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170.1 ◆ t h ur s day, ja n ua ry 1 0 th, 2 0 1 3 ◆ ww w.the onta rion .com
features Look out for bus route changes in January
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Guelph Transit adjusts arrival times after review of service Alicja Grzadkowska Exactly one year ago, the Guelph Transit introduced significant changes to bus routes and schedules that received mixed reviews from students who rely on city transportation. Since then, the Transit Growth Strategy (TGS) has undergone changes based on feedback from the community and participating drivers that have been summarized in the Guelph Transit Committee Report released in December and that much of Guelph’s population who regularly uses public transportation have been aware of throughout the transformation process. With the start of the new semester, more changes are being implemented based on a review process that took place in September, and some of the changes will affect students. From the review process, the Operations, Transit and Emergency Services Committee identified that one of the key issues in bus scheduling was that, “15 [per cent] of trips were late during weekdays and up to 25 [per cent] of connections could be missed” because of buses leaving the platform prior to the scheduled departure time. While much of this information
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Some changes are coming to the UC bus loop, but they won’t be significant. might seem dry to students, it is important that they take notice of the resulting changes, as the main adjustment means 20-minute peak service instead of the 15-minute peak service that was taking place last semester. “Moving from a 15-minute to a 20-minute peak was primarily designed […] because of all the issues that we were encountering on streets. We were missing a lot of our connections, so the move from 15 to 20 minutes is to address that specific purpose,” explained Michael Anders, the
general manager for Guelph students should see for January Transit. The implementation of with the additional changes com20-minute peak arrival times has ing in February,” said Anders. already affected the university Anders also encourages stuexpress buses with more subtle dents to check the Guelph Transit changes appearing into January website for changes in order to and February. make the transition easier for In addition to peak time service those trying to get to class on time. changing, Anders states that the “Sometime next week, […] we 56 Express is now running on Vic- will have up on our website all toria, as it was designed to in the of the new routing and all of the fall, but couldn’t because of road new schedules changes coming detours, and the 5 Inbound and in February so students should 5 Outbound have changed plat- keep an eye out [for them],” said forms at the UC bus loop. Anders. “If they can take a few ...se e tra nsi t pag e 6 “Those are the only changes that
170.1 ◆ january 10t h, 2013
news
“Feces” could help the species U of G Robogut key to examining important bacteria Colleen McDonell You may not think twice about the organisms that live inside your body or what you flush down the toilet everyday. But there is one Guelph professor who takes these matters seriously. U of G’s Molecular and Cellular Biology professor Emma AllenVercoe uses a unique mechanism called the “Robogut” in her lab. This one-of-a-kind system of flasks, tubes, and monitors simulates the lower intestinal tract. The Guelph microbiologist is looking for links between the digestive tract and disease. In Allen-Vercoe’s lab, otherwise known as the “RePOOPulation Station,” researchers have been using the Robogut since 2009 to study the ecology of the gut. Mimicking the human distal gut –– a complicated system of hundreds of species – the Robotgut is given human stool and microbe “food” and it produces a liquid waste of microbes and their
Global to Local:
byproducts. a lab. Some of such have gone to U of G students and “I think it comes as a surprise the Human Microbiome Project, staff on international to most people actually how an initiative by the U.S. National much our gut flora influences Institutes of Health to map the and national news our health,” said Allen-Vercoe. genetic sequences of all the miThe Robogut grows complex crobes that live inside and on the The end of December was a busy ecosystems of bacteria, virus- human body. Allen-Vercoe is one time for the media as several es and other microorganisms of several Canadians on the team. shocking, worrisome, and horrithat live in the human intesScientists are also using sam- fying news stories were released tines. Instead of just studying ples from the Robogut lab to to the public. While people celsuch species in isolation, as examine the connections be- ebrated on New Year’s Eve, the done the in the past, the ma- tween bacterial imbalances and U.S. government was attempting chine allows researchers to study conditions that one may not think to avoid the fiscal cliff. The rape of the way these organisms in- are related to the gut, such as a medical student on a bus in New teract in their environment. asthma, obesity, and regressive Delhi, India, spurred riots in the Prof. Allen-Vercoe says under- autism. Currently, Allen-Vercoe state. The world did not come to an standing the “communities” of is working with researchers at end, much to the disappointment bugs in a healthy gut will help other universities to investigate of self-proclaimed Mayan calenresearchers uncover their role the links between gut bacteria dar experts. And, the shooting in everything from digestion and and regressive autism, in the at an elementary school in Newnutrient absorption to conditions hopes to find answers that can town, CT, was perhaps the most such as inflammatory bowel dis- apply to a broader picture of gut talked about news topic, to the ease and colorectal cancer. interaction with mood disorders anger of some, who commented “We are interested in model- and brain development. on the over-reporting of certain ing the gut microbes because For some, the unmistakable aspects of the shooting. Howwe are interested in what the odour of the Robogut apparatus ever, during this exciting time gut microbes are doing in terms can be a major turn off from pur- period for news media, students of ecology,” says Allen Vercoe. suing research. However, the U and staff across the country were “Whereas in the past they’ve re- of G professor considers it just also on Winter break. The Ontarally just been used for looking at another part of the RePOOPula- ion was interested to see if people the breaking down of food prod- tion Station. at the University of Guelph were ucts or antibiotics.” “Once you get past the ick paying attention to news as they The Robogut has also produced factor, it’s fascinating,” Allen- enjoyed their relaxing time away from campus. microbes never before grown in Vercoe told the Toronto Star.
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The Ontarion: What is the most interesting, surprising, or standout news related story that you heard over the Winter break? Ali Magahay, student: I think the shooting in the States. Joseph Oppedisano, student: Well, I obviously heard about the shooting in Connecticut, heard a lot about that. That’s probably the most interesting thing I heard about. I didn’t really listen to the news too much though. Richard Rusyn, student: I didn’t listen to too much of the news either, but I’d probably say the same thing, [the shooting], I heard a lot about that. Heather Heaton, Admissions Services staff member: I guess the [news story about] the poor girl in India, that was disgusting. Dave Seymour, student: I liked that the NHL lockout is over, that’s pretty good news. Thanks to the participants for this week’s interview. If you have an international news story that you want to see here, or if you want to be added to a mailing list of potential interviewees, contact News Editor Alicja Grzadkowska at onnews@uoguelph.ca
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news 4 w w w.th e on ta r ion . c om Canadian food budgets may be strained this year Index shows price hikes are expected for 2013 Alicja Grzadkowska Students and the Guelph community might have to tighten their budgets in the next year when it comes to spending at supermarkets and restaurants as food prices are predicted to increase in 2013. In December, the University of Guelph released the Food Price Index for the upcoming year, which involved the work of Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, Dr. Francis Tapon, Dr. Erna van Duren, Dr. Michael von Massow, and M.Sc. candidate Warren Pinto. Last year’s food price changes were compatible with the index released for 2012, which predicted that, “projected food prices [will] increase no more than two [per cent].” The real data showed an increase of one per cent for all foods. The index analyzed macroeconomic, sector, and domestic factors that may have an impact on food prices, and this year’s index cites the climate, geopolitical/ economic risks, and low inflation as just a few of the drivers of food pricing for this year. The low
inflation period in particular will be a major factor in highlighting the impact of gas and food price increases, according to the report. “We expect food price hikes to exceed our national inflation rate. Practically, it means consumers will be asked to compromise some items on their budget to support food purchases,” explained Charlebois, the associate dean for the College of Management and Economics. The final numbers in the report predict an increase in meat prices of 4.5 to 6.5 per cent, grain prices of 1.4 to 2.7 per cent, and eggs prices of 3.5 to five per cent while fruits and nuts, vegetables, fish and seafood, and dairy will be expected to rise one to three per cent. The drought in the U.S. last year significantly affected the expected prices for meat in 2013. “As grain prices increased because of the U.S. drought, farmers brought their inventory to slaughter much faster,” noted Charlebois. “As a result, it brought down prices for a while. However, because the inventories are now much lower than last year’s now, pressures on beef production and distribution will arise.” Students, who are already on low spending budgets, should expect
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Researchers predict that the opening of Guelph’s Target location will counteract the rising food prices with the city. to be affected by these price hikes, says von Massow, an assistant professor for the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. “Students are like everyone else; they buy groceries, so they will be affected the same as everyone else by rising food prices,” said von Massow. “And in fact, because students are probably on average
lower income, they’ll feel the pinch more.” Charlebois added that cooking might help students deal with rising prices. “An increasing number of students are visiting food banks, and Guelph is no exemption. But we also see more students interested in cooking and preparing foods.
Cooking is about taking ownership of food processing. The more you cook, the less likely you are to buy processed foods. Such an approach significantly reduces food costs.” However, the report also stated that the opening of Target in 2013 might help to reduce food prices as the market becomes more competitive.
Charging up Guelph Hydro and Stone Road Mall partner up to make driving green more achievable Andrew Donovan On Dec. 12, Guelph Hydro presented a demonstration of the newly-installed electric vehicle charging stations in the parking lot of the Stone Road Mall. The charging stations serve two parking spots near the rear of the lot in front of the mall’s main entrance and are outfitted to serve five different vehicles thus far: the Ford Transit Connect electric service van, the Chevrolet Volt, the Nissan Leaf, the Mitsubishi i-Miev, and the Via Motors VTrux extended range electric (eREV) pickup. The vehicle accommodations are for both town service vehicles and passenger vehicles alike. Guelph is now part of the over-100 electric vehicle charging stations across the expansive Trans-Canada Highway and according to Scott Lindsay, manager of Operations at the Stone Road Mall, this project has been a long time coming. “Actually, we had been waiting for the market to increase here in Guelph. We had been looking at
have more electric car charging stations in downtown Guelph and one in the north end as well. The public is asked to input their suggestions on the matter and appropriate contact information is made readily available online. Lindsay noted that although there has been good reception on the initiative, there are drivers who don’t abide by the designation of the parking spots as being for electric cars only. Although there is no law preventing anyone from using those particular spots, it would be courteous to leave the spots for the cars they initially intended to serve. There is certainly a push to make the community more environmentally conscious, and Mayor Karen Farbridge’s comments on the unveiling were certainly in tune with this sentiment. vanessa tignanelli “Transportation has been idenA few mall parking spots will now be reserved for electric vehicles that need charging. tified as a major contributor to Guelph’s greenhouse gas emisthese since 2008 [and] at this point as being a driving factor in this is charging.” sions and is a key component of we could not locate any vehicles in project. As the market for electric ve- the Community Energy Initiative. the area or any on the areas auto“Recognizing that transporta- hicle charging stations continues To that end, we encourage the use motive orders for the next year. So tion accounts for almost one third to grow in Guelph and abroad, so of electric vehicles and, as a growthe joint venture and the market of Canada’s greenhouse gas emis- too does the need for these sta- ing community, it’s important we conditions changed at a perfect sions, our goal in installing this tions, and according to Guelph look forward and build the energy time. We were also looking at a charging station is to encourage Hydro’s press release on the ini- infrastructure we will need in the solar version of this at the time.” the use of electric vehicles. Stone tial unveiling, there are plans for future. Electric vehicles will play an Barry Chuddy, CEO, Guelph Road Mall is a perfect location for more of these stations in Guelph important role in the communities Hydro Inc., noted the need to cut a charging station because driv- in the future. of tomorrow and I thank Guelph back on greenhouse gas emissions ers can shop while their vehicle The proposition thus far is to Hydro for leading the way.”
