The Ontarion - Issue #177.2

Thursday, May 28, 2015

Issue No. 177.2

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

SEE CENTRE.

MITCH MOFFIT • GREG BROWN • JEFF MAREK • REID COOLSAET • THOMAS DIMITROFF KIMBERLY MOFFIT • CHRISTOPHER CHARLES • OLIVIA CHOW • ANGELA LIDDON

A weekend at DSTRCT DSTRCT, located on the upper floor of Van Gogh’s Ear, hosted three nights of live independent music over the May 22 weekend.

With daily lineups that integrated a variety of different genres of music, including pun k-rock, jazz, soul, reggae, dance-pop, R&B, and post-hardcore/metalcore, the atmosphere of each show was painted with a wide range of emotion and experience. Thursday night brought post-hardcore metal bands into the spotlight, w it h sou nds f rom Lu ng less, Great Lakes, and Dog Fashion

Disco. Friday night showcased some funky and soulful grooves, with music by The Boom Booms, Juice, and KC Roberts and the Live Revolution. Saturday closed the weekend with a dose of newage punk from Dead Broke, Dilly Dally, and The Dirty Nil. Each night transformed the environment—and the stage—into a new subcultural hot spot, though the venue in itself remained as lively and energetic as fans of DSTRCT have come to expect.

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CREDIT

Fitness centre expansion The athletic centre is undergoing massive renovations—set to be completed by 2016.

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Issue 177.2 | May 28, 2015

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NEWS

Labour concerns raised over 2022 World Cup construction Qatar and FIFA receive pressure to improve treatment of migrant workers ANDREW SHURE Qatar is one of the most rapidlydeveloping nations in the world.

Thanks to immense wealth from its oil and gas reser ves, and having been awarded the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Qatar has been experiencing a massive boom in const r uct ion. The buildings will surely be impressive, but international attention has gathered surrounding the treatment and working conditions of the migrant workers actually carrying out the construction.

Interviews with some of the 1.5 million foreign workers have revealed experiences of crowded accommodations, poor medical care, and reduced or withheld salaries. Some advocacy groups have even called this labour system a “slave state.”

Qatar uses a labour system known as the Kafala system. It is meant to regulate the relat ion s h ip b et w e en m ig r a nt workers and employers in several countries in West Asia, including Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

The intention was to provide temporar y labour that could be obtained quickly in times of growth and released during lea ner t i mes. T he s ystem ach ieves t h is goa l, but t he workers being imported are essentially at the mercy of their kafeel (employer). Workers must be sponsored to enter the country, must remain with the same employer, and are unable to leave the country unless given written permission by the kafeel.

In Qatar, workers are also not allowed to form trade unions, and there is no minimum wage.

In addition, kafeels have been known to actually confiscate passpor ts a nd t ravel documents, despite Qatari law stating that this cannot be done. Other common legal violations include having workers sleep in bunks a nd hav ing more t ha n four workers sleep in the same room.

The primary reason why workers decide to work in Qatar is the ability to send money home to their families. Workers come from some of the poorest regions in the world, including Nepal, India, Ba ng ladesh, a nd t he Philippines. Recruitment agencies will advertise salaries of 1,500 Qatari rial ($506 CAD) per month to attract workers; however, they will often claim up to half of what is being sent home to families as a fee.

Once the workers are in Qatar, they are stuck until their contracts expire (providing their contracts haven’t been destroyed upon arrival). If workers attempt o move without permission, they

KYLE MACDONALD VIA CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

The Qatari government has come under heat for failing to secure safety and compensation for foreign workers from parts of South East Asia. are regarded as criminals.

Part of the reason that Qatar is receiving so much negative attention globally is due to the remarkably high number of deaths that have been reported since the country was awarded t he World Cup in 2010. The International Trade Union Confederation released a report in 2014 recognizing over 1,200 deaths thus far, and is forecasting 4,000 total worker deaths by the time the tournament begins.

For comparison, the 2014 Brazil World Cup had sevem workers killed, the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics had 60 deaths, and the 2012 Summer Olympics in London had zero worker fatalities. The Qatar number includes

workers not directly related to stadium building, such as bus drivers and those working on new hotels and transportation routes. However, it is still an alarming number, and one that Francois Crepeau, the U.N. special adviser on migrants’ rights, reported “… too many of these mostly young men return home in a coffin.”

T he Qat a r i gover n ment ’s response has been unsatisfactory thus far. In a recent briefing entitled Promising Little, Delivering Less, Amnesty International explained that despite promises last year to improve the rights of migrant workers, “…there have been no significant advances in the protection of rights.”

The biggest area of improvement w a s enac t i ng a w age pr ot e c t ion s y s t em t o help reduce late payments, but this adjustment is still in the process of being implemented, and only applies to workers with salaries—not those with more informal arrangements.

Campaigns by groups such as New FIFA Now are calling for both FIFA and major World Cup sponsors like Coca-Cola, Adidas, and McDonald’s to take action.

They want these organizations to take a serious stance on worker treatment, and hold Qatar to the standards they enforce for the working conditions of their own Qatari employees.

NEWS

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Takata Corporation announces largest recall in history Airbag manufacturer faces severe losses in wake of 36 millioncar recall SAMEER CHHABRA In a move t hat has affected 11 of t he largest automot ive manufacturers in the world, the Japanese automotive parts company Takata announced a recall for defective airbags on Tuesday, May 19. In a slightly higher estimate than the figure that was initially announced on Tuesday, approximately 36 million cars are now expected to contain unsafe airbags that may deploy explosively, potentially injuring or k illing car occupants. The recalled vehicles were produced between 2002 and 2008.

The decision to issue a recall

was instigated by pressure from U.S. safety regulators. So far, faulty airbags have contributed to the deaths of six occupants, as well as having contributed to over 100 injuries globally.

The announcement regarding the recall was made Tuesday afternoon, after the heads of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DoT) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reached an agreement with Takata.

A press release, published on the NHTSA website, explained that Takata had admitted that their airbags contain an inflator “made w ith a propellant t hat can degrade over time, and has led to ruptures that have been blamed for six deaths worldwide.”

U.S. Transportation Secretary, Anthony Foxx, explained that the DoT’s actions were “proactive” measures intended to prevent further harm.

“Today is a major step forward for public safet y,” explained Secretar y Fox x, in the same N H TSA press release. “T he [DoT] is taking the proactive

steps necessary to ensure that defective inflators are replaced with safe ones as quickly as possible, and that the highest risks are addressed first.”

Secretary Foxx insisted that the DoT would not stop their work “unt il ever y air bag is replaced.”

Transport Canada, however, has clarified that it has yet to receive any complaints regarding the faulty airbags.

“Auto manufacturers have also confirmed that no abnormal deploy ments of airbags s u p p l i e d b y Ta k a t a h a v e occurred in Canada,” said a release published on the Transport Canada website.

In the same release, Transport Canada reassured vehicle owners that they “will continue to monitor the issue closely” and that they are “in constant communication with vehicle manufacturers and t he U.S. [NHTSA] for updates.”

As a result of the recall, several class-action lawsuits have been proposed a l l over t he world, with the latest in Canada being a suit targeting Chrysler

Canada, the Canadian subsidiary of American manufacturer Fi at C h r y s ler Automobi le s (FCA).

Ga r y Coles, of Tecumseh, Ontario, is the lead plaintiff for the case. His decision to sue Chrysler is a result of the automotive manufacturer’s failure to issue a recall notice, in spite of Coles’ confirmation that his Chr ysler vehicle contains a Takata airbag.

“To the date of the filing of this claim, [Coles] has not received an official recall notice from the Chrysler defendants,” asserts a statement sourced from the CBC News website.

Other lawsuits have targeted Japanese manufacturers Toyota and Honda, as well as Korean manufacturer Nissan, German manufacturer BMW, and American manufacturer Ford.

“Our clients and [other] vehicle owners deserve an answer as to why it took so long for Takata and these manufacturers to issue these recalls, and why these defendants exposed these vehicle owners to a risk to their wellbeing, their lives, and

safet y for so long,” said Alex Constantin, a lawyer whose firm is leading Coles’ Chrysler suit, in an interview with CBC News.

T he Ta k ata Cor porat ion’s reca l l sta nds as t he la rgest recall in automotive histor y, eclipsing the 2.6 million cars that were recalled for defective ignition switches by General Motors in 2014. As of the time of this writing, neither Takata nor any governmental agencies have found the cause of the faulty airbag deployment.

However, it has been suggested by the NHTSA that the source is a result of atmospheric moisture that causes changes in the chemical propellant that ignites when airbags deploy. “ T he de g r ade d pr op e l l a nt ignites too quickly, producing excess pressure that causes the inf lator to rupture and sends metal shards into the passenger cabin, that can lead to serious injury or death,” explained the same NHTSA press release.

Vehicle owners are advised to contact their vehicle manufacturers to ensure the safety of their selves, and their vehicles.

Harper declines major broadcasters for leaders’ debates Conservatives take big risk in face of low pre-election polling ALYSSA OTTEMA Wit h ever y federa l elect ion s ea s on c ome s t he leader s’ debates—one each in French a nd E n g l i s h—t ele v i s e d on major Canadian news networks to give voters a better idea of who and what they’ll be voting for when they head to the polls.

Though the format, content, and rules for inclusion have varied and wavered throughout the tradition’s nearly-50-year history, the leaders’ debates have become a generally expected and anticipated institution in Canadian politics.

T h i s i s a l l set to c h a nge this year, with current Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative party, Stephen Harper, making a bold move in the face of the October 2015 elections.

On Thursday, May 21, four of the five major political part ies—t he N DP, t he L iber a l party, the Green party, and the

Bloc Quebecois—agreed to the t radit iona l leaders’ debates format, with one English and one French debate to be broadcast by the CBC, CTV, Global, and Radio Canada.

The Conservative party, however, will not be agreeing to the debates hosted by the country’s big broadcasters, having already agreed to debates hosted by The Globe and Mail, Maclean’s, TVA, and Munk Debates. There is also speculation that they will agree to a debate to be hosted by La Presse.

Harper’s move is not unprecedented; in t he most recent leaders’ debates held in t he U K, Br it ish Pr i me Mi n ister David Cameron chose not to attend—and the consortium moved forward without him.

In Cameron’s case, the move wasn’t necessarily harmful, as his opponent, Labour leader Ed Miliband, had to face the smaller part y leaders on his own—to the party’s detriment.

Stephen Maher for National Post, however, notes that, for Ha r per, t he move cou ld be much more problematic.

“The dynamic would be different [for the Canadian leaders’ debates] because many voters wou ld l i ke to have a d i f ferent prime minister, but t hey disagree on whether it should

be Thomas Mulcair or Justin Trudeau,” wrote Maher. “If the t wo of them square off (w ith Elizabeth May) in the only English debate to be broadcast on millions of TV screens, the nonTory voters might settle on one of them.”

