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November 7, 2013 • 172.10 |

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172.10 • Thursday, november 7, 2013

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CSA bottled water ban finds opposition

Hospitality Services says ban would be a “slippery slope” Michael Long

In 2012, when New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg proposed a municipal ban on the sale of large, sugary drinks, he sparked controversy.

That proposal prompted civil libertarians to attack the mayor’s office for overstepping its bounds.

Yet, perhaps oddly, the same people who opposed that legislation were also perfectly willing to acknowledge that sugary drinks are indeed bad for public health.

A similar dispute continues to play out at the University of Guelph. Though the issue here is not with sugary drinks, but bottled water. Still, the question is the same: should freedom of choice be impaired for the sake of the ‘public good.’

While all parties agree that the use of bottled water should be discouraged – each citing various environmental reasons – there is disagreement about whether it should be banned outright.

The Central Student Association (CSA) held a rally in Branion Plaza on Oct. 22 to raise awareness about the continued selling of bottled water. The rally intended to remind students that the university has not stopped the sale of bottled water on campus despite the fact that, in a 2012 referendum, 78 per cent of students polled voted against its continued sale.

“Currently, 25 Canadian post-secondary institutions have committed and taken action to eliminate the sale, distribution, and use of bottled water,” said Dominica

McPherson, the CSA’s External Affairs Commissioner and organizer of the CSA’s TapIn campaign. “In fact, some schools have committed to much more than what the CSA is requesting of the administration, including ending the sale of all water products with three ingredients or less and a campus-wide ban extending beyond sale alone.

“The University of Guelph not joining these schools is shameful considering Guelph students started the Canadian bottled-water-free movement in 2008, boosting the university’s environmental reputation nationally,” added McPherson.

David Boeckner, the Executive Director of Hospitality Services, which is the office responsible for distributing bottled water on campus, says that banning bottled water is a “slippery slope,” and points out that “the majority of schools” have said they want to provide choice.

“Once you start banning some products, pretty soon other groups come out and want to ban other products,” says Boeckner. “If the demand is there, we’ll sell it. In the case of bottled water, our demand goes up every year.”

The extent to which people are voting with their wallet should not be discounted, according to Hospitality Services. But the CSA counters that there is support for the ban even among purchasers of bottled water, an argument the association uses to suggest that people need to be more actively discouraged from its sale.

In spite of these differences, both the CSA and Hospitality Services have undertaken measures to encourage the use of tap water as a better alternative to bottled water.

“[Bottled water] is one of many things, and we are trying to address it through education. But it’s not something that we believe you should dictate to people…We have tap water at all Hospitality Service locations on campus and we have a large sustainability program,” said Boeckner.

“Part of that sustainability plan is promoting reusable mugs and containers.”

But, said McPherson, “As long as students continue to express their frustration and disappointment in the administration for not agreeing to end the sale of bottled water on campus, the CSA will continue to pressure the university to stand up to its environmental reputation and listen to the student voice.”

Adding its voice to the debate, albeit implicitly, the department of Landscape Architecture placed a large, free-floating tap in Branion Plaza on Nov. 4. Accompanying it was a sign that listed four reasons why students should switch to tap water.

Maurice Nelischer, Professor Emeritus of Landscape Architecture helped erect the display and opposes a ban the bottled water, saying education is preferable.

Professor Ben Bradshaw, Associate Professor Geography, echoed this sentiment at the Oct. 22 CSA rally. He was there speaking about the need for greater cooperation between the CSA and Hospitality Services.

“I am not here to rally against the decision by Hospitality Services to continue to sell bottled water; it is their prerogative to make such a decision, though I believe they will be found to be on the wrong side of history,”

PHOTO BY WENDY SHEPHERD

The department of Landscape Architecture erected this “floating” tap in Branion Plaza in an attempt to encourage the use of tap water on campus. The department, however, does not support a ban on the sale of bottled water. said Prof. Bradshaw.

While the CSA is not alone it its determination to have people to switch to tap water, its real challenge appears to be finding allies within the university administration

who will support the outright ban. Most of the administration now appears reluctant to support such a measure and is favouring instead – perhaps unsurprisingly – educational measures alone.

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UBC faces sex assault crisis on campus

Safe-walk programs attracting more attention since recent crime spree Amy van den Berg

The University of British Columbia (UBC) is facing a security crisis as it tries to protect its 50,000-odd students from a sex attacker believed to be involved in six assaults since the spring.

The most recent of these attacks occurred Sunday, Nov. 3 at approximately 1:30 a.m. The UBC campus has since upped its police presence to the highest levels in the university’s history. In the latest attack, a young woman was grabbed from behind but managed to escape her assailant

by flailing her arms. This incident resembles others that have occurred on campus, leading security officials to believe these are the acts of a single person.

The situation has prompted a search for the offender, with bike-patrol officers and members of the First Response Team being deployed, as well as crime analysts and profilers. The suspect is described by victims as slim, Caucasian, between 5-foot-8 and 6-foot-2, in his mid-to-late-20s, with dark hair and tanned skin.

UBC has also boosted security patrols, distributed whistles, and increased campus lighting.

In an October incident, a 17-yearold girl was attacked and punched in the face but managed to break free as her attacker attempted to

drag her into a wooded area.

“These attacks seem to be crimes of opportunity where the suspect is specifically targeting lone females in somewhat secluded areas,” said RCMP Sergeant Peter Thiessen in a news conference last week. “In all situations, the women were assaulted while walking on the campus late into the evening or into the early morning hours.”

The ensuing manhunt for the offender has since subsided and a heightened focus on general security is again the main concern.

Since the news of the latest attack, the demand for Safe-walk program run by the UBC student council has increased substantially. On Halloween, there were over 95 calls for safe-walk escorts.

Thiessen is urging women and students to be aware of their surroundings, to walk in pairs or groups, take well-lit paths, and communicate with friends about where they are going and when they should arrive.

These incidences at UBC have also sparked alarm on the University of Guelph campus.

“It’s something that is always on my mind,” said Asia Barclay, a fourth year U of G student.

“The attacks happened in a place that is similar to the University of Guelph with a similar demographic.”

Barclay hopes that this occurrence has an impact on policy and discourse, shifting the shame away from women and placing the focus on

addressing rape culture.

U of G SafeWalk Public Relations Coordinator, Cate Drew Zeran, says the program gets, on average, 0 to 3 calls a night, noting they’ve seen an increase in calls this year. The CSA service is dedicated to providing anybody on campus with a safe walk to his or her destination, and is reachable by cell phone, pay phone or any of the numerous blue poles found around campus. They operate from 7:30 p.m. until 2:30 a.m.

Zeran wishes more students took advantage of the service.

“A lot of people don’t know who we are or don’t understand what we do,” she says. “There’s no shame in protecting yourself…we’re here to make people feel safe.”

Dancing for charity, commerce competition

Guelph delegation of Jeux de Commerce takes over Branion plaza Michael Long

Come January, the University of Guelph will host the Jeux de Commerce Central (JDCC), Canada’s fastest growing business competition. Students, faculty and staff got a chance to interact with the Guelph delegation while the team was out collecting money for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada in Branion Plaza on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Schools participating the JDCC are required to complete several activities throughout the year, culminating in the annual January competition. Tuesday’s event, called Groovin’ for Charity, was one such requirement.

As the name suggests, students were tasked with dancing around

to collect cash for charity.

“Every school that participates [in the JDCC] has to run the Groovin’ for Charity Event,” explained Natalie Branton, the VP of Charity for the Guelph delegation and the team member responsible for the day’s event.

This year’s Guelph delegation consists of 45 students from the College of Management and Economics who apply to be on the team. Once on board, students prepare for one of five areas of the competition: academic, debate, sports, charity and social. The JDCC then brings commerce students from Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes together for a final round of competition in each one of these categories.

The Guelph team hopes to raise $3,600 for Big Brothers Big Sisters this year. Last year the team raised approximately $3,000 for the charity. Guelph’s delegation has already raised $550 in a bottle drive.

The team enlisted DJ Moody, a friend of one of the team’s captains, to liven-up the atmosphere (a few noise complaints notwithstanding).

And the cold helped keep people dancing. The team was, perhaps as a consequence, very enthusiastic in soliciting donations.

“I think we’re pretty aggressive in our marketing,” said Branton, jokingly. “But I think it’s kind of funny, and we’ve been really successful with it. Aggressive is probably putting it lightly, but it’s for a good cause.”

Last year’s JDCC was held at Dalhousie University. This year, teams will be arriving in Guelph from all over eastern Canada, taking over the Delta hotel and conference centre during that time.

While competition has its serious side, with the academic and debate portions, fun is an obligatory part of the whole competition. Hockey and

PHOTO BY WENDY SHEPHERD

Business students competing in Jeux de Commerce Central pose in front of the Cannon.

The team spent the day in Branion Plaza collecting spare change for Big Brothers and Big Sisters as part of the competition’s charity component.

volleyball games will be part of the sports component this year, and the social component asks students to design costumes around a theme.

“It’s so much fun. It’s the most fun I’ve had in university,” said Branton. “It’s like a family atmosphere and everyone is really good friends now.”

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172.10 • Thursday, november 7, 2013

Taxing bars for downtown security

Guelph Councillor Bob Bell wants bars to pull their weight Sabrina Groomes

Should bar owners be paying more to have the police to deal with what happens outside their bar after their customers have left? Guelph Councillor Bob Bell believes they should.

Bell has been a city councilor in Guelph since 2006 and this year he proposed a new financial strategy for downtown policing.

Bell has long been advocating this new strategy, in which bar owners – rather than taxpayers – would take on more of the costs associated with extra policing and cleanup for the downtown bar scene.

Bell proposed a “bar stool

tax” to the city council, which, as the Guelph Tribune explains, would essentially “impose an extra tax on bars and link the size of the tax to the size of the bar.” Yet, on Monday, Nov. 4 a motion was passed to end further investigation into this strategy. Now Bell has come up with a new plan: one similar in effect to what happens in Hamilton’s downtown sector, Hess Village.

Bell is now arguing that bar owners should pay the police department half the cost of having police officers stationed in front of their bars, rather than paying City Hall.

“It could lead to a reduction in police costs charged to the average taxpayer,” explained Bell.

Council also spoke of the Safe Semester program that is responsible for blocking off the

downtown nightlife core on weekends early in the semester. This program began in 2012 and is responsible for the regulation of downtown Guelph by police officers, as well as other safety regulations.

The first Safe Semester program of 2012 cost about $25,000 and city departments, police and transit covered this cost.

Bell had originally proposed that all the costs of extra downtown policing and cleaning be included in the Safe Semester budget, but this idea was turned down.

Bell estimates the true cost of extra cleanup and policing related to the nightlife scene is up to $800,000 annually.

Even though this cost is substantial, Bell believes it is worth the price. There has been a decrease in fighting

and unsafe activity in downtown Guelph.

“The level of policing downtown now is adequate...Nobody steps out of line downtown now.

The moment somebody raises their voice now, there are four police officers there within 15 seconds,” Bell told the Tribune.

The police are doing a great job in the downtown core and Bell wants this to continue; but rather than have taxpayers take on this financial burden, he is hoping that bar owners will cover more of these costs.

With this increase in policing, students can feel safer in their choice to go out and celebrate in downtown Guelph with friends, but they might now ask themselves who, the bar owner or the taxpayer, should be responsible for the additional costs incurred.

Minimum Wage Conference held in Guelph Organizations present submissions to Ontario’s Minimum Wage Advisory Panel Nick Hegedus On Friday, Nov. 1, a conference on the issue of Ontario’s minimum wage took place at the Delta Hotel Conference Centre in Guelph.

The Campaign to Raise the Minimum Wage, an organization founded in March of this year, presented arguments to the Minimum Wage Advisory Panel with the goal of achieving a $14 minimum wage in Ontario. This would bring minimum wage earners above the poverty line, based on a 35-hour work week.

