The Queen's Journal, Issue 26

Get the lead out

sustainability

war 2.0

Goals Galore

new dimensions

Features tests for lead in the pipe of Ghetto houses.

Should the AMS Sustainability Office become the Sustainability commission?

Page 7

Arts reviews the new Union Gallery exhibit exploring war in the modern world.

Page 9

The Queen’s women’s hockey team dominated this weekend.

Page 12

Postscript examines the recent 3D trend in Hollywood.

Page 16

Page 3

T u e s d ay , J a n u a r y 1 8 , 2 0 11 — I s s u e 2 6

the journal

Q u e e n ’ s U n i v e r s i t y — C a n a da ’ s O l d e s t S t u d e n t N e w s pa p e r — S i n c e 1 8 7 3

KINGSTON

Student raises local poverty awareness B y J essica F ishbein Assistant News Editor Mira Dineen, ArtSci ’11, said she was surprised to discover the wide variety of people poverty affects.

Dineen recalls talking to an older man whose son had a mental illness and was struggling to find money to pay for food for his grandchildren.

“This older man had exhausted all of his financial sources and said he just couldn’t get out of the car at the food bank and sat in the car crying. He never thought he’d be in this situation,” she said.

Until she went out and spoke to people living in poverty, Dineen had no idea how dire the situation was in Kingston.

“I didn’t realize that poverty can happen to anyone, and many people on social assistance ended up where they are due to tragic life circumstances,” she said.

“A lot of Queen’s students don’t

Inside history rewritten University historian begins research on the third volume of Queen’s history, covering 1961-2004.

Page 2

Online local poverty Check out recent statistics on poverty in the Kingston community.

queensjournal.ca

see Kingston as their real home because they are here temporarily.

Unless you have a job or internship in the city you might not learn about local issues,” she said.

Last March Dineen decided to get involved with the issue by co-authoring a book with a Queen’s professor called Persistent Poverty: Voices from the Margins.

“This was the first opportunity I had to look at poverty in urban settings, right here,” she said. “I saw poverty four blocks from my house, and I just didn’t know.”

Dineen, ArtSci ’11, said people are unaware of how prevalent poverty is within their own communities.

Persistent Poverty tells the stories of impoverished Ontarian residents living in 26 different cities.

Ontario Works, the basic social assistance program in Ontario, gives a single adult $585 per month, Ontario Works, the basic social assistance program in Ontario provides a single adult with See Stereotypes on page 5 $585 a month, the average cost of rent in Kingston.

Photo by Christine Blais

administration

Queen’s staff unionizes B y L abiba H aque Assistant News Editor After voting 53.8 per cent in favour, Queen’s administrative staff is unionizing with the United Steelworkers (USW).

Pradeep Kumar, a policy studies professor who specializes in unions, said people often join to negotiate better wages and working conditions.

“There is a sense of inequity as [the staff doesn’t] enjoy the same wages as Queen’s faculty does,” he said, adding that the USW is known as a progressive union.

With the staff vote to unionize so close, Kumar said oftentimes individuals don’t want to unionize because they think they have enough individual power or worry about their job security.

“There are a lot of insecurities.

People are afraid they may lose their jobs if they sign a unionization sheet,” he said, adding that Kingston’s small administrative and clerical labour market may contribute to this job insecurity.

Kumar said joining a big union is more advantageous than joining a smaller one.

With 705,190 members, the USW is the largest industrial labour union in North America and with 7,500 Ontario university staff members already on board, the USW has experience with other universities.

“They also have a record of representing the University of Toronto, so they have something to show and should be able to fulfill the needs for Queen’s staff here,” he said.

McMaster unionized with the Canadian Auto Workers but

Kumar said the USW was a better choice for Queen’s.

“The Steelworkers have a better record in that sense. They have been around for a longer time and have demonstrated a commitment to the staff that is admirable.”

After months of negotiations, the Ontario Labour Board counted the votes last December, which were originally cast in March 2010.

The ballots were sealed following the vote as the University and the union needed to agree on a description for the bargaining unit.

Discussions were still in progress when approximately 1,600 general staff members voted whether or not to unionize.

Although the negotiations are not yet complete, the 904 votes still eligible were counted on Dec. 13.

Acting Associate Vice-Principal (Human Resources) Al Orth said

the bargaining unit includes over 1,200 employees. The University has released a list of positions excluded from unionizing, including persons employed by campus security, persons employed for less than 14 hours per week, persons employed in the Principal’s office and many more. However 120 positions which are identified as “management and confidential capacity” remain in dispute, he said.

“The talks are continuing with Steelworkers. Neither party has gone public with what has been discussed so far,” Orth said, adding that the University has confirmed who is on the exclusion list.

“There are a variety of different positions that need to be looked at due to the nature of the work See Bargaining on page 4

News

2 •queensjournal.ca

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

History

Queen’s history moves into 21st century Third volume on Queen’s history written by university historian will begin in the early 1960s B y B randon P asternak Contributor As one of the oldest universities in Canada, Queen’s has a history worth telling.

During the depression era, Vice-Principal William Everett McNeill would count packets of 1,000 envelopes to check if they were all there and he once turned down a professor's request for a pencil sharpener because there was one on another floor in the same building.

With these money saving strategies, McNeill managed to present balanced budgets each year without cutting salaries and he is credited with helping Queen’s survive the Depression without drastic cutbacks. Depression era stories such as these accumulate in a 1983 book, Queen's University: Volume II 1917-1961.

But according to Queen’s historian and Adjunct Professor

Duncan McDowall the story extends beyond the early 60s.

McDowall is in the process of writing a third volume of Queen’s history based on campus happenings from 1961-2004.

How does an “institution ... keep

what’s good about its tradition and at the same time change?

Queen’s has had a very stiff struggle.

”

—Duncan McDowall, Queen’s historian and adjunct professor “What Queen’s offers has grown radically,” McDowall, BA ’72 and MA ’74, said. “It seems appropriate to write a history that chronicles these changes.”

The new instalment will take a more thematic approach to the history of Queen’s, focusing less on the institutional details covered in the previous volumes, McDowall said.

“How does an institution ... keep what’s good about its tradition and at the same time change? Queen’s has had a very stiff struggle. At times ... it has been slow in doing that ... but clearly ... it must be doing something right.”

McDowall said Queen’s underwent a large expansion beginning in the 1960s.

“Queen’s went from 3,400 [students] in 1960 to pushing 17,000 as it is now. Queen’s advanced the policy very early on that it would be deliberate in its expansion,” he said, adding that this meant Queen’s was careful to safeguard its reputation for academic excellence as the student body grew.

As a Queen’s graduate himself and with a great-grandfather who helped found the University, McDowall said he feels a personal connection to Queen’s and brings a different perspective to the history than either of the two previous historians.

“There are two ways of approaching it,” he said. “You get a total outsider and they see everything afresh, or you go with an insider who ... probably comes with some preconceptions. I’m kind of in the middle.”

The modest project is not coming out of the University’s operating budget, but is instead funded by the Richardson Trust, an endowment at Queen’s.

Queen's University: Volume I 1841-1917 was published in 1978 and written by outside historian Hilda Neatby. Volume II, covering 1917 to 1961, was written by Frederick W. Gibson.

Gibson, BA ’42 and MA ’44, taught in the department of history from 1952 to 1985.

After being asked by Principal Woolf to write the book, McDowall began the project at the beginning of this year.

“It’s not a hell of a lot different than writing essays.

You sweep all this material in, and at times it seems a little overwhelming,” he said.

To gather as much information as possible and capture all aspects of the University community, McDowall said he uses a variety of resources, from Board of Trustees meeting minutes and Journal archives to interviews with professors.

The last fifty years have brought about vast changes in the areas of study offered at Queen’s, with the advent of environmental science, industrial relations and the business school’s executive MBA. “The Queen’s contribution

Winter

Clubs Night Didn’t get a chance to sign up for clubs in the fall semester? It’s not too late!

