Vol 39 issue 13 by The Medium

January 14, 2013 Volume 39, Issue 13 www.mediumutm.ca

Activist reveals hardships in GAZA British journalist, documentary maker, and human rights activist Harry Fear reports his personal experiences in Gaza Shefa Obaid Students Against Israeli Apartheid hosted independent British journalist, documentary maker, and human rights activist Harry Fear at U of T Mississauga as part of his worldwide talking tour to report on the latest assault on Gaza. Approximately 200 people, including activists, bloggers, news reporters, and Fear’s followers, gathered to hear him speak about his experience living in Gaza during Operation Pillar of Defence, which was conducted by the Israeli Defense Forces on Palestinian land. The event was co-hosted and endorsed by multiple solidarity organizations and clubs reaching far beyond the campus, including SAIA U of T and York, Toronto Students for Justice in Palestine at UTSC, SJP Ryerson, MESA UTM and York, Canada’s Boat to Gaza, UTM MSA, CJPME, and Beit Zatoun House. Fear’s presentation gave the audience a complete depiction of his experience, exploring several

Ayman Khan/THe MEdium

Students Against Israeli Apartheid host Harry Fear at UTM. dimensions of it through visuals and short documentaries of his 12week trip. “This is the first time I have attended any lecture related to Palestine. Harry’s presentation really

gave me a sense of what Palestinians have been going through,” said Yumna Baqai, a second-year psychology specialist. “Mr. Fear’s presentation was not only informative but also inspira-

tional,” Frishta Bastan, a secondyear political science major, commented. “His courage to speak the truth inspires all to stand up for justice.” Another student talked about

the difficulty of understanding the pain and hardships of those who are oppressed around the world. “Harry Fear’s presentation reached out to our hearts as he reported his personal experiences while he was in Gaza and showed us videos and pictures from his travels in the region,” said Sumaiyah Kamaludeen, a first-year financial economics specialist. “He brought us back to reality and showed us how real the situation in Gaza is. He inspired and motivated me to spread awareness to help the people there who are suffering every day.” Fear answered some bold questions from the audience, and said that “bias is inevitable” when facing injustice that needs to be brought into people’s consciousness. He encouraged nonviolent resistance to what he considers “colonization and war crime” perpetrated by Israel through its Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions campaign.

Activist continued on page 3

Glen Murray cedes supporters to Wynne Former Ontario Minister of Training, Colleges, and Universities drops out of race Michael J. Watson Glen Murray announced on Thursday that he was dropping out of the race for leadership of the Ontario Liberal party. He will endorse opponent Kathleen Wynne for the position. Murray, a former mayor of Winnipeg and recently the Ontario Minister of Training, Colleges, and Universities, explained his decision in a press conference. Among the reasons he cited was the success Wynne’s campaign has shown in recruiting new party members and in running delegate candidates. “I think the best chance for the renewal I want to see in Ontario and in the party—and the person who is better able to get us there than I am—is my friend Kathleen Wynne,” he said.

U of T in the big league Three U of T students were named Rhodes Scholars this year. Medium News, page 3

Residence woes Students respond to last semester’s article on the winter break residence fees. Medium Opinion, page 4

Robin Hood, in song Hart House stages an all-Canadian musical about the heroic outlaw. Medium A&E, page 5

“Discipline-specific works” canada.com/photos

Glen Murray held a press conference to announce he is dropping out of the Liberal leadership race. Though Murray had a strong presence in the Liberal leadership debates—the final one of which was held Wednesday night, a day before he an-

nounced he was dropping out— the number of his supporters was not keeping pace with the other candidates. And he had gained the endorsement of only

one colleague within the caucus: Kevin Flynn of Oakville.

Murray continued on page 2

UTM is retooling how it teaches you to write. But what’s the best way? Medium Features, page 8

Resolution solutions The classes that will give you a headstart on your fitness goals Medium Sports, page 10

«NEWS THE MEDIUM

01.14.2013

Wynne considered New program stirs dispute the frontrunner

wikimedia.org/Photos

The Newman Centre at the St. George campus runs the controversial Courage program. Doaa Rohillah Staff writer globeandmail.com/photos

Kathleen Wynne, to whom Glen Murray has offered his support. Murray continued from Cover The Globe and Mail predicted that Murray was likely to come in last after the upcoming weekend’s delegate selection meetings for the January 25–27 Liberal convention. “All seven of us [candidates] will tell you that this is a big mountain that we’re climbing, and I’m quite happy to help someone get a leg up rather than just climb it by myself,” said Murray. He was joined at the conference by Wynne, who assured his supporters that he would play a role in her government if she was elected. “It’s very important that [Murray] be part of my team and that he play a senior role in my cabinet,” she said. “I need his ideas.” This was in reference to the numerous policy proposals Murray made

during the race. Wynne is currently presumed to be the frontrunner in the Ontario leadership race to succeed premier Dalton McGuinty, who has led the province’s Liberal party since 1996. Now that Murray has dropped out, the remaining candidates competing against Wynne are Eric Hoskins, Gerard Kennedy, Sandra Pupatello, Charles Sousa, and Harinder Takhar. Murray’s departure from the race prompted responses from other candidates as well. Sousa released a statement congratulating him for running a strong campaign, saying that Murray “brought passion, ideas, and enthusiasm to the race and has been a strong member of our caucus and cabinet since first joining us at Queen’s Park”.

The University of Toronto has distanced itself from a controversial program initiated at the Newman Centre (a Catholic Church at the St. George campus) called “Courage”. Courage is described as an anonymous support group to help young adults struggling to resist homosexual urges. On the Newman Centre website, Courage is described as “a spiritual support group for young adults who experience same-sex attractions and who desire to live chastely, in accordance with Catholic teaching”. Some parishioners have stopped attending, and several have filed complaints to U of T about the program, in the months following its commencement. The Courage support groups were started in the 1980s by Archbishop Terrence Cardinal Cooke, and they have since gained popularity. “My understanding of Courage

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is it’s an opt-in program, an opt-in community, in which people are only involved if they really wish to be involved,” said Bill Steinberg, the communications manager for the Archdiocese of Toronto. The goal of Courage is to encourage its members to abstain from acting on their sexual desires, in order to live in accordance with Catholic teachings on sexuality. One of the five goals of Course listed on the Newman Centre website is fostering a spirit of fellowship to help “ensure that no one will have to face problems of homosexuality alone”. A letter by the Canadian Council of Catholic Bishops states, “While homosexual acts are always objectively wrong, same-sex inclinations are not in themselves sinful or a moral failing.” One parishioner who no longer attends the Newman Centre and opposes the support group, criticized “the harm and the damage [Courage] does, primarily to vulnerable younger people who are struggling

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with their sexual identity”. U of T has openly expressed its disagreement with the program, and has requested the Newman Centre to end Courage and its promotions. Angela Hildyard, U of T’s VP of human resources and equity, described Courage as “inconsistent with the university’s values”. She has also urged the Newman Centre to clearly state in its publications that the University of Toronto does not endorse it. The Newman Centre’s website now states, “This program is not offered by or connected to the University of Toronto.” Courage is a pastoral partner, which means that it has the church’s full support and is not in the jurisdiction of U of T. The Newman Centre was formed at the request of a U of T community member, and is funded privately by a local Catholic diocese. It is an independent parish and meeting place for some of U of T’s staff, faculty, and students.

