The Ontarion - Issue #176.6

Thursday, February 12, 2015

Issue No. 176.6

inside

hillside inside SEE PAGE 15 & CENTRE

JORDAN-ISIS CONFLICT

SCIENCE AVENUE: PALM OIL

PAGE 6

PAGE 22

GRYPHONS VOLLEYBALL PAGE 20

GEOFF VIA CC BY 2.0

NEWS 3 • ARTS & CULTURE 10 • SPORTS & HEALTH 18 • LIFE 22 • FEATURE 26 • OPINION 27 • EDITORIAL 30 • FUN PAGE 31

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Issue 176.6 • Thursday, February 12, 2015

NEWS

CODY GRESSWELL

RYAN PRIDDLE

Trotter’s a new Guelph-based salumi charcuterie and butcher shop opened on Feb. 7.

Guelph business insider: Trotter’s Butcher Shop and Charcuterie Bringing back the local butcher shop SAMEER CHHABRA & EMILY JONES This is the first of many more local business profiles. The idea behind this column is to introduce local businesses and start-ups to the campus and the city of Guelph. Supporting local businesses is something Guelph does very well – we, as a community, continue to strive for this.

Each month, we will focus on one local business, and talk to the owners and learn more about

what brought them to where they are now. By doing this, we hope to ignite passion in the students of the University of Guelph who have their own entrepreneurial aspirations. This week, we spoke to Brett MacDonald about Trotter’s Butcher Shop and Charcuterie.

MacDonald opened his Trotter’s Butcher Shop and Charcuterie on Feb. 7, 2015. The former chef has been working in the food industry since he was 15-years-old, and he has big plans for the City of Guelph.

“Trotters will bring back the old traditional feeling of a small local butcher,” explained MacDonald.

“We are only using products and animals raised as close to Guelph as possible.”

To MacDonald, the relationship between the butcher and his customers is integral.

“I feel a trusting relationship between the butcher shop and its customers,” MacDonald continued, “and the ability to connect people to their food and where it comes from is very important.”

Over the course of his long career, MacDonald worked in many restaurants around the City of Guelph.

However, his most cherished memories are of his times working at Langdon Hall.

“I spent four years working under the chef [of Langdon Hall] who helped me develop a passion for using the whole animal,” said MacDonald. “I grew my career as a chef for many years running a few kitchens around Guelph, practicing my

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The Environmental Sciences Symposium was held on Saturday, Feb. 7, featuring speakers from all over Canada and covering several topics - from pesticides to GMOs, toxins to pharmaceuticals, oil and bitumen to wind turbines - as well as exploring how environmental issues impact Canadians on a personal and social level. salumi techniques.”

Salumi are cold cuts derived predominately from pork. When MacDonald was featured on You Gotta Eat Here, he realized that it was time to “bow out of the kitchen” and begin his journey to open his own salumi charcuterie and butchery.

“We are set apart from most butcher shops in the tri-city area due to our salumi program,” said MacDonald. “We are producing all of our own dry cured meats and salami. We have built a large drying chamber that is visible from the retail area through a window.”

“We also will be offering a large selection of products from our indoor smokehouse, as well as all the fresh cuts of meat in our retail display case,” MacDonald continued. “Customers will also

have the chance to try our product in local restaurants, as we will be selling wholesale throughout the tri-cities [of Guelph, Waterloo, and Kitchener].”

The name “Trotters” is derived from a pig’s trotter – another name for a pig’s foot. MacDonald hopes that his customers will connect the animal’s name to the Earth.

“It is my abstract way of thinking ‘farm to fork’ [and] ‘Earth to table’ kinda thing,” concluded MacDonald. “Trotters butcher shop is based on a ‘nose to tail’ way of thinking, and using the whole animal is very important to us.”

Stay tuned for future additions of this column to learn more about small and innovative businesses in Guelph.

We're hiring!

The Ontarion is now hiring for the position of Office Manager The Office Manager is the primary contact for the general public and leads administrative guidance to the business department. The Office Manager is also to provide support to the production and editorial teams. This is a permanent full time opportunity, working 35 hours per week in a salaried position, with a two-year renewable contract. Qualifications include: • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills • Experience in managing staff and conflict resolution • Experience working in a volunteer-driven organization • Organizational skills, and the ability to multi-task in deadline driven environment • Customer service skills and/or sales experience • Proficiency with both PC and Mac computers, and general business software • Some proficiency in web editing, and development • An understanding of the mission of a student newspaper • A high attention to detail • Experience with administrative support to a Board of Directors • An enthusiastic, outgoing personality who is a team-player Submit your resume and cover letter by email to: ontarion@uoguelph.ca by Feb. 26 at 12 p.m.

Only those applicants granted interviews will be contacted. To obtain a copy of The Ontarion’s Employment Equity Policy, and/or the Job Description for this position, please visit our website at www.theontarion.com.

The Ontarion’s Employment Policy is a proactive measure to recruit qualified people from a variety of ethnic, religious, and class backgrounds, gays, transgendered people, people of colour, Aboriginal people, people with disabilities, and women. Members of the previously identified groups are encouraged to self-identify.

THE ONTARION IS NOW HIRING CONTRACT POSITIONS FOR MAY 2015-APRIL 2016 Applications are due Thursday, Feb. 26 at 4 p.m. to: The Ontarion Hiring Committee UC 264, University of Guelph, Guelph ON N1G 2W1 Email: ontarion@uoguelph.ca

SPORTS & HEALTH editor Coordinates with volunteer writers to create a balanced presentation of sports, fitness, and health related news.

ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR Coordinates with volunteer writers to obtain entertainment related stories for the paper. This can entail music, video, theatre, literature, live bands and more.

NEWS EDITOR Coordinates with volunteer writers to obtain news stories for the paper. These stories can include campus, local, national, and global news.

All section editors are responsible for providing volunteers with skills in journalism, in the form of individual consultation and workshops in regards to content, format, style and editing. Editors will participate in The Ontarion’s move towards an increased online presence. Proven written and editing skills are required, along with experience in volunteer management. Hours 20 – 24 hours per publishing week. There are 27 publishing weeks from Sept. 3, 2015 to April 7, 2016. Applicants are required to provide a cover letter, resume, and a portfolio of at least six samples of their writing.

Only those applicants granted an interview will be contacted. The Ontarion offers a learning environment in student media and considers this in their hiring process.

To obtain a copy of The Ontarion’s Employment Equity Policy, and/or the Job Description for this position, please email us at: ontarion@uoguelph.ca The Ontarion reserves the right to prioritize candidates who currently live in, or who commit to moving into Guelph, or the immediate surrounding area, during the duration of their employment.

The Ontarion’s Employment Equity Policy is a proactive measure to recruit qualified people from a variety of ethnic, religious, and class backgrounds, lesbians, bisexuals, gays, and transgendered people, people of colour, Aboriginal people, people with disabilities, and women. Members of previously identified groups are encouraged to self-identify.

Issue 176.6 • Thursday, February 12, 2015

Cab driver charged with sexual assault Stay safe cabbing in Guelph (or any city) DANIELLE SUBJECT In January of this year, a Guelph cab driver from Red Top Taxi was charged with two separate accounts of sexual assault.

The first assault was reported to have taken place on Sunday, Jan. 11 at around 2:00 a.m. Three women had reportedly taken a Red Top taxi to the University of Guelph area. It was reported that the cab driver agreed to make three separate stops to drop the women off at their homes. The last

woman to be dropped off was sexually assaulted by the cab driver. The 21-year-old immediately reported the incident to the police, saying that the cab driver inappropriately touched her.

The second assault occurred Tuesday, Jan. 13 at around 1:30 a.m. In the second incident, a 19-year-old female was sitting in the front seat of the Red Top cab when the driver inappropriately touched her. A few of her friends, all females, were also in the cab at the time. The group of women immediately left the cab following the incident and informed the police of the assault.

The driver, a 49-year old man from Guelph, has been a Red Top driver since May 2012. The man has been removed from the Red Top Taxi driver pool, and has been charged following the assaults. Police are asking anyone with any further information to file a

report to the Guelph police.

This is a disturbing incident, raising a serious safety issue amongst Guelph residents. University students often put their unlimited trust into the city. It’s understandable that in such a supportive university town, students would not think twice about hopping into a cab after a late night downtown.

However, students owe it to themselves to stay aware and stay safe.

Consider the following tips to stay safe when finding a way home after the bars.

Make sure it’s a real cab The only legitimate cab companies running in Guelph are Red Top Taxi and Canadian Cabs. Avoid getting into unmarked vehicles. Sometimes, when under the influence and freezing in the cold, it’s tempting to take a ride home from almost anyone.

“Gypsy cabbing” – people taking

Food insecurity crisis in Nunavut Is the situation getting better?

RACHEL VAN ZEUMEREN In 2012, protesters from parts of Nunavut — specifically Iqaluit — sparked discussion about the sky-high food prices in the territory. These protesters shocked many people by exposing how much they were actually paying for everyday food and toiletry items: cabbage costing $28, chicken for $65, and Cheez Whiz for $29. After the 2012 protests, food prices dropped slightly, but has there been any lasting change?

According to the Nunavut Food

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Price Security Survey from 2013 and 2014, food prices have dropped four per cent. This leaves a key question, however: is this enough?

Soup kitchens are still highly visited in the territory, with lines often stretching out the doors. The last Inuit Health Survey stated that 70 per cent of households are still food insecure, meaning that they do not have the means to access safe and healthy food. This is more than eight times the national average, and very high for an indigenous population in a developed country.

Unfortunately, there isn’t one solution for a food problem as nuanced as can be seen in the North. In making small but positive steps, however, Will Hyndman of Edmonton has

thought of something to help. Hunting caribou, seal, and whale is an often-suggested “solution” for residents of the territory, and Hyndman wants Canadians to look at hunting from a new perspective.

Hyndman started a hunter and trappers market in Iqaluit, which gives hunters an opportunity to sell their meat in town. Hyndman explained that this kind of marketplace is important in addressing other economic issues.

“When you go hunting, you can’t take your fish and stuff it back down your gas tank,” Hyndman said. “You can’t take your seal and turn it into more bullets, whereas traditionally, everything came from the animals that you were hunting.”

movies and more 7:00 PM

NEWS

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it upon themselves to drive people home and make money off of people after the bars – is a popular form of making money in the downtown core.

No matter how cold or eager a student may be to get home, they are encouraged to wait for a registered cab, or take the drunk bus – a wonderfully free service that the City of Guelph humbly provides.

Always sit in the back seat Try to avoid sitting in the front seat of the cab, especially if cabbing alone.

Keep conversations on a professional level Do not reveal personal information to a cab driver, and do not discuss personal topics. Keep the conversation casual and basic, or pull out a phone and avoid conversation altogether.

Have your key ready Students should have a house key out and ready when exiting the cab, so

that they can access their house faster.

Students should avoid being left in the dark, searching through their bags or pockets for keys.

Tell someone where you are at all times Students are also encouraged to text a friend to inform them of whereabouts. This is a helpful tip to stay safe in almost any situation.

Try not to be alone This is easier said than done, but students should try to find a companion to cab home with; perhaps a group of friends can organize designated cab buddies to stay safe.

Listen to your gut This is an underrated piece of advice.

In most cases, instincts are correct. If a situation seems off, leave it at once. If a student feels uncomfortable getting into a cab, they shouldn’t. It won’t hurt to grab the next one.

The market is a way to help hunting practices to adapt and become a viable solution for some of Nunavut’s food problems. Some argue that Hyndman’s actions have perhaps done more than those of Nunavut’s Member of Parliament, Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq — who, instead of answering questions about food problems, was seen reading a newspaper in the House of Commons.

Another change affecting the territory from 2012 onwards is the $60 million Nutrition North Subsidy. This program may factor into the slightly lower food prices, but there are also some significant problems with it. For instance, it is impossible for Aboriginal Affairs to know how much the food subsidy is benefitting consumers,

because merchants do not have to report their profit margins. Also, the goal of the program is to make food more “affordable,” but there is no definition available as to what “affordable” means.

Beyond this, factors determining eligibility are unclear, inconsistent, and not always based on need. Residents have also doubted the program’s effectiveness, as it can still cost about $100 for two small bags of groceries that will only feed one person for one day.

With more defined guidelines and stricter monitoring of where the money is ending up, perhaps Nutrition North would be a better part of the solution for Canada’s Northern food security issue, as the people of Nunavut still need help accessing affordable food.

Visit www.sundaycinema.ca for info on these Central Student Association events.

NOON

7:30 PM

DAN MANGAN+ BLACKSMITH with

HAYDEN

DOCURAMA Thurs Feb 12

DOCURAMA Thurs Feb 26

NOON HOUR Fri Feb 27

LIVE CONCERT Sun Mar 1

THORNBROUGH 1200 | FREE An absorbing character study of a whistleblower.

Co-sponsored by the McLaughlin Library.

ROZANSKI 105 | FREE Unprecedented account of an American revolution.

Co-sponsored by the McLaughlin Library.

UC COURTYARD | FREE Collective of Black Artists (COBA) presents a program of dance, music, poetry, and rhythm that is responsive to the present, but also celebrates the past. A Black History Month event.

RIVER RUN CENTRE | $36.50 Much-garlanded Vancouver folkie plugs in.

Tickets available at www.riverrun.ca.

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NEWS

Under the Tensions escalate in Jordan-ISIS conflict Radar

Nunavut court sentence former missionary priest On Wednesday, Feb. 4, defrocked Belgian Oblate Eric Dejaeger, 67, was sentenced to 19 years in prison on 32 sex crimes committed in the 1970s and early 1980s.

The crimes committed were mostly against young children in Igloolik, Nunavut, a remote hamlet of about 1,500. On multiple occasions, Dejaeger lured starved children into sex by offering food. Dejaeger’s assaults were well-known throughout the community. However, victims only began coming forward in the late 1990s.

Dejaeger was originally charged in 1995 with three accounts of sexual assault, but he left to go back to Belgium before his trial.

Human rights activist Lieve Halsberghe campaigned — and won — ����������������������������� for Dejaeger����������������� ’s trial on Canadian soil. He returned to Canada in January of this year.

In an article for the CBC, Halsberghe told reporters that over the years, the Igloolik community had communicated to her the importance of bringing Dejaeger back to Canada for his trial. More than 40 complaints emerged over 10 months against the priest, known in the Igloolik community as “Father Eric.”

“They were afraid that they were not going to be believed,” says Halsberghe.

In light of Wednesday’s longawaited sentence, Halserghe has said that the Igloolik will need a lot of help coping with the resurfacing of Dejaeger’s crimes.

Though the legal proceedings have concluded, the Igloolik people will need time and compassion in coming to deal with what was an open secret in the community.

“It’s a very important date today to start this closure and to turn the page and to try to have a happy life after this,” concluded Halserghe, “because now they’ve finally regained possession of their lives.”

The RCMP officers in the area are moving forward as well, encouraging open discussion about sexual abuse in the community, specifically that concerning children.

“When we are dealing with something like this, it’s important that people in our communities are able to talk,” said police Spokesperson Sergeant Yvonne Niego. “Younger children can’t often speak for themselves.”

-Compiled by Anjelica Abarra

56 airstrikes in three days take out dozens of soldiers GILAD KENIGSBERG-BENTOV

“My Ummah, Dawn has appeared, so await the expected victory. The Islamic State has arisen by the blood of the righteous.”

The words of the Dawlat alIslam Qamat, the chilling anthem of the ISIS, has rung its chorus through the Middle East prominently in the past few months.

Though it has yet to be silenced by the militaries of the West, the anthem and the terrorist organization have encountered a new opponent, whose temper may be far shorter than that of their Western counterparts.

This time, ISIS’s perennial chants have made their way to the wrong neighbourhood, and they crossed a particularly dangerous individual in the process.

King Abdullah II of Jordan had voiced his concern at the beginning of February surrounding the public immolation of Jordanian pilot Muaz al-Kasaebeh.

King Abdullah “vowed to pursue

[ISIS] until his military runs out of fuel and bullets,” according to the New York Post. As a military general, Abdullah is not all talk, either.

A mere week later, King Abdullah managed to bombard ISIS with a resounding 56 airstrikes over the course of three days; his wrath, as promised, was surely felt. Intelligence agencies have reported that several of the terrorist group’s resources, ammunition hangers, and vehicles have been destroyed as a result of the airstrikes.

ISIS is not predominantly scrupulous. Their success is not due to striking military strategies or cunning negotiations, but rather that they have simply struck fear into their enemies to such a degree that their battles have often ended with the opposition withdrawing prematurely. In the tensions with Jordan, however, ISIS has crossed the path of one of the world’s most skilled military generals, whose arsenal and ambition far exceed that of previous opponents.