Maher also points out that such a r isk y move cou ld be ha r m f u l for a Conser vat ive pa r t y a lready facing d isma l numbers in pre-election polling. An Ekos poll for iPolitics on Fr iday, May 22 showed a t h re e -w a y t ie b e t w e en t he Conser vatives, the NDP, and the Liberals. More troubling for Harper, however, is that approximately 40 per cent of t hose voting for the Liberals or NDP would rank the other party as their second choice. Only 13 per cent of Liberal voters and eight per cent of NDP voters indicated that they would consider voting for the Conservatives, while 58 per cent of Canadians indicated that they would not vote for the Conservative party under any circumstances.

It will be interesting to see how Harper’s decisions in this critical part of the election trail w i l l a f fect t he Conser vat ive party as October’s race to the polls draws closer.

NEWS

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Issue 177.2 | May 28, 2015

Under the Gord Miller seeks to represent Guelph Radar Guelph International Flag of Earth revealed Thanks to Swedish design student Osk a r Per nefeldt, t he citizens of planet Earth now have a flag ready for when they take to the stars and conquer the galaxy.

Ac c ord i ng to t he F lag of Planet Earth websit—created and maintained by Pernefeldt, who is a graduating student of the Swedish Beckmans College of Design—the purpose of the new f lag is twofold. First, the flag is “to be used while representing planet Earth.” Second, the flag is “to remind the people of Ea r t h t hat we sha re t h is planet, no matter of national boundaries. That we should take care of each other and the planet we live on.”

Utilizing vexillology, the scientific study of flags, Pernefeldt designed the f lag’s symbol— seven white rings uniting on a blue background to form a f lower—to represent a symbol of all life on Earth.

“The rings are linked to each other, which represents how everything our planet, directly or i nd i r e c t l y, a r e l i n k e d,” explained the Flag of Planet Earth website.

Man shot outside Guelph General Hospital A ma n was shot out side of Guelph General Hospital on Wed nesday, May 20 by t wo Guelph Police officers.

Accord i ng to t he Spec ia l Investigations Unit (SIU), which is conducting its own internal investigation into the shooting, two police officers encountered a man at t he hospital. Bot h officers then discharged their guns, leading the man to be pronounced dead at the scene.

Witnesses on the scene said they saw a woman rush out of t he emergenc y depa r t ment while screaming and bleeding.

Allegedly, the woman—who was in her early 20s—was attacked by her boy f riend inside t he hospital. As the woman rushed outside the hospital, witnesses repor ted t hat she had been stabbed or shot in the leg.

Other witnesses described an angry man brandishing a pair of scissors.

T he SI U has assig ned si x investigators and four forensic investigators to find out more about the events that occurred on Wednesday afternoon.

-Compiled by Sameer Chhabra

alumnus runs for Green party in federal election DANIELLE SUBJECT

Ontario’s former environmental commissioner, Gord Miller,

is currently running as Guelph’s federal Green party candidate.

Miller completed both a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Master of Science in plant ecology at the University of Guelph in the 1970s. He is currently moving back to Guelph for the election. With roots in Guelph, Miller has expressed that his heart is in the city in past interviews and press releases that his heart is in the city. Miller is passionate about Guelph, and cannot wait to pursue his candidacy in the city.

The Guelph Mercury quoted

Miller, stating, “I started my career in Guelph and I’m hoping to finish it there.”

Miller has publicly expressed his admiration for Elizabeth May’s work. May, who is the leader of the Green Part y of Canada, has also expressed her hope and excitement for Miller’s decision to run. Both figures have the utmost respect and support for one another.

“He’s just absolutely the ideal Green Party candidate,” said May in an article recently published by The Toronto Star.

The Green party has publicly

ex pressed t heir distaste for Harper’s conduct, and Miller has a lso ex pressed his ow n opinion. The Guelph Mercury recent ly st ated t hat M i l ler b e l ie v e s H a r p e r ’s g o v e r nment has “become ver y ver y authoritarian and is essentially bu l ly i ng t hei r way for wa rd and radically changing t his country.”

Miller’s roots and connection to Guelph, one of the most environmentally sustainable cities in Canada, should bring excitement to the city during the upcoming federal elections.

Ireland legalizes gay marriage Historic referendum results in approval for same-sex marriage SAMEER CHHABRA For the first time in legal histor y, a nation has chosen to legalize gay marriage based solely on the people’s popular vote. On Saturday, May 23, the Republic of Ireland became the first country in the world to legalize gay marriage via a popular vote referendum.

Of the 4.59 million people l iv i ng i n I rela nd, a n overw hel m i ng 1,201,60 7 people voted i n favou r of pa s si ng t he la nd m a rk referendu m, while 734,300 voted against it.

According to elections official R iona Ni F h la ng ha i le, who spoke to CNN, overall voter turnout in the largely Catholic nation exceeded 60 per cent.

The final ballots revealed that 62 per cent of the voting body was in support of passing samesex marriage laws. Of Ireland 43 parliamentary constituencies, only one failed to pass the vote.

The history of homosexuality in Ireland is fraught with inequity and injustice. It was only until quite recently—1993 to be precise—that the Irish legal system could still successfully persecute those convicted of the crime of same-sex sexual activit y. Thanks to the combined efforts of Senator David Norris, and former Irish Presidents Mary Robinson and Mary McAleese, the LGBT movement was able to escape the bonds of an antiquated legal structure

BENSON KUA VIA CC BY-SA 2.0

Ireland became the first country in history to approve same-sex marriage via a popular vote referendum on May 23. and enter an accepting modern age.

In contrast to the early efforts of LGBT supporters, the 2015 referendum enjoyed great support from Ireland’s top elected political officials.

“In Ireland, we’re known as a nation of storytellers,” said Deput y Prime Minister Joan Burton, in a quote for CNN. “And today, the people have told quite some story. This is a magical, moving moment.”

W hile homosexual couples ca n now be ma r r ied u nder Irish law, religious institutions a r e s t i l l u nde r no obl i g ation to allow the marriage of t wo people of t he same sex.

Regardless of the support of religious institutions, however, Ir ish sa me-sex couples ca n f inally enjoy t he same legal entitlements that heterosexual couples have always had.

In the wake of the historic referendum, Northern Ireland—a

nation that is sovereign from t he Republ ic of Irela nd—is facing pressure from its citizens to pass a similar referendum.

Northern Ireland is currently t he on ly wester n Eu ropea n nation that still places a ban on same-sex marriage.

As a result of Northern Ireland’s lack of same-sex laws, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), in addition to Amnesty International and The Rainbow Project—a gay rights group— will hold a rally on June 13, in support of equal marriage laws. “ I n 19 9 8 , N o r t h e r n I r e land became one of the most advanced places on Earth for human rights,” said a spokesm a n f o r t h e I C T U, i n a n interview with The Guardian.

“Section 75 of the Good Friday agreement dealt with human rights and enshrined the rights of ever y citizen to be treated equally in Northern Ireland.”

“Since then, Northern Ireland

has slipped back in terms of the human rights agenda, and is now isolated in the UK as the only place where a gay couple cannot get married. The rally will be held in solidarity with the gay community.”

Though Ireland has passed marriage equality laws, it is still a nation that is largely dominated by its Catholic leaders.

The church is present in many levels of education, and abortion is still illegal—except in ci rcu msta nces t hat put t he mother at risk.

In spite of the steps still that t he count r y must st ill ta ke, I rela nd u ndoubted l y look s towards a brighter, and more equal, future.

“Today, Ireland made histor y,” s a id P r i me M i n i ster Enda Kenny, at a news conference on May 23. “This decision makes every citizen equal, and I believe it will strengthen the institution of marriage.”

NEWS

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Dr. Gwen Chapman appointed as next CSAHS dean Professor Gwen Chapman begins as next dean of CSAHS in 2016.

MEGAN SCARTH Professor Gwen Chapman of the University of British Columbia (UBC) has been appointed as the new dean of the College of Social and Applied Human Sciences (CSA HS). She w i l l beg in her f ive-year term on Feb. 1, 2016.

“I a m ver y excited to join the University of Guelph community and be the next dean of CSAHS,” Chapman said in a Universit y of Guelph press release. “I am impressed with the innovative, learner-centered programs and research accomplishments of the college and look for ward to working w it h st udent s, fac u lt y, a nd staff to continue to build on its strengths and successes.”

Chapman has been a faculty member at U BC si nce 1991.

She is a professor in the Food, Nutrition and Healt h (FNH) program, and is associate academic dean of the Facult y of Land and Food Systems. As

associate dean, she oversees the student curriculum and is assisting in the modification of U BC’s st udent academ ic system.

Chapman has also conducted extensive research relating to how food choices are shaped by notions regarding health, bodies, and social roles. She is interested in how people’s food choices are shaped by t heir environments and the subjective meanings that food holds for them.

She is currently conducting an ongoing research project investigating the health differences between people from varying socioeconomic situations, and of different genders, ages, ethnicities, geographical locations, and religions.

This research study is taking place across 10 different Canadian communities, from coast to coa st, a nd is a lso bei ng conducted at other Canadian universities such as UBC, The Un iver sit y of Toronto, a nd Queen’s University.

It has $1 million in funding by t he Ca nad ia n I nst it utes of Healt h Research, mak ing C h apm a n one of t he be s tfunded social science nutrition researchers in Canada.

I n a dd it ion t o r e s e a r c h , Chapman is actively involved in Think & Eat Green @ School, which is a program in partnership with the Vancouver School B o a r d , Va nc ou v e r C o a s t a l

COURTESY

The University of Guelph’s College of Social and Applied Human Sciences will welcome Prof. Gwen Chapman (pictured) as dean in February 2016.

Health, Vancouver Food Policy Council, and several non-profit organizations. The program p r om ot e s s c ho ol g a r d e n s , integ rat ing loca l foods into school food systems, revamping school food spaces, and integrating food, health, and sustainability topics into the curriculum.

According to the most recent repor t, publ ished for 201 32014, T h i n k & Eat Green @ School reaches 41 schools in Vancouver and involves 351

UBC students from t he Faculty of Land and Food Systems and Facult y of Education. It includes hands-on activities, such as bread-mak ing workshops, g row ing tea in home gardens, and teaching grade fou r to si x st udent s how to make their own kimchi.

Chapman has also published over 60 papers and journal articles and recently co-authored the book Acquired Tastes: Why Familie s E at the Way T he y Do. She has spoken at several

ac adem ic c on ferenc es a nd won the UBC Killam Teaching Award in 2003.

“Gwen is a highly regarded scholar who has years of experience in leadership positions,” Professor Serge Desma ra is, vice-president (academic) said in a press release. “She already has a good appreciat ion of CSAHS’s challenges and opportunities, and is approaching her new position with energ y and enthusiasm that bodes well for the future of the college.”

we hold responsible part ies accountable.”

