Monday, February 8, 2010
Volume 36, Issue 17
UTM professor asked to resign from organization Family of deceased president requests an investigation on the circumstances of his death STEFANIE MAROTTA
UTM political science professor Aurel Braun was asked to resign from his position as chair of Rights and Democracy, a non-partisan organization based in Montreal that promotes human rights and democratic institutions abroad. The call for resignation, which was signed by 45 of the agency’s 47 staffers, followed the death by heart attack of Rights and Democracy president Rémy Beauregard on January 7. According to The Toronto Star, Braun and the late Beauregard disagreed for months over different issues. In a meeting that took place at Beauregard’s house shortly before his death, most of the board sided with Braun against grants that Beauregard had approved for two Palestinian NGOs. Braun and other members of the board were concerned that that NGOs had terrorist links. They also said that Rights and Democracy itself was lacking in their performance of transparency and accountability procedures. A motion was subsequently introduced to "repudiate" the grants. Beauregard and his allies voted in favour. Two board members walked off in protest. During the same meeting, Beaure-
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Ottawa remains silent about the death of Rémy Beauregard. gard’s performance was as president was criticized. Braun had previously sided with members Jacques Gauthier and Elliot Tepper to issue their own evaluation of Beauregard’s performance, which they neglected to submit to either Beauregard or the rest of the board. They then sent the
evaluation to Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s office. Following Beauregard’s death, four former presidents wrote to Harper, asking him to investigate the circumstances of the president’s death “with a focus on the role and conduct of the board.” A petition
signed by staffers of Rights and Democracy accused Braun and two other members of harassment and demanded their resignation or firing. Beauregard’s family also submitted a letter to the Prime Minister, urging him to heed the requests of the organization’s staff and the four
former presidents to investigate the circumstances surrounding their relative’s death. “We intend to clean up this organization and the mandate that Canadian people intent for this organization. We want to make sure that there is transparency; we want to make sure that there is accountability,” said Braun on CTV’s Power Play. Ed Broadbent, a former president of Rights and Democracy, joined other analysts in claiming that the source of the conflict lay in ideological disputes. “It’s this government putting people on the board that will pursue their Middle East agenda,” said Broadbent in an interview for the same CTV show. Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon said he intended to meet with Braun to gain a better understanding of the situation and to clear up disputes, adding that he did not intend on intervening “in terms of the discussions that are held at the board level.” Rights and Democracy was founded under the conservative government of Brian Mulroney in 1988. It receives approximately $11 million in government funding each year and reports directly to Parliament. Thirteen members sit on the Board of Directors, ten Canadian incumbents are appointed by the government and three international members are elected by those ten.
Saints come out victorious In a back and forth game, the Saints came out victorious, rallying from a 10-0 deficit to defeat the Indianapolis Colts 31-17 in Super Bowl XLIV. In the fourth quarter, the Saints outscored the Colts 17-0, including a 74-yard touchdown by Saints cornerback Tracy Porter off a clutch interception with 3:12 left. Saints quarterback and Superbowl MVP Drew Brees played particularly impressive, tying a Super Bowl record with 32 completions on the night, going 32-of-39 for 288 yards and earning two touchdowns.
Angela Davis speaks out PAGE 2 J.D. Salinger’s legacy PAGE 5 Dating Tips for Valentines PAGE 9 CBC.CA photo
see Rally on page 10
Sports in 3D PAGE 10 www.mediumonline.ca
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2 THE MEDIUM
MONDAY, FEBRUARY
8, 2010
NEWS ACTIVISM & REPORTS
Activist Angela Davis speaks to students Former Black Panther member draws crowd in downtown Toronto STEFANIE MAROTTA ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
In the main event for Xpression Against Oppression Week, professor and social activist Angela Davis presented a lecture at the Bloor Cinema on Thursday night. The Toronto-based cinema filled up to capacity quickly, with lineups of students and citizens reaching the corner of the block. UTSU VP campus life Danielle Sandhu and VP equity Daniella Kyei, along with UTMSU VP equity Vickita Bhatt, opened with a brief overview of the week’s success and descriptions of the evening’s speakers. U of T history professor Melanie Newton began with a quote from Angela Davis: “The change that we get is not necessarily the change that we wanted.� “The black face affair at U of T demonstrated the major generational shift that the black community has undergone and how universities have taken these battles and turned them into marketable items,� Newton said, referring to a recent incident that saw several U of T students apologize after they painted their faces black for a Halloween party. Angela Davis began by addressing Black History Month and the struggle of slaves both in the United States and Canada. By discussing critical junctures such as the Civil War, the Haitian Revolution and the Civil Rights movement of the mid-twentieth century, Davis emphasized the way in which the movement for freedom cannot yet be considered a success, because “full citizenship
Andrew Agnew Iler/The Varsity
Angela Davis discusses transgendered imprisonment and Black History Month. does not by itself accomplish everything that a person needs to be free.� As the founder of the Critical Resistance organization, Davis has spent a lot of time working on abolishing what she calls “the prison-industrial complex.� Davis told the story of Ashley Smith, a young girl from New Brunswick who spent most her teenage life in juvenile prison institutions. Smith strangled herself to death while in an isolated cell in a Kitchener prison. Davis stated that imprisonment is an inappropriate form of state punishment that actually influ-
ences private violence. She addressed the issues surrounding transgendered imprisonment and the unfair placement of prisoners determined by their genitalia. When asked if she regretted her w ork a s a member of the Black Panther Party and other struggles, Davis responded, “Sometimes it seems like we are fighting the same battles over and over again; however, whenever we win, those victories are never won for eternity. But in the process of struggling together, we learn to glimpse new possibilities that otherwise never would have become apparent.�
After the lecture, students had the opportunity to meet with Davis. UTM students stayed late to take pictures, ask questions and discuss issues with the professor. Davis began her career as a professor at UCLA. She enrolled in the Communist party and visited Cuba and the former East German Republic. A member of the Black Panthers, she was arrested in the 1970’s for the abduction and murder of a Superior Court judge, becoming the third woman to be put on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List. She was eventually acquitted and has since remained
a social activist. She is also a retired professor with the History of Consciousness Department at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Theft Under $5,000
remain motor vehicle accident at the CCT Underground Parking garage. No persons were injured.
Correction notice The article printed in last week’s issue, titled UTM Liberals host first AGM, was written by Assistant News Editor Stefanie Marotta, not Ovais Shah.
Campus police weekly summaries January 28, 2010 – February 4, 2010 in front of the South Building.
January 28 - 12:40 p.m. Theft Under $5,000 Campus Police responded and investigated a theft complaint from the Communication, Culture and Technology Building. A cellular phone, whose estimated value is $700, was stolen.
January 28 - 6:30 p.m. Motor Vehicle Accident Campus Police responded to a motor vehicle accident on the Collegeway entrance near Parking Lot #11. No one was injured.
January 28 - 3:50 p.m. Noise Complaint
January 29 - 1:22 a.m. Noise Complaint
Campus Police responded and investigated a noise complaint from a residence unit with regards to loud music.
Campus Police responded and investigated to a noise complaint from a residence unit with regards to loud music.