6 w w w.th e on ta r ion . c om New year, new you, so time to butt out Registration for Guelph’s Leave the Pack Behind contest begins this month Andrew Donovan The University of Guelph Leave the Pack Behind initiative, a province-wide university stop smoking organization, is hosting a contest for regular smokers, social smokers and non-smokers alike in the month of January, the month of resolutions and fresh starts. The contest provides students with the opportunity to quit their habits and win prizes. Registration for this contest will run from the start of classes through to Jan. 27 at booths that will be located in six different locations across campus. The contest itself will require contestants to sign up with a buddy, and both are eligible for prizes upon completion. Leave the Pack Behind offers onand off-campus stop smoking aids for students, including free survival kits, self-help programs, office hours, as well as the aforementioned contest to entice and assist students to drop a potentially life threatening habit. “The contest is called ‘Would You Rather,’ and it is a six week contest
which participants can register for online,” said Campus Program Coordinator Tess Ingram, one of the leading hands in this campaign. There are four categories to make the contest all-inclusive, the first being the “Quit for Good” category. Contestants in this category are regular, heavy smokers that must quit outright for six weeks, and provide a urine test on campus upon completion. The second category is called “Keep the Count,” and contestants must reduce their cigarette consumption by 50 per cent over the period. The third category is “Party Without the Smoke” whereby participants – social smokers – must abstain from smoking while consuming alcohol. This category, according to Ingram, makes up the majority of smokers on campus. Lastly is the “Don’t Start and Win” category. It’s simple; participants that don’t smoke must keep that habit, or lack thereof, intact for the six weeks. “Those participating in the ‘Quit for Good’ category are the only ones required to provide a urine sample upon completion. The other three categories will work off the buddy system,” noted Ingram. The contest is being run across campuses in Ontario where Leave the Pack Behind has representatives, and prizes are quite extensive, like cash prizes
news
vanessa tignanelli
The on-campus contest is encouraging people to quit smoking or stay smoke-free. on the provincial level and Starbucks gift cards, massages, gift cards to a few local restaurants, and much more on the campus level. A 2007 study out of Brock University, coincidentally the headquarters for Leave the Pack Behind, found that young adults in Canada aged 17 to 24 have the highest portion of smokers
of all age cohorts at 26 per cent. Of the young adult population, university students reported regular daily use rates of 7 per cent of what the study called “tobacco products.” Furthermore, in Canada, cancer is responsible for 29.6 per cent of deaths and lung cancer leads the mortality rate of all cancers at 27 per cent.
Students interested in participating in the contest can speak to the representatives at booths across campus or take a look at the material that Leave the Pack Behind provides online. “This is for a really good cause and it’s a cause that effects so many students… we’re hoping for a good turnout of participants,” said Ingram.
Newsology: The least important news of 2012 Alicja Grzadkowska
interested viewers who care what few weeks after the media caught on the Zuckerberg family does in their to their break-up. Though the 32 milWith the amount of hard-hitting, private time. The Internet entrepre- lion Beliebers would disagree with the and sometimes difficult to process, neur, the older one that is, was not declaration of this topic as irrelevant, news stories that took place in 2012, happy with the conduct of the re- the rest of the world could care less it was hard for a few smaller and tweeter and told them off with a quip about the “struggles” of teenage milless important stories to make it to on “human decency.” Sorry Randi, lionaire pop stars. the front pages. However, with the but with the popularity of Instagram yearend editions of magazines and and the high volume of nude celeb- Grandmother finds colony of ants in newspapers coming out recent- rity photos available on the Internet her Cadbury’s Cream Egg ly, which summarize the news of today, personal photos of rich people At the beginning of the summer, The the year, it’s the perfect time to ac- are the petty change of the web, and Daily Mail reported on this fascinatknowledge all of the newsroom small seriously, the leaking of these photos ing story, which, though shocking, is fries that didn’t quite make it on any is not that important. no longer surprising after the amount top-ten lists. of body parts that have been found Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez inside of food in recent years. HeathThe ‘other’ Zuckerberg’s photo break-up and reunite er Manzie’s description of how the As The Ontarion loves writing about events unfolded is, however, enter“scandal” In December, a private family photo Bieber, it was hard not to include him taining to read. posted on Facebook by Randi Zuck- on this list. The tween couple ended “I was having a wee break from erberg, Mark’s older sister (who their two-year relationship in 2012 work and I ate one of the eggs, which also happens to be wealthy), was due to supposed “jealousy” issues, but was fine, and put the other one down tweeted by Vox Media, and quickly their feud didn’t last for very long, on the table…Half an hour later, I saw became viral to, apparently, a lot of and they were back together only a an ant coming out of the seam of the
. . . t r ansit con ti n ue d minutes to just review the changes that are coming, that would be appreciated.” And while the changes may frustrate students who are used to 15 minute peak times, it is important to note both that construction and winter weather impede significantly on arrival times, which means that buses will now have more time to get
between stops despite the obstacles, and that the Guelph Transit has worked with, and will continue to work with, the student population to ensure that their needs are being met. “We’re trying to make the service better,” said Anders. “We have a good working relationship with the CSA and the GSA through the Transit Committee, and we’ve certainly taken feedback from
them, in terms of them being a voice for the students so we appreciate that effort.”
egg’s foil paper…I got the egg, ran outside, split it open, and was horrified to find there was a colony of ants inside – about 50 or 60 of them.” Admittedly gross, but not that important.
version, as well as the latest, not so surprising, news over the number of iPhone thefts. New York City Mayor Bloomberg summed up the stickyfinger year well with his discussion on the rise of robberies in NYC, which he iPhones and thefts, and elephants blamed on stolen iPhones and iPads. 2012 was certainly the year of the And, over the final weekend of 2012, iPhone, with news media clamor- an unidentified elephant in Thailand ing to report the latest information swallowed a tourist’s iPhone. And all on the release of the phone’s newest the PC users cheered.
170.1 ◆ january 10t h, 2013
arts & Culture
Academic Radio to bring research to the airwaves Grant to CFRU sponsors new initiatives Nick Revington Students may soon find themselves able to present a radio show on campus radio station CFRU 93.3 FM instead of writing an essay or presenting in class as part of their course grades. The initiative is called Academic Radio and is one of three programs the radio station is pursuing after receiving a $20,000 grant from the Community Radio Fund of Canada. In addition to Academic Radio, the station will also run a summer radio day camp and a Media Literacy and Media Activism workshop for high schools in the region. “The three projects together are more or less to strengthen our ties to educators and students in Guelph. That’s sort of the theme,” said Station Manager Peter Bradley. Academic Radio is getting off the ground this semester, as CFRU will be hiring a coordinator to mentor students and faculty who are interested in seeing their research broadcast over the airwaves. The aim is to connect the campus and local community to the research being undertaken at the university. “Basically, we will work with students and professors and in some cases entire classrooms, to translate the research that they
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are doing through their class work or independent research into media,” said Bradley. “And they’ll be doing that for credit, instead of a traditional written thesis or an essay or a class presentation.” For example, an upcoming portion of the program will showcase a first-year seminar course called Being Canadian, led by Dr. Catherine Carstairs. The major output of students in the class will be to produce a radio program with CFRU. “So part of the work we will be doing with full classrooms like that, and I think the first-year seminar program is a really good partnership for us,” said Bradley. “It makes a lot of sense; it introduces students to new ways of doing things and research methods.” vanessa tignanelli But other students, such as upper-year undergraduates or CFRU’s Peter Bradley hopes a recent grant to the station will allow U of G researchers to gain more masters students, are welcome exposure in the media. to participate in the program. The Academic Radio program hopes Bradley added that the pro- out of the woodwork and who together their own small radio to be able to work one-on-one gram is open to students in any engages with this,” said Bradley. programs while learning about with a number of students and subject, and any type of research “So far, I’ve found people around the behind-the-scenes activities their faculty advisors to help the – though points out that it would campus, like faculty and admin- at a radio station. students prepare documentary- be particularly well-suited to istration, to be very supportive The final project funded by style radio programs about their researchers who would like to of this, and that’s been exciting.” the grant is the Media Literacy research. engage with primary sources The grant will also allow the and Media Activism work“Students in a normal class could through interviews. In order to station to run three camps in shop. Geared primarily toward approach their professor and ask get involved, Bradley recom- the summer, for youth aged 10 high schools, Bradley said the if they could do radio instead of mends emailing info@cfru.ca for to 12, 13 to 14, and 15 to 16, re- workshop would serve to teach an essay. We’re all ears for that. more information, but notes that spectively. Each camp is expected students about bias in the media, I’m sort of expecting that some due to time constraints, there to have about nine participants and help them think critically upper-year independent studies are a limited number of spots along with one counselor and two about how issues are portrayed in unit students will be inspired by available. assistants. Besides the typical the media, from the mainstream, this option and take us up on it,” “I think it is wide open. I’m summer camp activities, par- to the CBC, to alternatives such said Bradley. really excited to see who comes ticipants would be able to put as CFRU.
Movie Review – The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Tolkien classic entertains, but it’s no LOTR Nick Revington I suppose I will come right out and say it: I didn’t like the first film installment of The Hobbit as directed by Peter Jackson. Sure, it was entertaining, and it is a must-see for those who have either read the book by J.R.R. Tolkien or seen Jackson’s movie version of Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings series. But disappointingly, it in no way compares to the masterpiece that was the Lord of the Rings series. The special effects, for starters, are impressive – but they feel a little more like showing off than truly adding to the cinematic experience. Indeed, the use of computer-generated graphics is ubiquitous in this film. That is to be expected these days, and with the state of the art now, it is not usually
a problem. It became a problem when Jackson insisted the film be shown in 48 frames per second instead of the standard 24. The high frame rate is meant
courtesy
to create a clearer, more vibrant appearance. And that was accomplished, to unexpectedly disastrous effect. It not only made the computer-generated components of the movie
seem – to me – less realistic, it made the real components look so real that they appeared fake. For instance, with much brighter grass and flowers, the same idyllic set of the Shire appeared starkly different than in the Lord of the Rings. Throughout the entire film, the atmosphere is similarly distorted from its portrayal in the earlier film franchise. Some might argue that this is a different (but related) storyline and therefore these drastic changes in the way the fictional world of Middle-Earth is portrayed are acceptable. To that, I would counter that it conflicts with the ancient and misty history of a place that seems to be eternal: the aesthetic of the film ought to reflect the aesthetic of the tale. What An Unexpected Journey has going for it is that it represents only the first of three parts of the original book. While no film adaptation of a book can truly capture the depth written into it, at least this one
does not seek to chop out all the good bits. In fact, it draws in elements from the numerous
Rafaela é,
appendices and other writings of Tolkien, actually adding some depth.
