OPENWIDE THE A LTERNATIVE ST UDE NT PUBLICATI ON
OPENWIDEZINE.com
VOLUME 15, ISSUE 1
TABLE OF CONTENTS WESTERN LIFE 3
WESTERN IN REVOLT
6
MAKING CHANGE: INTRO TO MPI
Stephanie Gordon
Ramon Sanchez
7
BEST OF BOTH WORLDS: MTP Jenai Kershaw
WORLD FEATURES 9
FREEDOM OF SPEECH: THOSE WHO CAN, SHOULD Marwa Hassan
11
SUMMER IN REVIEW Sumayya Tobah Kevin Hurren Kevin Chao
ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT 13
ARTS AND CULTURE IN THE FOREST CITY Michael Usling
15
LONDON ARTS MAP
Kyle Simons
GUEST INTERVIEW 17
YOUTH AND WORK: AN INTERVIEW WITH ANDREW LANGILLE Travis Welowszky
SATIRE 21
BEST. WEEK. EVER.: AN OWEEK RETROSPECT 1 // openWIDE v15 Rachel Kelly
OPENWIDE TEAM EDITOR IN CHIEF Travis Welowszky
MANAGING EDITOR Kevin Chao
WORLD EDITOR Marwa Hassan
ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT Michael Usling
WESTERN LIFE EDITOR
Stephanie Gordon
CREATIVE EDITOR Rachel Kelly
ONLINE EDITOR Jacqueline Baker
ASST ONLINE EDITOR Becky Laufer
ILLUSTRATIONS Kyle Simmons
GRAPHICS
Robin Radomski
PHOTOGRAPHY Jocelyn Bick
PROMOTIONS Tish Lewis Emily Sherman Paige Ozvald
EDITOR’S note: THE VALUE OF YOUR EDUCATION
// TRAVIS WELOWSZKY
It’s the one thing that ties us all together: not our political ideologies or our job hopes, it’s the fact that we pay money to this institution. For every post-secondary
success story inundated in our recruitment to this school come the oft-untold realities of students burdened by economic hardship. Certainly for every love story, a ghost story. The four years you spend on this campus are more than a rite of passage to a degree and the job market. Your education is more than a transaction. At a time when we are compelled to paint ourselves purple and become a part of the family, we must be taking a critical look both at ourselves and the institution that we are now representing. In an age of university austerity where our student experience is blanketed with such vagueries as “Achieving Excellence on the World Stage”, we are being levied one of the highest tuition rates in the nation while a number of our own professors and teaching assistants bring home poverty level wages. For too long the sentiment on our campus has been, “money talks, people mumble.” The past year saw the beginnings of something seemingly unheard of at Western, of a political movement comprised of students, staff, and faculty standing in direct opposition to the decisions made by the university. The most influential moment of my university career was witnessing the student collective, standing in solidarity against the culture of fear that has historically shrouded open dissent at our school. So we offer you this: an alternative, critical platform to engage in a discourse about life on campus and abroad. The real value in your education goes beyond the classroom, but in the actions and experiences that will inform the person you’re going to become. This is an opportunity to hold up something genuine against the chaos and together, we can continue to turn the whole damn thing on its head.
Got something to say? We’re always looking for creative and dedicated writers, illustrators, bloggers, and other contributors to join the team. Be heard.
CONTACT TRAVIS OPENWIDEZINE@GMAIL.COM OR ONLINE AT OPENWIDEZINE.com
Disclaimer: The sole responsibility of this publication lies with its authors. Contents do not reflect the opinions of the University Students Council of the University of Western Ontario (“USC”). The USC assumes no reponsiblity or liability for any error, inaccuracy, omission or comment contained in this publication or for any use that may be made of such information by the reader. openWIDE v15 // 2
openWIDE// WESTERN LIFE
WESTERN IN // STEPHANIE GORDON
"DO NOT BE PASSIVE CONSUMERS OF YOUR EDUCATION." It hasn’t been all quiet on the Western front like some would hope. Over the past year, students have been voicing their dissatisfaction with what has been going on in the university. It might be hard to read in the frosh issue that the school you have just chosen is far from perfect, but as you read through this article you will see that it is the dedication we have to Western that gives us the courage to make it better. Throughout your time in FIMS, or more broadly, higher education you will learn how to think critically. Everything you know will be challenged, some of which will make you feel uncomfortable. However – nothing is free from critique, not even the university. Is it working for us? It’s hard to believe that it isn’t given the price we pay for it. We want to believe university is a safe investment, so we’re less likely to question it. Take off those purple-coloured glasses and critically experience your university. Do not be passive consumers of your education. It might seem a bit unfair to burden you with the problems of the past – but the truth is, some of these battles are just beginning. FIMSSC OPEN LETTER It was late October last year when some members of the FIMSSC (FIMS Student Council) published an open letter outlining several issues with Western’s new strategic plan, Going Global: Achieving Excellence on the World Stage. Similar to a mission statement, the strategic plan
3 // openWIDE v15
is a document that acts as a guideline for upcoming years. Western’s signature brand of “best student experience” was to be replaced with “excellence.” The plan was a response to the ongoing reduction in public funding for universities. Western’s solution was to seek alternative streams of revenue, mainly private investment from corporations. The open letter called out administrators on certain aspects of the plan while tackling the bigger picture of the commodification of education. The letter is best summarized by its final line: “’Going Global: Achieving Excellence on the World Stage’ reads like an excellent business plan, but falls short in its commitment to students.” The letter serves as a great example of when students actively challenged the administration in a respectful, yet critical manner. Throughout your time in FIMS, you will learn that what is not said is just as important as what is. The vague language used in the plan made it seem like STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) faculties, those with easily commodifiable research, would receive more funding than the arts. This would mean an increase in class sizes and fewer course offerings for other faculties such as FIMS. The open letter does not pit the humanities against the sciences but rather brings attention to the possible negative interpretations of the plan. Where the money is going is not specified. The language of the document leaves room for interpretation – good or bad.
