.�

Miller heard about the SOI program after Geoff Green gave an inspiring presentation at her school, Branksome Hall. “He inspired me to get involved in a personal way. SOI seemed to me to be a perfect way to get involved in such a way.�

Renaud, a student of Ursula Franklin Academy, read about the program in the newspaper. “The combination of adventure, international col laboration and expert advice help to lay the groundwork for a new perspective on climate change and a new perspective of the planet itself,� said Renaud.

During their two weeks abroad,

students can keep in touch with family, friends and interested students through a daily blog. Blogs include articles from current SOI students and alumni, offering accounts and opinions on current environmental issues as well as recent experiences on the SOI program. “There have been so many great experiences; it is difficult, if not impossible, to rank them,� said Miller. “However, one experience that has truly impacted me is seeing the immense tabular icebergs...

I have a totally different outlook on the issues that currently face the environment because I have seen these. It has, in a very real sense, been life-changing.�

Participants felt that this year’s expedition was of particular significance, as it took place amid the recent United Nations’ Climate Change conference in Copenhagen in mid-December. The conference did not result in a treaty, but it spurred a worldwide focus on the effects of climate change. “Although it may seem near impossible to make a difference, it is most definitely not,� said Renaud. “By becoming educated about the issues, making small changes to everyday life and encouraging others to do the same, one can make a significant impact.�

The Students on Ice members’ daily blog is available at http://www.studentsonice.com/.

RAISA PALHA

On Friday evening, the U of T Writers’ Co-op reconvened at Hart House for their first meeting of 2010. Enthusiastic about the start of another exciting year together, the group discussed upcoming endeavours. Members had a chance to rekindle their group chemistry and the North Dining Room bubbled with conversation and camaraderie.

“Every month, the co op group invites a pub lished writer as a guest.�

First established in October 2006, the U of T Writers’ Co-op is a social club for aspiring writers on campus. Three years in the running and bolstered by the success of their initiatives, the group is keen on expanding its bounds and achieving a greater presence on campus. “Exchanging Notes�—the group’s first spoken-word performance— was met with success. The event was held on April 12, 2008 at the Arbour Room in Hart House.

Featuring a collaboration of writers and musicians, it represented a contemporary take on the jazzpoetry connection originally explored by the Beat culture. The turnout was larger than the co-op group had anticipated, and the

event fulfilled its purpose to publicize and promote the group. The second Exchanging Notes performance, held on April 4 of last year, was also a success (the third annual Exchanging Notes is expected to take place this April).

Every month, the co-op group invites a published writer as a guest. Several Governor General award-winning writers have made appearances, including David Gilmour, Barbara Gowdy, George Eliot Clarke and Austin Clarke.

Future guests include Chris Finn, Amy Cameron and Timothy Quinn.

Every second Sunday of the month, the group performs spoken word with musical accompaniment at the James Joyce pub on Bloor Street in Toronto. The goal of the open mike is to stage a spoken word-music event in the summer of 2010 in a larger outdoor venue.

At every meeting, the group critiques the work of several fellow authors.

The U of T Writers’ Co-operative meets every Friday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Hart House and can be reached at uoftwritersco-op @hotmail.com.

Comments? Interested in writing for Features?

Contact Amir at features@mediumonline.ca

Foot in the door DERIC VARCOE

January is here, and for students, that may mean many different things: a new year, a new decade, a new semester or being a bit closer to the impending stress of finding a job after graduation. Whether or not it crossed your mind, there’s no better resolution this year than to think a little about where you want the thousands of dollars you spend on university to take you.

The Career Centre at UTM organizes events year round to help students and graduates gain perspective about the job market. Students of all years should keep an open mind and look to gain experience wherever they can; the 2010 Summer Job Fair is a way to do exactly that. This Wednesday, the Career Centre will hold their most attended event in the RAWC gym, welcoming 58 employers (up from 47 last year) from all fields, some of which will offer on-the-spot interviews.

It might seem a bit early to think about where you will work during the summer, but better now than during March or April, when you

are knee deep in books. If you’re not one of those who is looking for a summer job because you already have one or you have saved up all of your partying for the warm weather months, many other events will take place this semester that will help you focus on the big picture. The Psychology Speed Networking Night (picture speed dating, but instead of finding a person, you’re looking for a career you might like), the Marketing and Communications Networking Breakfast and the Biology Networking Night are all examples of great ways to discover new careers and meet new people to help you along your path to success.

It seems like a lot to take on.

Networking is intimidating and new to all of us; the folks at the Career Centre have that covered too. From how to shake hands during the flu season to which questions to ask at an event like the ones above, there are workshops and tips available on how to network and to help you become more confident when meeting people. Head over to the Career Centre or view their website at www.utm.utoronto.ca/careers/ to check out all of the upcoming events.

# !

"

' , -+.//

$

, 0+.//

# 1

!

"

#

" $ % # $ % &$ " ' (

% $ % ) * ' + %

+ #

+

8 THE MEDIUM

MONDAY, JANUARY

11, 2010

A note from the Editor Writing is hard, like a crowbar to the face. In fact, even in the writing of this foreword, I think it’d be easier to smash a concrete wall with my fists than make something people would genuinely want to read. But maybe I’m not a very good writer, and I’m certainly not an Iron Hand expert. What you see before you though, is a sample of the best writing The Medium received this year for our annu al contest. Maybe these writers found the act hard, like the aforementioned crowbar upside the noggin, but if they did, then they took that crowbar, and pried open their perception and ours, and withdrew some pretty neat things.

See how sucky that metaphor was? Told you this stuff is difficult.

Amir Ahmed

Sukuna

Winner - Short Story: Yanique Bird The lights go out. For the third time this week, my house, all of Glanvilles, maybe all of St. Philip’s parish, is plunged into darkness.

Beep. Beep. Beeeep. My computer’s backup power supply wails in the dark. I stumble from my homework at the dining table to the computer desk and snap the thing off.