The Minimum Wage Advisory Panel was appointed by the province of Ontario to provide advice to the government regarding potential changes to the minimum wage in the province. Anil Verma, Professor of Human Resource Management at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Commerce, chairs the panel.

Currently, minimum wage in Ontario sits at $10.25 per hour – a wage that has been frozen at the present level for over three years, after increasing by $2.25 from the period between 2008 and 2010.

Janice Folk-Dawson of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) argued that the minimum wage should be raised to $14 per hour, stating that this would assist in bringing minimum wage earners above the poverty line. She also recommended that the minimum

wage be made representative of the cost of living, indexed to the Consumer Price Index, and that a separate commission be created to deal with low-income earners in Ontario. The implication of the current minimum wage on students was another theme in her speech.

“Students can’t pay tuition working minimum wage jobs,” said Folk-Dawson.

Lindsay Butcher, of the Social Planning Council of Cambridge and North Dumfries (SPCCND), also called for a reconsideration of the minimum wage that would elevate low-income earners above the poverty line.

“The SPCCND recognizes minimum wage as one of the key tools in addressing poverty in

Ontario,” said Butcher. “I think minimum wage should be unfrozen as soon as possible.”

However, the conference also heard the other side of the issue.

Dave Bryans, CEO of the Ontario Convenience Stores Association, stated that a drastic increase in the minimum wage is not economically feasible, and could be devastating to convenience stores across the province.

“Convenience stores operate on razor-thin margins,” said Bryans, who argued that the proposed increase could result in job losses and the closing of 35 to 40 per cent of urban convenience stores, and the virtual disappearance of those in rural areas.

Representatives of the agricultural sector were also strongly against any significant increase in the minimum wage, noting that the increases over the last few years were economically damaging to farmers.

“We have no ability to determine the price of our product,” said Ken Forth, Chairman of Ontario’s Agricultural Labour Issues Coordinating Committee. He argued that wages are not an effective means of legislating wealth and that the minimum wage “should be economically driven and not social program driven.”

Regardless of which side of the debate one falls on, the minimum wage issue will be of interest to students.

PHOTO BY WENDY SHEPHERD

Janice Folk-Dawson, President of CUPE Local 1334, tells Ontario’s Minimum Wage Advisory Panel that raising the minimum wage to $14 per hour is necessary to bring minimum wage earners above the poverty line.

Two French journalists killed in Mali France has announced that it will stick to its timetable for withdrawing from war-torn Mali, despite the slaying of two French radio journalists on Saturday, Nov. 2. The journalists were kidnapped and shot while interviewing a Tuareg rebel leader.

The attacks have shaken France, and French President Francois Hollande has expressed “indignation at this odious attack.”

Back in January, fearing that alQaeda-linked rebels were on the verge of overwhelming the North African nation, France launched air strikes and sent troops into its former colony in an attempt to drive them out. The United Nations also has forces in the country.

In the wake of Saturday’s attack, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius announced that additional troops have been sent to the northern region of Kidal, where the killings took place and where Islamist Tuareg rebels have re-established a stronghold.

The Tuareg rebels were largely driven out of northern Mali at the beginning of the French campaign, but have become a stronger presence again in recent months.

Bangladesh sentences 152 to death for mutiny One hundred and fifty-two former members of the Bangladesh Rifles, a paramilitary border security unit, were sentenced to death on Tuesday, Nov. 5 for instigating a bloody mutiny in which thousands of troops took over their own headquarters, demanding better pay and working conditions, among other things.

The mutiny lasted only 33 hours, but during that time the mutineers executed dozens of their commanding officers.

Fifty-seven top-ranking and mid-ranking army officers were killed in the uprising. In the end, tanks surrounded the seized military base and many border guards attempted to flee.

Prosecutors originally brought charges against 850 men serving in the Bangladesh Rifles, but 277 were acquitted at a mass trial.

Of those convicted, 256 were given sentences of 20 years or less and 161 were sentenced to life in prison.

Human rights watchers cannot remember a time when so many people were sentenced to death in a single trial. And such an act is almost unheard of during peacetime.

What is more, Bangladesh is typically one of the lowest users of the death penalty among countries that still enforce capital punishment.

Compiled by Michael Long

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Students groups unite for Random Act of Kindness Kindness begets more kindness, at least for a day Michael Long The Kitchener-Waterloo Community Foundation came up with the idea for Random Act of Kindness Day back in 2008 to help “bring communities together by engaging citizens in small acts of kindness and generosity.” On Friday Nov. 1 (the official Random Act of Kindness Day), several student groups at the University of Guelph took up that mantle on behalf of students.

Groups from Student Life, Student Volunteer Connections, The Central Student Association and the Multi-Faith Resource Team each hosted small events in the University Centre from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in an effort to encourage kindness by offering small kindnesses themselves.

Peer helpers from Student Life, the primary organizers of the day’s events, set up a table offering hot chocolate, apple cider and flowers to passers-by.

“I think we had 280 flowers to start off with and they went within a few hours,” said Mark Ryder, a peer helper with Student Life.

But the purpose of “paying-itforward” was not lost on these lucky beneficiaries.

“A few people who were picking up flowers said, ‘I’m going to hand this to all my staff members,’” said Jackie Vykoukal, also a peer helper from Student Life.

Some students made grander gestures for the occasion – with karma compensating them accordingly. On Student Life’s Random Act of Kindness Day Facebook page, Jileen Swan wrote: “I gave my umbrella to a lady standing in the rain at a crosswalk this morning [and] someone paid for my tea at Tim Hortons.”

Most acts of day were not so elaborate; but that wasn’t really the point.

“Kindness can be anything, large or small…[It] doesn’t have to cost money,” said Pauline Curtis, the co-chair of Guelph Community Foundation.

What is more, in the thick

of midterm season, events like these can take on added significance.

“In a university atmosphere, a lot of people are going through a lot of stress and just a simple act of kindness will bring a smile to their face,” said Vykoukal.

Deceptively simple acts were the rule of the day for groups putting on events in the University Centre. Student Volunteer Connections were giving out free hugs. The Multi-Faith Resource Team set up a “Peace Booth,” where strangers were invited to take fun photos with other strangers. The group also constructed a “Peace Tree” from which students could pluck feelgood messages.

Passers-by who enjoyed any one of these activities were offered a Random Act of Kindness Day “card,” which encouraged the receiver to “please return the favour and perform another random act of kindness to a fellow citizen.”

“It’s been amazing,” said Vykoukal, summing up the day.

“People have been so happy.”

NEWS

PHOTO BY WENDY SHEPHERD

The University of Guelph’s Begging Bear was dressed-up in support of Random Act of Kindness Day. The annual event has more to do with encouraging niceness than soliciting donations.

NEWS

172.10 • Thursday, november 7, 2013

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CSA Food Bank hopes to build garden

Workshop held to get student input on design, but project not a sure thing yet Michael Long

The Central Student Association (CSA) is hoping to construct a food garden on the land surrounding the CSA Food Bank office, which is located on the north-eastern corner of Gordon Street and South Ring Road. A workshop was held on Saturday, Nov. 2 to give students the opportunity to provide ideas about what they would like to see in the garden, as well as get a sense of what future, instructional gardening workshops might look like, if indeed the garden is approved by the university’s administration.

Plans to build a CSA Food Bank garden are nothing new, according to Brittany Skelton, the CSA’s Food Bank Coordinator.

“It’s [an idea] that’s been kicking around the Food Bank for a couple of years. A new movement among food banks is to do more than just emergency food, so [we’re] looking at having healthy, nutritious food coming into the space,” said Skelton. “We do a lot of surveys with our visitors and a lot of them say they want more

fresh food. So why not? Why don’t we grow it ourselves?”

The Food Bank building currently occupies only a small portion of its leased land, but the property itself extends all the way to the sidewalk on both sides and is mostly open green space. The CSA is planning to meet with Don O’Leary, the Vice President of Finance and Administration, to ask for permission to use the land for the garden.

While the proposed garden would be in a highly visible spot, the Food Bank is confident that the plan will be approved.

“We’ve been including [the administration] from the beginning,” said Paul Wartman, who was Saturday’s workshop instructor and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in “edible forest gardening” at the University of Guelph. “If we just went out and did some guerrilla gardening, that might not get approved. But because we’ve been talking with them and they understand why we’re doing this, I think it’s a good chance.”

Approximately twenty students turned up to the workshop to learn about the first steps of garden design. While the instruction confined itself to the most rudimentary steps of observing and mapping a build-site, attendees were largely hopeful

PHOTO BY WENDY SHEPHERD

In the CSA Bike Centre, students pitch ideas to workshop leader, Paul Wartman (standing), about what they would like to see in a CSA Food Bank Garden. for the CSAs project.

“I really hope that we can produce a really significant volume of food for the Food Bank, that it can be a really successful thing, not just a model project but can actually have a real impact,” said Kelly Hodgins, a master’s student in food security and food systems.

Produce generated from the garden would still be reserved for existing Food Bank users, of which there are approximately 450 on campus, but all students would be welcome to enjoy the garden and participate in its instructional workshops. The garden would likely be built on

raised beds, to accommodate the poor soil quality and make the garden itself transportable in the event that the Food Bank is relocated. The garden would also be organic.

If all goes well, the CSA Food Bank hopes to start planting by the spring of 2014.

Trick or Eat breaks U of G record

Students rewarded for braving the driving rain with nearly 50,000 pounds of food Michael Long

It seems Guelphites took pity on drenched U of G Trick-or-Eaters this past Halloween. Despite a lower turnout than years past, and despite the decidedly scary weather, this year’s Trick or Eat drive raised more than ever before: 49,105 lbs in total.

Trick or Eat is the largest event on the Central Student Association’s Meal Exchange calendar.

Students who participate in the event dress in their Halloween best to canvass neighbourhoods around Guelph for non-perishable foods. Those foods are then sent to the Guelph Food Bank.

Trick or Eat is the largest donation of food the Guelph Food Bank receives each year – arriving just in time for the Food Bank’s busy holiday season – but it is a logistical challenge to coordinate.

“While it is a two to three hour endeavour for those who Trick or Eat, for those who are part of the event it goes well until five or six a.m.,” said Vinosha Jegatheeswaran, the Central Coordinator at Meal Exchange.

Jegatheeswaran has been planning the event since May. Among other things, the organizers must assign students who registered online to predetermined routes, hire 12 school buses to shuttle students to and from the University Centre, borrow between 300 and 400 shopping carts from local grocery stores, placing them at drop-off locations, and pick up all the food in three delivery trucks before taking it to the Guelph Food Bank to be sorted and weighed.

Meal Exchanges estimates that around 300 students participated this year.

While last year’s event saw approximately 800 students participate – and 2011 saw over 1,000 – this most recent drive is perhaps proof that sheer numbers are not the best indicator of expected donations. This year’s drive, despite having fewer people, yielded 20,000 pounds more than last year, and broke the previous record that was set in a year when there were 1,500 participants.

Part of the success is due to fact that, even if Trick-or-Eaters didn’t reach every door, Guelph residents, businesses and schools still made the effort to drop off their donations to the Guelph Food Bank.

“Even though the [volunteer] numbers were a little low this

year, the community came out in droves and really supported us,” said Brittany Skelton, the CSA Food Bank Coordinator, who added that the rain wasn’t actually that bad.

“Everyone just kind of embraced it and had a good time.”

The University of Guelph is one of the biggest supporters of Trick or Eat in Canada and the U of G has a long history with the campaign. Dave Kranenburg, Guelph alum, started the drive in 2001.

“I think Guelph, as small town, has a special community vibe and a really interesting food culture,” said Jegatheeswaran. “People really support the movement toward food security and local sustainable initiatives.”

Many residents prepare themselves for Trick-or-Eaters and keep a stock of non-perishables next to the door.