openWIDE// WESTERN LIFE
N REVOLT SILENT PROTEST On Friday, January 24th, 2014, words became actions as a silent protest was held outside a meeting of the university senate. The meeting gathered administrators, faculty, and student representatives to discuss and vote on the Strategic Plan. As discussions carried on, there were almost 70 students lining the back of the room holding signs of protest. For a school not known for its activism, the turnout exceeded expectations. The signs continued to echo the thoughts in the letter.
drafting of the plan. The USC president responded with a letter of his own on Concrete Speech – a USC sanctioned website that promotes free speech. In his letter, he explained that the Strategic Plan is a visioning document and by its very nature, allowed to be broad. He was optimistic that the room left for interpretation was a space that students could be actively engaged in. The president stated that as students we now have a responsibility to get involved in how the plan is interpreted, and “to ensure that the decisions and funding are following the best interpretation for students.” In a way, the response envisioned the best case scenario where students get involved with the plan to make sure it accurately reflects what they want out of an institution. However his response does not have to be dismissed as blind idealism.
What happened next was nothing short of disappointing. The plan was passed, but the real disappointment was the lack of acknowledgement of protesters by our very own USC (University Students’ Council) president, who serves to represent undergraduate students here at Western. Even the president of Western, Amit Chakma who took the brunt of “APATHY IS This is where you come in. Apathy is easy, the criticism, took time to read signs action is not. It’s as simple as educating before entering the meeting room. It EASY, oneself on the structures of the university and should be noted that the silent protesters communicating with your representatives. It’s were not the only ones opposed to ACTION IS NOT” hard to stay updated on university politics in the plan and some members of the the midst of midterms, but it’s also hard to senate did speak in opposition to its implementation be faced with tuition increases every year. We have to put – however our USC president was not one of them. in the effort to be engaged with how this plan will unfold. USC CRITIQUE
#PURPLEANDPOOR
Shortly following the silent protest, a letter critiquing the USC president was published demanding answers as to why he did not speak up for those he claimed to represent. The letter also questioned to what extent the student body was consulted during the
As this was all happening, it paralleled another struggle. This time it wasn’t the students but the staff that were speaking out. On March 7th, 2014 some members of the FIMS faculty crashed Western’s Founder’s Day celebrations on Twitter. They used the Founder’s Day hashtags, #since1878
openWIDE v15 // 4
openWIDE// WESTERN LIFE
and #purpleandproud, to share stories of exploitation. Their tweets revealed the low wages and lack of job security that part-time professors, teaching assistants, and sessional instructors face. Things were not adding up, tuition and enrollment was rising but salaries were stagnant? Two of the professors involved, Warren Steele and Eric Lohman, penned an article for Openwide last year (Purple and Poor: The Real Western Experience) that eloquently exposed the unethical behaviour that Western engages in. Reading it will give you a taste of what isn’t featured on our university pamphlets. For too long have people been trying to win battles behind administrative doors – it isn’t working. Some might argue that Twitter wasn’t the most professional medium, but it garnered widespread attention for the issue, even among mainstream media outlets. Among the red tape, there are always pockets of opportunity. This defiance was strategic and happened to fall around the same time as contract negotiations dealing with the compensation of university members. Some members of the FIMS General Assembly wrote a letter of solidarity in support of UWOFA (University of Western Ontario Faculty Association)’s proposed contract goals for part-time members. The letter aimed to add leverage to those negotiating for fair compensation, and served as another example of something small students can do to impact what goes on.
S O W H AT ? This is not a recount of rebellion, this is a challenge. A challenge to every student out there to get involved instead of remaining passive consumers of education. To highlight the importance of critique and accountability. Reflect critically on the university throughout your time here and hold your student representatives accountable. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that four years is not enough time to make a difference. If anything, you should be embracing the relentless idealism of your youth and going for it – after all you only have a limited time here. Your university experience is what you make of it. Be courageous. Contrary to popular belief, the administration cares what you think. Too many failed student feedback attempts have given the administration the impression that students don’t care. Prove them wrong. And when you do speak up and ruin the atmosphere of apathy they were so comfortable in, don’t let them silence you. There are some of us who wish we would have stirred the pot sooner.