“Dem damn disgusting!” Mama, my grandmother, says from the veranda. She’s talking about the Antigua Public Utilities Authority’s constant “load-shedding” to perform “scheduled maintenance”.

Mummy rustles in the kitchen and strikes a match. A spark jumps in the dark and Mummy light a candle. Pale yellow light floods the kitchen from the long stick of wax.

“You need more light right?”

Mummy asks coming to stand over me with the candle. I recoil. I’ve been accidentally dripped on with hot wax too many times in my fifteen years.

“Nope,” I say, “Study break.” I snap my thick red Principles of Business textbook shut and jump up from the table. Five long strides bring me to the front door. I yank it open. It creaks a long heightening creak and I hop unto the veranda.

The moon is full and white tonight.

Our street is bathed in a pale blue light that casts every color into a shade of navy. In the soft light, I can make out the stout shape of my grandmother with her legs and arms crossed sitting on her little white bench in the west corner of the veranda. She faces the street. In the east corner sits Bramble, the man that raised my father and my aunt Cynthia

while my real grandfather ran off to England. Bramble sits on a concrete block and taps his walking stick rhythmically against the short decorative block wall.

“Well Yan,” Mama says as I take a seat on the wall behind her bench, “Current gone wild.”

We laugh. The door creaks and admits my mother carrying an insect repelling candle in a yellow glass vase.

She sets it down in the center of the un-tiled veranda floor. Mummy sits next to me on the wall.

“Wait,” Mummy says, “Where’s your brother?”

I shrug. “In his room I guess. You know how he is.”

“Eedy!” Mama shouts for my brother. Mama often sits on the veranda and bellows for people a block away. No one ever fails to hear her. “Eden Bird!”

“M’orm,” he answers from somewhere in the back of the house.

“You no see everybody outside?”

Mama says. In the yellow candle light her teeth flash in a mischievous smile.

“You no ‘fraid jumbie?”

Five. Four. Three. Two. One. My brother Eden burst through the front door. The veranda echoes with laughter. Eden is un-amused. He scowls at us all in turn and steps off the veranda to sit on the front steps.

Mama leans over the wall to flick his head playfully. “You ever hear bout Sukuna?”

“No.” Eden says shortly. “And I don’t want to hear.”

“Ha-hai!” My grandmother throws her head back and laughs. “Yan, you ever hear?”

I shoot a grin in Eden’s direction.

“Yes but I wouldn't mind hearing again.”

Sukuna are sometimes called West Indian vampires. No Caribbean person thinks of them that way though.

They are usually female humans transformed into village-roaming bloodsuckers by dark rituals performed by obeah men “Dem old Dominican woman, dem turn themselves into sukuna and all kinda ting. Then dem go round and suck people. Suck them dry you know!” Mama says. She leans forward and drops her voice to almost a whisper. “When we used to live at Long Lane Estate, this man, honest to God, every morning the man wake, he look like subben suck he.”

“But I thought sukuna only sucked children,” I say.

“Yes, dem suck pickney plenty,” Mama confirms. “But people can set sukuna on big people.”

I leaned back against the column and pulled my legs up to my chest. I thought I saw Eden cover his ears.

“Yes man, sukuna bad! Every night they suck, suck, suck this poor man, John Martin from Cedar Grove. Every day John look more weak. He get thin.

He get light like-a feather. As any hard wind blow, he stagger.

Sometime, at night time, you hear him shriek out ‘Help! Murder!’ but when the rest man dem reach in the room not a soul in there ‘cept poor John. Ah so he shake, ah so he ah sweat.”

Mama clenches both her fist in front of her and vibrates her hefty body on the small wooden bench to

imitate John’s shaking.

“De man and dem hunt ‘round de estate fa da sukuna skin. You know dem peel outta dem skin before dem can suck people? Well, dem haffu hide way the skin so nobody can find it.”

“What happens if they find it?” I ask.

“Dem can kill the sukuna. The only way fa kill dem as fu throw salt inna dem skin.”

“How is salt supposed to kill them though?”

“When you throw the salt in, then dem can’t go back inna dem skin when morning come. When da sun rise, dem get burn up.”

Bramble snorted from the corner.

“John Martin? He deserve wah he get.” Bramble’s speech is slow and impeded by the presence of only one tooth.

“He and he wife jus dabble innna all kinda darkness.”

Mama kisses her teeth loudly and slaps at the ar to dismiss Bramble.

“How you know dat?”

“You stupid woman! Everybody know dat. They min find one Black Heart book in some old obeah house and go down ah Newfield Graveyard fu raise old jumbie and ask for dem money.”

My eyebrows shot up. “That kinda stupid! How would a ghost have money?”

“Dem no stupid gyal. Just greedy.

Dem say that the old white people that use to live on the estate bury dem money before they died so nobody can teef um,” Mama says. “They say if you can raise the jumbie and bind um, you can ask he whey he bury he

money.”

“When we dug the foundation for this house, there was a story that some old jumbie promised money to your cousin Linroy,” Mummy says.

“Okay, stop now! You gone too far,” Eden springs up from his seat and whirls to face us.

“If you don’t want to hear you should go back inside,” I say. “Oh wait! You can’t! You’re too scaaaaared to!”

“Me nuh ‘fraid nuthin!” Eden shouts back.

“You two behave,” Mummy hisses at us. We fall silent.

And remain silent. The moon ducks behind a thick black cloud.

Eden scrambles up off the step. A shuffling noise comes from the darkness of the street. Shuffle, scrape, flap.

Shuffle. Scrape. Flap. My heart pumps. Eden draws an audible breath.

Mama, Bramble and Mummy look to the street. Shuffle. Scrape. Flap. Could it be a sukuna or a pyro-manic, horselegged diablese?

“Good night! Good night!” calls a familiar voice from the pitch blackness.

The shuffling, scraping, flapping becomes our neighbor Ira as he steps into the yard and half way up the steps. His shoes are lace-less. The tongues flap about in front his foot.

