Digital Edition - February 2, 2015

Page 1

Protect your pets They require special care in winter weather. Page 8 Monday, february 2, 2015

SPOKE

A learning newsroom for journalism students

Conestoga College, Kitchener, Ont.

Getting social BY JACK PARKINSON

Feeding more than 10,000 people for any length of time is not exactly as easy as pie. Chartwells, the food service provider at Conestoga College, knows how hard it can be to please everyone while still producing quality food. Recently the company started a new initiative intended to reach out to students through social media. Tatianna Benning, Chartwells’ social media co-ordinator, knows about the positive power of social media. She studied at the University of Waterloo while working full time as the assistant to a residence manager on campus. While working and studying at UW, Benning started an Instagram page for students to share positive pictures daily, making university life more enjoyable and social. “(The residence Instagram) soon became a project that was very dear to my heart,” Benning said in an email. “I was surprised at how much of a positive and powerful impact it had on our residence community.” As the social media co-ordinator for Chartwells, Benning saw an opportunity to help the company reach out to Conestoga’s student body.

She feels strongly about the positive potential for social media, both in helping companies interact with their customers and in helping companies improve to suit the needs of their patrons. Her reasoning is sound: it seems like no company these days is truly complete without a Facebook page and a Twitter profile. Any job interviewer is likely to ask a prospective candidate if he or she is willing to publicize the company on social media in addition to meeting the job standards. Ten years ago companies would not have even needed a social media co-ordinator. Benning said Chartwells will be using the feedback from the new social media initiative to help with the launch of a new brand in February. “We want to develop and strengthen a positive relationship with our guests,” she said. The company will be hosting two recurring lotteries that will enable students to get free food in exchange for retweeting specific tweets from Chartwells’ Twitter profile, or “liking” their Facebook page by Feb. 15. Prizes range from a free muffin to gift cards valued at up to $50.

www.SPOKEONLINE.COM

What’s in the cards? Tarot reader enlightens students. Page 2 46TH Year — No. 4

Egypt gets unwrapped AT THEMUSEUM

PHOTO BY CARSON DESHEVY-RENOUF

A focal point of the Unwrapping Egypt exhibit, currently on display at THEMUSEUM in Kitchener, is this quality replica of King Tutankhamun’s death mask, which stands apart from the other pieces. According to Nicole Reindl, a gallery attendant at THEMUSEUM, the mask is often mistaken for the real relic. For story and additional photos, see Page 7.

Partying off-campus can be a bust By NATALEIGH MCCALLUM

Wear your shoes inside, it’s not your house. Break a bottle? It’s OK, you don’t have to wake up to the mess in the morning. Partying in off-campus residences might seem fun but for home owners, renters, neighbours and law enforcement, it can sometimes be a bust. The most notorious and outof-control party to date was back in 2012 at Fanshawe College in London on St. Patrick’s Day. According to an article in The National Post, in just five chaotic hours violent crowds of as many as 1,000 people tore apart fences, showered police and firefighters with bricks and bottles and a CTV news vehicle was set on fire which later exploded. This occurred in an

off-campus student district. But this was not the first riot London dealt with due to student parties. In both 2007 and 2009 Fleming Drive was the site of riots after students began spilling out of parties and into the street. The National Post article stated in both cases crowds of over 500 students lit fires, smashed windows and pelted London Police with projectiles. In Waterloo Region, the biggest story was last March when police seized 4,400 Cold Shot beers, valued at $5,000, from a house the day before the infamous St. Paddy’s Day party on Ezra Street. Police found out students were selling tickets to the event, which included entrance and beer. The students hosting the event planned to donate the money to the local food bank,

the Alzheimer’s Society, cancer research and the Toronto United Way. But, charges were laid under the Ontario Liquor Licence Act due to the fact that they did not obtain a permit to sell alcohol. Legal, health and binge drinking concerns can arise from partying in off-campus student residences. According to a study done in 2008 by Statistics Canada, 47 per cent of males and 29.3 per cent of females between the ages of 18 and 24 reported drinking five or more drinks on one occasion – thus being categorized as binge drinking. That is the average age of Canada’s young adults attending postsecondary education. Colleges in Ontario have put rules in place within their student housing units to ensure alcohol is consumed responsi-

bly, but that has not stopped students who are underage. “The main things they (students) get into trouble for are underage drinking and open alcohol and liquor in a public space,” said Olaf Heinzel, the public affairs co-ordinator at Waterloo Regional Police Service. “So, if you’re on a private space, the open alcohol isn’t an issue, it’s the age.” In Waterloo Region there is a noise bylaw stating that at no point during the day or night is excessive noise acceptable. “Neighbours have the right to call and have a bylaw officer investigate and have the officer go to the house and ask for the noise to be reduced,” Heinzel said. But noise complaints are the least of their worries. Things like property damage play a big role in why parties in off-