5 // openWIDE v15
openWIDE// WESTERN LIFE
MAKING CHANGE:
an introduction to media & the public interest // RAMON SANCHEZ
FIMS AFTER DARK Going into FIMS, many of you will be exposed to a more critical perspective on the effects of the media and technology on society, which includes both the positives and negatives. Since most students going into FIMS initially have a deep interests in the media and may even want to work in the media industry, many of you may find it difficult to critique the thing that brought you to university in the first place. While the lessons you will learn at your time in FIMS may be difficult and sometimes uncomfortable to digest, it is necessary to engage in these uncomfortable discussions in order to deconstruct the power of the media. Although it may first appear that your FIMS classes only focus on the negative impact of the media, it is because the media has a major impact on society that we need to understand and deconstruct its influence. The Media and the Public Interest (MPI) stream looks at how technology and the media can be used to empower society for the interests of the people/public. Instead of the media being seen as an exclusive platform for political and/or corporate interests, MPI refocuses on how media and technology can be used to address social injustices and mobilize social movements. Whilst the MIT and MPI streams both aim to be critical of the media,
MPI also explores how to repurpose the media and technology to have a positive impact on society. The MPI stream is rooted in the combined practice of critical pedagogy and experiential learning. Critical pedagogy is the idea that education and knowledge should be used as force for societal change. Experiential learning challenges students to actively and physically engage with the information they learned from class and apply them to ‘the real world’. Instead of simply just discussing and understanding media theories and abstract concepts, MPI is about taking the abstract and injecting them into society as a concrete force for social change. It is easy to examine social injustices and theorize on how the world could be a better place, but never act on these ideas in your everyday life. It is even easier to fall into a state of fatalism and give up on changing the world. But MPI allows students to be critical about the media and society at large, but more importantly it also provide students with the necessary skills to have a meaningful impact in the world. Education and deconstructing power relations is the initial step to address social injustices, taking action is what causes societal change.
“While the lessons you will learn at your time in FIMS may be difficult and sometimes uncomfortable to digest, it is necessary to engage in these
uncomfortable discussions in order to deconstruct the power of the media.” openWIDE v15 // 6
BEST OF BOTH WORLDS: an introduction to media, theory & production //JENAI KRESHAW
When I was 18, I thought that I was destined to join ABC, CBC, or BBC and save the world. My chosen path was through a postsecondary education. The MTP program in the Faculty of Information and Media Studies was on my radar, but it shone a dim light. I wasn’t really even looking at FIMS or MIT – I accidentally stumbled into a mock-lecture, lost on Western’s vast campus. My plan was set in stone: I’d been accepted into reputed journalism programs in Toronto and Ottawa, with compliments and awe from my family and friends. But tides changed for me, and I decided to choose the MTP program, here at Western. 7 // openWIDE v15
openWIDE// WESTERN LIFE Anecdotes aside, the Media, Theory and Production program (or MTP) is a collaboration effort between Western University and Fanshawe College in its finest form. It is a hybrid education – a marriage of theory and practice, idealism and pragmatism. It’s often the simplest of the three modules in FIMS to explain – however, it’s the hardest to comprehend. And you can ask any of my peers for validation. But here’s the scoop: The MTP program gives you an insight that almost no other does at Western. Call it out-of-town bias, but my first year introduction to London started on campus and ended on Richmond Row. Through MTP, I was forced to leave the Western bubble and see my University education in a broadened light. For the Journalism and Radio streams, it was a result of daily early morning commutes across the city to Fanshawe’s main campus (and that didn’t include our 5 am on-air shifts). Television and Interactive Media had their own strife – late hours, constant group work, and carrying their portable office of equipment nearly everywhere. MTPs’ hours never link up with those of their friends’. A balanced diet, 8 hours of sleep, and Monday nights at Jacks become a thing of the past – the turmoil of being an “MTP.” But those are inconveniences. Far graver (and greater) are the cultural and ideological differences between your MIT education and your Fanshawe experiences. Some of my peers would joke about the cultural shift: Western was the “Real World,” but Fanshawe was genuinely the real world – no MTV and no quotation marks. At Fanshawe, most people you meet come from different economic, ethnic, and social backgrounds – and they make you a better person and friend because of it. College is also significantly more hands-on than university is. In MIT, we critically examine the consequences of large companies impacting society’s social, economic and political well being. At Fanshawe, a lot of the education is catered towards the current job market; it’s not a question of a company’s ideologies or social mandate, but the security and creative position it may offer you as an individual. It’s hard when you’re writing an essay supporting Canada’s public broadcaster,
but professionally, you’d be smarter to work for a private one. It took me a while to find the silver lining in this ideological debate, but there is one. You have to find a balance between your morals and goals, an alarm forcing you to realize what you agree with and don’t agree with on your own terms. MTP has helped me forge my own opinions and views about the world we live in. I don’t mean to advertise, but there is a need for programs like MTP on campuses like ours. “Millennials” have constantly been told about poor job markets, and the decreasing value of a university education in a growingly entrepreneurial world. A program like this gives its students an assurance of enough technical knowledge to work in their fields, with the finesse of a critical and rounded mindset. When your program asks you to see your education in two side-by-side panels, you’re given the opportunity to be a part of a changing landscape that includes more consideration, kindness and humanity. University and college give you two different perspectives, which are individually valuable, but when applied collaboratively, are indispensable. In appearances, Fanshawe lacks the grandeur of Western’s regal campus. A large grey, snake-like building houses the majority of Fanshawe’s programs and facilities. But appearances deceive – Fanshawe offers a lot of opportunity and growth, especially for university students, some of whom may believe themselves above it. Some of FIMS’ most successful alumni were MTP graduates – from Carolyn Cameron on Sportsnet, to Michelle Dube on CTV News. There’s something to be said about the confidence you develop as a person through the MTP program: not just in the skills you acquire at Fanshawe, but the knowledge you’ve gathered at Western, that fuels your work. Yet, you also acquire a burden: the responsibility to take what you learn at both institutes, and create work that will be grasped and understood by so many who haven’t been on both sides of a spectrum.