Jordan — a bordering country of ISIS’s Islamic caliphate — is in a dangerous predicament here. It can virtually wipe ISIS off the map with its air raids, or it can send ISIS back to the caves with its infantry.

However, it can’t do it alone, and this means that it requires the aid

SNOWBALL FIGHT

MARINES VIA CC BY-NC 2.0

Tensions continue to escalate in the Middle East as Jordan’s King Abdullah II orders 56 airstrikes at ISIS in just three days. of other countries, which could lead to further delay in regards to policy making and diplomacy.

Jordan, like many other states of its size, suffers from a confidence issue. Dealing with the traveling circus of unfathomably gruesome acts perpetrated at the hands of ISIS is a rather demanding task, and the region’s history of relying on the West for leadership has

often wasted opportunities to unite Muslim nations against their dogmatic rivals.

As such, the question remains as to whether King Abdullah should deploy his jets for another onslaught of air raids, or if he should rely on the support of his neighbouring countries — some of which require more compromise than others.

MOHAMMAD MELEBARI

Monday, Feb. 9th marked the second campus-wide snowball fight to take place on U of G’s Johnston Green. Organized over Facebook, University of Guelph students looked to break a world record while taking a fun break from midterm season. Students divided Johnston Green into two, as approximately 200 people got together to hurl as much powdery snow as their hands could hold. While the event did not break any records, it was an enjoyable moment in an otherwise gloomy winter afternoon. Event organizers hope to make the “Snowball fight on Johnston Green” an annual event, and look forward to greater crowds next year.

Issue 176.6 • Thursday, February 12, 2015

NEWS

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Starbucks Canada adds Success for U of G United Way campaign alcohol to menu Coffee chain follows in footsteps of U.S. counterpart KELSEY COUGHLIN One of the world’s largest coffee chains has just expanded its Canadian market in a big way. By the end of this year, if customers are in the mood for a cold one, they can head over to their local Starbucks.

Starbucks announced its plan to add an evening alcohol menu to select locations in Toronto and other large Canadian cities.

These select locations will be taking part in Starbucks Evenings, a program that will offer customers a wine and beer menu after four p.m. This change is coming after a similar program was recently unveiled in the United States.

The coffee chain first began experimenting with alcohol sales in Seattle in 2010, expanding the program in U.S. stores up until early this year. So far, the program has been a big hit with customers.

Starbucks is looking to mimic this success in Canada. With coffee sales remaining flat and numerous fast food chains and independent coffee shops providing similar goods, the company believes it is imperative to stand out from the crowd.

This is especially true since the announcement of the Burger King takeover of Tim Horton’s,

which is expected to result in big changes for Starbucks’ biggest coffee competitor.

There are two large goals Starbucks is looking to accomplish.

The first is to expand the company so it brings in more than just the “coffee crowd.” The second is a desire to gain customers in the evening, a time where their sales normally decrease.

The company wishes to counter these lower, post-morning sales by creating a warmer atmosphere for customers to enjoy a night out.

Rossann Williams, President of Starbucks Canada, said that the company believes “women, who make up 60 per cent of Starbucks’ customers, will enjoy a drink with friends in a coffee shop, instead of a bar.”

The addition of an alcohol menu is not the only change Starbucks customers will see in the near future. The Seattle-based corporation also plan on offering tapas and expanding their food offerings, as well as implementing a delivery service so customers can have their order delivered to your home or office.

Starbucks Canada is also working on a mobile app that will allow customers to skip line-ups, as well as implementing more drive-through locations on highway 401.

In the next few months and years, customers can expect big changes from their beloved coffee hangout. If the pilot program proves successful, it will only be a matter of time before customers can grab a beer at any Starbucks Canada location

Upcoming events

Feb. 12: -Canada: A Global Mining Haven, 6 to 8 p.m. UC room 103. A discussion about the Canadian mining model and how communities are responding in defense of their lands and lives.

-NATURE GUELPH Meeting in the Arboretum Centre at 7:30 p.m.. All welcome. Andy Turko will speak on the biology of mangrove forests.

Feb. 19 & 20: Writer’s Workshop at McLaughlin Library Feb. 20: 10th Annual Universities Fighting World Hunger Summit, 4 p.m. in Rozanski Hall Feb. 23: First-Year Seminar Program Derry Lecture, 6 to 7:30 p.m., War Memorial Hall Feb. 23: National Cupcake Day, “bake” a difference in the lives of the homeless and neglected just by baking cupcakes! Learn more and register at nationalcupcakeday.ca.

Campus organization raises over half a million dollars KATE SCHIEVINK

While most cringe at the thought of fundraising, the folks at United Way seem to love it. Last semester, this organization at the University of Guelph reached their goal of raising over $600,000 in support of community groups. This sounds great, but readers are perhaps left wondering what exactly what happens with United Way’s heaps of cash.

United Way supports community charity groups and organizations by designing and implementing large fundraising campaigns. Subsequently, the monies raised are distributed to charitable groups. This process is highly dependant on each community’s needs. United Way completes research to fully determine trends in a community to

specify their needs. In particular, the money is used to fund programs rather than the charities themselves. Student Co-Chair Remy Marlatt notes this to be her favourite part about working with United Way, as “this allows funds to make the biggest impact.”

At U of G, the United Way group centralized their fundraising focus on the months of September to December. Intentionally, United Way timed this intensive fundraising period to maintain campus excitement and to prevent a bothersome presence. United Way exists specifically for fundraising. As soon as a campaign had ended, a team of dedicated individuals begins planning the next fundraising endeavour.

Marlatt helps to coordinate donations from students through a variety of means, but she notes that her favourite initiative has become the lecture auctions. These auctions took place throughout last semester; students in the particular classes were to collectively raise a certain amount of money as a donation to United Way. When

the class reached the fundraising goal, their professor would give a lecture on the student’s topic of choice.

With only a few short months to reach their ambitious goal of raising $600, 000, it is understandable that the enthusiastic individuals involved at United Way faced their fair share of stress. A yearly concern is that reality of budget concerns for the typical university student, as well as influencing factors affecting one’s willingness to donate.

Nonetheless, every year, the students and staff of the University of Guelph continue to come through. Last semester, United Way surpassed its goal by raising $616, 910. Convincingly, U of G knows how to rally together for a good cause.

On behalf of United Way Guelph, Marlatt would like to thank the University of Guelph Steering Committee for United Way for their hard work and endless dedication. Additionally, an extended appreciation goes out to any individual who supported United Way Guelph in reaching their impressive goal for 2014.

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CHALLENGE TO ONTARIO POST-SECONDARY STUDENTS

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Improving lives and protecting the planet is our responsibility.

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Challenge entries accepted January 19 - Feb 20, 2015. Full details at http://whatyousee.ca

Issue 176.6 • Thursday, February 12, 2015

NEWS

Gay men finally allowed to donate blood Donations now being accepted at UBC clinic ASHLEY GIBSON After ages of being deferred from donating blood in Canada, gay men are now encouraged to give blood at the one day “Rainbow Donor Clinic” in Vancouver, BC. As of yet, the blood is only used for research purposes and cannot yet be accepted for transfusions, though with this milestone, researchers at the University of

British Columbia hope to encourage further investigation into blood donation policies.

Before 2013, there had been a lifetime ban on the acceptance of blood from any man who has ever had sex with another man, a ban established in 1992 by Health Canada. Two years ago, the laws relaxed to five years of celibacy to be considered for blood donation, but still only for transfusion purposes.

The ban is not meant to be a discriminatory policy and is in effect as a preventative measure against the spreading of HIV. Before the ban was placed and blood was treated, there were

widespread HIV cases due to blood transfusions.

Though, as many would agree, it does not always come across as non-discriminatory. Chad Walters, the initiator of the Rainbow Donor Clinic, experienced this after being rejected for blood donation years ago.

“I felt discriminated against because I didn’t understand anything.

I view it differently today,” said Walters in an interview with Daily Xtra.

He now understands the importance of the ban in its effort to prevent the spread of HIV and in preventing the repeat of tainting the blood supply that was experienced before.

He does however hope that, with research and good monitoring, there

can safely be a reduction of the ban from five years to six months, which is the current deferral period for those with new tattoos and piercings.

The Rainbow Donor Clinic also accepts otherwise deferred donors, such as those with travel restrictions, recent tattoos or piercings, and those who have received false reactive test results. The collected blood cannot be used for transfusion purposes, but is available to any researcher who has approval from the ethics board. The blood can be used to solve many unanswered questions, including how to increase the shelf life of blood and how to induce the inactivation of viruses.

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With the establishment of a place where gay men and other deferred donors can donate blood for a cause, Walters hopes to demonstrate to Health Canada that there are many people willing to donate blood if it could be accepted. He also aims to lift the discrimination that the men may experience in regards to blood donation restrictions by providing them with the opportunity to help further development in blood research on the quality and safety of blood donations.

Canadian Blood Services continues to encourage more research in the subject of blood donations from sexually active gay men and plans to reassess the ban within the next few years with new scientific backings.

Prof wins grant to study wage gap U of G researchers to explore economic gender divide ANJELICA ABARRA With the increase of female graduates in today’s post-secondary schools, analyzing how the “glass ceiling” affects women’s incomes in a 21st century economy context is more important than ever before.

Miana Plesca, Associate Professor at the Department of Econmics and Finance at the University of Guelph, has been awarded a grant of $22, 000 from Ontario’s Pay Equity Office to study this phenomenon and it’s role in Ontario.

Plesca will work with computer

science Adjunct Professor Luiza Antonie and PhD student Jennifer Weng.

Plesca’s study will analyze not only the male-female wage gap in Ontario in comparison to other provinces, but also how the educational system affects this difference. Plesca and her research team will analyze whether or not the glass ceiling applies to highly educated women.

In a press release published by the University of Guelph, Plesca states that fertility and career interruptions are main factors contributing to the wage gap. Policies that encourage paternity leave and improve work-life balance might reduce the gender wage gap.

Although Ontario’s wage gap is getting smaller, other provinces have narrowed in a faster rate.

“We are investigating which part of the wage distribution is responsible for this relative deterioration,” said Plesca With the use of the Sunshine List – a list of the public sector employees

who earnsover $100, 000 or more per year – Plesca’s research team will aim to draw out whether there is a glass ceiling to top earning women.

The team will also examine if the introduction of the Sunshine List has actually helped to shrink the gender gap. It is generally believed that the information provided by the List has been used to negotiate wages.

What does this mean for graduates that want to work in the private sector? In 2011, the Canadian Union of Public Employees found that a difference of about 0.05 per cent between public and private sector wages exist – in favour of the public sector.

“We’ll tackle the public/private sector differences as one of the main contributions,” Plesca told The Ontarion.

The study aims to raise public awareness overall and bring the gender wage gap to the forefront. Ultimately, the findings of this study will work to determine policy actions with the Pay Equity Commission that will create an impact.

ILLUSTRATION BY JESSICA AVOLIO

An Associate Professor from the University of Guelph has received funding to further study the gender wage gap, a prominent and relevant issue that plagues contemporary society.

faculty, staff and students to

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ARTS & CULTURE

The Weekly Scene: Dear White People (2014) 3.5 Raciallychargedschools out of 4 SAMEER CHHABRA What does it mean to be black in America? I honestly couldn’t say, because I’m neither black nor American, but Dear White People director and writer Justin Simien suggests that it has a lot to do with being improperly labelled. Labels are at the core of Simien’s first film, and labels form the backbone for each character’s internal and external conflicts. In fact, the way that Simien labels his characters alone is enough to provide a compelling thesis on race in America. He gives us the half-white half-black crusader, the wannabe BET star, the unbecoming white guy trying to cause a stir, the good-looking, intelligent political science student

COURTESY PHOTO

under his father’s thumb, and the black and gay guy just trying to fit in. Simien’s characters are counterculture stereotypes struggling to come to terms with their identity, while simultaneously attempting to subvert and upend a system seemingly designed to keep them in their place.

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At the core of Simien’s conflict is a single, unanswered question of identity: are we the people we want to be, or the people we think we should be? Do we define society, or are we defined by our perceptions of society? Ironically, the film is so well-shot, so well-acted, so beautifully directed that it can be difficult to focus on the story’s main conflict.

This is a film that deserves repeated viewings, if only so its audience can focus on one character at a time.

Simien’s story is seemingly driven by the actions of Samantha White, a half-white, half-black communications student who runs for student government on the premise of “Bringing black back.” White’s musings and opinions – her entire manifesto – is centred on the belief that oppression is rampant and wildly aggressive. That she reacts wildly and aggressively is no small symbol of her position in the game of race.

Make no mistake, race relations is a game – a centuries-old battle between loud and louder that is best played by the older generations.

Simien’s story addresses the race game by slamming a sledgehammer on the nose of subtlety; the two characters who comment on most of the film’s conflict are the two old

men – one black and one white – who serve as the Dean and President of the legendary university that the main characters attend. That the white President and black Dean are embroiled in a decades-long battle of equality and power is an indication of Simien’s cinematic scope.

This is a problem that transcends age, history, and legacy, Simien seems to argue. This is a problem that will exist for as long as we insist on honouring the legacy of generations past. Of course, it goes without saying that my reading of Simien’s film will conflict with the interpretations of those truly caught between the firm boot of oppression and inequality. This is an American film through-and-through; the story will resonate with American audiences – black, white, Asian, Hispanic, or otherwise.

What, then, of the film’s production? Simien’s camera is audacious, subversive, and creative. He insists on capturing shots from angles and perspectives that most filmmakers would deem unnecessarily risky.

Not content with merely capturing his comedy-drama, Simien uses his camera to tell a story instead of recording one. He pans, he tracks, he zooms, and he cuts with terrifying efficiency, and Dear White

People is a cinematic delight specifically because of Simien’s insistence on subverting the “logical” shot.

With help from Topher Osborn’s cinematography, scenes spring to life, and the manner in which the film’s lighting captures skin tone is almost accusatory.

This is a movie with black, white, Hispanic, and Asian faces; this is a movie about the struggles of the oppressed minorities fighting to have their voices heard in an unfair America. Osborn’s cinematography clumps people into two groups: white and non-white. The Earthy tones that permeate throughout each of Simien’s scenes make it incredibly easy to isolate white faces, but more difficult to identify minority faces. At one point, a non-black minority character jokes that she only attends Black Student Union meetings because the BSU has tastier snacks. Suddenly, I realized that I was completely content with seeing an Asian student hang out with black people, but I was less inclined to accept the notion of a white student spending time in the university’s historically all-black dormitories.

Racism is a harrowing issue, and Simien’s direction and writing makes its audience question its own casually racist tendencies. What’s worse, the message or the messenger?

Cover to cover Maya Angelou’s I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings ALYSSA OTTEMA “The caged bird sings with a fearful trill, of things unknown, but longed for still, and his tune is heard on the distant hill, for the caged bird sings of freedom.”

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, the first of a seven-volume series of memoirs, presents the autobiographical coming-of-age story of Maya Angelou, the late renowned author and poet. Beginning at the age of three, the book follows Angelou through her young life, ending when she becomes a mother at the age of 16.

Angelou’s memoir is the happy result of a challenge from her mentor, James Baldwin, and editor, Robert Loomis,

to write an autobiography that also read as a piece of literature. Baldwin encouraged Loomis to be persistent with Angelou, who originally refused his offer to work with her on a book.

Loomis is reported to have enticed Angelou with a well-worded dare: “It’s just as well,” he allegedly told her, “because to write an autobiography as literature is just about impossible.”

The book opens when Angelou and her brother, Bailey, are abandoned by their parents and sent to live with their grandmother, Momma, and uncle, Willie. This sense of abandonment is carried by the two children throughout the volume, who are treated as baggage by both their family and by society at large.

Angelou faces constant, daily racism at the hands of the white community around her. The continued verbal abuse and physical neglect of the community that surrounds her sets the tone for a slow but important personal evolution, from a young victim of racial trauma to a self-confident woman capable of encountering, addressing, and conquering the prejudice that surrounds her.

Perhaps a more overwhelming presence in the memoir is the sexual abuse of Angelou, at a mere eight-years-old,

by her mother’s boyfriend. Only presented briefly in the text, the results on a young Angelou permeate through the majority of the text’s following chapters, as she withdraws from those around her and, to an extent, loses her voice. In this way, rape is seemingly used as a metaphor��������������������� for ���������������� Angelou’s parallel suffering at the hands of racism.