campus student housing are monitored by the police. If a person attending a party does get too intoxicated and begins to damage property, charges can be laid. Kevin Van Bommel, a second-year mechanical systems engineering student, said he doesn’t really party in student housing, adding, “Every one (party) I’ve heard of has been busted by the cops.” Students also need to take into consideration the size of a party before attending. “As far as parties go and the size, you’re limited to what is reasonable for the property of that size,” Heinzel said, adding as long as you and your guests are of legal drinking age and acting responsibly, you shouldn’t run into too many issues when hosting a party.


NEWs

Page 2 s SPOKE

Now deep thoughts ... with Conestoga College

Monday, February 2, 2015

FILBERT CARTOONS

Random questions answered by random students

What is the worst movie you’ve ever seen?

“Grumpy Cat’s Worst Christmas Ever. It was supposed to be a comedy, but it wasn’t funny.” Brooklyn Thurlow, first-year accounting, audit and information technology

“Labour Day. The concept was pathetic.”

Justin Van Dreumel, second-year police foundations

“Tron: Legacy. I almost fell asleep watching it.”

Connor Maltby, second-year biotechnology

“The Matrix. I like to see stuff that’s real.” Alex Rios, second-year pre-service firefighter

“Transformers: Age of Extinction. It went on forever.”

Justin Van Daele, second-year marketing and advertising

“Deep Blue Sea. Samuel L. Jackson was killed off too quickly.” Ryan Forsythe, first-year machining

Smile Conestoga, you could be our next respondent!

Foreseeing the future BY JORDAN JOHNSTONE

If you stopped by the Sanctuary on Jan. 20 for cheap pizza or a cold beer, you may have gotten a glimpse into the future. Psychic Marisa Munshaw, was at the venue doing free tarot card readings to willing students. I waited in a long line, with many fellow students, to visit a psychic for the first time. Upon each of our turns, we shuffled the deck and chose 10 tarot cards that Munshaw then interpreted, telling us our future fortunes or dangers. When it was my turn, she had already figured out my personality before I even picked the cards. She knew I was a nighthawk and rarely slept more than five hours. Munshaw told me my cards were directed at celebration in the spring and job opportunities. Maybe she guessed

PHOTO BY jordan johnstone

Marisa Munshaw reads tarot cards in the Sanctuary on Jan. 20. I am in my final semester and graduation is not so far off. Or maybe she knew my sister is due with her sec-

ond child in May. As for job opportunities, well, when I graduate hopefully jobs will be in my future. Other students also thought Munshaw did a good job. “She was very accurate in terms of figuring out my personality,” said Cindy Do, a first-year software engineering technology student, who was having a psychic reading for the first time. While some students were hoping for money or news about a career to be revealed, it just was not in the cards for all of them. However, romance seemed to be in the future for a couple of students. “She said I will get engaged soon,” said Bridget Kerr, also in first-year software engineering technology. Hopefully her boyfriend takes that news well. Do said, “She said I might get married to a person I meet in my career field.”


NEWs

Monday, February 2, 2015

SPOKE s Page 3

Speaker discusses God and science

BY MATT HOWELL

Does God exist? Does science prove God doesn’t exist? These were some of the philosophical questions that guest speaker Kirk Durston discussed at a lecture that took place in the lower atrium on Jan. 23. Durston grew up on a cattle and grain farm in central Manitoba where he spent countless hours wandering around on his own in the forest as a young boy, fascinated with the plants and animals, which led him to get into the scientific field in 1976. Durston has a PhD in biophysics, and has been speaking to students across Canada about his research and his views on the correlation between God and science since 1983. He also has a masters of philosophy which he obtained at the University of Manitoba. He is currently working on getting his masters degree in theology as well. Durston believes that science has tried to prove that God doesn’t exist, but has

PHOTO BY Matt Howell

Kirk Durston, a biophysicist and philosopher, gave a lecture on the correlation of God and science on Jan. 23 in the lower atrium. fallen short of that goal. He also believes that science and science-fiction get confused in translation, and what people think is mainly due to misinformation from science-fiction trying to pass as science. On the idea of our beginnings, Durston spoke on the concepts of time and circular fallibility.