“We come by every year and they know we’re coming,” said Jegatheeswaran. “And its funny, sometimes if we miss a route, they’ll be like, ‘Oh, you didn’t come by last year! You’ve got to come by this year, we’ve got a lot for you.’”

Trick or Eat is a national campaign run by Meal Exchange, a youth-driven charity that aims to eliminate hunger across Canada.

According to the CSA Meal Exchange website, there are an estimated 18,781 hungry in Guelph.

PHOTO BY WENDY SHEPHERD

Students register in the University Centre for the annual Trick or Eat drive just hours before the buses leave to take students to their assigned routes.

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AroarA shakes it up at Silence

Never underestimate the power of art Emily Jones

There is something extraordinarily special about artists who have the ability to ignite passion in their audience – that moment where everything else falls at the wayside and the audience is left in awe. AroarA had this affect on the audience throughout their performance Wednesday, Oct. 30 at Silence. The talent this duo possesses goes so deep. Their harmonies were infectious. The duo is made up of Andrew Whiteman (Broken Social Scene/Apostle of Hustle) and wife Ariel Engle, who both have unique elements to share. In an interview with Whiteman, he said, “Ariel and I, we were involved romantically before the band, the band came second… we knew the band was going to happen but didn’t know what form it would take. We both like a lot of different kinds of music; there are lots of different things to do. When we started we started using crazy instruments – a goatskin West African banjo – what we were making in the beginning had that kind of flavor, like Arabic disco.

In the Pines kind of presented itself as this is the thing you should focus on right now.”

Raw talent and passion emanated from the duo in what seemed like an effortless manner. Avantgarde poet, Alice Notley’s, inspired

AroarA’s debut album, In the Pines.

The collection of poetry, which goes by the same name, is filled with sorrow and struggle, based on a woman who is undergoing hepatitis C treatment and dealing with bouts of confusion and depression while struggling through this change.

Each song on the album is numbered (not in chronological order) to match a particular poem from Notley’s book.

Whiteman expressed in the interview that “I’m just a worker, that’s what I do, I make culture…a little tiny sliver of it, I make it with my wife and I think what we are doing is really freaky fresh.” When asked why AroarA chose to use Notley’s work, Whiteman said, “I’m a poetry fanatic and a poetry snob, and I have a lot of opinions on what I think is good and isn’t, it’s a huge part of my life. Alice is one of the great practitioners going today; that idea was very sporadic. I was brushing my teeth and thinking, ‘We could use this.’”

A fusion of all artistic elements went into the production of their album and their performance. Whiteman said that, “[they] love the interdisciplinary approach,” and AroarA’s feel is exactly that – it has something for everyone to appreciate.

Both Whiteman and Engle have collaborated with other artists in their musical careers, but the formation of AroarA was unique for them, as it was not only working together with another artist,

PHOTO BY WENDY SHEPHERD

Andrew Whiteman and Ariel Engle are doing what they do best at Silence on Oct. 30, in Guelph. AroarA’s Their performance was immaculate - full of passion and artistic talent. but with each other. Whiteman expressed, “When we are trying to make music together, it’s more helpful, more effective to treat the other person like a collaborator, not like your wife or husband.” There are benefits to working together in this way, “The fact that we are always together is great, because if you come up with an idea then they are there to share with and tell them,” Whiteman said, explaining that this allows for a constant flow of experimentation and new artistic creation. Whiteman also expressed that when there are downfalls, “you go along, and figure this little things out and then fix them.”

When asked about the message they wanted to get out to the public

Album review: Arcade Fire’s Reflektor

COURTESY PHOTO

Adrien Potvin No longer Canada’s “you gotta hear this!” indie darling, Arcade Fire is, as we speak, on top of the world. The incredible promotional rollout for Reflektor, their first LP since 2010’s The Suburbs, was as impressive as it was progressive. This is the model of the here and now – making a buzz with something substantial to show for it – and boy, do they ever show for it.

Growing from the initial cryptic veve-inspired graffiti (or, Haitian vodou icon) found in cities around the world, into wild and vivid music videos directed by Anton Corbijn (“Reflektor”) and Roman Coppola (“Here Comes the Night

Time”), Arcade Fire envisions promotion as a living, breathing thing; utilizing listener, medium and performer in a truly contemporary, postmodern sense. This is a band that knows how to draw a listener and hook them into a sensual and thrilling experience, both sonically and visually.

Although lyrically dour and serious as ever, Win Butler and company fuse bouncy grooves and Haitian-inspired flavours (largely courtesy of singer/ multi-instrumentalist Régine Chassagne) into their distinctive, massive sound. James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem and long-time Arcade Fire producer Markus Dravs helm the production with great care, with enough new to not distill Arcade Fire’s familiar, distinctive sound.

The album opens with the title track “Reflektor,” and is followed by “We Exist,” both carrying vibes of Remain in Light era Talking Heads and New Order, as well as a welcomed backup vocal by David Bowie on the title track. These cuts set the binaric tone of the album with dark, brooding textures and insatiably fun grooves. “Flashbulb” and “Here Comes The Night Time”

ARTS & CULTURE

stand out as the most Caribbeaninspired tracks, with striking dub and rara inspired melodies and production.

“Here Comes the Night Time II” marks the album’s crossing into its more moody second half, and its adaptation of the Orpheus myth. For this reviewer, “Awful Sound (Oh Eurydice)” and “It’s Never Over (Oh Orpheus)” are the standout tracks and some of the most powerful in the band’s entire catalogue. Duality is a central theme of the album as a whole, and these two tracks that channel the classical Orpheus myth highlight the dual nature of the album vividly-Orpheus/Eurydice, French/ English, and acoustic/electric are just some of the “reflections” present throughout.

Arcade Fire’s choice to use the Orpheus myth as more of a footnote than a centerpiece is an important artistic choice.

Few people want to listen a bloated, self-righteous concept album these days, and Arcade Fire seems to know this, being careful to not make “Reflektor” one of them. The result is an album that not just warrants, but demands your attention, and is sure to reveal more depth after multiple listens.

about In the Pines, he shared: “We absolutely have a message, In the Pines...it’s about leanness. We made this record on a laptop in a house for very cheap…when we play live, we play our guitars and we put our sounds in a cheap sampler that we push with our fingers to get it started. We aren’t on a sequence; we aren’t trying to recreate the album for the audience without them secretly knowing. We just want them to get the skeleton of the thing.”

When their vinyl comes out, if a person wanted to go into the narrative, deep inside the poetry of In the Pines, they’d see “there is something going on there with [Notely’s] use of language and her topic is a reflection of how we play live.”

Whiteman went on to say, “I [guess I] can’t tell you what the message is, but I know that I feel it every time I play, I put on my suit, I know what I’m doing, I know what I deliver.

It’s a very subjective thing. Poetry… often can be an interior pursuit… people can feel what we do.”

Whiteman believes that “everything in [his] life has led to this” and that they “love playing live; I think we really have our live legs down now.”

The feelings evoked at AroarA’s concert are almost indescribable; to leave a performance feeling elevated and full of passion, it is known that what had been witnessed was a true gift of artistic embodiment. AroarA is a force to be reckoned with.

ALBUM OF THE WEEK: DRAWING LINES

COURTESY PHOTO

Odd Years’ debut album, Drawing Lines, is a reinvention of the simplicity of 60s alternative rock, with swelling harmonies and instrumental brilliance. The album was produced by Andy Magoffin at The House of Miracles in Cambridge – recording home to bands such as Great Lake Swimmers, The Constantines, and Jim Guthrie. The pedal steel work in track “Patient” fills the soul with old-western sass, while the blues-rock guitar riffs in “Odd Year” earn a foot-stomping and head-bopping response. The eclectic mix of tracks will definitely keep you interested, as there’s something nostalgic for everyone to grab onto.

ARTS & CULTURE

172.10 • Thursday, november 7, 2013

Guelph, Wellington and the World

Guelph Photographers Guild presents work at Civic Museum Stacey Aspinall

Running until Dec. 15, Guelph Civic Museum is displaying a collection of photographs centered on the theme of “Guelph, Wellington and the World.” This exhibit includes photographs taken by members of the Guelph Photographers Guild, captured from near and far. Some members turned their lens to local scenes, while others travelled for inspiration.

The exhibit, curated by local photographer Bruce Shapka, was open to submissions from the guild’s members. “It was left up to them to select, from their own particular collection of photographs, which ones they would want to print, frame, and submit,” said Shapka.

Over 40 images, taken by 14 guild members, occupy a single room in the museum. The subject matter includes farmhouses, bridges and rivers, historic buildings and architecture, forests and natural scenery, and a few human subjects. The overall theme is broad enough to accommodate a range of subjects.

Guelph residents will recognize many local landmarks, all presented in intriguing ways.

Will Wellington Last week, Zavitz Gallery played host to R & D, a showcase of work by students in the MFA program, including; Jen Aitken, Stephanie Cormier, Denise Higginson, Jasmine Reiner, and others. It would be futile and boring to attempt a comprehensive description of the whole show in this limited space, so

“Lady in the Mist” by Doug J. England is a moody, atmospheric image of the statue at the front of the iconic Church of Our Lady Immaculate. The church looms in the background, its spires fading into a thick fog.

Many photographers explore Guelph’s rural landscape for inspiration. “Abandoned Barn” by Nick Mares presents a red barn as the focal point in a desolate snowy field, a quintessential Southern Ontario scene.

“Gimme Shelter” by Alan Norsworthy captures the exterior of downtown hangout the Albion Hotel, caught in a snow flurry while its sign glows through the thick snowfall. Shapka explained the story behind the spontaneous image: “That was taken a couple years ago on New Years Day. [Northsworthy] was out for a walk, and always carries his camera it seems, and the Albion Hotel left their lights on from overnight and it started to snow. It’s like being there at the right time, with your camera. You could never go back and duplicate that,” said Shapka.

“Shattered,” also captured by Norsworthy, is one particularly striking photograph in the collection; this colourful image depicts a close-up view of a shattered car window, revealing beauty in an unexpected place. The fractured, translucent

PHOTO BY WENDY SHEPHERD

The exhibition for the Guelph Photography Guild opened at the Guelph Civic Museum last week. It houses the photography and various local photographers who have captured the landscapes of Guelph and beyond. The exhibit runs until the middle of December. glass picks up the colours in the background in pastel hues. The hole in centre of the window creates a striking focal point, and cracks radiate from the centre.

These locally sourced photographs are presented alongside images captured by Guelph guild members while travelling, providing some worldly context.

In addition to photographs, there

are also displays of vintage cameras, some of which were selected from the museum’s historical archives.

There are examples of homemade pinhole cameras, Kodak Brownie box cameras, early Polaroid cameras, and other artifacts from photography’s analogue past.

“Guelph, Wellington and the World” stands as a testament to the beauty and character of Guelph and

A to Zavitz: R & D

the focus is on a handful of pieces.

These pieces presented themselves as a series of small answers to a series of small questions. The artists may have asked questions such as: What if I crushed the metal ring from the top of a mason jar?; Would that do it?; What if I crushed a second and a third? The results, hung from three nails, and did not present themselves as masterpieces,

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grand statements, not even necessarily as art – they were data. They were results, and this was research.

The phrase “research and development,” which may have inspired the exhibit’s title, represented a new way of thinking about an old idea. Art has always proceeded by experimentation and refinement, and the language of science is not totally strange to the art world – polish theatre director and innovator of experimental theatre, Jerzy Grotowski, for instance, called his work the “theatre laboratory,” a mesh between arts and science.

Research and development suggested a process – that the item before you was simply one model of something which will be improved in future. It also suggested product development, and there is probably a measure of irony in this.

