The Ontarion - Issue #177.3

Issue No. 177.3

Thursday, June 11, 2015

SEE CENTRE

Inside the Wellness Centre The Wellness Centre, located on the second floor of the J.T. Powell building, is a resource dedicated to the education of students on issues regarding mental health and wellness. Through a variety of seminars, workshops, UC events, and campus wide participation, the Wellness Centre is a crucial resource that can help anyone who would like to become aware of t he impor tance of menta l health.

Heav i ly i nvolved w it h t he Peer Helper Prog ra m (PHP), the Wellness Centre cultivates

a safe environment for students to discuss mental health among peers in an informal manner. By approaching mental health issues in such an open way, the Wellness Centre demonstrates the ability to provide vital education to students who can take what they have learned into later stages of life.

Nicole Bransfield, a senior peer helper entering her fourth year, spoke to the Ontarion about the kinds of services provided by the Wellness Centre...

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USA PATRIOT Act expires Key sections of the controversial bill expired on June 1, leading to new provisions Page 3

Issue 177.3 | June 11, 2015

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NEWS

The USA FREEDOM Act A look at how the new bill is reinvigorating the privacy discussion in the United States MEGAN SCARTH The USA FREEDOM Act was approved by a 67 to 32 margin vote by the Senate on June 2.

Later that evening, it was officia l ly enacted as President Barack Obama signed it into law. It is meant to replace the USA PATRIOT Act that expired the previous day, on June 1.

T h e U S A F R E E D OM A c t comes as a landmark bill in the

ongoing privacy debate in the U.S. It follows the saga of Edward Snowden’s National Securit y Agency (NSA) revelations twoyears-ago, when the massive collect ion of phone records by the U.S. government was brought to the public’s attention.

This collection initially began about 14-years-ago, shortly after t he September 11t h at tack s.

However, according to an independent analysis conducted last year of 225 U.S. terrorism cases, the NSA’s collection of phone records “has had no discernible impact on preventing acts of terrorism.”

Up on S no w de n’s r e v e l ations, this practice was quickly deemed illegal by legal experts, and then confirmed to be unconstitutional by a federal court last month.

One of the main purposes of the USA FREEDOM Act is to end the collection of private phone records by the U.S. government.

The collection of phone records will now fall under the jurisdiction of phone companies, which the NSA will need to petition in order to gain access.

The bill will limit government surveillance “to the greatest extent reasonably practical.”

This limits the collection of data related to geographical location, such as a city or area code.

It also requires that the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Court appoints advocates to ensure that the public’s best interests are represented in cases that pose new risks.

Companies w ill also have mor e f r e e dom t o pu bl ic l y disclose sur veillance inquir ie s m ade t o t hem b y t he government.

However, many aspects of the USA PATRIOT Act have not changed, and have merely been extended into the new bill. For instance, the FBI is still allowed to wiretap suspects who have

multiple phones, and in some cases, will still be allowed to survey suspects with no known connections to terrorist groups.

The government will also still be allowed to collect data from phone companies up to “two hops” off the call records of a suspect, but the government now needs reasonable suspicion of the suspect’s involvement with a terrorist organization.

Additionally, there is a sixmonth “transition” period built into the bill, during which the bulk collection of phone records is still permitted. Though the NSA collection was officially shut down at midnight on June 1, t he prog ram is set be relaunched, only to be shut down again in December.

Other potential loopholes with the supposed limit on U.S. government surveillance have been identified.

“It does end most of the bulk collection of data, and it makes

a number of very substantial and very positive changes. But it leaves a number of other things undone,” said New York City Congressman Jerry Nadler in an interview with Public Radio International (PRI).

He adds that the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 is also in need of reformation.

“If someone abroad communicates with an American and we pick up that conversation or that information…you could have the backdoor spying of Americans.

We really have to rein that in to make sure that doesn’t happen, and we have such an amendment, which we will be offering to the military appropriations bill in about two weeks.”

The USA FREEDOM Act represents a new chapter in the privacy debate in the US, but clearly, the discussion is long from over.

NEWS

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Public smoking outlawed in Beijing A crackdown on public smoking has been initiated in Beijing MEGAN SCARTH As of June 1, 2015, smokers in Beijing must confine their habit to the privacy of their homes.

Smoking is now illegal in in all public places throughout the city, including bars, restaurants, schools, hospitals, and hotels.

The ban will affect 4.2 million smokers in Beijing, making publ ic smok i ng i l le g a l for approximately 1.4 per cent of China’s total population of 300 million smokers.

These new regulations will be enforced by a tough crackdown by the Beijing government. Over 1,000 inspectors trained by the Beijing Health Inspection and Supervision Bureau will patrol the city to ensure that the news rules are abided.

If citizens are caught smoking, they will be forced to pay a fine of 200 Yuan (approximately $40.20). Business owners will face far heftier fines of 10,000 Yuan ($2014.89). These new fines are a large step up from the 10 Yuan ($2) fees put into place from

the previous partial ban.

Additionally, violators will be publicly shamed by having their names added to a governmentowned website.

A chain hot pot restaurant was caught violating the rules on the first day of the ban, when cigarettes were found in the men’s room. The Beijing government made an example of the restaurant, by threatening a 10,000-Yuan fine if any traces of cigarettes were found when inspectors returned two days later. The ow ners complied, and the inspectors eventually returned to find all cigarettes cleaned up.

China’s new legislation may not be welcome news to many of Beijing’s citizens. Smoking has long been a part of Chinese culture. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over half of Chinese men are smokers, and 740 million Chinese people are ex posed to secondhand smoke.

The habit starts, early, too— most Chinese start smok ing before 11-years-of-age.

Low taxes make smoking more accessible to the general population. Tax rates in China are at approximately 43.4 per cent, which is nearly 20 per cent less than Japan and Singapore – two other countries with high smoking rates.

These low rates mean that cheaper cigarette brands cost as

NICK HUONG VIA CC BY-SA 2.0

While the death toll increases as more and more people continue smoking, the Beijing government takes a proactive step in criminalizing public smoking. little as $1.25 per pack in China.

This accessibility comes with serious consequences: ever y year, 1.3 million Chinese citizens die of lung cancer, which is one third of the world’s total lung cancer-related deaths. In fact, cancer is the leading cause of death in China, with lung cancer as the number one killer.

In spite of the major health effects, the Chinese government has been reluctant to attempt to reduce cigarette consumption,

due in part to the tax revenue that cigarette sales bring in. Government attitudes have changed, however, to acknowledge the massive strain that smoking puts on the healthcare system.

Public attitudes are changing, too, with public smoking being considered as more of a nuisance, contributing to the city’s infamous air pollution.

According to WHO anti-smoking expert Angela Pratt, making public smoking illegal could

further taint smoking’s image in the public eye.

“That’s what we have seen all over the world when strong smoke-free laws are adopted and there is strong enforcement effort. The social norms changed,” Pratt said in an interview published in the Toronto Star.

Only time will tell if the ban will have a serious effect on such long-held attitudes, but it is a step towards a healthier Beijing.

USA PATRIOT Act Section 215 expires Key sections of the bill expired on June 1 SAMEER CHHABRA On Monday, June 1, 2015, at precisely midnight, Section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act officially expired. Though efforts were made by its political supporters to ensure its survival, the controversial bill failed to pass every extension process in its time in the 114th United States Congress.

In addition to Section 215, w h ic h pr ov ide d A mer ic a n i ntel l igenc e agenc ies w it h unprecedented access to both the public and private records of any individuals suspected of having ties to terrorist organizations, the so-called “lone wolf” and “roving wiretap” provisions also expired on June 1.

The 107th United States Congress passed the bill in the wake

of the terrorist attacks on Sept.

11, 2001, and the legislation provided increased surveillance allowances to major American intelligence agencies.

The “lone wolf” provision, more accurately referred to as Section 6001 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Provisions Act of 2004, allowed g o v e r n me nt a l a g e nc ie s t o redefine the category of individuals who could legally be surveyed. Instead of terrorists being defined by their links to terrorist groups, the newly introduced distinction of “lone wolf” allowed intelligence agencies to target individuals with no links to any known groups, but who were still suspected of intending to cause acts of terror.

The “roving wiretap” provision, or Section 206 of the USA PATRIOT Act, allowed intelligence agencies to act ively monitor any form of communication used by an individual suspected of having connections to a terrorist organization, or a so-called lone wolf.

All three sections afforded intelligence agencies like the American Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and National Sec u r it y Agenc y (NSA) t he unprecedented power to actively launch surveillance against an incredibly broad category of U.S. citizens and non-citizens alike.

The Uniting and Strengthening America by Prov iding Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (USA PATRIOT Act), was signed into law by former President George W. Bush on Oct. 26, 2001. At the time, the act was seen as America’s first legal reaction to the horrifying attacks on the Twin Towers just one month earlier.

The bill was intended to protect America from any further acts of terror.

Even in its early days, however, the act was not without its critics. Citizens, politicians, and members of the press alike objected that the act was an overreaction that would do little

to deter acts of terror. Instead, many claimed t hat t he USA PATRIOT Act would only allow intelligence agencies to access more information that, while plentiful, would simultaneously fail to prevent acts of terrorism.

Much criticism was levied at the act for failing to accurately define its broad definitions.

In spite of the objections levied by the detractors of the piece of legislation, several provisions and amendments were made to ensure the act’s sustainment. On May 26, 2011, current President Barack Obama signed a fouryear extension, the PATRIOT Sunsets Extension Act of 2011, for two key provisions and one amendment to the original act: the roving wiretaps and lone wolves provisions, and a provision that enabled the search of business records.

In recent years, criticism has also been levied at both the American government for their participation in the cloak-anddagger nature afforded by the act, as well as the NSA for their

efforts in bypassing legal restrictions to continue collecting data.

W histleblowers like Julian Assange and Edward Snowden revealed that the NSA was not only overstepping the boundaries laid out by the original act, and its amended provisions, but that agencies like the FBI and CIA were further failing to provide probable cause for their accusations regarding so-called terrorists.

America’s executive branch has also come under fire for their manipulation of the USA PATRIOT Act as an excuse to conduct illegal drone warfare, as well as to carry out unauthorized military intervention against nations currently listed as American enemies.

Though the expiry of the USA PATRIOT Act signals the end of a divisive time in the American political landscape, as of June 2, 2015, the USA FREEDOM Act officially reinstated the three expired provisions. The USA FREEDOM Act was passed by President Obama.