01.14.2013 THE MEDIUM NEWS

U of T students named Rhodes Scholars Three U of T students will have the chance to study at Oxford U

»Do you feel you need more writing instruction?

Mohammed Hasan 4th-year, psychology

Umraan Ahmed UTM alumnus

The biggest issue is knowing what the teacher wants.

I think there should be more awareness of resources. There is [help] if you seek it out.

Julie Huang 3rd-year, commerce

Caspian Sawczak 4th-year, psychology

I think we do, especially in commerce. Programs like commerce don’t teach you to write.

I think I’ve had adequate instruction. PSY309 in particular was very helpful.

utoronto.ca/photo

Ayodele Odutayo, Connor Emdin, and Joanne Cave.

Emdin, fourth-year Trinity College student from Toronto, is currently studying biochemistry at U of T. He also co-founded Salt for Survival, a student fundraising group for salt iodization programs. He also led an analysis to demonstrate that nurses could provide the same quality of HIV care as physicians while working in a clinical trial in South Africa. Emdin plans to pursue development studies and later go on to medical school or complete a

doctorate in international development. Odutayo, who comes from Brampton, is a fourth-year medical student. He has worked as a nephrology research trainee at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto and is a former intern with the World Health Organization. “As an undergraduate student, I was attracted to U of T’s doctor of medicine program because of the broad clinical exposure that could be obtained in this multicultural and diverse city,” said Odutayo, who plans to pursue a master’s in public health and health policy at Oxford. “We are very proud of the accomplishments of these three outstanding students,” said David Naylor, president of the University of Toronto, in a news release. “They show great promise in their fields of study, and are emerging as leaders and innovators in Canadian society and in the global community.” Naylor himself was also a Rhodes Scholar, along with several other U of T graduates, including Bob Rae, a former premier of Ontario, and George Ignatieff, the president of the UN Security Council. The University of Toronto is the only university in Canada with more than one Rhodes Scholar this year.

Reddit cofounder Aaron Swartz commits suicide

Six suspects arrested in rape of another bus passenger in India

The genius behind the popular website reddit.com committed suicide at his Brooklyn home on January 12. Swartz helped create Reddit and drafted an early version of the popular RSS format. His friends say he long suffered from depression. Swartz took up computer programming as teen, then went on to become a hacker idol. Swartz also founded the policy-based website demandprogress.com, a forum for web-based activism. Source: NewYork Post

Larissa Ho News Editor Eleven Canadians, including three University of Toronto students, have been named Rhodes Scholars for 2013, meaning they will receive full scholarships to pursue postgraduate programs at Oxford University in the fall. The prestigious Rhodes Scholarships are among the world’s most prestigious postgraduate awards. This year 83 students from around the world, including 11 from Canada, will travel to Oxford as Rhodes Scholars. The three U of T recipients are Joanne Cave, studying women and gender studies and sociology in the Faculty of Arts and Science; Connor Emdin, studying biochemistry and global health at the Faculty of Arts and Science; and Ayodele Odutayo, studying medicine in the Faculty of Medicine, all from the St. George campus. Cave, a fourth-year Woodsworth College student and Alberta native, has been named a Prairies Rhodes Scholar for 2013. At 12 years old, Cave founded Ophelia’s Voice, a girls’ leadership organization in Alberta. Recently, she started a network of young non-profit professionals called Connect the Sector. She plans to pursue a master’s in philosophy in comparative so-

cial policy at Oxford. Cave, who remarks it’s “absolutely incredible” to win a Rhodes Scholarship, is a peer mentor with the Office of Student Life at U of T’s First in the Family Program (a mentorship program for students who are the first generation in their family to attend university) and is co-president of the Women & Gender Studies Students’ Union.

“We are very proud of the accomplishments of these three outstanding students.” —David Naylor

Exploring the crisis in Gaza As he gives his tour, Fear hopes to remain economically independent in order to not comply with a corporate agenda he considers to be associated with mainstream media. Once he completes his tour, he will return to his home in Gaza to continue with ongoing projects that shed light on the humanitarian crisis in the region. Operation Pillar of Defence was a seven-day operation last year that resulted in the deaths of approximately 170 Palestin-

ians, 80% of whom were civilians, comprising women, children, and seniors. The Israeli death toll reached six, of whom two soldiers and four were civilians. A ceasefire was brokered by Egypt between Israel and Hamas on November 21, which has since been violated by Israel with the shooting of a Palestinian man at the Gaza border for peacefully protesting. Fear described more instances in which the most recent ceasefire was broken, shedding light on Israel’s “carelessness” in complying with international law.

Huge crowds rally in Paris against gay marriage

Mentally challenged girl, 15, gang-raped during class

Ashley Smith inquest fees have cost Ottawa $3.6 million so far

Police said Sunday they have arrested six suspects in the gang rape of another bus passenger in India. A 29-year-old woman was travelling to her village in northern Punjab on Friday night. The driver refused to stop at her village, despite her repeated pleas ,and drove her to a desolate location, where he, the conductor, and five friends raped her throughout the night. They dropped the woman off at her village early Saturday. The victim is recovering at home.

Tens of thousands of people opposed to President François Hollande’s plan to legalize gay marriage have taken to the streets of Paris to organize one of the French capital’s biggest protest rallies in years. The French parliament is due to begin debating the controversial legislation later this month. According to recent opinion polls, around 65% of people surveyed are in favour of marriage rights for same-sex couples.

A mentally challenged 15-year-old New York girl endured a brutal gang rape as she was trapped beneath her desk by two boys with her teacher only feet away, alleges a lawsuit filed Friday. Though the girl told a school social worker the next day, school officials failed to report the crime. Her alleged attackers all had known “violent propensities” and are residents of Casa de la Salle, a home for juvenile delinquents.

Legal counsel for the Department of Justice charged Canadian taxpayers more than $3.6 million for working on the inquests into Ashley Smith’s death. The figure was released to The Toronto Star through an accessto-information request filed more than two months ago. Ashley Smith, 19, died inside a segregation cell at Grand Valley Institution in Kitchener on October 19, 2007.