FIMS AFTER DARK openWIDE v15 // 8
openWIDE// WORLD
FREEDOM OF SPEECH: THO SE WHO CA N, SHOULD What does freedom mean to me?
// MARWA HASSAN
This is a question that, unfortunately, doesn’t often surface in our inner monologues during a regular day. Many of us rarely stop and think about whether we have the right to voice our opinions or whether we’re allowed to go about our daily routines without the fear of being assaulted, incarcerated or worse. Many of us take freedom of speech for granted as a basic human right that is afforded to all. However, we must always keep in mind that the concept of free speech is not as simple as it seems. On December 29th, 2013, three AlJazeera English journalists – Australian foreign correspondent Peter Greste, Egyptian-Canadian producer Mohamed Fahmy, and Egyptian producer Baher Mohamed – were working in a Marriot Hotel room in Cairo, Egypt. They had their reporting equipment scattered about the room as they produced and edited news stories, articles, and videos covering the aftermath of the July ousting of Mohamed Morsi. At some point during this seemingly benign portion of a journalist’s day, the Egyptian police raided the hotel room and arrested the three men. They were charged with spreading fabricated news reports in support of the Muslim Brotherhood, a group whose activities have been banned from Egypt since Morsi’s ousting and the following inauguration of current president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. In spite of their incessant denial of the accusations, the journalists were apprehended and held in custody in one of Egypt’s detention facilities. As soon as the Al-Jazeera Network was notified of the arrest, it denied the charges against its employees and urged for their immediate release. Their efforts, however, were to no avail.
9 // openWIDE v15
openWIDE// WORLD
JOURNALISM
IS NOT A
Unsurprisingly, countless journalists – professional, amateur, you name it – around the world responded with an outcry. After about two months of detainment and no foreseeable pardon on Egypt’s part, Al-Jazeera started a global Twitter campaign known as the #FreeAJStaff featuring images of journalists and supporters with tape covering their mouths and holding signs that read a simple yet powerful message: JOURNALISM IS NOT A CRIME.
To further twist the pretzel, BBC News reports that the entire ordeal has to do with Egypt’s supposed “political battle” with Al-Jazeera’s home of Qatar – a country that “has supported the Brotherhood and is unpopular with Egypt’s government.” Both White House spokesman John Earnest and United Nations rights chief Navi Pillay voiced their disapproval of the alleged politically motivated charges and continue to urge the Egyptian government to One particular video that spread release the journalists. across different platforms also invited viewers to share a simple thought On August 1st, 2014, Canada’s – “Imagine a world where reality National Post published a letter is distorted, imagine being kept in written by Egyptian-Canadian Fahmy the dark about major global events, that disclosed his uncertainty about imagine being silenced when speaking whether or not he will decide to out could save your life. You’ve just appeal the guilty verdict to the same imagined a world where journalists court that issued the verdict in the are not free to report the facts.” How first place. Al-Jazeera reports that very chillingly 1984 speak. Australian Greste’s family has already appealed his sentence. Despite the ongoing protests, demonstrations and petitions, the As viewers continue to look out for next couple of months did not see fresh headlines, hope remains for the journalists acquitted. Instead, the truth to be revealed and for the on June 23rd, 2014 – around 177 reestablishment of a safe, democratic, days after their arrest – both Greste universal space for journalists to do and Fahmy received a sentence of what many strive to do: speak up, seven years in jail, while Mohamed speak out. received an additional three years for reportedly carrying a used bullet in his Open communication is exactly what pocket. According to Al-Jazeera, the an alternative magazine thrives on – evidence was declared as possession an honest, impassioned expression of ammunition by the Egyptian court. of a thought, a belief, a concern, In addition to the three’s sentences, a question, a joy, a fear or better other Al-Jazeera journalists were yet, the simultaneous eruption of tried in absentia and have received sentences of up to ten years.