He shuffled along the rough tarmac street with his shoes scraping the ground.

We exhale collectively. Moonlight baths the street again and the yellow dancing candlelight trembles our shadows and we wait for the lights to return.

swingset back home. Mum had sold me on a pool! I voiced my concerns aloud. “Well, you three will get along well.”

If only, I thought, and I even trusted to the hope that she was right (as adults usually are). For the first week I did try to edge in whenever Lawrence and Matt were playing or talking. They even talked about girls sometimes, and were beginning to get armpit hair, as they showed me. I had none. Every day, they went for a walk or to the store, and I followed them.

But I was never welcome. Matt had friends, too, and they accepted Lawrence, but I was only nine, and that only for a few days. Every night the pair talked into the late hours, poking themselves and holding ice

cubes to stay alert. After midnight, a tiny matching of hands shown on Matt’s glowing watch, they abruptly stood, checked to see if I was awake (I pretended to sleep). Shhing each other and whispering guffaws at their cleverness, they crept out in stockinged feet, down the street to where I never saw them go.

After the first week, I broke. I spent my first. I bought a pack of Pokémon cards at the store, and when they sat down to play, I pulled mine out of my pocket. Aha! But no—where had that come from?

They each had a full deck, sixty cards, and my tiny offering was no good to play with them.

You’re becoming a man Winner - Novella: Luke Sawczak We had scheduled the trip to England for July, so for sunny June, I worked at my grandma’s.

I didn’t even notice the irony when she gave my little brother Paul four dollars, and me four-fifty: “You’re becoming a man,” she said, “so you get extra. You should be proud.” I always biked home standing, and sometimes treated myself to ice cream at Sammy’s on the way, hardly able to carry it.

A week before we left, my mother stopped me with my dripping cone to ask me how much I’d saved. When I offered up my faded blue bills and dull coins, she took them and the next day it had all magically transformed into pounds and pence.

“Never waste a penny,” she advised.

And it seemed like only one night before I flew over. Only Lawrence, my twelve-year-old brother, celebrated my ninth birthday with me on the plane.

Lawrence had gotten a phone call from Matt. I longed to be Lawrence’s friend, but I knew that while we were there he’d have Matt, who was closer to his age than mine anyway. Almost shouting over the receiver, our cousin had announced that the small village resort we’d be staying at had a little bar-and-restaurant; and if you woke up at one a.m., you could sneak in; and the nights were always warm in English summers. Wouldn’t it be fun to get in the back door, so late, and eat sweets?

I had overheard this phone call

and I knew Lawrence was figuring out how to stay awake.

My aunt and uncle met us at the airport in London on the third. Even indoors, it was so hot and my clothes chafed. Lawrence bought a pack of Pokémon cards so he and Matt could play together the moment we walked in the door; I didn’t – I only remembered my mother’s advice. Anyway, it was too early to be looking for souvenirs.

A month with our aunt and uncle.

“I know you three are going to love it there,” said Aunt Mathilda, a Nepali woman, at the wheel (wrong side of the car, wrong side of the road).

“They’ve got a swingset.” Doubts started to creep into my mind as we sped past the scenery. I had a

Growing up continued on page 9

MONDAY, JANUARY

11, 2010 THE MEDIUM 9

WRITING CONTEST

Growing up continued from page 8 Then the water poured out of the floodgates. Totally rejected by my relations, I started to spend my hoard on whatever I thought would make the long wait bearable. We were there a month, and I bought chocolate bars, small souvenirs, magazines, and once, even, a pocket manual for Pokémon, which I couldn’t understand, and it ended up in a garbage can on the street.

Every day I went down to the swingset, then. I sat, and sometimes I flew, pumping my legs and arms to get a new height in my excitement. I climbed the poles, I played tag with nobody; and other times I only plopped down on one of those hot black rubber seats and cried to see my mother again.

Another plane was coming to pick us up, me and Lawrence, in the last week before August. England, supposed to thrill us and keep us happy for the rest of the summer, would be behind us. As the days moved on, this weighed more and more on my mind. After all, I did have a swingset at home. Was I wasting my time—like I wasted my coins? Was I throwing my mother’s advice out the window?

Four days before the end of our stay, I made a strong decision and I woke up early. I found Lawrence and Matt and said to them, “I’m coming with you tonight. To the secret place.” This, with a smile on my face and my nose red. Matt shrugged and turned away, and Lawrence smirked, “Fine, if you can stay up that late. But you’re sleeping every time we leave. You can just try.” I decided I would hang out with them all day, even if their friends snubbed me, even if I had no fun at all. I wasn’t going to miss my opportunity.

In my pocket I fondled, all day, my last coin, a twenty-five pence piece, my last twenty-five.

I didn’t go to the swingset all that day. I even watched a whole Pokémon game, and didn’t understand it, but I watched it. I tried not to talk at all. I was building my confidence.

At six o’clock, by Matt’s watch— ours we had never updated to English time—Uncle Steve called us in for supper as he did every day.

Aunt Mathilda brought two or three pots out of the kitchen, set them on coasters with pictures of cows, and we sat and we ate, forgoing the

prayer. Except for me—I prayed in my heart, asking God, “Please make me stay awake. Please ignore if I close my eyes.”

Matt was bouncing a little rubber ball. One, two, three, four, five. One, two, three, four, five. One, two, three, four—“Stop it!” said his mum suddenly. “Don’t bounce the ball at the table.” I only knew that I desperately wanted him to bounce it the fifth time, a sensation I’d never had before, but he tossed it toward the window and that missing fifth beat pounded through my head for the next hours.

Finally it was our bedtime: three hours before midnight. Matt and Lawrence slipped into their sleeping bags as they did every night in the back room and I crawled into mine, with my socks still on, an insurance against sleep. And I managed to stay awake.

At last midnight came and went.

Matt raised himself. So did Lawrence. “Still up, spud?” I was.