Wallace Hall JDUC Jan. 18: 6-8pm

Photo by Christine Blais

University Historian Duncan McDowall, BA ’72 and MA ’74, says the last 50 years have meant vast changes to Queen’s.

has broadened dramatically,” McDowall said. “[It] was guided by ... intelligent men who were pretty good at keeping their eye on the horizon.”

Bill Mackintosh MA ’16, James Alexander Corry and John Deutsch, Comm ’35 all served as principals following WWII and are three men in particular who impacted Queen’s history.

“All had experience in building the social welfare state. They brought it to Queen’s,” he said.

Mackintosh and Deutsch both worked in finance while Corry worked as a political scientist.

“The era after the war totally changed the policy landscape of Canada,” McDowall said.

With McDowall scheduled to finish writing by December 2013, the book will be published in time for the University’s 175th Anniversary in 2016. McDowall has been working in the Queen’s

Archives for the last three weeks.

McDowell said the completion of the book will likely be his last project.

“I saw it as a delightful opportunity for my kind of semi-retirement,” he said.

According to McDowall, the importance of such documentation lies in the need to learn from history.

“History should inform a kind of active Queen’s citizenship,” he said. “[Queen’s] built this tremendous sort of brand recognition in Canada as one of the best universities ... so you want to know what contributed to that.

It should also put a few pegs in the ground about what not to do.

Don’t get so self-satisfied with your reputation that you’re oblivious to some things that are changing.”

—With files from Clare Clancy

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

queensjournal.ca

•3

Features

Student Ghetto

Leading the charge against lead Utilities Kingston team tests water in local houses to prevent lead from contaminating water B y J ake E dmiston Features Editor A Utilities Kingston team is testing water in local houses to ensure no one ends up like Sir John Franklin.

In 1845, Franklin and a crew of over 100 people left the docks in England on an expedition to the Northwest Passage. They never returned.

A prominent theory suggests that lead poisoning from cans of preserved food was a major factor in the death of the crew, stranded in the Canadian Arctic.

Phil Emon, quality assurance operator with Kingston’s Water and Wastewater Operations, has tested water in around 600 homes.

He said only six per cent have had high levels of lead in their water.

The maximum acceptable intake of lead concentration in water is 10 parts per billion, or 10 micrograms per litre.

“If you filled a room with one billion Styrofoam balls,” Emon said. “Ten balls would be lead.”

Until 1950, homes were built with water pipes made of lead. It wasn’t until 1989 that regulations prohibited pipes with any lead content above .2 percent.

Of the 600 houses Emon has tested, he said more than half were around the Student Ghetto. The testing program is volunteer-based, available for Kingston residents looking for peace of mind.

“We get a lot of Queen’s homes,” he said.

The provincial government introduced a new requirement to the Safe Drinking Water Act in 2007, after discovering elevated levels of lead in tap water throughout the province.

Now municipalities are required to sample private residences, non-residential buildings and the City’s water distribution centre.

According to Health Canada, ingesting high amounts of lead can lead to complications with blood, kidneys and the nervous system.

Emon said because Kingston’s water-distribution system of pipes is lead-free, his main focus is the privately-owned homes, especially those built before 1950.

According to a City of Kingston Planning and Development study compiled using statistics from the 2006 Census, over 30 per cent of homes in the Student Ghetto were built before 1946.

Emon said attitudes towards water standards have changed since a contaminated water system in Walkerton, ON caused a series of deaths in 2000.

“Anytime you talk about water, because of what happened in Walkerton, there’s always a scare factor,” he said, adding that Kingston is not a high risk area for lead contamination.

“Lead exposure is much less than it used to be.”

Kingston’s Community Testing program was allowed to reduce the burden of a regular sample amount because the six per cent rate of high lead concentration was relatively low compared to other municipalities that were discovering problem cases at rates over 10 per cent.

Emon said Kingston’s natural limestone concentration is a factor in protecting residents from lead diluting and leaching into tap water.

“It’s because of where we live,”

House construction chronology

(0%) (0%) (0%)

Photo Illustration by Justin Tang

Using data compiled by the City of Kingston, the above shows the dates of construction for homes in the Student Ghetto.

Houses buit before 1950 are more likely to have lead plumbing.

Phil Emon measures the pH levels of tap water in a house in the Student Ghetto as part of a City program to ensure lead levels in the water don’t exceed government regulations.

he said, adding that the calcium from the limestone coats Kingston pipes, preventing any lead present from coming in direct contact with water.

“Water quality also plays a role in how lead leaches into water,” Emon said.

Because Kingston is considered moderately hard—specifically 124 milligrams of hardness per litre, the water is less corrosive and unlikely to erode lead off pipes and into the water.

The Journal arranged for Emon to conduct a water test in a home in the Student Ghetto. Arriving at the house at 8:30 a.m. yesterday, Emon ran the kitchen tap to flush all existing water from the plumbing.

Before taking a sample from the tap or performing any tests, no one was allowed to use the water for 30 minutes—a difficult task early in the morning when showers are in high demand.

“Before [the governmentsanctioned sample reduction] we were testing 200 homes every six months,” Emon said. “It takes 45 minutes per test, which gets difficult especially in the morning when people need showers and breakfast.”

During the 30-minute wait, Emon toured into the basement to inspect the pipes.

The homeowner is responsible

for the section of piping leading from the property line to the house—known as the service line.

The service line usually enters the home at the front of the house.

Emon concluded that the service line was made of copper.

Anytime you talk “about water, because

of what happened in Walkerton, there’s always a scare factor.

”

—Phil Emon, quality assurance officer

“You can tell it’s copper by the brownish colour,” he said. “Lead would be a dull grey. It’s a soft metal so if you take a key to it, lead would scratch.”

Homeowners with lead plumbing systems and high concentrations of lead in tap water are advised to replace the service line. Although, replacement can prove costly and Emon said there are other more cost-effective methods including installing an NSF-approved filtration system or running the tap for five minutes in the morning to ensure all water sitting in the pipes is flushed. Emon cautioned against using hot water for drinking or cooking because lead dissolves in hot water faster

pHOTO BY jUSTIN tANG

than cold.

Property Standards Kingston make inspectors available for tenants who believe their housing isn’t meeting regulations and will issue a work order for landlords to bring their property up to code.

Though switching to bottled water appears to be easiest approach to avoiding lead, a study published by the Natural Resource Defence Council (NRDC) suggests there are also risks associated with the bottled alternative to tap water.

Bottled water is regulated by the federal government through the Food and Drug Act. Tap water is regulated Provincially, though all Canadian tap water must adhere to microbiological and chemical guidelines as well as asthetic standards including taste, odour and colour.

“Our conclusion is that there is no assurance that just because water comes out of a bottle it is any cleaner or safer than water from the tap,” read the NRDC study. “In fact, an estimated 25 per cent or more of bottled water is really just tap water in a bottle—sometimes further treated, sometimes not.”

To volunteer your home for water-testing call Utilities Kingston’s Water Quality Assurance Office at (613) 389-0562.

4 •QUEENSJOURNAL.CA

NEWS

TUESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2011

Bargaining unit still under negotiation Continued from page 1

performed, ” he said, adding that Queen’s is still looking at each of the jobs in question to see if they meet the Ontario Labour Relations Act standard for inclusion or exclusion.

Orth said the USW will be one of many

The Steelworkers have a “better record in that sense.

They have been around for a longer time and have demonstrated a commitment to the staff that is admirable.

”

—Pradeep Kumar, professor of policy studies unions at the University. Other unions include the Public Service Alliance of Canada which represents Teaching Assistants and Teaching Fellows and the Ontario Nursing Association representing the registered nurses who work with the Queen’s Family Health Team.

Orth said the majority of the University administrative staff members were formerly part of the Queen’s University Staff Association (QUSA). With the formal unionization, Orth said the administrative staff will be able to negotiate better benefits for their employment.

Orth said negotiations will commence sometime in the near future.