But First let me take a selfie

“It’s logically impossible for the cause of time to be dependent on time, therefore, the cause of time has to be timeless itself. If time had a beginning, than whatever it was that caused time could not be dependent on time because that would be a circular fallacy,” Durston said. He went on to describe in

more detail the idea of circular fallacy. “Circular fallacy, or circular argument, occurs when you assume the truth of a thing you’re trying to prove in your opening premise, and once you assume that it’s true then you prove that it’s true,” he said. The lecture went on for

around 40 minutes with Durston speaking quickly and concisely throughout the presentation. The crowd of around 40 students seemed to be engaged and intrigued by Durston’s points and opinions. Durston was asked to speak at the college by Power to Change, a Christian community at Conestoga that is part of a large network of communities across Canada who meet to discuss faith and Christianity. Kirsten Fangrad, a secondyear advertising student, is a member of Power to Change and wanted Durston to speak at the school. “Our club is a Christian club. Our goal is to have meaningful conversations about spiritual things and life. Durston talks about the relationship between God and science, and he gives it with research and background information,” Fangrad said. If you would like to know more about Kirk Durston or the Power to Change initiative, go to p2c.com/students/ kirk-durston.

human books tell the best stories

PHOTO BY nathan brown

Samantha Schwier (left) and Justine Voll, members of CSI, prepare for the CSI Fest while promoting their Selfie Contest.

dancing WITH the students

PHOTO BY rachel roy

Conestoga College has many different clubs, including one for ballroom dancing. Above, Qasem Najem, founder of the club, and Sara Liu, a practical nursing student, waltz on Jan. 21. For story, see a video at www.spokeonline.com.

PHOTO BY nicole nemeth

‘Humans books’ met on Jan. 19 at the Doon campus to prepare for the fourth annual Human Library. The event was held on Jan. 29 in the Library Resource Centre. For video story, go to www.spokeonline.com.


Page 4 s SPOKE

Dalhousie ruling archaic

COMMENTARY

Monday, February 2, 2015

BY Beth crouse

In a society that demands a constant stream of information, it comes as a shock that some individuals still do not grasp the severity of their online actions. Recently, a scandal broke at Dalhousie University in Halifax, N.S. over a group Facebook page that belonged to 13 male dentistry students, all in their fourth year. They called their group the “DDS Class of 2015 Gentlemen.” On the page members made misogynistic comments about their female classmates. The students of this group were suspended from clinical activities and must now attend classes that are separate from other students, but they are still able to attend school. And they will still graduate from Dalhousie with a degree and obtain a well-paying job as a professional in society, as well as the title of doctor. This is unacceptable. People should be held accountable for their actions, be it in person or online, and the 13 members of this Facebook group should face serious consequences. Women are continuously the victims of sexual harassment and sexual violence. The so-called “DDS Gentlemen” further perpetuated violence against women by posting comments about hate sex, the use of chloroform and “banging someone until (the gentlemen’s) stress is relieved or (they) pass out.” Dalhousie’s reputation has taken a hit, thanks to its decision to allow these students to continue their studies. The punishment these soon-to-be professionals are facing is a restorative justice process, meaning the university wants all parties to sit down and “talk it out” rather than address this issue with the severity it deserves. One of the female students mentioned on the Facebook page told CBC News it is Dalhousie’s job to make a safe learning environment for all its students, and she was not consulted before administrators decided on the restorative justice. Her father said he’s outraged and shocked by the university’s strategy. “From my perspective it’s ineffective, it’s inappropriate, and an independent, third-party arm’s-length investigation needs to happen.” We couldn’t agree more. Dalhousie University was in a position to set a standard for all of Canada on how to deal with students perpetuating rape-culture by making it clear that sexual violence of any kind would not be tolerated. Instead they turned a blind eye. The views herein represent the position of the newspaper, not necessarily the author.

Letters are welcome Spoke welcomes letters to the editor. Letters should be signed and include the name and telephone number of the writer. Writers will be contacted for verification. No unsigned letters will be published. Letters should be no longer

than 500 words. Spoke reserves the right to edit any letter for publication. Address correspondence to: The Editor, Spoke, 299 Doon Valley Dr., Room 1C30, Kitchener, Ont., N2G 4M4

Internet is love, Internet is life.

We ignore our own monsters

Canada must own up to its actions

Thinking of geopolitics as good vs. evil or right vs. wrong is incorrect. World politics is like a chess board with pieces moving to serve national self-interests. This has been going on for half a century. While the Allies placed Nazi officials on trial, the U.S. also secretly brought many Nazis to America in what was called Operation Paperclip, to help them in the Cold War. Dr. Wernher von Braun was one of them, helping to develop the rocket that took America to the moon. The fact von Braun was a central figure in the Nazis’s rocket development program wasn’t important. The West accused Syrian President Basher Al Assad of human rights abuses while turning the other cheek to abuses in Egypt, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. We marched in Paris united for free speech with signs of “Je suis Charlie” while staying silent when a left-