We tiptoed out of the room over to our shoes, and the villa had a screen door at the back, which we slid open just enough to sidle through silently. Then the three of us were out on the street, and I got a thrill, which Lawrence surely felt the first time he did it. Or maybe not – he was so much older. The road was completely empty, and it being a commune resort, small cabins and villas crowded the sides.

At the end of one street we finally came to the central bar-and-restaurant, a low building with big windows and walls that stretched a long way in every direction, and which was closed nightly after midnight.

Normally people would guard against our entering, saying, “You children aren’t old enough,” and stuff like that—but the door was open. As Matt said, some janitor or other left it unlocked every night.

We stole in, and kicked off our shoes at the entrance. I felt a rush go up through my spine.

I stood there in the open back door in my pyjamas, a warm breath escaping me, and noticed that the other two wore day clothes. A big plastic rack stared at us from the dark, window-lit interior, sporting rows and rows of mugs and Styrofoam cups. Matt and Lawrence marched right on past, so I took the cue and ignored the monolithic monster.

In the next room, the wide cafeteria, to which we padded on soft feet,

somebody had laid out all the tables for next morning. The older boys both sat at a table with only two chairs, laughing to themselves, and talking, again, about girls. I shifted nervously under my cap; I was sweating out of nerves. Was this the thrill I had expected? Was this the sense of belonging?

“So what do we do?” I asked, actually lost as to the point.

“Whatever we want to,” replied Matt, and Lawrence snickered, and I felt all of a sudden like they were two dragons sitting on a mound of treasure and talking to the hobbit waiting expectantly.

When they were tired of sitting and talking and I was tired of standing and listening, Lawrence interrupted my yawn to say, “Let’s steal something from the storeroom.”

Matt nodded, and they pushed back their chairs. I walked with them, then, behind the small counter, behind the little door, down a narrow hallway, into the darkest and tiniest room I had yet seen. I made out the shelves and packages.

Now my knees really shook. I didn’t know if I had to use the bathroom. Suddenly a throaty voice that was Matt’s sneezed, “Take the chips,” and a hand shot out that was Lawrence’s, and a bag moved through the air, and disappeared.

And another. “You can take one if you want,” Matt threatened.

But standing, staring, I couldn’t.

So we stalked back, and they sat, and they played Pokémon, and they munched on chips.

I noticed a machine in the corner, and the letters on it said COFFEE, HOT CHOCOLATE, TEA. Well!

Leaving my companions suddenly, I paid it a visit, the coin in my pyjamas pocket quite warm. And crossing the room, Lawrence’s words fell on deaf ears: “Where are you going, spud? Don’t let the monsters get you,” which warning, if it had been heard, might have stopped me there.

HOT CHOCOLATE: 25 PENCE. The small coin that would redeem the night, no, redeem all of England and all the troubles and worries it had caused me, quickly flew from

my pocket into my hand, and from there hovered, looking for the slot, until it disappeared into a blackness more deep than every other room I’d seen that evening.

And I waited.

Finally, the thing whirred, made a sloshing noise, emitted steam from every orifice, and poured my cup of hot chocolate. Ahh, yes! At home I was never allowed such sugary stuff, but here, now, a cup of boiling hot chocolate—maybe with some cream—maybe some marshmallows in the cup— Wait, in the cup?

OH NO!! THE CUP! I bolted it!! I ran! I tripped over chairs! Matt choked with laughter!

Lawrence snickered at me!

I! Entered! The! Other! Room!

I grabbed the mug from the towering rack— I booked it to the machine— —and I watched the last sputtering, the final drops, of my hot chocolate, run down the drain, and away from me, forever.

My last twenty-five pence.

All night standing Winner - Poetry: Trevor Abes I am two hours pregnant, and it’s not even funny.

Go figure you could tell a guy to “just do it” on a flight of passion And he decides to become a fucking linguist.

“Uh, you wanna go back to my place?”

“Uh, sure”.

“Uh, you wanna fuck?” I.e.: Do I subscribe to the idea that wine and some fine dining act as a lever, and the more I consume, the more my legs inch open, until a symbolic wel come mat materializes from nothingness and falls to rest on your oily, dust infested sheets ?

“My self worth says no, but I say yes”.

There is nothing explicitly primal about a peace of plastic, On the other hand, I.D. does spell ID, so there.

I’m not pregnant, my Hyde side is.

Damn, I hate this shit.

Viruses are not alive, because they cannot control their actions. Is jizz, two hours post launch, like a virus? Maybe I should search Wikipedia; but then, the footprint I leave res onating after parting from this earth would depend on...Wikipedia.

It’s like saying: “I love you, but the sources that support my statement are questionable”.

No doubt, I am confident in saying that the trials of a single mother in our new, freshly unprejudiced society, will offer me the pick me up I need to exit this enrapturing slump.

The evil bead Winner - Nonfiction: Mimi Zalat Pain shot up my right leg, taking each nerve by surprise. I could feel the skin on my right foot burning as it twisted beneath the tire.

“Victor, you’re on my foot.”

The calmness in my voice surprised me. Victor continued to drive forward. I dug my nails into the hood of his black Integra, and attempted to step back. The weight of the car held my foot firmly in place.

“Victor,” I repeated slowly, “you’re on my foot.”

The car came to a sudden halt. I swallowed down the urge to scream.

Victor turned away from the steering wheel to look back at me from the open backseat door.

“What? I’m not on your foot.”

He said nonchalantly, despite the notes of panic that had begun to play across his face.

Sweat beads crawled across my forehead as the black tire continued

to crush my right foot, pushing it deeper into the ground. Victor, finally realizing what had happened shifted the clutch and reversed back. A low groan made its way out of my lips; just as my knees buckled and I fell to the ground. I inhaled

sharply, bit down on my lower lip, and squeezed my eyes shut. My head rested against the cold concrete.