The memoir expertly and artfully explores racism, trauma, and depth of character, delving deep into the topics of independence, identity, selfdetermination, and personal dignity without reservation. Nothing about Caged Bird overtly paints a picture of happiness, nor is it easy to read, but the lack of social and personal ambiguity in Angelou’s work is what opens the door for a strong portrayal of her evolution into a self-empowered black woman.

Herself like the bird struggling in its cage, Angelou writes openly and candidly about the oppression on the basis of race, gender, and social status at the hands of fellow humans. Caught in the midst of the civil rights movement, Angelou “writes like a song,” according to The New York Times Book Review, just like the bird who sings of freedom.

Issue 176.6 • Thursday, February 12, 2015

ARTS & CULTURE

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Harper Lee to release new book in 2015 Long-lost To Kill A Mockingbird sequel to be published ALYSSA OTTEMA 55 years after the release of her first and only novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee has announced plans to publish its sequel, Go Set A Watchman, which focuses on the adult life of Scout Finch. The book is set to be released on July 14 of this year.

Lee, 88, wrote Go Set A Watchman before she wrote To Kill A Mockingbird.

The novel was set aside at the suggestion of Lee’s editor, who suggested that she write another novel from the perspective of a young Scout.

Go Set A Watchman follows Scout on her travels from New York back to Maycomb to visit her father, Atticus.

A quote from the book’s publisher, Harper of HarperCollins, notes that the plot focuses on Scout attempting to “grapple with issues both personal

and political as she tries to understand her father’s attitude toward society, and her own feelings about the place where she was born and spent her childhood.”

The manuscript of Go Set A Watchman was lost for nearly 50 years. Lee’s lawyer, Tonja B. Carter, discovered the text in the fall of 2014, at first assuming that it was an original copy of To Kill A Mockingbird.

“I was so stunned,” Carter said in an interview. “At the time, I didn’t [even] know if it was finished.”

The 304-page novel will be published as originally written, without revision or editing. The first printing is set to order two million copies.

Lee, currently living in an assisted care facility following a 2007 stroke, is not expected to embark on a publicity tour for the novel.

The announcement of the new book’s release has sparked both excitement and controversy from fans and critics. Many, including Michael Moore and Oprah Winfrey, have spoken out in excited anticipation of the novel. Others, however, anticipate potential disappointment for fans, particularly in the unedited publishing of the text.

Jim Jefferies is NSFW Provocative comedian performs at Centre In the Square ZOEY ROSS Maybe it was destiny that landed the rowdy comedian Jim Jefferies in the

same theatre most recently visited by the infamous Bill Cosby. Kitchener’s Center In the Square theatre sold out two back-to-back Jefferies shows last Thursday night.

The things Jefferies said cannot be reiterated in public, if at all. Maybe there was a time, in the 80s or so, when you could get away repeating these jokes in the workplace, but now not only would you be terminated, but your pink slip would end up on Reddit, embarrassing you for eons to come. Jefferies takes the max advantage of his comedic license and is not afraid

Upcoming events Feb. 12: Disconnecting from the Colonial Narrative Workshop - facilitated by Sharrae Lyon. Open only to People of Colour. 5 to 8 p.m. (location TBD) Feb. 13: Making Box Comedy Theatre: First Timers and Comedy Bingo, 8 p.m. at 40 Baker St. Feb. 13: Peers and Love Squad Valentine’s Day concert, 10 p.m. at Jimmy Jazz. Free Feb. 13: Strings At Noon presents the Madawaska String Quartet at 12 p.m. in Atrium, Summerlee Science Complex Feb. 14: Kitchen Codex: A Community Portrait. Food and art show presented by artist Patrick Cruz, 6 to 9 p.m. at Heritage Hall, 83 Essex St. Free

“We’re going to see what Harper Lee writes like without a strong editor’s hand, when she’s, quite honestly, an amateur,” Charles J. Shields, a Lee biographer, told The New York Times.

“It’s going to be very interesting to see how original it is. A lot was taken from Go Set a Watchman for To Kill a Mockingbird, and maybe those are the best parts.”

Concerns have also been expressed about the timing of the novel’s release.

Lee’s older sister, Alice, who had been handling her estate for many years, passed away in late 2014. In a letter written a few years prior to Marja Mills, a reporter and neighbour to Lee, Alice noted that her sister would “sign anything put before her by anyone in whom she has confidence.” Some speculate that Alice’s death left Lee vulnerable.

Carter told The New York Times that Lee is “extremely hurt” by these assertions.

“Lee is a very strong, independent, and wise woman who should be enjoying the discovery of her long-lost novel,” said Carter. “Instead, she is having to defend her own credibility and decision-making.”

to shy away from controversial topics, no matter how polarizing.

While always teetering on the edge of way too far, Jefferies manages to have prolific, personal, and political undertones to his work. If you strip away the obscene and leave aside the humor, what is offered is fresh perspective on LGBTQ rights, donor insemination, parenting, and being in the one percent.

Jefferies described Canada as the Australia of North America, from where he originally hails. He lamented that taxes are so atrociously high, but he has the money and doesn’t mind paying. What was interesting is that he went on about how the real problem is that the money given provides no safety net or free healthcare. With

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Though its release has sparked some controversy, Harper Lee is set to return to the literary world with the printing of Go Set a Watchman.

Lee has expressed nothing but happiness as the publishing moves forward, noting in a

statement that she is “alive and kicking and happy as hell with the reactions of Watchman.”

this in mind, it must make Jefferies one the most NSFW leftist comedians in North America today.

One could compare Jefferies’ act to the series South Park. It is certainly not for everyone, but once you lick through the façade of filth, harsh words, and metaphors, you can reach the political chocolate nugget core.

Getting back to Cosby. After Jefferies made his entrance to ACDC’s “Highway to Hell” (also Australian), he instantly began to lambast Cosby and all of his supporters. This included everyone in Kitchener who may have gone to see him in the few weeks prior.

After his total annihilation of Cosby, he got into the dirt, which got cringeworthy – just how Jefferies must like the crowd to feel. He is one of the last

pushers of the in-your-face “did he just go there” style of comedy.

It has been brought to the forefront of his attention that his work can be extremely misogynistic. He unapologetically explained that what he does is tell jokes and that is his job. Immediately after, ever so famously, he used his phrase “but this is real” and went head-on into a joke for his defamers.

Oh and by the way, yes, he did just go there. All over. Everywhere.

To see his madness, you can catch his Netflix special titled, Jim Jefferies: BARE. This is not for the faint of heart, and it would be advised to wear headphones if in a public area. Or don’t. It’s your life, after all, so laugh until your heart is content, just don’t blame us for what happens next.

“ The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.”

The University of Guelph is committed to equity in its policies, practices, and programs, supports diversity in its teaching, learning and work environments, and ensures that applications for members of underrepresented groups are seriously considered under its employment equity policy. All qualified individuals who would contribute to the further diversification of our University community are encouraged to apply.

Professional and Managerial Group

Liaison Officers

Admission Services, Office of Registrarial Services Six Temporary full-time from August 4, 2015 to November 27, 2015 Hiring #: 2015-0035 For application instructions, please visit How to Apply on our webiste Reporting to the Assistant Registrar - Student Recruitment, Liaison Officers will be required to develop a personal, compelling and informative presentation about the University of Guelph and deliver dynamic presentations at approximately one hundred Ontario high schools as part of the individual school visit program. Liaison Officers will be required to complete extensive training regarding the University; programs and services, then presenting this information to prospective students, parents, teachers and secondary school officials. The Liaison Officers will be responsible for: preparing r ports on those visits; participating at the Ontario Universities’ Fair; counselling prospective applicants; responding to inquiries; assisting with on-campus events; assisting with the production of liaison materials and information; general correspondence; and other duties as assigned.

Requirements of this position include: a university degree (preferably from the University of Guelph); relevant experience in the liaison, registrarial or student services environment, public relations or marketing or an equivalent combination of education and experience; demonstrated excellence in verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills; ability to work both independently and as part of a team; ability to deal with confrontation; tact and diplomacy; adaptability and flexibility; knowledge of word processing; excellent organization skills and demonstrated problem solving skills. Must be able to work evenings and weekends. A valid Ontario ‘G’ driver’s licence th is essential. Extensive travel throughout Ontario is required.

Salary Band: P02* Professional/Managerial Salary Bands Posting Date: Friday February 20th Closing Date: Wednesday March 11th

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Issue 176.6 • Thursday, February 12, 2015

ARTS & CULTURE

Album of the Week

Remembering J Dilla Taken too soon, hip-hop remembers one of its vital figures MATTEO CIMELLARO

TheOntarion.com

COURTESY PHOTO 2014 Forest Hills Drive – J. Cole Released in early December of 2014, J. Cole’s newest album demonstrates the young rapper’s ability to lyrically stand toeto-toe with today’s hip-hop giants. The album artwork, of Cole’s childhood home, is both minimal and brilliant, capturing the overall atmosphere of the album itself. The production is tight, showing J. Cole’s growth as a producer over the years finally coming to fruition. Memorable tracks include “St. Tropez,” and “No Role Modelz.” Essentially describing a coming of age tale, the album’s progression follows a variety of intrinsic reflections on Cole’s childhood, accompanied by crisp storytelling laid down over smooth and simplistic beats.

It will be nine-years-ago Tuesday since we lost one of the most influential hip-hop producers of all time. J Dilla, born in Detroit on Feb. 7, 1974 as James Dewitt Yancey, left his mark not just on hip-hop, but on the world.

Dilla left his legacy with a hallof-fame worthy track-record. In the 90s, he already proved his worthiness of being a standing figure in hip-hop, producing timeless joints like Pharcyde’s “Drop,” De La Soul’s “Stakes is High,” or Slum Village’s “Fall in Love.” Even posthumously, Dilla is still leaving his stamp on hip-hop. Mos Def ’s History, a personal favourite of mine, saw the reunion of the power-duo of Mos Def and Talib

Kweli, known as Black Star, over the classic Dilla sound all hip-hop heads are all too familiar with.

“His soundscapes were beautiful beyond words.”

His soundscapes were beautiful beyond words. One can bump any of his beat tapes or instrumentals and be transported through the world of one’s emotions. From our highs to our lows, from our dreams to our realities, Dilla brought us there. And he did this all with the art of sampling. That’s the funny-thing about hip-hop: it is original in the way it takes past artist’s sounds and reinvents them. And Dilla was the master of reinvention. Sampling from motown to jazz to rock-and-roll, his limits knew no bounds. He could sample a funk bassline and add the sensual bounce that every

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great love-track needs. He could sample a jazzy piano chord that gives a track a meditative feel. A joint like “Flowers,” has a heavy introspective vibe. It’s a track you just want to bump on an evening car ride through the city, thinking about life, beauty, and art.

This is why we hip-hop heads are obsessed with our man Dilla.

He was the catalyst that allowed us to see the world through hip-hop. He provided the ambience, the emotion – the already coloured and textured canvas.

Dilla gave MCs like Common or Q-tip, or singers like Erkayh Badu and D’Angelo, so much weight and raw emotion on their collaborative projects in which anyway could be brought to tears.

We hip-hop heads look up to the sky and see his face among the greats. We see him with Biggie, with Pac, with Big L. As a general music-lover of all sorts, I put his face next to the G.O.A.Ts (greatest of all time). The John Lennons, the Jimi Hendrixes, the Johnny Cashes, even the Bachs.

He changed his art form forever, and, on behalf of all humanity, I thank you J Dilla. Rest in Beats.

THE ONTARION IS NOW HIRING CONTRACT POSITIONS FOR MAY 2015-APRIL 2016 Applications are due Thursday, Feb. 26 at 4 p.m. to: The Ontarion Hiring Committee UC 264, University of Guelph, Guelph ON N1G 2W1 Email: ontarion@uoguelph.ca

Director of Layout and Design

The Director of Layout and Design is responsible for implementing the Editor-in-Chief’s vision for the overall look of the paper The Photo & Graphics Editor coordinates with, and by creating weekly page layouts using Adobe InDesign, as well manages volunteer photographers and illustrators to obtain as creating ads and formatting ads. The Director of Layout and images for the paper. The Photo & Graphics Editor provides Design is expected to work full days on Mondays, Tuesdays and guidance to volunteers regarding image composition and Wednesdays, as well as a short shift on Thursdays to perform content, distributes supplies, generates and scans photos and backups and attend production meetings. This position requires images for use in the paper and website. The Photo & excellent attention to detail, creativity, and the ability to manage Graphics Editor is also responsible for being present for all time wisely. The use of good design principles and the creation editorial and production meetings. of a cohesive, consistent, inviting, and accessible layout for the paper are central to this position.

Photo & Graphics Editor

A successful candidate will have proven skills using Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. Hours are 30 – 34 per publishing week. There are 33 publishing weeks between May 1, 2015 and April 7, 2016.

Applicants are required to provide a cover letter, resume, and a portfolio of at least 6 relevant printed samples of their graphic work (which will be returned to them when the hiring process is complete).

Only those applicants granted an interview will be contacted. The Ontarion offers a learning environment in student media and considers this in their hiring process.

To obtain a copy of The Ontarion’s Employment Equity Policy, and/or the Job Description for this position, please email us at: ontarion@uoguelph.ca The Ontarion reserves the right to prioritize candidates who currently live in, or who commit to moving into Guelph, or the immediate surrounding area, during the duration of their employment.

The Ontarion’s Employment Equity Policy is a proactive measure to recruit qualified people from a variety of ethnic, religious, and class backgrounds, lesbians, bisexuals, gays, and transgendered people, people of colour, Aboriginal people, people with disabilities, and women. Members of previously identified groups are encouraged to self-identify.

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ARTS & CULTURE

Shaping Sound at Centre in the Square Contemporary company brings world tour to Canada

people say about any dance show is ‘I didn’t get it’, said Wall to Tulsa World. “We want our show to appeal to people who are maybe coming to a dance show, or the theatre itself, for the first time.”

“Exposure, a sultry, seductive number set to instrumental music, showcases the true talent...”

ALYSSA OTTEMA Shaping Sound, an LA-based dance company founded in 2012

by Teddy Forance, Kyle Robinson, and So You Think You Can Dance (SYTYCD) alums Travis Wall and Nick Lazzarini, debuted their first solo tour in the fall of 2014.

The scripted show, featuring the company’s 14 members in various group numbers, duets, and features, is a scripted show whose storyline unfolds entirely in movement.

“One thing I hate to hear

The 90-minute show follows a young woman, portrayed by

fellow SYTYCD alum Jaimie Goodwin, stuck in an unhealthy relationship. In a dream and nightmare sequence bookended by hopeful group numbers, the woman learns the nature of true love and the truth about her current love.

The show features several high points. Dancers Chelsea Thedinga and Daniel Gaymon are breathtaking in “My Dear Love,” a duet set to a chillingly beautiful Nina Simone track. Perfecting the concept of “ebb and flow,” Gaymon and Thedinga portray a sense of interconnectedness and support as Goodwin watches in the background, providing stark contrast to the scenes featuring her less-than-happy love. “Exposure,” a sultry, seductive number set to instrumental music, showcases the true talent of Kate Harpootlian, who captures the full attention of the

audience in the mere act of putting on her stockings, and Ben Susak, another SYTYCD alum.

“Rouge Lounge,” a rousing full company number set to 1920s big band music, is fun and sexy, with the dancers letting loose and exploring a contemporary spin on traditional social dance styles.

The second act opens with a bang, featuring two routines from the company’s men and women, respectively. “Escape From Reality,” featuring the male dancers, is set to Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Though it remains unclear how the dance ties in to the show’s main story line, the dancers’ incredible technique is showcased perfectly by expertly crafted and executed lighting.

The routine is matched equally by “Found,” a slow, controlled, and powerful piece featuring the female dancers, set to “Together”

by The xx.

Acting as the brackets that contain the show’s powerful narrative, the opening “Broken in Chaos” and closing “Waking Life” similarly feature full company movement in street clothes.

What separates these two numbers is Goodwin, who is lost and isolated in the opening, held back by a frumpy cardigan and windswept hair. By the finale, Goodwin has shed bad relationship and the cardigan, joining her fellow dancers in cheerful movement and new beginnings.

The show, which has been in the works since Wall, Forance, Robinson, and Lazzarini worked together on the Oxygen reality series All The Right Moves, is nothing short of incredible.

Though Shaping Sound’s tour is currently in its final week, there is sure to be more amazing work to come from this promising young company.

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With previous releases by the likes of Carl Craig and John Talabot, the DJ-Kicks mix CD series has been a showcase for many of dance music’s most talented artists. On Jan. 26, the series would drop their latest mix by DJ Nina Kraviz, allowing club fans to finally take in the artist’s phenomenal skills behind the decks in an album format. Spanning the musical spectrum from hard-hitting techno to effervescent electro, Kraviz offers up a set filled with variety and pulsing with life.