NEWS

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Issue 177.3 | June 11, 2015

Nigeria outlaws female genital mutilation Law hopes to eliminate harmful traditional practice ANDREW SHURE Nigeria has taken a position of leadership and passed legislation criminalizing the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) on May 26, 2015. It is estimated that 19.9 million Nigerian women, and over 125 million girls and women worldwide, have undergone this procedure.

Prevalence rates in countries such as Eg y pt, Somalia, and Djibouti are estimated to be as high as 95 per cent. It is hoped that this move will encourage the other 28 countries in Africa and t he Middle East, where this act is most common, to recognize FGM as a violation of t he human rights of girls and women, and to outlaw the practice.

The World Health Organizat ion (W HO) def ines FGM as “…procedures that intentionally alter or cause injur y to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.” There have been no associated health

benefits for girls and women, and the procedures can result in severe bleeding and problems urinat ing, w it h f ut ure risk of infect ion, c ysts, and infertility, as well as childbirth complications and increased risk for newborn mortality. FGM procedures include partial or total clitoridectomy, removal of the clitoris and labia minora (with or without removal of the labia majora), the narrowing the vaginal opening (usually by creating a seal by cutting and repositioning the inner or outer labia in a process called infibulation), or other piercing or scraping techniques.

In a 2013 repor t, U N ICEF found that girls were predominant ly cut before t he age of 14, with many countries cutt i ng g i rls before t he age of five. “Social acceptance” was the most frequently provided reason for supporting the continuation of the practice, and in nearly all countries where FGM is common, traditional practitioners perform the majority of procedures.

The WHO further explained that FGM is often considered a necessar y part of raising a girl properly, is meant to prepare a girl for adulthood, and instills beliefs of what is considered proper sexual behavior and modest y. It is important to note that FGM is a cultural

SUSAN ELDEN/DFID VIA CC BY-SA 2.0

Nigeria outlaws female genital mutilation, hoping to spread a message of equality to the rest of Africa and the Middle East. concern. No known religious scripts prescribe genital mutilation, although practitioners often believe that the practice has religious support.

This new FGM ruling falls under t he Violence Aga inst Persons Prohibit ion (VA PP) legislation, which also includes forbidding forcef ul eject ion from the home and harmful widowhood practices, as well as abandonment of dependents

w it hout s u s t en a nc e. VA PP intends to eliminate violence in private and public life, as well as provide protection for victims. Passing this law was one of the final acts by outgoing president Goodluck Jonathan, w it h his successor Muhammadu Buhari being sworn in May 29. The timing of this law, which goes against a prominent cultural norm for a large portion of the population, allows

Buhari to avoid any criticism from constituents for making the decision. He will have to enforce it, however, and this will certainly be an arduous task. For the future generations of Nigerian girls, this law provides hope that they will not have to endure such a needless and risky procedure for the sake of tradition.

Peter MacKay resigns from federal politics Minister of Justice announces that he will not be seeking re-election in upcoming federal race SAMEER CHHBARA After almost 20 years of his life spent in federal politics, Canadian Minister of Justice, and Attorney General, Peter MacKay announced his plans to step down from office on May 29, 2015. MacKay will not be seeking re-election in the upcoming October federal elections, and will remain in his position as justice ministe—as well as the Member of Parliament for Nova

Scotia’s Central Nova riding— until then.

MacKay cited his love for his family as the reason for his decision to not seek re-election.

“The greatest gift of public life, it has been said, is the people that you meet and associate with,” said MacKay in a public announcement. “And, for me, greater still is the knowledge that it was through this public life t hat I met a nd ma r r ied Nazanin, the love of my life.”

In his announcement, MacKay referenced his w ife, Nazanin Afshin-Jam, as well as their son, Kian, and the daughter the family is expecting this fall.

“Part of me regrets that I will not be in the fray of the next federal elect ion, but simply put, I love my family more,” said MacKay. During his announcement, MacKay was joined by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who ex pressed a combinat ion of pride and sorrow at MacKay’s important decision.

Analysts speculate that MacKay’s departure will signal difficulty...

A na lysts specu late t hat MacKay’s departure will signal dif f icult y for t he Conser vative Part y of Canada, where MacKay’s centrist views helped capture the support of the more left-wing Conservative voters.

MacKay’ foray into the political realm began in 1993, when he accepted an appointment as the Crown Attorney for the Central Region of Nova Scotia.

However, it was not until his elec t ion a s t he Member of Parliament for the Pictou-Antigonish-Guysborough riding in northeastern Nova Scotia, in 1997, that MacKay’s political career truly began.

MacKay was eventually reelected i n t he 2000 federa l election, and, in 2003, MacKay was elected as the leader of the now-defunct Progressive Conservative Party of Canada. In December 7, 2003, MacKay led a merger between the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada into the Conservative Party of Ca nada—a longside cu r rent Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

MacKay was named as Minister of Foreign Affairs, as well as Minister for t he At lant ic Canada Opportunities Agency,

by Prime Minister Harper, following the Conservative party v ic tor y i n t he 2006 federa l elections. Eventually, Prime Minister Harper would shuffle his cabinet in 2007, and MacKay replaced Gordon O’Connor as

Minister of National Defence.

In 2013, Prime Minister Harper yet again shuffled his cabinet, repositioning MacKay as the Minister of Justice—the role that he will fill until the October federal elections.

In addition to members of the Conservative party, Liberal party leader Justin Trudeau and New Democratic Party leader Thomas Mulcair expressed their sentiments regarding MacKay’s departure. Mulcair’s comments, however, were t hinly veiled criticisms of Prime Minister Harper’s majority party.

“Turns out Peter MacKay is also ready for change,” said Mulcair at a speech in Toronto.

“A lot of people seem to be leaving Stephen Harper’s ship these days.”

Mulcair’s comments are in reference to announcements that a number of Conservative Members of Parliaments will not be seeking re-election in the upcoming federal race.

NEWS

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Livestock Research Centre opens in Elora New facility will help improve dairy industry ANDREW SHURE The University of Guelph was proud to announce the opening of the Livestock Research and Innovation Centre (LRIC) – Dairy Facility at Elora on May 28, 2015. The $25 million centre is state-of-the-art, and comes equipped w ith resources for scientists, stakeholders, and students to all collaborate and better understand financial, env i ron ment a l, a nd soc ia l issues surrounding the dairy industry. Research will be carr ied out to improve a nima l nutrition, genetics, health and

welfare, as well as human food safety and health.

The LRIC is a co-operative centre involving the U of G, the Dairy Farmers of Ontario (DFO), the Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario (ARIO), and the Ontario Ministr y of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA). It will be home to 25 full-time employees, and it replaces the previous facility constructed in 1969.

A news release by the university’s Minister of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs, Jeff Leal, stated, “the new LRIC is an excellent example of how i ndu st r y, gover n ment, a nd academia can work together to ensure Ontario’s livestock sec tor rema i ns i n novat ive, competitive, and a leader in the agri-food sector. Ontario’s dairy farmers and stakeholders, with the support of the Ontario government, are committed

to leading research in animal hu sba nd r y, env i ron ment a l sustainability, and best management practices to ensure the highest quality dairy products for Ontarians.”

Furt hermore, in t he same news release, the university’s Associate Vice-President of Strategic Partnerships, Rich Moccia, ex pla i ned t hat t he OMAFRA-U of G collaboration “promotes a research culture that develops knowledge and mobilizes that knowledge to benef it the agri-food sector, which is vital to the health and prosperity of Ontario.”

The LRIC features a great deal of advanced technolog y and equipment. Included is a maternit y w ing and nurser y w it h precise lighting and ventilation control for robotic feeding of calves, as well as high-tech sensors allow ing analysis of dairy cow feeding behavior, a

custom-desig ned metabolic research wing permitting individual animals to be monitored, and a robotic milker able to ident if y indiv idua l anima ls and ensure product quality by evaluating metrics such as milk yield and quality.

The dairy industry is a major and important contributor to Canadian agriculture. In 2014, Statistics Canada had 959,300 dairy cows and 444,200 dairy heifers from 11,962 farms across the country on record. Ontario consumed 78.03 litres of f luid milk per capita alone, while the Canadian average was 74.17 litres per capita. In addition, the Canadian Dair y Information Centre recognized over $6.5 billion in total revenue from milk sales nationally, and over $158 million in exports from Canadian dairy genetics in 2014.

Under the Radar Microsoft announces release date for upcoming Windows 10 operating system Microsof t a nnou nced t he release date for their highly anticipated successor to their Windows 8 operating system (OS) last week.

Windows 10, the next iteration of the popular computer OS, will be released on July 29, 2015.

The OS will be available as a free download for all existing users with a legitimate copy of Windows 7, 8, or 8.1. Additionally, the new OS will be available for free until one year after its release.

Windows 10 seeks to return Windows OS staples, like the start button and start menu. New features include a brand new web browser that will replace the rapidly aging Internet Explorer, and the introduction of a digital personal assistant, Cortana.

M icrosof t recent ly a lso announced that Windows 10 will be the “last version of Windows,” referencing their desire to provide Windows as a service, instead of just a collection of programs.

While little has been discussed regarding the “Windows as a service” concept, industry analysts and consumers alike have expressed enthusiasm at Microsoft’s next OS. FIFA President Sepp Blatter announces resignation Following weeks of scandals, FIFA president Joseph S. “Sepp” Blatter announced his resignation on June 2, 2015. The news came days after Blatter was re-elected as FIFA’s president on May 29, 2015.

Recent weeks have seen soccer’s international governing body come under heavy fire for alleged corruption, in regards to alleged acts of bribery and money laundering. Criticism came to a head on May 27, 2015—two days before Blatter’s re-election—when seven current FIFA officials were arrested in Zurich for alleged acts of collusion between a number of soccer confederations and sports marketing executives.

Blatter’s time as president was marred by accounts of poor leadership and allegations of financial mismanagement.

Blatter announced that he would remain as the interim head of FIFA, until his successor could be elected at the next FIFA extraordinary congress. Blatter will most likely remain in his position until anytime between December 2015 and March 2016.

-Compiled by Sameer Chhabra

Issue 177.3 | June 11, 2015

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ARTS & CULTURE

The Weekly Scene: Mad Max Fury Road (2015) 3.5 Dystopianwastelands out of 4 SAMEER CHHABRA There’s something to be said about our society when a postapocalyptic film in which a man plays a flame-throwing doubleheaded guitar can be called restrained. Make no mistake, George Miller’s fourth installment in the Mad Max franchise is ever y bit t he maddening, pulse-pounding, visceral experience that fans of the series are seeking. However, at the core of this eclectic film is a simple story of freedom and breaking chains.