CRIME all six – and then some. Maybe you’re nostalgic and the tips of your fingers still tingle when you remember how high you threw your graduation cap. Maybe you’re constantly replaying words of encouragement from your favorite English teacher. Maybe you’re just wondering how the hell you’re going to get through the week without a friendly face by your side. Let us assure you that you’re truly neither the first nor the last person to feel any of the above. Let me also promise you that these are only the first few inches of the seemingly endless string of maybes you’re going to encounter everywhere, especially within yourself. The good news is the environment you’re stepping into here at Western is one that will do as much as possible to help you learn, belong, engage and above all, express freely.
LET IT. What does freedom mean to you? Go on, take the red pill.
openWIDE v15 // 10
openWIDE// WORLD
WORLD NEWS:
SUMMER in REVIEW ISRAEL & PALESTINE CONFLICT // SUMAYYA TOBAH The numbers don’t lie when it comes to the current resurgence of violence in the PalestinianIsraeli conflict. The first number of importance is 1947, the year the UN granted a partition plan that created the state of Israel. The complexity of this issue is vast, and to truly understand what happened this summer it is important acknowledge the history that accompanies this conflict. Both sides have contributed to squandering the peace, however Palestinians have suffered significantly more. This Palestinian suffering has been going on for 67 years, another significant number. Since July 8th, at last count from a reliable source, there have been 1,636 Palestinians killed with 8,840 injuries. On the Israeli side, 59 Israeli soldiers have been killed in the last month. All numbers of significance. The disproportionate military strength of Israel means that Palestine endures most of the damage. This summer is only a snippet of a conflict that has lasted for much longer. The continuation of violence is a result of an environment and history that fosters distrust and extremism on both sides. It is also important to note the role of the media, and be aware that the reporting of the conflict is just as complex as the issue itself. So don’t trust the voice, trust the facts.
MALAYSIAN AIRLINES MH17 // KEVIN CHAO Just four months after the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, the airliner suffered a second tragedy with the loss of Flight 17, a Boeing 777 carrying 298 people, while flying over eastern Ukraine. For unexplained reasons, pro-Russian separatists reportedly shot down the airplane on July 17 with Russian surface-to-air missiles. Troublingly, Malaysia Airlines flights continued to fly over the active war zone – where there had been three shootdowns in the past week – to conserve fuel costs. Even more concerning, however, is the media narrative that Russian citizens have been fed compared to the rest of the world. The Russian government that controls the nation’s media has censored reports, limiting the public’s knowledge of the events to stories that portray attitudes more in line with Russian foreign policy goals. These including conspiracy theories blaming the crash on Western interference, or failed assassination attempts on Vladimir Putin; all versions that absolve Russia from any responsibility. The Netherlands’ Prime Minister Mark Rutte called off an international team’s search for victims on August 6, explaining that fighting in the region had made the search too dangerous to continue.
#TRENDING ALS ICEBUCKET CHALLENGE BEY & JAY 11 // openWIDE v15
FIFA2014
EBOLA
SO U G ER
ROB FORD
ROBIN WILLIAMS
F
N
WORLD PRIDE // KEVIN HURREN Although Cher’s wardrobe department currently holds the title for gayest place on earth, Toronto was a close second this past June with the celebration of World Pride. This year, Toronto’s Pride festivities rolled out the rainbow carpet to the rest of the world – inviting speakers, performers, and tourists from around the globe to honour love in Ontario’s capital city. In addition to the usual array of events – including drag shows, concerts, book readings, art shows, etc – World Pride was marked by a few special occurrences. A three day Human Rights Conference was held, with a focus on international guests such as the former Prime Minister of Iceland and her wife of 25 years. Also in attendance at World Pride were the recently elected Premier Kathleen Wynne and her partner, who participated in both the Opening Ceremonies and charity run. But not every guest was welcome. Many critiqued the heavy corporate presence at the Pride Parade. Although businesses have always had a part in sponsoring Pride, this year saw an unprecedented number of companies walk in the parade alongside community groups, student organizations, and other LGBT unions. These companies ranged from large banks and insurance agencies to smaller beverage providers, furniture and hardware stores, and even cereal groups. Who knows if more businesses will be allowed to get a piece of the Pride spotlight next year. Until then, at least I now know my cereal is a fruity as I am.