Something of a classicist in her dance music taste, Kraviz tops off her mix with an a cappella cut of Egotrip’s 1990 deep house record Dreamworld.

From there, she segues into the selfproduced “Mystery,” a hypnotic epic of propulsive hi-hats, strange-sounding hoovers, and erotic whispering.

A few tracks in, things really begin to get interesting with the song “Truth,” a relatively obscure cut from 90’s drum n’ bass producer Goldie, with effects laden vocals courtesy of David

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Russian DJ Nina Kraviz’s contribution to the ongoing DJ-Kicks series offers a carefully crafted, narrative-strong dance album.

Bowie. Subsequently, Kraviz goes back to basics with her own “IMPRV,” a shimmering and stripped back four-tothe-floor techno track sure to get heads grooving and bodies moving.

Through the album’s middle stretch, Kraviz keeps things at a slightly more deadened pulse with a selection of ambient house and techno tunes: for instance, “Prozimokampleme,” another Kraviz original featuring a continuous throbbing beat, mumbled vocals, and a haunting synth wash – evocative of Kevin Saunderson’s dark Detroit techno classic “Just Want Another Chance.” Kraviz’ set peaks once more before it valleys, however,

with the joyous Kraftwerk-isms of Freak Electrique’s “Parsec,” allowing a little light in before the mix’s predominantly somber atmosphere settles in for Kraviz’s final suite of tracks.

In a recent interview for Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories, dance music pioneer Nile Rodgers was quoted as saying that a DJ set “masquerades as a day of life” – its shifting tempos and moods a metaphor for the gamut of feelings one experiences in their quotidian existence. With her DJ-Kicks mix, Kraviz has offered us a day of life, complete with a compelling narrative arc and a breadth of different emotions.

Issue 176.6 • Thursday, February 12, 2015

HILLSIDE INSIDE

Owen Pallett and Jennifer Castle St. George’s Church hosts revelatory concert for Hillside Inside ADRIEN POTVIN Churches can be strange buildings to watch a performance in. Regardless of religious affiliation, there are clear emotional, psycho-affective codes in the architecture of a church – perhaps socially codified – that are undeniably and, sometimes, vaguely powerful.

When a performer like Owen Pallett, with his soul-baring, devastating music, performs while foregrounding the soft glow of the stained glass window on a cold February afternoon at the picturesque St. George’s Anglican Church, one can’t help but feel cleansed to some degree. Or at least feel something profound and transcendent.

Vish Khanna, organizer and publicist for Hillside Inside, warmed up the audience with his trademark humour and charm, opening the afternoon’s concert by introducing singer-songwriter Jennifer Castle, arriving to Guelph fresh off

of a plane from Mexico City – though she hails from Toronto. Her songs are characterized by narrative-strong lyrics, raw guitar playing, and subtly literate compositions. When listening closely, it seems that Castle avoids intuitive songwriting – there are melodic and structural surprises in her compositions, in songs that would initially come off as simple or derivative, that are indeed subtle and beautiful in their complexities and whimsy. Closing with a cover of Bob Dylan’s “Walkin’ Down the Line,” her set ended, Khanna returned for more humorous banter, and patrons were guided downstairs to get a drink and some food.

Pallett, formerly known as Final Fantasy, and having toured with Arcade Fire and other Canadian rock icons, writes cerebral, hyper-literate music on synthesizer and violin, playing both through a loop programmer and creating massive, swelling walls of sound. Performing material mostly off his latest LP, 2014’s In Conflict, he played roughly half the set as a solo act before bringing up his band – featuring Matt Smith (guitar/ bass, vocals) and Robbie Gordon (drums), who also performed on In Conflict. The first song of his encore, “I Am Not Afraid,” off his new album, was particularly powerful given the context of the church and the perceptive gender politics that inform much

15

MATTHEW AZEVEDO/THE ONTARION

Blending synthesizer and violin through sequencers and effects, the intense music of Owen Pallett, performed in St. George’s Anglican Church, was as heavy a spiritual experience as a musical one. of his compositional thought. “I am not afraid, ze says/ of the non-believer within me […] You are not alone, I said/ I try to keep my belief suspended” rang heavy and honest, surely bringing a chill to every spine in the audience.

I’m brought back to a year or so ago, when the Guelph Chamber Choir scored a screening of Carl Thedor Dreyer’s classic silent film The Passion of Joan of Arc at the same church. While

I knew viewing the film would be a unique experience, I didn’t expect for it to be so revelatory. The same goes for Pallett’s incredible set.

Though knowing what to expect, more or less, I was taken aback by the wholeness of the experience.

The beauty of the church venue, with Pallett’s maverick performance on violin and synthesizer, was an experience I won’t soon forget, and was, more or less, the best performance of this year’s Hillside Inside.

JACK HINDS

MATTHEW AZEVEDO/THE ONTARION

On Feb. 8, Stars and Hey Rosetta! sent Hillside Inside 2015 out with a bang at Guelph’s River Run Centre.

Hey Rosetta!’s seven-piece band utilized the large stage to their advantage, making it difficult for the audience to divert their eyes from the stage. The orchestral set up to the room worked in the band’s favour to show-off their full talent. Most of the crowd had smiles on their faces, and standing ovations were given to multiple songs. Tim Baker (frontman) radiated his genuinity and overall gratitude for the audience. Stars headlined the show and set to the stage with high energy and enthusiasm. Although the band was a lot smaller than Hey Rosetta!, Amy Millan’s spunk compensated and made for an equivalent sense of stage presence. Her co-lead singer, Torquil Campbell, showed off his dance moves across the large stage more than once. The band maintained a strong interaction with their audience, with constant commentary and calls for audience participation. Although the crowd itself was apt to sitting idly in their seats, with a handful of fans up and dancing, the show was a blast.

-Danielle Subject

Is there anything Kid Koala (Eric San) doesn’t do? Or, rather, can’t do? It’s hard to say. After seeing his multimedia performance in Planet Bean’s intimate setting on Saturday, Feb. 7, it’s now even harder. Blending personal stories, games with the audience, and an “olfactory score” of scents, designed for scenes from his graphic novel, Space Cadet, Kid Koala’s hour-long multimedia performance was a welcomed, intimate follow-up to his high-energy performance at Mitchell Hall on Friday, Feb. 6. With characteristic humour, friendliness and heartfelt adoration for a sort of “kid culture,” Kid Koala invited an enthusiastic crowd to partake in the enjoyment of music, graphic novels, and the craft of turntabling. With so much music production done digitally (and that’s not a bad thing, per se), there is something to be said for anyone keeping the traditional mediums alive, especially with the unbridled joy in which Kid Koala presents it.

inside

ANNUAL WINTER MUSIC FESTIVAL BRINGS INDIE, HIP-HOP, AND C

hills

Oliver Mtukudzi and Alex Cuba

The winter edition of the world-renowned Hillside Festival, and its seventh installation overall, hosted some of Canada’s best musical acts in various venues in downtown Guelph between Feb. 6 and 8. With concerts at St. George’s Church, the River Run Centre, and a handful of downtown’s staple clubs and cafes, the city was warmed up for the weekend by amazing performances and a sense of overall cheer in the downtown core.

After 24 years of its celebrated summer festival, Hillside Inside was founded in 2008 as a winter festival sharing the same values of community, happiness, and altruism that the July weekend holds dear. When we don’t have the summer’s warm embrace, we still have a vibrant community to keep us warm, and Hillside Inside certainly highlighted this in another successful year.

Between Oliver Mtukudzi’s vibrant Zimbabwean fusion, BadBadNotGood’s intense jazz/hip-hop instrumentalism, The New Pornographers’ varied, literate catalogue of songs, and various other acts including Kalle Mattson, Folly and the Hunter, and Jeremy Fisher, Hillside Inside 2015 offered up something for all tastes and inclinations.

ASHWIN FREYNE

inside

ADRIEN POTVIN

For anyone that ever thought that a sit down show might bore them, an evening with Alex Cuba and Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi at the River Run Centre would quickly allay those fears. As the kick-off event for this year’s Hillside Inside, held on Friday, Feb. 6, the festival organizers could not have selected a better opening act. Roaring and soulful, Cuba was the first to take the stage, entering with an acoustic guitar and hair that earned him the tagline “Go with the Fro.” The set consisted of soulful singer-songwriter tracks, and, despite the lyrics being in Spanish, the audience did not even seem to notice, singing along with him throughout the concert. Cuba has the stage presence of a veteran performer but sings with the excitement and spirit of a young musician.

Despite it being a solo act, the performance did not seem that way, and if one were to close their eyes and listen, they might be convinced a full band was on stage. After about a dozen Spanish songs, and one Blue Rodeo cover, the stage was relinquished to an icon of African music.

Before Tuku entered the stage, his bassist raised the mike about a foot higher, and with good reason. At 63, Tuku is an imposing figure, and a giant of Zimbabwean music. As he ambled onto the stage to join his band, riffing a clean melody and singing in his deep, growling voice, the crowd was transfixed. Tuku interspersed his show with lengthy songs, jam sessions, dance-offs on-stage and heartfelt advice from what some would call the face of Zimbabwe.

Accompanying the legend were students of his own Pakare Paye Arts Centre, and his band The Black Spirits. Tuku’s music is often defined as Afro-Jazz, but he and his fans call it something different: Tuku Music. It’s easy to see why, with the gusto and wisdom Tuku brought to Guelph.

hillside insid

CHAMBER POP TO GUELPH

inside hillside

side inside

MOHAMMAD MELEBARI

BizZarh, BadBadNotGood and Kid Koala

The New Pornographers and Operators

ADRIEN POTVIN

ZOEY ROSS

The de facto party-down centerpiece of 2015’s Hillside Inside programming, Mitchell Hall hosted an evening with some of Canadian hip-hop’s most innovative and difficult to define acts on Friday, Feb. 6.

BizZarh, BadBadNotGood, and Kid Koala performed a stacked bill to a rowdy crowd of all ages.

BizZarh, a Toronto R&B/electronic/hip-hop duo, made up of rapper Charli Champ and singer Dollar Paris, opened the night with cerebral, ethereal neo-R&B that maintains a decidedly avant-garde hip-hop edge. Though marred by awkward initial soundboard problems and a then-sparse room lacking in energy, the duo pressed on to offer a refreshing opening act.

In many ways the enfant terribles of contemporary jazz, both in name and spirit, BadBadNotGood took the stage shortly after. The trio, made up of Matt Tavares on keys, Chester Hansen on bass, Alexander Sowinski on drums, and, for a few songs, Leland Whitty on tenor saxophone, performed material mostly off their latest album III, as well as amazing covers of Flying Lotus’ “Putty Boy Strut,” and an interpretation of Hudson Mohawke’s beat “Bugg’n”. With endearing stage banter, youthful talent, and challenging compositions, the group revitalizes jazz music to a wide audience with an almost punk energy and clarity of vision (and the inevitable mosh pit).

Headlining the evening was the virtuosic, Montreal-based DJ Kid Koala (Eric San), performing on five turntables with no sequencer. Chopping and splicing an eclectic mix of genres, ranging from old-school hip-hop, blues, swing, and even metal (his penultimate track was a strange Slayer mix), a sense of child-like wonderment and radiating warmth and humour characterizes Kid Koala’s live performance. The emotional apex hit with his closing song, a remix of Henri Mancini’s “Moon River,” which he plays often and always dedicates to his mother.

Inside of Mitchell Hall, a Sunday school gym, Canadian indie-rock band The New Pornographers warmed hearts and melted faces for Hillside Inside. The audience was left elated when this vibrant group took the stage and opened with their new single “Brill Bruisers,” from their album of the same name.

With seven members present of their eight-plus act, the stage was packed. The collection executed new songs like “Champions of Red Wine,” and played some fan favorites anchored in nostalgia, like “Use It,” off of the 2005 album Twin Cinema. With the wide variety of songs included in their set, you could see how their collection ranged from folksy Canadian ballads to electro-choir-rock.

One song performed really highlighted the depth of the performance and it is called “Testament to Youth in Verse,” off their 2003 album Electric Version. This song really showcased the orchestral and complicated mix of talent available to their collective. In a full choir style, the song rings true with multiple harmonies sung by five members of the band lead by A.C. Newman. The original recording does no justice to the live experience of this song. Comparatively, the harmonies seem hollow, while the live version has so much soul it could elevate the lowest nonbelievers into The New Pornographers fan club.

The night finished with an encore, and the final song was “The Bleeding Heart Show,” off the album Twin Cinema. With thunderous applause from a sold out venue and ecstatic fans, the group took their leave.

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ALL PHOTOS BY MATTHEW AZEVEDO/THE ONTARION EXCEPT WHERE NOTED

18

SPORTS & HEALTH

Gryphons come out on top over Warriors Men’s hockey dropped Waterloo 5-4 on Feb. 7 STEPHANIE CORATTI In what is now a playoff preview, the Guelph Gryphons men’s hockey team grabbed their final victory of the 2014-15 regular season at home on Feb. 7, defeating the Waterloo Warriors 5-4.

The Warriors took an early 2-0 lead in the opening frame, but it would be the Gryphons flipping the script in the second period to change the course of the match-up.

Just under two minutes into the period, Robert De Fulviis put the home squad on the board. De Fulviis would go on to score his second on the game later in the frame, knotting the contest up at two-apiece. The Toronto, Ontario native compiled a total of five goals in his

last two games played after registering a hat trick in a 5-2 win over the Western Mustangs on Feb. 5.

It wasn’t just goal scoring for Guelph, however, as rookie netminder Andrew D’Agostini turned away Waterloo’s Brett Mackie with a huge save. With just under four minutes remaining in the second, Mackie would come down on a two-on-one rush, but D’Agostini stretched across to make an incredible pad save to keep the game tied at two.

Kyle Neuber would give the Gryphons their first lead of the contest before the end of the second, onetiming his eighth of the season.

Neuber would conclude the game with three points, registering a goal and two assists.

Not wasting much time in the final frame, the Warriors knotted up the scoreboard just 31 seconds in. The final 20 minutes would only be getting started, however, as Jordan Mock put the Gryphons up 4-3, only to have Waterloo respond a mere 62 seconds later to tie the game up at four.

It would be Carlos Amestoy who would score the eventual game winner, solidifying the 5-4 victory for the Gryphons at the halfway point of the period. Amestoy totaled for four points on the night, with one goal and three assists.

The Warriors didn’t close out the game without a fight, putting anything on the Gryphons’ D’Agostini, who would backstop Guelph to their 11th win of the 2014-15 regular season.

D’Agostini made 26 saves on the night.

Finishing the game with two goals and an assist, De Fulviis would total for 14 goals in 26 games for the Gryphons, standing as Guelph’s leading scorer.

The Gryphons concluded the season with an 11-13-3 record, finishing sixth in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) West Division. The Warriors compiled a 17-8-2 record on the season, finishing third in the West Division, setting the stage for the opening round of the OUA playoffs.

Game Two of the series will be played on Feb. 12 at 7:30 p.m., while Game Three (if necessary) is set for 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 15 in Waterloo.

MATTHEW AZEVEDO/THE ONTARION

Kyle Neuber (pictured above) registered one goal and two assists in the Guelph Gryphons’ final regular season game on Feb. 7, a contest that saw the Gryphons top the Waterloo Warriors 5-4.

Pre-trade deadline for Leafs Trade rumors surround Toronto’s struggles WESLEY OSTREGA As another NHL season creeps closer towards the playoffs, the seemingly always-disappointing Toronto Maple Leafs are in yet another tailspin towards the bottom of the standings.

Approaching the highly anticipated Mar. 2 trade deadline, questions surround the Leafs and the roster moves they will step towards making.

The thought process seems to be that, in order for the Leafs to become a winning franchise, they have to draft and develop a whole new team – a process that many of the league’s top teams have followed. By the time these players are acquired and developed – the earliest being three to five seasons from now – players such as Phil Kessel and captain Dion Phaneuf will be past their prime, and on the outside looking in when it comes to top minutes. Right now, these players could potentially hold trade value around the league – there’s where trade speculation comes in.

To a team like Toronto, Phaneuf carries top minutes on the blue line. However, he doesn’t hold up

against franchise defensemen such as the Los Angeles Kings’ Drew Doughty, who has the ability to be a significant difference-maker, specifically in the playoffs. The Leafs, it’s argued, have become a band-aid club – prioritizing making the playoffs with short-term solutions, rather than developing from the inside and growing as a franchise.

Looking at a team like Nashville, on the other hand, who are having a great season and hold a real chance at converting into a winning team in the post-season, something they haven’t had in quite some time.