Despite the small margin of votes in favour of unionization, Orth said under the Ontario Labour Relations Act, even a small majority is enough for certification. It is this act that allowed for the voting to commence

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despite the fact that the bargaining unit’s description was not agreed upon.

The next step will be for the USW to negotiate a collective agreement with the University. Traditionally a collective agreement entails negotiations between employers and unions in reaching an agreement which outlines working conditions, wage scales, working hours, overtime and health and safety conditions.

Further negotiations will allow both the union and the University to set forth agreements in terms of staff conditions of employment. Orth said Queen’s staff will most likely elect their own representatives who will work with union representatives to negotiate with the University.

“It has been a very lengthy process,” Orth said. “These things tend to be lengthy, and we certainly appreciate the patience of the staff.

We are certainly looking forward to getting a satisfactory collective agreement.”

PHOTO BY CHRISTINE BLAIS

Acting Associate Vice-Principal (Human Resources) Al Orth says the bargaining unit includes 1,200 people.

NEWS

TUESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2011

QUEENSJOURNAL.CA

Stereotypes unfounded Continued from page 1

Dineen said, adding that this is problematic when the average rent in Kingston for a bachelor apartment is $586.

“If you find a job while receiving Ontario Works (OW), 50 per cent of your wages are clawed back or deducted from your next month’s social assistance cheque …. I spoke to people who said they wanted to work but couldn’t afford to work because 50 per cent of their wages would be deducted,” she said. “After paying for transportation, work clothing, and child care, they would come out with less money at the end of the month by choosing to work.”

Dineen said as a result of these policies, the cycle of poverty can inadvertently continue.

“Everyone I talked to wanted to work.

Social assistance keeps people in poverty and doesn’t support them in becoming independent,” she said. “The social assistance system needs to be reformed so people can get off social assistance.”

She said that in order to understand poverty in Kingston, she spoke to local lowincome individuals.

“We went to places where people living in poverty would go, like soup kitchens and Martha’s Table,” she said. “Generally speaking, we spoke to people who were living on social assistance, or were working minimum wage jobs that would make them fall under a reasonable income.”

Dineen said low income residents often volunteered to be interviewed.

“We sent out fliers saying we are doing this project, seeking to give a voice to people who don’t have a voice. Places like Martha’s Table would’ve gotten fliers in advance. We didn’t just bombard people, they knew we were coming,” she said.

In the interviews, Dineen said she asked a series of questions, including how people came to be in a position of poverty seeking

social assistance and what changes to social assistance would improve low income residents’ lives.

“Everyone said they needed more money,” she said.

According to Dineen, low income Ontarians are often subject to discrimination since people have preconceived notions about those living on social assistance.

“They say ‘stop being lazy, go find a job, stop relying on the government.’ People often have stereotypes that everyone on social assistance struggles with substance abuse,” she said.

However, talking to people in poverty led to some surprising revelations that broke down these stereotypes for Dineen.

“I expected to talk to people who grew up in poverty but most people were on social assistance because of life circumstances that anyone could come across.” she said.

In order to change social assistance, work at the government level is essential, but activism is important, Dineen said.

“There are lots of opportunities for Queen’s students to make an effort to know Kingston better. You can volunteer at places like Martha’s Table,” she said.

Co-author and Queen’s School of Business professor Jamie Swift said he and Dineen focused on anecdotes rather than data.

“By talking to low income people about their lives, we’re not giving a dry report on public policy but giving a direct voice to low income people themselves,” he said, adding that he approached Dineen and asked her to help him write the book after she spoke at a Queen’s Health Outreach Advisory Board presentation last March.

“I noticed she was articulate and well organized, and we couldn’t have done this without her work,” he said.

Persisting Poverty: Voices from the Margins was published in December by Between The Lines Press, Toronto.

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•5

6 •queensjournal.ca

Editorials

About The Journal

Editorial Board Tyler Ball

News Editor

Clare Clancy

Assistant News Editors

Katerine Fernandez-Blance Jessica Fishbein Labiba Haque

Features Editor

Jake Edmiston

Editorials Editor

Elias Da Silva-Powell

Editorial Cartoonist

Adam Zunder

Dialogue Editor

Craig Draeger

Arts Editor

Ally Hall

Assistant Arts Editor

Alyssa Ashton

Sports Editor

Kate Bascom

Assistant Sports Editor

Lauri Kytömaa

Postscript Editor

Kelly Loeper

Supplements Editor

Holly Tousignant

Photography Editor

Christine Blais

Assistant Photo Editor Copy Editors

Justin Tang

Andrew Stokes Catherine Owsik

““

Ultimately, people are free to raise their children as they see fit ... but striving for success can sometimes reach too far.

Lifestyle

No fun for number one

I

n an article published Jan. 15, the Globe and Mail’s Margaret Wente interviewed Amy Chua, author of Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother. Chua is a professor of law at Yale, and her book shares some of the parenting techniques she used in raising her two “phenomenally accomplished” daughters, Sophia and Lulu.

Chua is critical of childrearing as an activity oriented around self-esteem and self-exploration.

Instead, she emphasizes repetition, criticism and exacting standards.

Her children were denied the sorts of childhood experiences that many take for granted, including play dates and sleepovers.

The children weren’t allowed to get anything below an A in school—with the exception of gym and drama—nor were they allowed to learn any instrument besides the piano or violin.

An excerpt from Chua’s book published last week in The Wall

Street Journal drew considerable public attention, both positive and negative. Some have denounced Chua’s tactics as cruel, while others have charged her with contributing to Asian stereotyping and encouraging discrimination.

Though Chua succeeded in raising two very talented children, one of whom has played in Carnegie Hall, it’s nearly impossible to condone the methods she used.

Chua insists that “nothing is fun until you’re good at it,” and explains that “children on their own never want to work, which is why it is crucial to override their preferences.” While it’s reasonable to push your children to succeed—for their own sake and out of personal pride—forcing them to excel at everything, and limiting their areas of interest is simply unreasonable.

Academic success has perceptible benefits, but there’s little purpose

to excelling at everything when you don’t enjoy any of it.

Denying children social outlets won’t do them any favours, as developing social skills is important for success in adulthood. It’s much more reasonable to teach children the importance of hard work and diligence, and encourage them to work at their homework—while ensuring that they spent with their friends.

It’s simply common sense that placing an expectation of perfection on your children will put them in a no-win situation. Most children won’t be able to keep up with this standard, regardless of how much time and energy they apply. Passion and independent discovery will lead to pursuing genuine interests; forced pratice will not.

Ultimately, people are free to raise their children as they see fit, and no one wants their children to fail. But striving for success can sometimes reach too far.

Web and Blogs Editor

Terra-Ann Arnone

Web Manager

Dianne Lalonde

Business Staff

Business Manager David Sinkinson

Advertising Manager

Tina You

Advertising Representatives

Carlee Duchesne Lianne Lew Jesse Weening

Staff

Writers Anand Srivastava

Contributors

Leah Fiore Pamela Mullins Brandon Pasternak Rose Solovitch Yan Yu Tuesday, January 18, 2011 • Issue 26 • Volume 138 The Queen’s Journal is an editorially autonomous newspaper published by the Alma Mater Society of Queen’s University, Kingston.

Editorial opinions expressed in the Journal are the sole responsibility of the Queen’s Journal Editorial Board, and are not necessarily those of the University, the AMS or their officers.

Contents © 2011 by the Queen’s Journal; all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission of the Journal. The Queen’s Journal is printed on a Goss Community press by Performance Group of Companies in Smiths Falls, Ontario.

Contributions from all members of the Queen’s and Kingston community are welcome. The Journal reserves the right to edit all submissions.

Subscriptions are available for $120.00 per year (plus GST).

Please address complaints and grievances to the Editors in Chief.

Please direct editorial, advertising and circulation enquiries to: 190 University Avenue, Kingston, Ontario, K7L 3P4 Telephone : 613-533-2800 (editorial) 613-533-6711 (advertising) Fax: 613-533-6728 Email: journal_editors@ams.queensu.ca The Journal Online: www.queensjournal.ca Circulation 6,000 Issue 27 of Volume 138 will be published on Friday, January 21, 2011.