January 28 - 4:45 p.m. Information / Safety Concern
January 30 - 00:45 a.m. Noise Complaint
Campus Police responded to a safety concern report of people skating on the pond
Campus Police responded and investigated a complaint with regards to a loud and
noisy gathering at residence. The area cleared without incident. January 30 - 2:24 a.m. Noise Complaint Campus Police responded and investigated a complaint in regards to a loud and noisy gathering at the back of a campus residence. The area cleared without incident. January 31 - 2:40 p.m. Library Code of Conduct Offences Campus Police responded to a call with regards to two students not following library policy. Both students were asked to leave the Library. February 2 - 1:25 p.m.
Choosing Your Program Workshop
Campus Police responded and investigated two theft incidents from residence. Shoes were stolen from two UTM residence students. Estimated value of stolen items $345. February 1 - 6:02 p.m. Theft Under $5,000 Campus Police investigated a complaint with regards to a theft from the washroom near the main entrance of the RAWC. An iPod Touch and a wallet were stolen. Estimated value of stolen items $250. February 1 - 7:20 p.m. Motor Vehicle Accident Campus Police responded to a fail to
February 2 - 4:43 p.m. Theft Under $5,000 Campus Police responded and investigated a theft complaint from the Kaneff Centre. A digital camera and memory stick were stolen. Estimated value of stolen items was $650. February 2 - 5:05 p.m. Theft Under $5,000 Campus Police responded and investigated a theft complaint with regards to the bench from the Kaneff bus stop. The suspects were identified and have agreed to return the bench.
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TO REGISTER FOR EMPLOYER EVENTS, WORKSHOPS AND MORE, visit www.utm.utoronto.ca/careers UTM
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MONDAY, FEBRUARY
8, 2010 THE MEDIUM 3
BLOOD DONOR OPPRESSION NEWS
Student groups tackle oppression OVAIS SHAH WITH NOTES FROM VICKITA BHATT
Last week, UTMSU organized the Xpression against Oppression Week (XAO). The four-day event attempted to bring attention to various domestic and international issues from around the world. Some of the issues of particular focus for this week were homophobia, sexism, racism, xenophobia, aboriginal genocide and lessons that Canadians can learn from the American Civil Rights movement. The week started off with the Queer Radicalism Awareness campaign, which aimed to trigger thoughts of how the LGBTQ community is often the subject of various oppressive mechanisms and verbal, emotional and physical injustices in society. \ The highlight of the Queer Radicalism Awareness campaign was the Injustice Central Museum. The museum displayed various
pieces of arts and pictures that depicted oppressed individuals and bought attention to their pleas and state from students and staff across campus. XAO looked at the historically oppressed First-Nations group. Cayugan of the Six Nations made a speech on the various forms of discrimination against First Nation Canadians. Cayugan also spoke about the abuse of First Nations individuals at the turn of the century, focusing on residential schooling, systematic expulsion, and the destruction of language and religious practices of Native Americans and their lands at the hands of the expanding communities of settlers and clergy. On the final day of XAO, UTMSU and UTSU hosted a lecture featuring Angela Davis. UTMSU VP equity Vickita Bhatt said the biggest success of XA O w a s s e e i ng students come out to educate themselves about the issues of oppression that groups face globally. “A lot of
What is your ideal Valentine’s Day?
educational work needs to be undertaken on world issues and how the UTM community can come together under a united banner and fight against injustices,” said Bhatt, adding that the fight for social-justice and for the rights of the oppressed has to extend longer than a week. The campaign also bought attention to those who are suffering in Haiti. In partnership with an NGO called Free the Children, money is being raised for children in the earthquake-devastated region. The charity is working actively to provide basic necessities such as shelter, medicine and water for children who are the worst affected by the disaster. Free the Children also play an integral role in Haiti by fighting for the rights of children and preventing them from falling prey various forms of child-abuse. XAO raised funds to help the children of Haiti by selling XAO t-shirts, raising a total of $200. All the funds that were collected were allocated to charity.
“Make a spinach dip and a loaf of bread with my friends while macraméing myself a pair of jean shorts.” Matt D. 3rd year English
“Someone made me a roman tic dinner with their own twist and then took me somewhere romantic.” Lia C. 3rd year Biological Anthropology
“Definitely go out with my boyfriend to Paris, and have dinner at the Eiffel Tower.” Christina G. 1st year Psychology
OUT@UTM educates students on gay blood donor ban KATHERINE LUCZYNSKI ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
Last Wednesday, OUT@UTM, the LGBTQ club on campus, set up a table to educate students on the policies that don’t allow homosexual males to donat e blood. The education session was a response to the UTMSU-sponsored blood donor clinic that was taking place in the Presentation Room of the Student Centre. Students and faculty alike were invited to donate if they met requirements presented by the Canadian Blood Services. The Canadian Blood Services’ logo states, “Blood, it’s in you to give.” But this is not the case for gay males. Currently, the Canadian Blood Services' policy states that “a man who has sex with another man, even once, since 1977 cannot donate blood for life.” The Canadian Blo od S ervices website also includes a page specifying indefinite deferrals from donating blood, meaning that although the criteria above may be met, certain individuals are still unable to donate blood. Although it is now known that almost anyone can contract HIV/AIDS if they do not use protection when sexually active, or if they share needles, OUT@UTM
feels that this policy reflects a negative lifestyle for homosexuals. In coordination with the UTMSU Expression Against Oppression Week, OUT@UTM volunteers handed out flyers that read, “We now know that anyone can contract HIV and testing measures have improved drastically since the 1970s. There is limited surveying of heterosexual HIV/AIDS contractions.” “The point of the handouts was not to discourage people from giving blood but to educate them and have them realize that some people are excluded from the process,” said Kumari Giles, an OUT@UTM executive. The OUT@UTM flyer also stated, “If all blood is tested, there is ample time to test preceding transfusions regardless of the sexual acts of the donor. Rejecting donations from males who have sexual intercourse with other males (even if it only happened once) is a rejection of a donation that could potentially save a life.” “Not being able to donate because of my sexual orientation is frustrating,” said another member of OUT@UTM. “While I understand the precautionary measures they [Canadian Blood Services] are taking are in the best interest of the population, I don’t think it’s fair to assume all sexually active
gay males engage in risky and promiscuous activity. I feel I should have as much right to donate as any sexually active heterosexual person.” “This ban enforces homophobic ideals of homosexuals being ‘diseased’ or having what they called the ‘gay disease,’” suggested Giles. “Those ideals are not accurate in today’s society. You are not going to ‘catch the gay’ and HIV/AIDS is prevalent in many communities, so why should it continue to be referred to as the ‘gay disease’ when it’s outdated?” When a female Canadian Blood Services worker received one of the flyers, she insisted that “there’s a reason for it.” The representative referred to the indefinite deferral of sexually active gay males. Several passersby were shocked to learn about the ban, which they had no knowledge of. Others suggested a petition be signed to create a change. “In the past few years, other transferable items like bone marrow and organs have lifted or revised their ban on gay donors, due to the low numbers of donors,” said Giles. Canadian Blood Services is constantly advertising the need for blood donations, and this is not the first time a donor clinic has been set up at UTM.
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NOTICE OF LANE CLOSURE On Tuesday, February 9th, 2010, from 11:00 AM to about 3:00 PM, there will be short intermittent lane closures on Outer Circle Road near the Instructional Centre construction site. Vehicle drivers are also encouraged to use The Collegeway or the Middle entrance to campus during this operation.