“Ow.” I said in a strangled whisper. My eyes fluttered open and glowered at Victor, just as his jaw

dropped, leaving a dumbfounded look on his pale face.

“Oh my God. You weren’t joking?” He said, before throwing his door open and sprinting out of the car.

“I swear to God it’s never hap-

For many cultures, the concept of the “evil eye” forms a very real, and very worrisome issue.

In Middle Eastern culture, the evil eye is historically believed to be directed by an envious individual, at a particular object or person that they feel envious of. Though the action may often be subconscious, some people are thought to have a special ability at aiming their evil eye knowingly and accurately, in order for them to gain personal benefits from the bad luck and destruction caused by the evil eye.

In an effort to effectively combat this ongoing issue, Turkey devel oped a combatant method, which is said to date back to the last millen nium. The Turks created a blue bead, shaped like a glass eye, which is said to deter the effects of an evil eye; and protect one against its bad luck. The bead may vary in size and shade of blue; and can be worn as a form of jewelry on the person or hung in a location which requires protection; such as a home or car.

I was first given the blue bead in

the form of a pendant by my Mother, on the morning of my cousin’s wedding in Syria. The night before, my uncle’s wife, who did not like my mother and I for unknown reasons, complimented my eye make up. The next morn ing, I woke up to a swollen pink eye, and a hysterical mother. She ran to her dresser, pulled out the necklace from her jewelry box, and hung it around my neck; insisting all the while that it would protect me from bad luck for as long as I would wear it.

pened before.” Victor’s words overlapped as he kneeled on the floor by me, and gently cupped my swollen foot in his hands. I gulped and managed a weak smile.

“I know, I know. These things only happen to me.” I muttered, and then looked down at my foot; the skin of which was scorching against the coolness of Victor’s palm. As I tried to inspect the damage on my foot, a gleam from my necklace caught my eye and distracted me away from the throbbing pain. The necklace, long and slim, hung loose; creating a pathway down my neck, leading to a small, oval, pendant at the end of the chain. I picked it up between my fingers and brought it closer to my face, squinting against the glare from the street lamp above my head. The pendant, molded into the shape of a blue eye, stared back at me mockingly.

10 THE MEDIUM MONDAY, JANUARY 11, 2009

WRITING CONTEST

Honourable Mentions Another note from the Editor.

Hi, it’s me again. Most of the categories had some very strong contenders, and unfortunately only one piece is allowed first place. Below are some prose and poetry that we just couldn’t ignore. It was a close call, and we hope that you’ll enjoy these.

I’d rather choose my dignity than choose to be with you CORA WONG All I can taste is this moment of bitter emptiness... How can I face my family that has put so much faith in me? I threw away th eir good intentions and crashed their hopes. I let down my original prospective and all of this is due to my own tragic fault. My downfall was trigged by my sense of security; I depended on others’ admiration to have higher value in myself.

During the first semester of my freshman year, I have spent my time with unnecessary gatherings, pointless conversations, and drunken parties. I believe by socializing, I would escape the hurt of being stood up. I did not allow a single second slip away of being alone because I never wanted to give myself the chance to accept reality.

I did not believe the fact that I was played. I felt I was unworthy of

love and moreover my pride was tramped. In my mind, it all narrowed down to one question, Was I not good enough for him? Wrong, slap yourself. He should want you madly, if not drop it. If the choice is between a girly’s dignity and having a relationship, every girl should prioritize her dignity above all else. If you want him to accept you, go to a self-help group.

“It was my wakeup call, my moment of accep tance and what has kicked me back on track.

In the end, I learned to place myself in higher value.”

Foolishly, I found the only solution was to party away the pain.

Not only I did that, but I threw away my priorities. I have forgotten the real reason of why I am

here at UTM; to develop passions of learning that will help us make our mark in the world. The picture of the couple has answered my weeks of wondering and if any girl can steal a guy away from me, then she can have him because I wouldn’t want him anymore. Any time a girl competes with another girl, she demeans herself.

It has been a while since it happened, but he still intrudes my mind daily. I am disgusted at myself for my sad vanity and my total dependence upon lust for happiness. This man has repeatedly given me empty promises and in my moment of wanting help, when I wanted him to be there for me, he ruthlessly turned his back and showed me his cold shoulder.

Obviously this man does not care about me; in fact he does not even like me. What bothers me the most is why does he not like me. Is it because I’m not smart enough? Am

I not pretty enough? This train of thought carried on for months and I was living in a period of depression. To be real, every girl should never pursue a man. The moon and the sun don’t revolve around him.

We should not chase him or keep tabs on him. He is not the center of the world.

The day came, our marks were updated and there was no way I can get into my program. I was threatened and the chill of horror bled through my body. It hit me hard that I have sabotaged my future. I have destroyed everything I built upon these years of dedication, effort and passion. Most importantly, what about the amount of money my family has provided me? It has all gone to a waste. Have I not selfishly neglected people who truly care about me, for some jerk that I will absolutely forget in a year? No, duh. It felt like it was the end of the world. I

remember that day my tears run dry after I came out of the student advisory office. I was lost and I despised myself for not putting my heart into my studies.

That day was the time I decided to save myself. It was my wakeup call, my moment of acceptance and what has kicked me back on track.

In the end, I learned to place myself in higher value. When people give me compliment, I say thank you. I do not talk others out of it. I do not ask about how others look like and I do not compete with others. If someone else doesn’t like my confidence, that’s their problem. This is because I always come before they do, that’s why. I do not tolerant disrespect and as a person I feel complete with or without anyone. My most important conception is always independence rather than dependence.

This is the perception that I can hold my own.

dow, and zooms ahead through the opening.

A path clears in front of us. I can see the far end of the road. The traffic light on the other side turns green.

Mustapha uncle steps on the gas. The tiny, 4 cylinder engine whines and the car lurches ahead. The pencils inside my case clink against each other. The laminated coolness of the board touches against my pant legs. My water bottle tips over onto its side and rolls on the floor. The tissue box in the back flies onto my lap. The light turns orange. The army truck changes lanes and pulls in front of us.