Enter Cody Franson, a current Leaf, ex-Nashville Predator, and one of the few bright spots on a struggling Leafs roster. To a team like Nashville, Franson could be the asset that makes the difference between a championship and an early playoff exit.

Franson, Phaneuf, Kessel, Mike Santorelli, and even the young and promising Nazem Kadri have been rumoured in trade talk over the past months – increasingly as the Leafs continue to drop games and the trade deadline fast approaches.

It is believed, however, that Kessel would fetch the biggest package, possibly a few young forwards with promise, and future draft picks.

Next in line would be Phaneuf.

Despite his offensive numbers declining since his arrival in

Toronto, he holds significant minutes on the top defensive pairing.

The impatience of Toronto hockey fans has caused the franchise issues before, while some say it is to be blamed for the state it’s currently in.

After finishing 24th overall in the 2008-09 season, the Leafs traded their 2010 and 2011 first round draft picks to acquire Kessel. Leafs management could have opted to trade all the team’s assets for picks, and by the current 2014-2015 season, many of those picks would be about 23-years-old and ready to start strong NHL careers.

Instead, the Leafs traded for Kessel and finished 29th overall in 2010 and 22nd overall in 2011, giving Boston the second overall pick in 2010, Tyler Seguin, and the ninth overall pick in 2011, Dougie Hamilton – a top prospect from Toronto, Ontario.

Last season, Seguin exploded for 84 points, four more than Kessel, despite playing two fewer games. Seguin is currently tied for first in points and third in goals, with Kessel trailing him by over 10 points. A key factor to these statistics, however, is Seguin’s age – a mere 23-years-old compared to Kessel’s 28.

The moral of the story is that the poor performance of the Leafs cannot be blamed solely on the management, players, or fans. It has been a combination of all three, fueled by impatience and frustration. It’s time for Toronto fans to commit to the rebuild and pack on the patience.

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Issue 176.6 • Thursday, February 12, 2015

SPORTS & HEALTH

19

ALL PHOTOS BY MATTHEW AZEVEDO/THE ONTARION EXCEPT PHOTO OF MARC WILSON BY TASHA FALCONER

Pictured left to right: Daniel Broussard, Mike Charbonneau, Jordan Mock, Kaitlyn Mora, Gina Murray, Connor Cressman, Patrick Strzalkowski, Eric Wagner, Marc Wilson, Rebecca Breau, Jennifer Johnstone, and Katelyn Larson.

Senior Gryphons honoured 12 senior athletes thanked for their time as Gryphons STEPHANIE CORATTI On Feb. 7, 12 Guelph Gryphons, spread across the men’s and women’s hockey and volleyball teams were recognized and honoured for their contributions to their respective sports as they closed out their final regular seasons, with some playing in their last game. We take a look at the 12 graduating senior Gryphons of volleyball and hockey.

Daniel Broussard, Men’s Hockey A native of Fayetteville, North Carolina, the Gryphons’ captain played four seasons in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Sarnia Sting and the Ottawa 67’s before making the jump into Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS). The start of the 2012-13 season with the Gryphons was the first of three for Broussard, a defenseman that would go on to total for 34 points (one goal, 33 assists) over 81 career games.

Broussard closed out his final regular season game with one assist in a 5-4 win over Waterloo.

Mike Charbonneau, Men’s Hockey Following the success of four seasons in the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL), Charbonneau joined the Guelph Gryphons for the 2012-13 season. The Guelph, Ontario native compiled seven points (one goal, six assists) in 55 games over his three seasons playing in the CIS. Jordan Mock, Men’s Hockey The Dartmouth, Nova Scotia native, similar to that of his graduating teammates, began his career with the Gryphons for the 2012-13 season.

In 78 games over three seasons, the Guelph forward recorded 32 points (14 goals, 18 assists). In his last regular season game on Feb. 7 against Waterloo, Mock posted a goal in the 5-4 victory.

Kaitlyn Mora, Women’s Hockey Saying farewell to another Gryphons captain, Kaitlyn Mora played in her final regular season game on Feb. 8 – a 3-0 victory over Windsor. In the contest, Mora notched two assists. A native of Guelph, Ontario, the Gryphons forward totaled for 19 points (eight goals, 11 assists) in her final season.

Gina Murray, Women’s Hockey In her fourth and final season with the Gryphons, Gina Murray was a staple to Guelph’s blue line. In addition, the Lucknow, Ontario native added seven assists through 22 games played for Guelph in the 2014-15 season.

Connor Cressman, Men’s Volleyball The Waterloo, Ontario native served as a libero to the Gryphons for four seasons beginning in 2011-12. Over 60 career matches, Cressman totaled for 126 kills, 172 digs, and 166.0 points. In his final match against the Queen’s Gaels on Feb. 7 – in what would be the final game for the senior as Queen’s downed the Gryphons 3-1, pushing them out of playoff contention – Cressman had seven digs.

Patrick Strzalkowski, Men’s Volleyball Left-side and Gryphons’ captain Patrick Strzalkowski closed out his four-season Ontario University Athletics (OUA) career ranked ninth among the league in points with 241.0. Over four seasons with the Gryphons, the St. Catharines, Ontario native posted 387 kills, 262 digs, and a huge 503.5 points in 65 matches

and 215 sets. In his final game with the Gryphons on Feb. 7, Strzalkowski had 17 kills and six digs.

455.5 points. In her final game – a 3-2 victory over Queen’s – Breau posted 18 kills, 17 digs, and 22.5 points.

Eric Wagner, Men’s Volleyball A native of Waterloo, Ontario, Eric Wagner become a libero for the Gryphons in the 2011-12 season.

In four campaigns with Guelph, Wagner totaled for 367 digs in 58 matches and 174 sets. Wagner finished the 2014-15 season ranked fifth in digs with 143, and fifth in digs-per-set with an average of 2.34.

Jennifer Johnstone, Women’s Volleyball Jennifer Johnstone, a native of North Vancouver, British Columbia, joined the Guelph Gryphons in the 2011-12 season. Over four years with U of G, Johnstone compiled 91 kills, 39 digs, and 170.5 points in 33 matches and 93 sets. Throughout 19 matches in her final season as a Gryphon, the middle blocker finished ranked third in the OUA in block total with 72, and fifth in blocks-perset with an average of 0.99. On Seniors Night, a 3-2 win over Queen’s, Johnstone posted seven kills, one dig, and nine points.

Marc Wilson, Men’s Volleyball Concluding a four-season career with the Gryphons, Marc Wilson registered five kills and two digs in his final match versus Queen’s on Feb. 7. The Stratford, Ontario native finished the 2014-15 season third in the OUA with a .386 hitting percentage. The Gryphons’ middle blocker compiled 447 kills, 81 digs, and 631 points in 72 career matches and 256 sets.

Rebecca Breau, Women’s Volleyball The London, Ontario native only got better from her rookie season in 2011-12 to her concluding campaign of 2014-15. Throughout 64 career matches and 204 sets, Breau had 365 kills, 297 digs, and

TheOntarion.com

Katelyn Larson, Women’s Volleyball The Gryphons’ setter, a native of Calgary, Alberta, finished her fourth and final season in the OUA ranked 15th in assists with 224, and 15th in assists-per-set with an average of 6.05 throughout 14 matches. On Seniors Night on Feb. 7, Larson had one kill and 11 digs. Throughout four seasons and 61 matches, the Gryphon compiled 35 kills, 1232 assists, an average of 7.04 assists-per-set, 319 digs, and 99.5 points.

20

SPORTS & HEALTH

Men’s volleyball team sees bittersweet end to season Gryphons succumb to the force of the Gael CONNOR ARSENAULT The W.F. Mitchell Athletic Centre was packed on the night of Feb. 7 as the men’s volleyball team took to the court for a lively match against the Queen’s Gaels. The atmosphere was full of energy throughout the game, with Guelph fans’ spirits still high from the women’s team defeating the Gaels 3-2 just prior to the start of the men’s match-up.

These two games marked senior’s night, an occasion on which Guelph commemorates its group of talented graduating players. The men’s team honoured four of their senior players in Marc Wilson (No. 12), Connor Cressman (No. 2), Eric Wagner (No. 5), and Patrick Strzalkowski (No. 16).

Also graduating this year are two beloved trainers of the men’s team, Derek Lahaie and Kate Wortley.

The first set of the game was a close one, with the Gaels ultimately taking the set 25-23. The Gryphons trailed most of the second set, but were able to come together and take the set by a score of 25-20. The third set was well matched, with the score being

MATTHEW AZEVEDO/THE ONTARION

The Guelph Gryphons’ men’s volleyball team dropped their final match of the 2014-15 season 3-1 to the Queen’s Gaels on Feb. 7. With the loss, the Gryphons closed out the season with a 9-11 record, standing in eighth of the OUA. just about even all the way through.

Unfortunately for the Gryphons, the Gaels narrowly took the third set with a score of 25-21. The fourth match was a struggle for Gryphon fans to watch, as the Gaels kept a consistent lead throughout the entire set. Right towards the end, the Gryphons were hit with a sudden burst of energy and scored a heart-warming string of

points. However, the Gaels were so far ahead that they were able to get just a few more points and take the final set with a score of 25-15.

While a win for the Gaels isn’t much cause for celebration, our Gryphons exhibited great team coordination for the majority of the game. The incredible digs and remarkable spikes kept the crowd

The health benefits of chocolate Valentine’s Day chocolate, a nutritious guilty pleasure STEPHANIE CORATTI With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, and the gift of chocolate almost guaranteed (do we even have to mention Feb. 15, and the sales of those treats?), all of you love birds and independent gems needn’t look any further for a reason to give in to the temptation.

Study after study has proven that dark chocolate is actually good for you. How, you ask? A bean called cacao in the chocolate is full of healthy chemicals like flavoonols and theobromine, allowing the bean to hold the upper-hand against bacteria in your body.

Without chocolate, the milk, sugar, and butter, cacao isn’t the most appetizing to the say the least. Thus, dark chocolate is born. To get the most nutrients out of your guilty pleasure, make sure to stick to healthy chocolate with at least 70 per cent of the bean.

Eating small amounts can certainly help as well. A good gauge would be about four dark chocolate bars a week (and we’re not complaining about that).

Here are some more benefits to eating dark chocolate: A healthy, happy heart.

In a nine-year study in Sweden, 31,000 women who ate one-to-two servings of dark chocolate every week saw their risk of heart problems reduced by one third.

Weight loss!

Proven to be more filling, dark chocolate reduces cravings for sweet, salty, and fatty foods. Snack on some dark chocolate and you’ll find it easier to have small portions, and stick to healthier diet.

Preventing diabetes, one piece of chocolate at a time.

In a study in Italy, participants who ate a bar of dark chocolate once a day for 15 days saw the potential for insulin resistance drop by almost half.

Stress reliever.

Emotional eating – we all do it.

It turns out, however, that we shouldn’t be feeling so guilty about it. Scientists in Switzerland (leave it to the Swiss to give us a reason to eat their delicious chocolate) found that when anxious people eat an ounce-and-a-half of dark chocolate every day for two weeks, their stress hormone levels decreased incredibly.

Putting an end to that sunburn.

Study participants proved that after three months of eating chocolate with high levels of flavanols, their skin took twice as long to develop that dreaded sunburn.

Adding to the study, participants who ate chocolate with

cheering, and there were even some sneaky tips, keeping people on their toes.

For a team that saw a slip in their stats as of late, captain Patrick Strzalkowski still held and expressed his pride in the Gryphons squad following their final game, as a chance at the playoffs closed with the loss.

low-flavanol levels didn’t get the same protection.

It makes you… smarter?

You read that right. Studying for that midterm? Pop open a dark chocolate bar, as it’ll reduce your stress levels in addition to pumping up your brain

“This is the tightest team we’ve had, on and off the court,” Stralkowski explained when asked how the Gryphons held up this season, adding that he was especially impressed by the versatility of his teammates. The Gryphons captain went on to commend the depth of the squad, commenting on everyone’s ability to contribute, and contribute well.

In terms of stats, the men’s team was doing very well at the beginning of the season. After losing their very first game to Ryerson, they went on to win six games in a row.

This brought them to eighth in the nation – a position that the team held for two weeks. Unfortunately, not long after this, the team began to slide, finishing the season off with a 9-11 record. “[It] would definitely be this year,” Stralkowski said of his favourite volleyball memory. “I’ve never been on a team that was rolling so well.”

Just how tightly-knit the team was this year was evident on the court over their final game on Feb. 7.

They may not have won the game, but over the course of the season, they have won the hearts of fans. With the close of the 2014-15 season, the Gryphons are being held off into temporary retirement, but only until next season, when this squad rebounds and comes back even stronger.

power when you really need it.

A study at the University of Nottingham proved that drinking cocoa rich in flavanols boosts blood flow to key parts of the brain for two to three hours, resulting in improved performance and alertness.

Upcoming events Feb. 12: Men’s hockey: OUA Playoffs Game 2 versus Waterloo (Gryphon Centre, 7:30 p.m.)

Feb. 14: Women’s volleyball: OUA Playoffs versus Brock (W.F. Mitchell Centre, 6 p.m.)

The LiveOutThere.com scholarship is a $2000 student award that supports any undergraduate student who is passionate about the outdoors. Details and applications at liveoutthere.com/scholarship Relay for Life cancer fundraising event is coming up! Register a team of 10 people online and start fundraising. Relay is Sat. March 21. All are welcome.

Let’s fight to find a cure!

Issue 176.6 • Thursday, February 12, 2015

SPORTS & HEALTH

Mental health & wellness: being “good enough”

Defining your own standard STEPHANIE CORATTI

It’s something seemingly trivial – something most limit to childhood games at recess and that competitive sports team you tried out for when you were 13-years-old.

It’s something you’re supposed to grow out of, something adulthood erases.

But what happens when you find yourself two months away from completing your undergraduate degree, and five months away from your 22nd birthday, and the struggle of being “good enough” is still lingering like the world’s worst hangover?

Well, in that case, you’re me.

Growing up, believing I had the ability to do something certainly wasn’t on my list of strengths. It

Faking It The fraud plaguing professional sports MARC BERNARDO TSN correspondent Rick Westhead orchestrated a documentary mini series titled Faking It, airing over three episodes on Sportscentre. Faking It offers a closer look at the fraudulent industries surrounding professional sports. Counterfeit autographs, jerseys, and tickets each lay claim to one of the episodes in the three-part mini series.

The first episode shows the plaguing issues in autographed merchandise industries. It is estimated that around 80 per cent of autographed sports memorabilia for sale online is counterfeit. The lack of legitimacy in the autographed memorabilia industry and lack of qualifications required for authenticating signatures poses a major threat to the industry’s longevity.

Professionals in the film also suggested that many of the fraudulent signatures are made by machines, which are programmed to replicate the autographs of many popular athletes. When purchasing signed memorabilia, it is important to research prices and reputations of merchandise authenticators to avoid regret of spending a large lump sum.

The episode aired on Feb. 7 focused on the growth of counterfeit ticket

took suggestions, encouragement, and then some more encouragement with anything I decided to do.

We can chalk up playing volleyball and basketball in the seventh and eighth grades to the teachers who relentlessly pushed me to try out for the teams. Back then, I thought it was the height thing – you know, the fact that I was probably a full foot taller than half the girls on every other team. Looking back now, even I can’t credit winning the volleyball semi-final match with 14 points off my serves alone, or my 28 points in just my second game on the senior girls basketball team, to the height factor.

Then there’s trying out for competitive hockey, that one goes right to my dad. Even playing a sport that I essentially breathed and ate for breakfast took convincing. I made the team, and with that came

some of the best memories in traveling to games and having to get suited up in the back of my mom’s van as we drove through a snow storm, to away tournaments that resulted in my coaches wearing pink wigs and doing the tango… with each other.

Applying to my first job, getting involved at school, and even something as simple as socializing with others I didn’t know – it all took a push in the right direction, a push I was never good at giving myself.

It all came down to the sole idea of not being good enough.

Now, looking straight ahead at graduation, graduate applications, the real world, and chasing down what I want out of life, “good enough” has resurfaced. What’s worse, however, is that I recognize now that it never really went away.

It was never something trivial, or limited to childhood games at recess.

sales. It is noted that many sports teams have migrated to an electronic ticket platform to gain information on the consumer. This switch has paved way for the sale of duplicate and counterfeit tickets to sporting events. A representative from Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment highlighted the thousands of fans who are escorted out of the Air Canada Centre with bogus tickets each year.