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4 THE MEDIUM
MONDAY, NOVEMBER
23, 2009
OPINION THE TRUE REVOLUTION—A TECHNOLOGICAL ONE
Letter to the Editor An alternative approach Publishers beware—the to learning medium is the message Dear Editor,
ALAIN LATOUR EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
rowing up in a poor country was not a cool experience for me. Now that I live in a rich country, I am often intrigued by the perspective that my childhood gave me. Take textbooks, which are pretty rare in many Cuban schools. Students often share them, passing them along as relics. (They can’t photocopy them, given the government’s dislike for all means of dissemination of information and its subsequent ban on the purchase of these devices.) In fact, many professors do without books altogether, relying on handouts, scribbling long tirades on the blackboard and demanding that students take page after page of notes. This was a very different experience from the one I lived at UTM, where not buying a required textbook can be a bad idea. Professors expect all students to get them, and in fact, base their entire curriculum around a specific textbook, which can change from year to year. This has, of course, created quite an important market, one that can force students to spend up to $900 per year on textbooks, the prices of which have increased four times the rate of inflation over the past decade, according to a 2005 PIRG study. Sadly for us students, the textbook market does not operate according to the same economic principles as a normal consumer market. The faculty chooses the product but does not buy it, while the students, who use the product, do not have the option of selecting them. The price is thus removed from the purchasing decision, which results in textbook publishers enjoying of a disproportionate market power to set prices in a market already affected by a serious lack of competition. As for photocopying, students in Canada do have the machines at their disposal, but they too face restrictions to unrestrained photocopying of their books (albeit for different reasons than in Communist regimes). Thus, many of us came to rely on tusbe.com, that incredibly useful site that allows us to buy and resell textbooks without having to pay a commission. Yet there is hope—not too far down the road. A solution to the textbook problem may come in a few years, in the shape of Apple’s shiny new iPad and the flood of marketchanging devices that it touts. There has been much talk about how these devices will change the publishing landscape, with readers foregoing printed magazines or books in favour of their electronic equivalents. Whether most consumers will actually pay for these books is a matter of debate—witness what happened with the music market. I know people who’ve listened to a lot of music over the last few years, but did not pay for any of it. Publishing houses probably fear that the same will happen to them. On the other hand, they have probably learned the lesson that the music
G
industry paid for so dearly: fighting technology and attempting to punish distributors of illegally downloaded material is sure to backfire on them, alienating consumers and diminishing their willingness to pay high prices for the same content they can get free elsewhere. This is probably why software company ScrollMotion announced that it will develop iPad-friendly versions of textbooks for education publishers like McGraw Hill, Houghton Mifflin and Kaplan only a week after the iPad launched. Features that may make it into the iPad textbooks include video, interactive quizzes, the ability to record lectures, highlight and search text and take notes. For those who doubt that the iPad will sell, thinking it just an overblown iPod, there are other options, such as the dual-screen enTourage eDge, which has also entered into deals with publishers to create digital textbooks. The eDge has a 9.7-inch e-ink screen on one side for reading and a 10.1-inch LCD screen that accepts stylus inputs for handwriting (something the iPad lacks). Digital textbooks are admittedly nothing new. McGraw Hill, Pearson and other textbook publishers already support CourseSmart, a provider of college textbooks in eTextbook format on a common online platform. CourseSmart offers eTextbook versions of college textbooks at a cost of 50% less than the print versions of the same titles. The company currently sells more than a third of all college textbooks in online format. Digital books, however, have so far lacked the ideal medium. Reading a CourseSmart book on an iPhone screen will likely induce more headaches than just paying for a regular textbook would. The new tablets will change this with their bigger screens. And even if they didn’t hold the promise of lower textbook prices, they will still make things easier for students, allowing them to search for and bookmark text and highlight it in different colours. Students will also be able to write notes or use a built-in microphone to record audio notes, all while carrying dozens of textbooks in one slim tablet. They will also take interactive quizzes and track their right and wrong answers on the device. Pessimists will bet that publishing companies will refuse to significantly lower prices for electronic versions of textbooks. But these companies better tread carefully: students are a tech-savvy, irreverent lot, one that has only put up with the high costs of textbooks because they lacked the technological means to fight it. Once given access to an electronic version of a textbook, they will likely find a way to unlock whatever DRM protection is slapped to it. Alternatively, it will only take one scanned copy of a textbook, saved as a PDF file, to spread from tablet to tablet with a vengeance. So, ironically, the future of textbooks in North America may look a bit like the past in poorer countries: one student will get a hold of a copy and give it to all of his or her classmates. And they won’t have to transcribe it manually—pushing a button will do.
I was saddened to see that the content of the editorial last week (“Think Before You Speak”) was, once again, speaking in favor of rising costs for education. As you mention in your editorial, residence fees, meal plan and parking costs are not like tuition fees, yet they are ancillary fees that are barriers to accessible education. At the Erindale College Council meeting where these increases were passed, the undergraduate student speakers, excluding those who worked for the administration in some capacity, spoke against these increas es. Considering tha t the largest constituency on campus had serious issues with both the consultative process (or lack thereof) and the actual increases, I would argue that at the very least, the administrative should have put a hold on the process to gain more student input. Also, it was interesting to see how every single department that requested an increase had also posted huge profits last year, on the backs of broke students. For example, parking made a profit of $118,229 in 2008-09, $69,625 in 2009-10, and with the 3% increase, will be making $93,237 the following school year. One of the main problems with university fees these days is the downshifting of costs they do each year. With tuition fees increases of a few percentage points, universities, and especially UTM, have been taking costs that were being paid for by tuition fees previously and shifting them to ancillary and incidental fees. An assumption that you make throughout your editorial is that in the desire to see a reduction in tuition fees, the end result would be a lowering of the amount contributed by students, with no change in the contribution from the government. Let me assure you that this is not the case. There is no assumption that suddenly the university will not have any cost, and that professors will work for free, and that buildings will repair themselves. No. Obviously, it takes money to run a university; the
question is where that money is coming from. Students believe that a large portion of the money should come from the provincial and federal government. The reasons are simple; our country is a social democracy. We pay progressive taxes for education, health care and other social benefits. Students should not be double billed. Student should have access to affordable education based on their report cards, not their credit cards. In the case of the post-secondary sector, there is a simple request: that a university not be run as a business, but rather as an institution of higher learning. Sadly, with the government taking a backseat in how these public institutions function, it is up to students to remind universities why they exist in the first place, to not just post huge profits, but rather to educate and to contribute to the overall knowledge of society. This brings me to my final point. I can reassure you that students do lobby ministers, MPPs and senior administration. At these meetings, the problems with high tuition fees are presented, alternative solutions are offered and a discussion is held in a respectful manner. But what happens after the discussions, the lobbying and the research? You seem to present mass mobilizations as alternatives only in countries where there is a dictatorship of some kinds, not something to be utilized in a democracy. I wonder why the walk-outs and rallies in Quebec worked, then. I wonder why there were large scale mobilizations to oppose Canada’s involvement in Afghanistan and Harper’s decision to prorogue parliament. Sometimes, when the government doesn’t respond to reasonable discussion and research, it is time to enforce democracy in a more vocal way. As the late Howard Zinn put it, “Dissent is the highest form of patriotism.”