The strangest and most wonderful

works in this show were a number of tiny, exquisite, and inscrutable artefacts, displayed on cardboard platforms. Higginson’s experiments produced the following results, among others: two blocks of sponge with “things” stuck on, in, and around them. The one orange sponge, wrapped with a strip of pink cloth, poked with bendy straws; the other green sponge, stuck with tiny twigs and mini-marshmallows – one of the finest winter landscapes recently displayed. They were precisely improbable, almost accidental. What they suggested was the insanity of the spirit of experimentation, the endless variation on questions such as; What if?; What if a twig here?; And another twig here? A couple of Reiner’s pieces seemed to exist in the same mode: a strip of rubber from a tire,

its surrounding area, within the wider world, and it highlights the Guelph Photographers Guild’s dedication to exploring, capturing and sharing their creative work.

“You take your camera with you and most times you don’t use it. But you never know when something will crop up and you’re there at the right time to capture that moment in time,” said Shapka.

twisted into a cylinder and clipped together with a clothespin – a jar wrapped in green webbing.

These items had an odd beauty to them, but did they have a point?

This may be where the art and science metaphor fell apart: unlike the concrete objectives of the sciences, the objectives of art cannot always be put into words. Indeed, it is this ineffability that compels the artist and the viewer. We are both, in the moment of the work, struggling to reach something unreachable, each of us an asymptote. Art always drives toward transcendence: imagine the artist poking those bendy straws in that sponge.

Art critic, Dave Hickey, thinks art would be best practiced with try-outs, stopwatches, whistles. This show has gone toward convincing others that art should be conducted with lab coats, goggles, and clipboards.

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ARTS & CULTURE

A vexing spectacle at Hexing Decibels

An unexpected turn of events during a Halloween event in the campus Arboretum Jessica Avolio

For the annual Raise Your Voice! fundraising drive, campus radio’s CFRU 93.3 FM planned a Halloween event for all ages. Hexing Decibels attracted over 200 people to the Arboretum Centre, featuring DJs and bands, burlesque, spoken word, black-light paintings, and more.

Those in attendance were chatting, dancing, hula hooping, and snacking on pizza, hummus, and other munchies provided. Organizers made every attempt to be as accommodating as possible with gender-neutral washrooms and accessible entrances. The atmosphere was pleasant, upbeat and welcoming, atypical to the usual vibe of this annual celebration.

At about 11:30 p.m., after the fog machine had been puffing full-force, the fire alarm was set off. Partygoers were directed outside through the front and back entrances,

leaving many in the cold and rain without coats and shoes.

Campus police and Guelph fire fighters arrived to clear the building, letting only two to five people in at a time to collect their belongings. At about midnight, attendees (many of whom were still located outdoors) were informed through word-of-mouth that the event had been canceled, leaving most confused about what had just transpired.

[Hospitality Services] expressed to us that it was no longer a safe space, it was no longer a safe event.

- Heather Jarvis, Community Outreach Coordinator at CFRU Behind the scenes was a more interesting turn of events. Right before the fire alarm rang, “I was approached by two of my other key organizers saying, ‘There seems to be a problem.’ Hospitality Services says they want to shut down the bar because some people have

brought in outside alcohol,” stated Heather Jarvis, a CFRU staff member and organizer of the event. At this moment in time, Hospitality Services’ main concern was shutting down the bar to avoid jeopardizing their liquor license.

But upon the sounding of the fire alarm and the arrival of police and firefighters, moods quickly shifted. “At this point in time, very quickly, Hospitality Services said they were going to shut down the event,” said Jarvis.

Surprised at the seemingly hasty decision, event-organizers made several attempts to discuss other possible solutions, such as removing select “intoxicated” individuals who were sneaking in alcohol. But at that point, “[Hospitality Services] expressed to us that it was no longer a safe space, it was no longer a safe event... ultimately, [the event-organizers] were not the people who had the decision making power at that point,” stated Jarvis.

The Arboretum Centre had been rented by CFRU, and the decision was out of their hands.

Cancelling the event so abruptly had left 200-or-so individuals, including those who were intoxicated and had

Walk on the wild side

Just a perfect day for Lou Reed Ian Gibson

Rarely does a musician reach the height and boundaries of stardom that Brooklyn-born Lou Reed did, who passed away last Sunday, Oct. 27, at the age of 71.

Resulting in complications from a liver transplant back in May, Reed’s junkie-journey was notoriously full of ups and downs, from alcoholism and drug-abuse to fame and reclusion. His sheer talent touched on all genres in the art world, from literature to sound and vision, and arguably

pre-empted the multi-media world we now live in.

Perhaps best known for songs like “Walk on the Wild Side,” and “Sweet Jane,” Reed’s capricious contribution to pop culture can be traced back to Andy Warhol’s “Factory” studio in New York, where the local transients conjugated in art, drugs, orgies, and music.

It was here, in the mid-sixties, where Reed cut his teeth in forming the avant-garde band, The Velvet Underground.

Reed’s counter-culture subject matter delved into themes of heroin, homosexuality, misogyny, murder, sadomasochism, and suicide. The punk

PHOTO BY CALEB DALLMAN

Hexing Decibels, CFRUs Halloween event, was abruptly cancelled leaving many questioning what had happened. snuck in alcohol, dispersed in a forest, looking for a place to go.

Event-organizers made every effort to organize walks home with SafeWalk, call cab companies, and have their volunteers offer rides – but due to the large group of people exiting the building at once, and busy taxi lines due to Halloween festivities, many were left wandering down College Avenue (a street with no sidewalk) in search of a ride home.

“This was a small, small minority of over 150 people

who were happy, who were non-aggressive, who were majority in control of their behaviour and their actions,” stated Jarvis. Despite the small minority who broke the rules by sneaking in outside alcohol, shutting down the event was the final decision that affected everyone in attendance.

CFRU plans to meet with Hospitality Services to discuss what happened, with the aim that future events will be better coordinated and have safer outcomes for those who attend them.

STYLE PICK OF THE WEEK: SIMON YANG

poet also conjured up melody with wit in “Satellite of Love,” and informal lyrics in songs like “Walk on the Wild Side.”

Album sales were never as accredited as his cult status in the art world, especially with having such a peerage as Keith Richards, David Bowie, Iggy Pop, and Nico. Despite Reed’s dark sound, he reached an iconic resonance with subsequent generations of musicians, such as Roxy Music, Talking Heads, R.E.M. and Metallica. Some would argue that this curmudgeonly sarcastic rock god shall be remembered for “Heroin” and “Femme Fatale,” but in the end, Lou Reed is all rock ‘n’ roll.

PHOTO BY WENDY SHEPHERD

Simon Yang demanded attention without realizing it on a lovely November day on the University of Guelph campus.

Yang wore khaki coloured slim fit denim, a fitted denim button up covered by a camouflage jacket. Yang brought the look together smoothly with his sneakers and well fitting cap.

FIGHT FOR K Women’s hockey team proves that sometimes, it’s more than just a game Andrew Donovan

PHOTO BY PABLO VADONE

Guelph’s first preseason game was versus Carleton. Kandace Charbonneau didn’t capitalize on this opportunity but the Gryphons still won 3-0.

On Nov. 9, the Gryphons women’s hockey team will host the Windsor Lancers at the Gryphon Centre at 2 p.m. The game will feature many important headlines; including the fight for Guelph to remain in a hunt for first place in the OUA, and the quest for a fifth straight win to improve on their already impressive 7-2-0 start to the season.

However, every now and then, sport transcends being just a game. It evolves into an event far bigger than winning and losing, offense and defense; and Saturday’s marquee matchup will be an example of when sport becomes bigger than numbers.

Kevin Siddall, 14 year-old brother of Brooke Siddall, senior goaltender for the Gryphons, was recently diagnosed with nonHodgkin’s Lymphoma cancer.

As the unknowns of health and life became a stark reality for the Siddall family, the community of women that make up the Gryphons hockey team began rallying in a truly inspirational show of solidarity for their teammate.

Michelle Sabourin, four-year

teammate and good friend of Siddall, got the proverbial ball rolling for the initiative called “Fight for Kevin.” The decision to create an initiative to help the Siddall family was an easy one for Sabourin: “Brooke and her entire family are people that would do anything for anyone, and after hearing the news about Kevin, I wanted to make sure I was there to support and help in her family’s fight as much as possible.

Cancer is also something that has touched my family and many of my teammates, so this was a great cause and event to get people out to support the fight.”

Once it was established that the team was going to raise money, the next step was to decide where the money was going. “We discussed what we should be raising money for,” said Siddall. “I said that most importantly it should be going to the people who have helped us, which is ChildCan.” ChildCan is an organization developed to support children and families through childhood cancer. Their mission statement is: to raise funds to provide responsive and compassionate support services to families facing the journey through childhood cancer – from diagnosis, treatment, recovery, or bereavement.

“Chi [room ald H Londo basica night with f super to do t said o The the ru worn had th “FFK” Imm of the here f and I that I the gu and I said S partic her en outsid wearin know know so th the su men’s family stretch The g big cro Guelp home, all of

COURTESY OF BROOKE SIDDALL

Kevin, Brooke & Brett at Sick Kids Hospital with the brothers sporting matching hairdos.

PHOTO BY RAC

KEVIN

ildCan has provided this m] at the Ronald McDonHouse…Whether we’re in on or Toronto, and it’s ally set up so you pay $10 a and you get a hotel room free food at every meal…It’s helpful, so you don’t have that stuff yourself.” Siddall of the opportunity. women began ordering ubber wristbands normally for cancer awareness, and hem made lime green with ” inscribed in it. mediately, the popularity ese bracelets grew. “I came for my first week of school had these green bracelets gave to my team…But then uy’s team asked for them don’t know half of them,” Siddall as she reflected on a cular experience that had nthusiastic. “I was sitting de one day when I saw a guy ng the bracelet. I didn’t who he was. He didn’t who I was [personally], hat’s pretty cool…to have upport of the women’s and s team is huge. We’re like a y,” said Siddall, with a smile hing from ear to ear. game itself hopes to draw a owd from both Windsor and ph. The Siddalls call Windsor , and with four siblings of different ages, the support

CHEL SIMPSON

networks for Kevin and the family have been “amazing,” according to Siddall. “My family is involved in a lot of things in the [Windsor] community…and we’ve gotten different aspects of everyone contributing, it’s not just a school community or a baseball community or a hockey community.

There’s four of us siblings, and we’ve got people participating from all over.”

While Windsor normally sports white, blue and gold, and Guelph normally sports black, red and gold, the women’s team is asking all attendees to sport lime green to raise awareness for Lymphoma – a feature that hopes to galvanize both teams and fans for a cause far bigger than the game of hockey.

Tickets are free for students and #FFK bracelets will be sold at the game. The team also plans to sell raffle tickets and they are accepting cash donations as well, with all proceeds going straight to ChildCan. This will be a great opportunity to not only cheer on a Gryphons team that sits second in the OUA, but for the always philanthropic nature of the Guelph community to be displayed loud and proud for such a monumental event.

Wishes and prayers are with the Siddall family – Guelph stands strong with you.

PHOTO BY PABLO VADONE

Centre, Averi Nooren, battles for the puck in Guelph’s 1-0 shootout win versus York.

PHOTO BY PABLO VADONE

Leigh Shilton (92) and the Gryphons handed the Ryerson Rams a 2-0 in their third win of the season. Guelph is now 7-2 heading into Saturday’s matchup.

COURTESY OF BROOKE SIDDALL

From left to right: All four siblings - Brett, Mackenzie, Kevin, and Brooke.

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National Champions for lacrosse

Men’s lacrosse wins Baggataway Cup over McGill to win national championship Jeff Sehl

After 16 games, and a long bus trip to McGill’s Molson Stadium in Montreal, the Gryphons men’s lacrosse team can finally call themselves national champions.

On the back of an eightpoint performance from senior attackman, Ryan Serville, the Gryphons took down the undefeated McGill Redman 14-11 on their home turf, winning the program’s fourth Baggataway Cup and their first since 2008.