With tickets in high demand for Toronto sports teams specifically, alongside the ease-of-sale associated with online markets such as Kijiji and Craigslist, it is now more appealing than ever before to counterfeiters to sell their products. Illegitimate tickets are now something to be on watch for as a sports fan, and a healthy amount of research when buying tickets from a secondary source will help save money and prevent misfortunate events.

Toronto police detectives have made it clear that it is difficult to prosecute distributors for these tickets.

The concluding episode entitled “Jersey Ploys” was expectedly the most high-profile of the three. Counterfeit sports jerseys from China were highlighted as the focal point of this segment. Authentic NHL jerseys cost anywhere from $150 to $400 with Chinese-made fakes often priced below $40. $13 billion was spent last year on sports merchandise in North America, and Toronto police estimate that there are millions of fake jerseys available for sale. The fraudulent jersey industry has exploded with online shopping, and China has been highlighted as the main culprit.

“Jersey Ploys” offered inside

looks at the factories and small-scale manufacturers of these jerseys. One supplier claimed that with just 15 factory employees, it was common to sell 1,000 of their NHL jerseys in a week. Being unanimously renown as a hockey nation, Canadians are naturally one of the largest target markets.

Consumers will want to be informed that buying counterfeits supports an illegal, untaxed industry in which profits often aid organized crime. It is also quite common for manufacturers to see higher economic potential in the industry than they would with drug trafficking.

Contrasting views may first highlight the skyrocketing prices for many sports memorabilia and tickets. In a Canadian market, demand has made certain sporting events blatantly unaffordable, especially for student NHL fans – a common trait for any attendant at the University of Guelph.

Jerseys are no different, with counterfeited jerseys selling for around seven times less than their authentic counterparts; it is difficult to blame a consumer who purchases in the fraudulent direction. Differences between real and fake jerseys are extremely minor, many of which can only be seen if you are looking from inches away – increasing emphasis on the lopsided difference in price.

Leafs fans can purchase a jersey of their seven favourite players from China for the same price of just one authentic jersey from official NHL shop sites. It appears that anti-counterfeiting industry will continue to play second-fiddle to the highest growing sports industry, counterfeiting.

It’s not something you grow out of, or something that adulthood erases.

Being good enough is, instead, something we’re all forced to think about, and something we fear endlessly – even if subconsciously.

Being good enough is something that we’re supposed to prove.

The problem stands, though, in whom we’re proving it to.

It took until my third year at the University of Guelph to volunteer for The Ontarion, a publication where I now serve as the Sports & Health editor. It took 20 years of my life to recognize I could be good enough if I only gave myself the opportunity to do so. It took wanting to prove to myself that I could do anything I wanted.

That’s where it all changed.

I wasn’t hindering myself

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21

anymore; I wasn’t holding myself back. I let myself try.

The key factor there is try.

Being good enough isn’t about accomplishments or the gauge of success. Being good enough isn’t a competition holding a contrast of everything everyone else has that you don’t.

It doesn’t go away, I would be lying if I told you that. It sticks around, even when you’re supposed to be this higher educated individual checking off another 20-something year of your life. It doesn’t care that you’re supposed to be an adult.

But it’s not about outrunning it. It’s not about overcoming it.

It’s about being good enough for yourself.

It’s about proving to yourself that you hold the ability to try to push your boundaries, and your potential. Being good enough is about providing yourself the opportunity to be you.

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LIFE

Science Avenue: Palm Oil A saturated solution to a growing environmental and nutritional dilemma SAMEER CHHABRA What is Palm Oil? It’s important to recognize a fact about science: it’s not hindered or held back by ideology or politics. At least, it’s not supposed to. Science leaves morality and ethics to the philosophers and ethicists, and, in the past, has come to blows with the very people it has hoped to benefit.

Science is devoid of abject ideology, and the only cases in which research has been used to deficit humanity have been when the researchers have had the express desire to do so.

I say this to define the limit on scientific thinking. We are only bound by the lines we choose to cross, and defined by those we refuse to look past.

Palm oil is a vegetable oil derived from the pulp of the fruit of palm trees. It’s incredibly cheap to produce, and accounts for 65 per cent of all vegetable oils traded internationally (according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations). Palm oil is found in brands of soap, shampoo, icecream, cheesecake, peanut butter, chocolate spread, and almost any other conceivable popular foodstuff.

Palm oil is also one of those double-sided nutritional choices that happen to be relatively cheap and easy to produce, but result in widespread harm across a multitude of environmental, economic, and ethical sectors.

How Does Palm Oil Work?

On its own, palm oil is nothing more than a different kind of vegetable oil. It’s a fat that contains more saturated fats than unsaturated fats, and is not a significant source of cholesterol. Like all saturated fats, its intake can increase LDL and HDL cholesterol levels. Suffice it to say, cooking with palm oil is significantly better than cooking with lard.

Interestingly enough, palm oil and its derivatives are a form of biofuel and biodiesel. Palm oil shells and oil palm fruit bunches, specifically, can be used to produce biofuel.

However, palm oil production has skyrocketed since its discovery as a cheap replacement for other

vegetable oils, and the result has been severe environmental damage in the parts of the world where it can be grown. Numerous parts of Asia, including Malaysia, Thailand, and Sumatra have suffered widespread deforestation in order to increase the world’s supply of palm oil bearing trees. Species like the orangutan and Sumatran tiger are critically endangered as a result of palm oil production. The WWF expects palm oil production to double by 2020, which will only continue to exacerbate this ongoing problem.

Furthermore, the increased attention afforded to palm oil tree plantations has led governments in Asia to ignore human rights and conservation in order to produce a profit.

Why is Palm Oil Important?

Instead of questioning palm oil’s importance, I’ll offer a different question, instead: why should anyone care about palm oil? For an issue that will almost never directly affect us, why should we concern ourselves with habitat loss, human rights violations, and species endangerment? This question of concern is the chief question of the 21st Century, if not the entire human species. Why should anyone really care about anything that doesn’t directly affect their lives?

We should care – we should concern ourselves – simply because we have a moral imperative to raise our collective voices and ask for alternatives. Palm oil production has increased for chiefly fiscal reasons; it’s cheap and easy to acquire, and it helps feed significant chunks of our species. However, the substance is harmful to its environment. It hurts people, it hurts animals, and it hurts parts of our world. These reasons alone should be enough cause for concern.

What is the Future of Palm Oil? Speaking from a purely rational perspective, palm oil production is going to increase in order to insure that we can feed our evergrowing population. Once again, palm oil production is expected to double by 2020, which means that soil erosion as a result of forest clearing, air pollution as a result of the smoke that results from deforestation, and climate change will continue to be unavoidable.

I will make a single suggestion, however. Find alternatives to products that include palm oil as an ingredient. The human tongue is capable of tasting an enormous spectrum of flavours; perhaps it’s best to eliminate palm oil as one of those flavours, however.

MARUFISH VIA CC BY-SA 2.0

The manufacturing of Palm oil provides a cheaper and more reliable alternative to vegetable oils.

However, the environmental consequences stemming from its production cannot be ignored.

arts supplement Deadline Thursday, February 26, 2015.

Do you have a piece of personal poetry, an artistic photograph, a favourite sketch or painting that you would like published?

Submit your piece to onarts@uoguelph.ca or oneditor@uoguelph.ca by Thursday, Feb. 26 at noon and you could see your work featured in the centre spread of our arts issue!

[

PLACE YOUR AD HERE CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION ONSALES@UOGUELPH.CA 519-824-4120 ext 58267 theontarion.com/advertising

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TheON

TheOntarion.com TheOntarion.com TheOntarion.com your life... your opinion... they matter.

E ! a r t x E ! ! a r t r x t E x !

E a ! r a t r t x E tra! Ex xtra! x E !

E ! a a a! Extr ! Extr Come volunteer with The Ontarion, volunteer meetings held Thursdays @ 5:30 p.m. in UC RM. 264

Help us reach your campus community by handing out The Ontarion newspaper outside the UC. $20 Brass Taps gift card for one hour.

Email ontarion@uoguelph.ca if interested

24

LIFE

How to look for housing What to keep in your mind when looking for a house for next year

Rent amount: Rent averages about $550/month in Guelph. Be wary of anything too cheap and avoid anything too expensive or outside of your budget.

ARLENE CAMPBELL Finding housing can be a daunting task for anyone, but especially for those people who are in first year and have never done it before. These are the 10 main things you want to focus on when you look for housing as a student, and maybe even later in life.

Location: If a place is too far from school or work, cross it off your list of potentials and move on.

House size: Decide who you want to live with before you start looking for houses so you only base your search on houses or apartments with the right number of bedrooms.

Utilities: Make sure you discuss whether or not utilities are included in the rent amount, which utilities are included, and what the average payment per month is for utilities if they aren’t included in the rent. The landlord will have all of this information.

Damages: Before you sign a lease, make sure you look at the

actual house or apartment. When you do, look for any damages to the floor, walls, or any water damage. If there’s excessive damage move on. If not, let the landlord know and have them fix these damages before you move in. Also, know that a landlord is not allowed to charge a damage deposit, as they are illegal.

Bus routes: Most university students don’t have a car, so map out a bus route from your house to grocery stores, the school, and, if you have a job, then to work as well. If you have to make a transfer to get to school, you may want to look at other houses.

Furniture: Decide before you start looking if whether a place is furnished or not is a contributing factor. Then, base your search around that. Most places come unfurnished, so keep that in mind.

Read the lease: I can’t say this enough, but read the lease! Check it over, and bring it to someone

who knows more about housing, to your parents, or a resource at the university. Have someone who knows something about leases look over the document before you sign anything.

Feelings: This one sounds silly, but it may be one of the most important steps. Check in with yourself and future roommates about how you feel about each house. If you feel uneasy, don’t rent. You’ll be living there for 12 months minimum, so you want to be somewhere you’re comfortable.

Life 101 Improving relationships EMILY JONES In the debut article of this column, I talked about accepting that relationships will not always remain the same, and that some people may not always be a part of our lives.

This week, I want to discuss the relationships that are healthy – the ones that you want to keep in your life – and tips about how to keep them that way.

Having healthy relationships always begin, in the same place – with ourselves. Healthy relationships are built on strong and healthy foundations. We may not always recognize the detrimental affect we can have on our relationships if we aren’t paying enough attention to ourselves first.

Jealously is something that is often found in both platonic and romantic relationships – we should understand that this could be due to the fact that we have some deep-rooted insecurity in ourselves, or that we have been mistreated in the past.

This doesn’t mean that there is

Make use of university services: The University of Guelph has many services to help students with their transition to off-campus living. There’s the Student Health and Advocacy Center (second floor of the UC), where you can get help with understanding leases, tenancy issues, and general information, as well as The Cannon, to find house listings. Off Campus Living in the UC to help you with any questions you may have about your transition from residence to offcampus, and Places4Students, a website you can use to find house listings, roommates, and sublets in Guelph.

Good luck everyone!

See where experience takes you.

something wrong with us – it just means that it will take some extra work to develop healthy habits in relationships where the other person involved is someone who has never done anything to wrong us.

Healthy relationships also need to be tended to. People need attention – they need to feel valued and appreciated. If you have a relationship that means a lot to you, it is important to show appreciation and gratitude towards the other, but it is equality important to be sure you are receiving the same respect in return. A way to be sure that this is going both ways is to develop open communication with those you care about, and feel comfortable talking about what you need out of the relationship. For instance, if you have a friend who works a different schedule than you do, try and find a time during the week that you can meet for coffee – catch up and stay connected. By making a commitment to open communication and making time for those you care about, you are fostering positive relationships. Take responsibility for your actions, and make an effort to improve yourself and your relationships.

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We offer 13 post-graduate programs, from Arts Management and Advertising to Film & Television Business and Professional Writing.

And we’re close to downtown Toronto and the city’s creative and media hubs.

Apply now for Fall 2015. Visit centennialcollege.ca/thecentre

Your creative career starts here

TheOntarion.com

Issue 176.6 • Thursday, February 12, 2015

LIFE

You’ve probably seen this on Pinterest Delicious ideas to get behind this Valentine’s Day ALYSSA OTTEMA Some people go gaga over Feb. 14.

Other people like to run and hide at the first sign of naked babies with arrows. No matter your romantic persuasions, however, there are a few things that everyone can get behind on February’s most famous holiday. The discounts on pink and red chocolate are universally loved. The excuse to eat decadent foods is welcomed by all.

It’s hard for anyone to hate a delicious mimosa.

Here are a few ideas that everyone can get behind on this impending day of hearts.

Strawberry mimosas You'll need: 1 bottle of champagne 1 bottle of berry-based smoothie, like that by Bolthouse Fresh Strawberries for garnish (optional)

Begin by filling a champagne glass half-full with the berry smoothie.

Then, top the glass off with champagne, garnish with a fresh strawberry if it tickles your fancy, and toast to love or hate, or the beginning of reading week.

Red velvet pancakes You'll need: 6 tbsp. butter, melted 2 tbsp. red food colouring 1 c. milk 2 eggs 1 tbsp. olive or vegetable oil 1 tsp. vinegar 1 tsp. vanilla 1 c. flour 1/4 c. cocoa powder 4 tsp. baking powder 4 tbsp. sugar This recipe is a bit more complicated, but totally worth it.

In a small mixing bowl, beat together the butter, food colouring, milk, eggs, oil, vinegar, and vanilla.

In another bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa, baking powder, and sugar. Then, combine the wet and dry mixtures slowly.

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On a greased pan over medium heat — an electric frying pan should be set to 250 F, or set the stovetop to four or five — drop 1/4 c. of batter and let it cook until bubbles form and pop on the top. Flip the pancake over carefully, cooking for another two or three minutes.

Pink hot chocolate You'll need: 1 12 oz. can of evaporated milk 1 bag of white chocolate chips 3 to 4 c. milk Red food colouring In a saucepan or pot set over low heat, melt the white chocolate chips into the evaporated milk. Once the chocolate has melted, add the regular milk, and heat, starting with three cups and adding more to taste.

Remove the mixture from the heat and add drops of red food colouring until you reach the desired pink colour. Serve the hot chocolate with whipped cream, marshmallows, or a dash of Bailey’s for added flavour!

SHARON MOLLERUS VIA CC BY 2.0

Whether you enjoy a romantic evening with your partner, or watch Netflix with a tub of ice cream, these simple recipes for Valentine’s Day are sure to impress.

TheOntarion.com

Simply Authentic: diary of a local foodie Quinoa greek salad (with kale!)

EMILY JONES I’m constantly looking for alternatives to prepare for lunch – I want something healthy, but I need flavour to avoid getting bored. I woke up this morning, and had no idea what to make for lunch for my partner and I. I rooted through our pantry and fridge, and decided on making a quinoa greek salad featuring kale. This week, I want to help you brighten up your lunch with an easy and delicious meal that will keep you feeling full without weighing you down.

I had all of the ingredients on hand, and typically do each week – they are the basics I keep kicking around the kitchen. The ingredient list includes: quinoa, kale, cucumber, tomato, red onion, garlic, avocado, lemon, olive oil, salt, pepper, and feta. I only had a half hour to prepare everything this morning, so I prepared all of the ingredients to go in the salad while the quinoa was cooking.

If you are new to quinoa, you cook it in the same fashion you’d cook rice – one cup quinoa in two cups of water. Bring the water and quinoa to a boil, then turn down the heat until the water is absorbed.

Normally, I would let the quinoa cool in the fridge overnight, but because I was limited on time, I decided to stick it in the freezer for 20 minutes to speed up the process.

While the quinoa was cooking and cooling, I prepared the rest of the ingredients in a glass mixing bowl. First, I chopped 1/4 red onion, and then minced two cloves of garlic. Then, I cut 1/4 cucumber into bite-sized pieces, and cut eight grape tomatoes into four pieces each. I then cut the avocado in half, and added one full avocado cubed into the mix. Finally, I chopped two large kale leaves, and cubed a 1/4-cup of feta cheese. I then cut a lemon in half, and squeezed its juice over the mixture.

Once I had finished this preparation, the quinoa had cooled off enough for me to add it into the bowl with the rest of the ingredients. I then drizzled the mixture with extra-virgin olive oil, and gave it a light dusting of kosher salt and freshly-ground black pepper. The salad was then ready to be mixed and packaged into lunch size containers.

This recipe is great to make the night before in order to allow the flavours to mix together, but it’s also very tasty if made the day-of. It was, as always, a meal that was simply satisfying and made with whole ingredients. There is no better way to ensure a productive day than to fuel yourself with healthy goodness.