Source: The Globe and Mail

Source: France 24

Source:The Daily Mail

Source: TheToronto Star

Activist continued from Cover

«14.01.2013

Editor-in-Chief » Stefanie Marotta

Your answer doesn’t cut it Where do you go when representation fails you? Dear Editor, After reading the article titled “Demanding reasons for residence fees” in the December 3 issue of The Medium, I cannot help but communicate my deepest dissatisfaction with the reasons given for the increase in residence fees. I feel that the justification of the $400 fee was not shown in the light of the great effect it has on the lives of students who are not aware of the current situation. I was part of the group of students that met with UTM’s Student Housing and Residence Life staff concerning the justification of the $400 residence fee for students who decide to stay for the holidays. According to Dale Mullings, UTM’s director of residence and student life, the jump from $250 to $400 was because the residences were given on-call staff at the time. During the meeting, we asked why the need for oncall staff arose; we were told that cases of lockouts, suicidal students, and snow

days demanded the services of on-call staff. But one question that Mullings failed to answer satisfactorily was the question about any specific incident that led to this need. There was no evidence that an issue in the past led to this need. He also stated that the increase in the amount was as a result of an increase in the number of students. A fee increase would make more sense if the number of students making use of these services decreased in number since there would fewer students bearing the costs. Until I see an operating budget that compares the cost of on-call staff when students were charged $250 and the current charge of $400, I refuse to believe that more students needing winter housing over the break is a justification for $400 charge. Jane Odah First-year student

Individual initiative is rare on this campus. When I saw Nengi Adoki’s tweet last semester about allegedly increased residence fees, I invited her up to the Medium office for a chat. The best stories come from the most unexpected places. After visiting both the UTM Students’ Union and the Student Housing and Residence Life offices, Nengi still felt left in the dark. She was confused about the procedures and was afraid she’d be without a place to stay over the break. Whereas my home is a 15-minute drive from campus, a flight across the ocean is more of a stretch during the break. Most students—actually, most people—would retreat, disheartened and defeated. Apathy and indifference cause many issues to go unaddressed. Not in Nengi’s case. When she realized she wouldn’t receive the help of UTMSU or any

other group, Nengi invited Dale Mullings, UTM’s director of residence and student life, and Emma Beamson, the communications coordinator of Student Housing and Residence Life, to Oscar Peterson Hall to address student questions. Last semester’s article “Demanding reasons for residence fees” and this week’s letters to the editor address the proceedings of the meeting, so I won’t add to that discussion. Instead, I’d like to point out the angle on this story that I thought made it newsworthy. I had never heard of Nengi before. Of all the student-organized protests, conferences, meetings, and events that I’ve attended, I haven’t run into Nengi. What this tells me is that she didn’t have a job portfolio to fill or any responsibility on her to address the issue. More notably, she approached the organization whose mandate is to

represent and provide services for students. When Nengi didn’t receive support on this end, she decided to put together a meeting with students and staff. Nengi didn’t get paid to do this. She didn’t receive extra credit. She took time away from her busy end-of-semester coursework. The political state of our society is undergoing changes. We’re expecting a new premier, teachers are walking out of negotiations with the government, and UTM’s governance is being dramatically restructured. As Nengi’s actions exemplify, it’s our own responsibility to contribute to and develop the kind of society in which we want to live. Having homework isn’t an excuse for indifference. YOURS, STEFANIE MAROTTA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Little value for our residence dollars

Dear Editor, As a concerned international student at UTM, I have questions concerning the residence fees for students that have to stay on residence during the winter break. Reading the article “Demanding Reasons for Residence Fees” printed in the December 3 issue of The Medium, a few points stated to justify an increase in fees left unsettled feelings in me. Dale Mullings gave an increase in students demanding residence as a reason for an increase in on-call staff thus an increase in fees. First of all, we were not aware of the presence of on-call staff, and while that is somewhat of a trivial issue, the focus here is why the sudden increase in on-call staff and how does it affect our fees? On-call staff should not be paid except when they actually get called in, for which their pay is usually double the rate. If I do not call them in, do I get a refund? Also, why should there be an increase in budget for on-call staff where, as clearly stated by Dale Mullings in the last meeting, there has been no incidence whatsoever in the past years that has instigated a need for an

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Stefanie Marotta editor@mediumutm.ca NEWS EDITOR Larissa Ho news@mediumutm.ca ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR Jai Sangha A&E EDITOR Colleen Munro arts@mediumutm.ca MEDIUM II PUBLICATIONS 3359 Mississauga Road, Room 200, Student Centre, Mississauga, ON, L5L 1C6 Phone: 905.828.5260

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increase in staff? We were also told that dealings with residence fees and regulations were determined by members of the Student Housing Advisory Committee. This is flawed in so many ways, seeing that the Student Housing Advisory Committee is not in the least bit representative of the community of students living on residence. How can a group of local students who have families in the province possibly understand what I have to go through as an international student? The difference they have yet to understand is that while every member of this Student Housing Advisory Committee has to take a car drive home during the holidays, I on the other hand have no place to go to. The $400 fee is equivalent to a month’s fee in the Homestead buildings nearby. Dale Mullings’ counterargument was that we don’t get the same benefits. This is not entirely true. During this winter break, we don’t have access to cafeteria food, dons, maintenance staff, residence staff, or campus police. We are given on-call staff only. As for Campus Police, I hardly doubt

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that they are staying here simply because of the students, because it makes no sense to leave the school unprotected. Other than that, we are getting just electricity, the same as Homestead residents. As for the on-call staff, I know for a certainty that should a pipe burst in Homestead, all they need to do is call for help, same as the students staying over for the winter break. So really and truly, what makes this experience a different one? UTM is one of the finest schools out there in the province, and I cannot deny that it has gone to great lengths to cater to the needs of its students, but half-hearted work is almost as good as nothing. While UTM is one of the schools that provide winter break residence, it is certainly not the only school that does so, as there are other schools whose eight-month residence fees cover even the December break for all the students. All I’m saying is more can be done and we, the students, know this and that is all we are asking for. Esther Agube Fourth-year student

DISCLAIMER Opinions expressed in the pages of The Medium are exclusively of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of The Medium. Additionally, the opinions expressed in advertisements appearing in The Medium are those of advertisers and not of The Medium. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters to the editor will be edited for spelling, grammar, style and coherence. Letters will not exceed 700 words in print. Letters that incite hatred, violence or letters that are racist, homophobic, sexist or libelous will not be published. Anonymous letters will not be published.

14.01.2013

Editor » Colleen Munro

A merry night of song and swordfighting Hart House offers its sole musical production of the year, Robin Hood: The Legendary Musical Comedy SONIA DHALIWAL STAFF WRITER It’s hard to please a crowd with a musical. People seem to either love them or hate them. For example, I’ve heard mixed reviews on the recent film adaptation of Les Misérables. My best friend saw the movie last Friday night: “I felt awful,” she told me. “My friend was sobbing through the whole thing, but I couldn’t stop laughing— it was so cliché to me.” With that in mind, I was curious to see what combination of tears and laughter I would see at Hart House Theatre’s latest production, Robin Hood: The Legendary Musical Comedy. Members of the Shakespeare by the Sea acting company in Halifax first created this musical of the Robin Hood story in 2005. Since then, the script has undergone some changes, a few roles have been cut, and the musical has travelled across the nation. It is now making its Toronto debut at Hart House. The musical opens with the voice of God speaking over the orchestra. The seven-member orchestra is a new addition to the production, but the score isn’t. The score was composed by Jeremy Hutton and Kieran MacMillan for the original production and is retained here. The music rang with a medieval character and transported the audience to Sherwood Forest. From the start, it is obvious that The Legendary Musical Comedy in-