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In solidarity, Vickita Bhatt
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MONDAY, FEBRUARY
8, 2010 THE MEDIUM 5
Michael Di Leo, Editor | arts@mediumonline.ca
Will there be another catcher in the rye? The influence of J.D. Salinger and his (un)punblished work COLLEEN MUNRO
The famously reclusive author J.D. Salinger, best known for his seminal coming-of-age novel, The Catcher in Rye, died last Wednesday at age 91. He lived a very private life, avoiding the media whenever possible, so that news of his death eluded the media until the following day. But once the public found out, an impressive outpouring of tributes followed. The possibility of later Salinger works being released to the public after his death has fans and critics salivating. He only had four books in print (1951’s The Catcher in the Rye is his only published novel) and he stopped publishing after he released a collection of short stories called Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters and Seymour: An Introduction. This leaves over forty years of potential work unaccounted for. With such a small public output, some fans would read anything that the author wrote, no matter how rough the draft. His work was undeniably influential.None of it, however, exceeded the cultural impact of The Catcher in the Rye, which became a classroom staple (although some school boards banned it amid protests from parents over swearing and the bad influence they feared it would exert over their children). Despite all this, the novel’s protagonist, Holden Caulfield, grew into an iconic figure in literature, one whose distaste for the “phony” adult world is allegedly
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The reclusive author in a rare photo shoot. shared by many readers today. The Catcher in the Rye provided a template for a surplus of solitary, disillusioned protagonists in young adult fiction—and in real life too: John Lennon's murderer, Mark Chapman, cited The Catcher in the Rye as an inspiration for the killing in 1980. The book’s influence, however, can also be seen in many works intended for older audiences. Contemporary authors such as Dave Eggers and Douglas Coupland have displayed Salingerlike qualities in some of their work. Dave Eggers’ 2000 memoir, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering
Genius, explores a time in Eggers’ life when both of his parents had passed away within a short time of each other and he was forced to care for his younger brother. His discontented views on the world recall a tone not unlike that of Caulfield’s. Caulfield also speaks in a slang style that was popular at the time of The Catcher in the Rye’s writing, and Eggers’ unconventional memoir format and unique writing style also feels very era-appropriate. It comes as no surprise that Eggers wrote a lengthy tribute piece for The New Yorker after Salinger’s death, praising his work, and admiring the dialogue in his
An oldie but a goodie Old time radio shows aren’t as boring as you might think STEFANIE MAROTTA ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
“I’d rather watch TV.” My nine-year old cousin wasn’t too keen on the idea of a show without pictures. “This is going to be boring,” she added. I placed a bowl of freshly popped popcorn on Adrianna’s lap. She nestled into the pillow fort we had constructed on my bed. “You wacky kids and your television. This’ll be great, trust me,” I reassured her. Ignoring the remote that was within arm’s reach, I used the knob on my stereo to switch stations. My dad never relinquishes the opportunity to tell me that he had to stand next to the television set and change the channel for my grandmother, so I figured I’d honour tradition. Theatre of the Mind is an American program that runs old time radio
shows on AM 740. It aired for the first time on January 31, 1933 on a Detroit radio station. The episode that Peroff had chosen, “Burly Scott’s Sacrifice,” first aired on March 29, 1954. But tonight’s feature was, according to host Brian Peroff, would be The Lone Ranger. Adrianna’s eyes widened as she recognized Rossini’s William Tell Overture. “I know this song!” she exclaimed. George Seaton’s iconic voice rang out amidst gun shots, “Hi-yo, Silver! A fiery horse with the speed of light, a cloud of dust, and a hearty hi-yo, Silver! The Lone Ranger.” The masked American hero was off on another justice-seeking adventure with his trusty “Indian” sidekick, Tonto. The episode opens with outlaw Burly Scott. Riding on horseback toward a small town, Scott tells his companion about the locket he wears around his neck. Inside is a worn photograph of his former wife and
his daughter, Sally. Eleven years earlier, he had chosen the life of an outlaw over a life with his family. Regretting the decision, Scott expresses intentions of doing away with the young girl’s stepfather, Jack Fairfield. Conveniently, the Lone Ranger and Tonto happen to meet Sally on the same day that Scott is on his way into town. The masked hero and sidekick tell Sally how beautiful she is and Sally returns the compliment, telling them that they are very handsome. I glanced over at my little cousin. “Adrianna, in 2010 you don’t go around telling strange, older men they’re good looking. Deal?” She nodded her head quickly without looking at me, only seeing the images of cowboys and horses that the program conjured in her mind.
Radio continued on page 6
books. Douglas Coupland, one of Canada’s most prominent contemporary writers, has tackled many
different topics over the course of his 12 published novels, but Salinger’s influence can be found in several of his protagonists, who are often disconnected from the world around them. Whether it is the bored Staples employees in The Gum Thief or the Bill Gates-worshipping Gen Xers in Microserfs, aspects of Salinger’s worldview can certainly be found in Coupland’s work. It would be intriguing to see what went on in Salinger’s mind after his retreat from the publishing world.Ten years ago, it was reported that the reclusive author had a secret cache of about 15 unpublished novels. And in his last interview, in 1980, he said that he wrote only for himself. (According to The Guardian, hiss literary agent declined to comment on whether the novels still exist, or are likely to be published.) But even without additional Salinger material, the influence of his few released works will continue to inspire many new authors for a long time to come.
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6 THE MEDIUM
MONDAY, FEBRUARY
8, 2010
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT THIS IS YOUR CHECKUP
The doctor is in Taking a look at the popular webcomic, Dr. McNinja AMIR AHMED FEATURES EDITOR
If you came across an injured man, would you heal him, or finish the job? For regular people, the solution is obvious—call 911 and avoid getting your hands dirty—but for one conflicted webcomic character, it’s a pretty tough question. Dr. McNinja, created by Chris Hastings, is both a doctor and a ninja, born with the twin urges to kill and to heal. Although this sometimes interferes with both of his jobs, the results are always hilarious, and incredibly awesome. Dr. McNinja and his eponymous webcomic have provided entertainment for ninja and medical enthusiasts for the past six years, and in 2007 the good doctor was awarded the Web Cartoonist’s Choice Award for Outstanding Superhero/Action Comic. The webcomic stars the doctor along with a cast including his sidekick Gordito: a mustachioed twelveyear old bandido, his receptionist Judy: an adult gorilla, and his rival: King Radical, “the most radical man in the radical land.” The comic follows the doctor and his vigilante adventures while sustaining his medical practice in Cumberland, Maryland. In case you haven’t realized, Hastings is a fan of over-the-top humor. Jaded comic readers can expect that the entirety of McNinja’s appeal lies in its randomness. They’d be wrong of course. Doctor McNinja walks a line between a theatre of the absurd and quick, clever jokes, and his comic is the only example I’ve seen where something with the
random humour of Paul Bunyan’s disease (a disease which causes youth to turn into gigantic, enraged lumberjacks) can be played off a snappy verbal joke about schizophrenia. The switch between the hyperbolic and the deadpan is seamless, just like the fantastic world that Hasting’s creates. Doctor McNinja’s artwork is inspired by standard superhero comic books, with each story arch making a completed issue. Hastings releases one page every M o n d a y , Wednesday, and Friday, but new readers won’t want to start there to get their McNinja fix. Here’s why: reading Hasting’s most drmcninja.com photo recent comic, Army of One (fea- There’s actually quite a reasonable explanation turing ninja clones, for this. sky pirates, and z o m b i e s ) w i l l c a u s e q u e s t i o n s , grudge against their eternal nemequestions one doesn’t normally ses. So, if you’re suffering from boreask. Why are there robots? Why does that boy have a mustache? dom, stress or a deficiency in aweWhy is Benjamin Franklin there? It someness, a comic of the medical i s a d v i s e d t o r e a d t h e M c N i n j a and murderous arts is just what the comics from the beginning and to doctor ordered. understand the many references of the comic’s world as they build up; To view this article and it’s amazing how quickly one can more, visit adapt to a world of dinosaur-riding www.mediumonline.ca highwaymen, rampant robot animals and pirates with a blood-
Taking it slow Radio continued from page 5
Sally tells the pair of men about her locket and that her father wore one just like it. Unable to remember her birth father, she relies on false tales told by her mother of the brave soldier that he was before he died in battle. Shortly after, Scott appears at Sally’s house. You can imagine what happens—but you’d probably be wrong as much as you’d be right. Suffice to say, justice gets done, but there is also regret and a second chance and happiness. The Lone Ranger was an important symbol of American culture. The masked man stood for justice, civic
lonerangerfanclub.com photo
The Lone Ranger and his sidekick, Tonto, in the television adaptation of the radio show.