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10 w w w.th e on ta r ion . c om Bill Killionaire drops debut EP Frontman Scott Haynes credits local music scene for success Nick Revington Bill Killionaire has lately become somewhat of a staple of the Guelph live music scene. It is no surprise; the band has been at it for several years in a variety of forms. What may be surprising to some is that their Jan. 5 show at Van Gogh’s Ear marked the first release of any recordings by the band. Part of local production group Gain Music’s Guelph Release Series which continues through the month, Bill Killionaire played through all four songs on their EP, Loose Noon, before treating the crowd to some unrecorded material. “I think in April, it will probably be about two years, but it’s been a one-piece, two-piece, threepiece, and four-piece band. But it’s always been Nathan [Campagnaro] as our drummer,” said self-described “Bill Korp CEO” Scott Haynes. (In plain terms, Haynes is lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter.) “We’ve only played two shows with this actual lineup, but we’ve been together since the summer,” said Haynes. “We all wanted to get the EP out before we did a lot of shows, so we finally did that.
And everyone else in the band is in about four other bands, so it’s hard to get us all together.” In fact, the difficulty in getting the band together led to the name Loose Noon. “It’s hard to get these guys together so we have a weekend, we’re like we’ve got this block of time, it’s the daytime, because someone’s got a show, someone’s got to work, so it was like, ‘it’s noon.’ But I was like, ‘well, it’s a loose noon,’ because the first time noon turned out to be 1:45 [p.m.] and the next time turned out to be 12:45 [p.m.], so we were doing better,” explained Haynes. Haynes credits moving to Guelph from Paris, Ontario four years ago with helping to kick start a musical career. “There wasn’t really musical community [in Paris]. My friends were into it; they would see it and they would enjoy it, but they weren’t that interested. My bands back home, they just did it because it was fun,” said Haynes. “But when I came to Guelph, the people I met were more productive. There [are] all the different skills that go into making music. You need other people to bring you in. You stand on each other’s shoulders and pull each other along, and I never really had that. I was always the most enthusiastic person, and so to go to a town with people that
arts & Culture
Wendy Shepherd
Scott Haynes, left, and Dan Loughrin perform material from Bill Killionaire’s EP Loose Noon at the release show on Jan. 5. are more enthusiastic – it’s better to be trying to keep up with people than having people to catch up to you.” Loose Noon itself offers up a sampling of some of Bill Killionaire’s best songs, with a warm DIY feel (the band recorded the EP in bassist Alex Ricci’s apartment studio) and a raucous yet restrained rock and roll vibe. They feel like they come from a decade or two ago, but in a
good way. Listening to them brings about the same feeling as discovering something neat hidden under a veneer of dust in the basement. Two bands opened the show for Bill Killionaire. The first, Familiar Fiend, brought a driving punk sound but the musical energy largely failed to translate to strong stage presence. Additionally, the performance felt sloppy and had a tendency to
over-use deliberate feedback effects. Two-piece Cursed Arrows took over the stage next, and responded with a demonstration of what driving garage-punk ought to sound like. But at the end of it all, this was Bill Killionaire’s big night, as the sizeable crowd that stuck it out to the end despite running late can attest. Visit www.theontarion.com for a web-exclusive photo reel.
Album Review: Scott Walker – Bish Bosch Legendary weirdo challenges the loyalty of his following
struggle with solo success, re- not to mention the lyrical conHere lies the problem: an artist sulting in a brief reunion with tent which ranges from the or group who is just beginning the Brothers, Walker finally re- profound to the blatantly lit- could not pull off this album. It turned to his solo work for good eral (at which point, the listener simply would not be tolerated, by the mid-1980s, abandoning cannot really be sure whether and yet one who has been wellRobyn Nicholson popular styles for much more Walker is provoking deep analy- established as a strange, albeit experimental approaches. A sis or simply providing comedic innovative, legend can be highTo be painfully honest, the smooth and sonically pleasing relief during an otherwise diffi- ly acclaimed for the same type chances of the average listen- vocal delivery remained but the of output. Some may not regard er tolerating, let alone enjoying, lush studio accompaniments and this as problematic at all, and Scott Walker’s latest album Bish catchy song-writing which the more practically as a result of a Bosch without having any pre- Walker Brothers were known for long-working artist having ‘paid vious knowledge of the artist’s was now replaced with jarring their dues,’ so to speak, and thus work are slim to none. Scott and often unsettling avant-garde earning the right to do, ‘whatWalker has made a career, and compositions. It is this particuever they bloody well please.’ a long career at that, out of being lar combination which persists Having no prior knowledge or extraordinarily outlandish and in Walker’s latest effort. experience with Scott Walker, yet still managing to create a The album itself seems to be however, this reviewer found it mass cult following – a follow- intentionally difficult to listen difficult to conduct an objective ing which includes David Bowie to. Filled with jarring industrial listening practice once further courtesy and Radiohead among other il- noise, ominous and often creepy research had been conducted. lustrious weirdos. drones and even what sound like Walker has a cultural presence O r i g i n a l ly f r o m Ha m i l - recordings of flatulence (classy cult listening experience), it is that seems to stretch beyond ton, Walker (born Noel Scott touch indeed), Walker’s strong still a trying sound overall, to mere notoriety and verge more Engel) got his unlikely start as stunning vocals combine and yet say the least. It is a sound which on a mythical status. a ‘60s crooner at the front of sometimes clash with the grind- is equal parts funny and tragic. Despite these issues, the album The Walker Brothers in Lon- ing noise going on underneath. The tracks, while consistently is worth a listen, even if only to don, England. Even early on, it In short, this is not an album to interesting (whether that be a peak one’s curiosity. Those who was readily apparent that the casually throw on at a dinner good or bad kind of interest), are more invested and passionate United Kingdom offered Walker party: it is an album to listen to have the ability to simultan- about the experimental and the an audience far wider and more alone and ponder deeply over. eously entertain, frustrate and avant-garde might even go so appreciative than North Amer- While the vocals still, as always, altogether repulse the listener far as to enjoy it. There is a reaica ever would. After an initial provide endless sonic intrigue, in a matter of seconds. son why Scott Walker has such a
larger-than-life reputation: the album, along with most of those that came before it, is undeniably inventive, fascinating, and freshly modern, which is quite a feat considering Walker’s long career. In addition to this, like it or not, the content, both sonically and lyrically, is endlessly provocative. Walker forcefully combines the high art of the avant-garde with unflinchingly vulgar and often violent lyrics involving, for example, “reeking gonads” and a “wormy anus.” It is music which is begging for an extreme reaction, and because Walker is so immovably established already as an artist, it really doesn’t matter whether that reaction is negative or positive. For fans of Walker, all this provocation is no surprise, and instead it is expected and in many cases highly anticipated. For newcomers, however, it can be a rough introduction to a whole weird world of Walker’s making. Perhaps it is a world you never want to visit again, or maybe, just maybe, it is the world you’ve been searching for.
170.1 ◆ january 10t h, 2013
arts & Culture
Pop Machine: Django rechained Line of slave dolls promoting Django Unchained undoes sensitivity of Tarantino’s film Tom Beedham There’s an early moment in Quentin Tarantino’s latest film – the Spaghetti Westernized slave revenge epic Django Unchained – where the transcendentally minded, German-born bounty hunter Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz) confesses to the title character (Jamie Foxx) that although his profession is opportunistic, he “despises slavery” and wishes to do something about it. The scene can be received as a direct nod from its director to the criticism you can anticipate in response to any film that fictionalizes the era of slavery. It acknowledges the argument that points out the necessary opportunism involved in channeling the historical subjection of a people (and its residual contempt of its oppressors) for plot fodder, and at the same time, it is a meta-comment
that says that although such creative approaches are problematized, that shouldn’t prevent us from pursuing new ways to do (or say) something about the issues at hand. Still, Tarantino’s undertaking took the risk of trivializing the struggles endured by slavery’s survivors and victims – a concern many groups and individuals have voiced in reaction to Django Unchained. He is, after all, the director that had Eli Roth make Swiss cheese of Hitler in Inglourious Basterds. Without the space required of an exegesis that could properly hash out whether Tarantino’s film was in fact racist or trivializing, upon a close viewing of Tarantino’s film, it is possible to say that while the film still harnesses the visceral techniques that returning viewers have come to expect of Tarantino’s pictures, it contains aspects that suggest its sensitivity as well as a larger goal of promoting discussion. Critics have often complained of Tarantino’s cartoonish application of ultra-violence and gore, and they’re present in Django, but the way they’re used here is recognizably intended to illustrate
the horrors of slavery and tap into company handling North American viewer empathy. Sure, there’s the distribution for Django Unchained) retribution violence involved in announced a line of pose-able eightDjango and Schultz hunting down inch dolls in the likeness of Foxx and and exterminating redneck slave Waltz’s characters, as well as those owners (and those scenes are hard played by Leonardo DiCaprio, Samto confuse as anything but his- uel L. Jackson, James Remar, and torical fantasy), but there’s also a Kerry Washington in Tarantino’s brutal “Mandingo” fight scene in film. which two black slaves are forced Since then, the line has come by their owners to fight to the death under fire from advocacy group for sport; dogs effectively tear apart Project Islamic Hope, whose dia live slave; and the lashings and rector Najee Ali says the toys are “a brandings of slaves (as well as the slap in the face of our ancestors,” resulting scars) are given plenty of “trivializ[ing] the horrors of slavery.” screen time – all to reflect the physiAnd the criticism is hardly cal horrors of slavery. Django also contrarian. has the merit of exposing the reality While the line also features figuof slavery time that involved slaves rines for white characters Schultz, who became legally “free” still hav- Francophile slave owner Calvin Caning to suffer the systemic racism of die and his bodyguard Butch Pooch, their containing cultures. and a collection short of Django’s While Tarantino’s film has rec- black characters would also be outognizable intentions that are worth rageous, the Django Unchained arguing for, it’s a lot harder to say merchandise can be deemed noththe same for a line of dolls being ing less than exploitive, distasteful used as promotional devices for the and disrespectful for immediately new blockbuster. involving the metaphorical marLast fall, the National Enter- keting of slavery and approving the tainment Collectibles Association, perpetuation of the phenomenon Inc. (NECA), in association with of the black slave by selling Django, the Weinstein Company (the Stephen (Jackson), and Broomhilda
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(Washington) dolls. Tarantino has had similar lines of figures released in tandem with previous films, but none of those involved characters that were slaves. Removed from the context of the narrative to which they belong and placed on any separate platform, the toys also serve as oversimplified, caricaturized representations of African-American slavery; the course of Django Unchained represents a spectrum of slave classes that includes house and field slaves and different ranks of slaves within those categories, but the slave characters featured in NECA’s line are sold wearing either traditional house slave garbs, or – in Django’s case – the clothes of an emancipated slave. By result – through their line of dolls – NECA, the Weinstein Company, and Tarantino participate in the veiling and denial of an entire industry of slavery, depicting the reality of slavery as having involved specific privileges that were not as exclusively prevalent as their toys suggest and countering any sensitivity they might have claimed through the film itself. Let’s hope for a lengthy apology from all parties involved.