”

The Journal’s Perspective

Editor in Chief

Managing Editor Rachel Kuper Production Manager Leslie Yun

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

sustainability

Canadian food waste case A

ccording to a recent study brands the food waste container published by Guelph’s George “a guilt eraser.” He suggests that Morris Centre, 40 per cent of the green bin convinces people Canadian food is being thrown out that they’re doing the right thing instead of being consumed. The by keeping the food out of a study estimates this food represents landfill, when they may simply be disguising waste—transport a value of roughly $27 billion.

Some experts point to a and delivery of uneaten food still breakdown in communication generates pollution. between different parts of the While it’s too strong of a food industry, where producers conclusion that the green bin does and retailers look only at the most more harm than good, consumers cost-effective models, not those should be paying close attention which help diminish wasted food. to where unwanted food material Others emphasize the difficulty of comes from, and where it ends up. generating funds to address the Food waste is also an issue outside problem. It’s much harder to of the home, with restaurants track food than other common contributing to the problem by forms of household waste which offering extra-large portions and are difficult to dispose of, like all-you-can-eat-buffets. electronic equipment.

In many ways, wasting food is The Star article is also critical an invisible issue. While resources of using the green bin. One expert exist to tell people what to eat if

they want to lose weight and get healthy, little attention is paid to buying and consuming efficiently.

Individual preferences contribute to this issue as well.

Consumers won’t purchase anything but the freshest produce, meaning that cosmetic appeal becomes as important as nutritional value. This means that edible food gets thrown out needlessly.

Similar concerns about appearance and taste turn consumers off of frozen foods, which can be stored longer and are less susceptible to being wasted.

Consumers should be more open to consciously adjusting their purchasing to minimize waste, and making responsible decisions about portion size and consumption.

Alyssa Ashton

I

Bridal trials

am 21 years old, but I still fiercely hold on to the fairy tale dreams of a five-year-old, who planned the perfect wedding for Barbie and imagined walking down the aisle in a Cinderella-style ball gown.

Since my mom took my Barbie dream house away, I have replaced make-believe wedding dreams with reality shows, indulging in some Say Yes to the Dress and Four Weddings to get my bridal fix.

However, my wedding fantasies were dashed after making the mistake of watching Bridalplasty.

Bridalplasty is the Survivor of the bridal world, where the bride-to-be who outwits, outlasts and outplays the other brides gets her dream wedding.

There are of course immunity challenges, but the brides don’t get a much-needed meal or a day trip.

Instead, they get a plastic surgery of their choice.

Just like in Survivor, the contestants lose a ton of weight, though theirs is surgically enhanced through tummy tucks and liposuction.

I understand that a wedding is an important day in a woman’s life and that all eyes are on her, but having saggy arms or a crooked nose shouldn’t detract from the romance of the day and the significance of tying yourself to another person for eternity.

One episode that I watched showed one of the brides gallantly giving up her plastic surgery to another bride who she knew really wanted and deserved a surgery.

All the brides started to cry and say what an amazing person she was for making this sacrifice.

I guess to show my love to my friends I will have to give them my facelift in future.

This show is a sad reminder of the world we live in, a world where we are constantly on the quest for bodily perfection.

These brides seem to have forgotten that their fiancées chose them without all these surgeries, and that the people coming to their wedding are friends and family who love them regardless.

Whether these brides chose to or not, I’m going to hold on to my fairy tale wedding dreams, where my biggest concern is how I manage to pay for a castle in the south of France and how to get over my allergy to horses so that I can have my horse-drawn carriage.

These are my wedding dreams and I will avoid the nightmares of bruising and scars at all costs.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

DIALOGUE

queensjournal.ca

““

To truly engrain systemic sustainability into ... the AMS, the message must be broadcast from the highest rungs of power.

” Unsustained Sustainability Perspectives from the Queen’s community

Environment

•7

Talking Heads ... in the JDUC Photos By Craig Draeger

What do you think of the Journal’s redesign?

The AMS should consider systemic changes in how it approaches internal sustainability However, internal to the AMS, Essentially, the AMS, as an organization, cannot claim to be the Sustainability Office is still truly sustainable. What does it unable to mandate other AMS operations to become more mean to be truly sustainable? without being True sustainability is not just a sustainable bunch of small, feel-good projects considered intrusive or annoying. To done over a short period of time their credit, a few AMS operations Yan Yu, ArtSci ’11 by a small number of people. True are practicing some sustainability sustainability should be about initiatives independently of the SO. But not all AMS operations are The first time I tried to find the making fundamental changes in the AMS Sustainability Office (SO), I way we all do things, to maximize on-board with sustainability, and without a direct mandate, they ended up lost and confused. I had the efficiency of our resource use.

If done correctly, being truly don’t need to be. entered the AMS Offices in the Sustainability-related concerns JDUC and looked everywhere in sustainable will not only help save vain. I was saved by the AMS the planet, but it will actually reap can simply be, and are, deflected Sustainability Coordinator at short and long-term benefits for to the SO. The rest of the AMS can the time, who met me near the an organization, such as increased thus appear “sustainable” while profits due to greater savings and carrying on with “business as usual.” receptionist desk.

I was led, duckling-like, through more efficient production methods.

It’s kind of ironic that the the lower level of the JDUC and University students into an inconspicuous corridor. A AMS has not yet institutionalized are supposed to be sharp few turns later, we were sustainability. Waste reduction, the future leaders finally at the Sustainability Office. efficiency in resource and of society. We’re It turned out I also needed help energy-use and judicious use of supposed to respond finding my way out—thank money should be principles that goodness there weren’t any all commissions, offices and to sustainability issues services within the AMS follow minotaurs in that maze! and other societal The geographic insignificance religiously—because it’s in their challenges with of the AMS Sustainability best business and personal interest! creative thought and Here’s something even more Office symbolizes its history of daring innovation. organizational irrelevance. Since its ironic. Our student government founding in 2006, the SO has been represents us as university students.

In future years, this must regarded as a fringe group within And university students are supposed to be the future leaders of change. I don’t claim to be an the AMS. Its internal organizational role is society. We’re supposed to respond omnipotent genie, but here are to provide other AMS operations to sustainability issues and other some recommendations for how (but only those who want to) societal challenges with creative the AMS can become more sustainable as an organization. with reasonable and realistic thought and daring innovation.

One realistic, short-term Yet the organization that recommendations for how to be represents us seems hesitant to solution is to make the SO into more sustainable.

However, these change, even when institutional a “commission,” rather than an recommendations are often sustainability can tremendously “office.” Becoming a commission ill-considered, if not ignored benefit the AMS. It’s a shame. would provide future AMS altogether. For instance, while Fire halls shouldn’t have to burn sustainability coordinators with more influence and more resources the Tea Room started a in flames.

The good news for the AMS to work with, allowing them to vermicomposting program years ago, Queen’s Pub and the is that the fire isn’t yet too large. work better and with less stress.

And since commissions are each Common Ground are still trashing This year’s AMS executive and their Sustainability Coordinator, given a seat at AMS Assembly, it their organic waste.

In addition, the SO is not a have made valuable progress in will also ensure that sustainability member of the AMS Council, and sustainability initiatives external issues are heard during key AMS does not have a permanent voice to the AMS—one example being decision making.

While having representation at AMS Assemblies, where the key their work with the administration decisions about AMS policies and to install solar panels on buildings by a distinct group is important, the principles and values of across campus. budgets are made.

sustainability should also be a guiding framework that applies to, and benefits, all groups in an organization.

To truly engrain systemic sustainability into the policies and employee culture of the AMS, the message must be broadcast from the highest rungs of power.

Future AMS executives should mandate, in writing, that all AMS commissions, offices and services must incorporate sustainability into both their planning and their day-to-day operations. Additionally, when hiring for these positions, the candidate’s willingness to improve the operation’s sustainability should a deciding factor.