Album in review: Spoon’s Transference
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TRANSFERENCE SPOON COLLEEN MUNRO
Zarqa Nawaz, the creative genius behind CBC’s hit television show, “Little Mosque on the Prairie,” and Zaib Shaikh, the comedy’s award-winning star, will engage with the evening’s moderator, Dr. Shafique Virani, Professor of Islamic Studies, and our audience in an interactive conversation about the popular show, Canadian pluralism, and the role of the arts in fostering mutual understanding.
Wednesday, Feb 24. Doors open at 6 pm. CCT Building, Room 1080 Free admission but reserve your seat at: www.utm.utoronto.ca/index.php?id=2019 This event is sponsored by the Snider Committee and U of T Religion in the Public Sphere Initiative
duty and national pride. The acting is overemphatic and the story line is predictable, but you can’t help but smile at the simplicity and innocence of the message of forgiveness and second chances. Adrianna’s bowl of popcorn sat on my desk untouched as she paced around the room chattering on and on about the night’s episode. Old time radio shows are worth a shot. They’re a refreshing change from the constant visual bombardment that people are exposed to daily and puts your imagination to good use. Theatre of the Mind airs Monday through Thursday from 10 to11 p.m. on AM 740. Old time radio shows and information are available at otrcat.com.
As a band, Spoon has paid its dues. Formed in 1994, they just released Transference, their seventh studio album. Their previous album, 2007’s Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, and its horn-infused hit, “The Underdog” (which even made its way into the soundtrack of last year’s Zac Efron vehicle, 17 Again), earned the Texas natives deserved attention. Yet, for a seasoned band that writes such catchy melodies, Spoon has remained under the radar for most of their career. With Transference, the band added a rougher edge to their music—a somewhat surprising move, given that the poppy-sounding Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga was their best-selling album. But even though Transference lacks some of the hooks that Spoon has offered on past works, it is still a consistent album, one that listeners may find a bit more challenging but still worth spending time with. Spoon relies heavily on percussion in their songs, and many of the songs on Transference continue with that tradition. The jagged, sometimes bluesinfluenced sound that they bring to
their latest album suits their rhythmic style. Transference reinvents itself from song to song. It experiments with a lot of different styles, unlike Spoon’s last album, which stuck mostly to upbeat, short songs. Some of the diversions on Transference work incredibly well, while a few just feel out of place. Singer/guitarist Britt Daniel’s ragged voice is powerful on “Written in Reverse,” and that intensity, though not typical for the band, makes for one of the best songs on the albums. “Got Nuffin” is propelled by a driving bass line, and its interweaving combination of bass, drums and piano give it a bluesy garage rock sound that the band seems comfortable in. It seems like Daniel can write a never-ending supply of fantastic pop songs. And his simple melodies work best when left to speak for themselves, accompanied only with some strippeddown instrumentation. There are a few points on Transference where things start to veer into more meandering territory, such as the extended closing solo on the otherwise great “I Saw the Light,” or the electronic synths that sneak into a couple of the songs, such as “Who Makes Your Money.” It’s nice to see the band refusing to settle into a pop music rut, but the change does distract slightly from their usual simple, clean sound. Transference is not a perfect album. It lacks the immediacy of Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga’s hooky, tight little set of songs, but the songwriting holds up well against their previous work and its uncharacteristic messiness makes it an intriguing entry in the Spoon catalogue. Transference will likely provide different highlights for every listener. Spoon has always been a reliable band, releasing one solid album after another. This eclectic mix of songs certainly won’t ruin their streak.
MONDAY,
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FEBRUARY 8, 2010 THE MEDIUM 7
8 THE MEDIUM
MONDAY, FEBRUARY
8, 2010
Amir Ahmed, Editor | features@mediumonline.ca
Students, administration and parking: a three-way collision MARY DYTYNIAK
Parking at UTM. The reason for many a student’s headache, the source of frequent complaints for the parking office and overall, one of the most hotly contested services offered on campus. Limited parking space, an unforgiving ticketing process and high parking costs cause many students to grumble at UTM’s Parking and Transportation Services for most of their university careers. But is it justified? Is parking really that bad at UTM? Or are drivers simply not following parking protocol? With regards to ticketing, Parking and Transportation Services maintains that the majority of ticket complaints are unfounded. Students, staff and visitors often park in a lot not designated by their permit, change their vehicle or license plate without updating their permit information or let their permit expire. According to Alina Constantin, an administrative assistant with PParking Services, “officers are following the Parking Services rules and regulations as outlined in our brochure. Enforcement should affect only those individuals that are not abiding by the rules and regulations.” But many students disagree. Third-year history and classics student Joshua Sumi admits that while some of the parking tickets he’s received are his fault, others are not. “I parked in the proper parking lot that my pass permits, and due to a slight snow fall, my pass was covered,” said Sumi. “The result: a $20 ticket. Heaven forbid someone get a little cold and wipe some snow off the windshield to view a pass.” If a ticket has been falsely issued, the authority to suspend
the ticket lies with the City of Mississauga Parking Enforcement. Parking Services can only review the ticketing officer’s notes and send a withdrawal request to the city. Students with a legitimate objection to a ticket should thus head to court. Anthony Nazarov, a fifth-year biology and psychology double major, made the mistake of losing his parking pass in November 2009. Based on his part-time employee status with the Psychology Department, Nazarov requested a permit replacement for $25. (Students do not receive replacements.) Nazarov is only paid every three
months, so his employee file was deactivated when he requested the permit replacement. Parking Services rejected the request.Two months later, Nazarov received the pass after he wrote to the Parking Committee and Human Resources, which corrected the clerical error. “They see the difference [between professor and student] and they right away assume that you’re cheating the system,” says Nazarov. “They don’t want to deal with it.” The biggest complaints on students’ lips are parking costs and inadequate parking space. The Erindale College Council just approved a 3% increase on all
parking passes and a $1 increase on the $12 maximum daily payand-display charge. Profits from the fee hike will fund the construction of a parking deck in Lot 8, which will offer 290 additional parking spaces by September 2010. The parking deck will replace the spaces lost due to the elimination of Lot 2 and Lot 9 to make way for the new Instructional Centre and the Health Sciences Complex. At the latest Erindale College Council meeting, UTMSU president Joey Santiago brought up the point that students can’t afford to pay greater costs to replenish services that were taken away. The c u r r e n t s o lu t i o n w i l l , h ow e v e r ,
Matthew Fillipowich/The Medium
Parking costs can add up.