What The Tech? New computing technology takes the fiction out of science fiction
name but a few examples), these with Leap Motion compatibilhigh tech computer navigation ity would allow a touch-free computing experience virtualmethods may soon be reality. A technology company called ly straight out of the movies. It Leap Motion has announced that it could allow touch-free sign-offs has developed a device that would on deliveries or credit card payNick Revington enable computers to be controlled ments, doing away with those by finger movement rather than a bulky stylus devices used to colIt is a scene common to movies traditional keyboard and mouse. lect signatures digitally nowadays. and TV shows set in the future: the Currently only available for pre- More importantly, it could allow protagonist pulls up some kind order, the iPod-sized controller surgeons to access medical data of computer interface with just a works in a manner not unlike the on the fly without worrying about movement of their hands in thin Xbox Kinect and similar game cross-contamination from touchair, and then proceeds to type, systems. The difference is that ing computer keyboards. zoom and otherwise navigate while these games track moveThis innovation brings us cyberspace with hand gestures ment generally, Leap Motion’s halfway to the fancy computer towards a translucent holographic device is purportedly capable interfaces of futuristic movies. screen in mid-air. It is a staple of of tracing finger movements to All we need now is to develop a science fiction and the unrealisti- an incredibly precise 1/100th of fancy holographic screen that can cally advanced crime labs of some a millimeter. According to the be summoned in mid-air. As it otherwise contemporary forensics company’s website, this makes turns out, this sort of technology dramas. Following in the footsteps it 200 times more accurate than essentially exists already. It is reof other inventions pioneered by any existing product. ally the relatively simple matter of With obviously practical appli- combining the two that stands in the imaginations of science fiction writers (cell phones, submarines, cations for gaming, graphic design, the way of taking the fiction out the International Space Station, to and 3D design, software enabled of science fiction.
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Futuristic holographic and interactive computer interfaces like the one Tony Stark uses in Iron Man are rapidly becoming more science than science fiction.
2012-YEAR IN REVIEW The ten biggest arts and culture moments of last semester Nick Revington King Cobb Steelie reissues Project Twinkle: It’s a bit of a way-back play-back, but during the ’90s, KCS was considered the Guelph indie band. Project Twinkle was a particularly influential alternative album that combined an impressive number of genres. The Sheepdogs sell out Guelph Concert Theatre: The vintage-inspired rockers filled the venue to capacity alongside Yukon Blonde on Nov. 29. Inaugural Ontario International Poetry Slam: Hosted in Guelph on Nov. 10, the event drew in poets from across North America. Alvin Lau of Chicago, Ill. took home the $5000 first prize. MacHomer comes to River Run Centre: The hilarious one-man Simpsons-themed interpretation of MacBeth by Rick Miller played one of its final shows ever in Guelph in November. Dan Mangan plays Peter Clark Hall: Mangan split the stage with the Rural Alberta Advantage for a lively concert in the UC basement on Oct. 26. Smaro Kamboureli has Canada Research Chair renewed: The Can-lit professor renewed funding for the prestigious government funding program. Kamboureli established the TransCanada Institute to provide a space for the study of Canadian literature. Judith Thompson wins award: The U of G theatre professor received the Herbert-Whittaker-CTCA Award for contributions to Canadian theatre. Yarn: Internationally-renowned Guelph artist Janet Morton’s yarn-themed exhibit The Ravelled Sleeve opened at the Macdonald Stewart Art Centre in September; by coincidence, the same weekend saw St. George’s Square covered in knitwork by a yarn bombing event for Culture Days. Nuit Blanche and the Guelph Jazz Festival: Guelph’s all-night arts festival featured a number of interesting events including acrobatic dancers, a silent dance party, and studio open houses. It coincided with the Guelph Jazz Festival, which saw an impressive lineup of free and ticketed concerts.
The five best books I read this year Alicja Grzadkowska Dear Life by Alice Munro (2012) Alice Munro has won what seems to be every award for fiction writing possible, and her newest collection of short stories deserves no less recognition. The author’s ability to create a setting, and then gradually fill it in with character details and plot made the stories captivating and often unexpectedly climactic. For those who think that narratives about life in Ontario are boring and lacking in an energy that’s present in more “worldly” novels, Munro will completely alter your beliefs. Her final stories in the collection, which she identifies as somewhat autobiographical, are likewise compelling and provide a somber finish to the text.
Top Gryphon (Sports) Moments of 2012 Chris Müller 7-Peat? 8-Peat? It’s a dynasty, right? Both the men and women’s teams captured gold in the CIS cross-country championships in London, ON. on Nov. 10, 2012. It was the seventh straight national title for the men, and the eight consecutive title for the women – all captured on a cold fall afternoon in November. Ti-Cats to call Alumni Stadium home in 2013 The newly renovated Alumni Stadium will be the home venue for the 2013 Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The announcement came on Nov. 20 when the university detailed an agreement in principle with the CFL team for the upcoming season. The addition of temporary seating, concessions, and other necessary facilities for the game will more than double the current capacity of the stadium for the Tiger-Cat’s use. Playoff-Bound Gryphons Every recognized athletic team sport at the University of Guelph made their league’s playoffs or played in addition to regular season play. It was the first recognized time this had happened in Gryphon history. Building Potential Campaign unveiled The university committed to providing world-class athletic training facilities for its students, student-athletes, faculty, and members of the Guelph community with the launching of the “Building Potential” campaign. With a lofty goal of $20 million, the campaign is seeking to raise the necessary capital to construct new facilities and renovate outdated ones, while maintaining a constant interest in the well-being of members of the university community and the greater Guelph area.
A&C sports
books
Lullabies for Little Criminals by Heather O’Neill (2006) Told from the perspective of a young girl, this story is both disturbing and moving. Set in Montréal, the book describes the life of a young drug addict and his even younger, extremely intelligent daughter who are trapped in a downwards spiral of misery. Drug abuse, sex trade, and homelessness are all topics that appear throughout the book, and all contain the father-daughter relationship within them. Though it sounds depressing, the novel is also filled with feelings of hope, and the ending satisfies the reader as well as reflecting similar feelings of promise. The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides (1993) From the start of the story, this novel describes a gruesome affair, and details exactly what will happen in the course of the book, made even more evident by the title of the text. Despite this reveal, the plot is gripping and holds the reader’s attention throughout the story. Somehow, the novel retains a sense of unpredictability in the midst of its obvious conclusion, which signals Eugenides’ significant talent in fiction writing.
The Moo-U Miracle: Guelph 42, Queen’s 39 In one of the greatest events in Gryphon football history, Guelph overcame a 21-point deficit with 10:08 remaining in the fourth quarter to set the stage for overtime, when Jazz Lindsey hit Mike Fortino for a gamewinning touchdown that punched the team’s ticket to the 105th Yates Cup.
11 / 22 / 63 by Stephen King (2011) In this novel, Stephen King takes a break from his typically horrific and terrifying novels to write about time travel and the JFK assassination. From the first few pages of the text, the reader is sucked in, as with many of King’s novels, and though the book is different from The Shining or Misery, it is similarly frightening in its own ways. While I disagree with the outcome of events towards the end of the book, it’s evident that King has not lost any of his writing capabilities, and continues to produce thought-provoking and insomnia-inducing works.
The Reader by Bernhard Schlink (1995) Though this book came out almost a decade ago in Germany, its story communicates an important topic: the lasting effects of the German people’s actions during the Holocaust. The relationship between a teenage boy and a much older woman is controversial and alarming at the same time as it is romantic and likeable, which sums up the mixed feelings of the reader at the end of the book.
16 w w w.t h e on ta r ion . c om Looking ahead to 2013 A few things to look forward to in the new semester Chris Müller As we begin the first few weeks of the new semester, now seems as good a time as any to take a look ahead and see what’s on tap for Gryphon athletics over the next few months. SoccerFest, an all-day soccer marathon organized by GuelphiteSports will be taking place in the fieldhouse on Jan. 12. The event will feature 32 teams and 350 players participating in a huge tournament over the course of the whole day. Playoffs will determine a championship game where the winner will receive a $1,000 prize. An after-party is being held at Atmosphere Café on Carden Street and will celebrate what looks to be a day of celebration for the beautiful game. The initiative of the event is to promote fair play, teamwork, communication, creativity, and fun in the Guelph community through the world’s most well-loved sport. Building on the success of
last year’s SoccerFest, this will be the last year as an annual event and will shortly make the shift to a quarterly event in Guelph. Organizers intend to have streets closed off in Guelph in order to play soccer in the streets, mimicking the romantic images of the sport in South America. Sign-up has been closed for the Jan. 12 event, but supporters and spectators are welcomed and encouraged to come out to the event in support of the values being promoted by this very special day of soccer on campus. Jan. 18 will witness one of the most exciting winter happenings in the Guelph athletic community. The Frosty Mug will be played between Guelph and Waterloo at the Sleeman Centre at 7:30 p.m. on the Friday evening. If you haven’t had a chance to catch the men’s hockey team yet this year, this might be the way to start. The Sleeman Centre offers a great atmosphere for watching the game, and $5 student tickets are still available online at gryphons.ca and at the W.F. Mitchell Athletic Centre. Nonstudent tickets are also available for $10 – still a bargain for the
high-energy product the Gryphons have put on the ice so far this season. Skipping ahead to the middle of February, several Gryphon teams will be in the hunt for the playoffs with the OUA championships right around the corner. Swimming, wrestling, volleyball, basketball, and hockey will all begin their playoff runs by the middle of the month, should the teams be fortunate enough to qualify. Outside of the school’s athletic department, there’s a few things to look forward to in the world of professional sport as well. If you can pull yourself away from the hockey for a minute, the Toronto Rock begin their home schedule at the Air Canada Centre on Jan. 19 against the Philadelphia Wings. One of the more consistently competitive teams in Toronto, the Rock, and the National Lacrosse League in general, provides quality entertainment at a price most university sports fans could stomach. For fans of baseball, the most exciting day of the year is only a month away. Pitchers and catchers report on Feb. 12, and hope
sports & Health
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A look ahead to some exciting athletic events in the winter semester. springs eternal for fans of the programming, and we can all Blue Jays as they unveil an over- pretend this will be the year the hauled roster that positions them Leafs finally make the playoffs. as preseason favourites and a Well, it’s nice to dream about it possible World Series contender. anyways. Happy New Year, sports fans, Oh, and the hockey lockout there’s a lot to be excited about is over, so the CBC can now rein 2013. turn to its regular-scheduled
170.1 ◆ january 10t h, 2013
sports & Health
What you missed over the break While you were feasting, the Gryphons were competing Chris Müller
the Gryphons, posting a 12-5 record and recording a 2.11 goals against average along the way. At 13-3-3, the Gryphons currently sit at third in the standings with only two points separating them from the first-place Laurier Golden Hawks. The team is enjoying a six-game winning streak, something they’ll surely look to continue into 2013.
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this season. The women’s squad dropped their first match of 2013 when they travelled to St. Catherines to take on the Brock Badgers. The Gryphons jumped out to an early lead with a strong first set by the score of 25-20. However, Brock would rebound quickly, winning three in a row with set scores of 12-25, 2225, and 22-25. Their next game is in Thunder bay on Jan. 12, where they’ll take on the 5-8 Lakehead Thunderwolves in an attempt to move up in the standings. Taking on the undefeated York Lions on Jan. 18 could prove a much bigger problem for the Gryphons.