A top-down mandate would also put the sustainability office/ commission to greater use. More AMS staff would request assistance and consultation in how to make their operations more sustainable, turning the SO from an annoyance into a valuable resource.

Sustainability will be transformed from a tiresome chore into the good it actually is: something that can save money and resources—an essential requirement to sound management.

Fostering such a culture of sustainability within the AMS should be the goal of any future executives serious about the issue.

To do this, the AMS must firmly demonstrate the resolve, courage and open-mindedness to evaluate and improve itself.

If changes to AMS policies or constitution would be beneficial, then changes should be made, regardless of whether or not it’s easy—because ultimately, it’s not about doing what’s easy, it’s about doing what’s right.

At the very least, it’s about giving next year’s sustainability coordinator an office that’s not buried in a labyrinth.

Journal Dialogue is forming a discussion panel and looking for members with an eye on current events. If you’d like to join, email journal_letters@ams.queensu.ca for more information.

“Looks good, professional.”

Rob Staalduinen, CompSci ’13

“It’s generated a lot of Twitter buzz. I like it.”

Rachel Pilc, ArtSci ’12

“Looks profesh.”

Cassandra Vlahaki, ArtSci ’11

“It’s pretty neat.”

Emily Skrastins, ArtSci ’11

“It looks colourful.”

Catie Calnan, ArtSci ’11

LETTERS TO THE EDITORS Loko over Four Loko

Jägermeister told me. Nothing on the can of Red Bull told me.

Re: “Four Loko is too much” The bartender did not tell me of (Dec. 2, 2010) any consequences.

The editorial on the recent Dear Editors, bans of Four Loko makes a challenging point. Instead of When I first had a ‘Jägerbomb’, making the argument that people I was aware of the potential be made aware of the potential consequences of my action. consequences of drinking Four Personal interest had led me to Loko and allowing them to make read about the health effects of their own decisions based on mixing caffeine and alcohol. those consequences, the editorial Unfortunately, not everyone recommends reducing choice. is so interested. Had I not gone The suggestion is made that “it’s and done the research myself, I a good idea to make potentially simply would not have known dangerous beverages less available.” the consequences.

In effect, it suggests a ban or a tax Nothing on the bottle of of some sort to discourage the

consumption of the beverage.

Banning Four Loko is not a method of tackling a problem. In all of the media attention surrounding the drink, people have forgotten the reason why Four Loko may have negative health effects. The drink is not malignant by nature; it being ‘Four Loko’ is meaningless.

Rather, the health consequences of the drink are due to the fact that it is a beverage which contains both alcohol and caffeine. Caffeinated drinks with alcohol have been around as long as caffeine and alcohol have. ‘Irish coffee’ and ‘Jägerbombs’ are both popular and well-known drinks.

Unfortunately for the author’s

proposition, a myriad of research has shown that measures to reduce availability of potentially harmful substances may increase the actual harm caused by those substances.

When goods are illegal, users of those goods know less about the consequences of the goods than they otherwise would. They know less about if they can consume the product safely and how different quantities affect them. Whereas Four Loko has a standardized and predictable set of ingredients, the homemade Jägerbomb does not.

A study for the UK Department of Health’s ‘Know Your Limit’s’ campaign showed that the ‘home barman’ pours, on average, twice

the amount he would receive in a pub, regardless of whether he poured a glass of chardonnay or a shot of Smirnoff.

There is no reason to believe that he would not pour similarly large amounts when mixing caffeine and alcohol.

Instead of taking away people’s choice to consume a potentially harmful substance, we should be educating people of the consequences, so they can make their own decisions responsibly.

Dan Osborne, ArtSci ’12 President, Queen’s University Libertarian Association

8 •queensjournal.ca

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Arts Dreamy, complex and sidewinding mini epics like “White Wolves,” “Clocks & Spears” and “Outlines of Everyone” will be encountered at the Bravestation gig at Clark Hall Pub this Thursday.

Q&A

Colouring with youth again With just one EP under their belts, Toronto-based band Bravestation have already been compared to the likes of Yeasayer, Local Natives, The National and Foals Nightmare Collaboration?

Who are you?

Bravestation—Devin, Derek, Andrew and Jeremy.

What do you do?

Create soundscapes and art that hopefully make you think and feel.

How would your music?

you

describe

Atmospheric, dark, light.

New wave that started out in the wilderness, quote, unquote.

How did the band come together?

The core of the group moved from Brockville to Toronto in hopes of big city dreams; that’s where we met Andrew while working on a year-end demo project at a recording arts school.

Devin and Derek, how is it working with your brother?

Derek: Convenient and transparent.

Devin: Honest.

What inspires you?

Imagination, people, places, art, other bands, songs, revelations, the future and the past.

What is the nicest thing someone has said about the band and the worst thing?

Nicest: ‘Your songs all sound the same, but I could see you guys being big in 5 years from now’.

Worst: ‘Your songs all sound the same, but I could see you guys being big in 5 years from now.’

Bob Rock.

You have been doing a great deal of shows with Dora Alexander, why do you think the two bands work so well together?

We’ve developed a friendship through our passion for playing music. There’s a chemistry there that’s built upon mutual respect, trust and good vibes. We dig their sound, and they dig ours—or at least they claim too.

What keeps bringing you back to Kingston?

Kingston’s venues and vibe are great. We had an absolute blast at The Mansion the last time we played here with the same line-up.

YGK Productions know how to put on a good show and throw an even better party. It seems like there are a lot of people who are into new music and support independent bands.

Can you give us a glimpse into tour life?

Organize, drive, anticipate,

Dream Collaboration?

Chris Taylor, the guy’s a buzz factory.

Favourite Condiment?

Southwest chipotle sauce.

Your self-titled EP only had five tracks on it; can fans expect a full length album soon?

We’ve started actively demoing a handful of new tracks for our first full-length—late 2011 seems realistic.

Your EP was self-released, what are the challenges and the rewards of producing your own album?

It’s nice having complete control over the entire creative artistic process. When we’re in the studio we can be completely honest with each other and ourselves. I think bringing in an outside influence puts certain constraints on your sound/personality and risks steering it in a direction it might not have gone instinctively.

We pride ourselves in doing all our own recording, producing, design and promotion. But obviously we realize that bringing in outside sources can help expand your ideas, so we’re enjoying this opportunity while it lasts.

Celebrity Crush?

That girl in The Departed.

Natalie Portman’s pretty cute too.

Favourite reality show?

Does such a thing exist?

You are on a desert island and can only have three items with you, what would they be?

A life jacket, mask and snorkel—fuck this, I’m swimming back to shore!

Can you give us a glimpse into what the new video for “White Wolves” will be like?

The video takes place in the woods and has a Lord of the Flies theme to it.

The main inspiration was taken from excerpts of Robert J. Hastings’

Literature

Murphy’s matters of opinion Rex Murphy’s latest book proves Pamela Anderson, Conrad Black and Tim Horton can fall onto the same page

What are your current obsessions?

Twin Shadow, song structures, buying and selling gear on Craigslist.

eat, eagerly await, soundcheck, eagerly await, play, organize, eat, repeat. That and sleeping in the backseats of vehicles like some of us did the last time we played at The Mansion.

B y R ose S olovitch Staff Writer In reading this book, I was reminded of the theme song to the Yogi Bear show, when the song goes, “Yogi Bear is smarter than the average

bear.” I believe that for someone to read, and take an interest in Canada and Other Matters of Opinion by Rex Murphy, they need to be smarter than the average bear, and ready to dive into a challenging and complex book.

This book is a compilation of Murphy’s former column, “Point of View” for CBC’s The National.

In this edition of the book, Murphy has edited some of his past articles and added comments. Due to the specific nature of the content Murphy is commenting on, in order to get the most out of the

book, one must be well enough acquainted with the subject matter.

Basically, a strong interest in politics and the news is needed in order to read and understand most of it.