create room for new campus facilities without infringing on green space. Paul Donoghue, UTM’s chief administrative officer, warned visitors and university affiliates back in June that construction of both the Instructional Centre and the may raise parking issues in the 2009/2010 term. “There's no way to avoid this. People will be inconvenienced because of the limited parking. It’s a huge challenge for us.” They hoped that the excess parking capacity on campus last year would be enough to make up for the spaces being taken out of service. Fourth-year art & art history specialist Amanda Haller contends with the issues of space and high costs by taking the bus to campus for daytime classes and studying at the library on evenings and weekends, when the $2.50 per half hour day rate drops to $1. The option of avoiding a full-year parking pass works for Haller only because she lives nearby. “I live close enough that the bus ride is only forty minutes and the bus is free… Sometimes the bus works out better anyway, because I can show up at 1:55 for a 2 p.m. class and not worry about taking 15 plus minutes to find a spot,” said Haller. Some students choose not to park on campus at all. While the city of Mississauga tries to ensure that all drivers park legally, some students have found creative ways to combine the U-Pass with a vehicle. This allows them to cut travel time drastically by parking in certain off-campus areas. City of Mississauga Parking Officers boot students out of some of the more obvious locations, but students claim other spots remain undetected. The battle between patron and administration continues.
Just one word: Internet There’s a lot of money in the internet, and the Web Startup Society encourages entrepreneurial spirit on the web.
AMIR AHMED FEATURES EDITOR
What would you do if you could meet the founders of Facebook before they made it big? Would you invest in them? Would you try to get them involved in your own business? Or would you just warn them that having a “poke” function is bloody annoying? While Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg isn’t in Canada, the
Web Startup Society’s demo camp in March is a chance for U of T students to witness web start-ups that could one day be just as successful.
There’s no reason to shy away from inven tiveness just because of youth. As Tan says, “just because you’re a student doesn’t mean you can’t do cool stuff.” Reginald Tan started the Web Startup Society started last October in an effort to bring together stu-
dents interested in web-based businesses, such as Facebook or Amazon, and to encourage them to create their own. Tan created the society because he was interested in creating a startup of his own, but found that “not only is there a lack of entrepreneurial spirit on campus, but it’s hard to find people who are interested, and we wanted to make connections easier, and foster that spirit.” The club is composed of around 8 0 m e m b er s , m o s t l y S t . G e o r g e computer engineers, although Reginald wants to reach out to UTM CCIT and computer science students. Activities in the club range from speaker presentations
by successful startup owners to their signature event, the demo camp. The demo camp, organized by the startup society in collaboration with Knowledge, Media and Design Institute, a subsection of the computer science faculty, is an event that features five-minute demonstration of students’ startup projects. Startup projects include electronic voting systems, an online music portal and a social networking site. The society is still looking to secure a venue and time, but will probably hold the demo camp around March 2. The demonstrations, Tan says, will be a great way for interested students to network
and to see what the future of webbased businesses may hold. Tan and other society members firmly believe that web-based businesses will only expand from here. “The dot-com boom caused everyone to think that the market was saturated, but that’s not the case,” Tan says. Opportunity exists everywhere, and there’s no reason to shy away from inventiveness just because of youth. As Tan says, “just because you’re a student doesn’t mean you can’t do cool stuff.” More information on the Web Startup Society and on the demo camp can be found at webstartupsociety.com.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY
8, 2010 THE MEDIUM 9
DATING TIPS FEATURES
The CRA hopes for positive change in Africa MARIANA COMITO
When Shakira Abubakar was a grade ten student in Brampton, Ontario, she was concerned about her peers’ apathetic attitude towards the genocide in Darfur. To make a difference, she gathered a group of friends and started Project Darfur in her school. Her goal was to provide a platform where youth and students could educate themselves and advocate change. In the course of working on Project Darfur, Shakira expanded the scope of the mission; in 2004, she formed Continental Rescue Africa. This organization is a registered charity run completely by volunteers; its mission, to empower youth and women to take the lead in issues hindering their wellbeing. Recognizing that the world is facing challenging times, CRA allows individuals to help make a difference and learn about global issues. In keeping with this mandate, CRA is organizing their second
annual To Africa with Love fundraiser on February 6 to raise money for the Sisters of Substance weekend leadership retreat and the summer volunteer abroad Experience Change program. The goal of the fundraiser is to raise $6,000, which will ensure that 100 girls attend the Sisters of Substance retreat. It will also come in handy for five students who wish to make a difference in the lives of street children in Ghana. The Experience Change program takes students on a one-month summer volunteer abroad program to Ghana, West Africa. In Ghana, they volunteer in teaching positions, volunteer in orphanages and organize leadership workshops with the locals on issues such as poverty and health. The highlight of this year’s program is that volunteers will be given the opportunity to make a public service announcement and write a book, compiled with stories of their experiences. The Sisters of Substance project aims to encourage and enable young
girls to develop leadership skills, to become aware and think critically about social, economic and political issues surrounding them, and to take the lead in making a change in their communities. This project features a weekend leadership workshop, where participants engage and network with guest speakers, mentors and each other. In addition to enhancing their leadership skills, these young girls develop new skills and enjoy canoeing, hiking and camping as part of the experience. “What do you hope to achieve with CRA?” is a question that some may be hesitant to answer. When confronted, Abubakar said that her goal was “to provide a platform where today’s youth can take a stand on issues that matter to them and to explore not only solutions, but the problems that render them complicit. I hope to create a global network where youth of the global north and south can work together in solidarity for a peaceful and sustainable future for all.”
Matthew Fillipowich/The Medium
Shakira Abubakr and activities coordinator Veronica Marchuk.
Dating tips for guys KJARTAN HEWITT
Jen won’t make out with me. Seriously, Jen, what’s your problem? You make out with goddamn everyone else.
Conversation Etiquette Nothing is more awkward than prolonged lulls in conversation, but don’t just blurt out anything to break the silence. Sometimes, it’s hard to tell just what is acceptable to say. It’s easy to offend a girl; you might be offending one right now. Take an observation like “Asian babies are cute.” Though race inclusive, it will generally be accepted, and more often than not agreed with, leading to further conversation. Say, however, “Asian girls are the cutest” and your girlfriend will gets all pissed at you. Even if she’s Asian. That’s the weird part. She was all for baby racism a minute ago. Double Standards Male/Female relations are chock-full of double standards. For instance, every girl I know has a story about going out with her girlfriends that goes somewhere along these lines: “…Then I drank four coolers and totally made out with Jen on the dance floor. Isn’t that weird?” Now here is where the double standard comes in. If I go out for the night with a group of my buddies, and we’re all drinking on the dance floor,
It’s the little things that count. Hold doors and pull out chairs, but don’t be all Don Juan about it. A lady wants a guy who has been brought up right, not a try-hard who spends the night looking for opportunities to ingratiate himself to her. Just be on guard, don’t get caught with your pants down. Say excuse me, put your napkin in your lap, and before the movie starts, make sure your vibrator isn’t set to ring. That’s always embarrassing. Being Safe Having unprotected sex with a new partner is a lot like gambling. In that, my girlfriend hates it when I gamble. Be safe. Dealing with Shyness I remember being so shy in high school that I couldn’t approach a girl let alone get a date. Today, my swinging single life is outrageous. I was awake last night, a Monday night mind you, until 5 a.m. Just crying. My main point is, don’t be shy, it’s a real deal-breaker.