Jordan Johnstone Opinion

We condemn Russia for allegedly arming rebels in eastern Ukraine against Kyiv, while we openly do the same in Syria.

winged blogger was jailed in Saudi Arabia for 10 years and was whipped publicly. His only crime was speaking out against oppression. We call the Islamic state’s practice of beheading people barbaric, yet we did not care when it was happening to Syrians. Nor do we care that Saudi Arabia carries out public beheadings. At least Syria has elections that we can call a sham, unlike our ally Saudi Arabia that does not have any elections. We condemn Russia for

allegedly arming rebels in eastern Ukraine against Kyiv, while we openly do the same in Syria. We say we believe in democracy while allowing the overthrow of elected governments in Ukraine and Egypt. This is nothing new. It goes as far back as Operation Ajax in Iran in the ’50s and the Bay of Pigs in Cuba in the ’60s. We do what’s best for national interest, not what is right. The West claims to be the shining stars of civilizations and human rights, while no one is held accountable for the CIA torture scandal. No charges were ever laid even though one man died while being tortured by the CIA. That’s murder that someone got away with and not many seem to mind. The West vs. East is how the lines have been drawn through recent world events but that doesn’t always mean we are right. World politics are not black and white, it has many shades of grey and all sides do terrible things to advance their interests. Evil is committed on both sides of the playing field. It’s time we lived up to it.

Spoke

i s p u b l i s h ed and prod u ced weekl y b y t h e jo u rnal i sm st u dents of C onestoga C ollege Editor: Nataleigh McCallum Assignment Editors: Kali Caudle, Jordan Johnstone Advertising Managers: Beth Crouse, Justin Ford Spoke Online Editors: Matt Howell, Nicole

Nemeth, Nathan Brown Production Managers: Alex Riese, Maryssa McFadden Photo Editors (print): Cassie Tulecki, Carmen Ponciano, Ian McBride Photo Editors (online): Rachel Roy, Jack

Parkinson, Josh Kennedy Social Media Editor: Carson Deshevy-Renouf, Cody Mudge Circulation Manager: Heather Stanley Faculty Supervisor and Adviser: Christina Jonas

Spoke’s address is 299 Doon Valley Dr., Room 1C30, Kitchener, Ontario, N2G 4M4. Phone: 519-748-5220, ext. 3691, 3692, 3693, 3694 Fax: 519-748-3534 Email: spoke@conestogac.on.ca Website: www.spokeonline.com

The views and opinions expressed in this newspaper do not necessarily reflect the views of Conestoga College. Spoke shall not be liable for any damages arising out of errors in advertising beyond the amount paid for the space. Letters to the editor are subject to acceptance or rejection and should be clearly written or typed; a MS Word file would be helpful. Letters must not contain any libellous statements.


NEWS

Monday, February 2, 2015

Sommes-nous Charlie?

by cody mudge

There are events, both joyous and mournful, that will remain with us for our entire lives. Each generation has touchstones which resonate with each individual in a different way as they recollect their own personal story in reflection of the event. The shooting at the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo seems a likely candidate for a bullet point we’ll remember (“we” in the national, even international, sense) when looking back on this time in history. The rampage of ISIS throughout the Middle East, Russian aggression in Crimea and Ebola ravaged West Africa have been major international stories for quite some time but the Hebdo shootings have supplanted them, at least for the time being, on the airwaves and pages of the Canadian news media. Nearly every news service in Canada, from the massive nationals to the small regionals, featured some form of coverage in the days after the tragedy. One of the prevailing issues about reporting the story was whether

to publish or show the cover of the November 2011 cover of Charlie Hebdo, which the attackers cited as a driving reason behind their assault. While millions around the world took to the streets in support of free speech and not cowing to the fear mongering of a maniacal few, some in the Canadian media found the issue of displaying the cover divisive. Canadians found it particularly difficult to agree on whether to proclaim “je suis Charlie,” or “je ne suis pas Charlie.”

This is not a ban, and it isn’t censorship. We are being consistent with our historic journalistic practises around this story. — David Studer