In a sense, all of the films in the Mad Max series are defined by their themes of freedom and escaping the bonds of servitude, society, or—in the case of Fury Road—patriarchy. I’ll be the first to admit that I went into director Miller’s film expecting the typical, hyper-masculine offerings of the summer blockbuster season.

I was expecting loudness, visual aberration, violence, and irrevocably insensitive masculinity. Of that list, three are still undeniably present.

Fur y Road is set at an unknown time in the Mad Max chronology. The titular character, Max Rockatansky is haunted by visions of those he was unable to save, including his daughter, and wanders the Australian wastelands avoiding vagabonds, stragglers, and roving gangs of the mentally deranged. Captured by the War Boys – led by the masked Immortan Joe— Max’s O-Negative blood type leaves him as a living blood bag for a dying War Boy, Nux. The film’s real conflict, however, is instigated by the hands of Imperator Furiosa—played

by Charlize Theron, who delivers a hauntingly complex and layered performance—who kidnaps Joe’s fives wives in order to save them from their existence as slaves and breeders. Miller’s script, penned with input from Brendan McCarthy and Nico Lat houris—and The Vagina Monologues creator, Eve Ensler, who served as a script doctor— uses phrases like “breeder” and “blood bag” to shock its audience.

In an age when gruesome horror is present in theatres, on television, on the news, and all over the internet, it is rare for a film to actually be able to resonate with an audience based

purely on language. Fury Road, then, is the rare film that is able to degrade its characters in a manner that should be immediately detestable to its audience, without resorting to physical intimidation. That Miller’s film is capable of touching on themes of womanhood, masculinity, freedom, and liberation, and that it’s a summer blockbuster to boot, is indicative of the care and effort employed by Miller and his team.

For a film that touches on such difficult, heav y subjects as it does, Fury Road is an immensely enter t a i n i ng , oc t a ne-f i l led thrill-ride, whose blood and oil premise is always on full display. Throughout the film’s 120-minute runtime, there are approximately three moments where the action slows down to allow the audience to catch its breath. The remainder of the movie is filmed as a sustained series of car-chases, and it’s a delight to see that George Miller limited his use of special effects to the practical kind. Yet again, barring instances where it would have been almost impossible to create a scene without computer-generated effects, every explosion, every car crash, every car, ever y motorcycle, ever y instance of over-the-top action

is captured and created by practical effects.

There are numerous scenes where a creature dressed in red is strapped to a giant rig of amplifiers connected to his double-headed guitar—that is also a flamethrower. Not only is the rig real, not only is the guitar real, not only is the person real, but so are the flames, and Miller’s eccentric camera captures it all.

Especially noticeable is Miller’s decision to avoid using impossible—and also computergenerated—camera effects to capture his scenes. Miller is aided in this effort by cinematographer John Seale, whose ora nge, brow n, yel low, a nd white colour palette perfectly captures the film’s tone and its setting. Barring black-and-white films, there have been few other movies less lacking in colour that produce more resonance in its audience than Fury Road.

On a final note, there have been critics of who have claimed that Miller’s script is dull, farfetched, and, most deridingly, anti-man. In response to this cr it icism, I must say t hat I found a story about five women attempting to escape the bonds of their tyrannical, maniacal, obsessed captor to be less antiman and more anti-slavery. In

COURTESY the same sense, the fact that Max and Furiosa actively compromise and co-operate, and the fact that I believe the main character in this story is Furiosa, and not Max, is less indicative of a pro-woman stance, and more indicative of a pro-human/prostory stance.

It is evident that action movie heroes are often men—for no truly discernible reason—and I believe that George Miller agrees when I say that it’s about time movies featured strong female characters unburdened by society’s antiquated expectations of their gender.

Photography by Fatema Raheemi The annual Guelph Dance Festival celebrated 15 years of dance with a variety of workshops, staged performances, and unique shows. Through June 5 to June 7, the city was captivated by the cultural and communal engagement brought forth by the festival. The Guelph Dance Festival spreads a message of inclusion. Families, friends, and dance spectators gathered around a circle, dancing with excitement. It was apparent that each dancer who participated in the festivities ignited the audience with acrobatic dance moves. The dancers movements extend and contract in a way that is responsive to human emotion. With nearly 21 different groups involved in the performances, the level of high-calibre dance brought to the city will continue to resonate throughout the community.

ARTS & CULTURE

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This is art attack your own life. The stairs are well worth the climb, as the music greets you and you see a group of people already diving into drawings, paintings, sculptures, jewellery, or some other c reat ion. It doesn’t mat ter whether you can just doodle or you can paint a masterpiece, the third f loor has a unique open concept vibe welcoming all participants.

Art attack provides a night to doodle and develop your artistic skills DEREK DOIRON W ho could forget the excitement of watching Art Attack a f ter com ing home f rom school? W ho could forget all the crazy ideas we learned? Of course, who could forget the friendly host, Neil Buchanan, g uiding t he audience a long with ease. If that’s a struggle to remember, then can you recall the talking statue that always fumbled somewhere along the way ma k ing said creat ions?

Growing older, we sometimes forget that we can still be artists, and that we can still be creative. In downtown Guelph, there is a solution to that.

Every Wednesday at DSTRCT lounge on the third f loor, you can make some Art Attacks in

...submerged into a creative and friendly environment...

KARIN DALZIEL VIA CC BY-NC 2.0

Art Attack, held in DSTRCT, offers participants the ability to nurture creativity through expression

Starting out in 2014, “Bang Out,” as put on by creative persistence, was a week ly event where artists would raff le off their night’s creations. Though the original creators put “Bang Out” on hold to pursue artistic

oppor tunit ies, A r t At tack is there to keep the good times and the art alive.

In the time since its inception, Wednesday nights at DSTRCT have seen a lot of action. There have been blanket-fort nights w it h ha m mock s a nd tent s,

themed nights including the Seven Deadly Sins, live music, and even custom button-making. With Art Attack, the goal is to give people a place to go to create and spread their art. If you have projects you are working on, want to be more artistic,

or are looking to be submerged into a creat ive and f riendly env ironment, then sw ing by and see for yourself. Perhaps you may get just a little bit of that feeling of those afternoons in front of the TV with your eyes and mind wide open.

Albums of the Week Band: Seatbelts Album: Cowboy Bebop

COURTESY

The seminal 1998 anime classic, Cowboy Bebop, was defined by its unparalleled writing, fascinating characters, stunning visual work, and—perhaps most importantly—its remarkable soundtrack. Seatbelts, led by composer and instrumentalist Yoko Kanno, composed all of the show’s music, and the essence of Cowboy Bebop is captured in its eponymous first soundtrack. Released on May 21, 1998, Cowboy Bebop features the TV series’ most famous track, “Tank!” in all of its jazzy, bebop, trumpet-heavy form.

Much of the album reflects Seatbelt’s upbeat, brass-heavy style, with tracks like “Bad Dog No Biscuits” and “Rush” pushing the listener into an esoteric state of feeling like they’re constantly on the run.When Cowboy Bebop does slow down, it’s for brief moments of respite, like on “Spokey Dokey,” a harmonica-led track that ambles and meanders along the way. When the album chooses to mellow out and indulge in some more profound sensibilities, it’s for tracks like “Waltz for Zizi.” When the album wants to go weird, it brings in tracks like “Space Lion”—a strange amalgamation of slow jazz, eclectic drums, and harmonized chanting. Suffice it to say, the Cowboy Bebop TV series was a genre-changing moment for Japanese—and American—animation.

The show’s first studio album captures everything great about the series and brings listeners into the Bebop’s strange world.

Band: Stereophonics Album: Graffiti on the Train

COURTESY

Stereophonics have never really received much critical recognition outside their core fan base in the U.K. Most of us may only know a handful of songs thanks to their placement in films such as Wicker Park, Crash, Dawn of the Dead, and several TV shows from the early 2000s. Formed in Wales in 1992, the garage rock band went on to release eight full-length studio albums, with a ninth anticipated for later this year. Their most recent release from 2013, Graffiti on the Train, is perhaps the most cinematic yet. If there’s one thing Stereophonics can do well, it is storytelling. The band’s intelligent lyrics, combined with orchestral strings and wailing guitars create a certain raw emotion that places the listener right into the narrative. Frontman Kelly Jones’ signature unpolished vocals are remarkably haunting on this album, particularly on the title track. Overall, Graffiti on the Train exhibits a wide range of genres, from progressive industrial to vintage blues, and is a good starting point for anyone who has never heard Stereophonics in their element.

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ARTS & CULTURE

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Issue 177.3 | June 11, 2015

Orange is the New Black is back

COURTESY

Looking at the memoir that started it all in anticipation for Season Three DANIELLE SUBJECT The novel, Orange is the New Black, is a truly inspirational

memoir written by the real Piper Kerman, who spent 13 months in prison for money laundering and drug trafficking during her vibrant youth. An incident she thought she had put behind her, Ker ma n was su r pr ised one morning as a police officer knocked on her door to tell her that she would need to face a horrible mistake she made 10-years-ago. The novel, being the eye-opener that it is, ultimately resulted in Netflix’s hit series.

The novel is quite different from the series. Most of the

characters’ names are changed, t he cha rac ter development is different, and the relationships within the prison walls are altered. This, of course, is expected, as the series would need new events and drama to feed off to continue its presence.

However, though many details are inconsistent between the novel and the show, the morals and lessons are the same. Both med iu ms por t ray t he overwhelming sense of sisterhood and companionship that the inmates portray, as well as the sad truths about the American justice system.

When Kerman was convicted, her family and friends had absolutely no idea about her past mistakes and choices. The day that the police officer showed up at her door, she had just moved in to a new home with her partner, Larry, who soon became her fiancé. Along with Kerman’s experiences inside prison, the reader also gains perspective on what it was like for Kerman during the stages before her imprisonment—what it was like to break the news to her family, to her friends, and to the love of her life. Kerman’s journey through prison embodies many layers. She not only retells the life she had within those walls, but she also shares the way she kept up with the life she had put on hold outside of prison. With weekly visits from Larry and her

DANA BELLAMY/THE ONTARION

The Noon Hour Concert Series debuted this year’s season with the sweet ukulele tunes of Olivia Borkosky. On Friday, June 5, St. George’s Square was buzzing with people of all ages as Borkosky’s endearing voice echoed throughout the downtown core. People danced, children played, and many enjoyed hot dogs or refreshments from nearby vendors and cafes. Contrary to the skull and crossbones on her ukulele strap, Borkosky’s hour-long set consisted mainly of original folk songs composed for her band Olivia and the Creepy Crawlies, but also included some Elvis Presley and Fleetwood Mac covers. The Noon Hour Concert Series is a free event sponsored by RBC and the Downtown Guelph Business Association that runs every Friday until the end of July.

family, Kerman illuminates the constant struggle she had with having to stay put as the people she loved outside of prison continued on with their lives.