Robin Hood (Daniel James, left) gathers his band of merry men. tends to make fun of every cliché in the original story. Robin Hood, played by Daniel James, isn’t the paragon of morality we’ve seen over and over again. In the classic tale, the poor townspeople champion Robin Hood as their one saviour from the evil of Prince John. But here, when Robin Hood sees the poverty in England, he insists he’s not the guy to help them. In the musical number “Robin of Locksley”, the poor of England convince Robin Hood that by helping them, he will forever be made a hero in English history. Robin Hood finally concedes to help them, and reminds them later, during his song “Generos-

A trip to the McMichael gallery CELINA IP If you have never known of or had the opportunity to visit the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, you must add a visit to this hidden Canadian gem to your to-do list and make it a point to follow through. The McMichael has existed since 1848, but unlike downtown Toronto’s Art Gallery of Ontario (built in 1900), this art gallery is buried in the vast natural landscape of the quaint village of Kleinburg, Ontario. Compared to galleries like the AGO, the McMichael has a very rustic, cozy, and peaceful atmosphere. The gallery is constructed of wood and stone and has the appearance of a Swiss chalet up in the ski slopes. The artwork that the McMichael Collection showcases is purely Canadian. In addition to ongoing exhibits, the McMichael also collaborates with other galleries across Canada to organize special exhibitions throughout the year. From November 3 to January 6, McMichael amazed many visitors with “Painting Canada: Tom Thomson and the Group of Seven”. As part of the exhibition, the McMichael welcomed visitors with tours that took them throughout the grounds and within the gallery. On

the tour they learned that the McMichael family planted all the trees that now stand on the gallery grounds in honour of the Group of Seven (intentionally choosing the types of trees the group featured in their paintings). You would also be informed of Tom Thomson’s story and how he inspired the Group of Seven. When the other artists met Thomson, he shared with them his personal utopia and source of inspiration: Ontario’s Algonquin Park. He spent the majority of his life observing and analyzing all the intricate details of the park’s vast beauty. After the group was introduced to this natural Canadian heaven, they devoted their careers along with Thomson to capturing the majestic landscapes of Northern Ontario and other parts of Canada. Even to simply go on a pleasant nature hike through the many paths can be rewarding. Imagine seeing the flowers blooming in spring, having a picnic in summer, watching the leaves change colour in autumn, and, at present, seeing the sunlight reflect the colours of the rainbow on the snowy grounds. You might be filled with inspiration to go home and capture that beauty on canvas—as the Group of Seven and Tom Thomson did many decades ago.

ity”, that by helping them he is actually helping himself. James plays his pompous character convincingly, obnoxiously brushing his hair out of his eyes and shouting “My face!” out of concern for his good looks every time he is struck during a swordfight. Prince John, played by The Legendary Musical Comedy pioneer Kevin MacPherson, is a ridiculous, confused character. His wingman, the Sheriff of Nottingham (William Foley) is smarter—but only slightly. Together, they poke fun at the stereotypical evil monarch in the musical number “E-V-I-L”. I was nearly crying with laughter when the Sher-

DANIEL DIMARCO/PHOTO

iff suggested capturing Robin Hood by sneaking up on him disguised as chipmunks and then indeed entered Sherwood Forest in a furry helmet, clawed gloves, and an unmistakable chipmunk tail. The band of merry men comes together in an unlikely way, similarly to the original tale. Little John (Andrew Dundass), angered by Prince John demanding that he pay an “ironic name tax”, retreats to the forest to be left alone, where Robin Hood finds him fishing. The two battle over the fish— or “fishes”, as Little John says—before becoming friends on the basis of their common hatred for Prince John.

Soon, Willow Scarlet (Kelly McCormack) and her band of merry men join the duo. By far, the most comical character of the play is the runt of the merry men, Sven, played by Simon Rainville. He is constantly excluded from the group of bigger, stronger merry men. In his dainty Mary Janes, sporting a single fluffy neon yellow feather on his head, he goes through the musical interrupting songs and conversations by screeching his name like a Pokémon. The humour of The Legendary Musical Comedy lies in pointing out what we all see in fairy tales and legends: the clichés. The characters openly admit to the nonsensical decisions they make. Why is the sheriff disguised as a chipmunk and watching Robin Hood perform a musical number when he could be defeating him? “I guess that was a missed opportunity, wasn’t it?” Prince John admits, looking back on the situation. The only real downfall of the musical is how hard it was to hear some of the dialogue over all the laughter. There may have been a few rolling eyes or bored attendees, but they were definitely outnumbered. I certainly recommend if you’re tired of the same old fairytales. Robin Hood: The Legendary Musical Comedy is playing at Hart House till January 26. Visit harthouse.ca/ hart-house-theatre for show times and ticket information.

«ARTS THE MEDIUM 14.01.2013

Does Gangster Squad offer style over substance? New Hollywood starpower meets Old Hollywood glamour in flashy mob thriller

WARNER BROTHERS /PHOTO

Fedoras and suspenders make a comeback in Ruben Fleischer’s star-studded Gangster Squad. JAIME POKHOY It may not have made much at the box office, but Gangster Squad was definitely a major release. As is always the question with an all-star cast, just how much does it live up expectations? Gangster Squad, based on a true story, wages a brutal war against the infamous gangster Mickey Cohen (Sean Penn), who wreaked havoc on Los Angeles during the 1940s. The movie starts with a fearless sergeant, John O’Mara (Josh Brolin), tearing onto the screen, breaking jaws and dislocating bones through-

out Cohen’s turf. Despite O’Mara’s violent singlehanded attacks against Cohen, he is unable to make a dent in Cohen’s illegal operations due to the deep corruption of L.A. That’s when the last honest chief of police, Parker (gravel-voiced Nick Nolte), summons O’Mara for an off-thebooks onslaught. O’Mara assembles a team of ruthless but honest cops— including ladies’ man Jerry (Ryan Gosling), who sweeps the female audience away with his sweet talk and hot-headed temper. The team of covert gunslingers rampages through the streets of Los Angeles without badges and rules; instead, they run

with unlimited ammunition and an unquenchable thirst for blood and justice. Gangster Squad makes for a classic cop action movie, with good humour, exhilarating action, and a solid plot to get you through the movie. The star-studded cast mostly proves their worth, and director Ruben Fleischer (Zombieland) successfully recreates the flashy 1940s with accurate wardrobes, bulky automobiles, and eye-pleasing venues. Fleischer also captures the moral struggle of the characters in their war. The humour is rare but hilarious. As well, as the team of off-the-record cops wreaks

carnage against Mickey Cohen and his operations, they endure losses that emotionally tug at the audience. Penn owns the role of Cohen. The prosthetic makeup exaggerates his face to resemble a pit bull and to match his monstrous behaviour on screen. One of Cohen’s most prized possessions is his beautiful girlfriend, Grace Faraday (Emma Stone), who he keeps on a short leash but who is quickly stolen by the suave Jerry. Another standout of the cast is Brolin, who takes charge of the cast and perfectly embodies an experienced war veteran tired of the city being corrupted by power-hungry gangsters.