The win was Guelph’s third victory in three days, dropping two of the Canadian University Field Lacrosse Association’s top teams; the Bishops

Gaiters and the Brock Badgers, on route to the championship win over the host Redmen.

For the graduating players, including four graduating fifth year seniors, this championship is the culmination of a university athletic career filled with hard work and sacrifice, which finally paid off.

“It feels great,” said fifth year goaltender, Jeremy Snider. “It’s five years too late but we finally got [the Baggataway Cup].”

The team’s previous four seasons ended in disappointing playoff losses including consecutive last minute semi-final defeats in the past two seasons. However, returning players were able to learn from these adverse experiences and use them to push them over the threshold to a championship.

In fact, adversity became a focus for the team, making a conscious effort not to lose focus when the bounces weren’t going

PHOTO COURTESY OF MCGILL ATHLETICS AND RECREATION

The men’s Lacrosse team were crowned national champions with a win over McGill last saturday. It is their first national championship since 2008. their way, which was an issue for the team in previous seasons.

“We talked about it all year. If we wanted to win a championship this year we’d have to overcome a heck of a lot of adversity, and that’s exactly what we did,” Snider said.

“We came together at just the right

Rhythm-less Guelph offense outmatched in OUA semi-final

Gryphons fail to capitalize on field position and special teams Andrew Donovan

The No.5 Guelph Gryphons’ hopes of reaching their second straight Yates Cup ended in Kingston last Saturday, when the No.4 Queen’s Golden Gaels executed a brilliant four-quarter performance to win their 14th straight at home, 34-17, setting up a classic Yates Cup final versus Western on Nov. 9.

Going into the OUA semi-final versus Queen’s, it was no secret that for Guelph to beat Queen’s, Rob Farquharson was going to need to play nothing short of the game of his life. Guelph’s leading running back averaged 104.4 yards-per-game during the regular season and only failed to rush for under 100-yards once, versus the Gaels in the final game of the regular season.

However, once again, Guelph’s inability to run consistently versus the Gaels was evident during the semi-final; Farquharson managed only 85 grit-fuelled yards.

While the benchmark of 100yards by Farquharson was seen by pundits as the minimum for a Guelph win, the reason Guelph lost certainly had little to do with the productivity of their senior running back.

The strife began in the third quarter, with Guelph up 17-16 and kicking against the wind. With Guelph backed up inside their own 20 yard line in two drives that

quarter, coach Stu Lang elected to concede the safety on both occasions, surrendering four total points in the third to go down 20-17.

Granted, punter Daniel Ferarro averaged just 34 yards-per-punt on the season, which made the decision to concede a safety more sound, but it begged the question of whether or not it is worth giving away points to be compensated for field position. For Lang, field position was clearly the name of the game, especially with Queen’s running back Ryan Granberg’s ability to run all over Ontario’s leading rush defense in the first half.

Guelph failed to score a point in the second half; a statistic more conducive to losing a football game than debating whether or not to punt or surrender a safety.

The lack of scoring in the second half was due to Queen’s ability to hone in on Guelph’s run game, which showed as the yards-percarry average diminished over the four quarters. This inability to move the ball on the ground late in the game was part-in-parcel due to the inability to execute through the air. Jazz Lindsey went just 17-for-35 for 212 yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Lindsey never commanded the offense with the type of rhythm needed from a starting quarterback to win versus an opponent like Queen’s. In moments where the special teams came up big, such as the onside punt recovery

by Patrick McGrath, quick drives highlighted by massive sacks and overthrown receivers led to almost immediate losses of possession for the Gryphons.

SPORTS & HEALTH

It is easy to suggest in hindsight that errors were made on special teams and cues on offense, but there is no hindsight needed to admit that Queen’s is a premier football program – a program that had Guelph’s number this season.

The superiority of the Gaels began on offense with starting quarterback Billy McPhee and, in both meetings, was exemplified on defense with a shutdown run game and an agile secondary.

Despite the loss to Queen’s, coach Lang preaches that Guelph needs to show consistency in their winning to stay a contender year in and year out.

This ability to sustain success will be tested on a year-to-year basis, obviously; but looking at Guelph’s returning veterans for 2014, their ability to sustain their success next season should prove plausible. Jazz Lindsey will be returning for his senior year, and while the run game will miss Farquharson, Bryson WishloffDobush and Johnny Augustine will provide a one-two punch with great potential.

On defense, Guelph will welcome back a slew of effective starters including Cam Walker, Ian Marouf and Jordan Thompson – three defensive linemen that will seek to reclaim their title as the OUA’s best rush defense.

The returning players, along with a coaching staff that is dedicated to making Guelph a household name in Canadian university football, will be looking to prove that the ability to sustain success for the Gryphons football program is possible moving forward.

time and it worked out.”

“Everybody was working hard together and everybody was up for each other and I think that really showed this weekend,” said Snider.

The weekend was a fitting conclusion to the season, which also saw some of its top players receive individual league honours. Five Gryphons were named to the CUFLA All-Canadian team for the West Division, including team Captain Ben Van Galen who received AllCanadian considerations at both the face-off specialist and long stick

midfield positions. Van Galen was also named the defensive MVP for the Baggataway Cup tournament, along with Serville who was named the overall tournament MVP. As a team, the Gryphons close the 2013 season with an overall record of 13-3, and ended the year with five consecutive wins including four sudden-death playoff games.

It was an impressive year to say the least, and it’s one that returning players will look to build on when the 2014 season kicks off next September.

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL

PHOTO BY PABLO VADONE

The Gryphons won their second straight five-set match over the Ryerson Rams. The Gryphons dropped their next game to Waterloo 1-3 but still hold a 3-2 record on the year.

SPORTS & HEALTH

Be vitamin D conscious this winter Andrea Connell The clocks were turned back one hour this past Sunday, and many gladly welcomed an extra hour of sleep. Although this allows for a little extra light in the morning, night falls earlier, approximately two minutes per day, until the winter solstice on Dec. 21. This week, the sun has been rising after 7 a.m. and, by the end of the month, will set around 4:45 p.m., giving only nine hours of light. With longer nights and less daylight comes a greater need for vitamin D, also known as the “sunshine” vitamin.

Vitamin D is unique because the body creates it when the sun’s ultraviolet rays hit the skin.

Vitamin D is essential in the development of bones and teeth, and it helps the body absorb calcium, fight infections and control blood pressure. In severe cases, too little vitamin D results in brittle, fragile bones known as “rickets” in children, and “osteomalacia” in adults. Research reported by the Canadian Cancer Society suggests that vitamin D may also help in the prevention of colorectal and breast cancers.

Colder temperatures lead to more layers of clothing and less opportunity to expose skin to daylight.

Low levels of vitamin D have been found in sun-deprived Canadians and those living in more-northern regions. People with higher levels of melanin and darker skin pigmentation are less able to make vitamin D from sun exposure.

Aboriginal children and women of childbearing age are also susceptible to vitamin D deficiencies.

In order to combat deficiencies, vitamin D has been added to milk, infant formula, and margarine, as required by the Canadian government.

Health Canada recommends that children over the age of nine and adults have a daily intake of 600 International Units (IU). If you want to make sure you are getting the recommended daily amount, start looking at the vitamin content of the food you eat.

According to information on the Dieticians of Canada website, egg yolks and fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, sardines, and tuna naturally contain substantial amounts of vitamin D. A three-ounce can of tuna contains 60 IU, canned pink salmon has 351 IU, and an eight-ounce glass of two per cent milk contains 100 IU. Those who are vegetarians or avoid dairy products are also at risk of deficiency. Grains contain very little vitamin D, and milk alternatives like soy must be fortified with vitamin D to be beneficial.

Read the nutrition facts labels on food products to find out what you are consuming. If you think you may not be getting enough vitamin D, consult your doctor to find out what you can do.

Eating vitamin D rich foods should get you through the winter, but consider getting outside too. If possible, take a walk around campus in the daylight, perhaps during lunchtime. Not only will your body appreciate the exercise, the sun on your face will stimulate vitamin D production.

172.10 • Thursday, november 7, 2013

Eric Green

New brew in town

The small-town, local and organic movement that has recently consumed the ideas of eco-minded individuals of all ages has found deep roots in the work of University of Guelph’s own Tariq Ahmed, who produces new adult beverages using only locally produced, organically grown fruits.

“This whole thing never would have gotten off the ground if I hadn’t taken a summer internship at [Manorun] Farms in Copetown,” Ahmed said, seated at a table in The Bullring, sipping tea. “In my first week there, the owner, [Chris Krucker], broke out some homebrew wine. The idea for our little business was born over a bottle or three. I just fell in love with the idea.”

After this catalytic evening, Krucker gave Ahmed a tour of the equipment and made a gift of a book on brewing wines, ciders and meads.

“The first batch I made was interesting” Ahmed says with a grin, “two of the three bottles exploded in the night, redecorating my room for me. After that, I looked at it as a challenge.”

Over the course of the summer, Ahmed set out to get his hands on as much locally grown produce as he could. What he couldn’t procure from Manorun itself, he purchased from the nearby Dundas Farmer’s Market.

“I even went out and picked wild apples…I just wanted to try as many things as I could.” Ahmed admitted.

After the disaster of his first brew, Ahmed became proficient enough with the process to produce enough to invite friends and family to sample his product. Opinion was high from the outset, and people began to ask how they could get

Productivity boosts as a result of stress management The untold positive effects of stress on work performance Patryk Sawicki The effects of stress are experienced by a large number of students, but stress, in combination with management techniques and other resources, can also increase performance in an individual’s studies or in the workplace. Professor Gloria González-Morales of the Department of Psychology for U of G says that “feeling that push because you’re stressed out can generate higher performance or more learning.” This push may be beneficial, but organizations and institutions must be prepared to provide necessary resources to help its members utilize their stress effectively, rather than experience its negative effects on physical and mental health.

González-Morales stated that employees are more likely to be committed to their organization if they perceive their work environment as challenging, but also supportive.

“Feeling that the organization cares about your well-being and also values your contributions – that has to be in place,” said González-Morales. A stimulating environment, therefore, should be complimented by access to resources, which aid with stress management – such an environment may optimize the member’s performance.

González-Morales also said that work stress can severely impact an employee’s personal life outside of work, including family relations, especially if family members also experience neglect resulting from work-related responsibilities. Parents or guardians may have difficulties attending to their children’s needs after spending long, stressful hours at work. Stress

accumulates much faster when an individual is drained of energy.

Conversely, a positive day at work can result in “positive spill-over” into other parts of the employee’s life, increasing their self-esteem, overall sense of satisfaction, and general happiness.

Coping mechanisms, with respect to work-related stress, differ between men and women, González-Morales says. Women tend to seek social support from co-workers and friends, generally benefiting from this sort of support.

Men, however, gravitate toward problem-focused coping. GonzálezMorales added that this gender distinction may be a result of the way boys and girls are raised. Boys, for example, are expected to solve problems independently. “They are not expected to ask for help,” GonzálezMorales said, but she advised that both genders should seek help if they feel stressed at work.

their hands on more.

As summer came to a close, Ahmed admits thinking that he would have to wait until the next year before going at it again. However, upon returning to school here in Guelph, a new opportunity presented itself.

“I showed some of the wines to a few friends, Colin [McKinnon] and [Brandon] Priebe. They loved it,” said Ahmed, “Colin is a business student and Priebe is a musician, you know, really artistic, so we decided to partner up and see what we could make of my little hobby.”

From there the trio set out to establish the newly coined Revel Farms as a legitimate business.

After meeting with local bar owners and brewers, who gave third party feedback on their product samples, the three visited the Guelph Enterprise Centre and procured a business license. Their work is far from over, however.

“We’re getting all the paperwork and legal stuff taken care of,” said Ahmed. “The main issue now is production. We have a product, we have recipes and we have potential buyers. The issue is that we haven’t located a place to license for the production itself.”