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Dating tips for girls SUSAN ROMULSEN
not in a good way. Doesn’t make sense to me.
Conversation
Etiquette
Be straightforward; guys aren’t mind readers. They don’t know that you want them to know what they have to know unless you say it. The problem is, if you straight-out tell them, there’s no guarantee they will understand or get what you mean and that’s why you don’t want to tell them why you’re upset or what you want to begin with. Why don’t guys get it?
You can’t change your man; if you’re not happy with how he acts, there are many more unsuitable guys out there.
Double standards
Since they pride themselves over manliness, it’s surprising that so many guys lack the courage to approach a girl. Help them out; you’ll save yourself a lot of time by getting disappointed that much faster.
Why is it that he can put his milly in anyone’s vanilly and be a hero, but if a girl wants to dabble with some rabble, she makes a name for herself, and
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Being safe If he doesn’t want to wrap it up, say “It’s okay, I’m ready to be a mother.” Yeah, that’ll get him to behave. Dealing with shyness
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10 THE MEDIUM MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2010
Saints rally from behind to win Superbowl XLIV WILLIAM ROBERTSON ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR Despite all the ups and downs throughout the recent years, the Saints overcame all odds to become the Superbowl Champions. In typical Saints fashion, they gave up the early lead to Peyton Manning and the Colts, going down 10-0 in th e first few minutes. However, the Saints did not lose focus and Drew Brees played phenomenally. Brees led the way with a remarkable 32 completed passes in 39 attempts, for 288 total yards and two touchdowns. He tied an NFL record for completed passes and with this, was named a deserved MVP. On the opening kickoff in the second half, the Saints caught the Colts off-guard with a surprising onside kick. With such an unexpected play, the Saints were able to recover the ball and quickly turned the recovery into points. The Saints marched down the field and Drew Brees finally threw a screen pass to Pierre Thomas, who juked his way into the endzone for the first New Orleans touchdown of the game. However, C olts Runningback Joseph Addai seemed to be unstoppable throughout the game as he was able to score a touchdown to
Wordpress.com
Saints Quarterback Drew Brees was named Superbowl MVP, completing 32 of 39 passes for 288 yards. Saints won their first Superbowl in franchise history. recapture the Colts lead, making the score 17-13. The Saints were able to fight back before the third quarter concluded when Saints kicker Garrett Hartley remained perfect from beyond 40 yards to make the score 17-16. Indianapolis kicker Matt Stover failed to connect on a 51-yard field goal to increase the Colts lead to
four in the fourth quarter, which opened the door for Drew Brees and the Saints. Brees orchestrated a 59yard drive, which resulted in a Jeremy Shockey touchdown and a controversial two-point conversion. The touchdown had to be reviewed for several minutes, but passed, pushing pushing the lead to seven points.
Manning had a great game as well, throwing for 333 yards, but made one major mistake in the fourth quarter that sealed the game for the Saints. Looking for widereceiver Reggie Wayne, Manning threw the ball, but the play was anticipated by Tracy Porter, who jumped the pass and intercepted the ball. He quickly returned the ball
for a 74-yard interception touchdown to put the Saints up by two touchdowns, which proved to be too much for the Colts to overcome. The unknown before the game was the Saints defence and how they could react to the constant changes by Peyton Manning and the Colts’ potent offence. They were able to silence the critics by shuting down the Colts offence and receiving a timely interception, which w as returned for a touchdown. Once again, Drew Brees was a deserved MVP as he threw 32-39 for 288 yards and two touchdowns.He tied an NFL record for completed passes in any Superbowl. This was truly a “Cinderella” story as only a few short years ago, the city was underwater when Hurricane Katrina destroyed the city. Both the team and the city were shocked and destroyed emotionally, and the team became the only turning point to many fans. After rebuilding with trades and draft picks, the Saints have truly turned into a remarkable story. The Saints were able to defy all odds this season and defeat the last obstacle in their way in the Indianapolis Colts, defeating them 31-17. With the Saints’ Superbowl win, it appears as though Mardigras begins nine days earlier this year.
The future of soccer is here FIFA announced last December that 25 World Cup games will be televised in 3D MARIANA COMITO
Soccer fans all over the world are being given an opportunity to watch the FIFA World Cup in 3D images. For the first time in history, the action will be broadcasted using the next generation technology. On December 3, FIFA announced that it had signed a media rights agreement with Sony to deliver 3D images of up to 25 games of the 2010 FIFA World Cup being held in South Africa. This new technology will allow fans to experience the game on a new level. The clarity and propinquity of the images will bring a live effect to each game. Currently, FIFA is working to bring live matches to 3D images, as they previously could only be experienced after the event. Sony will incorporate 3D compatibility into a broad range of consumer products such as Blu-ray Disc recorders and players, “BRAVIA” LCD TV, VAIO and PlayStation®3. During the 2010 FIFA World Cup, FIFA will host the “International FIFA Fan Fest” public performances in seven cities around the world, including Mexico City, Berlin, London, Rio de Janeiro, Sydney, Rome and Paris. Located in the Fan Fest will be commercial displays, allowing visitors to enjoy highlights and trailers of the FIFA World Cup in 3D. At this year’s IFA conference, Panasonic and Sony announced that they will be releasing 3D and Blu-ray
based TV’s in December of 2010; however, the concern is that not many fans will have the opportunity to watch these games in the new 3D version. According to Ben Carr of Walt Disney Home Entertainment and the BDA, “Blu-ray is ideally positioned to be the catalyst that brings 3D entertainment into homes.” The technology is not cheap. The 3D and Blu-ray based television sets will range from $3,000 to $12,000. Potential viewers will also need to buy 3D glasses, which rings in at about $800 for a family of four. But many are betting that watching the FIFA World Cup in 3D will be incredibly entertaining. Soccer balls will careen in the viewer’s direction, and feeling as part of the action will allow viewers to experience the matches personally. “The future of television is here,” fourthyear management student Shangar Thambirajah said. “They should have come up with this idea years ago.” Not all soccer fans, however, believe that the 3D version of FIFA will be as entertaining and realistic as everyone claims. “3D imaging is still in the preliminary stages… It is too expensive and is more of a hassle, rather then new and exciting,” said Patrick Gajos, a first-year U of T St. George student. “HD television is satisfying enough,”.With the economy drastically suffering financially, students like Gajos wonder if society can afford to invest in new technology. Although opinions differ about 3D imaging, it is fair to say that the future of televised soccer is here.
3dvision blog.com
A billboard promoting the FIFA and Sony partnership for the 2010 World Cup. The tournament will take place in South Africa from June 11 July 11.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY
8, 2010 THE MEDIUM 11
CORPORATE LOSSES
SPORTS
EPL and their corporate yard sale Despite having produced some of the most successful soccer clubs in Europe, the English Premier League is losing money and talent CHRISTOPHER SA’D
The monetary status of the English Premier League is a growing concern in the soccer world. The last couple of years have displayed the fall of a sporting empire, from the struggle of clubs within the organization itself. Before 2009, the EPL was situated at the top of all professional soccer leagues across the globe, signing the most talented athletes from each possible country. From 2004 to 2009, the top four English clubs, Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea, participated in all five United Europe Football Association’s annual tournaments—a round robin of teams across Europe competing for the title of best European club. Now, it’s coming to an end. One of their premier clubs, Manchester United, won the glorifying championship in 07-08 and made the finals last year, losing to Barcelona. But they succeeded because of their fan support and the talent occupied within their roster. They even topped the lists for most valuable sporting club in the world at a consistent US$1.8 billion. Besides the success of the Red Devils, it seems that Manchester United is the only team surviving while the word “bankruptcy” floated across many other clubs. Club teams across England are now dropping in profit and in talent. Many are struggling to find buyers to stabilize them, and help both the clubs and the league grow once again. Portsmouth have emerged from the depths of the unknown and are now noted in the media pipeline across the world for their exquisite amount of owners buying and selling the club through this year’s current campaign. The south-coast club welcomed their fourth owner of the season. Hong Kong businessman Balram Chainrai, 51, bought 90% of the club’s shares from Saudi investor Ali Al Faraj to help the club gain revenue and pay for its excess debts.