Uncle slams his foot on the brake pedal. The army crest on the back of the truck looms larger. Rubber burns and the tires shriek. Our tiny Toyota slams into the back of the gigantic truck. Mustapha uncle’s head jerks violently as his seat belt hugs him against his seat. The windshield shatters, sending shards of glass into the car. The front end crumples upon impact. The metal peels off and twists like a ball of aluminum foil. The truck doesn’t move. I have no seat belt and my knee crashes through my art

board. I hear a crack as bone pierces wood. The tissue box launches itself into the front seat.

Smoke lingers in the air. My mother’s arm wraps around my chest.

“Are you ok?” she asks.

“Yes ma.”

From the driver’s seat, Mustapha uncle groans, and gingerly turns around. Blood from a small cut trickles down his right cheek. His eyes dart between us.

“Is everyone fine?”

Army officers surround our car, and peer in. All around us, suits of green and brown swarm the twisted Toyota. Horns blare as passengers peer to observe the spectacle.

I open the door and step out of the car. Heat and humidity slam into my face. From up above, crows caw as they circle the wreckage. The air is thick and the smoke burns my eyes.

Steam rises from the mangled metal.

Shattered glass and steel lie scattered across the street.

With help from the Army officers, my mother and I boarded a city bus ten minutes later. Mustapha uncle stays behind to take the car to a

garage. The bus is crowded and has no air conditioning.

Dhaka city buses are ramshackle and rundown. Constructed from rusty scrap metal, the vehicles were essentially recycled tin built around an engine. The bus vibrates as it speeds up. Bolts run across the ceiling. Heat creeps in through the open windows.

A baby cries in its mother’s arms from somewhere in the back. I am smothered by the smell of gasoline and sweat. I hold my busted art board against the side of my patchwork seat.

The corner of Gulshan and Dhanmondi One is infamous for its catastrophic delays. However, being a major artery in the transportation system, the four-lane route is unavoidable. A large Tata truck stands idle, the yellow dashed road line lying squarely between its wheels. An empty coke bottle rolls to my feet as the bus slows to a stop.

I arrive at my exam an hour late.

The subject of the exam was pollution and the environment. I still finished on time. I had to avoid the massive hole at the top left corner as I drew on the poster-sized page.

Gravity FUAD KABIR Smog smothers the streets of Downtown Dhaka. A blackened sky hangs above the city’s office complexes. A woman opens a window, sticks her head out and shakes a carpet. Dark clouds billow into the air. Blackbirds sit in ranks on the electric wires, their clawed feet digging into the blackened rubber sheathing. Dust settles on the windshield of our white 1986 Toyota Soleil. We’ve been stuck in traffic for an hour.

“Kichu bhule jayona kintu,” my mother says, urging me not to forget what I had learned last night.

“I won’t mom,” I reply, cradling my case that contained my eraser, my ruler, my sharpener and my army of pencils. My massive drawing board covers my knees, as it lies lifeless on the rubber car mat in front of me. I have an art exam in an hour. I am late.

An auto rickshaw sputters past us, weaving through the rush hour traffic.

It leaves behind a trail of concentrated black smoke. Horns blare from all sides as drivers vent their frustration.

Breathing heavily, I loosen my tie and stare down at my uniform: the gray tie with its single crimson stripe angling across the middle, my steam cleaned white shirt and my charcoal grey trousers. The crimson school logo: “B.I.T”—Bangladesh International Tutorial. More like Bum in Training! I cannot see my shoes below the massive brown board. However, I know that they are polished, shining black.

Discipline is a strict policy at the privatized government school.

Punishments for lateness range from standing in the boiling heat to expulsion.

In the driver’s seat, Mustapha uncle clutches the steering wheel of the car.

Perspiration pockmarks his forehead.

Scratching his beard, he wipes the rear-view mirror with an orange cloth, and places it with his copy of Cricket Plus in the glove compartment. He wasn’t related to us—he was a driver

hired by my family. However, being older than me, tradition dictates that I address him as “uncle.”

“Uncle, ar koto dere hobe?”—How much longer.

“Uncle slams his foot on the brake pedal. The army crest on the back of the truck looms larg er. Rubber burns and the tires shriek. Our tiny Toyota slams into the back of the gigantic truck. Mustapha uncle’s head jerks violently as his seat belt hugs him against his seat.”

He looks at me in the mirror and smiles. “As soon as the traffic clears, I will step on the gas,” he answers in clear unaccented English. The air conditioner hums, keeping the atmosphere inside the car liveable. The board feels cool nestled against my trousers.

My 3-hour exam will ask me to draw about an unannounced topic. I cradle my pencil case and run my fingers across the upholstery seats. My hands glide across the fabric, and stop at my broken seat belt.

Ten minutes pass, and traffic begins to clear. I can now see the giant model fighter jet on its stand at the corner of the intersection. The green and red logo of the Bangladesh Air Force is painted on the silver metal. Horns blare. An army vehicle lumbers to a halt in the lane next to us. The old Toyota T100 pickup has a canvas cap over its truck bed. Several camouflaged officers peer out from underneath it. The sunlight glints off their matching automatic rifles. The truck’s standard diesel V6 engine growls, and rumbles. The driver in the front seat wears a black cap and chews on a wooden toothpick. He spots a clearing.

He spits the toothpick out the win-

Kyle CHRISTINA FAIERS

You said sometimes the things I do, make you feel bad for being you, And you said it like your pain was a joke.

Ours is not a love story.

I said I'd make an honest man, wear his heart and play his hand, You said, "These hands are empty, this heart is broke."

I paid for your Greek salad.

If you could just say what you want, I wouldn't have to be so blunt.

I want you but I hate the things you do.

Ours is not a love story.