The winter break is finally over and it’s back to business as usual for the student population at the University of Guelph. While many might still be getting settled into the new semester (and Swimming dropping a few holiday pounds The swim team was last in acin the process), many of the stu- tion on Nov. 24, and surely after dent-athletes at the university are a long break the Gryphon men and now well underway in the second women are eager to get out of the half of their seasons. This arti- cold and back into the pool. That cle should fill you in on what you chance will come on Jan. 13, when missed over the holiday. Guelph hosts the Guelph Invita- Basketball tional at the W.F. Mitchell Centre. Men’s basketball has been busy as With only three meets separating of late, playing five games since Hockey Men’s hockey picked up the sec- the team from the OUA Champi- the season paused for the holiday. ond half of their season riding onships on Feb. 8, the Gryphons The Gryphons have gone 3-2 over the momentum generated by the will look to keep the momentum that stretch, though the OUA rephenomenal rookie campaigns of generated from a successful first cord stands at 3-6. As in real estate, Andrew Bathgate and Brandon half and parlay it into success at location, location, location could Maxwell. Bathgate’s 14 goals have the provincial level. be used to describe the Gryphons’s him locked up in a three-way tie first half of the season. The team is vanessa tignanelli for most goals in the league, de- Volleyball 3-1 at home and 0-5 on the road, spite playing three fewer games It was a tough first half of the sea- losing the road games by an aver- Get caught up on what you missed over the winter holiday in this than those he’s tied with. Max- son for the men’s volleyball team, age margin of defeat of 26.2 points. quick summary of athletic happenings since campus emptied out. well’s 10-3 record between the having posted a 2-7 record in The team has struggled to find their pipes is highlighted by three OUA play. The team travelled to legs on the road to this point in the of 2013. Host of the Guelph New the OUA and CIS women’s rookshutout performances en route St. Petersburg, FL for the Alden OUA season, but will look to 2013 Year Opener, Guelph captured 26 ie of the year for her efforts in to generating a .935 save percent- Cup from Jan. 2 to Jan. 5. The Gry- as an opportunity to turn things events on the day in the first full the cross-country season and is age, the best total in the OUA. phons dropped their first match around. track and field meet of the season. making a strong case for a similar The team’ s 12-6-2 record sits against the Manitoba Bisons 0-3, The women’s team sits at 4-5 Highlights included exceptional award on the track and field side them a mere four points behind but quickly bounced back to beat in OUA play, similarly more suc- performances by Gryphon rookies of things. Western for first place in the west- the University of Calgary and the cessful at home (3-1) than on the Mitchell Torres in the high jump, ern division. The team has won University of New Brunswick on road (1-4). The women have lost Brandon Shirk in the men’s 300 Lacrosse two of three since returning from consecutive days, posting 3-1 vic- their two games since returning meter race, and Madeline Yungblut Though their Guelph careers may the winter break, the lone loss tories in each. Guelph would drop from the winter holiday, dropping in the women’s 3000 meter race. be over, former Gryphons Mike coming via a shootout when the the last match of the event 1-3 to a close 68-64 decision to Western Yungblut would lap the competi- Burke and Curtis Knight have made the active roster for the team travelled to Lakehead Uni- the Rouge et Or from Laval. The on Jan. 3 and losing despite a val- tion en route to her victory. Rookie pentathlon sensation Anversity on Jan. 4. 2-2 record should provide some iant effort against the number one Edmonton Rush of the National The high-flying women’s optimism for the team when they ranked Windsor Lancers on Jan. 5 thony Broeders won his event, and Lacrosse League. Fellow Gryphon team contains three of the top travel to Kingston on Jan. 12 to by a score of 87-54. both he and Yungblut were named Jordan Critch is a member of the five point scorers in the OUA in face Queen’s. The following day the Gryphon Athletes of the Week Buffalo Bandit’s practice rosAmanda Parkins, Jessica Pinker- has Guelph play the Royal Military Track & Field for their exceptional performance ter. Congratulations to the three ton, and Christine Grant. Brooke College Paladins in Kingston. The The Gryphon fieldhouse has been in the meet. Yungblut’s success Gryphons, and best of luck in the Siddall has been solid in net for Paladins have yet to win a game put to good use in the early weeks comes on the heels of being named upcoming season.
What is the Building Potential program? Athletic Director Tom Kendall helps explain the benefits of the university’s capital campaign Chris Müller The W.F. Mitchell Centre currently exists as an outdated and insufficient facility for the expanding student body here at the University of Guelph. The development of the soccer complex, the fieldhouse, renovations to the arena, and improvements to the stadium have been stepping-stones on the way to the final piece of the facility puzzle.
The lofty $20-million goal for renovation includes a 120,000 the project will be used primar- square foot expansion, a threeily for the construction of the level, 35,000 square foot fitness new athletic centre, replacing centre, and a 2,500-seat event and improving upon the exist- centre – capable of hosting voling structure. With two-thirds leyball and basketball games, of the cost of the new centre as well as social events such as being funded by student fees, convocation. the university is now looking Capital-raising programs like to companies and alumni in- the Building Potential project are terested in contributing to the common in the Canadian univerproject. One such contributor, sity athletics landscape. Similar the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, con- projects have helped construct tributed $450,000 to the program new facilities at Western, Lauas part of the agreement to play rier, and McMaster. their home games in Alumni StaWhile the price may seem steep, dium next season. Athletic Director Tom Kendall exThe dazzling presentation plains that over-constructing the on the proposed facility can facility is necessary at this stage be found on the project’s web- in the university’s development. site, buildingpotential.ca. The “We need to do this, and we
need to do it right,” said Kendall. “We don’t want to be in a position where we build it, and it’s too small; we’re building it with the intent to meet student needs for the next 20 years.” The “student needs” Kendall identifies have been developed through student involvement with the project from the very beginning. “For three years, really, since we started the master plan which was designed in 2008, we’ve always had student input on what their needs are and the like, so we’re comfortable with the design we have to date,” said Kendall. For those who might oppose the construction of a new athletic
facility, Kendall explained that this is a building not solely purposed for the elite athletes of the Guelph community. “This is not a building that’s being built [exclusively] for varsity sports, this is a building that will enable our student body, our faculty, and our staff to have greater opportunities for recreation, for fitness, and for social gatherings,” said Kendall. The intent on creating a social space that was not exclusive to athletes was important during the planning stages, and as both the plan and program website suggest, the new centre is intended to be a social hub for health and wellness throughout the university community.
18 w w w.t h e on ta r ion . c om From the Bleachers
sports & Health
The Lockout of Attrition is over, now what?
interviews, no more cutting to Bob Mackenzie to fill time on SportsCenter, no more star players leaving for European leagues, and thankfully, no more useless Chris Müller journalistic fodder on the subject. As an occasional hockey fan Hockey fans the world over can (read: failed Canadian), I followed now safely reemerge from the the developments of the lockout in apocalypse shelters they were earnest for the first two weeks of building (full of Don Cherry’s negotiations. Based on the media’s “Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em” highlight coverage of the negotiations, it has videos, tins of chewing tobacco, become abundantly clear that our boxes of potato chips, and a Maple country has a real hockey problem, Leafs branded mini-fridge full of not to mention the 113 days it took discount beer) into the world of to get the lockout settled. live NHL hockey. Over the Christmas holiday, I Gone are the daily TSN insider was blessed with the ability to updates on the state of affairs in watch TSN’s SportsCenter just about every morning over my third and fourth cup of coffee. Maybe it was the caffeine setting in, but I was continuously amazed by how the first 10 to 15 minutes of the broadcast would largely cycle between seemingly stock photos and videos of Bettman and Fehr walking in and out of hotels, providing “No comment at this time” and “We’re allowing the process to unfold” as verbal fodder for the sports media machine. This generally preceded the TSN panel of experts on the lockout, including legal consultants and economic advisers to supplement the analysis of some of the most respected names in the hockey media landscape. Fifteen minutes later, the viewer is reminded that basketball was played the night before, and the NFL playoffs are also on television, in case anyone was concerned. At the half-hour mark, the program resets, and I’m once again bombarded by the lockout’s nondevelopments and an extended analysis of the financial concerns of another rejected proposal by the player’s association. Even with Onrait and O’Toole’s musings, my most reliable source of morning entertainment was quickly becoming disturbingly obsessed with this pissing contest, and I wasn’t about to be caught in the proverbial crossfire. As an objective fan of the sport a media-ballooned pissing con- and as one whose playing catest between Gary Bettman and reer existed entirely on asphalt, I Donald Fehr, as are the images of began to resent how we feel about overly sorrowful looking unem- hockey. ployed NHL players backing the It would seem that hockey still-intact players’ association could do no wrong to us; somerepresentatives. how whatever little ‘timbits’ of There are no more discussions of useless legal information were a 70/30, 60/40, or 50/50 revenue split given to us was merely an indibetween ownership and the play- cator that hockey could/would/ ers, no more financial negotiations, should return to its rightful place no more players undercutting in our hearts. the process during post-practice It’s this sort of thinking that had
“Even with Onrait and O’Toole’s musings, my most reliable source of morning entertainment was quickly becoming disturbingly obsessed with this pissing contest, and I wasn’t about to be caught in the proverbial crossfire.”
Mary Altaffer
Gary Bettman, the well-loathed commissioner of the National Hockey League, recently agreed to a deal with the NHL Player’s Association to end the lockout and begin a shortened season. us place all of our collective hockey hope in our World Junior team, only to see them fail to win the tournament for the fourth time in four years. Yet thousands of Canadians woke up in the ridiculous hours of the early morning to watch a group of young men attempt to fulfill some guarded national desire to achieve hockey greatness. If it was for anything other than hockey, this sort of behaviour might be seen as reprehensible, or dare I say, unhealthy? It’s this perspective that’s hard for an objective fan like me to grasp. It’s this way of thinking that allows a team to charge more than double the league average for a nosebleed ticket, while not putting a playoff-caliber team on the ice since 2004, if you can even get a seat in the barn. The hockey industry – and the media industry that survives because of its popularity – is not driven by the players, the coaches, or the owners. It’s driven by the consumer of the product: the fan. That’s why a little part of me wanted the lockout to cancel the whole season, so we could observe Canada without the NHL for just one year in the modern media landscape of constant information in newspapers, on radio, on television, and online. What would we talk about? Would we watch more lacrosse? Would bars go out of business? What would we do with the expendable income that used to go to hockey games? It’s all a very fascinating proposition, and unfortunately one we’ll
probably never know. We danced with the opportunity to learn what life without the NHL might have been like, and the player’s
association, like the owners, started to hear the money jingling in our pockets, and the lockout got fixed.