After the devastating Aurora movie theatre shooting a few months ago, Fleischer chose to reshoot a gunfight that originally took place in a theatre. It now takes place in L.A.’s Chinatown instead in order to respect the families and friends of those who lost their lives in Aurora. Aside from a few minor plot holes here and there, Gangster Squad is a movie guaranteed to please all types of movie goers. From bloody fistfights and explosive car chases to romantic evenings and hilarious fumbles, this movie will likely please both the action fanatics and romantic dreamers. MMM

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14.01.2013 THE MEDIUM A&E

Reimagining the western Quentin Tarantino courts controversy once again with Django Unchained

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Christoph Waltz and Jamie Foxx team up in Django Unchained. ANDREA AMBROGI STAFF WRITER Thank you, Quentin Tarantino, for giving us a movie with an outstanding cast, a solid plot, gorgeous cinematography, and a great soundtrack to boot. Though Django Unchained has unfortunately been labelled “the slavery movie” by some critics, it’s much more than that. Django Unchained is a dark comedy, a love story, and one of the best movies of 2012. Leonardo DiCaprio has been getting a lot of buzz for his role as

the vile slave owner Calvin Candie, and rightfully so. His character is a departure from the melancholy tortured-soul roles we’ve gotten used to seeing DiCaprio play in the last few years. His performance is nuanced and physical, and a delight to watch, despite the disturbing subject matter. Christoph Waltz has also received a generous amount of praise for his role as King Schultz, a German bounty hunter, for which he earned an Oscar nomination last week. It’s safe to say that the partnership of Tarantino and Waltz has

the potential of becoming the next Scorsese/DiCaprio pairing. Under Tarantino’s direction and with his awesome dialogue, Waltz owns the film. The dynamic between his King Schultz and Jamie Foxx’s Django is perfect. Contrary to the criticism of the naysayers, this is not a white saviour film. There is no condescension between King and Django. They are equal partners from their initial meeting to the end of the film. A name that hasn’t been getting enough buzz this year is Kerry Washington. Her performance as Broomhilda von Shaft might be one

of the most underrated of the year. Her lines of dialogue can be counted on one hand, but her acting is effective and memorable. She pours emotion and passion into her character, and her vulnerability is moving and believable. I might even argue that she ought to have been a frontrunner this awards season. Django Unchained has its fair share of violence and gore, but it is rarely if ever gratuitous and necessary to get the point across, as is use of the “n-word”. Tarantino has been quoted saying that he didn’t use it in the film any more than it was

used during the historical period. He portrays slavery realistically. He also manages to use humour without it being at the expense of the oppressed characters. If you have any reservations about the film, buy yourself a ticket and check them at the door. You’ll laugh (most likely out loud), cry, cheer, and probably end up wanting to see the movie again—if not for the film itself, then for the epic soundtrack, which stays true to Tarantino’s excellent taste in music. Django is a definite must-see in theaters. MMMM½

Lifehouse returns with more of the same Pop-rockers’ latest LP finds their radio ballad formula turning sour MARIA CRUZ STAFF WRITER After a two-year disappearance, Lifehouse have returned with their new album, Almeria. Released in December, Almeria doesn’t stray too far from the usual sound found on the band’s previous albums. More often than not, Lifehouse produces work that can be found on Songza’s “Pop Breakup” playlist. But with songs like “Barricade” and “Right Back Home” (which features the legendary Peter Frampton and Charles Jones), Almeria tackles several new genres. Country, rock, and soft pop are each a part of Almeria. Some of Lifehouse’s earlier records (such as 2005’s Lifehouse and the 2007 follow-up, Who We Are) have followed the mellow pop sound. Aside from a few songs sprinkled in the mix that skidded off the pop tracks, Lifehouse has never successfully given their listeners a taste of anything new. Although “Right Back Home”

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Going on 12 years together as a band, Lifehouse releases their new album, Almeria. on Almeria is an attempt to give Lifehouse fans a taste of the country theme, the song doesn’t offer anything original. And besides the new sounds on a few tracks, Lifehouse slips right back into their old patterns with

songs like “Only You’re the One” and “Aftermath”. Both take care of what Lifehouse knows best: a good breakup or relationship song. And even after 12 years, they never seem to think outside the box. Sticking to what you

know is a good idea, but producing the same music for over a decade is redundant. They might as well just have made one massive album. Smoke and Mirrors, Lifehouse’s 2010 album, had sev-

eral tracks that catered more to the rock genre than it did to the band’s typical melancholy pop genre—specifically, “Here Tomorrow Gone Today” and “Nerve Damage”. But straying away from their typical soft pop genre just sounds out of place for this group. Even a song like “Between the Raindrops”, which features Natasha Bedingfield, is not enough to sweeten the sour sound of an all-too-familiar Lifehouse. Even with a new album out every two years, Lifehouse has fallen victim to the “if it’s not on the radio, I’ve never heard of them” stereotype. Sadly, even hearing them on the radio nowadays is a shock. Although Almeria does dabble in genres outside of Lifehouse’s comfort zone, the album is, all in all, forgettable. There isn’t enough new material to keep the interest of new listeners, and even for the fans, the Lifehouse sound is slowly getting stale. MM

« 14.01.2013

Editor » Carine Abouseif

How well do UTM students write? Faculty debate the best approach to teaching the essential writing skills across disciplines

of the RGASC, was not consulted either. “I think that everyone who’s interested and has expertise in this topic, the dean should consider consulting,” she said in an interview. “The message is, if you’re going to consult somebody, consult the experts. I think the conversation would be richer for it […] I think the worst thing that can happen is for people to fight about this. We need to debate it.”

LARISSA HO NEWS EDITOR How will UTM teach you to write? It may seem like a simple question, but the answers are stirring up debate on campus. Because the Office of the Dean has identified investing in writing instruction as important, a “suite of approaches” is expected to hit UTM in fall 2013. These approaches include enhancing the first-year transitional program utmONE, offering workshops and face-to-face appointments through the Academic Skills, hiring a dedicated faculty member to provide instruction in English as a second language, and developing an early warning system to identify students who are at risk because of the level of their writing skills. The centrepiece of this multipronged approach to writing, called “Writing Across the Curriculum”, involves selecting a lead writing teaching assistant who undergoes extensive summer training with a writing specialist on how to teach writing skills to students and how to train disciplinary TAs to teach writing. WAC is based on the “Writing Instruction for TAs” program implemented at St. George’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences—which is one reason why Tyler Evans-Tokaryk, a writing specialist at the Robert Gillespie Academic Skills Centre who was commissioned to come up with these approaches, believes WAC will work at UTM. Writing Across the Curriculum Evans-Tokaryk plans to increase the number and quality of writing assignments in all disciplines. He also proposes embedding “write to learn” and “learn to write” exercises in course material. “By ‘write to learn’, we mean an approach that presumes that students learn course material better when they write about it,” said Evans-Tokaryk. “We’ll typically do this through multiple low-stakes (often ungraded) writing exercises, both in class and outside of class.” Meanwhile, “learn to write” is an approach where students are taught to write the way a professional in their field would. “We model discipline-specific writing done by experts for our students,” EvansTokaryk said. “One of the long-term prospects of an approach anchored in the disciplines is that you get departments to take ownership of the students’ skill development and think in more meaningful ways to integrate writing in their curriculum,” he added. “And when departments do that, faculty members do, and students benefit quite dramatically.”