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Despite the trials of establishing a business, the partners remain optimistic about their odds. Plans for the future are already in place. All that is left to do is navigate the rocky middle ground between the idea and the reality, all the while maintaining their grassroots ideals of production.

“We know this is a business,” Ahmed admits, “but I don’t intend to let that get in the way of the real purpose of Revel. The driving force behind this is to connect the local community and fuel its economy; we want to be the hub around which people come together. I really just want to bring people together; in my experience, sharing a drink with someone really does that.”

Their dream for the future is to have their own farm and production center with an onsite bar and amphitheater, which would “combine all of our passions, as well as fuel the local arts scene.”

The success of this enterprise, aside from being further evidence of the audacity and creativity of Guelph students would also provide evidence that for-profit business and the ideals of the local, eco-friendly movement are not diametrically opposed. I’ll drink to that.

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Women’s rugby wins silver at CIS Championships Andrea Connell The Guelph Gryphons women’s rugby team took the silver medal in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) Championship gold-medal game on Nov. 3 against the Alberta Pandas, who won the game by a score of 29-10. This was Alberta’s sixth Monilex Trophy; the last time they won gold was a decade ago. The 2003 win was the last of a stunning run of five consecutive CIS titles, which started with a win against Guelph in 1999.

This was Guelph’s third consecutive trip to the CIS finals. In 2012, they won silver against the St. Francis Xavier X-women although in 2011, the tables were turned and the Gryphs won gold against the X-women. In this year’s bronze medal game, the Queen’s Gaels beat the McGill Martlets 32-24 to take their first CIS banner. The Gaels had previously bested Guelph 19-15 on Oct. 26 to win the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) title. The title, a first for the Gaels, broke the hearts of Guelph fans, hoping the team would win their sixth consecutive OUA title.

To make their way to the CIS final held at Laval University, the Gryphs had to get through two games in

Pool A. They faced the X-women from St. Francis Xavier on Oct. 31, winning by a score of 37-12. Guelph had something to prove in the game against the X-women, the win was retribution for the 37-0 loss to St. Francis Xavier in last year’s gold-medal final. Centre Shannon Spurrell was named player of the match for Guelph.

The second game on Nov. 2 saw Guelph dominate play against the McGill Martlets and come out on top with a decisive score of 31-0.

Spurrell contributed 16 points in the win and was again voted Guelph’s player of the match.

The gold medal game proved a challenge for the Gryphons against the Canada West champs, the University of Alberta Pandas. By the end of the first half, Alberta was up 24-0, and Guelph didn’t get on the board until Daria Keane scored 10 points on two tries in the second half. Alberta kept scoring and added another five points for a final score of 29-10. The Gryphons 2013 season was a successful one. Fullback Caitlin McNally was named to the All-Canadian women’s rugby team, and the team went 5-0 during the regular season play, 2-1 in playoffs and medaled at CIS for the ninth year in a row.

Gryphons win silver at first-ever University Ringette League Tournament Morgan Faulds The Guelph Gryphons ringette team won silver this past weekend at the Oshawa Ringette tournament. Facing the Western Mustangs in the championship game, Guelph lost 4-3 in overtime to earn a silver medal in the inaugural tournament of the University Ringette League.

The Gryphons started the weekend off against Nippissing University on Friday night. After going down 2-0 in the first period, Guelph kept their composure and scored four unanswered goals in the second period to win the game 4-2. Leading the way was Steph Smith with two goals, Erin Ivens with one, and Jessica Johnston with a goal and two assists. Although it was the first official game of the season for Guelph, assistant coach Randy Ivens said, “That looked like a mid-season game. [The players] are in mid-season form”.

On Saturday the Gryphons geared up for three games, starting with their hardest matchup in the morning against Western. The Mustangs, who hold varsity status at Western, won silver at Provincials last season and were expected to be Guelph’s most fierce competitors, an expectation they lived up to. Once again going down 2-0, Guelph tied it up with two goals by Michaela Ondrejicka. The Gryphons kept possession for the majority of the play, battling hard and cycling well in the offensive zone, and making adjustments when some plays were getting intercepted. Their downfall came when they ran into penalty trouble, and two consecutive goals were scored on a 5-on-3 powerplays for Western. Western scored one more for a final score of 5-2.

PHOTO BY YA DOUBLET, COURTESY OF LAVAL

Women’s rugby lost to Alberta in the CIS gold medal game last weekend, 29-10. The second place finish is their second of the year after finishing second to Queen’s in the OUA.

The Gryphons shook off this loss and looked ahead to their game against Brock University. Just 43 seconds into the game, Brock scored, making players, coaches and fans nervous. However, that would be the last goal Brock scored in a chippy, penalty filled game. The Gryphons flustered the Badgers and kept them on their heels, roaring to a 6-1 win with two goals each from Shannon O’Dwyer, Ivens, and Morgan Faulds, who also had two assists.

Brock had a chance at redemption in the semi-final game, but once again Guelph took charge, winning by a comfortable score of 7-3. A hat trick by Johnston and two goals each from Ivens and Stacey Forbes punched Guelph’s ticket to the finals on Sunday against Western, who defeated Nippissing 7-0 in the other semi-final game.

Sunday morning found Guelph once again down 1-0 early in the game after a questionable call by the referee allowed a Western goal as the shotclock expired.

However, the Gryphons did not back down; Johnston, Smith and Faulds scored to put Guelph up 3-1 with ten minutes left in the game. Unfortunately, with 3:42 left in the game, and their strongest players on the ice, Western scored to bring the game within one. With the goalie pulled, Western scored again with 30 seconds left to tie the game and send the championships to overtime, which saw the Mustangs score in the first 30 seconds to win 4-3 and take the gold.

Although the ultimate goal for the Gryphons was to win gold, going to overtime in the finals is an accomplishment to be proud of. The Gryphons will be looking to improve on their silver medal in the London ringette tournament this weekend.

Gryphons down Varsity Blues in 5-3 win

Solid team effort pushes varsity men’s hockey to 5-3-0 Stephanie Coratti

Coming off an exciting 4-3 overtime win hosted by the Brock Badgers on Oct. 30, the Guelph Gryphons kept the momentum going strong for a 5-3 win on Halloween night. While most were zipping up their costumes, the Guelph Gryphons and the Toronto Varsity Blues pulled on their jerseys for a game that featured physical play, back and forth action, and great offense.

The visiting Varsity Blues began the first period trying to make an early impact with Jeff Brown taking a penalty for a hit to the head, paired with a 10-minute misconduct just 14 seconds into the game.

The powerplay proved to be powerless for the Gryphons, as the period continued on with no score. Chances were there for both teams, however it was the Varsity Blues who would capitalize first on the powerplay, as Robert De Fulviis sat in the penalty box for two minutes on a slashing call. Michael Markovic slid one past Gryphons goaltender Christopher McDougall with 46 seconds left in the first, making the score 1-0 Varsity Blues heading into the second period.

Once again coming out with too much intensity, too soon, Varsity Blues Lane Werbowski was called for interference just 21 seconds into the period. Unlike the first period, the Gryphons capitalized on this powerplay, with Andrew Merrett scoring from inside the crease to bring the game

even at one-a-piece. The momentum shift was short lived for the home team, as Toronto’s Tyler Liukkonen took a hold of the lead once more only a minute later. The back-and-forth play continued as Merrett found Brett Appio for a set-up pass tying the game up at two.

The Gryphons took their first lead of the game in the 13 th minute of second after a Toronto turnover was snatched up by Kyle Neuber, setting up De Fulviis for a five hole, 3-2 goal. The Varsity Blues continued to push as Markovic beat McDougall with a tip-in rfor his second of the game.

Unable to stay out of penalty trouble, Toronto’s Tyler von Engelbrechten was sent to the penalty for crosschecking with 1:32 left to play in the period. The Gryphons took full advantage once again as Neuber made it a two-point night, scoring from just inside the crease allowing Guelph to head into the second intermission with a 4-3 lead.

The Varsity Blues fought back with a valiant effort in the third, forcing the Gryphons to match their intensity. They did exactly that, maintaining pressure right up until Appio scored an empty netter, putting the game out of reach for the Varsity Blues with 43 seconds left. That would be the final score, as the Gryphons walked away with a hard earned 5-3 victory.

Gryphons McDougall was an obvious star in net, stopping 28 of 31 shots.

The Gryphons look to make it three wins in a row on Nov. 8 as they travel to Montreal to take on the McGill Martlets.

SPORTS & HEALTH

172.10 • Thursday, november 7, 2013

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Gryphons battle for 1-0 shootout win

Women’s hockey extends win streak to four against York Stephanie Coratti

The Guelph Gryphons and the York Lions faced off on Nov. 2 in a game highlighted with solid goaltending and strong defensive play – two of the less glamorous aspects of hockey. Mississauga native Christine Grant scored the only goal of the match to give Guelph the 1-0 win in the shootout. It was the Gryphons fourth win in a row, improving their record to 7-2-0 on the season. With the loss, the Lions fell to 3-4-1.

Megan Lee of the York Lions was without a doubt the star of the game, stopping a total of 38 shots. The Lions would only register 16 shots on Gryphon goaltender, Stephanie Nehring, a testament to the Guelph defense.

The Gryphons came out of the gates ready to play, taking

possession quickly and forcing their game on the Lions.

York kept up in stride, but struggled early on with turnovers. A game that saw it’s fair share of penalties had it’s first handed to the Lions’ Megan Finlay for holding at the 3:05 mark of the first period. The Gryphons had a strong two minute power play, but Orillia native Lee stood tall, making an incredible glove save on Kaitlyn Mora to keep the game scoreless.

The second period continued with the Gryphons in control, even with Jessica Pinkerton finishing up a roughing penalty given out at the end of the first. A breakaway opportunity came early in the period for Guelph and Kelly Gribbons tried to capitalize on the chance, but Lee stood strong in net, keeping the game tied at zero.

The Gryphons persisted in their dominance, specifically in the shot department, but just couldn’t capitalize on scoring chances. In the

second period alone, Guelph was on the powerplay for nine minutes with no goals to show for it. The Lions defensemen are to be credited with successfully boxing out the Gryphon set up, showcasing their strong penalty kill.

Both Lee and Nehring would continue to steal the show,

neither allowing a goal in the back and forth action for the remainder of regulation and five minutes of overtime.

In the shootout, Grant was the lone goal scorer, finally solving Lee as the fifth shooter for the Gryphons, making it a 1-0 final in favour of Guelph.

The Gryphons have three

upcoming home games in which they will look to improve their four-game winning streak. The first test comes on Nov. 9 when the Windsor Lancers roll into town for a 2 p.m. puck drop.

The Western Mustangs (Nov. 10) and the Brock Badgers (Nov. 16) follow.

PHOTO BY PABLO VADONE

Women’s hockey blanked the York Lions 1-0 in a shootout last weekend. Guelph sits second in the OUA going into their Saturday Nov. 9 game, at home, versus Windsor.

MEN’S RUGBY

PHOTO BY PABLO VADONE

While the Gryphons fell just short of their mark for gold this season, their bronze medal game versus McMaster saw Guelph come out with a 26-22 win to capture their third straight OUA bronze.

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LIFE

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Alumni Spotlight: Reid Coolsaet

Former Gryphon ran his way to London Olympics Stephanie Coratti

Hamilton native, Reid Coolsaet, didn’t have to travel far to begin his success as a distance runner – especially with the University of Guelph on his radar. With his eye on acclaimed Gryphon cross-country coach, Dave Scott-Thomas, and the university’s appealing marketing program, Coolsaet began his journey to Olympic success donning the red and gold.