MONDAY, JANUARY

Coed Basketball (Div1)

Ball Hockey (Men’s)

Ultimate Frisbee (Div 2)

Ball Hockey (Coed)

Women’s Basketball (Tri-Campus/Div 2)

Basketball (Men’s)

Gym C Mon @ 9,10 & 11am Tues @ 9,10, 11am, 12,1 & 2pm Gym C Mon @ 12pm, Wed @ 9 & 10am Thurs @ 1,2 & 3pm GYM A/B Mon & Wed @ 9,10, 11am, 12, 1 & 2pm

Field Hockey

Indoor Cricket (Men’s)

Gym C Tues & Thurs @ 8, 9 & 10pm

Indoor Soccer (Coed)

Gym A/B Mon, Tues & Wed @ 3 & 4pm

Ice Hockey (Div 1) Indoor Soccer (Tri-Campus/Div 2)

Gym C Indoor Soccer (Coed 3 and a goalie) Mon, Tues & Wed @ 5, 6, 7 & 8pm Lacrosse (Div 1) Indoor Soccer (Men’s)

Gym A/B Tues & Thurs @ 9, 10, 11am, 12, 1 & 2pm

Vollyeball (Co-ed)

Gym A/B Thurs @ 4 & 5pm

Volleyball (Mens’)

Gym A/B Thurs @ 6&7pm

Volleyball (Div 2) Men’s Basketball (Div 2)

Cricket

11, 2010 THE MEDIUM 11

Wed Jan. 13 @ 12pm Room 1118B Mon Jan 18 @ 12pm Room 1118B Mon Jan. 25 @ 12pm Room 1118B Mon Feb. 1 @ 12pm Room 1118B Wed Jan. 27 @ 12pm Room 1118B Wed Jan. 27 @ 1pm Room 1118B Tues Jan. 19 @ 12pm Room 1118B Thurs Jan. 28 @ 12pm Room 1118B Thurs Jan.28 @1pm Room1118b

Monday Jan. 25 Monday Jan. 25 Monday Feb. 1 Tuesday Feb. 9 Monday Feb. 1 Wednesday Feb. 3 Tuesday Jan. 26 Thursday Feb. 4 Thursday Feb.4

Ice Hockey (Div 1) Indoor Soccer (Tri-Campus/Div 1/Div 2)

Lacrosse (Div 1) Volleyball (Div 1/Div 2)

Water Polo (Div 1)

Let’s keep up the winning tradition!! If you played in high school, you can play for UTM! No cost to participate. Get out to a Try-out/Skill Evaluation Session!

If you are unable to make any of these tryouts, but would like to participate, please contact Jack Krist (905) 569-4607 j.krist@utoronto.ca or Rachel Tennant (905) 828-3712 rachel.tennant@utoronto.ca Need transportation to the Ice Hockey try-outs?

Stop by the Program office in the RAWC and we’ll arrange it!

Pick up a copy of our Activity Guide today for more information regarding dance classes, instructional classes, swimming lessons and much, much more…

12 THE MEDIUM MONDAY, JANUARY 11, 2010

Andrew Tysiak , Editor | sports@mediumonline.ca

Overtime loss a minor dent in junior hockey WILLIAM ROBERTSON ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

The stage was set this year at the World Junior Hockey Championships in Saskatoon. For Canada, nothing less than a Gold medal was acceptable. For the young men selected, it w a s a c ha n c e o f a li f e t i m e : T h e tournament gives them a chance to showcase their skills for the upcoming draft and to play for their country, an experience they will cherish forever.

Canada began the tournament against Latvia, who were no match for the red and white. Throughout the game, Canada eased the pressure but still came away with a 16-0 victory.

They continued to handily defeat opponents until New Year’s Eve, w h e r e a l o s s t o t he A m e ri c a n s seemed inevitable. Down by two, Jordan Eberle emerged, as well as Alex Pietrangelo, who tied the game with an incredible short handed goal less than five minutes remaining in regulation. Ultimately, they went to a shootout, and Canada got the win w i t h a b i g s t o p b y J a k e Allen on the final USA shooter, Jordan Schroeder. Canada clinched first place in Group A and a bye to the semi-final.

Russia seemed to be on the road to the semi-final to meet the Canadians until they overlooked

Shaun Best/Reuters

Tournament MVP Jordan Eberle lead Canada in scoring with 8 goals, 5 assists and 13 points. the team from Switzerland. The Russians were stunned to lose in overtime. A weak-looking shot from the Swiss defender found its way through to the back of the net, ending Russian hopes for a medal.

With the win, the Swiss advanced to face Canada and were easily defeated by the red and white.

Following this, the USA defeated Sweden in the other semi-final.

This victory set the stage for another classic match-up between the Canadians and the rival Americans.

With all the hype leading up to the game, it was going to be difficult to give the crowd a game that could live up to it. The game, however, surpassed expectations. It evolved into a-back-and-forth game

with everything anyone could have asked for. Canada jumped out to an early 1-0 lead with a goal by Luke Adam that found the five-hole of Mike Lee. The Americans quickly responded and then scored again just 36 seconds later to go up 2-1. Th e Canadians did not back down, and a pass from Nazem Kadri found Greg Nemisz, who eventually put in his first goal of the tournament.

Both teams went into the intermission tied at two, going back and forth throughout the first period.

The second period began with another weak goal from the Americans, with a point shot that found its way through the screen and into the back of the net. Again,

the lead was short lived as Taylor Hall’s bad angled shot found the back of the net, and it caused the American coach to pull Mike Lee and put in his backup goaltender.

The Americans would not quit as they broke in on an odd-man rush and scored again to take the lead.

Canadian goalie Jake Allen mishandled a weak shoot-in; the misplay was taken advantage of by Team USA Captain Derek Stepan.

Down by two, the outlook for Canada looked dismal as every second was precious in tying the game.

Three minutes left and still down by two, Jordan Eberle cemented his place in team Canada history as he scored to bring the score to 5-4.

Not satisfied there, Eberle ultimately took his team on his shoulders and scored another clutch goal to tie the game and send it into overtime.