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But that’s not the only perspective on the issue. Guy Allen, the director and founder of the professional writing and communication program at UTM, commented, “I think WAC could be very effective, but what I don’t like about WAC is that it addresses writing issues as discipline-specific. I think there’s a need for core principles about writing to get established.” Amir Ahmed, a PWC graduate, believes that Evans-Tokaryk’s approach to writing instruction does not take into consideration a “holistic” view of writing. “[Learning to write] is a really long, deep process,” said Ahmed. “There’s no quick fix to becoming better writers. I think the best way to learn is to read and write a lot— immerse yourself in clear writing. […] It should have started back in high school.” The first-year mandatory writing course: to be or not to be? Right now, UTM doesn’t have a first-year mandatory composition course, but Alan Walks, an associate professor in the Department of Geography, believes it should. At the Dean’s Open Forum on October 22, faculty members heard Evans-Tokaryk present his recommended “suite of approaches” and the research to support them. At the forum, Walks spoke up about his belief that the university should implement the first-year mandatory composition course to complement the WAC program. Walks said Evans-Tokaryk demonstrated at the Open Forum that first-year composition courses do not produce results on their own, at least not to the extent that people

had hoped they would. WAC can make up for the drawbacks, but “that doesn’t mean we should drop the [mandatory] writing course component,” said Walks. “If U of T were to put the resources into both the Writing Across the Disciplines approach and the composition course, we would do the best for our students.” So why are the “write to learn” and “learn to write” approaches considered more effective than writing courses? “The evidence suggests that discipline-specific works,” said EvansTokyark in an interview. “First-year composition—generic writing— does not. It’s as simple as that.” “First-year students hate first-year composition,” he went on. “It’s not why they came to university. They came to university to study history or economics or English, or whatever. Corralling students and putting them into a first-year composition course generates resentment for writing. It generates the impression that writing skills are transferable and that there’s such single thing called ‘university writing’—which there is not.” Walks remains convinced that a first-year mandatory writing course would effectively complement the other approaches. “I don’t know why the administration doesn’t want to support a multipronged approach with both the Writing Across the Disciplines and the composition course,” said Walks. “I think it would be best for the students and best for the university. We would be producing better graduates and the student experience would be enhanced.”

“This is just a really long consultation process” The way the new writing approaches are being implemented drew complaints, which arose at the Open Forum. Some faculty members protested that the process by which administration is asking for input is backwards: the administration should have asked for input before they decided to implement EvansTokaryk’s suggestions, not afterwards. Allen was the first to speak up at the Open Forum about not being consulted even though he is an expert in the field of writing and a recipient of Canada’s 3M Teaching Fellowship, which recognizes exemplary teaching at the university level. “I don’t really understand what the complaints about process are,” said Mullin. “This is just a really long consultation process.” Evans-Tokaryk said nothing has been finalized yet. “I’m soliciting input,” he said. “This is not being presented as a fait accompli. This is a suggested approach, and I’m willing and eager to hear all sides of the discussion so we can get this right […] and get faculty and students involved and invested in an approach that we can all agree on as the best one.” Mullin struck a writing committee or working group to oversee the pros and cons of various writing initiatives because of the complaints about the process. The writing committee is co-chaired by Andrew Petersen, the director of the Robert Gillespie Academic Skills Centre, and Kelly Hannah-Moffat, the vicedean, undergraduate at UTM. Cleo Boyd, the founding director

What universities owe students What skills can students expect to walk out of university with? Should they expect to learn how to write proficiently? “We—faculty and administration—have a responsibility to ensure that students have the opportunity to gain these skills,” said Boyd. “The university has an obligation to the students.” According to Allen, there “isn’t an effective shortcut to teaching writing”, and this means that a decision about resources is involved. “I think it’s worth it,” said Allen. “I can’t imagine a better educational objective than to produce people who have a solid sense of reading, writing, and critical thinking skills. If you teach someone to write a sociology or anthropology essay and the teaching is specific to the program, I mean, that’s useful, but there are few students who take anthropology at the University of Toronto who are going to study anthropology [at a higher level]. What we want is to give them skills that are adaptable and generalizable, and critical thinking [skills] and broadly-based skills of expression.” The importance of writing skills is at the heart of Walks’ argument for offering a mandatory composition course. “In order to be able to learn, amongst other things, one must learn how to write. To know how to write allows for a student to rapidly expand their learning in the classroom,” said Walks. “If the students don’t know how to write, then they’re playing catch-up. And much of the grade they receive has to do with their writing skills and not their analytical skills.” Boyd stressed the importance of knowing how to communicate, regardless of the subject matter. “I think that if the students understood how much the ability to communicate is going to mean to them when they walk out of university—it can mean a job or not a job—and they stop fighting it, real change is going to occur,” said Boyd. “It’s the students that lead the way. That’s what the real message is: the power of the student. After all, [the students] are what we’re here for.”

14.01.2013 THE MEDIUM FEATURES

The habit loop: cue, routine, reward The psychology of breaking bad habits and cultivating good ones JILLIAN LIM ASSOCIATE FEATURES EDITOR As January progresses, our New Year’s resolutions often come crashing against the bad habits of the past. You might decide to quit smoking, but instinctively reach for a cigarette when you feel stressed. You might resolve to spend more time on schoolwork, but mechanically login to Facebook when you sit down at a computer. These habits become etched into our brains through repetition. We go on autopilot. But can we rewire our brains to override the instinctive, unconscious, and literally thoughtless bad habits we’ve developed? Charles Duhigg, an investigative reporter for The New York Times, says that we can use these “autopilot” abilities to our advantage. Think of signalling before a turn or scribbling ideas in a notebook. These compulsive and automatic habits feed our productivity, because they eliminate time spent dwelling on distracting or unnecessary thoughts. In his book The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do In Life and Business, Duhigg argues that we can wrest control from the smell of cigarettes, seductive store windows, and our own minds and intentionally form productive, positive habits. “Once you understand that habits can change, you have the freedom and responsibility to remake them,” Duhigg writes. Duhigg was inspired by the rigid protocols of the U.S. military, which

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Charles Duhigg’s The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business. he refers to as “one of the biggest habit-formation experiments in history”. While working as a reporter in Iraq, Duhigg met an army major who escaped a life surrounded by meth addicts for the strict protocols of military culture. “The major spent his entire career getting drilled in the psychology of habits,” Duhigg explains in a YouTube video. Years of boot camp and the robotic rituals of salutes and commands gave the major valuable insight into just how powerful his awareness of habitual thinking could be. When it came to keeping peace in a small Iraqi city called Kufa, the major discovered that he had the power to diffuse angry riots by recognizing and then manipulating the habits of the rioters. Every day, a crowd would form

in Kufa’s town square. Every day, angry rioters would begin to chant their slogans. As food vendors and spectators arrived, the crowd grew in size. Finally, someone would throw a bottle or push an officer and spark a violent riot. Every day, the pattern proved the same. After analyzing videos of several riots with this pattern, the major decided to remove all the food vendors from the plaza. The next morning, rioters showed up and spectators arrived. But without the food vendors, the spectators soon left and the rioters lost their energy. “By 8 p.m., everyone was gone,” explains Duhigg, “Crisis averted.” Routine destroyed. Habit broken. But how did the major know exactly what would break the violent pattern?