FIFA WORLD CUP 2014 // KEVIN CHAO The 2014 FIFA World Cup was held in Brazil during the months of June and July, bringing together a global culture of fans, die-hard and casual alike. American interest in the sport increased with unprecedented popularity after the USA team qualified for the round of 16, and the tournament held no lack of excitement, including two shootouts for the Netherlands and a 7-1 landslide for Germany over their host Brazil in the semifinals. Ultimately, Germany won the World Cup over Argentina in extra time during the 1-0 final. However, the international spectacle was not all celebrations. FIFA and the Brazilian government have been under fire from the people of Brazil for hosting such an expensive, extravagant event while its citizens suffer. The nation’s government has spent $11 billion in preparation for the World Cup, wasting funds for projects such as a $270,000,000 stadium in the remote city of Manaus, where only four World Cup games will be played. Brazilian citizens are outraged that the government would allow the organization of FIFA to wring out the country like a sponge, extracting profits at the expense of its people.
openWIDE v15 // 12
ARTS AND CULTURE
IN THE F ORE ST C I T Y: O T E M O C L E W
#LDNONT // MICHAEL USLING
Welcome to London! Whether you have lived in this city your whole life, visited for the first time last fall, or just arrived on campus for the first time: welcome; I am sure that is something that you will be hearing a lot of. While you spend the next four years of your life on this campus, getting to know the culture of Western and your respective faculty, something that must not be neglected is participating in the culture of your new community – did you know you can now vote in London? What is great about moving to a new city, no matter what the size, is that there are bound to be many new things to explore, and as a student London is the perfect size for exploring. This article is meant to provide a look at some of London’s arts and culture offerings – there are many ways to explore the culture within this city and these are just skimming the surface.
openWIDE// A&E
SO, YOU’RE INTO ART? London’s art scene is not too shabby – there are over 15 local galleries and co-operatives that feature
fine art collections from international and local artists. There is no excuse to miss an opening at McIntosh Gallery – because it is located on campus right across from the Social Science Centre. McIntosh Gallery hosts monthly exhibitions of both local and national artists. The permanent collection of the gallery features work by Canadian greats Jack Chambers and Jeff Wall, holding a status as nothing short of impressive, especially for a university gallery. The fact that McIntosh was the first university art gallery in Ontario (opening in 1942) however justifies the impressive 3500 piece collection the gallery has curated over its 72 years. Forest City Gallery (FCG) is London’s only artist-run centre, and was one of the first in Canada, meaning that this gallery runs on a not-for-profit model, paying each artist for their show rather than selling their work and charging commission as a commercial gallery would. FCG’s exhibitions are free to the public and you can buy a membership if you do please (this is what funds the centre). The gallery focuses on exhibiting local and emerging talent and even accepts submissions from emerging artists twice a year. FCG is a must see for those seeking an alternative to the commercial gallery environment. What is unique about the Jonathon Bancroft-Snell Gallery is that it is both a esteemed gallery and a unique gift shop; offering affordable ceramic tableware next to world-famous ceramic art pieces the Gallery is Canada’s largest gallery for Canadian ceramic artworks and has recently become one of London’s top tourist attractions. Finally, the Michael Gibson Gallery is a contemporary gallery in Downtown London that represents an impressive roster of mainly Canadian artists. The exhibitions come about ten times a year to this amazing space. Contemporary artists like Wanda Koop and Walter Redinger have shown here. A must-see if you’re already walking down Richmond Row.
SO, YOU’RE INTO THEATRE? Broadway and 47th may have to wait until Reading Week, so looks like Richmond and Dufferin Ave will have to do
for now. But don’t worry! Founded over 100 years ago as the Grand New Opera House, the Grand Theatre, hosts a variety of amateur and professional productions all year long. This year the Grand is hosting the production of Shrek The Musical from November to January as well as many shows from the annual Broadway in London series, this year bringing Jersey Boys, Chicago, Mythbusters Live and The Blue Man Group to the forest city!
SO, YOU’RE INTO MUSIC? Many artists and bands come through London on continental tours, as it is an easy place to stop between Toronto and
Detroit. Budweiser Gardens is the largest venue where you’ll see a lot of established musicians perform (this year hosting a TON of country singers and Lionel Richie). London Music Hall holds smaller crowds but still hosts known acts, this year bringing Architects, LIGHTS and Vance Joy to town. Smaller venues like Call the Office and The APK are great places known for hosting many of the city’s local rock and indie bands.
AND, YOU LIKE LOCAL CULTURE? There are many great ways to become immersed in the local culture of London and one of the best ways to keep up with the community is through CTV London. The network started broadcasting locally in 1953 and was a big move for London as Londoners would no longer have to rely on cities like Windsor or Toronto for their cable networks, but rather London’s local station would provide local broadcasts and help nurture a local spirit and culture. The network has been rebranded about 6 times since but has proven to be an integral aspect to the city’s creation of culture. Some great events to look out for this coming fall are Doors Open London happening in September as well as the Western Fair and LOOK Fest.
openWIDE v15 // 14
YOUTH & WORK: AN INTERVIEW WITH ANDREW LANGILLE
“The growing precarity of youth unemployment is having a widespread impact on the socioeconomic health of young Canadians.” 17 // openWIDE v15
OPENWIDE Editor-in-chief Travis Welowszky spoke with Andrew Langille, a Toronto-based labour lawyer and internationally recognized labour law scholar, about unpaid internships, labour laws, and youth unemployment in Ontario.