French language newspapers in Quebec showed a bit more solidarity in displaying the cartoon cover with many prominent papers publishing it. La Presse, La Tribune, Le Devoir, Le Droit, Le Journal

de Montreal and Le Journal de Quebec all published the image of Muhammad. “Attacking someone simply for their ideas and opinions is an unacceptable impediment to democracy,” the papers said in a joint statement. CBC News, on the other hand, decided not to run the cover. “This is not a ban, and it isn’t censorship,” said David Studer, director of Journalistic Standards and Practises, in an email to CBC staff after the decision was rendered to not publish the cartoons. He went on to add that, “We are being consistent with our historic journalistic practices around this story, not because of fear, but out of respect for the beliefs and sensibilities of the mass of Muslim believers about images of the Prophet. Similarly, we wouldn’t publish cartoons likely to dismay or outrage mainstream followers of other religions.” The Toronto Star and the Globe and Mail also decided not to run the cartoon of Muhammad, leaving the National Post as the only major Canadian newspaper outlet to run the cover as part

of their coverage. Immediately after hearing about the shooting one of the first questions many people asked was what did the cover look like that got 12 people killed. The Globe and Mail’s coverage of the shooting featured several of Hebdo’s less inflammatory cartoons, their inclusion cited as necessary for context. However, the cartoons most crucial to understanding the story weren’t included. Why? The National Post’s Chris Selley suggested in an opinion piece that it goes beyond mere politeness to “a preference not to make a fuss.” Many readers, judging at least from comment on online articles, were curious about how decisions are made in the newsroom in situations like the Hebdo shooting. Larry Cornies, co-ordinator of Conestoga’s print and broadcast journalism programs, noted what must be considered before something potentially offensive is run. “There are several things that editors must consider when making a decision such as this. First, is publication of the material libellous? Second, is it offensive? Third,

SPOKE s Page 5

what will the audience of the publication or news outlet think of the editors’ decision (is it editorially defensible)? Fourth, is material easily available anywhere else?” The Toronto Star’s publisher John Cruickshank decided to take a more pointed approach in his explanation of why the paper didn’t publish the cover in question. “… the Charlie Hebdo massacre is very much a French phenomenon,” he said in an article on Jan. 16. This seems a bit off the mark considering the very recent examples of similar issues causing strife like the Jyllands-Posten incident, the Lars Vilks controversy, the Salman Rushdie apostasy or South Park’s censorship, none of which were based in France but featured a similar inciting incident. Looking back on the event, outlets involved in covering the Charlie Hebdo shooting were ubiquitously aided, facilitated and advanced by the fact that freedom of expression exists alongside a free press. The question that seems to remain in the aftermath is, sommes-nous Charlie?


Page 6 s SPOKE

Monday, February 2, 2015


Monday, February 2, 2015

Feature

Unwrapping Egypt

SPOKE s Page 7

Exhibit is wrapping up at THEMUSEUM Feb. 21 By CARSON DESHEVY-RENOUF

Throughout history, many empires have risen and fallen, shaping what people now recognize as modern society. Unwrapping Egypt, the popular travelling exhibit currently on display at THEMUSEUM in downtown Kitchener, offers insight into one such empire: ancient Egypt. Running since May 2014, Unwrapping Egypt has become one of THEMUSEUM’s longest running attractions. The exhibit focuses on the tomb of the famous King Tutankhamun and the Egyptian empire that once was. According to the museum’s website, the exhibit consists of “over 400 museum-quality replica artifacts,” meaning that only a few of the pieces on display are original. There is, however, good reasoning for this. “The drive behind the exhibit was the creation of replicas so that they could travel, because a lot of items in Egyptian culture aren’t allowed to travel, they have to stay in Egypt,” said Nicole Reindl, a gallery attendant. Since the discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922, the Egyptian government has been very protective of any artifacts found within the tombs of the ancient kings. Without proper permissions and security, even the few artifacts that can leave Egypt

often don’t. This is where expert replicators like those at the Egyptian Arts Center in Egypt come in. “King Tut is obviously a very key figure in Egyptian history, and (the government) protect(s) his items very closely … so the Egyptian Arts Center made these replicas so that they could travel and people could see them without having to go to Egypt,” Reindl said. The Egyptian Arts Center was established in 1988, and the replicas that the founder of the company, Tarek Ragab, and his uncle Dr. Hassan Ragab created have travelled all around the world. According to the center’s website, “including stops in Japan, Hong Kong, Poland, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Panama, USA and Canada.” THEMUSEUM’s exhibit itself is separated into two floors. The third floor of the museum is dedicated to a sort of overview of Egyptian history, whereas the fourth floor contains the true focus of the exhibit, the relics of King Tutankhamun. This is where the most notable pieces of the exhibit lie. “First we have King Tut’s death mask, one of the most iconic pieces from King Tut’s tomb. A lot of people actually think that it is the real one, but it is actually a replica … Over the summer … we created a partnership with the

PHOTOs BY carson deshevy-renouf

A replica Royal State Chariot is on display at the Unwrapping Egypt exhibit at THEMUSEUM in Kitchener. It sits amidst photos of its construction by the Egyptian Arts Center. (Royal Ontario Museum), and they gave us a mummy … She has been the focal point of the exhibit ever since,” Reindl said. Besides becoming one of the main features of the Unwrapping Egypt exhibit, the mummy, temporarily named Justine while researchers worked to discover her true identity, got to finally bear her own name: Nefret-Mut. The name was