170.1 ◆ january 10t h, 2013
sports & Health
A crash course in Knuckleball! How the pitch and the documentary highlight the antithesis of modern baseball Chris Müller On Feb. 12, Major League Baseball will begin when pitchers and catchers report to their respective teams’ spring training facilities in preparation for the upcoming 2013 regular season. It’s one of the most exciting times of year for baseball fans, when optimism reaches its peak and hope springs eternal for players, coaches, fans, and owners alike. The newest addition to the lone Canadian team, the Toronto Blue Jays, is pitcher R.A. Dickey, last year’s NL Cy Young award winner. Doing my due diligence as a Blue Jay fanatic, I watched Knuckleball!, a documentary about the lives and careers of knuckleball pitchers in major league baseball. Directed by Ricki Stern and Anne Sundberg, Knuckleball! follows the 2011 season when 17-year veteran pitcher Tim Wakefield of the Boston Red Sox was attempting to find his 200th career win as a major league pitcher, and R.A. Dickey was emerging as a premiere pitcher for the New York Mets. Wakefield and Dickey are joined by historic knuckleballers Charles Hough and Phil Niekro as they discuss the finer art of slowing things down in an age of speed, power, and predictability in modern baseball. The film is to some extent biographical on the lives and careers of Wakefield and Dickey, but devotes a good deal of time to the unique and positively more entertaining place of the enigmatic pitchers in a tradition-oriented culture. While I highly recommend the film to anyone with an interest in baseball or sport in general, the film points to the existence of the knuckleballer as an existence in contrast with everyone else. These are unique men with a unique set of skills, and the film highlights such things with a disjunctive narrative that slides between Wakefield and Dickey, occasionally bouncing with elements of Hough and Niekro’s careers to provide some variety. The presentation of the interviews mimics the movement of the knuckleball itself – generally unpredictable, but invariably wonderful at the conclusion. It points to this incredible element of baseball that enrages managers and opposing hitters; just about everything in baseball is predictable if you subscribe to notions of sabermetrics and statistical analysis, but there’s still
courtesy
Knuckleball tells the story of two unique pitchers in modern baseball. What can we learn about this unpredictable pitch and its place in baseball? a human element in the game – one that cannot be predicted. These knuckleballers are the embodiment of that sentiment: unpredictable and aloof. The basic premise of the
“The
presentation of the interviews mimics the movement of the knuckleball itself – generally unpredictable, but invariably wonderful at the conclusion.” knuckleball is a pitch thrown without the rotation of the baseball during the course of its trajectory from pitcher’s hand to catcher’s glove. The result of
this non-rotation is a ball that appears to hover in mid-air, subject to both minute and extreme movement of the ball at a much lower velocity than normal pitches. If a major league fastball generally comes in at 90-plus miles per hour, the knuckleball can range between 60 and 80 miles per hour, seriously affecting the speed and rhythm of the hitter. A quick YouTube search of R.A. Dickey’s highlights from 2012 should showcase the difficulty of hitting the pitch. Suffice to say the knuckleball’s unpredictability is both its strength and its weakness, just as often as the pitch crosses the plate it can connect with the biggest part of the bat – giving balance to the agony felt by pitchers as the ball travels into the second deck of the outfield stands and the euphoria as the game’s best hitters dejectedly slump back to the dugout, shaking their head in frustration after swinging at a pitch that doesn’t sit still. The film, much like the pitchers themselves, is an eclectic mix of some of the more radical and unpredictable elements of baseball and to some extent, life itself. Only 33 more days until spring training – not that anyone’s counting.
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20 w w w.th e on ta r ion . c om How a hunger strike affects the body What happens to the body when you stop eating? Chris Müller For those that chose to live under a rock for the last few months, the “Idle No More” m ove m e n t c o n d u c t e d a n d supported by native North
“While these consumables may be keeping Spence alive, her organs and body tissues are rapidly deteriorating.” Americans will reach its climax tomorrow when Prime Minister Stephen Harper meets with hunger-striker Theresa Spence and her associates to discuss the future of native and crown relationships. Spence’s hunger strike has drawn robust media attention
throughout North America, and her spot on Victoria Island, mere blocks from Parliament Hill, has become her living quarters in a temporarily established teepee as she lobbies for political action. Politics aside, I couldn’t help but wonder what the physiological effects of a hunger strike might be. An article published by the CBC on Jan. 4 helps answer some of these questions. Spence’s meeting with Harper will commence on Jan. 11, 30 days after she began her hunger strike. Spence has been surviving on fish broth, teas, and vitamins. The article suggests that while these consumables may be keeping Spence alive, her organs and body tissues are rapidly deteriorating. This occurs because basic caloric intake requirements are not being met. For the absolute minimum of the body sustaining itself, most people require around 1,200 calories. Existing beyond brushing your teeth and walking to the washroom requires a diet of beyond 1,500 for most people. A lack of protein could lead to the breaking and cracking of fingernails, sores developing on the skin, and severe muscular atrophy throughout the body. The article notes that the absence of glucose consumption can result in less than
sports & Health
Julie Oliver
Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence is conducting a hunger strike mere blocks from Parliament Hill. ideal blood sugar levels. Part of what can happen with reduced blood sugar is that the basic processes of brain function, firing neurons and the like, require simple sugars as an energy source, and these requirements may not be met during a hunger strike. Without sufficient sugar supplies to the brain, I’ll allow the individual reader to determine the effect this might have on determining public policy in a meeting with the nation’s
official leader. Regardless, the risk of permanent organ damage is a real possibility during a prolonged hunger strike. However, this is the risk hunger-strike participants must accept when conducting a prolonged strike such as this. The added risk of conducting the strike in winter, when the body burns more calories in order to maintain body temperature, may also contribute to Spence’s declining health caused by the strike.
While the press may spin Spence’s medical condition in whichever way suits the political agenda, there can be no denying the legitimate physiological concerns of the medical community. It would seem that is the point of such strikes, but in the case of Theresa Spence, idling on in her hunger strike may prove to be the tipping point for the discussion that is set to begin on Jan. 11. Perhaps that meeting ought to happen over dinner.
170.1 ◆ january 10t h, 2013
life
Live and love your work Positive psychology offers career job seekers a whole new approach Wayne Greenway “Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.” -Albert Schweitzer Positive psychology offers career job seekers a whole new way to think about the task of career determination, which forms the foundation for an effective career job search. Positive Psychology is still in its infancy, but it has been defined as the scientific study of positive experiences, positive individual traits, human flourishing, and the institutions that facilitate their development. Many of my clients spend their time before I meet them involved in what I call “career roulette.” They spend countless hours looking for jobs listed on a variety of online career job boards, thinking about how they can make their experience and strengths fit the qualifications. The results of their hard work often leave them feeling very discouraged and their confidence at an all-time low. Sadly, their success was no better than at a roulette table. Many of these career job seekers find that if we help them take a few steps back in their thinking, it surprisingly expedites their search. Creating an effective career search strategy is based on having a strong determination to work in a particular field. In our experience, in a competitive market, it takes this kind of determination and passion to be able to successfully launch and conduct the early
stages of effective career job search. us explore what he means by each from serving a cause bigger than ourselves, provides a fourth level Having a destination fuels clients component of PERMA. with the passion and motivation Positive emotions include: peace, of exploration for revealing caneeded to do the research, dis- hope, satisfaction, enthusiasm, reer options. cover opportunities before they are inspiration, love, etc. Identifying Finally, recognizing times in posted, and to become known to what life experiences have given our life where we accomplished people in the field. Career deter- us these emotions in the past can or achieved something gives more mination is vital to effective career provide insight into the kind of ideas of where we might be most job search. career that might also have these happy in a career. Many clients, even those in their qualities in the future. Seligman believes that by focusmid careers, have never taken the Seligman believes that we ex- ing on all five of these elements, time to think about and discover perience engagement or “flow” we can flourish. Just imagine the what kind of career would real- when we find ourselves enjoying motivation a job seeker would have ly make them happy in their life. a moment and concentrating on if their career targets met some or Some students studied in their the task at hand. Past experiences all of these criteria? field because they excelled in it, It’s interesting to notice that security, salary, status, self imbut the burden of school work portance, control and pleasing never gave them the chance to think about what they will do after others are not qualities that enter they finish university. into PERMA. As a career mentor, Some clients do a myriad of tests it is sad to hear of people who end and gain a richer understanding of up spending decades in a job they how they best work with others, hate because they discovered that the type of positions that others all that glittered was not the gold with similar personalities have they thought it was when they started out. PERMA is the root found themselves in, and the kinds of work environments in which of what Umair Haque wrote In a they can thrive, but it still has not recent Harvard business review helped them to determine a cablog post. reer that captures their heartfelt “Whatever the method to your interest. madness, whether inventing a betPositive psychology offers a new ter tanning bed, perfecting a better way of thinking about career deworkout, or devising less watertermination. Dr. Martin Seligman, intensive laundry, the authenticity a world renowned psychologist principle says: don’t just mutely who is considered the father of involving “flow” can be identified “consume” it – live it. Better it, repositive psychology, described by occasions when time seems to imagine it, blow the doors off it, his PERMA model in his influen- stop and we lose our sense of self. and don’t stop until you’re within tial 2011 book, Flourish. Times like this – when we con- shouting distance of the point that PERMA stands for positive centrate intensely on the present it matters to the future of humanemotion, engagement, positive – offer important clues for career ity,” says Haque. In our experience relationships, meaning and ac- determination. it’s this quality of motivation that complishment or achievement. Dr. Positive relationships are at the career job seekers need to be sucSeligman says that these five cat- core of our well-being. Times in cessful both in their search and egories are essential for humans to the past that stand out in our mind throughout their career. have long lasting well-being and as having involved positive relaExploring more about PERMA happiness. As such, examining the tionships in our life provide telling may be the answer to finding people, places, or events that cre- pictures of the kind of work where this motivation and offers career ated PERMA in the past can give we could thrive in the future. job seekers a new approach and insight into career jobs that will Identifying areas in our life that some refreshing insights for cabring happiness in the future. Let brought us a sense of meaning reer determination.
“security, salary, status, self importance, control and pleasing others are not qualities that enter into PERMA.”