Travis Welowszky: In light of the recent news that Bell Mobility has shut down their Professional Management Program, which annually recruits hundreds of unpaid interns throughout the company, it appears there is now a heightened awareness surrounding internships in Ontario. What has lead to the Labour Ministry now cracking down on unpaid labour? Andrew Langille: Over the past few years there has been a growing awareness of the problems associated with unpaid internships in Ontario. At the core, unpaid internships are unfairly target vulnerable segments of population such as young people, recent immigrants, and women returning to the labour force after having children. There’s a deep gendered dynamic inherent within intern culture and it’s becoming readily apparent that young women take on unpaid internships at a far higher rate than men. Finally, unpaid internships are a form of precarious work which are having a deep impact on the economy as young workers are delaying major life events, wages get driven down, and interns are forced to rely on familial support or go into debt to support themselves. Essentially the Ministry of Labour was forced to act due to sustained pressure from a variety groups and a growing body of evidence that tens of thousands of young workers are being exploited through demands that they provide unpaid labour. Beyond that, recently there have also been a number of tragic deaths of young workers who were engaged in training programs and at least two of these deaths were associated with unpaid internship programs. Getting governments to engage in proactive enforcement of the laws relating to unpaid internships has been one of the key demands from the intern rights movement, so it’s encouraging to see the Ministry of Labour starting to enforce the law. That being said, there’s still a great deal to be done to adequately protect young workers and students who are engaged in the school-to-labour market transition. TW: What are the legal parameters of unpaid internships in Ontario?
AL: The legal parameters governing unpaid internships are rather strict in Ontario. Unpaid internship are currently legal if part of a requirement of an academic program. In this case students are excluded from the protection of the Employment Standards Act, 2000, but would be covered under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act and the Human Rights Code; furthermore, currently students aren’t covered under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, but there’s legislation currently being debated at Queen’s Park that would expand coverage to students and it should be passed sometime this fall. One important note is that if you decide to do an academic unpaid internship that isn’t a requirement of your academic program then you won’t be covered under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act and won’t have workers’ compensation if you get injured. Outside of being a requirement of an academic program unpaid internships are typically illegal. Under ss. 1(2) of the Employment Standards Act, 2000 employers have to adhere to a six part test if they want to use unpaid internships. Under the test, an intern can’t replace a paid employee, be paid, or provide any benefit to the employer. Essentially, it means that unpaid interns can’t be doing work for an employer and if they are then it’s a case of employee misclassification and they need to be at least receiving the minimum wage. There have been a number of cases looking at this issue and the law has evolved to be quite harsh towards employers to the point that non-academic internships simply aren’t legal in most situations. TW: Why have employers, many of which are forprofit entities, been relying on free labour as a business model? AL: There are a number of reasons. First, historically the law on unpaid internships hasn’t been proactively enforced by the Ministry of Labour, so for years there was unchecked growth of intern culture and the practice got entrenched in Ontario’s labour market. Second, up until recently there wasn’t a lot of attention paid to unpaid internship, so many employers were ignorant to the fact that Ontario openWIDE v15 // 18
openWIDE// GUEST has laws that address unpaid internships. Third, in the wake of the financial crisis there was trends across the economy for employers to cut costs and replacing paid employees with unpaid interns was an attractive way to save money. Fourth, young workers aren’t generally aware of their rights as employees and even when they are there’s a power imbalance that often leads people to stay silent about such issues. Fifth, Ontario has a jobs crisis and there are a huge amount of young people competing for a limited number of jobs, so employers often take advantage of the glut of young workers who need experience. Sixth, post-secondary institutions have been complicit in pushing unpaid internships on students and providing employers with a revolving door of students required to undertake unpaid labour.
have. Essentially you’re devaluing your labour if you work for free and future employers will notice. I’ve heard about hiring managers questioning potential hires about doing unpaid internships as it goes directly to the concept of self-worth, valuing your time, and self-advocacy. You don’t want to be pegged as the perms-intern. Moreover, the kind of organization that you want to work for will generally pay their students and interns. Employers are increasingly using paid internship programs as a talent acquisition strategy and my advice would be to limit job searches to these type of programs. If an employer isn’t willing to pay you a decent wage for your work then that should serve as a warning sign that the organization will attempt to exploit you in other ways.
TW: A common benefit many young workers see in an unpaid internship is the opportunity to gain experience or getting a-foot-in-the-door that could lead to a job in the future. What are the dangers of a ‘working for experience only’ mentality?
TW: Students incur a great deal of financial burden: from rising tuition costs and loan repayments to living expenses. How are unpaid internships benefiting those of a more secure economic background?