In the centre of the room that it shares with King Tut’s death mask, a replica of a canopic shrine and sledge stands. It is said that the two bands, or friezes, of cobra decorations grant divine protection.

deciphered from hieroglyphics that were found on what was believed to be Nefret-Mut’s coffin in October by Toronto Egyptologist Gayle Gibson. Unwrapping Egypt will run at THEMUSEUM until Feb. 21, and will be followed by three new exhibits. One is a contemporary Canadian nude art exhibit titled: “Getting Naked.” Alongside that, a dinosaur exhibit

that was originally created for the Royal Botanical Gardens in Toronto will be coming to the museum called “Dinosaurs: The Edge of Extinction.” Finally, a smaller but equally anticipated exhibit about the Holocaust will join them. For hours, rates and more information about Unwrapping Egypt visit www.themuseum.ca.

On the third floor of THEMUSEUM resides an overview of Ancient Egyptian history, beginning with a replica of the colossal granite statue of Senusert III.


FEATURE

Page 8 s SPOKE

Monday, February 2, 2015

Keep your pets warm this winter By CARSON DESHEVY-RENOUF

During the winter it is important to keep yourself safe and warm in the frigid temperatures, especially in a season that can be more dangerous than it appears. What is just as important, however, is attending to your dogs, as often the danger and their winter needs are the same as yours. Many of the things that dog owners can do to protect their pets while still allowing them to enjoy winter are both inexpensive and simple. The options range from not just products you can buy, but also in minor steps that you can take in changing how you expose your pets to the weather. Over the past few years, more and more items have become available in pet stores to allow winter to be just as fun for dogs as it can be for humans. Options like “booties” and jackets for dogs, according to Kitchener veterinarian Robert Close, “can be very, very helpful” in keeping your dogs warm while outside. Dog clothes, however, do not fully protect your pet as the cold air also poses the risk of frostbite. “Quite often, the areas that get frostbitten are the ones such as the tips of (their) ears … taking them out for brief times and keeping them moving when they’re out there will often help with the circulation,” Close said.

PHOTO BY Carson Deschevy-Renouf

Jessica Alves warms her dog, Kiki, after playing in the snow. To help keep your pet warm, you can purchase items (shown below) such as heated dog bowls, sweaters, booties and pet igloos. On colder days, it is often best to keep your dog’s trips outdoors short, just as you would your own. Andrea DeLorenzi, an employee at the Kitchener Humane Society, offered a good rule of thumb when it comes to bringing your

pets outdoors: “If you’re out and you’re wearing a jacket, it is probably too cold for your dog (without protection).” The cold air itself isn’t the only thing that dog owners should be wary of. The salt that is used to clear the roads

and streets of ice can often lead to a painful accident for your pet if they consume it. “Make sure you avoid water that has salt mixed in with it, as that causes a super cold liquid that really is quite painful for the animals,”

warned Close. The fact that the salty water doesn’t freeze means that you may find your dog trying to drink from a pool of it while outdoors. Considering that the water is still often as cold as or colder than the air around it while still in liquid form, it can rapidly cool the dog as it goes down, causing intense pain in the process. The dangers of salty water aside, the cold air in winter can effect different dogs at different rates. According to Close, the longer the hair on a dog’s coat, the warmer they will be. Whether your dog is large or small, their coat often plays a part in how much time they can spend in the snow. Once your dog has had its fun, however, there are a few signs (both obvious and not) to look out for when deciding if it is time to take them inside. “They’ll start shivering to raise their body temperature … They will also show you that they want to go in fairly quickly. The trouble is that they can often go out and get into trouble without really telling you a whole lot,” Close said. The most important things that you as an owner can do, whether you take your dogs out to play often, or just let them out to do their business, is to pay attention. In combination with some warm dog clothes and some exercise, you can spend the rest of the winter with happy and healthy companions.

Internet photos


entertainment

Monday, February 2, 2015

SPOKE s Page 9

Manatee gets jazzy at The Button Factory BY JACK PARKINSON

The Button Factory is a quiet building most days, but sometimes it hosts concerts for Numus, a local music organization committed to providing new and invigorating music. A recent concert showcased the Guelph-based improvisation group Manatee, which has 11 members who play traditional jazz instruments along with a flute and synthesizer. The event was very low key: the Button Factory is a small, arts-centric building on Regina Street in Waterloo built in the skeleton of an industrial manufacturing centre. Manatee’s sound is warm and easy to listen to. As someone who, admittedly, is not a connoisseur of cuttingedge music, Manatee’s songs were complex enough to challenge my ears but straightforward enough for me to bob my head along with the rhythm. What I mean by this is that Manatee combines a full, brassy sound with occasional sections of dissonance. The band has complete songs, but due to the highly improvisational nature of their music they used the tracks as a guide more than a proper set list.