Overtime was fast paced and led to chances for both teams. An oddman rush against USA found the puck on Pietrangelo’s stick, who took a slap shot. It was stopped by USA netminder Jack Campell. Off t h a t r e bo u n d, t hr e e A m e r i c an skaters took off down the ice and with the puck on Carlsons’ stick, he shot the puck into the back of the net, ending Canada’s drive for six straight gold medals in the World Juniors.

Despite the loss, the Canadian p l a y e r s h a ve m a n y t h i n g s t o b e

proud of. For instance, Taylor Hall made an even stronger case to be the number one draft pick overall in the coming draft with his superb play and remarkable goals. He finished the tournament tied for third overall in scoring, racking up six goals and six assists. Second, Alex Pietrangelo was the tournament’s top defenceman and will crack the St. Louis Blues line-up full-time next season. Known for his smarts and poise with and without the puck, he amassed nine assists and finished the tournament with 12 points.

Finally, Jordan Eberle cemented himself in Canadian history as the top scoring junior player and as the most clutch player to date. His goals came in timely fashion both this year and last, and he was a true leader on the ice. Expect him to be playing in the NHL next year fulltime with the Edmonton Oilers because of these reasons.

Canada will be looking to take the title from the Americans next year on their home ice as the tournament will be played in Buffalo. It is a minor dent in Canadian junior history as Team USA captured its s e c o n d g o l d, w h i l e C a n a d a h a s stalled at fifteen. USA has the year to enjoy their victory because expectations for next year will be even higher, as Canada will strive to regain the title on top of the Junior hockey world.

Jack’s success could result in Calderon departure ANDREW TYSIAK SPORTS EDITOR

Before making a return on Wednesday night against the Orlando Magic, Jose Calderon was hampered by a hip injury that had him sidelined since December 11. Prior to this injury, it appeared that the Raptors were heading in a direction reminiscent of last season’s woes.

Sporting a 10-15 record at the time, the Raptors showed a lack of defensive presence and inconsistent shooting.

Most importantly, they appeared to be incapable of beating any team with a record above the 500 mark. As the seriousness of Calderon’s injury was finally discovered, it felt like the nail in the coffin for the Raptors’ hopes of making the playoffs this season and enticing Bosh to stay in Toronto for next season. But as the Raptors now hold a 1918 record and have won eight of their last nine games, it would seem Calderon’s injury turned out to be a blessing in disguise that allowed backup point guard Jarrett Jack to shown he could run the offense and develop a team chemistry that Calderon was unable to initiate prior to his injury.

The stats alone prove that Jack has not only been more beneficial to the team than Calderon, but also prove his worth as a starter in the NBA. Coming

off the bench for the majority of his short career, his consistency and recent successes might finally lift him over the hump and solidify him as a legitimate NBA starter.

In the 15 games since Calderon last started for the Raptors, the team has managed a 10-5 record. In that span, Jack averaged 12.8 points, 6.1 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game. He has a nice mix of good outside shooting and the ability to penetrate to the basket.

When Calderon starts, the team’s record is a mere 9-13, and averages only 11.4 points, 6.4 assists, and 2.3 rebounds per game on the season. This is disappointing, considering he had come off a career high 12.8 points per game last season and was expected to excel alongside the many roster moves GM Bryan Colangelo made during the offseason.

Although Jack’s offense has proven to be slightly superior to Calderon’s, it is his defensive skills that set him aside from Calderon. While Calderon has a history of defensive weaknesses, notably his lack of physicality, inability to stay in front of speedy point guards and tendency to get posted up by bigger guards, Jack possesses the defensive toughness the team desperately needs from the point guard position. He is a deft, take-charge guard that has the speed and the strength to contain the best of point guards and makes up for Calderon’s deficiencies.

During Calderon’s absence, the team was able to hold opponents to less than 100 points for six total games,

including a span of four straight from December 18 to December 27, all of which resulted in wins.

The dilemma now is whether to trade Calderon before the trade deadline passes, or allow the two point guards to peacefully co-exist and provide an impressive backcourt for the emerging Toronto Raptors.

Third string point guard Marcus Banks played exceptionally well as a back-up during Calderon’s absence.

His shooting and turnover numbers are near career bests and the 1.6-to-1 assist to turnover ratio is around the same as his career average. Showing the Raptors front office that he is capable of producing off the bench has made Calderon more expendable.

After all, if the Raptors are going to want to make a serious run in the playoffs, they will need to acquire the services of a veteran shooting guard.

While relying on rookie DeMar DeRozan as the starting shooting guard and an inexperienced and inconsistent Marco Belinelli as backup, it is clear that the Raptors lack depth within that position. Involving Calderon in a trade for a legitimate starting shooting guard such as Sacramento King’s Kevin Martin or Washington Wizards Caron Butler could be the best possible route for Colangelo to take.

Despite this, Calderon has been a fan favorite in Toronto for a long time.

His impressive shooting skills, high free throw percentage, superb passing skills and instincts, along with his ener-

Stats as a Starter

NBAE/Getty Images

Associated Press

Jose Calderon

Jarrett Jack

Starts: 22 Team Record: 9 13 PPG: 11.4 APG: 6.4 RPG: 2.3

Starts: 15 Team Record: 10 5 PPG: 12.8 APG: 6.1 RPG: 3.4

getic and competitive personality, will make Raptor fans especially sad to see him leave. Obtaining a shooting guard may also create chemistry problems for a team that is finally adapting to each other this season.

As the Raptors play out their final 45 games of the season, their chances at making the playoffs are high, but their changes of winning the NBA championship remain very slim. The team is

clearly not strong or consistent enough to battle with the elite teams in the Eastern Conference, such as the Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic and the Atlanta Hawks. While trading Calderon may or may not be the best solution, it is obvious that changes will need to be made in order for Canada’s only basketball team to even have a chance at becoming legitimate NBA contenders.