While it is apparent that further investigation into the cause of the spill are necessary, what remains visible is the damage and destruction caused by the aftermat h of t he spill. California’s coastlines are among some of t he most beaut if u l in the world—now instead of people enjoying the once pristine beaches, the thousands of gallons of crude oil have left their mark—filling the beach with those dealing with hazardous waste disposal and wildlife rescue efforts.

According to the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Administration, Plains All American Pipelines are among the heaviest violators of regulations and oil-related misconduct. In a report published by CNN, the administration also claimed that Plains All American Pipelines violated federal regulations 10 times between 2004 and 2007,

when about 273,420 gallons of crude oil were discharged into waters or shorelines in Texas, L ou i s i a n a , Ok l a hom a a nd Kansas.

A not her daunt ing fact remains: this is not the first time a spill has occurred in Santa Barbara. In 1969, one of the largest oil spills in human history occurred. The vast amounts of crude oil spilled were the third largest, behind the Deepwater Horizon disaster in 2010 and the Exxon Valdez spill in 1989.

The incident which occurred in 1969 spurred an entire environmentalist movement, allowing nu merous federa l laws a nd regulations to be set in place, in order to prevent such accidents in the future.

Santa Barbara Oil Spill 2015 Pipeline burst causes 105,000 gallons of spillage EMILIO GHLOUM On May 19, officials from Los Angeles reported that an estimated 105,000 gallons of crude oil had spilled into Santa Barba ra Cou nt y. T he problem involved t wo pump stations located along the Gaviota coast.

The operation, run by Plains All American Pipeline, has received large amounts of criticism for their inability to prevent such a spill from occurring.

After official inspection, the pipes were said to have leaked due a failure to meet safet y requirements. The ruptured line

caused thousands of gallons of crude oil to seep into Refugio State Beach, located in Santa Barbara County.

...inability to provide safe and environmentally responsible regulations...

Environmentalists have been w idely outspoken regarding the ineffectiveness of safet y measures for pipelines. The inabilit y to provide safe and

environmentally responsible regulations for pipelines has now become a key issue for environmentalists and oil companies alike.

The ruptured line and the treatment of the incident as a whole is currently being investigated by the state. Leading to the closure of two state beaches, some oil slicks are reported to be as long as nine-miles. The pipeline, which was installed in 1987 according to Plains All American Pipeline officials, has yet to be excavated in order to identify the reason for the rupture.

In an article published by CNN regarding the spill, Attorney General Kamala D. Harris stated, “California’s coastline is one of the state’s most precious natural treasures. This oil spill has scarred the scenic Santa Barbara coast, natural habitats, and wildlife. My office is working closely with our state and federal partners on an investigation of this conduct to ensure

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Issue 177.2 | May 28, 2015

6

ARTS

Mad Men series finale review: Part One Accepting the past as it lags behind you EMILIO GHLOUM The airing of Mad Men’s series finale truly signalled the end of an era. After seven phenomenal seasons of intricate storytelling, complex character arcs, and brilliant historical accuracy, AMC’s coveted program entertained viewers for one last time.

The seventh season, which was split up into two halves and began airing in early April, was unique and impactful. The first few episodes focused primarily on Don’s inability to find happiness by displacing viewers into an environment that was not familiar for regular fans of the show, introducing new subplots, while seemingly focusing on unimportant characters.

Specifically, I’m referring to the waitress Don can’t seem to shake named Diana.

In retrospect, this short and frenzied relationship between Don and Diana served as a crucial turning point in the show as a whole. The finale of the first half of the season dauntingly reminds us that “the best things in life are free.” In the episodes following those words from the late Bert Cooper, it becomes increasingly evident that he

could not have been more correct. We see Don lose his ego, his office, his independence after being bought out by McCann, and his apartment.

While there have been many instances over the years where we have seen Don on a bender and try to fix his own problems with a relationship, the storyline between Don and Diana didn’t quite play out as it t ypically tends to on this show. Diana, who looks eerily similar to all of the women who have played an important role in Don’s life, represents the inability to accept the actions and inactions of one’s past. With child problems of her own, Diana abandoned the life she had with her family because she couldn’t cope with the events of the past—instead, the past lingers like a phantom, constantly looming behind her.

It may have seemed sudden to introduce a storyline this complex nearing the end of the show, but ultimately, the relationship with Diana urged Don to move forward into the world and find purpose outwards rather than trying to decipher the complexities of his past.

One of my favourite stor ylines, which came to a brilliant and well-deserved end, involves Peggy Olsen, whose transformation as a woman in the workplace over the years has been truly majestic. In the series finale, we see Peggy coming to terms with her personal self—with the

COURTESY AMC

Mad Men’s highly anticipated finale provided viewers with a unique feeling of ambiguity and closure. ability to reflect positivity and manipulate the McCann office hierarchy, the constant dialectic between work and personal life finally finds middle-ground.

Peggy has constantly placed her career over her personal life, similar to numerous characters on the show as a whole. However, it wasn’t until Stan confessed his love for Peggy in the series finale that she finally understood one of the key messages throughout the show: “there’s more to life than work.” The last thing we see

Album of the Week Band: Third Eye Blind Album: Third Eye Blind In one of the most overlooked releases in the late 90s, Third Eye Blind’s self-titled album provides listeners with melodic, chord-driven tracks. In their debut album, Third Eye Blind has managed to establish a phenomenal sound with powerful and sometimes melancholic lyrics. Frontman COURTESY and leading songwriter Stephan Jenkins weaves a powerful narrative into each of his songs, blending feelings of nostalgia and emotional longing. With an incredible variety of tracks including “Semi-Charmed Life,” “How’s it Going to Be,” and “Jumper,” Third Eye Blind have cemented themselves as a quintessential 90s alt-rock band. The album provokes nostalgia to the highest degree—urging the listener to reminisce about memories they didn’t know they had. The eponymous album is perfect for the summer—a perfect concoction of scathing cynicism, masterful storytelling, and relatable heartbreak. While a majority of the songs are upbeat in pace, the stories they communicate are often driven by hard-hitting emotional moments—capturing the intimacy and romance of melancholy.

of Peggy in the final episode is a portrait of intimacy, happiness, and personal fulfilment found in the comforting embrace of Stan.

Personally, I felt that Peggy’s character arc came to a fitting end, leaving the viewer with contentment, hoping that her enduring ambition and passion will carry her through the rest of her personal and life.

By infusing elements of nostalgia, melancholy, ambition, and ambiguity (in no particular order), showrunner Matthew

Weiner has created a particular aura for the series finale which embraces the endless possibilities of Don’s storyline. As we have seen multiple storylines and character arcs come to an end, including those of Pete Campbell, Joan Harris, and Roger Sterling, many questions still linger regarding the closure of Don Draper’s.

Be sure to check www.theontarion.com this upcoming week for a web exclusive featuring Part Two.

Upcoming Events May 29: Grassroots Music Makers with the “Accoustic Steel” Steelband @ Van Gogh’s Ear

Jennis with Sarah Beatty @ SILENCE

May 30: Wooden Bridge @ Sapphire Lounge

J Sun @ Van Gogh’s Ear

June 3:

Artful Madness @ DSTRCT

ARTS

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A weekend at DSTRCT

DANA BELLAMY/THE ONTARION

Left to Right: Lungless, The Boom Booms, Juice, Dead Broke, Dilly Dally

Day 1: Lungless, Great Lakes, (U) the Band, and Dog Fashion Disco CALUM FERRALL The show started on time, beginning with Lungless, a band from Pickering. They were a stereotypical, post-hardcore/metalcore band t hrough-and-t hrough.

From multiple breakdowns to generic stage banter, what really made Lungless stand out was the authentic energy they created.

They kept the banter short and were interesting to watch. They were genuine in their playing and gave a good show. The singer was sick during the performance with a soar throat, but it wasn’t noticeable for a first-time listener—his vocals were good. If post-hardcore/metalcore is your scene, then these guys are definitely something to give a listen.

Second up were Great Lakes from Toronto. This five-piece began their show with a high five and some choreographed jumping. Located at the frontstage was their own personal stomp box—a wooden box with a clear top that lights up when pressure is put on it. Similar to Lungless in style, Great Lakes subscribed to the same formulaic method of the generic post-hardcore/metalcore music.

Third up was (U) The Band.

This powerful trio of brothers w as a n ex plosive force with aggressive and engaging music. Not only was their music extremely technical, but they were also a high-energy band.

They flew around the stage and crowd, accompanied by eclectic

music. Their music can only be acquainted through a vast influence of musical tastes including hardcore, jazz, waltz, punk, metal, and even some swing influences. Each member is a talented singer and they use their talent to its full potential. It’s not something you would find on the radio, but there was never a dull moment when they played. It was impossible to predict what came next, keeping the anticipation high. This Guelph band is certainly something worth checking out. Not only is their music exciting and unique, but they are also charismatic and entertaining.

T he f i n a l ba nd w a s Dog Fashion Disco, from Rockville, Mar yland. This band set the mood with a carnival-themed stage. They brought a lit crescent moon set behind the drums, as well as blue and white lights to give a carnival tent feel. They incorporate heavy, aggressive music accompanied by a keyboard playing carnival-esque sounds. The singer sounded similar to the likes of Mike Patton.

Halfway through their set, they decided to calm down the room with a nice, smooth waltz for people to relax and dance to.

They were a high-energy bunch who engaged with the audience well. Though they were nowhere close to generic, they were a little more streamlined than their comparable counterparts, (U) the Band. They put on a fantastic show and are definitely worth seeing the next time they come to Guelph As for the show as a whole, it was an enjoyable, high-energy night. In terms of complaints, I was disappointed with the pairings of bands—there was little cohesion between the first two and last two bands. It felt like t wo fundamentally separate shows happening in the same night. That is not always a bad thing—variety is good—but it

seemed like there were no real overlap for fans of the bands, because they were too different.

Day 2: The Boom Booms, Juice, KC Roberts and the Live Revolution DANA BELLAMY Sandwiched between a metal show and a punk show, Friday night at DSTRCT brought the funk. With an average of seven members per band, the night was rich with percussive grooves a nd choreog raphed hor n sections.

All the way from Vancouver, The Boom Booms set the tone with an uplifting wave of soul and reggae. Even though the audience started out small, it was hard to ignore the positive vibes being emitted from the stage. From smooth dance moves to conga solos, each band member seemed to be having the time of his life. By the end of their set, The Boom Booms left with a crop of new fans wanting more of the band’s infectious worldly rhythms.

From the moment the next band hit the stage, Juice had t he audience dancing along to their rocked up R&B sound.

Topped off with a rapping trumpet player, this crowd-pleasing group from Toronto was fun and fresh, but also quite skilled in blending traditional jazzy instrumentals with the latest in popular music.