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This Week in History Leaning Tower of Pisa closed to public Though the tower’s fame has been based largely on its lack of perpendicular alignment with the ground, on this day 13 years ago, the Italian government decided that the structure was tilting too heavily and posed a threat to the over one million visitors to the tower a year. The tower was not reopened until 2001 after an international team of experts was hired to “save the building from collapse.” Despite the team’s efforts, by 1993, the building began leaning again and the structure “was held up by two steel supports while the stabilizing work was completed.” However, even the best of efforts cannot prevent history from repeating. It is predicted that in 300 years, the Leaning Tower of Pisa will return to a dangerous angle and once again, be on the brink of collapse. (The BBC—Jan. 7, 1990) Student program proposes riots A statement supposedly meant as a joke made the front pages of The Globe and Mail on this day as a program prepared by the Canadian Union of Students (CUS) encouraged university students to riot in January as a “way to attain power at the top.” According to the article, the program was “aimed at showing the Canadian taxpayer what CUS calls the highly unrepresentative nature of most university boards of governors.” A member of the University of Western Ontario administration sent an implicating CUS document about the program to the newspaper, which resulted in Douglas Ward, CUS president, denying that the organization called for riots, despite incriminating evidence. Apparently, the word “riot” was “inserted into the program with a humorous meaning,” though it seems like few administrative staff found it funny. (The Globe and Mail—Jan. 9, 1967) Miss Earhart Off On Pacific Flight; Heard about 3 Hours Out On this day, Amelia Earhart began her famous flight from Honolulu to Oakland, CA, a voyage across the Pacific that was reportedly “never made solo before.” At this time, Earhart was also the first woman to “fly the Atlantic alone.” In a funny twist on the typical marital relationship, George Palmer Putnam, Earhart’s husband, was described by the article to be worried and “perspiring as the plane got into the air,” stating, “I would rather have a baby.” After four hours of flying, Earhart’s signal gradually weakened and the navy radio in Honolulu stopped receiving reports from the plane, though she eventually landed safely in California. Two years after the trans-Pacific flight, Earhart’s plane disappeared when the aviatrix attempted to fly around the world. (The New York Times— Jan. 11, 1935) Compiled by Alicja Grzadkowska
22 w w w.t h e on ta r ion . c om Poppin’ tags Tips for thrift store shopping Colleen McDonell “I wear your granddad’s clothes/ I look incredible/ I’m in this big ass coat/ From that thrift store down the road” On Jan. 3, the song “Thrift Shop” by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis went platinum, meaning the single has sold over one million copies. Besides putting out a catchy rap song, Macklemore informs us of the advantages of buying clothes from thrift stores. Last semester, I did a survey of attitudes toward purchasing second-hand clothes for one of my classes. Of the university students who completed the questionnaire, many had positive attitudes toward shopping second-hand, claiming they enjoyed the thrill of “bargain hunting” and felt that recycling textiles is beneficial to the environment. However, I found that many students were turned off of buying clothes second-hand partly because of hygienic reasons but also because they were unfamiliar with how to approach a trip to the thrift store. An avid thrift shopper myself, I thought I would share points of advice for any beginners wishing to purchase second-hand clothes:
life
Tip 1: Have some time to kill. When I go on a major Value Village trip, I usually have at least two hours set aside. Tip 2: Get a cart, and don’t bother carrying your coat or purse. You will need your arms free to sift through each hanger or rummage through that discount bin. Tip 3: Explore different sections of the store that you usually ignore. The men’s t-shirts usually have funny quotes and images and include more band tees, whereas the women’s section tends to have more accessories such as belts and hats. Cross those boundaries, and you may find something awesome you did not intend to look for. But do avoid the underwear/lingerie/ bathing suit sections. Tip 4: Be willing to try things on. If you are looking for one pair of jeans, try on 12 (because really, who follows the 6-item limit?). Tip 5: Be creative. That floral skirt is too long, but what if you hemmed it yourself? Read a fashion magazine or look online for photos before your trip for trends and to generate outfit ideas. Some key pieces – such as a colourful scarf – can drastically change an outfit. Some original items that you can get relatively cheap at second-hand stores are suspenders, fur pieces, vintage dresses, and sunglasses.
Uli Chan
Leave plenty of time for your shopping if you plan to find the real bargains between the racks at second-hand clothing outfitters. Tip 6: Once you get really into the thrift shopping game, you may be overcome with an urge to buy everything. “These boots are three sizes too big, but they look great, right?” Because used clothes are cheaper, it is easier to justify buying clothes you will not wear regularly or that do not fit properly. Only purchase items that are comfortable and that you can visualize yourself wearing many times in the future.
Tip 7: If something is torn get home, take time to cut off or missing buttons, consider the tags and do your laundry. whether you will actually get Take some advice from Macklaround to fixing it. If so, ask for emore. Look for different and a discount if the item is not al- interesting used apparel at ready marked down. Value Village, Salvation Army, Tip 8: It doesn’t matter wheth- Goodwill, and other local thrift er you are buying that sweater stores. Your outfits will be oneat a more upscale consignment of-a-kind, and you will find store or a junky bag-of-clothes- that, although sucking on infor-$3 second-hand store, it is stant noodles everyday can be always a good idea to wash it fun, shopping second-hand is because you can never be too an effective way to save your sure of it’s history. When you money.
170.1 ◆ january 10t h, 2013
life
The Brew Review: India Pale Ale
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Chris Müller
Ale” was stamped with an “India” destination, and the name of this Each week, I’ll take a look at a unique beer was born. certain style of beer and explain Nonetheless, the tradition of the history of the variety. Having pale-malted and high-hopped sufficiently historicized the beer, brews continues with an excepI’ll review a modern example. Re- tional offering from Toronto’s Mill member to enjoy responsibly, and Street Brewery in their Paradise don’t forget that life’s too short to drink cheap beer! The I.P.A. (India Pale Ale) is a style of beer that possesses both an interesting history and a similarly unique flavour characteristic. The mythology of the brew dates back to the British military presence in India during the latter half of the 19th century. The soldiers, being accustomed to drinking English style, pale-malted ales at home, desired more for the same on the battlefront. Naturally, progressively minded commercial brewers began production The simple brown bottle encloses a delicious, if not hoppy, India Pale Ale. of a similar style of ale, but with an additional dose of hops for the voyage overseas. The resultsensation other strong ales often ing flavour of the beer was one of feature, leaving a complex bitexceptional hop character, with I.PA.. You can find the beer in Mill ter grapefruit taste to reside on notes of grapefruit, pine, and cit- Street’s Seasonal Sampler at the the tastebuds. The next sip rerus. Legend held that the added LCBO for under $20.00; highly solves this situation, where the hops would help preserve the beer recommended for a beer lover sweetness of the light malt allefrom going bad during the long or anyone interested in learning viates the bitterness left by the voyages to India, but there is lit- more about different styles of beer. high hop character of the brew. tle proof to support this. When At 7.2 per cent alcohol con- The result is a mild but pleasing barrels of the brew were load- tent, the intense hopping masks introduction to the world of India ed on the cargo ships, the “Pale a great deal of the warm alcohol Pale Ales. Cheers!
“The resulting flavour of the beer was one of exceptional hop character, with notes of grapefruit, pine, and citrus.”
p e t of t h e w e e k
jess avolio
One characteristic that makes Romulus the kitten special is that he was born without a tail, a genetic trait borrowed from his father. He was taken in by Jess Avolio and Caleb Dallman, who refer to him as “their little shit disturber.” After giving him the nickname “Rommy,” they had to quickly change it to “Roms,” realizing the original nickname sounded far too similar to the name of an unfavourable political figure.
vanessa tignanelli
24 w w w.th e on ta r ion . c om Inordinate Ordnance Beards for my homies Chris Carr Gather ’round. Let Uncle Chris impart some knowledge on you. I see a lot of pristine real estate walking around campus – each an untapped canvas. I see what you must be calling a mustache. I see those sideburns, serpentine and unkempt, like they were stripped from Elvis’s toileted corpse. I see a lot of talent, but what I don’t see, is nearly enough beards. Some of you young men might be saying, “But Chris, I can’t grow a beard.” And my rebuttal is simple: I don’t care. A triedand-failed beard is better than any clean shaved yuppie any day of the month. You got the patchy kind, it shows your youth, but still rebellious side. You say it makes you look homeless? That’s beardism, and there is no place for it in this institution of higher learning. You should be ashamed. Say what you will about hipsters, but they have done the bearded community a great service. Since the 1950s the beard has had an uphill struggle. It fought communism, the soviets and kept
opinion
us warm during the cold war. In fly no more because you get a litthe 1960s through the ’70s, it tle air sick on the ride? This will was claimed by the hippies (as a not stand, man. This injustice will lentil soup strainer, I think) and not stand. To tell a man he can not thus forever branded as the lazy grow out his face hair is like tellman’s facial hair choice. In the ing a man he should be ashamed ’80s, the beard hit its lowest point, of his erections. It’s a man’s world with the rise of yuppie culture (the facial hair world), and only he and people not wanting to look can be judged by his fellow beardlike pedophiles. Imagine! In the ed peers. We the bearded, hold our ’90s and the early 2000s, we the own in high esteem. Furthermore, I have seen many bearded, got terrorist added to our grizzled dossier of historical the she-kind turned to the way of contexts. the hairy chinned MANimal. You I say no more! We the bearded snuggle a bearded man, and tell (and potentially bearded) need me that shit doesn’t feel amazing. to rise up and claim what is ours. You cannot. And what is ours? The inch of My people have been oppressed space that hangs hairless under for too long. A beard is simply not our noses. The cold air brushed a fad, nor is it a choice. We the against our shaven, wholly op- bearded were born this way (well pressed cheeks. Our weak chins, probably 13 or 14 years after we starving for even a modicum of were born) but regardless, this is masculinity. This, gentlemen, is who we are and this is who we will where we make our stand. We remain to be. And to you, the clean the bearded, stand together. We shaven, what is your excuse? You the bearded, shave for no man, defiantly walk about, in public no or woman. less, with naked face-skin, in the “But Chris, my significant other face of your true identity, as one doesn’t like facial hair.” Poppy- of, we the bearded? You turncoats cock! Would you say to your fish better watch yourself, you may they can’t have water because just wake up with a beard glued your hair fizzles when wet? Would to your face and the beginnings of you tell the majestic eagle he can self-respect, if you aren’t careful.
APRIL 2013 APRIL 2014
Michael Buchino
Jack Passion, author of The Facial Hair Handbook, is two-time champion of the World Beard & Moustache Championships. That could be you, go beard or go home! We the bearded, do not suffer Chris Carr is Editor-in-Chief of tourists. To those with mustaches, The Cannon. “Inordinate Ordgoatees, neck beards and chin- nance” publishes every Thursday straps, you have a start, but what in The Cannon and in The Ontarion. good is foreplay without sex? Only The opinions posted on thecanbearded children may walk in the non.ca reflect those of their author kingdom of our Lord, Galifiana- and do not necessarily reflect the kis. Don’t squander your gift. Wear opinions of the Central Student it, on your face, like last night’s Association and the Guelph Campus Co-op, or The Ontarion. short-rib sauce.