After entering the Button Factory and climbing two flights of narrow stairs, I entered the loft area that served as the concert hall. There were about 50 plastic chairs arranged with an aisle down the middle of them and the band was warming up their instruments – I had to shout to the woman at the ticket table. Once I sat down the band came out and Daniel Kruger, the guitarist, introduced each member. He also mentioned that this was one of their first concerts, which made the subsequent performance all the more impressive. They played for about an hour and a quarter, which I felt was completely fair for the price of admission – $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and $5 for students. Kruger said the band uses a variety of hand signals to communicate with each other and direct the flow of the music. The audience was invited to use these same signals (once they had figured them out) to direct the flow. Only a couple of audience members took up the offer, but it was great to see Manatee’s commitment to improvisational music. Their first album, Look The Other

PHOTO BY Jack parkinson

Daniel Kruger, guitarist for the band Manatee, performs a solo during a concert on Jan. 16. The band played at The Button Factory as part of the ‘mix series’ for local music organization Numus. Way, can be purchased on iTunes or on their website at manateesounds.bandcamp. com. Manatee’s performance was part of Numus’s “mix series” of concerts, which focuses on improvisational music and emerging art-

ists. The mix series runs in contrast to the “main series,” which has more traditional music and more established names. Both concert series are overseen and organized by Kathryn Ladano, Numus’s artistic director for the 20142015 season, who has done

an admirable job of making exciting, atypical music accessible and affordable for the average consumer. And at the end of the day, that is what Manatee gave me: great, interesting music that anyone could hear and appreciate.

The Judge exceeds expectations By Nathan Brown

Part courtroom drama, legal thriller and family saga, The Judge is passionately acted and profoundly thoughtful, bringing two great actors to one screen. The DVD hit shelves Jan. 27, so if you didn’t see it in the theatre, now’s your chance. It’s been some time since Robert Downey Jr. has been seen as anything other than Tony Stark/Iron Man or Sherlock Holmes, so it’s refreshing to see him in a more human-like role as compared to these bigger than life characters. Downey jumps into the arrogant, self-righteous onscreen role that he’s perfected, as he plays Hank Palmer, a hotshot attorney from Chicago. Hank is forced to return to his hometown in Indiana after his mother passes away. Inevitably old wounds resurface with his father (Robert Duvall), who is a judge in the small, tight-knit community, and whose strong morals and values have inevitably pushed his three sons away over the years. The boys simply refer to their father as “The Judge,” but Hank always goes head to head with him,

not afraid to back down. Before Hank is about to leave for Chicago, he is forced to abandon his flight and return home as his father is being accused of a hitand-run, killing a man he once sentenced to jail. Hank reluctantly takes over as the defence attorney for his father’s murder trial. He watches helplessly as the case he thought would be a nobrainer takes a turn for the worse and his father’s health starts to fail. Hank starts to feel more compassion about The Judge’s predicament. Duvall and Downey complement each other perfectly as a father-son pair. The trial is more of a background crisis, as the story really revolves around the father and son’s relationship. Both actors give tremendous performances, making their characters like-minded, but different in entirely different ways. Hank is hotheaded, while The Judge is more seasoned and has a stronger sense of right and wrong. Skillfully directed by David Dobkin, the film is intelligent and touching. It may just be another tale of a man meeting his humanity again after returning back to his home-

town, but it also brings a certain uniqueness to the theme of a father and son repairing a broken relationship. Those expecting a typical court drama will be surprised by the real focus of The Judge’s plot. Even though the court scenes play a part, the relationship story works well on its own, giving viewers a fresh story with memorable performances from both Downey and Duvall. I couldn’t look away because I was so captivated by the story unfolding and powerful performances by both actors. I give The Judge four out of five stars.

internet photo

Robert Downey Jr. and Robert Duvall star in the heartfelt movie, The Judge.


FUN & GAMES

Monday, February 2, 2015

Page 10  SPOKE

Useless Facts

Oh Cliff!

horoscope Week of February 2, 2015

Aries

During its lifetime an oyster changes its sex from male to female and back several times.

Libra

March 21 April 19

Cephalacaudal recapitulation is the reason our extremities develop faster than the rest of us.

September 23 October 22

Your independence has been helpful to you for the past couple of weeks. Keep a clear head and you are sure to gain something from your hard work.

Getting back into a routine was hard but you’re there now, so it’s time for a victory bath and some wine.