KC Roberts and the Live Revolution closed the night with some hard-hitting funk. The eight-piece band from Toronto showed off their dynamic range

w it h a heav y i nst r u ment a l opening, funky guitar and bass driven riffs, as well as accents of hip-hop and soul throughout their extremely tight set.

The best part, however, was seeing the musicians wholeheartedly support each other in what they do. Through each performance, the other bands’ members were always the most ent husiast ic dancers in t he crowd, with many sporting one another’s merchandise, or helping the other band members communicate their needs to the sound booth mid-performance.

It was incredible to witness that kind of camaraderie within the independent music scene, and it definitely contributed to the upbeat tone of the evening.

Day 3: Dead Broke, Dilly Dally, and The Dirty Nil DANIELLE SUBJECT Having recently graduated and moved back to my hometown, I couldn’t wait to get another taste of Guelph’s music scene.

Feeling nostalgic for Guelph’s downtown core, I eagerly burst into DSTRCT and was reminded of how much I love the cit y.

Guelph’s nightlife is incomparable to any city in the GTA. It’s unique, welcoming, and communal. DSTRCT never fails to host a great night, and Saturday, May 23, was no exception.

Dead Broke, Dilly Dally, and The Dirt y Nil took the stage for another successful night at DSTRCT. Wit h a few fans trickling in at the start of the night, Dead Broke opened the stage and gave t he crowd a teet h-k ick ing per for ma nce.

The frontman took to the stage in formal wear, looking spiffy

and ironic for the lead singer of a punk-rock band. As people slowly trickled in, the band got the crowd bobbing their heads and moving to the music. From Oakville, Dead Broke was wonderfully loud and beautifully aggressive, starting the night off with high-energy and setting the stage for the next few bands.

Toronto’s Dilly Da lly took the stage next. At this point, t he crowd g rew t hicker and more excited, with a few dudes attempting to start a mosh pit next to the stage. Katie Monks, sister to Tok yo Police Club’s David Monks, showed off her visceral, untamed, and ferocious vocals. She screamed, she sang, she yelled, and she roared. The emotion that flowed through her vocals was unmistakable, making it impossible not to feel the power behind the band’s noise-punk music.

They played hits such as “Candy M o u n t a i n ,” w h i c h M o n k s humbly explained to the crowd, “This song’s about candy”. With Jimmy Tony on bass, Liz Ball on guitar, and Benjamin Reinhartz on drums, Dilly Dally gave Guelph a but t-k ick i ng performance.

The Dirty Nil closed the night, and, by this point, the rest of the crowd had piled in. Fans traveled from The Dirty Nil’s hometown, Hamilton, to watch the show. “Cinnamon” was an ultimate favourite, and rightfully so, getting the crowd to shout “You can be pissed off if you want to,” along with Luke Bentham’s lead vocals. Their original drummer, Kyle Fisher, was absent from the show due to unfortunate circumstances, however, they brought a fill-in that did a rad job. With Dave Nardi on bass and vocals, The Dirty Nil blew up the rest of the night with a wonderfully ’90s nostalgia, catchy punk-rock sound, complete with full moshpit and a heavy atmosphere.

ARTS

9

The Weekly Scene: The Gambler (2014) 2 Pseudophilosophically -chargedramblings out of 4

entirely lacking in subtext or subtlet y. The stor y is spelled out within the first few minutes, and the remainder of the film is spent attempting to solve the plot’s basic conflict.

SAMEER CHHABRA I mu st ad m it t hat I r at her enjoyed this film. For ever ything that it sets out to be, and for all of the effort that lead actor Mark Wahlberg puts into his performance, I was undeniably entertained throughout t h is mov ie’s relat ively lea n 111-minute runtime. In spite of my enjoyment, however, I often found myself struggling to answer the basic question of what the story was all about.

The critic, whose sole goal in writing is to produce a meaningful answer for “W hat is it all about?” should never find themselves in a position where they are unable to answer that intrinsic question. With director Rupert Wyatt’s The Gambler, I found that it was more reasonable to take the film at face value than to attempt to decode subtext by applying a literary framework. This is a problem with Wyatt’s film: it is almost

...winning and losing everything in a matter of brief instances...

Jim Bennett owes $240,000 to a Korean gambling house.

To pay off his debt, he takes on a separate $50,000 debt, and gambles it all away. To pay of his now $290,000 debt—plus interest—he goes to his mother.

He then proceeds to gamble away what is presumably at least $300,000 in cash. He is a gambler, and Bennett gambles.

The Gambler is a film about Mark Wahlberg’s Jim Bennett—a writer-turned-professor-cum-

gambler whose worldv iew is supposedly responsible for his stunning apathy and crippling addiction, or so the film repeatedly insists. In no few terms, the stor y, its characters, and even the film’s central conceit scream at the audience t hat Bennett is a man incapable of kicking his habit. However, this betrays a level of interest that is otherwise unavailable in Bennett’s character.

A s B en ne t t a m ble s f r om one scene to the next, simultaneously winning and losing everything in a matter of brief instances, Wahlberg captures a man at a supposed crossroads in his life in a way that utterly lacks affect.

People in Bennett’s life are draw n to his apat het ic char i sma. He woos one of h i s st udents—played by Br ie Larson—by t hrow ing a tantrum during a lecture accusing his students of lacking genius.

To Bennett, life is all-or-nothing; w ith no middle ground, his students are either literary giants or idiots. The film insists that Bennet is an extremist who lives life as a white-knuckle ride on the edge. The character is written more as a self-loathing nihilist bored with his life. To find meaning, or, more likely, to prove that his world view is correct, Bennett throws himself

into situations where his failure is all but guaranteed. In short, he is a ma n obsessed w it h suicide.

A sk i ng , “W hat does it a l l mea n?” produces no mea ni ng f u l a nswer, because t he film’s basic premise exists as a conceit, not as a metaphysical call-to-action. The Gambler is not so much a film about a man obsessed with destroying his life, as much as it is a film about a gambler. In a sense, the film is more interesting than any of the characters written by William Monahan—the individual responsible for adapting the script of James Toback’s 1974 film for today’s contemporary audience.

On t he f i l m’s product ion: director Wyat t has a st rong eye for hard-on-the nose symbolism and irony. In an early scene set in a bathtub, shortly a f ter Ben net t ’s ac t ion s set off the film’s conf lict, we see Wahlberg, in the fetal position, fully submerged under water.

He emerges, dripping, and the scene invokes the same sense of rebirth as a baptism. In the next scene, we see Bennett throwing his life away yet again.

In spite of itself, the movie ne ver t r u l y doe s a ny t h i ng w rong. Instead, it si mply doesn’t do enough. The Gambler is an undeniably entertaining

COURTESY film; it touches on introductory metaphysics in a curious manner, and while the stor y offers no real answers on the meaninglessness of life, it’s nice to see a movie try. Furthermore, Jon Brion and Theo Green’s score and musical selections aid in creating an ironic sense of atmosphere in a movie struggling w it h its ow n issues of identity.

Ultimately, The Gambler is a forgettable affair. Failing to produce any resonance w ith it s aud ience, a nd fa i l i ng to capt u re on t he i ntensit y of the 1974 original, Wyatt’s film is on ly t r u ly categor ized as yet anot her failed Wahlberg forray with “dramatic, serious acting.”

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT MITCH MOFFIT AND GREG BROWN On June 6, 2012, University of Guelph biological sciences graduates Mitchell Moffit and Gregory Brown launched AsapSCIENCE, a YouTube channel dedicated to tackling simple and complicated issues surrounding science and the scientific field. As of May 25, 2015, the channel has 3.88 million subscribers, and has gained over 400 million views.

In addition to AsapSCIENCE, Moffit and Brown run a secondary YouTube channel titled AsapTHOUGHT. Their secondary YouTube channel aims to put science in a social context, looking at the social consequences of scientific pursuit.

Moffit and Brown’s most recent venture is a book, AsapSCIENCE: Answers to the World’s Weirdest Questions, Most Persistent Rumours, and Unexplained Phenomena. The book touches on a similar set of subjects as Moffit and Brown’s primary YouTube channel. Their persistence and hardwork continuously provides viewers with an accessible and interactive way to engage with science.

COURTESY

JEFF MAREK After graduating in 1995 with a Bachelor of Arts, Jeff Marek began working in the field of broadcasting. Marek’s work with Live Audio Wrestling (LAW)— hosting a broadcast on the topic MMA and wrestling—propelled him forward into the media and communications industry. After his stay at LAW came to an end, Marek began working closely on Toronto Maple Leafs programming, including the popular radio show Leafs Lunch. Marek continued to involve himself in all things Toronto Maple Leafs—eventually leading him to host his own radio show titled The Jeff Marek Show. Marek’s persistence and hard work saw even more reward, when, in the summer of 2007, he became the sole host of Leafs Lunch. Around this time, Marek began hosting Hockey Night in Canada on the extremely popular Sirius Satellite Radio service, which saw Marek providing top quality guests and programming.

Ultimately, Marek left his position at AM 640-Toronto Radio to work with Sportsnet in 2011. Marek currently hosts a variety of hockey-related talk shows and broadcasts on Sportsnet Radio, as well as a popular podcast titled Marek vs. Wyshynski.

REID COOLSAET Reid Coolsaet is an Olympian and long-distance runner from the University of Guelph who earned his Bachelor of Commerce in 2002. Coolsaet was an active participant for the Guelph Gryphons, and often ran in a variety of longdistance events, placing highly in a majority of them. Coolsaet was a seven-time member of the national track and field team, and a six-time All-Canadian member. In addition to being named male Athlete of the Year on two separate occasions by the University of Guelph, Coolsaet was also a 10-time national champion in cross-country and track and field. After graduating, Coolsaet went on to place first in the 5000m event at the NACAC U-25 Championships held in 2002. In 2011, Coolsaet participated in the Toronto Waterfront Marathon, where he ran the second-fastest marathon time by a Canadian. Ultimately, Coolsaet’s transition towards marathon-distance events qualified him for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, England.

COURTESY

THOMAS DIMITROFF Completing his Bachelor of Arts degree from U of G in 1990, Dimitroff is an incredibly successful alumnus who is currently the general manager of the Atlanta Falcons. After graduating, Dimitroff found work with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, primarily as a scouting coordinator, while also being involved in many other facets of the team’s operation. Shortly after, Dimitroff began working as a part-time scout for the Kansas City Chiefs in 1993.

Dimitroff’s scouting knowledge and his keen ability to pick out young talent proved to be a large asset for many NFL teams. After gaining traction in many NFL organizations, Dimitroff found himself working for various teams for the next 10 years, including the Detroit Lions, the Cleveland Browns, and the New England Patriots, respectively. In 2008, Dimitroff became the general manager of the Atlanta Falcons—a position he has held for more than six seasons. In 2010, Dimitroff was awarded for his work with the Falcons by receiving the Executive of the Year award on two separate occasions.