Shopping list: -Quinoa -Red onion -Garlic -Grape tomatoes -Cucumber -Avocado -Kale -Lemon -Olive oil -Kosher salt -Black pepper -Feta cheese

PETER ROOME VIA CC BY-NC 2.0

In this week’s Simply Authentic, Jones gives a tutorial on how to make a simply delicious, and light yet hearty lunch – featuring one of her favourites – kale

Have your opinion heard all over campus, come volunteer for the life and opinion section of The Ontarion Meetings held: Thursdays @ 5:30 in UC Room, 264

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FEATURE

The modern use of drones A conversation on faceless and non-visible violence EMILIO GHLOUM The permeation of violence overseas, specifically in middleeastern regions, garners much attention from news and media outlets. Whether coverage is based on the success of armed forces, or on the tragedy of innocent lives being taken, the use of drones remains a topic of controversy for many.

A large concern regarding drones involves the kind of violence that stems from their use in modern warfare.

Zubair ur Rehman, a 13-yearold Pakistani boy, is a victim of such faceless and violent acts.

Having survived a drone strike that saw other members of his family killed in 2013, Zubair spoke in congress about his experiences – the outcome is truly telling of the devastation caused by drones.

“I no longer love blue skies. In fact, I now prefer grey skies. The drones do not fly when the skies are grey,” said Zubair.

The image stands strong and continues to resonate within the minds of those who heard Zubair speak those words. A 13-year-old should not be afraid of blue skies,

USAF/SGT RICKY BEST

The public perception of drones, both in and out of combat, have drastically changed throughout the course of their modern use. yet the permeated threat of an airstrike is a grim reality for the young boy and his family.

As drones are suspended above supposedly hostile territory, with the capability to fire missiles at any given time, a major component of the violence caused by the use of drones resides not in action, but in threat. The presence of drones, along with their capabilities for destruction, offers an extreme amount of insecurity to those in rural Pakistani regions.

A report on the incident written by Amnesty International outlines key features of drone usage and its potential to cause more harm than good.

“The tragedy is that drone aircraft deployed by the USA over Pakistan now instill the same kind of fear in the people of the tribal areas that was once associated only with Al-Qaeda and the Taliban,” explained the report.

A crucial issue in the discussion of drone usage revolves around its public perception. It has become

increasingly evident that drones are becoming heavily integrated into the public domain. With companies like Amazon exploring implementing a delivery system through drones, it could very well be a reality that North Americans can face. In a way, desensitization towards drone usage would occur among the public.

While there are many benefits to drone use, both in and out of combat, it is important to recognize their ability to cause terror and instill fear in innocent

A stance on the new anti-terror legislation Are we compromising civil liberties for safety?

EMILIO GHLOUM On Jan.30, Canada’s government introduced a variety of anti-terror legislation to provide security to Canadians. In doing so, greater power has been given to CSIS to detain those who may be suspect to terrorism. While the measures cover a wide range of increased power, questions linger regarding the effect of these laws on civil liberties. Furthermore, the balance between safety and liberty becomes diluted by the threat

of violent acts upon home soil.

What does this bill mean for Canadians, and how does it affect our daily lives? This article will briefly examine the pros and cons of the new bill and the consequences thereof.

“... allows for individuals to reflect on their own position in contemporary Canadian society...”

In a Q&A session regarding the new anti-terror bill, Prime

Minister Stephen Harper was asked whether or not he could guarantee that the laws would not interfere with civil liberties.

“Every time we talk about security, they suggest that somehow, our freedoms are threatened,” said Harper. “I think Canadians understand that their freedom and their security more often than not go hand and hand.

Canadians expect us to do both, we are doing both, and we do not buy the argument that every time you protect Canadians, you take away their liberties.”

While Prime Minister Harper’s answer seemingly dodges the question, he brings up a crucial component of the discussion on civil liberty. How can we untangle the constant grappling between security and freedom? It seems that the balance between

our safety and our rights heavily relies upon sacrifices made from one another. While the Prime Minister ensures us that the government is maintaining both fundamental liberties and rigorous security, there is a fine line that dictates what we are willing to part with.

The balance between protecting our rights and protecting our country is a fine one, and while the scales may seem to dip in the favor of one over the other, the dynamic has always been present. Even before these changes to legislation, the laws in place were beneficial to some more than to others. Furthermore, the opening of this dialogue on civil liberties presents a unique opportunity among individuals. One must begin to question the liberties they hold dear. How would you react if

bystanders. To categorize victims such as Zubair ur Rehman, and his grandmother (who was killed in the drone strike) as collateral damage would be unjust.

Rafiq ur Rehman, Zubair’s father, also publicly spoke to congress in late October, 2013, and provided his insight on the attacks that took place which saw his mother killed.

“Nobody has ever told me why my mother was targeted that day,” Rehman said. “Some media outlets reported that the attack was on a car, but there is no road alongside my mother’s house.

Others reported that the attack was on a house. But the missiles hit a nearby field, not a house. All of them reported that three, four, five militants were killed.”

However, the only person killed that day was not a militant, but Rafiq’s mother.

The power of drones to control and manipulate the psychological mindset of a population is astounding. By hovering over an area persistently, an aura of constant threat lingers among the lives of many innocent people.

The danger of drones lies not in the threat of airstrikes in North America, but rather, in forgetting about the blind violence suffered by victims like Zubair and Rafiq.

In identifying that drones can be a cause of such harm for those who are completely undeserving, public perceptions of its use can shift from tolerable to condemnable when guided by knowledge and awareness.

you were wrongfully detained?

The new legislation put in place allows for individuals to reflect on their own position in contemporary Canadian society, both as a public citizen and as a political body. While these new laws do in fact provide greater security to Canadians, many will undoubtedly question whether or not these measures are justifiable.

Amidst asking these questions, it is important to recognize the civil liberties you currently hold, many of which remain unexamined.

By opening the conversation of sacrificing civil liberties for greater assurance of safety, we are able to take a step back and resituate ourselves, presenting an opportunity to gain insight on our own situation and experiences as Canadians within the political sphere.

Issue 176.6 • Thursday, February 12, 2015

The problem of suffering

OPINION

Letter to the Editor

Euthanasia in Canada

Dear Editor,

TOM OBERLE On Friday, Feb. 6, the Supreme Court unanimously struck down Canada’s laws prohibiting assisted suicide. The circumstances surrounding one’s decision to end one’s life are complex, not just for the people themselves, but for their family and friends as well.

Suffering, whether it is physical or psychological, finds us all and is often hard to make sense of. My intention with this article is not to make light of the complexity of these issues, nor to pass moral judgement. I would like to give my perspective on the problem of suffering in the hope that others may consider a more meaningful and coherent approach in which to view the prevalence of suffering in the world.

“Suffering, whether it is physical or psychological, finds us all and is often hard to make sense of.”

Dying with dignity seems to be predicated on the assumption that nothing good can come from suffering. The argument goes something like this: there is no reason why someone should be expected to endure endless, excruciating physical or psychological pain, especially at the end of their life. Therefore, a person has a right to die in order to maintain their dignity and avoid needless suffering for them and their family.

I would like to challenge this assumption. On a very basic level this premise is false. There are countless notional and actual scenarios in which something good is resultant from a difficult

The views represented in the opinion section do not necessarily reflect the views of The Ontarion nor its staff.

27

EMDX VIA CC BY-SA 3.0

In recent news, the Supreme Court of Canada has reached a verdict that supports the Dying with Dignity movement. This article investigates the idea of suffering. or painful experience. Exercise is painful, yet we endure the pain in order to reap the health benefits. On a more relevant level, all of us have encountered or will encounter, adversity in life. The outcome of these experiences will be determined largely by the manner in which we choose to handle them. Yet many people endure extremely difficult experiences and become stronger, wiser, and more appreciative of life as a result.

So, it is possible that good can come from suffering. Now, the existence of needless, pointless pain and suffering is cruel.

But is all suffering needless and pointless? Superficially, it would seem like most of it is. So what sufficient reason could we have to endure it, rather than avoid it? It is possible that pain and suffering may lead to a good that far outweighs that suffering, and which could only occur as a result of this suffering.

It seems contradictory, but in my experience and many others’, some of the most purposeful and meaningful things I have found in life have come to me as a result of enduring painful experiences.

I will give one personal example.

This past fall, my grandmother passed away. Over the course of a year, she endured a long, slow decay of her body and mind as she battled terminal brain cancer.

Through the painful process of my grandmother’s death, our family experienced great relational, emotional, and spiritual intimacy. The experience was the

most difficult for my mother, yet through a profoundly intimate reversal of caregiver roles, she and my grandmother experienced an unexpected rebirth of their relationship that could otherwise never have transpired. My grandmother’s journey was not defined by pain and defeat, but by countless instances of strength and grace that inspired everyone around her, and left my mother with a legacy of a courageous life.

Had my grandmother committed suicide, or planned to die with dignity before her decline, I cannot imagine how her life and our family’s lives would have been impacted, having been deprived of these experiences. This is not to say that everyone will have, or should expect this experience in similar circumstances. However, it demonstrates the profound and perplexing nature of evil and suffering. Unlike happiness and pleasure, I discovered that suffering forced me to question life’s fundamentals: purpose, identity, and the existence of god. In the words of Dr. Bedelia Du Maurier, a fictional character from the TV series Hannibal, “Grieving is an individual process with a universal goal: the truest examination of the meaning of life and its end.”

However, our interpretation of life determines how we react to suffering and the meaning it has in our lives. Dr. William Lane Craig argues, “Much of the suffering in life may be utterly pointless with respect to the goal of producing human happiness”.

This seems to be a second implicit

assumption of dying with dignity. If our purpose in life is to experience as much happiness as possible, then there is no merit in pain and adversity. But I am not so certain happiness is the purpose of life.

“This is not to say that everyone will have, or should expect this experience in similar circumstances.”

To be clear, I do not deny our moral responsibilities to prevent and bring to justice perpetrators of great evil. Rather, I am discussing unavoidable, personal adversity that is inevitable in life.

Such a world view – that happiness is the end goal of life – makes no sense of pain and suffering.

Is it rational to adopt a view of life that dismisses one of the most defining aspects of human existence as meaningless? If we completely deny ourselves a true and honest experience of life by dismissing all personal adversity as pointless and avoiding it at any cost, then I believe we not only fail to recognize life’s meaning, but we also rob ourselves of the incredible beauty that can only come from suffering.

I was going to write a short paragraph, praising your fine writing and excellent photography, but decided that would be as insipidly non-controversial as most of your articles.

First, though, I wish to comment on last week’s letter from Marion Reidel, a secondary school teacher.

Ms. Reidel disagrees, suggesting that teenagers should help their parents with chores, and thus learn household cleaning and how to do the laundry, etc., and also learn to collaborate, self-advocate, manage their time, and develop the skills to become a life-long learner.

Sounds easy, but it isn’t. Nor is overcoming loneliness when away from home, not to mention making friends, coping with an enormous load of required reading, coming to terms with one’s sexuality, handling rising tuition, and encountering a general lack of support or interest by many.

Most newspapers seldom, if ever, print anything against capitalism, nationalism, democracy, politicians and their parties, sports and military “heroes,” or the probable non-existence of God and other supernatural beings.

People often complain about warfare, natural disasters, unfair taxation, inflation, starvation, homelessness, and disease, without understanding the root causes.

For example, there’s enough food thrown away to feed the world’s population; the main causes of war are nationalism and religion, the rich pay no taxes, and one-half of all assets in the world are owned by a tiny one-per cent of people on the planet.

We readily join a popular and safe demonstration to save baby seals from extinction, but when was the last student demonstration against Canada’s military budget, child malnutrition, our education system, or religious atrocities?

So why read The Ontarion? For me, there’s an occasional article of interest. For instance, on Aug. 28, 2014, Emily Jones interviewed Professor Sean Lyons, who warned undergrads that the labour market is not healthy. Nowadays, you need a university education to land lowpaying entry-level jobs that are often contract positions.

Since The Ontarion is full of advice to students, I offer some of my own: don’t believe anything you read, never wear a uniform, and avoid religion like the plague.

John C. Como

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OPINION

Teaching the controversy crusaders, and pro-vaccine advocates took to websites like Twitter, Reddit, and Tumblr to either defame or defend Torcolacci. As of Feb. 9, Torcolacci has been granted leave from teaching Health 102 at Queens University for the rest of the term.

Torcolacci spent little time publically defending herself - this fact lends SAMEER CHHABRA credence to the concern that much of the information circulating online On Feb. 4, 2015, news media and is the result of rumour and hearthe internet exploded over the say. However, lecture slides from the news that a Queens University pro- class, published by current and former fessor was teaching anti-vaccine students, seem to indicate that Torcomaterial in a university-level health lacci did make a point of attempting class. Melody Torcolacci’s Physical to educate her students about the supDetriments of Health class quickly posed dangers of vaccines. Regardless came under fire for providing stu- of what the anti-vaccine movement dents – individuals specifically present might have to say, vaccines save lives, in her class to learn factual material – vaccines don’t cause autism, and with a perspective that is not only vaccines prevent the spread of excruriddled with controversy, but is gro- ciatingly devastating illnesses. tesquely antiquated and ridiculously The fact of the matter remains that lacking in evidence or scientific merit. science is not a biased entity intent on Shortly after the initial news was serving the highest bidder. Science is reported, students, anti-vaccine devoid of prejudice and reports facts

Why there aren’t just two sides to every story

based only on the data observed during experimentation. This is why there certainly are studies linking vaccines to a myriad of health defects, including autism. In fact, the most cited study that condemns vaccines was published in 1998 by British former-surgeon and former-researcher Andrew Wakefield. However, since its publication, the paper has become one of the most widely disproven scientific articles in the history of research, progress, and advancement.

Torcolacci, Wakefield, and Jenny McCarthy – one of America’s most notorious anti-vaccine champions – are merely a surface problem to a deep-rooted cultural issue. As a culture dedicated to justice, fairness, and equality, we tend to believe that there’s more to an issue than a single side. It’s why we have courts, it’s why we have impartial judges, and it’s also why we have a multitude of different ways to have our collective voices heard. We love equality so much that, in our

quest for democracy, we sometimes let those who are the least-educated and least-qualified shape the collective cultural conversation. The loudest among us – often the least-capable to do so – shape the thoughts and minds of the rest, and this is, occasionally, undeniably preposterous.

There is a notion that there are two sides to every story. This is a fallacy. Sometimes there are 10 sides to a story, while sometimes there is only one. In our quest for fairness and balance, we let emotion and passion overrule reason and logic, and therein lies the root of Torcolacci’s current conundrum.

It is morally attractive to consider issues from multiple perspectives.

This stimulates thought, challenges reason, and allows us to reflect on the decisions of our past, present, and future. It allows others who haven’t yet had their voices heard an opportunity to say what’s really on their minds; it lets us know what the other side has to say about things.

Pollination: it’s the bee’s knees What you need to know about nature’s indispensable service CONNOR ARSENAULT Pollination is the process by which pollen is transferred from the male part of a flower to the female part of a flower. Pollination can happen in a number of ways. These ways include the dispersal of pollen by wind or water, or through the actions of pollinators. Out of all the species of flowering plants, roughly 85 per cent of them rely on pollinators like bees in order to set seed or produce fruit. Some of the animals that perform this service are bees, butterflies, moths, flies, wasps, beetles, and even birds and bats.

Pollination is an important process because it provides us with great economic benefits. Once a flower gets pollinated, it becomes fertilized, which means it can make seeds and fruit. Seeds can be collected and used to start the next generation of the plant, or they can be consumed as food. Fruits are obviously important because they are a part of our diet, as well as many other animals out

there. Without pollinators, we wouldn’t have many famous fruits, like apples, berries, cherries, and melons.

In recent years, there has been heightened awareness that pollinators are coming under an increasing amount of threat, and many species are in danger of collapse. The main threats that pollinators face are the loss of habitat and suitable food sources, as well as disease and the use of pesticides.

In order to protect the services performed for us by pollinators, and indeed the pollinators themselves, people living in cities and urban areas can maintain gardens throughout the summer months, while farmers can retain natural pockets of land on their farms – strips of land in between their fields, for instance.

Similarly, municipalities can elect to not mow stretches of land adjacent to highways. When these areas are mowed, many plants are denied the opportunity to flower and provide food and habitat for our valuable pollinators.

The use of pesticides is another factor that harms pollinator populations. Particularly concerning is the use of neonicotinoids. These types of pesticides have chemical structures similar to nicotine, act as neurotoxins and are used to kill pest species. While these pesticides do actually kill pests when used as sprays or to treat seeds, many beneficial insects are also negatively affected.

Unfortunately, common practice is to treat seeds such as corn and soybeans pre-emptively, even if there is no threat of damage to crops by pests. The United States Environmental Protection Agency has concluded that seed treatment rarely provides any actual benefit.