Nutmeg is extremely poisonous if injected intravenously. Daniel Boone hated coonskin caps.

Scorpio

Taurus

More people speak English in China than the United States.

October 23 November 21

April 20 May 20

Your laziness has gotten the better of you. Take on a new hobby and you’ll be surprised at what you gain.

You’re itching to put the blame on someone else but is that truly justified? Think about it first.

Sudoku Puzzle

Sagittarius

Gemini

November 22 December 21

May 21 June 21

You have been super impulsive on all decisions that need to be made. This may lead to a downfall. Choose wisely.

Cancer

Fill in the grid with digits in such a manner that every row, every column and every 3x3 box accommodates the digits 1-9, without repeating any.

I think it’s time for you to relax and put your feet up. Too many adventures, too little time.

Capricorn

June 22 July 22

December 22 January 19

Your friends have been worrying about you lately due to your moodiness. Put your worries at ease and get out of your funk.

Your loyalty has been welcomed by all of your friends, it’s time to ask for the same courtesy in return.

Aquarius

Leo

January 20 February 18

July 23 August 22 You are in need of a pick me up; take advantage of your confidence and do something spontaneous.

Virgo

Your cleverness will get the better of you; take your time.

Pisces

August 23 September 22

February 19 March 20

You have been giving people the cold shoulder because you’re afraid of what the outcome will be … stop that. Take a risk.

You’ve been compassionate with everyone around you. Continue on this path and you will find happiness.

The Stars have spoken.

Word Search


NEWS

Monday, February 2, 2015

Cambridge campus crowns billiards champ BY KALI CAUDLE

The cues were lined up and the billiard balls racked at the Cambridge campus on Jan. 22, in preparation for the CSI Pool Playoff tournament. Spencer Miller, Conestoga Students Inc. Cambridge service co-ordinator said CSI purchased the pool table late last school year and started using it to host their Pool Playoff tournament at the beginning of the summer semester. CSI has extended the length of the tournament over the past semester, so students from all classes and programs could take part in the event. This year the tournament was held from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. so students could play throughout the day, when it was convenient for them – either before, in between or after classes. However, the turnout has been minimal, with only 12 students competing. Miller said, “I have high hopes that the student involvement will grow as the students become more settled in their classes”. Students were only allowed to play and win against the same competit o r once per streak. After each game, the players had to tell CSI who won the previous game before starting another game. Also, if

If you can dodge homework on a Friday night, you can dodge a ball. Conestoga Students Inc. will be hosting their first dodgeball tournament on Monday, March 2 at the recreation centre. The entry fee is $50 per team and each team must consist of six players who attend Conestoga College. The maximum number of teams able to participate has been capped at 12. “(We will have) six players on a court at once with two games running at the same time,” said CSI programming co-ordinator Samantha Schwier. CSI will be awarding prizes for the tournament champions, the best team uniforms and the best team spirit. The prizes will be restaurants gift cards, so the winning teams can go out after competing

SPOKE s Page 11

the students had a class and they were on a winning streak, they had to let CSI know in order to continue playing after class. The winner was determined by who had the most consecutive wins and received a $20 Tim Hortons gift card. Miller said it’s difficult to generate awareness about events. “We put up posters and have upcoming events online i n hopes that the students w i l l read them and attend,” he said. Daxit Chotara, a third-year civil engineering technology student, won the pool playoff. “It was pretty good. There were a lot of different players and it was a good challenge,” he said. Salim Latif, a second-year mechanical engineering student, has advice for next year’s students who plan on competing. “Just got to work on the angles and practise until you become good at it,” he said. Miller hopes students leave Conestoga College’s Cambridge campus with good memories. “I hope that when students participate in CSI events that they are PHOTO BY kali caudle leaving with a good experience, a Daxit Chotara, a third-year civil engineering technology student, prepares to shoot fun time and some new friends,” he during the CSI Pool Playoff tournament at the Cambridge campus on Jan. 22. said.

CSI dodgeball funds childcare project BY JUSTIN FORD

in the tournament and celebrate. But, the tournament isn’t all about pride and glory. All proceeds will go to the Global Service Leadership Team’s childcare project trip to Costa Rica over Reading Week. “Rather than taking on something like a construction project, this childcare project will allow us to really immerse ourselves in the culture, interact with local people and have a chance to create an emotional connection with these children,” said Lisa Steele, CSI’s leadership development co-ordinator. CSI would prefer the teams entering the tournament be co-ed, but it is not mandatory. The action will kick off March 2 at 11 a.m. Registration forms can be picked up in the CSI office, and entry to the tournament will be first come, first serve.


Page 12 s SPOKE

Monday, February 2, 2015


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.