AL: The ‘working for experience only’ mentality is a dangerous one to
AL: There’s an unsettling narrative that argues that unpaid internships perpetuate disparities related to socio-economic class, income inequality, and wealth inequality. What’s occurring within Ontario’s labour market at present is the trend where employers have somewhat successfully downloaded the costs of training new employees onto students, their families, and ultimately the public. Essentially unpaid internships socialize the risks associated with training new employees by demanding increasingly extreme amounts of unpaid labour. Students and young workers from wealthier backgrounds have a greater ability to engage in the unpaid labour that has become a necessity for entry into fields like journalism, law, or politics. Unpaid internships have an impact on social cohesion and fuel income equality. We’ve created a labour market where access to entry-level positions is largely based on birthstatus, socio-economic class, and the wealth of a person’s parents. These trends inhibit social mobility and decimates any notion of equality as many
19 // openWIDE v15
openWIDE// GUEST capable and talented students lose out on opportunities due to the inability to engage in unpaid labour. There’s a creeping cultural apartheid occurring as young people from historical marginalized groups are being shut out from critical professions which control the social, economic, and political level in Ontario. Simply put, the very social fabric of our province is being changed by the exponential increase in the amount of unpaid labour in the labour market. TW: The current rate of youth unemployment in Ontario is the highest in Canada. Do you see a correlation between this statistic and the contention made by the University of Toronto Students’ Union (UTSU) that upwards of 300,000 Canadians are misclassified as non-employees or interns earlier this year? Are these figures interrelated? AL: The youth unemployment rate in Ontario currently sits at 15.8% and clearly unpaid internships are playing into Ontario’s youth employment crisis. Precarious work and underemployment are increasingly becoming the new normal for young people in Ontario who are struggling to find good jobs that over the ability to carve out a life. Each year in Ontario well over a hundred thousand young people are forced into providing unpaid labour either through academic programs or due to the demands of unscrupulous employers. This is clearly an intolerable situation that’s having some very insidious effects on the labour market and the overall economy. Governments at all levels need to do a much better job of workforce planning and must create more active labour market programs to assist young people in the school-to-labour market transition. TW: A great deal of your work and social media presence focuses on calling out organizations that are taking advantage of young workers. Have you found your own work gaining traction now that more eyes appear to be on the issue of unpaid labour in Ontario? AL: I started researching unpaid internships three years ago and interest has been growing ever since. Now there are a lot of organizations advocating around this issue, politicians have taken up the cause, and we’re starting to see a statutory and regulatory response from governments. Throughout all of this social media has been critical in advocacy efforts as it’s a no-cost way to disseminate information to a large amount of people instantaneously. Using social media also allows for people, who may be geographically dispersed, to organize and rally suppor Find out more about Andrew's work at his website, youthandwork.ca
openWIDE v15 // 20
BEST. WEEK. EVER. an O-WEEK retrospective
// RACHEL KELLY
I rolled up to the parking lot in my parents’ minivan. I couldn’t really see out the windows, but I could hear a lot of screaming and music. It would have been scary but I could hear the Avicii song and I was like, “No, these are my people!” Like I’ve never met them or anything, but I know, I can just feel, that all twenty-three thousand students are already family. So then I get out and I can’t really see anyone’s faces but I’m getting hugged, or maybe I was tackled? I met my soph, Fireball Prancer Bunny. I think he was a guy? He might live on my floor. Then we went to my room, and my roommate was there, her family was gone. My parents were being lame and hovering and she probably thinks I’m a total freak now. Whatever, she’s probably a bitch, because she made her parents leave so early. Of course I would get the bitchy roommate. But whatever, because we did floor ice-breakers and my floor is so funny and I know we are going to be just like family because we all go to Western so obviously we all have a ton in common. This girl down the hall, Stephanie, asked me to go to cheer tryouts with her. I said no but STILL how sweet is that? Oh wait no, her name was Norah I think. Stephanie was the other blonde one. Maybe? The next couple days were all these rallies. The sophs tried to teach us these cheers and dances, and I tried super hard to memorize them because I wanted to impress the sophs and not seem like a noob, but I didn’t want anyone to think I was trying super hard because who wants to be that kid? I don’t want all six thousand undergrads to think I’m that kid. Everyone kept fundraising for charity as well. I bought two t-shirts, and then some other girl also got me to buy these buttons that were super cute. Though I looked at them and realized they were all for some other faculty. But it totally doesn’t matter because they were for charity. I also saw people walking around with these adorable green baseball caps, I feel like I need to buy one. I already spent grandma’s graduation check on a new phone plan that a student volunteer talked me into. I mean, it seemed expensive, but they are advertising it here so obviously it is the better choice. Right? Anyway, we did this big fundraiser walk around the neighbourhoods, it was SO SWEET! I’m pretty sure it was some kind of bonding exercise, to make us realize what it will be like to wake up and go to class after full nights out. We raised so much money for the charity. What charity? I can’t remember the name. And so here I am, I survived O Week! I don’t really know where my classes are yet, or where the library is, but I know exactly where TD Stadium is. I haven’t even bought my textbooks yet, but my closet is full of terrific Western branded t-shirts. I can’t quite remember my roommate’s name right now, but I have so many other people to keep in touch with. I went dancing at Talbot every night and woke up every morning to glow sticks in my bed. I am so ready for this year.
21 // openWIDE v15
THIS IS A BLANK PAGE YOU CAN WRITE SOMETHING HERE EMAIL: OPENWIDEZINE@GMAIL.COM