I n h e r m e m oi r, K e r m a n exposes the extreme injustices that female inmates face in the American system, including the disturbing fact that rather than trying to correct inmates and teach them how to change their lives, they physically, sexually, mentally and verbally abuse them, provide them with little educat ion, and t hrow t hem back into society without any resources. Consequently, many newly-released inmates end up returning to jail at some point along the way, either because they did not have a place to live, they did not have the resources they needed to find employment, or they did not develop the capacit y to correct their mistakes. What good does holding people in an institution for years do, if their time is not spent learning to better themselves as individuals?

Though the memoir is about Kerman’s unique story of incarceration, she manages to give the reader a strong sense of the people she interacts with in prison, along with the relationships she builds with other i n mates. T houg h she does focus on her perspect ive of her own journey, she also provides incredible insight on the

emotions and experiences of others. Kerman humanizes the dehumanized. The jail becomes a communit y of people that share the same pain, the same fears, and the same stresses.

Empathy becomes a sole factor in the memoir. These women, having been totally isolated and reduced to less-than-human by society’s standards, find solace in each other by comforting and caring for each other.

Season Three of t he Net flix series is approaching this month, and though it has been led astray from the original novel at this point, the lessons that Kerman provides in her memoir are not lost on the show. In fact, the T.V. series does something that the memoir does not fully accomplish, and that is, showing its viewers the perspective of multiple characters. Through strong characterization, the series takes us on a journey into the lives of all of its characters, prov iding a n even st ronger sense of the morals that the original Piper wanted to share with readers in her memoir.

In the meantime, as we wait for Season T h ree to f i na l ly become available to stream, the original novel Orange is the New Black has the ability to change the way we perceive certain people and certain aspects of life. Kerman inspires us to break institutional walls and to see past the orange jumpsuit.

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Algiers—Algiers Algiers’ eponymous debut album deftly blends gospel, punk, and electronic rock MEGAN SCARTH In the wake of the U.S. Recession and the unrest in Baltimore and Ferguson, racism, capitalism, and post-colonial struggles have taken a forefront in the media in recent years. Despite this increased exposure, these subjects aren’t exactly polite dinner table conversation topics. But on their eponymous debut album, Algiers prove they aren’t afraid to tackle these issues head-on.

Li ke ma ny ot hers, Fra n klin James Fisher, lead singer of Algiers, struggled through the 2009 financial crisis. He eventually found a job at a New York

invest ment ba n k, which he described as “an old boys’ club” where racism and sexism ran rampant. In interviews, Fisher cites similar experiences growing up in the American South as an African-American. However, it was during this time period that he discovered his lifelong love of gospel music.

Fisher and his band also cite far-ranging musical influences f rom h ip-hop g roup Publ ic Enemy, to 70s punk band Suicide, to Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. These inf luences and ex periences weave toget her to create an album that deftly b le nd s g o s p e l , p u n k , a nd electronic rock to deliver hardhitting social commentary.

The album begins with the brooding “Remains.” A long, low note fills the background of the song, punctuated by heavy claps and stomps like the sound of marching soldiers. “We’re your careless mistakes / We’re the spirits you’ve raised / We are what remains,” states Fisher in the haunting chorus, his voice at times breaking into an impassioned shout. It’s a voice that will become interwoven with

the rest of the album; it’s pleasing enough to create harmonies, but with enough rawness to add a sense of honesty and believability to his message.

The album transitions into “Claudette,” a fascinating mix of dark, gospel-like harmonies and fuzzy electric guitar. “And When You Fall” is equally brooding, but oddly danceable, with strong influences of electronic rock. Near the end of the song, a creeping bassline emerges that wouldn’t be out of place on a Timber Timbre track.

Bitterness oozes out f rom between the thumping drum loops and call-and-response vocals featured on “Blood.”

“Four hundred years of torture / Four hundred years a slave…So drown in entertainment / ‘Cause all our blood’s in vain,” Fisher sings, citing the erosion of history and his refusal to allow it to forgotten.

“Iron. Ut i l it y. Pretex t.” is another standout track. A stark electronic drumbeat creates a machine-like background beat, but the lyrics, half-sung and half-shouted, build up intense emot ion. It’s anot her odd ly

Photography and caption by Stacey Aspinall On June 5, Lowlands performed a show at eBar, along with Alanna Gurr & The Greatest State and Green & Gold. The show was presented by Fortnight Music. Though the downtown core can sometimes see a lull during summertime, as the student population diminishes, the show drew a full crowd eager for a chance to see some of Guelph’s finest local acts, along with Green and Gold, hailing from St. John’s, Newfoundland. First up on stage, their indie-pop set provided a great energy to kick off the night. Alanna Gurr & the Greatest State played contemplative and melodic indie-folk. Gurr’s voice is both sweet and passionate, providing an understated sort of strength behind each song as she mused on love, loneliness, and heartache. The band’s most recent album, Late at Night, was released in April 2014 through local label Missed Connections Records. Lowlands, a local favourite, delivered folksy rock with bluegrass and country music roots, with a more pared-down aesthetic for a refreshing take on the genre. Frontman Gordon Auld led with a confident and assured presence, and the audience moved in closer to the stage to enjoy the headliners to conclude a night of great music.

COURTESY

Algiers provides listeners with a unique and deep album that fuses punk and gospel. danceable song that—in melody, at least—is catchy enough to be played at a club.

A l g ie r s h a v e put out a n impressive first album that’s both lyrically and musically

i ntel l igent . Alg iers may be catchy, but it’s also got something truly important to say.

I get the feeling that if people aren’t talking about this record already, they will be soon.

ONE WORLD LIVING TO The Guelph and District Multicultural Centre held their 29th annual Multicultural Festival between June 5 and June 7. In spite of the cold, rainy weather on June 5, the festival held its opening ceremonies at the Riverside Park Main Stage, with attendees including Guelph Mayor Cam Guthrie, University of Guelph President Franco Vaccarino, Guelph Member of Parliament Frank Valeriote, and the Guelph Chamber of Commerce’s President and CEO Kithio Mwanzia.

Though many food and craft vendors were still in the process of setting up their stalls in preparation for the evening’s festivities, there was still a carnival of sights, sounds, and smells to enjoy.

Beginning the opening ceremonies was a procession that featured members of several of Guelph’s ethnic communities, including members of Guelph’s Chinese, Ethiopian, and First Nations communities.

As the ceremony commenced, Lois MacDonald and Jan Sherman—members of Guelph’s Missanbie Cree First Nation community—led all gathered in a rousing Aboriginal welcome song.

“We are gat hered here today to honour all of those cultures present,” said MacDonald. “To share their ways and values and beliefs with everyone so that they will be able to understand each other and learn from each other.

We are gat hered so t hat we come together as one as members of the human race, so that the learning will carry on.”

Following a speech from MacDonald encouraged the crowd to lend their voices to a group performance of the Canadian national anthem. As the crowd began, a slow wave of sound engulfed the area, until each individual contributed to a community of melodies and harmonies. There is perhaps nothing more representative of Canada than a cultural mosaic joining together to sing the national anthem.

Guelph Mayor Cam Guthrie was the first to break the silence, with a speech that touched upon Guelph’s contribution to Canadian multiculturalism.

“Everyone who attends here that

promotes: “the interest that people have shown, and also the kindness of people who have come [that have shown] interest in volunteering with us…just [seeing] young people taking interest.”

When asked about how the festival affects interactions within the community, Egolet remarked, “[The festival] brings people together. Also, many times, people would be embarrassed to meet me on the street and talk to me, but in a setting like this, they can ask me where I’m from and ask about my outfit…it brings people together in a safe environment, and there is an exchange of ideas and gifts.”

Un iversit y of Guelph a lu m nu s Elizabeth Nadurille, who is currently i nvolved i n a n orga n izat ion t hat aims to create a local entrepreneurial institute for the women and youth of northern Ghana, spoke about the importance of celebrating multiculturalism. “It is a great opportunity for Canadians, and specifically, the people of Guelph, to see how opportunities are difficult for other places…it [allows one to] appreciate the resources and employment opportunities that are present.”

While many people at the festival were advocating for organizations and raising awareness for international causes, there was no shying away from partaking in the actual festivities of the event itself. When asked about her favorite part of the festival, Nadurille mentioned, “To be honest, salsa night.

The moment I started hearing the music, I went there and had to dance.”

The multicultural festival brings individuals together in a unique and refreshing way. Mahabhagavatdas, or, Das for short, has been an active participant at the festival for several years.

When asked about what the festival brings to the community, Das commented, “I love that so many different people get together, different cultures, different backgrounds, and can find common ground to talk about. [The Multicultural festival] eliminates barriers, it removes fears, it gets people talking about each other’s cultures and appreciation.”

The power of the festival to unite and bring people together towards a common goal is undeniable. By creating a safe and common space, the event allows participants to learn about difference cultures in a personal and accessible way. The Guelph and District Multicultural Festival is an important event for the city—not only does it provide incredible cuisine, music, and performances, but the festival also brings a medium for others to experience and enjoy the various cultures prevalent in the Guelph and district community.

Written by Sameer Chhabra & Emilio Ghloum Photography by Dana Bellamy/The Ontarion

“

The Multicultural Festival eliminates barriers, it removes fears, it gets people talking about each other’s cultures

“

GUELPH AND DISTRICT MULTICULTURAL FESTIVAL: CELEBRATING CULTURAL DIVERSITY

message and spreads it out to their schools, places of worship, homes, and communities,” said Guthrie.

However, it was Guelph MP Frank Valeriote whose words of unity and compassion resonated strongly with the crowd.

“No matter which culture is among us tonight, it’s important to remember that we’re all visitors on these lands of Metis and Attawandaron,” said Valeriote.

Guelph’s MP’s words were a reminder to all present that, as Canadians, our culture exists on the shared land of all First Nations people.

“Canada’s a nation of stories,” continued Valeriote. “English, French, and a myriad of other languages; when we celebrate one another and our cultures, we are growing as a community and building on our strengths. We are one collective community—a community that calls Canada our home.”

The ceremony slowly continued as speakers continued to take to the stage to praise Canada’s multicultural attitude, and Guelph’s welcoming nature.