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After spending five seasons with Manchester United, Christiano Ronaldo left the EPL and transferred to the Spanish club team Real Madrid. Before the buyout, Chainrai, an executive of Portpin, an investing firm, had already loaned out approximately $31 million to previous owners to help pay the league fees and salaries. “Portpin have made substantial loans to Portsmouth to try and ensure the club’s future,” Chainrai said. “Portpin will continue to work for the best interests of the club.” It was reported in the United Kingdom’s Guardian that Chainrai will stay with the club momentarily until the club is stabilized and ready for a rebid into the market, indicating a fifth owner before the end of the season. Other teams are also feeling the same aftershocks of the falling market. Liverpool is facing a similar road, except American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr. have taken successful roots by eliminating a few highpriced player contracts, such as Xabi Alonso, Alvaro Arbeloa, Andrea Dossena and Andriy Voronin. In 2008, both Hicks and Gillett saw
refinancing troubles of up to $545 million in debts. That does not include their previous excess of $705 million in 2007, which was paid off by Kop Football Holdings. They can’t afford to build “new Anfield” and they looked for new investors to help Liverpool gain edge again. Sameer Al Ansari, an Arab investor and Liverpool supporter, offered Hicks and Gillett $782 million to buyout the club and relinquish all their debts from salary payments to operating costs and loans. Ansari also offered to build the new $600 million stadium to increase sponsorships and matchday revenue. Liverpool is currently working their way back from the debts accumulated the past few years. Arsenal FC, who was the financial model for a typical soccer team, also confronted their own financial woes. In 2007, they accumulated a debt of $615 million from player transfers and loss of matchday revenues. This year, they stayed in the top four of the EPL standings, trying to climb back up to
their previous stature in the league. Other clubs like Tottenham, Blackburn, Birmingham City, Aston Villa and West Ham United all suffered a major financial fall. In 2009, SBOBET, West Ham’s premier sponsor, helped West Ham United clear most of their debts in player salaries. Icelandic owner Bjorgolfur Guomundsson transferred his 70% shares to CB Holdings, Iceland’s bailed-out division in StraumurBurdaras bank and 30% owned by another Icelandic bank. In January, David Gold and David Sullivan, former owners of Birmingham City, bought 50% the club for a measly $78 million. Trouble persists within the league for many teams, with only a precious couple of clubs holding enough investment to keep player transfers working and operations running. But it is not only the clubs numbers that explain the EPL’s fall as the “top premiership.” According to Deloitte firms, 2008 was a big year for the EPL and was
considered one of the markers for its fall in profit. There were record deals in transfer rates and player sales with more than $150 million spent from all English clubs in transfers and a chunk more spent on those player’s salaries. This past January, only $46 million was spent on transfers, displaying that the EPL’s weakness is acquiring talent from other leagues and is apparent from the league’s lowest amount spent in transfer history. Some teams have no room within the budget to attain valuable young talent such as Hull City; some teams can afford to spend only a couple of millions. Chelsea is in excess of $65 million and must recover before they can lure more young talent into the prestige club. The only teams that have opportunities to spend money are Manchester United and Manchester City. No transfers, no player acquisitions, no revenue and a cut in spotlight talent occupy the English teams. They transferred most of their goods to Spain. The obvious are Cristano Ronaldo, Alonso, Arbeola, Pizarro and Elano, who have been bought out to other teams outside of England. Robinho is now loaned out to Santos for money and World Cup preparations, while Stefano Okaka transferred to AC Roma (Italy). The list goes on. English fans support their according clubs, but when there isn’t any more high-priced talent, some clubs face the deficit in matchday profits and club apparel. The EPL has monetary support from North American fans, but it is still not enough. Is there a bigger concern for the league, with majority of their clubs stepping into the grim darkness of bankruptcy? Perhaps teams should exist for their fans, but sports is a business, and when the business doesn’t have those specific necessities, like overall revenue and superb talent, teams cannot continue to grow. Fans can help ensure club survival by adding to the charity bowl, but we are faced with a struggling market and a changing era for professional soccer.
St George exacts revenge on Eagles UTM women’s tri campus basketball team loses 50 38 after late game collapse; falls to 1 3 on the season KEITH SHANKAR
St. George Team A gets revenge on UTM by capitalizing on a defensive collapse in the second half of a women’s tri-campus basketball game. On January 17, St George A lost a nail-biter to UTM on their home court, with a score of 48-47. Last week, UTM had a chance to make it two in a row and obtain their second win of the season. Last week’s game saw UTM compete neck and neck with St George before a second half collapse saw St. George steal a victory. UTM's struggles continued on Sunday, when St George A beat UTM 50-38. UTM dropped to last place in the standings, while St George A secured first place with the victory. UTM appeared to have control at the beginning of the game, maintaining a lead for the first seven minutes. Although St. George was down by two points, the scoring chances were even for both teams. St George A picked up the pace after a timeout. St George A’s
#15 quarterbacked the offensive plans, charged through UTM’s defence with a crossover before finishing with an uncontested layup. St. George A took their first lead of the game at a score of 9-8. UTM followed with a timeout, and would eventually tie the game at ten midway through the first half. The two teams exchanged points. Both teams played a solid passing game, finding the open player to pot a couple points. After a questionable foul, UTM went down 19-18 after the first half. The second half began with St. George A’s #15 making a beautiful steal in the defensive zone, carrying it down court and finishing with an unchallenged three-pointer to give her team a 24-20 lead over UTM. Problems continued for UTM as turnovers resulted in points for St. George A, who built a seven-point lead before the halfway mark of the second half. After a timeout, UTM managed to rally back to within two points at a score of 30-28, and tied the game 30 seconds later. However, UTM was
unable to sustain momentum, and St. George A took the lead at a score of 3835 with eight minutes left on the clock. This resulted in St. George A tightening up their defence, boosting their transition game and limiting UTM to few offensive chances. St. George forced turnovers and UTM was unable to counteract their aggressive game plan. UTM collapsed and found themselves on the wrong end of a 12-3 run in the final eight minutes of the game. St. George A sealed the victory by maintaining possession for the final minute in the offensive zone. Once again, fan support for the UTM squad was limited, with St. George A having more fan support despite playing away from their home court. With only one win in their four games, UTM ranks last in the standings with two points. UTM hopes to change that when it hosts St George B at the RAWC on February 7. With a win against St George B, UTM could move into a three-way tie for second place in the standings.
Matthew Filipowich/The Medium
UTM Eagles (White) and St.George A (Blue) battle for the rebound during first half action on January 31. Eagles have won only once this season.
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