KIMBERLY MOFFIT Kimberly Moffit is a prominent psychotherapist and media personality. Graduating in 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts, Moffit has seen her hard work pay off. Moffit also attended Wilfred Laurier University and received her MA in Music Therapy—she further continued her studies overseas in England, earning a Ph.D. in Counselling Psychology from Middlesex University. In 2008, Moffit opened Kimberly Moffit Associates Therapy (KMA Therapy), her own practice that focuses on helping young professionals in a safe environment. Moffit has also made a vast amount of television appearance. Whether working as a psychological consultant for emotional issues, or giving relationship advice, Moffit tackles a variety of issues which remain pertinent to viewers nationwide. After starting out as a small practice, KMA Therapy now has a team of over 20 professional members. Moffit’s work as a spokesperson on key mental health issues is a constant reminder of the positive impacts an individual can have.

DAVID LEYES

CHRISTOPHER CHARLES The people of Cambodia are part of a large global population that suffers from constant iron deficiency. 2008 Biomedical Sciences graduate Christopher Charles, however, found a quick and remarkably easy way to ensure that the people of Cambodia were able to maintain a constant dietary intake of iron: The Lucky Iron Fish.

The Lucky Iron Fish Project provides a simple solution to combat iron deficiency. A small iron fish is placed into a pot to boil for 10 minutes. Food is then cooked in the same water, and the iron particles are absorbed by the food. Once someone consumes the meal, they acquire 75 per cent of their required daily iron intake.

The project was born from Charles’ trip to Cambodia before beginning his studies at the University of Guelph. Prior to beginning his studies as a master’s student, Charles embarked on a summer-long trip to Cambodia to conduct research on the population. Alongside a team of local volunteers, Charles traveled by boat from village to village collecting blood samples from local Cambodians.

Concluding his trip, Charles eventually joined Research Development International, an NGO with research dedicated to studying dietary iron deficiency. Today, Charles spends much of his time continuing his work in Cambodia.

BROOKE WEDLOCK

OLIVIA CHOW Politician, artist, and teacher Olivia Chow graduated from the University of Guelph in 1979. With a Bachelor of Arts, she worked as an artist, before later teaching at George Brown College’s Assaulted Women and Children Counselling and Advocacy Program.

Chow’s first foray into politics was in 1985, when she ran for school board trustee and won, with the aid of local New Democratic Party (NDP) Member of Parliament Dan Heap. In 1991, she was elected to the Metropolitan Toronto Council.

In 1997, Chow entered the federal stage, running as the NDP candidate for the Canadian House of Commons in Trinity-Spadina. Chow was defeated.

She ran again in 2004, only to be defeated again. On January 23, 2006, Chow finally won the Trinity-Spadina seat for the New Democratic Party. She was re-elected in 2011, when the NDP rose to the position of Official Opposition against the reigning Conservative Party of Canada.

In 2014, Chow resigned her NDP seat, in order to run in the Toronto mayoral election. However, Chow was unsuccessful in her mayoral bid.

During her time as a politician, Chow has been a champion for gender equality, women’s rights, and an end to sex slavery. In addition, Chow was an advocate for the homeless, public transit, and a series of issues that promoted sustainable development.

ANGELA LIDDON Author Angela Liddon graduated from the University of Guelph with a Bachelor of Arts in 2006. As a result of years of unhealthy eating habits, Liddon converted to veganism in an attempt to combat the unhealthy choices of her youth.

In 2008, Liddon began her food blog, Oh She Glows, in an attempt to write about her path to recovery from an eating disorder. The blog quickly connected with male and female readers alike, and, today, boasts over one million readers on a monthly basis.

Liddon was approached by an editor in 2011 to write a cookbook, and the first physical copies of Oh She Glows hit bookshelves on March 4, 2014. Oh She Glows was selected as the Chapters/Indigo book of the year in 2014.

Liddon and her writing has been featured in the National Post, as well as healthy living magazines like Self.

ERIC LIDDON PROFILES WRITTEN BY SAMEER CHHABRA & EMILIO GHLOUM

THE ONTARION IS PROUD TO RECOGNIZE THESE U OF G GRADS AND THEIR CONTINUED SUCCESS.

Issue 177.2 | May 28, 2015

12

SPORTS & HEALTH

W.F. Mitchell Athletics Centre upgrade under way An update from Athletic Director Tom Kendall MEGAN SCARTH Renovations to the W.F. Mitchell Athletics Centre are well under way this summer.

The renovations will bring a much-needed upgrade to the 50-year-old building, expandi ng it f rom 6,000 to 25,000 squa re feet. A new 170,000 square foot fitness facility will also be created at the back of the current building.

Construction officially began last November, but, according to Tom Kendall, Athletic Director, the renovations have “been in the master plan now since 2009, 2010.”

The new centre will feature a suspended r unning t rack, varsity basketball and volleyball courts, a climbing wall, new locker rooms, and several multi-purpose rooms for fitness and ot her recreat iona l activities. These rooms include a cycle studio and a martial arts area.

The new facility will include a high performance centre for training, research, and injury management.

“Basically it will be a centre

for training elite at hletes — at h letes t hat have nat iona l team and Oly mpic potential who are already in this community,” said Kendall. “I think t hat w i ll be an outstanding facility for us to essentially provide a unique opportunity for athletes to access.”

Additionally, the centre will prov ide classroom space for the Student Athlete Mentorship (SA M) prog ram, which pairs younger student-athletes with student-athlete mentors to provide assistance with learning strategies.

However, athletes aren’t the on ly ones benef it t i ng f rom t hese renovat ions. The new fitness centre will also boast services and features for Gryphons fa ns. T hese feat u res i nc lude a 2,200 -s eat e vent centre and concession areas.

“We will have an auditorium where we can host major events —not just sporting events, but convocations, exhibitions, banquets, that sort of thing,” said Kendall.

There will also be a strong emphasis on social space. “ We ’v e b e e n h e a r i n g i n recent years that there are not enoug h places for st udent s to go socially,” said Kendall.

“We desig ned t h is bu i ld i ng such that there would be a lot of places where they could sit and do homework or sit and socialize, but at the same time be in a facility where they could

COURTESY OF BUILDINGPOTENTIAL.CA

The W.F. Mitchell Athletic Centre, currently under expansion, is set to open in August 2016. participate in a fitness and recreation program…We wanted to make this more of a campus community centre as much as a fitness and recreation centre.”

“We have a couple of designated lounges, but everywhere in the building there will be seating, couches, entertainment, T V screens, so even if you’re just sitting in a hallway, t here w ill be seat ing so you can plug in your computer and do your homework, or just sit and talk to people. There will be a cafeteria dow nstairs in

the second phase and it w ill become a social centre.”

Kendall hopes that the extra s p ac e w i l l a l lo w f or mor e engagement with the Guelph community.

“One of the problems we’ve had about the current facility is that it’s so small,” he says. “It was built when there was 3,000 students on this campus, and now there are 22,000 students.

It’s just not big enough…And so what this will do is that it will allow us to bring our alumni back, which is important to us,

and it will allow us to do a little more with the community, to collaborate with them, and it also gives the opportunity to open up the fitness facility to the public in a more general way.”

According to Kenda ll, t he project is “pretty much on time and on budget…People are getting excited about it.”

The f irst phase of the new Athletics Centre will open its doors in August 2016.

Three Gryphons chosen in 2015 CFL Draft Profiling the selected players ANDREA CONNELL Three Gryphon football players were selected in this year’s CFL

draft on May 13. The Toronto Argonauts drafted defensive end Cam Walker and long snapper Dan MacDonald, while the Mont rea l A louet tes la nded receiver Alex Charette.

The six-foot-three, 245-pound Walker was chosen 21st in the third round. Charette, a sixfoot-one, 200-pound receiver, was picked 36th in the fourth,

while t he f ive-foot-ten, 215pound MacDonald went 56th overall in the seventh round.

All three draft picks attended the CFL Combine earlier this year. The CFL Combine is a three-day program that invites Canadian athletes from Canadian universities and NCA A program, giving scouts, general managers, and coaches a

chance to assess the players’ skills and consider their draft potential. In the last 10 years, including t his year, 15 Gr yphons have been drafted into the CFL. The first rookie and quarterback practice for the Argonauts takes place on May 27 at York Stadium at York Universit y’s Keele ca mpus. Wa l ker a nd

MacDonald should be there.

The Argos 2015 regular training camp opens on May 30 and continues to June 19.

Charette will attend the Alouettes three-day rookie training camp beginning May 27 at Bishop’s University in Sherbrooke, Quebec. Regular training camp will continue until June 16 for Montreal.

SPORTS & HEALTH

13

Local collaboration set to tackle C. difficile outbreaks U of G and Guelph General Hospital partner to understand common pathogen ANDREW SHURE The University of Guelph and Guelph General Hospital (GGH) have recent ly teamed up to

study the Clostridium difficile bacteria, with the intention to help prevent future outbreaks in hospitals and long-term care facilities. Dr. Scott Weese, a pathobiology professor in the Onta r io Veter i na r y Col lege (OVC) will be working with his former Ph.D. student Dr. Devon Metcalf, now working at GGH in infection prevention and control, on the project.

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) lists C.difficile as a bacterium t hat usually causes m i ld to severe d ia rrhea and colon inflammation.

Healthy people are not at risk, but people such as the elderly and those taking antibiotics for an extended period of time are more vulnerable, as C. difficile

is able to thrive and produce its toxins when normal gut bacteria are no longer present or functioning properly. It is the most frequent cause of infect ious d ia r rhea i n hospita ls and long-term care facilities in Canada, as well as many other industrialized countries.

Weese and Metcalf have studied bacteria from GGH patients to see if the cases are linked or have different sources. In a news release published by the Universit y of Guelph, Weese explained that, in order to know what intervention is necessary, one first needs to know what is going on. Treatment plans are ver y different, depending on whether patients contracted the bacteria while inside the

hospital, or if they brought it in with them. Metcalf added that patients do not always share the same strain, and that this work has taught them that C. difficile outbreaks may not be a result of transmitting the bug between patients.

Ot her st ud ies have fou nd that C. difficile has a particularly strong ability to modify its genome, making it adaptable to environmental changes, and potentially increasing its rate of t ra n sm i ssion. Add it ionally, studies have found that different strains can produce different toxins.

In Canada and the United States alone, t here are hundreds of thousands of cases of infection every year. Symptoms

Toronto has landed the NHL’s top head coach EMILIO GHLOUM The Mike Babcock sweepstakes are finally over. The Toronto Maple Leafs have signed formerDetroit Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock to a eight-year deal. The deal was announced last week as the Maple Leafs have been attempting to rebuild during the offseason.