While this book is mainly an interesting critique on Canadian politics and foreign relations, it also focuses on literature, pop culture and the general demise of the world. Murphy makes it clear that we, as a society are doing things wrong, and you’d better believe he has something to say about it ...

For full review see queensjournal.ca

supplied

station inspiration “Sooner or later we must realize there is no Station in this life, no one earthly place to arrive at once and for all. The journey is the joy. The Station is an illusion—it constantly outdistances us.

Yesterday’s a memory, tomorrow’s a dream. So, gently close the door on yesterday and throw the key away. It isn’t the burdens of today that drive men mad, but rather regret over yesterday and the fear of tomorrow.

Regret and fear are twin thieves who would rob us of today.”

—Robert j. hastings An excerpt from “The Station”

poem The Station (see “Station Inspiration” above for a fragment of the poem).

Hopes for 2011?

Our hope for 2011 is to release a full-length and see Europe.

Bravestation play a free show on Thursday at 9 p.m. at Clark Hall Pub,

—Alyssa Ashton

online monuments & statues Interview with the local group opening for Bravestation on Thursday.

On limelight

artist in profile Profiling Katie Strang in light of her exhibit at Union Gallery. on limelight

literature Extended version of Canada and Other Matters of Opinion review. on queensjournal.ca

Arts

Tuesday, january 18, 2011

queensjournal.ca

•9

CAMPuS Art

The harsh realities of realtime conflict A new exhibition attempts to locate the moral implications of war in our digital era of global unrest B y A lly h All Arts Editor In a sea of iPads, hashtags and the latest web video going viral, it’s impossible not to question how new communication tools change the way we experience and interact with the world. 12 artists are addressing this issue with the narrowed scope of examining war in the digital age with MyWar: Participation in an Age of Conflict.

The exhibition grapples with themes of war in an era when reality is almost equally lived and conveyed by the media. It’s an era of “realtime” war, where media, conflict and the Internet braid together and become intertwined.

Four of the artists have work currently on display in the main

space of Union Gallery (with an extension of the exhibit at Agnes Etherington) prompting viewers with questions of investigating identity, participation and the harsh reality of conflict in our world.

Radically personal and provocative, MyWar touches on events of war, either as they happened or as how they were portrayed in the media.

It’s difficult to imagine a world without war. The sheer volume of creative production stemming from wartorn thoughts and experiences is overwhelming. It makes sense due to the number of lives war and conflicts have touched. The artists of MyWar clearly have a connection to war in some respect and their art provides an opportunity to be directly involved in our

globalized world where war is an everyday occurrence.

Dunne and Raby’s “Huggable Mushroom Cloud” provides a soft and cuddly version of a dangerous weapon (though I couldn’t touch them to confirm). Sitting side-by-side, one red and one white, the clouds are the first piece encountered in the Union segment of the gallery.

The miniatures are intended to be a reminder of the ongoing possibility of atomic war and subsequently the complete destruction of Earth. In a polyester-soft Western world it can be far too easy to remain blissfully unaware of global unrest lived out by so many each day, especially if cushioned by media and reference sources alike.

Dunne and Raby’s piece aims to promote individual paranoia and awareness surrounding nuclear war—an uneasiness I undoubtedly felt after realizing the small cloud Please see From on page 10

pHOTO BY CHRisTiNe BlAis

MyWar: Participation in an Age of Conflict incorporates the work of 12 international artists like Dunne & Raby’s work pictured above.

“

“One day, instead of night, a burst of machine-gun fire will flash, if light cannot come otherwise.

”

Arts

10 •queensjournal.ca

Tuesday, january 18, 2011

‘From the position of a rebel’ Continued from page 9

interpretations weren’t as cutesy as initially supposed.

Milicia Tomić’s work is the culmination of a two-month period in autumn where she visited sites of anti-facist actions carried out by the People’s Liberation Movement and ordinary citizens of Belgrade.

At first glance, my eyes skimmed across the nine photos of Tomić’s intervention of public space, “One Day,” and by missing the most key aspect—a machine gun casually resting in her arm—I proved her point. A fragment of an Oskar Davico poem accompanies the piece, “One day, instead of night, a

burst of machine-gun fire will flash, if light cannot come otherwise.”

As Tomić strolls and stands on street corners among the crowd she blends in, but also creates new territory made up of politics and actions. It’s an attempt, as she states, to “proceed from the position of a rebel, assuming an active position … moving from the position of a victim onto the streets … distanced from the politics of terror and anti-terror, without resentment, with a machine gun in hand, carrying it simply and necessarily. As if it were a supermarket carrier bag or an umbrella.”

Engaging with web and game technologies, several of MyWar’s artists examine the way such science may infiltrate and influence global wars. Martens’ Episode I is a fascinating look at narcissistic aspects of news media when the

artist, in the heart of a war torn environment, turns the camera’s focus onto himself asking the war’s victims and participants for their opinions on him.

In an entirely different video installation computer-aided trauma therapy for war veterans is taken on by Harun Farocki’s Immersion when he asks, “Can the mental effects of warfare be ameliorated through game technologies?” The piece was moving and marked the most challenging aspect of the show for me to take in. Peppered with screams and minute-by-minute explosions, Farocki’s two channel video installation “Virtual Iraq” shows the treatment of war trauma through the use of virtual reality scenarios, i.e. seeing if computer software can be used to enable traumatized soldiers to retell key experiences. Juxtaposing the virtual game with the documentation of

pHOTO BY CHRisTiNe BlAis

Tomić stands on corners blending among the crowd with gun in hand, creating a new territory made up of politics and actions.

the workshop, two screens depict what the soldiers see in their head mounted displays as they visit digital mock-ups of their sites of trauma on the right, as well as a therapist prompting and triggering events for which the subject is being treated on the left. Farocki gives viewers a glimpse into the pain and anguish soldiers face by watching a horrifying simulation and the extreme emotional and physical reactions that come with reliving their traumatic events. Sound bites like, “I’m not feeling any safer with them here than I was out there,” shed light on the complex and

multi-faceted identity politics that come into play in such scenarios.

MyWar will undoubtedly engage and disturb with thoughts and experiences relating to war in a world where the word no longer only refers to a conflict between hostile states, but a scattered and widespread permanent war and part of the mass culture of the 21st century.

MyWar: Participation in an Age of Conflict is at Union Gallery until Feb. 12 and at Agnes Etherington Art Centre until April 10. The reception is this Sunday, Jan. 23 at 3 p.m.

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Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Arts

queensjournal.ca

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12 •queensjournal.ca

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

sports

men’s basketball

Queen’s can’t pull off upset Queen’s can’t close against Carleton B y C raig D raeger Dialogue Editor

The men’s basketball team returned to the ARC for the first time in the New Year to face off against the Carleton Ravens and Ottawa Gee Gees.

The Gaels fell 86-73 in a relatively close game with the No. 1 nationally ranked Ravens Friday.

A close first quarter ended in the Gaels’ favour as first-year guard Ryan Golden scored a last-second Photo by Justin Tang The Canadian University Synchronized Swimming League’s Eastern Canadian Divisional was hosted by Queen’s Synchro and the ARC this layup to give Queen’s a 19-17 past weekend. The Queen’s Blue team was the top performer in the team event placing fifth. The Yellow team placed eighth and the Red team placed 14th. advantage. In the second frame, the Ravens were able to outscore Laurel Lee, Krista Chen and Christina Balch placed first in the novice duet category. Samantha Putos and Kaleigh Burns placed third in the same event. the Gaels on the way to a 37-30 halftime score.

Head coach Duncan Cowan said the Gaels have been working on their skills to stay competitive with top teams.

Women’s “We’ve been concentrating on trying to get better as a team volleyball defensively, and staying more Gaels grab four points over consistent,” he said. “We still have the weekend at home. a lot of peaks and valleys and we’ve got to find a way to be more steady. page 13 If we can do that, I think we can win enough games to get into the playoffs.”