Un iversit y of Guelph President Franco Vaccarino, who is the newest addition to the Guelph community, emphasized that Guelph is a city that embraces, welcomes, and respects new opinions. Vaccarino stated that Guelph’s accepting embrace of different values and opinions is what allows the city to be such a strong driver of innovation.

The ceremony’s final speaker was the president of the Guelph Multicultural Centre, Delfino Callegari, who kept his words brief. Callegari thanked all present, including the team of blue-shirted volunteers who aided attendees during throughout the weekend.

It was apparent from the moment the speeches ended that the weekend was going to be exciting and special.

The amounts of unique art, cuisine, and the friendliness of each individual was evident to all those who attended.

With everything ranging from traditional and authentic Ethiopian cuisine, to freshly brewed Chiapas coffee, the festival brought together elements of diversity and celebrated multiculturalism in an accessible and engaging way.

Recognizing and celebrating cultural diversity is crucial towards developing a community that is tolerant and inclusive of multiple cultures. A variety of participants involved with the Multicultural Festival activities spoke to the Ontarion about the importance of multiculturalism for sustaining a diverse and active community.

Rose Egolet, who runs an NGO in Uganda that is currently fundraising for two classrooms for 50 four-to-fiveyear-old children, spoke about the festival and the kinds of behaviour it

TOGETHER

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Issue 177.3 | June 11, 2015

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SPORTS & HEALTH

Tick population a ticking time-bomb?

U of G professor warns of threat posed by increasing tick populations KAODI MCGAW In recent years, researchers have seen a significant change in the prevalence of ticks across Southern and Eastern Ontario according to Andrew Peregrine, a clinical parasitologist at the Onta r io Veter i na r y Col lege (OVC). Peregrine, who moved to the OVC in 1997, remarked i n a n a r t icle by t he Sarnia Journal, “I’m hearing from [veterinarians] all over Ontario about changes (…) even threeyears-ago there were areas with no ticks, and now you go for a walk and the next day your dog has 20 engorged ticks.”

Black legged ticks, the primary vectors for Lyme disease, have la rgely been fou nd i n de f i ne d e nde m ic a r e a s of Southern Ontario including the north shores of Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, and the St. Lawrence

ANDRE REDKE VIA CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

University of Guelph professor Andrew Peregrine’s most recent study investigates the threats of increased tick populations.

River. However, over the past five years, blacklegged tick populations have not only increased but have expanded to regions of Eastern Ontario where they previously didn’t exist, according to Public Health Ontario (PHO). Last fall, health officials in Toronto began to warn the public after confirming that blacklegged ticks were found in the Rouge Valley. Furthermore, the ticks found tested positive for

the bacteria which causes Lyme disease.

Per e g r i ne at t r ibut e s t he increase in tick population to three factors: birds, bucks, and climate change. He notes in a May 2015 article by the Toronto Sun that 150 million to 175 million deer ticks latch on the backs of birds as they migrate from the northeastern sea board in the U.S.to Canada each year. Most land in Nova Scotia and Eastern

Ontario. Meanwhile, the soaring population of white-tailed deer, the primary food source of the blacklegged tick, and warmer w inters are also believed to c onduc e t he g r o w i n g t ic k population.

On the bright side, as summer is fast approaching, Peregrine notes that, “just because we have newly established ticks doesn’t mean we should stop going for hikes.” There are several safety

precautions that can be taken instead. A tick infected with Lyme disease must attach to, and feed from, a human for 24 to 36 hours before the infectious bacteria is able to travel to the gut or salivary glands to infect the host. Therefore, PHO suggests that people should check t hemselves rout inely after going outdoors and immediately remove any ticks before they are able to cause infection.

Also, preventative measures such as wearing long pants and a long-sleeved shirt or using tick repellant containing DEET are advised.

Looking forward, the biggest concern for Peregrine is that we do not know how much the tick population is going to change over the next 20 to 30 years. “At the moment,” said Peregrine, “in Eastern Ontario, the distribution is moving about 45 kilometers northwest each year.”

While he acknowledges that, in reality, we can’t stop the ticks coming in, he believes one of the most important things is education.

“A lot of the issues are in education, making people aware of what’s happened, what the ticks look like and what (people) can do to reduce the risk of exposure (…) effectively, learning to live with ticks,” concluded Peregrine.

Canada hosts Women’s 2015 FIFA World Cup A nation closely watches the crucial tournament ANDREW SHURE For the next exciting month, Ca nada w i l l be host ing t he pinnacle of women’s soccer: the FIFA Women’s World Cup. With games being played in six Canadian cities, across five time zones, the best female players in the world will be competing in a truly coast-to-coast event.

Ra n ked eig ht h, Ca nada is hopi ng to cont i nue t hei r success at t he world st age

following a bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics. Team Canada will be lead by striker and captain Christine Sinclair, who has scored over 150 goals in her 15-year career. Other players include 17-year-old midfielder Jesse Fleming and midfielder S op h i e S c h m id t , w ho h a s already appeared for Canada 131 times despite being only 26-years of age. Other notable players to watch are five-time FIFA World Player of the Year Marta of Brazilian squad, Alex Morga n on Tea m USA, a nd Homare Sawa of the reigning World Cup Champion Japan.

This is the first time 24 nations will compete for the title, an important increase from the previous 16 in Germany in 2011, and 12 in the inaugural tournament in China in 1991. Among those making their World Cup

debut will be Thailand, Costa R ica, Spain and Cameroon.

There will also be four major awards up for grabs: the Adidas Golden Ball for player of the tournament, the Adidas Golden Boot for highest scorer, t he Adidas Golden Glove for best goaltender, and the Hyundai Best Young Player award.

As w it h seem i ng ly ever ything else FIFA-related, there is some controversy surrounding this tournament. FIFA and the Canadian Soccer Association face a regarding the standard use of natural grass instead of artificial turf. The complaint has been filed by 84 players on 13 teams. Players reasoned that turf fields are dangerous, and that FIFA would never fathom having the men’s teams compete on the artificial surfaces.

This complaint was withdrawn

in January after months of legal action, as the players wanted to focus on preparing for the tournament. In a Toronto Star report, law yer Ha mpton Del l i nger explained that the “players felt like they needed to step up and put the sport first.”

Canada is hoping to continue their success at the world stage...

Further criticism has been fuelled when, in an interview with the CBC, Canada Soccer Association president Victor Montagliani shared that Canada won the right to hold the World Cup by defau lt. There were seven countries initially, but five quickly decided to bid for other World Cups, and Zimbabwe withdrew later on.

Tea m Ca nada opened t he tournament on Saturday, June 6 with a 1-0 win over China. Sinclair scored a penalty shot in stoppage time to give Canada the victory. The game was held in Edmonton in front of a crowd of over 53,000. Canada will also play New Zealand (June 11) and the Netherlands (June 15) in the group stage. The knockout round begins June 20, with the finals in Vancouver on July 5. Hopes are high for Team Canada.

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The Southern Ontario Amazing Race raises $80,000 A recap of the event and its importance to the communtiy EMILIO GHLOUM

MIDO MELEBARI

The Southern Ontario Amazing Race (SOAR) is an event t hat has been a pa r t of t he Guelph community since early 2004. Originally put together

by Glenna Banda, Matt Steffler and Paul Pengelly, the process of t u r n i ng t he race i nto a n annual event truly began to come together once the Children’s Foundation of Guelph and Wellington got involved.

Working together to co-ordinate the event was essential to the success of the race, and its success has been proven year after year.

...a testament to the overall quality of the organizers and its participants.

MIDO MELEBARI

The Southern Ontario Amazing Race raised nearly $80,000 for the Children’s Foundation of Guelph and Wellington this past weekend, encouraging volunteers to meaningfully participate.

T h i s y e a r ’s r a c e w a s no different. Filled w ith excitement, e x t reme c ha l lenges, and unique skill-testing puzzles, SOAR 2015 prov ided an

i nc red ibl y weekend for a l l those involved. SOAR raised nearly $80,000 for t he Children’s Foundation of Guelph a n d We l l i n g t o n t h i s p a s t weekend.

“The funds were raised by just 38 racers from across Southern Ontario. Racers held their own fundraisers from bottle drives to bbqs,” SOAR stated in a news release published on June 6.

“Ky l ie Va n Hor ne a nd T i m Anderson of Elora, together, ra ised $14,666.37. T he tea m held tree sales, garage sales and organized a dance w it h over one-hundred people in attendance.”

It is evident that SOAR is not only an exhilarating experience for adventurous people, but it is also a way to meaningfully engage within the Guelph-Wellington community. That being said, the longevity of the race over the years is a testament to the overall quality of the organizers and its participants.

“In just twelve years SOAR has raised close to $800,000,” the press release stated. “The f u nd s r a i s e d prov ide v it a l funding for programs that support the wellbeing of children in need including f ina ncia l assistance for sports and recreation, breakfast, lunch and snack programs and scholarships. Since 2004, SOAR has helped a ssist t housa nds of children be healthy, happy and learn new skills within Guelph and Wellington counties.”

The race itself allows contesta nts to t ravel a l l across Southern Ontario to w itness t he beaut if ul landscape t he region has to offer. W hether travelling by train, canoe, or on foot, the race challenges participants to become physically and mentally engaged.

UEFA Champions League final 2014-2015 A recap of the UEFA competition ANDREA CONNELL Four minutes was all it took for Barcelona’s Ivan Rak it ic to find the back of the net and put Juventus on its heels in last Saturday’s Champions League f inal. Barcelona claimed its third title in six years, beating Juventus 3-1 in the end. The anticipated match surpassed expectations for viewers.

Both teams wanted the win in order to top off their domestic and cup competitions this year.

The last visit to the league final for Juventus was the 2002-2003 season where they lost to Milan on penalty kicks.

It s e eme d t he g a me w a s ever yone aga i nst Juvent us’ 37-year-old keeper Gianluigi Buffon, with 17 shots on net and Barcelona keeping possession of the ball 62 per cent of the time. Buffon has gained the reputation of being one of the best goalkeepers in the world and he led Italy to a World Cup victory in 2006. Barcelona, however, kept coming at him.

Buffon hung on long enough for Juventus player Morata to get the equalizer past keeper Ter Stegen at 55 minutes off a Carlos Tevas rebound. Buffon cheered and shook his f ists when the striker scored. His excitement lasted for approximately 10 minutes, until Luis Suarez buried a Lionel Messi rebound and moved Barcelona ahead again.

Suarez’s celebration earned him a yellow card for his efforts.