General Manager Brendan Shanahan, who has close ties to Babcock from his days in Detroit, brought Babcock to the organization in an attempt to establish and recreate a winning culture in Toronto.

With the Maple Leafs being

the richest team in the NHL, it may not come as a surprise to ma ny t hat t he orga n i zation would be willing to spend upwards of $50 million on a coach, ma k ing Babcock t he highest-paid head coach in the league. The contract is said to be front-heavy, meaning Babcock would receive a large amount of his money during the first few years of his time with the Leafs.

W hile t he Maple Leafs have lured Babcock to Toronto with an eight-year contract, there are still many questions surrounding the status of the team and the rebuild process itself.

In the official press conference introducing Babcock to the organization, many fans were left optimistic and hopefu—a picture painted quite often for all Toronto sports fans alike.

“It’s t ime to put Canada’s team back on the map,” said Babcock to a g leef u l media room. “I’m look ing for ward

to the process, the battle, the pain, the fun, and the journey.

It’s gonna be a long one, but it is gonna be a lot of fun.

...there are still many questions surrounding the status of the team...

Babcock’s arrival in Toronto signals a f lurr y of changes— including a strong foundational

st r uct u re of d iscipl i ne a nd respect. The Leafs’ front office has always been a point of content ion—of ten being ca l led incompetent, untrustworthy, and dow nright horrendous.

However harsh these criticisms may be, the team has failed to produce any meaningful results in many seasons.

With the “Shanaplan” well under way in Toronto, it has become apparent that the organization is heading towards a complete rebuild. With the addition of strong front office personnel, alongside the fourth pick in this year’s NHL draft, the future of the Toronto Maple Leafs actually looks promising.

While fans must wait eagerly until next season for any tangible results, the addition of Mike Babcock to the organization will undoubetly propel the Leafs one step closer to becoming Stanley Cup contenders once again.

TheON

Leafs sign Mike Babcock to $50 million deal

of C. difficile infection include diarrhea, fever, loss of appetite, nausea, and abdominal tenderness. The bacteria and their spores are found in feces, and people can become infected if t hey touch conta m inated surfaces before touching their mouths. The best way to prevent the spread, as with many other infections, is with proper and regular handwashing.

Weese and Metca lf stated that as testing is ongoing, it is too early to speculate on specific outcomes. However, they specified that their research could have an effect on preventing and containing the bacteria, especially in regards to outbreak declaration and response action.

Issue 177.2 | May 28, 2015

14

LIFE

Science Avenue: Wind Turbines An ancient design that’s caught wind SAMEER CHHABRA What are wind turbines?

There’s no way to avoid getting to the point as quickly as possible: the wind turbine is the modern cousin of the ancient windmill.

Windmills have been a source of rotational energ y, used by humanity, since antiquity. The first ancient windmill was used by the ancient Greeks—designed and implemented by engineer and mathematician Heron of Alexandria.

Early windmills operated by using wind patterns to assist in rotating a series of blades, effectively converting a wind source into rotational energy. Over time, our ancestors used windmills to do everything from grinding grain and wheat, to assisting in land drainage and extracting groundwater. Suffice it to say, the design of a windmill—the sheer audacity required to come up with a machine that turns something as ubiquitous as the wind into a useable form of energy—is ingenious.

Modern wind turbines perform a similar function as their ancient cousins. Modern needs echo modern design sensibilities; wind turbines use the wind to convert the kinetic rotational energy of the spinning blades into electrical energ y that is pumped to an electrical grid.

How do wind turbines work?

From an engineering perspective, it’s inaccurate to classify wind turbines as turbines, as no such part is present in modern designs. Instead, it is more accurate to classify wind turbines as aero-foiled generators. For the sake of reason, and consistency, however, I will continue to refer to aero-foiled generators as wind turbines.

There are a multitude of wind turbines used, and they come in a variety of different shapes and sizes. However, all wind turbines can be classified as either horizontal axis or vertical axis types. The axis determines which direction the blades spin when encountering wind. The design that most people think of when they imagine a wind turbine is the horizontal axis design. The horizontal axis wind turbines feature a unique design that is reminiscent of the ancient windmills of the past, with three or four blades that spin like a fan.

How, t hen, do w i nd t u rbines work and function? Wind moves a turbine’s blades, and the spinning blades then spin a servomotor within the turbine’s encasing. This servomotor is connected to a generator, which produces the electrical energy that is eventually fed into an electrical grid. While most wind farms are connected to “The Grid,” w ind turbines can be directly connected to a home’s own power grid, meaning that the proud owner of a wind farm can get energy independently without having to worry about paying an expensive bill.

COURTESY OF VORTEX BLADELESS

The new, radically designed wind turbines provide a unique and sustainable source of energy for future generations.

W hy are w ind turbines important?

Wind energy, or, rather, the wind itself, is a form of solar energy.

Speaking on a broad scale, wind is the movement of gases. On Earth, the sun unevenly heats parts of our planet, resulting in gasses—what we call the air – moving about the atmosphere at varying rates. We call this gaseous movement “wind,” and it is very much a valid form of renewable energy.

Wind turbines are important for the same reason that all renewable forms of energy are important: they are unaffected

by our consumption. Unlike fossil fuels or coal or even wood, which our species w ill consume to the point of extinction, solar energies like wind can be endlessly consumed in an environmentally friendly way.

W hat is the future of w ind turbines?

Renewable forms of energy represent the future of our species and our planet. Assuming that every environmentalist’s worst nightmares do not come to fruition, we will one day see a world powered by the very nature we have spent the past 200 years burning to cinders.

As always, I’m excited for the absurd possibilities. A Spanish company named Vortex Bladeless recently announced plans to start crowdfunding their design for a new kind of wind turbine.

Their design is completely bladeless; instead of spinning, their wind turbines oscillate in the wind to produce the necessary kinetic energy for the electrical conversion. The design is undeniably radical, but it is precisely the kind of ingenuity that we need to work on bettering our planet.

Grilled brie sandwich with sliced pear and walnuts A luxurious twist on a staple comfort food EMILIO GHLOUM Br ie is one of my favou r ite cheeses—it’s delicate, rich, and melts incredibly well. Part of what makes brie so versatile is

the subtle and creamy flavours it presents, allowing the French cheese to be easily paired with a va r iet y of s weet a nd ta r t combinations. For this recipe, I will be using brie to create a luxurious twist on one of the most comforting and famously wholesome foods—the grilled cheese sandwich. Trust me, this variation of the untouchable classic is un-brie-lievably tasty.

First, prepare all of your ingredients in a clean and sanitized work station. Slice the brie into

thin pieces and slice the pear into even thinner pieces. Crush the walnuts into crumb-like bits and toast them on low heat—be careful, they burn fast! Adding pear slices (or even a granny smith apple) to this sandwich allows for a delicate blend of f lavours between the tartness of the fruit and the creaminess of the cheese. Next, spread the hot red pepper jelly onto the bread – you’ll be surprised at how beautifully this ingredient will be for the overall integrity

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of the sandwich. Place the brie, pear slices, and t he bottom piece of bread onto a mediumlow heated pan. By now your walnuts should be nice and toasty—gently crumble them on top of the sandwich. Finally, if you want to make the sandwich more on the savoury side, drizzle some honey to your liking. The toasted walnuts are crucial—they bring a different texture to the dish, as well as a subtle, earthy f lavour to the sweet, gently spicy, and rich

flavours already present. Grill until both sides of the bread are golden brown.

Here’s what you’ll need: • A few slices of double crème brie • One pear • A handful of walnuts • One tablespoon of hot red pepper jelly • Two slices of multi-grain bread • One teaspoon of honey (optional)

OPINION

15

An opinion on capital punishment Is the death sentence a permissible practice?

CALUM FERRALL In North America, capital punishment is usually reserved for cases of violence and murder.

Its purpose is to make sure that the person who has committed the crime will never be able to do so in the future. If not a preventative measure, capital punishment is a way to defuse a growing outrage in society— a political killing to appease people’s cry for justice of particularly unjust acts.

But does t hat ma ke it permissible?

If we first hold that capital punishment is permissible, then we must explore when it is permissible. It could be argued for cases of premeditated killing, serial murder, slave trading,and

so on. In most of these cases, the common trends are people willingly putting themselves above the lives of others for personal gain or desire; in short, endangering others. An individual’s selfishness alienates them from social norms, and their actions impose inequity on other’s rights to life. The death sentence, then, is a result of someone self-alienating from a social group by actively imposing on the rights of others and endangering lives. In short, this is an “eye for an eye” mentality; those who kill, in return, be killed. This is the basic reasoning behind why someone would accept capital punishment—it seems intuitive.

Though intuitive, capital punishment really has little else going for it other than shortterm gratif ication. Even t he gratification of justice is only a temporary pleasure that eventually fades. Criminals should still be persecuted, but killing them doesn’t change anything.

In almost every way of looking at capital punishment, there are

no long-term sustainable benefits. I will attempt to now argue that capital punishment is not a permissible or even a logical punishment.

There are many rationalizations for trying to justif y the death sentence. One of the more popular justifications involves hav ing a severe pena lt y for people so it gives them fewer incentives to commit crime.

This might be able to stop petty crime from occurring, because it makes the profit much worse than the punishment. If someone is already willing to take a life, however, there is really no punishment that will scare them out of doing so. The kinds of crime t hat proponents of the death sentence prevent are unaffected. To someone comm it t ing a cr ime t hat wou ld warrant the death penalty, death or life in prison is the effectively same. Negative reinforcements keeps common people scared, but it doesn’t actually solve the problem of major offenders.

T h is f u r t her m ig ht ma ke people more willing to go to

drastic measures to avoid the death penalty. For example, if it would be true that someone could avoid the death penalty by admitting to a crime, then the majority of guilty people would admit to the crime to avoid death and choose prison.

However, there is always the chance of someone who is innocent, pleading innocence, and then being sentenced to death.

Human error is always a factor in the justice system. Sentencing an innocent person to death leaves nothing to be done; sentencing an innocent person to life in prison is a mistake, but there is more room to fix that mistake. What if we take the death penalt y as an abstract in its idealistic form, free from human error. Could it then be permissible?

No. There is nothing gained from execution.

When a person is found, without a doubt, guilt y of crimes which could warrant the death penalt y, then it is likely that t hey have ta ken somet h i ng away from societ y. In death,

they have no way of giving back to society. This, in the abstract, leaves societ y w it h a def icit which the dead criminal can never replenish. If the person was instead imprisoned, they would at least have the chance to give back to society. Realistically, even if they are not willing to give back to the community, there is always something that could be learned from them.

For example, criminals could be studied by psychologists to better understand the mind of someone who has committed a crime. This information, though limited, is better to have than to not have at all. Killing people removes all positive and negative possibilities.