Therefore, the health of pollinator communities could be improved by only using treated seeds or neonicotinoid sprays when threats to crops are clear.

If you’re wondering what you can do to promote healthy pollinators, the first step would be to plant a garden when the warm weather returns. To keep a steady supply of food available for pollinators, aim to always have at least one type of plant flowering at any time during the season. Some species that bees and other pollinators like are sunflowers, morning glories, any type of coneflower, as well as lavender, cosmos, daisies and a variety of native plants.

Through the cultivation of a diverse array of plants in gardens and the conservation of pollinator habitat further afield, the health and resilience of pollinators can be safeguarded. With the maintenance of healthy pollinator populations, we can continue to live a life of plenty, and be secure in the knowledge that pollinators and the plants that are so intimately connected with them will be around for many years to come.

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Science, however, is not an exclusive club devoted to the most popular ideas. It is an inclusive forum that merely asks for evidence as proof of membership. The best part about science, of course, is that it will admit to being wrong – assuming that corroborated evidence is produced for a panel of trained experts. Then, and only then, will the textbooks be reprinted.

The fact remains that, at the time of this writing, there isn’t a single refuted, defended, or peerreviewed scientific paper that links vaccines to the early onset of physical, mental, or psychiatric death.

The idea that anyone continues to argue otherwise is absurd, simply because this issue has been resolved.

The jury is out on this particular scientific conundrum, and everyone – except for a terrifyingly vocal minority – agrees that, when it comes to pure, unbridled fact, science always trumps irrationality.

Issue 176.6 • Thursday, February 12, 2015

Changing the Subject: the selfie Exploring the psychological effects of the selfie DANIELLE SUBJECT Social media is a phenomenon that has allowed us to essentially become our own advertisements.

Not only has it blurred the line between the public and private spheres, but it has also allowed us to control how we are perceived publicly. It is now expected that most people have an online presence. Most employers immediately search our public profiles during the hiring process. We control our images, as well as our personalities. Social media allows us to be two completely different people – a “real-life” self and an “online” self.

The selfie is a sensation that was born of the information age.

An interesting debate surrounds

the term selfie, a word that has been coined by the Gen Y cohort.

In 2013, the word selfie became a thing when Oxford Dictionaries nominated it as their Word of the Year. Fun fact: it was originally spelled “selfy” in the early 2000s, back when Myspace was still popular.

Common debates that surround females and selfies involve whether it is mentally healthy for females to photograph and manipulate their image, or whether it is the essence of narcissism.

Is the selfie empowering? Some theorists argue that the selfie is a product of the male gaze. For those of you who are not aware, the term gaze is a psychological term that describes the awareness one has that they are being viewed and perceived by another.

It is used to study how this awareness affects the way a person acts even perceives themself. The male gaze is a term that was coined in 1975 by second-wave feminist, Laura Mulvey, and describes a woman being aware of an objectifying heterosexual male gaze. It is

OPINION

a term that is commonly used in the study of art to establish how a woman is perceived and portrayed through a male artist’s eyes in patriarchal society. However, the male gaze is not limited to being inflicted by a male. Women can internalize the male gaze, and reflect it upon themselves, objectifying themselves through a woman’s lens.

That being said, is the selfie a reflection of the male gaze?

Other critics argue that the act of the selfie is, in fact, the opposite – that it allows women to take control over the male gaze and manipulate it. Furthermore, it allows women to take control over the way they are perceived by others.

Though another argument would be that they are not taking control of the male gaze, but inflicting the gaze upon themselves. Tricky, isn’t it?

Another popular argument in favour of the selfie is that it provides a space for minority populations to have a voice. This argument is applicable to any

social media platform, as the phenomenon of social media has made everyone a critic, providing a platform for anyone with access to a network to express their opinion.

“Social media allows us to be two completely different people...”

Finally, the selfie is also argued to be a form of narcissism, and apparently derived from a human need to seek validation.

An interesting take on what the selfie represents for women would be to look at some of the first female self-portraits. During Renaissance art, it was common for the woman to be painted in the perspective of a male artist. A few understated female Renaissance artists, Sofonisba Anguissola and Lavinia Fontana, rejected the conventional painting of a woman by a male hand by painting self-portraits.

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At the time, this was completely unusual for a female artist to do. In doing so, these women were able to paint themselves through their own gaze, and to manipulate the male gaze. In conventional Renaissance art, male artists (with the exception of Leonardo da Vinci) typically painted women with their eyes diverted from the audience. They also tended to depict women in immobile situations, such as lying down or sitting still. What Anguissola and Fontana did, essentially, was paint themselves making eye contact with their audience, as well as doing something active, such as painting. This allowed them to challenge the male artist’s typical perception of a female.

So, does the selfie allow the woman to create her own self?

Or does it reassert objectification via the male gaze? Or, is it just something we do in order to seek validation? Is it harmful to a female’s self-perception? These questions are up for debate, and it will be interesting to see what the future does to the modern day selfie.

Where has all the romance gone?

Is Valentine’s Day too commercial?

TIANN NANTAIS It’s only days away from Feb. 14, arguably the most romantic day of the year. For many of us, this is the day we get to show our “special someone” just how much we love them. For greeting card companies and florists, it’s the day their sales go through the roof. Judging by the frenzy we create trying to find the perfect gift and make reservations at the perfect restaurant, I think it’s safe to say that Valentine’s Day has seen some pretty drastic developments.

The roots of Valentine’s Day go all the way back to an Ancient Roman fertility festival called Lupercalia. Then, in order to Christianize the festival, the Christian Church chose mid February to celebrate their own “St. Valentine’s Day,” named after a martyr. But, who is this St. Valentine?

According to the Church, there was more than one St. Valentine in history. The first was executed for illegally performing

marriages, after Emperor Claudius II outlawed marriage, believing that single men made better soldiers. Another story suggests that an imprisoned Valentine sent the first Valentine love letter to a young woman who used to come visit him in jail. Despite all this, it wasn’t until the 1300s that the holiday became definitively associated with love.

Since then, we have seen a multitude of developments in this amorous holiday, all of which have led to the colourful, commercial Valentine’s Day we’ve come to know. But is Valentine’s Day too commercial? Has it become all about chocolate sales and Hallmark cards?

Take this list as an example.

Every year, Amazon.ca compiles a list of the 20 most romantic cities in Canada, based on data from the previous year. The highest ranked cities will be those who had the most online purchases of things like romantic movies, Michael Bublé CDs and relationship books. This year, Guelph came in at number eight. Now that’s all fine and dandy, but don’t you find it sad that we are now judging romance based on movie and chocolate sales?

According to the National Retail Survey in the US, men

spend an average of $135.35, while women spend $72.28 on their partner every Valentine’s Day. It has also been shown that over 198 million roses are produced for the occasion, 190 million greeting cards are sent, and condom sales increase between 10 per cent and 20 per cent during that week.

And we place this expectation on children from a very young age. Every year, from the time I turned four, I would bring Valentine’s Day cards and chocolate for all the students in my class. It was simply expected that everyone would take part in a Valentine exchange. Because of this, schoolaged children exchange hundreds of millions of Valentine’s Day cards every year.

It is becoming more and more evident that we live in a salesdriven society. But is all of this “stuff ” taking the romance out of Valentine’s Day? Why do we automatically associate love with gifts, chocolate, and flowers?

Who says we need a special holiday to be romantic? This year, I challenge each of you to tell the people in your life just how much they mean to you, everyday. But, if you wanted to give them a box of chocolates on Saturday, I’m sure it wouldn’t hurt.

COTTAGE 960 VIA CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Valentine’s Day has become a heavily commercialized holiday that has seen many changes over the years. Has it gone too far?

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EDITORIAL

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Patrice Manuel Contributors

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Marc Bernardo

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Ashley Gibson

Cody Gresswell

Jack Hinds

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Rachel Van Zeumeren 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 otherwise unfit for publication as determined by the Editorin-Chief. Material of any form appearing in this newspaper is copyrighted 2015 and cannot be reprinted without the approval of the Editor-in-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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Humanizing the athlete Recognizing professionals as people, not products STEPHANIE CORATTI On Feb. 1, Julian Edelman – a wide receiver for the New England Patriots – was busy catching Tom Brady’s 13th career Super Bowl touchdown pass with 2:02 remaining in the game to give the Patriots an eventual 28-24 championship win over the Seattle Seahawks.

On Feb. 2, there were far more people talking about what (or rather, who) Edelman was doing off the field, instead of what he accomplished on it.

Sabrina, a girl who found herself the talk of the Internet – by selfimposed action – was the reason for this.

While Edelman lay in the same bed evidently following his championship celebration, Sabrina snapped a picture of herself beside the Patriot with the words “Just f***ed Edelman no lie” written across it, choosing to share it with everyone on Tinder, and eventually the virtual world.

A mere two days after it happened, Sabrina – now labeled the “Tinder Chick” – was pushed to make an apology, recognizing the fact that she “made a mistake.” In spite of the apology – and whether it was the extreme amount of backlash she received, or the ban from Boston bars and clubs that prompted it – the problem with her initial action still remains.

First and foremost, Edelman’s privacy was violated to say the very least, and that’s something that can never be taken back – apology or not.

Gender also comes into play with the situation, as most will admit that if the roles were reversed, the man participating in Sabrina’s actions would be faced with extreme labels, and possibly even court involvement down the line.

This isn’t about gender, though.

It’s not about he-said-she-said. And it certainly isn’t about the dark hole that has become our society’s way of “dating” with Tinder at the unfortunate forefront.

It’s, instead, about humanizing professional athletes.

These men score the game-winning goals, hit the buzzer-beating baskets, and catch the Super Bowlwinning passes. They have paychecks with numbers bigger than most of us see in a lifetime, and hold a lifestyle that is almost unrealistic when contrasted with a day-in-the-life of an Average-Joe.

JONATHAN SATRIALE/ WEBN-TV VIA CC BY-ND 2.0

Julian Edelman totaled for nine receptions and 109 yards in Super Bowl XLIV, catching the eventual Super Bowl winning touch down throw for the New England Patriots on Feb. 1, but that’s not what people were talking about on Feb. 2.

But that’s the catch. These men aren’t average; they are exceptional in every way when it comes to their respective sports. We, as a society, recognize that, and hold these games so high on the list of importance that, suddenly, these very men become superheroes – products, even.

There’s our problem.

We become so consumed with their ability to do things that we can’t, so consumed in their talent, that we forget and disregard one very significant thing: these men are people.

Shocking, isn’t it? Who would have thought the man who led the New England Patriots in receiving during Super Bowl XLIX was actually a human being.

One thing’s for sure, Sabrina evidently didn’t think so. Instead, Edelman was a product, and it was an effort to separate herself from the rest with an accomplishment of… sleeping with a professional athlete?

I applaud her, I really do. I just can’t help but wonder where this big-feat falls on her list of grand life successes. Maybe it’s better that I’ll never know.

Nevertheless, Edelman, with a numerous amount of other men, is held to a certain standard because of his profession. These men are expected to perform to almost perfection on the field, while also being outstanding citizens off of it. They are supposed to be the grand standard of society. Yet, paired with our obsession in their talented abilities, we get off on athletes who stray away from the standard we hold them to.

We become consumed with their mistakes, their slip-ups, and anything we decide doesn’t fit with being

a product of our professional team.

Former Boston Bruins forward, Tyler Seguin – a second overall selection in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft – is a prime example of this. Jumping into the NHL at 18-years-old, Seguin went on to win the most sought-after possession of any hockey player – the Stanley Cup – that same year. A young, immensely talented prospect, already a champion – and it only took 74 games in the league.

Seguin played two more seasons for the Bruins until being dealt to the Dallas Stars for the 2013-14 season.

Talks hovered over the coined to-be superstar, with everyone discussing his antics off the ice. Fans booed and many voiced their displeasures with the young star’s performance, or thought-to-be lack thereof. Mind you, Seguin was known for his habit of partying, a problem that eventually saw his way out of Boston.

However, through it all, one thing was never recognized: Seguin was 18-19-and 20-years-old during his time in Boston. He was a Stanley Cup Champion and was raking in money that even I will admit I wouldn’t have a clue what to do with.

When you work your entire life for something, as professional athletes do, making it can skew even the most humble, down-to-earth perspective. Especially for a kid.

And that’s exactly what Seguin was.

Now 23-years-old, Seguin leads the NHL in points with 59 in 53 games and is living up to every bit of superstardom that was thrown at him at the age of 18.

Most flaunt the argument that these men are professionals; they

should know how to handle themselves.

And they do, in the game of sport. We are the problem. Collectively, we look for ways to point and prove that these men aren’t anywhere near the standard we hold them to – whether it’s Sabrina snapping a picture in bed with a sleeping Edelman, or somebody in a bar with a drunk Seguin.

Ironically enough, these are images that represent two actions that the average person participates in on a daily basis.

These men are professionals.

Tyler Seguin is a professional hockey player.

Julian Edelman is a professional football player.

Nowhere do I see that these men are professional people.

They, like so many of us, have nights they wish they couldn’t remember, and probably a few that they can’t. We, for whatever reason, decided somewhere down the line that we’re not okay with that – these men have to withhold a standard (a standard that they never asked for or claimed to live up to). They have to be professionals.

Professionals, or products; in the end, I don’t think we really know the difference.

Have a question, comment or complaint?

Send us a letter to the editor at ontarion@uoguelph.ca.

Deadline is Monday at 4 p.m., 300 word max.

Issue 176.6 • Thursday, February 12, 2015

ACROSS 1- Cooked in oven 6- ___ soup yet?

10- Unwritten 14- Miss by ___ 15- Gin flavorer 16- Clinton cabinet member Federico 17- Composer Ned 18- Microscopic arachnid 19- And others, briefly 20- “I, Robot” author 22- Wide view of an extensive area 24- Vegas roller 26- Untamed 27- Stuff oneself 31- Xenon, e.g.

32- Exposed 33- Monopoly buy 36- Tree used to make baseball bats 39- Anthem opener 40- Beau 41- Prefix with plasm 42- Some MIT grads 43- Actor Romero 44- Dark 45- TKO caller 46- Graceful roundness 48- Imperfections

51- Eureka!

52- Hazardous 54- Accident 59- Paradise 60- Meat dish 62- Abu ___ 63- Pleasingly pretty 64- Actress McClurg 65- Devoured 66- Raced 67- Actress Russo 68- Resided

DOWN 1- Vamp Theda 2- Old Testament book 3- Soprano Te Kanawa 4- K-6 5- Out-of-date 6- Belief system 7- Fall prey to a banana peel, say 8- Little bits 9- Mall-goer, often 10- Musical dramas 11- Label anew 12- Make ___ for oneself 13- In ___ land 21- By means of 23- Cameo shape 25- Community spirit

27- It’s blown among the reeds 28- Mantel piece 29- Periods 30- Actor Fernando 34- Eggs 35- ___ firma 36- Legal rights org.

37- Agitate 38- Table d’___ 40- Remainder 41- Conclusion 43- Honeycomb unit 44- Singlehanded 45- Kaput 47- Bit of resistance 48- Sick and tired 49- Mountain ridge 50- Kid leather 52- Bodybuilder’s pride 53- Spahn teammate 55- “Saint Joan” playwright 56- Abhor 57- Explorer Tasman 58- Liquid measure 61- Shelter

SUBMIT COMPLETED CROSSWORD TO THE ONTARION OFFICE, UC 264, NO LATER THAN MONDAY FEB. 23RD AT 4 p.m. FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN TWO FREE BOB’S DOGS! CLASSIFIEDS Recruiting male undergraduate students to participate in psychology thesis study.

Time commitment of approximately 30 minutes. Have the opportunity to win a $100 gift card! Please email bdavie01@mail.uoguelph.ca for more information.

FUN PAGE

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NOTICE OF AGM

CROSSWORD WINNER FROM 176.5 IS… BRENDAN FLYNN!

The Ontarion holds its Annual General Meeting on Thursday, March 5, 2015 at 6:30 p.m. in UC 103.

ANSWERS FROM 176.5

You qualify as a voting member of the corporation if: • You have contributed to a minimum of five issues in the last three semesters • You are an undergraduate student at the University of Guelph who has paid their student fees and registered your membership at The Ontarion office no later than Thursday, Feb. 27, at 4 p.m.

• You are a member of the community at large who has come intoThe Ontarion office to pay the equilavent student fee for two semesters and registered your membership no later than Thursday, Feb. 27, at 4 p.m.

The membership list will be published in issues 176.7 and 176.8.

For more information please contact The Ontarion at: ontarion@uoguelph.ca or call 519-824-4120 ext. 58265