Duhigg explains that change must begin by understanding how habits form in the first place. We must understand the “habit loop”, which always consists of a “cue, routine, and reward”. The cue is whatever stimulus triggers your brain to enter autopilot mode. Your cue could be the smell of a cigarette or the impulse to act violently when you feel angry. Once you sense the cue, you engage in the routine. The routine will end with the reward. According to Duhigg, if this loop repeats itself enough times, your body begins to crave the reward whenever you sense the cue. The loop becomes engrained in your brain and these conscious actions become unconscious instincts. You get into your car, you reach for your seatbelt. You wake up at six, you reach for your sneakers. You feel

a spark of anger, you clench your fist. “All our life is but a mass of habits,” as William James, a 19th-century psychologist, wrote. Duhigg explains that to break a bad habit, you can’t just remove the cue. In the case of the Kufa riots, the major couldn’t simply eliminate the people’s anger. In the case of a smoking habit, a person can’t simply eliminate their urge to smoke when they feel stressed, much less the freedom of the people around them to smoke. Instead, Duhigg argues that once we identify the cue, routine, and reward in our habits, we can consciously force ourselves to change the routine. Though difficult at first, this conscious effort will eventually prompt our bodies to rewire a bad habit into a productive one. So when you feel the urge to reach for your wallet, maybe force yourself to clench your fist instead. Instead of typing “facebook” into your browser when you sit down to do work, force yourself to log into Blackboard instead. If willingly repeated enough times, these conscious changes will replace the unconscious habits. The habit loop can actually work to our advantage. While Duhigg admits that there is no “magic key” to “unlock” all your habits, he argues that simply knowing what happens in our minds when we habitualize can give us the power to try to take control. “Once you understand that habits can be rebuilt,” he writes, “the power becomes easier to grasp, and the only option left is to get to work.”

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«14.01.2013

Mediumsports Editor » Isaac Owusu

Which classes RAWC?

Many students make the gym their destination for their New Year’s resolution

Hydrorider Yes, ladies and gentlemen, there’s such a thing as bikes that can be used in the pool. If you’re bored of swimming laps or you enjoy cycling, then join other members who have discovered the fun of burning calories in this underwater version of a spin class. For those who don’t want to wear their string bikini to the pool, shorts and t-shirts are welcome.

INGRID MELDRUM For those looking to get or stay in shape in 2013, have no fear; the RAWC has plenty to offer UTM students. From biking in the pool to dancing off the calories, there are a number of free classes for students and staff to participate in. I’ve attended a few classes, and I recommend for them for all students, as they’re beginner-friendly. There’s no need to be intimidated; the instructors are always glad to have new participants, and the exercises can be modified according to the individual’s skill and fitness level. Here’s a quick tour of a few of the classes the RAWC is offering this semester. Indoor Cycling There’s always music blaring in this class, and participants are encouraged to go at their own pace. Make sure to bring a towel; you’re bound to be sweating within the first five minutes! Cross Train For those looking for a little variety in their workout, this class offers a range of exercises that build muscular endurance, core strength, and cardiovascular fitness. If you’re looking to get sixpack abs, this class is for you. Zumba The fusion of Latin and interna-

Meditation Taught in conjunction with the psychology department, this class helps participants de-stress and improve focus through a series of exercises and stretches designed to strengthen the mind. It’s a great way to relax after classes and take your mind off an upcoming test.

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UTM students put their New Year’s resolutions in motion at the RAWC gym. tional music creates a fun atmosphere in the dance studio. This class is a dance workout where you can enjoy yourself and burn calories. Turbo Kick A sporty friend of mine, Ebi, participated in this class a few months ago, and his shirt was drenched after the first 15 minutes. The

class provides a fun alternative to running for increasing cardiovascular fitness, while still burning the same amount of calories. Yogilates As the name indicates, this class is a combination of yoga and Pilates. Stretch out your tightened muscles and build your core strength with a full-body-strengthening

workout. Boot Camp Be prepared to get your butt kicked by this tough workout. If you’re up for the challenge of a 50-minute, non-stop weight training and cardio workout, this class is for you. But even so, all fitness levels are welcome.

All these classes allow you to get yourself into shape, while meeting new people and learning new ways to strengthen your body and mind. The classes are all on U of T time—they start 10 minutes past the hour—so there’s no need to worry about being late. And even if you are late, it won’t hurt your GPA. For more information on these and other classes offered at the RAWC, stop by the membership services counter or the control desk at the gym. The RAWC staff are friendly and knowledgeable, and some even participate in the classes. Remember, the classes are free, so you have nothing to lose— besides the calories!

Team Canada gets iced JASON COELHO ASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITOR

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Hockey fans experiencing symptoms of withdrawal from the lack of hockey on their TVs and nursing a Christmas hangover spent their Boxing Day in front of their screens. Team Canada set out for success in the beginning of the 37th annual IIHF World Junior Under 20 Ice Hockey Championship, broadcast from Ufa, Russia. For Canadians, the WJC is always a special occasion, when one can witness the brightest young talent from teams across the world. Many of these young players will no doubt be drafted into the NHL at the end of the year. Canada was a favourite to win the tournament, being the most decorated team alongside Russia, having won 15 gold, eight silver, and five bronze medals since the

tournament’s establishment in 1977. Team Canada began the tournament strong with four wins and no losses during the round-robin, then lost a must-win semifinals game against the U.S., 5–1.

The sudden slump in the Canadian team’s performance has certainly not gone unnoticed by fans at home, who still recall Canada’s former domination in the IIHF WJC tournament. Team U.S. later went on to win the gold medal, and Canada and Russia were left to duke it out in the bronze medal game; Canada

fell short, losing 6–5 in overtime, ending the 2012/13 tournament run in fourth place. This tournament marked the first time since 1999 that Canada finished without a medal. The sudden slump in the Canadian team’s performance has certainly not gone unnoticed by fans at home, who still recall Canada’s former domination in the IIHF WJC tournament. That domination ended only after the U20 team had won gold a record five consecutive times from 2005 to 2009. As the team hung their heads in disappointment over their comparatively poor performance, the event nevertheless put a surge of pressure on the team and their management to put together a gold-winning team for next year. Iced continued on page 11

14.01.2013 THE MEDIUM SPORTS

A miracle on ice

The end of the NHL lockout gives fans the game back JASON COELHO ASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITOR Since early September, tensions have run high between the NHL’s Players Association and its Board of Governors, who were unable to come to an agreement before the September 16 deadline, giving Commissioner Gary Bettman no choice but to impose a lockout on the 2012/13 season. As the hope of an end to the lockout slowly dwindled in the eyes of eager NHL fans across the world, recovering the season seemed impossible. Despite numerous proposals brought to the bargaining table (and as many rejections from both parties), it seemed as though there was no way to work around the demands of the league or its players. As each deadline passed without a solution, the league was forced to cancel weeks of games scheduled, including the AllStar game in Columbus, Ohio on January 27 and the NHL Winter Classic on New Year’s Day between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Detroit Red Wings at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. As the fourth labour dispute in the past 20 years of the professional hockey league continued into the New Year, the final deadline date approached

on January 6, which would ultimately determine whether or not there would be a shortened season to be played until June or no season at all. Somehow, despite Bettman’s statement that he was “disappointed beyond belief ” with the outcome of the negotiations, the league and players were able to work out a tentative 10-year deal on a collective bargaining agreement to end the lockout and salvage the remainder of the season.