Though this does not scratch the surface of the argument, c apit a l pu n i s h ment se em s unlikely as a logical option. It is usually a product of a knee-jerk reaction to serious offences.

Giving people a chance to be able to atone for their crimes seems more worthwhile than hav ing a guaranteed loss in their death.

classif y woman confuses the students that you hope to grow up to be role models who live harmoniously with one another.

All of those poster campaigns call for an end to bullying, stopping self-harm, and creating an environment based on an empire of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Where does Bishop’s platform stand?

In a school environment that encompasses a multi-ethnic, multi-faith, gender-diverse environment, is there a possibility of misinterpreting personal belief?

A dancer is someone who is often questioned about his or her costume. If you come from a western style of dance, they will be seen with their legs, arms, and midriff exposed to some extent. Not only is the costume created to entertain audiences, while showing off a dancer’s technique and strength, but it is created according to a cultural view and to open the range of the body movements. This means

that if the person is mov ing their legs in a clockwise motion to help extend their mobility, sexualization is an interpretation of the people watching.

Underneath society’s views of how men and women should dress, we also encompass our own standards of beauty.

Reality TV star and drag queen RuPaul said, “If you don’t love yourself, how else are you going to love anyone else?”

Self-love is incredibly important, even during times when people say things that you do not agree with. This could include anything that defines your personal choices.

During t he summer, wear what you want that is comfortable to your essence and that suits where you are going. Live peacefully, as it is a fundamental human right. Feel confident in the choice of your clothing, as it is an extension of your self-love.

Be you, full of life.

Being at peace with your body An inner and societal reflection FATEMA RAHEEMI L et ’s be rea l, t he men a nd women of today are chameleons.

In a way, we are always changing our clothing to adapt to new environments. This can be compared to how a chameleon’s colour changes to match its surroundings as a survival mechanism. We adapt to the norm of the environments we experience. It may be a work meeting, religious setting, afterhours events, family dinner, dance competition, etc.

T he w a y w e d r e s s i s a n expression and an extension of ourselves. It may also be a representation of our belonging to a certain group of people.

Recent media has started to

claim their own views of beauty, ma i n ly for women. Despite having suggestive lyrics in the song, Drake’s 2009 release of “Best I Ever Had,” states, “Sweat pants, hair tied, chillin’ with no makeup on, that’s when you’re the prettiest I hope you don’t take it wrong.”

Maroon 5’s current single, “Until You’re Over Me,” states, “You’re so much better without makeup. Why would you ever hide your face? Don’t want to spend the night and realize I’ve made a mistake.”

According to a recent publication by the Guelph Mercury, Centennial C.V.I. is caught in an uproar with a recent comment made by the school’s principal.

T he pr i ncipa l of Centennial C.V.I., Scott Bishop, used a demeaning, subjective word to classify the way that female students were allegedly dressing.

He said, “Women should dress scholarly not ‘skanky.’”

Why not just say professional

or t rendy, not use lang uage that would degrade the female population? Contrar y to his statement, men can also break school dress codes.

...creating an environment based on an empire of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

“Slut” shaming and using subjective, demeaning grammar to

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OPINION

16

Issue 177.2 | May 28, 2015

Changing the Subject: Horror film remakes

COURTESY COLUMBIA PICTURES VIA CC BY-3.0

viewers usually trickle into the t heatre, t hough most of t he time, one can look around the theatre and almost hear crickets because it’s so dead.

T he t wo h ig hest g rossi ng horror remakes in the box office to this day are The Ring (2002) and The Grudge (2004) —both remakes of Japanese horror films. The third one down is The Haunting (1999), which was a remake of a 1963 film of the same title—both being adaptations of the 1959 novel The Haunting of Hill House, by Shirley Jackson, a great read, for the record. All three films only obtained a lifetime gross that ranged between $90 million and $130 million, which is nothing compared to box-office-breaking films like Titanic, The Dark Knight, and Avatar.

Movie remakes are becoming a common trend among directors and screenwriters—is it all becoming redundant?

Yay or nay?

DANIELLE SUBJECT I recently discovered that Holly wood’s next horror remake project will be The Craft (1996).

Another one? Why? Is The Craft not already a masterpiece? The news got me thinking, why does Hollywood insist on revamping untouchable horror classics?

We often refer to these projects as “remakes,” but most of the time, the plot, characters, and even setting, are completely changed and reinvented. For example, the most recent cheesie hor ror rem a ke t hat ba rel y scratched the surface at the box office was this year’s Poltergeist.

Though the director changed most of the plot and even added a few new characters, Poltergeist (2015) basically became a movie unto its own, almost completely

dissociated from its 1982 original. Many even referred to it as a sequel to the original, rather than a straight remake.

A not her e x a mple of t h i s needless reinvention process is Nelson McCormick’s 2008 remake of the slasher-film classic, Prom Night. The remake was not memorable, to say the least, and Brittany Snow’s performance was incomparable to Jamie Lee Curtis in the 1980 original. McCormick additionally changed the plot drastically, as well as most of the characters. Though the 2008 used the same title as the original film, the main character had a different name and the backstory was totally different. In the 1980 classic, a murderer sets out to seek vengeance on a group of teens on prom night for the careless death of a child in the past. In the 2008 film, the murderer is completely fixated on Snow’s character,

proving to be a person from her past. His obsession turns into a killing spree, resulting in the deaths of all of Snow’s friends until he finally gets to her. There was nothing about vengeance and the death of a little girl.

T he problem w it h classic horror remakes, or reinventions, is that they normally do not do well in the box office. Nostalgia becomes a huge factor when releasi ng t hese f i l ms; usually, the remake of the most nostalgic classic horror film is highly anticipated by lovers of the horror genre. For example, though unnecessary, a remake of The Exorcist (1973) may stir up some cinematic excitement, mainly because the original is an absolute classic in the horror canon.

However, another problem is that these remakes are almost forgotten about a week-or-two after their release. One or two

...the remake of the most nostalgic classic horror film is highly anticipated...

So, what does this say about plans to remake The Craft? For one, The Craft is a ‘90s classic.

If its director is relying on the nostalgia-factor behind the film to direct its remake into a success, then he/she is definitely on the right track. The Craft is a cult classic, meaning that it’s

got a very impressive, deeply a t t a c he d f ol lo w i n g . M a n y people have already expressed their excitement for a remake, simply because they want the film to make a comeback. Many are also expressing their distaste for a remake. The fact is, however, that many are already anticipating the film, whether it is negative or positive anticipation. This will probably drag a lot of people out to the theatres on opening night. Imagine, for instance, if The Breakfast Club were to be remade? A terrifying thought, I know, but would it not attract v iewers? W hat about Gone with the Wind? Or Breakfast at Tiffany’s? All nostalgia-ridden films.

A not her problem w it h rema kes, or rei nvent ions— or whatever you want to call them—is that the originals often feature actors and actresses that made the original impressive. For example, one cannot simply recreate R ing wald’s, Nelson’s, Sheedy’s, Hall’s, and Estevez’s performance in The Breakfast Club in the same way that Jamie Lee Curtis’ original performances in Prom Night and Halloween cannot be matched.

As for The Craft, I am not sure that I want to see a reinvention.

Yes, the directors will most likely change the plot and even some of the characters, but the film’s original actresses, Balk, Tunney, Campbell, and True, are what made the film what it was and what it still is.

Maybe some things are just better left alone.

OPINION

17

The fear of writing On metrics and formulas SAMEER CHHABRA Each time I sit down to write something, an overwhelming fear latches on to my hands. In spite of myself, in spite of everything I’ve ever written, in spite of all of the ideas I’ve ever had, a feeling of inadequacy prevents me from turning idea to ideogram—let alone putting pen to paper. I’ve been writing since I was 15-years-old, and I still worry that I can’t write.

Granted, my earliest work lacked nuance and style, but it certainly contained an undeniable character. When I first started writing, I was overcome with a burning desire to catalogue my ever y thought and idea. I couldn’t stop myself from w rit ing somet hing banal or mundane at the end of the day.

No matter what was going on in my life, regardless of any plans or events that filled my schedule, I wrote.

A t f i r s t , I w r ot e g a r ble d nonsense—I w rote the same incomprehensible philosophy that often signifies the work of all early writers. Eventually, my thoughts took tangible form, and my writing gained weight and heft. No longer was I writing nonsense; I was writing about things—I was writing things— that had meaning. My writing had purpose.

At first I was overcome with the passion to write. Now, I’m overcome with the fear of stagnancy. I have ideas in my head.

I have t houg hts t hat wou ld burn ink on paper. I also have a crippling fear that I’ll never be able to write again. I tell myself that my fears are irrational. Of course my fears are irrational.

All fears are irrational, but recognizing that fear is irrational doesn’t stop a child from fearing clowns and it certainly doesn’t

stop people from fearing spiders, or heights, or clowns yet again.

In its purest form, I’m afraid that I’ll never be able to write again. I’ve never really had an audience, so I don’t fear finding a niche. Each time I sit down to put pen to paper, or finger to keys, I stop the moment I can’t find the words. That’s really what it comes dow n to: not being able to find the words.

The words used to be clear—I was passionate, and the most passionate words were the easiest to find. Anger and conflict fuelled my writing, and as I grew weary with whatever patiencedemanding thing gripped the world that day—that hour—I wrote because I was passionate.

I wrote because I was angry. I wrote because I thought being angry would be enough to spark change—to make a difference.

This isn’t entirely untrue, but it’s certainly not enough to fuel a lifetime of writing. Well, excusing Glen Beck and Bill O’Reilly f rom t hat statement, a nger and unbridled rage should not be enough to fuel a lifetime of writing.

My fears are always focused on the past. Things were different in the past. I was different in the past. Things changed and I changed, and it’s harder to find the words now than it was in the past, so clearly the problem is with the present. No, the problem is with my desk. No, no, the problem is with my pen.

If I get a new keyboard, if I get a new pen, if I get new paper, if I get a new room, if I get a new desk, if I get new friends, if I get a new brain, then I’ll really be able to write. Wait a minute, now it’s loud outside. The cars speeding by produce a faint rhythm that a bloodhound would be unable to notice. That’s what’s stopping me from w riting: t he traff ic outside.

I wonder if all fears are like mine. I wonder if the little boy who’s scared of spiders, or the

DAVE KING CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Writing can truly be a daunting task that often provokes and conquers even the calmest of minds. dog who’s sca red of sna kes recognize that their fears are i r rat iona l. Or may be t he y, like me, are operating on the assumpt ion of irrat ionalit y, and therefore feel that, because there’s fears are irrational, rationally their fears are worthy of merit.

I digress. As I keep writing, as I force my way through the miasma of my mind, as I force myself to find my words, lashing out at whatever thought or phrase seems to work at the moment, as I brute-force it, as I DDoS my way through an idea, as I come closer to actually writing something, my fears slowly disappear.