The Gaels tried to stage a comeback in the third quarter but the Ravens fought back to a 62-54 lead. They would continue Synchro to outscore the Gaels on the way to their victory.

Check out all the pictures “I’m pretty happy with how of Sunday’s synchro event. they competed,” Cowan said. queensjournal.ca “Even when it’s against number Photo by christine Blais one, losing is not a lot of fun, but Defenceman Katie Duncan clears the puck in the Gaels’ 6-2 win against the York Lions our kids did exactly what we asked Saturday night. them to do. It’s a building block said. “We’ve got some great line were feeding me the puck and for the past three or four years for us [but] it really doesn’t matter Women’s hockey combinations going on out there. we definitely had some good so it’s kind of nice to have some unless we come out with the same Every line’s working hard, scoring chemistry out there,” she said. comfort out there from Conroy.” energy [against Ottawa].”

The Gaels were disappointed by and producing ... we’re going in the “It’s definitely good to see Conroy an 88-79 loss to the Gee Gees on right direction.” back out in action. She’s definitely Thomson was the Gaels’ top contributing. I’ve played with her Please see Live on page 14 Saturday, after leading by as much as eight points. offensive performer, scoring a hat The first quarter ended with a trick in their Saturday game against slight Ottawa advantage and after York and finishing the weekend trading leads with the Gaels in the with seven points. Thomson had early minutes of the second frame, been the Gaels’ scoring leader and the Gaels ran to a decisive 39-31 is now third in the OUA in points lead with three minutes remaining. with 24 over 20 games with six A 12-0 uncontested run by the goals coming in her last five games.

B y K ate B ascom Gee Gees to close out the half Sports Editor spelled the beginning of the end for the Gaels.

The women’s hockey team It was big for our Cowan said the team needs to returned to Kingston for the first team to put that focus on clinching victories at this time since the holiday break and behind us, learn from point in the season. grabbed four points over the the mistakes of that “The difference between playing University of Toronto Varsity Blues game and then move and the York Lions last weekend. close games and winning is big, really The Gaels scored early and often, big,” he said. “Last night’s game forward. beating the Blues 6-1 on Friday and [against Carleton] was a challenge the Lions 6-2 on Saturday.

—Matt Holmberg, for us as a group to see if we could women’s hockey Along with their 12 goals compete with them, tonight the head coach scored over the weekend, the Gaels importance was winning that game controlled play in their opponents’ to stay in the playoff race.” end while Mel Dodd-Moher and Thomson said she credits a lot The second half was no kinder Karissa Savage split goaltending of performance to her line mates, to the Gaels, who fell 74-61 in duties allowing only three goals on fellow fifth-years Becky Conroy the third quarter en route to their 48 shots. Six different Gaels scored and Liz Knox. Conroy had been eventual loss. goals this weekend including injured since the first game of the “About as disappointing a forwards Morgan McHaffie and season and had only returned in performance as I’ve had with this Photo by Justin Tang Becky Conroy who had two each. an exhibition game against the Guard Christ Barrett is blocked by the Ravens defence team,” Cowan said “It’s frustrating “It’s a great way to start the 2011 Concordia Stingers on Jan. 4. in their 86-73 loss. year,” forward Kelsy Thomson “[Knox] and [Conroy] definitely Please see Playoff on page 14

inside

online

Gaels take T.O. Queen’s pots 12 goals in weekend games

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SportS

Tuesday, january 18, 2011

queensjournal.ca

Women’s Volleyball

Digging 9-1 record Gaels drop one set over the weekend B y a NaND s riVastaVa Staff Writer The women’s volleyball team continued their strong season on the weekend, defeating the Waterloo Warriors and the Laurier Golden Hawks to bring their winning streak to five games.

On Saturday, the Gaels made quick work of the Warriors, sweeping them away 25-19, 25-12, 25-22. Outside hitter Lorna Button, middle Katie Neville and middle Katie Matthews all recorded six kills for Queen’s and defensively, outside hitter Natalie Gray picked up a match-high 14 digs.

On Sunday the Golden Hawks forced a fourth set, but the Gaels still prevailed, winning 25-16, 18-25, 25-22, 25-20. Outside hitter Colleen Ogilvie put away 15 kills and libero Becky Billings led the team with 24 digs.

The wins vaulted the Gaels’ record to 9-1 on the season. They trail only the 11-1 York Lions in the OUA East.

Ogilvie said she was pleased to see her team continue their hot play and pick up the valuable wins.

“They were both good games,” Ogilvie said. “I think we’re at the stage where we are one of the dominating teams in the OUA so it’s important for us to take every win.”

Laurier was able to push back against the Gaels and Ogilvie said she was impressed with her team’s resiliency in the match.

“Laurier fought really hard but I think the big thing was that we

were down … and we managed to comeback,” she said. “It showed a lot of composure on our part.”

Head coach Joely Christian-Macfarlane said while she was happy to see her team win, they will need to improve their play if they want to continue their success.

“We weren’t consistent [against Laurier],” she said. “We came out great, dominating the first set but then I don’t know if that score shifted our intensity slightly. We definitely settled back in the second and the third. Being down in the fourth and then fighting back to win showed some guts but we should have never put ourselves in that situation.”

Christian-Macfarlane had mixed opinions about letting the Golden Hawks back in to the game on Sunday.

“What was good about being down is that in the third and the fourth [sets] we had to fight our way back and prove that we were capable,” Christian-Macfarlane said. “When you have the strength to take a team 25-16 in the first set that to play to that same level is very important. It’s a catch 22.”

With the conclusion of their eight game homestand, the Gaels will take to the road next weekend against the Western Mustangs and the Windsor Lancers.

“Being on the road against Western and Windsor, who are both very good teams, is going to be hard,” she said. “It’s going to be a test of how good we really are.”

Anna Pedjase (No. 3) sets up Katie Matthews (No. 13) during a game at home.

Photo by Justin tang

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• 13

Sports

14 •queensjournal.ca

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Live and learn after Laurier loss Continued from page 12

With four wins in their last five games, the Gaels are off to a great start but were still reminded of their lopsided 8-1 loss to the Laurier Golden Hawks.

Every line’s working “hard, scoring and producing ... we’re going in the right direction.

”

—Kelsey Thomson, forward

“After a tough loss like Laurier, you can go either way,” Thomson said. “Tuesday we had practise and we all gathered together and realized it sucked that it happened but we weren’t going to let it beat us. It’s kind of nice to see us embarrass a couple of teams out there this weekend. It comes and goes both ways.”

Head coach Matt Holmberg praised his team for their ability to rebound from their biggest loss of the year.

“It was big for our team to put that behind us, learn from the mistakes of that game and then move forward and I think the girls did that,” he said.

With big wins against Toronto and York this weekend, the Gaels are finally seeing their efforts rewarded. The Gaels have routinely out shot their opponents but remain in the middle of the pack in goals scored with 45.

“We’re finally capitalizing on some of our chances,” Holmberg said. “Early in the year, we were getting lots of shots on net and they just weren’t going in.”

The holidays offered a needed rest, which has obviously benefited the team. They look to get back on track and add momentum and confidence to their play before the end of the regular season.

“We started to play some better hockey just before the holidays which gave us more confidence,” he said. “It made [everyone] even more eager to come back. … We did have some injured people but coming back from the break, we felt confident and rested up.”

Playoff hopes dwindle Continued from page 12

as a coach when they put themselves into that situation.”

Fourth-year guard Chris Barrett added 13 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals. Fellow fourth-year guard Dan Bannister led scoring for the Gaels with 19 points.

Bannister said the team’s performance was lacklustre against Ottawa.

“We came out flat,” he said.

“The first half was okay, until they went into zone [defence], and they went on this huge run. The third quarter came around and they scored 30 points, and that sealed it for us. We dug too deep of a hole.”

Bannister said the team needs to focus on getting more excited for games.

“We didn’t match the intensity we played with [against Carleton],” he said. “We needed to win this game and we didn’t. We’ve got to play like we did against Carleton.