Suarez came into the game with controversy surrounding him; fans may remember his infamous bite on Juventus player Ch iel l i n i du r i ng last yea r’s

World Cup. Chiellini didn’t suit up for the final due to injury, so there was no chance of Suarez coming anywhere near him.

Barcelona’s Neymar thought he had scored in the last nine minutes of the game, but the goal was ruled out as the ball rolled up his arm before going in. Redemption came at t he 90th minute for Neymar as, this time, the ball found the back of the net and Barcelona sealed the 3-1 victory.

Ba rcelona’s t r io of Messi, Suarez, and Neymar are a devastating mix. They have scored 122 goals between them in this season. The Uruguayan Luis

Suarez, 28, has only been in Barcelona for nine months and it seems a fitting place for him.

The Argentinean Lionel Messi, 26, is Barcelona’s all-time top scorer. He is as loyal as the winter is long and will probably never leave for another club.

Neymar, 23, the captain of the Brazilian national team Brazil, was voted the sixth best player in the world. Watching these g uys play is sheer joy. Nex t year’s competition is already on high notice—three Champions League cups is a hard number to surpass.

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Issue 177.3 | June 11, 2015

U of G professors investigate nature of fructose Collaborative study finds parallels between the addictive qualities of fructose and cocaine MEGAN SCARTH The negative health effect of sugar, specifically fructose, have long been known, but a University of Guelph-led study showed just how addictive this sugar can be. Researchers at U of G and Rockefeller University in New York City studied the effects of various types of sugar consumption in.

T he y a l lowed t he rat s to self-administer pellets of highfructose corn syrup (HFCS), sucrose, and saccharin, and then conducted three experiments: one to measure effects on brain activity, another that measured genes related to addiction, and the third to study fatty acid levels. The recent study found similarities in brain chemistry between rats fed pellets with higher levels of fructose to those that had been fed cocaine in a 2013 study.

T he coca i ne st udy fou nd correlations between the rats’

JARLE EKNES VIA CC0

Researchers at U of G and Rockerfeller University aim to study the nutritional consequences of fructose intake. self-administration of Oreos and their self-administration of the drug.

Professor Francesco Leri of Guelph’s Department of Psychology was a researcher in both of these studies.

Rega rd i ng t he 2015 suga r study, he explains in a press release, “We found that those rats exposed to HFCS consumed fewer calories overall but, surprisingly, their livers displayed a higher concentration of a polyunsaturated fatty acid that can lead to increased inflammation.”

“Ac ros s a l l e x per i ment s, we observed that it took less

e x posu re to suga r s w it h a higher fructose ratio to lead to both neural and physiological responses associated with addictive and metabolic diseases.”

The researchers theorized that fructose has less of a stimulating effect on brain regions such as the hypothalamus that regulate food intake. These regions of the hypothalamus synthesize and release peptides that help the body regulate its appetite.

Interestingly, the researchers noted that the rats did not seem to have a taste preference for specific types of pellets, regardless of the fructose content.

Their self-administration of the saccharin pellets was significantly lower, likely because of the lack of caloric content, but they seemed to enjoy these pellets just as much.

The rats also did not display an increase in food intake following consumption of the pellets.

Though HFCS was the only high-fructose solution studied, the results raise questions about the effects of other sugary substances with greater ratios of fructose.

HFCS isn’t pure fructose—in fact, a substantial portion is still made up of glucose, with a ratio

of 55 per cent fructose to 42 per cent glucose.

This isn’t that far off from table sugar, a disaccharide (two-carbon) sugar that has one glucose linked to each fructose molecule, resulting in a 50/50 ratio.

In comparison, honey also typically has a higher fructose ratio, though the exact ratios vary depending on the type of honey. For instance, one study found clover honey to have a fructose-glucose ratio of 1.09, while tupelo had a sizeable 1.54 ratio.

A nd a g av e ne c t a r, of t en promoted as a natural, vegan alternative to honey, is typically made up of a staggering 90 per cent fructose.

Therefore, the U of G study results may call into question the potential impacts of these “healthier” natural foods when analyzed via their biochemical ratios alone. However, more research is needed to study their specific effects.

For now, it’s probably a safe bet to limit general sugar intake.

Not the best news for those with a sweet tooth, but your liver and your waistline will thank you.

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NHL offseason approaching A brief look at the upcoming break WESLEY OSTREGA We are three games into the St a n le y Cup f i na l a nd t he upcoming offseason is looking to be one of the most interesting in years. The most anticipated, of cou rse, is t he a r r iva l of Connor McDavid, hailed as the Edmonton Oilers’ savior—a generational talent—by scouts and analysts. McDavid’s selection is highly anticipated but there will likely not be any confusion if the Oilers choose him with their first overall pick or not.

What is more uncertain is how many blockbuster trades will be present this summer. The

Leafs look to go into full rebuild mode after another embarrassing season and could be looking to go younger by trading veteran assets for prospects and draft picks. Less than a month ago, Toronto signed a monster contract with ex-Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock, making him the highest paid coach in league history—a bold move representing how badly the organization wants to turn things around.

There have been links between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Leafs trying to put together a huge deal that is rumoured to include names like Carolina’s Alex Semin, Victor Rask, Elias Lindholm, and Toronto’s Kadri, Gardiner, Phaneuf. The Leafs are very interested in Carolina’s fifth overall draft pick at this summer’s draft—the Leafs have the fourth overall pick and having

two top-five picks in this year’s highly regarded draft would be ideal for rebuilding.

...trading veteran assets for prospects and draft picks.

A month ago, top goaltending prospect Boston University star Matt O’Connor signed with the

Ottawa Senators after having teams from all over the league offer him contracts. The Senators have since said that they intend to trade one of their goalies in order to make space for O’Connor, who is expected to become the starting goalie for Ottawa’s AHL affiliate the Binghamton Senators. This comes right after an amazing season that saw Andrew “Hamburglar” Hammond take over as the Senators starting goalie and lead the team to a record-setting season comeback to make the playoffs.

With O’Connor guaranteed the starting job in Binghamton, and Hammond deserving to begin next season as the starter, Craig Anderson or Robin Lehner will most likely be traded before or at the draft. The two teams rumoured to be most interested are Edmonton and San Jose, and most of the interest is said

to be in top prospect, 23-year-old Robin Lehner. There is less interest in Anderson, although he is a respected veteran who can be a team’s starter right now.

Scouts a nd a na lysts have seemingly decided upon the top five picks in the draft. After, that the order of players selected is less clear. A mock draft provides a possible top five pick order: The Edmonton Oilers selecting McDavid, the Buffalo Sabres drafting Jack Eichel, the Arizona Coyotes selecting Noah Hanifin, followed by the Toronto Maple Leafs selecting Dylan Strome, and the Carolina Hurricanes choosing Lawson Crouse.

These are the five players that analysts and scouts are certain should be selected first in this year’s draft. This year’s draft has been regarded as the best in years—it should be an interesting summer.

LIFE

15

Campus Connections: The Wellness Centre

EMILIO GHLOUM/THE ONTARION

The Wellness Centre gives students a safe and informative space to learn about mental health and safe sex. available can be crucial through- work shops, UC events, a nd out the school year. This column campus w ide par t icipat ion, is meant to illuminate and bring the Wellness Centre is a crucial forward the phenomenal work resource that can help anyone and services provided by various w ho wou ld l i ke to become members of the campus commu- awa re of t he impor ta nce of nity. Throughout the year, we will mental health. not only explore the multitude of Heav ily involved w it h t he available resources, but also the Peer Helper Program (PHP), people who work diligently to the Wellness Centre cultivates make these resources function a safe environment for students EMILIO GHLOUM year-round. to discuss mental health among The Wellness Centre, located peers in an informal manner.

Campus Connections is a new on the second f loor of the J.T. By approaching mental health column produced by the Ontar- Powell building, is a resource issues in such an open way, the ion . With a large variet y of dedicated to the education of Wellness Centre demonstrates resources available to students students on issues regarding the ability to provide vital eduthroughout the Universit y of mental health and wellness. cation to students who can take Guelph campus, knowing what is Through a variety of seminars, what they have learned into

An inside look at a vital and active campus resource

later stages of life.

Nicole Bransfield, a senior peer helper entering her fourth year, spoke to t he Ontarion about the kinds of services provided by the Wellness Centre. “ T he Wel l ne s s C ent r e i s mostly an educational resource centre…we have all the pamphlets and information kits on a variet y of topics including sexual health, mental health, healt hy eat ing, [and] act ive living for students to come in and get the information they need from us,” said Bransfield.

W hile the Wellness Centre is t ucked away i n t he coz y corner of the J.T. Powell building, those who are involved do not shy away from the campus spotlight. “ We a l s o prov ide s e x u a l health supplies, including condoms and lubes for students to practice safer sex, [and] we also run workshops,” said Bransfield. “A major thing that we do is we go into residences, we work with RLS, we work with students groups on campus and we do training and workshops for them on a variety of topics… they are interactive.”

T he Wel lness Cent re welcomes involvement f rom anyone and offers a variety of ways to participate.

“I learned about The Wellness Centre in my first year from a friend of mine who volunteered here,” said Bransfield. “In [my] second year, I looked into the PHP and saw that [the centre] was one of the options…it’s a really neat space, I loved what

they do, so I applied and got in for my second semester and I’ve been here since.”

Wit h walls covered by brochu res, pa mph let s, a nd take-home sheets, the centre provides students with a comfortable space to learn about ser ious issues rega rd i ng wellness.

When asked about the importance of learning key issues in mental health, Bransfield recognized the prevalence of mental health among all people and the need for accessible education.

“It i s i mpor t a nt be c au s e menta l hea lt h is somet hing that affects everyone. We always say that every one in five people have mental illness, but everyone has mental health,” said Bra nsf ield. “It is impor ta nt for everyone to maintain and recog nize [mental healt h]… especially in an environment where there is a lot of stress like University.”

The Wellness Centre strives to educate people on important issues that affect a variety of people. The workshops and seminars prov ided by t hose i nvolved w it h t he prog ra m offer information for students revolved around de-stigmatizing mental illness.

“It i s i mp or t a nt t o s t a r t work ing at t his age to star t decreasing the stigma around mental illness. University is a great time for people to learn about [mental illness] because then they are going to leave this community and hopefully take that wherever they go.”

are often eager to help and are very kind, but building up the courage to speak to strangers is something you will definitely have to do!

3. You can handle a few setbacks—Maybe few is a bit of an understatement because believe me, things will not always go according to plan. You might find yourself on a subway heading in t he ent irely opposite direction, frustrated and on the verge of tears in the middle of a confusing new city. These things happen, but they’re all part of the experience and make your successes that much more gratifying.