170.1 ◆ january 10t h, 2013
editorial
Queen’s: learn from Guelph’s Homecoming Pursuant to an extensive discussion between Queen’s University and both internal as well as Kingston community partners, Queen’s Principal Daniel Woolf announced on Dec. 12 of last year that the university would lift a four-year suspension of its Homecoming celebrations in the fall of this year. The school’s infamous Homecoming ban was instituted following years of Homecoming-related activities that yielded results both destructive and costly to the Kingston community. The school’s then annual event had gained notoriety in 2005 after droves of partiers jammed streets, smashed beer bottles in public, and even flipped a car and set it ablaze. Citing safety concerns, in November 2008 the university made the call to suspend the event for two years, following a homecoming weekend that saw an estimated 8,000 partiers crowd into Aberdeen Street (a stretch of student housing spanning two blocks). The instance saw officers make nearly 140 arrests and issue 700 liquor charges, in addition to sending 23 grossly intoxicated revelers to the hospital emergency room. The year following, Queen’s partiers held “faux coming” celebrations that kept police busy in spite of the school’s efforts to crack down on the issue. A Maclean’s article from the weekend
reports that before a football game came underway on the Saturday afternoon, police had responded to 28 incidents including three out-of-hand keg parties, “numerous liquor violations, an indecent act, a vandalized car, a break and enter, and a report of
“...when it comes down to the issue of public responsibility, the onus is never on the responding authorities...” kids throwing tree branches onto a bus,” in addition to 23 people arrested the night preceding, with charges ranging from assaulting a police officer to public intoxication.” Partiers also threw objects at a prisoner van following arrests. The following year, an estimated 1,500-2,000 people crowded Aberdeen Street once
more, necessitating 95 connected Homecoming proper and an unarrests and 255 charges. official “tailgate” event held on “In order to [return to annual Johnston Green. Homecoming traditions], I must The police service also held a be satisfied that the cycle of street tweet-a-thon in tandem with gatherings has truly been broken,” their service, posting live upsaid Woolf following the disap- dates about arrests made and charges laid over the course of pointing outcome. With that in mind, it came with the weekend’s events. In the little surprise that the university spirit of broken window theory, responded by piling on an addi- tweets notified Twitter followtional three years of Homecoming ers of the locations and volumes suspensions. of charges and arrests being isWhile little has been said about sued, supposedly deterring – as the specifics of Queen’s Univer- Queen’s University’s past Homesity and Kingston Police’s plans coming events have suggested to control the oncoming 2013 – proportionately higher arrests Homecoming “festivities,” one and charges numbers. might direct their gaze to the At Homecoming 2012, Guelph way Guelph handled Homecom- Police issued only roughly 150 ing events last year. $125 open liquor tickets, and as In addition to an already estab- of 3 a.m. the Sunday morning follished month-long Downtown lowing game day, there were nine Late Night Task Force spear- males, two females and one youth headed pilot project dubbed “Safe in custody at police headquarSemester,” which saw the clo- ters. Five connected keg parties sure of the greater parts of the were also investigated and shut Macdonell and Wyndham Street down, resulting in the seizure of block on weekends between 11 32 beer kegs. p.m. and 4 a.m., over the course Of course, when it comes down of Guelph’s Homecoming events to the issue of public responsiin 2012, Guelph Police Services bility, the onus is never on the planned increased efforts to deal responding authorities – and cerwith public concerns about ex- tainly not on the effectiveness of cessive garbage, public drinking, a Twitter user – but the parties and noise expressed in previous involved. years. These efforts included inKeep that in mind when you creased police presence across paint yourselves up for this year’s campus and downtown, in ad- Homecoming festivities, Queen’s. dition to posts at events such as Your country is watching.
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The Ontarion Inc. University Centre Room 264 University of Guelph N1G 2W1 ontarion@uoguelph.ca Phone: 519-824-4120 General: x58265 Editorial: x58250 Advertising: x58267 Accounts: x53534 Editorial Staff: Editor-in-chief Tom Beedham Arts & Culture Editor Nicholas Revington Sports & Health Editor Christopher Müller News Editor Alicja Grzadkowska Associate Editor Colleen McDonell Copy Editor Stacey Aspinall Production Staff: Photo & graphics editor Vanessa Tignanelli Ad designer Sarah Kavanagh Layout Director Jessica Avolio Web Assistant Jordan Sloggett Office Staff: Business manager Lorrie Taylor Office manager Monique Vischschraper Ad manager Al Ladha Board of Directors President Bronek Szulc Treasurer Lisa Kellenberger Chairperson Curtis Van Laecke Secretary Alex Lefebvre Directors Marshal McLernon Lisa McLean Kevin Veilleux Michael Bohdanowicz Heather Luz Shwetha Chandrashekhar Contributors Chris Carr Andrew Donovan Wayne Greenway Robyn Nicholson Wendy Shepherd
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250 students gathered on Aberdeen Street for “Faux-Coming” in 2011, a small crowd compared to past years when Queen’s homecoming festivities were not yet prohibited. Kingston police handed out 101 liquor related offences, with 19 of those for public intoxication. This out of control street partying is what obligated the university to control homecoming celebrations.
The Ontarion is a non-profit organization governed by a Board of Directors. Since the Ontarion undertakes the publishing of student work, the opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the Ontarion Board of Directors. The Ontarion reserves the right to edit or refuse all material deemed sexist, racist, homophobic, or otherwise unfit for publication as determined by the Editor-in-Chief. Material of any form appearing in this newspaper is copyrighted 2011 and cannot be reprinted without the approval of the Editorin-Chief. The Ontarion retains the right of first publication on all material. In the event that an advertiser is not satisfied with an advertisement in the newspaper, they must notify the Ontarion within four working days of publication. The Ontarion will not be held responsible for advertising mistakes beyond the cost of advertisement. The Ontarion is printed by the Guelph Mercury.
26 w w w.th e on ta r ion . c om
crossword 34- ___ Rhythm (2) 35- Joint inflammation 38- Gardner and others 41- Cut the crop 42- Swedish imports 46- Diarist Anais 47- Having wealth 48- Showy pretense 49- Diary 51- Prince Valiant’s son 52- Charlemagne’s realm: Abbr. 53- Got together 54- Instruct 57- Deadly virus 59- Acting part 60- Toward the mouth 61- Fortune-telling cards 62- Slaughter of baseball 63- Wash 64- ___ there yet? (2) 65- Condensed moisture 66- Textile worker
bestcrosswords.com
Across 1- Wander 5- Also 8- Small jazz band 13- First name in stunts 14- Sketched 15- Broadcasting 16- Lab fluids 17- Shower 18- Paris divider
19- Fundamental law 21- ___ de mer 22- Sugary suffix 23- Campers, briefly 24- Equilateral parallelogram 28- Monster’s nickname 30- General ___ chicken 31- Tropical cuckoo bird 32- Raison ___ 33- Small salmon
Down 1- Answer in words 2- Supervise 3- Utmost 4- Brio 5- Snares 6- Trompe l’___ 7- Legal right of possession 8- Universe 9- One late bedtime (2) 10- Postal carrier’s tote 11- Storage container 12- Source of iron
14- Compel 20- Old newsman 25- Shout in derision 26- Numero ___ 27- Canine command 29- Ladies of Sp. 30- Synagogue scroll 33- Tessellated 34- This ___ outrage! (2) 36- Small combo 37- Of Thee ___ (2) 38- Besides 39- Through 40- You don’t bring me flowers, ____ 43- Smokers receptacle 44- Make desolate 45- Thin 47- Revolve 48- Attempts 50- Beneath 51- Permit 55- Zero 56- Grasp 57- JFK posting 58- Ingot
Last Week's Solution
SUBMIT your completed crossword by no later than Monday, January 14th at 4pm for a chance to win TWO FREE BOB’S DOG’S!
community listings Friday January 11 Guelph Civic Museum opens Waist Management: A History of Unmentionables’, a new touring exhibit from the Fashion History Museum. Exhibit runs until April 14. Open daily 1-5 pm. 52 Norfolk St. 519-836-1221 ext. 2773 www.guelph.ca/museum.
2.5-3 hrs. Level 2. Speed Moderate. On the hummocky Waterloo Moraine on the J.L. Schneider family estate. XC ski only. Meet at 9am at Guelph covered bridge lot on Gordon St. All welcome. Leader: Bill Mungall wmungall0809@rogers.com Monday January 14
Guelph Country Dances monthly contra dance series 8pm at St. James Anglican Church (SW corner of Paisley Rd/Glasgow St). No partner or previous experience necessary. Admission $10($8 students/members). Free parking. Absolutely no street shoes on the dance floor please! Rick Avery 519-763-2494.
Career Aviators Business Career Club: Students and professionals welcome. Mondays 7pm -9pm, Innovation Guelph (111 Farquhar Street). Strategic advice and support; guest presentations; motivation to stay on track; worldwide Information exchange. PWYC. Info:1 866 873 7633 www.careeraviators.com
Saturday January 12
Saturday January 19
Soccer Fest will be held at the University of Guelph soccer dome, where 32 teams will join for a day of soccer, music and fun. The day will conclude with an after-party at Atmosphere featuring multiple DJ’s. Soccer Fest is a quarterly event put on by Guelphite Sports. E: soccerfestguelph@gmail.com W: www. guelphitesports.com
Rainbow Chorus of WaterlooWellington winter concert ‘Bright Side – Songs of Warmth in a Cold Season’. 8 pm at Harcourt United Church. Advance tickets $15 can be purchased at Guelph Artisans’ Market in Old Quebec St Mall, from choir members, or PayPal at www.rainbowchorus. ca.
Sunday January 13 Guelph Hiking Trail Schneider Woods Ski
Club: Trails.
Guelph Poetry Slam - Grandslam Finals! Top 10 poets of the season compete for their slot on this year’s national team. Doors 6pm, show start 7pm. No Open
Mic this month. The eBar (41 Quebec St.). 7pm. $20/ door, $15/advance at The bookshelf & Out On The Shelf.
Tuesday January 22 Relaxation & Stress Management Skills Training. A 12 session program at noon or 5:30 pm to decrease anxiety, headaches, insomnia and muscle tension. Details at www.uoguelph. ca/~ksomers. Thursday January 24 Macdonald Stewart Art Centre Winter Art Party. Unveiling two major exhibitions by Canadian artists: ‘Phil Bergerson: American Shards’ runs until to April 14. ‘Vessna Perunovich: Line Rituals & Radical Knitting’ runs until March 31. Opening reception 7pm. MSAC 358 Gordon St. 519-767-2661 www.msac.ca Friday January 25 Fourth Friday: Celebrating the creative, neighbourly, interesting, and welcoming vibe of downtown Guelph, Fourth Friday events take place on the fourth Friday of every month, from 7pm
– 10pm. www.fourthfridaysguelph.ca Synchronised Skating at Market Square -a demonstration from the Guelph Gryphons Varsity Figure Skating Team. 7 and 8pm. The team will be on hand to offer their advice and knowledge to the public between performances. www.downtownguelph.com Saturday January 26 Shake-n-Skate party at Market Square in downtown Guelph 6-10 pm. An all-ages event featuring electronic music by local DJs and highlighting a diversity of sounds. This is a family-friendly event. The Market Square skating rink is open daily from 10am -10pm, weather permitting. www.guelph.ca/ marketsquare Ongoing: Guelph Civic Museum’s Exhibit: “kNOw Skateboarding: 60 Years of Skateboarding Culture”, discover the rich underground world of skateboarding. 7-9pm. Exhibit runs until June 2, 2013. 52 Norfolk St. 519-836-1221 ext. 2773 guelph.ca/museum.
The Guelph Family Health Team (FHT) offers FREE walking group at the YMCA-YWCA. Tuesday/ Thursday evenings 6-8pm. Participants receive a free pedometer the first time they attend and weekly handouts with recipes, health tips and exercises. Indoor shoes only please. Information: 519-837-0099. Trillium Gift of Life Network (TGLN) is encouraging all Ontarians to register their consent to become organ and tissue donors. By registering as a donor, you could one day save up to eight lives and enhance as many as 75 more. Online donor registration is now available at BeADonor.ca. It’s easy and it only takes 3 minutes to register. www. beadonor.ca Guelph Needlecraft Guild. See samples, meet teachers, sign up for classes, attend general meeting. Meetings every Monday at 7:30. Kortright Presbyterian Church, 55 Devere Dr. www.guelphneedlecraft.wordpress. com, sandy@onebit.ca, 519-767-0017. New members always welcome.
Campus Community Police
NON EMERGENCY - EXT. 52245 EMERGENCY - EXT. 2000