“I wish they could put less emotion into the negotiations. A lot of guys sounded like they were taking it personally. The future looks bright for the league, though!” —Rory Bourgeois After a session that involved more than 16 hours of negotiating, the NHL and the NHLPA were able to find some common ground and make headway on a shortened hockey season to begin Tuesday, January 15, and end around April 13, which will

mark the start of the playoffs. For NHL fans who had lost all hope about the possibility of a new season, this news may come almost as a miracle. Those who never lost faith in the league’s and the players’ ability to come to an agreement are prepared to embark on a new season of game-stopping saves, slick stick-handling, sudden death overtimes and nail-biting shootouts between their favourite teams. For Rory Bourgeois, a thirdyear political science student and left wing forward on the UTM hockey team, the news of the NHL’s return is a belated but much appreciated Christmas present. “I’m fired up,” he says. Bourgeois is confident that the league will be able to steer clear of speed bumps like this in the future when it comes to league-player negotiations, and the 10-year contract comes as a reassurance to him that fallouts like this will be avoided. “I wish they could put less emotion into the negotiations. A lot of guys sounded like they were taking it personally. The future looks bright for the league, though!” Bourgeois, who aspires to play professionally one day, says he is thankful to have his role models in the NHL back—those who constantly inspire him to improve on his own game.

Understanding why our boys failed us Iced continued from page 10 “Absolutely embarrassing that we have to end our medal streak, especially when we have a couple guys from NHL rosters,” says Kyle Kuczynski, a third-year history and political science major and centre for the UTM hockey team, referring to players such as Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who was the bright spot on Team Canada, winning the title of scoring leader of the tournament. “It’s a shame that thousands of dedicated Canadians had to wake up at 4 a.m. to be embarrassed,” Kuczynski continued. “The team was too committed in the offensive zone, making overly fancy plays and practically forgetting about their defensive role. In order to win in the next tournament, Canada needs to play with the traditional Canadian style: hard-working, physical, and committed to both ends of the ice.” Kuczynski said goaltender Malcolm Subban and forward Anthony Camara gave standout performances, remarking on Camara’s tremendous physical presence. The coaching of Team Canada became a hot-button issue after the tournament ended, with many fans calling for the end of Steve Spott’s coaching career with the Juniors. For Michael Keaveneym the coach of UTM’s ice hockey team, “Canada is always a favourite to win, so them not winning is underperforming.”

“I think everyone could see that the Canadians came out really flat against the Americans,” he added. “I think it’s also attributed to the skill level of all the other countries and how they have improved. Switzerland, for example, gave Russia a run for their money, almost beating them. They lost three games in overtime or a shootout.” Keaveney listed who he considers the top three standout players from Team Canada: Morgan Riley, Malcolm Subban, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Riley is a Toronto Maple Leafs prospect. “Watching him for the first time, I was really impressed. He’s a really strong skater and is great with the puck. It has me excited for the future,” said Keaveney. The up-and-coming goaltender Subban also impressed him. “I’ve never seen him play before the tournament, and had heard so much about him; I was impressed,” said Keaveney. “Some of the stops he made were incredible. His side-to-side movement was awesome. Bruins fans should be excited.” “[Nugent-Hopkins] was really a man against boys. He just dominated,” Keaveney concluded. “And although he only scored four goals, he really controlled the game. His vision and ability to move the puck was really nextlevel. It just shows what one year in the NHL can do for a young prospect.”

What does Dickey do? Adding 2012 Cy Young Winner, RA Dickey has the Jays in pole position KAREEM RAMADAN The Toronto Blue Jays have made headlines in the baseball world this off-season by revamping their starting rotation and adding a number of upgrades to the batting lineup and bullpen. The changes have been so significant that 2012’s opening day starting pitcher, Ricky Romero, is now the number-five starter, a testament to the depth and talent in the Jays’ new rotation. The additions to the rotation are headlined by the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner, RA Dickey. Dickey came off a season with the New York Mets in which he posted a 2.73 ERA in 233.2 innings of work, leading the National League. The 38-year-old knuckleballer is expected to anchor the starting staff and help stabilize a rotation that has lacked a bona fide ace since the departure of Roy Halladay in 2009. Besides Dickey, the Blue Jays have added a powerful righthanded pitcher, Josh Johnson, and veteran left-hander Mark Buehrle. Johnson and Buehrle are expected to add a reassuring veteran presence to the rotation and put in the hard work during the innings, something the team sorely lacked in the 2012 season.

At the back of the rotation the Jays will feature Brandon Morrow and Ricky Romero. Provided that everyone stays healthy, the rotation figures to be the toast of their division, perhaps even of the entire American League. The bullpen was another sore spot for the Jays in 2012. The Jays finished 2012 with a combined 4.33 ERA, the lowest total in the American League. Fortunately, the Jays have made efforts to upgrade their pen, beginning with the acquisitions of Steve Delabar, JA Happ, and Brad Lincoln during the trade deadline last season. The hope is that this trio will complement the existing core of Casey Janssen, Sergio Santos, Brett Cecil, and newcomer Esmil Rogers. As for offence, the Jays made considerable alterations to their batting order. José Bautista and Edwin Encarnación still figure prominently in the middle of the lineup—and, if healthy, could combine for 80 or more home runs. They will be complemented by the addition of shortstop José Reyes and left fielder Melky Cabrera at the top of the batting order. After the top four, it is believed that the new manager, John Gibbons, will alternate between Adam Lind, Brett Lawrie, Colby Rasmus, JP Arencibia, and

Emilio Bonafacio to fill the 5–9 spots. The addition of Reyes and Cabrera should increase the on-base average for a team that combined for a mediocre .309 OBP in 2012. In addition to their talent for getting on base, Reyes and Cabrera possess the essential leadoff skills: Reyes is a speed merchant on the base paths, and Cabrera can advance runners on base with his swing. Fans’ opinions on the new look of the 2013 Blue Jays has been overwhelmingly positive. “On paper, this is the best team in baseball, hands down,” comments Aadam Ali, a third-year economics student. “The lineup, rotation, and bullpen are all stacked. The Jays are going to be a handful for every team in the AL this season.” Ashley Adams, a first-year English student, is also positive. “Alex Anthopoulos was clutch this off-season; he identified a number of holes on this team, and filled all of them through trades and free agency,” she says. “I fully anticipate a playoff season for the Jays, and I can’t remember the last time that happened.” It remains to be seen how the Blue Jays will fare in 2013, but if the off-season has been any indication, it is bound to be interesting, win or lose.

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