We want to win. We’ve always wanted to win, and that’s it.”

e d a r upg e e r g e d r you e r o for m

Postgraduate Program

ACROSS 1 “Explain that” 4 Recede 7 PC picture 11 Very excited 13 Book-spine abbr.

14 Undressed 15 — gin fizz 16 Away from WSW 17 Carey or Barrymore 18 Serf 20 Abominable

Snowman 22 Steal from 24 Crown 28 Los Angeles team 32 Attack from

concealment 33 Jai — 34 Intention 36 Operatic solo 37 Glacial ridge 39 Topic 41 Site of rapid

development 43 Sticky stuff 44 Peruse 46 Bit of tomfoolery 50 Head light?

53 Old soldier 55 Franc replacement 56 Acknowledge 57 37-Across material 58 Winter forecast 59 Stitched 60 Female deer 61 Type measures DOWN 1 2 3 4 5

Corned beef dish Lecher’s look Warm fabric Enos’ granny Skeletal

6 7 8 9 10 12 19 21 23 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 35 38 40 42 45 47 48 49 50 51 52 54

Evidence a pinprick Harrison Ford role Scoundrel Praise in verse Fresh “Sweet” girl of song Pirouette pivot “— the season ...”

Lingerie item Catastrophic Grand story Vegan’s no-no Morse code symbol Margarine Pub missile Bro’s relative Beer vessel Third letter Squeezing snake Goliath’s vanquisher Retro art style Melody Press Bulls’ mates Owns Rd. Depressed Golfer’s prop

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Tuesday, January 18, 2011

queensjournal.ca

• 15

postscript

Innovative moviegoing experiences are becoming increasingly popular with audiences. According to Dean Leland, vice president for Studio Relations and Media of Empire Theatres, 3D movies generally generate three to four times more business than 2D movies.

photo by christine blais

Entertainment

Getting in-depth with 3D movies

3D films have changed the way audiences experience cinema. How did this trend capture our interest so rapidly?

B y P amela M ullins L eah F iore Contributors

and

Cinema has made astounding leaps forward over the last century.

Digital projection replaced 35 mm reels, colours were enhanced, a single mono-speaker behind a screen evolved into surround sound and theatres have gone from one or two screens to nearly 20.

Now, 3D films are becoming more mainstream than ever.

Professor Sydney Eve Matrix from the film and media department said audience interest has grown with the technology.

“3D films came out in the 50s as a new technology,” Matrix said. “[It was] innovative but not necessarily something you want to watch a lot of.” “[People are more] accustomed to computer-generated special affects, spectacularity and 3D television,” she said, adding that younger audiences are more eager for big spectacles, especially with the popularity of big-budget superhero blockbusters.

While the general reaction to 3D movies has been positive, there are also some reservations, Matrix said.

“My issue with [3D movies] now would be those glasses and how they intervene with the social

experiences,” she said, adding that this is not the only setback.

“We do hear criticism from audiences that say that 3D is used in film that is not necessary,” she said.

Audiences are becoming so used to 3D technology that it’s almost become an essential feature of a successful blockbuster, she said.

While it’s a natural element of science-fiction features, it doesn’t always add to the experience of watching romantic comedies and intellectual dramas.

Meaghan Wray, ArtSci ’14, said she agrees that 3D should be used carefully, depending on the type of movie being watched. “[3D films] can be distracting from the message and it just becomes like an amusement park ride rather than a thoughtful experience,” she said. “But I suppose they only really use 3D in movies that are mainly for entertainment value.”

Some may find it surprising that 3D films had already begun to sneak into mainstream entertainment in the early 1950s.

In 1890, William Friese-Greene and Frederick Barley made the first attempt to create a 3D feature.

They projected two films side by side and used a stereoscopic sequence camera to converge the images.

Although the projection was

In 2009, James Cameron’s 3D film Avatar became the number one movie of all time in box office sales.

supplied

unsuccessful, they paved the way for future advancements.

The Golden Era of 3D began 62 years later with the release of the first colour stereoscopic feature, Bwana Devil.

Dean Leland, the vice president for Studio Relations and Media of Empire Theatres, works in Halifax. He started his career with the company as a concession salesperson 33 years ago.

He said he’s watched people’s taste in movies change a lot over the years.

“By today’s standards, people would not have been impressed looking at [the first 3D movie made] … but 50 years ago it was pretty impressive,” he said.

Leland said all Empire Theatres will eventually be converted to include 3D technologies within the next few years. The Empire Theatres on Princess St. already has 3D technology.

In 2011, approximately 30 to 35 3D films will be released, he said, adding that this number has increased since 2009 and 2010.

Walt Disney Studios, Universal Studios and Paramount Studios all made forays into 3D technology, but financial difficulties and the inability to produce sharp screen images marked the fad’s decline in the mid 1950s.

In the years to come, few film projects were released in 3D until 2003, when James Cameron’s Ghosts of the Abyss hit the box office.

For his film, Cameron used what is called the reality camera system, which made higher optical resolutions and higher dynamic range achievable in 3D. Then, in 2009 Cameron’s record-breaking film Avatar set world-wide standards for the future of 3D technology.

Grossing approximately $1.8 billion profit worldwide, it sits as the number one movie of all time in box office sales.

The only other movie to come

close to such numbers is Lord of The Rings: The Return of the King, which brought in around $1.11 billion in profit.

But would Avatar be just as successful if it was not made in 3D? “When James Cameron introduced Avatar … It’s really described by most as the game changer to the world of 3D,” Leland said. “So the real answer, in my opinion, is absolutely not.”

Looking back at its earliest trailers, the film’s 3D effects were certainly advertised as the main feature. Marketing strategies emphasized Avatar’s three-dimensionality so prominently that hype surrounding the film’s release seldom addressed the plot.

However, 3D technology has not always been up at the Avatar standard—the earlier technology has been known to cause dizziness among motionsensitive moviegoers. Earlier films used anaglyph technology, where viewers wore blue and red lenses to create dimension. Now, people wear polarized glasses to view realistic images from high frequency digital projectors.

“The technology itself has improved … if you compare 3D now to five years ago it’s like night and day really.”

If ticket sales say anything, audiences have responded to the improvements.

“The 3D presentation usually [generates] three to four times more business than the 2D,” Leland said, adding that 3D films also charge a premium price to view, which generates even more profit.

“Frequent movie goers love the innovation and … the immersive element to it,” he said.

“There are some people who think all films should be in 3D because that’s the way we live in the world, in 3D.” People are drawn to these movies because it allows them to be closer to what’s happening

on-screen. “[It] puts you right in the action and right in the story.”

Blaine Allan, a professor from the film and media department, said that because of the 3D trend, some 2D films were digitally converted to get on the bandwagon.

“My first thought is that a big audience was attracted particularly to Avatar and enjoyed that experience … [they] apply that enjoyment to other films that are being sold to them as 3D spectaculars, whether or not they should be made in 3D,” he said.

Are these rising tendencies to transform almost every movie into 3D positive, or will they begin to diminish 3D film culture?

“If history tells us anything, the producers and the studios will reach a point where they will lose a significant amount of money on a 3D project,” Allan said. “They will stop doing it or be more selective about the projects.”

“The question is whether 3D is supposed to be a novelty or a normal way of watching movies,” he said. “I don’t know the answer to that.”

Annelies McConnachieHowarth has experience working in film and TV production and is currently working in production for a documentary TV series. She said she thinks 3D technology has reached its peak.

“Everyone’s caught on by now that if the movie was bad to begin with, 3D isn’t going to enhance it in any way,” McConnachieHowarth told the Journal in an email. “Very few genres actually benefit from the use of 3D as a story-telling vehicle.”

She said the high 3D ticket prices may start to alienate audiences.

“At the end of the day, great films are all about the actors and the story,” she said. “No gimmick will ever change the heart and soul of the filmmaking process.”

—With files from Kelly Loeper

16 •queensjournal.ca

Postscript

Tuesday, January 18, 2011