4. You’re open to meeting new friends—If you stay at hostels,

I can guarantee you that you w i l l meet ma ny i nterest i ng people from around the world, but only if you’re open to this. If you can be outgoing, introduce yourself to fellow travelers, or have breakfast with someone who’s on their own—you’ll have a much more enjoyable experience travelling solo!

If you are open to these perspectives, you will feel much more at ease travelling solo. It is completely normal if something frightens you or makes you uncomfortable—that’s what traveling is meant to do! Once you feel more open to the idea of travelling alone, you can start to make your dream trip a reality, even if it’s taken solo.

Travel fever: travelling solo Is solo-travel right for you?

DIANA KURZEJA If you have ever traveled outside of the country before, then you’re familiar with the captivating power that travel can have on your life. The impulse to grab a suitcase, pack your bags, and book a flight to a new adventure seems to never leave you. When you travel, you not only get to appreciate a new place, you also gain a new sense of perspective—coming home with a new way of seeing and experiencing the world.

Traveling solo can seem like a terrifying idea if you’ve never traveled on your own before. You have to rely entirely on yourself, as well as your instincts, and you have to be as open as you can to meeting new people and stepping outside of your comfort zone. I’m a shy introverted person, so this has always been a challenge for me, but I can say that taking a solo backpacking trip out west was one of the best decisions I ever could have made for myself. Solo traveling can be an amazing experience of self-discovery if you have the right mindset. Here is a list of a few things to check off before taking the step to solo travel: 1. You are okay with spending

time alone—This may seem silly, but not all people like spending longer periods of time on their own. Think of the last time you had some time on your own and how you felt during it. Were you relaxed, happy, or upset? If you can’t think of a time where you were alone and were content, maybe you should take a bit of time for yourself and see how well you do before going on a solo trip.

2. You’re not afraid to talk to strangers—When you travel solo, you will soon learn that getting lost is just part of the adventure.

Getting lost means that you will inevitably have to ask strangers you’ve never met before for help or directions. Most people

LIFE

16

Issue 177.3 | June 11, 2015

Simply Authentic: Diary of a Local Foodie Making your own vinaigrettes and salad dressings EMILY JONES It’s Saturday morning, and I’m drinking a cup of coffee that I just brewed in our French press—ah, the weekend! I am going to head to the farmers’ market shortly to get our groceries for the week. I haven’t been to the market in a few weeks now—we just moved, and got settled into our new place— but that is no excuse. I miss it!

The Guelph Farmers’ Market is really coming into its own right now—lots of fresh local veggies and meats—this is my favourite time of year to visit the market.

With all of the fresh vegetables and the arrival of hot weather, late spring and summer are the perfect seasons for testing your salad-making skills. When it’s hot outside, the last thing I feel like doing is eating a hot meal.

This week, I want to leave you with some ideas of how to make you r ow n v i na ig ret tes a nd salad dressings. Personally, I

LYNN GARDNER VIA CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Homemade dressings provide a variety of fresh and unique flavours to brighten up any salad. don’t own a single store-bought dressing—I just prefer my own to anything.

No mat ter wh ich sa lads I am mak ing, I t y pically have all of the ingredients needed to make them in my pantry. I like to have olive oil on hand, as well as grapeseed oil, apple cider vinegar, white wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar, lemons, limes, garlic, and fresh and

dried herbs, plus some sweetening agents when needed—like sugar and honey. By having all of these on hand, I am able to make a dressing in a couple of minutes for whatever kind of salad I may be serving.

A couple of my favourites are my Greek dressing and my hone y c i n na mon d ressi ng , both of which I use on sweeter salads. My Greek dressing is

super easy to make and tastes so much fresher than the storebought alternative. It consists of two parts olive oil to one part balsamic vinegar with a clove of minced garlic, salt-and-pepper, a pinch of dried oregano, and half a squeezed lemon. Once these are all mixed together, let the flavours mingle together for a few minutes, then pour it over the Greek salad. If you

are making a traditional Greek salad, allow the dressing to soak into the vegetables and marinate a bit. If you are serving the salad with lettuce, pour the dressing on right before serving—no one likes soggy lettuce!

My honey cinnamon dressing is great on summer salads that have different fruits in them. In the summer, I love salads with green apples and fresh berries— this dressing was inspired by these kinds of salads, typically also topped with goat cheese. In this dressing, you can use either olive oil or grapeseed oil—if you have grapeseed oil on hand, I would recommend it, as its flavour is milder and won’t overpower the other flavours. This dressing consists of two parts grapeseed oil, one part apple cider vinegar, half a teaspoon of cinnamon, and a teaspoon of honey. Whisk together and taste.

If you need to make the dressing sweeter, feel free to add a little more honey. The dressing should be sweet, but not too sweet, as the f lavours in the salad will provide sweetness on their own.

St ay t u ned for upcom i ng Si mply Aut hent ic colu m ns, where I will share my advent u res a nd ex per iences of venturing around the area and creating delicious and simple recipes that you can make in your kitchen.

Mindfulness makes you beautiful The practice of mindfulness and its beautyenhancing effects FATEMA RAHEEMI Breat he i n, a nd i n ha le t he beautiful, boundless essence of good that enhances the self to keep it upright at its best.

E x h a le t he ne g at i v it y t h at traps us from embracing the now. Moments can never be replaced, but are authentic in their own nature. Moments can only have similarities if they are recreated, but are never duplicated.

T he power of now i s t he foca l poi nt of m i nd f u lness.

Mindfulness is a practice that is widespread amongst many g roups of people, as well as

the ones who do not identify as spiritual or religious. It is a universal practice that has been found to be effective regardless of whether you openly realize that you are participating in the act.

Imagine a world where we l ive i n t he moment a nd we allow ourselves to experience a n en ha nced qua lit y of life based on being aware of daily interact ions, life sk ills, and our internal judgements. The realization amongst our inner judgements will free us from the solidarities of our minds: or A.K.A, mental imprisonment.

Ps ycholog y Today def i nes mindfulness as,”t he state of active, open attention on the present. W hen you’re mindful, you observe your thoughts and feelings from a distance, w it hout judg i ng t hem good or bad. Instead of letting your life pass you by, mindfulness means liv ing in the moment and awakening to experience.”

Mindfulness is an act that br e a k s t h r ou g h t he b a r r iers t hat i n h ibit ou r hu ma n

nature. It reveals the beaut y held beneath that is waiting to surface.

...observe your thoughts and feelings from a distance...

Living in the Western World, ou r sta nda rds of beaut y encompass a wide spectrum.

Many people may believe that t he standards of beaut y are direct ly linked and t hat t he more stereot y pica l ly beaut i f u l someone is t he bet ter treatment they often receive because of their looks.

A n ar t icle in Psychology Today, titled, “Susan Boyle

f rom Not to Hot,” by Scot t Barry Kaufman Ph.D., encompasses an in-dept h societa l and cultural reflection on the question, “Can non-physical traits increase perceptions of physical attractiveness?

Su s a n B o y le w a s a c ontestant on Britain’s X Factor series. She has a mature look and beauty that, at the time, d id not c on for m w it h t he societal standards of beauty that, conforms with the usual norm of the show. Boyle went on to shock the judges w ith her successful audition on the show and proved later to be a success.

Susan Boyle stated in t he article, “Don’t judge a person’s physical attractiveness based solely on his or her physical attributes.” Boyle’s words show that being mindful when entering a competitive environment or not your beauty will unravel your beauty even if it is not in the best interests at the time.

Cognitive behavioural therap y (C BT), h a s be c ome a n emerging therapy practice. It is

about the processes of how we think, feel, and behave based on largely cognitive factors.

The therapy is usually carried out in 10 to 20 sessions to intervene on current or concurrent problems. The emphasis is to engage clients w ith strateg y and technique to aid their individual needs.

A CBT document published by t he C A R MH A Facu lt y of He a lt h S c ie nc e s a t S i mon Fraser University states that, “Different people can think differently about the same event.

By identif ying dysfunctional t houghts and by learning to think about their experiences, people c a n feel d i f ferent ly about these experiences and in turn behave differently.

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OPINION

17

The necessity of green space An opinion regarding south end development CARLEIGH CATHCART I don’t know about you, but I fell in love with Guelph for all the reasons one might enjoy a walk in a small forest. The city’s large enough to always explore and find new things, yet small enough that the chance always exists of running into someone you know. It’s beautiful with large expanses of greenery, but not so wild that it’s impossible to navigate or find civilization.

A s t i me goes on, howe ver, Guelph seems to represent more of a garden over-crowded w it h weeds t han a majest ic woodland.

In the latest episode of “build it and they will come” (Guelph edition), there is an increased push for development in the south end of Guelph, specifically the Clair-Maltby roads

area. In fact, according to the Places to Grow legislation, the area south of Clair should be developed post-2020, in order to meet projected employment and population growth targets.

W hile I’ve already given my fair share of complaints about the f lawed logic surrounding eternal urban sprawl, there are important facts to consider in this particular situation.

If not offput by the aesthetic assault of cookie-cutter subdivisions and endless strip malls, one m ig ht at least concer n one’s self with the natural significance of the Clair-Maltby area. According to the Guelph Tribune, t he “nat u ra l her itage system” contains not only t he moraine, but t hree subwatershed catchment areas, ecological links for w ildlife, “sig n i f ic a nt wood la nd features,” and wetland complexes important to natural processes (as well as our overall canopy cover), and important habitats for species protected at all three levels of government.

“Now, Carleigh,” you might say, “those things are all important, yes, but we need to attract

more people and we need them to have places to live.”

Well actually, we don’t need t hose t hings, because t here are more people on this planet today t han ever before. It is i nc red ibl y a r roga nt of ou r species to declare ourselves superior to all ot her life on earth, and it’s self-deceiving to assume that we must constantly be expanding to “improve” our quality of life for all. By definition, humans are indeed an invasive species. Perhaps our ancestors were friends with the emerald ash borer.

The Places to Grow Act, however f lawed it may be, got it right in taking a “build up” and not a “build out,” approach.

Of course, this doesn’t satisfy Mayor Cam “Grow Big” Guthrie, who appears troubled by the risk of “the pendulum [swinging] too far” away f rom t he construction of single-family detached homes in Guelph.

Indeed, Gut hr ie believes young adults (aged 25 to 40) largely dream of “owning their own piece of property with their own backyard,” and, that said, homes are a good rung towards

the top of this ladder. Sorry to burst your bubble, Mr. Mayor, but my student debt will kill t hat dream long before bidding wars on resale homes get to it. Not to mention, the prestige of a backyard is lost when it simply overlooks five identical backyards. Neighbourhood barbeque, anyone?