Coolsaet’s collegiate career was full of impressive accomplishments, being named a six-time All-Canadian and seven-time member of the national track and field team, and being twice named the University of Guelph’s male athlete of the year. Coolsaet also experienced great success on the podium, winning gold for track and field in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) Championships, a silvermedalist in the 5000-meter event at the World University

Games, and becoming a 10-time national champion in crosscountry and track and field.

With the winning hardware being an obvious perk, Coolsaet remembers his time at the University of Guelph with others in mind. “Running and working hard with a bunch of good friends,” was his fondest memory as a Gryphon, Coolsaet explained. “It didn’t hurt though, that we won a lot of OU and CIS championships along the way.”

The University of Guelph isn’t just a memory for Coolsaet, however, it remains a very important presence relevant in his career today. “I’m still coached by Dave Scott-Thomas 15 years later,” Coolsaet explained. “That speaks volumes about how much he has helped my running career.”

Accomplishments as a Gryphon are also still reflected on with pride, as Coolsaet holds a collegiate success parallel with Olympic qualification.

“Capping off my collegiate career with a silver medal at the World University Championships with the 5000 meter in Turkey was one of the

highlights of my career,” the Bachelor of Commerce graduate explained. “Qualifying for the Olympic marathon is probably the accomplishment I’m most proud of and, so far, my career’s defining moment.”

Coolsaet’s journey to the London Olympics began with the personal improvement to a marathon distance in 2009. As a five-time National Champion in the 5000-meter, Coolsaet said the change was inevitable. “I kept improving as the distance got longer,” Coolsaet explained. “I was focused on the 5000 and 10,000 meter up until the 2008 Olympic year and didn’t want to test a new event during that Olympic cycle.

Subsequently, a post-Olympic year offered a good opportunity to start a new event.”

Two years later in 2011, the jump to marathon distance proved to be nothing but right as Coolsaet ran the second-fastest marathon by a Canadian athlete with a time of 2:10:55, placing third in the Toronto Waterfront Marathon. The time qualified Coolsaet for the 2012 London Olympics, where he would go on to finish in 27th place. “That

performance in 2011 was the biggest accomplishment of my career. It fulfilled my long-time goal of competing at the Olympics,” Coolsaet said. “Running 2:10:55 while battling windy conditions gave me a lot of confidence in my ability as a marathoner.”

The Olympic games are something the former Gryphon will never forget, even though Coolsaet feels he fell short of his personal goal. “I’m not happy with 27th [place], however, I’m not disappointed either,” he explained. “I was aiming for a top 20 finish, I was in 21st with a few kilometres to go, but I hit the ‘wall’ and was unable to finish strong.” The attitude of a true athlete – always looking for improvement and refusing to be satisfied – is a good indicator for Coolsaet’s great success.

With that being said, Coolsaet also knew what to take away from the whole Olympic experience. “I fought until the finish and kept going even though my body was telling me to stop,” Coolsaet explained. “The overall experience was amazing, and I will always remember racing against the best in the

world on sports biggest stage.”

Perhaps Coolsaet’s ability to fight through obstacles stemmed from two incidents in 2008. “In April, I incurred an injury and wasn’t able to compete at all that summer,” Coolsaet said of his first setback. “I never really thought about quitting even though I didn’t know if I was going to make a full recovery.” A full recovery came, but was shortlived when just seven months later, in November, Coolsaet suffered a broken foot. “It was another setback but I went back to the start, got back into race form, and in May 2009 qualified for the World Championships in the marathon.”

With a remarkable attitude, Coolsaet truly embodies the fact that you can get where you want to be if you strive for it.

However, with all the incredible accomplishments to his name, Coolsaet sees one piece of advice to be of the utmost importance: “Enjoy the process as much as the end result,” Coolsaet explained, highlighting that the path along the way is just as important, if not more, than the podium finish.

You’ve probably seen this on Pinterest

How to save money and acquire bragging rights Alyssa Ottema

As can be seen around campus on any given day – the circle scarf is a trend that isn’t going anywhere. Part of me is happy about this, because as much as my boyfriend mocks me for wearing scarves indoors, I freaking love circle scarves. However, another part of me dies a bit inside every time one of my friends mentions dropping 40 dollars or more on one of these things. When I was four years old, my grandma taught me to knit, and I have to say, it has been the most useful of the hobbies I’ve picked up over the years. If I ever find myself wanting a scarf that would cost me the equivalent of a full day’s work, I just grab some yarn and some needles and knit one for a tenth of the cost.

I recognize that not everyone is crafty, and I also recognize that some people are not yet comfortable embracing their inner 80-year-old. However, I also recognize that (hopefully) everyone loves saving money.

So, before you write this off completely, think about all of the money that could remain in your bank account if you just

put down the debit card and picked up some grandma skills.

To learn the actual knitting part, I recommend you look up the awesome videos that exist on YouTube. In the interim, here is my best attempt at explaining the process, K – Knit Stitch 1. Put RH needle through the loop (stitch) to the back. Your needles will now be crossed, with the RH needle in the back, and the stitch will be around both needles.

2. Take the yarn in your right hand; bring it around the RH needle, then pull it in-between the RH and LH needles.

3. With the back RH needle, go over the yarn that is now in-between the RH and LH needles, and then under and through the stitch. This should bring the stitch over the RH needle. Continue for all stitches.

CO – Cast On: 1. A cast on stitch is the same as a knit stitch, save the ending. Instead of allowing the stitch to move from the LH needle to the RH needle, you pull the stitch from the RH needle and place it on the LH needle to add a stitch.

BO – Bind Off:

1. Knit two stitches.

2. Bring the first stitch over the second and off of the needle.

3. Knit one more stitch.

4. Repeat step two.

5. Repeat until one stitch remains; cut yarn and thread end through final stitch, and pull tightly to finish.

I’m sure that looks really complicated, but I promise, once you actually get the hang of knitting, this will seem ridiculously easy. Now, for the actual pattern.

Knit Circle Scarf Pattern You will need: Two balls of any yarn from any place One pair of knitting needles, preferably US size 8 or above (the bigger the needle, the faster the process) 1. CO 45 stitches.

2. K until pieces measures approximately 48 inches. (*Note: you can have a shorter scarf than this. This length simply allows for maximum comfy factor) 3. BO all stitches.

4. With a needle and thread, sew the ends of the piece together, being careful not twist the piece in the process.

5. Voila! A circle scarf! Money has been saved, and bragging rights have been acquired.

Enjoy!

PHOTO BY WENDY SHEPHERD

The circle scarf trend is not going away any time soon. It not only provides warmth as the weather gets colder, but it offers another layer of style to the wearer. Instead of breaking the bank to purchase your next circle scarf, consider knitting your own.

LIFE

172.10 • Thursday, november 7, 2013

Breaking down bitcoins

Digital currency system used in online transactions Andrea Connell

The first bitcoin ATM in the world opened in a Vancouver coffee shop on Howe St. on Oct. 30, and the operators plan to open four more throughout Canada over the next few months.

“What is a bitcoin,” you ask?

Good question. Bitcoin is a digital currency, developed for the Internet. Consider this: Canada uses the Canadian dollar, France the euro and China the yuan. Now the Internet has a currency just for online transactions. Wired magazine described bitcoin as “a monetary system built entirely on mathematics, brought into being by a mysterious coder (or group of coders) going by the name Satoshi Nakamoto.”

The virtual currency allows users to purchase goods and services anonymously over the Internet without using a regular bank or PayPal as the middleman. You can avoid having to enter all your credit card information into a

website or paying transaction fees.

It allows users to avoid dealing with the regular banking system.

The website Bitcoin.org outlines how this works and breaks the information into four steps: inform yourself, choose your wallet, get bitcoins, and spend.

This writer couldn’t get past step one – inform yourself.

Security is the first thing you need to pay attention to. Protecting your digital wallet (the app for storing your bitcoins either on a laptop or smartphone) is foremost. Also, it is important to remember that the price of a bitcoin is as volatile as a stock. For example, in April 2013, speculation caused the price of Bitcoin to rise to $266 from $140 over four days, just to drop back down to $70 overnight. Those familiar with the stock market will understand this ebb and flow. Bitcoin recommends not storing any “money” you are not prepared to lose.

Bitcoin is not completely anonymous, and payments are irreversible. Although bitcoin payments are stored publically and permanently on the Internet, the identity of the user behind the address (aka a unique URL)

is unknown until the transaction is complete. It is recommended you only use an address once.

Addresses can be assigned for free to any bitcoin user. Due to the fluctuation in the value of a bitcoin, it is recommended a user link their account to an account that has regular currency.

Enter the ATM in Vancouver.

The machines, owned by a Canadian company called Bitcoiniacs, will exchange bitcoins for Canadian dollars via Canada’s VirtEx exchange. The transactions made at the ATM will be anonymous, but clients will have to identify themselves via a palm scanner.

However, bitcoin is not an official currency, and can be most effectively classified as an asset susceptible to being taxed.

Another problem with bitcoin is that none of the goods and services available for purchase with bitcoins are well-known businesses. If Amazon or SportChek took bitcoins, the system might gain more momentum.

Bitcoin also seems like a great place to launder money or sell illegal items. Recently, the FBI busted a drug ring on a site called Silk Road; the group allegedly

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COURTESY PHOTO

Bitcoins are a new form of currency developed for the Internet. It allows for anonymity while making online purchases, but that may be the only benefit considering that this experimental invention has an unpredictable future. facilitated $1.2 billion worth of drug transactions, and made more than $80 million in commissions in just over two years through the use of bitcoins.

The biggest red flag, is to quote directly from the website, “bitcoin is an experimental new currency

that is in active development.

Although it becomes less experimental as usage grows, you should keep in mind that bitcoin is a new invention that is exploring ideas that have never been attempted before. As such, its future cannot be predicted by anyone.”

OPINION

Boston Strong or Boston fraud?

A phrase coined for unity being used to make a buck Stephanie Coratti

With the Boston Red Sox defeating the St. Louis Cardinals on Oct. 30 to take the World Series at home in Fenway Park, the phrase ‘Boston Strong’ has been revived. The major story line attached to this big Boston win is what it means for the people of Boston just six months after the city was hit with a bombing during their marathon in April.

Of course after a tragedy of that magnitude, it’s hard to be a fan of the opposition, recognizing those cheering for the other side might need the win a little bit more than you do. I experience this first hand as a Toronto Maple Leafs fan, a team who had been waiting in a playoffless desert for nine years up until this year. Myself, an avid sports fan, passionate about despising all things Boston, suddenly experienced an unexpected softening of heart. Who would have thought it possible – but that’s what tragedy does to you.

The Boston Bruins weren’t the big bad Bruins anymore, and even after the heartbreaking Game 7 loss, I still had a little voice inside my head whispering thoughts of compassion for the other team (mind you, I was doing my best to silence it).

Today, it’s a bit of a different

story. With every ‘Boston Strong’ spoken aloud, hashtagged, or printed on a T-shirt, I find myself cringing, and not for the reason many might think. The phrase that once meant solidarity in the face of struggle is now a commercialized product, and whether that’s a positive or negative thing for the city of Boston is the debate at hand.

On one side, you have the disgusting commercialization that has infected our society like a virus.

Just two days after the Boston marathon bombing, two sides ran to gain trademark rights for ‘Boston Strong’ – a T-shirt company called Born Into It out of Woburn, Massachusetts; and an individual named Kerim Senkal. Born Into It claimed they only wanted rights to the phrase to keep anyone who wasn’t from Boston from owning it, while Senkal said he had full intention of giving 100 per cent of the profits to One Fund, a charity in support of the families affected.

Months later, the argument of companies adding ‘Boston Strong’ to clothing, promotions, and just about everything else, is said to be a positive thing. Large corporations use the phrase, committing themselves to donate some of the profits to One Fund. The big guys get exposure, and the charity receives support – everyone wins, right?