It’s really a matter of word count. A paper is 500 words. A review is 750 words. A movie review is 1000 words. If I write enough of my ideas, if I come up with enough words, if I keep writing, then I’ll be able to click the submit button and move on.

It’s about the destination, not the journey.

I rem i nd mysel f t hat it

shouldn’t be, because that’s not what philosophers have said for generations.

“It’s always about the journey,” says the wise mystic on the mountain. “Only when one has circumnavigated the world will they realize that the end and the beginning—shoot—the beginning and the end are one and the same.”

The thing about wise mystics is that they really don’t know ver y much at all. Being wise is k now i ng t hat one k nows nothing at all. Being a Ph.D. candidate is knowing that you know nothing at all too. Granted, at least a Ph.D. candidate knows enough about one thing to know they don’t know nearly enough about anything.

I digress. Each time I sit down to write something, an overwhelming sense of excitement stimulates every muscle in my m i nd—ever y neu ron i n my brain. I’m afraid of the past. I don’t know what I’m doing in the present. Don’t even get me started on the future.

When I’m almost done, when I’ve written something—even if it is utter nonsense—I feel better.

T he words i n my m i nd, jumbled as t hey may be, f it together into specific shapes and patterns, mak ing something meaningful. I don’t want to stop. It’s almost 1000 words, and I’m sure I’ve written nothing of merit, but I’m certain that it matters to me.

My fears w ill never disappear. I don’t know what defines a st rong piece of literature, and I believe that terrifies me.

There’s no quantifiable measure of strong writing. There’s no metric or formula or calculable force that differentiates between strong writing and refuse. In an increasingly scientific world—at least, in my mind anyway—the fact that we don’t know what makes someone’s writing readable terrifies me. It’s difficult, pressing these keys in a pattern that produces content. It’s difficult not knowing the answers to the universe too.

Issue 177.2 | May 28, 2015

EDITORIAL

18

The transformation of late night television How technology manipulated the genre EMILIO GHLOUM Late-night television has dramatically changed over several decades largely to the integration of technology. From the early beginnings of late-night talk shows with Johnny Carson, to the contemporary social media banter of Jimmy Fallon, the popular subgenre has undergone a tremendous transformation.

Many people have outgrown the generic talk-show format of recent years, ultimately welcoming the refreshing changes technolog y and social media bring. Others may disagree and steadfastly hold that late-night talk shows are best left as organic interactions between physically present individuals.

With the departure of David Letterman after nearly 41 years of hosting The Late Show, a conversation has emerged regarding the shift towards social media related content. Since Letterman’s first episode in 1974, he has maintained a style of comedy t hat has endu red t h roug hout the entirety of his run as host. Let terman’s humour, although not unanimously liked by ever yone, was consistent, personal, and almost entirely centered around the interactions between host and guest. While Letterman’s st yle may seem t wo-dimensional, it t hrived on the communication of the guest—allowing for unique and spontaneous interactions with notable guests.

The emphasis on guest interactions is also extremely prevalent in The Late Late Show with Craig

LATE NIGHT TV DAVID LETTERMAN

Over the years, late night television has largely become a product of technological advancement.

Ferguson. Ferguson, who flew under the late-night talk show radar, hosted a unique and charming program. Ferguson’s humour was witty, endearing, and painfully awkward at times.

Fans of Ferguson’s show tend to agree that his style is unique and unlike any other—the interviews with guests are intimate, entertaining, and hilarious. For those who stuck to their late-night talk show roots, Ferguson served as a prime example of the original formula put to proper use.

With the inclusion of social media and technology into the late-night scene, many viewers and fans are adapting alongside the contemporary programming provided by current hosts. Jay Leno, Conan O’Brien, and Jimmy Fallon have all, in some form or another, utilized technology to benefit the production of their shows.

A s ou r soc iet a l a nd c u ltural values change, the rapid

advancement of technolog y into our daily lives largely goes unnoticed. The same claim can be made about our ability to perceive the immense changes brought to late-night television.

While the intricacy of technological development has increased over recent years, it is no wonder that television programming must also adapt to the changing times.

Hosts like Fallon and O’Brien have embraced the change with the utmost success, creating a more contemporary and modern feel to late-night telev ision.

The integration of technology into late-night talk shows has attracted a new wave of people who have fallen in love with the genre. However, now that Letterman has left and completed his final show, the late-night genre has fully moved into the digital age.

No w t h at t he pr o g r a m s , sketches, and inter v iews of

late-night shows are available online, many viewers don’t even have to stay up late to watch the show. If you’d like, you are able to watch late-night shows at eight in the morning. Something seems off about this—to me at least.

There is something inherently essential to the experience of late-night television; staying up late after a hard day’s work and being able to have a few laughs before you head off to sleep.

Actually staying up late at night to watch the crude humour and witty banter between guest and host is quintessential to the latenight experience. Sure, many people still tune in late at night to watch Jimmy Fallon or Seth Meyers, but merely having the ability to watch these programs wherever you’d like on the next day changes the landscape of how we experience the genre as a whole.

The integration of technology into late-night talk shows has attracted a new wave of people...

A st rong e x a mple of t he quintessential experience of late-night television is Saturday Night Live. With a rich history, talented casts, and brilliant sketch comedy, the long-running show has been a staple of television for many years. I still have fond memories as a young teenager, staying up late to have the chance to watch Saturday Night

Live. It was a treat to stay up. It was exciting. If I missed a particular sketch, I wouldn’t have been able to watch it again for a very long time. For me, SNL embodies the late-night spirit. The improvised, off-the-cuff interactions between cast members and the occasional celebrity guest creates an atmosphere that fully encompasses the viewer.

Many SNL alumni, I’m assuming, share similar sentiments regarding the importance of late-night comedy. The nature of improvisation on SNL sets the tone for an entire genre of comedy and even late-night television as a whole.

Famous SNL alumnus Will Ferrell, when speaking about his time spent on the show, said, “Saturday Night Live is such a comedy boot camp in a way...you get t hrow n into so many situations and learn how to t hink on your feet.”

As the late-night genre evolves and moves forward, it is important to remember previous shows and hosts. While there were no f lashy graphics, or questions from v iewers t hrough Tw itter, the likes of Johnny Carson and David Letterman remain a staple of late-night talk shows.

The inf luence of technolog y, however, is not necessarily a negative thing for late-night. As hosts and audiences alike have come to embrace the ways technology has embedded itself into the communication of humour, the opportunity for a new kind of late-night experience is born.

The Ontarion is a non-profit organization governed by a Board of Directors. Since the Ontarion undertakes the publishing of student work, the opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the Ontarion Board of Directors. The Ontarion reserves the right to edit of refuse all material deemed sexist, racist, homophobic, or other wise unfit for publication as determined by the Editor-in-Chief. Material of any form appearing in this newspaper is copyrighted 2015 and cannot be reprinted without the approval of the Editorin-Chief. The Ontarion retains the right of first publication on all material. In the event that an advertiser is not satisfied with an advertisement in the newspaper, they must notify the Ontarion within four working days of publication. The Ontarion will not be held responsible for advertising mistakes beyond the cost of advertisement.

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The Ontarion Inc. University Centre Room 264 University of Guelph N1G 2W1 ontarion@uoguelph.ca Phone 519-824-4120 General: x 58265 Editorial: x 58250 Advertising: x 53534 Accounts: x 53534

Editorial Staff Editor-in-Chief Emilio Ghloum Production Staff Photo & Graphics Editor Dana Bellamy Director of Layout & Design Lynne Lam

Office Staff Business Coordinator Lorrie Taylor Ad Manager Al Ladha Office Manager Aaron Jacklin Circulation Director Salvador Moran

Board Of Directors President Alex Lefebvre Chairperson Patrick Sutherland Treasurer Patrice Manuel Secretary Zina Bibanovic

Directors Melissa Chong Ah Yan Erin Szulc Shane Liquornik Meghan Tennant

Contributors Sameer Chhabra Andrea Connell Calum Ferrall Aiysha Lalva Alyssa Ottema Fatema Raheemi Megan Scarth Andrew Shure Danielle Subject

FUN PAGE Across 1–Blues singer James 5–Buckeye State 9–Alert 14–Captain of the Pequod 15–Drum sound; 16–Wand 17–Basic monetary unit of Ghana 18–Part of an archipelago 19– Muzzle 20–Earphone 22–Loathing 24–Book of the Bible 26–Man-mouse connector 27–Diacritic mark 30–Convict 35–Lott of Mississippi 36–Predictive sign 37–Peter Gunn’s girlfriend 38–Last: Abbr.

39–Odious

42–Compass pt.

43–Country singer McEntire 45–Russian pancake 46–Abyss 48–Unnecessary 50–Rubs out 51–Make public 52–Now 54–Give life to 58–Gratuity 62–Hawaiian island 63–Blueprint detail 65–Architect Saarinen 66–Goes into business 67–Wings 68–Harper’s Bazaar illustrator 69–Try 70–Charged particles 71–Crash wherever convenient

Down 1–Per 2–How you used to be?

3–I did it!

4–Ivory Coast’s largest city 5–Familiarize 6–Plantain lily 7–Off one’s feed 8–Corrida cheers 9–Utterly senseless 10–One who aspires 11–Like ___ of bricks 12–Womanizer 13–___’acte 21–Compass point 23–Horn-shaped bone 25–Writer of religious songs 27–Complete reversal 28–1957 hit for the Bobbettes 29–Do not disturb

31–Long time 32–Thoughts 33–Dentist’s directive 34–Judges 36–Painter’s medium 40–“I Hated, Hated, Hated This Movie” author 41–Beat it!

44–Unyielding 47–Yokel 49–Go between 50–Draws forth 53–Body of salt water 54–Loads 55–The ___ Valley is a Californian wineland 56–Supermodel Sastre 57–Actor Morales 59–Illustrious warrior 60–Fine things 61–Misfortunes; 64–Arafat’s org.

ANSWERS FROM 177.1

TheON

Crossword Winners from 177.1 are… Maritza Vatta & Laura Seidel!

SUBMIT A COMPLETED CROSSWORD TO THE ONTARION OFFICE, UC 264, NO LATER THAN TUESDAY, MAY 19TH AT 4PM FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN TWO FREE BOB’S DOGS!

CLASSIFIEDS COMMUNITY LISTINGS June 7: CATS ANONYMOUS RESCUE & ADOPTION Spring Open House! 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at our shelter in Marsville. Come visit with our furry friends, welcome the spring kittens and see our latest renovations. Catnip toys and mats; Organic Cat Grass; Treats; Crafts; Plants; Baked Goods and so much more! www. catsanonymous.ca June 20: 9:30 a.m., 161 Norfolk Street lawn - St. Andrew’s & Two Rivers Churches host Love Your Bike with Backpeddling, Bits, Bikes and Boards, Paramount Sports and Speed River Bicycle.

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