...small enough that the chance always exists of running into someone you know.

According to the Tribune, the “Clair-Maltby area is one of only two big new areas left for housing development in the city.”

What this means to me is that

we’ve oversaturated the housing market. W hat it doesn’t mean to me is that a) we need to re-zone more areas to build more houses; b) we have hit a catastrophic dead end and it’s all downhill from here; or c) we need to build anything else at all.

Guelph is a charming, beautiful cit y, filled with equally charming and beautiful people.

The passion for nature and environmental sustainability has reassured me that some of those in power care about my generation, as we wait backstage for the reins of a very difficult horse to be handed to us. Sadly, we are too preoccupied sustaining ourselves on instant noodles and lab reports, in an attempt to gain a $40,000 piece of paper that leads to zero job opportunities in an economy we didn’t create, to have t he t i me or energy to address these matters.

How refreshing, though, that Guthrie is worried about our dreams. I suppose if climate change doesn’t kill me, I may be able to afford one of those detached homes right in time to retire.

#TheDress—Who was really right?

No one can be wrong if everyone has their own version of the “true” colours of the dress.

MERCEDES BAIR Wit h a l l t he debate t hat su r rou nded a n i mage of “#T heDress” t hat ca me out in Februar y 2015, t here was much celebrat ion follow ing the release of the official picture. The conclusion t hat it was indeed black and blue had many people conf used. The real answer as to who was right was not the people claiming they saw black and blue, but everyone.

Debates surrounding colour a re not a ne w topic. Ma ny

people can remember instances where they argued over hues with someone who claimed to see something different. The reason and t he ex planat ion behind inconsistent opinions is simply that not everyone sees the exact same thing.

W hen ex a m i n i ng va r iations in sight, it is important to u ndersta nd how t he eye sees colou r. Col m Kel leher from TED Talks explained that colour approaches the eye as waves of light and is detected by cells called cones located at the back of the eye. Kelleher’s video “How We See Color” went on to describe three types of cones: red, green, and blue.

Whether the wave that hits the eye is a certain wavelength such as yellow, or two wavelengths of red and green, the cones will send the same signal. The cones that are the closest match will fire since the eye cannot perceive every individual part of the spectrum.

Not only are there possible d i f ferences i n t he physica l reception of colour, but many

differences in the perception of colour can affect how an image is seen. Research published in National Geographic by Brookly n College professor Israel Abramov produced some conclusive results. It would seem that men need longer wavelengths to register a hue than women. This means women see yellows and greens clearer while men see oranges and reds in stronger hues. Furthermore, Abramov discussed that augmented amounts of testosterone encou raged neu rons i n t he visual cortex of men and how it means males have trouble separating blues, greens, and yellows. The difficulty is due to the fact that more neurons are trying to describe a colour to the brain at the same time.

Not all variations in vision can be attributed to reception however. Occasionally, there is an instance of colour deficiency where a malfunctioning cell can cause drastic variations in sight. According to the Colour Blind Awareness Organization’s website, there are three types of

this deficiency, each with different levels of intensity. The site stated that with anomalous trichromacy, “all of their three cone types are used to perceive light colours, but one type of cone perceives light slightly out of alignment.” This means that one of the cones is not as sensitive and there will be problems dist ing uishing bet ween t he colour it corresponds with and other similar colours.

The page went on to describe t hat, w hen one cone stops working completely, it is called dichromacy. People with this type of blindness cannot see certain colours or those that overlap on the light spectrum.

Finally, there is monochromacy which is a complete inability to see colour. The world appears to these people in shades of grey, black, and white. The website continued, pointing out that “eight per cent of men and 0.5 per cent of women have a colour vision deficiency.” These numbers increase with the amount of caucasian and elderly people in the population. Nonetheless,

some reasons for these inconsistencies are not related to cells. Past experiences have also shaped how colour appears, such as with lack of lighting or mismatched colour situations. Herman Miller clarified in his article “Experience of Colour” that the human brain ignores certain shifts in colour when lighting changes, because having the colour remain consi stent m a kes more sen se.

Furthermore, Miller stated that after-images of what a person previously looked at can affect how the next colour appears.

So, whether it is malfunctioning eyes or simply the last image someone looked at, the truth of the matter is that what one person sees is not always t he s a me a s t hos e a rou nd t hem. W ho is to say wh ich person is right? No one has a “true” image of the world—it is all just opinion. Therefore, no one was necessarily wrong about the colours in the picture of the dress; there were simply too many correct images of the same thing.

Issue 177.3 | June 11, 2015

EDITORIAL

18

What is it, then, between us?

A personal reflection on why narrative matters to me EMILIO GHLOUM One of the most poignant lessons I learned came in a second-year English seminar. While we studied a few 18th and 19th century American authors, it was our class discussion on the narrative form of each text that stood out to me the most.

A particularly powerful poem has stuck with me over the years, and has ultimately transformed the way I read, write, and perceive literature. Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass is a monumental text that revolutionized American literature. Whitman worked on Leaves of Grass for many years, and once it was published for the first time in 1855 (with a beautiful and mesmerizing preface), he continued to work on the text throughout the entirety of his career. The text, then, fused with the enigma and personality of Whitman himself, who altered and changed passages of crucial poems within Leaves of Grass as his own life changed. The notion of working on a single text for your entire lifetime and constantly changing it along the way is extremely significant, because it demonstrates the dynamic nature of poetry and the fluidity of narrative.

Perhaps it is wrong of me to think of Whitman’s pivotal text in this manner, however, the material, physical text itself has inevitably become a part of the narrative the textprojects. In a way, W hitman’s nitpicking and his constantly changing sentences, verses, or stanzas, contribute to one of the most

prevalent themes in Leaves of Grass. Specifically, Whitman’s powerful idea of f luidity and affection closes the generational gap between readers in the 19th cent u r y a nd contempora r y readers of our day and age. The poem, and through the narrative structure of Leaves of Grass, which is constantly dipping in the ebb and flow of Whitman’s prophetic river, illuminates the powerful capability of narrative to transform and create meaning in a truly impactful way.

One particular poem within Leaves of Grass, titled “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry,” demonstrates a crucial moment in which it seems W hitman is speak ing forwards towards other generations, bridging that gap between physical proximity and intimacy.

Somehow, Whitman invites the reader to his world and urges them to see the same curious faces of people he is presently seei ng. “Crossi ng Brook ly n Fer r y ” is one of W hit ma n’s shorter poems throughout the text, it provides readers with the opportunity to catch a glimpse of the humanity of which Whitman dreams. The narrative structure of the poem is worthy of its own editorial, however, I’d like to borrow only a few lines from the poem in an attempt to further demonstrate the significance of this poem to me.

In the fifth stanza of the poem, Whitman writes, “What is it, then, between us? / What is the count of the scores or hundreds of years between us? / Whatever it is, it avails not—distance avails not, and place avails not.”

These short lines are quite powerful to me, because they signal a shift in my academic thinking. If I had to categorize my education at university, I’d confidently label my first couple of years as pre-Whitman, and the later years as post-Whitman.

Thankfully, I still like to think I

ABHI SHARMA CC BY 2.0

The ability of narrative form to convey meaning can be used as a powerful tool for understanding literature. am living in the post-Whitman era. Notions of distances, longevity, and intimacy all propel forward within these few simple lines in “Crossing Brook ly n Ferr y.” W hitman asks us, as readers, what is between us?

While Whitman did reside in Brooklyn for a majority of his life, the “between” he is referring to transcends the restrictions of physical space. The pivotal question Whitman is asking us refers to a deeper and more intimate realm of humanity. Essentially, Whitman is speaking to future generations of people, who will ultimately view and experience similar landscapes, facial expressions, and complex emotions.

In the closing section of the poem, Whitman builds upon his interaction with future generations and concludes the poem with a mixture of intimacy and uncertainty. Whitman writes: “You have waited, you always wait, you dumb, beautiful ministers, / We receive you with free

sense at last, and are insatiate henceforward, / Not you any more shall be able to foil us, or withhold yourselves from us, / We use you, and do not cast you aside—we plant you permanently within us, / We fathom you not—we love you—there is perfection in you also, / You furnish your parts toward eternity, / Great or small, you furnish your parts toward the soul.”

Whitman’s passage evokes a sense of longing and sentiment in an attempt to communicate with others who are not physically present. Whitman is aware of the triviality of his endeavours—he has no idea how future generations will react to his work, or how they will interact with one another while on a ferry. That being said, Whitman utilizes the lack of certainty in his idea and attempts to reassure the reader of a larger, broader idea that concerns us all—the essence of what is between us. For Whitman, the soul remains the only thing that

is constant and certain between humans, and whether we choose to engage with Whitman’s work 100 yea rs f rom now or not, his recognition of something common and inherent between humans of different generations proves to indicate a powerful message.

Ultimately, Leaves of Grass is a crucial poetic text whose unique and f luid narrative structure contributes to the overall message of the text itself. Through investigating the narrative form of Whitman’s text, we are able to draw parallels between the ways each individual poem functions in the book and the larger thematical concerns of the poet himself.

Whitman’s pivotal Leaves of Grass meaningfully changed the way I read and write. The text continues to be prevalent in my life and continues to influence me whenever I remember the powerful concepts the narrative form is able to convey.

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What is your favourite type of cusine?

“I really like Thai cuisine…it’s still kind of new to me—I’m just enjoying all the different varieties. “—Megan

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ANSWERS FROM 177.2

No winner for this issue

“I really like typical Americ a n c u i s i n e… b u r g e r s , steaks—but actually, now that I think of it, Sur f & Turf.”—Zach

“Off the top of my head I can’t really say…probably cheap shitty pizza.”—Erwin

Provided by DKMgames

Across 1- Scarlett’s home 5- Crazed 10- Ballet bend 14- I’ve Got ___ in Kalamazoo 15- Oldsmobile model 16- Drum sound 17- Time to give up 18- Replay option 19- Bothers 20- Republic in S South America 22- Pernod flavouring 23- Caviar 24- CPR giver 25- Rapid in tempo 29- Wave catcher 33- Emerson’s middle name 34- Tore 36- Gad about 37- Doc bloc 38- Bridge positions 39- A mean Amin 40- Super Bowl XXXIV champs 42- It’s got you covered 43- Sausalito’s county 45- Previous monetary unit of Greece 47- Spartan 49- Employment 50- Cabinet dept.

51- Singer Bonnie

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