Enter the grey area. At what point does ‘Boston Strong’ lose its original meaning? Do big

companies practically salivating at the chance to look generous while making money ruin what the phrase was supposed to represent? It’s almost as if those who want to be a part of the civic pride that comes with ‘Boston Strong’ are being roped into spending $19.99 on a T-shirt with the words that were supposed to be unbreakable for a city that refused to stand down. The price tag suddenly taints the expression, and it taints the tragedy. And most importantly, it taints the heroic effort that we all witnessed.

The United States government refused to give trademark rights to “9/11” after the Sept. 11 attacks, and for good reason. That is a date that not one person should be making a dollar off of, whether 50 per cent goes to charity or not. They are numbers that, when put together become almost sacred – haunting – as we all remember what happened that day.

‘Boston Strong’ used to have a similar effect, sending feelgood goose bumps down the spine of pretty much anyone who encountered it. Seven months and a World Series win later, the phrase has lost some of its power. It’s words on a T-shirt, a billboard on the side of the highway, and a hashtag becoming used completely out of context. It’s slowly becoming more of a marketing tool, and less of a sign of remembrance.

No doubt the city of Boston is

PHOTO BY JACKMAN CHIU

The coined phrase ‘Boston Strong’ once meant solidarity in the face of struggle, but has now become a commercialized product that is hashtagged and printed on T-shirts for profit. standing a little taller after a big World Series win, and ‘Boston Strong’ is at work, doing what it does best: bringing people together.

Let’s just remember the hundreds injured, those who lost their lives, and the families affected before throwing a hashtag in front of it.

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

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OPINION

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Honour roll awards nixed at Calgary school

Is student self-esteem really at stake?

Stacey Aspinall

A school in Calgary is making national headlines after announcing its decision to axe the honour roll program. Grade 7 and 9 students at St. Basil Elementary and Junior High School will no longer be able to compete for the honour roll.

School officials stated in a letter to parents: “Awards eventually lose their lustre to students who get them, while often hurting the self-esteem and pride of those who do not receive a certificate.”

At a forum held by the Calgary Catholic School District, attendees expressed concerns that “honours and award programs can sow jealousy among classmates, cause undue stress and spur children who are not top achievers to give up because they never win,” the Vancouver Sun reported.

In this misguided attempt to remove any sort of competition to preserve the self-esteem of all students, those who strive to succeed in their academic studies will miss out on opportunities to

receive encouragement and recognition for their efforts.

These students are about to enter high school, and from there, may pursue post-secondary education or enter the workforce.

Virtually any avenue will include some degree of competition, and these individuals will be judged on the skills they possess. Honours and awards such as the honour roll can help students decide where to focus their energies, while also providing an incentive to work hard.

Perhaps my view on this issue is shaped by my own experience as an honour roll student. I’ll take a self-deprecating turn and state that, although I did receive the honour roll certificates at this age, there were plenty of other opportunities for selfesteem to be diminished. In fact, one student coined the certificates honour roll students received “nerdificates” and undermined those who received them – not exactly a confidence boost. My point in relaying this anecdote is that student’s self-esteem will be tested throughout their school experiences in a myriad of ways – not only academically. Competition

is inevitable, both in the classroom and outside of school.

Not only is competition inevitable, but it can be healthy. In this debate, school officials assert, “awards eventually lose their lustre,” which is true – in the end, it’s only a piece of paper.

But, having a tangible, quantifiable goal to strive towards is a positive motivator, and the skills and work ethic gained during the process of reaching for this goal are as important as the end result.

Athletes are cheered on by an audience eager to witness victories, and leaders are voted into student council positions based on political prowess. Even the social lives of these emerging adolescents involve cliques and hierarchies. Each of these aspects of life requires some competition. Why single out the honour roll award system as a self-esteem detractor?

Grades become even more important at in the upper years of high school, and academic performance during these formative years will shape the opportunities available to these students in the future.

Middle school can be

Rules are rules

No excuse for broken curfew Carleigh Cathcart

Apparently “rules were meant to be broken” if you’re a hockey player in the Ontario Hockey League.

Recently my hometown team the Peterborough Petes hosted a game against the Ottawa 67’s.

They were expected to perform at least reasonably against Ottawa – a team that, roughly, was evenly matched to the Petes in standings. Alas, the final tally was 8-1, and certainly not in our favour.

My issue here has nothing to do with the dismal score, but with the supposed reason behind it.

Rumours swirled around town that the score was a result of the scratching of our captain, assistant captain, and another player for violating curfew rules. Though the scratchings themselves are not rumours; they were reported by local press and confirmed by coaching staff.

Whether or not the terrible performance was the result of player protest, bad luck, or just awful game-play, debate soon arose over how reasonable the curfew (and drinking, though it was not established whether or not alcohol was involved in this particular incident) rules are for players in the OHL. Amazingly, many came to the

defense of the players concerned.

To clarify, I am not an uptight soul who believes we should impose increasing restrictions on athletes or anyone in general, and I’m not even writing in support of the curfew rule itself. What I take issue with is the laissez-faire attitude towards players who knowingly violate rules that are set in place for a reason.

One person on an online discussion board wrote: “Stop benching teens for having a couple beers and staying out too late; these activities are getting them ready for the NHL, why discourage it. Thanx.”

Besides the realistic fact that only a fraction of OHL players will actually make it to the NHL, I believe that breaking such a rule is not okay.

The players are aware of these rules when they join the team.

There is no excuse of ignorance, so that’s no defense.

In this particular case, the violators included the captain and assistant captain – both veterans. These players are supposed to be leaders and set good examples, for both their fellow teammates and their young fans. Rule breaking isn’t exactly role-model behaviour.

To ignore one’s curfew while holding a privileged position on a highly competitive hockey team is to show disrespect to one’s coaches, employers, and fans. The coach is there to help

the team win, but the players have to respect the coach’s authority in order for the team dynamic to be effective.

No player is “above the rules,” whether they think so or not, regardless of their position on a team. I’m not sure if the individuals involved think they’re superior, but their actions certainly indicate that they may.

There are hundreds of teens out there (of all skill levels) that would switch places with these boys in a heartbeat. If players want to party late and drink like many young adults, then they should feel free to do so – upon relinquishing their spot on the roster to someone willing to make the sacrifices involved.

It is quite unfortunate if the bad performance was a form of dissent by the players for the punishment of their teammates. Their first priority should be giving their fans the quality of game they are paying for and deserve, not to be activists against league rules.

The bottom line, as the previously-mentioned online commenter noted, is that OHL athletes are indeed in-training for the NHL, if they are lucky and skilled enough to make it that far.

But the NHL exists to host the best hockey players in North America, not the 2013 Beer Pong champs.

There will be plenty of time for drinking later – and preferably from the Cup.

PHOTO BY NICOLAS RAYMOND

At a Calgary school, high achievers will no longer be able to compete for honour roll awards. School officials believe that those who do not make honour roll suffer from hurt pride and diminished self-esteem, and their decision is provoking discussion on the role of competition in school. challenging, and it’s certainly worth making efforts to help boost student’s self esteem during this transition time. But the decision to cut the honour

program is a misguided attempt to preserve a kid’s self esteem – one that will not only be ineffective, but possibly detrimental to their future success.

EDITORIAL

The final score on not keeping score No one likes the feeling of losing. The intrinsic fight to win at life might explain why many of us subject ourselves to countless hours in libraries and athletic training facilities: so we can obtain the highest marks, and achieve the ultimate level of athleticism.

But what would become of this motivation to succeed if no one was keeping score? Would we try as hard in school if we were all guaranteed graduation? Would we put in two-a-days on the football field if no one was keeping statistics or standings? Would we work overtime if we weren’t compensated with extra pay and recognition for harder work?

According to the Ontario Soccer Association (OSA), putting an emphasis on competition takes away from skill development. That is why, in 2014, all Ontario soccer leagues will be mandated to stop keeping scores for competitive players under the age of 12.

“Unfortunately, when you put an overemphasis on competition, individual skill development regresses, and that’s what’s happened in our game for so long,” said Alex Chiet, the Chief Technical Officer for the OSA. The Toronto Star has called North America’s attitude towards sports culture “hyperactive” and “win at all costs.” It is this culture that Chiet aims to change, and he suggests research is on his side: “We know what we’re doing is right — it’s wellresearched, it’s supported — the challenge is just change. And change is hard for anyone.”

While time will tell whether Canada’s lacklustre soccer culture is going to receive a boost in skillset and productivity because of these changes, the new rules will not, according to thewhig.com, improve a player’s ability to enjoy the game.

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Over-zealous involvement by parents and coaches, and an attitude that puts winning above enjoyment results in higher dropout rates in sports, according to the Whig. The professionalization of youth sports leads to children taking the sport far too seriously.

A study out of Queen’s University found that swimmers and hockey players who dropped out of sports did so because they had too much pressure of them to succeed from a young age. However, when the process of playing and competing is at the forefront, keeping score becomes a source of enjoyment and challenge for children.

Sports provide an invaluable lesson to children: In life, you won’t always be a winner. With teachers being told they can no longer fail kids in school, and the honour roll being axed from a school in Calgary this past week due to “self-esteem” concerns, Canadians are beginning to feel as though all these safeguards create a “snowflake” generation; a generation that discourages competition and encourages mediocrity and a fairness that is good in theory, but near impossible in reality.

Kids are going to excel in different aspects of life just as adults do – maybe even more so because some kids develop earlier than others, which creates an even larger disparity in abilities.

What the OSA and sports leagues across Canada need to begin to look into is the over-zealous nature of the parents and coaches in attendance at the game. It is peculiar, that as a society, we wouldn’t condone yelling, profanity, and physicality towards children if we saw it in the grocery store – but just because it is being done in an arena, at a pitch or on the diamond, it is somehow perceived as being OK. Moreover, if your child gets an

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COURTESY PHOTO

For these youngsters, keeping scores will be in the ‘old school’ category as the OSA sets to ban all score keeping for youth soccer 12 and under starting in 2014.

A+ in fourth grade math, you wouldn’t be so naïve as to think he or she is going to be graduating from Harvard in 15 years.

Why, then, do parents with children who excel at sports have the perception that their child is somehow the next soccer prodigy?

Parents, coaches and the professionalization of youth sports are what’s ruining the games’ potential, not the fact that one team may not be as good as another. Children, just like adults, flourish in competition, and if anything, the stress of competing against another human being forces them to train and excel in athletics, just as the goal of making the honour roll would compel them to succeed to a higher standard in school.

Muhammad Ali’s reflection on losing, something he never dreamed possible, sums up the

debate quite succinctly: “I never thought of losing, but now that it’s happened, the only thing is to do it right. That’s my obligation to all the people who believe in me.

We all have to take defeats in life.”

Being defeated is inevitable in life. What matters most isn’t the loss itself, but what you do to correct the errors of your loss afterwards. This is a lesson even the youngest of athletes and academics can understand, and one they ought to learn and appreciate.

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FUN PAGE

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COMMUNITY LISTINGS Thursday At Noon Concert Series presents A Strauss Party: Guy Few and Stephanie Mara.

Thursday, November 7 at noon, MacKinnon room 107. http://www.uoguelph.ca/sofam/events 10th Annual Festival of Moving Media, November 7-10. This year’s theme, “How We Navigate Our World”. Various locations. www.festivalofmovingmedia.ca Nov 7 I’m TIRED all the TIME! Learn how to get the most energy from your sleep, how to eat for energy, plus some quick energy boosters to help you power up. 2:00-2:50 pm in Room 335 UC. A free GryFIT event. Details at www.uoguelph.ca/~ksomers Friday Afternoon Jazz Series at the Bullring, Friday Nov. 8th, from 2pm-4pm. This week features Minnesota Slip! Free The Guelph Chamber Choir opens season with screening of 1928 silent film, The Passion of Joan of Arc. Live choir and organ music. Saturday, November 9 at St. George’s Anglican Church, 8 pm.

BestCrosswords.com

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